The clubby Whitney Grill (in a hotel that used to be a flour mill) is the popular choice. But you might try D’Amico Cucina for upscale Italian food or Yvette’s, across the river, for French.
The Market Bar-B-Que has the best ribs in town. Monte Carlo has great home-style food for pregame brunch; Nikki’s, in the hip warehouse district, redefines macaroni and cheese. And the Cherokee Sirloin Room in St. Paul has steaks the size of Idaho-but don’t try to walk there.
Trendies hang out uptown at Figlio; visiting celebs favor the New French Cafe. Artsy types gravitate toward the Loring Cafe, with its funky setting and California-style food.
Would-be hipsters will make a beeline for Glam Slam because they’ve vaguely heard of its owner: Prince. Other hot bets: First Avenue and The Fine Line. Rupert’s, west of downtown, has the hottest singles scene and best house band around. Remember: no booze served after 1 a.m. This isn’t New York.
When it’s all over, drive an hour to Aveda Spa in Osceola, Wis., where you can get everything from a headache-relieving shvitz to something called “body polishing.”
