Mr. Mustacheo – West St. Paul, MN

West St. Paul got a new restaurant that opened this week and based on the menu alone, I knew I had to eat there. When the wife suggested it, it didn’t take much arm-twisting to get me in the car. I scoped out the menu ahead of time to help narrow down some decisions. They’ve got a big push for their mexi-wings and tacos, but there are other things on the menu, as well. They have some boneless wings, quesadillas, a sushi burrito, some sandwiches, a type of burrito bowl, some good sides, and even a few unique salad options. Check out their menu before you go so you can make some good decisions.  

We ordered some Pipian wings, and my wife was feeling invincible, so we got pineapple habanero wings (the hottest wings on the menu), taco al pastor, fish taco, and an order of waffle fries. We also got Limoncito to drink. There’s a salsa bar with mild, medium, and hot salsa, so you can grab whatever your flavor is while you wait for your food – they’re very quick, so it won’t be long. All the salsas are homemade, and have deliciously unique flavors – very happy with the three options.

 

The wings were fantastic. I’m not afraid of heat, but I’m also not the guy that walks into a wings place and orders the hottest wings on the menu. The pineapple habanero wings were really awesome though – don’t get me wrong, they’re hot, but not pointless hot – they actually have flavor. A lot of my daredevil friends would say they aren’t hot enough, but I was really happy with them. More of a thick sauce, than a drizzle sauce, but bright flavors and not angry ones you sometimes get when people are just trying to hurt their friends. 

 

The Pipian wings were a flavor I haven’t had before – the website describes it as a “creamy ancestral blend of pumpkin seeds, herbs, and chili”, which I’m now a huge fan of. Lots of meat on all of these wings, and I’ll be looking forward to working my way through all of the flavors on this list. These wings actually DO have Mexican flavors in the sauces, which is why they’re called mexi-wings – the chef really makes those flavors shine.

The Taco Al Pastor was filled with so much delicious pork and pineapple chunks - look at the photo to see how full these tacos are. I tried bites with all three salsas and decided the mild green salsa was the best combo for me. But they didn’t skimp on the fillings, so I was really happy with this order. 

 

The Fish Taco had a great breading on it and lots of fillings, as well. All of the salsas were good on this one, so don’t be afraid to order this one. There’s a bit of an upcharge for the fried fish (and for the shrimp), but it’s totally worth it. Live a little!

 

The waffle fries I thought would be boring, but they were very heavily seasoned and fried perfectly. We ended up dragging the waffle fries through the sauces from our wings and were really happy we did – in fact, the best dip was the pineapple habanero sauce with the fries.

 

And I would also suggest getting the Limoncito – it’s a drink made with limes, sugar, and muddled mint – like the lime version of a lemon shake-up with a mojito flavor. Soooo good. 

And, they have an axolotl on the sign for the restrooms, so you know they appreciate the fun things in life.

 

The owner (yes, he does have an awesome mustache) came out and chatted with us to make sure we were happy and we assured him everything was delicious and we needed to try more things on the menu. We will definitely be back to Mr. Mustacheo. Tell your friends and neighbors to go check it out. You’ll be glad you did.

https://mrmustacheo.com/

Tori (Ramen) - St. Paul, MN

This old train car (literally an old railway passenger car) has been a few restaurants in the past. Probably more than I even know. I know I went here when it was Chris and Rob's. But, Tori (formerly Tori Ramen when they were up in the Summit Hill area of St. Paul) has taken it over and given a totally new vibe and menu. They consider themselves noodle specialists and it shows in the menu they have put together. I know this opened up during the pandemic in this location, but for some reason, it has taken me a bit to get here.

The inside is… unusual… in that it has a sort of dining room in the train car portion, then a very small bar area – apparently housed by local regulars – and then there’s this unusual area with one of those open-atmosphere garage doors that sort of spreads out onto the sidewalk. Not complaining at all, but I just didn’t want you to walk in expecting a traditional 90-degree-angles everywhere situation. 

We were seated pretty quickly and spent some time deciding what we were going to get. The menu has a handful of delicious sounding starters, a list of various ramen dishes – the items in red are the ones that are spicy – and then some add-ins. Super easy to understand. They’re also known for pretty advanced cocktails, so I went with the tiki-est of the drinks “Will There Be Rum?”, and the server assured me that yes, it DOES have plenty of rum. D got a strawberry lemonade. We opted for some cold sesame noodle to start and then D got the Dra(MN) – which is the chicken noodle, miso, and bali ramen’s combined – and I got the Com Saw Mi Da, which is chili crisp, gochujang, chicken, and a soft egg.

Drinks were fantastic. The strawberry lemonade was sweet, but not too sweet, and downright refreshing. The Will There Be Rum drink was an excellent tiki-style drink and it was a challenge not to drink it down in like three drinks. Would highly recommend this one.

The sesame noodles were perfect. A nice tall pile of noodles and red cabbage and cucumbers with tahini and black sesame seeds (the most evil of the sesame seeds). Not necessarily spicy, but there was some zing there somewhere. We slopped tahini sauce all over table by sharing this one, but fighting over a dish just means its really good and fight-worthy. You should try this one.

The ramen arrived more quickly than I expected, which ruled. The rich broth in both of our bowls looked the same, but this proved to NOT be the case. The Dra(MN) had a little bit of heat (it was in the spicy section of the menu) and had really good flavor. Lots of tahini flavor from the bali, without it being too peanut butter-y, and a surprisingly generous portion of noodles. Really good dish. 

The Com Saw Mi Da was incredible, though. Plentiful noodles and lots of chicken, but the broth was so tasty and spicy. Growing heat, too. By the end, I was sweating. This place doesn’t mess around. Both ramen dishes were some of the more memorable ramen dishes I’ve had, so we will definitely go back here again.

A couple of random notes about this place:

• This place is great for vegans and vegetarians, and they’re willing to make changes to dishes to make sure you’re happy.
• I heard the table next to us say they had called “bullshit” on the heat level and ordered the Fire Shoyu and the Vegan Fire Shoyu. Both of them commented to the server that they may have ordered outside of their expectations and it definitely wasn’t Minnesota hot. Hahaha
• This place has a reallllllly weird vibe. Like Portlandia almost-jokingly quirky atmosphere. Apparently, on weekends, they’re open until 2am still serving ramen, but they have a DJ and it turns into a club atmosphere. Super out-of-the-box. Just didn’t want to forget to mention that it won’t be a chill Japanese restaurant vibe here.

Neither of us could finish our ramen, and we brought a whole additional meal of leftovers home. You can also have them throw in some extra noodles for like $4 and bring some home to reheat with your leftovers. …which I did. And they were so good the next day.

I would definitely recommend this place and I’m looking forward to going back and trying some different dishes, but I doubt anything is going to beat what I got this first time.

https://toriramen.com 

Dalles House Restaurant and Lounge – St. Croix Falls, WI

 

D and I were up near Interstate State Park and found this fun looking restaurant – she’s quite good at picking places, so I knew I was in for a treat. It’s got that old school Wisconsin lounge feel from the outside and we were even more happy when we went and saw how fun the inside was! It’s like a magical tiki land behind the bar and there’s a huge outdoor space that would probably be fun in the summer months! There is a fancier dining room, but the bar was definitely more our speed. The bar is the kind of place where you throw some wood on top of the pool table and call it a table (I’m serious).

 

We sat at the bar so we could take in the whole tiki grotto and see what was happening around us. When in Wisconsin, you order a brandy old fashioned. State law, I think. D bucked the trend and got a margarita. 

 

The menu is pretty much Americana through and through, but there are still some really good sounding items on it. We ended up splitting some raspberry chipotle wings and a honey smoked salmon salad. It all came out pretty quickly so we dove in.

The chicken wings were really good. I know it’s hard to do wings in a way that sets them apart, but we’ve also had plenty of wings that were straight trash. These were delicious and meaty and the raspberry chipotle sauce on them was really great. Great way to kick off a meal.

 

The salmon salad was much bigger than we expected. Aside from lettuce, it had candied pecans, blue cheese, bell peppers, onions, and tomatoes. This all had a Caesar dressing mixed in, which ruled. We were both expecting a piece of salmon on top but this shredded version was actually much easier to deal with. The salmon had a great sweet honey taste and you could get some with every bite of salad. And despite the tomatoes being sort of out of season, all the veggies were really fresh. We had to fight over who got the buttery garlic toast, but splitting it worked just fine.

 

We liked this place probably more than normal people would, but it’s got that fun kitsch that we’re always looking for. Super friendly servers and good food and drinks just makes it all the more enjoyable. Looking forward to our next trip to the Dalles House!

Brass Rail - Grande, MN

I’ve driven by this small restaurant and bar a bunch of times when headed up north to the lake. I wasn’t sure what it looked like inside (was it more bar-like or more restaurant-like?) but I knew they were known for their broasted chicken. I’m a fan of broasted chicken, but I haven’t had it in a long time. I finally convinced D that we needed to stop there recently, and it was a great decision.

 

The inside is decidedly more restaurant-like than we expected. It’s almost like a little country diner. Checkerboard patterns all around and lots of nick-nacks and history. All the servers are really friendly and the people eating there seem to be regulars, for the most part. Yet, we didn’t feel like outsiders when we walked in – sometimes, that’s a fear of these small-town establishments. 

 

The menu is really full of delicious sounding things. But we knew we wanted the chicken. I went with the ¼ chicken (dark meat) and D went with the ¼ chicken (light meat). Plus, we knew we needed some cheese curds. And because, I hadn’t seen it in liquor stores for a while, or on a restaurant menu ever, I got a lime-a-rita. Hahaha

 

The curds came out and were exactly what we expected. They came with some sort of dipping sauce – probably ranch or sour cream based, but we didn’t care. We were just shoveling them into our mouth holes. Super good.

All of the chicken dinners come with coleslaw, but I’ve never seen it served like they do at the Brass Rail. The server brings out a massive tray of coleslaw for what looks like the entire restaurant (as it turns out, everyone orders the chicken dinners here, so that makes sense). Everyone gets a cup (not a little cup, either) of coleslaw with a fork stuck in the top. Simple, but something you’ll remember – and apparently tell people about if you have a blog. Thankfully, the coleslaw is really good. I did think it was a little weird to have a coleslaw appetizer, but I’m guessing normal people wait for their dinners to arrive to eat theirs. 

 

The chicken is every bit as good as you’d expect it. Lots of people don’t even know what broasted chicken is, but it’s basically pressure-fried chicken. Pressure cookers are a dangerous kitchen contraption meat to seal in juices and then they fry it at the same time. I don’t understand the science behind it – I just eat it. The dark ¼ chicken dinner comes with a thigh and a drumstick, buttered toast and a side, which I got onion rings. It also comes with a bowl of mashed potatoes and gravy, like a cereal bowl sized situation. This is a seriously heavy meal, in case you were wondering. The chicken is superb. Super crunchy and juicy, which is a hard combination, I understand. It’s really the star of the show. The rest of the stuff is solid, but the chicken is where it’s at. 

 

It’s clear these cooks know their way around a fryer, which I respect. Generous portions and a broad menu also help push this place up the ladder of places we’ll hit on the way up north again. Looking forward to our next stop at the Brass Rail.

Barker's Bar & Grill - Hudson, WI

 

D had stopped into this place with a friend a couple weeks back and said we needed to go here and eat some of the stuff that she has tried. It’s a really fun little bar and grill in downtown Hudson. We were spending the night nearby, so it seemed to work out perfectly for us. 

 

The menu has a lot of things on it, and I always ask the server what the place is known for when I go to a new place. She said the wings were one of the best sellers – and also why D wanted to come back here. So there it was, I guess we’re getting the wings! Now to decide which of the many sauce options we were in the mood for. We went with Bree’s Knees Wings – sweet, tangy, and spicy with honey, lemon, and Nashville hot chicken flavors. It’s really hard to go wrong with that kind of profile. 

 

We also decided to split the Casino el Camino Burger – Louisiana hot sauce, cayenne pepper, crumbled blue cheese, caramelized onions, chopped celery, lettuce and tomato. All of those things were going to work out nicely for us. 

 

The wings were actually pretty damn good – definitely noteworthy. Lots of meat on them, but the flavors in the sauce were pretty killer. You could definitely taste everything on the list and it was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Very much like D, I would absolutely go back here again and get an order or seven of these Bree’s Knees Wings.

 

The Casino el Camino burger was a good burger. Not life changing, and maybe I had my hopes set too high, but it needed something to make it pop a little. Again, not a flop or anything, but if they can make killer wing sauce, they’ll be able to figure out how to make this burger stand out above the rest. I’m not sorry I ordered it, but the next time I go back to Barker’s, I’ll try a different burger or sandwich and know that it’ll be better than average bar and grill food. 

 

The server was super helpful and friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. Really made it a fun night for us.

 

Looking forward to our next trip back to Barker’s!

Indian Masala - Maplewood, MN

My friend Fred Garvin (male sex worker) has recommended a few places over the past few years and he’s been right on the mark. It surprised me that he and his family would drive from Minneapolis to Indian Masala just for Indian food, but I found out why – it’s worth it. 

The restaurant is very unassuming from the street view – in fact, we weren’t sure it was even open still. But once you get through the doors, the people are friendly, respectful, and very glad you’re there. We got seated at a booth and handed these very nice shiny menus that were massive. There are so many different dishes on this menu that we had trouble deciding what to get. Usually, when that happens, we just overorder to make sure we didn’t miss anything – this time was no different. I’ll also mention that they have an ever-changing lunch buffet. So you need to check and see which day you want to come. Some days it’s all vegetarian, some days it’s all biryani, some days it’s everything, you just have to figure out which day you want to show up.

I guarantee you that anytime I see Chicken 65 on the menu, I will order it. One of my all-time favorites. This was in appetizer form, which just means a smaller portion. D thinks she has never had a dosa before, so we got the spicy podi masala dosa to split, not knowing how large it was going to be. And order of Chana Masala and Lamb Chettinadu, as well. When asked, we told the server to give us a medium spice level since we weren’t afraid of a little flavor. D also went with a Maharaja pilsner, which seemed to throw off our server just a little bit, but good for her for breaking down gender norms like the champion she is.

The Chicken 65 is really awesome – as it always is everywhere you go. This version isn’t as saucy as some I’ve had and is more of a dry spice rub. I’ve tried to make this at home and I just can’t get it dialed in yet. Covered with onions (optional) and some lemon to squeeze on it. It’s just hard to beat this dish and they nail it here.

The spicy podi masala dosa was much larger than we thought it would be. It’s folded in half and still covers the cookie sheet they serve it on. It comes with a nice dal (sort-of lentil soup) and two dips – one cheese-adjacent and the other tomato-based. It’s sort of a rice flour crepe filled with a spicy potato mixture. It’s a little bit sweet, so the spicy filling really shines, especially when paired with the dips or the dal. I’m glad we tried this, since we’re still talking about it.

The Chana Masala was good – it’s difficult to mess up chickpeas in a rich tomato sauce. It comes with a large serving of basmati rice. The spice level on this was great and we were both really pleased with this dish.

The Lamb Chettinadu was a bit of a gamble, but it paid off. Really flavorful lamb chunks that were tender and not stringy or gritty. The sauce wasn’t something I’ve had before, but I loved it. It’s also served with a large amount of basmati rice.

Everything here was so delicious. We couldn’t finish it all, so we took half of it home in to-go containers for lunch the next day. There’s a dessert case on the way out, so I grabbed some kheer for myself – I’m a big fan. We’ll be back here, without question, so thank you for the recommendation, Fred Garvin.

Top 5 things about Indian Masala

1. Chicken 65

2. Lamb Chettinadu

3. Spicy podi masala dosa

4. Chana Masala

5. seriously thorough menu

 

Bottom 5 things about Indian Masala

1. It’s a bit off the beaten path, being on the south side of I-94 in the southern section of Maplewood

2. Sometimes, it’s difficult to decide what to get with such a vast menu – great problem to have

3. The buffet is going to be on my mind for many days

4. Nothing else is a negative

5. Nothing else is a negative

 

https://indianmasalamn.com

Quick Review: Flock Chicken Chips (Hattie B's flavor)

Not sure how quick I can make this review. I'm a HUGE fan of these and I'm trying to spread the love. But, I also know some people will be absolutely horrified by the entire concept. I'll start with a checklist in this choose-your-own-adventure review.

There are three distinct sets of people who will like these chips (or "crisps" as they're called in the UK): 

• Anyone who likes pork rinds or chicharrones
• Anyone who does NOT pick the skin off their fried chicken
• Keto and protein fans

If you're not in one of these groups, please move along. 

These Flock chips are literally fried chicken skin. Very similar to pork rinds, which are fried pig skins. I don't mean they are designed to appear like chicken skins - they ARE chicken skins that have been fried crispy and put into a bag. Yes, they are weird at first, but they are delicious. Addicting and delicious. They've got tons of protein and are low in carbs, which is why they're great for workout fiends. 

These delicious snacks are (right now) only sold online through their website store and they're only available in a case format - like 12. So you really have to either be wiling to take a gamble (which I AM), or have 11 other friends who are interested in trying them. The folks at Flock are targeting the small business or gyms that have their own vending machine or snack shop, which makes perfect sense. They've got a variety of flavors (including Cajun, plain, BBQ, and salt & vinegar), but I really love the partnership they did with Hattie B's Nashville Hot Chicken, one of the best inventions on the planet.

Just go to the website and try them out. Of if you have a small business, they're always running deals and specials, so support these fine folks. Brilliant idea and I'm so glad I took the gamble on these. I probably shouldn't tell you how many cases I've purchased over the past year, but it's .... more than two. Spend some money at Flock!!

Warning to purchasers, there is a silica pack in each bag - those little white pouch that keeps moisture content where it should be. There are small silica packs in each bag that are easily overlooked when you grab a handful of chips. Just want folks to be careful. Not even joking. 

Note to Flock Foods marketing: I'd be happy to be your spokesperson or shirtless marketing guy if you need me.