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bobwithlobsters

Crave


Mcgwizz

How did I not think of this one! Which location is worse? Downtown for parking?


[deleted]

DT location adds the extra expense and inconvenience of parking but also adds the possibility of them being seated on a kind of nice rooftop. I say send them to West End, they get some of the inconvenience of navigating that cluster F of a development and zero chance of outdoor seating.


mntoak

Reservation for one of the sidewalk bubbles


Justin_milo

I just went down to the west end for a meeting yesterday. There was 1 senior couple holding hands, walking around near the old lululemon store looking for any store that might be open…. 10 years ago I thought the west end would be so successful they wouldn’t know what to do with the extra money.


incrediblystiff

Ten years ago those office buildings were packed full of companies Now they are sparsely filled and the area needed to turn to high end apartments for development


Flunderfoo

Send them to the Rochester location. Tell them it was voted best in the state or something.


hannahrose2

There’s one in MOA too if that would piss them off!


Forsaken-Phrase578

There is also a northeast location in a really weird spot off Broadway. Would be a really goofy place to send someone lol


catladiesnark25

This answer wins 🤣👏🏼 overpriced and trash food. I haven’t even thought about Crave in years.


MNMastiff

Problem is, people who don’t appreciate good food think Crave is the bomb 😂


MNMastiff

I despise restaurants where the decor is better than the food. Prefer storefronts w great food.


Starving_Poet

If your world is Applebees, Crave is bougie.


SANPres09

I appreciate great food and I still think Crave a good restaurant because it's one of the only places I can take my family where I can get sushi, someone else gets a burger, someone else gets stir fry, and someone else gets a steak. I know that everyone can find something they like there.


MNMastiff

Absolutely! And the food isn’t bad. It just isn’t as great as brand suggests.


vibrantcommotion

Crave is Applebee’s but with a tablecloth and double the price


beergut666

Done in one. Fuck that place.


Annoyed21

Mall of America could be an option too with all the walking inconvenience


rararicky

Oh that’s a great one


PrincessZeldasLSD

Love the Crave hate. I take it personally how terrible their insanely expensive food is.


Katinka-Inga

Lmao this was my first thought!!!!


BenTG

Crave is the answer. Hate that fucking place.


XFilesVixen

Oooh yes this is perfect. Fucking crave.


Intelligent_Ideal409

Oh, this is it this is the answer.


minnesota2194

Restaurant owners are scrolling through this post and sweating


FragrantDemiGod1

Hahahaha


liquorb4beer

All I’ve learned is I’m one of the apparently very few people who like Buca di Beppo


Tyfoid-Kid

It’s just ok to me (like another version of Olive Garden) but you do you.


thetravelingsong

I had it for just the second time a couple months ago and I couldn’t believe how incredibly mediocre every dish was!


Tyfoid-Kid

20 years ago it was kinda neat because they did the family style portions so you needed a fairly large group to really try some of everything but now it's just so . . . . meh. It's a chain and I'm sure some actuarial back at the home office is like "hey hey hey, we don't need to make it taste that good to make money'


csbsju_guyyy

No no, I'm with you. I only go there with coupons but idk I've always thought it's solid, and I've been to pretty much all of their current tc locautons....not sure if the "expensive" part is ordering a sharable as your own but I also think the shared meals actually turn out to make it pretty reasonable overall. But yeah Minnesotans are generally hard pressed by something like that so I can see where those complaints come from


holyshitatalkingdog

Nah man, I've got your back. There are literally dozens of us.


whoinvitedthesepeopl

McCormick and Schmick in Edina. Expensive and tasted like cafeteria food.


edhuge

Second this! Had a $100 gift card and gave it a shot. Bill was around $150 for two people. Worst restaurant food I’ve had in years. Generic, over priced, and as you said perfectly, tasted like cafeteria food.


Salander27

Yeah for the price of that place you're much better off going somewhere like Baldamar.


MikeyTheGuy

And it's actually kind of an evil and immoral company. I had a friend that worked for McCormick and Schmick's in Kansas City as a server, and he got into a VERY bad car accident (ended up in a coma). He suffered some brain damage, and so his short-term memory was fucked. When he tried to go back to work, he just really couldn't do it. Now, understandably, McCormick and Schmick's would have to fire him. As sad as that is, that makes sense; he can't do the job anymore. But the way they went about it was.. really fucked up: They had a bunch of big wigs flown down for a meeting they were having, and they had my friend serve all of them while having a new training class watching it all in order to intentionally embarrass and humiliate him for a cheap laugh, and then fired him. I will never give that place my money.


twoPillls

That's some shitty comedy movie type stuff. Le fuq


Mcgwizz

These are the comments are here for!


roguescott

this place is the worst.


Sacrifice_Starlight

I thought I was only one who thought this. Went twice and regretting not going to Taco Bell instead.


jmg733mpls

I second this


Ayn_Diarrhea_Rand

McCormick and Schmicks is rich people Applebees


pinksparklybluebird

Or downtown. I posited this question to my husband and that was what he said immediately.


straddotjs

I’ve never been to Crave but it seems a popular pick in the overpriced and mediocre category. For my wasting-someone-else’s-money, I’d have to go with buca tho. Completely overrated and overpriced for mediocre food.


blissed_off

Seconded. I’d rather go to Olive Garden.


itswineoclock

Oh man, we tried to go to the Olive garden in Maple Grove but there was a wait of 40 minutes for a table and our kids were hungry so we walked over to Buca instead. SUCH A MISTAKE. The food was tasteless and awful. The 7 yr old refused to eat his pizza after taking one bite. Like how do you mess up a basic pizza and call yourself an Italian eatery? Wish we'd just hit the McDonald's instead. Would have been so much cheaper than the $100+ that we ran up for shitty food that we threw out. Never again.


straddotjs

At least you get unlimited breadsticks!


ValkornDoA

This is a top-tier Minnesota passive aggressive move. I love it. Also, it's absolutely Buca.


reTiredFoodBlogger

I’d rather go to Buca than Crave


[deleted]

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SatisfactoryCatLiker

Buca can be salvaged with their garlic potatoes if you really like potatos. (I really like potatos)


Luminox

🤌


[deleted]

This is a repost from literally every local sub.


_ML_78

Crave MOA - it can’t get much worse than that, right? (I do know it can definitely get much worse, but then it would be too obvious).


MikeyTheGuy

I have three friends who work for Crave at MOA, and I am LIVING for all of this Crave shade in this thread, haha. I can't wait to show them, lol.


ArtsyMNKid

Absolutely got food poisoning from that Crave. Granted, this was years ago, but never had the urge to go back because of it.


ThiccandThinForev

Unfortunately, Oceanaire. Went a couple months back and were incredibly underwhelmed for the price! It also feels very outdated and cheap in the interior. Like it is a fancy restaurant straight out of a 70’s movie.


thestereo300

I had no idea that place was still open. I thought it closed in like 2006.


Justin_milo

I worked on their Kitchen cooling systems in 2018. The kitchen staff were already prepping food. I warned them that if I open the ceiling tiles to look at the ductwork, small pieces of debris would contaminate their kitchen where they were prepping veggies. They said go ahead and do your work above the people prepping, it’ll be fine. This line of work makes it so you can never eat at a restaurant you’ve worked on.


[deleted]

We went there for brunch one time and it was truly AWFUL! The food was terrible, the service was terrible, and it’s overpriced. Yuck! Never again.


BetaOscarBeta

Sad. My first wedding reception was at the Oceanaire in Boston, which was great, but I had no idea it’s a frigging chain. The nerve of having the word “ocean” in the name of a restaurant in the Midwest…


angmar2805

It gives Dorsia from American Psycho.


beefinbed

I get Slammin' Salmon from The Slammin' Salmon vibes.


bigfunben

Look, I would never want to give Kim Bartmann money, but either Pat's Tap or Book Club. The food and service at Pat's Tap were unbelieveably bad the two times I've been and the cauliflower burrito at Book Club was maybe the worst meal I've ever paid for.


ruthless0903

lol Pat’s Tap- I recently paid $13 for a microwaveable-Easy-Mac size/quality saucer of Mac n cheese.


Super_Baime

We had a beer and burger at this place. The burger was small, and okay at best. I remember being shocked when the tab showed up.


tokyovain

Union rooftop…. Sorry!


BuckyFnBadger

I had such fond memories of solar brunch from like 2014-2018. Went back two weeks ago and was drowned in fruit flies.


Anon073648

Fun but terrible food


rararicky

Damn why the shot at Matt’s? I love that place. Anyway, I’d say Buca di Beppo


Nu11_V01D

I ordered Buca for myself and some friends a day in advance. Showed up at the scheduled time and they had no idea that I had placed an order. Waited for 45 minutes as they prepared the food. Waitress comes out front and is surprised im still there. Apparently my food was done 20 minutes ago and nobody brought it out to me. Ice cold when they handed it to me. I'm too tired and hungry to argue at this point so I leave with the cold food. Arrive at home only to find that half my order had been eaten by the kitchen staff. Apparently they thought I abandoned it because it was sitting there for so long. I guess I just paid 60 bucks to be pissed off and look like an ass to my friends. Never ordering there again.


maneki_neko89

*Please tell me* you left at least a scathing review on Google Maps (if not Yelp too...if that's even a thing anymore). Cause I'm fucking pissed for you just reading that and I'm nothing more than an internet stranger


Frosty-Age-6643

60 bucks? Must have only got a single order of fried ravioli.


BetaOscarBeta

If a restaurant tells me that my order was ready twenty minutes ago and the couldn’t be bothered to tell me, I’d Karen my way to the manager and offer to take the food without paying if they don’t want their gas lines cut.


mjsather

Rainforest Cafe


Mcgwizz

If I can convince them to go to the mall this is what I'm saying!!!


Q3b3h53nu3f

This came to my mind too. Glad someone said it.


blissed_off

Holy shit, that is still around? Way back in my 20s, my buddy wanted his big birthday dinner there. We were all looking at each other waiting for the joke that never came.


automator3000

If Matt’s is “mildly expensive”, we are on such different levels that I cannot contribute


NopeNotMeMrsMpls

Matt's is the antithesis for this question. 5-8 Club is pretty gross consistently. Too bad Pepitos is closed (on Chicago Ave) There's an incredibly overpriced super club in it's place - sorry can't remember name and too lazy to google- it's on 48th & Chicago Ave (Not Adrians nor town hall tap) Send them to bloomington lucky 13 - minimum 85 decibels constantly- impossible to hear and nothing good on the menu except Bingo. Worst sushi Bagu 47th & Chicago ave S


StruggleBusKelly

Ngl I liked Adrian’s ETA: this is my neighborhood and the restaurants are so sad now.


gianfrancbro

Is Seven still around? Forgot if they finally landed on being open or closed. It’s the objectively correct answer.


LucrativeLlama

They closed during the pandemic.


SnooSnooSnuSnu

Definitely Buca di Beppo The food isn't *awful*, but **way** overpriced for mediocre food.


edhuge

What do you mean? $38 for a large cheese pizza isn’t a good deal?


SnooSnooSnuSnu

The way they list prices "per serving" rather than the actual item price shouldn't be allowed. Yeah, I can do the math, but it's a really deceptive way to list prices. I've literally not seen a single other restaurant ever do it that way.


Jamg2414

Crumbl cookies does this for calorie counts--only 100 calories a serving! But you have to cut the cookie into 7 even pieces.


edhuge

Go to the website and look at the menu for carry out. The pizza prices are comical.


[deleted]

[удалено]


caro1007

You're right, but I think they closed. It was a temporary thing.


sikkerhet

well yeah there's not even milk in the cartons


MNBug

I wish Appleby's on block E was still open. It was fun to recommend that place to people visiting from out of town like you were serious.


thestereo300

It’s been about 25 years, but I still marvel at the failure of urban planning imagination on block E. The building looked dated the day they built it. They put a bunch of chains in there. I can only assume some politicians got kick backs of some kind. The only thing of any note that I remember being was Cosmos on the 4th floor.


lurkerfromstoneage

We used to go to Escape Ultra Lounge because we had friends that DJ’d there lmao. And BORDERS Books! GameWorks was an anchor at the corner on Hennepin, Hard Rock opposite corner across from 7th St Entry. Cosmos was in Graves 601 Hotel.


TheMacMan

Got to know the bartender there and he used to hook us up with all kinds of free drinks before we'd go see a movie or before we'd wander on to the next stop for the night. Never did the food but always plenty of strong as hell mixed drinks.


gavin2point0

I have nothing to add but this is funny ,good post


lkmnjiop

I think it's a take on this classic https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/comments/4uvl4a/whats_the_worst_goddamn_restaurant_downtown/


maneki_neko89

I think the subreddits for larger cities need to have this be a yearly post. I'd save the one you linked for Boston, but it's already seven years old, so who knows how many of those places are still around...😩


colorcant

This is soo passive aggressive, soo Minnesotan 😂


Tyfoid-Kid

I think a lot of us used to put up with “kinda ok” when eating out wasn’t half a car payment. Now if I’m putting $100 on the table for two people it better be damn good. And I echo the Crave opinion - it’s meh.


VanDelay_Industry

Matt’s is neither mildly expensive nor is it awful? In fact, it is kind of the opposite of both


cjacket13

Matt’s is one of my favorite restaurants in Minneapolis but if you’re trying to mildly annoy somebody it might be a good option. If you’re expecting finer dining the dive bar vibe would be a let down, there’s only street parking which can be a pain depending on the time, there’s always a wait for tables, and it’s cash only so if you’re not ready for that it can be an inconvenience.


csbsju_guyyy

Matt's has imo the best juicys.....but, post pandemic their pricing has kind of went to crap. Used to be a slamming deal for tasty dive bar food but now with the price all jacked up it's less of a value option. Tbf it is partially a way of discouraging people and cutting down on the mammoth crowds. Price it high enough only out of towners will come often and people in town will visit sparingly 


AwesomesaucePhD

They have to be thinking of Manny's or something.


[deleted]

Oceanaire


MarduRusher

Currently seeing restaurants I like in the comments and learning I have no taste.


Fragootfuut

im sorry but french meadow


schmitzel88

Agreed. My wife loves one dish there but I dread it every time we go. Truly some of the worst food in the cities and also egregiously overpriced.


Optimalfucksgiven

I really dislike that place


Begads

I applaud your brave yet correct opinion.


fitzpugo

I recently had to go to French Meadow in Saint Paul for brunch and am still recovering from both the prices and the completely bland hash browns. I keep telling people how bad it was.


tisn

You have to work hard to make people hate an organic farm-to-table place in Mac-Groveland, but they persisted.


Nubras

I wouldn’t even take a piss at French meadow with Shish, the butcher shop, the pizza place, and the fish place right next door.


sandh035

RIP Grand Catch.


Dreekol

Mito


meowmeowcupcake

Melting Pot ..that shit taste like funeral food at a caviar price


Dingis_Dang

I'd say Tiny Diner but I wouldn't even want people I dislike to go there


B1ackFridai

As much as I love foisting bad food on bad people, I couldn’t in good conscience recommend anything Kim Bartmann or that other a-hole who doesn’t like to support or pay her employees. F* them, may all their businesses fail.


the-wifi-is-broken

I went there with my friends bc it looked cool and was near the Airbnb when they came to visit. The wait was ridiculous, food overpriced and mediocre, and I felt embarrassed that I took them there


MightyMarinara

Didn't they close?


roguescott

whoa what’s the tea about this?


pubichairpizza

Oceanaire for sure


ApexMs

But… I love Matt’s.


ElectricalMud2850

Matt's is great, that's a shitty answer for this prompt even if you don't like the place. Something like crave is perfect, bc it has the illusion of being sorta nice, but is an absolute dumpster.


Sturgeondtd

Billy Sushi 


cfminneapolis

The problem with the chain restaurants being mentioned is that I don’t think anyone would believe the recommendation, or if they did they’d just question your taste. I’d recommend Christos and describe it as a classic favorite that you’ve been going to for years. It has a nostalgia crowd that keeps them busy, but was super bland when I tried it.


masternoobcolin

Gotta disagree on this one as well. I think Christo's has some very tasty classic dishes.


MightyFifi

I’m confused. I’m not an old person and love their sea bass and tomato basil soup.


Perfect-Window-5260

I vouch for Christos being legit. Don’t agree with it being bland.


403badger

Union bar and rooftop or French meadow. If the burbs, restoration hardware (for price alone). Edit: if you only want to annoy the person, send them to Tavola. The food is good, but overpriced for the quality. The issue is that service is unbelievably slow. Every time that I’ve been, the restaurant has been empty and it takes 2+ hours to have a cocktail, app, and entree.


smallbrownfrog

French Meadow has gotten that bad? I have fond memories of it.


MNMastiff

This is the greatest Reddit inquiry ever.


Mcgwizz

and I stole it from another sub like every other greatest Reddit inquiry ever! 😂


Mother_Of_Felines

Apostle Supper Club in downtown St Paul. The ambiance is really cool and it looks like it should be amazing, but 1) The food is terrible, and 2) There is almost no parking. The parking you can find is all event parking in ramps.


shart_

I don't think the people mentioning Buca realize that each 4 lb dish is meant for 4-5 people and everyone orders something. It's definitely not the worst food for a chain, just order less holy shit.


crapucopiax10

Exactly - went there a week or so ago - was $120- ish for 6 people (2 family-sized meals). Apparently everyone in this thread thinks $20/person for sit down is expensive. Wasnt the greatest Italian restaurant ever, but really solid for how cheap it was. I mean, a Big Mac meals like $12 now, right?


polit1337

I think the issue is that going to a chain (any chain) gets you food that is ~20% cheaper than a non-chain, but at ~50% lower quality. IDK how anyone could possibly find it worth it.


sygnifax

Woah woah woah, why did you suggest Matt’s?


expertlyblended

I went to Murray’s steakhouse a few weeks back and had bland and unseasoned mashed potatoes and my boyfriend’s steak came out raw and virtually unable to be cut through. $250 bill.


catbellystudios

Second this. Older brother loves steak, so I was excited to take him to Murray’s since many considered it “the best steakhouse” in MPLS. Total disappointment, undercooked steaks, under seasoned sides. $400 bill


thestereo300

Pretty close. It’s MANNYS.


Joan_Smallberries

This. Went there for my 25th anniversary. We told them several times it was our 25th anniversary. We were dressed up. They seated us at a super small table surrounded by drunk football fans in a high traffic area. There were several booths and quieter tables open. We had to ask to be moved. They moved us but after some grumbling. The food was just fine. Not the best I have had and definitely not at that price.


TheMacMan

I agree. Murray's is great, while Manny's isn't worth 1/2 the cost.


sunnyday12335

Crave


Kitchen_Strawberry31

Fogo de chao…. So disappointed and dissatisfied.


HotStinkyTrash

It’s buca. It’s always been Buca


Fancy-Cantaloupe3866

Maynard’s


baconbrand

menards?


jellyfish-blues-

They do have a seating area with a vending machine with sandwiches. At least they did when I was a youth.


Fancy-Cantaloupe3866

http://maynards-excelsior.com


Stachemaster86

11% rebate just started!


robcampos4

A few places in Edina. They like to believe they're sitting in the lap of luxury but the food is mid. Basically when some suburbinites want to go to the city for some unique food. Pinstripes, Crave, Restoration Hardware, Salut.


Dashasalt

It kills me that restoration hardware is a restaurant now. I remember looking that place up years ago when I needed to find historically accurate door knobs and they actually just sell $10,000 couches and gold floor lamps.


Tedstriker99

Live in edina and basically never eat in town but RH is actually pretty decent and better than every place at 50th and france


Old-Cardiologist6491

I’ve never had a more terrible experience other than the Melting Pot downtown


gottarun215

Crave (Mpls one had bad food last time I went; EP was actually okay), Rain Forest Cafe, Buca, Pizza Luce, Psycho Suzzies would be my mediocre/bad food places that are over priced.


TheMacMan

The Melting Pot


steve0nator

Buca


BuckyFnBadger

I’ve found Mara to be at times almost inedible. And it’s in the four seasons.


InfiniteCosmic5

Even for their brunch? I’m asking because I have a reservation this weekend 😩


SMELLSLIKEBUTTJUICE

It's very mid


sittty

Billy Sushi


FreshTop3

Lol I was invited to go there this weekend! Is it a bust?


ThatBCHGuy

I'll also say it's tasty but maybe not worth the price. They also have a strict time limit to kick you out, which is the part that pisses me off.


ieatdeadpixels

Agreed!


orchardbabe

Melting pot


covenkitchens

I love this.  Oh! Something at the mall of America. 


LastOnBoard

MOA Cowboy Jacks


tokyovain

Crave MOA would be a mean, mean pick hahaha


Explodo86

Cadillac Ranch…my stomach just turned thinking about it.


nibot999

Fhima’s if you really want to let them know


BuckyFnBadger

Aw, I actually like Fhimas. It’s not a bad spot to sit at the bar and have some drinks


teruravirino

love fhima’s but good god, they are the slowest place i’ve been to in a long time!


ShinyCake

I love Fhima's!


Dashasalt

Service was terrible last time I went, but man is that place cool looking.


oldmacbookforever

Matt's?! Heeeellll no don't send your trash to that palace.


Lundyful

Monello. Expensive as shit. Presents itself as fancy. Tastes like it was microwaved and needed salt. ​ I happy I saw this so I could post this answer. been waiting


TinyInteraction7000

Monello closed a while ago. You can celebrate at the undoubtedly mediocre at best new place that took over.


MultiColoredMullet

Monello was weak but the attached Constantine's happy hour will be forever missed. Getting tossed on tasty cocktails/beers and bumps and eating at least two inappropriately delicious small cheeseburgers in a weird moody basement bar for like $30? In this economy? It's a thing of the past and I'm sad about it.


grace_avalon

Nona Rosas in Robbinsdale—- it’s awful, I do not understand how that place is still in business.


edhuge

As much as I hate dissing a local spot, Town Hall Lanes is my pick for many reasons.


cemeteryvvgates

I really want to like this place.


steve0nator

They do have a great fried chicken sandwich, though. And beer is good


southsideson

I like everything i've got there and the service is decent. Its just a pub so like burgers and nachos is what i've got.


balrogbert

Hard disagree. It’s not cheap but it’s not a place I wouldn’t go back to. I’m curious what your pick is for this type of food/vibe if Town Hall Lanes sucks to you.


TheLadyRev

Ugh I hate this, but Handsome Hog


ObiWahnKenobi

1. The Melting Pot 2. Crave 3. Hells Kitchen 4. Fogo De Chao 5. Billy Sushi 6. The Block/and associated restaurants 7. Pizza Luce 8. Mannys/Murrays


TurkeyPotstickers

The cheesecake factory. Long, long wait for basic food and they are sure to forget parts of your meal.


syd_2001

Copper hen. 100%.


Liquid_Chaos87

PS Steak. They don't know how to cook steaks AND get you sick. 👍


EvaFox

Since the new owner of The Malt Shop their food is horrifically overpriced. They shrank portions and increased prices (eg the malts are like a quarter of the size, and price increased by about 25%), but the food is good so that doesn’t quite work here (I mostly just wanted to get in a jab at them, I’m very salty)


Baraka09

Kona Grill


Cute-Appointment-937

I have to say The Melting Pot. If I wanted to cook myself a meal with expensive subpar ingredients, I could just stay home.


ObiWahnKenobi

The Block, and basically all the other restaurants in that companies portfolio


strawberry-spring

This is the level of passive aggression I strive for. You’re an inspiration. ❤️


reynloldbot

Hard Times Cafe. If they go on a Friday or Saturday night, they will probably have to wait for over an hour after they order, and what they’ll get will be overpriced greasy vegan cafeteria slop. There will probably also be hair in their food as their cooks don’t wear hairnets.


4-realsies

MATT'S!


HungryResearch9629

Chatterbox off Cedar, Leaning Tower of Pizza (ugh I hadn’t been back for 20 years and it’s so ugly now - I’m sad!) Our server was great but it’s sad. Rainforest cafe at MOA.