As nice as it can be to sleepwalk out of bed and over to the Northsider on a lazy Sunday morning, there are times when you get the unscratchable itch to get off-campus and fill up on something new. Thankfully, the Twin Cities area has a virtually limitless supply of extraordinary restaurants and eateries to explore, no matter which side of the river you’re on.
Whether it be trying out new cuisines, finding new late-night favorites or looking for a quick, sweet pick-me-up while out on the town, these accessible restaurants in the St. Thomas area are a great jumping-off point when meal swipes just aren’t cutting it.
The Nook
The Nook, a small burger joint and pub located eight minutes from campus by car and 30 minutes by public transit, is one of the foremost restaurants in the Twin Cities to sample a cheese-stuffed Juicy Lucy, much less any of its other award-winning burgers or pub fare.
The offer is made even more mouth-watering by the savings offered through its daily specials, including $2 burgers on Mondays and fish fry Fridays, cementing it as one of the St. Paul neighborhood’s must-stop eateries for those searching for a local spot to load up on a healthy amount of sweet, sweet grease.
Afro Deli
Afro Deli’s multiple locations in the Twin Cities area make it a prime spot to hit while out visiting elsewhere or in the cities or just looking for a quick nearby bite of food that you won’t find in the dining halls. The restaurant describes itself as a fusion of African, Mediterranean and American cuisine and boasts a variety of dishes — all of which are prepared Halal — from simple sandwiches and gyros to full dinners and bowls, according to its website.
The Afro Deli locations nearest to St. Thomas in St. Paul and Minneapolis are both a 40 min public transportation ride or 10-minute drive from campus, so there’s no excuse not to try out their diverse options, no matter where you are in the cities.
The Test Kitchen
A 10-minute drive and 35-minute public transit ride from campus, The Test Kitchen is well worth the trek to visit one of the Twin Cities’ most exciting eateries. Featuring a rotating menu of equally-appetizing fast food fare served up to perfection, the restaurant’s location near the University of Minnesota makes it a great place to stop while perusing other trendy businesses on the other side of the river.
Besides, its already-delicious selection of burgers and sandwiches even comes with an unbeatable guarantee: a donut, included with every sandwich, a winning combo that likely sells the joint’s appeal better than I ever could.
Simplicitea
Students looking to find their nearest boba hookup need look no further than Simplicitea, located six minutes away from campus by car and 20 minutes by public transport. In addition to a selection of various classic milk, green and oolong teas, Simplicitea also offers milk caps, craft teas, refreshers and smoothies. Its several types of tapioca pearls, jellies and foams with which to load up your cup likewise ensure that there’ll be a drink for everyone’s tastes when visiting.
Not only that, but it also sells espresso to fuel you through long study hours in its comfortable interior, making it a perfect location for both casual meet-ups and anywhere-but-the-library grind sessions alike.
bb.q Chicken
For those with a taste for fried chicken, Korean cuisine or both, bb.q Chicken’s combination of wings and Korean dishes provides an unlikely yet delicious fix fit for a variety of occasions.
With locations in both Minneapolis and St. Paul — with the latter being only a short sixminute drive or 15-minute public transit ride away from campus — bb.q’s selections of traditional or boneless wings is an easy pick when in need of some spice. Its array of sides, which ranges from fried dumplings to sweet potato fries, means that it’s not hard to find something an entire group can share and enjoy, even if they’re not all there for the hot stuff.
Paris Crepes and Boba Tea
Though it might be hard to imagine the day on which you feel a strong, inexplicable craving for crepes while at St. Thomas, Paris Crepes and Boba Tea will be there, ready and waiting, for when you do. Paris Crepes claims to bring the authentic taste of France to its wide lineup of both sweet and savory crepes, and its assortment of milk and blended teas make it that much easier to wash it all down, especially thanks to its 15%-off deal on crepes on Sundays, according to its official Facebook page.
Reachable via a six-minute drive, 20-minute public transportation ride or, if you’re feeling the preemptive need to burn off those crepe calories, a 35-minute walk, Paris Crepes is easily accessible and well worth the visit, random crepe craving or not.
Kevin Lynch can be reached at lync1832@stthomas.edu.