What is the best restaurant in downtown Minneapolis for a formal date?

Seth D: What is the best restaurant in downtown Minneapolis for a formal date?
My girlfriend will be coming up to visit me in mid-May and I would like to take her out on a formal date to a restaurant that is reasonably nice but not likely to completely break the bank. What suggestions do you have for a restaurant with a good atmosphere?

By the way, why in the world does Yahoo! Answers not have a section for Minneapolis-St. Paul like it does for other metros?

Answers and Views:

Answer by Sofa King
Top 10:

A.Nicollet Island Inn – www.nicolletislandinn.com – (612) 331-1800 –
B.Manny’s Steakhouse – www.mannyssteakhouse.com – (612) 339-9900 –
C.Oceanaire Seafood Room – www.theoceanaire.com – (612) 333-2277 –
D.Cue At the Guthrie – www.cueatguthrie.com – (612) 225-6499 – s
E.Solera Restaurant – www.solera-restaurant.com – (612) 338-0062 –
F.Fugaise – www.fugaise.com – (612) 436-0777
G.Murray’s Restaurant & Cocktail – www.murraysrestaurant.com – (612) 339-0909 –
H.Chino Latino – www.chinolatino.com – (612) 824-7878 –
I.Cosmos Restaurant – www.cosmosrestaurant.com – (612) 312-1168 –
J.112 Eatery – www.112eatery.com – (612) 343-7696

Answer by Katherine
The cut and paste answer from above is ok, but not very helpful. I would recommend asking at Chowhound.com. You’ll get a lot of local and very detailed answers!

I would choose Solera for a downtown nice but not crazy expensive dinner. I would also consider some places like Al Vento and I really like Broder’s , although the atmosphere is nice, I’m not sure about romantic.

Loring Pasta Bar is a pretty cheap place with a very romantic atmosphere on some nights (check to see if there’s entertainment)

Answer by Miss Anne
Restaurants have changed in the Twin Cities the last 5 years with a nice increase in highly rated NEIGHBORHOOD restaurants instead of the big chains or legacy (heritage) restaurants like Murray’s. So check around your neighborhood first!

That being said, the 1st link is for the top restaurants in the cities from Minneapolis St Paul magazine. (Always go with a poll where customers vote!)

1. Kincaid’s
1st special occasion
2nd romantic
3rd (tie) bar menu
3rd seafood
4th (tie) dessert
5th (tie) brunch

2. The Oceanaire Seafood Room
1st seafood
3rd service
4th special occasion

3. La Belle Vie
1st service
2nd French
2nd special occasion
2nd wine list
3rd romantic
5th (tie) new restaurant

4. Lake Elmo Inn —-My 2nd Choice (7th Link)
1st brunch
1st wine list
2nd dessert
2nd (tie) neighborhood restaurant
2nd (tie) service
3rd comfort food,
3rd special occasion
4th salads
5th (tie) bar menu
5th (tie) seafood
5th Twin Cities institution

5. 112 Eatery (tie)
2nd (tie) late-night dining

St. Paul Grill (tie)
4th brunch
4th (tie) service
4th Twin Cities institution

6. Murray’s
1st Twin Cities institution
2nd steak
5th (tie) special occasion

7. Manny’s Steak House
1st steak
2nd (tie) service
3rd (tie) sandwiches
4th wine list

8. Vincent A Restaurant
1st French

9. Palomino
5th (tie) bar menu

10. Jax Cafe——————-MY Choice (see 4th/5th/6th links)
3rd (tie) brunch
3rd outdoor dining
3rd Twin Cities institution
5th (tie) romantic
5th special

Anther place to look for a restaurant is City Pages guide (2nd link) with a pull-down directory.)

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For the 2 years I’ve been answering questions, I’ve asked SEVERAL TIMES that we be added to the list of cities–even if it was as the TWIN CITIES. But we are fly-over country and anyone in California (Yahoo’s headquarters) or New York doesn’t see our cities as worthy of notice. (Yet, Craigslist does…go figure!)

Hope you have a great evening!