An Uncommon Dining Guide to the Twin Cities (1971), by Nina McGuire and Barbara Budd
There aren't too many of the restaurants listed in here that are still around in one form or another. Off the top of my head, this is it. I tried to keep spelling and punctuation intact. And yes, I know I'm cheating more than a little by including Fuji-Ya.
"Many years ago a man and his wife and their sons opened a small
restaurant in the Northeastern section of Minneapolis. From that humble
beginning, has grown the wonderful Jax Café. In the summertime, dine in
the Old World Garden. It is outdoor dining at its best in the Twin
Cities. The menu features lobster, prime ribs, fresh-caught rainbow
trout (in season only), and a super-secret, super-delicious Roquefort
dressing. The menu is extensive. The food and atmosphere are
delightful."
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"Jax Café periodically offers a Pheasant Night. It is but slightly
advertised and is sold out almost immediately. And no wonder! The dinner
is priced at $6.50. It includes soup, Caesar salad, pheasant served
with wild rice, vegetables, rolls, coffee and a flaming dessert. Not
only is this meal delicious, Jax makes it a fun evening at very fair
prices."
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"Although they are scheduled somewhat infrequently, watch for a small
notice in your newspaper that Jax Café is planning a Cape Cod Night. The
dinner is served in an upstairs room and begins with a magnificent
seafood buffet. The main course, of course, is boiled lobster with all
the Cape Cod trimmings. Dessert and coffee follow. This is a colorful
and appealing meal. It is priced at $8.95 per person."
Jax Cafe
"We sometimes forget how very close the rolling farmland is to our
metropolitan Twin Cities and always look forward to a leisurely drive to
the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. Here, within a small town, is a highly
sophisticated complex of shops, restaurants, night clubs and theaters.
All together these compromise [sic] the Chanhassen Frontier.
We particularly enjoy entering the Dinner Theater early and seeing those
tiers of beautifully set tables waiting. The crystal and silver gleam
in the diffused lighting, the linen is stiffly starched and the room is
most attractive.
The menu is varied with four entrées featured within the ticket price.
The service is fast and efficient with waitresses carefully trained to
anticipate the pace of your dining.
Prices, including entrée (but not appetizer, dessert, or drinks), range
from $6.75 to $9.95 depending upon seat location and performance date."
The Chanhassen Frontier Dinner Theater
"Mayslack’s makes the best rare roast beef sandwich we have ever eaten!
Within the walls of this ‘Nordeast’ bar, crowds stand in line to sample
the sandwich. It is so big and so good that it must be tried. We urge
and implore you to drive to colorful Northeast Minneapolis (near the
breweries) and find this Polish bar.
Park your car and stand in line to join the people salivating for a
Mayslack’s sandwich. As you might imagine, draft beer and other spirits
are available. Sandwiches served only at lunch!"
Mayslack's
"Murray's is a very well-known steakhouse. We particularly enjoyed the
Silver Butter Knife Steak for two (which is priced at $15.50 including a
bottle of wine)."
Murray's
"If you like a dark wood panelled room with a view of Lake Minnetonka,
come to the Lord Fletcher. This location is so popular that there is
often a short wait for a table. Step downstairs, if you must wait, and
either have a drink or step outside to the lower pavilion and a close
look at the lake.
The buffet is ample. We always enjoy the eggs Benedict and the breakfast
steaks. Waitresses keep your coffee cup filled and the waiters keep the
buffet table filled for those who wish seconds.
Brunch is served on Sundays only from noon to 2 PM. It is priced at
$2.95 for adults and $1.25 for children under 12. It is excellent!"
Lord Fletcher's of the Lake
"Borscht, corned beef, potato latkes, home baked rolls and bread, great
pickles and pasteries combine to make a visit to Cecil's Deli and
Restaurant a fun stop in St. Paul."
Cecil's Deli and Restaurant
"The college crowd at the University first made us aware of the Black Forest Inn. Is it popular! And, is the food GOOD!
All the delicious German specialties are provided in huge servings. The
dining room is colorful and cheerful. Try the Black Forest Inn and
realize what fun inexpensive dining can be!"
The Black Forest Inn
"Another of the favorites with in Dinkeytown is the Vescio Italian Café.
The servings are ample, the food is good and the prices are reasonable!
No wonder it's so busy!"
Vescio's Italian Cafe
"A large portion of our Mexican community resides in St. Paul. The Boca
Chica is always busy! This would be a fun spot for the entire family to
enjoy authentic Mexican dining."
Boca Chica
"The Fuji-Ya is perched above the Mississippi River. From the moment you
were met at the door by a kimono clad hostess until you again leave the
restaurant, the mood is reminiscent of the fine restaurants on the
outskirts of Tokyo.
Plan a dinner here and phone for reservations if you wish to be seated
in the Japanese manner. However, whether you select American or Japanese
seating, the same supper menu awaits your dining pleasure. It hardly
matters what you order. Everything is first rate. The authentic menu
features tempura, sukiyaki and a steak teriyaki.
The food at the Fuji-Ya is so well-known that for years people have been
trying to interest the management in permitting more people to enjoy
these treats. Shortly, a ‘takeout service’ will be available from a
separate location. We wish them success!
However, we hope you will plan your first taste of the Fuji-Ya’s marvelous food in an authentic atmosphere."
The Fuji-Ya
