1971 Reviews of 2016 restaurants in the Twin Cities and area

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