Restaurants in Cottage Grove

The aroma of brewing organic, fair-trade coffee from Brazil wafts through the air at 50th Street Cafe during breakfast and lunch. Behind the breakfast counter, cooks work to reinvent classic breakfast dishes. They flip pancakes made with cookie dough and drizzle them with chocolate or add fresh mozzarella and basil-pesto hollandaise to unorthodox omelets. Farm-fresh eggs and housemade hash browns, early-morning staples, arrive alongside less traditional panko-battered walleye fillets. The griddle sizzles like a knight in shining armor left in a hot car, laden with half-pound patties of Cattleman’s Selection ground beef, which end up on thick-cut sourdough toast with Old Smokehouse bacon and melted swiss cheese. That heat is also reflected in the bright hues of yellow tile and orange accents as well as whimsical calico-patterned carpets. The staff at 50th Street Cafe works to reduce its collective carbon footprint by using recyclable materials.

The cooks at New Louisiana Cafe craft American diner fare accented with a Cajun flair. In the morning, diners can unleash their inner child with malted-caramel apple-crisp waffles or chocolate-chip cookie-dough pancakes. And the kitchen can whip up savory breakfasts, too, like steak and eggs or biscuits and country-style gravy topped with crumbled italian sausage. In true Louisiana style, the eggs benedict comes with andouille sausage, while the blackened catfish is paired with two locally sourced eggs. At lunch, patrons can tear into the El Cubano sandwich, which is piled with pulled pork, or a BLT, which in Louisiana stands for bacon, love, and tomato.

As journalist Charles Kuralt once said, "You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars.” The chefs at B-52 Burgers and Brew strive to ensure their place on the celestial map shines brightly, dressing up the classic American staple with a lineup of sauces, cheeses, and bacon strips. Live music, contests, and a host of libations keep the interior abuzz with constant action, where daily specials bring excitement to weekdays more effectively than unleashing a convocation of bald eagles into the office on a Tuesday morning.

At the eatery's belly, a behemoth stone fireplace lavishes tables with a warm glow that illuminates all the eclectic decor nearby. Eyes can scan diverse adornments ranging from mounted portraits and sports paraphernalia to several flat-screen TVs broadcasting the latest game. Atop glistening tabletops, forks globetrot across international fare such as Italian pizzas, Cajun-style po boys, and thai wraps. If pairing wine's not your bag, a neighboring blackboard lists all the night's available draft and bottled brews. 

Fireside also enthusiastically hosts private banquets within a full-size log cabin dubbed The Warming House. With its spacious interior and high ceilings, The Warming House can accommodate up to 52 guests for sit-down service, 70 for a mingling reception, or 150 for a contortionist convention.

At Twisted Fork Grille, locally sourced and fresh ingredients combine for American-inspired contemporary breakfasts, sandwiches, and entrees. The chefs rely on local suppliers for as many ingredients as possible, from grass-fed beef to goat cheese. Twisted Fork’s commitment to integrity and local economies extends even to its beer list, overflowing with craft microbrews that complement a roster of more than 40 wines. As they dine, patrons can lounge amid the restaurant’s cozy confines, raising a toast to their once-rumbling stomachs now sounding quieter than a spy in a library.

Since 1986, Champps Americana's kitchen has sizzled with burgers and classic American dishes, satiating sports fans and families with a comfortable, welcoming atmosphere. Amid the sunlit dining room, diners at wooden tabletops have views of 25 TVs broadcasting sports games, competing with a cluster of arcade games for eyes' attention. Chefs cater to taste buds by plumping up pastas with chicken, shrimp, and vegetables and piling rolls with beef patties, barbecued pulled pork, and spicy buffalo chicken. Behind the bar, bartenders whip up specialty cocktails and margaritas and fill goblets with an expansive selection of draft beers and wine. The bar and grill draws guests with regular specials and events throughout the week, including daily happy hours, Thursday-night trivia, and Sunday brunch. Every Tuesday, the restaurant serves up free meals to children, as a magician saunters table to table, entertaining kids with tricks and balloon art, crafting replacement siblings on request.