Restaurants in Cottage Grove

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.

Most of the items on Lakes Tavern & Grill’s menu sum up the eatery’s concept with just their description. Take for instance, the goat-cheese and tomato “pizzas” baked atop naan bread, or the classic chicken salad dressed with mango and curry. The combination of classic American eats spiced up with a few global punches speaks to everything the inspired chefs have strived to create. And though it’s a mouthful to say, their self-penned description—“American contemporary casual upscale dining”—sums up the eatery in every respect, even beyond the food.

A cobalt blue dining room sets the scene for the casual munching to commence. Spotlights embedded in the ceiling cast a comfortable light across cherry-wood tables and booths fit for parties of four. In the bar area, patrons can enjoy the luminous glow of eight big-screen TVs, each broadcasting seasonal college and professional games. On occasion, a live band will grace the stage and belt out songs. If the rabblerousing is too much for larger parties, groups of 10–12 can slip into the Lakes Lounge, where they'll find two leather couches and a 65-inch television perfect for watching footage from some other family’s vacation.

The aroma of simmering lamb and curried vegetables wafts from Flamingo Restaurant’s kitchen, where owners Shegitu Kebede and Frewoini Haile ladle hearty meat stews onto spongy disks of injera. The duo’s traditional East African cuisine has been lauded by the Star Tribune as “flavorful and lovingly prepared.”

But Ms. Kebede’s and Ms. Haile’s passion for African cuisine is not the only bond they share: both women embarked on a dangerous escape from their respective war-ravaged countries, Ethiopia and Eritrea. As reported by MPR News, the refugees fled Africa on foot, alone, dodging rebels and government armies en route to freedom.

Once in the United States, Ms. Kebede and Ms. Haile joined forces to rebuild their lives and preserve their cultural identities. The result is Flamingo Restaurant. There, traditional African art adorns the walls, and imported African spices flavor the owners’ family recipes. Both women are always on hand to greet guests with a smile or conduct a tableside primer on their favorite dishes. Says Kebede, "We want people to see that, even though your countries fight [for] over 35 years, you can still be friends."