Restaurants in Faribault

At Firehouse Grille, meat is serious business. When dinner rolls around, the aromas of sirloin and new york strip steaks fill the room. These tender cuts arrive at tables accompanied by classic sides such as onion rings and baked potatoes, but even that isn't enough to grant them top billing. No, that belongs to the burgers, each one a testament to the victual artistry of Firehouse's chefs. Molded from certified Angus ground chuck, the patties are garnished with specialty toppings such as bacon, barbecue sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese. The patties seem to have mastered the buddy system, as no burger is complete without at least two. They're also joined by an impressive selection of draft beers, all of which are perfect for sipping or dunking tater tots into.

Executive Chef Keith Johnson pairs premium ingredients with homemade touches to build Chart House's menu of hearty gourmet fare. Canadian walleye, scallops wrapped in apple-smoked bacon, hand-cut steaks of premium corn-fed cattle, and Alaskan snow crab form the basis of mouthwatering dishes, with unique elements including housemade applesauce, seven-spice butter, and grade-A pure maple syrup enhancing the already heady flavors. A Friday night fish fry welcomes guests to the softly lit dining room throughout the season of Lent, and regular live music events fill the air with sounds more melodious than the yawns of an opera singer.

The restaurant, which opened in 1968, is part of a larger event center that has indoor and outdoor reception sites used for weddings, corporate events, and Juggalo Championship Wrestling competitions. Located on the shores of Lake Kingsley, Chart House offers picturesque lakeside and garden views.

Ronin Cafe's colorful menu of creative mouth entertainment combines spicy Thai specialties with Japanese dishes. Appetizers of grilled satay chicken ($5.95), with marinated cucumbers and peanut sauce, and deep-fried tofu ($4.75), served with sweet chili sauce and relish, bang the stomach gong before a delicate kabuki of sushi and sashimi unfolds. Along with various nigiris ($2), sashimis ($3), and vegan makis (6 pieces, $4–$6), specialty small rolls (4–6 pieces, $6–$12), such as the spicy yellowtail with garlic chili, and specialty big rolls (8 pieces, $14 and up) are tenderly crafted with shrimp and crab by expert chefs and christened with creative names such as dragon, red scorpion, white elephant, and enraged anteater. The indecisive and the nigiri novices can take the splitting headache out of menu decryptography by opting instead for Ronin Cafe's omakase ("trust") service, in which diners simply find a comfortable chair, name a price limit, and trust the chef to select the appropriate meal via telepathy.

Warm light and modern décor greet diners at Sawa Japan, and hibachi chefs dazzle diners with adroit teppanyaki-cooking showmanship. Lobster tail and filet mignon pirouette through the air and gently alight on an open hibachi grill. At the opposite end of the cooking spectrum, sushi chefs arrange raw morsels into dozens of à la carte sushi and signature-roll selections. Artful sushi presentations match the modern ambiance of the sushi bar, which extends into the dining area where soft music and large, airy windows evoke a peaceful climate.

From its humble origins as a soda fountain in 1930s Saint Paul, Green Mill Restaurant and Bar has grown into a franchise with more than 28 locations all over Minnesota and the Midwest. As TV screens blast sports news in the background, patrons at each eatery dine on a menu of classic American and pizzeria fare. Thick, hand-pressed burgers form bunned towers with hefty toppings such as smoked bacon, haystack onions, and chipotle mayo. Families looking to bond can practice fractions on regular, deep-dish, or thin and crispy pizzas or group juggling acts with samplers of 27 juicy wings. In addition to pastas and salads, each location's bar carries a varied drink menu that includes draft beers such as Blue Moon and Samuel Adams alongside wine, martinis, and margaritas.