Restaurants in Saint Louis Park

After a stint in computers, owner Stewart Fishman turned a neighborhood market into a dining destination. With the assistance of TV-notable chef Ron Procenko, the one-stop shop continues to establish itself as the go-to spot for matzo-ball soup and more. For lunch or dinner, try a chicken schnitzel sandwich, a mighty mouthful of breaded chicken breast, toasted bun, and fresh lettuce, tomato, and mayo ($11.75), or the Reuben, a two-page rye book illustrated with hot brisket corned beef, sauerkraut, and Fishman's sauce ($12.99). The classic veggie burger offers meatless satiation with layers of lettuce, tomato, pickles, black beans, mushrooms, and Fishman's sauce piled upon a toasted bun ($9.75). Breakfast is available all day, with or without Fishman's sauce, and the selection of drinkables includes mango smoothies ($2.95), Dr. Brown's soda ($1.50), and Seattle's Best coffee ($1.99).

Over the last 50 years, The Park Tavern has perfected the convivial trifecta of eating, drinking, and bowling. A menu of gourmet burgers and traditional pub fare mingles with a drink menu of domestic and imported beers and wines for between-frame refueling. On Mondays, the alley fills with high-energy tunes, and bowling balls careen all night during the $5 all-you-can-bowl nights. The Park Tavern rolls out its varied bowling buffets for corporate events, birthday parties, or the anniversary of the end of bowling prohibition during the Nixon administration.

“You feel like you’re in a museum, or some other metropolis hotspot,” a reporter for the Minnesota Monthly said after a visit to My Burger. The article went on to praise the menu, applauding “beefy, thin burgers with good, sweet, fresh buns.” Each quarter-pound burger is prepared fresh to order, with standard toppings as well more adventurous options such as Cajun bacon. Amid crackling décor infused with pop-art influences, patrons also swap in patties made of fish, chicken, turkey, or veggies like the best friend of a lonely chef.

The staff also claims they have their french-fry process down to a science, which may be true: they were listed in Citypages’ Top 10 French Fries in the Twin Cities in 2012. Robin’s-egg-blue stand mixers churn out fresh malts in chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry, and glasses click together at the small bar, spilling rivulets of wine, hard ciders, and draft Surly.

A modern take on the classic movie-going experience, ShowPlace Icon Theatre takes the legwork out of dinner and a movie by pairing comfortable sophisticated theaters with upscale, on-location dining, and advanced reserved seating. With digital cinema projectors capable of displaying 35 trillion colors and premium digital surround-sound systems, each stadium-seated auditorium is equipped to showcase buzz-worthy films exactly as the director, assistant director, second-assistant director, and second second-assistant director intended. Patrons to the theater pick their viewing spots ahead of time, eliminating the usual frenzied, darkened search for ideal seating and guaranteeing guests find seats together.

With astounding architecture and a recently revitalized menu, Tryg's offers a dramatic dining experience. At dinner, peppercorn-sprinkled New York strip steaks submerged in a savory cream-and-cognac sea share plate estate with a starchy island of french fries ($29), while Tryg's passionate kitchen professionals swirl juicy pork tenderloin in apple brine ($24.50) to form a mouth-watering whirlpool of sweet and salty tastes. In the capacious dining room, the roaring fireplaces, high ceilings, and ghosts of Shakespearian ghostwriters evoke the grandeur of ages past, and colorful decorative details add a whimsical touch. Stick around after hours to sip selections from the extensive wine list and enjoy live music, DJ sets, and other entertainment, or drop by on weekends for a leisurely, syrup-soaked brunch in the Olympic-size condiment pool.