Restaurants in Savage

From the shores of Prior Lake, Captain Jack's restaurant upholds the area's resort feel by churning out a menu of modern bar and grill eats seven days a week. More than 20 appetizers, such as blue cheese sticks and pork pot stickers, are on hand to prep the stomach for the arrival of hearty entrees including half-pound charbroiled burgers, thin crust pizzas, and protein-packed sandwiches accompanied by fries, a pickle, and an extra button for your pants. And weekends are dedicated to brunch specials, which range from three-egg omelets to buttermilk pancakes, which are complemented by a Bloody Mary bar.

Though Captain Jack's is dedicated to serving high quality food, the restaurant boasts a casual atmosphere abundant with wooden accents, flat screen TVs, and neon beer signs. The laid-back eatery also invites vacationers and locals to partake in weekly events, which range from Wii Wednesdays to snow softball tournaments.

The brick façade and striped awnings of Dangerfield's have stood for more than 20 years alongside the south bank of the Minnesota River. Inside, brick archways and wooden wainscoting create a warm setting, and there's also an outdoor terrace, screened in by a netted dome to ward off bugs and confetti dropped by exuberant skydivers. Chefs transform Angus beef into steaks, medallions, and half-pound burgers, and they highlight the delicate flavors of Canadian walleye and jumbo shrimp with citrusy sauces. A full bar and wine list help nurture good spirits, and the join also hosts national and local comedians in their lower level on the weekends.

Aji Japanese Restaurant has garnered praise from the local Hopkins Patch and Lakeshore Weekly News for its menu of colorful sushi rolls and hibachi-seared meats. Artful presentation underscores each concoction—rolls proudly bearing ruby-colored crowns of tobiko or sweet drizzles of eel sauce and hefty steaks and pan-seared seafood sizzling beneath bouquets of leafy garnishes. Imported Japanese beer and sake unite sushi with the flavors for which it was meant, much in the way milk complements cookies or peanut butter complements its secret soulmate, actual butter.

Inside the dining room, white dinnerware contrasts against rich wooden tables. Overhead, carved crimson lanterns dangle from the tin ceiling and golden bulbs illuminate delectable morsels and the gold-plated chopsticks of diners looking to impress their dates. During the warmer months, an outdoor patio mixes meals with fresh breezes.

A five-minute drive from downtown, Uptown’s public spaces entice visitors with bike paths, sculpture gardens, and locals blasting impressions of Björk's pet swan over a megaphone. Nearby, rented canoes crisscross Lake Calhoun’s calm waters, and restaurants serve eclectic cuisines from fresh seafood to Japanese cuisine on outdoor patios. Visitors to Uptown can feast on American fare at restaurants such as Primebar, which serves up sandwiches, steak, and seafood with largely local brews; The Herkimer Pub & Brewery in Lyn-Lake, known for its small batches of craft beer; and the Uptown Cafeteria, offering trendy contemporary meals. Evenings out at Bar Louie tempt guests with martinis, margaritas, and other cocktails accompanied by pub food, and Chino Latino delights palettes with dishes small and large, spicy and explosive. Wayward mermaids dining at Stella's Fish Cafe & Prestige Oyster Bar can enjoy a feast fit for the sea with raw, grilled, and baked items, or step on shore and visit moto-i in Lyn-Lake to sample the food you’d find on Japanese streets.

Hopkins Tavern gives customers plenty of reasons to stop in, offering 32 local, regional, and craft beers on tap and pub fare ranging from wings to cheese curds. But the staff knows how to keep patrons entertained as well as satiated. Along with daily happy hours, the tavern hosts team trivia and bar bingo nights. Wild fans can look forward to watching each game live on the bar’s TVs along with cheap domestic brews and shots to celebrate every Wild goal.

Cooks at Pita Plus Sandwich Grill wake up early every morning to grill steak, roast turkey, slice fresh hand-selected vegetables, and boil stockpots to prep for the day. Drawing on family recipes and classic sauces from the former Jimmy’s Lemon Tree restaurants, the cooks slice roasted, unprocessed gyros and stack cranberry-turkey sandwiches with swiss cheese, house-made berry spread, and bacon just like they would in their secret kitchens.