Poor Richard's Commonhouse, Minneapolis

Poor Richard's Commonhouse bills itself as an "American-themed" restaurant. So just how does a place honor the USA—besides serving up burgers, meatloaf, and waffle fries, that is? By embodying the spirit of the old colonial taverns that inspired its name, of course. These early American taverns were centers of the community just like Poor Richard's Commonhouse, where locals frequently swing by to share brews and conversation. Though they'll have a hard time getting a word in once the food arrives.

While its spirit may embody 1776, Poor Richard's chefs aren't afraid to break new ground when it comes to their food. Take the Captain Chicken Fingers as an example. For this dish, chefs coat hand-cut chicken strips in Cap'n Crunch cereal before frying them to a golden brown. Other favorites include the parmesan-crusted walleye and flatbread topped with roasted chicken, peppers, and Thai peanut sauce.