Cafe 28

7/15/2008 11:39:18 AM, tuesday, july 15, 2008 [ Updated tuesday, july 15, 2008 ]
An absurdly charming cafe in one of the twin cities’ most lovable neighborhoods. Surly on draft, and a careful variety of styles available in bottles. A small but very well chosen selection. Menu choices focused on local and fresh, leaning toward midwestern comfort foods done with style, quite similar to St. Paul’s exemplary Heartland restaurant, but far more affordable. A real gem of a place. An altogether streamlined presentation of ambience, service and food that maintains a quaintness and relaxed aura that’s perfect for passing the time on a weekend afternoon.

4/25/2008 11:03:55 PM, friday, april 25, 2008
Well, I had a little time to waste before a piano playing job at the Edina CC, so I invited a couple of coworker beer geeks here to sample 2007 Darkness. The place is definitely cafe, and you would not know this place has great beer, other than by the fact it is co-owned by Todd Haug, master brewer at Surly. The food was surprisingly good, and the waitress was very knowlegable about beer, which was pretty cool. All in all, a pretty nice place, although I could see with the small size of this needing reservations at certain times of the day.

2/3/2008 1:41:33 PM, sunday, february 03, 2008
Nice location in the very charming Linden Hills neighborhood. The restaurant is in an old fire station and they carry some of the motif to a tasteful extent. Otherwise it is a really nice setting where you find great food and three taps – Furious, Bender, and the limited release. When there, I found it to be Two (see rating). I had the breakfast burrito off the brunch menu, which was very good – not your standard burrito, with black beans, real cheese, moist scrambled eggs, and homemade mild salsa. The waitress was very nice and a fan of the Two also. Service is great. This is good to get to try Surly tap only releases in a nice atmosphere and great food.

11/20/2007 12:52:20 AM, tuesday, november 20, 2007
Nice calm atmosphere for dinner or casual conversation with friends. I got Darkness here so nothing else reallly mattered that much, but I would definitely go back anytime. Nice place.

9/14/2007 10:53:03 PM, friday, september 14, 2007
2nd time here and I am not dissapointed. The food is different and good. The beer is surly, what else!! It is a remodeled fire station and pays homage to this. Cool place. Too bad they don’t have a nice large tap list like muddy pig. We need that in the west part of the metro.

2/2/2007 12:20:34 PM, friday, february 02, 2007
I was quite taken with this place. Run by Todd Haug’s wife, and co-owned by him. All Surly’s are on tap here. I found Darkness, which was then replaced by One. I believe the only place to serve Love. Just look at their bottle menu! Top of the line belgians served in the exact glassware for each beer. Along with the amazingly priced upscale food, this place is a must visit. I had a gnocchi dish that was exquisite and affordable. I’ll be going here everytime I go to the Twin Cities. As well, the entire staff was the most helpful, accomodating and warm group I’ve ever had to pleasure to be served by. All around awesome.