Restaurants
Oberstar/Cravaack, Chapter 17
I still have one nagging question that came up during the campaign: “Can you get good Malaysian food anywhere near Duluth?”
Anyone have an answer?
JJ Astor Liked by MNMO blogger & goodie Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl
Go Ryan!
Minnesota Monthly review of Duluth’s JJ Astor restaurant:
Room with a View
Kozy Fire: Let’s Do Something Together

Can we put a fundraiser together between now and Sunday? Here is what Chester Creek Cafe will do:
1.) Set up a bank account to receive donations to Kozy residents.
2.) Take the 7pm to 10pm shift for a multiple site benefit – we clean out the “library” room for concert-style seating and prepare a “Spaghetti feed” type meal to be sold for (say) $15 to $20 — all of which will go to the Kozy fund. Any donations of clothing or other stuff will be available for Kozy residents. Kozy residents will also get a free meal that night.
3.) We will give any participating musicians and performers (Fire spinners?) a $15 gift certificate and a free meal.
Can other restaurants take the later shifts – like we all move down to the Brewhouse or Burrito Union at 10pm and then finish up at Luce at midnight?
Those places would offer a similar deal? What do you all think?
Restaurants? Musicians?
Let me know if this is doable.
Coffee with a Lakeview
I have been thinking lately about how much I miss Lakeview Coffee House in Fitgers. It was an awesome spot to spend an hour on a cold, blustery day watching the lake with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. It was pleasant and unrushed.
So, where is a good place to go now with a decent view of the lake where you can get a warm beverage and wile away a couple hours? I’ve tried Va Bene, but it’s a heckuvalot more expensive and they aren’t keen on you lingering. Dunn Bros. lost its lake view after the construction of Edgewater. Thoughts?
Duluth Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse
Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse
5115 Burning Tree Road, Duluth
218-727-3222
Another sushi joint will be opening in Duluth, but this one will be the city’s first hibachi restaurant. Work is underway at Burning Tree Plaza in preparation for Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse.
The Burning Tree Plaza mall, located at 5115 Burning Tree Road in Duluth’s Miller Hill area, is recognized for its anchor stores Best Buy and T.J. Maxx. Osaka Sushi Hibachi Steakhouse will be situated in store #309 of the mall, between Beauty Mart and Regency Beauty Institute, so, theoretically, it should be beautiful.
Owners are Sam Lin, Dan Xu and Lester Teseng.
Great New Restaurant – Clearwater Grille
A few days ago, my wife and I went to check out the new Clearwater Grille, in the old Lakeview Castle building up the north shore (Here’s the map). We always like to get out and see the new restaurants in town, of which there have been a lot over the past several years.
We were both very happily surprised when we got there. The new owners of the Clearwater Grille have done a lot of work and the bar and dining room are very nicely redone compared to the state they had fallen into over the past few years at this iconic building. The bar looks great; very classy. They replaced the nasty carpet with oak hardwood. It’s all been painted of course and there are new tables and chairs. They whole atmosphere is elegant without being pretentious, which some of the recent north shore restaurant additions are leaning toward. But I enjoy them also when I’m in the mood. This place is more approachable.
Duluth-area gluten-free options
I just discovered Bulldog Pizza has added some great gluten-free options! Pizza, appetizers, sandwiches, and salads. So now people who are gluten sensitive have an even wider array of places to go.
Third Annual Chester Bowl Wine, Beer & Pizza Tasting
Saturday, Nov. 6, from 6-9 pm, Midi @ Fitger’s
Help keep the youth programs going at Chester Bowl while sampling top-notch pizza, wine and beer. Tickets at Fitger’s Wine Cellars. Info @ 733-0792.
Chicken Spur Update

Congratulations to a PDD favorite, the Chicken Spur, for opening a drive-through window. Tell your cabbie you have a stop to make on the way home.
(more…)
Does anyone know when the Lakeview Castle is re-opening?
I have seen several job openings posted for the Clearwater Grille (formerly Lakeview Castle) so they must be getting close. Anyone have more info on a grand opening date?
Marlee’s Caribbean Restaurant in Superior
I drove past a new restaurant today on Tower Avenue in Superior. According to the Chamber’s website:
Marlee’s Caribbean Restaurant
525 Tower Avenue
Superior, WI 54880
Phone: (715) 392-1279
Fax: (218) 579-2909Marlee’s Caribbean is a full service restaurant offering Caribbean and Cajun cuisine along with American fare. A full-service bar is included.
My interest is definitely piqued! Anyone have any more information about actual opening date, sample menus, etc?
Lunch at JJ Astor rocks
Our office ate lunch today at JJ Astor. I tried the walleye with harrisa and basil slaw. So Yummy! And with a perfect Duluth day like today, the view was, of course, amazing! Check them out in the former Top of the Harbor space at the Radisson.
Overheard at Beijing Restaurant
Old Woman #1: “Do you have waffles?”
Counter Clerk: “No. We’re a Chinese restaurant.”
Old Woman #1: (loudly to friend, apparently hard of hearing) “They don’t have waffles.”
Old Woman #2: “Ask them if they have pancakes.”
Old Woman #1: “Do you have pancakes?”
Counter Clerk: “No. We only have Chinese food.”
Old Woman #1: (loudly) “No. They only have Chinese food.”
Old Woman #2: “Ask them if they have Chinese pancakes.”
G.B. Schneider & Co. open in West Duluth
G.B. Schneider Co. opened on Tuesday in the Denfeld Retail Center. It’s in the space formerly occupied by Grandma’s Grand Ave. Cafe. The focus is on comfort foods: ravioli, pot roast, meatloaf, etc. (more…)
Karl Spring interviews Alex Giuliani at Clyde Iron Works Restaurant
This video has been removed from YouTube.
Clyde Park Historical Timeline
The Clyde Iron Works restaurant and event center at Clyde Park is now open at 29th Ave. W. & Michigan St. in Duluth’s Friendly West End. Here’s a little Clyde historical timeline. (more…)
Eat Downtown: Duluth Restaurant Week
Eat Downtown: Duluth Restaurant Week
Duluth’s Downtown Waterfront is richly diverse in the types and styles of authentic food. For seven scrumptious days, May 10 – 16, 2010, residents and visitors of Duluth can take advantage of multi-course fixed-price menus at participating downtown waterfront restaurants. Lunches are available for $10 and dinner is $20. This is a perfect culinary showcase for our unique and distinctive downtown waterfront restaurants.
Trinity of Spring: Complete
I have it on good authority that A & Dubs is now open, completing the Trinity of Spring. This is A & Dubs 62nd year in business.
Duluth Salad Bars in 2010
So since everyone did me right on the cake question on my birthday, now I want to know: Other than Old Country Buffet, is there a restaurant in town that has a salad bar? I can’t think of one off the top of my head.
Mexico Lindo soft opening at Fitger’s
The news of Mexico Lindo’s soft opening leaked out in the comments to an old post on this site, but I missed that. I was out and about, though, and saw from Superior Street that someone was eating at a window seat.
It was mighty busy in there for a sort-of-unannounced opening, but there was plenty of staff on hand to deal with it. Predictably, a few things were spilled and confusion with how to place orders on the computer was noticeable, but all in all things went very well. The food was great. The Lindos Special ($11.25) could feed three people.







