The Trek Up North

Eating Duluth's Favorites

I was recently up in Duluth with  some friends and, of course, when I asked around where we should go while there, I got about a dozen suggestions of food places. So, as the coordinator of that trip, I included the staples into the itinerary and figured that I'd write a quick blog about them.

Grandma's Saloon and Grill

Grandma's Restaurant Company was founded in 1976 based on a legend of Rosa Brochi, who ran a boarding house on the shores of Lake Superior. The founders based their establishment on the principle of customer satisfaction, and it shows. With cool tchotchkes on the walls, great location (we went to the Canal Park one, and I'm sure that on the roof patio, when it's not raining, you can see miles and miles of lake), and good food, no wonder that this is a staple of any Duluth trip.

I will say this, however, the item that I got from the menu, Chicken Tetrazzini (a house special) tastes a bit heavy to me.

Chicken Tetrazzini with Wild Rice

Don't get me wrong, it's not that it wasn't delicious, but whenever I get a rice dish, I expect it to be light. Especially wild rice. The sauce that they put on top was a bit too rich and heavy, so I couldn't finish my plate and it weighted down my stomach the whole evening after the dinner. On the other hand, my companions loved the choices that they made, especially the huge Bloody Mary my friend ordered.

Grandma's Bloody Mary

Overall, a good experience with the wait staff and the food. I would recommend. Just make sure that you know what your stomach can handle.

Overall

Grandma's Restaurants Website

Betty's Pies

The original cafe dubbed Betty's Cafe began in 1958 when Betty turned her father's fish stand into a food stop. Betty's Pies evolved over the years, moving further up the hill to make room for the highway, changing ownership, and expanding. However, though the menu and the pie selection has grown, they use the original recipes developed by Betty herself.

The food is good, certain menu selections are unique, like pasties, but it's the typical American restaurant food that you can get at a lot of places. Honestly, I don't even know that I got what I ordered because the description didn't really match my plate but it was good.

Devil's Track Spicy Chicken Cheese Grill

But that's not why you'd stop there. It's the pies. The restaurant has a pie board in every room which features the day's pies selection and you really can't go wrong with your choice. You want chocolaty? They got chocolaty.

5 Layer Chocolate Pie

You want creamy? They got creamy. You want fruity? They have all sorts of fruity. You want both? They even have that.

French Blueberry Cream Pie

French Cherry Cream Pie

If you don't want to stop for the food, at least stop for the pie. It's definitely worth it and they are used to it.

Overall

Betty's Pies Website

AK

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream... for BBQ

Huge Fan of Q-Fan 

Forget about Famous Dave's.  If you want some quality Q in this town, you don't have to look any further than Champlin's own Q-Fanatic. They might not be as famous, or have a hundred different sauces, which is the claim to fame of a lot of BBQ joints, but you can smell their quality in the air. Literally. Their mesquite aroma permeates the air outside the restaurant and you can almost taste the deliciousness the second you step into their parking lot.

The Place

The family that runs the restaurant started in the meat business back in 1893 with Johnson Brothers Meat Market in Hopkins. Though they have moved, to this day, Chef Charlie proudly upholds the tradition of quality ingredients with his own southern twist. And if you're a fan of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, you have probably seen Q-Fan on one of their episodes.

Though a family friendly restaurant, they are reminiscent of a dive, with dark interior and self seating. You order at the window and, depending on if you're dinning in or taking out, they either bring your food to your table or hand you the bag filled with delicious heaven. 

Down to Business

The meat, the sauces, and the sides are all amazing. For the ones with a weaker stomach, honey BBQ sauce on... well... anything is what you're after, be it a pulled pork, chicken, rib tips, or their signature Q-ban sandwich. For those feeling a bit more adventurous, the chipotle or the espresso (oh yes, they put real espresso in that sauce) BBQ sauce would delight your pallet. If you are feeling frisky, the vodka sauce will set your taste buds and your soul on fire (but in a good way).  Their newest addition, the ghost pepper sauce, I'm sure would appease even the boldest of tongues, though I have not been brave enough to try it yet. The sandwich that I go for: pulled chicken sandwich with espresso sauce and a side of the spicy potato wedges.

Pulled chicken sandwich (regular) with a side of spicy potato wedges and seasoned sour cream.

For such quality food you'd think the menu would break your bank but it won't. The quality and the quantity are well worth the 8 dollars you will spend on your sandwich. Not to mention they use local ingredients. Downsides? Because they do use local suppliers, they run out of items on the menu. And though you'd think that the simple solution for that is just to make more, each meal is made to order and their meats are smoked for 4 to 11 hours so that's easier said than done. They proudly state that they are not a fast food establishment so the average wait time is about 20 minutes. My suggestion to curb your waiting-on-my-BBQ blues is to call ahead.

The Breakdown

Food:

Dessert:

N/A

Wait Staff:




Atmosphere:



Would I recommend?
I can't recommend this place enough. In fact, go and call them right now and order something. I'll just wait here.

Q-Fanatic Website 

AK