Outdoor on nicollet mall? (Minneapolis, Tower: restaurants, price, shop)

[mindtrack]

I'm looking for a coffee shop/bistro/place to grab a cheap lunch on nicollet mall downtown. The only stipulations are that it needs to have an outdoor seating area for smoking and people watching and be reasonably priced. The closer it is to 8th and Nicollet (Bancorp) the better. Any ideas?

Thanks

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by mindtrack

I'm looking for a coffee shop/bistro/place to grab a cheap lunch on nicollet mall downtown. The only stipulations are that it needs to have an outdoor seating area for smoking and people watching and be reasonably priced. The closer it is to 8th and Nicollet (Bancorp) the better. Any ideas?

Thanks

You won't be able to smoke in an outdoor seating area because of the smoking ban within however many feet of the entrance to a building.

[MplsTodd]

I can't comment on the smoking situation, but Panera Bread seems to fit your requirements very well. It's on Nicollet between 8th & 9th. There's also the 8th Street Grille (8th & Marquette); Key's Cafe (9th Street between 2nd Ave & Marquette--at the Foshay Tower)). I forget the name, but there's a great Creperie in the Medical Arts Building (Nicollet between 8th & 9th) with dessert crepes, breakfast crepes and lunch crepes. They have several outdoor tables, and given that they're French, they'd probably be a good bet to allow smoking!

[mindtrack]

Originally Posted by MplsTodd

I forget the name, but there's a great Creperie in the Medical Arts Building (Nicollet between 8th & 9th) with dessert crepes, breakfast crepes and lunch crepes. They have several outdoor tables, and given that they're French, they'd probably be a good bet to allow smoking!

I've seen that before actually, any chance you can remember the name? I tried street view but can't find it.

[Slig]

Originally Posted by golfgal

You won't be able to smoke in an outdoor seating area because of the smoking ban within however many feet of the entrance to a building.

I don't know how strictly it is enforced on Nicollet Mall but this weekend I spent some time at some bar/restaurants with outdoor patio seating (one in Minneapolis U of M West Bank and the other up north) and people were smoking up a storm at both. I feel like I remember people smoking at the Nicollet Mall patios too but not 100% sure.

[Slig]

Originally Posted by golfgal

You won't be able to smoke in an outdoor seating area because of the smoking ban within however many feet of the entrance to a building.

As a follow up to this today I ate brunch with my wife on the patio at The Local on the corner of 9th and Nicollet and there were people smoking there. Right next door to The Local is Barrio Tequila Bar + Restaurant and there were people smoking on that patio as well. For a mid-range Irish style meal with a good drink menu and Irish coffees I'd give The Local a nod.

[Mr Maps]

Originally Posted by mindtrack

I've seen that before actually, any chance you can remember the name? I tried street view but can't find it.

La Belle Crepe
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