Ethnic restaurant rant (Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth: restaurants, prices, store)

[tvdxer]

What's with the lack of good (ethnic) restaurants here, especially on the west side of town? Lack of diversity? Or do Duluthians just have bad taste?

The first thing that needs to be remedied is the Indian restaurant scene. Duluth used to have great Indian food - although the India Palace had one of the most expensive Indian menus I've seen in the U.S., the prices were justified by the intense flavors of the food. You could even get good albeit underspiced food at the buffet. Now, the entrees are overly sweet and lacking in delicacy, and the buffet is for those who want an extremely bland representation of Indian cuisine. The "golden age" of the Palace was before Taj India came to town, and during the time that Taj India was in operation - I was impressed that Duluth could support two Indian restaurants - but obviousl it couldn't, as Taj closed, and with it went the quality and flavor of the India Palace.

The second thing is the Burrito Union NEEDS to get a location out west. Seriously. The market is probably there (if not, my opinion of this town will sink even lower) and property is cheap in West Duluth and Lincoln Park. I work and spend a lot of time at a store in West Duluth, and I'm sick of driving / biking all the way there, through traffic, to get my daily burrito fix.

The third thing is that we need an Ethiopian restaurant. Minneapolis has like ten. Worthington has one. Mankato has one. Why can't Duluth have one? Heck, I'd even be in support of the City of Duluth paying an Ethiopian woman who's good at cooking to come up here and start up a restaurant. I'd do anything to bring misr wat or siga wat to Duluth, and of course that tasty injera bread.

If any of these dreams were materialized, Duluth would move away, if ever so slightly, from the bland territory of meat-and-potatoes.

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

What's with the lack of good (ethnic) restaurants here, especially on the west side of town? Lack of diversity? Or do Duluthians just have bad taste?

The first thing that needs to be remedied is the Indian restaurant scene. Duluth used to have great Indian food - although the India Palace had one of the most expensive Indian menus I've seen in the U.S., the prices were justified by the intense flavors of the food. You could even get good albeit underspiced food at the buffet. Now, the entrees are overly sweet and lacking in delicacy, and the buffet is for those who want an extremely bland representation of Indian cuisine. The "golden age" of the Palace was before Taj India came to town, and during the time that Taj India was in operation - I was impressed that Duluth could support two Indian restaurants - but obviousl it couldn't, as Taj closed, and with it went the quality and flavor of the India Palace.

The second thing is the Burrito Union NEEDS to get a location out west. Seriously. The market is probably there (if not, my opinion of this town will sink even lower) and property is cheap in West Duluth and Lincoln Park. I work and spend a lot of time at a store in West Duluth, and I'm sick of driving / biking all the way there, through traffic, to get my daily burrito fix.

The third thing is that we need an Ethiopian restaurant. Minneapolis has like ten. Worthington has one. Mankato has one. Why can't Duluth have one? Heck, I'd even be in support of the City of Duluth paying an Ethiopian woman who's good at cooking to come up here and start up a restaurant. I'd do anything to bring misr wat or siga wat to Duluth, and of course that tasty injera bread.

If any of these dreams were materialized, Duluth would move away, if ever so slightly, from the bland territory of meat-and-potatoes.

Minnesota is extremely homogeneous.
Greater Minnesota is super-extremely homogeneous.
Northern Minnesota is super-duper extremely homogeneous.
Duluth, Minnesota is uber-super-duper extremely homogeneous.

So, that's why you only see the most generic places for food in the world. In the land of Swedes, Germans and Lutherans, looking more white than a Polka Party in Finland, that's why you only find 'Meat and Potatoes'.

In terms of Ethnic stuff, there is Hanabi, which I have heard is awesome

[northstar22]

You seriously expect there to be Ethiopian food in Duluth? Really?

Do they serve hotdish in Addis Abeba?

[Kid Cann]

I don't even think there is a Somali restaurant in St. Cloud. Maybe actually. I think there was. wait, I can't remember.

[northstar22]

Somali is not Ethiopian, right? It's a different country. I wasn't aware that there were any Ethiopians in Minnesota.

[bcgr]

Originally Posted by flyingwriter

Somali is not Ethiopian, right? It's a different country. I wasn't aware that there were any Ethiopians in Minnesota.

Somalia used to be part of Ethiopia, so I'd imagine the two being ethnically the same[except, I'd guess Ethiopia is more Christian, Somalia more Muslim]; anyways there aren't Ethiopian restaurants because Ethiopians/Somalis don't move here, don't see why we need one.

[tvdxer]

Originally Posted by bcgr

Somalia used to be part of Ethiopia, so I'd imagine the two being ethnically the same[except, I'd guess Ethiopia is more Christian, Somalia more Muslim]; anyways there aren't Ethiopian restaurants because Ethiopians/Somalis don't move here, don't see why we need one.

If you tried the food, you would! Sooooooo gooooooooooodd. !Que rica comida, la de Etiopia!

Seriously, there are like a dozen Ethiopian restaurants in Minnesota (not to mention about two dozen Somali restaurants that may or may not serve Ethiopian food). There's a bunch in Minneapolis and St. Paul (not including one Eritrean restaurant, which is similar to Ethiopian food), as well as one in Mankato and one in Worthington. In addition, there's a Somali restaurant in Rochester. I don't see why Duluth can't have one.

[Kid Cann]

Somali food is delicious. You wouldnt be able to know from the smell (or looks) but it's delicious!

[Kid Cann]

Originally Posted by flyingwriter

Somali is not Ethiopian, right? It's a different country. I wasn't aware that there were any Ethiopians in Minnesota.

There are many East Africans in Minnesota, from Somalis to Ethiopian to Kenyan

[hawaiiMD]

Hanabi is a GREAT sushi place, as well as Sala Thai for Thai food in Woodland. There is a lot of good places to go in the east side of town. Mount Royal Foods remind me so much of Whole Foods (the chain--not the coop). I'm still looking for an Indian restaurant. The one downtown has bland food.