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Photo: The Nook, home of many a guilty pleasure, Brewventures in Food

Readers Vote: 11 Twin Cities Guilty Pleasures, Mapped

by Claire Stanford
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by Claire Stanford
Photo: The Nook, home of many a guilty pleasure, Brewventures in Food

Last week, we asked readers to name their restaurant guilty pleasures, and the responses revealed that Twin Cities diners largely fall into two camps of shame. There are those who feel guilty about restaurants that might elicit ire from foodie friends (Sbarro, Red Robin); and there are those whose guilt lies in consuming fat-filled gut-bombs that certain restaurants serve (hello, Juicy Lucys). Plus, a nod to a sushi bonanza, which must come from someone who is really, really healthy in their every day life.

So without further ado, here are 11 Twin Cities guilty pleasures, as named by you, the readers. If your favorite is still missing from the party, do add it to the comments.


· What Twin Cities Restaurant Is Your Guilty Pleasure? [Eater MPLS]
· All Previous Open Threads [Eater MPLS]

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

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A reader wrote in to the tipline with his guilty love for Red Robin: "As ashamed as I am of it, my guilty pleasure is Red Robin. I genuinely hate myself the two times a year I go there. The decor is made for fourteen year olds, everything's tacky and awful, and I need to drink an absurdly large beer every time I go, but the burgers just take me to a very happy place."
15560 Cedar Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124
(952) 997-6250
(952) 997-6250

Sbarro

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Commenter meezownplace names the national pizza chain Sbarro as their guilty pleasure of choice: "It doesn't help that I found a lifetime 10% off card in a South Minneapolis parking lot, but Sbarro Pepperoni Pizza is without a doubt the finest of guilty pleasures. I may or may not have ventured to MOA on two occasions via lightrail only to sit in that depressing food court. Pretend New York, pretend cheese, questionable pork, individually wrapped crushed red pepper. It's sheer bliss. However, I couldn't imagine eating anything else on that damned menu."
390 South Boulevard, Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 851-9311
(952) 851-9311

Uptown Cafeteria

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Commenter eb03 writes: "My favorite guilty pleasure is the Glazed Donut French Toast on the brunch menu at Cafeteria in Uptown. It's amazing french toast covered in blueberry goodness."
3001 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 877-7263
(612) 877-7263

Origami Uptown

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A commenter chooses sushi as a surprising guilty pleasure (hey, whatever works): "Going out for sushi is the epitome of gluttony for me. I tend to save a trip to Origami (downtown, at the sushi bar) for a time where I know I can do it up right and stuff my face until my belly hurts. And keep the hot sakes coming. It's just so satisfying and right."
1354 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 223-8666
(612) 223-8666

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

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Frequent commenter Pecan Sandies names Popeye's as their guilty pleasure. No reason given, but does Popeye's really require explanation? No, no it doesn't.
310 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 825-5129
(612) 825-5129

Glam Doll Donuts

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Commenter tkswan84 writes: "I have too many guilty pleasures, but recently it has been Glam Doll Donuts.....it is too hard to turn down chocolate and bacon together, just too hard."
2605 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 345-7064
(612) 345-7064

HauteDish

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A reader writes in to the tipline: "Guilty pleasure in terms of being gluttonous but being good food, Haute Dish. Only place where I can't order dessert because I am too full when I get there. From duck jerky to steak and eggs, sweetbreads, and duck 3x....awesome."
119 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 338-8484
(612) 338-8484

Hell's Kitchen

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The same tipster who recommended Haute DIsh for a "good food" guilty pleasure added: "Now, guilty pleasure in normal food, Hell's Kitchen. Sausage bread, and brunch."
80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 332-4700
(612) 332-4700

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Ted Cook's 19th Hole Barbeque

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Over on the Eater MPLS Facebook page, a reader tells us that Ted Cook's 19th Hole Barbeque is her guilty pleasure, because "It's the best barbecue in town and it's a tad unhealthy."
2814 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 721-2023
(612) 721-2023

The Blue Door Pub

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Commenter Dan Lindstrom nominates both Blue Door Pub and The Nook for guilty pleasures. Is this some kind of Juicy Lucy sacrilege? No reason given for BDP, but, you know. Juicy Lucy. Enough said.
1819 Selby Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 493-1865
(651) 493-1865

Casper & Runyon's Nook

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Commenter Dan Lindstrom - who nominated both Blue Door Pub and The Nook in an act of Juicy Lucy sacrilege - gives this explanation for The Nook: "Lodge burger from the Nook makes everything ok."
492 Hamline Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116
(651) 698-4347
(651) 698-4347

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Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

15560 Cedar Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124
A reader wrote in to the tipline with his guilty love for Red Robin: "As ashamed as I am of it, my guilty pleasure is Red Robin. I genuinely hate myself the two times a year I go there. The decor is made for fourteen year olds, everything's tacky and awful, and I need to drink an absurdly large beer every time I go, but the burgers just take me to a very happy place."
15560 Cedar Ave, Apple Valley, MN 55124
(952) 997-6250
(952) 997-6250

Sbarro

390 South Boulevard, Bloomington, MN 55425
Commenter meezownplace names the national pizza chain Sbarro as their guilty pleasure of choice: "It doesn't help that I found a lifetime 10% off card in a South Minneapolis parking lot, but Sbarro Pepperoni Pizza is without a doubt the finest of guilty pleasures. I may or may not have ventured to MOA on two occasions via lightrail only to sit in that depressing food court. Pretend New York, pretend cheese, questionable pork, individually wrapped crushed red pepper. It's sheer bliss. However, I couldn't imagine eating anything else on that damned menu."
390 South Boulevard, Bloomington, MN 55425
(952) 851-9311
(952) 851-9311

Uptown Cafeteria

3001 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Commenter eb03 writes: "My favorite guilty pleasure is the Glazed Donut French Toast on the brunch menu at Cafeteria in Uptown. It's amazing french toast covered in blueberry goodness."
3001 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 877-7263
(612) 877-7263

Origami Uptown

1354 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
A commenter chooses sushi as a surprising guilty pleasure (hey, whatever works): "Going out for sushi is the epitome of gluttony for me. I tend to save a trip to Origami (downtown, at the sushi bar) for a time where I know I can do it up right and stuff my face until my belly hurts. And keep the hot sakes coming. It's just so satisfying and right."
1354 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 223-8666
(612) 223-8666

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

310 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Frequent commenter Pecan Sandies names Popeye's as their guilty pleasure. No reason given, but does Popeye's really require explanation? No, no it doesn't.
310 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 825-5129
(612) 825-5129

Glam Doll Donuts

2605 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Commenter tkswan84 writes: "I have too many guilty pleasures, but recently it has been Glam Doll Donuts.....it is too hard to turn down chocolate and bacon together, just too hard."
2605 Nicollet Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55408
(612) 345-7064
(612) 345-7064

HauteDish

119 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
A reader writes in to the tipline: "Guilty pleasure in terms of being gluttonous but being good food, Haute Dish. Only place where I can't order dessert because I am too full when I get there. From duck jerky to steak and eggs, sweetbreads, and duck 3x....awesome."
119 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55401
(612) 338-8484
(612) 338-8484

Hell's Kitchen

80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
The same tipster who recommended Haute DIsh for a "good food" guilty pleasure added: "Now, guilty pleasure in normal food, Hell's Kitchen. Sausage bread, and brunch."
80 S 9th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
(612) 332-4700
(612) 332-4700

Ted Cook's 19th Hole Barbeque

2814 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Over on the Eater MPLS Facebook page, a reader tells us that Ted Cook's 19th Hole Barbeque is her guilty pleasure, because "It's the best barbecue in town and it's a tad unhealthy."
2814 E 38th St, Minneapolis, MN 55406
(612) 721-2023
(612) 721-2023

The Blue Door Pub

1819 Selby Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104
Commenter Dan Lindstrom nominates both Blue Door Pub and The Nook for guilty pleasures. Is this some kind of Juicy Lucy sacrilege? No reason given for BDP, but, you know. Juicy Lucy. Enough said.
1819 Selby Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104
(651) 493-1865
(651) 493-1865

Casper & Runyon's Nook

492 Hamline Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116
Commenter Dan Lindstrom - who nominated both Blue Door Pub and The Nook in an act of Juicy Lucy sacrilege - gives this explanation for The Nook: "Lodge burger from the Nook makes everything ok."
492 Hamline Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116
(651) 698-4347
(651) 698-4347

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