KaBobs Skewer & Drink

Located right in the heart of Downtown Mankato, Kabobs adds innovation and a little fun to the dining experience.

Kabobs, recently under new management, has created a delightfully flexible menu, complete with dishes fueled by the customers imagination.

There short, but quaint menu consists of a list of meats, sauces, veggies and mix-ins, combined to create your own plate with all of your favorite flavors. No other restaurant in the area allows for that kind of meal-building.

All the veggies and mix-ins do taste fresh, but the meat sometimes comes out relatively bland. Its presentation is nice; it comes on a wooden shish kabob on top of a piece of garlic flat-bread. Although, the flavors are similar to ones a mediocre chef could conjure. The meat is good accompanied by the other flavored items and sauces, but alone can be very simple. 

There is a lavish liquid menu, both alcoholic and not. Specifically in their beer selections, which includes multiple flavors from Rogue Ales.

Their prices are spot on and the staff is friendly as any restaurant/bar around.

The inside has a nice atmosphere with many booth seating areas in front, and the long tabletop bar in back. All build with dark, finished wood and black leather for an attractive feel.

I'll definitely be back to Kabobs for drinks, fun people, and a meal I can assemble my own way!  

Tandem Bagels

Watch out Brueggers, there is a new bagel shop in town! And its not looking to be a sellout.
Tandem Bagels could possibly spice up the competition. But how can a new bagel bakery move into a modern 21st century economy where bagels have been around forever? Well, they do it by creating sophisticated and unique sandwich combinations.

Alike other bagel shops, their menu incorporates the simplistically good baked bagels with cream cheese as well as breakfast pleasers with eggs and bacon. But, in addition there are over 5 other handcrafted sandwich creations that include a turkey with avocado spread and cilantro mayo, red herring, and a pizza bagel toasted hot and fresh. Many of their options are great for diets too, with healthy vegetable combos and gluten free ingredients.

Another cool aspect to this bakery is their homemade breads and dessert worthy pastries that are always overflowing their display cases. The flavors are tounge-tingling and go smoothly with a hot, steamy cup of coffee.

The inside has a very casual, cafe ambiance with attractive black oak tables and chairs. Also hightop bar seating right next to the window to watch people and cars wiz by the busy Downtown street. A very different, but humbling decoration that sits next to the tables are book filled shelves for some quiet entertainment.

Tandem Bagels is genuinely priced when it comes to most for their bagel options, but their signature creations are slightly overpriced. While very good down to each bite, one bagel with toppings can run over $7.

I will never hesitate to go here when I need a fresh cup of coffee and a quick, flavorful breakfast or, because of the calming atmosphere, when I'm in need to get some work done. This bakery and coffeehouse is a hip, modern joint ready for a long history in Mankato.

Tav On The Ave

A fun place on Madison Avenue! Tav provides great food and an incredibly friendly waiting staff- probably the nicest around town. They always have courtesy to chat and hangout with their customers.
When I look at the menu, I can never decide what to order. They have multiple choices to choose from that are more than delicious.

Their appetizers top most other places around Mankato with dishes including battered state fair cheese curds, quesadillas, buffalo wings, nachos, hummus dip, and much more. Tav never disappoints when I come there just for a couple drinks and some appetizers to share.

If I can get past theses above choices, the menu is also original and full of variety. They have mexican tacos, sandwiches, burgers, pastas, fish, meatloaf, steak, and signature roll-ups. Each plate is creatively presented and full of hearty flavors.

The inside has nice booth seating in the back area, for a quieter scene as well as bar seating and hightop tables in the front for a energetic evening. Great place to watch a football or hockey game with some friends!
 

Dino's Pizzeria

Dino's is the best gourmet pizza in the city! Their recipes reflect the authentic look and style of a New York pizzeria. They are topped with decadent ingredients and baked fresh.
Each pizza made here is big on both taste and size- the large barley fits on the table.
The pies have crispy crusts and are covered with a flavorful homemade red sauce. There is also a couple pies that use different sauces for the base including an alfredo and buffalo chicken.
If I'm ever craving a delicious, hot pizza, Dino's is the first restaurant on my mind.

Along with their pizzas are toasted sub sandwiches and original pasta dishes. So there is no shorting of options- just classically good Italian food.
The restaurant has a balanced medium of classy flavors to compliment the elegant crowd, as well as simplistic hearty flavors for the younger ages. In addition, the inside is designed family friendly for all ages to come in and enjoy.

Prices here are average for pasta, but a bit pricey for a pizza pies and subs. Although, the portions are large and the pizza is full of more flavor than every other restaurant in Mankato.

Staff here are all in their 20's and incredibly friendly. They are knowledgeable of the food industry and create a good mood around the tables- always ready to help, but not over persistent.

The owners have been around for many years and have opened multiple restaurants in the Mankato area, so they've got fine experience creating a successful business with good food, atmosphere and service.

Blue Bricks Bar and Eatery

Blue Bricks is as great of a restaurant as it is a fun part of the Downtown bar scene. Their extensive menu includes appetizer choices ranging from cheese curds, calamari rings, and jalapeño poppers to dragon shrimp and buffalo wings. Their kitchen also allows for various entrees including salads, pastas, quesadillas, steaks, sandwiches, pizza, burgers, and soups. At this place, anyone with a picky appetite can find a meal that they can enjoy!
And even though there are a ridiculous amount of dishes to choose from, each one is prepared well and accompanied with delightful flavors.
Along with their fantastically broad menu, they have friendly staff who are used to a busy evening of serving drinks and entertaining customers as on every weekend they are a key part of many college students party destinations.
The prices here are fair and the inside has a variety of seating including hightop bar stools, nice sit-down tables and chairs, and leather lounging couches. The decor is finished with dark wood and lit by neon bar signs adding to its cool, everyone have a good time atmosphere. Blue Bricks is where I love to go when I want to be around good people and eat some great food!

The Neighbor's Italian Bistro

Talk about fine dining. Neighbor's has become my favorite restaurant in Mankato.
There is a dazzling wine list, quaint design, a soothing atmosphere, good service, and amazing food!

Did I say "amazing food?" Well that's exactly what you get at this place. They have multiple delicious pasta, meat, and fish entrees, all infused with their chef's incredible passion for originality-accompanying the plates with fancy sauces, healthy vegetables, nuts, and risottos.
In addition, the appetizers are also creatively inspired including a delectable caesar salad drizzled with a flavor-packed homemade dressing.

While inside, there is relaxing and romantic lighting, classy booths, creative art murals, and light classical/jazzy music playing. All this together creates a very nice environment that I enjoy eating and hanging out in. they also have a nice patio outside for when the weather permits.

Prices at Neighbor's are definitely on the pricey side, especially for the city of Mankato. But for a good evening or lunch, it is worth every penny. Their unique and flavorful dishes compare to many highly rated restaurants in both Minneapolis and New York City. With their food and atmosphere together, The Neighbor's Italian Bistro is the place for a date, family, or a fancy outing with good friends.

Mexican Village

 There is a clear, satisfying sense of bewilderment created through complementary flavors. Without their unbreakable link and relentless flexibility for each other, there would be no ingenuity between them, ultimately leaving terribly bland-tasting dishes.

Mexican Village nearly does the opposite, and is able to make synergy of the few ingredients used throughout their kitchen. 

Anytime I go to this restaurant, I can pick from a wide selection of meals and be satisfied.

Satisfied is the key word here, as there are only a few plates on their menu that are originally designed, cooked, and flavored that allows Mexican Village to stand out from any other Mexican restaurant. The chef masters there fail to progress in superior taste with the usage of meat alongside beans, rice, cheese, tortillas, and lettuce. Or course, those are the basis of most mexican inspired cooking. But Mexican Village does little to break out from those standards and continues to create many good dishes with few delicious ones. 

Although their food does not impress, they have an extensive margarita list which breeds fun times, as well as a Mexico, tropical ambiance. The restaurant is nicely designed with colorful decorations, and while sitting at any table, I can hear mariachi bands playing.

Their selection of drinks is very large and each one is perfectly blended. I can never shy away from a couple frosty treats, although I never know which flavor to choose. They offer normal sizes, a "mega-margarita," and also a pitcher for $15, which fills six regular size glasses. 

Overall, what keeps me coming back to Mexican Village is not the food. While still satisfying and at a good price, it is the drinks and the atmosphere that make me want to have a Mexican fiesta!