I moved into the area about a half year ago and have passed this spot more times than I can count…read more I finally stopped in and was curious about their ultimate cheesesteak. I love myself a cheesesteak and I wanted to see if this would be a new favorite I'd enjoy wearing out. They loaded this sandwich with onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. They added some of their pasta sauce on the bottom as well. The sandwich was good, but I thought it needed a bit more flavoring/spices. The bread was some of the softest I've experienced though and the cheese was a good amount. The combo was paired with a pickle spear and a bag of potato chips. This may sound strange, but can potato chips steal the show? Because they did. Super crunch and salty. Yum-O! I tried their coleslaw too and it seemed like to sat there awhile. It was tasteless and I ended up throwing the pint out. I will say the staff here are very friendly and helped me decide on some sandwiches and gave me an honest review of their favorites and least favorites. I appreciate that. I'm sure those chips will bring me back in the future and I'll be open to trying another sandwich.

Finally visited Marinos Deli for a quick sandwich at lunch after I read a story about this…read moremom-and-pop business in NE Minneapolis. Conveniently located off Johnson NE (free parking on the street), this local restaurant serves up some good hoagies, sub-marino sandwiches (see what I did there?), pasta, and other Italian food. It's a unique restaurant because it's kind of like a deli and fast casual restaurant with a few tables inside, but when I arrived shortly after 1 pm, it was pretty empty. Overall, the service was great, it's a family-owned place and the mother and daughter were working and were very pleasant. The place smells terrific, if you like Italian food and good sauces. While the decor is a step-back in time, I really enjoyed the taxidermy walleyes which is a true reflection of being a Minnesota business. The sandwich I selected was good, came with a small bag of chips, and wasn't too pricey - the prices are actually pretty good, but the only thing I would say is the sizes aren't huge. I recommend Marinos if you are in the neighborhood and definitely want to try the pasta and meat ravioli next time!

Bill's Imported Foods is a wonderful shop located on a difficult block on Lake Street in Uptown…read more What was once a happening and vibrant street is now rotting away due to neglect and poor planning. It's saddens me to venture into Uptown although it still echoes with past glory, but those sounds are being muffled by urban blight. Bill's doors are now metal, but venture inside and you're transported to Greece. Their products are fantastic, and we loaded up on olive oil, olives, and fresh feta cheese. The staff was fun and resonated with the joy of Greece. Bill's has survived for decades on Lake Street. I hope they continue to thrive despite the trouble around them. I do wish the city could step in and help jump start a renaissance of Uptown.

Bill's is my favorite. Great prices, quality and selection. Truly my favorite grocery stop.read more

When I take my first bite of a dish and mumble, "Oh my god," that's a great sign!…read more That's what happened with the Mushroom Ravioli with Chicken, a heavenly first bite of a dish new to me. The ravioli were large and nicely stuffed, plenty of mushrooms, cheese, and spinach in a creamy Alfredo and mushroom sauce with succulent pieces of chicken. I highly recommend it. The Bruschetta was on point, fresh diced tomatoes and basil with slices of garlic, shaved parmesan, and a balsamic glaze, served with two split and toasted ciabatta rolls. YUM.

Their red sauce for their spicy sausage rigatoni is so garlicky and flavorful with just the right…read moreamount of spice. Their veggie, pasta, meat ratio for their pasta Milan is perfect. I always order each dish with extra sauce so it's perfect for the next day because their portions are so big.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about Holy Land. This place is a total gem in Northeast…read moreMinneapolis. I am always amazed by how much they have going on here. It is way more than just a restaurant, because the attached grocery store stocks everything you could ever need. I love being able to grab hard to find spices, fresh pita, and halal meat like goat or lamb all in one trip. The food in the sit down area is just incredible too. You have to try the hummus. It is seriously creamy and flavorful, probably the best I have had in the city. I also ordered the shawarma recently, and the spices were perfect. The vibe is great, but the workers really make it special. Everyone is super nice and willing to help you find things in the aisles or figure out what to order. It feels very welcoming every time I walk in. If you have not been here yet, you are definitely missing out!

If you go to the Holy Land location it is a small grocery store on one side and a small restaurant…read moreon the other side. The grocery store has many different foods from around the world and for a little while I was trying different breads from different regions. The bread section is one whole corner and is fun to try all the different varieties. The restaurant side you order food at the cashier and then sit at a table. So there really isn't much service here. The food consistency has not always been the same. Sometimes it's just ok but other times it has been amazing which is why it's getting 4 stars instead of 5 stars. Overall it's a good choice but I do mostly take away for the food. My favorite is the chicken lovers combo. Also note there is a large parking lot in back rather than trying to find street parking but I usually only go here if I am going to the grocery store. If I just want food from the restaurant I just do a delivery service or a quick pickup.

Made this trip as we missed the Turkish food so much. The doner kebab/plate (#7), Sofra special…read more(#6), lahmacun we have are super delicious. The place is kept clean and it feels very cozy. Love this place.

I went at 11:30 AM on a Friday for a pickup order. There was only one table occupied in the…read morerestaurant. This parking lot can get busy, but there is plenty of parking closer to the grocery store for overflow. Food 3/5: I got the chicken doner sandwich, lentil soup, and baklava. With tip I paid $35. The chicken doner sandwich was overall my favorite. The balance of flavor between the chicken/tomato/onion/and garlic sauce was fantastic. I did have quite a few pieces of meat that were burnt/tough/very dry so overall 3/5. The lentil soup was ok. I took a few sips and that was enough. It overall lacked salt, but was a nice to have on a cold day 2/5. The baklava was very delicious and very sweet 4/5. I'd love to see an addition of the option to get extra garlic sauce on the side. Service 3/5: the food was done when it said it was going to be done. Something to note if you're ordering pickup, their system says when you ordered it and doesn't tell you the time it will be ready. There was only a single employee working in the front and she was taking someone's order so I had to wait (not a big deal) but I could see this being a problem on days they are busy. There was no silverware included in my to go order. Ambiance: the restaurant is open concept and from past experience from other restaurants in this same space, it can get very loud when busy. Overall they've done a great job cleaning it up and it has a clean feel. Overall it's great to see another restaurant in this area. I'd definitely come back for the chicken sandwich, but wasn't overly impressed with the rest.

Amazing service at the bar from the moment I stopped in. The pesto crusted sea bass blew me away…read moreone of the best dishes I've had. The fish was fresh and buttery and the chili beurre blanc sauce was on another level. Upscale seafood restaurant with nice decor and an uplifting vibe inside. Food is great, service is great, and the drinks top it off nicely. Highly recommend. -Mr.

They were able to accommodate a last minute reservation as the restaurant across the street filed…read morefor bankruptcy over the weekend. However we had to split a group of 12 over 2 tables which was unfortunate. My table ordered the calamari and margarita pizza to start. Both were tasted however the pizza crust was thin but not crispy as it flopped over and dropped half of my cheese and tomato topping. As main I ordered the herb linguine with braised lamb. Overall very tasty and the pasta was cooked just a tad before al dente but still good. Service was impeccable and definitely a place to go to again. But remember make a reservation as the place was packed, even on a Monday night in downtown Minneapolis.

I've been to the other Minneapolis location, but this was my first time at the Northeast one. We…read morepopped in around 11:45am on Saturday. It was quiet and easy to browse around. Parking was easy too, which was a nice bonus. There's always so much to see--personal care, home goods, food items, and more. My bestie and I both found super nice-smelling perfumes at a budget friendly price. Phoebe helped us out and was nice. I appreciated that she took the time to chat. It made the visit feel warm and personal. Always a great spot for low-waste finds!

Really cute place with tons of options for bulk kitchen goods, eco friendly (compostable!) home…read moregoods, and misc beauty products. If you're smell sensitive, be warned! I personally enjoyed the smell, but it was way too strong for a friend of mine and we had to leave sooner than we would have liked due to it. I've been on a hunt for bamboo toothbrushes from places that are NOT Whole Foods, and this place delivered!

All is well, correct and friendly every time I order anything-- smooth delivery, happy and polite…read moredelivery person

I have been shopping the grocery story & wine shop for about 15 years. I'm in the store(s) 4-5 days…read moreper week, spending roughly $500 per month between the two. I have over half a dozen friends working there, the regular staff all know my face, and I even recently interviewed for part-time work there. I do not like paying 5 cents for a plastic bag every time I swing through for a few items, so I decided to bring my own bag today. It's a messenger bag that rests on my back, no side pockets. Many customers in the store carry purses and/or reusable hand bags. All of these people have immediate access to their style of bags, whereas my messenger bag would require me to take it off my back in order to open it. As I walked by a very indiscreet undercover security member I hear a man's voice telling her via radio to keep an eye on me. I was then followed around the store for the entire visit, again very indiscreetly. I say this as someone who has worked professionally in security from bars, to retail, to IT. When I realized I forgot an item in the produce section I walked all the way back across the store, only to see a male security member come out of the back and proceed to follow me to the register. I intentionally chose a lane with a bagger, and showed him there was nothing in my bag before handing it to him. At the end of checkout the cashier asked me if I'd like to keep the 5 cents or donate it. This was new to me since I normally do self-checkout, so she explained that the 5 cents is a form of encouragement to bring my own bag. I replied to donate it, then said it was ironic considering security followed me around the entire store for wearing a bag that I was now being rewarded for bringing. She snapped at me and said "Well if you have a problem, my manager is right over there", and pointed to the self-checkout where the manager present has known me for quite some time and is always very friendly to me. Normally I decline a receipt when asked, but the cashier printed it without asking me. Seeing as I was only making an observation and not trying to escalate like the cashier was now doing, I deferred from chatting with said manager, and walked out of the store after placing my receipt into the donation box towards the Animal Humane Society like I always do. I have enjoyed the niche items that Kowalski's offers that other grocers do not, but considering these other stores sell the same common products for up to 40% cheaper, and considering the harassment by security and the poor customer service today, I will forego these niche items in favor of shopping elsewhere from this day forward.