CONTINUED from page 21 food for nearly 23 years. It started as just another family with some amazing recipes. In 1996, El Tequila Mexican Family Restaurant in Faribault, MN, was opened. Soon, Owatonna was opened, and from there, Northfield, Waseca and New Prague restaurants were opened. Now, we have been serving Southern MN for 23 years. El Tequila is renowned for their savory, original, and authentic Mexican food and drinks. They have served well over a million orders of what is widely regarded as the best salsa in Minnesota. The good people at El Tequila welcome everyone to any and all of their locations, because they would love to make all a part of their family. 1830 S. Cedar Avenue, Owatonna www.eltequilarestaurant.com Honorable Mention: La Plaza Fiesta in Madelia By Pat Garry
In addition to the excellent steaks, Porterhouse features a wide variety of seafood, most of which is shipped to the restaurant fresh (never frozen) every day or every other day. In fact, Hyde says, some people come to Porterhouse just for the clam chowder, which is made fresh daily by Porterhouse’s kitchen staff. Hyde also credits the experience Porterhouse delivers for its popularity. “We’re full service fine dining with extremely knowledgeable servers and a very low ratio of servers to tables. Servers usually won’t have more than three tables in their section at a time. That way they can be attentive without looming over customers. Porterhouse also features a full bar with an extensive by-the-glass and by-the-bottle wine list. But it’s those amazing Angus steaks that really draw crowds from Southern Minnesota and the Twin Cities Metro. “It’s quite an honor to have our steaks named the best,” said Hyde. See for yourself at 9828, 11211 205th St W, Lakeville. www.porterhousesteakandseafood.com Honorable Mention: Starfire Grill in Waseca By Scene Staff
Bend in the Road in Manchester BEST PIZZA The flatbread pizza at Manchester pub Bend in the Road — a dozen or so varieties available every day, made with all fresh ingredients -- has built a loyal following since Gina and Jeff took over the bar a couple years ago. The duo wanted to honor Bend’s legacy as a neighborhood bar, which has operated since the 70s, but infuse flavors inspired by their travels across the US. Gina hails from Montgomery and got her start making pizzas at the local gas station where she worked during college, but jobs took her across the U.S., from Colorado to Portland. “When I came back I made this joke,” Gina said. “I would not be serving my community if I didn’t come back and serve pizzas.” Gina and Jeff added a full kitchen to Bend in the Road so they could offer food with the quality to match the level the musicians that play at the bar at least twice a week. Situated on the crossroads of highway 35 and 90, Bend in the Road sits at the perfect junction for musicians traveling just about any which was, and Gina has put effort into building relationships with those in the music industry to get national acts on the pub’s stage. “It was truly an honor to be nominated,” said Gina. “And to win? “It made my year.” www.bend-in-the-road.business.site Honorable Mention: Pagliai’s Pizza in Mankato By Isabelle Wattenberg
PORTERHOUSE Steak & Seafood Restaurant in Lakeville BEST PLACE FOR A STEAK Angus beef, aged a minimum of 28 days. This is the key to the best steak in Southern Minnesota, at Porterhouse Steak & Seafood. The Lakeville establishment and its sister restaurant north of Saint Paul in Little Canada have a strong reputation for combining excellent steaks with excellent service. Porterhouse General Manager Dave Hyde is extremely proud of what they do, and when you talk to him, it shows. “Our ribeye and tenderloin are probably our two most popular steaks,” he said. “They’re very different—the ribeye is very marbleized while the tenderloin is very lean. But both are very popular.”
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Widerholt’s Supper Club in Miesville BEST SUPPER CLUB “We take pride in our service, consistency and relationships that we have developed throughout the years with customers; many whom have turned into friends. “We’ll just keep on doing what we’ve been doing all along.”—the Wiederholts. Jesse Wiederholt, Becky Wiederholt, and Mike & Jenny Pine, are owners of the establishment. The Supper Club has been owned and operated by the family since 1932. Wiederholt’s is known for their consistency in service and quality of food. Some of the favorite menu selections include the Prime Rib, BBQ Ribs, Chicken Kiev, Halibut and Walleye. Each entrée includes a relish tray, garlic toast, dinner salad and warm rolls; and choice of potato. Hosts to many large banquet parties throughout the year, including fundraisers, grooms’ dinners, anniversaries, retirement events, holiday parties and anniversaries, Wiederholts has the venue to accommodate all of them. 14535 240th St. East, Hastings. www.wiederholtssupperclub.com Honorable Mention: The Hubbell House in Mantorville By Pat Garry
Hogan Brothers in Northfield BEST SUB/SANDWICH Hogan Brothers’ Acoustic Café was opened in Northfield in October 1991 by Greg Heymans. After seven years at 405 Division in Northfield, Hogan Brothers’ moved down the street to 415 Division. This doubled the space, making room for their in-house bakery and increasing the capacity to serve as many as 1000 customers a day. And that obviously need that space, since they were voted Best Sub/Sandwich in this year’s poll. Hogan Brothers’ specializes in hot hoagie sandwiches, featuring their honey-cracked wheat bread, baked from scratch daily, and their signature special sauce. Ingredient choices include Swiss cheese, provolone cheese, mayo, lettuce special sauce (an olive oil vinaigrette), tomato, onions, and mild yellow peppers. Flatbreads include provolone cheese, guacamole, mayo, lettuce, onion, tomato, shredded carrot, and mild yellow peppers. We offer soup and sandwich specials (chili is served every day!), and coffee and espresso from Anodyne Roasters. For dessert we offer twelve flavors of ice cream and homemade cookies and rice krispie bars. Pro tip: the restaurant’s favorite hoagie is the Combo: ham, salami, corned beef, and all of the toppings. If it’s your birthday, come on in (with identification, of course!) and get a free half hoagie and a medium fountain drink. If you have the good fortune to travel abroad, bring in a photo of you wearing a Hogan Brothers’ t-shirt, and receive a free half hoagie. Enjoy your lunch, or your supper, or simply time with friends, at Hogan Brothers’ Acoustic Café. Hogan Brothers’ is located at 415 S. Division St., Northfield. www.hoganbros.com
Club 57 in Waseca BEST WINGS “We are so thrilled to have been voted Best Wings by our peers. Our staff works really hard to always ensure quality food and service,” said Mindy Jimenez, Event Coordinator. Club 57 is a renovated grocery warehouse that now has become a destination for locals and visitors alike. Located on the first floor of the former WJ Armstrong warehouse, it bears wood floors and beams that go back hundreds of years. An eclectic collection of memorabilia adorns the cedar walls. Owners Gene and Bonnie Miller wanted to restore this beautiful building and save it from demolition, and after brainstorming, they decided on opening Club 57 to utilize the space. Of course, the infamous wings are a staple at Club 57. You can order wings your way and in a variety of basket sizes (wing specials offered on Mondays). Sauce choices: Thai Chili, BBQ, Buffalo, Siracha Bourbon, Teriyaki & Tropical Habanero. “We serve great food in a really cool environment. It’s the best place to come hang out for Happy Hour. We have room for you to spread out, among our three patios and the game room,” Jimenez explained. 204 2nd St SW, Waseca www.facebook.com/Club57
Honorable Mention: Jersey Mike’s Subs in Mankato
Honorable Mention: Smoqehouse in Northfield
By Beth Forkner Moe
By Pat Garry
N O V E m B E R 2 0 1 9 | w w w. s o u t h er N m I N n SCENE. c o m
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