Out-of-Towners' Guide to Minneapolis-St. Paul

Heavy Table: Comfort food, unexpected flavors, and an excellent wine / beer program -- and foie gras menu! -- make this "reinvented Austro-Hungarian" restaurant worthy of a visit. Try the mackerel (pictured). Read more.

Heavy Table: From the seasonally sauced pastas to the bestia nera flourless chocolate cake, you can't go wrong at Broders'. That said, the vanilla hazelnut cheesecake is a can't-miss -- smooth, light, balanced. Read more.

Heavy Table: You only think you’ve eaten pork belly, but really, you haven’t experienced swine perfection until you’ve dined at Corner Table. Unctuous and impossibly tender, it's brined and confited to perfection. Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the steak tartare -- a hearty, no-frills rendition with lightly crisped bread to help absorb the alcohol you'll surely drink. Make sure to hit the Torpedo Room for an after-dinner tiki drink. Read more.

Heavy Table: Yes, you must try the lamb tartare. But don't miss the bizarre-sounding combo of vanilla crème fraîche ice cream, rhubarb granite, frozen licorice, and orange -- it's refreshing, nuanced, unique. Read more.

Heavy Table: Seasonal, surprising, visually impeccable plates to break your midwestern stereotypes (this will not be a heavy, gut-busting meal) and uphold them (the staff and neighborhood vibe are Minnesota Nice). Read more.

Heavy Table: The menu's always changing, but rest assured: Chef Alex Roberts and team put out a consistently solid prix fixe menu at a great value. Read more.

Heavy Table: Order the duck leg tagine -- you'll hardly need to chew the tender, perfumed meat in this preserved lemon/olive/raisin/potato/saffron-flavored dish. Don't forget to start with hummus with bastirma! Read more.

Heavy Table: Hit the lounge for a budget-conscious approach to the swankiest spot in town! Grab a glass of bubbly, or -- if you're feeling adventurous -- El Jefe, a powerful, huckleberry-tinted concoction. Read more.

Heavy Table: Grab the blueberry pancakes -- they're legitimately second to none and the ambiance alone is worth the modest price of your check. Read more.

Heavy Table: If you're early enough to score a donut, spring for the vanilla-filled variety. The pastry cream is subtle and just-sweet-enough, and it's grounded by a beautifully light, wholesome brioche shell. Read more.

Heavy Table: Craving bar food in a place with character? You've come to the right place. Heavy, salty, fried, comforting -- the waffle fries (or their "hangover fries" variation) should be right up your alley. Read more.

Heavy Table: If you prefer your cocktails plus espresso, minus the booze, this is your spot. Try the Hendricks -- it's a minty, bitters-infused (and cold press-anchored) play on the gin of the same name. Read more.

Heavy Table: Topped with onions, avocado, and tomato (and ham if you choose), the fried egg sandwich is a sure bet. Read more.

Heavy Table: The Kobe Corned Beef and Hash is the best in town: large chunks of browned potatoes and tender beef mingle with mustard, melty Swiss cheese, onions, peppers and peas. We also love the Pile of Toast. Read more.

Heavy Table: HauteDish's Ropa Vieja stars, with comforting sweet potato hash, tender pork, and poached eggs forming the ultimate hangover remedy. If the hair of the dog's more your thing, try the bourbon bloody. Read more.

Heavy Table: If and when eggs en cocotte are on the menu, don't pass them up -- they're custardy, nuanced -- a great way to start your day. Otherwise, try any egg dishes from the brunch menu -- you won't go wrong. Read more.

Heavy Table: Grab a biscuit sandwich -- they leave you fortified for a full day without weighing you down. Switch to a cheddar, scallion, and bacon-studded biscuit for an extra treat! Read more.

Heavy Table: Bacon-studded twinkies? Sold. As for your real breakfast, hash plus a perfectly cooked poached egg and may just be your ticket. Read more.

Heavy Table: Cuban hashes and scrambles, full of black beans, chorizo, yucca and plantains -- you can't go wrong. Read more.

Heavy Table: Grab an old-fashioned donut or double chocolate cookie, which tastes of pure, deep cocoa, without the cloying sweetness of many American-made chocolates. Just make sure to pair it with milk. Read more.

Heavy Table: Stop for brunch -- both the biscuits and mushroom gravy and the bison hash stand out as classic examples of Uptown comfort food. Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the Lodge Burger with smokey cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and chipotle mayonnaise or either of the cheese-stuffed, juicy-lucy-style burgers, the Juicy Nookie or the Paul Molitor. Read more.

Heavy Table: Dine in for cabbage rolls and dumplings or take out – if you have access to a grill – a pile of their brats (best when beer-boiled) and cherry bombs, sweet/hot sausages that are a summer favorite. Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the bittersweet chocolate cookies or the kouign amann, which is like a sweet -- but denser -- croissant with a deeply caramelized, crunchy crust. Read more.

Heavy Table: Make sure to try one of the shareable toasts -- they're mildly filling and arrive on an ornate, tiered platter with tasty flavors like house-cured lox or steak tartare. Read more.

Heavy Table: If you’re feeling brave, order the Chef’s Revenge: you may never be hungry again, but you’ll definitely be happy. Read more.

Heavy Table: Highly recommended: the asparagus sandwich. It's cheese-forward (in a creamy, lightly funky kind of way) with a hint of black pepper heat. Read more.

Heavy Table: The stuffed-to-the-gills, vegan-chili-topped breakfast burrito can easily feed two; the tender biscuit sandwich with egg and cheese is the most satisfying breakfast $5 can buy. Read more.

Heavy Table: The best fast pizza in the skyway, with plate-size slices for $3.61. Read more.

Heavy Table: We love the chicken tamales in green sauce -- stop for lunch, then try to recreate them at home! Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the tinga de pollo: beautifully prepared, shredded chicken spiced with smoky chipotle pepper and tomato sauce. The pepper brings just enough heat; onion, cilantro, salsa verde, and lime add zip. Read more.

Heavy Table: Get an arepa: a griddled corn cake stuffed with braised meats, house made sauces and crumbly cheese for under $10. It won't break the bank, and the cheese (among other ingredients) is made in-house. Read more.

Heavy Table: It’s imperative to end your meal with a slice of Marla’s sweet potato pie. With a light crust and luscious, pillowy filling, this rich dessert is more flavorful and sweeter than a typical pumpkin pie. Read more.

Heavy Table: The Firecracker Roll packs tremendous flavor and balance; the Tonkatsu Curry Ramen is a real winner in the soup and noodles category. Read more.

Heavy Table: Get the Bun Bo Hue, featuring a beautiful reddish brown beef broth with a bold, complex flavor that's as arresting as its color. Thai chili pepper and fresh ginger give it serious kick. Read more.

Heavy Table: The Po Pia Tod (fried spring rolls) appetizer is crisp and fresh, and you can't go wrong with the daily curry special -- a filling, flavorful entree served with rice and a bonus Thai omelet. Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the sweet potato curry soba -- the spice profile is rich and packs real heat without overwhelming the cheerful, delicate taste of the sweet potatoes. Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the aloo tikka chaat -- the dish appears simple, like a samosa filling turned out onto a plate, but incorporates potatoes, dal, garam masala, lime yogurt, and fried sev (a chickpea flour noodle). Read more.

Heavy Table: Go with the #5: fennel sausage, hot salami, thinly sliced white onion, and cracked green olives. It’s brilliant! Read more.

Heavy Table: Get the spicy peanut noodles with chicken confit and a soft poached egg. They’re hearty, they’re hot, they’re a winter’s foil! Read more.

Heavy Table: Go for the succulent pulled pork (alone or nestled atop a roll, doused in pickled cabbage and the famed, addictive "green sauce") and so-good-it-can’t-be-good-for-you creamed spinach Read more.

Heavy Table: Try anything salmon — like the gravlax small plate, or the smörgås, is marked by fresh fish paired with sweet beets and a spicy punch from watercress and mustard dressing. Read more.

Heavy Table: Try the Angophile, a drinkable, “Christmas-flavored” rendition of a flip. Read more.

Heavy Table: Get the Duck Duck Dduk — the thinly sliced, gummy rice coins dressed up with duck confit and served in a hot, richly flavored sauce. It's absolutely amusing, comforting, satisfying, and delicious. Read more.