Twin Point Tavern

When it comes to burger flipping, tried-and-true often trumps the frippery of some of the more decorated and high-buck brethren. There is little pretense at the Twin Point. The menu, which hasn’t changed in years, hangs above the window to the kitchen, and the cooks not only take and prepare the orders, but also deliver them with a genuine you’re-gonna-like this smile. In fact, everyone is friendly. Bartender Bob is the kind of guy who greets regulars by name, and that relaxed manner, along with the everyman atmosphere of ’60s-era faux-wood Formica that envelopes the horseshoe bar, serves as a gentle reminder that rural Wisconsin is just a short ride away. There is, as if for added proof, an adjacent liquor store, but the real verification is the price. A juicy half-pounder on a pillowy toasted bun (courtesy of Good Earth Bakery) plus an ample stack of fries is yours for a mere $7.80. Wash it down with an ice-cold lager or pilsner from the tap. The Twin Point might not be on the culinary map, but it’s easy to find and even easier to appreciate.

11199 Stillwater Blvd. N., Lake Elmo, 651-777-0239