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Town Talk Diner
$$ | New American

This diner serves homemade bananas Foster French toast, pancakes, and eggs at brunch, and burgers, sandwiches, salads, and reimagined classics in the evening, all with style and panache. Check out the farmer's sausage and cheese platter, the "frickles," crispy pressed half chicken, or the grilled tri-tip sirloin. Top-notch drink menu features one-of-a-kind cocktails.

  • No Smoking
  • Kid-friendly
  • Outdoor dining
  • Late night dining
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Notable
  • L Tu - F /D Tu - Sa /Br Sa - Su
2707-1/2 E. Lake St.
Mpls., Minnesota 55406
Phone: 612-722-1312
85
out of 100
0.0
out of 10
  • Critics' Ratings »
  • Eater Comments + Ratings »
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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

Critics' Rating

100 = Perfect
90 = Excellent
80 = Very Good
70 = Good, but Flawed
60 = High Average
50 = Average
40 = Low Average
30 = Disappointing
20 = Nearly Without Merit
10 = Poor
00 = Worthless
93
StarTribune | Rick Nelson
04/26/06
Oh, and the fries! If there is a more alluring French fry -- light, golden, deliriously salty -- in the Twin Cities, I have yet to devour it; the garlic version, coated with the stuff and plenty of parsley, could single-handedly tank the South Beach Diet.
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92
City Pages | Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl
06/07/06
... Town Talk Diner, a place that not only single-handedly proves there's still life in the old concept of American diners, but is also the most lighthearted, amusing, and downright playful restaurant to open around here in years.
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88
Minnesota Monthly | Rachel Hutton
09/06
Town Talk's menu is short but diverse: cheese curds share the same page as shrimp and orzo. Ingredients are well-sourced, creatively assembled, and, for the most part, well-prepared.
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87
Mpls.St.Paul Magazine | Andrew Zimmern
07/06
From the scallion-battered cheese curds with homemade ketchup to the sweet potato bread pudding that plays well alongside the perfectly cooked crispy half chicken, the food is all from scratch.
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83
Secrets of the City | Jeremy Iggers
08/11/07
We only ordered a few dishes, but they were just about perfect: a creamy corn soup with spicy croutons; a citrus and avocado salad sprinkled with pine nuts, and a very simple grilled cheese sandwich with avocado, accompanied by superb hot-from-the-fryer french fries, tossed with garlic and parsley.
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78
Twin Cities Eats
06/22/09
My conclusion on all of this: Town Talk Diner is basically the same exact place that it was before it was bought. I noticed no differences and the food was still at the same level, pretty good. The Town Talk Diner lives on.
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78
Gayot
This is the place to take in comfort food with a twenty-first-century spin.
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75
Twin Cities Eats
08/13/07
My overall take on Town Talk was that my food was good (not great) but the combination of having a full bar with fun drinks along with this type of food is what makes the whole thing a lot better. I also think that the price is right, the atmosphere is casual and fun, and that the staff was interesting and attentive.
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70
MSP Restaurant Critics
Town Talk, located on East Lake Street, adds a unique touch to the Twin Cities up market diner scene offering standard fare with a few twists, as well as a host of inventive dishes and cocktails.
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60
Twin Cities Eats
10/12/07
So, I'm not going to lie, the evening at Town Talk Diner was a mixed bag led more by the peripherals than by the food, which I actually enjoyed. But the dining experience does involve more than food so thus the middle of the road review on this one.
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BUZZ

City Pages
Best Of: Best Diner
2009
Best of all, Town Talk has blended two grownup favorites-ice cream and alcohol-in its tasty adult malts. Feel like a kid, drink like an adult, and get a little saucy with your sugar rush.
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City Pages
Best Of: Best Bartender
2008
If you're lucky enough to find a seat at the bar in the often crowded Town Talk Diner, Nick may come over to take your order-or ask you to taste something.
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Metro
Best Breakfasts
... offers another great, straightforward version-this time with fried eggs on toast-that is sized to share (have your date get the Bananas Foster French Toast).
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