I Heart Town Talk Diner

I fell in love last night, and no it wasn't with the foxy bartender at Bar Abilene.  (Babe, cutie pie, whatever your name was, if you can read this, email me so we can continue our discussion on the best late-night spots for pasta.)

No, it wasn't even a boy this time.  Last night, I fell in love with Town Talk Diner.  More specifically, I fell in love with the best f**king Manhattan in the whole, wide world.  I thought I was gonna fall off my chair, it was so good.  (Okay, I guess it was pretty strong, too, which may have also contributed to a possible equilibrium problem.) 

Observe the flawless construction: a long pour of smooth Maker's Mark, kirsch (fancy cherry liqueur), and a little ice, shaken in a cute little tin, then strained into a cute little martini glass and garnished with a real cherry that's been soaking in the same kirsch.  Real cherries.  Not those overpoweringly sweet maraschino cherries.  And there's no vermouth in sight.  I dunno, maybe this isn't even a real Manhattan, but whatever it is, ohpleasegod Town Talk Diner, do not stop making it.  Because every chance I get, I'll be bellied up to your ridiculous little diner counter, sipping on one.

I was quite tempted to order a second Manhattan, but I decided against it at the last second and asked the bartender to recommend something for me instead.  Oh, I'm so glad I did.  Because next came the Cherry Bomb, a grown-up ice cream shake with imported cherry schnapps and creme de cacao blended in.  It was topped with two of those kirsch-soaked cherries, one dipped in white chocolate.  Despite the impending brain freeze, I sucked down this absolutely delicious concoction even faster than the Manhattan.  In fact, I want another one.  Right.  Now.

The whole bar menu at Town Talk is like a playground for me.  Seriously, I haven't been this excited about drinks since Azia opened.  And you know how I love Azia.  I could only handle the two drinks on my visit to Town Talk last night, but I'll be back as many times as it takes to get through that list, two by two.

Did I even eat anything?  Why yes, I did.

My two friends and I ordered up a basket of frickles to start.  They're the housemade pickles, but sliced, battered, and deep-fried.  They were pretty good, tasting exactly how I expected them to taste: like deep-fried pickles.  They come with a creamy mustard dill sauce that's got a little horseradish kick to it.  We were then treated to an amuse-bouche of pickled hard-boiled eggs.  (Do those two things even belong in the same sentence?  "Diner-with-a-haute-cuisine-twist" is right, Steve Marsh.)  The eggs come out of a sweet, mustard-y brine that's so yellow it dyes the very outer edge of the whites the same color.  They're sliced open to reveal the yellow yolk, then dusted with paprika, for a rather lovely presentation.

All burgers and sandwiches are available with regular fries, garlic parsley fries, or a mixed greens salad.  Since there were three of us, we each got a different side.  I had the mixed greens salad with a red wine vinaigrette, which was basic but great.  Sometimes a vinaigrette is too bitter for me--especially when mixed greens are involved--but this one was really mellow.  It dressed the salad without taking it over.

In the future, when faced with the choice of regular fries or garlic parsley fries, I will forever choose garlic parsley fries.  Both are good, but one is fantastic.  I mean, why go plain when you can step it up?  The garlic parlsey fries are also served with a lemon mayo, which only enhances their deliciousness.

Alright, brace yourself, because I'm about to say something really important.  Okay, you ready?  Here goes: Town Talk's grilled cheese gives Grumpy's grilled cheese a run for its money.  Tangy cheddar and creamy gruyere, with fresh roma tomatoes on big, fat slices of bread.  Heaven.  Next time I'm at Town Talk, I'll have to see if they're willing to serve it on pumpernickel or rye instead of plain white.  If they do... oh man, I hate to say it, but that would make it the absolute best grilled cheese sandwich in town.  Grumpy's, forgive me.

My friends had burgers, which of course I didn't try, but both boys said they were outstanding.  The sheer size alone was impressive to me; neither friend actually finished his burger, let alone the gigantic pile of fries.

There's only one thing that stands out in my mind as sort of sucking, and that was the diner counter situation.  I know I'm asking for something I'll never get, but I'd love to see the stools and counter raised up a bit.  It feels weird (borderline awkward) to be sitting at a bar but not at a higher level.  I can't explain it; maybe I eat at the bar too often in restaurants (the service is always faster and usually friendlier), but being down so low just doesn't feel right to me.  I guess I'll test out the dining room next time, maybe that will be a little more comfortable.

Hmm, what else?  One friend had a couple of Miller High Life 7-ouncers with dinner, served in a mini cocktail glass.  And yes, they really do serve 40-ounce beers there, and our bartender/server/Flo said that it comes with champagne service.  Gimmicky?  Yeah, but it works. 

It all works.

So, yes, it's love.  I wanna marry Town Talk Diner and have babies with it.  We'll drink delicious drinks with fancy cherries together.  We'll take long walks down to the river, scoffing at all the other diners and their patrons.   I'm serious, don't try and stop me.

Comments

[Not2Sure]

The pancakes now cost something outrageous like 10 bucks.. so much for rising from its own ashes anew. IMHO, it is so little like Town Talk Diner 1.0 they should really have changed the name.

I think I'm about to lose yet another place to the "grasshopper sipping hipster" crowd. :(

What does your mom think of it?

[MOM]

Sounds like the status of pickled eggs has been elevated to be served alongside Manhattans and ice cream drinks; I see no comment on how they tasted... Reading this post reminded me of when you were quite young and how you never missed an episode of that sit-com about "Mel's Diner" and that you even dressed up as "Flo" for Halloween one year.

[Aaron Landry]

As you pointed out on my site, I was at the Town Talk Diner at almost the same time. Funny that we ordered the same sandwich too. Arr num num. I'll opt for the garlic parsley fries next time.

Next time is Friday with Bill and Kim and maybe others.

MOM- They were called "mustard pickled eggs" when I got them which I think explains them well. I am not an egg fan, though.

[433]

Ugh, I was afraid of this. I hate hate HATE that crap. Gussying up greasy spoon food and decor and charging hip restaurant prices. It's like going to Mickey's Dining Car, only you don't have to sit next to any ACTUAL poor people.

$9.25 for a bacon cheeseburger? $5.00 for a plain hotdog?

And most egregious -- $8.25 for two pancakes? Pancakes that are the exact same recipe the old Town Talk used to serve, but now at four times the cost? The pancake prices haven't quadrupled in the past 10 years at Al's Breakfast, the Ideal Diner, Key's, or anywhere else in town.

I'm glad you like the food so much. You can eat my portion too, because I sure won't be going.

[Jess]

Here is where I try to bribe your mom for some Young Alexis as Flo [email protected]@$^^[email protected]

[Not2Sure]

Does mom have an amazon wish list yet? I'll chip in something for the pics as well.

[Alexis]

Well, if there's anyone I know who would go out of his way not to eat at a fantastic new restaurant because of a memory associated with an old one, it's 433. You're missing out; everything on the menu unique and delicious.

The prices are equal to those of any other restaurant in town serving food of this caliber. And actually, The Longfellow Grill (right down the street) has several items that are more expensive.

These guys have roots at Aquavit, Cafe Brenda, Levain, and Vincent, so make no mistake: there is no greasy diner slop at Town Talk Diner. They didn't try to resurrect a restaurant that's been closed for 4 years, they merely applied their combined skill of the trade to a whole new concept. And like I said, it totally works.

If you want $2.00 hangover eggs, then go to Mickey's or wherever. But if you want to try the best new restaurant in town where the burgers might cost $8.75 but I bet you can't finish one (not one of us cleaned our plates), and everything is made fresh in-house from gourmet ingredients (even the pickles), then check out Town Talk.

Actually, please check out Town Talk before you say anything more about it. To try and compare this restaurant to Mickey's is like comparing Solera to McDonald's. Not only is it apples and oranges, but it's like fresh-from-the-tree McIntosh apples from Afton Orchards versus a dry, seedy Valencia orange from Aldi in early November.

[433]

Maybe if you pay, darlin', but I swear to Ed that I'm not paying $8.25 for pancakes that cost $2 or so four years ago. That's just sick.

[Old Geezer]

Back in my day, pancakes were a nickel, and I refuse to pay a penny more! Now if you'll excuse me, Matlock is is on TV.

[Eric]

Hmm... the Lemon-Ricotta Hotcakes I love from Hell's Kitchen are $9.25, and I've ordered them again and again - So I guess I will pay that much for pancakes, but they'd better be damned tasty.

[433]

You kids stay off my lawn!

[Alexis]

Intelligence reports coming in indicate that the pancakes come with your choice of bacon, sausage links or polish sausage for $8.25. Pancakes without the side of meat are just $5.00. Real maple syrup, of course.

[taylor]

I have to side with 344: Minneapolis is quickly heading the wrong direction with the pricing scale. Comparing prices to the entirely overpriced-yet-average Longfellow Grill doesn't make it any better, either.

And there's absolutely no way I can support drinking High Life like that.

And how are we coming with the MomFriday.typepad.com? I'd really like to see some photos of "Flo".

[andrea]

Can we talk about pizza? What's the best in mpls? I just moved here and need a good slice. Also, where can I get my eyebrows threaded in this city? Oh, i have so many questions. I'm glad I found you.

[Jason]

The CCO crew always does happy hour after the 10 on Thursdays... we'll have to try Town Talk next week. And I miss Flo....

[Bill Roehl]

If you want $2.00 hangover eggs, then go to Mickey's or wherever. But if you want to try the best new restaurant in town where the burgers might cost $8.75 but I bet you can't finish one (not one of us cleaned our plates), and everything is made fresh in-house from gourmet ingredients (even the pickles), then check out Town Talk.

I'll take that bet. I'll be there tonight.

[Aaron Landry]

Taylor-

My url is now your url? You own me.

-Aaron

[taylor]

I can't believe someone actually clicked on my name!

[Jason]

Chuck Norris killed a man, used his powers to bring him back to life, and killed him again. Now thats justice.

[Jason]

Thanks for that tidbit, Taylor.

[Not2Sure]

Have to be pretty secure in your manhood to order a float called the Panty Dropper.

(it's kinda tasty, but you didn't hear that from me)

[Bill Roehl]

Alexis, pay up ;)

[Aaron Landry]

I can't believe someone actually clicked on my name!

Taylor-

I didn't click, but I always mouse-over your name because you tend to give a different url every time and everywhere you post. Never thought you'd put my url as yours. Heh.

-Aaron

[Alexis]

Aaron... I think he's got a crush on you.

Bill: I can't believe it! And you had an appetizer? I assume you'll be fasting until Sunday dinner.

[Bill Roehl]

I assume you'll be fasting until Sunday dinner.

Alexis, I'm hungry already! I could defintely go for another "Kitchen Sink Burger" :)