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The hot five: Zagat's top picks

Last update: October 29, 2009 - 3:45 PM

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The Zagat Survey (www.zagat.com) has just released its 2010 "America's Top Restaurants" guidebook, with ratings in 45 U.S. dining markets. Their top five Twin Cities picks (in highest-to-lowest rating order) are:

LA BELLE VIE

Don't wait for a special occasion to indulge in the elegant food, drink, service and setting of this benchmark-setting restaurant, which reaches its pinnacle in chef Tim McKee's eight-course ($80) tasting menu. There's a four-course, $40 version in the adjacent lounge.

510 Groveland Av., Mpls., 612-874-6440,

www.labellevie.us

112 EATERY

In all those endless "where the chefs eat" stories, Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre's cozy Warehouse District hot spot always rises to the top, with good reason: Unlike most Minneapolis restaurants, the kitchen cooks a creative, affordable, something-for-everyone menu to midnight Monday through Thursday and to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

112 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-343-7696, www.112eatery.com

RESTAURANT ALMA

A three-course, design-your-own meal can be had for $45 (vegetarian option is $40 for four courses), with chef Alex Roberts offering a half-dozen seasonally minded, locally sourced and reliably delicious options in three categories: starters/salads, grains/pastas and entrees.

528 University Av. SE., Mpls., 612-379-4909,

www.restaurantalma.com

LUCIA'S RESTAURANT

Lucia Watson's Uptown bistro, a paragon of Midwestern wholesomeness, has been changing its menu every week for 24 years. That's more than 1,200 menus, but some things never change, including an emphasis on Minnesota-raised ingredients, sane prices and fabulous desserts.

1432 W. 31st St., Mpls., 612-825-1572, www.lucias.com

VINCENT

Business lunch? Pre-Orchestra Hall dinner? The city's best happy hour burger? A $30 three-course dinner (available Monday through Thursday) or a six-course ($72) tasting menu? Yes, Vincent Francoual's soothing, well-run downtown restaurant can handle it, and more.

1100 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-630-1189,

www.vincentarestaurant.com

RICK NELSON

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