It's hard to imagine a more magical way to enjoy a summer evening than by landing a coveted seat at the L-shaped bar on the patio at Broders' Pasta Bar, taking a crack at the affordable all-Italian wine list, and then putting yourself into the capable hands of the crew skillfully working the grill as they compose one simple and utterly satisfying small dish after another. One or two constitute a snack, three or more can stand in for a meal: Grilled peaches tossed with arugula. Espresso- and fennel-rubbed beef, seared and brushed with a sweet balsamic sauce. Tender baby artichoke bruschetta. A fine selection of cured meats and cheeses. Creamy house-made ricotta paired with flavorful heirloom cherry tomatoes and drizzled with a fragrant olive oil. Even better? The top price is $9.

5000 Penn Av. S., Mpls., 612-925-9202, www.broders.com

There were 18 people ahead of me in line when I dropped into Patisserie 46, proof positive that the Twitterati were texting up a storm over the place. With good reason. Baker/owner John Kraus' work runs from the deceptively simple -- a chocolate chip cookie that manages the trick of being crisp on the outside and obscenely buttery and chewy on the inside, a walnut-sour cream coffee cake that belongs on every weekend breakfast tray -- to intricate single-serving tortes, skillfully made croissants and fluted, super-moist canneles. A handful of breads, a few delicate candies, quiche and a small selection of wickedly luscious ice creams round out the menu, along with a full complement of coffee drinks and what might be the city's most refreshing lemonade. I could happily consume one of the tender almond financiers every day, along with several of the coin-sized chocolate-butter cookies, rimmed in sugar, without guilt. Well, maybe just a little.

4552 Grand Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-3257, www.patisserie46.com

"Yeah, our dishes tend to run a little on the rich side," said our server. No kidding. I was drowning in pork at Haute Dish (read our full review in next week's Taste), and loving every big, bold, fatty minute of it. Chef/co-owner Landon Schoenefeld's menu puts comfort food classics through the "Top Chef" spin cycle. The result? Along with more dead pig than an Oscar Mayer showroom, there's a shrimp cocktail on steroids, with both grilled prawns and poached shrimp sharing the plate with avocado and plenty of horseradish, or steak and eggs, retooled as a cool beef tartare paired with toasted brioche filled with a barely cooked egg. I'm looking forward to returning for Schoenefeld's version of Tater Tot hot dish, or "HauteDish," as he calls it. Something tells me it won't be like Mom's.

119 Washington Av. N., Mpls., 612-338-8484, www.haute-dish.com

Star Tribune
Sea Salt Eater is known for seafood in a park setting near Minnehaha Falls.

It might be an exaggeration to say that Sea Salt Eatery is the best thing to happen to the Minneapolis park system since the city paved its first parkway, but only a slight one. Standing in line at this perpetually busy spot (just in case you're wondering: Yes, it's worth the wait) reminded me that good food will always act as a magnet, even in the scenic overload that is Minnehaha Park. And good it is. Nothing is too complicated, but the quick-service cooking is done with obvious care and attention to detail. I love the generous cuts of tangy pickled herring, the hefty crab cake sandwich, the gorgeous raw oysters, the generously stuffed po' boys and tacos and the refreshing gazpacho finished with shrimp and scallops. Full marks for cleverly selected and moderately priced wines and beers, and for stocking Sebastian Joe's ice creams in the scoop case. Memo to the Park Board: More smart public/private partnerships, please. And hurry.

4825 Minnehaha Av. S., Mpls., 612-721-8990, www.seasalteatery.wordpress.com

Here's a question that constantly pops up in my e-mail box: What's a good deal? To my mind, the place for value is Lucia's to Go, where owner Lucia Watson, celebrating a quarter-century at 31st and Hennepin, emphasizes well-sourced locally raised ingredients, but doesn't charge top-shelf prices. The menu changes frequently, but the selection always includes some winning variation on chicken salad (made with Minnesota-raised free-range birds) that consistently ranks among this cheapskate's favorite lunches ($6.25). That Watson's shop doubles as one of the city's top bakeries doesn't hurt.

1432 W. 31st St., Mpls., 612-825-9800, www.lucias.com

As we mock-fought over the last silvery white anchovy, the final few bites of phyllo-wrapped stewed chicken and the prized remains of the zesty house-made lamb sausage, I wondered: Why don't I make a point to visit Saffron Restaurant & Lounge more often? It's one of the city's unsung delights, in part because chef/co-owner Sameh Wadi's imaginative and nuanced roster of small- and medium-sized plates makes for great impromptu grazing. The service staff has its act together, and the loft-style room could be impersonal but isn't. Note to self: Come back, soon.

123 N. 3rd St., Mpls., 612-746-5533, www.saffronmpls.com

A big thanks to Matty O'Reilly and Tom Peterson (the team behind Excelsior's Cafe 318) for revitalizing the Aster Cafe. The food -- salads, flatbreads, sandwiches, desserts -- isn't elaborate, but it's freshly prepared and inexpensive (ditto the beer/wine lists). Even better: The leafy riverfront patio, with its downtown views, is a total summertime keeper.

125 SE. Main St., Mpls., 612-379-3138, www.aster-cafe.com

After ripping through a basket of beautifully caramelized, perfectly seasoned and fall-off-the-bone tender ribs ($11) from the 128 Cafe truck, I did what any sane person would do: I immediately started following them on Twitter (128cafe), so I could track their whereabouts.

Follow your nose to the big white panel truck (www.128cafe.net) in Stillwater on Tuesday and downtown St. Paul on Wednesday and Thursday.

My summer Saturday morning ritual finds me whirling through two or three farmers markets, working up an appetite for my final destination, the Mill City Farmers Market, which wisely caters to both shoppers and diners. My latest obsession: the indecently refreshing basil-watermelon spring water ($1.50) at the Crêpes by Spoonriver stand.

2nd St. and Chicago Av. S., Mpls., www.millcity farmersmarket.org

Finally, the Walker Art Center is offering what its Minneapolis Sculpture Garden has always been missing: Something to eat. It's your basic burgers-brats menu (love the kimchi topping) at Open Field Bar & Grill by Wolfgang Puck, supplemented by grab-and-go salads and sandwiches sold a few steps away inside the museum's lobby cafe, but it's affordable and hits the spot. One complaint: the lousy, made-elsewhere desserts -- a factory-made cookie, really? Of course, it wouldn't be the Walker if the setting wasn't something to see, and anyone in patio-building mode should check out the cool furnishings, designed by St. Paul furniture designer Tom Oliphant and museum staffer David Dick.

1750 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., 612-375-7600, www.walkerart.org

Rick Nelson • 612-673-4757