You've shopped, now drop. And eat.

After exhausting yourself at the Mall of America, duck inside the quiet refuge that is the Napa Valley Grille, where chef Joel Del Fiacco is preparing flatbreads topped with duck confit and dried figs, a saffron- and lobster-infused mac-and-cheese, grilled pork chops with a ginger-mustard glaze and slow-braised short ribs with gnocchi.

It's difficult to imagine a more satisfying pad Thai -- chicken, shrimp, salmon or vegetable versions -- than the one served at Big Bowl. Love the yellow and green curry dishes, too, along with the potstickers and the exceptional hot-and-sour pork soup. Oh, and the refreshing house-made ginger ales. The only problem? It's always crowded.

Regular Grand Avenue browsers know that they can restore their energy, family-style, at Brasa. Half the fun of dining at chef/owner Alex Roberts' casual restaurant is filling the table with a few main-course options (fantastic slow-roasted pork, cornmeal-seasoned fried catfish) and then wallowing in a parade of sides, including yellow beans and rice, collard greens with smoked turkey, crispy fried yuca, honey-glazed corn bread and more. Don't miss the guava-lime soda.