Raphael Brion
Critic
RestaurantsRaphael Brion is the Minnesota Star Tribune's restaurant critic. He previously wrote about and led restaurant coverage for Food & Wine, Bonappetit.com and Eater National.
Latest from Raphael Brion
14 of our favorite new burgers in the Twin Cities to close out 2025
Craggy edges, special sauce and kimchi-spiced — there’s a lot of love to find between two toasted buns.
December 19, 2025
The Minnesota Star Tribune names its 10 best new restaurants of 2025
From fine dining to fast casual and barbecue to pasta galore, these are our favorite new eateries. But one stands out above them all.
December 14, 2025
Khue’s Kitchen is the Star Tribune’s 2025 Best New Restaurant
Eric Pham cooks through fire and family at his St. Paul restaurant, serving up the Twin Cities’ next generation of Vietnamese cuisine.
December 14, 2025
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Those congee hash browns really do live up to the hype. Plus, unforgettable tortillas, obsession-worthy caramel rolls and dunking sauces.
December 12, 2025
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
New Mexican, Japanese and health-minded eateries, plus tried-and-true road trip and dim sum staples.
December 5, 2025
Brion: 3 Twin Cities restaurants with fresh takes on pasta
Think you know pasta? Think again. Local chefs are rewriting the rules with international flair and craveable spins.
December 4, 2025
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Noteworthy onion rings, creative pizzas, well-played seasonal ingredients and more.
November 21, 2025
Brion: When did so many restaurants start charging extra for fries?
If you order a burger at Twin Cities restaurants, don’t assume the price includes the beloved sidekick.
November 20, 2025
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Checking out new bakeries, Mexican markets and banh mi places, while old school dive bar staples and holiday pop ups kept things nostalgic.
November 14, 2025
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Global flavors and fried chicken with a cult following fueled a great week of new food finds.
November 7, 2025
Meet our new restaurant critic. This is why he won’t be anonymous.
Award-winning food journalist Raphael Brion will offer restaurant reviews and commentaries on Minnesota’s dining scene.
November 6, 2025
The 5 best things our food writers ate this week
Cannoli gone wild, standard-setting mozzarella sticks and a hidden gem left strong impressions in a good way.
October 31, 2025
