St. Paul's Hamline United Methodist Church, a 116-year-old fair tradition, is famous for its rib-sticking ham loaf (and meatballs, and chicken) dinners, but this cheerful refuge is also a welcome breakfast destination, serving pancakes, eggs, sausage, hash browns and more. The church is also partnering with another St. Paulite, Izzy's Ice Cream, scooping up several flavors, including the hall's exclusive mini-doughnut-batter-flavored ice cream.
Dan Patch Av. between Underwood and Cooper Streets
The fair's sole nonchurch dining hall, run by the Robbinsdale Order of the Eastern Star, has a VFW coziness and an accommodating morning-to-night menu. Pancakes go beyond buttermilk to embrace blueberries and wild rice, and a heaping plate of biscuits smothered in sausage gravy caters to ravenous a.m. appetites. Later in the day, go for burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese sandwiches, onion rings and pie a la mode.
Underwood St. between Carnes and Dan Patch Avenues
The charming Bible-camp-esque digs at Salem Lutheran Church have a delightful "Kumbaya" vibe, and the Minneapolis congregation's outpost is the place to start the day (French toast, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches) or spend lunch or dinner (BLTs, chili, Swedish meatballs, a turkey dinner in a bowl). A house specialty is the "Lutheran latté," an affogato made using Swedish egg coffee poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Cosgrove St. and Randall Av.
RICK NELSON
