Q & A with the restaurant critic

Q Any drive-ins still around?

A Yes! I love drive-ins. The venerable Dari-ette Drive-In (1440 E. Minnehaha Av., St. Paul, 651-776-3470) is still doing its mix of burgers and malts and (very) simple Italian fare. If you're in the western suburbs, you should definitely check out the Minnetonka Drive In (4658 Shoreline Dr., Spring Park, (952-471-9383), a throwback to 1961. The Galaxy Drive-In (3712 Quebec Av. S., St. Louis Park, 952-277-7777, www.galaxy-drivein.com) is a souped-up version of the genre, and very dog-friendly.

Another classic is Wagner's Drive-In (7000 W. Broadway, Brooklyn Park, 763-533-8262, www.wagnersdrivein.com), where owner Jim Wagner just might be the hardest-working guy in the business. And I have a special affection for the Peppermint Twist Drive-In (115 W. Babcock Blvd., Delano, 763-972-2572, www.thepepperminttwist.com), not only for its Pepto-Bismol pink paint job, but also because it's a favorite of my sister Linda, which makes it a favorite of mine.

Q What beverages have you been seeing that are particularly summer-friendly?

A One of my pet peeves in restaurants is when I ask the question, "What do you have for nonalcoholic beverages?" and the response is "Coke products." Come on, you can do better than that. For some great options, check out the newish Eat Street Social (18 W. 26th St., Mpls., 612-767-6850, www.eatstreetsocial.com) for the bar's fabulous egg creams, phosphates and sodas.

I love the sparkling soda of the day at the Wise Acre Eatery (5401 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-2577, www.wiseacreeatery.com). The guava-lime and pineapple-ginger sodas at the St. Paul Brasa (777 Grand Av., www.brasau.us) are first-rate. Oh, and I was recently on the North Shore and was delighted to encounter a maple syrup soda at the Angry Trout Cafe (408 W. Hwy. 61, Grand Marais, Minn., 1-218-387-1265, www.angrytroutcafe.com).

Q Pumphouse Creamery also makes some great house-made sodas, although they aren't a restaurant. Have you tried them?

Q Do you have any other dining-out pet peeves?

A Where to begin? I could go on for a while, but I'll keep it short. Here's one that's always a mystery to me: A party of four is seated, and each diner is handed a menu. But then the host leaves a single cocktail menu or wine list on the table. What's with that?

Q Could you tell me where to go to get good prime rib that doesn't cost half a mortgage payment?

A Crave (four Twin Cities locations, www.craveamerica.com) offers a great Sunday night-only deal: All you can eat prime rib for $19.95. Another spot you might want to check out is Pittsburgh Blue (11900 Main St., Maple Grove, 763-416-2663 and 3220 W. 70th St., Edina, 952-567-2700, www.pittsburghbluesteak. com), where the kitchen offers three sizes -- and prices -- of prime rib, ranging from $26.95 to $36.95.

Q Any authentic Indian restaurants in the west metro area?

Q I just moved to downtown Minneapolis and I'm looking for my new favorite breakfast place. It has to be open on the weekends. Any ideas?

A I'd recommend Moose & Sadie's (212 3rd Av. N., 612-371-0464, www.mooseandsadies.com), which serves a great counter-service breakfast daily. Be'wiched Deli (800 Washington Av. N., 612-767-4330, www.bewicheddeli.com) prepares an awesome weekend breakfast. If you're out and about on Saturday, you should definitely graze your way through the Mill City Farmers Market (2nd Street and Chicago Avenue S., www.millcityfarmersmarket.org), which might be my favorite warm-weather Saturday morning breakfast spot.

Q What's your favorite frozen yogurt place around town? There are so many popping up.

A It's crazy, right? I feel like we're reliving the 1980s. I'm a fan of the Yogurt Lab (3100 Excelsior Blvd., Mpls., 612-926-8212, www.yogurtlabs.com). I was blown away by how crowded it was when I dropped in a few Sundays ago. It was like Black Friday, 5 a.m., at a Best Buy.

Have you been to Freeziac (www.freeziac.com)? There's one in the Mall of America, along with locations in Eden Prairie, Plymouth and Maple Grove. And it's not frozen yogurt, but I'm totally in love with the frozen custard at the Wise Acre Eatery (5401 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-2577, www.wiseacreeatery.com). It's extraordinary.

A My first thought is that you need to get in line and get a seat on the enormous and wildly attractive patio at Porter Creek Hardwood Grill (14201 Burngarten Dr., Burnsville, 952-698-1888, www.portercreek.com). Two other suggestions: Parma 8200 (5600 W. 83rd St., Bloomington, 952-896-8888, www.parma8200.com) and Tavern on France (6740 France Av. S., Edina, 952-358-6100, www.tavernonfrance.com).