Q: I follow your weekly Burger Friday blog (startribune.com/tabletalk), and I was wondering: Is there one burger that you've tried recently that you would recommend above all others?
A: Definitely, and it's the cheeseburger at Revival (4257 Nicollet Av. S., Mpls., 612-345-4516, revivalmpls. com). Chef/co-owner Thomas Boemer taps into the American diner tradition, grilling thin-ish patties (a blend of ultra-fatty short rib and brisket) to an almost crispy exterior, stacking one on top of another and then dousing them in plenty of salty American cheese that quickly melts into semi-sauce status. Tangy bread-and-butter pickles add a necessary amount of vinegary bite; the kitchen's impressive house-cured bacon lays on another level of fatty heft, and the bun, baked to Boemer's specifications at St. Paul's Saint Agnes Baking Co. (source of so many great Twin Cities burger buns), does not disappoint. It's $13, and worth every penny. My tip: Visit at lunch, when the no-reservations restaurant is slightly less jam-packed.
Q: Where should we be celebrating morel season?
A: I've spied Minnesota's official state mushroom on menus all over town the past few weeks, but the morel mania that has made the most lasting impression is at the Birchwood Cafe (3311 E. 25th St., Mpls., 612-722-4474, birchwood cafe.com), where for $5 chef Marshall Paulsen will add morels to any dish on the menu, while supplies last. Hopefully, that means at least through the weekend. "We'll keep doing it as long as Minnesota morels are available," Paulsen said. "We've been lucky. One guy has been bringing all he has just to us. We also found some behind the Birchwood in our garden, which is really weird."
Q: We're looking for something different. Any suggestions?
A: Here are two: Chimborazo (2851 Central Av. NE., Mpls., 612-788-1328, chimborazorestaurant.com), where chef/owner Marcos Pinguil fills his menu with the homestyle cooking of his native Ecuador, including flavorful stews, full-bodied soups and an appealing weekend brunch menu. Top price? $12.
And chef Hector Ruiz, he of Cafe Ena, Rincon 38 and La Fresca, has launched a fourth restaurant: Caribbean-focused La Ceiba Bistro (3500 Bloomington Av. S., Mpls., 612-729-0523). Those who recall Ruiz's longtime El Meson will be pleased to learn that he's reviving some of the restaurant's most popular dishes, including paella and chicken with rice. Other menu items include roasted halibut with a garlic-habanero butter sauce, and oven-roasted red snapper with grilled pineapple. Wine and beer, too. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served daily.
Q: With the Modern Cafe closed, I'm in need of a new favorite casual restaurant. Where would you go?