Dishes from Republic. Photo by David JolesRepublic

Republic is like the fiftysomething who has discovered he's let himself go. So he hits the gym, gets a haircut, buys new glasses and replaces the pleated Dockers with flat-fronts. What had been Sgt. Preston's, 1970s watering hole extraordinaire, is now a modern tavern -- Re-pub-lic, get it? -- with new owners, an old-new look (the stained glass and dark woodwork haven't looked this good since the Carter administration), 32 craft beers on tap and a revamped kitchen that tosses off first-rate burgers (grass-fed beef, or locally raised turkey), a killer fish taco, five-spice-rubbed pork ribs and other smartly prepared bar fare, sold at under-$9 prices. Not many corner bars go to the trouble of cutting their own potatoes, par-frying them, freezing them and then frying them again, creating wonderfully crispy fries. Or forgo Heinz for a house-made ketchup. Or prepare their own pork, chicken and turkey and give the results top billing in well-made sandwiches. At its roots, Republic remains a college bar; witness the 4-to-6 p.m. happy hour, with its dorm-friendly $5 burgers and fish tacos, and $3 beers. That proximity to campus also means it can get rowdy. But at lunch, or dinner, before the volume gets cranked up in the adjacent music room, the mellow bar keeps reminding me what a pleasure it is to park it in a watering hole and enjoy face-to-face conversation -- remember that? -- over a terrific pale ale and a well-seasoned, brie-topped burger. So what if the air still lingers with the slight stale-beer whiff that recalls a fraternity's basement? What had been a raggedy stop on the "Girls Gone Wild" bus tour is now a welcoming refuge with vague but cozy 1970s fern bar overtones. Minus the foliage.

USER PICK: Tea House

This is the fine-dining version of Chinese -- which means no stereotypically low prices. But the food is definitely worth it. The Sezchuan dumplings are like nothing else here in the Twin Cities. The Kung Pao chicken is their signature entree and it is well worth trying, even if you've tired of the standard version from ordinary Chinese restaurants. --martinaa

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Obento-ya. Photo by Steve Rice

  • AL'S BREAKFAST: American/breakfast. A Minnesota dining icon and Dinkytown institution. And the main course? Pancakes. You can't find better ones anywhere, particularly the slightly tangy buttermilks. Al's griddlemasters also craft the best waffles in the state.
  • ANNIE'S PARLOUR: American. Second-story Dinkytown hangout does three things exceedingly well: burgers, fries and malts.
  • BUN MI: Vietnamese. Fast food shop featuring the signature Vietnamese banh mi sandwiches.
  • CUPCAKE: Bakery. The focus is on simple and lavish versions of its namesake. Also features other sweets as well as soups and sandwiches, served in a fun, eclectic environment.
  • HARD TIMES CAFE: Vegetarian. Vegan items and coffee in gritty surroundings.
  • KOREA RESTAURANT: Dinner entrees come with four different side dishes of marinated radishes and kimchee.
  • MESA PIZZA: The Dinkytown pizzeria's twist on toppings is exhaustively novel: There's mac and cheese, penne marinara, "guacamole burrito," "kalamata mozzarella," and on and on, all for $3.25 a slice. Why wasn't cheap campus food this good when we went to the U? --Simon Peter Groebner
  • OBENTO-YA JAPANESE BISTRO: Robata, the little charcoal-grilled skewers of meat and/or veggies, are healthy and absolutely scrumptious. Obento-Ya also has a healthy selection of Japanese tavern food and sushi. --James Norton
  • SHUANG CHENG: Chinese. Very popular with local Chinese students; specialties include live lobster and inexpensive rice plates.
  • STUB & HERB'S RESTAURANT & BAR: American. Classic campus sports bar with burgers, grilled sandwiches and plenty of beer. Head bartender and beer geek Jon Landers has transformed the once ramshackle Stadium Village place into a great beer bar. In order to stick out, Landers keeps the draft selection all-American.
  • VILLAGE WOK: Chinese. Not a lot of ambience, but the inexpensive Chinese food is some of the most authentic in the Twin Cities. Many vegetarian items.
  • THE WIENERY: American. If you're a fan of antiseptic modern dining, avoid the aggressively grungy and lowbrow Wienery. The downside is that you'll miss out on some of the best hot dogs (including a killer Chicago dog) and other diner food in the area. A funky lowbrow dive with a secret gourmet heart.

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Vic's. Photo by Tom Wallace

  • JEWEL OF INDIA: Full Indian menu plus lunch buffet. Vegetarian dishes.
  • KAFE 421: European/Greek/Middle Eastern. A modest storefront setting and a potpourri of imaginative, multi-ethnic cuisine: Greek spanakopita, Russian borscht, and Latin/Caribbean influenced dishes.
  • LORING PASTA BAR: Italian. Pasta dishes in ornate surroundings in Dinkytown.
  • MINNEAPOLIS TOWN HALL BREWERY: American/brewpub. Beer geeks and students looking for a standout brewpub have one right under their noses.
  • PRACNA ON MAIN: American. Built in 1890, the oldest restaurant on the oldest street in town. Featuring a sidewalk cafe overlooking the Mississippi River with an American menu of steaks, pasta, fish, specialty sandwiches and 20 beers on draft.
  • SIGNATURE CAFE: American. Intimate little neighborhood bistro.
  • VIC'S DINING & COCKTAILS: American/seafood. Fresh seafood, steak, chops, salads and pasta dishes, overlooking the Minneapolis riverfront and city skyline.

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Photo by Steve Rice

  • RESTAURANT ALMA: American. Alex Roberts' confident, attention-to-detail cooking focuses on bringing out the best in organic, local ingredients. The menu changes frequently and is structured for create-your-own three-course fixed-price dinners.

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