Minnesota Gophers: What Is The Essential Restaurant At The U?

Our friends at Big Ten Powerhouse delivered a nice post yesterday. They put together a list of essential restaurants for campuses across the B1G. Each school could only have one.

Every fan knows where to go when they want to get something to eat on gameday at their school. Whether it is before, during or after the action, we all have our go to restaurants, but where do you go when you're visiting enemy territory? With the help of suggestions from BTPowerhouse writers, friends and the internet, I've compiled a list of great places to eat around the B1G. 12 restaurants with varying cuisines, atmosphere, and histories that all share one trait, being an essential choice for their B1G fan base.

My blogger-fu is strong right now so I'm doing what any good blogger does...I'm taking their idea and running with it. But first, lets take a look at what they had to say for Minnesota:

Up first on the list is an obvious choice:

Big 10 Restaurant (Minnesota) - Named for the greatest college conference in the world, the Big 10 has been serving hungry Golden Gophers since 1955. The Big 10 started out serving mostly soup and bread, but since then their menu has expanded to include popular sub sandwiches and award-winning wings. The restaurant also features a full bar and is a great place to catch B1G basketball. Whether you want the full sports bar experience or just a sub to go, make sure you check this place out when you're in Minnesota.

Good work BTP! Big 10 is a fine choice for the essential Minnesota restaurant stop. I have to make at least one stop their a year for a sub. Traditionally, gopherguy05 and I stop in to grab subs before the hockey game on a weekend when I'm back in town for football. But Big 10 is not the only possible selection. So I'm going to run through a few more and hopefully you'll chime in with a few of your own. Heck, if we get enough we could even whip up a quick bracket to do some voting and crown a champion.

RAH RAH RAH FOR SKI-U-MAH,

FOOD FOR THE U OF M!

I don't think there is an official rule for what a restaurant or bar & grill needs to end up on this list. This is a subjective exercise after all. That said, I do have my own criteria. For me, the following must be true: 1) Can't be a chain 2) Has to have been a part of the campus for more than a few years (i.e. the older the better, typically)...well, that's really it for me.

Big 10 Restaurant: Already summarized above. I'm a huge fan of the fact that you can get their subs to go. It's perfect for those nights when you need a bite on the run or for those times when the line to get in to eat is too long.

Al's Breakfast: A Dinkytown classic. Delicious breakfast for a fair price all with a side of atmosphere you won't find anywhere else. There's a reason Gophers fan threaten to riot if the gentrification of Dinkytown ever claims Al's.

Stub & Herbs: Classic location, great beer list, good menu. Stubs brings the trifecta.

Town Hall Brewery: Town Hall reps the West Bank. Delicious beer brewed in house, a quality menu, and right up the road from my tailgate lot. What's not to love?

You might notice a glaring omission from my list. I don't know what to do with Sally's. By my standards it fits. But at the same time, it's going to come back to campus in a brand new building lacking the essential Sally's charm and experience (and that assumes it comes back at all...let's just say I don't trust promises related to new developments until they're basically finished). So I chose to leave it off until we see what the new Sally's looks like. I will not begrudge everyone for yelling at me over this.

What Are Your Essential Spots For Eats and Drinks Around The U?