Last night The Wife and I used a $50 gift card I won on Twitter sometime back in 2011 from DiAmico Restaurants. While the gift card was good at any of the DiAmico-owned locations, we found that the only menu we both found items we thought we’d enjoy was at Cafe Lurcat in Minneapolis.
We made 6:30 PM reservations on a Thursday, not that they were at all necessary as the restaurant wasn’t even close to full, but we arrived a little late due to our sitter running a little behind and traffic on I-94 forcing us through the city. We entered through the beautiful Bar Lurcat and were led through the narrow hallways which eventually opened up up into Cafe Lurcat itself.
Quiet with a nice decor, we were seated next to a window which offered us a view of the restaurant and open kitchen. While The Wife noted she wouldn’t have liked to have been closer to the kitchen, I think I would have thoroughly enjoyed watching the staff prepare meals for those eating at the restaurant that evening. Aside from the high ceilings with large windows and the open air kitchen, I thought the rest of the restaurant was nicely done and certainly looked nice enough for any special occasion.
We were provided with waters and a basket of bread with some very tasty salted butter. The menu is impressive and a little on the spendy side for us. With appetizers running between $9.5 and $16 and entrees from $19 to $35, this is a place we would likely only do on a very special occasion or when someone else is footing the bill. We eventually made our choices, both going with steaks and an appetizer to share. We ordered the Lurcat Crab Cake ($14), Baby Potatoes with Chive Butter and Creme Fraiche ($8.50), the 7oz Filet ($34) cooked medium-rare, and a NY Strip ($30) cooked blue (very rare).
The Lurcat Crab Cake was out first. It was a good size but I am still cringing a bit at the $14 price tag–something I generally reserve only for multiple cakes of similar size. However Cafe Lurcat’s version wasn’t skimping on anything. The breading carried a beautiful crunch and was full of flavor but definitely wasn’t all you could taste. While the crab meat itself was a bit strong for my liking, I was surprised to taste the bell peppers and a tiny bit of peppery spice inside. While The Wife said she really enjoyed the dijon sauce, I didn’t get much from it and was fine enjoying the crab filling and breading without it. The Wife, being the big crab cake fan she is, said it was definitely good (certainly above average) and something she’d order again. While I would have preferred another appetizer all together, being that Cafe Lurcat had all seafood items (except one) on their starter menu and The Wife being as miserably pregnant as she is, we had to stick to what was safe for her. Better luck next time.
Cafe Lurcat was definitely not rushing anyone this Thursday evening and thus they took their time delivering our entrees to us. Eventually our steaks arrived with The Wife’s being placed in front of her first. A beautiful 7oz filet, although it looked larger to me, was topped with sauteed wild mushrooms (they looked like shiitake to me which are definitely not “wild” however I didn’t really get a chance to take a close look or get a good enough taste to be certain) and sitting on a gorgeous Bordelaise sauce, this was one gorgeous piece of meat. Perfectly cooked to mid-rare with a beautiful salty and peppery crust, I thoroughly enjoyed the three pieces The Wife carved for me. Tender and crunchy and perfectly seasoned, coupled with the earthy mushroom and the deep wine and marrow sauce, I was in heaven as the meat melted in my mouth. This was worth every single penny of that $34 and I would absolutely recommend to anyone who’s a steak lover that they try this one out.
My NY Strip came out with two bleu cheese stuffed onions and was topped with a very nicely done garlic butter (beurre gascogne). While the crust was similarly done to The Wife’s filet, the center was cooked a little more than mid-rare. In fact, it was heading for medium as it was more than just warm to the touch. After one bite our server asked what I thought and I replied, “it’s all right.” Instead of just wandering off she pressed me for more with a, “just all right?” (nice!) and I replied that I thought it was overdone for blue but perhaps it was because I hadn’t yet reached the middle. She offered to take it back and cook another and they did. While I didn’t really expect nor need this to happen I will admit that it was appreciated. I’m guessing the first steak was either resting too long or the kitchen thought that I was a typical Minnesotan who wouldn’t know “very rare/blue” from a hole in their head.
The second NY Strip I had was definitely cooked blue. Seared on the outside but cool to the touch inside, this was perfectly done. While a little tougher than I would like, perhaps I’m spoiled on the recent filets I’ve tasted in both my home and across the table from me, the flavor was excellent and I was thoroughly impressed. While the steak was quite good, the Snake River Bleu Cheese (out of New Richmond, WI I was told) stuffed onions were an absolute treat. Aggressive yet smooth, these sweet little onions were heaven on a plate and definitely coupled well with the steak while not overpowering the meat as bleu crusts so often do.
The potatoes and creme fraiche were good but certainly not $8.50 good. While it was nice to have them on the side, I really wish that Cafe Lurcat didn’t do ala carte entrees and provided some smaller and cheaper vegetable side options to serve with the meals.
After our entrees we ordered some coffee and dessert. The Wife went with her Corner Table favorite, the Pots du Creme ($9) and I went with a triple chocolate cake ($9). The desserts took a long while to arrive allowing us a nice chat and time to drink our coffees. The Pots du Creme didn’t live up to the high bar set by the Corner Table but my chocolate cake was light and fluffy yet absolutely bursting with chocolate. While I’m not much for desserts, especially at nearly $10, I thought these were good enough for me.
Our bill eventually arrived, minus the $50 gift card, and came out to an astonishingly low $39. Surprised I started signing the check when the server passed by to let me know they took my steak off the bill–something I didn’t expect, notice, or desire. When I said that was unnecessary she just replied with, “that’s how we do it here.” The total bill would have run somewhere north of $110 for two coffees, one appetizer, two steaks, and two desserts. Again, not out of control for a high-end place, but definitely way more than The Wife and I usually spend on dinner.
Overall I really enjoyed our dinner. The server was extremely knowledgeable (offering both the least expensive and most expensive items on the menu as worthy suggestions), friendly, and just the right amount of table touch and the food was top-notch. While not the best meal we’ve ever had in town, it was definitely a memorable one and Cafe Lurcat is most certainly a place we’d return again to celebrate a special occasion or happily dine on someone else’s dime.
Have you ever eaten at Cafe Lurcat in Minneapolis? If so what did you think? What did you order and what would you like to order in the future? Have you eaten at any of the other DiAmico restaurants and what did you think of those locations? What do you think about restaurants which serve their entrees ala carte and have high priced vegetable sides? Whatever you have to say about Cafe or Bar Lurcat go ahead and comment on as I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Address:
Cafe Lurcat
1624 Harmon Pl
Minneapolis, MN 55403
Phone:
612-486-5500
Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 5:30pm – 9:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 5:30pm – 10:30pm
Sunday: 5:30pm – 9:00pm
See all the pictures from Cafe Lurcat in Minneapolis on Flickr here.
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January 6th, 2012 at 8:27 am
Sounds like you had a pretty good meal, overdone free steak not withstanding.
I like the D’Amico joints. Masa and the Kitchen are on the regular route for us, though my one trip to Parma was less than good. I don’t know that I will ever love them like I did the one time I ate at Cuchina back in the day.
The “problem” I have is that they all adhere to the same standards of service, and even though that standard is very high quality, I almost forget which place I am eating at. The aura of unique in a restaurant is removed at the D’Amico places and that takes the experience a notch down for me.
I realize I am complaining about something I am sure that this company strives for, which is a “perfect” service experience for every customer-because that is what I usually get along with food that is almost always a 7 or 8 out of ten.
I just miss that feeling I get when I go to a place like Ristorante Luci or Pizzeria Lola when I feel like I am a place like no other. I suspect it has something to do with the part where I feel very close to the chef/owner which can not happen in a chain type place.
January 6th, 2012 at 9:38 am
We haven’t been to Cafe Lurcat but have been to a few of the DiAmico places, which are most always enjoyable with great execution. I’m with lefty on this one; I yearn for the old Cuchina store – it was great. I also agree with Bill on high-end dinning… it takes a special occasion for us to spend that kind of money to dine out.
Over the holidays we took our daughters out for the annual high-end gastronomic adventure. They selected The Bachelor Farmer, the Stribs 2011 Restaurant of the Year. Last year they chose Bar Lagrassa, also a restaurant of the year. They have good taste – I wish I had the budget to match.
On average, though, you don’t have to spend that kind of money for a really good dine-out meal. Again, like lefty, Pizzeria Lola is high on our list (we’re meeting friends their Sat night), Erte is decent, and many others at the $15-20 price point. Vibe and ambiance are critical for us.
January 6th, 2012 at 10:31 am
C&V,
You and many others have recommended Lola repeatedly. There’s really nothing on the menu except pizza. Why are you all recommending it as a dining option for a nice night out? I’m asking seriously here as I really don’t know.
January 6th, 2012 at 10:58 am
Beautiful, meaty pictures. If the Nookie Supreme pic hadn’t pushed me over the edge, one of those photos above just might have.
The closest I’ve been to a D’Amico restaurant is DiAmico and Sons for lunch a few times. I can’t say that I really enjoyed it, but maybe I would have had luck with other items.
January 6th, 2012 at 11:26 am
I don’t know that Lola is what I would consider “nice night out” dining. The ambiance is similar to Black Sheep in St. Paul. Loud and roomy. Prominent kitchens in the open.
It is definitely an example of a place to get a really good meal (if you are hungry for pizza) without breaking the bank. I brought it up as an example because it is one of the first places I thought of when contrasting the D’Amico experience with one in which the owner/chef has the passion to be there a lot, cooking, serving drinks and thanking patrons somehow all at the same time.
The food is excellent (though quite pricey for pizza), but you want to go there because the quality of the experience matches the passion of the owner (in my experiences). It might be one of those aesthetics that is similar to why you need to get your philly sandwiches in Philly. You can’t explain it completely, but you just know.
January 6th, 2012 at 12:48 pm
Always nice to hear about a good meal. Lurcat is surprisingly one of those places I’ve never been to, but am always comfortable recommending. I’ve heard constant positive reviews from people I find credible.
I’ve had more positive experiences with D’Amico than otherwise. Their wood oven pizza at their cafes is quietly one of the better neapolitan-ish pizzas in the Twin Cities. I don’t think they are quite as formulaic as the Parasole restaurants.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
Not to rain on anyones parade, as YMMV, but our experience at Lola was not great. My wife, child, and two of my brother in laws met there for lunch one day.
Quite honestly, I needed to go out and check the address to see if I was in Edina or South Minneapolis. The server was haughty at best, and downright rude at worst. The meal, for four adults and a child was $120 before tip, with an appetizer, three drinks, and 5 pizzas. While this is less than a visit to Lucrat, its clearly not inexpensive, esp for Pizza. Dont read that the wrong way, the Pizzas, while bigger than Punch, would be a bit on the small side for two people. We had leftovers, but its still expensive.
On the plus side, the pizza was quite good.
My wife summed it up this way, If Lola was down the street, and about half as expensive, we would eat there all the time, even with bad service. But its not down the street, its expensive, and the service (for us, again YMMV) was far less than great.
I am convinced that the only reason people love Lola and Blacksheep so much is because there is not a great old fashioned pizza place in this whole town where a person can go for pitchers of beer and really good pizza.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:24 pm
Chad,
I agree about the lack of a place for pitchers of beer and really good pizza (although that particular statement is kinda hard to pinpoint) but I don’t think that’s why I love Black Sheep.
Black Sheep isn’t the kind of pizza I’m looking for when I sit down with pitchers of beer. It’s where I want to go when I want to have a nice pizza with great toppings. “Pitchers of beer pizza,” would be at a place serving me $5 pitchers, $10 pies with mushrooms, and a bucket of 20 wings for less than $5 but yet still had great flavors. This place, in my minds eye, would remind me of Ole Piper, just with decent food–maybe it would have a bowling alley attached still smelling like stale cigarettes. I’m sentimental like that.
I haven’t made it to Dudley’s yet but is that more of the kind of place you’re talking about here?
January 6th, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Beautiful photos, Bill! Makes me want to go back since it’s now been nearly 10 years since we went to Cafe Lurcat last – pretty sure my tastes have changed since then.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
I’ve always thought that Cafe/Bar Lurcat was one of the more underrated spots in town. Hands down my wife’s favorite special occassion dinner joints.
The sea bass that’s been on the menu every time I’ve been, is without question one of my favorite dishes anywhere. A sweeter sauce on the fish, served with a small portion of your typical mashed potatoes, wasabi mashed potatoes, and then topped with crunchy shoe-string onions. The explanation doesn’t do it justice, it’s outstanding.
Lurcat has historically been a part of Restaurant Week, and surprisingly most of their menu was a part of it. I know they’ve trimmed down the offerings recently, but still a great time to experience a top notch restaurant.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:37 pm
Dudleys is more of a take out place. They only have a few tables. Its a small town pizza place that hires local high school kids, probably does lots of fundraising for the school, has pictures of local kids on the walls, etc. The pizza was very good (IMO), in a traditional MN pizza sort of way.
I guess what I am talking about (while I do like Dudleys and wish it was closer) is more what you describe above. In Sioux City we used to go to a place call the Townhouse for pizza, beer, wings, etc. Its probably not as good as I remember, but as you said its a place you can have decent pizza, cold beer by the pitcher, and hang out with friends for a few hours. I have had a hard time finding that sort of place in the twin cities. Sadly the recent city pages top 10 pizza places in the city was full of disappointments for me, although I have not tried all of them. Pizza has always been an inexpensive meal for a bunch of people imo. Friends after a ballgame. A big family get together without breaking the bank, etc.
Black sheep is pretty good, but probably just not my style. Lola was also pretty good, but the place was REALLY not my style. Poking around online you can find some reviews that better sum up what I am saying. Its full of Edina Soccer moms and Foodies who are really proud of themselves for being there. Pretentious is the word that comes to mind for me. But, different strokes for different folks I guess.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
Sorry for getting off topic. The review was great and the picture really makes me crave a steak.
January 6th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Chad,
College-town pizza parlor is what we mean here I guess. Yeah, it’s kinda hard to find that in the suburbs or in a metro area where people are becoming more and more food-forward. I wonder if the pizza at Apple Place lanes is any good. Probably typical midwestern pies though, not something I’d like to eat :(
January 6th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
BTW, thanks Erin and Chad for the compliments on the photos. I was really very worried due to the low light but thankfully a random street lamp helped give just enough light that I could work with when I edited them.
January 6th, 2012 at 4:15 pm
I ahve not eaten there but now I am hungry for STEAK!!!
January 6th, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I, like, lefty, miss the old D’Amico Cucina. We only ate there a few times due to the expense, but it was amazing. The D’Amico brothers, in my opinion, introduced the concept of wonderful restaurant food to the Twin Cities. When I moved here many years ago, the general public did not eat out, and the lack of restaurants, much less great restaurants, reflected this. How far we have come since then!!!!! We owe much to the D’Amicos (along with Brenda Langdon and Lucia Watson) for getting things started.
C&V, thanks for mentioning Erte. We haven’t been there for a while, but I have wondered why they never get any press. Good to know that they’re still good.
January 6th, 2012 at 9:53 pm
I was there once and can say that I definitely love Cafe Lurcat! I was there compliments of their mystery shopping program. They are very committed to quality service. I used to work for the marketing firm that does the mystery guest program and I know that D’Amico works hard to ensure the restaurant adheres to their mission. It sounds like you may have experienced that too.
That aside, this is a great restaurant and I would love to go again.
January 6th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Bill, sorry for the delay in responding to your direct question – it’s been a very full day.
re: Lola – First and foremost is the quality of the food. The ingredients are very fresh, creatively matched in unusual combinations for very unique flavors. Their pies are like no other – in my opinion. (Yes, I like Punch pizzas.) The crust in it’s self is amazing – crispy crunch, yet chewy. I don’t have any idea how Ann does that but she’s told me they waited until they had the dough right before they opened. Yes, it’s a bit pricy for pizza but but I’ve spent more for a much inferior, run of the mill, unforgettable, crappy pizza. My current wife and I usually split a pie, along with an appetizer, and an adult beverage (or 2) and we’re happy campers. I can’t emphasize enough the quality and addictive flavors of Lola’s offerings.
Unlike Chad our many visits to Lola have always been extremely pleasant. The wait staff has always been an asset, not a liability. I recommend sitting at the bar If Marissa is tending, she’s a gem.
I still highly recommend it.
January 7th, 2012 at 10:36 am
Wait…WHAT?!!?! You mean they didn’t just throw open the doors and then hone the menu/cooking/quality/service??? They actually tested and PERFECTED the food BEFORE people were paying good, hard-earned money??? What a radical idea!!
January 8th, 2012 at 10:01 am
Chad said:
Chad,
This one bugged me. While you may be correct that people eat there to see and be seen (not my experience, but I can’t refute it), I think you are characterizing it inaccurately.
I realize you had a less than stellar service experience, but I suspect it was less than the norm. If this is the hipster poser place you indicate than they would not have earned that place by treating customers crappy. As annoying as hipster posers are, they have pretty high expectations and are not going to put up with a bad experience.
For Neapolitan style pizza, there are only 3 places worth going to (Punch in HP is 10 times better than the other ones) and Lola is one of them in the cities. The crust and toppings there are as good as you are going to find.
Just because Edina soccer moms love it does not make them wrong.
lefty
January 8th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Lola: I have recommended it before on this site. My wife and I go there, i have one beer, she has one glass of house wine, we have a salad and a pizza. Maybe we are light eaters, but this is enough for us. The tab is about $30-35.
Expensive for a pizza n salad. But like Lefty notes, its more than that.
I have had their green garden salad, it has hooks blue cheese, small bits of crispy fried pancetta, and fresh garden greens. The greens tasted to me like the ones my parents used to pick fresh from the garden in the summers when i was a kid. the dressing was light enough to allow the rest of the ingredients to be tasted. $8 for that, enough actually for 2 or 3 people, but in any case so many times better than a $4.50 side salad at any other place SOTR. The pizza has fresh ingredients, and is inventive. Done perfectly. I have never had bad service from the host/hostess, the waiters, or the kitchen staff/cook when i sat at the bar and ate.
I admit I am partial to the wood oven neapolitan type pizza, so I am biased. I would agree if you are looking for a pitcher of Grain Belt Premium and a sausage and cheese pizza… then its not the place to go.
January 8th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Lefty, to each thier own. I guess I disagree on your hipster argument in that there is a certain art to combining just the right amount of good food and pretentious attitude, and once achieved you get to charge twice as much as something is worth.
Sure they use good ingredients. But the 15 dollar LadyZaZa pizza probably costs them a couple bucks to make. They are taking advantage of the audience. No different than what you were so upset about with Surdyks really.
January 8th, 2012 at 11:59 am
The Surdyk’s analogy is way off.
People who have never been in the restaurant industry fail to remember that in addition to food cost (which I am sure for Lola probably is around 30% of menu price), you have things like rent, capital expenses like a loan to pay, labor, electricity, spoilage, marketing, licenses, fire prevention, theft, comped meals, first aid kit bills, employee uniforms, employee benefits and many others, that the bottom line is going to reflect about $1.50 to the owner on that $50 check if they are moderately successful. Even if a place is wildly successful and doing 10% margin, that is still only 5 bucks on that 50.
You have to make a lot of pizza in order to earn a good living at that. Overcharging a customer just because you think you can is not a sustainable business model. Even Surly has figured that out, and they don’t do that to their customers.
Charging $36 for a bottle of beer that cost you $12 when other proprietors are making a comfortable profit at $22 is not the same. You are smarter than that, Chad.
January 8th, 2012 at 6:17 pm
You are correct lefty, I dont know anything about running a restaurant. Except my family owned one for about 12 years.
And we served…………………………Pizza.
January 8th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Lefty, the biggest thing you left out is insurance, workers comp, taxes, etc, which are cerainly a far larger portion of the cost than first aid kits…………
Aside from that, everything you listed also applies to Surdyks, or for that matter Dominos or Solos. Charging 15 bucks for a pizza that cost you 4 bucks (your math) is actually less of a gouge than charging 36 for a 12 dollar bottle of beer.
To be clear, they can charge whatever they want. I wish them all the success in the world, but there is nothing that would make me drive back across town to spend 120 bucks on pizza for 4 adults and a child.
Also, had lunch at Blackbird yesterday. It was quite good.
January 9th, 2012 at 8:26 am
I did say “and many others”. I remember the days of paying the $14 per month Zee medical bill because the I was providing the majority of my employees and their families their need for ibuprofen each month.
There is no prep time in selling a bottle of beer. No wait staff needs to bring you the bottle of beer. The only labor in selling a bottle of beer is taking it off the truck, putting it on the shelf and ringing up the sale. Big difference between retail shelf and a restaurant regarding the cost of product to me.
I don’t know that we are going to agree that the prices there are fair, so let’s just be ok with that.
Notice I did not say that we “agree to disagree” because that is a really stupid fucking way of saying we disagree. People need to stop that phrase, and while we are at it, “nother” as in “a whole nother”, is not a word either.
I have been disappointed with Blackbird 2 of the 3 times I have eaten there. They just don’t seem to have menu items that jump out to me. I am usually in the minority at the table with that opinion though.
January 9th, 2012 at 11:02 am
I agree that we will likely not agree on this, and to be fair I agreed with you on Surdyks, as I hate to see ANY establishment gouging its customers simply because its the popular place at a given time. Popularity fades and someday you may wish you had some of those customers back.
Lolas can charge whatever they want. Its a popular place with good food and lots of business. Hopefully this will always be the case for them.
I dont remember what the name if the item I had at Blackbird was, but it was Huevos Rancheros with Chorizo and Avaocado added. I thought it was quite good. Nothing crazy imaginative, but I enjoyed it a great deal.
January 23rd, 2012 at 7:45 am
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