The Front Café

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The thick, all-beef patty with smoky chipotle peppers, adobo spices and piled high with provolone, crisp bacon, grilled onions, pineapple and a tangy sauce (whew!),  sat expectantly before us. This burger meant business—dainty eaters beware. One messy mouthful after another and the creation was soon gone, leaving behind a subtle mouth-heat; just a memory of its sassy flavors.

"Where can I find this burger?"—you’ll surely ask. Surprisingly, this is not a creation from one of the many burger joints popping up around the metro area. No, instead it is the brainchild of Chef Rolando Diaz of The Front Café.

Reopened in November 2008 with a newly remodeled dining room and introducing a food menu, this Northeast Minneapolis restaurant tiptoed onto the scene without the typical foodie fanfare. Lack of buzz caused mild concern for the dining experience, but is there anything better than an unexpected great meal?

The space is beautifully remodeled with high ceilings, a dark wooden bar, and oversized chandelier. Blood red and black accents and a wrought iron balcony finish off the look of a classic tango parlor in Buenos Aires. And what could go better with this bold setting than a bold menu to match?

The Front Café menu continues to evolve; the upcoming new menu will feature the strengths of the Costa Rican-born chef who re-creates Latin favorites of fresh flavors with fresh ingredients. The Front Café burger will remain along with the popular Latin Lover appetizer and Arroz con Pollo, but more standard American fare, like the pastas, will be replaced.

Costa Rican dishes are sure to be favorites like the Casado de Pollo, a combination of spice-rubbed chicken, rice, black beans, cabbage slaw and plantains. As the name suggests, these flavors belong together—so much so that they should be ‘married’. Also to be added is the Tablo Tica, a platter of tender beef strips, sautéed onions and peppers, cabbage slaw, corn salsa, black beans and plantains served with a side of corn tortillas.

The cabbage slaw—with its sweet and tangy vinegar sauce - will be a maintstay of the menu and will be served as a side to many dishes and as an entrée salad with shrimp.

The Front Café is a great addition to Northeast downtown area, introducing Latin flavors and a breezy vibe to this budding neighborhood scene.

Katie Cannon is the blogger behind Camacho Watcho as well as an up-and-coming Twin Cities photographer. She both works and plays in the Mill District of downtown Minneapolis.

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