Tam Tam's African Restaurant

Recommend: Worth a try

Food: Somewhat tasty

Price: Inexpensive-Moderate ($9-$15/dish)

Service: Average

Ambience: Casual to Nice

Address: 605 Cedar Avenue South

Minneapolis, MN 55454

Phone: (612)339-0854

Hours: Sun-Thur 11am-10pm

Fri & Sat 11am-midnight

(Lunch Special Mon-Fri 11-3)

Website: www.tamtamsrestaurant.com

In the heart of Cedar-Riverside on a Friday night, we expected that Tam Tam's would be bustling with African diners. To our disappointment, there were no Africans in the restaurant besides the owner and two workers, and for a while we were in fact the only customers in the restaurant (another couple arrived a bit later). Though quiet, the place inside was nice but not remarkable. The food also was good but not remarkable. On Tam Tam's example menu online they have listed the West African staple fufu, or mashed plantain, which I was excited to try. Unfortunately, they didn't actually have fufu. Instead we ordered Eland's Supper ($13.99) and Palm Butter Stew with chicken ($11.99). Eland's supper came with a vegetable pie and lentil sambosa (top picture), and a big bowl of Vegetable Delight (a vegetable stew) accompanied by injera and collard greens (front two dishes in bottom picture). The vegetable pie had a mix of potatoes and other veggies and some nice spices. The lentil sambosa also had a some fairly tasty spices mixed into the whole lentils, but neither appetizer was outstanding.

Similarly, the vegetable stew, collard greens and injera were all satisfying but lacking a little something. The Palm Butter Stew on the other hand, which came with basmati rice and fried plantain, was pretty good. This dish was a new one for me and I would definitely get it again. It was very homogeneous and as you can see, doesn't look incredibly appetizing, but had a very interesting flavor. We got it with the chicken this time but may try one of the other options, goat or beef, next time. The sweet plantains went well with the stew but the rice seemed like it had been cooked earlier in the day and sat for a while.

The portions were generous, though I suppose appropriate for the price. All around the experience was not bad, but there are many other African restaurants in the cities I'd like to try before going back to Tam Tam's.

Korea Cafe

Recommend: Yes!

Food: Yummm

Price: Inexpensive ($8-$11/dish)

Service: Friendly (order at counter)

Ambience: Very casual/A cultural experience

Address: 211 Oak St. SE

Minneapolis, MN 55414

Phone: (612)746-0559

Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-9pm

Closed Sundays

Korea Cafe is one of my favorites for a quick bite in the twin cities. Though a bit of a hole in the wall, it's authentic and the tastiest Korean food I've found yet. The meals are inexpensive (especially if you go between 11 and 3 Monday-Friday for one of the 6.99 lunch specials), and the portions usually make for a small leftover box. One of my favorites is the Bibimbop, a big bowl of rice and variety of fresh veggies (some mysterious but good), which you can cover in red pepper sauce and stir up until it's a big saucy, delicious hodgepodge. On this occasion though I got another favorite, Dol Sok (pictured above), which is the piping hot version of Bibimbop. Dol Sok has all the same ingredients as Bibimbop, but is served in a hot stoneware bowl. Both come with a sunny side up egg on top and slices of beef which can be substituted with tofu. My husband ordered the Soon Dobu Chigae (Soft Tofu Soup). The soup contains a variety of seafood and veggies in a spicy red pepper broth (see picture below) also served in stoneware. These dishes are our usual at Korean restaurants but

somehow at Korea Cafe they're extra delicious. The standard array of side dishes too are made with a special touch. The side dishes are different each time but this time they included (top picture) seasoned mung bean sprouts, fish cakes (resembling fried tofu), sweet soy saucy potatoes (a personal favorite), and three types of kimchi: cabbage, fresh cucumber, and pickled cucumber. The Bulgogi, plate of sizzling fried pork or beef, seems to be popular among the other customers though I have yet to try it.

If you like good Korean food or are looking for a cultural experience, Korea Cafe fulfills on both counts. Don't go expecting anything fancy though; carpeted floors and U of M students bustling through put this quaint establishment at the "very casual" end of the dining spectrum.