This n' That

Twin Cities Original Restaurant 'The Sample Room' Gives Nordeast Its Own Flavor

Valentines day reservations at a top restaurant can be hard to come by even for the suavest of Minnesotans trying to dine & impress. One local establishment served as a fall-back location for several daters on the commercialized holiday (and every other day) by not taking them. The Sample Room, a quaint neighborhood establishment situated in the most unexpected of places, had a modest 45 minute wait on the romantic night of February 14th. Many on the list were regulars, some like myself were first timers.

The menu at The Sample Room offers an ever-changing array of small plates and entrees that mix both national and local American cuisine. For $22.95 a selection of any 4 small plates offers a phenomenal centerpiece for your meal. Your options include a half dozen meat items, another half dozen seafood items and several more vegetable offerings. For our meal we opted to try the bbq braised pork ribs, seared tuna with wasabi aioli, artichoke dip and roasted vegetable torte.

While nothing stuck out as phenomenal, nothing was average either. The ribs were flavorful, yet held little meat. The artichoke dip was rich, but came with modest pita bread sticks for dipping rather than what could have been a house made bread. These dishes could have been found on many menus in the area. Where the chef began to show their ability was with the tuna and veggie tort. Both were truly inspired creations with a variety of complimentary flavors. The torte crust was light and flaky, while the wasabi aioli had a zest that would make any tuna taste incredible. Our dessert selection turned out to be the only real drawback to the meal. Their special selection for the evening, a warm pear with chocolate/raspberry sauce proved that pears should not be served as such decadence. Unfortunately the risky idea produced both texture and flavor that fell flat.

Overall, the ambience was what you'd expect from a small local venture; a cozy bar area surrounded by limited high-tops and a few flats for two all situated in front of a large pane window and under a vaulted ceiling. There were no real gimmicks and no major attempts at trend-setting decor.

As for the staff, the owner was on-site and warmly open to conversation with his guests. The servers were all extremely friendly and attentive without the stuffy nature that some managers require of their waiters. Nothing felt forced and recommendations were readily available upon request. Prices were reasonable and portions quite generous for 'small plates'.

My final assessment of the Sample Room lies somewhere between 'must-go' and 'try it once'. Given it's local appeal and vast menu it gives diners enough reasons to come sample their dishes and expand the palette. Still, it's hard to claim that you'll find jaw-dropping food at the Sample Room. What you will find is an above-average attempt at American cuisine and an entertaining date experience for adventurous diners.

www.the-sample-room.com