Downtown Mpls Lunch

[GregM]

Over on the Bill's Guns forum, Dean C mentioned a downtown Minneapolis lunch get-together. Then the discussion went in a different direction. So I'll bring it up here.

Waddya say?

[rucker]

My work is pretty hectic and I don't have a set lunch time but I would definitely try and make it to one.

[Srigs]

I work down town about a block away from DeanC and Old Dude.

Good easy place to meet up is Dan Kellys on 7th Street between 3 and 2 ave across from the Ameriprise Financial Headquarters. Inexpensive, fast service and not to loud.

We just need to talk about date and time.

[plblark]

parking? I'd drive in from Mtka for it

[ree]

As antisocial as I am, I'm game. Any weekday works for me. I'll trust that downtown regulars will pick a decent place. And if they can locate a garage nearby with 6'10" or more of clearance, that'd be appreciated.

[GregM]

Monday, Thursday, and Friday of next week (July 30 - August 3) are wide open for me.

[plblark]

OK< how is TODAY for anyone? I think onebohemian is out but that gives us an excuse to do it again

11:30a - 1:30p somewhere?
Srigs: no
onebohemina: no
plblark: bummer

anyone?

[ree]

OK< how is TODAY for anyone? I think onebohemian is out but that gives us an excuse to do it again

11:30a - 1:30p somewhere?
Srigs: no
onebohemina: no
plblark: bummer

anyone?

Damn you. I just made another commitment. I need to meet up with Srigs and was thinking on Monday or Tuesday when he'll actually be downtown. How about then?

[plblark]

Greg Says Monday next week works for him.
Srigs?
Bohemian?

[DeanC]

I'm going to go see that movie today at 1:15 in Uptown.

Otherwise - Dan Kelly's has good food.

Parking: if you need 6'10" clearance, Ree, you're not going to find it in a ramp. Go for a surface lot. There's three of them on the block between South 9th & 10th Streets and South 2nd & 3rd Ave. There's also several by 5th Ave South and 5th Street South.

Biggest problem I see with putting the lunches together is table space. Space can be at a real premium during lunch time. And the wait staff gets pissy if you hold spots for people who don't show. Especially if there are people waiting. Making the lunch at 11:15 or 1:15 makes sense.

I've run these informal monthly lunches before for other groups and it can get kind of sucky. The best results I had were at a buffet. No fooling around with separate checks, some guys getting their food and other guys waiting around for what seems an endless amount of time for their order to be processed, holding empty tables, guys showing up late with no place to sit, etc.

My other group had great luck with a soup, salad and sandwich buffet at the Northstar Hotel. I checked and they don't have it anymore.

Onebohemian suggested Ping's. Which sounds pretty good. It's biggest drawback is it's not right downtown. But, parking might be easier.

Does Old Chicago still have a pizza buffet? That worked pretty good for us for a while too. There was also lots of room downstairs for a group to sit together.

We need a place with good food where nobody goes and is central downtown with cheap and easy parking - LOL.

[plblark]

Old Chicago still does the Pizza Buffet.

[DeanC]

Old Chicago still does the Pizza Buffet.

We may have a winner...

Parking is pretty good in the ramps there too, eh? Might even have a 7' clearance.

I'm wide open everyday next week.

[GregM]

Shall we say Old Chicago on Monday July 30 at 11:30?

[DeanC]

Shall we say Old Chicago on Monday July 30 at 11:30?

That's fine with me - what about Srigs? He's the one with the funny schedule.

(BTW, Srigs, did I pass you in the TCF skyway yesterday?)

[ree]

Sure. The one on Hennepin just north of Lagoon (2841 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis, MN) or the one downtown (508 First Avenue North)?? I assume the downtown one.