Ginger Hop:: Minneapolis musts.

I apologize for the lack of good pictures on this one... I only had my iPhone with me, and the lighting there isn't the best for photos.  If I had taken more, you'd see the gorgeous palm fans in the bar!

Ginger Hop, in Northeast Minneapolis, is one of my favorite places.  I started my birthday there for one reason alone - the cream cheese wontons.  Nathan and I went back awhile ago, and I've gotten the wontons on take out multiple times since.  Literally the best cream cheese wontons I've ever tasted.  They have both plain cream cheese and carmelized onion cream cheese options, the latter coming with a soy/peanut/something delicious dipping sauce (though I'm a traditional sweet & sour).

Their cocktail drinks are delicious, and their wine & beer list isn't bad.  I will warn about the food - it is slightly spicy.  I made sure to order a dish that did not list "spicy", "hot", "medium", or "tangy" in the description, and I still ended up not being able to finish my meal due to my mouth burning.  Aside from it being surprisingly spicy, I enjoyed my dish, as did Nathan.  It should definitely be a place you check out, and if you're just going for the wontons, go during happy hour.

Republic:: Minneapolis musts.

Republic is my absolute favorite restaurant in the Twin Cities.  I don't even really remember how I discovered it, but it is my go-to place for happy hours, dinners, and random everythings.  I spent my 20th birthday here, brought my parents when they were in town, celebrated my graduation, met up with friends, and ate a ton of fries at the Seven Corners location (I've yet to be to the Uptown location).

My favorite burger there is no longer on the menu - I can only hope the Brie Burger with a red-wine sauce comes back on the rotation soon.  As I was explaining to my family one time - no one has anything bad or even mediocre to say about the food.  A great beer list, a great wine selection, yum-yum sauce, homemade ketchup...wherever you're looking on the menu, you're going to be impressed (even my six year old brother loved the place and food!).

The food isn't the only fantastic thing about this place.  The environment and decor is great too.  Deep colors, beautiful crown molding and stained glass windows make me think upscale and intimate, but the environment is warm and welcoming.  I've never had a bad experience here, and neither will you.