by Bob McClain
(www.wordsmithbob.com)
12-06-04

Take the Redeye to White Bear Lake

Let’s face it. A major part of the reason we live in the Twin Cities area is for the lakes. Fat lakes, skinny lakes, lakes with…sorry, lost it there for a minute. Too much time on the beach. However, one of the best things about Rudy’s Redeye Grill is that even if you have no interest in lakes, Rudy’s is a destination all in itself.

Rudy’s Redeye Grill has a comfy, casual décor. Dark-stained wood covers the floor and trims the walls. Renaissance trim nails on leather seating surrounds heavy wood tables. Rich red walls covered with reproductions of famous paintings (including Ms. Mona Lisa) finish the atmosphere. A stone fireplace anchors the end of the room. One wall is filled with an old time-style bar which is appropriate for a place that prides itself on their Hand-Crafted Cocktails and multitude of martinis. I normally don’t start a restaurant story talking about the bar but Rudy’s is really an exception. They offer twelve martinis on the menu plus their most popular martini which isn’t even on the menu. It’s called the Flirtini! It’s served with plump raspberries in the drink. And every martini comes with the shaker so you can top it off. They also offer ice cream drinks and the wine list is extensive with Californian, Australian, and some French and Italian wines in the mix. And get this: bottles of wine are half-price on Mondays. And if you’re watching Monday Night Football, they have a taco bar at eight pm.

By all this talk about alcohol, I don’t want to imply that the food isn’t worth the trip. For your first time there, you have to try the Bull Bites appetizer, Cajun-spiced and blackened in a cast iron skillet, with Béarnaise or Horsy sauce. I did and they are melt-in-your-mouth fabulous. Appetizers run from $1.50 each for Oysters on the Half-shell to $28 for the Sea-O-Plenty platter. For lighter eaters, they offer a soup and salad selection running from $4 to $9. If you do nothing else, ask about the Garbage Salad. That’s the great thing about this restaurant. It looks so normal but there are all these wonderful surprises sprinkled through the menu. All while Mona Lisa stares over your shoulder. Another must-have is the Sweet Potato hash browns. I’ll try anything once. Twice if it hurts. But sweet potato hash browns? Not being a sweet potato fan, I had misgivings. Forget misgivings. They’re amazing!

The entrees are extensive with Angus Medallions, Drunk-n-Dirty Pork Chops, and Broiled Red Snapper with Rosemary being the tip of this meat-lovers iceberg. Entrees are $14 to $24. All the sandwiches are $9. Rudy’s Redeye Grill is at 4940 Highway 61 N in White Bear Lake, adjacent to the White Bear Country Inn. Rudy’s Redeye Grill is open M-Th from 11am till 11pm, Fri & Sat from 11am till 12 with the bar open till 1am, and Sun from 11am till 9pm with the bar open till midnight. They can be reached at 651-653-6718 for more information. Ask about their meeting rooms, banquet facilities, and catering. Rudy’s doesn’t take checks.

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