Need 2 Breakfast/pastry spots. Plus Renaissance

We%26#39;ll be in for the Renaissance festival for the weekend and are staying in Bloomington.

Saturday morn we need a breakfast/brunch place near or on the way toward Como Zoo. Something not too expensive but VERY coffee good :-) A small pastry and coffee shop would be nice. Or something near/around some kind of outdoor market/stall thingy.

Sunday, we will head toward the Festival early. Any good recommendations between MOA %26amp; Shakopee? We%26#39;ll eat at the festival but need something to get us there!

Need 2 Breakfast/pastry spots. Plus Renaissance

Here are som thoughts for Saturday, most will be on your way from Bloomington to the Como Park area:

Patrick%26#39;s Bakery in the south Minneapolis Bachman%26#39;s store is outstanding and well worth a trip.

www.patricksbakerycafe.com/B_location.htm

bachmans.com/retail/about/patricks_bakery.cfm

There is also a small restaurant/cafe in the Como Park Pavillion (IIRC run by Black Bear Crossing, a neighborhood coffee shoe) that is very good.

I would also recommend the Neighborhood Cafe on Selby less than a block east of Snelling - it shares a block with O%26#39;Gara%26#39;s. One neat tidbit, Charles Schultz%26#39;s father had his barbershop in one of those storefronts and one of the upstairs apartments has a very early Peanuts mural on the wall. Sadly it%26#39;s private so you cannot see it.

For a no nonsense breakfast Cecil%26#39;s is always good and one of my favorite St. Paul places - though it%26#39;s better for lunch %26amp; dinner than breakfast. Best Reuben sandwich in the Twin Cities. Be aware they don%26#39;t open until 9AM.

http://www.cecilsdeli.com/

Key%26#39;s is a local chain that has very good breakfast. There is on on Randolph (the original IIRC) just north of University or one on Lexington %26amp; Larpenteur in Roseville just north of Como Park. Great carmel %26amp; cinnamon rolls!

http://www.keyscafe.com/

Two other local institutions would be Al%26#39;s in Dinkytown (UM campus) or Mickey%26#39;s Diner in downtown St. Paul.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al%26#39;s_Breakfast

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey%26#39;s_Diner

Both are outstanding but more for the experience and not comfort.

Need 2 Breakfast/pastry spots. Plus Renaissance

I%26#39;m sorry......the Key%26#39;s location is on Raymond just north of University %26amp; not Randolph.

Here is more on the Pavilion.

http://www.stpaul.gov/index.asp?NID=1146

I had Randolph on the mind for another great St. Paul gem, the Copper Dome. It%26#39;s on Randolph just 1/2 block east of Hamline - kitty Ccrner from Cretin Derham Hall HS.

Thanks a bunch!

Any tips for good German food other than Black Forest, or is that the best?

Oh, what about Southwest of town? Good latte between Minneapolis and Shakopee?

If you want less coffee bar and more diner/family restaurant en route to RenFest (actually as close to Jordan as Shakopee), try Wampach%26#39;s Restaurant in downtown Shakopee-- 126 First Ave. West 952/445-2721. Family-restaurant breakfast fare w/o Downtown prices.

Two German places:

The Glockenspiel : http://www.glockenspielrestaurant.com/

Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter: http://www.gasthausbavarianhunter.com/

I%26#39;ve been to the Gasthaus several times and it%26#39;s very good, but it%26#39;s probably a 30-40 minute drive to Stillwater from the MOM area.

I%26#39;ve heard the Glock is very good but I%26#39;ve never been. It%26#39;s only 10-15 minutes from the MOM area. Take 494 to HWY like you%26#39;re going to the airport. Stay on HWY 5 across the Mississippi River and as soon as you cross the river it turns into W 7th. the restaurant is right on W 7th and about 2 miles from the river.

I would add my 2 cents and say stop at the Black Dog Cafe in downtown St Paul. Not only does it fit the bill on location, but you%26#39;ll also get the chance to visit the St Paul Farmer%26#39;s Market if you%26#39;re interested. If that%26#39;s not your style, I%26#39;d say Swede Hollow is a great stop with no distractions. They also have a patio, which is lovely on a warm fall day.

Unfortunately, I%26#39;m not familiar with Bloomington or Shakopee, so the other recommendations are probably good options.

I like Key%26#39;s a lot and the location on Lexington is great. I would add another diner that would be on the way to Como Park; Mickey%26#39;s Diner.

As for the SW side, maybe something in the Eden Prairie area?