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Following twenty years of farmer's markets selling locally grown vegetables, native fruits, and local honey Linda created Marianne's Kitchen in Shoreview, MN, an oasis of good food, conversation and laughter in a suburban food desert. Operating from 2011-2017 the cafe offered home made soups, fresh bread baked daily, great sandwiches and treats and a complete line of gluten-free soups, pickled products, jams, jellies, salsas and locally sourced soups, honey and grains.

The Marianne's Kitchen of sharing, conversation, and learning continues with ongoing commentary, food reviews and food finds as we grow, cook and eat our food and sample local restaurants.

Monday, March 11, 2019

North Pole Restaurant...Close By In Newport, MN

So, we were supposed to get snowed in on Saturday. That seemed like a good reason to get out while 'out' was an option.




Where did we go?:  To the North Pole of course!


North Pole Restaurant


The North Pole Restaurant has been operating in Newport since 1947.   Now in its third generation, and with several remodeling iterations, it is the closest thing to a small town cafe you'll find anywhere close to the East Metro.



North Pole Restaurant Polar bear decor, with some log-sided walls, a front porch mural, North Pole blue booths...and a trusty long-term staff with great service...this is a throwback to days of family-owned cafes everywhere.   Here, you get the true picture...it's attached to the locally owned pharmacy (the restaurant started as a soda fountain counter in the drug store).



North Pole Restaurant The mall itself reflects an era gone by.   The red diagonal poles supporting the roof over the walkway--think of the little strip mall attached to Kowalski's on White Bear Lake...same era, same design.



North Pole Restaurant Menu

If you're eating at an old-fashioned family owned restaurant, go with family fare---for either breakfast or lunch.  We split our decision.   
When all the reports say good pancakes, order one... or more.  Finishing the plate-sized, fluffy and totally filling pancake was too much...'one' was the better choice.  Adding 2 eggs over medium let me check out the range of breakfast choices.   Excellent!   Two over medium eggs, not rubbery or browned from being on too hot a burner.   
North Pole RestaurantI was able to eat 1/2 the pancake (because I didn't add any syrup until I'd eaten a quarter of it--butter was enough; then I tossed the eggs on top).   Knowing my progress was slowing, I added a light amount of syrup.....and made it to halfway!    John worked his way through part of the rest, but it conquered us...we made a valiant effort though.



North Pole Restaurant John chose the classic meatloaf with mashed potatoes and gravy, served with carrot coins and a green salad with, of course, traditional French dressing.   The salad arrived first, with a slice of tomato big enough to cover most of the top of the salad.   Three big rings of fresh onion accompanied it, and underneath was a pretty standard mix of iceberg, carrots, red
North Pole Restaurant
cabbage---just what you'd expect.  The French dressing was a reminder of having the steak, baked potato and salad at Hafner's on White Bear Avenue - years ago.



How was the North Pole Restaurant lunch, overall?

North Pole RestaurantIt was a giant lunch.   I really nice-sized slice of meatloaf...with a crispy edge.   An enormous scoop of mashed potatoes--just they way you want them--rounded at the top, with the overflow of potatoes too much for the scoop forming an artful base.  Then, a layer of gravy topping the potatoes and the meatloaf.  Picture perfect.  And the bright crinkle cut carrot coins add a pop of color...and the traditional slightly overcooked texture.   It could be 1950, 1960, 1970 or today...this meal is a classic!



What a fun, waiting-for-the storm road trip...that
North Pole Restaurant
didn't take very long or cover too many miles.   As I've traveled around the country doing evaluation and research work, this place could have been in Mahnomen MN, Afton WY, Johnson City TN, or any of the hundreds of other places I've dined in small towns around the country.  And here it is...maybe barely noticeable...in Newport, that has that feel of a small, isolated little town...even though thousands of cars pass by each day on Highway 61.


The service at the North Pole Restaurant was exceptional.

Friendly, courteous (you know, like manners-- "may I take you plate?"...try to find that anywhere these days)...with a team of young and veteran servers all promptly doing their jobs really, really well.   My server even noticed that I was having water as my only beverage...so she picked up the water glass and brought me a giant glass of water with a straw.    Observant wait staff----so appreciated!

North Pole Restaurant


Fun decor, a classic meal-too much for one sitting, and great staff.    So glad we made it to the North Pole Restaurant before the impending (?) blizzard...or rain storm...not quite sure.



p.s.  After breakfast or lunch, we checked out one of the locations of Cardinal Corner right next door.  They have such a beautifully curated selection of gifts---novelty socks made in the USA, children's books, bird-lover's gifts and of course, tons of bird seeds and a great assortment of feeders.   The buyer(s) here do a wonderful job in their selections.   We even picked up a gift from Sweden.   A fun stop.


So, head to the North Pole Restaurant to get away from MN weather.


North Pole Restaurant

North Pole Restaurant
Website:    http://www.northpolerestaurant.com/
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/NorthPoleRestaurant/
Directions:  Google Map 


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