White Bear Lake, MN 55110
651-653-6718
www.rudysredeye.com
Rudy’s Red Eye Grill: Great food; even better service. At first glance, Rudy’s is your standard American steakhouse, but after a closer look under the hood you’re immediately made aware of its distinction. Rudy’s décor consists of leather-bound booths and chairs, dark wood tables, deep red walls, and a cozy brick fireplace. They serve several cuts of well-marbled grade-A beef, low-balls of stiff cocktails, and a bread basket with house-made honey butter. Sounds reminiscent of a typical steak joint, right?
On the contrary, Rudy’s special ingredient (besides their incredible food) is their exceptional staff. Several of their servers, cooks, bartenders, and managers have worked at Rudy’s for years, adding a charm unusual in today’s food service industry. My hat's off to you, Rudy's staff, for maintaining patronage through admirable means like impeccable service instead of reverting (like so many others) to cheap gimmicks and obnoxious flair.
As ass-kissing isn’t typically my M.O., I’ll make my way to what’s weighing on all our minds – the food. The menu is extensive and provides something for everyone. If you’re not into steak; there’s always chicken, ribs, or seafood. If you’re a P.E.T.A. member, you have an array of pastas and salads from which to choose. For the sake of brevity, I’m going to narrow down Rudy’s sizable menu by discussing my personal favorites.
1) New Orleans Shrimp: Found under appetizers, this scampi-like dish consists of succulent jumbo shrimp en flambée in melted compound butter, redolent of garlic, white wine, and a secret blend of Cajun spices. If you’re dining alone or your date dislikes seafood, this is a large enough dish to eat as an entrée. Don’t forget the best part – dunking your crusty artisan bread in the buttery aftermath.
2) French Onion Soup: While this soup is one of my all-time favorites, ordering it can be hit-or-miss due to the myriad of varying recipes that exist. Rudy’s happens to serve one of the best this side of the Eiffel Tower. The brandy-infused broth adds a special kick, while the bread and melted provolone cheese is grounded in deep tradition.
3) Angus Medallions – Dianne Style: As one of the most popular entrée items, these four ounce tenderloins are served as either a couple or ménage a trios (your choice). A happy ending is sure to ensue after ingesting medium rare (or to your liking) cutlets smothered in an earthy mushroom sauce spiked with brandy, worcestershire, and scallions. Other versions of the beef medallions include Mushroom Bleu or Blackened with Béarnaise; both strong contenders to the Dianne.
4) Sweet Potato Hashbrowns: Like most restaurants, all entrees are served with a choice of potato. Rudy’s list includes loaded baked potato, French fries, mashed potatoes, au gratin potatoes, or sweet potato hashbrowns. In all honesty, I find potatoes to be a boring and trite filler. So, my recommendation is to try something different, something not offered at every Tom, Dick, and Harry’s. The sweet potato hashbrowns are where it’s at. They’re fried to a crisp perfection and then topped with maple sour cream and diced green onions. It's an odd yet scathingly brilliant concoction.
5) Rudytini: And now for the piece de resistance: The Rudytini. It's a knock-you-on-your-ass, no holds barred cocktail. Similar to a drink my friends have coined as “strip-and-go-naked” (for obvious reasons), the Rudytini is sweet, fruity, and seemingly harmless. Caution is easily thrown to the wind with this potent mixture of raspberry vodka, pineapple and cranberry juice, and a splash of Rose’s lime juice. Frozen raspberries adorn your glass and add a tart treat at the end; much like the milk dud at the bottom of a waffle ice cream cone. Another fun addition is the shot of brut champagne that accompanies your drink. At your discretion, you slowly pour the shot into the Rudytini for a sparkling effervescence. Because this drink is served with the entire shaker, one Rudytini is more than enough (well, for light weights like me anyway).
Whether you’re recovering from a bender or looking for a place to grab a bite to eat after church, Rudy’s serves Sunday brunch from 10am-1pm. Even though I have yet to try their seafood benedict, steak and eggs, or pecan encrusted French toast, I can safely say it looks sensational. Otherwise, Rudy’s hours of operation are as follows: Monday – Thursday from 11am-1am; Friday – Saturday from 11am-2am; and Sunday from 10am-12am.
Although Rudy’s Red Eye Grill is one of the finer places to dine in White Bear Lake, its friendly, neighborhood charm makes you feel at home -- quite the opposite of a stuffy, pretentious steakhouse. In short, if you're looking for a classy yet laid back experience with fantastic food and service, make it easy on yourself - head to Rudy's Red Eye Grill.
Mindy’s Rating: 9/10 Sporks!
