Walkin’ Around Checkin’ Stuff Out. #45
Central Avenue Checklist (Updated).
We’re deep in the middle of revisiting Central Avenue on our Central Avenue Checklist over at Heavy Table. They’ve recently made the move to Substack, so please visit and subscribe. It’s the best food website out there and the only place you can read the full Checklist story…these are just the drawings…what you are missing is the food photography, in-depth food reviews and MC Cronin’s atmospheric write-ups…good stuff.
Loma Bonita.
The buzz in this grocery store/restaurant was amazing. The place was packed with people shopping, ordering food and eating. It gave this old strip mall new life for sure.
The kitchen was open to the grocery store so we could watch all the running around as the cooks tried to keep up with all the orders.
Loading up our order with all the extra stuff.
Lots of bright colors…whether it’s the homemade sweet drinks, homemade salsa, or homemade ice cream treats.
Micholandia Ice Cream.
Lots of dudes hanging out at this strip mall looking tough, but it’s hard to look too tough holding pink ice cream and swirly drinks.
Flavors, flavors and more flavors. The workers wore very passive aggressive t-shirts that basically said “don’t bug me, I’m working”, but in a very Minnesota way. I guess everyone quickly learns how to “Minnesota Nice”.
Chocolate covered treats and ice cream flavors…many in two languages.
Los Cactus.
Lots of green and yellow and big, great tasting food happening at Los Cactus. Before this the building spent 40 years as an American Chinese restaurant.
Besides lots of green and yellow there was a whole bunch of home cookin’ happening…all the way down to a guy hand-cutting the meats.
At first the place gives off strong Chipotle vibes, but when you taste the food it is so not Chipotle.
Central Pizza.
Well…you can’t win them all. The chicken tikka pizza had promise, but I promise you shouldn’t order it.
As unimpressed as we were with the food, the interior decor was even less exciting…although that is an impressive stack of pre-made pizza boxes.
Yummy Bites.
I mean, it’s kind of hard to argue with the name…they do serve bites, and they were damn yummy.
It seems all the dessert places have to create an Instagram-worthy, brightly colored space and Yummy Bites is no different…even before you walk through the door you’re met with bright pops of color and flowers…lots of flowers.
After being met by what seemed like 100,000 flowers after walking through the door we were presented with free samples by the owner who was very proud of his creations and happy to share. That’s always the sign of a great place. If they’re excited by what they’re serving, i’m excited by what they’re serving.
Love the Yummy bites video!