Has it been one of those frantic days when meals have been merely an afterthought? Maybe your cell phone is blowing up, you’ve had your nose to the grindstone for an important deadline, or you’ve been buried in back-to-back meetings? Presumably, when you finally do break away to have lunch or dinner, you’re going to want a place where you can duck in and get the job done in a hurry. Here are some restaurants you can count on for dining without delay.
White Hen
The individual-sized pizzas at Solo’s Pizza Café bake in just four minutes. The White Hen—with white garlic sauce, chicken, onion, tomato, fresh basil and oregano—finds a balance between hearty and fresh flavors. The Big Tony, on the other hand, piles on the toppings in a “supreme” style, with pepperoni, sausage, green pepper, onion, basil, mushrooms and oregano. These and other specialty pizzas run $5.95 for a small or $7.45 for the regular. If you’re a Solo’s regular, and you feel you’ve already completed your tour of the cuisine, you might want to make plans for another visit soon. The menu was recently expanded with pasta and sandwich options. 13356 Bass Lake Rd.; 763.551.9999
BBQ Ribs
If it’s too much to ask to put together a home-cooked dinner tonight, try one of the prepared foods from Osseo Meat Market & Deli, like the BBQ ribs, which are smoked and cooked until very tender and paired up with a mild, made-from-scratch barbecue sauce. Grab them to go at $4.99 per pound and heat them up in your own oven. Another specialty is the fully-cooked, smoked pork chops, which can be quickly heated up on the grill. Match one of those meats with an order of the classic potato salad, made with eggs and potatoes ($3.89/lb.), and you’re good to go. If it’s grilling time, try something from the deli’s full line of fresh and cooked bratwurst, like wild rice, jalapeno and cheese, tomato basil, sweet mustard, and the fresh, hot and spicy ($4.29–$4.89/lb.). 344 County Rd. 81, Osseo; 763.425.2215
Fish Tacos
When you’ve got a craving for Southwestern fare, you’ll find the simple, fresh menu at Baja Sol fits the bill, with burritos, tacos, quesadillas and nachos. The fresh salsa bar offers nine varieties of homemade salsa, from an extra hot habanero to a chunky pico de gallo. The fish tacos, made with lightly breaded fish, shredded cabbage, onion, cilantro and a Baja fish sauce ($5.99 for two or $7.49 for three), are a huge seller, according to operations manager Mike Phillips. You’ll also appreciate that the place doesn’t use store-bought tortillas, but presses its own tortillas in house. Among the other proteins that can fill your burrito or taco, the chicken tinga is top-rated, made with chicken that’s been shredded, marinated and pulled, with a little bit of a spicy kick. Chips and salsa are free with any menu item. 11611 Fountains Dr.; 763.315.2942
Lunch Special
Walk-ins most commonly order pizza by the slice at Frankie’s, where there is always sausage, pepperoni and a slice of the day at the ready. The lunch special includes two slices and a medium soft drink for $6, or alternatively, a slice with a tossed salad and soft drink for $6. Cold-cut sandwiches, like turkey or salami, served on a French roll, are made to order but served up in a hurry ($7.75). Owner Jessie Droogsma, who has had the restaurant for about 15 years, also added Chicago-style hot dogs to the menu recently, which can be ready in minutes. Remember, if you’re going to be penned in at home or at the office, delivery is available all day with no minimum, and takes about 45 minutes. 13724 83rd Way; 763.420.9220
Pulled Pork
Barbecue-loving types won’t be able to stay away from the home-style smoked meats at Dickey’s, like the pulled pork, which is smoked on site overnight, then cooked until tender and served with Dickey’s signature barbecue sauce on the side. It’s available as a sandwich or a meat plate, ranging in price from $3.75 for a Lil’ Hoagie to $9 for a full-portion meat plate. Family packs can also be a one-stop meal solution, with meats, sides like the signature macaroni and cheese or classic coleslaw, rolls and barbecue sauce. Kids eat free on Sundays, and there’s free ice cream for everyone, every day. 11631 Fountains Dr.; 763.416.2271
Penne Rosa
Noodles & Co. is one place where you might take a few minutes to savor your meal if time allots. It’s definitely fast and casual, and quick to fill a to-go order, but it also uses real china and silverware when you dine in, a nice enhancement that will make you feel at home. The Penne Rosa is a slightly more sophisticated dinner option, made with a spicy tomato cream sauce, penne pasta, mushrooms, tomato, spinach and wine, topped with parmesan or feta cheese ($4.25/small or $5.25/large). Add a protein, like parmesan-crusted chicken, for $2.25. You also can’t go wrong with the Japanese pan noodles, made with udon noodles and an Asian flair, or the indulgent macaroni and cheese with chicken. 7840 Main St.; 763.416.1404
Grilled Bourbon Chicken
Leeann Chin has been a favorite for quick service Asian fare for more than 30 years. The grilled bourbon chicken, a stir-fried dish in a sweet and savory bourbon sauce, is the hands-down best seller on the menu ($6.39). In fact, just about anything with chicken flies out the door, according to general manager Angie Montour, who says the other best-selling entrees are the sesame chicken, Mongolian chicken and orange chicken. (Apparently, customers aren’t much into veggies, either, as all of these dishes are straight-up chicken, served with white rice but no vegetables). All dishes come with white rice but can be upgraded to fried rice or noodles for $1 extra. 7767 Main St. N.; 763.420.2116
At Chipotle, you can choose your meat and build your own combinations in any burrito, but the grilled chicken (marinated in adobo spice for a bit of a kick) is far and away the best selling burrito ($5.95). Add your choice of vegetarian black beans or pinto beans, cilantro lime rice, cheese, sour cream and romaine lettuce, along with several salsas, from a mild fresh tomato to a spicy tomatillo. All of the meats are naturally raised, and some ingredients, like tomatoes, corn, chicken and pork, are being sourced locally these days. Being a vegetarian is easy here since any of the burritos, burrito bowls, salads and tacos can be made with beans and guacamole as a substitute for meat. Kids’ meals are also available, with a choice of crispy or soft shell tacos, or a quesadilla, a side of rice and beans, and chips with juice or milk. 7750 Main St. N.; 763.494.5005
