Thistles Restaurant

For starters... the music is great. Go in there with the mindset that you want to relax. I don't know how it could be too noisy. Even though a jazz band would use speakers to amplify their music, let's keep in mind that it's Jazz. Chill baby! Pros: food, price, drinks, and atmosphere Cons: Hurricane glassed drinks and grumpy patrons - if any more

Be conversational: Write it as if relaying your experience to a good friend. more

I finally heard the owner talk about the restaurant on the radio and decided to check the place out being it's located a reasonable distance from home. My first impression was ~ small, but quaint. Two rooms to dine in. We were seated in the area away from the entertainment~ which was actually really nice. We could enjoy it as background rather than too loud or close. Although we decided the room we were in was probably a much better space to put live music. The food was good. My husband ordered a wild rice meatloaf~ I had the Salmon. The menue is a nice array. Anything from Fajitas to a Walley dinner. It's not your typical dinning experience...it felt more intimate. We were impressed that two different staff members who may have very well been owners for all we know stopped by to ask how dinner was. Our waitress was excellent. Overall we enjoyed the experience. I think the only complaint my husband had was the chairs. Mine was being seated against a wall ~ thinking the seating could be done differently. I will most definately go back again for a second opinion. more

My husband and I dined with two other couples on a Friday night at 7p. We were seated at a great table right next to the bar/by the back door/in front of the open air kitchen. Mike was our server - he was awesome and very attentive. He was quite knowledgable and helpful with menu choices. We dine out quite often - and have to say - it was one of the best dining experiences AND best food we've eaten in the Twin Cities. The other couples agreed and we call can't wait to meet and dine at Thistles again. My husband had the hashbrown crusted Salmon - and commented that it was the best Salmon he's eaten. I chose the Crab filled Walleye - and it too was the best Walleye I've ever experienced. It didn't taste like fish - rather more like a seafood. Other's at our table ordered the ribeye and pastry puff pork loin - and raved about their entrees as well. We all ordered a different dessert - and the portions were perfect for one. Of course we all had a bite of each others - and they were absolutely ALL incredible. It's a great choice - highly recommend it - after all - FREE parking too! Pleasantly decorated - and live music on Friday night too. We'll be back! Thanks! and I hope you all enjoy Thistles as we did! Pros: FREE Parking, Great Service, Ambience, more

Fantastic place to chat with friends. Interesting menu items - good service and my favorite patio in the area. It is cozy and off the street - a nice place to relax and enjoy dinner more

We made reservations for 10 on a Saturday night at 5pm. Our waiter was friendly, knowlegable, and attentive. Our food was fantastic, the best plated food I have had the pleasure of being served in the Twin Cities. All ten of us ordered different items on the menu and we all tasted each others entree's. The only thing that may have been sub-par was the chicken alfredo; but the rest was magnificant and the desserts fantastic! We heartily recommend the wasabi tuna and the bouillabaisse. The Key Lime Tart on the dessert menu was fabulous. I wish I remembered the name of the wonderful waiter we had. Try this restaurant, you wont be dissappointed! Pros: Service, Plating, Taste more

We went to Thistles with a group of about 30-40. When I walked in I could hardly believe that it was the same place. They did so much remodeling. We were put in a very lovely decorated room with a huge window looking out at the street. It was almost like we had the whole place to ourselves. The wait staff was very attentive, no one was ever without a drink. The food was very inventive and tasted great. Great options on the menu for Vegetarians. They made the dinner into a very special event. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone! Pros: Great food, Great Ambiance, Great Service Cons: It is in Robbinsdale more

I found this hidden gem in Robbinsdale and could not believe it. the food was fantastic, the service fast and friendly and the prices extremely reasonable. Definitely the nicest place in the area! Pros: Great staff., Fabulous Food, Nice Ambiance more

It's so nice to have a place like this in Robbinsdale, where there are so few nice restaurants. The food was great, and came very fast. Wonderful atmosphere, loved the piano. Highly recommended. more

I have been to Thistles several times since January with my husband as well as in larger groups. The food is outstanding! I am an adventurous diner, so it excites me to see new menu items every visit. My favorite is Wasabi Tuna, but I have experimented with just about everything on the menu and they are all wonderful! The last time we were there with a larger group. The newest additions to the menu were the wine flights. Everyone at the table ordered one and we had a great time sampling each others flights. The staff is always friendly. They remember me and thank me for returning on every visit. Gusteating, this is the only thing that resembles a ""Cheers atmosphere"" that I have experienced and I enjoy dining at places where the staff remembers me and appreciates my business. You should give them another chance... Pros: Friendly Staff, Excellent Menu, Wine Flights Cons: Limited Appetizers more

I liked alot of things about Thistles that would bring me back again including the food, the wine, and the music. However, there are a few simple things overlooked that would bring this restaurant up a notch. The kitchen had done it's job superbly, but the dining room needed help. Our waitress was unprofessional, unknowledgable, and uninterested. Questions about the food & wine were met with little or no explanation. And given our questioning faces, there was no indication that her response was not adequate. Meanwhile, the manager/host on duty sat behind us at the bar shouting orders, complaints & the day's stories across the room to varying personnel interrupting our conversation and likening the environment to a roadhouse show rather than a dining establishment. If the desire is to create a ""Cheers"" environment, good job. Else, consider some well worthwhile improvements. Pros: Food, Wine, Price Cons: Waitstaff, Management more

Ventured over to ""downtown"" Robbinsdale after the Star Trib review. Thistles must've paid close attention to the scant recommendations because the bread basket, Caesar salad, and desserts were impressive. Enjoyed their generous bruschetta starter. The salmon was excellent- better than Napa Valley Grill and Zanders. Their red onion ""marmalade"" alone was worth the trip. The ambience on their patio was delightful. We'll make the trip from St. Paul again. It was worth it. Pros: Exceptional Cuisine, Great Value, Lovely Ambience Cons: too far from St. Paul more

Have to say I looked at the two other reviews and was unsure about what to expect. The good review looks like it's canned and put there by the owner. The other is bad. Have to say it was a very good experience. Seated immediately. Wine and food fast. The food was just short of spectacular. Wait service was courteous. Will go back. Pros: fast, good food, good wine more

My wife and I ate there on 04/30/2005 and had great experience. We arrived at 6:10 pm and were promptly seated. We order a bottle of wine which was quickly and properly presented to us. Our orders for salad, soup and entries were taken. An excellent selection of bread was delivered to our table and shortly thereafter we received our soup and salad. Once we complete our soup and salad, our plates were cleared and our entries presented. Once we completed our entries, we ordered an excellent desert. When completed, our check was presented. We had a great dinner in just under one hour. Four other tables with 2 to 4 customers each were in the same area of the restaurant and received similar service. The other side of the restaurant was almost filled with customers. I would highly recommend that scodith763 give Thistles another chance. Pros: Wine, Food Quality, Service more

Ordered at 6:30: 2 glasses of shiraz, salads, pork tenderloins, ""Barbatos"" chicken. Salads came at 6:50: greens, strawberries, light vinaigrette. Bread came at 7: airy, very salty baguette. At 7:30 I found our waitress to ask where our food was. At 7:45 she said she hadn't put in the order. Our food arrived at 8:07. Pork looked good, but the chicken was a tiny blackened drummy and thumb-sized chunk; ""sweet potato hash"" was 2 tablespoons of yams cut so small (pea-sized) my fork couldn't spear; also were 4 thin spears of asparagus and broiled half of cherry tomato. The caramel bombe looked/ tasted great, but was also small. Our waitress comped our meals/wine for the delay, but it would have been better if the owner had apologized (he never came over), and of course, had we left there full. We weren't the only table with a long wait. Pros: Flavors were good., Good wine selection., Nice ambience Cons: Tiny portions, Terrible service more