Neptune Eatery

04/19/2008 Posted by cb3500blue

"A hidden gem", yes, my wife and would agree. We like to find restaurants that are not part of the main stream that serve excellent food with a little bit of flare. The Neptune Eatery was suggested to us by a friend and it completely lived up to the recommendation. Even though our reservation had been misplaced and its location is not what one might expect to find such quality, our evening turned out to be very enjoyable. Don't let the fact that this restaurant is located within a small strip mall fool you, it has plenty of charm to entice even those who may be finicky at heart. As our reservation had been misplaced we were offered counter seating, which at first concerned us but in the end we loved as we were able to watch the chef and crew at work behind the counter. We loved every bit of our dinner from the bruschetta appetizer to the entrees. We had a wild mushroom pasta dish which was fresh and filled with flavor and the butternut squash ravioli, which after the first taste my wife said was one of the best pasta dishes she's had. This is truly a compliment as she is a picky eater at heart and has tried many a dish at Italian restaurants throughout the Twin Cities metro area. The wine selection though limited was enjoyable. We would recommend this restaurant to our best friends and can't wait to return!

Pros: Excellent Food, Friendly Service

Cons: Can Be Loud

03/24/2008 Posted by megandavison1

My sister and I went there on a Friday night. Cozy little place/great atmosphere. The food was wonderful! I had Scallops with fettucini in tomato cream sauce. Was so good. Nice and big scallops. My sister had a mushroom ravioli with blue cheese. Very good flavors! Nice wine list. Will definitely be back!

06/06/2007 Posted by thomnc

We have become frequent flyers of this Blaine Italian gem. The Lobster Risotto was the best we have had in MN. The wood roasted salmon is an automatic, cooked in the wood fire oven they do their pizzas in. The owner, Brian makes it a point to personally check and visit shortly with every customer. We have been in there on evenings when there is live jazz music at just the right decibel level. Service has always been top notch. Our last server, a young lady named Kelsey didn’t miss a beat. The appetizer of calamari and green beans was a nice touch with an aioli dressing on the side. The real gem has been the time when the patio is open. A very nice place to relax after work and not put up with the headaches of scrambling to find a downtown eatery and then make the commute back to the north suburbs.

Pros: Service has been great, Food very consistent

Cons: A little off the beaten path for some. No weekend patio lunch, not open for lunch at all

01/18/2007 Posted by allanstrehlow

The variety is nice. I have tried three different dishes, and have not been disappointed. The value is good if for no other reason than the portions are large. Too bad it doesn't have a better location. But now that I know where it is, I'll be back.

Pros: Variety, large portions, courtious, wine list

Cons: Location

01/09/2007 Posted by scotcombs

Suburbia is a jungle of cookie cutter restaurants. Neptune in Blaine is better because it's different ... it's better because we don't have to drive all the way downtown for a wonderful, unique meal and a comfortable ambience ... it's better because we feel like we're getting a premium dining experience at a bargain price. The dishes are simultaneously familiar and unique. I recommend the italian sausage pasta, the salmon, the pizzas and the shrimp scampi. The wine list is somewhat small but the wines are very good and reasonably priced. I like the Chianti. The chef tells me they're getting more wines in very soon. Plus they stock Newcastle Light Brown Ale ... a favorite of mine. Neptune offers a slightly upscale dining experience without being "too hip for the clientele" ... which we really appreciate. I've had the opportunity to dine in many fine establishments all over the country, including one memorable experience in Manhatten at a wonderful place with only 10 tables. Neptune reminds me of that place. It's friendly, comfortable, priced moderately (cheap compared to the place in Manhatten) and the food is simply terriffic. The menu changes a bit from week to week so you can go back as often as you like without the fear of getting bored. You like great food, moderate prices and a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere? Join us up here in Blaine, we've got what you're looking for ... it's called Neptune.

Pros: great food close to home

Cons: not open for lunch

01/08/2007 Posted by roblinander

This little place is a gem. Tucked into a small retail area usually home to generic fare, Neptune Eatery offers a unique and extremely tasty dining experience. The pork tenderloin with gorganzola cheese sauce and apple-pear chutney was deliciious and served by friendly and knowledgeable staff. Wine selection was limited but given special care and our Chilean Terra del Fuego was impressive and reasonably priced. The owner/chef stopped by our table adding a very personal touch. We absolutely plan on a return visit.

Pros: Knowledgeable and personable server

Cons: Paper over the table linens.

01/02/2007 Posted by leac0010

great food sure to please anyone who loves italian food. Great service and great wine. Nice atmosphere for a relaxing dining experience. Only recommendation is rignt now they are only open til 9pm would like to see them open til 10 or later

Pros: Wine, Food Service

Cons: Location, closing time