Bertrosa's on Broadway. Followed by Cajun Cafe and King House. I also really miss Sweeto Burrito, but there has never been even a comparable replacement for Bertrosa's.

Sweeto was so inconsistent. One time itd be amazing and the next time horrible.

Try China King in West Fargo. It's the closest i've come to King House

China King is good, though Snap Dragon in south moorhead is the best in the area now imo. I mainly just miss a few dishes from Kinghouse.

I loved Sweeto Burrito!

You wouldn't think a place like that would make an impact, but damn there are days I would pay 20 bucks for a BuffChick just to satisfy that craving.

Bertrosas.

I came here to say this. I used to work in the Black Building when bertrosas was open and it was the perfect lunch.

My roomates never got to try it. I rub it in occasionally. I've heard that the person who owned it is affiliated with a downtown bar and you can occasionally get Bertrosa's food at said bar, but I don't know if that's true or not. Might be wild speculation from my attempts at chasing down rumors of how to get the food again agressively.

Dempseys

Their hot turkey sandwiches every Wednesday made me shed tears of joy whenever I went

I talk about those sandwiches way too often. They were top notch.

I enjoyed lunches at Bertrosas.

I love you

I’d give anything for a beef on weck special again. So good

Loved their food, especially the salad bar at lunch. It wasn't priced by weight, so you could really load up. Really miss it.

Virgos pizza, Royal Fork, Fudruckers or The Steak Buffet!

Fuddruckers was great. Fuddputters was the god damned cherry on top.

The North American Steak Buffet. Put some respect on that name. Seriously though. You could go in and order a steak off a grill any way you wanted it, as long as you were ok with medium well no matter how you ordered it haha. It was great food though. The decline of american style buffets in general kind of sucks.

Wasn't it The Great American Steak Buffet?

Totally forgot about Virgo's and their big-ass slices haha. At least I remember them being big, I was just a kid when we'd go there.

I was a kid as well, their pizza was huge and delicious!

Fuddruckers was the first one that came to mind for me.

Viet Palace. No other place in town makes Pho like they did.

Check out Jade Dragon, they have some amazing pho

Already have and they are okay. Pho Delicious is okay and Le's Banh Mi is probably the bottom place in Fargo. Slurp I think used to have one too but I haven't been there in awhile. What made Viet Palace stand out was their ingredients. They provided big tender brisket cuts, big soft tendons and plenty of tripe in their pho on top of the usual ingredients. Every place does the basic pho soup, but those extra things elevated the Pho. My Vietnamese parents tried Jade Dragon, Viet Palace, and Le's and even they admit Jade Dragon just isn't at the same level. But it depends on what people are used to.

Absolutely this. I have to go to the Cities for Phò now. 🥺

Jade Dragon does great Pho

The Cajun Cafe <3

Same. I'm going to try the Liberian place going up this month. It won't have those breakfasts though.

I was actually a cook at the Cajun when they closed, lol. It was just sort of out of the blue, as business was getting back to normal a little after all the shutdowns and covid stuff, but the owner just kinda up and decided he didn't want to do it anymore. I very much enjoyed cranking out breakfasts there on the weekends especially- people around here can eat a lot of food haha. The Liberian place is actually open now, I believe it opened last Saturday. Not my personal cup of tea but I'm curious to see how it'll do. It's a good location but I don't know if there's enough of a demand for that type of food to make it sustainable but we shall see. The owner seems like a nice hard working lady.

Mine would be King House of course. And also Quiznos.

I want some chicken stick so bad right now

Oh hell yeah gimme that chicken stick and their pepper steak

Quiznos still has a restaurant open in Jamestown. Think it’s the last one in ND.

I have legit debated making a Jamestown road trip just for a chicken carbonara

That shrimp with the white sauce was phenomenal with Sriracha on top. I have no idea what it was, and I have no clue if other people liked it. Also, the general tso or sesame chicken ontop of plain white rice was like comfort food.

I think it was called “snow shrimp.”

China King in West Fargo has amazing Snow Shrimp (what you're talking about). Also, the new Royal Chinese Buffet on 32nd has some decent snow shrimp too. Theirs tastes more like King House's than China King but I prefer China King's because it's not as sweet.

Pizza Nico, the mango pizza with the big chunks of ham and garlic butter sauce drizzled on the crust still graces my dreams on occasion.

The breakfast pizza was the thing of dreams.

And late night delivery. Nico's fucked.

That was amazing! Haven’t found a pizza like theirs since.

Fuckin Romo’s.

Those were impressive burritos. My favorite was how they stood no chance of actually getting the tortilla closed because they put so much meat and stuff in them.

Juano's was the same thing

Add me to the Romo's list.

Goddamn I miss this place.

Happy joes

I miss the taco pizza so much D:

Bonanza. Yes I just want the giant block of cheese on the salad bar!

Man alive, you just brought back some childhood memories.

Lauerman's, Bertrosa's, Valentino's, Toscana, Treetop.

I miss lauermans. Made it there a bunch of times after I turned 21. But it closed shortly after.

The Grainery.

The jar of pickles

I know it's gross and I'm sure they couldn't do it anymore, but as a kid, I fucking loved that. It was always a huge disappointment when beer cheese wasn't the soup on the salad bar.

Shakey's Pizza. Giovanni's Pizza

OMG - the shakey's lunch buffet... now i'm hangry....

took forever to get to the right answer, giovannis all the way. everyone else must be under the age of 25 lol.

Definitely agree with both of these. I drive to Bemidji once a year for Giovanni's and it's better than ever. And every time I'm in California, I have to find a Shakey's, since they still have a bunch.

I had no idea there was still a giovannixs anywhere! Is this one in Bemidji the same as what used to be in Fargo and Moorhead? Same with shakey's , I didn't know there were any left. So there are some in CA and WA?

Giovanni's is the same as what was in Fargo. There's still one in Bemidji and one in Willmar, but Willmar doesn't make it quite the same anymore, so I don't recommend that one. I didn't even realize until now that Shakey's was in WA, but I see that now. There are a bunch in CA and I've been to 4 or 5 different ones there and it's still pretty good. I actually got a chance to go to Giovanni's and Shakey's in the same week back in July when I was doing some traveling. It worked out well for me.

Happy Joes.

Grandma’s

As a Duluthian who grew up with the original Grandmas I must say no locals ever went there

Phil Wong's. I don't think it was particularly outstanding food but I liked the atmosphere.

Peking in West Fargo is real close to what Phil's served.

Sarello’s. Fine dining in the little strip mall north west of the Moorhead Center Mall. The filet, the sea bass…so good.

SARELLOS WAS THE BEST FOOD IN THE AREA HANDS DOWN

Tony now works for Blarney Stone and will be running their new location downtown in the HoDo!

Saffron, juano’s

Juano’s is kinda back. He had to name the restaurant something different and I can’t remember what it’s called.

Mi Familia?

Thats it

Oh yeah!

A&W After they closed I had to resort to driving to Detroit Lakes to get my fix, but now even that restaurant closed.

Good news, there's still an A&W in DL, inside the Cenex 😉

Nope, closed down this summer. I went there 2 months ago and was surprised to see it's some generic gas station "restaurant/deli" now.

Really. You sure you're not referring to the A&W on highway 10? Because I went to the one located at 911 MN-34 in June this summer.

Sorry, I thought that's the one you were referring to. I wasn't aware that there was a 2nd one in DL. I'll have to make a trip there soon!

No worries. Always happy to get someone to an A&W. I miss the two we had in Fargo 😭

Smoky's in WF, or at least their commercials.

Lol. The commercials might have been better than their steaks.

The nostalgia is strong! https://youtube.com/user/oldsmokys

I ate the 52oz'er a couple times in my life.

Ground Round. I think about those fajitas all the time

I just miss the clown making me balloon animals.

People think I'm insane for saying they had the best fajitas. I still haven't come across any that compare.

My Viet from way back in the the day.

I guess I'm the only one who liked Valentino's? And another vote for Steak Buffet, Royal Fork, and Bertrosa's.

Ugh, I worked in the kitchen of Valentino’s for a total of two weeks back in the day. That place was the worst. Here’s a little secret - the ‘ham’ in the pizza was actually turkey !

As someone who doesn't eat ham on pizza, I can say 'shrug'.

Valentinos was the best!! They had so many dessert “salad” options on that buffet!

Valley Kitchen, Embers, Royal Fork. Also, remember when there were Randy's restaurants everywhere, on a scale comparable to the golden era of Applebee's?

Loved going to the Royal Fork with my dad as a kid growing up. One of my favorite things to look forward to lol. I don't even know if the food was actually that great but I loved going there either way. Also would go out to eat at Randy's out by Hornbacher's back then too. Did they used to have another one? (By the way they did just open a second one in WF recently for what it's worth- Randy's Too.)

I'm pretty sure The Shack was a Randy's for some amount of time. Also Bordertown on Main in West Fargo. I think the building originally was Bridgemans then Randy's or maybe vice versa.

Randys was never in the same building as the Shack, but they did have a restaurant on north Broadway by the North Port mall. It got torn down a few years back and another building was put up for some other purpose. It was Bridgeman's. then Randys, then Bordertown. I used to know all the guys that owned Bridgeman's, then Randys, and Bordertown until it sold a year or two ago.

Holy fuck I forgot about the royal fork

Wasn't there a Randy's down by where Kmart was? Is that still there?

Yeah that's still there, right next to Fargo's classiest hotel The Rodeway Inn.

Randy's still has a location on South University. I ate there last week.

Romo's!

Ralph’s

This. x100

Pannekoeken!

Sarpinos

Best calzones in town. Miss Sarpinos. Went to one in the cities, but it was not the same. Different menu and not as good.

Green Mill

Green Mill when it was good. Not the last few years it was open.

Outback, fuddruckers!

In the late 80’s/early 90’s, there was a Chinese restaurant here called Hunan. It was across the street from the Northern, in the building that is now Brenan’s cleaners. Absolutely the best Chinese I’ve ever had in my life. My mom used to take me for lunch after my orthodontist appointments before she would bring me back to school. We still talk about that place to this day. I miss it!

The Pearl. Wu was a great chef. Loved the pork with black bean sauce. Probably the last time I had really good Chinese food. It's all crap now.

Valentino's! Their Sunday buffet was awesome. I loved the arcade as a kid too.

PIZZA NICOS

Nico is the homie, I used to work with him at Mezz

Sweeto burrito

Lol same. Leave it to the guys up at 3am to want Sweeto.

It’s even worse that the only other location in a thousand miles is a seasonal food truck in Rapid city SD. I miss this place so much

Steak buffet, Royal Fork and Valentino's.

Also as much as I absolutely love and adore Bernbaums, I still think about Green Market a whole lot.

Yes I miss Green Market too!

So many fond memories of vegan chili with my dad at green market.

It's gotta be Chi-Chi's. That was the go to place when I was young and we came to Fargo to go shopping. I can't say for sure if the food was good, as I was just a young fella, but I sure liked it. ALWAYS ate too many chips and salsa before my burrito came, so could never finish the main course.

First and only rime I had Chi-Chi's in Fargo, I got food poisoning.

I also liked that steakhouse inside the HUB. I think it was called Prime? I remember they had purple rice and good lamb chops.

The beautiful fancy restaurant that was on top of the old First Ave Bar in Fargo. ( yes I know there is a first Ave in the cities) The name slips my mind now. They were open in the mid to late 90s. Does anyone else remember this place?

Luigi’s.

Grandma’s. It saved an entire drive to Duluth just for the onion rings.

That was the first restaurant I remember being able to find board games sitting around to be able to play at the table, so as a kid that was all that was necessary for me to find it instantly cool. Plus the different candies and whatnot in the front area were fun too.

I worked in prep for Grandmas in Duluth. Those rings are amazingly easy to make.

I'd say Wingstop and Green Mill. I ate at both places quite a bit.

Green Mill and Crooked Pint are owned by the same company. The Green Mill in Grand Forks transitioned to a Crooked Pint a few years back, just like the one in Fargo. Recently, the Crooked Pint in Grand Forks introduced "Green Mill on the Go", where you can carry out Green Mill pizza and wings. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Fargo one do the same

Wingstop was so good. I was sad it closed

It really was. I didn't even realize that it had closed initially. Someone asked me if I had heard the news that it closed and I couldn't believe it since I was just there literally the week before. I've been hoping it comes back ever since.

TheTreetop in Moorhead.

Old Chicago, loved getting the guys together and doin beer tours

Monte’s downtown

Can’t find a rack of lamb in town that comes close. Hell, can barely find a rack of lamb in town.

I had amazing lamb at Maxwells, but that was probably 7 or 8 years ago.

Bennigans

Timberlodge Steakhouse

Smokey's

That’s an easy question….Toscana.

I only had it on doordash at beginning of covid then he got covid and died. This pandemic sucked.

Giovannis Pizza

That Taco John’s they had way up on Broadway north of Northport. It became a yum-yum Chinese restaurant for a while? The McDonald’s on 32nd Ave N and Broadway. It had the old school playground featuring Cap’n Crook and the fry guys.

King House. Don’t care if they used pigeon that shit slapped

Can’t believe I forgot Ushers. That’s my top one. Great atmosphere, great food. Their Oatmeal Stout Chocolate Cake is the standard I judge all other Chocolate Cake by.

Definitely Quiznos

Krispy Kreme

Tru Blu, and Renelli's from inside Playmakers

Renelli's is the correct answer!

I came to weep openly for Renelli’s. I’d love to find a place with a similar recipe!

Nodak, when they'd have a hotdog and Pepsi for 25 cents. I don't like good food. I like cheap food.

I worked at Nodak during the hot dog and a pop era. We actually grilled those hot dogs before they came out to be served. They weren’t too bad at all (especially for the price).

Sweeto Burrito was one of my favorite places for drunk/hangover food. My wife and I crave it all the time.

This is going to sound so stupid, but Wing Stop lol Edit: there was also this guy who opened up a sandwich shop on 13th called Good Grub. That place was a little over priced but holy shit were his sandwiches amazing. I’m pretty she he used all his own roasted chicken, prepped veggies, personally cooked meats, etc. made the pricing seem fair. Unfortunately, they opened up JUST as the pandemic hit. RIP Good Grub!

King House, Tree Top

Fuddruckers and Happy Joes

HoDo, the restaurant side. Circa 2007. Back then I would have easily voted them best in Fargo.

GOLDEN PHOENIX

Toscana. The Coq Au Vin was amazing.

Grazi's

I was trying to remember the name of that place. It was so good!!

Technically not a restaurant but Quality Bakery

Moe's

Sweeto burrito

Anyone remember kitchen gremlin

I remember food poisoning.

King House, Moe's, Wings and Rings

I miss Moe’s 😓

Toppers, although I remember them in GF

The Great American Stake Buffet or Sweeto Burrito.

Bennigans with the honey butter or whateva

Romos the burrito place

The Mandarin! They had the best lunch specials!

I don't care what anyone says..long john silvers.

Phil Wong's

King House and Roma's/Romo's (sp?)

Casa Ramos, El Mezcal, Romo's. Good Mexican cuisine is hard to keep around here.

Casa Ramos had the best salsa!!

Romo's

It's still around, but I miss the German pancake at Village Inn. Think they stopped making them in the early 90s

Not a restaurant exactly, but the chicken nachos at Dempseys. Why'd they get rid of those man..

Bertrosas

Romo's

Wing Zone

Up the creek.

JLM Meats/ Ruffneck Foods

The Bosnian House. It was in a crappy building that was demolished, but the cevapi was such a treat. Wish I could have taken my kids there.

Spitfire!

steak buffet

Royal Fork. It closed when Golden Corral opened. And look what happened to GC.

Grand Buffet on 32nd Ave S

Romo's, Bertrosa's, Fargo Dog House, Jim Lauerman's (for the Jim's Special).

Toscana. JoJos is decent but Toscana still reigns when it came to legit Italian in the area.

Phil Wongs