New eats bring new life to Highland Village

A slew of new restaurants are either already established or are coming soon to the Highland Village neighborhood, a favorite haunt of Minnehaha students

by Meara Cummings, Talon staff writer

Highland seems to be getting a face-lift in the restaurant department, as additions to the already existing food network start to buzz with new customers and rave reviews. The additions include Smashburger, Menchie’s, and soon to come Which Wich, Panera and Dino’s, The Greek Place. Since the Minnehaha community is so closely connected with the Highland area, for grabbing a bite after school or before a big game, we encourage you to check out these new spots and see for yourself what’s really causing all the hype.

Smashburger

2138 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, MN
(651)315-7959
smashburger.com
Next door to the Lunds

Smash, sizzle and savor. The three words that the new burger joint in Highland is striving to emanate with their food as well as their service. A break from your typical fast-food run, Smashburger offers a dine-in atmosphere built for speed.
The smash refers to the way they prepare their burgers; smashed, seared and seasoned to perfection on the grill. With fresh beef, never frozen, they prepare their many burger choices such as the Classic (a simple cheeseburger with American, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, pickles, ketchup and their special Smash sauce) or the unique Twin Cities Burger (A standard burger with melted cheddar bar cheese, Swiss cheese and garlic grilled onions with lettuce, tomato and mayo). Be sure to grab some napkins before you sit down, these burgers can get messy!
Their friendly staff makes the experience even more enjoyable and that’s where the sizzle and savor parts come in. They like to describe their service as sizzling with personality because they always try to be as helpful as possible. Whether it’s coming to your table to check in on your meal, or yelling, “Have a nice day!” as you walk out the door, the staff at Smashburger wants the customer to savor their experience and be encouraged to come back and enjoy it again. It’s a great place to get a satisfying meal that’s worth the money and tastes good too.

Menchie’s

750 Cleveland Avenue South, St. Paul, MN
(651) 797-6428
menchies.com
On the corner near the Highland Mann Theater

With the first step you take into the hip new frozen yogurt place in Highland, you know it’s going to be a good time. The vibrant colors and fun designs make the trip worthwhile already, and the fact that they have delicious frozen yogurt and so many toppings to choose from just make it that much better.
The do-it-yourself system that Menchie’s incorporates seems to work great, since they allow customers to get as much or as little as they want. Plus, you get to take the time to browse through the flavors, take a sample, and choose as many toppings as you want. They charge by the ounce so it’s really up to the customer how much they want to spend, but be careful not to get too carried away with all the flavors and the topping choices or you could end up with a larger bill than expected.
The vibe that you pick up when you first step inside is that cool hangout spot that’s a great place to get a sweet treat with some friends after school, or whenever you’re in the mood for some yummy frozen yogurt.
The staff is extremely welcoming and always open to questions such as the most popular flavors or their favorite topping combinations. This is a fun spot to grab a refreshing cup of frozen yogurt and just hang out and enjoy the atmosphere.

Coming soon

Coming soon to join the growing food family in Highland, Which Wich promises “superior sandwiches” customized to your own taste. The unique ordering system implemented at this sandwich shop makes the experience fun, as customers mark up pre-printed menus on sandwich bags with their personal requests. Get excited for this new addition to Highland, and be the first in line to mark up your bag when they open!
Look for it: on the corner of Cleveland and Pinehurst near the Highland Mann Theater

Dino’s, The Greek Place will be a unique addition to the Highland community. Many people haven’t had a taste of the great foods the country of Greece has to offer, and Dino’s will allow them a taste of the delicious Mediterranean cuisine. They offer pita sandwiches, wraps, salads and combination plates such as the Steak or Chicken Souvlaki Plate (steak or chicken kabobs with your choice of fries, Greek salad or rice and grilled pita). Opa!
Look for it: On Ford Parkway near the new Walgreens

Panera Bread offers bread baked fresh every day, as well as soups, sandwiches, salads and a wide range of bakery items such as fresh apple pastries or chocolate fudge brownies. It’s a great place to sit down and relax for a while with a friend or two, while enjoying a tasty sandwich or a warm cup of soup. Many of you know and love Panera Bread, and the range of foods that it offers will be a great addition to the Highland area.
Look for it: In the old Blockbuster space at the intersection of Ford Parkway and Cleveland