Both Liliana and CRAVE are offering special prix fixe menus from July 13-19. They join more than 60 metro-area dining establishments chosen by Minneapolis-St. Paul Magazine to highlight the summer dining scene. Reservations are suggested to avoid the disappointment of no more room at the tables.
Although both are participating in Restaurant Week, they offer distinctly different dining experiences.
Liliana
Liliana is a locally owned restaurant featuring modern Italian-inspired cuisine. Veteran restaurateurs Jason Hansen and owner Peter Sebastian opened Liliana about a year ago in Woodbury and have since turned the kitchen over to Executive Chef Kenzie Edinger.
Their Summer Restaurant Week menu shows off the restaurant’s modern Italian-inspired food in three courses.
Appetizers | Choose One:
- Crab Panzanella; tomato, crouton, pepperoncini, basil
- Beef Carpaccio; tonnato, baguette, capers
- Roasted Radish; tahini, basil gremolata, sesame, guanciale
- Arancini; fontina, pepperoni ragu
- The Salad; romaine, tomato, radish, snow pea, pink peppercorn ranch
Entrée | Choose One:
- Rigatoni; lamb bolognese, berbere spice, yogurt, mint
- Baccello; peas, feta, almond, beurre monté, sorrel
- Eggplant Parmesan; bigoli, arrabbiata, basil
- Salmon; tomato risotto, pickled fennel, Swiss chard, tarragon
- Saltimbocca; prosciutto, demi-glace, arugula, sage, green peppercorn
Desserts | Choose One:
- Salted Caramel Panna Cotta; white chocolate crumble
- Olive Oil Cake; orange, thyme, peach, Chantilly
- Tiramisu; cocoa ladyfingers, mascarpone, feuilletine
CRAVE
CRAVE is part of a regional chain with locations throughout the Twin Cities as well as Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota. Brothers Kam and Keyvan Talebi founded the restaurant in 2007. They moved to Minnesota as children when their mother came to the Mayo Clinic for treatment, and the Ayatollah Khomeini-led revolution made it untenable for the family to return to Iran.
The restaurant bills itself as an American kitchen and sushi bar. Its extensive menu offers a wide variety of choices, and the Restaurant Week menu features many of them at both lunch and dinner.
Lunch — $20
Dine in & Take out
Appetizers | Choose One:
- CRAVE Starter Salad; spring mix, candied walnuts, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, balsamic glaze
- BLT Caesar Starter Salad; baby romaine, hearts of romaine, roasted tomatoes, bacon, Caesar dressing, brioche croutons
- Edamame; sriracha, sake & soy glaze
- House Made Soup; chicken wild rice or tomato basil garnished with parsley, pistachios & parmesan
Entrée | Choose One:
- Greek Salad; romaine, cucumber, red onion, kalamata olive, cherry tomato, feta, red wine vinaigrette
- Turkey Avocado Sandwich; thinly sliced turkey, bacon, Swiss, tomato, avocado, Bibb lettuce, rosemary garlic aioli, focaccia
- Chicken Salad Sandwich; pulled chicken, grapes, celery, green onion, toasted almonds & mayo, grilled sourdough bread
- Double Smash Burger; two brisket & short rib burger patties, caramelized onions, white American cheese, rosemary garlic aioli, dill pickles
- Pesto Chicken Fusilli; grilled chicken, blistered cherry tomato, mornay sauce, pesto, shaved parmesan
- Sesame Chicken Bowl; sesame glazed chicken, coconut rice, asparagus, mushrooms, edamame, onion, carrot, marinated cucumber relish
- Signature Pasta with Vodka Sauce; spicy Italian sausage, parmesan, basil
- Baked Mac & Cheese; five cheese cream sauce, bacon, breadcrumbs
- Crunchy Roll; tempura shrimp, masago, kaiware, spicy mayo, avocado, crunchy flakes, unagi sauce
- Spicy Tuna Roll; chili oil, spicy mayo, avocado, lettuce, yamagobo
- Spicy Salmon Roll; sriracha, yamagobo, lettuce, cucumber
Dinner — $40
Dine in & Take out
Appetizers | Choose One:
- CRAVE Starter Salad; spring mix, candied walnuts, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette, balsamic glaze
- BLT Caesar Starter Salad; baby romaine, hearts of romaine, roasted tomatoes, bacon, Caesar dressing, brioche croutons
- House Made Soup; chicken wild rice or tomato basil garnished with parsley, pistachios & parmesan
- Kogi Beef Tacos; kalbi-marinated short rib, kimchi, spicy mayo, onion, cilantro, flour tortillas
- Edamame; sriracha, sake & soy glaze
- Potstickers; filled with chicken, garlic & ginger, wasabi pesto, ginger soy sauce
- Crispy Chicken Bao Buns; chicken thighs, togarashi, BBQ gochujang sauce, pickled vegetables, steamed bao bun
Entrée | Choose One:
- Thai Steak; stir-fried vegetables, crispy rice, fresnos, Thai steak sauce
- Cedar Plank Salmon; chili garlic glaze, sushi rice, broccolini
- Signature Pasta with Vodka Sauce; spicy Italian sausage, parmesan, basil
- Sesame Chicken Bowl; sesame glazed chicken, coconut rice, asparagus, mushrooms, edamame, onion, carrot, marinated cucumber relish
- Steak Frites; bistro filet, bearnaise, truffle fries, grilled asparagus
- Double Smash Burger; two brisket & short rib burger patties, caramelized onions, white American cheese, rosemary garlic aioli, dill pickles
- Mexican Roll; yellowfin tuna, escolar, jalapeño, avocado, cilantro, spicy mayo, soy citrus sauce
- Rainbow Roll; California roll topped with the chef’s selection of four types of fish
- Bamboo Bite Roll; tempura shrimp, cream cheese, avocado, jalapeño, hibachi & unagi sauces
- Seared Tuna Salad; togarashi-crusted tuna, wasabi pesto, soy ginger sauce, greens, tomato, avocado, wasabi balsamic dressing
Desserts | Choose One:
- Petite S’mores Brownie; chocolate graham cracker brownie & torched marshmallow creme with rocky road ice cream
- Tiramisu; one piece of espresso & chocolate liqueur-soaked chocolate cake, mascarpone cream, espresso syrup, dusting of cocoa
- Raspberry Sorbet; vegan, fresh raspberry, mint
