Namaste Cafe

I know there are a lot of Thai and Indian choices in Minneapolis but this restaurant is definitely the most
student friendly.  The staff will treat you like Indian royalty and the colorful environment will align all of your chakras.  If you don't mind spice the chole burn a hole in your mouth.  Cool yourself down with a chai tea, supposedly the best in the city, and sit back and enjoy the cars go by on Hennepin Avenue.  Stuffing your face with delicious paratha is always an option to (flavors like garlic, aloo, plain and spinach) or some roti!  Dishes are made with the best organic, local and least processed foods out there so bring your yoga group here for lunch or a date for dinner and you won't be sorry.

Namaste Cafe

Birchwood Cafe

Nestled in the middle of quiet, leafy Seward neighborhood, the Birchwood Café has been bringing seasonal, local-whenever-possible, organic fare to residents of Seward for decades. An eatery with a cause, the community-minded Birchwood truly lives up to their motto “good real food.” A cozy spot for brunch, dinner, or coffee if you’re feeling the need to stray off the beaten path a bit. Their menu is always fresh and rotating, and they have 
something for every diet from the omnivorous to meat/dairy/gluten-free. 

Website: Birchwood Cafe

Top 5 tips:

1. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options

2. Best for: date night, weekend brunch, dinner with the family

3. Supplied by a number of local growers and food producers

4. Outdoor seating

5. Bike friendly! They have regular bike racks as well as a Nice Ride station right outside the café.

Hard Times Cafe

If I had to think of one word to encompass the aurora that makes Hard Times Cafe a staple in the restaurant scene it would be: comfort.  This coop restaurant has closed, remodeled, and opened multiple times this cafe truly earned it's name.   This biscuits and gravy eatery is perfect for when a Minnesota winter is just too much.  The atmosphere is a combination of grunge and charming.  Because this is a revolutionary establishment so OF COURSE they only take cash so don't expect to pay with credit card for your Helter Skelter or Greek Salad.  If you want to try a vegan meal just for a change of pace this is where you will want to go.  After your meal here maybe that tofu option won't look to bad to you in the future.

Top Five Tips
- Hipster, Hippie, Revolutionaries welcome
- CASH ONLY
- Internet ALWAYS works-Study Spot!
- Breakfast all day
- Vegan and vegetarian affair