The Eatbeat: Marilyn Hagerty
Home-style roast beef dinners and sandwiches and cheese fondue will be newcomers to the Blue Moose menu with the changing season.
The bar and grill on restaurant row in East Grand Forks has a unique menu that seems to consistently draw good business for lunch as well as for dinner, with items such as Norwegian barbecued ribs with a sweet, smokey but mild sauce.
The restaurant was remodeled earlier this year and now is more inviting. Two blue moose grace a nicely landscaped area at the Second Street entrance. On the other side, an outdoor balcony overlooks the Red River. The new entryway is larger and provides seating for people who are waiting for friends.
Inside, the decor still is northwoods style. The restaurant is more open with a large seating area along with a bar and lounge that once was the Minnesota Room. The interior is finished with logs and light wood, and there are private dining areas on the balcony level.
Our group of past and present Cottonwood Street neighbors recently chose the Moose for lunch.
The soups for the day were French onion, which always is available, along with beef-barley and pork and bean soup. I chose the beef-barley soup with something called buffalo salad and fruit. Instead of the buffalo meat I was expecting, it turned out to be buffalo wings-style chicken.
I was sitting next to Marilyn Lundberg (ML) and Jan Wendell (JW), who were impressed by the coarse Italian ciabatta bread on which JW's walleye sandwich was served. And JW, who doesn't usually eat all the bread, finished every bit of it. ML ordered a Sunset Lime Chicken salad, which she had tried at a previous trip to the Moose. She likes the tangy lime cilantro marinade and the lime tortilla chips that go with it.
The variety and the creativity are strengths of the new menu, but it is enormous and hard to figure everything out at first reading. For years, the Moose had a shorter menu in a newspaper format.
All in all, the Moose was a good choice for lunch. Everyone seemed well satisfied. I especially like the way my lunch was presented on a triangle-shaped plate. Most of us liked the different items on the menu -- not the same old sandwiches and salads.
Most lunch items are about $7 to $8, and there are combos for $6.99 from 11 am until 2 pm Monday through Friday. They allow you to tailor your lunch by picking three of five items. Dinners range from $10.99 for beef tips, stir-fry or chicken stuffed with prosciutto and gorgonzola cheese over rice. There's walleye for $14.99. Prime rib in 12- and 16-ounce portions is $17 to $20 Thursday through Saturday.
The place rates an A for coming up with mini-desserts as a choice in the lunch combos.
Along with the pluses, there are some minuses. Our group of eight was seated in the new lounge area, but unfortunately, we were right next to the door. The breeze was too cool when people came in or out of the balcony. And there were the inevitable flies of September. Before long the door will be closed for the winter and shouldn't be a problem. The soup I had was rich in flavor but oily on top.
The Moose has become an institution in East Grand Forks along with Whitey's. The Moose started out on the south side of DeMers Avenue, but it had to move after the Flood of 1997, closing for 40 days and 40 nights, Owner-manager Dave Homstad said, "They were building the dike on the wrong side of us." The whole building--except for the kitchen--then was moved to its present location.
The location along restaurant row has been good for the Blue Moose. Homstad credits some of the good business from the coming of Cabelas to East Grand Forks. He also is looking forward to business that should come from the new theater operation in the nearby mall.
Recent Media Coverage of Blue Moose Bar & Grill
EATBEAT: Deck Dining Enlivens Things at the Moose
By Marilyn Hagerty
Summer traditionally is a slow time for the restaurant industry, but Dave Homstad says the deck at the Blue Moose has turned that around. Customers enjoy sitting outdoors on restaurant row and looking over the Red River.
Homstad is owner-manager of the East Grand Forks restaurant that was switched from the south to the north side of DeMers Avenue following the Flood of 1997. At the time, I thought it couldn't be done. But it was, and the Blue Moose seems right at home. This spring, the Blue Moose has come out with a menu of summer specials including chicken pecan salad croissant ($6.99), a fresh fruit bowl ($4.59) and a lime chipotle salmon salad ($7.99). Early reports are that the salmon salad is a winner.
And the Blue Moose is introducing a low-carb menu that has me drooling. Offerings include grilled 13-ounce Angus ribeye with gorgonzola cheese and a side of blanched broccoli ($15.99). There's a smothered bunless burger served with choice of salad ($6.99) and a bottomless quiche sans crust ($5.99).
In its nine-year history, the Blue Moose has become one of the popular eating spots in the Grand Cities. While it fronts toward the river, the entry is actually off Second Street in East Grand Forks where you are greeted by a big blue moose.
Once inside, there's a rustic decor with tables in the dining area surrounded by booths around the perimeter. The adjoining Minnesota Room is the scene of frequent group events. Wednesday evenings, there's music. And on nice summer afternoons or evenings, you find people lingering over their food and beverages on the deck.
I found the Blue Moose an ideal setting for dinner for four on a Sunday evening in May. We had a booth with a view out over the river, and we had a chance to visit without being rushed to order and move on.
We tried the supreme quesadillas made with fajita chicken, along with lemon pepper walleye and chicken cordon bleu. The food was ever so good. The check for four with beverages came to $71.78. The serving of walleye was so large that half of the fish had to come home in a box. Restaurants seem more than willing to do that sort of thing. And I notice on the menu that the Blue Moose is happy to split dinners for $4.49. That gives each person a choice of the sides that go with the dinner. The Moose also offers to split sandwiches for customers for $1.99, which includes an extra side.
One of the things I like about the Blue Moose is its menu, printed in newspaper style on newsprint. The cover has historical vignettes gleaned from local newspapers. Inside the appetizers, entrees, extras are printed. Burgers, wraps and sandwiches are listed on the back page along with beverages. Here, I notice the Moose has an Espresso bar with cappuccino, mocha, lattes and au lait.
Blue Moose Racks up Great Taste in Lively Atmosphere
By Vern Markey--Special to the Fargo Forum, published in Sept. 2002
The Blue Moose serves up great food and provides excellent service in a casual north woods atmosphere. The building, which was moved after the flood of 1997 from a prominent spot on DeMer's Avenue to a block off the main drag, is located across from Cabela's, in the same vicinity as before, but behind Whitey's and the new Applebee's. The Blue Moose is a great place for appetizers, lunch, dinner, drinks, and dessert.
Appetizers are popular and big enough to share among small groups. The "Blue MN Onion" is a colossal onion flower that is breaded, deep fried, and served with Santa Fe dressing, a zippy dipping sauce for some added kick. This is a must Have.
A personal favorite is the Spinach con Queso, or "spin dip"-zesty pepper jack cheese melted with fresh spinach and served with warm tri-colored tortilla chips. It's great anytime, especially on those chilly fall afternoons. Another warmer-upper is the Blue Moose Wings. A dozen wings covered in a spicy Asian sauce or the Norwegian BBQ sauce for those with milder tastes, they also come boneless for hassle-free chomping.
The appetizer menu is filled with too many delights to mention them all. Prices range from $4.99 for the Vegetable Platter for our vegetarian friends, to $7.99 for the Moose Platter (clam strips, mozzarella sticks, chicken strips, and asian wings) for those wanting variety. Additional selections can be added to the Moose Platter for an extra $2.00 per item.
Lunch is great time to check out the Moose. Always excellent, hot soups include soup du jour and French onion served au gratinee. Chili is served seasonally.
The Sandwich menu includes typical fare, but some are tweaked out. The BLT on foccaccia bread combines the standard sandwich fixins' with the foccaccia bread. The Blue Moose Burger is a half-pound burger stuffed with ham and mushrooms served with a choice of bleu or cheddar cheese. Lighter appetites will appreciate the little moose, a smaller version.
All the sandwiches and burgers are served with fries. Again, there are too many to mention but include choices to please anybody. Sandwiches and burgers range in price from $6.50 to $7.99, making them reasonably priced with nice-sized portions.
For those looking for more than a sandwich or burger, some popular and delicious selections include the ribs smothered in Norwegian BBQ sauce. The sauce is tangy and made on site. A full rack runs $14.99 or $10.99 for half rack of baby back pork ribs. Prime rib in a 10-ounce portion for $13.99, or the 16-ounce Moose Cut for $16.99, another popular item. The menu also offers walleye, jumbo prawns, and beef tips, to name just a few. Choose an accompanying potato, including baked, au gratin, fries, or rice pilaf.
Non-meat dishes include stir-fry served teriyaki-or cajun-style. The Roma Pasta is a penne pasta tossed with roasted garlic oil, Roma tomatoes, fresh garlic, and topped with fresh basil and parmesan. Tri Tortellini and Fettuccine Alfredo are covered in cream sauces and can be ordered with chicken or shrimp.
Desserts at $3.99 are limited. My favorite is the Mud Pie - a cookie crust and ice cream middle are smothered in cookie crumbs, caramel and fudge sauces. One piece is easily enough for two to three people to share. The Turtle Bread Pudding is also a good choice.
A full bar is available and friendly bartenders will mix your favorite drink or pour your preferred beer. Non-alcohol drinks include old fashion Italian sodas, smoothies and espressos.
Thee Moose Kid's Cafe, for children 12 or younger, offers a selection ranging from pasta to burgers to mac & cheese. Prices for kids' meals range from $0.99 to $2.99.
The Moose offers a lively atmosphere side. Side rooms are available for larger groups for parties and get-togethers, but call ahead and reserve the space. The Moose is an ideal place for business meetings, office parties, or dining for two.
Service is quick and friendly. The staff know the menu and they are ready to make suggestions for those times you can't decide. Outdoor dining is available with a great view of the Red River, only partially obstructed by the dike.
Vern Markey is an Assistant Professor in Hospitality and Tourism Management at NDSU. Questions or comments can be sent to him at vernmarkey@msn.com.
The Best of 2007
The Dakota Student: Published January 18, 2008
Best Place for:
- First Date
- Appetizers
- Beer on Tap
After extensive remodeling, The Blue Moose emerged in 2007 as the dominant place to get a beer on tap. The forty taps are stocked with a range of everything from cheap lagers to expensive importables, to ensure that any beer drinker is satisfied with their options.
Add to that, a great happy hour on weekdays, a cozy yet fun atmosphere and good appetizer specials at night. This is also a safe bet to go on a Monday evening with a date or a Friday night with friends.
