Downtowner Woodfire Grill

Downtowner Woodfire Grill Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: What started as a simple breakfast-and-lunch diner has evolved into a good-looking, well-staffed destination for downtowners as well as fans and conventioneers at the Xcel Energy Center.

Food: Breakfast is in the eggs-any-style genre, but lunch and dinner are another story, with spit-roasted meats and poultry taking full advantage of the kitchen's wood-burning oven. Pizzas are special, too; don't miss the roasted apple-pecan-blue cheese combination. Owner Mo Sharif's Persian heritage comes through with a series of beautifully seasoned kebabs (lamb, pork tenderloin, beef, swordfish), served with basmati rice. The two-fisted sandwiches are another highlight, particularly the one stuffed with house-smoked mozzarella and tomatoes. Dessert? It's the root beer float, no contest.