Got a celebration coming up? Maybe you’re overdue for a date night with your spouse? You don’t have to make a trek to the city to plan a special evening. There are several opportunities nearby for a dinner out combined with live theater, music or comedy. With options so close to home, you can enjoy the show and forget about the headaches like looking for a place to park or finding your way around the downtown grid.
Desert Fire Pasta
Green Mill // Plymouth Playhouse
Housed in the Best Western Kelly Inn, the Green Mill and Plymouth Playhouse deliver everything you need for a full evening of fun. The destination has become a one-stop shop for hundreds of large tour groups and out-of-town visitors who enjoy high-caliber musicals and comedies that attract big names in show business, like Barry Williams of The Brady Bunch or William Christopher of MASH. The latest run (and most recent installment of The Church Basement Ladies series), A Mighty Fortress is our Basement, just opened in August to lots of laughs.
Of the menu at Green Mill, marketing manager Tara Montgomery says, “Award-winning pizza made Green Mill famous, but there’s something on the menu for everyone.” Be sure to put the desert fire pasta at the top of your list, made with sautéed shrimp, mushrooms and linguini and tossed in a hurricane pepper cream sauce, then topped with parmesan cheese and salsa ($14.99). If sharing a few appetizers is more your style, think of the shrimp, beef or chicken quesadillas ($4.99 at happy hour, 3–6 p.m. and 9 p.m.–midnight daily), or a choice of nine award-winning wings dipped in one of five signature sauces ($5.99 during happy hour). Large groups can opt for a buffet-style package in one of the six private banquet rooms. Call the Plymouth Playhouse box office at 763.553.1600 to inquire about dinner, show and hotel packages for couples. 2705 Annapolis Ln. N.; 763.553.9000
Corn Bread Skillet
Sometimes the cost for a concert or a show can add up quickly, but at Cowboy Jack’s, the live music and dancing, offered Thursday through Saturday nights, is always free. Most commonly, the acts consist of country or rock cover bands, and the crowd isn’t shy about whooping it up on the dance floor. The late night happy hour from 10 p.m. to midnight sweetens the deal, with $2 off select beers and drinks, and a menu of half price appetizers, like meat loaf sliders topped with house-made cowboy ketchup. The cornbread skillet ($7) is perfect for sharing—delicate corn bread served in a cast iron skillet with cinnamon honey butter. Follow it up with an order of the tater tot hot dish ($12) or a Sloppy Cowboy Jack sandwich ($8). If you can squeeze in a date night during the week, Monday is Sassy Lassy Trivia night with $2 Sloppy Jacks; Tuesday is fajita night with bingo and live music, and Wednesday is for karaoke, with $5 skillet pastas. 4120 Berkshire Ln. N.; 763.559.0257
Seafood Deluxe
Who’s to say the dining can’t be part of the entertainment on a special night out? It’s a formula that works well for Kobe, where the hibachi chefs bring an element of drama to the room that’s perfect for a Saturday date night or a birthday celebration. The seafood deluxe ($35.50) is a popular dish to splurge on, with lobster tail, shrimp and scallops, and sides like choice of vegetable, soup, salad and rice are included. Have a ball browsing your way through the list of sakes and specialty cocktails like a Mai Tai or saketini. 15555 34th Ave. N.; 763.559.9999
Chicago-style Italian Beef Sandwich
When you think of comedy shows, do you imagine being crammed in around a small table with nary an inch of elbow room to spare? At New Hope Cinema Grill, the Saturday comedy nights are entirely different, and there’s not only enough room to stretch, there’s a table for anyone that wants to enjoy a full dinner and drinks during the show. The venue attracts names as big as Louie Anderson who made an appearance a couple of months back.
The menu features tasty sandwiches like the classic Italian beef ($9.99) and hearty comfort food dishes like meat loaf with a homemade gravy ($10.50). General manager Jerry Eaton says that the comedy night, which started just more than a year ago, has been a huge success for couples out on date night. Other nights of the week, the venue shows feature films, with family-friendly matinee showings on weekends and when school is not in session. 2749 Winnetka Ave. N., New Hope; 763.417.0017
Shore Side Walleye Sandwich
Robert’s Restaurant // Medina Entertainment Center
Rock out to major acts that range from Bret Michaels to Garth Brooks at the Medina Entertainment Center, a family-owned operation that is marking its 55th year. At Robert’s Restaurant, the walleye sandwich ($12.29), your choice of beer-battered or Ritz-cracker crusted, has gotten to be kind of famous, but you might also be drawn in by the heady aroma of the Jack Daniels baby back ribs ($17.99), which are smoked in house, dry-rub marinated, slow roasted and finished with a bourbon barbecue sauce.
Dinner and dance packages are available for regular dance nights (when there’s no concert scheduled). The restaurant serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Overnight stays can be arranged at the Medina Inn right next door, with hotel and concert packages also available. 500 Highway 55, Medina; 763.478.6661
