Hello all! So I wound up going with Meritage last night and really was happy with my choice. We exchanged a few back and forth e-mails about to make sure that the dishes I had been eying were safe for my peanut and hazelnut allergies, and when I was seated my waiter immediately checked in with me (without my bringing it up specifically to him). I noticed even on my check that the items I ordered were entered into the computer as "nut allergy." Chef Klein even came to our table to make sure I was all set, and while I don't have almond allergies, they skipped the quince cake that normally comes with the cardamom duck because it uses almond flour and weren't sure they could guarantee it may not have come into contact with other nuts. That earned big points in my book.

The pumpkin soup was deliciously nourishing, well-seasoned and really interestingly balanced by the gingerbread croutons. I'm a slut for duck and their dish was spot on, reminding me of the duck and cabbage dishes I ate in Prague and Austria. My dining partner had the same and was equally enamored of it. It's not exactly what I would call French brasserie fare (but I should say I have no professional kitchen leanings), but that's totally fine by me. Also by picking Meritage, I was able to park my rental car and then walk over to the opera I was reviewing from there, so I could have a few cocktails without worrying about driving. I really liked their selection here and had the Nor'Easter, one of those drinks that goes down so easy and then hits you when you stand up.

We wrapped up with dessert; my colleague had the panna cotta and apple beignets, one of which I stole and it was like a piping hot apple cider mini donut. I went with one of their smaller options, the salted caramel ice cream pop. Covered in dark chocolate, it tasted exactly like a gourmet Snickers bar. I developed my nut allergies in my early 20s so I know what I've been missing (Nutella! Reese's!) and it made me giddy to have an allergy-friendly Snickers. Like, ridiculously giddy.

Our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable and made sure I made my 7:30 curtain (something more waiters in New York's Lincoln Center area could stand to learn), and the price tag was a bit high but totally worth it. It reminded me in atmosphere of New York's Balthazar or Pastis, but the menu was much more interesting beyond French standards so I definitely felt like I got something special and unique that I wouldn't necessarily find here.

After the opera, I had a reservation fro WA Frost but went to the opera's after party with a colleague at the company to speak a bit more as I had just squeaked into the Ordway at 7:29 pm, and by the time we parted ways it was just a few hours before my flight and, not wanting to chance driving more around a city I'd never been to before or driving while increasingly sleepy, I just went back to the airport, took a quick catnap in my car and then flew back home. But I've totally fallen in love with the Twin Cities so hopefully I'll have reason to go back and eat more (oh and review more music…but also eat).

Thanks again for all your passionate insight!

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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

A very good point. I didn't meant to slam Heartland or its reputation (especially as I've never been there), totally not their fault that I can't enjoy hazelnuts just as it's no Thai restaurant's fault that I can't eat peanuts or mushrooms. But as TDQ noted, and being the neurotic, Woody Allen-ish Jew that I am, I'd probably get so wrapped up in vigilance that I won't enjoy the nice meal. Glad to know that I'll still do well with Meritage!

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Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

I hate to see a good restaurant stained as well, but from my standpoint, being that they have a lot of hazelnuts on their menu and since they can kill me, I just don't want to take that chance (especially in a city I don't know). It's also going to be a Saturday night during prime dining hours, so I know grilling a waiter or chef on their kitchen practices and potential for contamination or hidden ingredients is not going to be easily done in that sort of setting. Though I am hugely thankful to Chowhound for having all this information—the boards may have saved me from Epi hell!

When I got married, my husband and I registered on Amazon.com, which allows you to rank your items (low, med and high priority) and write a brief, tweet-ish in length comment ("Our current dishes are chipping," "How we've made it this long without any mixing device is a mystery," "Our current corkscrew was stolen from an airport Sheraton," "I grew up with a breadmaker and want to revive that tradition," etc.). That was really helpful for us in categorizing and prioritizing our registry—which included both necessities like wooden spoons (we had none) and some more fanciful items like Pantone coffee mugs—and we got lots of compliments from guests who had an easier time choosing a gift. For the most part, since we're creatives and freelancers and our friends are mostly in the same boat, we kept our reg items well under $100, but we had a few costlier items that our older family members bought, either on their own or split among a few people. I agree with PotatoPuff that if a $2400 espresso machine is the one splurge on your list, then it's not a huge deal. And I think guests will realize that it's something that could be split up among a group of coworkers or cousins. It's one of those sixth wedding senses.

Wait, what? I've been to countless birthday get-togethers at restaurants, always paid for my own meal (generally in big groups we request smaller checks to make the dividing easier, like one for every four people, with the understanding that we'd pay the automatic gratuity for a large party) and chipped in for the birthday gal/guy's. Have my friends been ripping me off all these years? Are we really at the point where our friendships are not on the up-and-up if we're expected to pick up the check for a dinner every now and then?

Though I will say that with such birthdays, we very rarely do gifts of any kind. Which I prefer. I'd rather have a nice evening out with friends than stuff that I don't particularly need.

And I'm with Maxmillion. The simple response for friends who don't have the cash to eat out is that they don't have to go. Done it before and there's no hard feelings.