Friday, January 25, 2008

Why we dine: Installment 3

This is a bit of a continuation of Installment 1, which was about ambiance. So I ate at the Dinkytown Loring Pasta Bar yesterday, knowing full well that the food is mediocre at best, but I never fail to be dazzled by the space. It is one of the more magical (and I cringe as I type that word) dining experiences in the Twin Cities.

When I enter, I feel like I'm walking into a Gaudi-designed building in Barcelona.


In the dining hall, I feel surrounded by fireflies under a starry night.


Which is the opposite of how one feels in Chino Latino where you may be in Hell surrounded by orange, glowing cauldrons (don't get me wrong, I enjoy that space too, but it's the opposite vibe to me.)

Images: Top, About.com. 2 interior photos of Loring Pasta Bar, from the restaurant website.

1 comment:

Janne said...

Ooh... chino latino... ethnic food so bad it's advertised only in the suburbs...