6 Must-Try Crosby Restaurants | The Best Restaurants in Crosby, MN

Written By: Gail Clifford | Published By: Foodie Flash Packer |  October 1, 2021

https://www.foodieflashpacker.com/crosby-restaurants-in-crosby/

Crosby, Minnesota, a tiny town of under 2500, now relies heavily on cyclist tourism. The city council made a push for this as part of its long-range planning, and, boy, has it paid off. From a bike park to well-tended trails meant to join the Paul Bunyan trail, with paths all the way north to Bemidji, both the local residents and visitors benefit from the additional focus with better choices and activities, and, of course, many new and exciting Crosby restaurants. 

In addition, the stunning Serpent Lake and park with an extensive playground as well as a bandstand plays home to many activities through the summer. It’s even open all winter. One highlight, the “Scorpion Homecoming,” is not a dance, but a reference to the town’s snowmobiling heritage, with a large ice fishing contest every February. 

The Cuyuna Range is an iron deposit largely within Crow Wing County and lies along a sixty-eight-mile line between Brainerd and Aitkin.

Come to Crosby. You’ll be surprised at all there is to do and how many things you’ll find. 

Especially outdoors. Year-round.  And, as you might expect, some great places to eat in Crosby. 

If you’re traveling around the area, dont miss visiting these restaurants too:

• https://www.foodieflashpacker.com/restaurants-in-nisswa/
• Best Baxter Restaurants

6 Must-Try Crosby Restaurants

Iron Range Eatery – A Crosby restaurants finest with options to please everyone!

6 West Main Street // (218)545-5444

Nine times out of ten, when you ask for recommendations for the best restaurants to eat in Crosby, the Iron Range Eatery is the first restaurant mentioned.

You’ll recognize it by the large mural of the Halletts and other community members, including Cuyler Adams and his dog Una, that led to the name Cuyuna, on the exterior brick face. It’s bordered by the Main Street Plaza, home to the farmer’s market in summer. 

Like most local restaurants, they participate in Happy Hour for a Cause, so go share a pint and support the charities that help community members not only thrive but prevent tragedy.

They have themed nights starting at 5pm. 

Monday’s Ranger Family Night offers discounts on burgers, cheeseburger and bacon cheeseburgers.  Tuesday is “Street Taco Trio” night with a chef-inspired taco feature that changes each week. Wanderlust Wednesdays offers you a chef’s choice of regional cuisine “that will make your mouth water.” They promise to bring the tastes of the world to you, right here in a Crosby restaurant. 

Heading into the weekend, on Thursday, it’s build your own pasta bowl. You choose between linguine, fettuccine or cavatappi. Then pick your sauce from marinara, alfredo, or pesto. Add on peppers, garlic, and onions to your heart’s content. And, if you like, add on chicken, shrimp, or steak for a protein upgrade. 

Friday and Saturday, it’s time for the “Iron Range Prime Rib Weekends.” You choose between the 12 oz. or 16 oz. portion, and it’s served with your choice of garlic smashed potatoes or Tillamook white cheddar auggies and the chef’s choice of vegetables.

And the first Tuesday of every month is Sushi Night.

Their regular menu starts with their “sample and share” appetizers, from build your own bruschetta to ranger rings, poutine, walleye cakes, crab spinach and artichoke dip, white chile queso with fresh warm chips or blackened beef bites.

Their salads and soup contain the local favorites, charred romaine Caesar salad with blackened walleye and PBLT salad, artesian romaine, “smokey bacon ranch,” garden tomatoes, and crispy peppered pork belly as well as a simple seasonal salad and an “only the pure of heart can make a good soup” option.

The cyclist’s favorite tends to be the “superfood evolution,” containing spinach, arugula, apples, pomegranate seeds, macha chick pea croutons, avocado, asparagus tips, edamame, toasted almonds, flaxseed, goat cheese, seasonal local products, and honey citrus vinaigrette to which you can add a rare seared ahi tuna or grilled chicken breast

They offer a choice of six pizzas including “the Shanna Banana,” packed with bacon, caramelized onions, red onions, banana peppers, jalapeno, and cream cheese, and the “Kitchen Veggie Sink” with roasted garlic crème sauce, parmesan, and “calling all the roasted veggies.”

From the range top, served with baked potato or aged cheddar auggies and chef’s choice of vegetable, choose the slow-braised beef short ribs, the chef’s featured steak, an asiago encrusted walleye, or apple brie chicken.

For pasta, they have roasted sausage and chicken penne or three cheese tortellini that many make their go-to dish for their night out on the town.

They offer five choices for your 3 tacos but haven’t been able to mix the choices when we asked. And they can make your tacos into a rice bowl at no extra charge. The southwest veggie can even be made vegan for you. The Tequila lime chicken is very popular, but so are the carne asada, crispy fried whitefish, and Brazillian BBQ pork belly.

The Big Cuyuna burger is always a good choice. It’s a half-pound brisket short rib chuck blended with root beer caramelized onions, smoked provolone, applewood bacon, and served on an artisan bun with sweet and spicy pickles. They’re right, it is a tasty burger. You can build your own burger and they do offer a gluten-free bun.

To round out the offerings, they have the local Reuben, and my particular favorite, the smoked beef brisket au jus (though I prefer mine without the provolone), a grilled (beer) cheese “fondue” sandwich, turkey burger flatbread and ahi tuna sandwich.

As if that weren’t enough, from 11 am to 3 pm, they have a chef’s daily special with soup, salad, and sandwiches.