The Quest for the Best
Jucy Lucy in the Twin Cities

To sleep, perchance to dream? No thanks. To eat, perchance to get burned by some molten hot cheese? Now you're talking!

Below find the supporting documentation for what some buddies and I have dubbed the Tour d'Loose Juice. Over the next couple of months, perhaps even years, we will track down and devour any Juicy Lucy we can get our hands on. Our potential eating destinations include, but are not limited to, bars, grills, pubs, bowling alleys, regular alleys, backyards, basements, and, if all goes according to plan, the shark tank at the Minnesota Zoo. Mmmm, shark jucy.

[hold-up - you're eating what now?]

The Jucy Lucy: a south Minneapolis original. In brief, you take a large amount of cheese and sandwich it between two patties of ground beef. After carefully sealing the edges, you grill what basically becomes a big beef/cheese jelly doughnut. Slap it on a bun with some pickles and onions, and color me bad, you got yourself a meal fit for a king. Albeit kind of chubby king. And no, they don't come in ground turkey.

Here's a brief history from a few years back in City Pages. It also has a bunch more background on the raging debate over who made the first and who makes the best. We'll never know who was first, but damn if we won't find out who makes the best.

[the contenders]

NOTE:We've been going to these places over the course of SEVERAL YEARS. As hard to believe is it may be, some establishments listed below may no longer serving a jucy lucy. Please call ahead and confirm before you make the trip. If you find out something, feel free to shoot me a note and I'll add an update to the write-up.

Establishment The Visit Comments
Matt's Bar read it! The Godfather of the Juicy, it may be hard to beat.
The 5-8 Club read it! The other historical joint in town.
Minnehaha Lanes read it! A Juicy in a bowling alley? We'll see.
Sweeney's Saloon read it! A bit more upscale. Juicy al fresco.
Murray's read it! The Silver Butterknife Jucy? Huh?
Cardinal Tavern read it! Viva and Jerry and Jucy? You betcha!
Adrian's Tavern read it! More old school S Minny JLu
Newt's in Rochester read it! Mayo Clinic next door for bypass after eating
Groveland Tap read it! Mac/Groveland pretending to be Minneapolis.

[and the winner is...]

In fairness to all the contenders, we'll be reserving judgment until the end. If any of the contenders would like to try and influence the panel, say with free beer, please feel free to contact me.