Nov 12, 201110:57 PMThe Bucket List

Mount Royal Fine Foods

It might sound ridiculous, but it's true—I went on several dates at this grocery store. When my wife and I were dating, I wanted to take her somewhere we could talk, but I didn't want to go anywhere too private, because that wouldn't be honorable (you can call me a "weird throwback", though I prefer the term "charmingly old-fashioned"). At any rate, Mount Royal Fine Foods fit the bill. This grocery store was close to my house, close to her campus, and a pleasant place to sit. With a stone fireplace and leather couches in the lounge, it's a nice place to hang out and chat for hours.

Your eating options are pretty expansive. You can grab sandwiches, pizzas, chicken, and other hot items from the deli, and there's a large olive bar with plenty of varieties. If you're the type who will eat cheese by itself—and I certainly am—there's also one of the best cheese counters in town. And of course, since you ARE in a grocery store, you can pick any produce you're willing to eat raw or any prepackaged snack item to complement your meal. Finish it off with an impressively-decorated dessert from the bakery or a classic doughnut.

I've saved the two most urbane eating options for last, though. Caribou Coffee has a location in the store, with all of their Minnesota-themed coffee drinks. And the store also hires chefs to come and roll sushi at the sushi bar every day. Fresh sushi isn't common at any grocery store, and it's both fun and delicious.

The next time you're in east Duluth, stop by Mount Royal Fine Foods for a bite. Once you've been there once, you'll want to come again—maybe even for date night.

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