Barhopping: Tum Rup Thai

Sometimes restaurants located just east of Hennepin Avenue get the fuzzy end of the lollipop. Non-Uptowners flock to Calhoun Square or the handful of other restaurants around the Lagoon Cinema, while hipsters from the area avoid the Hennepin cluster-fuck altogether and hang around Lyndale instead. But there are some pretty decent restaurants located on Lake between the two areas, Tum Rup Thai being one of them. The place is usually moderately busy, meaning you won't have to wait for a seat to open up, but you also won't have to deal with the creepy feeling of being the only person eating there. The decor is Uptown posh, with big windows and high ceilings. The menu includes exactly what you would expect from a Thai restaurant: pad Thai, spring rolls with a touch of mint, and curries to satisfy your needs before walking over to a movie, browsing the book or kitchen store, or taking in a music show. Happy hours are daily, with wine and rails half-priced, as well as $3 Stella Artois from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Mon., Sept. 22, 2008