Ras Kafka

Review of France 44

One of the best stocked liquor stores that I have ...

One of the best stocked liquor stores that I have ever visited. Staff hired with very deep knowledge of their respective sections. And the deli is also amazing.

UPDATE: As if this place needed to get any better, but still they renovated and they deserve props for the excellent job that they did with that. The store is excellently laid out and now there is a tasting area in the middle. Also, added check outs, so hardly ever a wait.

But the real star of the renovation is the deli/cheese shop. The store's floor space doesn't feel any smaller, but somehow a large eating area opened up in back of the deli! I actually think that they need to bring more attention to this new focus of their deli/cheese shop being inclusive of a counter service eatery, as well. You can't see it from walking into the foyer and looking into the deli, because it is behind a narrowing in the opposite corner from the door. I almost feel like I am letting out a secret by highlighting it in this review, because it seems to usually be myself and a handful of other people who seem to appreciate it for the peace that it gives us. I still get things like meat (I think that lamb is 15% off on Thursdays, but call to make sure), cheese (the best, if not only, place in MN to bring in the top quality cheeses of the North East states (and yes, that is a thing) and assorted dips, etc. to go. And now, I also get the occasional sandwich or maybe a beer with one of those killer herb/cheese scones and disappear to the back as it is a great local place to escape.

The only criticism that I have (and this is mainly if anybody there is reading this) is that they won't let you open a tab with a card. Several times I have been there where I was fairly sure that I would want to try a second beer or something sweet or maybe a couple of scones to go.And I have been with a friend who I know is going to end up getting three beers, even though he acts like he really only was going to have the one. If I am having a meeting in there where I am picking up the tab, I want to be able to let my guest go up and choose what they want and it is on my card. And when it is just me, just the fact that I am already closed out usually deters me from any additional purchases. And I know that this is an event room, as well, so I am not sure why they wouldn't want people to have open tabs if they want to get something for themselves. But other than that, you guys are killing it!