The smoked pork shoulder at Nightingalewas well balanced and tasty. (Pioneer Press: Jess Fleming)




I was excited to eat at World Street Kitchen, the bricks-and-mortar version of the popular (Minneapolis-only) street truck. Unlike every other foodie in the metro, it seems, I hadn't eaten at the truck since I could barely keep up with the new entries in St. Paul.



The most buzzed-about items from the truck -- the Korean BBQ Yum Yum Rice Bowl ($11.50) and the Chicken Curry Bangkok Burrito ($8.50) -- were definitely worth the trip.

The rice bowl combines tender beef with crunchy, acidic kimchi, an egg and spicy mayo. There are addictive crispy bits that kept drawing my fork toward that bowl, despite the other -- delicious, don't get me wrong -- items on our table.


The burrito was slightly spicy and plenty saucy. Burritos usually aren't my bag, but I might consider ordering this one again.

It's chef Sameh Wadi's favorite, he said.

"I eat that, like, every day," Wadi said, pointing at his stomach. "I have a burrito baby."



I'll go back soon -- probably more than once -- to try the rest of the menu items, including the salted caramel and passion fruit-mango lassi soft-serve ice cream and a fun list of "cocktails" made with wine, beer and sake.





McCabe-Johnston's creative small plates and Johnston's fun cocktail list combine to make the perfect spot for a date, a girls' night out or a late-night excursion.

There wasn't a bad dish in the bunch when we were there -- pleasant deviled eggs topped with caviar ($8) and a bruschetta that combined silky ricotta topped with crunchy nuts and refreshing mint ($7) were great starters.


The biggest, plumpest chicken wings I've ever seen were fried to a perfect crisp and tossed in a tangy, salty Asian sauce. They were a steal at $8.




A panna cotta ($6) with a Satsuma gelee was creamy, tangy and light -- everything a panna cotta should be.

There was not a morsel of food left on the table that night, which is partly because we enjoyed all the dishes and partly just the beauty of small-plate dining. You keep ordering until you're satisfied. At Nightingale, though, I'd wager you could get carried away and order too much.

