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Must be nice to eat for free everywhere!
Being a food writer or food critic sure sounds like a great gig, and I’m not going to lie, it’s awesome. I wouldn’t keep doing it for so many years if I didn’t enjoy it. But there are many misconceptions about how this works. So here we go:
That would be great! I think many might have this misconception
— Cody Benedict (@CodyBenedict1) April 21, 2023
Food critics don’t eat everywhere for free
Any restaurant I review (like x, y, and z) I pay for it, and Minnesota Monthly reimburses me. I have a budget, most critics do, but if I’m reviewing I pay. Sometimes I do eat a free meal. Different publications have different standards and ethics on this. If there’s a media preview of a menu, I’ll at times attend. If a restaurant invites me to try something new or come to a special event, I will at times attend for free. If I write about it or post it on my Instagram, I always will note that I was “invited” and/or the meal was free or comped. If you see “Thanks for having me” – that means I was invited. Not everyone does that, but I want to be transparent about it.
I spend a lot of my own money eating out
I’m not complaining! I love visiting new restaurants, just like you do. I don’t call places and say, “hey I’ll write about you or post about you if you give me a free meal.” There are influencers who do that, and I have no problem with it. I also have no problem with restaurants saying no! They’re publicizing restaurants in some cases, and there’s a benefit to that, so it’s all good by me. As I only review about 12 restaurants a year, a lot of dining out is building a catalog of places I can recommend in my print articles which now focus on lists of options.
Critics are no longer anonymous
With the internet, it’s so difficult to be anonymous. For me, as I’ve been on TV so long and now on the radio, it would be comical. I used to make reservations under my wife’s maiden name so people wouldn’t know I was coming, but it didn’t take long for most places that would be potential review subjects to figure out I was there. That said, I’m not as famous as you think I am, and I can also tell when I’m being treated differently than the tables around me. I watch for that, and I don’t like it when it happens! I’m writing to tell you what you might experience when you eat out.
There aren’t many full-time critics around anymore
I’m a freelancer for Minnesota Monthly, the Star Tribune critic is part-time too. Dara reviews monthly at MSP Mag, Jess occasionally writes a review for the Pioneer Press, but most of food writing is food writing. Reporting on new stuff, maybe a little bit of experiential commentary – but not the old school review. It’s expensive to have a budget for this! Paying someone a full-time salary plus consider what it would cost to review weekly or bi-weekly. I’d guess back when Rick Nelson was the full-time Strib critic, he spent upwards of $30,000/year on food. And he never took a freebie.
I don’t go 3 times to write a review
I wish! As a freelancer I don’t have that kind of time, nor do I have the budget for that. Typically if I go to a place to review it and I straight up don’t like it – I won’t write about it. It’s unfair to rip a place big time if I don’t go a couple times. This has happened (once recently). I will critique things I don’t like, however.
Getting The Tone Right Is the Hardest Part of a Review
I write for you: I don’t want you to drive to St. Paul from Lakeville for a place that is just fine. There are many restaurants that would be amazing if you lived near them, but disappointing if you drove there as a destination. It’s difficult to get that tone right – to not be necessarily harsh about a place that serves its purpose well. I’ve toyed with the idea of a rating scale that would say how many miles I would drive to go to a place. It’s hard – I live in Maple Grove and drive everywhere. If you live in South Minneapolis, is there a new restaurant that’s worth driving past Broder’s, Lola, Red Wagon, Terzo, Mr. Paul’s, Martina, Colita, etc. to get to? Maybe not.
What Questions do you Have!?
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I’ve left WCCO-TV and am now hosting afternoons on WCCO Radio! I’m live from 3pm- 6pm, but I’m also available on demand in podcast form on many different platforms. The show is called DriveTime with DeRusha!
Drivetime with Jason DeRusha on Audacy
Drivetime with Jason DeRusha on Apple Podcasts
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Drivetime with Jason DeRusha on Google Podcasts
You can always stream the show live on wccoradio.com
I also have a food podcast: DeRusha Eats.
DeRusha Eats on Audacy
DeRusha Eats on Apple Podcasts
DeRusha Eats on Spotify
DeRusha Eats on Google Podcasts
I’ve sampled 16 beers so far, ask me anything #mnstatefair pic.twitter.com/q6WUpq52kq
— Jason DeRusha (@DeRushaJ) August 22, 2019
As a WCCO-TV Morning Anchor and Minnesota Monthly Food Critic, I use social media across many channels to connect with viewers, to share work I’ve broadcast or published, and to solicit feedback and story ideas. We have a lot of fun on social media, but I’m always mindful of the fact that I’m a journalist: I’m transparent about what we do as a station, and I own mistakes and immediately correct when possible.
Twitter’s @DeRushaJ has nearly 59,000 followers; @DeRushaEats has 26,000; on Instagram I have nearly 19,000 followers; and another 30,000 follow on Facebook.
Hi from Target Field where I’ll be working the right field foul area as a @Twins ball shagger! Wish me luck! @WCCO pic.twitter.com/ZSO4JzlFMF
— Jason DeRusha (@DeRushaJ) July 17, 2019
So happy to be here as @KFANRosen is inducted into the Gold Circle for 50 years of service to broadcasting @MidwestEmmys pic.twitter.com/VR6ugGXb82
— Jason DeRusha (@DeRushaJ) October 6, 2019
Thanks to all the plow drivers and dispatchers who’ve been working since before Thanksgiving! We appreciate you! pic.twitter.com/PP8by8Fk5u
— Jason DeRusha (@DeRushaJ) December 1, 2019
I have deleted a tweet from this weekend which I thought was benign and amusing but some felt was judgmental and mean-spirited and virtue-signaling and that’s not what I intended, so it’s gone. Appreciate the feedback!
— Jason DeRusha (@DeRushaJ) November 12, 2019
As the food critic for Minnesota Monthly and food reporter for WCCO-TV, I do a lot of research. But reviews come out of new restaurants in the order they open. It’s not always the most useful format. So here I’ve put things in categories: Top Recommendations (which would be sort of like a 4 star restaurant), Highly Recommended (3 star), Recommend (2 star), and Worthy (1 star). 1 star is good! If I didn’t like the place it wouldn’t be on this list at all. This list is not inclusive of all Twin Cities restaurants, so let me know if there’s a place I should visit. And let me know what you think! Click the link to read my reviews too!
LIST FEATURES
Best New Restaurants of 2019
Best Burgers in Minnesota (2019)
BEST BRUNCH IN Minnesota (2019)
Top Recommendations Minneapolis:
Demi
Colita
Popol Vuh
Hai Hai [WCCO Story]
Martina
Grand Cafe [WCCO Story]
Young Joni
Cafe Alma
Top Recommendations St. Paul:
Meritage
In Bloom
Joan’s In The Park
Top Recommendations Suburbs:
Bellecour
Highly Recommend Sit-down spots Minneapolis:
Spoon & Stable
Butcher & The Boar
Burch Steak
Eastside
P.S. Steak
Fhima’s
112 Eatery
Zen Box
Bardo
Kado no Mise
The Lexington
St. Genevieve [WCCO Story]
Sit-down spots St. Paul:
OCTO Fishbar [WCCO story]
Mancini’s
Ngon Bistro
Highly Recommend Sit-down spots Suburbs/Exurbs:
Vann (Mound)
Gianni’s Steakhouse (Wayzata)
Willards (Cambridge)
Lat 14
Highly Recommend Casual spots:
Zettas Flatbreads [WCCO Story]
Magic Noodle
El Burrito Mercado
Rainbow Chinese
Pajarito [WCCO Story]
Red Rabbit
Mucci’s Italian [WCCO Story]
Q Fanatic [WCCO Story]
Recommend:
Sit-down:
Bungalow Club
Grand Catch
J.D. Hoyt’s
Esker Grove
Giulia
Jax Cafe
Domacin (Stillwater)
Recommend Casual:
Birch’s Lowertown
Due Focacceria
Hmongtown Marketplace
Lucky Cricket [Update]
All Square
Parlour St. Paul
Prieto Taqueria Bar
Manny’s Tortas
Red Sauce Rebellion
DeGidio’s
Broders’ Cucina Italiana
Victor’s 1959 Cafe
Sea Salt Eatery
Maverick’s Roast Beef
Lions Tap
Olive & Lamb
Lemongrass Thai
Worthy
Minneapolis
Beast Barbecue
Book Club
The Lynhall
Jefe
Hi-Lo Diner
Pimento Jamaican
Italian Eatery
Ramen Kazama
Costa Blanca Bistro
St. Paul
Bap & Chicken
Mickey’s Dining Car
Suburbs:
Pizza Karma
The Copper Cow
Apoy Filipino
Convention Grill
Brick & Bourbon
Fitgers
Baja Haus
Cru Restaurant & Wine Bar
Cedar + Stone
Jason DeRusha 
