I was first introduced to the Choo-Choo Bar in 1996. I live in Scotland and travel twice a year to Minneapolis and I HAVE to visit the Choo-Choo Bar...it's a pilgrimage for me.

A small town friendly bar/restaurant to eat, drink and relax in which has as its focal point a 1909 caboose. The central counter has some rather nice 1940s(?) chrome swivel stools. I could do without the constant sport on TV but then I am not a sports fan. The food, beer and atmosphere, particularly at tea-time, is highly recommended.

If you are lucky enough to be there in September, they promote a blues festival.

On my first trip to the USA, I went looking for small town America and certainly found it in Loretto.    [03 Feb 2003 06:39:27]

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Recommended Dishes: Buffalo Wings

     ­Martin Dibbs   martindibbs at tinyworld dot co dot uk

Interesting Atmosphere.
I am always looking for a good burger and fries with a nice atmosphere. Hoped to find it at the ChooChoo. I arrived around mid-day and there were quite a few people there. The one part was closed, the bar portion was open. The place seemed nice and clean. The caboose is interesting but unobtrusive. The place is like a northern lodge with a caboose in it. Nice. Good sized tables with enough room between them. Very comfortable, heavy/stable barrel type chairs, although a bit low were a pleasant surprise. Lots of windows for a nice view and brightness. Not a dingy bar atmosphere. Excellent waitress having to take care of everyone taxed her ability. Did not affect her fabulous personality though. Pleasant, not rushed, told about the soups & the two specials today. Asked for a glass of water to start and she gave a LARGE glass of ice water, straw and a nice touch, a slice of lemon. I debated about the shrimp and the hot pork sandwich special but wanted to try the burger. Ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries (extra cost) and coleslaw (extra cost). The burger was large but was a preformed frozen patty, and not the greatest tasting. Very greasy and not a good flavored grease. Ordinary cheese, decent bacon. The bun was good, probably home made or from a bakery and they tried to toast it which I like, but there was so much grease from the burger or from not being toasted right that it got soggy and greasy. The fries were cheap frozen fries (I was hoping for home made) and the portion was small. They were also so heavily salted it was difficult to eat them. The cole slaw came in a little cup like places use for salad dressing, although there was a little more than I first thought there was. The cole slaw was pretty good but a little too juicy. Topped off with a couple of beers which were nice and cold. For a small town bar the food prices seemed a touch high but not bad for these days. I'm sure I will go back sometime but probably try something else.    [06 Apr 2007 21:48:06]

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     ­Ken