Albert Lea / Austin Restaurants

The lakeside cities of Albert Lea and Austin, Minnesota, are renowned for their outdoor recreation. There are good reasons to venture out of the woods and into the cities, though. For one, their historic downtown districts are home to dozens of great dining options. Most menus are written with hungry outdoorsmen in mind. That means big flavors and big portions. The area's many barbecues, brewpubs, gourmet pizzerias and Mexican restaurants are always crowded. Locals and tourists alike rave about specialties like piggy nachos and slow smoked ribs. For a different kind of spice, order an authentic molcajete brimming with seafood or steak.