Nicollet Diner

Downtown’s only we-never-close restaurant offers exactly the kind of short-order mentality that’s associated with the word “diner.” All the basics are here, at prices that rarely creep above the low teens: chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, eggs Benedict, build-your-own omelets, well-packed skillet options, an over-the-top French toast made with croissants, a long list of burgers and sandwiches and every delicacy (hello, cheese curds) that comes hot out of the deep fryer. The malt machine stays busy all day long, and yes, there’s booze available to 1 a.m. daily. Take a seat at the long counter, or slip into a booth. Kitchen open 24 hours.