Seven Stars Coffee House

I’m not writing this review to discourage anyone from going to Seven Stars. I’d very much like to give them another try, maybe for a different lunch or coffee and muffins. I think there’s promise here. But the food I had really could have been better.
My office recently moved to a dead zone on the outskirts of Edina where there’s nothing but office buildings and confusing roads. But I discovered a small strip mall area on Cahill that piqued my interest.
I was looking for a decent place to get some lunch this afternoon and didn’t want to deal with take-​out from a restaurant or subway. Seven Stars coffee showed up in my search and according to the website they offered a decent selection of sandwiches and soups.
When I arrived, the two ladies working were welcoming enough. One of them seemed to be the owner, but I didn’t ask. I noticed that French Onion, one of my favorites, was one of the soups of the day. So I went with the cup of soup and half a sandwich «deal.» I chose the green cheese (apple and cheese panini) sandwich. I thought a half sandwich would suffice, I was getting soup too after all.
The price came to $ 7 something which seemed reasonable for soup and a sandwich. The prices for food, by the way, were not listed; at least nowhere that I could tell. So I got my food, got on my way, and got back to the office.
First thing I noticed: that was one tiny half sandwich. She said they were’t big, but c’mon…I think it was gone in five bites or less. Suddenly my $ 7 something was seeming like a little too much for what I got. Taste was fine, though it could have been a little more imaginative. Then there was the soup. I was so looking forward to a delicious cup of French Onion soup on this cold, January day. Perhaps my expectations were too high and made the let down so much worse.
What makes a great French Onion Soup? Awesome broth, nice oniony flavor, and cheese. Melty, gooey, delicious cheese. Oh and the croûton thing that’s usually in there, those are good too. This soup however lacked in all major areas. The broth tasted like diluted Maruchan beef ramen. Sad. The onions were tiny and few. I could barely get them onto my spoon. There was no cheese. There was no croûton. There was no happiness. Even a sprinkle of cheese would have been nice. It didn’t have to be melted and browned on top; I realize that would be a fire hazard with the paper cup. And a piece of stale bread thrown in or on the side wouldn’t have upset me.
Halfway through the soup, I noticed that my lips were slippery. Huh? The soup was greasy. Have you ever had greasy soup? I hadn’t. So that was weird. But like I said, I’ll give it another try. Maybe it was an off day…

This is one of Edina’s hidden treasures. I’ve been to Seven Stars multiple times and the food is consistently excellent. (I am a foodie and completely disagree with the bad food reviews.) Their coffee is top quality, too.
The owner is an accomplished pastry chef. The sandwiches are unique. Today I strayed from my usual grilled mushroom sandwich and went for the asparagus and brie. It was fabulous and paired well with the side of coleslaw.
I telecommute and when I need a change of scenery, I take my laptop and head to Seven Stars for lunch or a coffee and one of their fabulous baked goods. The free wifi is good and there is a steady flow of lunch folks, but not so much that the noise is distracting.
The menu is fine with 4 – 5 sandwich choices, 1 – 2 soups and something seasonal. There is a kids menu so it is a good place to bring the family. My middle schooler LOVES the green apple with cheddar sandwich,
One of the things I really appreciate is the fact that all of their plates and utensils are compostable. Their commitment to sustainable practices is solid.
Go and enjoy. You will become a fan, too.