Lunch here seemed the perfect tonic after two days and nearly a 6 hour delayed arrival on the…read moreEmpire Builder. I can only envy the locals for having access to the 1881 unlike this 'soon to be home New Yorker'. I had the Wedge Salad, which was covered generously in fresh tomatoes, all the bacon and blue cheese crumbles one could wish; and the add-on grilled chicken breast was truly unbelievably good!! All large lunch salads I've ever had could only wish they were so good. Impeccable table service, but there's also a large bar and plenty to look at in the beautifully restored Station Head house. Going to the train station for dinner if you're not traveling seems like an odd choice, but I truly encourage you to make it. I needed greens after two days of Amtrak food, but everything read well on the menu. I'm sure you won't be disappointed with whatever you choose.

We moved to a magnificent 1900's old renovated building 1/26 in Lowertown and are EXTREMELY happy…read morewith all elements of this location. We both grew up in NYC's suburbs/ worked in manhattan until 2000 and then moved to VA MN FL and back to MN. The well discussed homeless situation we find in outstanding meticulous control by the very attentive St Paul Police who know the community on a first name basis. (Weekends you don't see them, and during the week only spotted. They never approach us.). I have worked with the impoverished communities in Harlem, Boston, Richmond, Va and Mn as a volunteer and a few full time positions in Boston. Catholic charities has done a REMARKABLE job supporting/effectively aiding the entire homeless community in the Twin Cities! As a result, we are very comfortable walking anywhere during the day and early evening. So with great joy we joined hundreds of others on St Paul's famous " Train Days" with family and grandson. Then we went to 1881 for a light lunch for the first time. They were happily packed, and all the diners were voraciously downing their meals for a considerable time. I saw a beautiful " fish and chips platter" and will definitely come back to try it for dinner. The setting, ambiance are stellar! The main majestic thrilling lobby of this venerable giant ELEGANT old train station-- more beautiful than NYC and Boston's but similar to those in the Canadian Rockies ( took the Canadian Pacific northern route in 1970 w 70 lb backpack fr Vancouver to Detroit... unforgettable). This majestic rare location....makes the dining experience unique and wonderous! We both had excellent martinis expertly prepared and their famous French onion soup and salads. Our family ate croissant sandwiches and a wonderful egg dish. Beautiful exhilarating awe inspiring places like this have almost completely disappeared all across the USA. Old world cooking and meticulous good delicious seasoning is also FAST disappearing. Places like this desperately NEED us to survive. HIGHLY recommend!!! Enjoy!

Absolute MUST for brunch in patio season!…read more The coolest part of this space is their patio: you can see private planes coming and going since the patio is right on the runway for a private airport. You can book helicopter rides from here! Seriously such a cool way to spend a special occasion! We came for brunch and loved everything we ordered: - Bloody mary set - great for sharing and sampling - Caesar salad - Fried chicken sandwich - they turned it into two rather than one big one which we liked for sharing - Breakfast pizza This was picture perfect start to finish. We had lovely service and were pinching ourselves at how cool this place is!

Such a cute restaurant located next to the St. Paul airport. Fun to look at the older planes which…read moreyou can view in the viewing area or from your table if you are near a window. We arrived before our reservation so grabbed a seat at the bar. Came just in time for the tail end of Happy Hour and enjoyed a glass of wine and beer with the appetizers of truffle potato wedges and charcuterie. Loved the charcuterie especially the cheeses, but do wish the bread was sliced better. The potato wedges were piping hot but a bit too thick on the potato for me. We finally got seated and was pretty disappointed as I saw that the table they sat us at was open the entire time we were at the bar. I was told by the hostess that someone was sitting at our table when we arrived, but clearly that was not true. I was grateful that they didn't make us eat off the Restaurant Week menu and I got the gargenelli pasta. It was a nice pasta dish with the goat cheese and the toasty bread crumbs. I didn't taste any of the n'duja though the waitress said it was in the sauce. Overall a nice dinner but do wish the service was as good as it was in the bar area.

My wife and I had never been to--or even heard of--Baldamar, so when our friends invited us to…read moreRestaurant Week there, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. From the hostess who graciously held the doors open for us in the 95° heat to our incredible server, David, everything was outstanding. We started with cocktails. I had what may have been the best bourbon Old Fashioned I've ever tasted, and my wife enjoyed a wonderfully refreshing cocktail (whose name I, unfortunately, can't remember). We began our meal with the roasted Brussels sprouts. Normally, I'm not much of a Brussels sprouts fan, but I happily cleaned the plate. My wife and I shared the 12-ounce filet mignon, cooked medium rare, and it was absolute perfection. Chef's kiss. David recommended a bottle of wine to pair with our steak. It wasn't inexpensive, but it was worth every penny. But wait... there's more. As incredible as that wine was with the filet, it somehow paired even better (yes, I know that sounds impossible) with the slice of heaven they call chocolate cake. I'm sure it has a much fancier name on the menu, but "slice of heaven" seems more accurate. If you've read my other reviews, you know I have a tendency toward hyperbole. If there were ever a time to lean into it, this is it. THIS MEAL WAS FANTASTIC. THE AMBIANCE WAS PERFECT. THE FOOD WAS EXCEPTIONAL. AND THE COMPANY WAS DIVINE. We will absolutely be back--and when we do, we'll be asking for a table in David's section. (He works Tuesday through Friday.)

Stopped into Baldamar and had a great experience sitting at the bar. Ashley took such attentive…read morecare of me from the moment I arrived and was incredibly welcoming throughout my visit. I started with the tequila and mezcal Old Fashioned, and it was fantastic. It was well-balanced, beautifully presented, and garnished perfectly. The food was equally impressive. The wings were delicious--crispy, well-seasoned, and cooked perfectly. My only small note would be that the celery was a little limp. The Caesar salad has officially been added to my regular rotation. The jammy egg was cooked perfectly with a rich, yolky center that was still easy to slice. The Parmesan crisps were thoughtfully sized, adding great texture without being so large they scraped the roof of your mouth. The salad was evenly dressed, making every bite flavorful. Overall, excellent food, outstanding cocktails, and warm, attentive service. I'll definitely be back.

Faye was wonderful! Great service, and she had really nice recommendations. Would absolutely…read morerecommend this place!

So fun sitting at the bar at Red Cow - it's like dinner and a show watching the bar tenders whip up…read moredrinks. The guys behind the bar were fun chatting with too. We started with Ahi Tuna Crisp appetizer - we substituted the cracker for cucumber. This twist makes it so fresh. The sauce is a bit tangy and avocado balances the tuna. So yummy! I opted for a cheeseburger - very good smash burger. I have had the Double Double in the past and that is probably my favorite burger with two smash burger patties, cheese and special sauce. Can't miss on the regular fries. Crispy and delicious!

Group of six before a Fiddle Christmas concert. Brooks…read moreManhattan $18. Good Beef short rib stroganoff $32. Very good Citrus Sunset Martini $16. Very good Seafood Fettuccini $29. Very good. Server was Elle. Was very nice

This spot is so well hidden! Right in the heart of Saint Paul in a nook of infamous Rice Park. Such…read morea cool spot to check out, with a full bar and plenty of seating. Many fancy events were taking place while we were there. The menu is extensive, with many food, drinks, and desserts. We only had drinks at the bar but were very impressed with it! Will be heading back for a meal soon.

Food was excellent and the service was good. We always enjoy dining at the exchange. There weekly…read morespecials are a wonderful addition to the choices off the regular menu.

Food (fries & fried chicken sandwich) was cold, service was slow. Blue cheese dressing for dipping…read morewings was not very good. Tasted more like ranch than blue cheese.

I tend to reserve 5 stars for like life changing meals, but this place is a 5/5 on a number of…read morefronts. A few notes to set the scene I went today for lunch on a lovely 70 degree Spring day after getting a haircut across the street to check some work emails, grab a beer and quick lunch to go order. Full disclosure: I'm slightly biased bc I grew up about a mile away and just moved home recently, so any cool vibey place in the old neighborhood has a special place in my heart. That said, it has a very cozy/hip neighborhood feel and understated sophistication for what is a pretty residential and quiet area of St Paul The 5/5 elements... Scott (who I think may be the owner?) is super cool, was serving/tending bar and running around to manage the patio while chatting me up & giving great recs on beer/food based on my half hearted description while I multi tasked on work nonsense. Awesome guy, and reason enough to check this place out The vibe/softly playing music and entrancing Twin Cities flyover footage playing in the background on the TV at the bar was oddly soothing Ordered brisket tacos, brussels sprouts, and fried chicken sandwich for myself + a friend to go. Yamahama, I'm not gonna cheat and double check the menu, but the brussels have a delicious umami flavor from either duck fat or facsimile that perfectly balances the acid from the balsamic/vinegar situation. Fried chicken sandwich is a KILLER, highly recommend. Friend loved the brisket tacos as well Highly recommend this place should you find yourself near Merriam Park in St Paul for lunch, dinner, or happy hour. Must try spot. Cheers

The interior of this place is incredible, such a cute spot with moody lighting, intimate seating,…read moreand vibey music. It's a great place for drinks and appetizers. The drinks were good, and they also have a solid selection of beer on tap. The food portion are a bit small imo but I will say the Mac and cheese was pretty darn tasty!

It delivered! The food was delicious and the staff was…read morefriendly. The food was classic American, but elevated throughout. We left happy! Burger, chicken sandwich and Brussel Sprouts all yummy!

I unfortunately have to give Parlour a 3.5 based on this last visit, but typically I truly would…read moregive them closer to a 4. I love the vibe, cocktails, service, and food here, but my recent visit the food was unfortunately a little too salty for my taste. We started with the fried pickles and aioli which were extremely salty - so much so that it was hard to keep eating them. This was a bummer though because the batter and the flavor of the pickles themselves was perfectly crispy. The burger and crispy chicken sandwhich were good! The sandwhich was a little dry but flavor on both were still good! Truly still a solid place for a burger and a bite but I was disappointed by the saltyness of everything. Drinks and mocktails were delicious!