I have been here a few time before and definitely thought I had already written a review, but I…read moreguess not. I have been here two times in the last week and lemme tell ya.. this is quite the spot. I do suggest making a reservation because everytime I go here it is popping! What a vibey place, the lights aren't too bright, it gives a hip, fun, light energy and is not too pretentious but has INCREDIBLE FOOD AND DRINKS. Right now, one of their specials is whitefish toast.. if you enjoy fish at all, you need this. The fish is light and fresh, they put fresh dill on top and it is placed on top of some toasted sourdough bread perfectly. The fish is flavorful, a lil earthy and I feel as if there are capers or olives in in the fish mixture, whatever it is is fire! The burrata, beets, and citrus is a nice lovely, fresh, light app, the burrata is perfection with the beets and fresh, juicy citrus, drizzled with some oil and random pieces of garlic mixed in, YUM. I suggest ordering bread on the side with this one! The wings here are a staple and always delish. Crispy, hot, and coated perfectly in a light sweet chili sauce.. they hit the spot everytime. The housemade ranch is a perfect dipper. The other day I tried the chorizo and scallops... oh my goodness gracious.. it was a lil spicy and creamy with the bean puree and the scallops were buttery, light and divine! 10 outta 10 would do again. Finally, got the goat cheesecake, gluten free ginger snap crust with poached pears. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE I want this now and in every lifetime! The cheesecake was light, yet decadent, deep, creamy with a light, unassuming flavor. The crust was delicious and the poached pears added that perfect fruit component. I got Liam as my server both times, he was helpful, attentive, had good suggestions when asked questions and didn't interrupt at all, amazing! This is the spot for any occasion!

LOVE! Beautiful space, kind staff, incredible cocktails!…read more Came to Emerald Lounge for the first time with a friend for a cocktail before dinner. Parking was easy enough to find on the street. We weren't able to find a reservation online, but had no problem walking in on a Saturday evening. We were able to grab a standing spot at the bar. The host asked us a bit later if we'd like to sit down at some bar seats that opened up, which was very kind! I ordered the martini du jour and am obsessed. If you like martinis, this is the spot for sure! Looking forward to retuning!

Bad Julia. I was so busy enjoying myself that I failed to take pictures. Anyway, this is an awesome…read moreplace. I came in to enjoy some live music with a couple of amazing local bands, and I am absolutely sold. Highlights include: tons of street parking nearby, superior selection of drinks (more on this later), and awesome people. Everyone, from the folks behind the bar to the other patrons, was ultra welcoming. I'm pretty sure this is the neighborhood Cheers. Seriously--amazing vibes, and it's great for solo people. (I realize that might be ambiguous, so what I mean by "great for solo people" is that you won't feel uncomfortable coming here alone. It's easy to chat with people if you want to; it's easy to just enjoy the music if you want to.) Okay, I know you want to hear about the drinks. They have a great selection of beer on tap. They have tons of cocktails, including a selection of barrel-finished cocktails. Not drinking tonight? They have plenty of THC and even a CBD-only option (winning!), along with some non-altering choices that include switchel(!). There's a huge outdoor patio with fire pits that I will probably check out next time. Anyway, this is a great spot!

The White Squirrel Bar was just okay to me. There was live music going on, which was a nice touch…read moreand probably the highlight of the visit. The inside of the bar is pretty small and felt a bit cramped, especially with how busy it was on a Sunday. They do have a back patio that is fairly large, which I appreciated, but during the day it did not feel very inviting. Without lighting or much going on, it came off a bit plain. As for drinks, I tried a non alcoholic half and half with lemonade and iced tea, which I actually really liked. I also had a mojito style cocktail that was not my favorite and tasted a bit too strong for me. The overall vibe just was not really my thing, but I could see it being more fun at night or with a bigger group.

Stopped here during my friend's birthday adventures, It was later in the night so it wasn't super…read morebusy which was perfect for us to grab a seat and enjoy our time here. Every staff person we interacted with was super nice and helpful. It's seat yourself so we found a cozy corner to chill. We ordered the 2 4 1 (vodka based drink) and the Devil's Egg. I don't like eggs at all (mostly texture/smell thing), but these are a pleasant surprise, the texture was pretty spot on and I loved the taste as it was sweet - definitely a must try thing on the menu! The music was such a vibe. So much fun stuff to look at. It was fun to read some of the concessions as well as leaving our own. Definitely a cool place to adventure to for a good time!

Visited The Crowbar with a friend from out of town and we both had a great experience. The…read moreatmosphere is super fun with unique decor that gives the place a lot of character. We went on a Saturday night and were able to get a table pretty quickly, which was a nice surprise. The specialty cocktails were solid with good flavor options, and prices felt about what you'd expect for a craft cocktail bar. Overall, a great spot to bring visitors or just mix up your usual night out. Would definitely go back!

For the "west side" of St. Paul (I don't know why it is called that, for it is truly south and not…read moreat all west!), this is a very cool, chic and original concept for a foodie establishment. I went here with my twin sister, her husband, her husbands 2 brothers and one of his brother's fiance who were in town. All are foodies. All wanted to experience a good night out to titillate the tastebuds. For I try to impress upon out of town guests that not everyone in MN is of Scandinavian origin! But I digress... The food is just...awesome! Presentation is completely unique, including flaming drinks, an assortment of vessels for the dishes to accommodate the dish with an interesting flare without compromising ease of consuming or taste. Patatas bravas, tequenos, and rompe colchon were excellent. I mean mouth wateringly amazing. Shrimp in the rompe colchon was cooked PERFECTLY and the balance of the sour leche de tigre and mango made the dish interesting for the palate. Broccolini side dish was also cooked perfectly and the cheese foam gave a unique twist to the side dish. I ordered the bollitos pelones and OH MY GOODNESS. Think huge fried (but not greasy) ball of corn dough (like tamale but grains not so fine) stuffed with braised lamb and swimming in a dark, curry and spiced sauce. It was SOOOO GOOD and nothing like I'd ever had before. I also tried the pasta with rabbit and UMAMI! it was tasty. Also unique flavor that I cannot quite identify and the sauce to meat to pasta ratio was perfect. LOVED this experience and will 10000000% go back!

Crasqui isn't a traditional Venezuelan restaurant--it's a love letter. A tribute to memory,…read moretradition, and the flavors that shaped Chef-Owner Soleil's story. A political refugee from Venezuela, Chef Soleil translates pieces of her upbringing into elevated dishes that feel deeply personal. Each plate draws from the people, places, and moments that formed her, quietly transporting you to Crasqui--the tiny island off Venezuela's coast with sandy beaches and clear blue waters that inspired the name. Our Christmas Eve dinner was special not just for what was on the table, but for how it felt: warm, unhurried service, thoughtful pacing, and an atmosphere that invited you to stay awhile. Our table had the pleasure to indulge in: - Seafood Empanadas: calamari, shrimp, white fish & squid ink. - Rompe Colchón: shrimp ceviche in pineapple-habanero leche de tigre with house-made cassava chips. - Croquetas de Chorizo: potato fritters stuffed with leeks, garlic & chistorra chorizo. - Venezuelan Christmas Dinner: *Hallaca (corn dough filled with pork, beef & chicken wrapped in smoked plantain leaves); *Pernil (slow-cooked pork leg in malta & red wine); *Pan de Jamón (bread with raisins, smoked ham, green olives & cane sugar syrup); *Ensalada de Gallina (chicken salad). - Mochima: Mahi-Mahi stuffed with crab, parmesan & herb crust, sambuca beurre blanc, cilantro oil. Luxurious in texture and deeply satisfying, with each element clearly considered and working in quiet harmony. This dish was memorable for all the right reasons. - Dulce de Lechoza: Green Papaya dessert served with Vanilla Ice Cream. - Christmas Hug: their version of a Holiday old-fashioned. - Mulled Christmas wine What truly sets Crasqui apart: it is the only Venezuelan fine-dining restaurant in Minnesota, one of just three in the U.S., the only Venezuelan rum bar in the Midwest, and proudly 100% Latina & female-owned! Definitely a restaurant worth adding to your dinner rotation!

My friends and I went to visit here for our monthly restaurant night and it just happened to be a…read morevery snowy night. There was only one guy waiting tables and working the bar and he did such a great job on such a snowy night. We started with some apps; the French onion dip with homemade chips, loaded fries and Brussel sprouts. Those were all tasty and I enjoyed the homemade cheese dip that was on the fries and wanted to eat it with a spoon. We then each got a burger; funny is that we all chose a different one. We like to stay and chat and catch up about what has happened since last month so we decided to order dessert. My two friends each got a slice of pie and I only wanted a bite of my sisters pie and made a joke that I only wanted a bite and the waiter over heard me and he actually brought me a small slice on the house; he was so nice and I wasn't expecting that at all. It was such a nice booth that we were in and the restaurant wasn't very busy so we pretty much had the whole place to ourselves. I could sit there for hours and just chat and relax. I can't wait to go back and try more food next time.

Living in the cities for over two decades, I think I've heard the most about this burger. I had…read morehigh expectations, but left felling... meh? The service was friendly, but frankly slow. It was hard getting drinks or refills. They were out of sausage and turkey for their breakfast items, but willingly made adjustments to their dishes for free. Three of us got the burgers in our group and only one of us thought the burger lived up to its reputation. Apparently I'm a burger snob now. I still don't think I'll find one better than Saint Dinette. (RIP )

We had dinner before a show in downtown St Paul. The location made it easy to get to downtown with…read moreplenty of time to park and get to the venue. We had reservations and were seated immediately. I chose the spare ribs for my dinner and Husband had the pulled pork sandwich. The ribs were served with a zesty dry rub and sauce on the side. They were nice and tender. The meal came with Texas toast which I didn't try because the ribs were sitting right on top of it. It also had a piece of corn on the cob. Wish my meal would have been a titch hotter in temp but the food was tasty. We finished with the smoky crème brûlée which was delicious. The layout was cozy and dark with the bar at the center. I could see it being lively and loud on a busy night. Service was excellent. We took our time ordering and never felt rushed. Our food came out super fast. The staff worked as a great team.

The food was great! Crab cakes 9/10…read more Friend green tomatoes 9.5/10 (awesome flavor, sauce on the side is a great pair with the tomatoes - overall my favorite thing on the menu) Tennessee Hot Chicken Sandwich 8.5/10 (good flavor but would like more heat personally. Overall it was a good choice despite my desire for more spice.) Service great! The bartenders are always great and make some of the best drinks in the cities. Daniel is my favorite! Ambiance: Chill more relaxed vibe.

Turkey burgers don't get a lot of attention in the burger world, but this turkey burger from 620 is…read morephenomenal, dare I say the best turkey burger I've ever had! I added the bacon, which really kicked up the flavors in this burger. The sage onion jam was sublime. Great selection of taps, and an array of specialty cocktails to try as well. The description of "fine diving" is apropos. You'll see the typical dive bar crowd playing pull tabs during brunch with a bloody and beer back, enjoying fine dive bar cuisine.

This place is a neighborhood gem!! The food is some of the best bar food around! The conies are…read morestellar! This is a busy place that always feels welcoming. I wish it was across the street from my house! We love the vibe, the food, the service and the owners, we will be back very soon!

After seeing other reviews, I was thinking there would be too much food temptation, but they…read moreactually aren't doing meals now, focusing on drinks and live music. My maple cinnamon sour was delicious and worth the slightly high price. Staff were very helpful about the confusing parking situation in this area too. I was there for the music anyhow. It's a small narrow room, so the acoustics were not great for my rather basic phone to record, but it was fine for my ears. All 4 acts were good, especially FenixDion- this was my first time seeing them as a duo instead of the full band, so it was a bit mellower but still rocked. The $5 cover was definitely a bargain, but I think that deal may have been special because this was also a birthday party. I hope they bring back some eats. I might have considered a 2nd drink if I had some food to soak up the alcohol.

Amazing, cozy joint in one of the old Schmidt buildings. Very expensive, but in this case you…read moredefinitely get what you pay for. They've got a really good 2-for-1 sake on happy hour. We'll probably go back for another special occasion but it's a bit pricey for more than every once in a while. The entire staff seemed to be in a good mood and the service was all around excellent. Seasonal menu that changes fairly often but the burger sticks around. We got a couple things to split: - Grilled celery root was really good. Perfect texture and lots of flavor while not being "earthy". That cashew miso cauliflower puree is one of the best, smoothest dips I've ever had. - Bread & Beets: Basically a really good beet panzanella. Beets were nicely marinated to get rid of any "dirt" flavor. My wife hates beets and liked this one. I'd probably skip it next time just because there is so much other good stuff. - Karaage: Some of the best karaage I've ever had. Super tender chicken, light breading, and really good glaze. Slaw was really good, too.

We enjoyed great music at a divey style bar. They have a nice stage and large dance floor. Seating…read moreis basic and hardly enough. Good beer on tap.

It's like your favorite dive bar with excellent music! Parking lot gets crowded when there's a…read moregood band (like last night with Drinkwine & Friends Band)-parking IS available in the shopping center across the street! Lower level has pool tables. There is a separate food vendor on site (wings were good, as well as the unusual fries). Bar service at the bar, no wait staff tonight. It may have its shortcomings (cold bathrooms, messy floors) but you can't beat it for a music venue!