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    ROK ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    DJ
    Live music
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - ROK

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    Reviews With Photos

    Smoked Trout Potato Salad (GF)
    Camille C.

    New favorite! Nordic + Japanese fusion. By far, the food blew us away. Local + sustainable, the menu offers dishes that will capture & delight your tastebuds. Beets are my favorite and the combo of pistachio & goat cheese was incredible. The Japanese Fried Chicken was light and airy, with the perfect balance of sweet and sour leaving you satisfied but not heavy. Located near Keg & Case, ROK has dedicated parking and patio seating. We took advantage of the reservations available online. Service was prompt, friendly and available throughout dinner. Highly recommend and can't wait to tell others, looking for a fresh experience within the Twin Cities. The location also seems perfect for happy hours on the patio and the menu is just right for numerous shared plates!

    Smoked salmon
    Gita B.

    Surprisingly pleasant small-plate dinner here! They have a very unexpected mishmash of tastes, combining culinary delights from Nordic and Japanese cuisine. The venue is unassuming, tucked away near the former Schmidt brewing behemoth. The space is quaint, with a large open kitchen greeting you. We were treated to some gentle Friday night EDM from an eccentric musician, keeping us entertained throughout the meal. The menu is simple and divided into firsts and second, but diverse, with a wide variety of cocktails, beers, wine, and sake. I had the smoked salmon smørrebrød and reverse katsu. These dishes were simply delectable. My favorite was the smoked salmon- I could eat a vat of this. The katsu was super unique in its presentation and was very tasty. The meals were perfectly proportioned and the right size for a not too filling meal. I definitely recommend a visit to Rok!

    Joline E.

    I wasn't sure what to expect at a Japanese Nordic restaurant but we were thoroughly surprised and impressed each step of the way. My husband and I swung in here on our way to curling and had about 50 minutes to work with. We were able to try several small plates, a few delicious craft cocktail, and very much appreciated the unpretentious (we were very underdressed!) and welcoming service! We will be back for sure, if nothing else than to try the beet dish and that amazing broccolini sauce again!

    Great ambiance
    Katie S.

    Rök eatery was a delightful way to spend a Saturday morning! We went for brunch, and the Nordic-Japanese inspired food was spot-on with many options for drinks and cocktails. FOOD: delicious, with perfect portion sizes and new items we were excited to try. The savory herb dutch baby was particularly tasty. SERVICE: welcoming and prompt wait staff, very friendly AMBIANCE: cool vibes, lots of plants and greenery, little stage for live music, fun music playing during brunch. Not too crowded even during prime brunch time on a Saturday. PARKING: easy off-street parking

    Outside building
    Rachael M.

    I have to say that this has been an absolutely highlight of 2022 thus far. I really enjoyed the food, experience, and overall vibe of this wonderful eatery in Saint Paul, MN. They are located in the Rathskeller building of the former Schmidt Brewery. Rok is a Japanese/Nordic restaurant w/ ingredients sourced locally from the Midwest. I loved the excitement & passion from everyone working here! The experience was simply beautiful. It's good to know that Rok also has open Mic Night on Wednesday/Thursday & Live music - Friday/Saturday during dinner Service. Smoked Trout Potato Salad - t was so flavorful & creamy. Heirloom Tomato Salad- These are absolutely the best tomatoes I've ever had in a dish. I'm obsessed w/ this salad. Local Mushrooms - The sauce was amazing. I really just want to say how flavorful everything was. It just was! Tuna Tataki - Get this! It is a flavor journey in your mouth! It was amazing. I absolutely loved this dish Nordic Burger- simple and seasoned well! Katsu sandwhich- this was so yummy and flavorful. I loved how soft the bread was. Toronto - Rye Whiskey, Fernet, Maple Syrup, Aromatic Bitters Kladdkaka is a Swedish chocolate cake. This one is Gooey Chocolate Cake with Maple Whipped Goat Cheese. It's was the perfect amount of dessert & absolutely delicious.

    Karrage
    Kaydee M.

    Rok Eatery (pronounced "Rohk") just became one of my top 3 favorite spots yesterday. Rök is a new Nordic/Japanese restaurant that focuses on using almost all local, high-quality ingredients, and letting the natural flavors in each ingredient speak for themselves. With every bite, my boyfriend and and I were speechless. During our entire meal, we uttered many phrases along the lines of "Holy crap" and "how did they even...." I could literally write a novel about why the experience at this place was so perfect, but I'll keep it brief for you. The atmosphere was intimate, yet bright and airy with an open kitchen. The employees were all super cool, personable, and knowledgeable. And every single thing tasted was magnificent and told its own story of flavors. Here are all the dishes/drinks we tried: KARAAGE, which is Japanese fried chicken tossed in Kurozu vinegar glaze. Somehow they made it super crunchy and light without it being greasy? I'm drooling just writing this. It was one of our favorites. TUNA TATAKI, which included hibachi grilled tuna and nectarines, roe, black sesame, and tataki sauce. The smokiness from the grill was the cherry on top of this fantastically refreshing dish. NORDIC BURGER, which seemed like a basic burger at first... But that dry aged beef patty, those homemade caraway pickles, a grilled bun, pink peppercorn aioli. HEAVEN. KLADDKAKA, a sort of gooey chocolate cake topped with whipped maple goat cheese. Better than sex.

    Abby M.

    We tried half the menu when we went and everything was a BANGER 10/10 place to eat! The food is delicious

    Tuna tataki
    Jenny L.

    I went to Keg and Case and discovered this place on a Friday afternoon. They are currently in soft opening mode (liquor license coming in a few weeks!). Our party of three split five plates: - flatbread (5/5) - very delicious and nice char. Peaches were a must! - mushrooms (5/5) - very creamy, delicious mushrooms - tuna tataki (4/5) - great vinaigrette, fresh peaches. Was missing a crunchy element, but great portion size - pork belly (3/5) - too salty and the salad was not pickled enough. Good portion size - Katsu sandwich (3/5) - good portion size, too dry.

    coleman s.

    Amazing cocktails tonight at the RoK eatery. Vodka, lemon, Lavender & Citrus Basil Bitter, Flowers, and Orange Creme Liquor Wash, made another burger so brilliant, I couldn't change a thing. Consider RoK for your next ultimate craving

    Salmon tataki salad
    Sara C.

    Delicious Japanese Nordic fare, cozy atmosphere, craft cocktails and welcoming staff. Small stage in corner for live music or "dance parties". Will definitely be back!

    Tuna tataki
    Heather S.

    This place is so cute! I've never heard of a Japanese Nordic fusion restaurant before, but I'll definitely return. Tucked adorably in the Schmidt brewery buildings, next to Keg and Case. As soon as I walked in the door, the staff greeted me enthusiastically. They were so friendly and clearly prideful of the products they were serving, ready answer any questions we had. I tried the tuna tataki, which was fantastic! I used to work at Fuji Ya and while the tuna was a different style and cute, it was just as flavorful and took me right back. The Nordic burger is a fancy burger, which both rock salt and grill marks on the bun. The patty was cooked perfectly. I could've used less sauce, although it was delicious, created a bit of a soggy mess towards the end. I don't usually care for a spring mix, but the dressing on this one knocked my socks off. A vinaigrette but very well done. I can't wait to try this place again. All locally sourced, except perhaps the sake lol. I will return to try the marsh Sammy, as well as the flank steak.

    Shiso rolled chicken
    Elijah W.

    Definitely one of the coolest setups in St.Paul. They have a menu that is constantly changing and everything we had was phenomenal. It's a small location with limited seating so you want to get there early. Everyone was super nice and it gave it a home like feel. Our waitress was super nice and very helpful in explaining the menu.

    Tuna tatake
    Brandon L.

    Such an incredible place. Super chill vibes, with awesome food. It's a unique blend of Scandinavian and Japanese cuisine that just makes sense, and the dishes are always served with fresh ingredients. The menu changes up quite a bit depending on what ingredients are available, but it leads to pleasant surprises as there is always some new delicious dish or cocktail to try.

    Daikon sesame carrot salad and local mushrooms to start...they were both perfect

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    5 years ago

    fantastic interesting food. psyched to have them in St. paul. their bar isn't open yet, but soon!

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    Ask the Community - ROK

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    Emerald Lounge - The Huntress

    Emerald Lounge

    4.6(51 reviews)
    0.8 miWest Seventh

    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!

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    Emerald Lounge - Thai Mussels were my fav

    Thai Mussels were my fav

    Emerald Lounge
    Emerald Lounge

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    The White Squirrel Bar - 2.5 CBD Delta-8 Classic Squirrel Lemonade

    The White Squirrel Bar

    4.4(31 reviews)
    0.2 miWest Seventh

    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.

    Cute bar! Feels like a fun, slightly elevated dive bar. Definitely a local place, lots of friend…read moregroups and people hanging out in the booths/ at the bar, I went on a Monday during the holidays and they had live music, a comedy show, and a lively crowd until I left around midnight. Fun cocktail options, and a good beer selection as well. The bartenders were great, it was busy but they were helpful and quick to get drinks, water etc. The bartender was also willing to keep my drinks behind the bar when I used the restroom (I was alone and unwilling to leave my drink unattended) which was extremely nice. Check this place out if you're looking for a fun, bright dive bar vibe!

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    The White Squirrel Bar - Bar area

    Bar area

    The White Squirrel Bar - Booths are comfortable and fairly private.

    Booths are comfortable and fairly private.

    The White Squirrel Bar - White Squirrel

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    Local Rumor - Well designed interior

    Local Rumor

    4.4(47 reviews)
    2.9 miMerriam Park

    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!

    I'd seen rave reviews about this place, so we decided to go here to celebrate a personal…read moreaccomplishment last weekend! It's a really cozy moody interior, with *no big lights* aka great low lighting and comfy seating options. When we went, there were just a few other parties there so pretty quiet. I liked that we had a whole corner to ourselves with a sectional couch of sorts and some chairs. They close at 10pm on a Friday night, which felt absurdly early for a cocktail bar. But, we were able to order and drink one drink during the ~45 minutes we had. They closed up shop promptly at 10pm. They had a classics and a "rumors" section of the menu. I didn't think the signature drinks were overly unique, with classics like Paper Plane making that menu side. I had a pomegranate mojito which was good! Consensus was that the cocktails were good not exceptional, especially for the $16-17 price point. We ordered churros for the table which were a table favorite! I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but we enjoyed our time and could see this being a good option if you lived in the neighborhood and don't mind the early close hours.

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    Local Rumor - Elevated mocktail program

    Elevated mocktail program

    Local Rumor
    Local Rumor

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    Parlour Bar St. Paul

    Parlour Bar St. Paul

    4.2(314 reviews)
    1.2 miWest Seventh
    $$

    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 )

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    Parlour Bar St. Paul - Back Bar

    Back Bar

    Parlour Bar St. Paul - Parlour Burger

    Parlour Burger

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    Moscow On The Hill - Nouveau Russian

    Moscow On The Hill

    4.3(706 reviews)
    1.2 miCathedral Hill
    $$

    This was my first time at Moscow on the Hill and overall a really great experience…read more The food was solid, but the drinks are where this place really shines. The martinis are to die for, and everything is very reasonably priced for the quality. They make their own vodka, which is such a cool touch, and it's definitely worth trying a few of the different flavors. The horseradish vodka martini was surprisingly really good. Service wasn't overly warm, but still friendly and attentive enough throughout the meal. The atmosphere is great, and the patio is easily one of my favorites in the area. Such a good spot to sit and enjoy a drink, especially in the warmer months. There is plenty of street parking around which makes it a super easy experience.

    I am so happy I finally made it out to Moscow on the Hill! They don't have designated parking, but…read moreluckily street parking was easily available at dinner time. The inside is dark and dated but it was a nice day and we grabbed a table on the patio, which was lovely and spacious! The menu is very nostalgic and offers many favorites from the former Soviet Union that I grew up eating. I wanted to try something I don't normally eat at a family gathering. I got the vereniki (filled with potato and onions - more commonly known as peorogi) smothered in a mushroom cream sauce, topped with steak and onion straws. It was delicious and super hearty; not something I could eat very often. I also got a Moscow mule but was a bit bummed at how weak it was and the fact that it wasn't served in the traditional copper cup that helps keep the ice from melting and diluting the drink. I also want to point out that they added a 3.8% credit card charge (which I know is becoming more srandard), and a 20% gratuity, even though we were only a table of 5. Overall, I had a good time and enjoyed myself but not sure there is much there to bring me back anytime soon.

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    Moscow On The Hill - Nice ambiance

    Nice ambiance

    Moscow On The Hill - Moscow Fries

    Moscow Fries

    Moscow On The Hill - Maryusya Gold cocktail

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    Estelle - SHRIMP AL AJILLO

    Estelle

    4.7(252 reviews)
    2.6 miMac-Groveland
    $$$

    Incredible experience at Estelle. We sat at the chef's counter, which was such a fun way to…read moreexperience the meal. Watching the kitchen in action added so much to the night. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Everything felt really intentional and well timed. The food was outstanding. The rigatoni was a standout with an incredible sausage that was honestly to die for. We also had the soles de pollo, a chicken ravioli with fresh vegetables in the sauce, and the flavors were amazing. For tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas and rissoles, both were delicious. Such a thoughtful touch when they brought out churro bites at the end as a thank you. Amazing food, top tier service, and a really fun but romantic atmosphere. Definitely a spot worth going out of your way for

    Estelle is a cozy spot, with candlelights and flower on each table. It is a perfect spot for a date…read morenight or celebrating a special occasion, and is also just a lovely dinner spot with really good food! It is in the Mac-Groveland neighborhood so there is ample street parking nearby if you turn on any of the side streets. The restaurant does get busy at dinner, so I recommend making a reservation ahead of time. They have many unique options for cocktails and mocktails. I opted for the Slaychel which is a non-alcoholic beverage that I think of as an elevated mimosa. It is fruity, slightly tart, and delicious! The service was great! Our water was frequently refilled and never got empty, and our server asked about any allergies and dietary restrictions before we ordered. They were able to modify menu items to fit the different dietary restrictions! Two people in our party (including myself) are vegetarians and one member is gluten-free and also doesn't consume much dairy or eggs. They were able to serve the patatas bravas with the egg on the side and the grilled asparagus with the egg and cheese on the side so we were able to all share the starters. The patatas bravas were wonderful! The potatoes are perfectly crispy but still fluffy. The tomato sauce was slightly smokey and had a very slight kick (think Minnesota spice) and it balanced out well with the creamy tomato. If you're only going to try one appetizer, this is the one to try! The asparagus was also nice. The salsa verde had a slight kick (a bit more than the tomato sauce from the patatas bravas, but not super spicy. Still Minnesota level of spice). The shallots also added a nice crispy texture to the dish! The egg really stood out in this dish, with its runny yolk and batter coating. There were a lot of nice elements and textures. As for pastas, I split the Spaghetti and Radiatore with a friend. The Radiatore was nutty and tangy, and the serving size was generous. I enjoyed it, but I would order the Spaghetti over it any day! I don't even know how to describe the Spaghetti and do it justice. It was creamy, cheesy, delicious. Our server said it was a staff favorite, and I understand why. If you're looking for a vegetarian option, go with this one!! Even if you aren't a vegetarian, give it a try. It's so classic, and it's done so well. For dessert: they give free churros when you're dining in! They are served warm with a chocolate drizzle. We also ordered the Honey Cake which we enjoyed a lot! The cake itself was light, like a mousse. There was some crunch from the hazelnut praline and honeycomb toffee pieces. It was nutty and sweet but not overly sweet. It was a perfect way to finish off the meal! Estelle was delicious and the service was great! I can't wait to come back!

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    Estelle - Our view from seating

    Our view from seating

    Estelle - Good For Yah cocktail + beet salad

    Good For Yah cocktail + beet salad

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    The Mudd Room - tables & seating

    The Mudd Room

    4.4(43 reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    My first visit to The Mudd Room last night for an acoustic gig. After some googling to confirm,…read moreMudd Room is below the Lucky's 13. When you arrive there Mudd Room is painted on the east side of the building above a small four space parking lot. Fear not; you can park on the west side of the building, also an overflow lot right there as well, a few spaces on the street in the front or across the street from there is designated parking. I entered through the west side of the building that noted Lucky's, fear not, when I entered and told the host I was looking for the Mudd Room she gave me precise directions to get downstairs! Once downstairs I came upon the nice single toilet ladies room. I proceeded in to the bar, asked the blonde bartender where the music would be? She pointed to the stage @ the end of the bar and said it could be loud right by the speaker so she'd recommend sitting a few tables away. She said the parties near the stage were tabbing out if I wanted to sit there? I said I would take a seat @ the end until they were through. Shortly after I sat down the very friendly brunette server brought me a glass of ice water... thanks! She remained attentive all night, filling my water three times. Despite not looking over the menu she was very thoughtful when she popped by just to say it was last call for the kitchen, did I want anything? I meant to get the gals names, I did not, sorry. Music wasn't too loud; the acoustics and lighting were great since the speakeasy is already dimly lit. I don't anticipate this was my last visit; very much looking forward to catching another gig here or meeting friends for drinks! The friendly and attentive service are my number one fast and hard rule for a venue... no matter how good or bad the drinks or food are.... they 90% determine if I will return. These two knocked it out of the park... thank you for such a welcoming and attentive inaugural visit, cheers!

    I love that I discovered this place. I have been going to Lucky's for years and did not realize…read morethis existed. I came around the holiday period and they offer fun festive holiday drinks. By the time we arrived, they were no longer selling small bites. The entertainment for the night was a live band. I enjoyed a few songs and then ended up night upstairs at lucky 13.

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    The Mudd Room - Inside

    Inside

    The Mudd Room - Wall seating view of the back of the room

    Wall seating view of the back of the room

    The Mudd Room

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    ROK - musicvenues - Updated May 2026

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