We went to this restaurant before going to a show at the Park theater. I appreciated the discount which was offered to ticket holders. I think our server may have been new? I ordered a drink and never received it. However, it could have been a misunderstanding as I also ordered a pop. I ordered the walleye sandwich and my cousin got the steak sandwich. She reported that it was delicious! My sandwich was good but the tartar sauce had jalapeños mixed in it so I got it on the side. However, I was charged extra for having it on the side?! The fries that came with the sandwich were OUTSTANDING! 10/10! Overall, I would definitely recommend! read more

Honestly if I could have given a negative star review I would have. We met up with friends, didn't see a server for a solid 15 minutes. Mind you there were only maybe 25 guests in the whole place. From what we could tell most of the staff was either outside or nowhere to be seen, including the bartender. After waiting that 15 minutes we were able to place our food and drink orders (2 beers and 3 lemonades). Food came out relatively quick, quality was average. Didn't give us silverware with our food, and waited a solid 5 minutes. Didn't see any staff. Friend went to go find someone, and instead was yelled at by the bartender. Took 20 minutes for the server to come back and one of my friends was able to order their second drink. After 30 minutes and still no lemonades, my friend had to complain to the bartender. The bartender then replied very rudely with, "oh, well I'll tell your sever". No apology or attempt to remedy the situation themselves. Mind you we could see the half full pitcher of lemonade the whole time (being completely ignored). Finally lemonades were brought out - just in time for us to be done with our meals. Lemonades were comped - thankfully otherwise I would have spoken to the manager. All in all the entire staff was very rude. With one exception, one of the kitchen staff was actually expo-ing food more than the servers. And he was the only one to ask us how are food was. read more

I thought it was going to be a busy place, but I was wrong. If you're ever looking for a good lunch spot that isn't too busy and good work check this place out. I've seen kids here so it's kid friendly. Food was amazing!! And the vibe here seem calm but again it wasn't busy when I came here!! read more

The Loon Cafe - Turkey sandwich - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Food was really good. Service was excellent! We really enjoyed our evening in Saint Paul. The loon provide a great backdrop to a great evening. read more

The staff were helpful and the walleye appetizer was excellent! Can't go wrong with the cheese curds either.

We took refuge from the cold weather at The Loon Cafe before an event down the street. I ordered the grilled cheese and of course a grape ape. The grilled cheese was delicious, but begs the question where is the line between a grilled cheese and a panini. We were able to get a table without a reservation and found street parking not too far away. read more

Cute area in Downtown Saint Paul. Food was okay, onion rings definitely off the Sysco truck and service was sub-par. Glad we tried it but won't return. read more

See all

Great location in downtown St Paul with cozy vibes especially in the winter. I got the chili sampler and they had chowder as the soup of the day so that was one of the three along with the chicken chili and the pinto Diablo. All 3 soups were delicious and it was hard to choose a favorite but for me the chicken chili came out slightly on top. I definitely believe the award winning chili headline now, the chilis packed a punch and had amazing flavor and the chowder was a great creamy 3rd soup in the sampler. The servers were very nice and attentive to our big group for lunch and we all had a great experience. read more

The Loon Cafe - Chili sampler - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

We went here for the wild game, and received top-notch service from the staff and kitchen here, specifically Amy, who made it a great experience overall! read more

Fantastic ambiance & a great spot to catch the game! Only a 3 star rating due to service & food. The bartenders were a bit rude & ignored us even though they had a mostly empty bar. The food was mediocre at best. The meat in my salad tasted like a barnyard & the giant chunks of cheese threw off the profile. With so many other great stops in the area, I'd eat before & come ready to drink read more

food was good, but worse service ever. was there on a late Sunday afternoon. place was almost empty. trying to visit with friends and staff interrupted almost every 5 minutes wanting to clear plates that still had food on them. they took a plate of fries that weren't finished, didn't ask if a to go box was wanted and placed a dirty plate onto of the food contaminating it. none of us could figure out why they were trying to push us out. we weren't loud, we weren't disturbing others. it was bazaar. read more

While exploring the area after stopping at Wabasha falls we decided to stop for a quick mid day snack and drink. The Loon Cafe came with high recommendations. The inside of the restaurant is very nice and open around the bar and has a ton of natural light. We were seated immediately upon entering and service was exceptional. We ordered two drinks and the chili sampler. The chili here is an absolute must try! My absolute favorite was the chicken chili a la ski dad. It's definitely a healthier and leaner chili option. We also ordered the pecos river red which was yummy in the medium spice level with extremely tender sirloin steak. The pinto diablo chili was not spicy at all and it was alright. We both preferred the other two. Thankful my boyfriend noticed mushrooms in the diablo chili as I'm deathly allergic and we could've had a real issue. The passionfruit aperol spritz was different and delicious. The loonjuice cider was also delicious and an easy light drink option. I definitely recommend the loon cafe as the menu has plenty of options and the service was great. It is all paid street parking or parking garages in this part of town as well. read more

See all

I came here. I had Minnesota wild rice soup as a starter. Passion fruit Aperol spritz and grilled walleye. The service was fantastic. The walleye was atrocious! It was tasteless and it had an over-fishiness characteristic of stale fish. I regretted ordering it. I was very hungry and forced myself to eat a few nibbles, but that was it. My picture is after I was done!!. read more

The Loon Cafe - Walleye - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Stopped at The Loon Cafe for lunch with some coworkers. I had the Turkey Club and it was okay, nothing special but still good. A few people at our table had the chicken wild rice soup which was a huge hit! The menu had a variety of options and they had great beer selection on tap. Service was great, we were seated right away and our waitress was friendly and attentive. Plenty of seating and a great amount of tables for larger group which we appreciated. read more

The Loon Cafe - Seating area - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Dropped into the Loon Cafe prior to a show at the Palace Theater. Definitely a busy spot right before a concert. Tried to find 2 seats at the bar but only singles were found. Sat at a 2 top high table in the bar area. Waited for several minutes with no one greeting us and finally two side by side seats appeared at the bar so we moved. Drinks were good, service was friendly and quick at the bar. read more

The Loon Cafe - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Great bar vibe and awesome food!!! Home of the grape ape !!!! Giant sign that you can't miss right when you walk in!! In the old hamms building this is a classic bar! They have a great selection of beers on tap and a full bar. Pro tip. They have a good selection of bourbon for a nice pour! And don't pass up on the eight dollar grape ape !!!! it's a good deal and a great idea during your 15 minute intermission at the theater next-door! Service was awesome, but the food was even better ! We had classic cheese, curds burgers, and a steak sandwich. I would recommend all of those solid late night food. The quality was there even though we ordered at 10 o'clock very impressed with the price for the quality. I would definitely come back here for dinner, but their apps were awesome !! Overall, great place and somewhere I would go back if I was in the area ! read more

They are open late and have lots of seating. Honestly, in any other location this place would boring but in downtown St Paul, four stars! Chances are in you're doing something in downtown St Paul, you could walk here after and get some cheese curds. They are good. read more

We had lunch here because we were close and we were hungry. Overall, it's pretty good. I started with the wild rice soup. They begin with making their stock base then make the soup with lots of wild rice, veggies & chicken. Nice! Then I had the walleye sandwich, grilled. Jalapeño tartar sauce and brioche bun. It's a really good sandwich! It was served with cole slaw? just shaved red cabbage, and fruit cup. Just ok. Staff was fast & friendly. A great place to meet and chat! read more

See all

A perfect pre-Palace stop. We were seated quickly. The host and server were super friendly. Nice selection of beers including N/A. I had the Loon Addict chicken sandwich with fries. It was perfect on a cold night, before a concert. The place is warm and welcoming. Not too loud if that bothers some. read more

We came before a concert at the Palace Theatre so love the convenience factor. We parked at a nearby ramp. Loved the outdoor seating as it was so nice out. The server was great, suggested the grilled walleye sandwich so all 3 of us ordered it. The onion rings as a side were delicious. Also tried the jalapeño margarita and it was delicious. Great place to dine in and make it to our show. read more

A solid OK place to eat. Service was decent. Drinks were small (Tito's and soda) and spendy. Food was nothing special. Husband had a burger, said it was decent but salty. Onion rings were soggy. I was excited to see a BL(FG)T on the menu. That's Bacon, Lettuce and Fried Green Tomatoes. Sadly the FGT were very soggy, too much bacon and one limp piece of lettuce. The bread was really good. Will not be rushing to go back. read more

Party of 3 stopping in before the Wild game on a Saturday. Water was provided right away beverages shortly after and we love the spinach dip to start. Restaurant was busy the closer we got to 530. The service never wavered. Really enjoyed my Rachel. read more

The Loon Cafe - Rachel sandwich with kettle chips - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

I have stopped into the loon several times. It's in a fantastic location next to several bars and restaurants. It's next to several venues such as the Palace Theater and kjs hideaway. You can easily catch a show and then stop here or go here before a show. There are a few parking ramps and lots I'm the area that are within walking distance. In the wintertime, the surroundings are lit and decorated in lights bringing that holiday spirit to brighten the mood. As you walk in the front door you are greeted and you see a large bar with ample seating. When there are events in the area this place gets very busy but on nonevent days, it can be slow. The Friday night was very slow but enjoyable. The bartender was very kind and curious and assisted me right away. The wine-by-the-glass selection is very good and their beer selection is fantastic. I ordered my usual order the Buffalo chicken wrap and it was fantastic. The server who brought it out was very friendly as well. The few times I have been to this location I have had fabulous service and that is the number one reason to return. There are lots of tables of all sizes so they can accommodate parties of all sizes. The place is very clean and well-kept for its size and besides the beer and wine, they do have a very good selection of other great items. read more

See all

Wonderful setting on a large walk area between two theaters. I had a wonderful salad - substituted grilled chicken for the coconut fried version. Super tasty and fresh with a lot of chicken, a whole egg and 1/2 avocado and artichoke. Great service too. read more

The Loon Cafe - Grilled chicken on my salad - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Spent an evening in St. Paul with a coworker a couple of weeks ago. Had to find a place for dinner, and we settled on The Loon. Found parking nearby in a ramp and is an easy walk to The Fitzgerald Theater. It was a weekday, so it wasn't too busy. We got sat in booth in the bar area. We didn't have to wait long between getting sat, entrees ordered, and then delivered. Sally ordered a grilled walleye sandwich, and I ordered the Eight Ball chicken sandwich. Both were delicious. The Loon is in a building filled with great architecture, both interior and exterior. I'd definitely visit again. read more

See all

Stopped in after seeing Pink in concert. We were headed to Applebees for some late night snacks, but we passed here and find out they served until 11:30ish and we were already in the area. It's hard to find late night snacks ever since the pandemic, so we were pleasantly surprised. They had a variety to choose between. We ordered the beef nachos and cheese curds. The nachos were a generous portion and were excellent. The curds were frozen and not fresh, but still hit the spot for us. I ordered a side of buffalo sauce - they have excellent buffalo sauce. Server was friendly and attentive. Couldn't ask for a better experience at that time of night. I will keep this place in mind the next time I'm at Xcel. read more

The Loon Cafe - Beef nachos - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

The food was good. What I like is how late they are open and how nice the waitress was. The lights are dim and there was game on when we went. We were immediately seated and got our food quickly since we were able to order immediately. I wouldn't get the ice cream cake I got again just because it was freezer burnt. Everything else hit the spot! read more

The Loon Cafe - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

We came here for a cocktail, and we were not disappointed. A couple other possibly more upscale places don't open 'til 4, but the Loon Cafe was hustling at 3-ish. We saw a lot of Wild fans here so I assume it is good for a bite and a beer before the game. I enjoyed a Smokey Bandit because I love mezcal but they had a lot of interesting cocktail and beer options on the menu. We sat at the bar and had a great view of the whole place and the street THROUGH the bar. Nice design. Bartender served us; she was unremarkable which some folks might appreciate when seated at the bar minding their own bee's wax. We also liked the spinach queso appetizer but eat with care! It's a bit drippy. House-made tortilla chips were spectacular. read more

The Loon Cafe - Smokey Bandit - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Great spot to grab a few drinks and a bite before a show at the Palace Theater! Home of the original grape ape and it was delicious! Service was fast and friendly and we had a window seat with some great people watching. read more

The Loon Cafe - Drinks with a view - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Had the BL FG T sandwich with tater tots! Yes, fried green tomatoes! Delish! Great ambiance and service as well!!

I love The Loon. Always such a fun spot to go to when meeting up with friends. Great cocktails and the food is bomb for bar food. I don't know what kind of witchery goes on in the kitchen with their French fries but omggggg they are crispy and perfect. I dream about them. I don't know why, but the chicken tenders here so good. With honey mustard and bbq. So good. I never order or eat chicken tenders anywhere... but for some reason I always have to get them here. The chili- so good. Get it. read more

Ordered chicken tacos, got fish, to which I am highly allergic. Dialed 911 after one bite. Owner handed me his card "for insurance." I was told that he never visited our table after I entered the ambulance. Our table wasn't comped. Just business as usual. With flashing lights coming through the Loon windows. My insurance covered most of the medical treatment, but I sent him a bill for the out-of-pocket so he could make good on his "for insurance" offer. Called him numerous times. Nothing. He could have sent me the sum our party paid on the bill, which, again, he did not comp - and been ahead of the game. So, for that small price, he gets a review. I see other reviews of this place where people received food they didn't order. Minus 5 stars. read more

Loved it!!! Ambiance was perfect!!! And burger was the best burger I've ever had!! We will definitely be going back.

I had the pleasure of dining here a few weeks ago, and let me just say the experience was impeccable. It may have been because I was just hungry in the moment but the meal was delicious. I got a steak sandwich which was cooked to perfection. The service was amazing and respectful. And the overall vibe was blissful with chatter. I recommend this. read more

Had an early dinner here before a concert at the Xcel. Good spot, the patio was great and servers were very nice and attentive. Food was just ok. read more

Where to start. I was welcomed by friendly staff right as I walked through the door. The environment was very relaxing and the service was awesome. Our server kept our drinks full and the food came out fast and hits. You can tell they take pride in everything they do here. I will return again for sure. read more

See all

How happy am I that the Loon has a roost in Saint Paul? VERY happy! Everything I love about the Mpls Warehouse District location is represented in this location. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable with just a pinch of sass, the food is HUGE and well-prepared and the space lends itself to people-watching. Or memorabilia gazing. I met a friend there on a perfect late-summer lunch date and enjoyed sitting in a shady spot outside. Our server Kristi was very efficient and attentive, which added a lot of value to our outing. The menu has so many options, none of which mattered once I spied the Reuben. Oh, yes, I had my fix in sight! The bread was perfectly toasted without causing gum scrape, the fillings were plentiful and the fries stayed crispy until I could eat no more. In hindsight, I should have boxed half of the sandwich because I was in a food coma the rest of the day. I just couldn't stop eating! I love having my favorite food spot at work and at home!! read more

The Loon Cafe - HUGE Reuban! Pro tip, take half home and finish the awesome fries. - Bars Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

LOVED THIS PLACE!! Truly, an excellent fish sandwich...like, out of this world. And the Hamms beer was amazingly cold!! The bartender was super friendly and solid. And the atmosphere was exactly what I needed after a long day of travel. I look forward to returning the next time I'm in St. Paul! read more

Great soup in a great part of the city. Beer ice cold. Friendly staff. What more do you want ?

A group of three of us stopped in for lunch. The server took the order incorrectly and brought the wrong order for one of us. She asked if the person was okay with just keeping it and my fellow diner graciously said yes. When the bill was presented there was an upcharge for the item that was wrong which seemed kind of a bizarre way to do business. The food was just okay, portion size was fine but the sandwiches were subpar. It was busy and I would go back to try it again but would select different menu items for sure. read more