There are plenty of great restaurants in Saint Paul, MN, but if you want to experience the downtown area, then give one of these 5 restaurants a try.
Senor Wong’s
Not the easiest location to find if you aren’t familiar with downtown, but worth a visit albeit a few wrong turns. Located on 4th and Robert street, this restaurant is unique in that it serves Asian and Latin cuisine. They frequently offer beer dinners, which are 4 course meals paired with craft beer from a local, or regional brewery. There’s also the $10 beer and burger special all day on Sundays and great happy hour specials. The weekend nights bring DJ’s spinning old-school rap tunes from LL Cool J, Tupac and Biggie Smalls in a casual lounge-type setting. And it has to be said, that as a huge wonton fan, this place has the best jalapeno wonton poppers I’ve ever had in my life.
Heartland
I hear about Heartland every time I talk to somebody about Saint Paul restaurants. People love it. Whether you are sitting in the dining room, or ordering from the bar menu, there are simply no complaints. Heartland is unique in that all of their ingredients are locally grown and produced, so the food is always fresh. Their menu changes nightly, so be sure to check the dinner menu online before you go.
Meritage
Easily the most expensive restaurant in downtown Saint Paul. Meritage is frequently busy and frequently talked about. Recently, USA Today listed Meritage as one of the country’s 10 best oyster bars. It’s an upscale restaurant with a laid-back feel. They have a chef’s table, tasting menus, valet parking and a delightful brunch. In the summer they even have a crepe stand out front on the sidewalk. Basically, if you have money, go here. If you don’t have money, safe some up, and go here.
Trattoria da Vinci
Italian fare with gorgeous ambiance and a build-your-own pasta bar. Located on Sibley Street next to the fabulous Bin Wine Bar, Trattoria has created a warm European atmosphere that serves traditional Italian dishes (but you really need to go for the pasta bar). The prices are reasonable and on weekends, there is a guitarist so amazing you will turn in your seat to ensure it’s a real person and not just a recording. Great service, great location, great food.
Black Sheep
This place offers coal-fired pizza at its finest. Tucked away on the corner of 10th and Robert Streets, the restaurant features simple, industrial decor and a large, wraparound bar. Their tap beer selection is impressive and rumor has it their salads are delightful. While leftover pizza is usually enjoyable, trust me when I say, coal-fired pizza doesn’t fare well in the refrigerator.