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GRAND AVENUE. Acropol Inn, located in the fashionable Grand Avenue area, has been a staple on the St. Paul dining scene for decades. The mom-and-pop-style, family-owned restaurant offers an authentic Greek menu and refined dining. Expect to see well-heeled business types enjoying the likes of pasticcio, moussaka, lamb, dolmades, and Greek salads. In European tradition, the restaurant is closed for the month of July each summer.
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DOWNTOWN. Babani's prides itself on being "America's first Kurdish restaurant." The storefront eatery offers unique atmosphere and is a great place for somewhat adventurous dining. Named after a Kurdish tribe, Babani offers traditional dishes like onion-tinged niskena soup and kubay sawar, a dumpling made with lean beef and vegetables. No meal can be complete without sampling the homemade Kurdish lemonade – that is, if the imported Omani lemons have made it in. Otherwise, you're out of luck!
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WEST ST. PAUL. This appealing Middle Eastern restaurant enjoys a fine reputation with the downtown lunch crowd, and it's not uncommon to see more than one table filled with business people. Beirut serves traditional Lebanese dishes like baba ghanoug, beef and lamb kebabs, hummus, and falafel. If you can't come at lunch for one of their awesome pitas, make an effort to show up for dinner on Friday and Saturday, when patrons are treated to belly dancing.
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Cheng Heng
448 University Ave, St. Paul, MN 55103 · 651-222-5577
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MIDWAY. Looking for a taste of Cambodia? Cheng Heng has just what you need. This popular restaurant boasts a menu that's at once exciting and exotic. If you stop in for lunch or dinner, try authentic dishes like quob poob (curry noodles soup), plear (a salad of sliced beef and sauce-covered vegetables), or leah chah (mussels sautéed with Asian basil, garlic, and scallions). Don't be put off by unfamiliar names; just dive into the restaurant's terrific Asian fare.
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BLOOMINGTON. For truly excellent French cuisine, look no further than this hotel restaurant. Everything about Chez Daniel exudes class, from its elegant yet informal atmosphere to its innovative menu. Among the restaurant's more popular items are steak au poivre, smoked salmon, and sautéed tiger prawns. Leisurely meals usually go on for a good while, especially when Chez Daniel's wine list gets involved.
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WEST ST. PAUL. The area around Holman Field doesn't boast much in the way of good restaurants, but this Mexican eatery is an exception. It's difficult to imagine anybody who wouldn't be tempted upon entering, because the staff casually puts beautifully made burritos, gorditas, and tacos on display. Tastes are as terrific as aromas, and regulars know that the specialty is the torta, a knee-knocking bean-and-beef combo topped with avocado and onion.
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La Belle Vie
510 Groveland Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · 612-874-6440
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Prepare for a touch of the "good life" at this restaurant. Its seasonal menu has gotten positive press from local critics and boasts entrées like seared sea scallops, grilled beef tenderloin, and pan-roasted Moulard duck breast. For dessert, give yourself over to incredibly inventive desserts like organic olive oil cake with bitter chocolate and olive oil ice cream and poached figs or perhaps a chevre and raspberry semifreddo. Do keep in mind that the dessert menu changes seasonally.
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EAST ST. PAUL. Mirror of Korea, which St. Paul swiped from Minneapolis, offers authentic Korean cuisine – spicy and not "watered down" for American palates. Owner Lee Yong enjoys a loyal following, who praise her barbecue ribs as being among the best in the Twin Cities. Menu favorites include vegetable and chicken stir-fries and bi bim bah (cooked veggies served cold over rice and smothered in pepper sauce). The restaurant's storefront location just east of downtown makes it an ideal lunch destination for the business set.
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DOWNTOWN / CATHEDRAL HILL. This delightful restaurant run by Marina and Naum Liberman brings the cuisine and atmosphere of Russia to the Twin Cities. The restaurant's decor adds warmth and coziness, and on Fridays and Saturdays, patrons are treated to live Russian music. The menu includes fish, game, and meat entrées – salmon kebabs with orange glaze, stuffed quail, and a filling babushka (pork and vegetable) stew. The restaurant offers tasty vegetarian entrées as well.
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Sakura
350 St. Peter St, St. Paul, MN 55102 · 651-224-0185
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DOWNTOWN. If you're looking for good sushi, many locals will point you to Sakura. Miyoko Omori's cozy restaurant enjoys a fine reputation for excellent service, elegant atmosphere (complete with a stylish loft), and a terrific sushi chef, Ono Katsuyuki. If you're not primed for the house specialty, Sakura offers a regular menu that includes traditional dishes like tempura chicken, salmon teriyaki, and yose nabe (a fish, shellfish, and vegetable stew).
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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