St. Paul cooks for its own neighborhoods first, and this list follows that logic from West Seventh to the East Side. It runs from happy hour deals and deli counters to a French bistro that still holds its own against anything across the river.
№ 01
Tongue in Cheek
St. Paul $$
989 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16518886148
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The Bacon & Egg Teaser sets the tone for a kitchen that treats happy hour as a real event, not a discount menu. Vegasm, a plate of kimchi potato cakes, rotates on and off as a special and draws repeat orders while it lasts. Plating gets real attention here, and the room reads as a legitimate date option, not just a deal.
What to orderBacon & Egg Teaser, Vegasm (kimchi potato cakes), East Fried Pride
№ 02
Red Cow St. Paul
St. Paul $$
393 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102 · +16517890545
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The burger and fries stay the anchor, but the bar seats are where this St. Paul room earns its keep. Bartenders working cocktails in view of the counter turn a quick dinner into a small show. It is one of several Red Cow locations across the metro, built for consistency over surprise, and it delivers exactly that.
What to orderburger, fries, craft cocktail
№ 03
Cafe Astoria
St. Paul $$
180 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16515081654
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A pumpkin spice latte and a chocolate croissant cover the basics well at this West Seventh counter, poured with enough care to earn a detour between appointments. The room fills fast, and parking along West Seventh takes some patience, but the counter service moves quickly once inside.
What to orderpumpkin spice latte, chocolate croissant, espresso
№ 04
Moscow on the Hill
St. Paul $$
371 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512911236
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Beef Stroganoff arrives with tender beef in a rich sauce, the kind of order regulars point newcomers toward on a first visit. Pelmeni and borscht round out a menu built for comfort rather than spectacle. Staff greet returning diners by name, and service moves fast even on a busy night.
What to orderBeef Stroganoff, Pelmeni, Borscht
№ 05
Cecil's
St. Paul $$
651 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116 · +16516980334
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Fresh baked bread announces itself at the door, and the pastrami and corned beef sandwiches that follow justify the walk to the back counter. This is a deli built on patience, not speed, with staff who let diners linger. St. Paul has few rooms left that hold this shape, and Cecil's still does.
What to orderpastrami sandwich, corned beef sandwich, fresh baked bread
№ 06
Brunson's Pub
St. Paul $$
956 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16514472483
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A patio built for sunny afternoons pairs with a burger list that includes rotating specials like a Minnesota Burger Week entry: single patty, white American, sauteed red onion, pickle, mustard. Pub decor and a full bar with cocktails alongside the tap list keep the room squarely in casual territory.
What to orderMN Burger Week burger, classic burger, craft cocktails
№ 07
Red Rabbit St. Paul
St. Paul $$
788 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105 · +16514445995
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Bianca pizza and crispy potatoes lead a menu that leans on a wood-fired program and a short, focused list rather than range. The salami pizza and house salad get called out often, and bartenders keep the room conversational. Execution has been inconsistent on some visits, which keeps this a reliable pick rather than a top-tier one.
What to orderBianca pizza, salami pizza, crispy potatoes
№ 08
The Buttered Tin
St. Paul $$
237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101 · +16512242300
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Cinnamon rolls and a breakfast burrito are the standing order here, backed by a kitchen that leans on local sourcing across the menu. The Pig's Eye Breakfast, two eggs any style with a meat selection and hash browns, covers the full plate. Ordering happens at the counter, and the layout takes a beat to figure out on a first visit.
What to ordercinnamon rolls, breakfast burrito, Pig's Eye Breakfast
№ 09
Mama's Pizza
St. Paul $
961 Rice St, Saint Paul, MN 55117 · +16514892005
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Red sauce and a pizza loaded with everything have kept this East Side spot in rotation for regulars across four decades. A loaded everything pie and a baked mostaccioli round out a menu built for volume and consistency rather than reinvention. It is the kind of neighborhood pizza place other cities lose and St. Paul has not.
What to orderPizza with everything, Mostaccioli, Flavor Explosion Pizza
№ 10
J. Selby's
St. Paul $$
169 N Victoria St, St Paul, MN 55104 · +16512223263
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Loaded fries and a brunch burrito make the vegan case without asking diners to buy into anything beyond the plate. The all-vegan menu works for groups with mixed dietary needs, pescatarian to omnivore, since everyone is ordering from the same list. A community fund built into the ordering process adds a practical touch beyond the food.
What to orderloaded fries, brunch burrito, vegan burger
410 St Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55145 · +16512225670
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Steak frites night on Wednesdays remains the standing draw: a thirty two dollar prix fixe with steak frites, unlimited french fries, and a house salad or soup. Beyond that weekly special, the French bistro menu and wine list hold up for anniversaries and birthdays alike. This is St. Paul's answer to a proper Parisian dinner, no crossing the river required.
What to ordersteak frites, French fries, house salad
№ 12
Hope Breakfast Bar - St. Paul
St. Paul $$
1 S Leech St, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16513308996
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The Carnitas bowl arrives large and full enough to anchor a weekend visit, alongside eggs benedict and pancakes on a menu that keeps expanding. The room runs small with an industrial look, and it fills up fast on weekend mornings, so service can lag when every table is seated at once. Patio seating helps when the weather cooperates.
What to orderCarnitas bowl, eggs benedict, pancakes
Frequently asked
What is the best restaurant in St. Paul right now?
Based on the Insider Score, Tongue in Cheek and Meritage rank at the top of this list. No restaurant pays to be listed here; the ranking comes from the same data used across every guide.
Where can I find good brunch restaurants near me in St. Paul?
The Buttered Tin and Hope Breakfast Bar both hold strong Insider Scores for weekend brunch, one on the counter service side and one built for groups. Neither paid for placement; the ranking reflects the review record.
Is Meritage a good spot for a special occasion in St. Paul?
Yes. Meritage carries the highest price tier on this list and consistently scores well for date nights and birthdays, particularly around its Wednesday steak frites special. The Insider Score reflects that consistency, not a paid placement.
Are there good deli options in St. Paul besides Cecil's?
Cecil's is the standout deli on this list and scores well for its classic, unhurried format. This guide does not include every deli in the city, only the ones with strong enough Insider Scores to earn a place, and none paid for the spot.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Kou Thao
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Kou Thao is the St. Paul & Corridors Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born in St. Paul and raised in Frogtown, he grew up working the family egg-roll stand at Hmongtown Marketplace. He covers the marketplaces, University Avenue, the East Side and West Side, and every corridor counter worth the trip across the river.
