St. Paul holds its romantic dining close to the ground: a steak frites prix fixe on West Seventh, a candlelit corner booth off Grand, a happy hour that doubles as a first date. This list runs from Cathedral Hill's French room to neighborhood counters that just happen to work for two.
№ 01
Tongue in Cheek
St. Paul $$
989 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16518886148
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Kimchi potato cakes called the Vegasm and a Bacon & Egg Teaser set the tone at this St. Paul room built for two people splitting plates over cocktails. The happy hour pricing makes it easy to linger, and the plating reads as considered rather than fussy, which keeps the mood light instead of stiff.
What to orderBacon & Egg Teaser, Vegasm (kimchi potato cakes), East Fried Pride
№ 02
Red Cow St. Paul
St. Paul $$
393 Selby Ave, St Paul, MN 55102 · +16517890545
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A seat at the bar here turns dinner into a small show, with bartenders mixing craft cocktails in view of the counter. The burger and fries stay consistent across the St. Paul location and its sister rooms, which makes this a low-pressure choice for a date that starts casual and stays that way.
What to orderburger, fries, craft cocktail
№ 03
Cafe Astoria
St. Paul $$
180 Grand Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16515081654
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A pumpkin spice latte and a chocolate croissant make a fine excuse to sit close together on West Seventh before an evening out. The counter service moves fast, though the room fills quickly, so an early stop works better than a rushed one for anyone hoping to actually talk.
What to orderpumpkin spice latte, chocolate croissant, espresso
№ 04
Moscow on the Hill
St. Paul $$
371 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16512911236
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Beef stroganoff and pelmeni arrive built for sharing at this Cathedral Hill room, where the greeting at the door sets a warm, unhurried tone. Borscht rounds out a menu that leans into Russian comfort food, making the room feel suited to a slow dinner rather than a quick bite.
What to orderBeef Stroganoff, Pelmeni, Borscht
№ 05
Cecil's
St. Paul $$
651 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116 · +16516980334
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Fresh baked bread greets diners at the door of this St. Paul deli, where the pastrami and corned beef sandwiches draw people back for decades running. The unhurried counter staff and the smell of the bakery make it an easy, low-key stop for a daytime date that skips the formality.
What to orderpastrami sandwich, corned beef sandwich, fresh baked bread
№ 06
Brunson's Pub
St. Paul $$
956 Payne Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55130 · +16514472483
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The patio fills on sunny afternoons for burgers and cocktails, and the pub decor leaves no doubt about the mood: relaxed, a little loud, built for sharing fries across the table. The MN Burger Week special, a single patty with white American and sautéed onion, shows the kitchen's range without pretense.
What to orderMN Burger Week burger, classic burger, craft cocktails
№ 07
Red Rabbit St. Paul
St. Paul $$
788 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55105 · +16514445995
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The Bianca and salami pizzas anchor a menu built for two people and a shared bottle of lager, with crispy potatoes on the side. Conversation with the bartenders is part of the draw here, giving the room a neighborhood ease that works for a first date or a tenth one alike.
What to orderBianca pizza, salami pizza, crispy potatoes
№ 08
The Buttered Tin
St. Paul $$
237 7th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101 · +16512242300
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Cinnamon rolls and a breakfast burrito headline weekend mornings at this counter service bakery, where the Pig's Eye Breakfast comes loaded with eggs, a meat choice and hash browns. Locally sourced ingredients run through the menu, and the room suits a slow Saturday brunch for two more than a quick errand stop.
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 pizza loaded with everything and a baked mostaccioli have kept this East Side spot running for decades, the kind of place regulars measure in years rather than visits. It is unpretentious and family run in feel, better suited to comfortable familiarity than candlelight, but the loyalty it draws speaks for itself.
What to orderPizza with everything, Mostaccioli, Flavor Explosion Pizza
№ 10
J. Selby's
St. Paul $$
169 N Victoria St, St Paul, MN 55104 · +16512223263
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Loaded fries and a brunch burrito, all vegan, make this St. Paul room workable for couples or groups with mixed dietary needs. The order-at-the-counter format keeps things casual, and a community fund built into the ordering system gives the stop a purpose beyond the plate.
What to orderloaded fries, brunch burrito, vegan burger
410 St Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55145 · +16512225670
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Steak frites night on Wednesdays runs a fixed price for steak, unlimited french fries and a house salad, and it anchors this Cathedral Hill room's reputation for occasion dinners. The Parisian styling and attentive, unhurried service make it the St. Paul standard for a birthday or an anniversary table.
What to ordersteak frites, French fries, house salad
№ 12
Hope Breakfast Bar - St. Paul
St. Paul $$
1 S Leech St, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16513308996
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The carnitas bowl draws a following at this St. Paul brunch room, where the industrial interior manages to feel both close and a little formal at once. It runs busy on weekends, so a couple hoping for a quiet corner should expect a wait alongside the crowd it draws.
What to orderCarnitas bowl, eggs benedict, pancakes
Frequently asked
What is the most romantic restaurant near me in St. Paul?
It depends which part of St. Paul someone means. Meritage on Cathedral Hill is the standard for a formal occasion dinner, while Tongue in Cheek and Red Rabbit St. Paul work for a lower-key date night. Each entry here is scored on its Insider Score, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
Which restaurant on this list is best for a special occasion?
Meritage stands out for anniversaries and birthdays, with its steak frites and Parisian-styled dining room built for a slower, formal meal. Its Insider Score and price tier reflect that positioning among the twelve rooms covered here.
Are any of these St. Paul restaurants good for a casual first date?
Yes. Tongue in Cheek's happy hour, Red Cow's bar seating, and Red Rabbit's shared pizzas all suit a lower-pressure first date. None of these listings are paid placements; each reflects its own Insider Score.
Is this list only restaurants inside the city of St. Paul?
Yes, every restaurant here is located within St. Paul itself, not Minneapolis or a suburb. St. Paul and Minneapolis are separate cities with separate downtowns, and this guide keeps that distinction. Scores shown are Insider Scores, and placement is never paid.
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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.
