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    1881 Eating House

    4.2 (43 reviews)
    Closed • Closed

    1881 Eating House Photos

    1881 EATING HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - 1881 Eating House

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    Tracie B.

    Beautiful location and above average food. Again, so hits and misses but at the Union it is a wonderful option. The lettuce wraps were outstanding. The bipimbop needed more spice by a long shot but was still fresh. The soup was really good but just too cheesy which I didn't think was a thing. The sin dessert was tremendous. Huge standout! Potstickers great. Sandwich was ok but fries were great. Drinks again just ok.

    December 2025
    Tiffany W.

    Didn't hate and didn't love. I'm mostly excited to know that Union Depot isn't on life support as I once thought it was. My family stumbled across 1881after attending the North Pole Express. To my surprise, the interior of the depot is full of life, varying stores and amongst the commotion, 1881. 1881 sits inside the depot boasting an open air concept as there's no walls resembling a giant patio. The host was really sweet and we were able to score a table with no reservation on a Sunday. Breakfast is served until 4 pm which is a win in my book! Service and staff dress attire is polished resembling the sister company, Lake Elmo Inn. By design, 1881 is a higher end cuisine yet by no means it the dress code of customers required to be fancy. I ordered the Korean Beef Bowl and it was okay. The presentation was 100% there but I felt like it could use more sauce. It was very healthy for sure! Other items at my table included wings, berry salad, burger and spaghetti which goes to show the wide variety of options. While I can't say that I would actively go back at my own free will because that area of town is not something I do frequently along with the disconnected parking lot, I recommend stopping if you're at the depot for sure. Thank you, 1881! Glad to see a business occupy this space.

    Happy Fries
    Melaney S.

    The atmosphere is very cool, sitting in the train station watching the world pass by. The food has always been top notch, with the chefs putting in extra effort around my weird allergy. The staff and the service put this place over the top. If you want the best martini in town try to get Ben to make it for you. He has an easy smile and a gracious manner. Say Hi from me, or to me.

    Bob A.

    Truly a hidden gem. This restaurant and bar is square in the middle of the large main entryway at Union Depot. This gives it a very unique ambiance that I absolutely love. I've only been in for brunch, but the food has been excellent each time. I love the Eggs Benedict (I used to be a brunch regular at much-missed Saint Dinette nearby and am to have this replacement), and I recently tried the Croque Madame which was very good. I also asked for a side salad, thinking I would need more food beyond that entree. Turns out there was plenty of mass to that Croque Madame but it was nice that they improvised a salad for me. I liked the creamy Green Goddess dressing she recommended. My server this time - I think she said her name was Aziza - was super nice and professional. There is the paid parking at Union Depot, and those rates are reasonable enough that if you are planning to come here you should probably head to their ramp. However, I tend to drive around looking for street parking which is free on Sundays. That can take a while and can require a walk of some blocks, but it's my preference. This eatery comes from the same people as the estimable Lake Elmo Inn, so there is a lot of quality here. Between that and the charm of the train-station environs, I really think this makes for a memorable dining experience.

    In the train station
    Megan Q.

    Strong recommendation to make a reservation in advance. There are no walk-ins after a certain point, and the space is small enough that availability disappears quickly. If you're dining with children, request the couch seating area. It offers noticeably more flexibility and breathing room compared to the standard tables, which makes a difference in such a compact restaurant. As for the food: while I don't doubt that other menu items are solid, the Korean gochujang bowl fell flat for me. The flavor profile was fairly plain, and while hot sauce was available, it didn't complement the dish--it felt mismatched rather than additive. The three-star rating reflects a combination of factors: the tight space, the added hassle of the train station location, and a main dish that didn't quite deliver. Not a bad experience, but not one that fully lived up to expectations either.

    Lisa S.

    What a great place for dinner. We happened to come across this place after attending an event at the Science Museum. Located in the beautifully architected Depot, the restaurant is an open air area with tables that allow you to enjoy your surroundings. We ordered the dry rub wings and cob salad. Both were delicious. The wings were served hot and super crispy. The salad was beautifully presented with lots of layers and a yummy dressing. We split both dishes and our server was quick to bring us lots of plates for sharing. Service was excellent. Parking in the Depot parking lot was a mere $4. What a great place to enjoy a beautiful setting and excellent food.

    Interior
    Kathleen R.

    Tried this place after picking up my sister. Food was fantastic and the recommended items were above expectations. Ambiance is load, it's a train depot after all! Not too loud to hear conversations though. We had excellent service, and a special nod to Maya B, our server. She was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. Would eat here again.

    Menu
    Markus G.

    I will update this review once I have come in for food. My wife and I only stopped in and had strawberry mimosas. Rose and Ben were great, their customer service is top notch. They know how to make customers feel welcome. We met a few other employees of the restaurant and everyone was nice, friendly and helpful. We cannot wait to come back and try some of their dinner options.

    Old Fashioned
    Tracey F.

    Have been wanting to check this place out since announcing it was open, but we don't find ourselves in Lowertown all that often. Hubs was trying to find somewhere we hadn't been, or at least hadn't been in a while, and 1881 came up on the search so decided to head over to Union Depot. The way the space in the head house has been set up is cute; we both commented that the decor that was chosen is perfect. We started with cocktails, a sidecar and an old fashioned. I can see why the old fashioned has won awards, it was so good. For dinner, hubs had the chicken picatta and I had the lamb burger. The lamb burger was delicious, perfectly cooked. Hubs liked the chicken picatta, but the breading on the chicken was a little overdone and the sauce on the side pasta was a little thick. But he did say it still had nice flavor. We decided to get a Sin at the Inn for dessert, which was basically a turtle tart. OMG - I don't like chocolate very much and this was just deliciously decadent. We were a little disappointed to see it was fairly slow when we got there shortly before 6, but it picked up around 6:30. It was just so good we don't want to see it disappear! Our server was kind and made some great recommendations. We also can't wait to come back and try the advertised happy hour. Would recommend if you're in the area or if you're looking for a little different vibe.

    5:02 pm, fully booked per staff

    What an odd experience. My family of 4 (adults and young adults) decided to try this place for an early dinner on Saturday before a concert. Reviews looked good and it's inside the Union Depot. We walked up at 5:02 pm, it was dead, only one table was occupied. Asked for menus to review, decided everyone can find something to eat (diet limitations), asked for a table. Smiling hostess then informed us that no tables were available (all reserved) but we could sit on the patio. Huh? Okay. We checked out the patio, which was too loud with not enough shade on a hot day. Decided to keep walking, but were concerned about being late for our concert. I checked their website and there were plenty of reservations for 5:15, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15... you get the idea. I made a reservation for 5:15, walked back inside, told the hostess we now have a reservation. Our waitress was very nice. Our food was not memorable (not great, not bad). Hunter's pie was not a pie but a pile of mashed potatoes topped with stew- not what we expected but the best dish out of everything we ordered. Ravioli- too sweet but nice concept, fries- too salty, French onion soup- not balanced (all the croutons were in the bottom, kind of odd). Food runner was just bad. He did not know where anything went, would not put plates down, but expected us to take plates and pass other people's food to them? Like you have one job... We paid and left at 6:17. There were two tables occupied at that time. Where were all the reservations due to which we could not be seated originally? I'm still puzzled, it doesn't seem like this place wants to stay in business.

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    7 months ago

    Loved the ambience and the staff! The food on the other hand, not so much. I thought it was salty yet tasteless.

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    1 year ago

    What a wonderful addition to the downtown St Paul area. Much needed. I had a great experience and am looking forward to returning.

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    2 years ago

    Food great, dessert fab,service great, love the surroundings. Caesar salad, very good. Music really adds to the experience.

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    2 years ago

    Amazing food and service. Great location with great ownership that really care about quality and experience.

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    2 years ago

    One of the best burgers I have had in a long time. Spectacular staff and a beautiful location. I love this place.

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    Ask the Community - 1881 Eating House

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    Two reviews Vegasm -…read morekimchi potato cakes. $16.00 this is a special that may not stay on the menu. I eat what I want and this just stuck me as something to try. They were good. The whole menu was interesting. The surf and turf was octopus and beef tongue. $13. My wife liked it very much. Meals were about $12 to $20 dollars. Mixed drinks about $10. They have a very interesting flight of mixed drinks for $20. You get to try 5 items. About an ounce and a half each. The deserts were the surprise. About $7 to $9 and very good. Not too large but enough. We are looking forward to going again. ************ Always good food and fun drinks Red headed stranger $15 very good Two people got cocktail flights $6 per shot and each in a different style glass. Ron Swanson, Mother of Dragons, why not, palapa no más, cross eyed, 2 had Pork belly ramen $24. Very nice broth and good sized bowl. Took a good portion home for lunch and it was good then also. 2 had grouper. $30 Said it was cooked perfectly Some had brandy Alexander $24 and said were very good Expresso martini $14 good comments Server was Katie R but she had good support for others including one owner. We had a good time and our friends had not been before and said they would be back. As of course will we.

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    Holman's Table - Brûlée Grapefruit

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    I'd like to start by complimenting the dessert. It was absolutely delicious…read more My date and I stopped by for a cognac and something sweet after dinner. We chose to sit at the bar, but it took nearly 10 minutes before the bartender acknowledged us or brought us water. Because the bar appeared moderately busy and only one bartender seemed to be making drinks, we went ahead and ordered dessert. We also asked about the brandy and cognac selection. Unfortunately, the bartender seemed unfamiliar with what was available. When we asked to see the only cognac she mentioned, she presented the bottle with what appeared to be obvious annoyance. Since it was the only cognac available, we ordered it, but only after another lengthy wait. A few minutes later, we asked whether our dessert order had been entered. The bartender told us it had been, but we then watched her walk to the POS system and enter the order immediately afterward. That was very disappointing and made us feel as though we had been misled. During this time, four additional guests sat at the bar, yet no one came over to assist or help expedite drink service. Our dessert arrived about 10 minutes later. Throughout our entire visit, the bartender never smiled, engaged with us, or made any effort to create a welcoming experience. My date did not care for the cognac and asked to see the brandy selection. When the bartender retrieved a step stool to reach the bottle, she set both the stool and the bottle down roughly. The interaction again felt irritated and unprofessional. More broadly, it seemed as though the bar was overwhelmed, and no one was stepping in to help. One server stood nearby rolling silverware while guests waited for service. I understand that staffing challenges have affected the hospitality industry since COVID, but given the prices charged at this establishment, I expected a much higher standard of professionalism. I was also surprised to see a server dressed in faded jeans and a crop top that exposed a navel piercing, which did not align with the upscale atmosphere I anticipated. I had always heard wonderful things about this restaurant and was genuinely excited to visit. Unfortunately, my experience did not reflect the reputation I had heard so much about. If this level of service is typical, I do not see myself returning. The dessert was excellent, but the service left a lasting negative impression. An inexperienced bartender, a lack of hospitality, and being given inaccurate information made what should have been an enjoyable visit disappointing.

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    Baldamar - Brussels Sprouts

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    Red Cow St. Paul

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    The food at W.A. Frost truly is something to enjoy. We started off with the deviled eggs, then…read moreworked our way through the mussels (with the bread basket of course), lamb belly and then ended with the dirt cake and cheesecake. The deviled eggs had a wonderful smoky flavor from the smoked salmon, if you enjoy deviled eggs you will definitely enjoy this. I also loved the flavor of the broth from the mussels and I do recommend getting the bread basket to soak up the additional broth. I enjoyed the lamb belly with the zucchini, however the squash blossom stuffed with ricotta wasn't my favorite. If you don't typically order dessert I would absolutely recommend trying the cheesecake. It is hands down the best I have ever had! Cheesecake funk is where they get it from and I need to figure out a way to buy it directly from them because it is amazing. Overall, I highly recommend you enjoy the patio at W.A Frost.

    Food was not as good as they recommended and say. The deviled eggs were dry, tasteless and tasted…read moreaged, like old wine. The Brie appetizer was no better with less than fresh cheese, and a very sad blueberry onion compote that was sad as well. The bread course with whipped butter that cost $11.00 was the best thing on the menu so far. We shared a Pork Chop Tomahawk that was less than par with a glaze you hardly had. The best thing on that plate was the spatzle and garnish.

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    1881 Eating House - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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