Excellent service and delicious food. We didn't have a reservation, yet the hostess fit us in- so thankful! Allen was a wonderful waiter! We enjoyed the gyro platter and stuffed salmon as well as the Tuscan chicken. The roasted veggies were perfect! We all had dessert as well- delicious cheesecake and baklava! read more

One of the few fine dining restaurants in town, Cafe Renaissance has a unique menu with something for everyone! Wonderful dining experience with excellent food and top quality service. The price point is higher, but for a special occasion it is worth every penny! read more

Great atmosphere and food! Only complaint I have is that pita bread doesn't come with the Saganaki. Very strange...so you just eat the cheese with a fork? Here is a pic of the baklava - fantastic read more

Lovely atmosphere. Both the service and food were phenomenal! My go to place for fine dining!

Wonderful atmosphere, excellent food, but a $20 glass of wine with a 4 oz pour ? Not worth it at all.

I had a birthday dinner last night at Café Renaissance. It was fabulous. My server ERICA was outstanding everything about the evening could not have been better, until I got home and found out I had lost my ring. I called them they said they would look forward I called him again this morning they still haven't found it but Al said he would continue to look. I received a call about 1 o'clock from Al and he found my ring in the dumpster. He knew how important my ring was to me and he said even though I've never gone looking in a dumpster before I needed to try. Al went above and beyond and I am eternally grateful. My first visit there but they have a lifelong customer though to be honest even without finding the ring I would've been a loyal customer great place to have a fabulous dinner read more

We have always had a wonderful experience from exceptional food to remarkable staff. This is our favorite restaurant in the area.

Cafe Renaissance is one of our go-to restaurants. Friday night after a matinee we thought we'd slide in for an early dinner. The place was full, but we got a high-top in the bar. The owner waited on us. We were hoping for something that had been taken off the menu, but he went to the kitchen and made it happen! They go way out of their way to make diners happy. Even though we'd picked something else out, he insisted. This isn't the first time. When they didn't have cannoli during the pandemic for takeout, they threw in complimentary baklava. Plus, there's a pianist playing Christmas music. Just love this place, affordable fine dining. Just make a reservation! read more

My wife and I ate here the day after Valentine's Day. When we pulled up I wondered if we really wanted to go in. Doesn't look like much from the outside. But once we stepped in, it felt like we were in a foreign country. Really well done on the inside. Scallops and Shrimp were excellent. My wife had the curry chicken which was excellent as well. Our waiter was very attentive. We would recommend this place. read more

Very large menu with lots of options. Good for a special occasion or romantic meal. Located in a strip mall type building but once inside you will forget that (see photos on their website or posted by others). The flaming cheese is fun for an appetizer. They have some tasting events and overall a nice atmosphere with a good wine selection. Prices are higher than average for the area but not outrageous generally speaking. read more

I have never been more disappointment at an "attempt" for culture in the Saint Cloud Area. The best part about the experience was the bottle of wine (that took 20 minutes to receive) and the warm focaccia (which took an additional 20 minutes to receive). I honestly think their menu is too large and need more of a specialty. I ordered the chicken curry, the spices tasted old and the rice was mushy. My mami ordered the "catch of the day halibut, which was flown in from Alaska this morning". Seriously? This is Saint Cloud, Minnesota we're talking about. I doubt one flight comes into the municipal airport daily and much less to deliver fresh fish. Ridiculously expensive price tag for bad food and slow service? No gracias. read more

Staff is very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. The food is phenomenal and they have a wide variety to choose from. Definitely a great place to grab a dinner out or special occasion. read more

Yelp Super find. When I found out I was heading up this way for a few months on business first thing I did was Yelp search. Top review for the address I pinpointed... wait for it... Olive... freakin'... Garden. I don't even know how to respond to such a shocking lack of taste or appreciation of quality. Fortunately I went through the results and found this wonderful gem. The inside is unexpectedly nice, with nice paintings of strong powerful Greek women in flowing robes. There is a piano player playing softly in the center of the room under a chandelier. I had lemon pepper salmon on top of mushrooms, tomatoes and spinach with a side of sweet potatoes and it came with the house barley soup which was perfectly executed with tiny morsels of vegetables. I'm coming back next week for sure. My only concern would be that it is too quiet to take my loud colleagues. read more

Cafe Renaissance - Mediterranean Near Me - Waite Park, Minnesota

This review is based off a pick-up order for a work lunch. For work I was bringing food to a group of about 10 people at a clinic in St. Cloud. The doctor decided to order for everyone and ordered 8 of the Mediterranean Platters. I would order this platter (minus the Baba Ghanoush) once a week for probably the next year or two if I lived anywhere near to St Cloud. That good. The platter consisted of freshly homemade hummus with chunks of tomato and kalamata olives, baba ghanoush (which those who like that were raving about), delicious tabbouleh, and grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs. They were accompanied by soft, chewy pieces of pita bread and seasoned foccacia bread. Each platter was enough to fill several people so the portions are quite large. When I picked up the order the guy who helped me (I assume the owner or manager) was incredibly helpful and carried it all out to my car for me. He also gave us one platter for free and threw in a GIANT container of some of the most delicious baklava I have ever eaten. Again, very large portions. My experience with Cafe Renaissance was nothing short of awesome and I can't wait to go back to St Cloud (did I really just say that?) for some more yummy mediterranean/greek food! read more

Excellent! My mouth waters when I think of this restaurant. I love Paella. I could not see a fault in their Paella Valenciana. I tasted my wife's dish which was Moussaka. It was very good to excellent. One of our guests liked her roasted salmon. In my opinion the decor is a bit overdone or pretentious. However, I should add that the tables are not too close together and the atmosphere very relaxing. There was an excellent pianist playing. When he play one of my favorite classical pieces, Clair de Lune, that made for an excellent evening! read more

This place is excellent for the St Cloud area... but if it were anywhere else, it would just be good. The decor is overwhelmingly gaudy, but don't be fooled by the fancy-pants-ness, it's fine to dress casual (really... you can dress causal anywhere in Minnesota). Hmm... Greek and Mediterranean? Well... my husband was born and raised along the Mediterranean Sea. I spent a few years in that region myself and I would not claim this place to be anywhere close to authentic Greek or Mediterranean cuisine. It is a bit Mediterranean-ish by American standards. That being said, the food IS good. We ordered a pizza to split (it was lunch) and a salad. Both are HUGE servings that would be insanely big served to one. I had to take a double-take around me to see if I was in a family-style serving place... but no, just Minnesota I guess. The salad was American Greek version in the sense that it had lettuce, cucumbers, olives, sundried tomatoes, feta, and a balsamic dressing. It's better than your average American Greek diner... but it's nothing you would find in Greece. The pizza came out on a pizza parlor stand, which was not expected. The crust was thin (not cracker thin) and nice. The toppings had a grilled taste and well done. read more

I was asked to add what the owner had prepared special for us: Salad-e-shirazi (cucumber, tomato, onions salad with a lime oliveoil vinaigrette and herbs) and Mast-o-khiar (a yoghurt and cucumber dip similar to tsatsiki and raita but still unique). read more

ABSOLUTELY "The Best Place!" It's a quiet family or couple place to dine, they do set you accordingly we've noticed!! This place is Amazing!! My husband and his family are "food Snobs!" And he said this was his favorite place of all!! Thank You! read more

Pleasantly surprised to find this restaurant in the fine dining desert of St. Cloud. The menu is HUGE! I strongly recommend the lamb chops, they were sooo good. We also had the Moroccan chicken, which tasted very good, but be warned is VERY spicy. Our dining companion had the Seafood Royale, which he said was very good. Their bread is very tasty, asiago on top, I believe. We also ordered an Old Vines red wine, very good. My first old vines wine! If you're going for dessert, the zabaglione was excellent! Very berry-ful. read more

I was pleasantly surprised to find this place in St. Cloud where good restaurants are hard to come by. I had the lamb which was better than anything I've ever eaten in this area. The palette cleanser between courses was a really nice touch. I thought this was just going to be your average Greek place but when we walked in there were chandeliers and a grand piano which was a total surprise. I'm definitely going back. read more

Very nice place. They have all of the foods that you love from the Med; Italian, Greek, Moroccan, etc. Very friendly service and the homemade bread is amazing. Between us we had the Med sample plate, escargot, Seafood Royale, Shrimp Scampi and the Med salad. House tea is great and you get a nice bite of sorbet to cleanse your palette. The place looks fancy but they make you feel comfortable even when you are in jeans. read more

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By far the most exquisite dining in St Cloud/central Minnesota! An absolute gem!! Service was impeccable, food was a strong "TEN"!!! Why is this my first time here? Where have I been?? Don't wait - go now!! read more

We had lunch at the Cafe Renaissance today. The food was great and the service was even better. I plan to return soon to try the evening menu. If you have not been there I recommend you go soon. read more

All I can say to those that call this place "pretentious" is--get a life! Just because you had to change out of your ripped-up and faded blue jeans, so what? This place is very nicely decorated to fit the atmosphere it wants to create. Nope, it's no TGIFriday's, but for the price, it had better not be! I dined here recently late in the evening with a group of six, quite a large group for the hour we arrived at, however, I didn't hear a word of complaint and the service didn't suffer one wit for it. With the large variety of dishes, everybody was still happy, and I personally thought my dish was incredible. I've never been to Greece or the Mediterranean, so I can't comment on authenticity at all, but compared to the local fare, the food was very different, yet still fit my local tastes--quite an accomplishment in my humble opinion. I will be coming back, and frequently. The service and delicious food has won my loyalty far into the future. read more

We were greater immediately and seated at a table of our choice. The atmosphere was very formal and elegant. Our server was in training but did a great job. We were told about the specials and offered drinks right away. I had the gyros and a side of hummus. It was very good and tasted authentic. My friend had the salmon salad- also good! We had a wonderful experience and would return. read more

Best Italian food in town. The pasta is fresh and the French onion soup is legendary.

I wuld give this restaurant more stars if I could! We went here for a celebratory dinner. The food was EXCEPTIONAL! We ordered appetizers, entrees and desert. The wine list was very nice, and they even offer a nice non-alcoholic wine so the person in our party who can't have alcohol could take part in the toast. We asked the waiter to send a drink to a guy in army uniform, and found out later, they comp'd it! When you go in, ask to be seated in Barrett's section. He will make sure you have all you want! Even the staff bussing plates were incredibly polite and accomodating! A definite value for the dollar! read more

This is the special event restaurant in St. Cloud. Food is carefully prepared, with wonderful ingredients and attention to details that you don't see at other restaurants in town. Servers are experienced individuals who understand the menu and are able to make excellent recommendations. The wine list is big for St. Cloud and prices are fair considering the quality. Instead of big screen tv's blaring out from every wall like most St. Cloud restaurants, they have a piano player who adds so much to the atmosphere. Service isn't fast, but that's the point of it - come, relax, and enjoy. read more

Best place in St. Cloud by far! Huge menu selections , always fresh food and wonderful service ! read more

Cafe Renaissance - Very elegant and beautiful, quiet place ! This is sitting by the window on the far side . - Mediterranean Near Me - Waite Park, Minnesota

With such a wide variety of cuisine, we were intrigued. Would the execution across so many styles of food hold up? It did. Service was prompt, professional and friendly. The Saganaki was on fire! (literally). The cold Melon soup was unique. Oso Buco was oh so tender. The standing rack of lamb was outstanding. And the Thai green curry chicken was spicy and flavorful. Overall a great experience and a surprising find in Waite Park! read more

The lamb, green curry and moussaka dishes are wonderful, but the dolmades was disappointing The decor is in much need of updating, makes the place a bit dull, drab and tired looking. The staff are very friendly and the service is good. I'd definitely return to this restaurant. read more

Absolutely great experience! Lovely restaurant, incredible food. Outstanding service. Had the tagine and paella...super flavorful. Great baklava for dessert. Would highly recommend read more

One of the best in central MN. Very friendly staff.Not too expensive.

Wow, wow, wow. Although I can't afford to eat here too often, it's great for occasions. Everything we had was amazing. The stuffed shrimp were great, the halibut was great, and the tiramisu was fantastic. I work at a restaurant that serves tiramisu, and I drive across town to get theirs to go. I will be going back. Get dessert- you won't regret it! read more

I really wanted this place to be good considering how limited the dining options are in the area. We were hoping for a new spot to frequent. Typical of St. Cloud "Fine Dining" they obviously spent more money on the tacky decorations (think old Vegas) than on the Chef's salary or food sourcing. The atmosphere is pretentious and stuffy, decorations gaudy and food certainly isn't worth getting dress up for. The menu is a train-wreck with no focus, and way too big of a selection to chose from. They did have a few decent bottles of wine on the list, but again nothing to get excited about. This place wouldn't last in any city with a developed restaurant scene. read more

I don't quite understand why some people have rated this place so low! This is not a dress up kind of place! They paid great detail to their decor, but with burgers on the menu, jeans is just fine! This place is perfect for St. Cloud: Eclectic menu: adventuresome yet some safe items too. "Niche" restaurants do not do well in St. Cloud, a town with obviously "less developed restaurant scene." I think having too many items too choose from is a great thing: there's literally something for everyone and they do it all very well. We were there on Saturday and they were completely booked. The offered us a spot in the bar with full service. Our service was impeccable, food was delicious. THE BEST prime rib in the area and it's only $19.99. Remember, we're not in Chicago or Mpls, this is St. Cloud where the number 1 rated "family restaurant" is typically a chain. read more

Went here for Valentine's Day Great atmosphere, friendly service, but terrible food. Super greasy appetizers, painfully overlooked halibut. Disappointing. read more

Great food and great service. Very good quality food at a decent price. Would recommend for a fancy night out.

Absolute gem of a restaurant in the St. Cloud area! The food and the service is absolutely amazing.

Had dinner last night with my wife by accident. We've driven past many times and decided to try it. In a city where you pass a chain restaurant every five seconds, Cafe Renaissance is a breath of fresh air. Atmosphere was very nice- pianist playing, white table cloths, Mediterranean ambiance. Food was thoughtfully prepared- the detail put into the appetizer (spanikopita), soup (veg minestrone), and entrees (chicken curry dish and Greek salad) was apparent. Compliments to the chef. A bit overpriced but a good experience nonetheless. read more