Capital View Cafe

Wow. Happy hour here is amazing. A great deal and a great restaurant…read more Here is the rundown: Bacon & Egg Teaser - so great my husband ate 2 East Fried Pride - excellent pork belly Shroomin - it was just okay and I love mushrooms Fried Chicken Buns - very good Yellowfin Tuna Tostada - very good (me), excellent (husband) Smash Burger - EXCELLENT, we both agree that this ranked #1 or #2 EVER Dome Dessert - really good but the buttermilk is a contrast John's Candy NA drink - Excellent Riley was a great server and we had so much fun. Street parking and casual. HIGHLY recommended!

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.

Smoked Salmon Sandwich

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$14 Cocktail (Why Not Minot) $4 Teaser (Shroomin 5)

The High Hat

4.5(163 reviews)

1.6 mi•Cathedral Hill

To say I liked The High Hat is a bit of an understatement. Honestly just thinking about it now I'm…read moresad I don't live in MN and can't go back soon, it's really just that good. First of all we found this place on Yelp and landed on it because of the high reviews and how close it was to our airbnb. I was a bit worried about a wait as it looked popular but with two people we were able to get in pretty quick (less than 5 min wait) on a Sunday morning. It was packed though, so there might be a wait. Space is at a premium in this building and despite being a bit crammed in it was still a great experience overall. Honestly everything was wonderful. The server: A+, ambiance: great, food: holy hell it was delicious. I had some sort of benedict that came on cornbread and was paired with some incredible hashbrowns. Chef's kiss. I also ordered a specialty mocha for fun and it also did not disappoint. This place is a slam dunk for breakfast. If you live in the twin cities and you haven't eaten here yet what are you doing!?

This place is an absolute GEM in the breakfast world. It is the ONLY place in the twin cities, that…read moreI have found, where I can get a great coffee as well as a great breakfast. Every. Single. Time. That doesn't even cover how wonderful the staff there is! Just really great people who are keeping it real. No parties larger than 6, this is a hard rule and needs to be respected. I have seen people argue with the owner. It's a small place and he values his staff so much that he will not opt for income over his staff's mental health or stress level. I admire that so much. All the more reason to take your close friend and enjoy a real down to earth local business!!!

Bar

Huevos Divorciados

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Huevos divorciados

Red Cow St. Paul

4.3(1k reviews)

1.6 mi•Cathedral Hill

So fun sitting at the bar at Red Cow - it's like dinner and a show watching the bar tenders whip up…read moredrinks. The guys behind the bar were fun chatting with too. We started with Ahi Tuna Crisp appetizer - we substituted the cracker for cucumber. This twist makes it so fresh. The sauce is a bit tangy and avocado balances the tuna. So yummy! I opted for a cheeseburger - very good smash burger. I have had the Double Double in the past and that is probably my favorite burger with two smash burger patties, cheese and special sauce. Can't miss on the regular fries. Crispy and delicious!

You can't go around with red cow, it is simple and good. They have a handful of these around the…read morecities, all have the same food, the same quality. It is an easy Tuesday night out

Sweet corn is the red cows version of Mexican elote... And it is so good?

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Brunch Flight- Bloody Mary, Mimosa, Lager, Coffee

Altera

4.4(52 reviews)

4.2 mi•Highland

I had been really wanting to go to Altera and was excited to go! I liked the ambiance but will say…read morethere was room for improvement for attention to cleanliness - menu, water glass, chair were not clean. We ordered: POK POK CHICKEN WINGS 5/5 BURRATA 1/5 CACIO E PEPE Pizza 2/5 DAN DAN NOODLE 4.5/5 (not terribly warm) CLAUDEL 5/5 Wine list was good!

This place has potential, the ambiance was there and the server Josh was great, but the food itself…read morejust didn't match the prices. Came here for a date night, I got the Broiled Miso Salmon and one glass of wine and my partner got the Steak Frites and a coke. Our bill was $95! Ouch. The bad: If it were really really good I would be willing to pay for it, but I felt that the flavors in my dish, in salmon, carrot ginger sauce, and cauliflower, were whispering at best. I think the cauliflower could have used a sauce or been crispier, it just seemed boring and soggy. The steak and fries also came out cold :( my partner really knows his steaks and was not impressed, it was over cooked for medium rare and it had clearly been sitting too long. Not worth the $38! The good: The space itself is decorated really well, it's pretty dark but the theme comes together really nicely. I personally enjoyed the indie/pop music they had playing and it wasn't too loud. I really enjoyed the Chardonnay ($16) and they had a decent selection of wine but only a handful were by the glass. You can get glasses of by the bottle wines if you commit to getting at least two glasses though which is good to know. For me, the service really saved this review, our server was so nice and friendly, attentive but not overbearing. I would maybe grab a drink and an appetizer here sometime but will definitely hold out on dinner again until their prices chill or the food gets better. ‍ TLDR: Too expensive for the food quality

Pok Pok Chicken Wings

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Altera Cheeseburger and "Chips"

Parlour Bar St. Paul

4.2(319 reviews)

1.1 mi•West Seventh

It delivered! The food was delicious and the staff was…read morefriendly. The food was classic American, but elevated throughout. We left happy! Burger, chicken sandwich and Brussel Sprouts all yummy!

I unfortunately have to give Parlour a 3.5 based on this last visit, but typically I truly would…read moregive them closer to a 4. I love the vibe, cocktails, service, and food here, but my recent visit the food was unfortunately a little too salty for my taste. We started with the fried pickles and aioli which were extremely salty - so much so that it was hard to keep eating them. This was a bummer though because the batter and the flavor of the pickles themselves was perfectly crispy. The burger and crispy chicken sandwhich were good! The sandwhich was a little dry but flavor on both were still good! Truly still a solid place for a burger and a bite but I was disappointed by the saltyness of everything. Drinks and mocktails were delicious!

Back Bar

Parlour Burger

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Too Much Heaven

Estelle

4.7(263 reviews)

3.7 mi•Mac-Groveland

•$$$

Great little local spot in Saint Paul…read more There's a lot to like about Estelle so I'll try to keep it to what stands out: 1. The menu is wonderful, and the food comforting. The peri peri chicken was surprisingly spicy. I like spicy foods and it was teetering on a bit too hot for me, but I enjoyed the flavors and the dishes as a whole that we sampled. 2. The cocktails are divine. I had two old fashioneds and they were amongst some of the best I've had. 3. The service is impeccable. Friendly, well paced, and professional. 4. The ambiance is really comfortable. I liked that we weren't rushed, and had a really well paced meal in a nice environment. Overall I'd love to return someday. If you go be sure to make a reservation!

Incredible experience at Estelle. We sat at the chef's counter, which was such a fun way to…read moreexperience the meal. Watching the kitchen in action added so much to the night. The service was impeccable from start to finish. Everything felt really intentional and well timed. The food was outstanding. The rigatoni was a standout with an incredible sausage that was honestly to die for. We also had the soles de pollo, a chicken ravioli with fresh vegetables in the sauce, and the flavors were amazing. For tapas, we ordered the patatas bravas and rissoles, both were delicious. Such a thoughtful touch when they brought out churro bites at the end as a thank you. Amazing food, top tier service, and a really fun but romantic atmosphere. Definitely a spot worth going out of your way for

Our view from seating

SHRIMP AL AJILLO

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It's Good For Yah cocktail

City House

3.8(55 reviews)

0.8 mi•West Seventh

The best thing about City House is the view!…read more We hosted a private event for work and we ordered carnitas, salad, beans, rice, and chips/salsa. We also ordered an assortment of desserts that featured cheesecakes and fudge. The food was so-so. I asked about dessert allergens and a worker told me that they weren't sure they just "come in a pack" City House is a great and lowkey place to grab a drink with friends on the water.

After exploring the city all morning we saw this place across the river. It looked cool, and we…read moreweren't wrong. The view was so peaceful of the Mississippi River. The weather was just right where we didn't get hot blazing sun nor rained on. I got an IPA and my friend got one of their mixed cocktail. Their cocktail were all premade and came out of the spout like the beer. It tasted good too. My beer was delicious. We sat on the balcony overlooking the water and just relaxed and drank. Inside the place, there were plenty of seating and even cornhole. There was also a food vendor inside. Bartender was friendly. Order at the front and grab a seat.

Inside

City House burger

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Cocktail

Iron Ranger

4.2(183 reviews)

2.3 mi•Summit Hill

What a great find! We were shopping at the pet store & I saw the Ironranger across the street &…read moreassuming that meant pasty's we went over to have lunch. We split the pasty & also a salad w/mixed greens, goat cheese, candied walnuts & the best pickled beets I've ever had. The pasty was very, very good but that salad was incredible. Loved it!

We had a big group on a hot summer evening. Since their patio was nicely shady we selected to sit…read moreoutside. The server did a great job handling the 10 of us. We started with some drinks. The Pimms Cup was good but the Rum punch was just OK. The menu had many tempting choices. We got some apps - the cheese curds were very good. The fried pickles were not my favorite. I ordered their porketta sandwich with bourbon sauce and it was excellent. It was not a traditional preparation but an even better version. Very juicy - I loved it. My wife got the pepparoni flatbread which was good but nothing special. Overall the group was very satisfied with our experience.

Porketta sandwich and fries - best sandwich ever.

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Outside

Casper's and Runyon's Nook

4.3(1.2k reviews)

2.7 mi•Highland

I have been circling the Nook for a while now in my search for the best Jucy Lucy in the Twin…read moreCities. I've tried the two originals,Matt's and the 5-8, and the upstart Blue Door, among others, but we may have a winner in The Nook. First off, the atmosphere is exactly what a Nook should be: small and comfortable. The service was attentive, friendly and helpful. I noticed that was all the staff not just my server. I also appreciated the obligatory warning about the melted middle of my Lucy. Speaking of which, I tried the #7 Burger (it was recommended when I asked as it had more cheese and bacon). The Burger was flavorful and perfectly cooked. The cheese cheater exploded as a good Lucy should. A 10/10 experience. The hand-cut fried added to the experience and were a great compliment to the burger The beer was cold and refreshing, the food superb, and the staff welcoming. Not much more one can ask for. I will be back that is for sure.

This had been on our bucket list for a while - glad we finally went!…read more It was PACKED on a Friday night, with quite a wait for a table, but we decided to go play score-your-own bowling on the ancient lanes downstairs while we waited. If you don't wanna wait, you can sit at the bar downstairs - or even put an order in at the bar and eat at the lanes. We ended up getting seated in the basement, which I highly recommend! The food was classic - great wings, great fries, great ranch, and awesome Jucy Lucy burgers. The ambiance here is top notch, especially in the basement. Very solid bar food, and though service is stretched a bit thin still a great experience. Bring cash for a soft serve cone after!!

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Bacon jam burger

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Hundreds of millions of reviews are posted on Yelp, and our automated recommendation software works in the background to showcase the reviews that it …

8 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Kayla S.

11 years ago

I have been here a couple of times and the experience was not as good as I expected. We sat in a little booth and we were there at around eleven thirty to get brunch and I ordered something very simple pancakes and eggs. My mom got eggs and bacon and toast. And I thought there was no absolute way you can mess up two simple orders like that. When our food came out it was cold and the waitress just re heated it in the microwave and when it came out it was still disgusting, My pancake was not throughly done and my eggs were not even done either. My moms meal was not good the bacon was pitch black and her eggs were not done and the toast was burnt also. We asked if there was a way to get different food and they said there was no absolute way. So we left on a hungry stomach and plus we had to pay for it. And the crazy thing is the waitress was expecting a tip. I will now never be heading back to Capital View Cafe. They just Lost two customers. read more

Michael B.

8 years ago

It would be hard to disagree with someone else's experience but the food and service have always been good when I've eaten there - once or twice a year. But I happened to read the review of Scott M of Fort Myers, FL from 12/21/2017 where he mentioned the Smith Ave Bridge ('The High Bridge'). I may have misunderstood what he was saying but the Smith Ave Bridge is Closed until sometime late in 2018 for repairs and improvements. I'm guessing that crossing the Mississippi River on Robert St then going west on, say, Annapolis, would be a good way to get to Capitol View from downtown St Paul. One option anyway. read more

Andrew S.

7 years ago

GREAT FOOD if you don't mind long wait times. Took 20 minutes for our waitress to take our food order. She told us to "be patient" because we they were busy. read more

Anna Z.

12 years ago

Wonderful food and great people to visit with. I often go here when I am hungry as they have great portions and quality ingredients

Michelle M.

11 years ago

Love Saturday morning breakfast at this place. Great neighborhood cafe! Close to home and nice staff. It's a win win. : )

Alicia M.

10 years ago

The BEST spicy Cajun in town! It's so large you can split it!

Richard K.

8 years ago

Great food--And plenty large meal--great selections.

Jon K.

11 years ago

The food and the employees are the best !

Capital View Cafe - tradamerican - Updated September 2026

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