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    The Loon Cafe

    3.9 (86 reviews)
    ModerateBars, American
    Open 11:30 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Loon Cafe Photos

    THE LOON CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

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    Dana K.

    Cute area in Downtown Saint Paul. Food was okay, onion rings definitely off the Sysco truck and service was sub-par. Glad we tried it but won't return.

    Chili sampler
    Morgan S.

    Great location in downtown St Paul with cozy vibes especially in the winter. I got the chili sampler and they had chowder as the soup of the day so that was one of the three along with the chicken chili and the pinto Diablo. All 3 soups were delicious and it was hard to choose a favorite but for me the chicken chili came out slightly on top. I definitely believe the award winning chili headline now, the chilis packed a punch and had amazing flavor and the chowder was a great creamy 3rd soup in the sampler. The servers were very nice and attentive to our big group for lunch and we all had a great experience.

    Loon juice cider
    Shelby A.

    While exploring the area after stopping at Wabasha falls we decided to stop for a quick mid day snack and drink. The Loon Cafe came with high recommendations. The inside of the restaurant is very nice and open around the bar and has a ton of natural light. We were seated immediately upon entering and service was exceptional. We ordered two drinks and the chili sampler. The chili here is an absolute must try! My absolute favorite was the chicken chili a la ski dad. It's definitely a healthier and leaner chili option. We also ordered the pecos river red which was yummy in the medium spice level with extremely tender sirloin steak. The pinto diablo chili was not spicy at all and it was alright. We both preferred the other two. Thankful my boyfriend noticed mushrooms in the diablo chili as I'm deathly allergic and we could've had a real issue. The passionfruit aperol spritz was different and delicious. The loonjuice cider was also delicious and an easy light drink option. I definitely recommend the loon cafe as the menu has plenty of options and the service was great. It is all paid street parking or parking garages in this part of town as well.

    Walleye
    Sol A.

    I came here. I had Minnesota wild rice soup as a starter. Passion fruit Aperol spritz and grilled walleye. The service was fantastic. The walleye was atrocious! It was tasteless and it had an over-fishiness characteristic of stale fish. I regretted ordering it. I was very hungry and forced myself to eat a few nibbles, but that was it. My picture is after I was done!!.

    Seating area
    Caitlyn R.

    Stopped at The Loon Cafe for lunch with some coworkers. I had the Turkey Club and it was okay, nothing special but still good. A few people at our table had the chicken wild rice soup which was a huge hit! The menu had a variety of options and they had great beer selection on tap. Service was great, we were seated right away and our waitress was friendly and attentive. Plenty of seating and a great amount of tables for larger group which we appreciated.

    Suzie R.

    Dropped into the Loon Cafe prior to a show at the Palace Theater. Definitely a busy spot right before a concert. Tried to find 2 seats at the bar but only singles were found. Sat at a 2 top high table in the bar area. Waited for several minutes with no one greeting us and finally two side by side seats appeared at the bar so we moved. Drinks were good, service was friendly and quick at the bar.

    Wild rice soup
    Steve S.

    We had lunch here because we were close and we were hungry. Overall, it's pretty good. I started with the wild rice soup. They begin with making their stock base then make the soup with lots of wild rice, veggies & chicken. Nice! Then I had the walleye sandwich, grilled. Jalapeño tartar sauce and brioche bun. It's a really good sandwich! It was served with cole slaw? just shaved red cabbage, and fruit cup. Just ok. Staff was fast & friendly. A great place to meet and chat!

    Rachel sandwich with kettle chips
    Kathie A.

    Party of 3 stopping in before the Wild game on a Saturday. Water was provided right away beverages shortly after and we love the spinach dip to start. Restaurant was busy the closer we got to 530. The service never wavered. Really enjoyed my Rachel.

    Grilled chicken on my salad
    Dana S.

    Wonderful setting on a large walk area between two theaters. I had a wonderful salad - substituted grilled chicken for the coconut fried version. Super tasty and fresh with a lot of chicken, a whole egg and 1/2 avocado and artichoke. Great service too.

    a bar with a television in the background
    Victor M.

    I have stopped into the loon several times. It's in a fantastic location next to several bars and restaurants. It's next to several venues such as the Palace Theater and kjs hideaway. You can easily catch a show and then stop here or go here before a show. There are a few parking ramps and lots I'm the area that are within walking distance. In the wintertime, the surroundings are lit and decorated in lights bringing that holiday spirit to brighten the mood. As you walk in the front door you are greeted and you see a large bar with ample seating. When there are events in the area this place gets very busy but on nonevent days, it can be slow. The Friday night was very slow but enjoyable. The bartender was very kind and curious and assisted me right away. The wine-by-the-glass selection is very good and their beer selection is fantastic. I ordered my usual order the Buffalo chicken wrap and it was fantastic. The server who brought it out was very friendly as well. The few times I have been to this location I have had fabulous service and that is the number one reason to return. There are lots of tables of all sizes so they can accommodate parties of all sizes. The place is very clean and well-kept for its size and besides the beer and wine, they do have a very good selection of other great items.

    Beef nachos
    David M.

    Stopped in after seeing Pink in concert. We were headed to Applebees for some late night snacks, but we passed here and find out they served until 11:30ish and we were already in the area. It's hard to find late night snacks ever since the pandemic, so we were pleasantly surprised. They had a variety to choose between. We ordered the beef nachos and cheese curds. The nachos were a generous portion and were excellent. The curds were frozen and not fresh, but still hit the spot for us. I ordered a side of buffalo sauce - they have excellent buffalo sauce. Server was friendly and attentive. Couldn't ask for a better experience at that time of night. I will keep this place in mind the next time I'm at Xcel.

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    3 months ago

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    2 months ago

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    2 months ago

    The staff were helpful and the walleye appetizer was excellent! Can't go wrong with the cheese curds either.

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Had the BL FG T sandwich with tater tots! Yes, fried green tomatoes! Delish! Great ambiance and service as well!!

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    4 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Loved it!!! Ambiance was perfect!!! And burger was the best burger I've ever had!! We will definitely be going back.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great soup in a great part of the city. Beer ice cold. Friendly staff. What more do you want ?

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    Tongue In Cheek - Fries N Fixins -  9/10

    Tongue In Cheek

    4.5(778 reviews)
    2.0 miPayne-Phalen
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    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.

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    The High Hat

    4.5(163 reviews)
    1.2 miCathedral Hill
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    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!!!

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    The High Hat - Bar

    Bar

    The High Hat - Huevos Divorciados

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    Altera - Dessert menu

    Altera

    4.4(52 reviews)
    4.8 miHighland

    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

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    Altera
    Altera - Pok Pok Chicken Wings

    Pok Pok Chicken Wings

    Altera - Altera Cheeseburger and "Chips"

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    Altera Cheeseburger and "Chips"

    Estelle - Good For Yah cocktail + beet salad

    Estelle

    4.7(261 reviews)
    4.0 miMac-Groveland
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    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

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    Our view from seating

    Estelle - SHRIMP AL AJILLO

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    Casper's and Runyon's Nook - "#7 Burger" from the Stuffed Burgers menu

    Casper's and Runyon's Nook

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    3.2 miHighland
    $$

    Our first meal on our most recent trip to Minnesota: The Nook, promised by some as the best Juicy…read moreLucys in the Twin Cities. We walked in for a pretty late dinner, slightly past 8PM and this place was still crowded. Ten minute wait for a table, the concierge said, but there were free seats at the bar either downstairs or up. We decided to walk down to the bowling alley (a fully functioning, retro alley might I add), and order at the bar. Nook Curds ($13.75) - It's a big basket of battered and fried cheese curds. There's bacon mixed in the batter, giving that smoky and salty, meaty element, and then drizzled honey for some very complementary sweetness. The batter is lightly crisp and the cheese curds inside are completely softened, to the point of being gooey and stretchy. Definitely no squeak here, but these were so delicious that I didn't particularly care. (5/5) Juicy Nookie Burger ($15.95) - Now that's a burger. Huge patty, completely filled with a large pocket of hot, melty, gooey, stretchy American cheese that gushes out while biting through the patty. It's decadent and rich, and that patty - charred so well, giving a robustly smoky charred flavor along with a strong natural beefiness, a result of the patty only being cooked until medium pink. Somehow even with so much cheese stuffed inside, it doesn't leak out at all. It's a pretty simple burger, with just that patty, three pickle rounds on the side, and a bun. The bun is buttered and barely toasted, just enough to give a hint of toastiness and hold up to the massive patty. It cradles the beef like a baby and sucks up all the patty juices and cheese. The burger comes with fresh homemade fries, fried heavily until dark brown, making them similar in both look and taste to my secret craving for Better Made Rainbow Chips, which has a heavily caramelized almost slightly burnt flavor. And yet somehow they aren't over fried in terms of texture. The outside isn't super crisp like commercial battered fries, instead the clear homemade nature leaves some softer areas interspersed with the crunch. The insides, of course, are still perfectly fluffy, and there are little crumbs spread out all along the bottom for an extra crunch. These fries are the height of deliciousness. (5/5) Yes, I've been missing this kind of fatty, unctuous, filling, greasy, rich food after moving away from the Midwest to Seattle. You simply can't get this kind of food anywhere in the PNW. What a great start to our week long trip! Note: The Nook charges a 3% credit card fee that's disclosed on the menu Bathrooms - Larger ones on the bottom floor, probably more upstairs Food: [5/5] Service: [ ] Other: [ ] Final Rating: 5/5

    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!!

    Photos
    Casper's and Runyon's Nook - Nook Curds

    Nook Curds

    Casper's and Runyon's Nook
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    Bowling Alley

    The Loon Cafe - bars - Updated August 2026

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