St. Paul Breakfast / Brunch Places

[Matronix]

Looking for a great place to go for breakfast or brunch in St. Paul. All suggestions welcome.

[foodwork12]

Dixies on Grand is NOT BAD! it has a great variety.

[s4zando]

So, ok, this isn't St. Paul, but Blue Plate Group just opened The Lowry in the old Hollywood Video location on Hennepin Ave, just stone's throw south of Franklin.

I've eaten breakfast there a few times and have been pretty damn happy with each meal. I'd definitely recommend this spot. It's worth the drive, and not too terribly far from St. Paul if you're driving...

Also notable, since you're across the river, is the Isles Bun and Coffee Shop - which coincidentally - is right on the way to another favorite breakfast spot in Minneapolis, Zumbro Cafe in Linden Hills, but I digress so far off this thread that it's just plain silly.

Please accept my apologies. I'll head back home to St. Paul.

-----
Zumbro Cafe
2803 W 43rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55410

Isles Bun & Coffee
1424 W 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

The Lowry
2112 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405

[bob s]

So is the breakfast any different from any of the other Blue Plate Group places? Highland Grill and Longfellow Grill are just as convenient to St. Paul. We used to frequent the Edina Grill quite often, but over the years we've felt that the quality and originality of the menus has decreased while the prices have gone up.

-----
Highland Grill
771 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116

Longfellow Grill
2990 W River Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55406

[mtullius]

We ended up at Cheeky Monkey last Sunday for brunch. It was deserted, while we could see a line of people across the street waiting to get into Bon Vie. The food at the Monkey was quite good; nothing to write home about, but solid. My wife had the Eggs Benedict, I had the French toast.... Both tasty.

-----
Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[Haricotsv2]

Magnolia's on the East Side of St. Paul has terrific breakfast. It should be on DDD, but that would wreck it. Somehow bacon and eggs there taste better than other places. Great biscuits (with or without gravy). Nice people. Try it!!
Margi

[tart1]

Shish on Grand by Macalester is good.

[gryffindor249]

SH!!! Don't tell everyone how good Shish is for breakfast! I like it quiet in there!

Another vote for Highland Grill....a bit less fancy but still very good is Highland Cafe (great caramel rolls). Another vote for The Uptowner from me. Trotter's is OK but not particularly memorable.

Very, VERY quiet on the weekends is The Four Inns in Downtown St. Paul. It is retro only because it has never been updated; but far better than Key's or St. Clair Broiler in quality.....just simple, rock-solid eggs and pancakes.

-----
Four Inns Restaurant
395 Robert St N, Saint Paul, MN 55101

[MSPD]

Even though we moved away 8 years ago, Highland Grill and Trotter's are still my go-to spots for breakfast in the Mac-Groveland/Highland/Merriam Park neighborhoods.

-----
Highland Grill
771 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116

[mamachef]

If Al's is still in Dinkytown, definitely give it a try. Heartland, expensive but delicious.

[The Dairy Queen]

Dinkytown is in Minneapolis. :) Have you been to Heartland for brunch, specifically, mamachef, or just for the other meals?

~TDQ

[AgentSix]

I love an unassuming, old fashioned breakfast at the St Clair Grill.

[JimGrinsfelder]

Day by Day on 7th is a nice choice in the unassuming category.

[Fudist]

Unassuming if you don't mind getting bent over to the tune of $9.00 for 2 eggs, sausage,hash browns and toast.

[NugarifiK]

Agreed.

[JimGrinsfelder]

$9 for real food or $5 for poo on a plate...the choice is yours dude.

[sandylc]

Exactly. I would rather eat out less often and get better quality.

[Matronix]

I went to Day by Day a few months ago and I wasn't impressed at all.

[The Dairy Queen]

I hate to be a nay-sayer, but the food at the St. Clair Grill isn't very good, even though it's old-fashioned. I'd rather go to Key's Cafe on Robert Street, also not spectacular.

~TDQ

[Fudist]

I agree DQ and it's a shame because I live within walking distance from the Broiler. 10 years ago the food was decent, I remember their burgers and wings were top notch. Not a big fan of Key's either. My go to place for breakfast is The Uptowner Cafe On Grand or T&T Galley in South Saint Paul.

[The Dairy Queen]

Never heard of T&T Galley... Must investigate.

If we're stretching our wings a little, still in St. Paul, I like Capitol View Cafe. It's not "great" but it is pretty solid working person's breakfast.

Uptowner's pretty good, but it feels so similar to me to Grandview and that one on Selby at Dale (Lousiana Cafe)--do you think it's better than those?

~TDQ

[suestlawrence]

I second the rec for Capitol View. Very authentic, neighborhood-y, huge portions, delicious. I think it's a huge step above the other local diners like St. Clair Broiler and Grandview. But the "view" of the Capitol is really from the street, not from inside the restaurant!

[Fudist]

I like Uptowner better than Grandview simply because The Uptowner makes their own fresh salsa and Grandview uses Pace Picante which for me is an unforgivable sin.

[zfwp]

T&T galley is a real slice of old south saint paul. good diner food.
no one has mentioned Byerly's. i have only eaten their challa french toast. it was great.

-----
Byerly's
1601 County Road C W, Saint Paul, MN 55113

[The Dairy Queen]

Oh, the Byerly's Cafe in Roseville? Minnesota Grille or something like that? I think it's fine. The OP asked for great, though, and in the great category I'd only put Meritage and Bon Vie. Maybe Capital View Cafe for working person's food. But, then again, I haven't had the challa French toast at Minnesota Grille, so maybe that DOES catapult it to great. (It's also been a couple of years since I've been to Minnesota Grille, so things could have changed, too.)

Some of these other options, Highland Grill, Day by Day, Key's, the Louisana/GrandView/Uptown I'd put in the just good category (depending on your requirements. Some people wouldn't even put some of these places --Keys, Day by Day, St. Clair Broiler--in the good category). I haven't been to Trotters for breakfast for some reason. Must put that on my list to try one of these days. In the good category I'd also add Golden's Deli near the St. Paul Farmer's market, if you don't need table service.

~TDQ

-----
Highland Grill
771 Cleveland Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55116

Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Capital View Cafe
637 Smith Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55107

Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Byerly's
1601 County Road C W, Saint Paul, MN 55113

[zfwp]

dq said "Oh, the Byerly's Cafe in Roseville? Minnesota Grille or something like that? I think it's fine. The OP asked for great, though, and in the great category I'd only put Meritage and Bon Vie. Maybe Capital View Cafe for working person's food. But, then again, I haven't had the challa French toast at Minnesota Grille,"
remember i was responding to a post about T and T galley.... i like TandT but there are reasons you never heard of it!

-----
Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Capital View Cafe
637 Smith Ave S, Saint Paul, MN 55107

Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Byerly's
1601 County Road C W, Saint Paul, MN 55113

[gryffindor249]

I went to Byerly's is Roseville for breakfast once. It was good, as was the service. But my friend and i were the youngest ones in there by a good 30 years!

-----
Byerly's
1601 County Road C W, Saint Paul, MN 55113

[jaycooke]

I want to anti-recommend Heartland for brunch, if only because they had the nerve to charge $5 for a cup of black coffee. Add in $10 eggs and $10 sausage, and brunch for one was $27 before tip.

[Haricotsv2]

I also like Scuzi's brunch. (Meritage is also good, haven't tried Heartland yet.)
Margi

[The Dairy Queen]

Does Scusi still offer brunch? We were going to try that the other day and I thought it was off of their website.

EDIT: yeah, I just looked at their website again. Starting hours are 4pm, even on weekends, and nary a mention of the brunch menu. http://scusistpaul.com/index.html If they still serve brunch I would REALLY like to know.

~TDQ

[Matronix]

Yeah I was wondering that too... If you Google "Scusi Brunch" it does give you this link to their site: http://scusistpaul.com/menu-brunch.html and it shows a bunch menu and the menuing on the left is formatted differently. So I am not entirely sure.

[Haricotsv2]

Bon Vie on Selby. Best eggs benedict in either city imho.
Margi

-----
Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[Seige]

+1 for Bon Vie. We're there at least once every weekend. Eggs bennie are amazing, but I love, love, love their specialty pancakes. If they have lemon ricotta pancakes, definitely get them, but they're all good.

-----
Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[Matronix]

How is the food if not an Eggs Benedict fan? (I know blasphemy right)

[Seige]

Excellent. Seriously, you can't go wrong there. We've yet to have a bad meal and like I said, we're there at least once every weekend. Love their omelets and pancakes. Hubby loves the Huevos and Hash (the kind of hash changes every 2 weeks like the pancakes do). Everything is good, good, good!

[Matronix]

I ended up going to my default... The Strip Club but I plan on going to Bon Vie very soon. I have added it to my list of places to go.

-----
The Strip Club
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106

[The Dairy Queen]

What did you think of Strip Club's brunch?

~TDQ

-----
The Strip Club
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106

[Matronix]

Oh I love their brunch. I go there probably once a month or two for brunch if I can't think of anywhere else to go. Normally the menu is either different or two or so of the dishes will have a different preparation than it did last time (most likely the pork belly dishes.) The Strip Club is one of my favorite restaurants in the cities for Brunch or Dinner. I took a friend this morning who had never been there and she throughly enjoyed it. I would recommend trying them for brunch.

-----
The Strip Club
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106

[Matronix]

And when people talk about price... I just think I'm geting a good deal when getting the Logger's Tower... 3 pancakes, 3 eggs, and 3 slices of ham for $10... I never can finish it but just comforting and so good.

[Seige]

Love the Strip Club for brunch too, but Bon Vie is closer to our house. And yes - the Logger's Tower is yummy. It's hard for me to order other things because I love it so much. +1 on Meritage too, although admittedly we haven't been there in awhile.

-----
Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

The Strip Club
378 Maria Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55106

Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[Matronix]

I am not a giant ham person but I do enjoy the ham on the Logger's Tower or the Breakfast sandwich. I've tried at least half of the things on the brunch menu and enjoy them all. The Pork Belly dish they had the last time I was there (it was different today) was with a kimchee pancake...so good. Bon Vie is much closer to my house, but we wanted to go to the farmer's market afterwards so worked out.

I will add Meritage to my list.

-----
Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[The Dairy Queen]

TSC remains on my list of places I really MUST get to for brunch! Thank you for the update.

~TDQ

[Matronix]

I agree, it is a must try for brunch. Hope you remember to give an update after you do try it, I would like to know what your thoughts are.

[The Dairy Queen]

I wish I'd remembered to recommend Bon Vie. :). Good call, esp for affordable casual breakfast.

~TDQ

-----
Bon Vie
518 Selby Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[The Dairy Queen]

I love Meritage's weekend brunch. I really want to try Heartland's brunch.

~TDQ

-----
Meritage
410 Saint Peter St, Saint Paul, MN 55102

[helea]

Heartland food was delicious. The bartender tried to make me feel stupid for ordering iced tea. ".We only serve local" then he proceeded to offer fresh squeezed Orange juice! It was funny but he didn't laugh.

[sandylc]

You know, those local orange groves. What's wrong with you?