Forepaugh’s Restaurant
276 Exchange St S, Saint Paul, MN, 55102
Forepaugh’s Restaurant Menu
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Forepaugh's Sunday Brunch
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Brunch Additions
Healthy Meal suggestions for Forepaugh’s Restaurant
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Forepaugh's Sunday Brunch
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Brunch Additions
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Visit below restaurant in Saint Paul for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
276 Exchange St S
Saint Paul, MN, 55102 - Phone (651) 224-5606
- Website https://www.forepaughs.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :4:00 pm - 9:00pm
- Mon : 4:00 pm - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Classy
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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James A.
Went for dinner after I graduated from U.W. Stout with 2 friends....in a word, EXCELLENT. We were given the premier table over looking Irvine Park, the staff was beyond expectations, the food was wonderful, and the ambience was so incrediably memorabile. The entire dining expierence was 5 star from start to finish!
(5)Rachel G.
One of my "Secret Spots" in St. Paul. The decor is cozy and approachably refined - early 1900's. They have 4 menu's: Brunch, Happy Hour, Downstairs and Upstairs. The best thing about this approach - is that they are niche marketing within their own establishment, and they never change the quality of the food. The price point is much more pocket friendly than you would think. Tip 1: They have an amazing tasting room downstairs in the basement. Seats 6 perfectly, but 8 could fit. The walls are brick and wine bottle covered with spot lighting. Very intimate. If you want to guarantee the space, you need to spend $1200....that being said, you can try to reserve the room at any time, and you need to order off the "Upstairs" menu - but if someone else is willing to pay the $1200 - you get bumped. Tip 2: AWESOME. HAPPY. HOUR. Tip 3: Legend has it that it's haunted! Tip 4: They are just now putting in a new front patio - maybe too late for this summer, but next year - you can find me there.
(4)Numbers D.
Beautiful location in a historic home by Irvine Park. Even more fun around Christmas with all the decorations. The atmosphere is intimate and comfortable. The service was great and the food was good. I've had their Beef Wellington and Chicken Gribeche, all good with their pomme puree.
(4)Terri J.
This was our first time at Forepaugh's. I discovered it while considering our options for Restaurant Week. The setting is lovely and I'd like to go back just to explore each of the rooms. The appetizer Chinese Scallion Flatbread was an impressive mix of flavors and textures. Recommend you pass on the Samosas. Within our group we tried the Pan-Seared Walleye, Ultimate Opus Burger and a mushroom pasta dish. All were exceptionally prepared. The Decomposed Banana Cream was a bit rich, but attractively presented. Overall, an excellent experience and we're certain to go back. A final note, coming from the western suburbs, I was surprised how easily we got into St. Paul. Actually easier than going into Minneapolis! We may give more St. Paul restaurants a try.
(4)Joe I.
Screw this place. Our server was so bad it got to be funny, the food was what I would expect a parody of french food to be, and then you get the bill, and no one is laughing. Bad service, bad food and WAY WAY WAY overpriced. Avoid at all costs.
(1)Morgan S.
Nice and quiet on a Wednesday night! Incredible ambiance, extremely reasonably priced wine selection and amazing food. We started with the beef satay and corn soup- both were packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. The beef Wellington and walleye were perfectly prepared and presented beautifully! Not a cheap restaurant but worth the money for the food, service and ambiance.
(5)Jennifer S.
Really good service in an upstairs dining area. Tasty food, but a bit-too-expensive in price. I ordered their BLT/Caesar "Collision" Salad (a small plate for $11) and the Poutine (with just a little puddle of duck gravy at bottom of bowl for $12) Secret: there's a parking lot across the street that you're allowed to park in as a customer of Forepaugh's - stop to ask a valet about it.
(3)Chris D.
A bit overpriced for the quality of the beverages. We weren't dining so we couldn't use the rooftop dining area. There weren't very many people there, but I'm sure it's busy before wild games or concerts at the Xcel.
(3)Ken P.
I'm a bit conflicted by this one. I really want to love it. It's a short walk from our house. The drinks are delicious and creative. The staff is super nice and amazingly friendly. However, in the end, the food just isn't that good. We had corn chowder last night. That was amazing. The flat bread is weird and hard to eat. We go here frequently for happy hour. I wish they'd have more savory things to choose from for the happy hour menu. I know everyone raves about this place. It is historic and a great place to sit and chat. I think their menu items could use some flavor other than salt.
(3)Camille L.
A lovely mansion with rich decor and fabulous food! My favorite dishes were the candied shrimp appetizer, the pan seared walleye in coconut curry sauce, and the banana cream dessert had an amazing caramelized glaze on top. The mixed green salad was good too. The decor is elegant with pretty chandeliers and each room is unique. There are three floors to this mansion so be prepared for a good workout if your table is on the top floor which was our case. The ghost who is named Molly supposedly lingers on the top floor since that's where her incident happened according to our waiter but I luckily didn't feel a haunted vibe! It was busy when we got here at around 6:45 PM on Saturday but the place seemed to clear out by 8:00-ish. We were here on Halloween weekend too. Valet parking is $7 and there are bathrooms located on the second and first level. This place is dressy but I also saw a couple people in jeans and Wild hockey jerseys. Since this place has amazing food, nice decor and great service I had to give it five stars. It's great for special occasions or if you just want to splurge on a nice meal.
(5)Hanna F.
Where do I begin...hmmmmm. I wish I could give this place negative stars. Well came here for a dinner date with my boyfriend while on a getaway to the cities. Dinner was fine. Nothing spectacular...but when I looked at my bank statement the next day I realized they had charged my card three times. THREE times. I promptly called explaining my card had been charged multiple times. Someone then told me the night before they had issues with their card machine and that it had happened to multiple people. Okay...I understand things happen sometimes completely out of their control. I get it. So I waited a few days to see if the charges would be reversed. After days of checking it hadn't been reversed. I called back again to then pretty much be accused of lying to them about the charges. What else do I have to do with my time but scam some restaurant THAT HAS ALL MY BANK INFO!? Who in there right mind would be that stupid. And what happened to their statement of "it happened to multiple people" ?!?! Tell me who's the one lying here.... Well after much time calling them and over an hour at the bank. I filed a dispute with them and now have to wait up to 90 days to get my $200 back. Beyond pissed. I would never recommend this restaurant after how horribly they treated me on a mistake that was clearly their fault!!! Yall can go screw yourself
(1)Kristi E.
Yes indeed the price rating at Forepaugh's is a $$$, and there is no lie in that statement. BUT! If you are like the general population of 20-somethings and your paycheck doesn't allow for more than a $$ (or let's be honest $ all day errryday), then why would you even scroll down on your phone to the reviews? Well allow me to tell you why. Happy happy happy hour. Yes, this happy hour goes until 7pm (and all day Sunday), which we all know is a good hour later than the typical 4-6 rushed-out-the-door-of-your-office-and-race-to-Âthe-pub that we are all used to. This actually allows you to get to this off the grid mansion bar and relax and enjoy more than one beverage before HH last call. This place is in an actual mansion, and there is a free parking lot across the street, if you eat on the premises (think: Xcel Center and Science Museum a stone's throw away). HH is directly inside, to the right or the left, on the patio, but not up the stairs to all of the other gorgeous eating areas. It is lush, dark, fancy, and the service is truly top-notch. I have been here countless times for HH and have never felt slighted for only ordering a drink or an app. The manager always encourages you to go upstairs for a look around, and even took a group of friends and I down to their private wine cellar for a mini tour. The drink specials are pretty generous - a $6 cocktail special of the day, $5 rail drinks and wines, and $4 beer. The appetizers are pretty delicious, and you can honestly never go wrong with the fancy azz fries. The sangria's are also great (though not always served at HH) and I hear their brunch is ahmerhzing, so that's a-comin with this sudden March patio season heat wave.
(5)Jennifer S.
I think many people hear "Forepaughs" and assume they need to pony-up for a high $$$ dinner and fancy night out. Not so! Forepaughs has an incredibly quaint bar area, just perfect for groups of 2-4 people. It's cozy, just perfect for a 15 degree night November--March in Minnesota. Just grab a chair and ask for their bar menu--available until 9. The food available includes everything from charcuterie plates to flatbread and shrimp. These appetizer plates do not disappoint. So if you are looking for a low key night out, grab a small group and plan to camp out in their bar area some night; you won't find a better place to relax after a long week anywhere east of the Mississippi.
(4)Ron P.
Well, the main reason we go here is because of the ambiance, the bartenders, and the Happy Hour. Recently, the management has raised this prices on the Happy Hour higher than regular prices at other places ! Look, we used to spend more money here in a month, than some wealthy diner spends here in a year ! We are very close to never coming here again ! This restaurant could be filled, every night, by offering more affordable offerings. Look around ! Wake up and smell the bread sticks ! Time for the owner and Chef Donald, to do a reality check !
(2)Scott E.
Such a fun place and great history. Every five years since 1978 I have found myself here for dinner. The menu is much more creative than it was in years past and the taste of the food is excellent. The mood is both romantic and professional. The staff is efficient and friendly. Parking is valet. I like to sit in the room looking at the pictures on the wall wondering what words were spoken in this place before my time on this earth. It is worth the adventure for all ages.
(4)Cat L.
This was my second time here for restaurant week and my third time here overall. The restaurant is in a beautiful old Victorian mansion in St. Paul and the food is American classic with an Indian/Asian twist. The chef here uses some really interesting spices and flavor combination for the dishes - peppers and mascarpone on pasta, chicken with crispy skin like Peking duck, and walleye with curried coconut milk - all very tasty! The restaurant week dessert is exceptional and a must have for peanut butter lovers. Sit on the patio if the weather is nice and ask if you can check out the wine cellar!
(5)Kaitlin O.
I've never actually eaten something there but I had drinks there which was a blast. It was dead at the bar ( only.me and my boyfriend where there) and the bartender let us change the channel on the TV. I love this place and at least recommend hanging out in the bar
(4)Candace R.
Disappointed that Donald's Duck is not on the summer menu, but the wines and cocktails were lovely- try the Italian. Apps were tasty. Steaks were done as ordered; corn soup and deconstructed banana cream pie were to die for. Pricey, definitely. Food, quite tasty. Ambiance, priceless.
(5)Shawn S.
Went for New Year's Eve and had the chef's 5 course tasting menu, which included a glass of Spanish bubbly. All three stars are for the food and ambience. I could not rate higher due to the following: 1. both my vodka dirty and her lemon drop martini tasted watered down and were not cold 2. They called me and asked that I call back to confirm my reservation, one of my major pet peeves. After all, I had to guarantee the reservation with a credit card so why was this necessary? 3. Even though the only option was the tasting menu, the server had little knowledge on the dishes. She was sweet, and seemed to be really trying to please, but the servers need to be able to describe the dishes of a tasting menu as they are served. The $300 we dropped on dinner for two would have had more mileage at La Belle Vie.
(3)Angela S.
I visited the restaurant for the first time for the Restaurant Week to try out chef Gonzales' dishes after winning the Minnesota Monthly Magazine chef challenge few months back. Overall the experience was great. The appetizers were slightly huge on portion. We had chinese scallion flatbread and malaysian chicken samosas, which unfortunately did not impress the two of us a lot. We ordered the ultimate opus burger and pan-seared walleye as entree. The walleye was clearly the star of the night. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked with a crisp outer layer. The curry broth was not too overwhelming, and combined with the fresh vegetables were very refreshing. Definitely a must order. The burger, on the other hand, was not as pleasing. Although the short rib dipping sauce deserves a try. Lastly, the desserts were fantastic. We has deconstructed banana cream pie and peanut butter crunch. The dining environment was nice, albeit some tables being too small / cramp for two.
(4)Amy W.
This mansion is beautiful inside and out. Lots of character and charm. Sadly, that's all that you're paying for. The food was so scarse, I thought they had forgotten to bring the rest of it. Most of us left still hungry, and we are not big people at all. I had the veal, which was $38 and it was in a horseradish sauce which was too spicy to eat. So I didn't. I hesitated about going there once I looked at the menu on line-Very Pricey! Our son said he was paying, so I decided to go ahead. I bought a very fancy cake for my husbands birthday that night, but the waitress wouldn't let me serve it unless I paid $2.50/plate for my family of "9?!". The cake was already $40 and I wasn't going to spend more to put it on their plates! I won't go back.
(2)Christina D.
Terrible. My fiancé and I took his two daughters to Forepaugh's before seeing a play at the Ordway last evening thinking it would be a great first restaurant to introduce a tween and teen what an upscale, gourmand restaurant was all about and it was terrible to say the least. All of our food was ice cold, lacked flavor, and way over priced. $202 without tip and that was without any cocktails which included 4 entrees, one appetizer and two salads. Even the oldest daughter tried my Caesar and said it was too bitter and her walleye was very fishy. My fiancé's scallops were ice cold and raw, my chicken was tough and reminded me of airplane food, and the tween daughter was the only one who had a decent meal with a strip steak and mashed potatoes which she loved. The only thing good I have to say was the service was spot on, but besides that, everything (the food) seemed to already been cooked prior to dinner service, and unfortunately was not very good. We will not be coming back.
(1)Shveta S.
My boyfriend and I went there for brunch over the weekend. The ambiance was probably the only good thing about the place. We had the pre-fix brunch menu. The food was awefully distasteful. There was a big plate with bacon, potatoes, sausage, eggs bennedict and eggs. The bacon was cold, sausage was meh. I did not have a second bite after having the first. I could do a wayyyyyyyy better job making it at home than paying $22 at a restaurant per person. We will just stick to French Meadow and have the most amazing breakfast at half the price. I will never return here.
(2)Nate D.
I was in the market for a last minute Valentines Day dinner reservation, and honestly was shocked Forepaughs could accommodate us. I had been here several times in the past and had been very impressed. Then they brought out the food, and we quickly learned why they weren't fully reserved. I still debate wether the intent of the meal they served was ironic pretentiousness or highway robbery, but they hit the mark on both attempts. The first course was cotton candy and a tampon applicator looking device filled with the smell of buttered popcorn. The second was a vinegar brined egg, the likes of which you'd find behind the counter at a townie bar. They followed that with a few tiny beet slices on a plate splattered with jelles that made it look like a Jackson Pollack painting. The server was quick to point out one of the smears was elderflower flavored with real gold leaf. It's sad when the highlight of a meal is knowing you'll literally be crapping gold in the morning, and the Discovery channel might make it into its next reality show hit. The next course was gyoza in a dashi broth, which I guess makes perfect sense between the cotton candy course and the surf and turf course. The main course, steak and lobster, was actually fairly well conceived and executed. But by this time, we'd already given up hope, and we were just waiting to be released from this tragic comedy of a night. If the goal was to squeeze all the most pretentious food trends from the last decade into one meal, then, as George Bush would say, Mission Accomplished. But if the goal was the feed your customers in a way that is likely to make them come back, then as Mike Prieffer from the Vikings would say, it's time to round up all your kitchen staff in the kitchen, and then nuke it until it glows.
(1)Vishal S.
Had a good time here today, the location is nice there is a variety of seating options( porch, deck above entry...) we had a server that was not so great ( Rebecca ) when we asked for the run down of the menu she had a lot of ah,um,oh,um, fine,um.... Not very helpful in informing us so we felt like we had to figure it out on our own. I had the pork dish and it was ok . I ordered it medium and it was a little dry inside....it was good for a one time visit.
(3)Bea K.
Brunch was great! $20 per person includes all you can eat coffee cake, fruit & yogurt, eggs Benedict, potatoes, sausage, bacon and cheesy eggs, plus a beverage. Highlights for me were the first four items! Cinnamon strudel coffee cake was sweet and buttery. Fruit and yogurt had a nice variety of fresh fruit including blackberries and raspberries! Eggs Benedict was yummy on a perfectly buttered and grilled English muffin. The potatoes were nice and crunchy on the outside yet moist and savory inside! The sausage, bacon and cheesy eggs were good. We had heard so many good things about the chocolate peanut butter dessert. Despite how full we were without getting seconds of anything, we ordered one to share! The bottom was light and crispy, the peanuts were roasted to a rich flavor, and the chocolate was chocolatey delicious! There was a creamy ice cream on top and meringue, caramel and pretzel on the side. It was a wonderful symphony of taste and texture. We were happy we ordered. Even though it was rich, it still felt light! We talked all morning of coming back another time!!
(4)Surly M.
Beautiful place! Loved the ambiance! Great wine selection. The foie gras poutine was delicious. Hubby had Beef Wellington, beautiful presentation, though the Gravy was a bit too salty. I had the Horseradish Salmon. I LOVED the morel mushrooms, giant peas and greatly enjoyed the tortellini. The salmon itself was good but not awesome, and I did not detect any horseradish come to think of it. My dish also was a bit saltier than I'd prefer. For dessert we had the deconstructed banana cream which was very good. The service here was impeccable. Our server was friendly, attentive, and knowledgable. We were greeted and thanked by all staff that we passed.
(4)Hung N.
For Valentines day, I thought it would be romantic to bring the wife to a scary ass mansion where the maid hung herself out the 2nd story window due to an affair with the owner...I'm just suave like that. Actually, it is a cool place, with old antiquey ambiance, pretty good service, and the food was awesome too. For the app we did the poutine (fries, gravy, cheese). Now I've had poutine more times than the number of my toes, but this one was special. I loved the kick from the spicy pickled chillies and chili glaze...The one thing a little different is the cheese curds are battered/deepfried vs just melted in the beef gravy...but different is good...and you betcha ass Im going to add the foie gras mousse for 8 bucks...So rich and amazing...perfect app. We also did the waldorf salad, which was awesome as well..just apples, grapes, walnuts, mint, crème fraiche and what made it super awesome is the truffle oil...I could dip sheet rock in that and eat it...For entrees, I did the beef wellington. Always wanted to try a steak with a pastry around it. Pastry was flaky and came with potato puree, and cooked tomato...Was it good, yes. Would I do again...probably not...My wifes dish was super good, but seemed like an appetizer...Pork Belly and Scallops...very little greens or carbs...Scallops were salty in a good way though and porkebelly was crispy...just wish we had bowl of rice...A little spendy, but since it was good, I'd come back for a lunch.
(4)Rich R.
Since the 1970's, my wife and I have celebrated our late December wedding anniversary at Forepaugh's in St. Paul. Although we've had an assortment of dishes over those years, the service, presentation, and quality of the food has always been above average. I had heard about the change of ownership this year, and was hoping it wouldn't alter our experience. No such luck. After arriving, being seated, and ordering drinks, we placed our food order, and waited for the bread. And waited. The server kept remarking that the bread would be up soon. Didn't happen In the meantime, our $10 BLT Wedge Salad (bacon, tomato, pickled shallots, bleu cheese) showed up. It looked like either someone had ripped apart the half-head of lettuce and thrown it at the plate, or the lettuce had simply exploded. A pair of tomato halves, and clumps of bleu cheese lay about under the shredded lettuce parts. I tasted neither shallots or bacon. I usually have bread with my salad. Our bread finally arrived as our waitress cleared the salad plates. Turned out to be not worth the wait. Instead of the hearty bread mix that was part of Forepaugh's past spread, what arrived were four or five pieces of tasteless, white starch. Entrees... My wife declared that the $30 Scallops in Garlic-Clam Broth was "good". Thanks goodness, since the three scallops priced out at $10/each. I was not so lucky with the $26 Pan-Seared Walleye (coconut curry, fingerling potato, eggplant, hearts of palm, long beans, shiitake mushrooms), a dish I'd ordered in past visits and which I thought no Minnesota restaurant could ruin. The walleye (the smallest portion of walleye I've ever been served as an entree) was submerged in the curry liquid, such that, after a few minutes, it and the other ingredients quickly moistened into fish and vegetable mush. To complete the evening, the server (who was otherwise sweet and attentive) ran my card and dropped off the receipt for my signature without a pen. My wife rummaged through her purse and came up with one. Forepaugh's was a grand old St. Paul institution, and probably will be again. In the meantime, we'll be finding a new restaurant to continue our anniversary tradition next year.
(1)Breana L.
I enjoyed the Caesar salad with the walleye, accompanied by a spicy Bloody Mary. The meal was finished off by a wonderful peanut butter dessert.
(5)Lisa M.
Eh, could the table BE any smaller? The positives - *Good HH prices on wine and tasty snacks. *Good and tasty snacks - the chicken flat-bread was awesome! *Free, albeit limited, parking *Comfortable chairs in the bar *Great butternut squash soup. The menu I looked at did not indicate it had chorizo in it, so beware if you are not a meat eater like me. The not so positives - *The tasty snacks are quite small and not large enough for more than 2 people to share. *CRAMPED seating the bar area - the 3 of us were at a table for 4 and we were smashed in there. *Tiny, tiny tables in the bar. There is certainly not enough room for 3 glasses of wine, 3 small plates, 2 appetizers and silverware. My fork fell on the ground 2 times because it kept falling off my plate, which was balanced on the appetizer plate which was smashed up against the other plates on the table. The really needs improving - *The service - blech. Slow, annoyingly so, and just plain old lacking. The lone bartender was working the whole bar and the room to the side. He had to walk around the back of the bar, through the hallway to get drinks and serve them. It's not his fault, but they could really use more help in the bar. Would I go back - maybe, with conditions - if it were just me and someone else and it was not busy. It's not good for more than 2 people and once it gets busy, forget about it.
(2)Attila S.
My companion and I dressed to the nines to attend a 7:00 p.m. Saturday night dinner at Forepaugh's. By all accounts we had heard and all images we had seen about this restaurant, it was high-end, upscale and swank. We were somewhat disappointed with our experience in a few regards. When you pull up to the restaurant, opt for the valet parking: parking in the area is horrible so pay the $5 and let the pros do it. The restaurant has multiple floors. We dined on the second floor. The ground floor has a bar at which a collection of what can only be termed "white trash" sat, sucking back drinks during a Happy Hour. My date and I were dressed quite nicely: sport coat, shirt, tie, shined shoes for me; black & white dress and overcoat for her. This gaggle of Garth Brooks wanna-bes looked at us as if we were out of place. They were dressed more appropriatley for Applebee's. Happy Hour in an upscale restaurant? That's shoddy. The jeans and t-shirts and sweatshirts that we saw on the ground floor outnumbered those properly dressed for a meal at what was supposed to be one of the nicest restaurants in the area. The country music playing over the sound system similarly detracted from a high-end ambiance, as did the plastic - yes, plastic - flower arrangements in one of the siderooms on the ground floor in which we had a cocktail prior to dinner. There was a real fire place with a handful of logs burning away in one of the siderooms where we drank prior to dinner, and that was charming. The coat room/coat check is a nice touch that more restaurants should adopt in northern climates. It's nice to know your coat isn't dangling on the floor as you dine. We were guided to the second floor to take our table and dine. My date had the Beef Wellington, I had the top sirloin filet and squash soup, and we shared the braized spinach side: the food was worth the 50-minute wait and made up for the above-mentioned shortcomings. The Wellington was delightfully tasty and the pastry cage perfectly flaky, and my sirloin was so perfeclty done (medium rare) and tender and juicy I could cut it just by simply waving my knife over it. The wine list (by the glass or bottle) is extensive and priced well. The Winnipeg Jets were at Forepaugh's the night we dined and they may account for the 50-minute wait for our entrees. It would be worth it for Forepaugh's to (1) dispense with the Happy Hour (2) institute a dress code, e.g., no jeans ever and (3) play high-end dining music (or none at all) to capture the kind of clientele to which it should aspire based on the locale, structure and prices.
(3)Melissa O.
It was good but I can't say I'd rave about it. I ordered the walleye and my friend had the pork chop. We ended up switching meals. They were out if their famous banana cream pie and the service was fair. We had to make a reservation for 7:45 so I was expecting the place to be packed but it was pretty much empty. When I was wandering around looking for the bathroom 3 employees walked by but said nothing so I continued to wander. The most spectacular thing was the place itself, the mansion is beautiful.
(3)J J.
With all the great reviews and ratings, I was very much looking forward to my first time at Forepaugh's. It just sounded amazing. I had family visiting in town, my mother loves historical places, and I thought it would be a great treat to take them to a nice place (because Forepaugh's is pretty pricey!) I am very sad to say, I was SO disappointed! I don't even know how to politely say it, but...the food was not good. We had apps, salads, entrees, drinks and dessert. The only thing I would say was delicious was the salads and drinks. Honestly, the rest was terrible. I was embarassed and felt bad that I chose the place...everyone was very polite but how they left their dishes uneaten really said it all. I finished my entree but a few hours later, I was so nauseasted, I thought it would come back up. I wouldn't call myself a foodie, but I am a very adventourous eater, and will eat the odd and unique to the downhome and american, to very upscale restaurant to a dive diner, but the unique combinations they are trying do NOT work. And the cool thing they had going on (the haunting stories), apparently the new owners are telling the staff to not discuss anything and they want to lose that reputation. DON'T! It's really all you have going. The building and dining rooms are BEAUTIFUL!!!! It was worth it to check the house out but...I regret to report the food was awful and overpriced. For that kind of money, you can go somewhere else and get way better food. However the property is absolutely goregous.
(2)melissa p.
My girlfriends and I dined here during restaurant week and were so pleased we checked this place out. The mansion is beautiful! We were greeted warmly as we walked in and the service only got better from there. The Chinese Scallion Flatbread was delicious, as was the salad. The samosas were ok, but nothing special. For entrees, we had the Pan-Seared Walleye and the Ultimate Opus Burger. The portions were big and everything was quite tasty. My favorite part of the evening was the dessert - deconstructed banana cream pie! The little crushed wafers on the bottom were incredible and I loved the look and taste of the entire thing! I'm so glad to hear that this dessert is a staple on their menu, so I can have it again when I go back!!
(5)Elizabeth X.
Delicious food, friendly staff, beautiful setting. I thought the ravioli had both a great texture and taste, and my husband enjoyed his walleye. Before dining at Forepaugh's I was under the assumption that I didn't like brussels sprouts - apparently I just don't like poorly prepared sprouts, because I loved them here. The deconstructed banana cream pie was unusual and tasty. I look forward to returning - soon!
(5)Lori J.
Anniversary Dinner...first time here. Incredible Lemon Candy Shrimp and Banana pie dessert!! Drove from Wisconsin for it!!
(5)Kristi C.
First rate service, primo porch table (while enjoying the sudden downpour), a marvelous white sangria and some tasty appetizers. What happy hour (or two hours) it was!
(4)Robynn D.
We informed our waitress that we were attending the opera, yet the service was still quite slow. I had left ourselves plenty of time, but we were almost late save for the fact one of the hostesses (or owner?) drove us in her car to the opera. They usually have shuttle service to the Ordway, but she said they were having trouble that day and it was very nice of her to drive us and get us there just before the doors closed. The food was just ok; for the prices they showed, I was expecting to be blown away, but I wasnt. The scallops were cooked well, but the sauce was nothing special and simply dusted with bread crumbs - I felt like I could make it at home.
(3)MM R.
This is a charming restaurant housed in an old Victorian home in Irvine Park. Dine in the homes various rooms. Lovely for a ladies luncheon or an elegant dinner. Beautifully festive during the holidays. Delicious and experiential.
(4)Bill N.
This was our first visit to Forepaugh's in many years. The previous menu was elegant with a heavy french influence. Now it is elegant American. I had a barbecued beef rib (boneless) and it was out of this world. My meal included a couple of sides including grits that were fried in a tempura batter. My wife ordered the NY strip, which unfortunately was mediocre. It did not appear or taste like a 21- day aged steak as indicated on the menu. Instead, it tasted like yesterday's supermarket selection. The strip, at $39 was absolutely nothing special - but my boneless rib was flawless. The service was great and the atmosphere was equally wonderful. My recommendation is to skip the steak specialties and order the 'plated' selections. All of those coming out of the kitchen looked great. I just won't chance or invest in another steak at Forepaugh's - when MPLS/StP has so many other great steak choices.
(3)Corey C.
We only went here for dessert because City Pages rated them as the best dessert in the twin cities. The food: The presentation was great, its exactly what I would have expected from a upscale restaurant. We were informed by our waitress that this Banana Cream thing was what won the award. Its basically bananas flambe on top of a banana cream on top of some chocolate crisps with a side of whipped cream. The only place I've had better Bananas flambe was in my own kitchen, the banana cream tasted like banana cream pie filling from perkins, the chocolate crisps taste like chocolate rice crispy cereal, and the whipped cream may have been out of a can??? The only reason I would consider this to be amongst the best desserts would be due to the bananas flambe, without it this dessert wouldn't stay afloat! The Service: I'd give the service alone a two, which would have been a one if it wouldn't have been our great waitress. When we came in, a lady at the front greeted us with a surprised look on her face. I felt it was because I have arms full of tattoos, was wearing camo shorts, and my girlfriend had a t-shirt on advertising the newest Atmosphere album. She preceded to stubble over works, kept looking over her shoulder, not making eye contact etc. Once we made the struggle to our table and sat down we explained we had came for dessert. She told us about them and which one had won the City Pages award. I placed a order with her that I would take one of the Banana Creams, she says, "You know they are $8 a piece" as if I wasn't aware I wasn't at Dairy Queen. After she left the real waitress came out who was more then willing to help out, and answer all of our questions about the old Victorian home.
(3)Victor M.
The food is very good the place is very quiet and takes you back in time. the service is not too bad but i did not care. I have not had an issue with there food even there salad is good and i hate salad.. the experience was great. i would recommend to any one. They have a large selection of scotch and other types of liqueur.
(4)Rhonda G.
This is actually the new forepaugh's, new owners,decor, and menu. It's obvious they were trying to get away from the older victorian image as much as possible.Where to start with the disappointments?Really dull wallpaper. It didn't match a victorian mansion. Gone is the delicious french onion soup, squash apple is supposed to be good enough. Forget free refills on a lousy coke. The salad no longer has roquefort dressing, it's now bleu cheese vinegrette, with crumpled bacon, and only a lettuce wedge. For entrees, nothing french anymore. We always got good size steaks, different cuts. For $30.00 you now get the skimpiest thing and on the side, a cone of spicy french fries and a couple of cheese curds. At this point I gave my husband half my steak, it was his birthday after all. Then we're told the desserts were great. All four of them. OK, the old cart was full of them. I passed, my husband ordered the chocolate, and he was treated to small blobs of something. We later find out the company who bought the place owned the Timberlodge. Imagine an upscale version, now that would be a menu! I hope this cancer doesn't spread. Do people still use the term ripped-off.
(1)Emily M.
I had reserved a room for my sister's bridal shower for a Sunday brunch. I was coordinating the shower details long distance and the Catering Manager, Joan Frantz, was very helpful to ensure everything was all set for me. A few of us arrived early to set up and the valet and staff were so helpful with getting our packages to the area our brunch would be held. The mansion is beautifully maintained with hidden rooms around every corner. Our head server, Laurie (or Lori) was wonderful. She brought up fresh caramel coffee cake and coffee for my mom, my sister, and me as we set up our room and waited for guests to arrive. There was very little we had to put together, they had small floral centerpieces and tables arranged to fit our party. Also, let me mention that the day prior they called to check in before our arrival and suggested that we move to larger space with a more private restroom since their main floor fills up with Sunday brunch-goers. We basically had the whole floor to ourselves. Once guests and the bride-to-be arrived, the staff was quick to attend to drinks. We had a set brunch menu served family style. Eggs, eggs benedict, sausage, bacon, waldorf salad, breakfast potatoes....along with more fresh caramel coffee cake! After being served, the servers gave us our privacy to continue with the bridal shower. At the end of our shower, Laurie gave me a quick tour of their rooftop patio and a parlor in addition to telling me about their typical dinner service. Definitely sold me to go back when I am in the Msp/St. Paul area for dinner. The group dining price was very reasonable in comparison to other locations. You don't have to pay for a room fee. It was paid per person. They packaged all leftovers...LOTS of leftovers for us (our headcount was off a bit). Truly a charming restaurant. We read about the history of the mansion while at the shower and their website and menu are promising for those who wonder what to expect.
(5)Steven K.
Came here as part of a celebration dinner with a bunch of coworkers after the completion of a major project. Total group was 14 people. There was a preselected menu. I had the steak. It was nicely prepared and generous in size. But it was overly seasoned with a very salty seasoning that left an unpleasant aftertaste. Several people had walleye and they liked it. At least one person spoke well of the vegetarian selection. But honestly, neither one looked that impressive to me. One of the attractions of Forepaughs is the Victorian decor. On past visits, our server told the story of the ghost. Especially for groups, that adds to the experience of dining there. But this time, the service was efficient but not particularly friendly, and no ghost story. Can't say I'd drive across town to dine here again.
(2)Bill P.
We dined here this evening for our 21st wedding anniversary. Everything was absolutely excellent: the service, the food, the atmosphere. I had made reservations by popping in a couple days prior while dressed in my geeky bicycling outfit, but they were very friendly and helpful then as well and had noted it was for our 21st anniversary. We were guided to an excellent window seat on the upper level overlooking the park. It happened to be restaurant week so we ordered off the special three-course menu, and we also ordered the cheese plate. We each ordered different dishes for each course and shared with each other, so we each enjoyed seven different menu items and both absolutely loved everything. Besides the cheese plate, we had the Chinese scallion flatbread, BLT caesar salad, tortellini, walleye, deconstructed banana cream pie, peanut butter crunch bar, plus table bread and wine. Being in a historic mansion with all the smaller rooms and old architecture also makes for a wonderful atmosphere in our opinion.
(5)Carra W.
It was a first visit for us at Forepaugh's- and we are very impressed and pleasantly surprised. We were first enthralled by the building's historic charm- which other restaurant in the twin cities takes venue in a historic Victorian mansion? Their service was top notch- Victor, our server and Joe, the restaurant Manager were excellent. Most importantly though - was their food, which was absolutely amazing!! Think La Belle vie gastronomically fused with "experimental fusion". Their small plates were absolutely decadent- my ultimate favorite is the Tuna Harissa. For dessert- the apple crisp phyllo is a definite must! Do go and check out the mansion itself- and have a summer drink or two out in the patio. Forepaugh is easily St. Paul's best kept secret. Will definitely go back!!
(5)Bob D.
If want a quality dinner in a historic building, which is claimed to be haunted, then this is the place for you! Several months ago we had the chef's 5 course meal and it was excellent! The service was wonderful. This is a great place for a romantic dinner or special occasion.
(4)Donna N.
Call me a sucker....loved it before (wallpaper) and love it now. The scallops are quite good. Nice changes. Do miss the onion soup (perhaps a plea to the new owners). Nice changes inside. I think people all need to remember that Saturday nights are sometimes the worst nights to judge a place; they can get awfully backed up. Love the waitstaff and think the new menu is fab.
(5)John W.
There's a new 'Downstairs' menu that gives diners a good value with the same elegance and attentive service as the regular offering. We both had an amazing dinner last night. I'll recommend Forepaugh's if your evening dinner is the destination and the experience is as important as what's on the plate. We arrived on a cold, rainy spring night. I took advantage of the valet parking and pulled right up the covered entrance. We felt welcome the moment we stepped inside. It was all warm reds and dark wood with low lighting, murmurs of contented, low voices and the soft clink of glasses from the nearby bar. We sat in the bar while our table was made ready. The evening view over Irvine Park, with restored mansions with attendant lilacs was lovely, even in the rain. Up to dinner, we had two half starter plates: Fruit and cheese (wonderful, especially the dried figs and soft cheeses) and the chicken samosas (over-fried, in my opinion). My dinner was a perfect pan-roasted, boneless half chicken, spinach salad and something wonderful I had never had before: deep-fried gnocchi. The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender-juicy inside. I could tell it was brined and the chef knew what he was doing. The gnocchi looked like seasoned tater-tots. They melted in my mouth. My wife had a walleye fillet served Thai-style. It was swimming in a coconut-curry sauce. Her eyes rolled in pleasure at the first bite. We usually share each others entree, but she only gave me the teeniest of pieces. Dessert was a creme brulee. Not bad by any means, but I've had better. We spent nearly three hours at our small, cozy table. Definitely a 'slow-food' event. Just what we wanted.
(4)Mark B.
We went here because City Pages said the place had the best dessert in the Twin Cities. We were disappointed, to say the least, with the sample dessert platter. All of the desserts seems like they had been sitting in the refrigerator all day. The crusts were soggy and cold. For best in the city, we were expecting mind-blowing. Not a single part of the 5-part platter was better than average. Not sure what the reviewer was thinking. What did make up for this place was the atmosphere. We were seated right next to a fireplace and the servers added a couple extra logs just for us. Great date spot, if only the dessert matched the atmosphere.
(2)Joy G.
I am madly in love with Forepaughs! For a special event or just a nice happy hour with friends, this place has become like a second home to me! The staff is wonderful and very welcoming! The chef is amazing! And I love their wine selection especially when accompanied with their goat cheese wrapped in grape leaves, grilled to perfection with toast points! My son, who is only 3 loves Forepaughs too! What a great pallet. Thanks Forepaughs! See you very soon.
(5)Elias P.
The service was great, great ambiance in a beautiful old building! But the food was... I could've made better a home... We had the chicken samosa app which was cold but the flavor was good. The vegetable flat bread with goat cheese was terrible, the "bread" was hard and burned and the vegetables did not compliment it. Thankfully the entrees were much better! I don't remember the name but they were like asian pork tacos, delish! We also had walleye in a curry sauce which was very good but nothing special.
(3)Alison T.
What a beautiful place! My husband and I ventured over here early last evening for happy hour and were seated at one of the six tables on the front porch area. Service was very friendly and not rushed. We took our time enjoying cocktails and ordered several small plates. There are a lot of Asian influences on the menu. One standout was the Po Ping Pork, which was presented on a huge plate with cute little butter leaves, colorful grated vegetables, and tiny warm pita circles in which you wrap the tender pork cheeks and top with hoisin sauce. Yum! I also loved the tomato gazpacho, which was rich with many herbs and chunky vegetables. My husband's corvina fish entree was served in a coconut broth with baby fingerling potatoes - also a winner. The couple disappointments of the night were the poutine (house cut fries and cheese curds with an unappealing beef gravy) and the cold reception from the bartender inside. We did get a chance to explore all of the different dining rooms on the second and third floors, which are all extremely elegant and romantic. We will definitely be returning for dinner on a special occasion.
(4)Sean O.
After a 10 year hiatus, finally went back to Forepaugh's for a brunch. Food was good - highlights were the quiche and the house-made doughnuts. But let's face it... the real reason to visit Forepaugh's is for the experience. Forepaugh's is like Mancini's... deserving a visit for it's unique character alone. It's literally a mansion decked out as a restaurant. We ate brunch in a private room on the third floor.... felt like we were in someone's house. Funny how that works... Forepaugh's just feels comfortable - even with all the elegance. It's a hard balance to strike... but even after 10 years away and a change in ownership - the place has real, undeniable charm.
(4)Barbara S.
I am giving this establishment one star for the ambiance. The food is less than mediocre and the service could be improved if someone would train the wait staff. The last brunch we attended was very limited in variety, taste and quality, and we thought they were joking when they poured us each less than 1/4 of a glass of our complimentary champagne. Why even bother? I love this old place because it is a one-of-a-kind, in a lovely area and I really wanted it to succeed when they changed ownership. And, I think that their partnering with local farms and vendors is great, but they need to do much more to give their customers a wonderful dining experience. Unfortunately, Forepaugh's is serving below average hotel and country club food, and I am waiting for more.
(1)Kathleen B.
In town visiting from Duluth and really needed a fine dining experience after a stressful day....the food, staff, and environment was perfect...from the moment we walked in the door we knew we were in for a treat...we had a multi-course meal and every course was met with ohhs and ahhs, not only was it beautifully plated, but each item had layers of flavor. The wine list is extensive and we were treated to exquisite, yet affordable wine...hats off to Forepaughs, thanks for the lovely evening
(5)mish i.
Horrible. BUGS!!!! I don't know if they're roaches but one crawled on our table - another was crawling on my grandpa while we were eating. The staff just shrugged and did nothing. We spent over $500 to have beetles or roaches crawling on us ? They didnt offer anything for our ruined evening. The waiter ruined our surprise cake and the food was crap. The duck was inedible and the rest either people said it gave them stomach aches or was bland and tough. I wish I could give this place a ZERO and I'm thinking about calling the health department.
(1)John A.
This place sucks, The Old Forepaugh's had style and class...
(1)Peter L.
Terrible. Service=Awful. Steak= Cold AND Overcooked. Way too expensive for the mediocre quality of this place. I don't mind $100 plates if the food is good, and the service is efficient, but it wasn't. The only place I have ever had the nerve to actually complain to the GM about. I only went once a long time ago, and myself, my family, my lady, and my friends have not went back. Word to the wise, if you're stuck in St. Paul and you want a good steak, try Kincaid's, or The St. Paul Grill. Forepaugh's blows!!
(1)Jeff G.
You have to love a place where the bartenders rember your name and what you like to drink!
(4)Lj N.
Yelp rates this restaurant with 4 $, but happy hour with great $4 wines and appetizers less than $10??? And happy hour until 7pm... Makes this the best secret in St Paul... AND...with outdoor seating! Not a better place in St Paul!!! This will be OUR favorite spot this spring/summer!!!
(5)lisa n.
escargot, mmm! great knowledgable staff, greeted us with smiles, served us with care and made sure lunch was a great time. the waiter took care of us with all small requests, the food came out in a timely manner, the water was refilled throughout the stay and the rooms were lovely. i had the grilled pork w/plum sauce, just enough flavor. the bday girl had the steak w/madeira sauce, that was tasty, a bit burned but we still concurred that it was the better dish of the three chosen. for a nice sit down enjoy yourself for the day bc you have some time off restaurant.
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