Hungry, Hungry Highland: Where to Eat in Highland Park
Ever found yourself in Saint Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood when hunger hits? These are the spots we head to first when we’re craving...
Altera
"This new St Paul gem just opened a few months ago but I predict this will be a Twin Cities' staple -at least for me. Altera is perfect for delicious small plates and gabbing with an ambiance and waitstaff to make the experience exceptional. Altera was part of the Mpls/St. Paul restaurant week and their menu slapped to say the least - we did have to order an extra app of the brussel sprouts because they looked too good to pass up. The showstopper for me was the gemelli verde. Though it looks like a bowl of green beans and shrimp, I can assure you it was a mouth-watering lemon, shrimp pasta dish. They had an array of cocktails and wines, but the house white had a surprisingly mind-blowing flavor. Cannot wait to return." - Yelp Elite Summer K.
Buca di Beppo
"I say it's all in the festive atmosphere. It's family-style so share the large dishes and have a family party in this the happiest of places." - Yelp Elite John S
Cecil’s
"Yes, a Jewish deli in Saint Paul. Is it as good as New York? Well, New Yorkers have a bias against anything outside of the city. Yes, it is just as good. I got the Reuben last time, which was excellent. This is definitely an institution that has not given up on serving high quality food." - Yelp Elite Brent
Carbone’s
"Carbone's was my introduction to Twin Cities style pizza. Good lord, is it good. I love the cracker crust and the little squares." - Yelper Tara W
ColdFront Ice Cream
"Absolutely love the atmosphere of this place! The "ice cream" flight is the perfect option for those who can't decide what flavor, or simply want to "treat yo'self" and indulge in their sweet tooth craving." - Yelper Alyse P
Dué Focaceria
"Order Sorrel Pesto sandwich, Caponata salad and Cannoli for the dessert. Although the selection on the menu is not too extensive, they offer unique options from sandwiches, pizza by the slice, share platters, soups, salads and desserts. I wished they have sampler platter to taste all the options. They have a small bar to order alcoholic beverages (beers, wines, spirits and coffees). The food we have? Really taste great. A new neighborhood gem in Highland Park area of Saint Paul." - Yelper Peter P
Highland Cafe & Bakery
"This is the place to get the best breakfast in the neighborhood. It feels like home. The service is fast and friendly. I love walking here and getting a breakfast burrito to start my weekend off right. Plus the baked goods are amazing!" - Yelper Catherine M
Highland Grill
"BEST Eggs Benedict around. And there is so much more. It is the gold standard I hold all other brunch and breakfast restaurants to." - Yelper David M
Joan’s in the Park
"This place is awesome. We had the lobster toast, steak tartare, heirloom salad, gnocchi, and brown butter pudding. All were phenomenal. The service was outstanding-- timely, personal and extremely helpful." - Yelper Caitlin B
Luci Ancora
"The pasta is made here, as are the desserts! Yummy! The wine selections, both by glass and bottle, are sufficient to satisfy most if not all. Veggies are locally grown & organic. The knowledge and service of the wait staff is very good." - Yelper Patrick J
Maverick’s
"This is some of the best pizza I've ever eaten. I got a sausage pie and the homemade sausage is perfectly spicy and the cheese blend is amazing. Make sure to get an order of the garlic cheese bread. I could honestly eat an entire order of that with no problem." - Yelper Diane T
Sakana
"This is my favorite sushi place in the twin cities. Pink Mountain rolls, rainbow rolls, avocado rolls. It's big bite of fish and so yummy. Love it so much." - Yelper Flora R
Soul Lao
"Heard about this place from numerous posts via Instagram and Facebook, so I had to try! It was definitely worth the hype! First off, plenty of parking as it's located in a strip mall, so you'll be all good there. Upon my arrival, I was greeted quickly, kindly, and told my food would take 15-20 mins to complete. I was told the brewery next door would allow me to bring my food in and to have a beer as I waited. I thought that was a great addition to the experience! Side note, the Wandering Leaf Brewing Company was fantastic and beautiful inside! My food was completed on time and it was delicious! I ordered some crispy rice w/pork, egg rolls, and my gf got their wings, and mango sticky rice. Everything tasted completely fresh, flavorful, and even the foods appearance looked great! Overall, food came out timely, fresh tasting, delicious aroma, and very nice staff inside." - Yelper Elite Anthony S.
The Nook
"Best dive bar burger of my life. Oh! Please, one cannot forget the Cajun fries. Highlighted on the 2nd page are the stuffed burgers. You need not look further burger lover. Pick one, it will not disappoint. Plan accordingly and wait for the burger to cool and take in the glory before you." - Yelper Christina G
Tiffany Sports Lounge
"We've been going to Tiff's for a long time! Over 30 years. The service and food: good! The new decor: love it! The televised sports: couldn't be better! I can't find fault with this neighborhood bar. Thanks for your presence!" - Yelper Missy P.
Nelson’s Ice Cream
"The ice cream is creamy and delicious, and the servings are huge at Nelson's! The best tip I can give you is to share a kiddie size with someone. Maybe two someones." - Yelper Anne G
Vina Vietnamese Restaurant
"Lovely family run place, the service is great, and the food is wonderful. I highly recommend the pho, egg roll, pot stickers, and chow fun!" - Yelper Lauren M
Quixotic
"I am a fan of this cute place. It has big windows and space for studying/working/catching up. The service is fantastic and their coffee is great. I normally get chai with almond milk and it tasted wonderful." - Yelp Elite Cindy D
Wandering Leaf
"The ambiance of this brewery is so cool! Everything from the hanging plants to the big mural on the wall creates a vibrant atmosphere--you're truly surrounded by greenery everywhere you turn.The service was friendly, and they let us sample a few options before we picked our favorites. We liked the Patio Ferniture but the Blackberry Twist seemed a little watered down or not as flavorful as I would have thought. The biggest plus: DOG-FRIENDLY INSIDE. We appreciated this so much! It was especially nice because our table was tucked in a corner, which was perfect for our very distracted puppy.The pinball machines seemed to be free while we were there, which was a nice bonus!" - Yelp Elite Caitlyn R.
We’d love to hear your favorite Highland Park spots. Let us know on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #MYSAINTPAUL. And, a special thanks to all the Yelpers who make our foodie decisions a whole lot easier by leaving fantastic reviews. If your go-to didn't make our list, give them some love with a review on Yelp!
