Forepaugh's
(651) 224-5606
276 Exchange St S
St Paul,
MN
55102
44.9412
-93.104
Neighborhood: West Seventh
What People Are Saying About Forepaugh's
The Editor
Molly Priesmeyer
Citysearch
In Short
Three floors of bedazzled rooms are romantic and lush enough to inspire longings in even the black-hearted. Good thing the new menu, laden with hearty American and European fare, is enough to satisfy any hankering. In the summer months, Forepaugh's is loaded with Victorian charm and sweet fixings. Wintertime, the fireplaces snap, crackle and blaze. For daters, this is the perfect setting for an intimate evening, an ornate and cozy dining spot rich in history that also offers a menu rich with tradition and inspiration.
User Reviews
TC9966
February 16, 2009
We booked a Valentine's day reservation and were worried that the service would be extremely busy to provide us a good experience. Thankfully, that was not the case. We were very satisfied with the level of service we got, water was always full and the waitress had time to explain the menu and answer our questions, some of which were not menu related, but small talk. To be sure, we spent several hours there (not ideal if you are looking for a quick meal) and worked our way through each course, from appetizer to dessert, including 1 drink each, and spent just over $100. But we knew the cost going in and had observed the menu on the website. I can see how people would have mixed experiences here, but if you know what you are getting into before hand, with costs, timing and menu offerings, I think you will have a GREAT experience. We were fortunate to be in one of the best looking rooms, make a request by a fireplace if you can. The food was tasty, but some offerings were unusual and there is not a ton of variety, only 8-10 offerings. The portions might be small if you do not add the salad or soup (both very good) or an app. Value is not necesarily a strong word here, but the experience is top notch. Preperation is key, forwarned is forarmed. Service was great for us, but may be uneven depending on timing and capacity. Too bad, consistency should be guaranteed for this price, but I would not be willing to guarantee excellence, though we certainly experienced it. We even got a short private tour of the wine cellar on this busy Valentine's night, and we are not even wine snobs! Great for us, recommend making reservations at an early time 6-7 to ensure service and put in a request for a good seat.
read full review
5yrTraditionalPatron
February 16, 2009
We were engaged at Forepaughs, Valentines Day 5 yrs ago & made it tradition to return every year since. We were unaware of the renovation until we got there. It turned out well, not taking away any charm of the house or atmoshpere. We arrived early & were very welcomed by the hostess who seemed to recognize us from previous years. We relaxed in the bar until our table was ready, we ordered & PAID for our drinks at the bar & were surprised at the $20 charge for a Tom Collins & Captain Coke. We had a 9:30 reservation and were seated timely. Our waitress Samantha was very friendly, attentive & informative. We were surpised at the menu change, not at all what we were used to and expected to order, we always ordered the stuffed chicken "Meal" which came w/ salad, potatoe & vegetable. We decided on Pan seared walleye which the waitress informed us was a bit spicy w/ a curry sauce. We decided to try it anyway. We found out it no longer included a salad. The menu is ala carte now. We decided to split a $8 blt wedge which was very good. Our walleye came in a huge plate with a very small fillet soaking in a sauce which had bits of veggies, more like soup. It took up only 1/4 of the plate, very small but probably a "healthy" size portion. We tasted more ginger in the sauce than curry & it had a very asian flavor to it. We did not like it at all. We took our walleye out and ate it seperate from the sauce. The waitress noticed & offered to get us something else but we said we were ok, it wasn't her fault. So for $27 each, we got a small palm sized walleye fillet which was cooked to perfection but not filling by any means. The waitress insisted on giving us free desserts (which were good) after informing Mgmt we were displeased. We got our bill & found we were charged AGAIN for the drinks we had downstairs. They gladly took those off. Food & Drink prices were much higher. We felt like we got LESS for more, we left hungry for $100 bill for two. Sadly not sure if we'll go back.
read full review
KarlMN
January 01, 2009
We had 6:00 reservations, ordered by 6:30, i think, and proceeded to wait OVER AN HOUR between our soup and our entrees. Waitress and then hostess both came an apologized profusely, but it was VERY painful. Fortunately, we had no other New Years Eve plans, as we were in the restaurant for more than 2.5 hours. When we complained to the hostess, she apologized and said they would comp our entire meal. Even after that, when they should have been concerned, it still took 20+ minutes for our food. My food (lamb) was very tasty, although amazingly, it was not sufficiently hot. We were seated on the 3rd floor, and they may have had some trouble getting food up there, as they also had to comp (entrees only) the table next to us. After our horrible service, they told us the entire meal was free, encouraged us to order dessert, and even brought us glasses of champagne with dessert. Even at that point, the desserts were unacceptably slow in arriving. To be fair, this was New Year's Eve, but we were there from 6 until almost 9 pm, and all times there were at least a few open tables in our room, so they were definitely not full. (The restuarant is quite broken up, so we were not able to see if other rooms were full.) They also turned their (normally free, i believe) surface lot into $5 valet parking only, but did not have enough valets on hand to get your car promptly. We left feeling marginally satisfied, since they comped our ~$125 meal, but it's really tough to sit there that long, and stressful to be put in that situation. I understand they just reopened a few months ago, but they clearly do not have their act together (yet). I'd be very careful.
read full reviewThe Details on Forepaugh's
Save Money:
Skip the $4 valet in favor of the lot across the street.
The Extras:
Mention evening theater plans when making a reservation and you'll get a $2 shuttle ride to and from downtown St. Paul theaters.
Where to Sit:
Three of the nine dining rooms have working fireplaces, perfect for a cozy meal.
Know Before You Go:
In mid-2008, Forepaugh's got a new owner and menu. The place is still elegant and Victorian- and French-inspired, but its new-American-fusion menu is more globe-trotting and eclectic. Dishes include beef Wellington, mussels, rack of lamb, halibut and more.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Diners Club, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Theater District Dining, Group Dining, Fireplace
Cuisine:
Smoking Permitted:
Yes
