Heartland Contemporary Midwestern Restaurant
(651) 699-3536
1806 St Clair Ave
(at Fairview Avenue S)
St Paul,
MN
55105
44.9342
-93.1768
Neighborhood: Macalester - Groveland
Reviews & Ratings for Heartland Contemporary Midwestern Restaurant
34 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 34 reviews
Not my top pick for a TC wine bar (Wine bar review only.)
by lke326
June 10, 2009
Really craving a glass of crisp white wine last night, the hubby and I headed out to try a new wine bar (new for us anyway). We ended up at Heartland Wine Bar in St. Paul which offered us quite an experience. Located off St. Claire in St. Paul, it’s a cute, little place, tucked in next to the neighborhood dry cleaner, giving it a nice, neighborhoody feel. There was a small lot adjacent to the restaurant itself and plenty of parking on the street as well.
The restaurant and wine bar themselves do not open until 5:30, so don’t ask for the happy hour menu, there isn’t one. We were the only patrons in the place at 5:30 and the next guests didn’t show for another hour. The “wine bar” area itself is long with 10 or so spots with a handful of tables in the back. Very quaint atmosphere, quiet, with low lighting, although I would have liked a couple of windows or at least better decorating as I felt wedged into their back hallway. I guess they certainly make due with the space they have.
The wine list was impressive with a lot of unique choices. Although I love when wine bars offer flights, as it’s a great way to sample a nice variety, and Heartland doesn’t offer any. We settled for four full glasses of wine and eventually ordered a bottle of Albarino from Spain. This was the recommendation of our server/bartender and the pick was spot on, we really did enjoy it! We also ordered the cheese sampler, which again was an excellent pick, with three cheeses from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
It was a wine and cheese night, so I can’t speak to their full menu, but overall we really enjoyed ourselves. I would certainly recommend this spot, but for $8/glass for their cheapest glasses and no happy hour specials, the bill adds up quickly.
- Pros: Great wine selection, very helpful server
- Cons: Wish they had wine flights
who knew?
by maryjoy66
January 13, 2009
This was my first visit to heartland after hearing years of hype. We were disappointed to find when we arrived that the dining room was closed and only the wine bar was open, this is apparently the case on Monday nights. I didn?t even know there was a wine bar and was surprised to find this hidden gem. The atmosphere was cozy, nice lighting and music, but small. The menu seemed a little over the top and we were unfamiliar with many of the wines on the menu. Our server was very knowledgeable and was patient with my boyfriend and I and our many questions regarding the food and wine. We ended up sharing a few things and everything was seriously delicious and beautifully presented. Keep in mind that the portions in the bar are smaller plates, our server told us this and we ended up getting just the right amount of food and with great suggested wine parings?our bill was still less than $80 for the two of us. We were so happy to find this place and now knowing that the menu changes and is updated on their website daily, we will definitely be back!
- Pros: great food & service
- Cons: small space
I Don't Get All The Fuss
by mryuck
December 14, 2008
I went here a second time because the first time I felt like I must have missed some exciting dish that makes everyone go bananas for this place. Nope, second time was the same let down food and lame atmosphere.
- Pros: Sausage
- Cons: Parking
Food in the Heartland by Donald R. at InsiderPages
Contributor
November 29, 2008
Heartland is known for its reliance on local and regional products. It offers a wide variety of unusual and well prepared dishes. On any given night there are interesting prix fix menus. Although there is not a lot of atmosphere, the service is good and the food is excellent. My one caveat: bring your wallet when you go there.
A fine, unique TC restaurant
by pollysigh
September 02, 2008
Six of us dined here on a recent evening. All enjoyed it. The menu contains many unusual items in unusual combinations, and changes frequently. An obvious effort is made to utilize local sources. Here are some we consumed: the lake trout gravlax, watermelon-cucumber gazpacho, hierloom tomato salad with blue cheese, Romano flat beans with walnut dressing, wild sturgeon with crayfish butter, and a chicken breast prep (details escape me now). All were pronounced excellent. I can say the sturgeon, one of my favorite aquatic foods, was outstanding, not only for the quality of the fish but for the sauce. Interestingly, the prosaic flat beans were wonderful. The only disappointment was the bird-like portion of the trout gravlax appetizer. It was $10 but, given the Lilliputian quantity, should've been $6. About six miniature potato chips and a barely detectable sauce accompanied it. I'm seeing this more and more: Extremely small appetizers costing more than they should. Better to increase the size and keep the price. Desserts may have been a bit over the top in terms of combinations; good, but they left us thinking about Cafe Latte's sweet offerings a short ways away. Food and wine prices are reasonable for a restaurant of this caliber. Decibel level when full was still conversational. Our server was fine, but she apparently expected us to tell her at the outset that we wanted the bill split in half. This is a very good restaurant and the beneficiary of one of New Jersey's finest exports, the chef and owner(?) Lenny Russo.
- Pros: Unique menu, interesting ingredients and combinations
- Cons: Not much; one appetizer (trout gravlax) was tasty yet miniscule
One of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities
by kls486
April 03, 2008
Heartland is a great restaurant for a special occasion. The food is delicious, and reasonably priced for the quality of ingredients. The staff was very friendly and helpful when asked questions about food and wine recommendations. I will definitely be back, and have highly recommended Heartland to many people.
Fun and Delicious
by Otoki
February 16, 2008
My boyfriend and I have gone to Heartland four times now. Each time has been a treat. We enjoy high-quality food made from high-quality ingredients, and the price at Heartland is very reasonable for a special-occasion dinner. Having read some customer reviews complaining about the portions, I'm rather curious as to how much they manage to eat, because we leave there happily full every time. The last time we went was on the 13th with three other friends for a non-romantic Valentines day dinner, and everyone had a great time. All three of them called later to thank us for introducing them to such a wonderful place.
One thing the place thankfully lacks is the pressure to be formal. It's gourmet food without the pretentious attitude. I have never felt uncomfortable or out-of-place, and the servers have been nothing but kind, helpful, and efficient.
If you ever happen to go there as a couple, try the wine bar. Lenny's wife is awesome, and she made that night our best anniversary dinner to date.
World Class Cuisine in an unlikely location by Alex W. at InsiderPages
Contributor
January 13, 2008
Absolutely fantastic!!! The food is amazing. It is always original, and the chef often incorporates local dishes into his menu. Personal favorites have included crappies with blueberry sauce and the tuna. Also, the bread served is very good. The atmosphere is very comfortable, the service is excellent, and the chef is often around.
Please, just a bit more food, I am very hungry
by thegracekelly
November 29, 2007
In keeping with my theme of buying local, my husband takes me to a well reviewed Heartland restaurant, St Clair Av, that is based on local food. I do not recommend the Heartland restaurant.
When we go in, the place is empty (not a good sign for a business). I look at the menu, it is twice the price of my favorite restaurant , however there is a bountiful list of food listed on each item. We splurge, we take the three course meal. The waitress will substitute ice cream for the third course, since I have food problems. Now, where I come from, bread is served with every meal. So the joke of a bad meal is that you have to live on the bread. Well, at Heartland you have live on the bread, which is served first and I can't eat. Then came an appetizer the size of a quarter (I am not joking), served on a big plate. Oh that is just complimentary. The real appetizer comes next, a 3-4 inch diameter of food on a big plate, about 1/4 of what I would expect. It was good, or maybe I was just very hungry. Then the main course comes out, 4 thin slices of lamb hiding a tiny tiny amount of potatoes and carrots. I ask the waitress if I could have more potatoes and carrots, she says there would be a surcharge. I decline. It was good, or maybe I was just very hungry. Even in Europe I had more of a serving for lunch. Then desert came, four small scoops of ice cream. It was good, or maybe I was just very hungry. I think I could have gotten more food walking around the taste testers at Sam's club. My husband was there, or I would have gone begging to kitchen. "Please, just a bit more food, I am very hungry".
- Pros: the food was good
- Cons: Food Servings are incredibly miserly, the price was high
Response from this business
50092– July 24, 2008 at 18:55:56 PDT
For one who purports to want to help change the world through buying and eating locally, this woman has a hard time putting her money where her mouth is. Besides comparing us to an Asian restaurant that buys almost nothing locally and doesn't prepare all of its food from scratch, she also made reference to Sam's Club. That should throw some light on her level of commitment to buying locally. She had four courses for $40. That's $10 per item, one of which was $40/lb. foie gras. It not our fault that she is gluten intolerant and couldn't eat the bread. At Heartland we serve human size portions for human size people. In addition, we pay living wage, practice fair trade and prepare everything from scratch using local sustainably raised ingredients. Our prices reflect that cost. Rather then pay an additional $6 for a side of vegetables, she has decided to be boorish and hypocritical.
Could be the best ever.
by notsofunny
August 13, 2007
One word for this restaurant is "PERFECT". Stop wondering if you should try this restaurant just GO you wont be disapointed.
- Pros: everything
- Cons: nothing
