This week, we continue our series of neighborhood guides.
We got a lot of feedback on our first guide, so I want to clarify that these guides are not meant to be comprehensive — they’re simply a list of where we send people when they ask for recommendations in that specific neighborhood. They are the places we visit when we’re there.
This week’s featured neighborhood, West Seventh, has so many restaurants, and so many of our general favorites, that we had a hard time whittling it down. To that end, this guide is a little longer than the others might be, but we think all of these places are worthy.
West Seventh has everything from special-occasion spots to dive bars to breweries and even a food hall. We probably spend more time eating and drinking here than anywhere else in the city.
As always, feel free to tell us who we missed or what your favorites are — in West Seventh or your neighborhood. Email us at eat@pioneerpress.com with the name of the restaurant, why you love it and favorite dishes, and send along photos if you have them. We’ll try to check it out!
Here, in alphabetical order, are our go-to spots in this hopping neighborhood:
Bay Street Burger Dive
One of the newer kids on the block, this dive bar has not changed its atmosphere at all since the Burger Dive folks moved into the kitchen. Chef Nick O’Leary, who has a long, storied résumé in some of the best Twin Cities kitchens, has teamed with restaurateur Josh Thoma (The Lex, Smack Shack) on this concept, which also has a location in the Potluck food hall in Rosedale Center.
At a place called Burger Dive, it should not shock you that we recommend the burgers. The Wedge — a burger play on the popular wedge salad, is a gloriously messy and delicious concoction, and the Onion, with onions in raw, fried, onion dip and onion jam forms, is definitely only for onion fans, but if you are one, you’ll love it. If you’re a pierogi person, the ones here, which are given a little ride on a griddle for texture and flavor, are some of our favorites in town. As for sides and starters, the jalapeno cheese curds — don’t worry, they’re only Minnesota spicy — are fantastic, as is the salt-and-vinegar-esque fried cauliflower. They have breakfast, too, which we haven’t had the chance to try yet, but the breakfast burrito in particular is on our short list.
731 Randolph Ave., St. Paul; 651-294-3240; burgerdivemn.com
Cossetta’s
If you have spent any time at all in St. Paul, you’ve probably been to this sprawling Italian eatery, and there’s a good reason for that. From the extremely popular deli serving sandwiches, salads, hot pastas and New York-style pizzas, to the pasticceria, with its beautiful pastries and flavorful gelatos, to one of the best rooftop patios in town at Louis, the upscale eatery on the third floor, there’s something for everyone at Cossetta’s, which has been a staple in the Saintly City since 1911. The recently opened Frank’s Levee Tavern, which specializes in Italian street food, has temporarily closed because of the very real challenges of staffing at all restaurants right now, but especially at this large operation.
You can never go wrong with the classic mostaccioli with ricotta in the deli, and the pizza — sold whole or by the giant slice — is fantastic. In the pasticceria, any of the traditional Italian pastries are out of this world, or if you’re in the mood for something cool, the pistachio gelato is really best in class.
211 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-222-3476; cossettas.com
DeGidio’s
Another West Seventh Italian staple, which has been operating since 1933, DeGidio’s, in our opinion, has the best red sauce in town.
The spaghetti and meatballs or chicken parmesan, in particular, are must-try items, but the bolognese is also awesome. And for a few years now, and against all odds, DeGidio’s has one of our favorite burgers. Taleggio cheese, “fancy sauce” and pickles adorn two thin patties of perfectly seared beef. Their wings are some of the best in town, too, and the cocktails aren’t too shabby. The Manhattan in particular has the key to our hearts, especially when there’s a chill in the air and the dark, historic bar is nice and cozy.
DeGidio’s has also added a cute little patio out front during the pandemic, so when the weather’s nice you can watch people and traffic on bustling West Seventh.
425 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-291-7105; degidios.com
Downtowner Woodfire Grill
Steak, chops and fish are the name of the game at this longtime destination for downtown business lunches and special occasion dinners.
The atmosphere is cozy and the food is always on point.
We especially like the fire-roasted kabobs, served with grilled vegetables and rice, and the breakfast here is great, too, especially if you need a quiet place for a meeting over eggs or pancakes.
253 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-228-9500; downtownerwoodfire.com
Hope Breakfast Bar
Speaking of breakfast, this cute little spot in a historic firehouse serves up fluffy, dessert-themed pancakes, classic egg dishes and other whimsical takes on morning favorites.
The kids in our group love the carrot-cake pancakes, which are really carrot-cake-like, or the cereal-milk French toast, which we found to be a bit cloying, but the kids thought was just right.
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The adults prefer the avocado toast, poblano and fried egg and biscuits and gravy, all of which are a little left-of-center in a really good way. Reservations can be hard to come by, especially on the weekends, so plan ahead.
1 S. Leech St.; St. Paul; hopebreakfast.com
Keg and Case West 7th Market
Although it has seen a lot of turnover in its first years of operation (much of it due to the pandemic), there are a few restaurants worth mentioning in this food hall in the former Schmidt brewery.
Woodfired Cantina, which replaced the high-end In Bloom, is churning out some pretty tasty tacos, served in house-made tortillas. You can also order a tower of margaritas here, which is a fun way to pass time on the patio, which was added during the pandemic.
O’Cheeze is an offshoot of the popular food truck and serves grilled cheese, gooey nachos, mac and cheese and more. It’s a counter-service operation that is family-friendly.
Pimento Jamaican Kitchen serves super tasty jerk chicken, rice and beans, wings and more, all of which are great when washed down with a beer from the upstairs occupant, Clutch Brewing.
And one of our favorite coffee spots, Five Watt, serves creative coffee drinks, using everything from sea salt to bitters to elevate your drink to the next level.
928 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; kegandcase.com
Mancini’s
Mancini’s is the cure to any bad day. It’s also a great place to celebrate with family and friends.
The service is friendly, the steaks are great, and the martinis are just right.
The third and fourth generation of the Mancini family are still running this place, which has been open for 70 years. A recent refresh means the carpet is new and the paint fresh, but it still looks like you’re walking back in time when you go through the front door, and that’s just how the Mancinis want it to be.
Our favorite meal is a signature New York Strip, which comes with a salad, potato or vegetable, relish tray and the restaurant’s addictive, delicious garlic toast. Leftover steak makes great steak and eggs in the morning.
531 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-224-7345; mancinis.com
Mucci’s
If you’re looking for something a little more new-school, as far as Italian goes, Mucci’s is your spot.
Restaurateur Tim Niver and chef Chris Uhrich collaborated to make this Italian-American restaurant, which features fresh, house-made pastas and pizza montanara (they deep-fry the crust before baking — trust us, it’s amazing). The food is great and the hospitality is some of the warmest in the biz.
Mucci’s was takeout only throughout the pandemic but has recently reopened, and we couldn’t be more excited to get there. They added a full bar (it used to be beer and wine only) during the shutdown, too.
786 Randolph Ave., St. Paul; 651-330-2245; muccisitalian.com
Pajarito
Chefs Stephan Hesse and Tyge Nelson created this Mexican restaurant based on what they like to eat on their days off.
The pals obviously eat well. The menu consists of simple, well-executed tacos with house-made tortillas, the best chips and salsa we’ve ever eaten (don’t miss the chile de arbol, made with smoked cashews) and other street-food staples (the torta is one of the best we’ve ever eaten).
The bar is always packed, for good reason — the margaritas and other tequila- and mezcal-based cocktails are top-notch. It’s one of our favorite places to meet friends for happy hour (trust us when we say order the nachos) or dinner.
605 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-340-9545; pajaritostp.com
Parlour
Parlour started as a bar beneath upscale restaurant Borough in the North Loop of Minneapolis.
It was focused on serving craft cocktails, but the owners acknowledged the need for snacks when you’re drinking, so they offered a small menu, including a burger that basically started the double-patty-double-cheese trend that doesn’t seem like it’s going away anytime soon.
So when a second location was planned, it was a no-brainer that the burger, which is definitely top five on our favorites list, be front and center in a simple, upscale diner-type menu.
Everything here, from the roasted cauliflower to the Kung Pao Brussels, is great, but we still never eat here without grabbing a burger to share.
We don’t always eat, though. This is also one of our favorite stops for a nightcap or pre-game cocktail. Every drink on the ever-changing menu is creative and balanced, and the old-fashioned is probably our favorite version in town.
267 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-207-4433; parlourbar.com
Shamrock’s
This burger-centric joint is basically a second, more spacious version of the St. Paul institution The Nook.
Because it’s easier to get a table (though you can still expect a wait most nights), families flock here after ball games, before concerts and just for an easy dinner.
Their juicy lucy is one of the best in town (we prefer ours stuffed with hot pepper cheese), but all the burgers are fresh, hefty and juicy. We like the Nookie Supreme, but with one patty instead of two (even hungry teen boys can’t finish one of those). The hand-cut, deep golden fries here are definitely worth the calories.
During the pandemic, Shamrock’s added a cute little lounge and patio. You can belly up to the bar inside and out, and there are built-in wooden booths outside.
995 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-228-9925; crshamrocks.com
Skinner’s Pub
Our love for a good dive bar knows no boundaries, and this is one of the best.
Well-worn furnishings, a long bar for bellying up to, and best of all, great bar food.
From awesome, Midwest-style, thin-crust pizza to juicy-crisp broasted chicken and jo-jo potatoes to surprisingly tasty hoagies, the slogan is “You’ll never leave hungry” for a reason. If you really want to impress your friends, get a full order of the totchos (basically nachos with a tater tot base instead of tortilla chips), which fills an entire, giant pizza plate for less than 10 bucks.
919 Randolph Ave., St. Paul; 651-228-1947; skinnersmn.com
Tori
One of the newer spots on West Seventh, Tori serves ridiculously good ramen and not much else, from a diner car that used to sport a Chicago dog eatery.
All the ramen here is pork free — which means the deeply flavorful broths are accomplished using poultry (chicken or duck) or vegetables. The noodles are fresh and made in-house, and you can order them separately for noodle dishes or to add to your own soups at home.
We can’t get enough of the creamy, nutty Bali ramen (the broth is enriched with tahini), but the Korean and salted duck are close seconds.
For now, while the restaurant struggles to staff up, it’s takeout only, but watch the website for the return of in-person dining.
603 W Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-340- 5866; toriramen.com
