New Restaurants in Lowertown

You may have noticed recently that downtown St. Paul is slowly but surely growing and changing. The addition of the Green Line has made the city more accessible than ever, and the $63 million ballpark project promises to attract even more people to the area. It is so exciting to see the revitalization of downtown St. Paul, and to be a part of it with the renovation of our own Pioneer Endicott building!

We have seen the population of Lowertown grow overnight, and so far, our city is keeping up with the influx. One major new necessity? Food! Restaurants have been popping up all over lately; in the past six months, four new restaurants have opened in Lowertown alone, and three more are set to open before winter. This isn't even including the new breweries and spirit shops (we'll do a different post on that!). In this post, we'll highlight the newest restaurant additions to Lowertown specifically, so that you are up-to-date with the food scene in your neighborhood!

Skyway Grill
Owners of the Nectary recently decided that the St. Paul Skyway was in need of a good burger joint, so they opened the Skyway Grill. Owner Scott Johnson makes efficiency and short waiting times a priority, ensuring that the lunch crowd doesn't have to scarf down their meals before returning to work. The counter-service setup and moderate sized menu seems to help move things along rather quickly.

Source

As for the eats, you can choose to build your own burger, or pick from the line-up of specialty burgers. The Lowertown burger has been a big hit with its sautéed mushrooms, pecan-wood smoked bacon, Swiss cheese, and aioli.  Other options include The Wabasha: a turkey patty topped with lean, smoky duck bacon, avocado mayo, lettuce, and tomato. The Grand: a black-bean burger with avocado, lettuce, and tomato on a whole grain bun. The fries are not processed and the sweet potato tots are delightful.
St. Paul Skyway
56 6th St. East, Suite 213
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-222-3990
Mon - Fri: 7:00am - 3:00pm

Bars Bakery
Thanks to a Kickstarter Project, family-owned and operated Bars Bakery was able to open a second location in St. Paul last February. Located in the St. Paul Skyway, Bars Bakery fills the hole that was left when Jerabek's Bakery closed. Customers are enthused and delighted with the new addition, having found a new go-to lunch spot and bakery in downtown.

Source

Mother and daughter Sandy Younkin and Kara Younkin Viswanathan bake homemade goods every day, using locally sourced and organic ingredients. Cinnamon-laced rolls with icing, single-serve quiches, creamy scones, flaky pastries, free-form fruit tarts, and ultra-soft cookies are just the beginning of the dessert list. Recently added salads, soups, and sandwiches makes the new bakery more than the name implies.
St. Paul Skyway
55 East 5th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-224-8300
Mon - Fri: 7:30am - 2:00pm

One Two Three Sushi

Source

The grand opening of One Two Three Sushi in the St. Paul Skyway was held on June 23rd, and is the first of the local chain to be located in St. Paul! The restaurant is affiliated with Masu Sushi and Robata in Northeast Minneapolis and the Mall of America, and the food is just as good. Featuring build-your-own sushi rolls, One Two Three Sushi provides a list of 16 main ingredients that you can mix as you please. The $6 steamed buns, $7 rice bowls, and $9 bowls of fresh ramen make this a go-to restaurant when you've got a Japanese food craving!
USB Center
101 East 5th Street Suite 205
St. Paul, MN 55101
Phone: 651-340-5012
Mon - Fri: 10:30am - 4:30pm

Rival House Sporting Parlour
'Eat. Play. Drink. Rematch. The Rivalry does not stop until you do.' That's the slogan of the DoubleTree's new street-level sports-themed restaurant in downtown St. Paul, and for good reason. Featuring brick oven wood-fire pizzas and shareable bites, along with beer-focused craft cocktails and premium spirits, Rival House also includes a sporting parlor where customers can participate in healthy competition.  From pinball and Ping-Pong to board games and foosball, the choices are plentiful and the fun doesn't stop until 2:00am seven nights a week.

Source

The Graves Hospitality Corp. is the mastermind behind this new sporting-themed restaurant concept, which combines the atmosphere of an old style social club with a modern twist on casual dining and cocktails. When Bradstreet Crafthouse closed, head chef Andy Vyskocil found his new perfect match at Rival House, as did the renowned bartenders of Bradstreet, who have assembled the cocktails and drinks at the new restaurant. It goes without saying, then, that Lowertown's new sporting parlor will soon be a new favorite.
411 Minnesota Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-255-0645
Mon - Fri: 11:00am - 2:00am
Sat & Sun: 10:00am - 2:00am

Public Kitchen + Bar
Featuring 'upscale American cuisine created with classic flavors and ingredients presented with a  modern touch,' Public Kitchen + Bar will be a lovely addition to the Lowertown restaurant scene. Seated next to Barrio, Public Kitchen + Bar will consist of two levels; an upstairs restaurant and bar with an open kitchen and main dining area, and a lower level lounge and bar with a separate menu of smaller plates and classic cocktails.

Source

Owner Carol March is thrilled about the location and design of the building where Public Kitchen + Bar will be located. Originally from St. Paul, Carol says that she couldn't resist the opportunity to open a restaurant in the historic area on 6th Street, and promises that the inside will retain the integrity of the historically significant building. Opening Monday, August 4th!
229 East 6th Street
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-348-6456

Saint Dinette
Owners of The Strip Club have been struggling to find the perfect space for their sister restaurant in Lowertown, but they're not giving up! After realizing that the space in the Loft's at Farmer's Market building on Fifth Street was going to be too small for Saint Dinette, the trio of owners set their eyes on the Rayette Building across the street. As of now, Saint Dinette is set to open 'mid-soon.'
All we know so far is that the cuisine will be North American 'deep, honest, market-driven food,' and the vibe will be an 'intimate, European-style bistro with a party atmosphere.'
Lowertown St. Paul
651-800-1415

Source

Music Forest Cafe
The Music Forest Cafe will easily be one of the most unique venues in Lowertown when it opens in September of this year. While not exactly a restaurant, the new cafe will act as one in a form we have not yet seen. Instead of serving food in the facility, guests are encouraged to bring their own meals or order from a provided takeout menu featuring every food establishment that delivers downtown. A free bicycle delivery service will be provided. For a $5 entrance fee, guests will get 'an ambiance unlike anything in the metro area,' as well as free drinks (coffee, tea, seasonal beverages) and, very often, free live music. Sweet rolls will be provided weekend mornings, cookies on weekend afternoons, and popcorn every evening.

Source

Owner Bill Hosko (of Hosko Gallery and Custom Picture Framing) describes the Music Forest Cafe as a co-operative providing an intimate environment to enjoy music, art, and the company of others. There will be no Wi-Fi in the building, which is a refreshing change from what is nearly considered a necessity in most public places. Bill explains, "the last thing I want is to have a place for musicians and they are looking out at the audience and see people looking at a computer screen."
The stage and space itself, including walls filled with artwork from local artists, will be enough entertainment - no Wi-Fi needed. The stage, which is described as 'a tall barn-like structure with a cupola on top,' will be surrounded by big trees that disappear into the 24-foot tall ceiling. The space is 13,000 square feet and features large windows. We're excited to see this cafe in action!
151 7th Street East
St. Paul, MN 55101
651-222-4767
Bookings for musicians will begin mid-August

Whew, that's a lot! We'll keep you posted on all of the new restaurants that are sure to keep popping up in Lowertown :)