The651.com

Great service and cheap food at Kelly's.

Saint Paul’s bar scene runs the gamut from complete dive like The Spot Bar to ritzy high end places like Barrio and everything in between.  One of those in between joints is Kelly’s Depot Bar located across the street from Union Depot.  This is a working man’s, neighborhood establishment.  You won’t find a fancy website for it but you will find some great reviews online!

Walk into this place and the decor will underwhelm you.  Decorations range from neon beer signs to old model cars to beer steins.  Grab a seat at the bar or at a table (high or low) a few feet from the bar.  The place is a shoebox so you better not mind being close to people.

The place has all the amenities you could ask for with four nice sized flat panel TVs, an electronic jukebox, pull tabs, Silver Strike Bowling arcade, pistachios, cashews and Hot Tamales for $.25 and an ATM.

The bar has eight beers on tap including Summit EPA and Fat Tire.  Drinks are cheap and free flowing.

If you think the above is good, I haven’t even gotten to the food yet.  Kelly’s kitchen is just an extension at the far end of the bar producing some of the best greasy spoon food around.  The soup is always homemade and delicious.  I had turkey vegetable wild rice when I visited and it hit the spot on a cold rainy day.  The menu is full of tasty sandwiches and salads.  My favorite is the bacon cheeseburger basket for $6.50.  The burgers are simply delicious!  They also have coneys–I recommend having two with fries for $6.   Stop in Wednesday for the spaghetti special and ask for Susie.  She waits the floor while sister Renee works the bar.  Susie just celebrated 25 years with the USPS and she is anything but postal.  Sweetest lady you’ll ever meet.

Save room for a bite sized homemade dessert.

My favorite feature is the tupperware full of homemade desserts that Susie brings over after the meal.  They are tasty and a staple at Kelly’s Depot.

Even the folks from Minneapolis like it evidenced by this online review from Michael M in Minneapolis:

“As an avid dive bar fan, I’m always on the hunt for a good hole in the wall.  I stopped in here back in April on recommendation from one of my friends that has an art studio down the block.  It’s a perfect place for an after-work beer or catching up with some friends.  The service was great and the prices were spectacular!  Also, how many dive bars have Fat Tire on tap these days?  After sitting there for about 3 hours with friends, we all ended up owing about $10 (which might have been a record.)

I stopped by here again after the Irish Fair again this weekend and had a similar experience.  The prices have gone up a little on the Fat Tire, but it was still a great time.  The jukebox was pumping various 90s tunes all night and the waitress was extremely attentive despite having a reasonably full set of tables.

If I lived in Saint Paul, I’d be a regular here.”

Come on down to Kelly’s Depot and formulate your own opinion on this fun spot.

241 E Kellogg Blvd
St Paul, MN 55101
(651) 298-0099