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Downtown Saint Paul’s Señor Wong

Don’t let a little construction ward you off, Saint Paul’s unique, dual-cuisine restaurant, Señor Wong is open for business and ready to provide you with tasty Asian and Latin-fused dishes. From chicken tacos and spicy chile rellenos to traditional Vietnamese pho and chipotle burgers, Señor Wong’s eclectic range of culture and spices, not to mention crazy fun happy hours and chill ambience, makes it one of the best spot in the city to unwind with great eats and tasty drinks.

Tonight, explore delicacies fresh from the Coast with the weekend “Coastal Seafood Special” (offered from Thursdays to Saturdays every week) paired with a flirty Polynesian cocktail. Or choose another refreshing beverage from Señor Wong’s extensive cocktail and beer list including Asian and Latin import beers, a few locally brewed ales (Surly and Flatearth), Artesian sake, and a plethora of flavorful red and white wines by the glass or bottle.

And don’t forget about Señor Wong’s amazing Happy Hour specials. Monday through Sunday enjoy your favorite drink on the lounge or patio from 4 – 7 p.m., with a “Late Night Donkey Show Happy Hour” from 10 p.m. to close. Their specials during these hours feature $1.50 off all draft beers and wines by the glass, and $2 off all sake by the glass. And yes, you read that right. I said all. Plus, $2 off Señor Wong’s creatively nicknamed specialty drinks the Angry Dragon, French Lemonade, Concubine and the Donkey Punch and incredibly deals on featured appetizers like the jalapeño-filled Wonton Popper and the feel-good Sweet Potato Fries.

DJ Del6

If that wasn’t enough, Señor Wong’s also features daily themed Happy Hours throughout the week. Monday the hard working folks in the hospitality field can enjoy 2-4-1 rail cocktails and $2 domestic beers. Tuesday evening it’s “Chinese Fiesta Night” (9 p.m.- 1 a.m.) with $2 sake bombs, jose cuervo drinks, $3 select Asian and Latin beers. Wednesday night prepare yourself for the happiest “Hump Day” you’ve ever experienced with $1.50 off all draft beers and wines by the glass, $2 off sake by the glass and $2 off select big drinks running – wait for it – from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.! On Thursday,

DJ Fundamentalist

channel Bruce Lee and don a karate bandana as you take part in “Kung- Fu Funk Night,” featuring Asian action flicks, $3 sake bombs and $3 select Asian bottle beers. On Friday and Saturday night’s, jam along with local DJ’s DJ Del6 (Friday) and DJ Fundamentalist (Saturday). It doesn’t matter which night you chose to celebrate your inner dragon, you can’t lose at Señor Wong.

Monday nights “Dinner for Two Special” featuring a rotated dinner menu which includes a delicious appetizer, specialty entrees and a sinfully good dessert for only $30. Oenophile’s listen up! On Sunday nights, Señor Wong’s offers a unique experience during their “Bottle Night” special. Bring in your own wine and enjoy their food from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., with no corkage fee!

Señor Wong’s is also host to charming upcoming neighborhood events including Mears Park’s Concrete and Grass: Lowertown Music Festival. 3 days of free music on two stages, September 11^th – 13^th. The Lowertown Block Party September 19^th and 20^th and the rowdy, wrangling “Brawl of America” Rollergirls Pub Crawl, also taking place September 20^th.

Due the afore mentioned construction on 4^th and Robert Street, Señor Wong is offering validated parking to the Kellogg Square Parking Ramp after 5 p.m. every day. The restaurant even provides fast-paced, free Wi-Fi access, so you can work and play at the same time. What could be better than guilt-free Happy Hour?

Señor Wong, 111 Kellogg Blvd. St. Paul, 651.224.2019

North East corner of the Kellogg Square Building. Main entrance is on the 4^th street side between Minnesota and Robert Street.

Note: Señor Wong’s will be closed Sunday and Monday for the Labor Day weekend.

The newly remodeled Mediterranean restaurant, Shish, on Grand Avenue.

I don’t really want to share my favorite new, healthy place to eat breakfast because, well, the emptiness of the café is rather nice at the moment. But you would really be missing out if you didn’t check out Shish in the A.M.

That’s right, I’m talking about newly remodeled and redecorated Shish, the Mediterranean grill and café on Grand Avenue. The one that’s often busy for lunch and dinner, but for breakfast? Not so busy. At lunch and dinner you’ll get your usual, delicious options like mousaka, falafel, gyros, spinach pie and the super tasty Kefta burger (ground beef, parsley, onions, spices, and topped with feta and grilled tomatoes). But let’s talk breakfast!
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According to my dad, the best places to eat are restaurants frequented by police officers.

“Think about it,” Big Smitty told me, “The cops are out on their beat all day, every day, driving around the neighborhoods.  And they get hungry.  They find the best Mom-and-Pop spots.  Trust me.  You want to eat a cities best food?  Follow a cop.”

So, imagine my amazement when I walked into El Burrito Mercado, the family owned Mexican market and restaurant on the West Side of St. Paul, and standing before me were two St. Paul cops.  They stood in front of us in the small cafeteria style line.  The cops didn’t even look at the menu.
“I’m going with the spicy beef quesadilla tonight,” the cop said eagerly.

“Would you like a platter?” the friendly cashier asked.

“Oooooh….yeah.” the cop replied.  The cashier plopped a mound of rice and beans onto his plate.  Then she filled a sizzling hot tortilla with shredded beef.  You could practically hear the Velcro straps on the cop’s Kevlar vest stretching out.

The second cop tried ordering in Spanish.  It was choppy and sounded like marbles were rolling around in his mouth.  But he got major points for trying.

“You’re getting better,” a worker told him.

“I’m practicing my Spanish,” the cop said, as he turned towards my family.  “I’m retiring to Mexico in five years.”  We nodded our heads in agreement:  that was an awesome idea.

El Burrito Mercado is so authentic that people don’t go there just to grocery shop and eat.  They go there in preparation of living in Mexico.  And Lord knows I could use a serious lesson in Chicano culture myself.  As I ordered our food, I fumbled with the Spanish words.  My Minnesota accent was so thick you could practically deep fry it, put it on a stick, and serve it at the State Fair.  The patient food counter workers helped me along, easing me into a successful order.

The bottles of Coke had real cane sugar.  The quesadillas had real melted Mexican cheese.  My wife’s Nachos Mexicanos were plate licking good.  I tried to sneak a couple of chips and beans and guacamole off the plate, but Sarah snapped at me like an angry badger.

As we ate, I watched a Mexican man walk slowly up to the counter and look up at the menu.  He pulled out his wallet and checked his cash level.  He ordered, got his food, and took a seat near me. The man was wearing Carhart pants and a short sleeve Dickie’s uniform shirt.  The worker tore into his meal.  His hands and forearms were dusty, covered with the grit of his labor.  As he ate quietly, he lifted his arms to put some extra elbow into his scoops.  I was still dressed in my own work battered Carharts and was eating my just-off-shift meal as well.  We made eye contact.  I nodded and so did he, one working man to another.

After we ate, my family tooled around the small market.   There were rows of Mexican moles, salsa, and canned products.  There was a deli countered with authentically prepared dishes and slabs of meat.  We even found dried hibiscus and shrimp.  Needless to say, it wasn’t the lily white Lunds that we usually shop at.  When we left, a man held the front door open for my family.  I’ll give you one guess as to who it was.  Yep.  A cop.  Imagine that.

July 3rd Kids Mariachi 5:30-6:30pm, Ol’Skool 4th of July Pachanga Party

July 24th, 30th Anniversary Fiesta.

There may be no better view of St. Paul than from the deck of a cozy, four-room bed and breakfast docked off Harriet Island. I do not say this lightly. If I could live aboard the Covington Inn I probably would.

For starters, you’re floating on the Mississippi River. Downtown’s buildings are laid out in front of you, with the scenic Wabasha Street Bridge to the north. Rowers and barges drift by. Fish jump. Trains click-clack over tracks on the other side of the river. If you’re lucky enough to catch a sunset from the Covington’s deck with a glass of wine in-hand, well, I just can’t imagine a better way to take in St. Paul’s beauty.

The Covington Inn, docked off Harriet Island. (Photo by Alisa Blackwood.)

My husband and I spent a night earlier this week aboard the restored 1946 towboat, celebrating our wedding anniversary. One night was nowhere near enough.

We stayed in the Master’s Quarters, a spacious room with a fireplace, panoramic views of the Mississippi and downtown, and direct access to the boat’s main deck. Since we were only the people staying that night (lucky us!), the bed and breakfast’s owner, Liz Miller, also allowed us use of the wheel house, which is usually reserved as part of the two-story Pilot House Suite. This living-room style space, with a comfy couch and two chairs, offers stunning views from any direction. Each wall is almost entirely made up of windows. If you want to play captain like my husband did, you’ll love the original brass controls still in place.

What is mind-boggling about this B&B is how few people seem to know it exists. Or they think it is open only seasonally. (Not true—staying when the river is iced over with the fireplace going in your room gives new meaning to winter coziness.)

A stay at the Covington Inn is the quintessential way to experience the Mississippi River. If you want to add to your river staycation experience, hop aboard a Padelford Riverboat cruise (the Covington is permanently docked) or walk or bike the paved trail, heading south, along Harriet Island.

If you’re looking for an urban hike, cross the Wabasha Street Bridge into downtown for dinner at Pazzaluna, Meritage, or the St. Paul Grill. Downtown is just a 10 minute walk (or less) away.

Liz's decadent French toast breakfast aboard the Covington Inn. (Photo by Alisa Blackwood.)

The next morning we woke to a deliciously decadent breakfast of French toast covered in caramel, fresh strawberries, bananas, blueberries, cinnamon and whipped cream. (No, not healthy, but very, very worth it.) Then we returned to the deck with fresh cups of coffee. Reclining on the deck’s cushioned lounge chairs, we watched St. Paul come alive as the sun cast a warm glow over downtown’s buildings. “I feel like I’m falling in love with St. Paul all over again,” my husband said.

Whether you’re already a fan of this city or see it as that place on the other side of the river where you only go for hockey games or the Opera, a night at the Covington Inn is sure to change your view.

I’d like to consider myself an adventurous diner. Although some would call my vegan diet restrictive, I’ve learned most restaurants have a least a few items that can be slightly tweaked, and I am the last person to veto a restaurant for fear there’s nothing I can eat – there’s always a drink menu, right?

But when the Russian restaurant, Moscow on the Hill, was suggested, I must admit I was a bit hesitant. Besides tall fuzzy hats and vodka, my knowledge of Russia is severely lacking, and my familiarity with  Russian cuisine is even worse. Assured on the car ride over that the borsht was not only delicious but could be made vegan, I was sold.

Located on Cathedral Hill across from W.A. Frost, Moscow on the Hill is St. Paul’s only Russian diner and boasts a menu of traditional and highly authentic food and drink, not to mention the most comprehensive and rich vodka collection in the Midwest.

While the dining room décor is nothing impressive (souped up cafeteria-style, hanging lamps draped with embroidered scarves and a few ornamental knick knacks), the patio is quite large yet intimate, privately enclosed by gorgeous vines and tall fences.

One of the best kept secrets of Moscow on the Hill is their happy hour offering half-price specials on rail drinks, house vodka, beer and a $7 Pirozshok and Borsht combo. Since we were a few minutes early to take advantage of the specials, we ordered regular priced drinks. The extensive 20+ signature martini menu (all for only $7.95) made the decision a bit difficult, but I finally decided on “From Russia with Love,” a classic martini made with Tanqueray gin, Stoli, and dry vermouth, after salivating for minutes over the “Red October” – Stoli Vanil, 3 Olives Chocolate, Pepper vodka and a dash of dark Crème de Cocao. My fellow diners ordered the Troika martini- brandy, Stoli Citros and Chateau Marusya – and the Pear Pressure, a house specialty drink made with Absolut Pear vodka, Ace Pear Cider and a splash of brandy. Delectable sips from all three confirmed that the Moscow on the Hill bartender is definitely skilled.

When happy hour arrived, I ordered the Pirozhok and Borsht special, minus the sour cream topping. The Pirozshok is traditional Russian “pie” consisting of a warm yeast dough bun stuffed with either cabbage or beef, but it was the Borsht, a vegetable soup made from beetroots, that I was most excited about. And thankfully, the soup did not disappoint. It was a gorgeous, deep crimson, hot bowl of perfectly favored red beets, cooked onions and delicious potatoes, the epitome of Spring itself.

And because no Russian dining experience is complete without vodka (or claims the menu), we finished our meal off with Garlic and Dill and Chateau Marusya (cherry) house shots. The Chateau Marusya was a bit too Robitussin for my taste, but the Garlic and Dill, garnished with a pickle, was crisp and savory.

I will definitely be returning to Moscow on the Hill, if only to try the 6 shot Vodka Flights, featuring a $20-35 medley of house, international, flavored and elite vodkas.

As they say in Russia, Na Zdorovie (“to your health”)!

Moscow on the Hill Happy Hour:

Monday – Thursday: 5-6 PM and 9-10 PM
Friday, Saturday and Sunday: 4-6 PM

Moscow on the Hill

371 Selby Ave

St. Paul, MN

(651) 291-1236