I really wanted to rate this restaurant really high. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. First off, the Meritage Oysters were really good, but to only get 3 for that price was ridiculous. You would expect at least 5. The escargot was really good until we asked for more bread and never got it. The house salads were OK, but arrived 30 minutes after we ordered them. I ordered the special duck confit which was cooked to perfection except… they put a ton of salt on it. The waiter didn’t return for over 25 minutes so I couldn’t tell him. My husband ordered the grilled chicken and again the salt killed the perfection of the dish. Same for my friend who ordered the Steak Au Poive. Felt so bad as this was the first time she had experienced a French restaurant. By the time the waiter came back, we had eaten a good portion of our dinners because it took so long for our waiter to come back. He stated that the issue with the salt only happens periodically. I guess we picked the wrong night. For these prices you do not expect an oopse with the salt shaker. I do believe this should be a 5 star restaurant, but they have to start listening to the consumers.
T S.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Liverpool, NY
The food was amazing, the 5 course option was just the right portion size per course. My husband had the wine pairing and he enjoyed it. My husband also added on the foie gras course and it was his favorite course of the night. Service was slowly paced to start but was steady after the first course. I would recommend.
Jonathan M.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Gastonia, NC
To qualify this review, I travel for work and eat out 5 to 10 times a week. This was my first time dining at Meritage. As far as French cuisine goes, I stuck with some of the staples: French onion soup and steak frites. The results were middle of the road. The French onion soup was not bad, it just wasn’t my personal favorite. Typically a very savory, salty soup, this version was very sweet. By no means was it bad, I just did not care for the sweetness. The steak frites was just okay. The frites were very good, but the steak was just mediocre. It was tender and cooked appropriately, but not particularly flavorful. Overall the service and atmosphere were very good. Unfortunately the food left something to be desired.
Vanessa C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Pasadena, CA
Hubs and I were in town for a weekend, love to have brunch in new cities and found this little gem. I was worried when I saw $$$, but looked at the menu, it was reasonably priced. Some items were more expensive, but you get what you pay for. Bloody Mary’s were on point! You can add a beer chaser for $ 2, it was so good. I recommend that. The fix-ins came w olives, pickles and sweet beets(so delicious!). I had the upside something(forget the name) but it was a bagel and lox, build your own. It was fresh and very tasty. Hubs got the eggs and steak– he said the meat was slightly over cooked(ordered med rare) it was more medium, but still had a great taste. Service was excellent. Our waitress was great, she was very consistent. We eventually moved inside, since it started to rain. We sat at the bar, the bartender was also great. I do recommend this place!
Ender T.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Saint Paul, MN
Meritage is an excellent restaurant, serving high quality, authentic French cuisine. I took my girlfriend here for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. The ambience was very low key but pleasant; we had a relaxing meal. The waiter was attentive yet reserved, allowing us to eat in peace. The food was excellent. The escargot was simply devine and my girlfriend’s rabbit was perfectly cooked. I had the Moule Frites which were good but could have been better. The broth was on the bland side and really could have used some more salt. The mussels were fresh and delicious but were again on the bland side. Mussels are naturally very weakly flavored and need a strong, aromatic broth to give them flavor. I wouldn’t have Meritage’s Moule Frites again but I wasn’t unhappy with them either. Desserts are where this restaurant stands out. They were truly five star. I had the strawberry-rhubarb consumme which was outstanding. Bursting with flavor and very creamy I was only disappointed by how small my portion was. For a 9 dollar dessert I expect more. My girlfriend had the almond gâteau with blood orange coulis. That was also delicious and a generous portion was given. All in all I was very pleased with my meal at Meritage. The food is high quality and worth the price. I would come back.
Adam B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Woodbury, MN
Had dinner there with my wife the other night. We made reservations for 630 but they weren’t necessary because there were several open tables. We loved the atmosphere, décor, etc. The wait staff was very friendly and attentive. And the food was excellent. My wife and I enjoyed the chefs choice five course meal. The portion sizes are small and appropriate, but you get satiated very quickly because the food is very, very rich and tasty. We love the location in downtown St. Paul, and they do have outdoor seating, but the weather was slightly too cool at that time. It is pricey for someone middle-class like me — we probably spent $ 200 between the two of us without alcohol. But we had an awesome date night and a wonderful time. We’d go back in a heartbeat. Keep up the good work!
Abby T.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Burnsville, MN
I met 7 friends at Meritage to celebrate my friends’ graduation — made a reservation for 7:30 on a Friday about a week in advance. Parking is terrible– you might be able to find 2-hour paid street parking but do yourself a favor and just go to the Lawson Commons parking ramp around the corner. We ordered east and west coast oysters as an appetizer as well as the escargot popover and mini tartare taco. The escargot popover was sooooo tasty. Just order one. You won’t be sorry– it comes in a buttery pastry. It’s all very small so I’d think of them more as amusements instead of appetizers. To offset the pricey and tiny appetizers I got the burger(cheapest option on the menu) and it wasn’t good. But in their defense beef is not the thing to order at a seafood place! A nice place if you’re wanting an upscale, seafood restaurant.
Tim V.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Shrewsbury, MA
Had Niçoise salad yesterday for lunch and it was great. Usually like to go to different places when I’m visiting, but came back here to try a different meal. Burger was fantastic and service exceptional.
Anna B.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Minneapolis, MN
Beautiful restaurant. Pleasant(but not too loud) music. A waiter who cared about what we liked, the event we were celebrating, and our time contraints. We were surrounded by people twice our age and dressed to impress(think giant hats, men in brightly colored pants, and blazers a plenty). but really. who cares. THEFOOD! The food was fantastic. I was offered a complimentary glass of wine with my dinner since we let them know we were celebrating my birthday. Standard bread was offered with yummy salted butter. Nothing unusual. We each ordered one of the amusements based on the recommendation of our server. Tiny two bite tastes of AMAZING flavor. He got the tiny tuna taco(it’s TINY! but so TASTY). I got the escargot puff thing. Both delicious and savory and such a tease of what was yet to come. I was torn between ordering the Chicken(their house specialty) or the duck. Since the chicken is their specialty, I knew it would remain on the menu and opted for the duck, cooked medium rare. ITWASSOGOOD. The plate came out like a piece of art — small pieces of winter fruitcake, fois gras, and the perfectly cooked duck sliced over top. Every bite was perfect — I’d order it again in a heartbeat. My husband ordered the moules e frites(mussels and fries). They ALSO were delicious. The mussels came out in a black crock(it appeared that they were cooked in that very cooking vessel!). We both loved the simple effort of giving two bowls for mussel shells. That way, halfway through the meal — a back server could remove half the shells so you’re not swimming in waste(brilliant!). The frites. OHTHEFRITES. They were crispy, ridiculously overflowing in volume(enough that I ate my fill, he at his fill, and there were still a TON left). As soon as our credit card was dropped, a back server notified out waiter(I know because he was busy at another table and never walked by us once we put it down). He promptly brought the bill and ran the card in record time so we could get to the hockey game(I know, I know– french food and hockey. odd combo. we’re a little odd). I would return specifically to share the mussels and drink a glass of wine. Loved the place. Our waiter made it even better. Bravo, Meritage.
Alexandria R.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Minneapolis, MN
Brunch was eh… ok. Nothing spectacular. I ordered the lobster grits. It surprised me that I received a good amount of lobster but barely any grits. Strange huh? Overall I wasn’t impressed. I’ve had much better brunch at other establishments in the twin cities.
Ashley E.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Minneapolis, MN
Meritage is a lovely place to dine. Beautiful sunny windows and an upscale French interior make for an ideal special occasion restaurant as well as a natural place to eat for brunch. These pics are from brunch with my parents who also enjoyed the restaurant. Would recommend checking it out if in St. Paul!
Scott H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Minneapolis, MN
What many others have said is true. Just a great place with fantastic food and service. I love fresh oysters and I love fresh mussels. I honestly didn’t think I would get the same quality as I’ve had in coastal cities but these were some of the best I have. Yes, I could ‘taste the sea’ and that is the true mark of good shellfish. We started with raw oysters from New Brunswick. They were meaty, served with lemon and tabasco, just the way I like them. They were also delicious. Pricey, yes, but worth every cent. My wife got the mussels and these were also out of this world. The #1 mistake many restaurants make with mussels is overcooking them, but these were done perfectly. I also ordered the burger which I inhaled because my first bite was so perfect. Both the mussels and burger were served with fries(pom frittes) which again were done perfectly. My one regret on this perfect day was not getting and outdoor table, but for some reason they didn’t start putting the tables out until we had been served. No worries, the interior is pleasant and designed after a classic French café. I shall return
Lauren N.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Saint Paul, MN
Alright. I have 30 minutes to write this… Is this enough time??? Let’s see… I went to the Mertiage on 02/13/2016. You can believe that the place was PACKED; there was a wait for those who didn’t get a reservation… However, yours truly planned months ahead. :3 It took a while still; but that really wasn’t a bother to me; since my bae and I had not been the area before and we just explored a bit. The Mertiage has various kinds of seafood; which I enjoy and tried myself. Now; let’s just start off that the Mertiage… Is no cheap bill; no, not at all; ours came close to $ 160. That being with 2 drinks, 1 soda, 2 seafood orders, 2 entrees and 1 desert. But I am just getting ahead of myself now. Let’s see here. We were seated in a fairly quickly fashion for the fact that it was a Valentines Day holiday weekend. The lighting was intimate and dim. A rose on the table; and candle light. Can I also add that this place is so fancy I had more than one fork. MORE. THAN. ONE. FORK. I find this amazing but also awkward. Our server came around and told us the dishes of the day and also another one that is kind of like their daily special. I had ordered a drink,(clearly it was good because I can’t remember what it was called; but it had a sugar rim; pretty sweet and was yellow. I know that doesn’t help but the staff is very knowledgeable.) My bae had ordered a dish that had lobster tail pan fried and some white meat chicken that was wrapped in dark meat chicken. Chickenception. And some sort of veggies. He also had the matzo ball soup. I ordered 4 shrimp of the shrimp cocktail; and 2 small shelled clams. And the venison. The shrimp were large and delicious; but oh my the raw small shelled calms were so good! I recommend using the lemon that they give and a little bit of black cracked pepper. Super good. I ordered another drink this time; and told the waiter to surprise me. He had given me a drink called the Young Love; seems appropriate right? Shortly after our food came out. Let’s just say that that venison was eaten so quickly I kind of am surprised in myself. There was also some sweetly cooked pears on my dish as well that was just as good. The drizzle on the plate… If I could just pick it up and lick it off; I would have. Though. .Ahem.need to be classy. Also; my bae said that lobster and the chicken was really good as well! The last thing I ordered was a macaroon. This was quite good as well; and though size may be deceiving; this one macaroon was very sweet and did hit the spot very well as well. The wait staff is very kind and can really recommend anything do you as long as you have some preferences. Bottom line: I really like Mertiage; it one of those places were its quality over quantity. Though it does cost a pretty penny; I would go here again on another special occasion.
Shannon F.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Minneapolis, MN
My husband and I celebrate our anniversary here every year. The food, cocktails, wine and service are always on point. Our server last night was Adam. He was knowledgeable, helpful in decision making, and overall an outstanding server. We enjoy their selection of fresh oysters and knowing that we’ll get an amazing cocktail from the bar. They have a great wine selection. The food is amazing, especially the steak frites. Thank you for another wonderful anniversary! We’ll see you again before the next one!
Rick C.
Rating des Ortes: 2 Saint Paul, MN
Wine list? Amazing. Food? Definitely not. I don’t know who does the ratings for this restaurant but obviously no one with a palate. Since I am vegetarian, I had only the option of 6 wonderful but unsubstantial New Brunswick oysters for starter, and for the main, I ordered Pan Seared Dayboat Sea Scallops with squash, golden raisin, wild mushrooms, pistachio & white verjus gastrique which was NOT good. WRONG combination of flavours entirely and over-seared scallops. When I complained to the waitress, she offered the only vegetarian option, which was totally unappealing. Rather than having management come out to speak with me until the END of the meal when I was leaving, he offered a lukewarm apology and did not remove the food I did NOT eat from my bill, Won’t be back.
Rick C.
Rating des Ortes: 1 Minneapolis, MN
Wine list? Amazing. Food? Depends on the entrée. Since I am vegetarian, and had no real menu options other than an unappealing salad or single vegetarian dish that wasn’t appealing in any way, I reluctantly ate wonderful but unsubstantial New Brunswick oysters for starter. For the main, I ordered Pan Seared Dayboat Sea Scallops with squash, golden raisin, wild mushrooms, pistachio & white verjus gastrique which was not as delicious as the flowery description; wrong combination of flavours entirely, and the scallops were over-seared. When I pointed this out to the waitress, she only again proffered the vegetarian option on the menu as a replacement. She was quite good however for table service and I tipped her and the drinks waitress QUITE well for their outstanding service and the wonderful wine. Rather than having management come out to speak with me until the END of the meal when I was leaving, Nicolas the«manager» offered a lukewarm apology but did not remove the food I didn’t eat from my bill. My dinner colleague however enjoyed it and decided to take it home himself. His venison however was perfectly cooked. I didn’t sample it however I could see it was perfectly done. The owner, Mr. Klein, didn’t contact me until TWOWEEKS after I’d dined there with such high expectations, given the prices, and emailed me with his response(poor punctuation and misspellings aside) Kevin Klein’s email: «Dear Mr xxxx– Please find below the response to your email drafted by our manager at Meritage. Although he was hesitant to send you such and honest response, given your rude behavior towards our staff, you ignorant and insulting critique of our restaurant and our other guests, and your choice to voice those critiques publicly before giving us a chance to respond, I believe is absolutely appropriate. I would also point out that you are not a vegetarian. Vegetarians, do not eat meat or fish. You would be more accurately described as a pescatarian. Of course since you obviously know so much about food and restaurants, I’m sure you know that.» (I was not rude to a single person in any fashion. When the manager came over, I simply told him«no» there was nothing he could do and waved him away.) Email from the«manager:» In response to your email and review on Unilocal,I would normally not waste my time with you but since you are obviously a royal ass, I would like to take a moment to reply to your offensive email. First of all, I am French and English is not my mother tongue. However, I apologize for my «poor English» which is probably better than your French. (I speak French quite fluently) As far as our food goes, I would like to recommend you open your own restaurant, as based on your multiple reviews on Unilocal — you are an extremely challenging person to please and also have an amazingly huge ego. Since you have auditioned to be on Masterchef, you are obviously qualified to be a Chef. In fact, let me know when you open your restaurant as I would LOVE to try your vegetarian and organic options — I won’t write a review on Unilocal,I promise. (I apoligise, I have a sophisticated palate and can cook) I initially thought about comping your dish but since your partner ate it, and considering how rude you were when I stopped by your table, I decided against it. (He inferred that my colleague was my gay partner!!! How insulting is that?!?) On a last note, I would be very grateful if you in fact do not return to our restaurant(and actually, I would be grateful if you just stop eating out period); you are a miserable human being and should eat your vegetables at home.“ Not only was the email on all fronts insulting and accusatory and NOT true, they also called my friend my «partner.» Their emails speak VOLUMES about their professionalism and abilities.
Steven L.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Paul, MN
One of the best option in the city! Great food, great service. Would definitely recommend it!
Joe G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Stillwater, MN
I had a great experience at Meritage. I went there for my moms 84th birthday and we had great service and great food. I had the corned beef and hash which was excellent. My sister in law had the lobster and grits, which she thought was fantastic. My brother had the hamburger, which he likes very much. We had vanilla crème brûlée for dessert and the Meritage profiteroles. They were both excellent. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who likes good food.
Kristie N.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Montgomery, TX
Amazing food and service; a favorite for special events. Yes, it costs a little more but it is well worth it. I try to make a trip there every time I visit the Twin Cities.
Prachee M.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Minneapolis, MN
This is the perfect place for a special brunch. The bar was completely full at mid-day Sunday. They were out of the mussels cooked in garlic and white wine so I got the florentine — poached eggs with spinach and hollandaise sauce. This was simply delicious and the eggs were poached just right, with no tart vinegary taste and soft yolks. The eggs en cocotte that my husband ordered was a little disappointing — too much cream and no sign of leeks. The beignets were really delicious — my first time trying beignets. But the best part was the pine nut crusted tart with a citrus rosemary flavor. I would go back just for this. The coffee, like last time, was one of the best I’ve had in the twin cities.
Emily T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Maple Grove, MN
Delicious! I dined at Meritage for the first time a couple days ago on New Years Eve. Our server was very knowledgeable and helpful. I had several different varieties of oysters, as well as the oyster Bloody Mary shooter. So good! The specialty cocktails are tasty. Portion sizes were small(as is to be expected), but my lobster roe linguini was wonderful. My boyfriend had the hanger steak, and was only mildly impressed with it’s flavor for the price. His side was Brussels sprouts, and I can say they were the best I’ve ever had. Great place if you want to spend a little extra for some good seafood.
Monica K.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Lake Elmo, MN
My husband took me for my birthday dinner this past week. We took in two premier burgundies from our cellar and the staff prepared us a meal to suit the wines — a perfect match to our wines. The evening was spectacular Thank you Meritage
Randy C.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Minneapolis, MN
I love this place. Excellent food and service. Had the Oyster Bloody Mary Shooter Harvest Pumpkin Soup Pommes Frites Braised Beef Short Rib(Saturday special) Pan Seared Dayboat Sea Scallops Vanilla Crème Brûlée Izzy’s salted caramel Ice Cream Pop Brown Butter Financier One negative was that the scallops portion seemed too small(only four scallops). Everything was so good :-)
Chris H.
Rating des Ortes: 5 East Lansing, MI
This place is a perfect combination of key dining experience elements. Food quality, price, and service. (Tiny) Appetizer: — Bloody Mary Oyster Shooter — Crispy braised(then fried) pig trotter Both were solid, great flavor and very nice start ton the meal. Main course: — Scallops with squash purée, raisins, wild mushroom, and pistachios Super fresh, high quality scallops cooked to perfection. The earthy mushrooms, sweet elements from raising and squash and the texture of the pistachios made for a perfect course! First desert: — Chocolate mousse Deep chocolate flavor, freshly whipped cream, not too sweet Second desert: — French Roquefort Cheese Perfectly aged, room temperature. Served with dried fruit, nuts, honey, and bread. The entire meal was $ 57(before tips).
Sachin S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Houston, TX
Fantastic place in downtown St. Paul. Atmosphere is cozy and staff very friendly. I stopped in for coffee and dessert and sat at the bar. Bartenders were mixing interesting drinks and serving oysters. Menu looked great. Music selection was also very appropriate. Seems like a good spot for dinner after a show downtown — many people stopped in to make reservations for after the opera and Prairie Home Companion.
Jennifer S.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Paul, MN
A very special place for dinner for the quality of the food, service and ambiance. I’ve eaten here a few times over many years, and each time I have had an outstanding experience. The last visit was this past springtime, with an equally impressive result. Because I was celebrating my birthday(still), I sipped on champagne and we ordered a selection of fresh, raw oysters for starters. Yummy! Next, we ordered Escargot Bourguignon. Delicious! Finally, I ordered Moules Frites. Although it could have been the 2nd or 3rd glass of bubbles amping up my impression, I was transported on a proverbial rocket ship to the moon with the first bites of this dish, especially with the little side cup of house-made ketchup for those fantastic frites! And oh, the toasted bread to sop up the moules’ liquid! For dessert, I ordered the Meritage Profiteroles along with an espresso and Sauternes wine. The profiteroles were such a delight and seemed a perfect ending to my meal. But wait — there’s more! Our server brought us a small plate with a few bite-size chocolate truffles on it since I was celebrating my birthday. After sitting a little while and then paying our bill, we prepared ourselves to get up and leave. I walked out of the place with a truffle secretly melting on my tongue behind the sh*t-eating grin on my lips.
Joy H.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Minneapolis, MN
Decadence. Elegance. Intimate. To me, Meritage is an ambitious attempt to recreate the glamour of a small French bistro that lines the streets of Montmartre or Champs Elysees. The outdoor seating section is integrated with the sense of intimacy without the intrusiveness that enclosed quarters might impart upon a diner. With the restaurant being next to a row of boutique shops and the Rice Park, the setting was inviting for one to feast their eyes from people watching while fulfilling the appetites on their plates. Speaking of which, the oysters were delectable while the Basil Crusted Halibut and Pan Roasted Beef Ribeye were cooked to the perfection. For starters, Myagi and Puffer Petite were fresh and sweet. I haven’t had fresh oysters in a while, so these were a welcome taste to my seafood cravings. For the halibut, the fish was buttery and light. The slight tanginess from the preserved lemon vinaigrette heightened its flavor well while the pine nuts and summer squash added the crunchiness to the texture. Overall, this dish was an immaculate prelude to the more meaty affair that was to come: The Ribeye. But first, I can’t complete this review justly without mentioning about the golden crisp perfection that was their onion rings. If you’re an addict of the audible crunch from anything deep-fried, the onion ring is a must-try. I didn’t think much of it until I took a bite into one and had a rendezvous with its delishness. As for the main dish itself, the Ribeye was just the way I like my steaks: Medium rare. There wasn’t much spicing or dressing to the meat, but steaks are best eaten in its naked flavors. There wasn’t much fat to the meat, and the texture was as tender as its taste. With all that’s said, the Meritage has won me over and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a great dining experience.
Kathleen K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Farmington, MN
We dined here pre-Ordway and had a lovely 5 course tasting meal. Just tell them that you have theatre tickets and they will pace appropriately. gnocchi Parisienne crab galette Pan roasted halibut Roasted beef loin opea cake All courses were very good but the halibut was fantastic. The gnocchi is not your typical gnocchi. Service was friendly, efficient and fun.
Joey Z.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Minneapolis, MN
Oh hell yes! I’m not one for heavy French food but I could eat here every day for the rest of my life. Fried oyster, sunflower sprout salad, this duck pastry thing, and the Salmon! Probably the best ever. Thank you French people for something other than fries and Perrier.
Ken P.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Paul, MN
Delightful brunch. Eggs Benedict were perfect. Omelette was perfect. Nice and relaxed atmosphere on Easter morning. We really could not have asked for more. Proves once again that, if you live in St. Paul like we do, there is no reason to truck all the way to mpls. Everything you could ask God is right here.
Adam W.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Paul, MN
Still the one to beat for oysters… and a romantic dining experience in St. Paul. Service standards remain high, and the kitchen is as strong as ever. Don’t miss the steak tartare, killer steak frites, or anything seafood. You will be pleased.
Jonathan T.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Atlanta, GA
Let me just get to the point. Their oysters – you need to eat them. Last weekend, I dropped by Mertiage prior to working Red Bull Crashed Ice at the nearby Cathedral of Saint Paul. If you’ve never been there before, this downtown institution generally has two seating areas: one main room and nook in the back. I sat at the bar in the nook, and immediately saw their glorious menu of oysters from around the country. Impressive. Their selection is as diverse as the number of documentaries on Netflix, Kevin Durant’s jump shot game, or Mariah Carey’s infamous octave levels. I estimate it was slightly less than 20. Anyways, even though I didn’t know which ones to get, I do know I like them small and briny.(That’s what she said.) My bartender/server/cool dude provided several suggestions, and he made sure I got some from both the Pacific and Atlantic that met my criteria. Overall, damn. The sea – I tasted it. My taste buds? They had boners. My smile covered half of my face… I was so elated that when the server asked me if I liked them, I blurted«oh hell yeah, brotha. I could die right now.» I hope the shellfish knew their sacrifice was worth it. In addition, I ordered their Meritage Burger and blacked out while inhaling this deliciousness. All I could remember before doing so was that they cooked it perfectly rare plus. Ooh, and those fries. Bomb dot com. Mertiage, ooh lawd! So good.
Troy J.
Rating des Ortes: 5 Saint Paul, MN
If you’re treating yourself or someone you love to an upscale night out in St Paul, Meritage is a destination worth considering. Despite the restaurant’s maze-like entrance, the restaurant has the charm of an upscale French bistro. Whether you sit at the bar, or in the dining area, the atmosphere seems intimate. Servers are attentive and helpful to those seeking suggestions for oyster, cocktail, wine or meal recommendations. I particularly appreciate that our server asked us whether we had specific plans following dinner(such as a show) that required us to finish diner by a given time. We didn’t, so he paced the meals appropriately — ensuring that we had plenty of time for conversation between courses. We never felt rushed or ignored. After a mixed plate of oysters, I enjoyed the ‘Cassoulet in the Style of Toulouse’ — a white bean casserole with sausage and duck and pan-seared scallops. which were beyond ordinary — served with vanilla-kabocha squash purée, Du Puy lentils, glazed turnips & cider sauce diable. Meritage is one of the few restaurants in St Paul where the personality and creativity of a house chef(In this case, it’s Chef Klein) are highlighted and celebrated. I don’t dine at these restaurants often, but when I do I like them to be memorable. At Meritage, it was.
William C.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Minneapolis, MN
i love breakfast, there is something about the smell of eggs, bacon, sausage, CRISPY hashbrowns, buttered toast and coffee in the morning. I recently had brunch here with a group of four and I’m definitely a FAN! The parking situation can be tricky, in that spaces are limited on the street(for free metered parking during certain times); otherwise, you’ll need to find a ramp within a few blocks. The main entrance is a bit goofy, where you have to enter the main building it’s located in; through a few doors, down a hall and it’s on your left(yeah, super easy!). The décor is classy, upscale, sit with your group and relax while dining on fancy bites. The brunch menu is a simple one page with about a dozen main items and short list of kids items. I landed on the Eggs Benedict, I love myself an eggcellent benedict :-) Around the table was Eggs en Cocotte, another Eggs Benedict and a half order of mussels(seafood for brunch, why not?!). I have to say… the benedict was flippin fantastic! The presentation is quite French, not messy, but very tight and orderly on the plate. Precision cut fruit, perfectly square cut potatoes and two perfectly placed muffins with ham, poached egg and Hollandaise. The poached eggs were perfect, a quick cut through the top and the runny yolk fills the plate — each bite you take is a simple ingredient hit to your taste buds. Tied with a few chunks of fruit and potatoes…#boom an amazing brunch. Don’t delay… make you way to Meritage!