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Meritage

Editor's Choice
$$$ | French

This French brasserie in the historic Hamm Building is a real charmer. Chef-owner Russell Klein and his wife, Desta, set out to capture the feel and the flavors of an urbane French dining experience, and they've done a superb job. From escargots and foie gras to the authentic cheese cart, you'll feel like you're in Paris.

  • No Smoking
  • Kid-friendly
  • Late night dining
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • No personal checks
  • B Tu - F /L Tu - F /D Tu - Su /Br Sa - Su
Make Reservations
410 St. Peter St.
St. Paul, Minnesota 55101
Phone: 651-222-5670
92.8
out of 100
0.0
out of 10
  • Critics' Ratings »
  • Eater Comments + Ratings »
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WHAT THE CRITICS SAY

Critics' Rating

100 = Perfect
90 = Excellent
80 = Very Good
70 = Good, but Flawed
60 = High Average
50 = Average
40 = Low Average
30 = Disappointing
20 = Nearly Without Merit
10 = Poor
00 = Worthless
95
Minnesota Monthly | Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl
06/08
The bright yellow soup that emerges tastes like nothing so much as a glimmering spoonful of sunbeam, ocean, and ice cream. It's rich, captivating, and perfect.
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90
StarTribune | Rick Nelson
02/14/08
Chef/co-owner Russell Klein fully embraces his Gallic restaurant roots ...and that's a gutsy move in a town not exactly known for its Francophilian ways. But he's also not locked into a rigid brasserie model, casually inserting dishes that reflect his whole life experience.
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89
City Pages | Rachel Hutton
02/26/08
Klein's menu, a mix of French classics and seasonally inspired dishes, puts Meritage in a league of its own.
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87
Twin Cities Eats
04/16/08
I even started to think that the bread guy might pop over to see how the bread was and the cute girl with the ribbon around her neck even chatted with us about her french fry habit as she cleared our table. Everyone was just so solicitously nice.
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87
Mpls.St.Paul Magazine | Peter Lilienthal
03/08
Just about everything I ordered was executed with aplomb and attention to detail.
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85
Metromix | Katie Cannon
03/16/09
Each selection was individually unique and delicious, with the favorite being the French-style omelet du jour-a beautiful deep yellow omelet filled with onion, ham and cheddar cheese that was full-flavored and creamy-smooth.
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80
Gayot
The cozy bistro's décor (and fab view) remain unchanged, as does the homespun Gallic thrust of the menu, which puts classics like coq au vin and bouillabaisse on offer.
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80
MSP Restaurant Critics
Excellent. A great addition to the St. Paul dining scene serving classic Brasserie items interspersed with New American dishes.
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BUZZ

Metro
We Love St. Paul Restaurants
... with its marriage of outstanding service and chef-driven passion, Meritage is the kind of place we need more of.
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Metro
Top Ten Restaurants '08
Thanks to bouillabaisse, oysters on the half shell and sparkling flutes of champagne at this bistro, downtown St. Paul feels just a bit more downtown.
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Mpls.St.Paul Magazine
Neighborhood Bests
Russell Klein serves a short, well-edited menu for his weekend brunch, offering up a mix of sweet and savory dishes, all in the French tradition.
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Pioneer Press | Kathie Jenkins
25 Great Places to Eat Right Now
07/31/08
At dinner, meals are perfectly choreographed, but brunch and lunch can be maddeningly slow.
Minnesota Monthly
Best of the Cities: Best French Restaurant
2008
There must be raw oysters, there must be sparkling glasses of French wine to wash down said oysters. There must be brasserie classics like pork rillettes, steak au poivre, choucroute garnie, and profiteroles. There must be bustle and hustle and big-city style. St. Paul's Meritage has all of this and more.
StarTribune | Rick Nelson
Great Plates of 2008
2008
Pristine chicken broth. Tiny, meticulously diced bits of carrot. Small snips of fresh dill. A pair of tender dumplings. Taken on their own, perfectly fine; put together by chef Russell Klein and the whole becomes priceless comfort food.
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