Reviews of Meritage (Restaurant)

William Stein III

i really like this French style restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. Food was excellent as was the service and decor. Food was hot and well prepared. We ate early but the restaurant filled up rapidly as it got later in the evening so reservations are a must.

Carroll Rund

Food, bar, service and atmosphere were wonderful.

Arnold Rossa

The best fine dining restaurant in the twin cities! Beautiful place! We had Grace for our table service and she was amazing !! Took care of our entire party , I highly recommend her services

Kim Willis

Wife loves the place. Im on the fence because food For me is just a need so it take something extra extraordinary to get me excited about food. My wife or mother's food gets me excited and may not be fair to Meritage, but the service and environment was Great!

andy young

Loved the oysters, good selection, all tasty! Had the soup a l'ongion (onion soup), the broth was hearty and rich and had a hint of sweetness from onions. Saw many people on business lunches , great atmosphere for that and also just lunch with a friend. Patio seating was also available.

Kevin Krautbauer

Meritage is really second to none in St Paul. From there freshly flown in oysters, to their steak, to their fantastic desserts, you really cannot go amis. Our waiter, Jeff, was also great and really knew his stuff. We drank our way through the entire cocktail menu and a few random creations from the bar and had only good experiences.

Jerry & Elaine Green

We enjoyed unique menu choices excellently prepared for our anniversary celebration.

Malik Crespel

pretty good service

David Belt

One of the better places to eat in St. Paul especially before the opera, concert or a show at the Ordway theater. There are more comfortable spaces, with some of the tables for two too intimate especially if you mind hitting your elbow on a wall. The food ranging from bistro to almost haute cuisine is always reliable and usually very well prepared. We have eaten there many times over the years its been open, even before it was expanded and a lot of traditional seafood fare put on the menu. Food and service continue on as always, and are very fine. Things that have changed are the ever escalating menu prices and a rather overpriced wine list, but when you have the best act in town it might be expected.

Riley McCusker

Best croque madame I've had anywhere ever. Fantastic bernaise sauce with the pommes frittes. Fresh squeezed orange juice is a must have too. Brunch is very reasonably priced.

Bill Starzynski

Excellent staff excellent food great atmosphere.

Maria Linn-Evans

Really beautiful Christmas decor, romantic atmosphere, and classic French dishes. We enjoyed our experience and would recommend Meritage to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion.

Charlie Bullen

This was a very disappointing experience. First the place is so loud that it is hardly possible to hold a conversation without screaming, which makes for more noise. No matter how good the food is in a restaurant, I will never go back to a place as loud as this regardless of how good the food is. As to food, both one of my fellow diners and I had grilled pork neck. I actually liked it quite bit, but it did have fair amount of gristle and fat, which I like, but which one of my companions didn't. One of the other diners had Porgy fish, which comes from off of Montauk on Long Island. Suffice it to say that the fish seems to have been out of the water a bit too long. The 4th diner had a dish with cod and mussels which was ok, just ok. The coffee and desert were very good, but especially given the noise, for me I'll not go back.

John Hall

Great food, including fresh oysters. One of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities. Worth a visit.

C. Brill

We went for graduation celebration the food was outstanding the service was great and we just had a marvelous time

jeremy lafrance

Fantastic french restaurant. Strong drinks but pricy. Best oysters in the twin cities

Lowrance Scutts

We stopped in for dinner on a busy Saturday night. We weren’t confident we’d get a table, because we had tried to call ahead a few days earlier to make reservations but were told they were full. We lucked out and scored a cozy table in the bar for four. Dinner was delicious, service courteous and friendly, and we had a wonderful dinner. My daughter received what seemed like three pounds of pommes frites with her mussels and we joked that she had to clear her plate before we could leave.

Nick Suridis

Best food I've had in a long time. Even the fries make you look twice. I recommend anyone in the twin cities area to stop by. You will not be disappointed.

Gyner Ozgul

Great steak fritte and French onion soup! Service is always on par!

Jeffrey Dunn

Excellent food and service.

Stacy Nicholls

I usually do not take to social media but in this case thought I would. This was my first time to Meritage and I was extremely pleased. I love food and new experiences. I went there for brunch today and was absolutely blown away. To start, making the reservations was easy and they were poilte, but when we arrived, seating and service was amazing! Our server and those who were working with him were great! I couldn't have asked for anything more! But here is the best part.... the food was fantastic! Meritage is priced correctly , and you get great portions for what you are paying. Also, there is something for everyone even if you are not used to French food! And did I mention it tastes fantastic! Couldn't have had a better morning! Thank you! Stacy

Chris Shakal

Great service, nice atmosphere, excellent food. Beignets are definitely something to try

Nancy Zimmer

Oysterfest 2019 at the Meritage was an amazingly great event. Despite the cold weather there was a awesome variety of oysters from a variety of locations. The drinks were plentiful and there was a good assortment. The roast pig and crepes were delicious. There is always a lot of camaraderie to be found among other oyster lovers while waiting in line. Oystetfest is a fun event!

Morie Jamyes

This spot is worth a visit. They serve big portions for reasonable prices. Always well kept and with awesome vibes. Highly recommended.

Keenan Olson

The service was fantastic. the food was incredible. I wish the cocktails were slightly more inventive, but thats not why we came. We will definitely be back. Steak and chicken were both absolutely delicious. Highly recommend. Sorry for terrible photo!

Alisa Yang

I went here for my 22nd birthday! It was amazing! Our waitress was amazing! She often made sure to clarify the menu. She also was very open and friendly and made me and my boyfriend felt welcome! It was a reasonable price for the amazing French food we got to explore. I got the duck breasts and it had the texture of a steak for half the price! It was truly amazing! I would highly recommend for anyone who is wanting to go out and have a date night and or celebrating something special.

Brad Krause

Amazing restaurant. I travel a bit for work and for 5 years I have been comparing oysters around the country to this place. Amazing every time.

Quyen Tang

Delicious food. Great happy hour, nice time during the day as well. Decent selection of oysters a plus.

Andy Haynssen

Great stop in for lunch. Service was excellent and food was great. My burger was a bit more rare than medium, but high quality beef made it delicious even if it had a bit extra pink. The bearnaise is definitely worth the extra money with the fries. Will be back again for dinner!

Grossell House

Beer cheese soup and pretzel was a tasty treat to go with a good selection of beer. The waitress was polite, professional and had a good sense of humor.

Karen M

One of my favorite speicial dining places. This time we tried the mussel soup (to die for) and the artichoke with hollandaise (yum!) along with the hanger steak. Other than desert, the meal could not have been better!

Roshan Rajkumar

What a delight of a place for Sunday Brunch for a large group with a newborn. Katie was an amazing server who knew the menu cold. Gave recommendations for varying palates. And never said no to a request. The food was stellar, with the biggest hits being the eggs florentine and the hash of the day that served perfectly prepared hashbrowns stuffed with garlic sausage and brussel sprouts. No one was disappointed in what they ordered, and the staff didnt wince at having a newborn at the table. Make this a brunch visit soon.

roger lorenzini

Service was veerryy slow. Lamb was cold when it came to the table. Fish had the dreaded fishy taste. Sides were tasty and helped make the meal palatable. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant. Ambiance was very noisy.

Amy C

Very delicious food and wonderful service. Would dine here again.

Steve H

Very good service and food. Always enjoy our brunches here with my immediate family. Make sure to make a reservation for dinner as they can fill tables pretty quickly.

Lori Hodapp

My favorite of fine dining! Grab the taste menu selection and prepare for an awesome dining experience.

Barrie Borchers

This place is amazing!!!

Lukas Olson

Romantic, but friendly atmosphere. Very helpful service: Our waitress asked if we had anywhere to be after dinner before she took our order, and offered to make sure we were out on time. We had tickets to a show we didn't want to miss, so this was much appreciated! I ordered the lamb; it was tender, juicy, flavorful, and cooked perfectly.

Tom Borowiecki

Great food with a French twist.

Marilyn Woodruff

Always Great !! Wonderful Service, Fabulous Food

KC Boon

Went here because of the good reviews but everything tasted bland and average! Nothing special at all...sorry for a negative review but it's suppose to be good idk who actually put these good reviews up. They have never actually went to a decent "fine dining" restaurant

Amy Kuniyoshi

Food was great, as always. We had the quail and the tartare appetizers. For entrees, the duck breast, and the fish. A very nice meal before seeing the show. Make reservations; there were 2 shows that evening and they were booked. Or you can wait for a table in the bar.

Christel Borgheiinck

From Sunday brunch to late night oysters, Meritage never disappoints.

Bill Copenhagen

Excellent food and service. Yum.

Chase Nelson

Meritage is one of the classiest places I've been to in Saint Paul. Everything my party had from the croissants to the benedicts, was amazing. Beautiful aesthetics and wonderful plating, it makes sense why chefs who train here go on to make their own restaurants. Book a reservation online if you can, highly recommend trying Meritage.

Shellene Lowe

The New York strip steak was awesome the atmosphere was kind of bougie it was definitely a dress to impress type of establishment I went for my sister's birthday it was pretty small so I wouldn't suggest for a big dinner party I think it would be good for a small intimate dinner with a significant other.

Jaime Dahl

This was my husband and my first time there, and, it was the best experience I've ever had! We did the 5 course meal-excellent choice. Our server, Peter, was so awesome! He explained the tastings, the wines, and was so knowledgeable about everything on the menu. We will definitely be back there again! I will make sure to tell everyone to go there! It was the best birthday ever!

Adeola Awoleke

I went there on the weekend after Valentine’s Day with my boyfriend. I loved everything about this restaurant: customer service, food and drinks. I highly recommend.

Shane McCarron

Oysters! Escargot! Oh, and the best time list on the twin cities.

Jim Newton

Excellent food. Attentive service. Great ambiance.

David Grilli

Nice patio. Can't comment on the main fare but good beignets and decent cappuccino if you're looking to just have a quick sit!

Dale Bart

Its goood...

Brian Rappe

The chicken slider was amazing!

Cosmin Harjan

The only thing that impressed me was the rather pricy food and the poor service. But, I give them the benefit of the doubt as they may have been understaffed. We have been there for lunch during the Easter Holiday.

Claire Child

The ambiance was great and our bartender was so knowledgeable. We had a great time!

Ludvig Stone

Each course was perfectly timed, and the wine pairing two of us chose with it really did bring out the best of each. I was perfectly full after the five course tasting and wouldn't have wanted anymore. I can't believe it took me so long to get here and I can't wait to go back

Josh Peterson

Food was fantastic, service was really bad. Either our waitress hated her job or she was having a bad day. She was very short with us, didn't smile and we had to pry information out of her about the menu (food & wine). Would have been a four star visit had the service been on par with expectations. I don't plan to return, Mpls/St Paul has an abundance of restaurants with better service and food.

Emily White

We’ve always enjoyed Meritage for dinner but decided to try it for brunch and we are glad we did. Casual environment. Good service. Interesting menu. Salmon was excellent as was the heirloom tomato BLT. Lots to choose from including starters like beignets. Full bar as well.

Fred Evans

great food, wine list and service top end restaurant reflected in price

Van McKenna

From beginning to end everything was delightful including food, service, drinks, and desserts.

Emily

We got the Crab Louie, French onion soup, a pasta, and fries and found everything better than good. Waitstaff helped us get to a show on time in a tight timeline and were super friendly!

Tracy Engebretson

Our favorite place. Pricey but well worth it. The Pressed Duck is an event to be remembered. Their food is wonderful French Bistro food with the chef's own flair. Love it.

Broderick Richardson

Yes, they make a Manhattan with rum, a great variation on the original. A bloody Mary oyster shooter was a great way to have just one oyster. The teeny tiny taco was also terrific, leaving plenty of room for our entrée. We enjoyed the hake and tenderloin. This was a wonderful restaurant with a helpful staff. I had duck for the first time and it was absolutely delicious; cooked to perfection. The wines we ordered were very good and the ambiance was that of a French bistro. I would return here again

Kenneth Robinson

Nothing but the best!! Great food and Great drinks. Oh and did I mention Great service!!

Dean DeGroot

Hordevourz are fabulous and wine was of good quality. Service was impeccable.

Melissa Van Riper

This place was amazing!! The food... I'm still thinking about it days later. It was perfect. Our server was very nice and super helpful. Took her time explaining everything. Wasn't rushing her time with us, even though the place was busy. It has the potential to be 5 stars, but for two reasons I have it four. The night we were there it was really loud, like we were sitting in a bar during a game, loud. I wasn't expecting that. Thankfully our table was off to the side so we could still have a conversation without feeling like we were yelling. Secondly, though we liked that the chef stopped by our table (as he did others), it felt forced to us which kind of made it awkward. I'm sure his visits are well intended though. Because we live a couple hours from the cities, we try and pick a different place to eat each time we visit. However THIS place will be the exception to that rule.

Brittney Chase

Wonderful 5 course meal! And the oysters were great!!! Would eat the entire meal all over again!

Irene Schneider

Fantastic food and our server was awesome. Thank you for making our birthday celebrations extra special.

Kyle Wardin

Our go to place for French food and escargot! We love the ambiance of the restaurant, you feel as if you were transported to Paris. Great place to go before a opera or just because, the best part the the food is reasonably priced! Service is great would recommend to everyone!

Christina Newby Fiebich

I enjoyed the patio with my kids during the Flint Hills Children's Festival. The kids wanted burgers and fries, not the restaurant speciality, but amazingly my 12-year old fell in love with the chipotle aoli and the fresh cut French fries may have been the best fries I've ever eaten. Expect a French menu price tag, but very good.

Icebane Kramer

Great American/French food. I'm not a oyster fan but the oyster bar is always fresh and changes all the time. The fries are wonderfully delicious and they give you plenty of them. One order can be shared easily between 3-4 people. The French onion soup is always good.

Rachael M.

The 5 course tasting menu and wine pairing were delicious from start to finish. They were also kind enough to give us a free amuse bouche and wine to start. The staff was very attentive and kind.

Marc D Radcliffe

A wonderful place for intimate atmosphere and service. Their sous chef is outstanding. The food is above average although quality is less than Kincaids or Salut for certain items. Meritage's desserts are superior. The cost reflects the overall atmosphere.

Mindy Holahan Peters

This is my favorite restaurant in all the Twin Cities. We save up for Meritage dates. The seafood is amazing, the brunch is delicious. Bar service is always great, and the waitstaff are true professionals. The food is spectacular but the people who work there make it truly special. Dress up a little; it's worth it.

Gretchen Semlak

Had the fish, it was good but not $30 great. The Pom frites were just cheap French fries and I asked for them to go and they didn’t even send me with the sauce. Not worth the expense. I would never go again. I have been to a French bistro in Chicago and the food was absolutely amazing and worth the money. This was not.

Brady Foust

Wonderful room and food. Needs a dress code we get dressed up to go out and get seated to a guy in a t-shirt and a baseball cap. Usually 3/4 of the diners are dressed appropriately and the rest just came in from the skate park.

Alexandria Rick

This place is amazing for brunch and dinner. It's a wonderful spot if you're going to any of the activities downtown St Paul and want something to eat before or after. It's also a wonderful spot for special occasions. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Erick Shields

Very well organised and convenient place. They provide generous portions and for inexpensive prices. I enjoyed the meals a lot and the staff were very friendly and explanatory. I recommend this place.

steve george

Excellent restaurant. 5 stars all the way. Ordered the menu and was not disappointed with anything. Keep it up.

PETER DONOHUE

The steaks were the best in the cities. The sides were excellent. Service was appropriate and very considerate

Robert Imrie

Our friends ordered the same meal we had for the small gathering we’d had 5 years ago after their wedding and it was equally spectacular this time: chiled lobster and crab, Littleneck clams, muscles, shrimp, with an assortment of things to dip them into, though it was all so fresh I enjoyed much of it as-is or with just a squeeze of lemon. The meal began with beignets as light and tasty as any I’ve had in New Orleans. The seafood was followed a choice of crepes, French-style scrambled eggs or Eggs Benedict. Looking for a single course? I’ve had their steak and eggs and house cut fries with béarnaise sauce and they’re to die for.

Shawn Vradenburg

This is my favorite restaurant in the metro. The food is beautiful and always wonderful, with service and wine that can not be beat. I l ove Meritage.

Cecilia Hauer

Unfortunately service was not very good seemed our server had too many tables perhaps. He had great personality but forgot our order and also the bar menu needs something besides sandwiches

Chad F

Meritage is beyond a doubt one of the best restaurants in the country, not just Minnesota. The food is always cooked perfectly. The service is extremely personable. The fresh oysters are the best. Drinks are fantastic. It's a date night / special occasion place due to price ($$$) but absolutely worth it. If you're visiting the twin cities or have an occasion coming up, try it out!

Eric Fitterer

Impeccable service and the numerous options allows you to have a different French experience each time you go.

Sue Johnson

Best place around their food is delicious would recommend this place to anyone very classy very well-run restaurant can't beat this place

Charlie McCowan

Tasty food, out server was a still unpleasant. Nothing overt but she seemed to be a bit standoffish. Probably isn't a reflection of the staff in general but just our experience.

Scott W

Sat eve, 8pm, half full (or empty?). We ordered 3 burgers and a hanger steak. Waited ONE FULL HOUR to receive food. Drinks were refilled zero. Water was refilled often so there's that. Table outside so at least that was nice. Two of us ordered deserts: ice cream and espresso drink. That took 25 minutes. My 1st time there, so maybe this is normal there?

Noam Rifkind

Got the croque madame; new favorite sandwich

Ian Van Straten

Excellent drinks, food and service.

Olov Strole

Perfect mid week date night spot. Cocktails and food are delicious.

JeffnSheila Wyatt

Great food. Great service. Nice ambience.

Ed Dieter

Great steak tartar!

Chrissi Prom

Came here for the first time and was extremely pleased with our experience! Service was great and they gave awesome recommendations. We started with French onion soup (very rich and filling, but delicious), crab Louie for app, I had mussels for entree and hubby had the duck breast (highly recommended), then we ended with desserts and coffee.... needless to say we were completely stuffed but the food was great! I will say that French food is very rich, and we probably should have ordered less, but we wanted to try a variety! Our bill was about $200 for two people... so be prepared to spend a pretty penny, but worth it if you have reason to indulge a little!

Dan Larsen

Perhaps my favorite restaurant - whether for lunch, brunch or dinner - in the Twin Cities. Outstanding food and wonderful service. I've never been disappointed.

Vincent Ruane

Outstanding food, service and environment.

Shevek McKee

Swanky place. We made reservations over the phone, but when we arrived they had no record of our reservation. They handled it pretty well but we did have to wait about 20 min before we were seated. Once seated the food and service were both excellent. Obviously a pretty spendy place, but glad to have it as part of my Saint Paul experience!

Bruce Miller

One of Minnesota's not to be missed restaurants

Rebekah Thorne

Spectacular dinner! My husband said it was easily the best meal of his life. He got the Scottish pheasant and I got the loin of venison. The waiter we had was very educated about what wine would pair well and we ended the evening with coffee and creme brulee. We will be back very soon.

Emily Sexson

Excellent food! Great drinks! Service was a little slow

Patricia Bilcik

We've always adored Meritage. The Stella Artois on tap, the fluffy lovely omelet, the Parisian ambience and the incredible Adrianna, our server. Unfortunately the Stella Artois went away and the omelet isn't fluffy or loaded with love anymore. But.... The vibe still exists and Adrianna lives on as the worlds greatest server. Thank God for that or we would pass next time!

Tina Phothisane

My husband and I were looking forward to celebrate my birthday dinner here. He made reservations and made sure to mention we were celebrating my birthday. The waitress was terrible. She didn’t share the specials and wasn’t excited to help us. The sad part is an older couple sat next to us and her energy was completely different. The food was good but when I pay $200+ two of us I really expect service. Unfortunately we didn’t get that. I am always a very generous tipper and tonight I didn’t even want to leave a tip. Im disappointed and will take my business somewhere else. If I want poor service I could have gone to a fast food restaurant.

Kartik Radhakrishnan

The best oysters I've had in a while. Other items were great too. Dessert was a something coffee based, I am forgetting. Pictures below

Vincent Moccio

Had Christmas Eve dinner there last night. This is one of our favorite restaurants and last night was no exception. Food was magnificent and the service was even better. One of the very best restaurants in the Twin Cities

Maik B

First time tried the French cuisine and were convinced. Very rustic style, typical French but fitting and nice. Food was good and the service too, I would give a recommendation for a visit.

Lizabeth Kyser

Delicious fancy food. I had the trout and it was delicious. My husband had the burger, which sounds silly but it excellent. It is well known for its oysters. This is the perfect place to go before a show at the Ordway to make a special date night. Your server will ask if you have a show to make sure you are done in time.

Jorah Marvin

Best spot to have food when in a hurry. The customer service is prompt, prices are affordable, awesome mood. Highly recommended

Judy Park

Perfect place to go on a cold winter day! ORDERED ITEMS: OUT OF 5 CHICKEN SOUP W/ MATZO BALLS: 5 My first time trying this legendary item. My favorite part was the doll complimenting the chicken broth. I didn't think it would do much but it was just perfect. The Matzo balls are soft and every bite is a spoon of comfort for the soul. I could have had 5 bowls! BAKED SALMON LUNCH SPECIAL:4 I love capers and the broth/sauce beneath the salmon was hearty and delicious. SPICED HONEY CIDER:5 I nursed this drink for a very long time. I chose a hot drink and it tasted just as good even cold. The perfect non alcoholic drink on a cold MN day! Bravo Meritage!