Memories from Guests in Honor of The St. Paul Grill's 20th Anniversary

 

It was a beautiful Sunday morning when my four girlfriends attended the champagne brunch for the first time. We had driven 3 hours from our country homes to attend our first opera at the Ordway Theater. The elegant ambience of The St. Paul Grill only added to the excitement of our day trip to "the city". We were treated so wonderfully by the staff and the chefs certainly outdid themselves in the preparation and presentation of our meal. It was the perfect atmosphere in which to begin our journey. The opera was outstanding and we speak of our lovely experience still today. Since then, two of us have been season ticket holders to the MN Opera and we always start our event with you. You have even held our table when inclement weather has prevented us from keeping our reservation on time. Thank you for being such a landmark tradition. We wouldn't think of sharing brunch with anyone else. ~ Anne Marie Holverson, Montevideo, MN

 

A very fond memory was made only a couple of years ago. My parents were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary along with their four children and spouses. We enjoyed a delightful dinner at The St.Paul Grill. Made even more so with a caring staff. I'll treasure this partly because my Mothers dementia has gotten worse, but on that 'May 2008' day we all were in the present moment. ~ Karen O'Connor, Apple Valley, MN

 

It was October 1995. We had lived in Utah for 7 years and I was offered a transfer to Minnesota but first wanted to do a visit. We went to see STOMP at the Ordway and walked into the St. Paul Grill afterwards. My wife looked at the white table cloths and beauty of the dinning room and turned to me and said, "You must take this transfer, they actually have coffee cups on the table." After dinner, desert and drinks, she looked at me and said, "We are moving to Minnesota. This is the best restaurant I have ever been in."  15 years later, I am retired and we now live at the Upper Landing but still go back to her "best restaurant" often. ~ Alan Schultz, St. Paul, MN

 

Great memories of The St. Paul Grill - it was fifteen years ago that I proposed to my wife Jodi on 1/21/95. Had the great kitchen team make a banana choclate cake with the words "Will you Marry Me?" iced on the top. She said yes and it was a great night for us with fond memories of how well the staff treated us and made our speical night very memorable. We then had our grooms dinner at the hotel on Friday 11/10/95. Great memories of a great place. ~ Mark Jenson, Minneapolis, MN

 

December 12, 2002 took my husband to dinner for his birthday as a treat. This was the first time he had been to a restaurant more upscale than Red Lobster. He was so impressed - it became tradition.  Every year for his birthday we have dinner at The St. Paul Grill and often stay the night as well! ~ Ellen Schneider, St. Paul, MN

 
This year has been exciting, and it all began at The St. Paul Grill. My engagement story is simple and sweet, but was perfect. My boyfriend and I of seven years went to the Wild game one Saturday in November. After the game, we made our way to The St. Paul Grill, which we had done numerous times before. Looking back, there were a few signs I should have seen, but I had no idea of what was to come. I went to use the restroom while he got us a table. Usually we sat in the bar, but I found him sitting at a booth in the restaurant. We enjoyed our dinner, and throughout the meal he kept grabbing my hand. I just thought he was trying to be romantic (little did I know he was just too nervous to say the words I had been waiting to hear for years). About three times, he told me he had to go to the bathroom.  I finally told him, well, don't you know where it is? He got up, and then immediately got down on one knee right in front of me. I knew he didn't trip, but couldn't figure out why he was on the ground. Maybe he dropped his napkin? At that moment he told me he loved me and asked me to marry him. The shock set in, and I asked him if he was joking. He pulled out the ring he had been hiding in his golf bag for the past few weeks (the one place he knew I would never look). Even after all we have been through together, that night changed us forever. On August 7th, we were married. The little booth next to the kitchen at the St. Paul Grill will always be such a special place to us.  ~ Kara Lynn, Apple Valley, MN

 

For the last twelve years (since we have lived in MN), The St. Paul Grill is where we choose to celebrate our wedding anniversary.It is a wonderful tradition for us and we have never been disappointed in our experience.We love it! ~ Loretta Metcalf, Apple Valley, MN

 

I am an officer in the Marine Corps reserve and I was deployed to Iraq in 2005. I wrote an update email home to family and friends, and in it I talked about how much I missed being home, and I described a dream date with my wife I planned to have upon my return. I described in detail drinks, a meal, and cigars at The St. Paul Grill. The email got forwarded around far and wide. Later, my wife received a letter in the mail from a total stranger. He wrote that he had read my email, wanted to thank our family for serving and making a sacrifice, and had enclosed a gift certificate to The St. Paul Grill for $210.00. He had taken my printed email and shown it to a hostess, and asked her to ring up what an evening like I had described would cost. My description was very detailed, to include certain brands of Scotch and Gin, and specific menu items such as Prime Rib. After I got home, instead of a date, and to celebrate my wife's birthday, I used the gift card to treat her parents, siblings and their spouses (10 adults) to drinks and appetizers in the bar one night. It was a great time. My wife and I have been regulars ever since, to which Jason, Bill, and Al can attest.

By the way, the stranger who treated us was none other than Pat Harris, St. Paul City Council member, and a great supporter of our troops and veterans. ~ Lt. Col. Bob Stephenson, Woodbury, MN

 

Our family has a tradition of gathering at The St. Paul Grill to punctuate our special occasions or whenever we want to make an ordinary day extraordinary. We find The St. Paul Grill's tradition of dining excellence caters to our family's simple and sophisticated palates as much as our soul. We have celebrated graduations, engagements, baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays, over the years, all occasions receiving the same high standard of impeccable personal service and memorable meals.
The St. Paul Grill remains our family's traditional place to share our memorable moments and meals. ~ Emily Waymire, White Bear Lake, MN

 

I had been to The St. Paul Grill numerous times with my parents and it was always a special place for me.  When the time came to propose to my girlfriend I knew The St. Paul Grill was the perfect location.  We shared some wine and were enjoying a nice evening.  When I pulled out the ring before dessert I totally caught her off guard.  Needless to say it was the perfect evening and my wife and I still enjoy dining at The St. Paul Grill 12 years later.  Thanks for providing such great ambiance. ~ Robert Brooke, Zumbrota, MN

 

Regularly go to a "business lunch" with my Dad. Great menu but we always order the hamburger. ~ Mike Flaherty, St. Paul, MN

 

The very first time I entered the bar at St. Paul Grill I thought I was in heaven....All those Scotches from Scotland.WOW!!!! Fantastic evening! ~ Danny Martin, Shakopee, MN

 

Over 6 years ago on St.Patrick's day, my boyfriend and I had our first date at The St. Paul Grill. We had drinks at the beautiful bar, he a brandy manhattan, and I a delicious chocolate martini. Before we knew it, the bar was closing because we'd been chatting away! We returned shortly after for our 2nd date, this time for dinner. Everything was perfect, we were seated in a booth with lovely views of Rice Park and the food and service were amazing. We have definitely had some great memories from The St.Paul Grill and return frequently for date nights in the dining room or sometimes just for a drink and great bacon cheeseburger in the bar where we first got to know each other. ~ Cindy Quan, St. Paul, MN

 

Miserable evening in the Winter, cold, snow.Arrived tired and cold and hungry from airport for my first visit to The Grill.Found an incredible and very warm welcome (not always provided to a single diner at other places).I was introduced to a substantial scotch, a huge ribeye (the special that night), and an excellent red wine.I have eaten well in other places around the US, but never with such care.I am not in St Paul often enough to be a regular at The Grill, but in my mind, I consider myself to be one.The Grill is a heartwarming experience. ~ Elliott Detchon, Trumbull, CT

 

My brother, sister and I had surprised my parents by flying my sister and her family in on Christmas Day.She had not been home for Christmas for 15 years.  The 18 of us (10 kids, 8 adults) had a great holiday week, topped off by an adults only dinner at The St. Paul Grill.It was the perfect fairy tale evening as we looked out over the lights and enjoyed adult conversation, wine and amazing food and service.We took photos in front of the stunning Christmas tree in the lobby afterward which are a visual reminder of the lovely evening we enjoyed.~ Jennifer Sirjord, Deephaven, MN

 

My mom loved to have a special Christmas gathering with her four girls every December. We celebrated together for many years, with mom always planning and paying. Sometimes it was a play at the Ordway and then lunch at The St Paul Grill. Mom died at age 93 a few years ago after a marvelous life. The first December she was gone, I planned the party, and my three sisters and I went to The St Paul Grill for a marvelous lunch after attending a concert at the Landmark Center. After sharing desserts, the bill came and I said I would pay for it with an envelope of money I found in my mom's jewelry box...money she kept for tips. The bill was $148. I took out the envelope and counted out EXACTLY $148 in cash. We cried and then laughed knowing our beloved mom wanted us to continue with the tradition. ~ Betsy Judkins, St. Paul, MN

 

One of my many great memories from The St. Paul grill was several years ago when our firm held its annual retreat at The Saint Paul Hotel and we were all having drinks at The St. Paul Grill.My colleague, who was well versed in Scotch (and I was not), suggested I try a certain Scotch with a price tag of around $50.I ordered (since it was on the firm) and said "on the rocks!".A few of the patrons at the bar were shocked and explained you never order a Scotch like that with ice.I learned a valuable lesson that night that I still remember often. ~ Aaron Franko, St. Paul, MN