1881 Eating House

This place is located inside of the Union Depot. The service was great, and the food was even better! It's a nice laid-back atmosphere whether you are looking to do breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. A nice place to gather with family, friends, or even a date. A super nice surprise was getting to meet the executive chef, he is really friendly and takes a lot of pride in what he does! They also offer a private area that can be rented out for private parties and events. It's listed on their website, but parking lots A and B are validated with your meal or drinks.

The three-star rating reflects a combination of factors: the tight space, the added hassle of the train station location, and a main dish that didn't quite deliver. Not a bad experience, but not one that fully lived up to expectations either. Strong recommendation to make a reservation in advance. There are no walk-ins after a certain point, and the space is small enough that availability disappears quickly! They validate the A & B parking ramp, but both were full (likely due to the holiday activities in the area). Logistics: If you're dining with children, request the couch seating area. It offers noticeably more flexibility and breathing room with car seats or strollers compared to the standard tables, which makes a difference in such a compact restaurant. Food: While I don't doubt that other menu items are solid, the Korean gochujang bowl fell flat for me. The flavor profile was fairly plain. After a few bites I just smothered it in hot sauce to feel like I wasn’t eating something I could get at a sweetgreen for example. While hot sauce and other sauces were available for flavor, they didn't complement the dishes flavor profile.

Saw that 1881 Eating House unveiled some new happy hour menu items and I wanted to check it out! Happy Hour is from a generous 2-6PM. Since Barrio left Lowertown, I've wanted to find a place that has tacos. They serve these tacos as apart of their happy hour menu, which are stacked HIGH with fresh ingredients. They include jalapeños in them, which offers a nice kick, but pairs well with the pickled red onions and crema sauce. Definitely a delightful eat I'll come back for. I also enjoyed the sangria, which is $8 on the happy hour menu, but they also have other kinds of drinks discounted, including a Pyres Raspberry Sour that I'd love to try.I was less a fan of the fries, but I can't quite place why. They're served with a mornay sauce, and I think I might just not be a fan of it. It doesn't have a strong flavor or taste. But with so many items on the menu, I think there TONS of reasons to come back here. The atmosphere and space is gorgeous, with plenty of tables and seats. Service was sweet and attentive but it did take them a while to get back to me here and there. An added bonus? If you eat here and keep your receipt, you can get 10% off at Storyline Books, which is right within the building.

Yummm! Ordered salads, a burger, and the butternut squash ravioli. 🤌 A lot of food. The cider mocktail was a bit disappointing, tasted a lit like giner beer and lemon juice and not much else. Ordered the Lake Elmo speciality dessert and it wasnt our favorite, but it was fun to try.

My husband & I came here for our anniversary & we had the most amazing time. For starters, it’s such a cute ambiance inside of the Union Depot & being able to enjoy the building itself while eating dinner. We shared the crab cakes as an appetizer & I would say it was without a doubt the best crab cakes I have ever had. For dinner I got the butternut squash ravioli & my husband got the 10 oz rib eye. Both of our dinners were outstanding! For dessert we got the French silk & the carrot cake which we probably didn’t need two desserts but wow were they both incredible. Lastly, our waitress Corrie was just a delight. She was so friendly & nice & really made our evening memorable. We can’t wait to come back & can’t recommend it enough!

I do actually like this place. The food is good, the people are excellent. But the house Manhattan. The house manhattan. It has become a flavorless, vibeless, soulless extraction of money. It is now half the size, a hundredth of the flavor and comes with...(foam?). For the price, I expect and roch, flavorful and balanced cocktail. A classic. There is a bitterness approaching sadness, and it is NOT the bartenders fault. It is the bar program and the lack of joy. The two luxardo cherries were appreciated, but I'd greatly appreciate some whiskey in my drink as well. The pictured coupe is maybe 5oz, with 2.53oz of beverage at best. $35 for two of what's pictured, before tip.

I live in the area and was hoping 1881 might be a new go-to spot, but based on my experience last night I won’t be returning any time soon. Service was extremely slow and every employee we interacted with except for our bartender seemed miserable. One server was already closing down the patio at 7:45pm, like they were nonverbally pushing us all out. At one point, a man who appeared to be a back-of-house team member was running food out to the patio, and mumbling something about not knowing where the waitress went. The $28 we spent on the charcuterie board would’ve been better spent at Target getting all the same exact ingredients - and about 4x the servings. Both mine and my date’s ahi tuna steaks in our main dishes were overcooked. Lastly, I ordered both the red and white sangrias, and they may have been the worst sangrias I’ve ever had. My date and I couldn’t figure out if the wine was super cheap, if the fruit wasn’t ripe, or both. Either way, both were nearly spilling out of my tiny plastic cup, filled to the brim with ice. Not impressive at $12/drink. 1881’s location and concept is great - I think they just need some better staff and a little more love given to their dishes.

I’ll start with the positive: Service, amazing. We had the nicest server! Old fashioned and barrel aged old fashioned were delicious. The food itself was mediocre at best and disappointing. The potstickers were salty and needed acid to balance the saltiness of the sauce.

Truly a hidden gem. This restaurant and bar is square in the middle of the large main entryway at Union Depot. This gives it a very unique ambiance that I absolutely love. I've only been in for brunch, but the food has been excellent each time. I love the Eggs Benedict (I used to be a brunch regular at much-missed Saint Dinette nearby and am to have this replacement), and I recently tried the Croque Madame which was very good. I also asked for a side salad, thinking I would need more food beyond that entree. Turns out there was plenty of mass to that Croque Madame but it was nice that they improvised a salad for me. I liked the creamy Green Goddess dressing she recommended. My server this time - I think she said her name was Aziza - was super nice and professional. There is the paid parking at Union Depot, and those rates are reasonable enough that if you are planning to come here you should probably head to their ramp. However, I tend to drive around looking for street parking which is free on Sundays. That can take a while and can require a walk of some blocks, but it's my preference. This eatery comes from the same people as the estimable Lake Elmo Inn, so there is a lot of quality here. Between that and the charm of the train-station environs, I really think this makes for a memorable dining experience.

Strong recommendation to make a reservation in advance. There are no walk-ins after a certain point, and the space is small enough that availability disappears quickly. If you're dining with children, request the couch seating area. It offers noticeably more flexibility and breathing room compared to the standard tables, which makes a difference in such a compact restaurant. As for the food: while I don't doubt that other menu items are solid, the Korean gochujang bowl fell flat for me. The flavor profile was fairly plain, and while hot sauce was available, it didn't complement the dish--it felt mismatched rather than additive. The three-star rating reflects a combination of factors: the tight space, the added hassle of the train station location, and a main dish that didn't quite deliver. Not a bad experience, but not one that fully lived up to expectations either.

What a great place for dinner. We happened to come across this place after attending an event at the Science Museum. Located in the beautifully architected Depot, the restaurant is an open air area with tables that allow you to enjoy your surroundings. We ordered the dry rub wings and cob salad. Both were delicious. The wings were served hot and super crispy. The salad was beautifully presented with lots of layers and a yummy dressing. We split both dishes and our server was quick to bring us lots of plates for sharing. Service was excellent. Parking in the Depot parking lot was a mere $4. What a great place to enjoy a beautiful setting and excellent food.

Tried this place after picking up my sister. Food was fantastic and the recommended items were above expectations. Ambiance is load, it's a train depot after all! Not too loud to hear conversations though. We had excellent service, and a special nod to Maya B, our server. She was knowledgeable, friendly and attentive. Would eat here again.

I will update this review once I have come in for food. My wife and I only stopped in and had strawberry mimosas. Rose and Ben were great, their customer service is top notch. They know how to make customers feel welcome. We met a few other employees of the restaurant and everyone was nice, friendly and helpful. We cannot wait to come back and try some of their dinner options.

Have been wanting to check this place out since announcing it was open, but we don't find ourselves in Lowertown all that often. Hubs was trying to find somewhere we hadn't been, or at least hadn't been in a while, and 1881 came up on the search so decided to head over to Union Depot. The way the space in the head house has been set up is cute; we both commented that the decor that was chosen is perfect. We started with cocktails, a sidecar and an old fashioned. I can see why the old fashioned has won awards, it was so good. For dinner, hubs had the chicken picatta and I had the lamb burger. The lamb burger was delicious, perfectly cooked. Hubs liked the chicken picatta, but the breading on the chicken was a little overdone and the sauce on the side pasta was a little thick. But he did say it still had nice flavor. We decided to get a Sin at the Inn for dessert, which was basically a turtle tart. OMG - I don't like chocolate very much and this was just deliciously decadent. We were a little disappointed to see it was fairly slow when we got there shortly before 6, but it picked up around 6:30. It was just so good we don't want to see it disappear! Our server was kind and made some great recommendations. We also can't wait to come back and try the advertised happy hour. Would recommend if you're in the area or if you're looking for a little different vibe.

Wonderful setting in a historical building. We went for Sunday brunch -a table of 5. The food was great- hot and fresh. Wonderful, right? The service was abysmal. Our waitress didn't seem to understand her job. Forgetting cocktails, not following up on requested condiments, NEVER refilling coffee. It was so bad, I had to ask the manager if she was new. She wasn't, just inept. I would go back, but I would sit in another server's section.

What an odd experience. My family of 4 (adults and young adults) decided to try this place for an early dinner on Saturday before a concert. Reviews looked good and it's inside the Union Depot. We walked up at 5:02 pm, it was dead, only one table was occupied. Asked for menus to review, decided everyone can find something to eat (diet limitations), asked for a table. Smiling hostess then informed us that no tables were available (all reserved) but we could sit on the patio. Huh? Okay. We checked out the patio, which was too loud with not enough shade on a hot day. Decided to keep walking, but were concerned about being late for our concert. I checked their website and there were plenty of reservations for 5:15, 5:45, 6:00, 6:15... you get the idea. I made a reservation for 5:15, walked back inside, told the hostess we now have a reservation. Our waitress was very nice. Our food was not memorable (not great, not bad). Hunter's pie was not a pie but a pile of mashed potatoes topped with stew- not what we expected but the best dish out of everything we ordered. Ravioli- too sweet but nice concept, fries- too salty, French onion soup- not balanced (all the croutons were in the bottom, kind of odd). Food runner was just bad. He did not know where anything went, would not put plates down, but expected us to take plates and pass other people's food to them? Like you have one job... We paid and left at 6:17. There were two tables occupied at that time. Where were all the reservations due to which we could not be seated originally? I'm still puzzled, it doesn't seem like this place wants to stay in business.

Terrible experience. Party of 3 second in line at opening behind a single diner for Saturday morning brunch. We got our drinks eventually, but 45 minutes later the food still had not come. My girlfriend had ordered only a cinnamon roll and myself and sister a simple, standard breakfast. The single diner was done with his meal and 2 other larger parties who had arrived after us were already eating when we still had not received our food. When we brought it to the waiter's attention be was dismissive, blamed it on management, and said he wasn't sure he could give us our money back. So, we left without ever receiving our food! Save your money and go elsewhere.

Such a cool ambiance right in Union Depot! This place fits in perfectly with the old timey train station theme, but somehow still feels modern. The bar is a perfect spot to have a drink, especially if you're waiting on a train. And the food was phenomenal! You can tell the owners of this new spot coming over from Lake Elmo are really putting a lot of thoughtfulness and pride into their 2nd run here. The chef owner came out from the back to say hi and he was all smiles and seemed full of joy bringing this place to life. Good vibes all around!

Great spot right inside Union depot, patio type seating inside the beautiful space was nice, food and drinks were great, service was amazing. Very attentive and respectful staff, food was great, we had the provoleta appetizer, delicious deconstructed bruschetta type appetizer with tomato/olives and melted provolone, my wife had the pork chop which was a 2 bone monstrosity that was delicious and I had the steak frites, perfectly cooked skirt steak with delicious parm fries. Highly recommend!

What a wonderful addition to the downtown St Paul area. Much needed. I had a great experience and am looking forward to returning.

Food great, dessert fab,service great, love the surroundings. Caesar salad, very good. Music really adds to the experience.

Lovely service and great setting. Food was outstanding. Really enjoyed the Mandarin Salad, Beef Vegetable soup and Sin of the Inn dessert. Delightful walleye and roasted potatoes. The complimentary champagne for our anniversary was a welcome touch. Excellent coffee, too. Nice music, easy to talk - not too loud, despite all the marble in the room.

Anthony was AMAZING! Very tentative. Was engaging in conversation. I wish I could rate this place higher because of Anthony! The 2nd shift came. They were too busy stocking, cleaning, etc. we ordered the Reuben appetizer. Our meter was to expire at 2:45 so we ordered the appetizer at 2:20. We asked the bartender at 3 if she had put in the order. Said yes and walked away. We didn't get the app until close to 3:20! The Reuben balls were black. Pretty sure that's not what they should have looked like. We had a hard time trying to get another drink so we just took our tab. There were 3 people at the bar... two of them was us.

Food was excellent, had the sunnies, tasted like they had been caught minutes before being served. Ask for Cory, she will make your experience memorable! She'll make great recommendations for food and knows the wine list and how to pair. She understands service and delivers with enthusiasm! The ambiance is reminiscent of the old Nankin (you probably need to be a boomer to relate). The depot setting is fun for all ages. It's going to be a new tradition for us.

The star rating has no meaning because we didn't get a chance to try it out. Unfortunately, it doesn't open till 11:00 and our train left at 10:20. Please consider opening earlier!!

Was a little disappointed that the restaurant wasn't back in the area previous Depot fine dining spots were located but after having lunch there i was very impressed! Found 1881 carries the same quality and service of the Lake Elmo Inn. Was delighted to find sunnies on the menu accompanied by wild rice and excellent asparagus! A nice place to eat, and I love the ambiance with its personal memories for me of the St Paul Depot! Thanks Lake Elmo Inn! Now, will you be doing Sunday brunch at this location? A long time fan of your establishment.

The food was a mixed bag. The cheese and meat appetizer was poor and way overpriced at $24 for what you got. The amount of bread and crackers was inadequate, and we had to keep asking for more. The cheese and meat amount was a joke. The pasta dishes were enjoyed by those who ordered them. I ordered the 1881 New York strip. It was the smallest 10oz steak and was horrible and was barely 1/4 inch thick. It was full of gristle. It tasted old, almost sour. Worst of all was the cost $45. Lake Elmo Inn is one of our favorite restaurants. The food there has always been great. Sitting in the open at a train station is not our idea of ambiance. Our waiter seemed inexperienced. For the food and experience 1881 is way overpriced. Parking is free but quite A walk. The night we were there, a man got murdered 2 blocks away.

First and last time we will go here to eat. The ambiance was nonexistent since they are directly in the middle of the main doors to the depot. It is very noisy with no type of barriers (maybe some large plants or screens?) between the diners and people coming through the main doors. There was a wedding somewhere so there were lots of people. The menu is a portion of what they offer at The Lake Elmo Inn. We were really hoping to see some new items offered. There was a snafu with a wrong entree on our order (that happens) but they put my pasta dish back under the heat lamp and when I got it back it was dry and stiff. By the time someone came by I'd already eaten half of it. They did make it right and took this meal off of our bill. Service was adequate. Overall it just isn't what we are looking for when paying these prices. I don't want to be sitting in a fishbowl when dining.

It's a wonderful location with friendly staff, terrible food, and poorly constructed cocktails. Shocked this place is owned by the Lake Elmo Inn.

Our visit to 1881 was wonderful! We decided to arrive early for dinner so we could experience the happy hour. We were greeted by April, our bartender, who introduced herself ( why do so few people do that!?). She had great recommendations for drinks and appetizers. When we were seated for dinner, we were welcomed by Corrie, our waitress. She was delightful! Food and drinks were great, ambiance beautiful, and service exceptional. We would definitely go back again!

We recently met long-time friends here for lunch and loved it: excellent food, superb service, unique setting. Corrine was our server, and she was engaging and attentive. We will definitely be back! Indoor Dining · Great food · Large wine list · Creative cuisine

Amazing food and service. Great location with great ownership that really care about quality and experience.

Lake Elmo Inn 9/18/2024 My husband and I had a fantastic lunch experience at Lake Elmo Inn on 9/18/24. Despite the busy lunch hour, we were seated promptly without reservations. It's worth noting that they are closed between 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., so I recommend checking their hours before visiting.  I started with iced tea and a cranberry wild rice roll, which was delightful. I opted for the Reub-INN with turkey instead of corned beef, and it was delicious with Swiss cheese and thousand island dressing on pumpernickel bread. My husband enjoyed the Pork Schnitzel Sandwich, which was a flavorful special that day. We couldn't resist the carrot cake for dessert, and it was moist and flavorful with walnut-studded cream cheese icing. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable, making the experience even more enjoyable.  With the Christmas season approaching, I highly recommend dining at Lake Elmo Inn for a memorable experience. It's the perfect place to impress someone with great food and beautiful decorations.  Make sure you have a reservation. ou have a reservation.

1881 inside the Union Depot is incredible. My Server Cory had a delightful personality who is passionate about providing great service I had the Butternut Squash Ravioli with chicken. It was amazing. The menu is vast with incredible ingredients of freshness When you are Downtown St Paul this is a restaurant you must visit in the historic Union Depot From Dino

One of the best burgers I have had in a long time. Spectacular staff and a beautiful location. I love this place.

Food was great and the service was prompt and friendly. We will definitely be back! Only suggestion I would have is they need larger plates. The plates need to be larger for better presentation.

This place delivered and then some. We went on Friday night on their second day of operating in the restored Union Depot. The food was extremely tasty and well-presented but what makes 1881 so special is the experience. We had Corey as our server, and she was super attentive and friendly. The ambiance was romantic yet good for large groups. The surroundings are a bit like stepping back in time. We had an appetizer of Rueben truffles which were amazing. We also had the sunnies and walleye both which were very good. The carrot cake is homemade and amazing. Parking was a breeze in the basement of Union Depot which is easily accessible at the intersection of Kellogg and Sibley. Lot A must be approached from the south via Kellogg. It is connected, which is great for cold winter nights. Congratulations on a wonderful opening!

Exceptional service. Corri was attentive and friendly. Interesting and tastey food. I especially liked the mushroom soup. Parking is always a challenge in St. Paul but Union Station's pay ramp was handy. i look forward to my next visit.

Couldn't wait to get in for a full service meal went out with my wife and my best friend and his wife last night and we had the pleasure of dining and chef John Schiltz came out and talk to us and give us a couple secrets. It was amazing.

We went for the grand opening, and it was outstanding with great food sampling, atmosphere and attention to detail. We are going back this Thursday night with friends the full dining experience. Looking forward to it!