Forepaugh's Restaurant

What a darling restaurant. The renovated mansion was absolutely gorgeous and the room we were in felt like we had a private party. Our server was fantastic and seemed very familiar with the menu and details concerning each dish. She made me want to order one of everything. I had the lamb chops but was able to sample the crispy skate and two kinds of pasta. All delicious. I can't wait to go back.

We came back to dine after we had our wedding reception at Forepaugh’s 21 years ago. We tried the “Date Night” menu fixe, which includes a glass of wine or cocktail for both, a choice of appetizer or pasta to share, an entree for each, and a dessert to share for $150. We had calamari, bolognese, sea bass and surf and turf, finished with an olive oil cake in strawberry sauce. The bolognese was undercooked. Our courteous server Freddy quickly replaced the pasta with another of our choice, Orecchiette. He even brought us a second dessert on the house, after we told him why we were there for dinner. That was sweet. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere elegant. I’m glad Forepaugh’s reopened after the closure during COVID. The renovation the owner invested brings the old time charm alive again. A true gem in the Irvine Park historic district.

Would highly recommend. The food and atmosphere were both amazing. We started with a short sit for a cocktail before they stayed is for our reservation. Everything was excellent. The drinks, the appetizer, the mains... we really enjoyed everything. Our waiter was full of energy and quite knowledgeable. His menu recommendations were excellent. The house has a really compelling history and the setting is great for a nice meal. I had the beef wellington and would order it again in a second. A couple things to consider.... We did have reservations (730p) and were sat very shortly after arrival. We were sat in a room by ourselves, but still in a spot where my chair was right at the room's entry and a bar wall. I'd place to seat us when there were 5-6 other empty tables in the room. We did ask to move to a table away from the door and at a window, they did accommodate. Our entire meal, we sat alone in that room, so the seating selection was strange. Second, I appreciate not being rushed through a meal, allowing us to enjoy our meal and a drink, BUT this was actually way too slow a place. Keep in mind we had a 730 reservation, we didn't finish our meal until 945, and left at 955. Keep in mind, we only had 1 appetizer (shared) and each had a main. Not several courses, or dessert or coffee after dessert, just an appetizer and the main course in 2:15+... too slow. And clearly, with us being the only ones dining in our room, the place wasn't slammed. Having said that, even worth the slow pace I would highly recommend for a nice meal and even a place to celebrate something special.

Start to finish, this was an exceptional experience. If you are looking for top-tier fine dining, look no further. Perfect for date night, anniversary, a group celebration, or any excuse to enjoy good food in unique surroundings. We didn’t come here for any special occasion, but from now on, this will be high on our list of Special Occasion Locations. Because the tables are in separate rooms, you feel like you are a VIP no matter where they seat you. Very intimate, very romantic. Our server was exceptional. The food was delicious across the board, and there was an abundance of gluten-free options. I was not expecting that. I had the lamb and my husband had the beef wellington. Our entire evening here exceeded my expectations. We will definitely be back.

Amazing place! The building is so cool with a great backstory and wonderful interior design. There are formal dining rooms, a bar and lounge area, and a rooftop patio. Drinks and apps during their social hour were delicious all around. Service was great and they let us wander around the house to explore it all!

Unbelievable dining experience that was completely worth the price! My husband and I made a reservation on our anniversary and were not disappointed. The ambiance is this beautiful old house, so everything is sectioned out into various rooms and floors. We were seated at a table on the second floor in a room with about 6 tables. Our waitress, Rosa, was great and offered perfect wine pairings with our meal. We each had a cocktail before dinner, and a glass of red wine with our entrees. We had the lamb chops and beef Wellington, both exquisitely prepared. They even sent us home with a little anniversary dessert! The price was well over $200, so we won't be able to visit with any regularity, but we got exactly what we paid for - a transcendent dining experience from lovely staff, and an incredible chef & kitchen staff. Would absolutely recommend to anyone looking for the best of the best in St. Paul!

Gordon Ramsay would be proud/jealous! Imagine walking into a fully restored turn of the century mansion with fireplaces in every room, and being greeted by a friendly team as they walk you upstairs to one of the coolest patios in the Twin Cities! And then imagine seeing beef Wellington on the menu! I have two rules when I’m going to a restaurant, number one, the minute I see Beef Wellington on the menu I immediately put down the menu. Rule number two, I then try to find the chef and give him a hug for making something that takes over 24 hours to prepare! 🤣. My wife and I did the date night special which was great considering all the best things are on that date night menu, typically you see middle of the road items on those menus but this one is a straight up value! Everything was deliciously seasoned and prepared and cooked. You can tell they use top level ingredients. And the final kicker, you can get 3 ounces of truffles for $15! If you have been to other restaurants where they offer truffles, you know that they charge $30-$60 for 1 ounce. So in the end you are practically making money here, lol. We are already planning to come back and bring our friends and family. So happy this landmark was able to reopen!

There aren't too many things better than walking into a mansion for dinner. We arrived and we were immediately warmly greeted by a staff member. I don't mention a title as it didn't seem to matter who you encountered. The staff was so generous, genuine and friendly that they engaged you no matter where you ended up. The mansion has an interesting layout that creates different levels and rooms. My rank on the food is due to the cuisine being a bit on the salty side for my taste. The Misto Frito was disappointing. The calamari was rubbery and everything was on the salty side. I must note that the rest of my party did not share the same opinion regarding the salt level. I also must note that the duck sausage was out of this world. The service was one of the top 5 experiences I've ever had. I can't call him a server because he was so much more than that without being obtrusive. He described everything perfectly and handled one of my guest's food allergy like no one I have ever experienced. I am looking forward to another visit and have made Fourpaugh's one of my go-to places.

I'm giving a 3 star rating only due to the great service, decor and ambiance of the restaurant as the food only scored a 1. I was excited to hear that Forepaughs was reopening; however, the food is nothing like it used to be - I'm hoping the kitchen just had a bad night. I ordered the Ribeye and it was terrible. Whatever "sauce" that was put on the meat tasted like a cleaning solution. I tried to give it a chance but after 3 bites my appetite was ruined. One of the other diners tried it too and had the same response. I told the waiter about it and he removed it from our bill - which was the appropriate response. Another member of our party ordered the Park Burger which was more onion than beef - completely over powered the burger. Another ordered the 1/2 Chicken which was just ok - pretty dry and over cooked. Another ordered the Sea Bass which was actually pretty good. The Brussels sprouts were good too. Overall, great people and great building but the food is a total disaster. Great lounge for drinks and atmosphere but that's about it.

The last time I previously ate here was 20 years ago for prom with my now wife :). So when we had a chance it was very nostalgic to head back to a place where I first said I love you. It really has not changed and the ambiance of this wonderful old mansion is second to none. I love historic places and this is lovely. We started out at the bar and had a couple lovely cocktails well waiting for our table. The bartender and wait staff were lovely and very friendly.the great service continued when we were seated. So why four and not five well I have to compare it to other great French restaurants in Minnesota and the food well very good is not the best I've had. That goes to another French restaurant in St. Paul that I hold near and dear. We had the beef Wellington which was cooked to perfection , the seafood and steak that my wife really loved, the appetizers were also quite wonderful. Overall it was a fantastic experience and you never forget where you fell in love. Thank you Forwepaugh's.

Finally made it make since it reopening. Was really excited to come back after so many years. We had a birthday celebration dinner, perfect spot for it. Valet is $15 for those who care. We had a couple drinks while we waited for our table, was very good. The charm of this place is so cute. We got some meat and cheese tray for apps, all were excellent. Great quality on these. We also got the tuna crudo, wow! So good, was a hit at the table. For my dinner, I got the beef Wellington, I had thought about this since getting it many years ago. Guys, it's better than before! The new chef here is top notch. Everyone enjoyed all their meals as well, especially the burger and the fresh pastas. For dessert, they brought out a birthday cupcake, very cute. We also got the chocolate cake, was pretty good. Overall, perfect celebration meal. Food was perfect, service was excellent. Can't wait to make more stops here in the near future.

The menu was uncomplicated ranging from enticing starters, silky pastas, savory entrees and sides. A Long list of cocktails and a longer listing of wines to elegantly complement your culinary experience. The plating was thoughtful without too much visual flare. The properly seasoned lamb chops were cooked to a medium rare, tender, and juicy. The Frenched chops were accompanied with caramelized onions, a minted sauce and placed on top of a bed of risotto. As a side, I order the Gem salad freshly composed greens, cumumbers, cherry tomatoes tossed with a lemony vinaigrette and for added texture topped with nuts and seeds. A sumptuous meal, deliciously orchestrated and my complements to the Chef. The overall dining experience was graced by prompt friendly wait staff, while seated in comfortable table with soft lighting, quiet atmosphere only added to historical appeal of a restaurant occupying a hundred year-old Victorian mansion. As a final note, in spite of selecting 4 stars I highly recommend Forepaugh's Restaurant. It's my position striving for perfection is about the quality of the journey and with the acknowledgement that perfection is never to be obtained.

We took my in-laws to Forepaugh's as a Christmas gift and we had a great experience! Our server, Jack, was wonderful and did a great job making us feel celebrated. My mussels were flavorful and cooked well, and everyone else enjoyed their entrees as well, even my picky father-in-law. The fries were crispy and came with an addictive sauce. We were seated on the top floor which helped make it a quieter atmosphere where we were easily able to talk. Overall, a nice, upscale experience that was enjoyed by our whole group.

Visited 9/17/24. Truly the dinner in a trendy mansion that I didn't know I needed in my life. Visited with a few friends and since the "new" Forepaughs is having a bit of a shining moment right now we needed to make a reservation in advance for the four of us. Parking is slightly more limited in this area so be cognizant of this. They do offer valet but I went the slightly cheaper option by using the pay lot for the Ramsey house across the street. Ambiance?! On point. I would recommend this place for this alone but also the service was some of the best I've had in a while as well. To start I got the St Paulitan drink. I did like this but the drink that was my favorite was the Evergreen Collins (tried my friend's and it was delightful-I had been worried it would taste too much like pine but not at all). For dinner the group of us split two burgers, two orders of the bolognese, rosemary garlic fries, and the Brussels sprouts. Overall you definitely will end up paying slightly higher end prices for the experience and food. It would maybe be worth it going earlier for the bar menu but I really enjoyed my experience here and would recommend to others. Stand outs: -Burger! So so good and flavorful -Brussels sprouts. Flavorful and crispy Solid: -Fries -Bolognese-loved the dish itself but even the larger portion still was rather small for the price point.

Cheers to a magical evening at Forepaugh's! Surrounded by good company and the charm of this historic gem, we're ready to celebrate the season in a setting that feels like stepping back in time. So happy we finally made it to this lovely spot. Make a reservation for your next date night & experience the enchanting historic ambiance of Forepaugh's, where every corner whispers tales from the 19th century. Dine in a beautifully restored Victorian mansion, complete with stunning architecture and elegant decor. Some of the most incredible food I've had in Saint Paul . The service was incredible, very welcoming and generous. Overall, this spot has an incredible ambience and aesthetic. The parking is fairly easy there is valet for $15 or there is a lot that you can pay for right across the street for five dollars.

Celebrated my husband's birthday with a group of 6 total. The location is nice parking can be tricky but there is valet for $15. Lots of room in the restaurant with multiple levels we were on the third floor which was nice and quiet so we could chat. Our server was very nice and manager Steve came and checked in on house multiple times as well as told us about the history of the restaurant. Drinks were good and there were mocktails available for those not drinking. We started with Burrata while flavor was good , no bread or crisps to eat it with, for the price would have enjoyed something to accompany it. Burger was exceptional whatever sauce on it was very flavorful. Also tried the bolognese and noodles were cooked perfectly and sauce was very good. Was hoping to try the beef Wellington but it was gone before I could. The feedback was it was to good to share! Dessert was okay layers of the crepe cake were thicker than previous cakes I have tried.

Overall the food was pretty good, but nothing really stood out. I would like to try some of their other pastas since that was probably my favorite dish. I really liked the vibe of the old house it was super cool to see the dark wood and fireplaces. I enjoyed my drink and could see the bar being a nice place to drink during less busy hours than peak dinner time.

Incredible! Just one unfortunate drawback.... Absolutely incredible cuisine and service! Our server (Joseph? I believe this what his name) was extremely attentive, kind, and very knowledgeable about the history of the restaurant, the building, and the menu! The food was out of this world! We both had the Beef Wellington- it was to die for! We also had the Sweet Pea Agnolotti as a starter, per our waiter's recommendation, and it did not disappoint! It was fabulous! Every bite of every course was perfection and thoroughly enjoyed! That being said, there is one major downside to Forepaugh's that I will not fault the restaurant or its staff for, nor deduct a star, as it's out of their control.... The clientele and crowd that it draws in, and you are surrounded by. I'm guessing it's because of the higher price tag? (Worth every penny, I will say) But, unfortunately, money can't buy common sense, human decency, or critical thinking skills. Be prepared to enjoy a few of Forepaugh's excellent cocktails, as you will need a few to drown out the upper echelon Baby-Boomers as they parrot Fox News headlines, and spew hot garbage from their deteriorating lead-paint filled brains. Don't be fooled by the nice argyle sweaters and bad chunky highlights, as they remove their MAGA gear for formal dinners. Hearing Native-indigenous people referred to as "Indians" and falsified stories of their "gratefulness" to stroke their white-savior complex, would have ruined my appetite, has the food not been so delicious. - Seriously, some of these conversations made me question if I stepped back in time into 1940s Germany. I will absolutely be back, as it was wonderful! But I hate that in a city as wonderful as St. Paul and a state as great and blue as Minnesota, to be dinning amount some of the worst people our state has to offer. Thankfully, the majority of these folks won't be around in a few years, and we can all enjoy this wonderful restaurant in peace. Unfortunately, their children and grandchildren that some of them have chosen to spawn and bring along, share the same racist, idiotic, factually incorrect ideas and understanding of the world. Hopefully they will come to their senses, or grandma and grandpa's money will run out sooner rather than later, and will enlighten them to how the real world works.

Popped in here on a Thursday for a quick snack and drink and was blown away!! We had a few apps to share and they were all great, had a handmade pasta, a dessert and then another round of apps! Just an excellent menu! We also had the coconut Negroni which truly blew me away, often Negroni just tastes like Negroni no matter what but this was so interesting and unique would highly recommend! We also walked around the whole place and loved the vibe - it's really surprisingly big and spacious with each room having a different vibe! Service here was also super friendly and fast, we had Bronson and he gave us great recs and was super friendly! If you are anywhere close this is a must go!

Food, wine, cocktail, and bar food menus. Day two back in business 8/17/2024. Patio ambiance is terrific.

Always like Forepaughs for drop in bar with good drinks (Collin's, Manhattan, Old fashion & margarita) as well as pasta dishes. Had the duck Orecchiette and really enjoyed. Ambiance is as good if not improved since reopening & service is too Been here a couple times since reopening & will continue coming

After many years of visiting, back to Forepaugh's. At first glance it does not have the same sense of welcome as the real restaurant of years ago. In any case, we had a very special evening with a very special guest. Everything was very good except for the service. The delicious dishes. The Tuna Carpaccio was very well prepared and the Misto Fritto was really a different but excellent dish. The Crispy Skate is very tasty. The Beef Wellington arrived almost cold but with great flavor. I ordered a Du Petit Thouars wine because the very special guest is a descendant of that French family. When whoever came to open the bottle, by the way, reserved round table at 7:45 PM, 12/20, first floor, for 5 people. Going back to the person who opened the bottle for us, either he didn't know how to speak or he doesn't have the slightest idea of ​​what it means to provide good service. He didn't greet, he didn't make a gesture of any kind. I told her that I had ordered that wine in honor of my special guest whose family belonged to the Dupetit Thouars. There wasn't even a reaction, on the contrary I have the impression that he thought I was making a joke. If it had been like that he would have laughed. Now, the service was late and the waitress offered us bread to wait. Then he charged us for the bread. Speaking of the waitress, when she arrived at the table she only addressed one person, the rest of us looked like the ghosts of the mansion. When it was time to bring the receipt she left it to the right of the special guest instead of giving it to me. And the worst thing was that when I went to pay and she brought the little machine, I like to check everything and take my time. The waitress took my Smart Card and ran it through the machine. I think that should not be done. It seems like she was in a hurry.

This was my first Yelp review, and I hated it. But new owners brought it back to life. We've been coming since the 80's. The exterior is black and beautiful. They start serving dinner at 5 and we had a reservation and got there a half hour early. We could only order from the bar at that time. We got the calamari. It was salty and underdone slightly and they were happy for the feedback. I love how you you can get a small and large entree. I got the tortelloni stuffed with crab. The small is 5 generous pieces and delicious, especially that sauce. Basil loved the rigatoni. We got potato puree and it is perfectly whipped potatoes smothered in butter like they should be. First we started with 2 delicious iced teas and they served it with cubed raw sugar. Spoiling me to death. The strangest thing, we were paranoid about paper straws, but they were a little firmer. Turns out they were made of the agave plant. How crazy is that. Our server Marc was excellent. We got to speak with Steve, the manager. We were raving how the new place is like the original. They are bringing the classic back. I had to add that all classic restaurants always offered rolls, we shall see. I keep thinking of the Fats Domino song Yes it's me and I'm in love again. We will bring lots of business their way.

To be clear, my spouse worked here a decade or more before it had closed for COVID and since reopened. They reopened again 10 weeks or so ago, after being closed for a couple years and doing a bit of a remodel of the interior. They actually changed little, but the place is now lighter & brighter than it had been. The website says clearly in several spots that no reservations are required. Well, true perhaps, but if you want to sit at an adult-sized table you definitely need reservations. We showed up and were seated at a smallish cocktail-sized table in the bar. Turns out this wasn't nearly large enough, but we'll get to that in a moment. They have nothing for a children's menu regarding food and drink, YOU MUST ASK. They had several drink options not listed on the menu including tea and milk, and luckily a hot cocoa which is what our son finally decided upon. We adults had adult beverages that while slightly different (a.k.a. they put their own stamp on it) were fine for the most part. I will say that I've never had an Old Fashioned with powdered cinnamon in it. It tasted fine, and I ended up having two of them (after they suggested trying their Old Manhattan and finding it nearly revolting). My wife found her drinks to be fine, not special or tasty or different, just fine. We chatted with our server for a bit about things, the history of the place, my wife's time working there, different things that were not on the menu, etc. before we finally ordered food. The menu appears to be ala carte, so we ordered that way. Turns out it is not, and we almost had more plates than we knew what to do with at the little table we had. We ordered the Roman Flatbread as an appetizer, and found it to be rather wanting. It appeared to possibly be a cooked, perhaps lightly fried, tortilla or more likely pita bread, with a small drizzle of honey. 6 pizza wedge slices in all, rather small, some oddly canoe shaped serving plate with a couple slices of prosciutto and some kind of soft cheese. No plates provided, no tableware, no napkins. We had to ask for each before trying to dig in (we didn't get the plates at all, which was a good thing in the end). Beef Wellington. I've had it before, not at this business, and I found it lacking this time. I'm not sure what cut of beef was used as the menu didn't say (and I must admit I had trouble reading the menu due to both type size, font, and lack of ambient lighting) and it also did not say what each entree already came with. Turns out the Wellington includes potato, carrot, and asparagus tips along with some kind of berry sauce and something green and leafy. These were not listed on the menu as part of the item description. Our son ordered a house made spaghetti and while it tasted good, he said the meatballs were too spicy for him. We also ordered the potato puree and garlic-rosemary fries (I forget the exact menu naming at this point). We barely had table space for all that and the drinks, and we had plates hanging over the table edge during the entire meal. I would say this was our fault, but we also ordered way more food than we had planned to in the end because of the lack of descriptive text being included with each menu item. Their wellington has changed. It used to be beef covered in mushroom duxelles, but no longer. It also used to be wrapped/covered in puff pastry, also no longer. It is the cut of beef, smallish in my opinion, with a lattice of puff pastry wrapped over it (and perhaps beneath, couldn't be sure as the underside was mushy and squished together when we received the plates). It tasted fine certainly, but it wasn't a real Wellington in my opinion. My wife agreed with the same thoughts. For $50+ I certainly expected more. The sauce was fine, definitely some kind of berry but also with a hint of a burnt flavor to it. The sauce did add to the overall flavor of the wellington in a good way I think. At first I thought we'd ordered too much food, certainly too many plates for the small table we'd been seated at, but in the end I found that we'd polished off everything and still wanted more as we were still somewhat hungry. After having the dessert menu recited to us and asking a few questions, we declined and instead asked for our bill, eventually paid and departed. While our son did enjoy the personal guided tour of the old mansion he received from his mother (including the pictures of the ghost and such), he didn't overall enjoy the place much. After departing, we went to the St. Paul Grill for drinks and dessert, which we were all pleased with, before heading home. I'd like to believe we'd have had a better experience being seated in one of the dining rooms, or at least would have been more comfortable in a quieter environment. Tips: ALWAYS make reservations. DECLINE to be seated in the bar unless you only want drinks (noisy). ASK questions about menu items (notably, what's included). Don't bring the kids unless they enjoy fine dining meals.

Luke warm beef wellington, Luke warm potato puree, just so so disappointing. Sent potatoes back once still come back luke warm. Then they make me another beef wellington and another potato puree, STILL the butter doesn't even melt in the 3rd time with the potatoes!! I had lost my appetite didn't want the 2nd beef wellington or the potatoes!! I ended up paying for food I didn't eat or take home. I told them I would pay for it, I felt bad for the server she felt so bad. But you would of thought management would not have had me pay for any of it but the drink I drank!!

It's back & better than ever! One of the best dining experiences in recent memory - food, service, cocktails, ambiance! You've gotta go. You have to get the tuna carpaccio & beets. Seabass was phenomenal. Panna cotta is the best I've ever had.

We had been so full of anticipation as to how good this would be on it's re-opening. Suffice to say; It exceeded our expectations. The atmosphere is even better than before; the food is amazing, the service is excellent. Skate, Sea bass, lamb and beef wellington were all thoroughly devoured by our party of 4. So excited this neighborhood gem has re-opened. side note: (all the upgrades and remodels are charming and fitting of Forepaugh's history)

For a supposedly fine dining experience, i was underwhelmed. We arrived 15 minutes early and were asked to wait in the lounge, which was fine. But when we were ready to get seated, they would not transfer our cocktail order to our table, and it had to be paid right away. Later, they said 'oh, we're sorry, we could have done that''. Oir waitress acted like a diner waitress, but did give good descriptions of the food. The mushroom bisque arrived tepid and had to be sent back. The duck mezzaluna was ok, but not worth the $32 for a starter. The beef Wellington was good, but not at the level i would expect, especially since it was described as the restaurant's signature dish. Overall it was ok, but not nearly worth the price

3.7 stars is honestly offensive for this restaurant. The ambiance was amazing, the service was great, and the food and drinks were absolutely phenomenal. We will absolutely be going back and highly recommend to anyone in the St Paul area. We got the beets, endive salad, Irvine burger, and the sea bass.

Had dinner at Forepaugh's tonight they have a long way to go to return to the glory of the old establishment. We arrived to find out they have no coat room, so people are tossing coats in corners or backs of chairs as best they could. We then find out the specific table we reserved, and they acknowledged was given to someone else so ended up stuck at a table by the pasta chef (not a great table). They did give us some free Pasta as an apology which was excellent. We ordered a variety of main items and to say they were a disappointment would be generous, the chicken was so bad it had to be sent back and much of the food was cold, the sea bass was the star of the evening getting rave reviews the Forepaugh's classic beef wellington was a disappointment, the partial crust was a major drawback lacking any texture. The crispy Skate was not inspiring or original in any way. I will say the wine stewart was great and suggested an excellent wine and the waitress tried her best but was over whelmed with issues at many of the tables. All in all I expected far more from a great institution such as Forepaugh's especially at the price we Paid (over $900 with wine, dinner and tip for 6). Hopefully they will get their act together and return to the glory of the original name sake or they will soon join the many failed restaurants of late. In conclusion the pasta was great, the wine was excellent, the sea bass was fantastic, and the wait staff did the best they could under the circumstances facing a Christmas crowd.... we will return in a few months and hope they have gotten on back on track.

Katie took excellent care of us during our visit last night! Nice patio & atmosphere! The salted caramel gelato dessert was excellent.

Every thing was exceptional, especially our server. She was friendly, informative and very descriptive in all menu and drink choices.

The food was delicious. Limited menu but hopefully they will offer evening features in the future. The service was excellent and we were very impressed with the staff. The Expresso Martini was outstanding. We will definitely be back!

I had my birthday dinner here. The venue is a beautiful victorian home turned restaurant located right by the Rivercentre. The food presentation is phenomenal. The customer service was welcoming. However, this is quite spendy for the amount of food received.

The place is absolutely lovely with its many levels of old mansion dinning rooms. My 17 year old choose this place (uhm with zero prompting or even mentioning this haven on my part) for her birthday dinner. I love having my sweetlings experience fine dining and beautiful moments with gourmet food- this place definitely sufficed for that. With 5 of us, ordering a bottle of wine, appetizers, main meal and deserts- plus tip- it was over $400 bill. Very worth the experience and food but I'd suggest maybe leaving the extra kids at home and keeping this place for a more intimate outing with people that R-E-A-L-L-Y enjoy this kind of food. We started with a BLT salad, Lemon Shrimp appetizer and a bowl of the soup of the day- Artichoke purée. The lemon shrimp was 3-4 pieces of shrimp on top of a dried pineapple piece. Not worth $17. The soup however, was mind blowing amazing though and my beau and I stared at each other debating on how out of etiquette it would be to lick the bowl. It was PHENOMENAL! And even amongst good gourmet food- I do not come across that many dishes that tease and satisfy my tastebuds to the point this little bowl of soup did in flavor and presentation! The kids all ordered the steak dishes, my beau the Seafood Fettuccine and I opted for the duck breast. Being fairly inexperienced with duck- I requested for the chef to choose how to cook it the way he would prefer it best. It was presented quite a bit more rare than I would have chooses and took eating just about half of it before I talked myself into getting over the texture...and by the time I was about to stuff the last bite in my mouth, I was silently wishing I had not shared so much of it! And the salsify that was along sod of the duck?? Omg I'm smitten with it! My beau's Seafood Fettuccine....I could have eaten my duck AND his dish too. GREAT flavor!! The Harissa saffron sauce was a bit watery but perfect for the big chunks of seafood along with the handmade pasta. The saffron was a bit heavy but I love it! So often I have been disappointed with the lack of traditional saffron flavor in "Saffron" laced dishes. This one definitely had saffron present! I could eat this dish often if it wasn't for my ongoing attempt to be on low carb diets!! The steaks...of course I requested bites. My kids know me well. That have my Yelper dinning rules down- I get to take a photo first before they stab a fork int the food- and I get at least 1 bite. They are also requested to try my dish as well when we dine out regardless of what it is. I take key job as parent seriously and training their tastebuds is part of it! And, uh, that extra kid that joined us quickly learned I would be having a bite of his dish as well. My girls both choose the Filet mignon. My daughters beau went with the Ribeye steak. The Ribeye hands down was far better in flavor as well as what it was served with. Being it was my oldest sweetlings birthday they brought her the deconstructed banana cream pie and a lit candle. It was interesting visually and tasty. We also choose cheesecakes and flourless cake. The cheesecake really lacked in the flavors that were mentioned accompanying it- it tasted plain to me. But flourless chocolate cake had a lovely coffee whipped cream and a pool of Earl Grey tea chocolate sauce that made it absolutely heavenly!! I definitely look forward to dinning here again. Only it will most likely be for a date or special occasion if I'm footing the bill again.

A lovely mansion with rich decor and fabulous food! My favorite dishes were the candied shrimp appetizer, the pan seared walleye in coconut curry sauce, and the banana cream dessert had an amazing caramelized glaze on top. The mixed green salad was good too. The decor is elegant with pretty chandeliers and each room is unique. There are three floors to this mansion so be prepared for a good workout if your table is on the top floor which was our case. The ghost who is named Molly supposedly lingers on the top floor since that's where her incident happened according to our waiter but I luckily didn't feel a haunted vibe! It was busy when we got here at around 6:45 PM on Saturday but the place seemed to clear out by 8:00-ish. We were here on Halloween weekend too. Valet parking is $7 and there are bathrooms located on the second and first level. This place is dressy but I also saw a couple people in jeans and Wild hockey jerseys. Since this place has amazing food, nice decor and great service I had to give it five stars. It's great for special occasions or if you just want to splurge on a nice meal.

The host was the best part of the dinner. The bread was ok. Lemon shrimp different but good. Pretty price for 3 medium shrimp. We had the walleye and filet. My hubby's walleye order without sauce and fish was rubbery and inedible. Filet was ok but again over price for the quality. Same your money!

If you have not had a chance to see this Victorian house and restaurant tucked away in St. Paul, the best time to go is happy hour. This is an upscale restaurant but you can enjoy the chefs creations if you hit up happy hour which runs till 7. The Cuban is the sandwich to grab but tonight I went with a burger and my husband grabbed a flatbread. The burger was perfectly juicy and medium rare with a thick cut bacon. In addition we tried the eggplant and mushroom flatbread that was light and crisp. For fun we ordered the poutine which is served with pickled peppers that make it out of this world. Enjoy a beer on the patio and the neighborhood!

Truly awful. We came as three people for my birthday. Didn't expect anything for my birthday, but they asked three times if we were celebrating anything. Nothing came from this. Service and atmosphere were as expected through ordering food and first drinks. Drinks were very good. Food, when it came, was negligible to terrible. The Seafood Fettucine was inedible. Mussels were water, one scallop (normal but disappointing when that's the only good thing in the entree), and doused in a sauce that tasted part chemical and part cardboard. Fettucine also tasted like cardboard and was overcooked. Three people tried this and found it inedible. Sent the entire thing back and no one mentioned it. Nothing. The last two times we saw our server, she was there for 0.5 seconds and never asked us anything. Beef Wellington was asked for medium-well, came medium-rare. Walleye entree was fine. Nothing terrible, nothing exceptional. Took until halfway through the entree to order second drink. Overall, lack of service and honest to god terrible food ruined it. To pay $210 for this (which did include two rounds of drinks, to be fair) was unacceptable, and no one even asked why the seafood linguine went back uneaten. We will not be back and will not recommend this restaurant to our hotel's guests.

My husband and I came here for Valentine's Day Hoping for a romantic evening with good food. While the ambience at Forepaugh's is unique and special, the food left much to be desired. In short, for the hundred dollar price per person, we were disappointed. The coursed menu promised well, and it started out Well with a beet and hearts of palm appetizer. The presentation was pretty and taste was simple. Halfway through the first course, our second course showed up. I scooted aside my first plate in an attempt to enjoy the second course while it was still warm. The ravioli and scallop was something you wouldn't mind eating more of. Things started going south with the third course of sea bass and risotto...or was it polenta? The fish was rubbery due to being over cooked, and tasted akin to a microwaved meal. The main course got better with filet Mignon that was cooked well. I hoped that the desert course would redeem the meal, however I was sorely disappointed. I love angel food cake, and this had me wondering how long it had been sitting out to go stale. I ended up leaving it on my plate. I have great memories still of coming to Forepaugh's as a child, and so I still hold the legend that is Forepaugh's dear to my heart, but I don't think I'll be coming back again soon for the food. Great ambience for a drink though, and maybe the food is better on a night that isn't so busy.

I cannot to begin to thank Mimi and the entire Forepaughs's staff for an amazing experience. My daughter is active duty Air Force as is her now husband. After Thanksgiving she informed me that she will be getting married when she is on leave at Christmas. Mimi and her staff put together a beautiful ending to the couple's whirlwind beginning to marital bliss. The meal was delicious, the setting was absolutely stunning, and the staff was so attentive. I will definitely be sending my St. Paul colleagues this way! Thank you again!

Boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary. When we arrived, the host was very welcoming and gracious (if a bit rehearsed). We had a cute little window table on the second floor. Food was phenomenal. We both had the beef wellington, but the real standout was the shrimp cocktail appetizer. Simply outstanding. Service was a bit slow but the food came out in a timely manner so it didn't matter much. Another reviewer called the old mansion house "tired," which I wouldn't necessarily agree with. I saw it more as kind of campy, especially when the host made an allusion to disembodied shrieks that occasionally can be heard coming from the 3rd floor. Its certainly no Martina, but definitely has a uniquely specific ambiance that I appreciated.

I was in the market for a last minute Valentines Day dinner reservation, and honestly was shocked Forepaughs could accommodate us. I had been here several times in the past and had been very impressed. Then they brought out the food, and we quickly learned why they weren't fully reserved. I still debate wether the intent of the meal they served was ironic pretentiousness or highway robbery, but they hit the mark on both attempts. The first course was cotton candy and a tampon applicator looking device filled with the smell of buttered popcorn. The second was a vinegar brined egg, the likes of which you'd find behind the counter at a townie bar. They followed that with a few tiny beet slices on a plate splattered with jelles that made it look like a Jackson Pollack painting. The server was quick to point out one of the smears was elderflower flavored with real gold leaf. It's sad when the highlight of a meal is knowing you'll literally be crapping gold in the morning, and the Discovery channel might make it into its next reality show hit. The next course was gyoza in a dashi broth, which I guess makes perfect sense between the cotton candy course and the surf and turf course. The main course, steak and lobster, was actually fairly well conceived and executed. But by this time, we'd already given up hope, and we were just waiting to be released from this tragic comedy of a night. If the goal was to squeeze all the most pretentious food trends from the last decade into one meal, then, as George Bush would say, Mission Accomplished. But if the goal was the feed your customers in a way that is likely to make them come back, then as Mike Prieffer from the Vikings would say, it's time to round up all your kitchen staff in the kitchen, and then nuke it until it glows.

For Valentines day, I thought it would be romantic to bring the wife to a scary ass mansion where the maid hung herself out the 2nd story window due to an affair with the owner...I'm just suave like that. Actually, it is a cool place, with old antiquey ambiance, pretty good service, and the food was awesome too. For the app we did the poutine (fries, gravy, cheese). Now I've had poutine more times than the number of my toes, but this one was special. I loved the kick from the spicy pickled chillies and chili glaze...The one thing a little different is the cheese curds are battered/deepfried vs just melted in the beef gravy...but different is good...and you betcha ass Im going to add the foie gras mousse for 8 bucks...So rich and amazing...perfect app. We also did the waldorf salad, which was awesome as well..just apples, grapes, walnuts, mint, crème fraiche and what made it super awesome is the truffle oil...I could dip sheet rock in that and eat it...For entrees, I did the beef wellington. Always wanted to try a steak with a pastry around it. Pastry was flaky and came with potato puree, and cooked tomato...Was it good, yes. Would I do again...probably not...My wifes dish was super good, but seemed like an appetizer...Pork Belly and Scallops...very little greens or carbs...Scallops were salty in a good way though and porkebelly was crispy...just wish we had bowl of rice...A little spendy, but since it was good, I'd come back for a lunch.

This is a gem and an excellent place to sit for a drink with a cheese plate or a meal. The staff are a class act with the memory to match. Take a seat out on the balcony or porch with a glass of wine and a cheese plate prior to dinner. The dining areas are intimate and quiet with plenty of fire places.

I visited the restaurant for the first time for the Restaurant Week to try out chef Gonzales' dishes after winning the Minnesota Monthly Magazine chef challenge few months back. Overall the experience was great. The appetizers were slightly huge on portion. We had chinese scallion flatbread and malaysian chicken samosas, which unfortunately did not impress the two of us a lot. We ordered the ultimate opus burger and pan-seared walleye as entree. The walleye was clearly the star of the night. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked with a crisp outer layer. The curry broth was not too overwhelming, and combined with the fresh vegetables were very refreshing. Definitely a must order. The burger, on the other hand, was not as pleasing. Although the short rib dipping sauce deserves a try. Lastly, the desserts were fantastic. We has deconstructed banana cream pie and peanut butter crunch. The dining environment was nice, albeit some tables being too small / cramp for two.

I am aware that Forepaugh's has recently closed. Every one of the meals I had there was an memorable experience, from a thank-you dinner for coworkers after a big sale in the early 1980s, to my wedding and a reception dinner in 1996, and on many other occasions. I, for one, hope we have not seen the last of Forepaugh's. One local business publication says the property may be put up for sale to another restaurant company. Fingers crossed. Meanwhile... thanks for the memories, Molly.

Screw this place. Our server was so bad it got to be funny, the food was what I would expect a parody of french food to be, and then you get the bill, and no one is laughing. Bad service, bad food and WAY WAY WAY overpriced. Avoid at all costs.

I think many people hear "Forepaughs" and assume they need to pony-up for a high $$$ dinner and fancy night out. Not so! Forepaughs has an incredibly quaint bar area, just perfect for groups of 2-4 people. It's cozy, just perfect for a 15 degree night November--March in Minnesota. Just grab a chair and ask for their bar menu--available until 9. The food available includes everything from charcuterie plates to flatbread and shrimp. These appetizer plates do not disappoint. So if you are looking for a low key night out, grab a small group and plan to camp out in their bar area some night; you won't find a better place to relax after a long week anywhere east of the Mississippi.

Amazing food in a really cool atmosphere. Servers will let you tour the whole house and some have stories about the building as well. If you don't want fine dining but still want great food check out the bar menu!

I honestly don't understand why this place only has 3 & a half stars. It truly is one of the most amazing dining experiences I've had. From the moment we arrived, everyone was both friendly and attentive. The host offered us comfortable seats by the fire and the wait staff was remarkably informative. It is true what other reviewers have said- the menu is pricy. However, their happy hour is phenomenal! I would definitely come back just for the ghost stories & cheap beer. It's not everyday you can sip a $4 Stella Artois by a roaring fire & listen to an elderly hostess recount all her stories from years of working in a haunted mansion. If you're in Saint Paul (or even if you're further away) I would highly recommend Forepaughs. It's not as pretentious as it sounds, and especially at happy hour- it provides phenomenal service, as well as good drinks & solid food at a fair price.

Really good service in an upstairs dining area. Tasty food, but a bit-too-expensive in price. I ordered their BLT/Caesar "Collision" Salad (a small plate for $11) and the Poutine (with just a little puddle of duck gravy at bottom of bowl for $12) Secret: there's a parking lot across the street that you're allowed to park in as a customer of Forepaugh's - stop to ask a valet about it.

We had a small intimate wedding of 60 guest on May 1st 2016 the setting is spectacular the food wonderful. Services was spot on. The manager Mimi was so nice when we changed room to match the guest list npt one time a couple of times! The ceremony was on the terrace. With a back up room should it rain. Reception just inside. Got to add beff Wellington to our menu choice the food is so delicious. We're going back today for my birthday.

My girlfriend and I came to Forepaugh's for a nice date. The building was beautiful, and definitely was a neat experience for a date. However we were seated right next to a group party space. The noise was kind of difficult to deal with as a result. However, I'd attribute that more specifically to the group that was present. But as a result it wasn't much like the nice ambient experience we were hoping for. We ordered the Beef Wellington and the Pan-Seared Walleye. Beef Wellington was quite enjoyable, but the Walleye was quite disappointing - both the size and the taste. The dessert was okay. Not particularly memorable. Overall I would say the Venue is very nice, although our specific experience with the ambiance was poor. The food was not up to the level I would have expected for the price. It's unlikely that I would return.

I got the strip steak and it was the worst dish I've ever tried. How do you mess up rice? My friends got the seafood fettuccini it had spice but no seasoning. Take my advice don't come here it was that bad. Now I know why the maid hung herself in 1870 bc she tried the rice.

This may be the best restaurant in all of Minnesota. My wife and i fell in love instantly. The feeling of eating in an old mansion, and the food could not have been better. The beef wellington and pan seared duck are outstanding. We also had dessert, featuring the passion fruit creme brulee, and the deconstructed banana cream pie were insane. We have been everywhere in the cities, and no place deserves a higher recognition that this.

Summary: Visually interesting ambiance and food. Poor execution on the "signature dishes". My wife and I went for the first time and were told by our server that it was Restaurant Week - a week where restaurants get together and serve their signature dishes at a discounted price. We thought we were very lucky and were going to be in for a treat. Oops. Food we ordered: Poutine - Overcooked (burnt) fries with a few small cheese curds only on top of the "funnel" it was served in. Quite a disappointment. Waldorf Salad - Nice combination of flavors/ingredients, but the white truffle oil (the chef's own contribution to this classic he learned from the best) was overpowering. Malaysian Chicken Samosas - Overcooked and tough. Too salty. Recommended by our server, but why?? "Pan-seared" Walleye - Was actually deep fried and not pan-seared. Chewy, tough coating and slightly chewy meat. Good curry sauce. Potato Raviolli - Nice flavor combination but WAY too salty. "Cherry" ice cream sandwich - Cookie was good, but ice cream was WAY too salty and didn't have one bit of cherry flavor. Banana Cream - Nice flavors but was also too salty. All of the dishes were visually appealing however they did not deliver on the taste/texture one bit. Also, we were put at a small table while every other couple in our section were put at large tables. This made us feel uncomfortable during our entire dining experience. Would not recommend to others, unless they simply like a restaurant for its ambiance.