Russell’s St. Paul

I stopped into Russell's on a Friday night around 6:30 PM. It was my first visit, and I was excited to check out the vibe. The atmosphere is much different from the previous restaurant at this location, and I really appreciated the change! We didn't have reservations, and it was a busy night, so we grabbed three seats at the bar. The bartenders were fantastic--attentive and friendly. I ordered a burger and fries, and it was simple yet delicious in the best way. The fries were perfectly seasoned with something more unique than just salt, so much so that ketchup wasn't even necessary--they were amazing. Honestly, I could've gone for a second order. The burger was melt-in-your-mouth good and perfectly portioned--it left me feeling satisfied without being overly full or wanting more food. I'm already looking forward to returning to try the omelette on the menu and explore some of the cocktails. Oh, and here's a bonus: if you ask for a hot towel, they'll bring you a steaming, wonderfully refreshing towelette to clean your hands--an especially thoughtful touch on a cold January day. P.s. One of the people I was with ordered the salmon and when asked their feedback, they said "decent; I would order it again; A little bit expensive for the quality"

My impressions might be clouded by the smoke and sparks of the Vulcan activity at the Winter Carnival. They made a stop here later during our dinner, but from the get go it was bustling with people and LOUD. No, I mean yelling at our two friends across the table in the back dining room LOUD!!!!! The hostess was great-very attentive and on top of it. Our waitress was excellent with recommendations and just all around fun and friendly. From our table The chicken was good The ribs were not good -way over cooked The omelette was good Dessert was fine The No Regrets mocktail was a delicious kick in the pants. Overall it's a big step up from Tavern on Grand and we'll be back to try more menu items.

We were so excited to try this, and sadly so disappointed... The staff was lovely, and the decor very nice. The food, however, seemed to have been run through a big de-flavorizing machine. The walleye was exceptionally bland; the only thing we can say in it's favor was the little side of sauce we used on the roast chicken we also bought, taste a little less boring; it was nicely roasted, but terribly plain... The ribs were enjoyed by one of us, but only because they were ribs - nothing special. One of us had a nice Caesar salad - very tiny - and the one bright spot was the squash bisque. The wine list was of the "4 times retail" style - horribly over-priced, and a detriment to ordering wine. The selection was... ok... but so high priced to be an insult - similar to Emmet's across the street. Please don't fleece us on a bottle of wine. 2+ times retail is plenty, folks. I hope they can change this up to be a much better place - it would only take a few lessons in strengthening the flavors!

Got seated quickly. Staff were friendly. Food took a while. It was very busy for a week night. The space was completely transformed since the previous restaurant. It was a great update and makes good use of the interior. The smash burger was really good. Comparable to Saint Dinnette's Burger. I loved the shoestring fries. I got the walleye nachos. It was good. I have never had anything like it before. The walleye was breaded and fried. You could find nuggets of it on top of the nachos. My favorite thing about this dish was the guacamole mousse.

I went to Russell's on a Friday evening with 3 of my friends. We arrived around 7:30pm and sat at the bar for a couple minutes before being seated at a cozy booth. The ambiance of the restaurant was really cozy and welcoming. Our server was helpful in explaining the menu and was attentive. We started with the walleye nachos and some drinks. All the drinks were super tasty and I loved the nachos. We all split the cornbread which was dense and sweet. My friends ordered the caesar salad, ribs, and the burger. Everyone loved their meals and the price was typical.

Had my first dinner last evening at Russell's. The service was attentive and since I'm not drinking alcohol these days, I really enjoyed experiencing one of their non-alcohol drinks called Blanc de blanc from the "I'm Diving" drink menu. The cornbread was one of the best I've had and my seasonal salmon dish over orzo was done perfectly. I can't recommend it enough for anyone in the twin cities.

We enjoyed the atmosphere of this restaurant! We thought the drinks were fantastic. The Caico de Pepe fries were amazing. The burger was fantastic! The service was delightful. However, we felt it was very overpriced and ribs weren't the best.

Todd Russell has completely revamped the former Tavern on Grand into a welcoming and lively neighborhood spot. Spacious, with a bar, booths of various sizes, two dining rooms filled with tables and one private area. Only had appetizers at this visit, but the flavors and presentation of the cacio e pepe fries and Swedish meatballs were solid. A couple small wrinkles in front of house service, but nothing that can't be ironed out over time. We'll be back for more!

What a fantastic atmosphere that offers intimacy, comfort, and a Friendly staff. The food we ordered was cooked perfectly and the menu was simple and eccentric. If in the area, you have to give it a try.

My Mom and I recently visited Russell's (formerly Tavern on Grand) for a late lunch and we enjoyed delicious meals. The service was fantastic and the remodeled restaurant is beautiful. They weren't very busy at 1:30pm which I hope will change! I will visit again soon!!

We stopped a few days ago for an early anniversary dinner. We were seated quickly despite not having reservations. I had the burger and fries and it was great! Loved the shoestring fries. My husband, who loved Tavern on Grand, ordered the Ritzy Walleye and was so disappointed. It really had no taste. The salad it came with was good. Our service was fine but when I told my server that my husband wasn't thrilled with the walleye, he had no reaction at all. There seemed to be a lot of workers walking around but not doing much. Maybe they need to talk to their customers and see how they're doing‍

Terrific spot on Grand Ave in St Paul. Replaced a very average previous tenant in this space and they got every detail right. Two unique spaces between the bar and restaurant, casually hip decor, great lighting and mood music, and professional, attentive staff. We had the crab bisque and steak chili. both with very high-quality ingredients and both delicious. Good, strong cocktails. It was relatively expensive, but it felt worth it. This will be the new first choice on Grand Ave.

Russell's is the perfect place to gather with family and friends. We had a family gathering with 18 family members in the main dining room and the food and service was top notch! Tracy was our waitress and she was on top of it! The food was outstanding, from the BBQ ribs to the Walleye to the Steak chili and the appetizers which included wings, onion rings, and many more items on the menu, this is a MUST visit. The owner, Todd Russell, was right there greeting guests, picking up empty drink glasses, plates, etc and so engaging! We will be back!

The food was mediocre. Loved the interior. Fries and onion rings were solid. We left disappointed in the burger. It is advertised as a smashburger but I'm not sure they really know what a smashburger is. It was 3/4in thick and a little dry. They need to either change the menu name or make an actual smashburger. The chicken in the Caesar salad was a little too gnarly for the wife.

I was very disappointed in Russell's on Grand Ave. The "Ritzy Walleye" was greasy and fishy tasting. The ribs were rubbery and bland. The wait staff was smiley, but very slow. The ambiance of the restaurant was very nice looking but VERY loud, difficult to hold a conversation.