Tongue in Cheek

Came for brunch for 2 and was able to get seats pretty quickly. There is a small parking lot in the back of the building, but it can fill up pretty quick. The interior looks kind of small upon entry, but there’s a lot more seating past the bar area. I did think the lighting was a bit dim, but coming for brunch, there was sunlight to help a little. The waitress was so sweet and helped to go through the menu since it was our first time there. Their menu is pretty small but they have a lot, if not all, of the classic brunch items. I ordered The Classic and it was good! The eggs were cooked well, toast was buttery, and bacon crispy. I do wish the potatoes were cut a little bigger but they still tasted good too! Overall, a great brunch spot to check out. They have a few niche items that I would love to return to try. The Classic is a great choice to experience their brunch dining!

I went on a Saturday around 6 and we had a reservation, the seating isn't super small so on a less busy night (like a tuesday) no need for reservation but it was good to have on a saturday. The decor was eccentric and definitely paired well with the food. The menu is the perfect size and even though it may look small everything on it is done exceptionally well. My table tried the steamed pork buns and jerk roasted cauliflower as our appetizers and both were amazing. The buns were incredibly soft and fluffy, the perfect vessel for the tender pork, the flavor was sweet and salty with the freshness of the pickle and salsa. It was an incredibly flavorful and balanced bite. The jerk roasted cauliflower was so intensely packed with flavor in the best possible way. The cauliflower wasn't overly soft or saturated with sauce and it was the best texture for cooked cauliflower. The jerk flavor was full of spices and a hint of sweetness with the addition of feta, jalapeno, and herbs. It was a wonderful bite, and I highly recommend it. For our entrees, we had Bacon Dashi Ramen, Shrimp and Grits, and the Vegasm and all were exceptional in their own ways. The ramen broth was incredibly fresh but still had that classic umami flavor to it. With the addition of toppings it was like a new flavor in every bite but I adored the pickled ginger in it. It was honestly some of the most creative and delicious ramen I've ever had, and I would come back in a heartbeat for it. The shrimp and grits were much more filling than the ramen with a very salty and savory flavor. There was a lot of depth in the sauce and the contrast with the pickled veggies was delish; the grits had almost a mashed potato texture and it was super creamy. I think it would have been more enjoyable with some type of crunch so maybe get the grilled sourdough with it but overall a very satiating entree. The vegasm is a rotating vegan special and for us it was a curry noodle dish with pickled veggies and deep fried bok choy. It was delicious, the noodles were super chewy and held the flavor of the sauce exceptionally well. The curry flavor was a little sweet but had a mixture of spices. Again, I loved the pickled veggies and crunch from the bok choy, overall a very flavorful dish. We ordered dessert, but I would probably skip it my next time here. We ordered the ode to the dome and fried sponge cake. The ode to the dome consisted of toasted meringue, dark chocolate, buttermilk and peanut butter. I loved the idea of this dessert but wasn't a fan. The meringue was delicious and the chocolate was incredibly smooth but the buttermilk really threw me off. I understand the idea of it with the salty sour flavor to balance out the sweet but it really just gave me a spoiled milk vibe. Although it wasn't my taste it doesn't mean it won't be yours, it was a very creative dessert that If you're curious I highly recommend. The sponge cake came with a blueberry sauce and it was amazing. It was tangy and sweet with a foamy texture and a wonderful addition to the rather boring sponge cake. It was very hard on the outside and rather dry in the middle but the sauce really helped. Overall I had a wonderful time, the ambiance was lovely (although it does get quite loud when it's busy), the staff was exceptional, and you can tell that so much love and care goes into the food here. Truly such a flavorful experience and I highly recommend it!

Went here for the first time and loved it so much!! The food is unbelievably good, the ambiance is beautiful and interesting with colorful and thought-provoking acrylic paintings on the walls, and the folky music was at a perfect volume for conversation. Our table of two shared 3 Teasers (Shroomin', Goldi Lox and Sgt. Peppers - which was my favorite) and 2 entrees (Shrimp & Grits and Weekend and Bennies), all of which were wonderfully prepared. My only regret is that the wait staff forgot to bring us a dessert menu and brought us the check instead - I would have liked to see if they were just as good. I look forward to my next visit so I can try more of their amazing dishes!!

Ambience: You can feel the history of the place as you walk into the building, best way to describe the vibe is probably a modern/hipster speakeasy with a rustic touch. There's paintings with modern style, pop art, and abstract artwork all along the walls. Chill RnB and jazz playing lightly in the background. Staff: A host sat me down right away without a reservation on a friday afternoon. My server, Bo, was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. No complaints. Drinks: I didn't get any alcoholic beverages. However, I did ask if they had any iced coffee since it wasn't on their menu, and to my surprise, Bo made me a coffee. I really appreciated that. Food: My friend ordered the bacon dashi ramen. It looked stunning, but I didn't try it he said it was good. He also had the pistachio panna cotta, which he said was rich, nutty, creamy, and delicious. I had an order of the fried chicken buns, which were pretty tasty. The hot jam was a little sweet but paired well with the wasabi, I personally thought the dill pickle had a bit of a pungent taste, but I'm not a pickle guy myself. Imagine fried chicken Katsu on a steamed bao bun that's also sweet and spicy. I also ordered the smoked salmon sandwich. It was a cold sandwich served on a brioche bun with sprouts, tomatoes, avocado, Sunnyside egg, and a pickle aioli. The salmon wasn't fishy and had a great smokey flavor, salty, and oily as it should be. It did seem a little light on the meat portion size. All that with a side of fries, which were hot crispy and seasoned well. Price: For a party of 2, 2 entrees, 1 appetizer, 1 dessert, a coffee, and a fountain drink, the total came to $91.19. See receipt for specific prices. Overall: I've been here a few times. I've brought friends and family but it's a nice place for a datenight. It's a bit expensive, but I recommend this place. At least check it out.

Hey, food lovers! If you're looking for a brunch spot that offers unique dishes and bold, mouthwatering flavors, this is the place to be. I highly recommend starting with the teasers– they’re the perfect way to kick off your meal. My personal favorites were the blueberry on the spoon and the pork belly. The blueberry is an explosion of flavor in just one bite! I also tried the new mushroom teaser, which had great flavor but was a little too salty for my taste, so I probably wouldn't order it again. For drinks, be sure to try the flights – they feature a variety of drinks with different flavors. The Kiss of Dragon was a standout for me, but the flight is a great way to sample a little bit of everything. For my main course, I had the chicken and waffles and the salmon eggs Benedict, both of which were absolutely amazing. The chicken and waffles here are fantastic, and some of my favorite around! To top it all off, I indulged in the Ode to Chocolate Dome dessert. The rich chocolate and gooey marshmallow were delicious, and the yogurt-like side flavor added an interesting twist – it was good, especially when mixed in with everything. I’m definitely planning to come back and film some videos for my upcoming food-tasting channel, so stay tuned – I’ll be featuring their dishes soon!

This experience blew my mind. The food here was bursting with various flavor, texture, and spice. I was enamored with every dish. We did the date night special, and thoroughly enjoyed all that we tasted. My favorites were the daikon pad thai salad, and the jerk roasted cauliflower. The service was consistent, fast, and friendly. The atmosphere was a touch too loud for me, although, it was a Saturday night and the space was full.

The food isn't just good. It will heal you. I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said about this place. Since everything is amazing, I'll review the most transformed dish. The most blah thing you've probably had before, that's been elevated is the polenta. I would've snapped a photo but there wasn't time. I did have the discipline to photograph the Daikon Pad Thai salad and the Ramen, though. Enjoy!

Nice family dinner for 10. Some accommodations made for those of us who eat seed oil free and dairy free. Service was A+

We tried several items, a flight of cocktails & were SO impressed!! The combo of flavors extraordinary!! We'll be back!

This is a great restaurant, one of the best Saint Paul spots. Consider: - $4 Teasers: single bite menu items. Satisfying, intricate bites.* - 2oz Cocktail teasers / flights. Batched cocktails ensure consistently delicious drinks .. and that they can pour them into multiple tiny, attractive glasses for you to taste! - Good ethnic inspired items. I like their ramen, it's not traditional but to my palette it does compare favorably - Fun, causal ambiance; well-prepared food, that you would expect at a more upscale spot - Not cheap but good value for the quality, delicious meal you'll get! Tips: - *Teasers really are single bite. You can try to share, but a little awkward. I will add that the lineup hasn't changed much over the years - Consider the chicken piccata, yum. If you recognize a menu item, expect a good execution of said dish - We like the fried sponge cake for desert Favorite St Paul spots: The Nook, The Emerald Lounge, Moscow on the Hill, SK Coffee (the one 550 Vandalia St), Peking Garden, and yes -- Tongue in Cheek!!

We had an OUTSTANDING brunch at Tongue in Cheek to celebrate my wife's birthday. Service was fast and friendly, nice environment and delicious food. Drinks: Cocktails were all good. We got the Yo Adrian and Espresso Martini (but with tequila - but wouldn't get this again). Teasers: We got the East Fried Pride (pork belly, stone fruit, peanut) and it was sooooo good. My wife and I were each able to have a healthy sized bite of this. My dad got the Blues (blueberry, bleu cheese, peanut) and said it was a "flavor explosion" in his mouth. His teaser was suited for just one person. Entrees: 3/5 of us ordered the Heeeere's Johnny braised pork egg Benedict and all loved it. 1 person got the Classic breakfast (pretty standard, nothing special TBH) and 1 got the Weekend at Bennie's cold smoked salmon Benedict and loved it. Dessert: We got the Ode to Dome and another berry type dessert (can't recall the name). Both were scrumptious. We even got one for free as a birthday treat! We can't wait to come back and try more.

This was our first time at Tongue in Cheek , and we got the date night special. You get two drinks, two teasers, 4 shareables, and a dessert for $85! We ordered Sangria and a Ron Swanson for our drinks which were both great. Then for teasers we got the SGT. Peppers and Bacon & Egg- we split them even though they are meant as an amuse-bouche. The shishito peppers were fried and really yummy and the egg yolk was also fried but still gooey in the middle- both tasty. All four Shareables were so delicious! My favorite was the fries, the cheese sauce was SO good but a very close second was the Fried Chicken Buns. Then, for dessert we got the fries pound cake that had a raspberry sauce and it reminded me of the taste of funnel cake, so good. Will definitely be back to try brunch and their cocktail flight!

Came here for brunch with friends while we were in town for a wedding. The vibe here was great. The music playlist was on point. The customer service was the best I experienced in my whole trip to St. Paul. Since I am allergic to pork the food option for me here was sparse. However they were so accommodating and I had one of the best burgers and salads I've here had. All my friends loved their food. I would gladly come back to here the next time I am in town.

Came here to celebrate the birthdays of two friends and we were not disappointed! I started with the drink flight.. some I liked, others I didn't and so other people drank those and they liked them so much, they ordered the full sized versions, so win/ win I guess lol. The food was astounding. I started with the egg and bacon, pork belly and the pork bao buns. Absolutely no complaints here! Will definitely be coming back the next time I'm in this area!

This restaurant has been recommended to me numerous times so I finally visited. The ambiance in the restaurant itself was very underwhelming and my seat was uncomfortable and tilting to the side. But... the FOOD. This was one of the best meals I've ever had. I had the Steamed Pork Buns and the Pork Ramen Bowl, both which were definitely Asian "fusion" style and a blend of various East Asian dishes (not authentic). The pork belly was crispy and flavorful, and the bun itself was light and fluffy. Everything in the ramen bowl was all I could ever ask for - the flavors and texture were perfectly balanced - spicy, sweet, and savory. Hands down recommend - you won't be disappointed!

Unique restaurant with a variety of cuisines...excellent flavor, texture, staff...very modern, a range of ambiance depending on your mood...just delicious. I went back again with my wife because I loved it the first time and she loved it. Hope in the wall elegance, try it once at least.

Another great spot on the Eastside of St Paul! I love the cool laid back atmosphere of this place. Definitely need to go again and try the cocktail or mimosa flight! I recommend all the teasers, but especially loved the East Fried Pride. They offer really great date night and brunch specials. Service was friendly and we were very pleased with our visit!

Yummm! The fries and fixins' were very delicious, and not something I've had before. Everyone in the group really enjoyed their meal. The chicken and pork buns were very flavorful. The Ramen was very good, and my friend was able to modify the ingredients. The noodles were cooked well and the broth was full of flavor- sweet and robust. The service was friendly and attentive. Our server checked in with us regularly. The atmosphere is upbeat and filled with abstract artwork. My eyes were busy the whole time. The one complaint is the organization of the menu. It is not very intuitive. We will be back for some more ramen soon!

Food here is soooo good. Very hipster environment with upscale good. Service is great, they use a team approach to make sure your drinks stay full and your needs are met. Came here with the whole family to celebrate an achievement recently but also a great place to bring clients or coworkers.

This has consistently been one of my favorite places for my birthday, special events, or just an escape cocktail whenever needed. Our return visit was amazing once again with the drinks, service, and food all being amazing. For a first timer, the east fried pride starter ($4 - amazing price for the quality) is a must-have. As we have already had it multiple times, we stepped out of our comfort foods and tried the smoked salmon sandwich ($16) and two of the other starters (also $4 a piece) which was the blueberry based bite and the shroomin starter. The mushroom based starter was amazing with great texture and flavor, as someone who is a slight hater of mushrooms I still found it delicious alongside my mushroom-adoring partner. The salmon sandwich was well balanced and delicious as well with a bun that was somehow just as good as the inside ingredients - very light, buttery, and fluffy. The cocktail I had was great, lemon and whiskey based (picture attached - the good god lemon) and their menu featured cocktails divided by their dominant flavor which is so fun and a great way to choose something that fits your interest for the evening. We skipped dessert and asked the bartender if there was anyway we could have a mixed-shot instead with any sort of creativity she felt like making. She went above and beyond to produce a beautiful looking shot for both of us that had great flavor as well - I so appreciate anyone willing to go the extra mile to create a fun dining experience. The mirror wall and strange artwork throughout only serves to better the cool but slightly alien ambience they achieve. Something about this place is just so unique and fun. This is one of the restaurants I frequently bring up when asked about the best eats in the twin cities. Veggie lovers too - try their daily rotating vegasm! We can't wait to be back!

What a cute spot! They have amazing bloody Mary's! This place is great if you want to stop in for a quick drink and a small treat or stay for a full meal! I went here a few years ago and found myself there this past weekend again. It was as good as I remembered and the staff were so kind! Everyone at brunch raved about their meal, truly exceptional! Their eggs were all cooked to perfection! Highly recommend if you are in the area. If you are ever in the area highly recommend checking this place out!

This place is adorable. It looks like an old school diner but slightly upscaled. The highlight of this meal was definitely our server Brittany, who was fantastic all night. They were really busy on a Friday night so food came out a bit slower - but not a big deal. We got our drinks quickly. I loved the bite size teasers. The pork belly teaser was probably my favorite bite of the evening. The ahi crudo came out on a salt block, and they do warn you to eat it fast or it becomes TOO salty. I liked it though, but the last piece was definitely very salty. The buns - the pork one was better than the chicken. The chicken was just a tad dry. The ramen was okay - it was not as brothy as I was expecting for ramen. The 22 oz ribeye was perfectly cooked. Melt in your mouth. But the chimcurri was also a bit on the salty side. The vegasm was a spicy pasta and it was very good. Definitely would recommend over the ramen imo. Overall, good food, great service. Would have been 5 stars if it just dialed down a bit on the salt level.

Finally stopped in after seeing good reviews for years. Food is simply exceptional. Pork Belly teasers were perfectly done / very filling. Same for the steamed pork buns. Had the dashi ramen that was super flavorful and generous with the amount of pork in it. My father had the pan roasted salmon which was also cooked well + not overly seasoned. Service was very attentive, and the interior of the restaurant was inviting / clean. Definitely a place to check out if you're in the St. Paul area!

It's been a few years since I have been here. It's just as amazing as I remember. Have no words to say how exquisite the food is. I had the Heeere's Johnny with Braised Pork, Eggs Benedict, Hollandaise and pickle. My friends got Market Omelette which is different every day. They both loved what they ordered. All 3 of us ended up getting the fried Sponge Cake for dessert. It was light and decadent. Enjoyed every single bite. Can't wait to try more things on the menu.

I lunch today with my daughter. 4:00pm on a Thursday. Not busy. We tried a number of dishes. I had the pork buns (contains pork belly). O.K. Just a bit better than average. A tomato, cheese, bowl, very fresh very tasty. And a Broccolini Pho with sprouts was AMAZING. I am NOT a fan of broccoli. This dish was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. Well worth every penny. I would come back just for this dish! The service was excellence, pricing fair, food was very well prepared and delicious. And the food came out of the kitchen quickly. I recommend this restaurant. Pricing was competitive.

The food is amazing! Loved the 3 mimosas in the flight. The interesting serving vessels matched the food perfectly. The "teasers" were delightfully presented & very tasty; the East Fried Pride (pork belly w/ stone fruit & peanut) was shareable; Bacon & egg was truly a bite. Many GF options! Service was OK; our waitress left w/o a word before we finished our meal & the bartender took over (???? Not sure what happened). Brunch w/ My sister who reserved a table in the bar & we sat in a comfortable booth; this area seemed to have more atmosphere than the actual restaurant.

This place gave me a range of emotions. At first, the server was a little cold and I felt like not ordering alcohol gave a cold shoulder vibe. Also, the janitor in the rest room was beyond rude for some reason. Having said that, this is a place with DYNAMITE food. We had different interactions with people running food and the rest of the staff was beyond friendly. I think we caught our main server on an off night. I've pictured a few main food items but forgot to take pics of the appetizers. We had the shishito peppers which we good and the roasted cauliflower. Get the cauliflower!!! I almost gave 4 stars but the taste of the food was amazing and takes it to 5. Enjoy!

Awesome food and great service. The atmosphere was also a great addition. Light background music, enough to set the vibe but low enough to still be able to have a conversation without having to raise your voice.

One of our favorite brunch spots! Great food and cocktails as well as super nice staff! Staff member Tyler recognized us as we arrived today...greeted us and had some pleasant conversation! Super nice staff.

Duck breast - delicious but if I had one complaint it's the foam that they put on top. Honestly foam and food just isn't appealing as they looked like someone hawk Tuah onto my food.

So good, chocolate some, buttermilk foam, say what!?!? I don't know what to expect. I haven't been here in a while but it is as good a I remember but slightly different

Definitely one of the best restaurants in the Twin Cities. I came here for the first time for a fancy brunch, and between my friend and I we sampled a lot and it's clear that Tongue In Cheek fits in comfortably in conversations about the most high-quality eating establisments around. I'm on a bit of an Eggs Benedict kick lately, and I'm disappointed that the doors have recently closed on a couple of my go-to spots. But now that I know what they can do at Tongue in Cheek, I feel a lot better. I got the "Heeeere's Johnny" and my friend got the "Weekend at Bennies", two distinct takes on Eggs Benedict that were very delicately assembled and fantastic to behold. I also got a side of potatoes, which were very good, but I only got them because I thought I might want a side. But those EB dishes, and especially the shredded pork on mine, were well-portioned and really just magnificent. But wait, we started with "teasers"! These are very small appetizers that are bite-sized works of art. Mine was "The Blues" which is one of the most unique flavor-storms I've ever had in my mouth. My friend got the "Smoke on the Water" and liked it a lot. Honestly, your visit will be more interesting if you get one of these. At least ask about what they do to the blueberry in "The Blues". We also got incredible desserts; mine was chocolate ganache-y and meringue-y with some other dollops of sweetness, and my friend got a very fancy spoonable apple cinnamon treat. Sorry I don't remember what they were called but I suspect they rotate a lot of inventive concoctions through their dessert menu. Service from Britney and everyone we interacted with was highly professional. There is parking in the back but it might get full easily, in which case you'll need to find somewhere on the street to park. I would recommend Tongue in Cheek to the most discerning diners.

Ok so this was a last minute choice and wow were we pleased. This eclectic restaurant was absolutely wonderful. We had a wonderful server who made spot on recommendations. We started with cocktails, both were so yummy. I had a bourbon one (can't remember the names) and my wife had a frothy lemon cocktail. Our server recommended the jerk roasted cauliflower...little spicy but really tasty...I had to lick the spoon. Dinner was ramen goodness and sockeye salmon. Both had wonderful flavors and were well prepared. We finished with the dome dessert and once again the combination of flavors was unique and delicious. Great place for a fun date night.

I've been here a handful of times for different occasions, with friends, drink, or just light appetizers. This is one of the best new American so to speak cuisines in the Saint Paul area. There are dishes and taste here that you could not get at any other restaurant, and for that I give it five stars. but that's not the only reason why. The a is great, service superb, drinks are tasty and strong, and the food is dynamite. There are "teasers" that are nothing like you could find at the majority of restaurants, as each bite is engineered to provide a fun and unexpectedly great combination of flavors and textures. The Bacon & Eggs and the other one, the Blues are my favorite. The pork belly teaser is good if you are anticipating that fat layer, which I felt could be rendered down more. The shishitos come with this sauce that is...DYNAMITE. You could eat plastic smothered in that sauce! I have tried the scallop dish and it was great. Well balanced, well seasoned and perfectly cooked scallops with that golden and crusty exterior and the bitey interior that everyone wants with a scallop! The truffle and shiitake give it an umami and earthy taste and the cauliflower balances and ties the entire dish together. Would go back for the scallops alone!!!!!

We had lunch here on Sunday, September 8, started with appetizers. Chile, we ordered the jerk cauliflower, this was the best cauliflower I ever had! So soft, tender, full of flava, I needed my own order. Then I had a dish called The Vegasm, I think I spelled it right, baby! This dish, omg, the noodles are simmered in a lushish sauce made of shiitake mushrooms, vegan meat, herbs & spices, lots of flava! Now I'm not a mushroom girl but honey they worked so well in this dish, I could hardly tell. I love love this dish, And I'm coming back for more! My husband had the chicken & waffles, another outstanding choice! Chicken juicy, seasoned well, and just down right scrumptious. Needless to say, oh we will be back, can't stop thinking about my delicious meal at Tongue & Cheek! Y'all go check it out.

It's not pretentious. It could be. It's not insanely expensive. It could be. My foodie LA kin have expressed wishing they had a place like this back home. And they can afford to dine anywhere they want. This restaurant mixes the best of fresh (think chef Alice Waters) with comfort cooking (world foodway traditions) and the culinary arts of fine dining. Even on a bad day, the food is really good. And Get The Teasers. Do not pass these up. They're the best mouthfuls in the metro. If you pass them up, you're depriving yourself of some of the Twin Cities best conceived dishes. None are more than a few bites. For the cocktail people...the TIC crew can compete with any mixologist in town.

This would be a great date night place! We went as a family and the staff was very accommodating with a high chair for us. Food was SO GOOD. We had the ramen, burger, and the Cantonese noodles and everyone was very impressed. Something for everyone here. Lots of interesting art and a vibrant atmosphere. Excited to go again!

Tongue in Cheek Instagram: @xcyanneats Pork Belly dish, this tasted soooooo good! Literally reminds me of sweet pork, but lighter version where it's not so braised in the sauce. The foam is a smoky taste added and it's so amusing. The fried vegatable is just lettuce, and of course I ate it hahah. What really surprises me is the corn! It's definitely mixed with some coconut milk/cream. Looks like it could be elote when I first saw it, but nope it was more asian sweet! Definitely give it a try. Also had their Mother of Dragon cocktail, and I love the passion fruit taste it had. Reminded me of a mangonada but with passion fruit.

Outstanding! Phenomenal! Amazing! Brought my baby girl out for her 25th birthday on a Saturday night and we were so impressed. We ordered the steamed pork bun, curry ramen with pork and the duck breast. I wish I had photographed the pork bun it was perfection. Better than any Korean restaurant anywhere and that includes Korea town in LA. Pork was charred, sweet and meaty, cucumber and daikon with a hint of sour and a soft rice flour bun, I can't wait to go back for more. The ramen had so much flavor and perfected that , sweet, spicy, sour, umami fusion. It was multiples better than say an Ichido ramen and simply blew us away! The duck was tender and beautifully medium rare. Loved the micro greens used on everything. The simplicity of just adding some kosher salt to the duck really elevated the flavor. Kudos to the chef this place is a dream come true! Ambiance is eclectic and cozy, the only downside to the experience was that it was pretty loud. Will be back, probably tomorrow night...

Excellent food, drinks and service! We appreciate the creativity on the menu and you can't beat the atmosphere!

Chapter 1 In the sprawling edible landscape of Payne-Phalen, there exists a whimsical wonderland that goes by the name of Tongue in Cheek. It's less of a restaurant and more of a culinary amusement park where food is the primary source of thrills and spills. And the menu? It changes with the seasons, like a tree dropping old leaves and sprouting new ones. A kaleidoscope of flavors. Keeps things interesting. Let's talk about the pork belly. Each rendition is like a spin of a scrumptious roulette wheel, each outcome a gastronomic jackpot. It's as if the kitchen has a magic hat full of pork belly recipes and pulls one out at random for the day's special. It's delicious. I always win. The staff, oh, the wonderful, eccentric band of merrymakers who make the place buzz like a hive of happy bees. They're as welcoming as a warm bed on a cold winter night, as efficient as clockwork. Good folks. They've seen my face more times than the resident cat has seen a saucer of milk. Now for the main event, the food: the East Fried Pride, a dish that performs a Broadway musical on my taste buds. The steamed buns, as light and fluffy as cloud-nine. The entire brunch is a weekend symphony, while the vegasm of the day, a daily surprise, like a jack-in-the-box of edible, vegan goodness. Yum. Then there are the potions: I begin with the Ron Swanson, a drink that roars with the fierceness of a lion in a field full of deer but whose slight sweetness welcomes the deer back to frolic in circles around the lion. My partner opts for the Mother of Dragons, a fiery libation that has the kick of a dragon's breath. They're cocktails, but also pieces of an epic culinary tale. We drink. Tongue in Cheek, a hallowed sanctuary in my world of foodie delights, my home away from home. There's a certain charm to the place that makes every visit feel like a grand family reunion--if your family reunion involves a plethora of heavenly food and drinks. It's the bee's knees. I love it. On a personal note, Tongue in Cheek has been the stage for some of my life's greatest dramas. It's as much a restaurant as it is a backdrop to my existence. Here, tucked in a corner with a plate of pork belly and a Ron Swanson, I received the call that my house was sold. The phone call tasted like victory. Whenever life tosses me a golden apple in the form of good news, this is where I come to celebrate. When family and friends from out-of-town visit, I bring them to Tongue in Cheek. It's the welcoming porch light to my life here, a shareable plate version of 'hello' and a 'welcome, make yourself at home.' It's a delicious introduction. There is no better place to eat, drink, and cavort, and that's coming from a semi-professional cavorter.

Excellent food and service, as always. We had the date night special with 2 drinks (includes cocktails), 2 teasers, 4 shareables and a desert. Our server read the table perfectly and seemed to really enjoy her job.

We wanted to find a spot for dinner and found that this one was all the way in St Paul off of a cute street. Lots of parallel parking around here, but not hard to find spots. It was a Friday night, but we got seated right away and ordered drinks. I got a white wine, while my other table mates had beer and a cocktail flight. The flight is definitely a huge plus! You get to try 6 cocktails off the menu. We also ordered apps: watermelon salad and fried chicken buns. Super yummy! For our meals, I got a cheeseburger with fries. It tasted...okay. I knew what I had coming since burgers in the Midwest can often be bland. My table mates got the soft shell crab sandwich and the fries n fixins which had fries with feta, aioli, and an egg on top. They also enjoyed the food! Service was good. Staff was nice and we interacted with a handful of them since they brought out different things. The ramen seems really popular here. And the menu itself has a variety of things. It's got something for everyone!

Awesome place! The food was high quality and very tasty. We had the burger with fries paired with the mimosa flight! Overall a great experience with great service as well.

I will start by saying that if you like fish and pork, this is a great place for you. If you don't, you may want to skip. Met up with friends here and was so disappointed to see that 90% of the entrées were things I couldn't eat. Everything looked and smelled good, though. Drinks were fantastic. I wish I had noticed you could do a flight of different cocktails before I ordered a regular full-sized one. I tried the sangria and the key party. Was tempted with dessert since they had my favorite (Panna cotta) on the menu. While it was tasty, it didn't seem like a true Panna cotta, was more like cheesecake. Our server was also very nice and very quick with everything. The space was very loud and made it difficult to hear or have a conversation without yelling. Also, they close at 9 on Saturday (something I found a bit odd), so make your evening plan accordingly.

Their daikon pad Thai with little chunks of mango was amazing! Prawns were okay but probably not worth $25. Shrimp role as good though!

This place was so good and it had a great atmosphere. I loved both the food and the drinks. I will definitely be going back!

This place was amazing!! We loved all the food. Had the whole fish, omelette, a few drinks. We will definitely be coming back here. We like the ambiance and the deserts. Menu is simple but the flavors are superb.

The appetizers of blueberry, tostada and tomato salad are creative and very good. The main courses loose their creativity for some reason. The shrimp and chorizo lacked shrimp and chorizo in the noodle dish and lacked sauce which would have given it life. The final step desert brought back creativity and taste. Good place but stick to the starters.

Tongue In Cheek was easily one of the best meals I've ever had! I started off with one of their teasers, which I've heard, is an essential thing to do when you come here. I opted for the East Fried Pride which was a small piece of Pork Belly along with some delicious and super beautiful garnishes. The pork belly was insanely delicious, it just melted in my mouth, and fell apart so easily with my fork. So tender and so delicately flavored which can be really hard with a cut as fatty as the belly. This was definitely a must-order. Although I did not personally order it, my friend ordered the curried cauliflower and let me have a bite and it was also super tasty. Fragrant, flavorful, and well executed. I'm not a huge cauliflower fan, but I'd even consider ordering this next time. Lastly, for the entree I ordered the soft shell crab sandwich which is something I will order no matter what if a place has it after living in Baltimore for so long. And they killed it. That sandwich easily competes with the top dogs in Maryland. I definitely will be making a return here soon! Also just a note, don't make your mind up before you get there based on the online menu as it changes often.

Very tasty meal!!! We had the Steamed Pork Buns, Pan Roasted Pork Belly on creamed corn, with bok choy tempura and ancho chili, classic ramen, and Soft-Shell Crab Sandwich. Everything was great, though nothing was out of the park for me. The Steamed Pork buns were filled with great pork belly and the sauce was delicious. I do wish that the pickled cucumbers where actually nestled within the bun itself with the pork rather than on top as a garnish as it made it challenging to try to make sure you got some pickled zing in each bit The pan roasted pork bell was good, but the portion wasn't very filling overall. The tempura box choy was really tasty, but the tempura completely flaked off while eating as either it wasn't coated properly or bok choy texture doesn't allow it to adhere.

Love this place! Vegetarian options are delicious, which is not easy in this part of town. The cacio e pepe with vegan cheese was really good.

I love this place. We visited again recently to celebrate a birthday because the birthday girl (me) insisted on a cocktail flight, which are small versions of six different cocktails, one each from their different cocktail flavor profiles. The Mother of Dragon with its hint of jalapeno and passion fruit was my favorite, but I enjoyed each selection. The cauliflower appetizer alone was worth a visit. I appreciate that there is always a vegan dish of the day - appropriately titled the Vegasm. For this visit it was a vegan riff on Pho. I really enjoyed the vegetables and noodles, but the broth was too dark. It gave the appearances of sipping soy sauce. A delightful meal all around. Can't qait to go back.

The artwork all over the walls I thought was incredible - and the bar with the different mirrors. I really enjoyed the creativity. We ordered the fried chicken ramen and the pork eggs Benedict for brunch. The pork eggs Benedict was delicious! It was very rich and each bite was amazing. If you come here for brunch, I highly recommend this dish. It could be also a great one to share if you want to order some other dishes as well. The ramen was full of flavor, on the hot and spicy side. Broth was very thick and rich. The chicken was a little soggy because of the ramen but it was incredibly tender. I feel terribly writing this but the coffee here was so terrible. It was awful. For a restaurant as good as this, I would certainly expect some better coffee. Bloody Mary was creative with their own twist and if you like a lot of pickle juice, this Bloody Mary is for you. Lots of peppercorns. Overall my meal was very pickle like. I recommend making a reservation if you would like one of the nice booths for dining. We were a walk in because we didn't know all of our plans while traveling. We were comfortable and really enjoyed where we sat. Our service was attentive. It was nice to see that the management adds an extra percentage to the bill to support employees health insurance costs.

Came here for a casual dinner for two--we were seated quickly and the service was friendly! We ordered the ramen, which had a mix of classic ingredients as well as unusual but welcomed toppings, as well as the pork belly, which was tasty but quite small. The restaurant itself has a lot of charm and character, and is a lovely dinner spot.

Tongue In Cheek should be on everyone's bucket list, they definitely offer some unique dishes that would be hard to find elsewhere. Hats off to the chef. Also a shout out to our waiter, Jeanne. She went out of her way to provide top notch service, sorry I didn't leave a bigger tip. The cocktails: I loved the Red Headed Stranger, a Rye based cocktail, which is right up my alley. I also had a sip of my fiends drink The Bad Man, mezcal base which is my other favorite spirit. Another thing I love is they offer a cocktail flight, consisting of six different cocktails, what a wonderful way to try the menu! One cocktail I was not impressed with was the Crossed Eyed Mary. It was very heavy on the garlic ingredient. I'm sorry but it was like swallowing a garlic pill, avoid this drink at all cost. Along with this particular cocktail, the only other downside of our evening was the whiskey selection. They offered a pretty good sized whiskey menu, however only a handful of whiskies available. We were told whiskies were hard to get a hold of. Perhaps a different distributor is in need. Having a full whiskey selection would definitely bring this bar to the next level. Don't get me wrong though, most all of the cocktails were top notch. The Teasers: What a wonderful way to start the evening off with a little amuse-bouche. We tried a few of these and favorite was the SGT. Peppers. The Bacon and Egg teaser was a little bland to me, couldn't really taste the bacon, not sure if the bacon was infused into the Avocado. The Entrees: Every entree we ordered was amazing. The Crispy Chicken Curry Ramen was packed full of flavors, I definitely recommend. If your carving a burger, theirs is a classic cheese burger, served medium with fries. The steamed pork buns also had a perfect crisp on the pork belly. One of my top favorites was the Chicken and Waffle. I will for sure get this next time. The desserts: The Ode to the Dome is a crowd pleaser, almost like a play on s'mores. An absolute perfect blend of flavors, a dome of chocolate and another of meringue in a sea of salted buttermilk whip and chopped peanuts, an explosion of flavors!! Another favorite was the Chocolate Pots De Crème. The chocolate wasn't a mousse like you would think but more chilled chocolate. Thanks to Tongue In Cheek for the wonderful evening, we will be back!!

One of my new favorite places. To start off with, the service: our server was Jeanne. She was amazing and very knowledgeable about the food and drinks. She was friendly and every time she came to our table it felt like we were chatting with a friend. The food was delicious! Our table was into sharing so I got to try everyone's dish. We tried all the teasers and settled on Sgt Pepper and the East Fried Pride as being the top two. The pork belly buns were very yummy. The burger was super delicious. The fried chicken ramen was tasty. But I think the star of the night was the chicken and waffles. The perfectly fried and seasoned chicken with the slightly sweet waffle was outstanding! The dessert we had was the Ode to the Dome but we renamed it to the Festive and Tasty Explosion :) So good! The cocktail flight was well worth it. I liked 5 out of the 6 tiny drinks. It was a great way to try multiple cocktails so you can find your favorite. All in all, even though it was well outside our usual hang out zone, it was well worth the drive to East St. Paul. We will be going back!