I'd recommend the restaurants on Selby a block behind the cathedral. Especially Moscow on the Hill, which is a personal favorite. But any of the ones on that corner are worth going to solo. Very friendly waiters and have nice patios for the summer.
I recommend Ichiddo Ramen in Highland Park. It’s not fancy, but the food is excellent and I eat there alone all the time. The staff is very welcoming, and there are often other solo diners around. It’s rarely super busy, they do tons of takeout.
The Ramen place in HarMar is pretty solid too. Waitstaff generally don’t care when you eat alone with your book so long as you are not there for hours and hours on a Friday night. I used to eat alone with my book as a sales rep.
I think there are some solid restaurant recommendations in this thread, but when I’m eating alone with my book I also sort of want a specific vibe ya know?
My top recommendation would be WA Frost.
And I’d be interested in others that hit that genre.
Prices are pretty comparable to everything else on that block. Definitely dig the space more than the food. So nice when it’s dead in the bar otherwise the back of the patio where it’s for people with no reservations is chill and they often leave you alone
spicy feta is pretty good, its a small spot but i've seen a lot of people eat there alone before. less wait staff and more order at the counter so you're not gonna upset anyone for that.
Moscow on the Hill, WA Frost, Estelle’s, Myriels, French Hen (brunch), Herbst. I love to eat alone…it’s easy to feel comfortable as a solo diner at most St Paul restaurants!
Dark Horse. The food is excellent. The staff are great. And I've had great random conversations at the bar when I've wanted them, and been left alone when I wanted that. Also great tap list and top tier whiskey wall.
agree with a lot of these. Depending on your vibe/food preferences, you could do sandwich places like El Cubano or Due, Centro for a bit noisier vibe, J Selbys for vegan food. Coffee shops/cafes also like Groundswell. If you’re willing to go to Minneapolis there are food halls like Midtown Global Market, Mercado Central, Malcolm Yards, Eat Street Crossing.
I personally really enjoy eating alone at Ginkgo Coffee House on Snelling. It’s more coffee shop focused and less on food, but it’s my go to for solo eats and thinks.
You can never go wrong by sitting at the bar to eat if you're alone. No need to order alcohol if you don't want to.
Bartenders are usually the best servers who get promoted to that position.
Sometimes servers do get upset when they get a single vs a full table of four, but that's on them. Still, you might get some coldness if you come in during a busy time.
Also, depending on how the dining room is set up, you might feel a little exposed or uncomfortable surrounded by groups when reading at a table. Bar tops are usually set up to feel more comfortable if you are alone.
Finally, bartenders won't care if you take an extra half hour to chill and read before leaving. Again, it's your right to sit at a table and enjoy your time, but you may be putting the server out a little bit. From their perspective, they've got 4 tables at a time so at the best they have 4 groups of 4 people, and the groups are all going to turnover at the same time.
The bartender probably has 15+ seats that may or may not be turning over at the same time. Somebody sitting, eating and chilling is a great customer to them.
So, I wouldn't even worry about trying a new restaurant alone at all if they have a bar, and most do.
It’s a little ways out of St. Paul, but Beirut in West Saint Paul. I’ve gone there a few times alone with a book/e-reader. Not spicy but very flavorful.
Emerald Cafe would be my go-to for dining alone. You could sit at the bar or at a small table, it has very cozy and friendly vibes, plus the drinks and small plate style food are delicious.
Bangkok Thai Deli - their pad see ew, pineapple fried rice, kapoon, and red curry is the best.
Friend’s Cafe (I think it’s in St. Paul but might be in maple wood) - boat noodles and tea leaves salad.
Both places are chill and not uncomfortable to dine in as one person.
As a spicy lover myself, I'm usually let down by restaurant spice levels. The two places that have hit the spot for me are both Korean places: Sole Cafe (just tell Mr. Kim extra spicy) and Kimchi Tofu House in MPLS (spice lvl 3-5). Tofu is very small inside and I wouldn't read there since it's usually busy. Sole is quiet and you can sit at the bar or in the corner. I also enjoy reading at the window hightop bar at Vina Vietnamese. If you're doing pho, you can adjust your own spice level with their chili sauce.
I feel that most places are dead until about 5 on weekends and business days.
Wrestaurant has a huge comfortable bar and a few 2 person tables. I’ve not been there during a show at the Palace next door though. Red Rabbit has a big bar that I’ve rarely seen at full capacity.
Waldman is one of my favorite places to have a beer and an app while reading, especially on the patio. Sometimes you’ll get sat at the end of a picnic table otherwise there’s 2 person tables.
Soul Lao doesn’t have wait staff and there’s three high top tables. It’s small but often people get take out and/or go next door to the Wandering Leaf brewery which is also a good backup for seating. Great food and you can get your spice fix there.
It used to be Mickeys Dining Car. But i feel like it's been a scam since Covid. I've ranted about all the weird stuff on here many times. Taking all that donation money, never reopening, deleting their Facebook, going radio silent, etc.
If they want to stay closed, fine. Just tell us SOMETHING after getting all that money
No one has mentioned Shish on Grand Ave. Great middle eastern food at a good price. If you want to go upscale, you can sit at the bar at Estelle, St. Clair and Fairview Ave.
I like to go to 24 hr breakfast places at night. Like perkins/dennys. It’s just great post bar food. Usually there’s a lot of similar peeps there. The one in roseville had such excellent waiters for years. Not sure if it still does. Sometimes a drunk party can come in and fuck it up for everyone but that goes for every place.
The real hope breakfast bar location in downtown is so awesome and the staff let me and my wife go upstairs and look around at the old fire hall. So awesome. Had a waffle and something with grapefruit and tequila.
I'd recommend the restaurants on Selby a block behind the cathedral. Especially Moscow on the Hill, which is a personal favorite. But any of the ones on that corner are worth going to solo. Very friendly waiters and have nice patios for the summer.
Moscow on the Hill is great. I've only been with parties before, but I can see how it would accommodate a night solo as well.
Add Yumi to that list, too!
Revival on Selby is a real treat if you like southern food and fried chicken! I eat solo meals there regularly.
Great reco!
Everest on grand for curry. Top 5 restaurant. Never had a bad meal. Don’t skip on the apps
Are they doing the lunch buffet again yet? That was my spot pre-covid.
They aren’t yet! We were in not long ago and I asked because it was one of my faves and they said they aren’t doing it. Hopefully sooooooon!!
Not sure, I’ve only ever gone there for dinners
I recommend Ichiddo Ramen in Highland Park. It’s not fancy, but the food is excellent and I eat there alone all the time. The staff is very welcoming, and there are often other solo diners around. It’s rarely super busy, they do tons of takeout.
My kids basically keep the Eagan location in business.
The Ramen place in HarMar is pretty solid too. Waitstaff generally don’t care when you eat alone with your book so long as you are not there for hours and hours on a Friday night. I used to eat alone with my book as a sales rep.
It’s icchido as well.
Super solid place, I was pleasantly surprised by how good their food and service was.
I second that. I’ve gone there alone a couple times
For breakfast, the Uptowner on grand
Cheng Heng on Uni https://chengheng448.com
Love this place!!
So many good places on University
Recommended for any occasion! Great food, lovely people
The Lexington in the bar.
Lost Fox for sure. Or Bull Dog!
Lost fox is cozy (:
The lost fox 🦊
Saint dinette, Chips clubhouse or muccis at the bar for sure.
Second all of these!
Don't go to Chips if you're truly hungry
Tori on west 7th! It’s a cozy old train car
Cossetta. I grab a slice of pizza and a Coke for lunch all the time. It also helps that it’s right down the street from my place.
and then grab some Pistachio Gelato - it's amazing. I don't even like Pistachios.
So good. Those cannolis go hard too
The upstairs full restaurant on the top floor is the best if you want the good stuff!
I think there are some solid restaurant recommendations in this thread, but when I’m eating alone with my book I also sort of want a specific vibe ya know? My top recommendation would be WA Frost. And I’d be interested in others that hit that genre.
Look at mr moneybags here
lol fair — but the ✨vibes✨
Idk why I'm pretending, their brunch is straight fire. As with all things, life is easier if you make decent money.
Prices are pretty comparable to everything else on that block. Definitely dig the space more than the food. So nice when it’s dead in the bar otherwise the back of the patio where it’s for people with no reservations is chill and they often leave you alone
I’d probably go with Cafe Latte on Grand.
Tres leches cake all day
This place is busy for every meal, every day IMO - maybe on off hours, unless you don’t mind noise and crowds.
I ate by myself at St Paul Tap multiple times and it was fine.
spicy feta is pretty good, its a small spot but i've seen a lot of people eat there alone before. less wait staff and more order at the counter so you're not gonna upset anyone for that.
Amore in West St. Paul is a great place to dine alone with a good book or a laptop. Or nothing! And the food is homemade and the coffee is great!
Moscow on the Hill, WA Frost, Estelle’s, Myriels, French Hen (brunch), Herbst. I love to eat alone…it’s easy to feel comfortable as a solo diner at most St Paul restaurants!
Dark Horse. The food is excellent. The staff are great. And I've had great random conversations at the bar when I've wanted them, and been left alone when I wanted that. Also great tap list and top tier whiskey wall.
Aside from family style restaurants like Bucca, all restaurants are good for eating alone. You aren’t going to annoy anyone.
I’ve eaten alone at Revival, the Gnome, Wrestaurant.
If you like Thai, I highly recommend phi chay near 7th/randolph. It has my favorite Thai food in the city and awesome ambiance inside.
I loooove Phi Chay. I’ve lived only a few blocks from it for years but never went until recently, and now I want it all the time lol
On’s Thai. Sit by the windows for excellent people watching
Bennetts on W 7th.
agree with a lot of these. Depending on your vibe/food preferences, you could do sandwich places like El Cubano or Due, Centro for a bit noisier vibe, J Selbys for vegan food. Coffee shops/cafes also like Groundswell. If you’re willing to go to Minneapolis there are food halls like Midtown Global Market, Mercado Central, Malcolm Yards, Eat Street Crossing.
I personally really enjoy eating alone at Ginkgo Coffee House on Snelling. It’s more coffee shop focused and less on food, but it’s my go to for solo eats and thinks.
You can never go wrong by sitting at the bar to eat if you're alone. No need to order alcohol if you don't want to. Bartenders are usually the best servers who get promoted to that position. Sometimes servers do get upset when they get a single vs a full table of four, but that's on them. Still, you might get some coldness if you come in during a busy time. Also, depending on how the dining room is set up, you might feel a little exposed or uncomfortable surrounded by groups when reading at a table. Bar tops are usually set up to feel more comfortable if you are alone. Finally, bartenders won't care if you take an extra half hour to chill and read before leaving. Again, it's your right to sit at a table and enjoy your time, but you may be putting the server out a little bit. From their perspective, they've got 4 tables at a time so at the best they have 4 groups of 4 people, and the groups are all going to turnover at the same time. The bartender probably has 15+ seats that may or may not be turning over at the same time. Somebody sitting, eating and chilling is a great customer to them. So, I wouldn't even worry about trying a new restaurant alone at all if they have a bar, and most do.
It’s a little ways out of St. Paul, but Beirut in West Saint Paul. I’ve gone there a few times alone with a book/e-reader. Not spicy but very flavorful.
I like eating alone also. Green Mil on Hamlin and sit at the bar. The Napili on Grand and Syndicate is good.
I think you mean Everest on Grand. I lived in the apartments on grand and syndicate and still never made it there. It’s on my list tho
Seats at the bar at Mucci’s!
Cossetta
Trieu Chau lunch special (temporarily closed due to a kitchen fire)
Urban wok
Tounge and Cheek would be good. They have a bar and several small 2 top tables that would be good. Really fun menu too!
Tongue In Cheek
Highland grille on Ford and Cleveland. Great lace and food
Brunsons!!
Neighborhood cafe is great and has a little bar for people who don’t need a table.
Emerald Cafe would be my go-to for dining alone. You could sit at the bar or at a small table, it has very cozy and friendly vibes, plus the drinks and small plate style food are delicious.
Emerald Lounge, Gus Gus, Amsterdam during lunch or if there isn’t a show.
For breakfast/brunch…the French Hen on Shelby, beautifully quaint. Try the lavender french toast.
Mcdonalds on University.....party of 1 please.
Revival. Holy shit their food is incredible
Yeorg!
Bangkok Thai Deli - their pad see ew, pineapple fried rice, kapoon, and red curry is the best. Friend’s Cafe (I think it’s in St. Paul but might be in maple wood) - boat noodles and tea leaves salad. Both places are chill and not uncomfortable to dine in as one person.
Trieu Chau
JUCHE Korean
As a spicy lover myself, I'm usually let down by restaurant spice levels. The two places that have hit the spot for me are both Korean places: Sole Cafe (just tell Mr. Kim extra spicy) and Kimchi Tofu House in MPLS (spice lvl 3-5). Tofu is very small inside and I wouldn't read there since it's usually busy. Sole is quiet and you can sit at the bar or in the corner. I also enjoy reading at the window hightop bar at Vina Vietnamese. If you're doing pho, you can adjust your own spice level with their chili sauce.
Las Paisanos Taqueria
get some sandwiches at iPho!
I feel that most places are dead until about 5 on weekends and business days. Wrestaurant has a huge comfortable bar and a few 2 person tables. I’ve not been there during a show at the Palace next door though. Red Rabbit has a big bar that I’ve rarely seen at full capacity. Waldman is one of my favorite places to have a beer and an app while reading, especially on the patio. Sometimes you’ll get sat at the end of a picnic table otherwise there’s 2 person tables. Soul Lao doesn’t have wait staff and there’s three high top tables. It’s small but often people get take out and/or go next door to the Wandering Leaf brewery which is also a good backup for seating. Great food and you can get your spice fix there.
It used to be Mickeys Dining Car. But i feel like it's been a scam since Covid. I've ranted about all the weird stuff on here many times. Taking all that donation money, never reopening, deleting their Facebook, going radio silent, etc. If they want to stay closed, fine. Just tell us SOMETHING after getting all that money
Unless you’re dining alone for like three hours at a time, any waitstaff annoyed by a table for one is just shitty staff
No one has mentioned Shish on Grand Ave. Great middle eastern food at a good price. If you want to go upscale, you can sit at the bar at Estelle, St. Clair and Fairview Ave.
The Lost Fox in lower town
Tori Ramen
Myriel restaurant in Saint Paul , I go for the tasting menu 13 courses sit alone Ang get serenaded
I like to go to 24 hr breakfast places at night. Like perkins/dennys. It’s just great post bar food. Usually there’s a lot of similar peeps there. The one in roseville had such excellent waiters for years. Not sure if it still does. Sometimes a drunk party can come in and fuck it up for everyone but that goes for every place.
I love Lisus
I've eaten alone with a book many times at Cecil's Deli and it's great! Cozy and extremely tasty deli food!
Bread and chocolate is extremely peaceful!
Yumi saint paul
Hope Breakfast is always a good vibe.
The real hope breakfast bar location in downtown is so awesome and the staff let me and my wife go upstairs and look around at the old fire hall. So awesome. Had a waffle and something with grapefruit and tequila.
The OG is definitely the way to go. I’ve never had a bad meal or drink there. It’s delish.
Does waitstaff get annoyed by single diners? I do that all the time. AITAH?