The Black Dog is a great community gathering place. Every time I settle into a table at Black Dog, there are local artists gathered discussing their work, or actually creating art. Â And almost every night of the week there is live music or other creative activities for customers to enjoy. Last time I was in, there were about a dozen people playing cribbage together and a Bluegrass band was jamming away.
The Black Dog is a great place to find out what's happing in the Lowertown neighborhood because it's always full of locals. I really enjoy the sense of community you feel when you're at the Black Dog. This is the only reason I'm giving them three starts. If it wasn't for the community feel the Black Dog would get two at best.
I have one complaint about the Black Dog, and it's a big one. The coffee is inconsistent and overall not very good. An Americano or a Cold Press are the only two drinks I get at coffee shops, and at The Black Dog the same drink is never prepared the same way, twice.
One day I will have a great Americano, and the next day the espresso will be so sour or burnt that I can't drink it. I don't know if they change beans or if their machine is quirky, but I should be able to expect a drink consisting of espresso and water to taste the same each day.
Same issues with the Cold Press. One week it's dark, rich and delicious; and the next it's so weak I think they just put a pot of light roast in the fridge.
The inconsistency in the coffee makes me a bit leery every time I order one, but that doesn't stop me from going to the Black Dog Cafe. The community atmosphere will continue to draw me in, and if  they can get to a point of consistently preparing a good Americano, you'll find me their more often.
Please stop trying to make pizzas and quesadillas and focus on making good coffee.
STAFF DOES NOT WEAR GLOVES or use tissue paper to prepare or handle food (even though they may handle money one minute, and make your quesadilla the next). Food and drink is mediocre at best and seriously overpriced. Coffee is uninspired and over-acidic. "Pastries" are not made on sight and with exception of apple fritter, are dry, doughy crap. Always playing the same Lauren Hill or Bob Marley cd's. Except for that day of un-ironic seventies hits like "leave your hat on." Register staff is slow, no sense of grace or urgency about customer service.
Don't let the adorable vintage space fool you - nothing within done with elan, no bang for buck. Only reason to go there besides by default (it's in the middle of the Saint Paul downtown/lowertown retail desert) is that they do have some nice musical acts in the evening. Why don't they collect some of the cds these fine acts are always selling at their shows and play those during the day?
I swear the only reason this place gets business is the vintage building hypnotizes people into thinking they're getting a quaint, boutique experience, and there are very little other options in the neighborhood.
If you are looking for a quick coffee and tasty bite - do yourself a favor, cross the farmer's market parking lot, and go to the Heartland Deli. You'll spend about the same and get much better product and service.
I really do not like this place. Â I have been here several times now that we moved to Lowertown and I am never comfortable here and I am all about Comfort.
These are my issues:
There are hardly any plug ins so if you want to hang out for awhile, good luck if you need a charge on your puter. The tables are rickety and small, and there are always loud, obnoxious, people talking loudly on their cell phones.
The staff is pretty rude to me and my daughter. Â They are not friendly at all, stare at you with a blank look on their face while you order, and tell you to get your feet off the 70 year old cheap chairs they have. Â Really??? I was at Starbucks for three hours before coming to Black Dog and no one told me to get my feet off one of their much nicer and expensive chairs! Â Go YELL at the man over there who is talking so loudly on his cell phone would ya???? Leave me alone!
The food pretty much sucks and the drinks are just so-so.. Â I really want a Starbucks down here in Lowertown!!!
I've visited The Black Dog about a dozen times, and I've always had a pleasant experience there. I especially like the quesadillas and the pizza. They have Crispin hard cider, which I love. I really appreciate that they support the art community in many ways. Â The only thing that's missing is some comfy seating; the hard wooden chairs really don't beckon one to relax and stay a while. Also, I really wish they'd improve the look of their website. In any case, I'm really glad that Lowertown has this place.
Review Source:back story:
I am a bus driver for MVTA, and I start my afternoon route at the Union Depot. The only problem with this is that there are no coffee shops very close, or so I thought, and I can't just stop anywhere for coffee, or anyplace for that matter, with a 40' bus. I need a place that I can go to and be back within about 10-15 minutes during my layover. When I leave the Union Depot I drive up Broadway to 6th, and pass the Black Dog Cafe every day and I never new it was there. One day while sitting on my bus, I was Yelping the area and came across the Black Dog Cafe, it had been right there under my nose the whole time, and I never even new it.
review:
Being only a block and a half from the Union Depot I decided to try Black Dog. I have been there twice only for coffee, my reason for the 3 star is for inconsistency. The first time I went for coffee, it wasn't very good, but the second time I went, it was fantastic. This didn't surprise me, as many other Yelp reviews of this place talked of inconsistency.
As far as the coffee goes, I am usually a Caribou fan having worked there for 5 years in the past, so I guess that I have kind of a biased opinion of them. Anyways, at Caribou I always get a large (20oz) turtle mocha $4.93 with tax, if I am at starbucks, I get a large (20oz) carmel mocha, $5.23 or something, quite a bit more expensive than caribou. Now the Black Dog, they only have 2 sizes, their large is only 16oz, so when I ordered a large caramel mocha, it was $4.74, comparable to caribous pricing, but 4oz less coffee. My point being that I do think that their coffee is a little high priced, but location is everything.
Both times I was there, the staff was great, very friendly, and it was very clean, however it was 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and not a busy time, so I would expect clean and friendly. It's also a pretty big place, and the ambiance is fun. I will no doubt be back again for coffee, but I do want to go back and try them out for lunch, my wife works downtown St Paul, so we will have to go on a lunch date. This way I can give a more accurate review of the Black Dog as a whole and not just their coffee.
This place could be incredible. Â The atmosphere itself is great and reminds me a lot of places I used to hang around in quite a bit in my hometown. Â
I've had mixed experiences with their lattes. Sometimes they are fantastic, but most of the time they miss the mark. Â I'd recommend not getting food (unless it's a bagel or a donut or something). Â The quesadillas are disappointing. The pizzas are way over priced for what you get. I once boycotted them for about a year over a chicken salad sandwich...barely enough salad smeared on there to cover the bottom of the bun, one piece of lettuce, and a fist full of bean sprouts.
When I popped in yesterday for a cup of coffee there were several people bustling around behind the counter, but all seemed to be doing something other than waiting on customers. I finally got out of the line and left.
Healthier portions (or lower prices), more consistent lattes, and a smile on the employees faces would go a long way.
Stopped here on a road trip because we saw a listing for free live jazz. Cool space... Two halves divided by the kitchen area, so you can avoid or participate in whatever music/event thing they have going on.
Didn't try the food, but enjoyed some local brews while listening to the talented resident musicians
Had to add an extra star, since people here are reviewing the establishment as a restaurant when it clearly describes itself as a "coffee bar cafe". 1st word: coffee. The atmosphere is very much a coffeeshop vs a bar, although they do have some tall chairs along the window  The espresso was good and the serving size was large enough that it filled up the entire cup and it was not an unusually small cup. You'll get your caffeine fix fast. 2nd word: bar. They mostly carry bottled beer but I liked the selection and they do have primo on draught for $3 during happy hour 4-7PM. 3rd word: cafe. The croissant I got with my espresso was nice and pillowy with a noticeable egg white sheen on top and the macaroon was nice and chewy and had a good almond flavor to it.  I'll have to stop by for some music since I wasn't able to review that segment of the venue, but there's coffee and beer, which is exactly why I headed over here. If you need a restaurant there are numerous ones all around Downtown, although they do serve food too should the mood strike you and you don't feel like leaving, but they mainly do coffee, beer & wine.
Review Source:In previous visits to the farmer's market in St. Paul, I have often stopped by for coffee and enjoyed this place. It has a hip, neighborhood coffee shop feel and seems to be bustling with people on summer mornings.
Last night we went for a poetry reading and comedy. I asked the girl if they had wine and she looked very disappointed with us and just pointed to a chalkboard overhead. Â While ordering a glass of wine, we decided to get a bottle instead. Â She certainly made it clear that the glass she already poured would be wasted. Â I then asked if she was unwilling to sell me a bottle and she went hunting around, returned and informed me they were out of that bottle. Â It turns out that only about half the wines on the chalkboard she just points to are not even available.
We left the counter with wine and in hand, standing near the back of the room. Â She walked past us and offered a woman the glass of wine. Â With hand on hip and back to me, I was pretty sure she was explaining her disgust with having to deal with customers at all and I confronted her. Â I said "If you'd like, I can pay for that glass of wine." Â She turned to me and told me that she was offering this "$8.00 glass of wine" to the owner.
The owner seemed to understand what had just happened, then came over and apologized for the bad service and was concerned that we may have been offended. Â We sat down and enjoyed the readings. Â Later the owner came back and chatted with us and we told her we were very happy with the event and enjoyed being there.
I feel bad for the people trying to run this business who must depend on snotty,spoiled kids to potentially run it into the ground. Â From previous comments I have read this does not seem to be an isolated incident. Â If you have already decided you will never go back, think twice about supporting local businesses and give it another chance. Â If you simply walk out angry and do not speak up, you are not really helping. Â I just think back to some of the crappy jobs I have had when I was young, but I really tried to offer good service when working with customers.
Black Dog gets another "meh" added to their collection here on Yelp.
Nothing has changed since my vegan comrade, Kedar, reviewed Black Dog back in 2009. Â The staff still has no knowledge of what goes into their food and they seem to resent anyone who asks questions about it.
I like the atmosphere and the patrons. Â The coffee is fine. Â But I have to echo nearly everyone else here and say the food is not worth the price.
The place isn't terrible, but it definitely isn't great by any means. Â "Meh" is a good description. Â The food is overpriced for what you get and the service was difficult. Â I ordered their only reasonably priced item on the menu, the corn chowder and side salad combo for 6.25.
When I got my meal I was pleasantly surprised to see that I got a very big salad and I asked the server if this was truly the 'side salad'. Â English was not her first language and she said "yes, salad". Â I ate my salad and started in the soup...which was supposed to be corn chowder. Â There were a few pieces of corn in it, but there was nothing chowder about it. Â A few spoonfuls in I finally realized that she had given me the veggie medley, so I went up and asked if I could get get the corn chowder. Â The server looked at me puzzled and I patiently explained that this was not what I ordered and was wondering if I could get a bowl of corn chowder. Â She said : "So you want two soups?" Â
And I said "No...I would like the soup I ordered...you can have this one back." Â
She started ringing me up for a second soup and I asked if I could speak to someone else.....It didn't need to be this difficult..I just wanted what I ordered.
After resolving the wrong order, I sat back down and it finally dawned on my boyfriend (who paid) that they charged him not for just the "soup and salad combo, but had charged him 10.50 for a whole salad and a bowl of soup. Â Since I had already eaten the salad and had so much difficulty with the first mix up we just let it go, ate up, and head out. Â Never going to make it back here again.
A note on the food: both soups had way too much salt and looked like they came from a can and the salad greens were great...but there was nothing else on the salad..just lettuce and dressing. Â If the prices weren't so much this would be acceptable.
Outstanding .. Been going ever since they opened, menu & ambience continue to amaze me .. A surprisingly savory treat in St. Paul .. I just tried the cuban sandwich was a very nice surprise how good it was, took it back to my hotel but wished I had stayed always food conversation & art work
Review Source:I went here recently to meet some friends for happy hour and it was a little....blah. (The place, not the company!) You know how some places try to be too much? This is one of those cases. I think it would be a great cafe and will maybe stop by for coffee the next time I go to the farmer's market. But that should be it!
It didn't feel comfortable for HH, there is no service and the wine/beer selection wasn't very good, plus you have to wait in line and pay separately for everything you get. We ordered pizza which was actually good, but was way overpriced! On top of that, it is really just a big open space with some uncomfy tables thrown around.
Overall; go for coffee if you are in the area (say, at the St. Paul farmer's market, which you definitely should go to!!), but that is really all I would recommend.
I've stopped in here a number of times for coffee during farmer's market runs and once for lunch. I'm trying to be generous with this review because I always try to support neighborhood hubs like this, but I just have to be honest and say that I have indeed experienced better.
If you're going to Black Dog to simply drink coffee, beer, wine or to see live music, then I think this would do the trick. You may even really like it. I love that they do interesting community events, live music and host tango nights even. I've never been to any of the events, but I always think they sound like fun when I see them pop up.
Don't eat here though. The food was underwhelming, to say the least. Afsheen F. and I couldn't believe that their pizza cost more than a pizza at Punch or Black Sheep. That's just criminal. It was very greasy, without much substance or sauce of any kind. It tasted like it was on a frozen pizza crust (not DiGiorno either, more like Jack's). The Cuban sandwich was OK, but it was very tiny. Not a good quality/quantity/price ratio.
I came here again prior to the Beer Dabbler because my friend and I had a groupon/crowdcut discount to use.
The service was relatively fast considering how busy it was, however, the food tasted the same as before (see original review). We had a quesadilla, chicken salad sandwich and some coffee. The quesadilla was ok, but still overpriced considering the portion size and blandness. My friend said his chicken sandwich was "pretty good," though the wild rice soup that came with his meal was just "ok."
I must add, however, that the owner of the Black Dog, Sara R., sent me a message regarding my previous review, saying I "could try Golden's Deli or Heartland each within 1 block of the Black Dog." Thank you for the tip Sara R. Next time, I will, and I suggest, dear reader, that you do the same.
Bring a book. Bring your sketch pad. Set up an easel. Berets optional but pants are encouraged. I found out the hard way.
For months - MONTHS - I spent many weekends writing at a Caribou on Rice Street in Little Canada because of their comfy furniture and faux-northwoods tableux. But the place is brimming with Bible college students who seem to flatline in the creative vibe department.
Then, last weekend, I said "heck with it" and went down to the Black dog. I'd been there before. I knew it was a cool place. But somehow I'd gotten it in my head that it was tough to park, that it might be too crowded, the Lowertown construction, all that.
Dude, I'm so glad I went. Â Some random guy started playing improv ambient jazz on the the piano for tips and I actually removed my headphones, finding his music superior to my own playlist.
I've never eaten there and think it's funny that a coffee shop should be reviewed for its food. They have coffee, dummy. Oh, and beer and wine. They have a pleasant staff. Cool interior. Great location (construction aside).
The atmosphere was bleak. There was construction all around us, but I knew I was going to see all my brothers and sisters and my parents and in-laws. Good times.
We entered the building and scoped out a table which would hold ten, which was pretty cool. I laughed a lot with my siblings, as always, because they are the funniest people on the planet. No joke.
I got the Cuban sandwich and my wife got the soup with bread. (She loved the bread) She said it was a 3 star soup with black beans and vegetables. The pulled pork was a little dry, but the pickles were nice and briny. Everyone seemed to like their food, but no one said "This is the best sandwich ever!"
I digress, The Cuban was okay, nothing like Victor's in Minneapolis, but, OK. My mom liked liked the slaw side I gave her though.
They had some cool paintings on the wall, that added to the ambiance, but when I found out they hosted protests against the RNC convention when they were here, I was pretty pissed off. I don't want my restaurants showing their political affiliations at the place I eat. Keep it to yourself, hippies.
It's kind of ridiculous that I just tried Black Dog's coffee for the first time today. I come to the STP FM so much! I decided to give their drip coffee a try this morning.
I wasn't thrilled with the dark roast I tried. The coffee was an awesome temperature, and I got a the top of a fresh pot. The roast was smooth but had an unfortunate aftertaste that I sometimes taste in coffee that isn't good. I'm not sure if it's the beans or the roasting, but I just didn't love it.
I may try again sometime soon, but there are 2 other places in between my house and the FM that I would rather stop at- not including brewing at home. Maybe next time I will try the place for dinner or wine.
I really want so bad to love this place. Great location (Farmers Market!), neat building, nice people, and it just drips of "neighborhood small business cool-ness." Â They even have a gryphon skeleton hanging from the ceiling, and my daughter and I discuss it every time we go. Â However....
The food is OK at best, the lattes and coffee drinks are lame, and the whole darn shootin' match is SPENDY! Â (EXAMPLE: This morning we went to breakfast: Â ME: waffle + cup of coffee. Â WIFE: Waffle + latte (they forgot the vanilla shot), KIDS: split a waffle and a milk.. Â It came to almost $30!! Â And the waffles were totally forgettable.)
It really is a shame, but after trying to make this our standard "coffee and breakfast before the farmers market on Sundays" place...I don't think I will be going back. Â Instead I will be grabbing a brat with sauerkraut, a cup of coffee and a cinnamon role from the vendors at the Farmers Market. Â Now THAT is a Sunday morning breakfast!!
Good luck, Black Dog.
I'll preface my review by stating I have a bias for anything that isn't a complete $hithole in Lowertown. That said, the Black Dog Cafe has plenty of things going for it, so my favorable review is not based entirely on supporting all things local.
This place has everything I'd want in a local hangout: decent eats (glad the Cuban has become a regular on the menu, though this place isn't a dining destination), decent drip coffee and dressed-up drinks that have coffee in the name, cheap beer on draught (even thought its Summit) and in bottles, cheap pours of wine, a low-key atmosphere, friendly service, art for sale from local artists, live music, book/poetry readings and a quaint (albeit less than scenic) patio to bum around on when the weather permits.
They also have a decent happy hour from 4-7 everyday and a cheap date night on Monday that help stretch a few bucks a bit further...
Black Dog Cafe is a sleeper cell in lowertown St. Paul. This weekend I needed a coffee shop that would caffeinate, feed, and relax me as I trudged through a backlog of laptop work. Â Black Dog was like (wo)man's best friend in delivering all of that and inspiring me to power through my backlog. Â Another added perk, day long parking is available for $1 or $2 on Saturdays by the building and the farmer's market is happening every weekend (in Golden's Deli during these chilly months.) Â
Arriving in the morning, I wanted a jolt of caffeine and an enjoyable breakfast to set me off on my productive path. Â The coffee was suitable, not outstanding. The breakfast quesadilla, well, that was the stuff of memories. Â The tortilla was crispy, airy, yet somehow still also soft. The scrambled eggs and cheese were fluffy and cooked perfectly. The black beans, so deceptively simple yet just the right texture. Â Now the salsa took this exceptional quesadilla to another stratosphere for me. It's March and Minnesota is emerging from the dulldrums of winter to the slushy drear of early spring, yet this salsa sang of summer freshness. Each bite was like eating summer clouds in the muddy chill of March. Â While this quesadilla wasn't packing the big flavors tex-mex can, it was so good in its simple and perfect execution I had to give my regards to the cook. Thanks to that quesadilla I was off and running because as soon as I got my work done that salsa was screaming to me that good weather was waiting. Â
For lunch, I ordered the special - a cubano sandwich with pulled pork, ham, cheese, pickles, peppers, and mustard/mayo on ciabatta. Â It was a great sandwich. While I'm a fan of big and bold flavors, again, Black Dog's delivery is more subtle but right on the notes it does hit. Â
We ended up finishing slightly ahead of schedule and decided not to partake in the beer/wine menu, but having it there in case things weren't going so well was comforting and a draw.
The cafe/coffeeshop is pretty spacious as places like this go and there were open seats the whole time I was there. The one complaint is that there is VERY limited access to outlets for the working crowd.
This place is everything I want in a coffee shop. It's quiet enough that I can sit and read the paper but there are people in and out and enough going on that I don't feel like I'm sitting in a library.
I normally go in the mornings and I think I've tried all of their breakfast offerings. They have granola and yogurt, waffles, breakfast quesadillas and a mixture of muffins and donuts. I think the quesadilla is the best but I tend to prefer savory items for breakfast.
Nice warm place in the cold Minnesota winter. Â
When I visit The Cities I make it a point to stop here at least once, pull out the laptop, set up visits with area friends, drink coffee or a beer (or hot soup) and enjoy seeing the winter people bundled against the elements. Â
The cafe is in the building that comprises an artists' co-op, across from the Farmer's Market and a stone's throw from the river. Â I've been looking at retiring to Lowertown and found the Black Dog on one of my explorations. Â A cousin and some photographer friends gathered there and we pulled some tables together and spent a few hours conversing. Â
Nice place. Â As another reviewer said, it's about the only place in that area.
-Don
I am here every week, rain or shine.
I bring my mom, who only likes to go to the Black Dog because it's conducive to conversation. Â The tables are spread out, it's sunny, you feel welcome to stay for a long time, the art is always new...
Most important- the Food is GREAT!
They use a lot of Farmer's Market produce so it's fresh, local, organic, and good. Â The pizza is my favorite (simple, tasty, seemingly healthy).
The sandwiches are also awesome; so are the salads. Â And, the staff is very nice.
So basically, I am very loyal to the Black Dog. Â
Tip- they need a better website!
This coffee shop has a nice vibe and it provides somewhere to go in Lowertown, which is otherwise devoid of business.
That said, it's a pretty generic independent coffee shop: mysterious, potentially un-vegan soup; a few bland sandwiches with potentially un-vegan bread; and mediocre chai. They also offer hummus and tabouli for a whopping $7.25.
The chai comes in a small cup and costs a pricey $3.27 with tax (you could get twice the chai, and much higher quality taste, at Namaste Cafe, or even Caribou). It's a pre-made mix from a plastic jug, with is pretty lame, as I think independent coffee shops should earn their chops by making, say, their own chai recipe or their own proprietary drink/food (of whatever kind). Just because you're independent doesn't mean you should stoop to the lowest level and just serve packaged goods (at a steep mark-up from wholesale rates) that your food distributor happens to offer (which is the case with most places).
Why not have some mockmeat sandwiches? How about baking your own bread or vegan cookies? Anything? Black Dog doesn't do anything to stand out, other than happening to be the only coffee shop in an otherwise empty area. Go the extra inch, Black Dog, and make some food that requires more skill than unscrewing a cap or tearing open a plastic bag.
Ditto all others. The food is passable; I'm not a java drinker typically so I can't contribute, though I did like their green tea offerings. I am a quite typical beer drinker and do like what they have. I also like the 3rd-grade elementary class method of art display, with photos hung on clothesline with office clips. Very style v. substance here, though that style would be Urban Hipster Grungey-grunge.
Review Source:The Black Dog hosted a ton of protest stuff during the RNC, so I give them credit for that. Code Pink pretty much took over the place for a few days, and they had live music, marches and caused some v-e-r-y s-l-o-w drive-bys from St Paul's Finest.
Unfortunately, the actual cafe is not so great. The food is slightly overpriced and a little uneven and the service is sometimes a bit scattered. As a previous reviewer noted, there aren't a ton of options around this area, but you can do better if you're looking for food.
The space itself is great though, lots of thought-provoking text and art laying around, and a nice local feel.
They do have beer, wine and a patio here, if you might be interested in that sort of thing. The view isn't much to look at it, but it seems like a good place to hang out and people watch during Farmers Market  weekends.
Sigrid S said it best and I search for anything valuable to add.
Too many things and no stand outs. In fact my latte sucked, but the sandwich was ok. This was a default stop in our quest to try Tanpopo (see review), and since we were hungry, it was welcomed. It was quiet yet busy and had some nice art on the walls. If I lived near here, I'd probably frequent the place (since there doesn't seem to be a ton around here anyhow), but I'd work on getting them to serve me a decent cuppa joe.
Was lost walking around St. Paul at night. I was really trying to find a liquor store within walking distance from my hotel. Quite impossible hahaha...So imagine how happy I was to stumble into this cute place that served coffee as well as beer.
Grabbed myself a Negra Modello and sat outside on their patio, and chatted away with some friendly locals.
Overpriced. Â Yes. Â I got a bowl of soup. Â I imagined my soup being served in a large bowl. Â It was a tiny bowl and not worth $5 at alll.. The pizza was ok but not mindblowing and too cheesy, and the crust tasted freezer-ish. Â When I was ordering the soup, the cashier couldn't tell me what was in it but did tell me she did not like soup. Â Who cares? Â I miss Copernicus. Â But at least the ceilings are nice and they've got a lot of literature.
Review Source:
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