Everyone knows this is one of the best places to go for walleye but that is not the only driver on the menu. Â When undeceive on where to go for dinner the Tavern is one of the 1st places to pop up. Â The rib eye is spectacular and the chicken and wild rice soup is thick and creamy just as a true Minnesotan likes it. Â It does seem like they get their sides and vegetables from a frozen bag but that's not why I'm there. Â It's just a comfortable place to have a nice meal.
Review Source:Meh really sums this place up for me.
Upon walking in I read the Tav's sign saying that this was 'Minnesota's official restaurant.' Whoa. This gave me high hopes. I mean Minnesota's official anything has high standards.
Like our official muffin- blueberry, official bird- loon.. or is it the mosquito?
Anyways, the menu consists of ~ $20 entrees and $12ish sandwiches/wraps.
Being that this place is known for their walleye, we ordered a walleye sandwich and the fish tacos.
I understand that walleye isn't easy to get, but we found this place not at all memorable, especially for the price.
I always enjoy my experiences at the Tavern.....they do have delicious walleye---but everything else is really good also. Â We started off the evening with some toasted raviolli and it was top-notch. Â The drinks are prepared well ---I do think they could use a little bit more selection on the wine as they only offer pretty much one of every style and they are mostly 7.00 a glass. Â I got my wonderful fettucinni alfredo and it is a generous portion and is better than a lot of italian places that i have gotten it. Â Husband got a walleye sandwich and it is of course excellent---(I have had the walleye here several times and it is always oh-so-good) Â The salad that came with my meal was wonderful and not overloaded on dressing as sometimes they are. Â I ate every last bite and I got these cute little boomerang looking garlic toasts that were quite yummy. Â Our friend got the veggie burger and said it was good.. The meals range from around 8.00-20.00 Â I would recommend this place if you want an excellent meal with a low-key chill atmosphere....
Review Source:You come here for one reason only - you've been too busy to go fishing and you need to fulfill your deepest walleye desires. Â Walking into this place transports you to a cabin in Northern Minnesota. Â It's hokey, but that's OK sometimes. Â Wait staff is nice, the place is clean, and its very casual.
Order walleye. Â They nail it. Â Order anything else, and you're taking a gamble. Â Deep fried or soaked in mayo to drown out the poor quality of the ingredients.
Of course, when you realize you're in Saint Paul eating Canadian fish, you regret not making more time to drop a line in the water and do it yourself.
Walleye - yum
Walleye on a stick - hit me!
Walleye on a stick with a beer - I'm yours. Â
Bartender started out cold as a fish (like a cod), then for no reason warmed up to us - maybe it was the walleye drool we were spouting.
Not a fancy place, more a neighborhood place on Grand Ave. Â But you can take that fish to the bank.
This is my first experience here, I don't get over to St Paul as much as I should to dine.
The decor here is an interesting north woods look with log cabin like walls and a huge antler chandelier.
This evening is was very hot outside and a cool front was coming in, thank goodness for that because the restaurant was very warm inside. Â They did have large floor fans placed strategically throughout. Â When did not have a reservation and it looked like they needed some help with some table clearing because there were about five tables empty. Â We had about a ten minute wait.
I chose the Canadian walleye dinner, breaded, and that came with a nice dinner salad, perfect size for me, some steamed vegetables of sliced carrots, broccoli and cauliflower and choice of potato.
The fish was very good with a nice breading. Â The vegetables needed a lot of work, some of the cauliflower was turning black on the edges...freshness issues. Â For potato I had the au gratin potatoes that were way too cheesy, not enough potato, hardly tasted the potato at all. Â
The service was pretty good, didn't take too long for our food and our server kept things moving at a comfortable pace.
I think I'll come back.
I have been here before and I always remembered that their Walleye (fish fillet) was outstanding. Â I have ordered it fried before but today I went for the blackened. Â What a delicious dish....it was nicely seasoned, spicy, flaky, tender, moist.... Â Delicious. Â The sides are just OK, but the fish is to die for !! Â
A must for Walleye and fish lovers !!
We arrived on a Saturday afternoon with my bf's parents in search of the "best walleye in town" & the food @ the Tavern on Grand exceeded our expectations tenfold. Â It was FANTASTIC! Â I only wish the service was better so I could give this place 5 stars.
The ambiance is north-woodsy, cabin & is warm & inviting. Seat yourself; we sat @ a large round table in the middle of the restaurant & were greeted promptly, but the service was all downhill from there. Â The restaurant was not busy, maybe 2 or 3 tables other than us, & our server was slow, inattentive & just blah for the majority of our meal & our drinks were empty most of the meal.
The food, however, was absolutely amazing! Â We tried the Dragon balls: jalapeno, bacon, cheese, & cilantro in a puff pastry served with curry ranch,
the Minnesota Spring Rolls: wild & walleye deep fried as spring rolls, served with peanut sauce, the Walleye Basket, & the Carrot cake cocktail: Creme de menthe, butterscotch schnapps, baileys, & cream. Â Everything was beyond wonderful & the walleye was definitely the best in town. Â
Great beer selection with happy hour during the week from 4-6.
If you are on Grand Ave, stop by for lunch or dinner
Tavern on Grand was a great spot for lunch on our way out of the Twin Cities. We picked it specifically because my partner had never eaten Walleye Pike before, and as it's pretty much the state fish of Minnesota - or maybe it is officially.
We got there at about 12:30P and it was about half-full, and it filled to about 3/4 full by the time we left an hour or so later. We were led to a booth pretty much in the middle of the restaurant, with a good view of the tables around us. The noise level was pretty average and er had no difficulty carrying on a conversation across the table without raising our voices.
The menu was fun with a lot of different options, particularly those that featured the Walleye. Our server was an attentive young woman, who was friendly, helpful and candid. We asked her about a few dishes, and she was quick to share her opinion and steer us away from some and toward others.
While I wouldn't necessarily recommend our complete selection to anyone who wasn't looking to experience a Walleye-palooza, we really enjoyed the array we chose.
We started with two appetizers, Walleye cakes & Minnesota spring rolls. Â The former were essentially a crab cake made with walleye. Â They were crisp on the outside and flakey and tender inside. I will say that the kitchen was a bit heavy handed with the puddle of bernaise on the plate. I'd recommend asking for the sauce on the side. Â The "spring rolls" consisted of grilled walleye & wild rice wrapped in a fried eggroll wrapper. Again, the saucing was a bit heavy handed. It came with a garlic-ginger soy sauce that was more of a goop than a sauce, but I would say it was consistent with the traditional Midwestern approach to Asian food. The "spring rolls" were still tasty, but caveat salsum teriakus.
For our main course we shared an order of the fried Walleye, which was crisp and golden and delicious. It came with steak fries coated with a healthy dose of lemon pepper, which I could take or leave. I think we each ate only 2-3 fries. They were fine, but  nothing special. it also came with a red cabbage slaw that provided a nice acidic flavor to contrast the fried fish.
The final item of our order was ordered somewhat in jest, but also to provide my partner with a true Minnesota experience: the Tater Tot Hotdish. it was ground beef and vegetables in their own cream of mushroom soup base, topped with tater tots and cheese, and baked til crispy. Yes it's ridiculous, but as anyone who has been to a Minnesota potluck knows, the hotdish is king.
We had a great lunch, and we'd be happy to go back and try the rest of the menu. Â Check it out and have some fun.
Tavern on Grand is pretty much the epitome of most things Minnesotan (or perceived Minnesotan). The ambiance is reminiscent of a more rural restaurant/tavern - think knotted pine and log cabin surroundings with a bit of low-key tavern atmosphere thrown in for good measure. Definitely a place to take out-of-towners looking for some old-school Minnesotan kitsch.
They're known for their walleye and there is no arguing why that's the case. The shore lunch or walleye sandwich are always winners (blackened is my favorite, but you can't go wrong with battered or sauteed either). Actually, order anything with walleye and you'll likely be pleased. Beyond the fish, most of the Tavern's menu is pretty standard Midwestern comfort food; which may not be terribly inspiring, but is still generally satisfying.
The bar area has plenty of seating, a few TV's for watching the game and about a dozen or so taps comprised of a few craft beers, domestic macros, a couple of imports and usually a local beer or two thrown in for good measure. The bar is seldom as hectic as many of the neighboring establishments on Grand, which is certainly not a bad thing.
For those looking to save a buck or two (or start drinking earlier), they have an early happy hour during the weekdays with discounted drinks and apps, as well as a late night happy hour every night with $5 appetizers/small plates and discounted drinks.
I am an old time Tavern guy.
Remember when they had pool tables in the back.
I was bummed when they went full food focus but focused they are.
I made my first trip back in a long time because Saji Ya was closed for lunch, I might go Tavern next time I want fish, the walleye sandwich was better than I ever remember, go.
So I wanted some Walleye. Â My friend says, "The Tavern on Grand!"
We go. Â I'm pleased.
Had the broiled Walleye (1 filet). Â It was good.
For a Friday evening, the place was pretty empty. Â That made for quick service so we could get down to the eating. Â
My friend related a story from several years ago about some investigative reporting that was going on related to "Are they serving real Walleye?"
I guess a number of joints were telling people it was Walleye, but in fact it was Whitefish or some fish from Russia. Â Anyway, story has it The Tavern tested positive for the real thing. Â That's nice to know, isn't it?
So, I'll go back. Â I enjoyed the meal and could have eaten a lot more. Â I can remember back in the early 80's when I lived up in the Bemidji area, a place called Noel's. Â They used to have a Friday night "all you could eat Walleye" deal that brought people from all over in to town. Â Man, I could put away the Walleye then. Â Wonder if that place still exists and I wonder if they still have that great Red Lake Walleye?
Not sure how many other restaurants have a mean walleye sandwich, but the Tavern on Grand has the best by far. And since it's famous for their walleye, you know it'll be good. You can get the sandwich in three different styles, grilled, deep fried, or blackened. I typically go for the blackened which is like a Cajun style flavoring.
After taking one bite, you will be sold hook, line, and sinker. The walleye is nice and light and the tartar/jalepeno sauce makes every bite a delightful experience. You just can't put the sandwich down! After five minutes or so, mine was devoured.
Throw in the fact that the sandwich comes with some cole slaw and fries; it's a nice meal that's not too heavy for lunch and perfect for dinner. I don't think I can say enough great things about it! Unfortunately it's so good that it prevents me from being able to sample the other items on the menu. But that's okay. I just want another walleye sandwich!
Now, lemme just say...the fish be da bomb here. Â Do it. Â The walleye sandwich, either grilled, blackened, or fried, is beautiful. Â It is served on a yummy artisan roll with an option of regular or jalepino tartar sauce. Â I go for the jalepino, it's not that hot at all. Â Also, upgrade to the tavern fries, it's worth it. Â
It took us awhile to get our tab, but the waitress was in the full lunch swing by then. Â I'd recommend avoiding this place during high traffic times, go late or early. Â Either way, it's something every St. Paulian should experience, it's a St. Paul icon. Â
Afterwards, don't forget to stop at George's and Tom's for all your cobbler and tailor needs, they too are icons.
Rock on, St. Paul, rock on.
I had never heard of this place before (i am still pretty new to the area) and my boyfriend took me here for dinner one night. Upon walking in, I wasn't expecting much. They must try to keep it updated, but it almost looked too "commercial" (is that the right word?) with the very new looking "northwoods" decor. Â
Luckily, the food was surprisingly amazing!! I had the blue cheese burger and we got the dragon puffs for an appetizer and those were super yummy as well! The only thing that was a little off were the 'cajun' walleye fingers. It was definitely buffalo sauce, not cajun seasoning. so that was a bit of a downer. but the walleye was cooked well, so i have high hopes that this is the only disappointing thing on the menu. I would highly recommend checking this place out. it's cozy and the food is delicious! great place for the whole fam!
Superb beer selection.
Blackened Walleye is boring and has little heat. The fried walleye is off the chain good. The Jalapeno tartar needs...jalapeno, again a lack of heat. Rice Pilaf (choice of side) was good, vegetables taste like they're microwaved, lets be honest they are. Rolls are superb and the coleslaw is delicious, very crunchy and great flavor.
Bar service and locals all kick ass to chat with.
Good place, but dosent blow you away.
I love it when a place really listens and wants to learn from patrons. What was a bad experience exactly one year ago, was an equal shock for the good. They re re-modeled, and the place looks like a real pub, and is very warm and welcoming and each section matches and is totally in sync with each other. I actually ordered the same thing. This time a side salad was plentiful with a generous side of the delicious blue cheese. Soup was potato leek. Flavorful and not loaded with potatoes, but not with leeks either, which I do like. The same parker house dinner roll. I love the consistency. Good service, but the hostess should know that smiling makes the day not so long. Looks like I'll  be a regular again and I'm glad, and glad to start recommending it again.
Review Source:We played 30s-going-on-70s once and managed to make their early bird special for dinner. It's worth it because I think the food would otherwise be overpriced. The walleye is damn tasty...we got it blackened, which was just a tad salty for me, but I should have known better anyway. Nothing a good slathering of tartar sauce can't temper, right? The rolls were supa-soft and squishy and good. The rest of the other items (veggie and potatoes) were basic and fine, hence the 3 stars for A-OK.
Review Source:I love this place for what it is. It seems like a magical transporter beam moved it from either the North Shore / UP to the cities without changing too much. Â It seems like the place where locals would congregate for Budweiser and fried fish. Â It has the best Walleye I've eaten in the city thus far. Â If you know of a better place please enlighten me.
Review Source:I was in Mnpls for business...work HQ in Mnpls. Â Co-worker from St. Paul suggested I check this place out. Â Headed out there to a pretty cool looking neighborhood bar/grill. Â Walked in their to a nice, friendly atmosphere. Â Being born and raised in Los Angeles, you never know what you will encounter in bars. Â Everyone in Tavern On Grand was very pleasant and professional...from the waiter, to the food runner, to the busser.
I ordered the Lakeshore Special with grilled walleye and top sirloin steak. Â My salad came with real cheese bleu cheese dressing. Â The walleye and steak were tummy stuffin' goodness.
I would definitely frequent this place if I lived there. Â After seeing the Mnpls-St Paul area, I wouldn't mind living there either.
Not sure what experiences other reviewers encountered there, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal there.
Aside from the bad picnic table cloths, hamburger buns/rolls, and rusty salad from a bag (I think Target has fresher stuff)... The Walleye was perfectly done. They should not bother to have anything else on the menu. Save your self the disappointment, eat some salad before you go, order a boatload of fish, and then head to the creamery for dessert!
Review Source:Came here with a party of 11 and the server never missed a step. I ordered the early bird special great fried walleye and jalapeño tarter sauce. My girlfriend got the basic burger which was better then red robin! After our group ordered a round of deserts each and everyone was great but the apple crisp was the best.
Review Source:I found myself circling the Grand Ave area looking for a bite to eat. St. Paul is enemy territory to me, I don't have a running tally of places I like or have been meaning to check out, so I was stuck in this position that other mere mortals often find themselves in.
I saw "Tavern on Grand"and thought to myself: "hey, that's a place." Further, it was a place I'd heard of. I even think I had heard something good about them. So I dropped in.
Tavern on Grand would like you to try their walleye. Their sign and menu both proclaim "known for our walleye" (or something like that).
They have a walleye sandwich, a walleye entree, a deluxe walleye earlybird quasi-entree, two or three walleye appetizers and walleye as a side. Seriously. You could order a walleye dinner with a side of walleye. I'm surprised they don't have walleye based beverages.
Naturally, with all of this pushing, I did the only logical thing: I ordered a burger.
Oh, sure, my girlfriend ordered a walleye sandwich, so I tried it. Couldn't be redundant though, so I ordered a bleu burger. I do love bleu cheese on a burger.
My burger was damn tasty (though in need of more bleu cheese). And I must complement them, when I ordered a burger medium I actually got it medium (if not a little rarer). So often I am asked, and then no matter served a burger well, that I am actually surprised when my preference is taking into account. I subbed onion rings for the (worthless) shoestring fries, and was glad I did. Their rings are excellent.
My girlfriend's walleye sandwich was good. The fish was nice and flaky. I was pleased that their walleye advocacy was not bluster.
So the food was good, but our server was not a frequent visitor to our table. So maybe 3.5 stars. But Yelp doesn't do half stars.
So I rounded down. Service matters. And also, I didn't dig their faux-up-north decor. I can't necessarily name a faux decor I do like, but it certainly isn't faux up-north.
Still, I was pleased with the meal and the visit. Good place to grab a bite and a beer.
Not a bad place. Â I've been here a few times - both to the bar and the restaurant to eat. Â The Walleye is their specialty but I think it's just ok. Â The bar is pretty standard. Â The rest of their menu is just average. Â
Overall, another bar with slightly better than bar-food menu.
The fish is the pull for this particular venue and can make for a very inexpensive and enjoyable lunch. Â I'm not quite sure how they are able to serve walleye for so cheap, but they do.
Unlike Robert, my experience here was always enjoyable. Â It is an old-time watering hole on Grand Ave on the Old Money end of the street.
I used to take my grandmother here routinely for fish which even her sensitive and aged palate enjoyed as much as mine.
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