44 Best American Restaurants near Lake Elmo

“We recently got married (October 2024) and Lake Elmo Inn catererd our wedding. It was absolutely AMAZING! We had the prime rib carving station and the walleye as well as the duck soup and salad. Our guests are still talking about the food. We decided to upgrade to the "LEI Experience" which means each of your guests get a warm hand towel, an intermezzo sorbet, and a chocolate covered strawberry!!! We were over the moon with the service on the night of the wedding and all our communication with LEI throughout the process. Special shoutout to Kayla G. who was the most patient, professional, and kind event manager! She answered every single one of my (many) questions and she did so with a smile! On the night of the wedding, we were SO impressed with how fast the servers were able to get to each of our guest tables and keep the flow going. It was seamless, seriously. We cannot recommend Lake Elmo Inn Catering enough. They've total pro's and just know that you'll be in good hands. Thank you again to everyone on the team for your hard work to make the dream come true!! <3“

“Jeni the bartender is absolutely FABULOUS! Love the good, service...top notch! 5 🌟 🤩 ⭐️ 🌠 💫“

“I recently had the pleasure of being served by Jasmine and Donna at Machine Shed- Lake Elmo the last 2 mornings. From the moment we arrived, they greeted us with a warm smile and genuine enthusiasm.

Throughout the meal, their attentiveness was remarkable. They anticipated our needs, refilling drinks and checking in at just the right moments, all while balancing other tables with ease. The knowledge of the menu was impressive; they offered excellent recommendations and made sure we had everything we needed for a great dining experience.

What stood out most was their friendly demeanor—which made us feel like valued guests rather than just another table. Their professionalism and positive energy truly enhanced our meal.

Overall, our visit memorable, and I can’t wait to return to Machine Shed for another fantastic experience!“

“The food was excellent , hats off to the chef , this son and Mom were sitting next to us their chicken dinner looked fab, will be going back for that , my friend and I had burgers , onion rings and chips the rings were cooked perfectly. Prices for the food were fantastic , not expensive at all. Loved all the Hamm's Bear stuff, my dad retired from there . Great place keep up the good job!!“

“great home style cooking, breakfast anytime!“

“This is our favorite place. Been here a handful of times. Staff are amazing rather they are full or slow, same great service. Everything I've tried on the menu is 100%. Breakfast mac and cheese I highly recommend. The smoked old fashion.....great. Husband gets one every time.“

“Amazing food and service. Will DEFINITELY be back.“

“Lisa G., Janae was our waitress, too. We were the “3-J’s”: Joe, Junna, and Janae. Janae was swift, attentive, beautiful, and cheerful. She was always right there to refill my water glass. I wonder if she ran track in high school; she was fast!“

“Took a drive to Hudson WI yesterday & had lunch at Pier 500. Everything was wonderful from the food to our service.“

“If anyone would like a good restaurant to eat at I would suggest going to the North Pole restaurant in Newport Minnesota. The staff are nice and when you ask them for something they will get it for you right away.“

“Our first time there on Wednesday night. Service was excellent, Kendra was fantastic. The deviled eggs with shrimp was awesome The six of us all had something different from the scallops to the walleye to the salmon all fantastic. There was also dessert like bread pudding to banana cream pie, also fantastic. Can’t wait till our next dinning experience. It will be real soon!“

“Cool newer diner in downtown Stillwater! I love diners and this place met all of my expectations. Food was amazing and the music was on point. I got the cheeseburger and fries which I believe are made in house. I highly recommend it! My husband has the buffalo chicken cheesesteak with tots and had no complaints! We also shared the cheese curds for an app and they were outstanding! Love that they also have a full bar and local bear on tap!“

“Love the updated interior. Brings life back to a very enjoyed establishment. Always nice to see new and old faces.“

“Best meal! We by chance stopped in for supper and a drink this past Friday night and were impressed by what great food we all had. 5 of us ordering different items and all were meals were so fresh and delicious! And service was outstanding! We would definitely recommend the Mad Capper to anyone who is visiting Stillwater!“

“Came in for my second time for breakfast because I couldn't stop craving your waffles after just having them one time. Great food! Great service! Great atmosphere!“

“We enjoyed great food in a great atmosphere!“

“My girlfriend and I recently checked out Post American Eatery for the first time and had an awesome experience! The atmosphere was really cool and relaxed, and the staff was incredibly friendly. My girlfriend ordered the Beef Ragu and loved it! The meat was super tender, and the sauce was just right. I went for the Prime Rib special, and it was delicious – cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. Our server was great, too – really helpful and laid-back. We're definitely looking forward to coming back and trying more dishes. If you're looking for a place with great food, a cool vibe, and excellent service, I'd highly recommend giving Post American Eatery a try. We had a fantastic time and can't wait to go back!“

“We love coming here as a family! everyone is sooooo nice, and really likes to give off a good family vibe. Also don't think we have ever had a bad meal. we will keep coming back!“

“awesome restaurant. such good food.“

“Excellent. Busy on a Friday night but got to sneak into first come first served at the bar where they serve their whole menu. Great menu- we got the Short Rib, Baritone, and Beet Salad. All were wonderful and unique. Definitely will come again.“

“I love it that they ask you want to purchase a Woodbury Days button.. Only $5.00.. I brought one today!! thank you for amazing friendly service in the drive thru!!!“

“Great place! First class hospitality and food. My new favorite lunch spot…If you haven’t already, check it out , you won’t be disappointed!“

“A absolute gem of a restaurant in White Bear Lake. In town visiting family & so enjoyed our first time here last night. Very cool & well designed with a great vibe, beautiful bar area where you can comfortably dine also. Which is aso the main diningroom with views of the kitchen & Chefs creations. Food was out of the park; 2 chicken entrees & the Walleye-and let's not forgot the delicious chocolate mousse dessert! Will always plan a dinner here we visit again.“

“I've had this place in my want to go list forever. I live quite close, and I'm mad at myself for wasting the last few years not coming here. I had the special breakfast burrito. For the love of all that's breakfast, make it permanent. It was one of the best I've ever had.“

“Love sitting outside when it's nice out. Yummy food, great waitress“

“As always, excellent service. Love sitting at the bar and watching the kitchen staff. Garlic wings are great as is the fried fish. Love the burgers too. And the Nashville Hot Cauliflower is so good. Never seen anything like it anywhere else.
One request, if you haven’t already done it. The Impossible Burger used to come on a vegan bun and then didn’t. Any chance you can make that happen again?“

“Great food Chef Isaac! �“

“This was my first time and it won’t be the last. Thank you for a spectacular dinner last Saturday night. A few of my neighbors and I had a great time. Hopefully we can bring more people next time.“

“Excellent Restaurant. You will enjoy dinning outside the Restaurant during summer mild sunshine. Food is great and fair price.“

“We recently hosted a client appreciation night in the VIP room at PINZ, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish. Melody, our party planner, was incredible—prompt, detail-oriented, and always ready with helpful suggestions on party size and setup options. On the night of the event, Nate, our on-site manager, went above and beyond to ensure everything ran smoothly, even providing those little extras like name tags and extension cords that made a big difference. The service was truly top-notch. If you're planning an event, we highly recommend PINZ! Be sure to ask for Nate and Melody!“

“Current is great! Chef Sam has an excellent menu, and the Staff GM Justin Glover has put together is always welcoming and friendly. I go there often and am impressed at the pace Lynn consistently displays, what a firecracker. Peg also has such a comforting voice what a treat to see her. Bring your puppy to the patio and enjoy the food, the cocktails, and hospitality!“

“Trout Benedict was amazing. Farm fresh eggs with golden yolks. Trout patty crisp on the outside. Homemade Hollandaise. Perfection.“

“Good service and food. We were there right before closing. Great job“

“Fun night at Muddy Cow Oak Parl Heights. Great food, great service!“

“Unbelievably good! Stellar customer service and hands down the best burger I've ever had. The bacon cheese fries are a MUST.“

“I’ve been to this restaurant 3 times, and it’s been great every time.
Food - Me and my friends that go here have gotten a Hot Honey pizza every time we go, along with some appetizers. None of the things we order disappoint. We usually get a large pizza and save some leftovers, and they heat up great.
Service - Great service, especially when compared to some other sit down restaurants. Short wait times, food is always fresh, and staff is always friendly. They also granted us a special request when we asked for an XL pizza while we were there (XL is usually only an online option)
Atmosphere - Plenty of seating and many booths, which I appreciate. Only con is that it can be noisy when seated next to the bar, but that’s totally fine and to be expected.
Great place for group dining, they do serve large portions here.

Parking: Never have had any issues with parking.“

“Butter burgers all the way!! I also can not go to culvers without ordering a turtle sundae as they definitely don't skimp on the hot Fudge, caramel, OR pecans!! I love their cheese curds too... Love that they give back to local schools too. Culvers participated regularly at my sons elementary school for fundraising. Thank you so much!“

“When my mom brought me to the Freight House I was pleasantly surprised! With the great view and delicious food, this is an amazing place to eat.

The Freight House has a wonderful variety of food to eat! They offer street tacos,mushroom swiss burgers, walleye sandwiches, chicken chop salads, and more. You can get a giant pretzel for an appetizer, you can also get cheese curds, pulled chicken nachos, and artichoke dip! The Freight House also has a wide selection of drinks, they have lemonades, slushies, and drinks inside of pineapples!
My absolute favorite thing to get at the Freight House is the walleye sandwich! The walleye is cooked perfectly, and it tastes so fresh. Their homemade tartar sauce brings the perfect amount of tanginess to my dish. The long warm bun is soft, and doesn’t fall apart with every bite. They added a lemon on the side, and I chose to squeeze it over my sandwich, and my lemonade. The lemon brings the sandwich to a whole new level of tastyness! The walleye is always cooked to perfection,you can taste freshness in all of the ingredients, The freight really does have the best walleye sandwich!
The Freight House’s history dates back to the 1800s. It all started when Stillwater became a trade center for miners, trappers, and people who build railroads. Eventually, people decided that Stillwater needed a freight depot. So the people started to build the depot. It had two foot thick limestone walls, 30 foot tall exterior walls, and flooring was put in place. Finally, the strong trusses were installed, along with a solid slate roof. The construction was finally finished in 1883. The depot had a telephone office, and received about 75 railcars each day. After a few years of that Curtis feed, and coal farm service operated at the “freight House.” In 1970 the agency shut down, and the building was sold. Then, in 1979 the historical significance of the building was recognized, and it became the first building to be put on the national registry of historic places. It still stands today as the original building, as the freight House restaurant!
What I love about The Freight House is the diversity of the menu, the amazing tasting food,the rich history of the building, and the outdoor seating. The atmosphere of the building Is awesome. I really enjoy the outdoor seating, because I get to stare out at the St. Croix River. All of the workers are really kind, and the chefs bring out the food fast. I think that the taste, the freshness, atmosphere,the staff, and the rich history make the Freight House one of the best restaurants.“

“great service, food was ready quickly, and the food was delicious. price point was definitely good as well.“

“Awesome food and drinks. The agave Twinkie is a must! Been here multiple times and me and my wife have never had a bad meal.“

“Why have we waited so long to come back here?! Food and service were impeccable. If you are craving some awesome Greek food and a cozy environment, Phil’s Tara Hideaway is the spot. We will be back very soon!“

“I always look forward visiting Cabin 61. The food, staff and patrons are always great! Definitely one of my favorite places to eat!“

“The current music is being played too loud - a track of country covers, one of which was commenting on socialism and communism which we found inappropriate in a public restaurant dining room. It couldn’t be ignored because it was so loud. So we chose not to hang around for ice cream.“

“The first time we dined there here was 13 years ago. Finally returned on a weekend trip to Stillwater and it didn’t disappoint. All the dishes are well executed. The staff is knowledgeable. Hot tip. If you dine there you get 20% off in the wine shop.“