Hadn't been to Cecil's for a long time and had an appointment nearby so I decided to stop in to try their Reuben, which they are supposedly famous for. Talk about an overpriced disappointment. For a $17 sandwich, I expecting better than three or so paper thin and fatty slices of corned beef. Plenty of sauerkraut though — the sauerkraut layer was about twice the thickness of the meat layer. I opted for the coleslaw as a side. It was bland and none too fresh tasting. I've had better coleslaw from the deli section of the grocery store. I know Cecil's is a venerable place with a long history in St Paul. I'd like to give them another chance and try some of their non-sandwich specialties, maybe the soups or latkes. Maybe some of their other sandwiches are better; but the Reuben I had was very disappointing, especially for the price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
JENNY H
Yesterday was our first and last visit to this establishment, as we were highly disappointed with the service we received, particularly given their good reviews.
First impressions are everything, and upon entering, we were seated immediately.
However, I was struck by the dirty condition of the dining room floors, which was inexcusable considering there were only a few customers and our section was empty.
This lack of cleanliness made me skeptical about ordering a meal, as it raised concerns about the kitchen's cleanliness.
Nevertheless, my friend insisted that we place both a dine-in and take-out order, given the 45-minute drive it took to get there.
For dine-in, we ordered the Matzo ball soup and a sandwich.
For take-out, we requested a medium-sized Matzo ball soup and one sandwich. Unfortunately, our inattentive waitress, who only visited our table twice to inquire if we needed anything, placed an incorrect order for a pint-sized soup to go. She spent most of her time eating or on break, and we had to request a second set of silverware and napkins.
The soup was tasteless and bland, with visible pieces of chicken and carrots, but lacking in chicken flavor.
The meal was very basic, with only two Matzo balls and not a lot of flavor.
The total bill was $120.00, which we felt was a waste of money for the soup and sandwiches💯
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Jackie West
The service was slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Chicken Soup with Matzo Ball, Reuben, Pastrami
Rita Stangler
Got there and trying to get to the back. There is a congested crowd smack in the narrow that separates the deli and restaurant. The people standing to pay were blocking the way of the incoming diners. Yes the was the big old rude guy at the register not even saying anything until my mom's bf wad question people so it would be less congested. Food you ask? It used to be better 30+ years ago.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Erik Elwood
Great food, but it's very loud. Makes it difficult to visit with the people you're there with.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Russian Reuben Sandwich
Rue Golding
The food is really good but DONT GO IF YOUR A WHEELCHAIR USER. Completely inaccessible you have to enter through the back entrance with the trash cans then go through a very narrow kitchen and then past incredibly narrow and hazardously placed tables. Truly an awful and humiliating experience when my wheelchair got caught on the counter going into the kitchen the employees just pointed and snickered at me. I couldn’t get the door open as I entered and had to yell for someone to come help me for 3 minutes before someone came, when he did he looked at me and said “why are you here alone” I replied “because I’m a grown adult” and he just said “really”. To the business- don’t mark your restaurant as “wheelchair accessible” save people the hurt and humiliation of going there
Wheelchair accessibility: Don’t go under any circumstances if you a wheelchair user
My experience
The food is really good but DONT GO IF YOUR A WHEELCHAIR USER. Completely inaccessible you have to enter through the back entrance with the trash cans then go through a very narrow kitchen and then past incredibly narrow and hazardously placed tables. Truly an awful and humiliating experience when my wheelchair got caught on the counter going into the kitchen the employees just pointed and snickered at me. I couldn’t get the door open as I entered and had to yell for someone to come help me for 3 minutes before someone came, when he did he looked at me and said “why are you here alone” I replied “because I’m a grown adult” and he just said “really”. To the business- don’t mark your restaurant as “wheelchair accessible” save people the hurt and humiliation of going there
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 2
Erik Saynisch
Meh. Not worth the hype. Is this American ? Lots of people working, like 10 people behind the deli, but as a patron, I had no idea what to do and nobody stepped up to explain. Seemed very inclusive, if you were " in the club" Boom bang, you went and did what you needed to do to get what you wanted. If not, you stand around feeling like a jackass. Finally got a table and ordered, DO NOT ORDER THE RUSSIAN ROULETTE. It's cold. There is .05 oz of turkey on it and 1 slice of corned beef. It was $16+. Maybe there are better sandwiches or maybe I was being made an example of because I wasn't a regular but in either case it was a disappointment. The bill for 2 Sandwiches and 2 fountain drinks was $47+ tip. I'm sure there are better places at a more reasonable price nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Russian Reuben Sandwich
Ian George
Mid asf and very expensive for what it is. $36 for a couple of pretty small sandwiches
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Pam Hawley
Total old school Jewish deli and restaurant - I think the only one left in MSP. Our sandwiches were really yummy, sides were good, take home Caraway Rye bread was delicious! We'll be back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
CiCi Reviews
i was honestly kind of disappointed in my first visit to cecils. i just happened to be in the area but used to live nearby so wanted to try it out in betweeen errands, brought home my baked goods to find them very dry but i would come back and try something else in hopes for a better experience. <3
Long time customers. Have never had any problems previously. This experience was so bad. Turkey Pastrami moldy after 3 days, regular Pastrami was literally all fat. This was so disappointing. You hold a special place in our hearts, but this was too much. We spent $130.00. This is painful to write, but I needed to say something. Don't let it slip this far, please.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Brian Gilbertson
Way over-priced for what it is. 2 mediocre Reuben’s and 3 latkes cost us over $50 for take-out. No pricing on their menu should have been a sign that they weren’t going to be reasonable.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Kent Wangsness
Really underwhelmed, sandwich size was like a kids menu serving. Not what I remember from past visits nor what I would expect in a deli sandwich.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Star Tread
Wait staff was cruel and openly mocking of elderly customer.
My mom had a great morning shopping in highland. She was hungry and stopped into cecil's. Mom is 85, and sometimes loses her words, especially after a busy day like she had. She struggled to come up with "Reuben." The girl at the counter openly mocked Mom, laughed at Mom to her colleagues and other customers, "look! She doesn't even know what she wants to order!" It totally ruined my mom's day. She called me in tears about it tonight. Clearly this employee has no respect and no concept for the challenges of aging and what the elderly are going through.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Reuben
Rick Allen
Not rating the restaurant, service there is usually solid, but the deli, don’t waste your time. Waited my turn, even waited patiently while a little old lady got my turn, but after that, and after making eye contact with the next available deli worker multiple times, I was passed over again. Go there for lunch, but if you value your time, and good customer service, skip the deli.
Hadn't been to Cecil's for a long time and had an appointment nearby so I decided to stop in to try their Reuben, which they are supposedly famous for. Talk about an overpriced disappointment. For a $17 sandwich, I expecting better than three or so paper thin and fatty slices of corned beef. Plenty of sauerkraut though — the sauerkraut layer was about twice the thickness of the meat layer. I opted for the coleslaw as a side. It was bland and none too fresh tasting. I've had better coleslaw from the deli section of the grocery store. I know Cecil's is a venerable place with a long history in St Paul. I'd like to give them another chance and try some of their non-sandwich specialties, maybe the soups or latkes. Maybe some of their other sandwiches are better; but the Reuben I had was very disappointing, especially for the price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Yesterday was our first and last visit to this establishment, as we were highly disappointed with the service we received, particularly given their good reviews.
First impressions are everything, and upon entering, we were seated immediately.
However, I was struck by the dirty condition of the dining room floors, which was inexcusable considering there were only a few customers and our section was empty.
This lack of cleanliness made me skeptical about ordering a meal, as it raised concerns about the kitchen's cleanliness.
Nevertheless, my friend insisted that we place both a dine-in and take-out order, given the 45-minute drive it took to get there.
For dine-in, we ordered the Matzo ball soup and a sandwich.
For take-out, we requested a medium-sized Matzo ball soup and one sandwich.
Unfortunately, our inattentive waitress, who only visited our table twice to inquire if we needed anything, placed an incorrect order for a pint-sized soup to go.
She spent most of her time eating or on break, and we had to request a second set of silverware and napkins.
The soup was tasteless and bland, with visible pieces of chicken and carrots, but lacking in chicken flavor.
The meal was very basic, with only two Matzo balls and not a lot of flavor.
The total bill was $120.00, which we felt was a waste of money for the soup and sandwiches💯
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
The service was slow.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 2
Recommended dishes: Chicken Soup with Matzo Ball, Reuben, Pastrami
Got there and trying to get to the back. There is a congested crowd smack in the narrow that separates the deli and restaurant. The people standing to pay were blocking the way of the incoming diners. Yes the was the big old rude guy at the register not even saying anything until my mom's bf wad question people so it would be less congested. Food you ask? It used to be better 30+ years ago.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Great food, but it's very loud. Makes it difficult to visit with the people you're there with.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Russian Reuben Sandwich
The food is really good but DONT GO IF YOUR A WHEELCHAIR USER. Completely inaccessible you have to enter through the back entrance with the trash cans then go through a very narrow kitchen and then past incredibly narrow and hazardously placed tables. Truly an awful and humiliating experience when my wheelchair got caught on the counter going into the kitchen the employees just pointed and snickered at me. I couldn’t get the door open as I entered and had to yell for someone to come help me for 3 minutes before someone came, when he did he looked at me and said “why are you here alone” I replied “because I’m a grown adult” and he just said “really”. To the business- don’t mark your restaurant as “wheelchair accessible” save people the hurt and humiliation of going there
Wheelchair accessibility: Don’t go under any circumstances if you a wheelchair user
My experience
The food is really good but DONT GO IF YOUR A WHEELCHAIR USER. Completely inaccessible you have to enter through the back entrance with the trash cans then go through a very narrow kitchen and then past incredibly narrow and hazardously placed tables. Truly an awful and humiliating experience when my wheelchair got caught on the counter going into the kitchen the employees just pointed and snickered at me. I couldn’t get the door open as I entered and had to yell for someone to come help me for 3 minutes before someone came, when he did he looked at me and said “why are you here alone” I replied “because I’m a grown adult” and he just said “really”. To the business- don’t mark your restaurant as “wheelchair accessible” save people the hurt and humiliation of going there
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 2
Meh. Not worth the hype. Is this American ? Lots of people working, like 10 people behind the deli, but as a patron, I had no idea what to do and nobody stepped up to explain. Seemed very inclusive, if you were " in the club" Boom bang, you went and did what you needed to do to get what you wanted. If not, you stand around feeling like a jackass. Finally got a table and ordered, DO NOT ORDER THE RUSSIAN ROULETTE. It's cold. There is .05 oz of turkey on it and 1 slice of corned beef. It was $16+. Maybe there are better sandwiches or maybe I was being made an example of because I wasn't a regular but in either case it was a disappointment. The bill for 2 Sandwiches and 2 fountain drinks was $47+ tip. I'm sure there are better places at a more reasonable price nearby.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Russian Reuben Sandwich
Mid asf and very expensive for what it is. $36 for a couple of pretty small sandwiches
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Total old school Jewish deli and restaurant - I think the only one left in MSP. Our sandwiches were really yummy, sides were good, take home Caraway Rye bread was delicious! We'll be back!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
i was honestly kind of disappointed in my first visit to cecils. i just happened to be in the area but used to live nearby so wanted to try it out in betweeen errands, brought home my baked goods to find them very dry but i would come back and try something else in hopes for a better experience. <3
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Long time customers. Have never had any problems previously. This experience was so bad. Turkey Pastrami moldy after 3 days, regular Pastrami was literally all fat. This was so disappointing. You hold a special place in our hearts, but this was too much. We spent $130.00. This is painful to write, but I needed to say something. Don't let it slip this far, please.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Way over-priced for what it is. 2 mediocre Reuben’s and 3 latkes cost us over $50 for take-out. No pricing on their menu should have been a sign that they weren’t going to be reasonable.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Really underwhelmed, sandwich size was like a kids menu serving. Not what I remember from past visits nor what I would expect in a deli sandwich.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Wait staff was cruel and openly mocking of elderly customer.
My mom had a great morning shopping in highland. She was hungry and stopped into cecil's. Mom is 85, and sometimes loses her words, especially after a busy day like she had. She struggled to come up with "Reuben." The girl at the counter openly mocked Mom, laughed at Mom to her colleagues and other customers, "look! She doesn't even know what she wants to order!"
It totally ruined my mom's day. She called me in tears about it tonight. Clearly this employee has no respect and no concept for the challenges of aging and what the elderly are going through.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Recommended dishes: Reuben
Not rating the restaurant, service there is usually solid, but the deli, don’t waste your time. Waited my turn, even waited patiently while a little old lady got my turn, but after that, and after making eye contact with the next available deli worker multiple times, I was passed over again. Go there for lunch, but if you value your time, and good customer service, skip the deli.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
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