Estelle
1806 St Clair Ave, St Paul
(651) 330-9648
Recent Reviews
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Great food and amazing staff. We love sitting at the bar that is disconnected from the main restaurant. The soft lighting and records playing make a for a relaxing getaway. We also enjoy talking to the bartenders there. Not only are the bartenders great company, but they make tasteful cocktails that are creative. Finally, I greatly appreciate that they have a drawing of the glass in which your drink comes in. I wish more places had this designation on their menus.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It was my first here & I will boast about how tasty everything was. It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a first time experience at a new restaurant. I would highly recommend. This is their updated menu & underlined are the ones I ordered plus the burger which was not pictured but my husband said it was the best burger he’s had in a while also. Check Estelle out!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dining at Estelle felt like one of those rare evenings when everything aligns so perfectly that you’re aware, even as it’s happening, that you’re in the middle of something special. From the first bite to the last, the experience stood comfortably alongside meals we’ve had at truly great restaurants in Paris, London, New Orleans, San Francisco, Boston, and New York City—which almost makes it stranger to realize that Estelle is literally less than two miles from our house. There’s something delightfully disorienting about discovering world-class cooking hiding in your own neighborhood.
The tapas set an extraordinarily high bar. The Pica Pau was a textbook example of the dish done right: fork-tender braised skirt steak bathed in a savory white wine and beer reduction, layered with Worcestershire depth and just enough piri piri heat to keep each bite lively. Pickled vegetables and olives provided brightness and contrast, while the toasted baguette was there to make sure not a drop of sauce went to waste. The Bibb Salad was equally precise—earthy roasted beets and crisp apple balanced by a gently spicy nduja vinaigrette, creamy chèvre, fresh spinach, and pickled shallot, all anchored by warm focaccia that made it feel both refined and deeply satisfying. The Shrimp al Ajillo arrived sizzling and aromatic, the shrimp perfectly cooked and swimming in a rich garlic butter sauce, subtly smoky from pimentón and lifted by fresh dill and cilantro—another dish that demanded bread and rewarded you for it.
The entrées only reinforced the sense that Estelle knows exactly what it’s doing. The grilled piri piri chicken was juicy and deeply seasoned, with heat that built gradually rather than overwhelmed, paired beautifully with crisp-tender fingerling potatoes, silky creamed spinach, mellow garlic confit, and a red pepper sauce that tied the plate together with elegance. The nightly special—pork belly with gnocchi in a plum chutney sauce—was a standout: the pork belly meltingly tender with just the right balance of richness, the gnocchi pillowy and comforting, and the plum chutney providing a sweet-savory counterpoint that felt both unexpected and completely natural.
A huge part of the evening’s warmth came from our server, Robyn, who felt less like staff and more like an old friend guiding us through a meal she genuinely loved. She was effortlessly knowledgeable about the menu and the dishes, offering insights and suggestions with confidence and ease, never rehearsed or rushed. That kind of service—the kind that makes you feel relaxed, welcome, and completely taken care of—elevated an already remarkable meal into something truly memorable. Walking home afterward, it felt almost absurd to know that an experience this good wasn’t across an ocean or in a major food capital, but sitting right there in our own backyard.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went to celebrate a special occasion and had a great time. The food was delicious and the staff were lovely. They really made it a special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My friend and I came in earlier this week and truly had the best time! Truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in recent memory. Every part of the night was amazing, the food was phenomenal and the hospitality was 100/10! We sat at the chefs counter which I would totally recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The best food I've maybe ever had. Servers have always been great the only problem is it's a bit loud inside and the music changes volume
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Patatas Bravas, Churros, Burger, Spaghetti Pomodoro Ricotta Basil Parmesan
Food was absolutely delicious 😋
Service was exceptional 👌
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lovely meal and a fun drink!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had such a beautiful cozy dinner at Estelle. We arrived early so we had a drink and bite at the bar. William was so kind and patient with all our questions and inquiries. The fried olives were a treat I didn’t want to share but did. We then had the full service in the quaint dining room. Gabe took exceptional care of us. The menu is small but spot on. We ordered several dishes to share with the table. If I have to pick favorites it would be the shrimp tapas, the peri peri chicken and the honey cake. It was a great night catching up with old friends while being cared for. Thank you!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place is incredible. A staple for those who live here and a must have if you’re just visiting.
Highly recommend the sangria, patatas bravas, rissoles, and pica pau. Then the rigatoni and polenta bolognese.
We didn’t have dessert because we were full but do not wait—go visit!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
What an absolute treat. The vibe was great, the food was incredible and the service was outstanding!! My server, Robyn, hit on every suggestion she made. Her table touches were just as the right time too. I just left and I've already recommended it to several people. Well done!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
So, so good. So happy they were able to accommodate vegans :)
Estelle was a lovely place to come for a spontaneous date night with elevated food and experience. Our server went above and beyond to walk though the menu when I mentioned I did not like hard/strong cheeses, and provided great detail when we asked about flavor and the seasonal sangria. Our server was also awesome at timing as to when to check in on drink refills and how things were tasting.
We sat up at the chefs counter which was super fun, especially getting to get a preview of the food before we ordered😊. We ordered the piri piri chicken and the agnolotti which were not only phenomenal on their own, but paired well together (we were sharing each dish) with the agnolotti being rich and flavorful with the equally flavorful but lighter chicken. We ended with the honey cake which, I have to say, was one of the best desserts I’ve ever had with SUPER tasty praline and honeycomb paired with it. Tasty churros were a lovely complimentary top off.
All in all, this was a top restaurant experience for us with beautiful service and thoughtfully put together dishes. It didn’t feel stuffy or snobbish, instead we felt welcomed and cared for with some of the most excellent foods we have ever had. Thanks Estelle!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went here for the first time tonight after being recommended many times and was not disappointed. Our server, Robyn, went above and beyond and we loved her recommendations! She was definitely a big part of the 5 stars. The tapas are very shareable. We loved the shrimp and biri salad. The pasta is made fresh in house daily. Can’t wait to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Patatase Bravas are life changing! Generous and delicious servings. Service staff simply amazing! Go there and indulge your foodie cravings!
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