Estelle
An upscale neighborhood eatery offering Southern European cuisine, inventive cocktails, and an inviting atmosphere. A true gem for food lovers.
Highlights
Must-see attractions
Social
From TikTok & Reddit
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Blue hour photography, calmer galleries
Estelle
Highlights
Must-see attractions
An upscale neighborhood eatery offering Southern European cuisine, inventive cocktails, and an inviting atmosphere. A true gem for food lovers.
"This is probably the best restaurant in the Cities."
Reserve in Advance
Busy on weekday evenings; booking online ahead of time is recommended for a smooth dining experience.
Chef's Counter Seating
Request seating at the Chef's bar for an interactive experience watching the culinary team at work.
Quick Facts
Cuisine
Southern European
Price
$$$
Highlights
Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences
Chef's Counter Experience
Watch skilled chefs create a symphony of flavors right before your eyes at the interactive Chef's counter. It's an unforgettable culinary performance.
Exceptional Southern European Cuisine
Savor authentic Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese-inspired dishes, from exquisite tapas to perfectly crafted pastas.
Inventive Cocktails and Wine
Indulge in unique, balanced cocktails like the Spanish G&T and Spanish bar snacks that perfectly complement the robust drink menu.
Plans like a pro.
Thinks like you
Insider Tips
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit
Reserve in Advance
Busy on weekday evenings; booking online ahead of time is recommended for a smooth dining experience.
Chef's Counter Seating
Request seating at the Chef's bar for an interactive experience watching the culinary team at work.
Don't Skip Dessert
Indulge in delightful desserts like the Honey Cake, egg tart, or churros for a sweet ending.
Tips
from all over the internet
Reserve in Advance
Busy on weekday evenings; booking online ahead of time is recommended for a smooth dining experience.
Chef's Counter Seating
Request seating at the Chef's bar for an interactive experience watching the culinary team at work.
Don't Skip Dessert
Indulge in delightful desserts like the Honey Cake, egg tart, or churros for a sweet ending.
What Travellers Say
Reviews Summary
Estelle is widely praised for its exceptional Southern European cuisine, innovative cocktails, and warm, attentive service. Diners rave about the Chef's Counter experience and standout dishes like the rigatoni and Piri Piri chicken, though some note that certain dishes may not hit the mark for everyone. The ambiance is consistently described as great, making it a top choice for a memorable dining experience.
"We went here on a recommendation of our friends. This place does not disappoint! We got a reservation at the Chef's counter, it was a wonderful symphony watching the employees work so well together. Started with drinks, the drink menu is solid, I got the Spanish G&T, wife got the Oh Bother, both were great! We got the Shrimp Al Ajillo as an appetizer, wonderful flavors with a bit of char taste as well. For our main plates. I got the Spaghetti, very good with ricotta and basilto to mix in. Wife got the Radiatore, I took a few bites of that, It is very much one of my favorite things I've ever eaten, so much flavor! Wine list is very good per the wife, and she had our wonderful server pick one out for her to go with dinner. Not sure they do this at the tables, but at the counter, they will randomly bring you small bites to share. We had some sort of mushroom/horseradish mixture on crostini, very good, and churros that melt in your mouth. We finished the night off with a Honey Cake for dessert, again very good! Great food, wonderful service, overall an amazing place we highly recommend!"
Will Garner
"This place is a phenomenal restaurant! 🍴 Estelle serves a wonderful selection of delicious 🤤 dishes 🍽️ - definitely get the potatoes 🥔 appetizer, fried ♨️ empanadas 🥟 appetizer, Rigatoni pasta 🍝, and cheeseburger 🍔 with fries! 🍟 The Honey 🍯 Cake 🍰 with Hazelnuts 🌰 is also absolutely incredible! The staff 👨🍳 is super friendly and professional, the ambience 🎶 is great, the place is beautifully decorated 🛋️, and they have lots of indoor seating! 🪑 I wish I came here sooner!"
Alon Grinshpoon
"Best meal and dining experience we’ve had all year! After taking a trip to Spain and Portugal, my husband and I were excited to revisit some of our favorite dishes and WOW did Estelle not disappoint. The patatas bravas was delicious, the radiators and agnolotti were absolute perfection and the cocktails were unique and balanced. Our waiter Cesar was knowledgeable, attentive and just so lovely. He made the experience that much better. We planned to eat on the patio but with colder weather ended up af the chefs counter, which was the happiest surprise. Getting to see the chefs all in action made the experience that much more special. We will absolutely be back — and soon!"
Nicole Brodzik
What People Like
What People Dislike
Frequently Asked Questions
Reservations are highly recommended, especially for busy weekday evenings. You can book online in advance for a smoother dining experience.
Yes, many guests highly recommend requesting seating at the Chef's Counter for a unique and interactive dining experience, watching the chefs in action.
Diners frequently praise the Patatas Bravas, Rigatoni, Shrimp Al Ajillo, and the Roasted Piri Piri Chicken. Don't forget to try the unique cocktails like the Spanish G&T.
Absolutely! Popular dessert choices include the Honey Cake, Pastel de nata (egg tart), and complimentary churros for a sweet finish.
While the atmosphere and menu are more tailored to adults, the cheeseburger is noted as a great option for kids.
Estelle boasts a robust drink menu with excellent wines and creatively crafted cocktails, including popular choices like the Spanish G&T.
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This relative newcomer that opened before the pandemic is where we want to go regularly to sip on excellent cocktails, wine or beer and nosh or have a full-on meal of Italian-, Spanish- and Portuguese-inspired dishes, tapas fare included. On a recent visit, some of the dishes that have been on the top of our list remain, while there were some newcomers to the menu. Either way, the menu changes with the seasons, so even several standing menu items were given some spring zest.
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Estelle: I can’t decide whether I prefer the excellent wines or the lovingly crafted cocktails at this southern European spot, which also features a killer cheeseburger, delicious, hand-made pastas and my favorite chicken dish in town — the juicy, just-spicy-enough Roasted Piri Piri Chicken. The service here is always warm and attentive, and the newly renovated patio features a roof with overhead heaters built in to stretch the al fresco dining window as far as possible.
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On St. Clair Avenue, you’ll find Estelle, an upscale tapas restaurant in the leafy Mac-Groveland neighborhood of St. Paul. Off to the side of the restaurant is a modest-sized bar, and the cocktails there are very smart, most with a light Mediterranean composition that goes perfectly with the tight list of Spanish bar snacks offered. And the look and feel of this small operation is elevated and somewhat transporting, but it also feels truly rooted in the neighborhood.
Estelle (St. Paul
Estelle opened a couple of years ago in St. Paul in whatever that neighbourhood right by Macalester is called. It got rave reviews from the local press and despite my suspicion of the local press—whose excitement often seems to me to have as much to do with the idea of a place as with the food itself—we’d planned to eat there in early 2020. But you know what happened next.
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Tucked into an unassuming storefront on a residential block, Estelle's southern European menu of pastas, pintxos, and tapas perfectly balance comfort and skill. The rigatoni with fennel sausage and calabrian chili shouldn’t be missed, and don’t skip out on ordering a few pasteis de nada (Portuguese egg tarts) to end your meal. Don’t have a reservation?.
Social
from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit