Best Restaurants for People Watching in Mendota Heights

Great service, food, and ambience. Had a pre-Orpheum reservation and our server had us in and out without feeling rushed. A great meal and exceptional experience.

Pros:The rooftop canopy adds an interesting ambiance to this space. The restaurant was quiet enough to comfortably have a conversation. The staff were friendly and we were greeted promptly and seated/ served quickly. There is a nice variety of choices on the menu. The salmon and short ribs were delicious. Cons:The space was a bit dark if seated on the outer edges of the available seating space. Several people were using their phone flashlights to read the menu. There was a row of TVs tuned to a basketball game above the bar area. I know many people appreciate this, I find it distracting to a nice dinner experience particularly at this price point.

We really enjoy Cantina Laredo for the food and drinks. My partner is vegan so she loves that there's a vegan menu available as well. Food is consistently excellent.

Such a cute concept! The food was really excellent. Small bites that reminded me of a “high tea” vibe but with yummy cocktails instead. Though it’s not in an actual old train car, it is impressive how they create the ambiance of one. My only criticism would be that though there was Christmas music playing, it was very quiet and we could hear every word of conversations next to us. My wife and I said we would do this again though next year if there’s another menu to experience.

We went on a very cold Sunday. We had a reservation, but it really wasn't needed. It was really good. I had chicken wild rice soup & apple pie before a show at the Walker. Anyway, there weren't many people there when we went.