Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Minneapolis - St. Paul
  4. Twin Cities / St. Paul
  5. Saint Paul
1881 by LEI, Saint Paul, MN

1881 by LEI

4.4
4.4
125 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
  • Great for creative cocktails
Lake Elmo Inn is opened a new restaurant at Union Depot in Saint Paul. Owners Chef John and Christine Schiltz named 1881. The name “1881” pays homage to the year both the original Union Depot and Lake Elmo Inn opened, reflecting the deep historical connection the restaurant hopes to foster.

Offering a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere, 1881 by Lake Elmo Inn will merge the charm of a storied past with a modern culinary flair, becoming a destination for both locals and visitors.

1881 by Lake Elmo Inn is to be a place where families can build lasting memories. We want to offer an experience that generations can cherish, from proms to graduations to weddings, we’re here to make moments unforgettable.

The Menu is inspired by the success of the original Lake Elmo Inn and will include both favorites from the flagship restaurant as well as exclusive new offerings hand-crafted from fresh, local

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Hours of operation
    Wed–Fri 10:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 9:00 am–2:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (952) 698-1881
  • Website
    http://www.1881bylei.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Ashe Wolf
  • Catering
    Lake Elmo Inn Catering(our sister company) is the exclusive Caterer for Union Depot. We are also able to cater any off-site events within the area. For information and booking please contact us at 651-779-5994
  • Location
    214 4th St E suite 300, Saint Paul, MN 55101
  • Neighborhood
    Saint Paul
  • Cross street
    4th Street East & Wacouta Street. Parking lot is off of Kellogg Blvd
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Union Depot Station (light rail station) is outside the front of the building. Public bus stop is at Union Depot, along with the Amtrak.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 125 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.4
4.4 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.4Ambience
  • 4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Best Overall

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Best Service

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Best Ambiance

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Good for groups

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Healthy

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Great for fine wines

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Romantic

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Good for special occasions

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Lively

  • Twin Cities / St. Paul

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
1881 by LEI offers a "unique dining experience" with a historic setting in the St. Paul Union Depot. Guests praise the "delicious food," generous portions, and attentive service. Highlights include the vegan filet and duck risotto. The ambiance is "romantic yet good for large groups," making it a must-visit gem.

125 Reviews

  1. Melissa

    Minneapolis

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful! It was nice to sit up on the balcony. Server was very attentive.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Jim

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really enjoyed our experience at 1881! 2 couples celebrated Valentines night at the Union Depot! Service was good, and the food was very good! Free parking indoors made it even better, considering the snow falling outside! We will go back again!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Cristina

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food delicious. Ambiance elegant and historical. Service exceptional. Worked with my dietary restrictions and had a wonderful meal- couldn’t ask for more. Lot A for parking made it a breeze.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Kaye

    VIP

    Minneapolis

    20 reviews

    1.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Unfortunately, my experience at 1881 did not meet expectations. While the staff were all very kind and polite, their sense of urgency, attention to detail, and ability to read the room were lacking. Although the butternut squash ravioli was delightful, the steak was disappointing. Our dinner lasted nearly three hours, which was not by choice. It took over 25 minutes to receive our first round of cocktails, and our server did not arrive at our table for the first 20 minutes. Regrettably, I cannot recommend this restaurant.

    1 person found this helpful

  5. Laura

    Minneapolis

    16 reviews

    5.0

    16 reviews

    Dined on February 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible dinner at 1881! The restaurant is small but cosy and quiet enough to easily converse. Our 3 year old fashioned cocktails may have been the best we’re ever had. Proveletta appetizer was delicious. Caesar salad, Sunnies and Seafood Medley were all top notch.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Patricia

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 6, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great experience, but was looking for happy hour specials. Next time will sit at the bar to receive the specials. Definitely will be back , food and service was great!!

    Is this helpful?

  7. James

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The service from the bar to the table was excellent. They checked on us often and ensured everything was going well. The food was quite good, having the Steak Frites and ordering a side of mushrooms to accompany it. Wife liked the duck breast, but thought the risotto was more rice than risotto, but still had good flavor. The desserts were brought out to review and quite good. They even send you home with a small two pack of homemade cookies per guests. Prices were reasonable for the level of restaurant they are striving to be.

    Is this helpful?

  8. Elaine

    Minneapolis

    15 reviews

    3.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on January 31, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    We ae used to going to the Lake Elmo Inn in Lake Elmo. The servers are more friendly and the service is faster at that location. Food choices are the same, but service is much less professional. We will continue to go to the Lake Elmo location. We were there at lunch time and thought that the service would be quicker because of the time of dauy.

    Is this helpful?

  9. Barb

    Minneapolis

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on January 25, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    I have eaten here twice. Food was good, but not as good as Lake Elmo Inn. I have yet to find a favorite meal at this restaurant. Appetizers were better than the main meal.
    1881 by LEIResponded on January 31, 2025
    Hi Barb, thanks for checking us out! We’ve been grateful for all the feedback on our menu and are excited to launch a new one on February 19th. We’d love for you to stop by and discover your new favorite dish!

    Is this helpful?

  10. carol

    VIP

    Minneapolis

    23 reviews

    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on January 24, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food and service! A well kept secret everyone should know about. The Filet Meat-Non is to die for - you’d never know it’s not red meat!! It’s a must try!!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

1881 by LEI is rated 4.4 stars by 125 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 12 times today
Google Map for 1881 by LEI

214 4th St E suite 300, Saint Paul, MN 55101

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    4th Street East & Wacouta Street. Parking lot is off of Kellogg Blvd
  • Neighborhood
    Saint Paul
  • Hours of operation
    Wed–Fri 10:00 am–2:00 pm Wed–Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Sat, Sun 9:00 am–2:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    Union Depot Station (light rail station) is outside the front of the building. Public bus stop is at Union Depot, along with the Amtrak.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Ashe Wolf
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.1881bylei.com/
  • Phone number
    (952) 698-1881
  • Catering
    Lake Elmo Inn Catering(our sister company) is the exclusive Caterer for Union Depot. We are also able to cater any off-site events within the area. For information and booking please contact us at 651-779-5994
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Delight more diners
  • Open for Business Blog
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2024 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo