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Welcome to W.A. Frost & Company

LOCATIONS

Welcome to W.A. Frost & Company, a gem in the heart of St. Paul, Minnesota, where fine dining meets an atmosphere steeped in history and elegance. Nestled at 374 Selby Ave, this New American bar and restaurant has been luring guests in since 1975, making it a cherished staple of the local dining scene. Set against the backdrop of the historic Cathedral Hill neighborhood, patrons can enjoy the restaurant's stunning architecture, complete with exquisite stained glass windows and charming outdoor patios shaded by greenery.

The ambiance at W.A. Frost is nothing short of enchanting, particularly in the evening when the space glows with soft lighting. Visitors rave about the stunning views and the eclectic decor, which creates a nostalgic yet vibrant vibe reminiscent of a 1920s speakeasy. Whether you're seated indoors surrounded by captivating artwork or enjoying the delightful patio during warmer months, every detail contributes to a feeling of sophistication and warmth.

Delightful Culinary Experience

At W.A. Frost, the menu offers an impressive array of dishes, each masterfully crafted with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients. Begin your culinary journey with intriguing starters like the Squash Bisque adorned with spiced pepitas, or indulge in the inviting Apple & Gouda Butter Lettuce salad, which evokes a harmonious blend of flavors and textures.

As you navigate through the main courses, the Duck Leg Confit and Red Wine Braised Short Rib stand out as must-try offerings. Reviews consistently praise the Walleye, a signature dish showcasing the essence of local lakeside cuisine, perfectly complemented by wild rice pilaf. Diners have shared that each plate reflects attention to detail and creativity, making it easier to overlook the higher pricing and smaller portions often noted in reviews.

A Toast to Excellence

The drink menu is equally impressive, featuring craft cocktails that guests describe as "delicious" and "unique." Take, for instance, the Final Argument cocktail, which has received enthusiastic nods from both connoisseurs and casual drinkers for its balance of flavors. The bar's selection of wines perfectly matches the restaurant's elevated dishes, allowing for a well-rounded dining experience.

Service that Shines

One cannot discuss W.A. Frost without applauding its attentive service. Patrons have noted the staff's extensive knowledge of the menu and their personable nature, which significantly enhances the overall experience. The combination of exceptional food, sophisticated atmosphere, and top-tier service has earned W.A. Frost a loyal following, making it a quintessential stop for visitors and locals alike.

Final Thoughts

Whether you're celebrating a special occasion or simply seeking a refined dining experience, W.A. Frost & Company promises a memorable outing. With its captivating ambiance, exquisitely crafted dishes, and attentive staff, it's easy to see why diners are enamored with this historic locale. As they say, sometimes you need to splurge—and in this case, W.A. Frost is a splendid choice.

START YOUR REVIEW OF W.A. Frost & Company
Kimberly G.
Kimberly G.

Atmosphere is STUNNING! Both inside and outside the restaurant is beautifully restored historic buildings. Coming in the evening is especially beautiful with all the outdoor lighting and the cathedral dome at the end of the street. Historic mansions surround. The service here is top-tier and staff are well informed about the menu items. The food is delicious, however...portions for the price are much less than most. I still say it's well worthwhile, but know that pricing is higher than average and portions are smaller. On the upside, the menu items are unique and rotate often, and each item is masterfully crafted in terms of flavor and presentation. I greatly enjoyed my experience and will be sharing this with friends and family who visit the area. It is truly a special experience to enjoy!

Doug D.
Doug D.

Dinner at WA Frost is always nice. We were seated in one of the dining rooms with a fireplace which was very welcome as it was very cold outside. Good server with a good knowledge of the menu offerings. Started with a mock old-fashioned, dry January. It was as described on the menu, but a little sweeter than expected. Started with bread and brussels sprouts. The Brussels sprouts were very good and the size of the serving was hard for 3 of us to finish. The bread was very nice. I had the halibut which was excellent. My wife had the walleye and it was among the best she has ever tasted. The other two people with us had the stuffed pork chop with succotash which he said was very good and the duck leg confit which is listed as an appetizer but she had as an entree and couldn't say enough good things about her choice. No dessert. We love WA Frost. Great outdoor patio in the summer when the temperature is better than 4 degrees! Parking can be an issue depending on the time of day/evening, but we were early enough to find spots in the parking lot.

Jeff N.
Jeff N.

As this was the first time my wife and I had visited Minnesota, let alone St. Paul, we were recommended to dine at WA Frost & Co. Located at the Dacotah on the corner of Selby and Western Avenues in historical Cathedral Hill that was home to the elite dining classes in the late 1800s, the restaurant radiates these classy vibes per the design and ambiance. To be truthful, WA Frost seemed to have the speakeasy energy back in the 1920s, which continues today between the gorgeous, vine-covered exterior architecture, interior design with its stained glass windows, and the portraits of scantily silk-clothed women that hung on the walls of the bar room and dining room. Seated in their lovely courtyard patio in the back of the building, which is perfect if you are in St. Paul during the summer time as we were when we visited, we enjoyed some delicious cocktails. The Plum mule was solid, made with Japanese me and ginger beer. But I preferred the Sumac Squeeze that was perfection with Pisco, sumac, lime, soda, and pink peppercorn. For food, order the pistachio-crusted halibut cheeks that go wonderfully with the citrus salsa and pickled Jalapeño. The House-Made Herb Porchetta went very well with theMustard Jus. Between the meal and the energy of enjoying it under the stoic brick and sandstone structure with its arched doorways and windows, WA Frost was a great experience to enjoy.

Linda V.
Linda V.

Great outdoor patio. We didn't have reservations but were able to grab a table on the wicker patio end by the patio bar. It's a bit confusing because they said it's open seating for the wicker tables but most appeared to have a reserved sign. The lemon pepper chicken wings were good but there was a lot of feathers still on there. My friend ordered the wagu burger and enjoyed it. We split my fries. Overall food was good, service was good and it was an enjoyable summer patio experience.

Shane G.
Shane G.

I can't say enough good things about W.A. Frost. Let's start with the atmosphere. We sat on the patio and thoroughly enjoyed it. The building is covered in beautiful vines, large beautiful trees sprinkled throughout, and beautiful flowerbeds and stonework. We started our meal with a nice glass of wine and one of their craft cocktails. My wife is quite the mixologist herself but was very pleased with their Final Argument (often called The Last Word) cocktail. For dinner we chose to share a few items instead of getting entrees. We had the fried green tomatoes, lettuce wraps and the bread basket. It was all so delicious. The fresh baked breads were amazing, the fried green tomatoes were perfect, and the lettuce wraps were very refreshing. Our waiter and the entire staff we encountered were very helpful with the right amount of attentiveness. I highly recommend this place for either a hang with a group of friends or a nice intimate dinner with your significant other.

Julia S.
Julia S.

This is easily the most beautiful restaurant in St. Paul. Located in a historical building and full of fun architectural features, quasi-period decor, art, and curio cabinets filled with fascinating things (from shells to rocks to sculpture and ceramics), the restaurant is absolutely fascinating in terms of environment. It felt very nostalgic. Attentive service from everyone made this feel like you were stepping back to the golden era of dining, but without a hint of stuffiness. The food was great, too. I started with the white bean soup, which I really loved. Silky smooth from the starches in the brand and potatoes, savory from the mirepoix and thyme, and bright from the addition of lemon, it was the perfect start to a summer meal. We also ordered the bread plate--highly recommended. For my second course, I had the fried green tomatoes, which were the yummiest thing I have had in a long while. Easily the best cooked-tomato dish I've ever had, the crisp cornmeal crust combined with the sweet and sour chow chow was a nostalgic treat--it reminded me of what I had always hoped chicken nuggets dipped in sweet and sour sauce would taste like--savory, salty, crispy, tender, and a bit sticky-- but they never did. Add in a bright, herby sauce? Yes, yes... it's a joy. I could have it for every course and be thrilled. I was also lucky enough to steal a few spears of asparagus, along with some of the crispy potatoes and a corner of the burrata. It was delicious, and the orange-infused balsamic drizzle did not stand a chance--everything else on the table was dragged through the drizzles left on the plate. Yum. For the next course, I enjoyed (greatly enjoyed) the pasta. A creamy sun-dried tomato sauce, huge leafy greens, and a generous heap of Parmesan came together to make a pleasing collection of flavors and textures. It was excellent, and with the generous portions (and my first- and second- course gluttony), I have lunch for tomorrow. For dessert, I had the pineapple brown sugar cake. It was a unique dish. Soft and tender, with a layer of melty pineapple and a light streusel on top, this was a very gentle cake. It came with brown butter ice cream and a pineapple chutney that had extra depth from paprika. Each part was delicious on its own, and together? Well, it was a synergistic delight. I loved it. The only downside was that there was a mix-up with our first round of drinks. I ordered the non-alcoholic brut and my companions each ordered cava. I was really excited to have found a truly dry NA bubbles at first, until I ordered a second glass. The second glass was different. It turns out that I had accidentally been served the alcoholic version first. Our server apologized profusely, and I am pretty sure the mistake happened at the bar. I am looking forward to coming back to try their mocktails, but I probably would not order anything that could be confused for an alcoholic version.

Ted R.
Ted R.

Sometimes you just need to splurge. But where? I had never been previously to WA Frost, even though it's been around since 1975. A concert brought us to St. Paul and we decided to give WA Frost a go. Walking into the restaurant, I was reminded of similar antique bed and breakfast homes, although you can neither sleep there, nor have breakfast. However, I was also reminded of an art gallery, because every inch of wall space is covered with paintings. It's a wonderful ambiance and it fits perfectly with the 1800's Selby Avenue address. There is also a bright and sunny patio, for those who like to dine outdoors. The food was five-star quality, for sure. Everything was excellent. I love lamb, but it's difficult to find in the Midwest. I found it hard to resist ordering the Lamb "T-bone" with roasted pearl onions, on a bed of macadamia puree with pea shoots (according to the menu), which seemed like spring green lettuce to me. Yes, it was so good that I picked it up at the end and gnawed on the bone to obtain every last bit of meat. It was cooked perfectly and had no gaminess at all. I would not have complained if instead of one lamb chop, I had two -- or three, but it was excellent. My wife ordered the sun dried tomato cappatavi pasta, which are cork screw shaped pasta noodles. She said it was superb and based on my tasting, I agreed. For dessert, we split a Crème Brûlée which had a topping as smooth and hard as a Minnesota lake in the dead of winter. I let my wife crack it open because I am the perfect gentleman. Beneath the shell, it was much, much, much tastier than the average Minnesota lake. The custard was smooth as silk and the taste was perfect. I did resist licking the bowl, but that was a challenge. With one glass of wine, tax, and gratuity, the bill for two exceeded $100. However, based upon the excellent service, food quality, and ambiance, this is still a good value. One needs to splurge now and then, and this is a good place to do it.

Michaela S.
Michaela S.

This review is based off three separate times to this lovely establishment! The first time I went here I was absolutely blown away. I had a lemon pasta sauce with freshly shaved truffles and a chicken breast. For appetizers I highly recommend the charcuterie board! The spinach artichoke dip isn't bad but I didn't love it with their "chip" option with it The last time I went I had the short rib. That was great. I loved the wild mushrooms. I have tried the ratatouille once. It had the fresh amazing taste of traditional ratatouille that it needs to have. But I personally did not like the bread portion. It was an interesting take on the dish. To me ratatouille should be kept how it's meant to be. The ambiance is great from inside or outside. Highly recommend the patio on a summer evening. The inside of this place is gorgeous though. If I could I'd walk around for an hour just to look at the art