1881 by LEI

4.5

78 Reviews

$30 and under

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 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
Micheal Pearson
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

What 78 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.5

4.5 based on recent ratings

4.4Food
4.6Service
4.5Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Twin Cities / St. Paul
Best Overall
Twin Cities / St. Paul
Best Food
Twin Cities / St. Paul
Best Service
Twin Cities / St. Paul
Best Ambiance
Twin Cities / St. Paul
Best Value
Twin Cities / St. Paul
Good for groups
Twin Cities / St. Paul
Neighborhood gem
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

Nestled in the historic Union Depot, 1881 by LEI offers a "unique and interesting dining experience" with a compact yet diverse menu. Guests rave about the "amazing food" and "impeccable service." Standout dishes include the Reuben Truffles and Butternut Squash Ravioli. Expect a vibrant atmosphere and "memorable" ambiance.

79 Reviews

R
Roy
Minneapolis
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Have been wanting to try 1881 for some time and finally made it downtown for dinner. It was a wonderful experience and good to see the restaurant busy on a Friday night. The drinks, appetizer, salad, entree, and dessert were all delicious (including one of the best cups of coffee) and pacing of service on point. Looking forward to future visits!
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C
Clyde
Minneapolis
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined 2 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
I just wrote a review last week, but I have to let you know how wonderful the superfood salad was!!! It is great that something so nutritious can taste so good. My friend’s burger and my other friend’s turkey cranberry sandwich was also delicious. They both love the French fries, it was difficult to resist not eating some as they were willing to share. Our service was fantastic as well. Thank you, Jan Doepner PS. It was good to see the restaurant well attended, I think people are starting to discover what a treasure it is.
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D
Donna
Greater Boston
13 reviews
4.0
13 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
We had lunch with friends today, and we wanted to check out 1881 at the St. Paul Union Depot. We enjoyed the menu choices-food and wine. The food was tasty-we ordered a couple of different sandwich and salad items. The service was good, but two of us had the soup du jour and it was warm-not hot enough. We are big fans of trains, so the setting had so much appeal.
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D
Dan
Minneapolis
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 1
2. Food 3
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 5
It wasn’t clear that a server was assigned to our table. We waited 20 min before someone came to take our order. Another 15 min before drinks came. Another 25 min for food. After a busboy took our plates away we waited for the bill which never came. After about 25 min we had track down staff to get our bill. We never again saw the initial person who took our order. We won’t be going back.
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C
Clyde
Minneapolis
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on November 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Ten of us had a fantastic experience at 1881! We Ordered different appetizers which we shared, it was a wonderful variety of flavors tastes. We took advantage of Happy Hour and had a second drink with our dinner. Everyone was impressed with the quality of their food and at a reasonable cost. The staff was attentive and friendly, we felt they went out of their way to make our evening special. We enjoyed the ambiance of the remolded Union Depot, it was an unbelievable experience for everyone. Jan Doepner and fellow book club members.
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K
Kim
Minneapolis
43 reviews
vip
3.0
43 reviews
Dined on November 13, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
This is the second time I have dined here. Both times there was a longer than usual wait to be served our meal. It will be a Plan B next time we go out for dinner. The ambiance was very good. The waitress was pleasant and courteous.
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CO
CarolO
Las Vegas
2 reviews
vip
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
I love their biscuits they send home with you, they are so tasty and leaves you with a great feeling about the restaurant even days after you left. It’s a very smart thing to do.
1 person found this helpful
B
Barb
Minneapolis
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 7, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wow! What a fabulous experience! Great food (not surprising if you’ve been to the Lake Elmo Inn), fun atmosphere in a historic building & the staff were welcoming & prompt. Prices were reasonable too! Go dine at 1881!! A secret gem in the heart of the St Paul Depot! We’ll be back for sure.
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J
Joanne
Minneapolis
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 3, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
They were a little slow in giving us water. It took a while for the waitress to attend to us. Once she realized her error she was quite attentive. The food was very good. Both of us liked our food. The space was rather noisy—open in the depot,
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T
Toni
Minneapolis
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on November 2, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Duck was a little disappointing. Steak and sunnies were done nicely. Liked the setting and managed the noisiness of the large space
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FAQs

1881 by LEI is rated 4.5 stars by 78 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Nov 23, 2024

7:00 PM

Booked 20 times today

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
Micheal Pearson
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

1881 by LEI

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Menu

What 78 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is 1881 by LEI restaurant rated?

Is 1881 by LEI currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information