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1881 by LEI, Saint Paul, MN

1881 by LEI

4.5
4.5
79 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 18 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

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 79 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

  1. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  2. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  3. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  4. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  5. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  6. 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.

    Is this helpful?

  7. 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

  8. 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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  9. 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,

    Is this helpful?

  10. 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

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

1881 by LEI is rated 4.5 stars by 79 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 18 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
    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
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