Down a random street on Cathedral Hill, you'll find this magical place inside a building which appears completely ordinary. But I guess we should not judge books by their covers, should we? Travel to a different time and experience the excitement that fills the historical space.

As far as restaurants go, this is one of the most diverse atmospheres in
St. Paul​. It's great for either coming and getting some drinks with your friends, or having a fancy dinner with your relatives. Whether its 45 minutes or 2 hours, you can enjoy this place with your own style. 

Menu
With options ranging from simple and modest to classy and upscale, you can easily find an option right for you. They have a number of non-alcoholic drinks, which are incredible, and also many different alcoholic options. 
My personal drink of choice here is the Light & Stormy ($5.00)

Appetizer ($8.00)
To kick off the meal I decided to go with a favorite of mine, fried Brussel Sprouts. They had a tangy bacon sauce that was a great contrast with the sprouts. The portion was large, which definitely made them worthwhile.

Entree ($14.00)
With a menu with many expensive options, one of the options that stuck out was this bistro steak. Seasoned mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans came as sides to the steak. I had it medium-well and it was cooked to perfection, but I wish it was a bit larger.

Dessert ($8.00)
​The Commodore's desert menu is full of sweet treats that sound incredible. I ended up tied between the Spice Cake and the Semifreddo, but in the end, I had to go with the Semifreddo. With a unexplainable texture and flavor packed mystery, it is easy to see how this dish remains on their menu. My best description is this; Puff balls with soft insides and cookie crumb pants, dotted with lime zest dribbles. 

Conclusion
I feel like The Commodore is an unexpected surprise every time you walk through the doors. This is one of the coolest and unique locations inside the St. Paul area. The only downside is that it is a great location, which means its usually busy most of the time. So do not expect a quiet little place, or you might be let down.

It is also pretty pricey! Just keep an eye on what you order and you can usually keep it at a nicer rate. My meal was not too expensive at
​ $47.00 (after tip.)

I believe this is a must, especially if you're in the area, why not go check it out?

La Grolla is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the St. Paul area, from the nice servers to incredible food, La Grolla is a must. 

First of all, I am not a huge fan of pasta, so it can be pretty challenging to find an Italian restaurant that has plenty of other options. La Grolla has plenty of pasta options that are fantastic while also having many options that are not pasta.

Appetizer
For starters I got the Caprese, It was extremely fresh and tasty, the tomatoes and mozzarella were incredibly juicy. It was a great appetizer and definitely kicked off the meal strong.

Entree 
​Tonight I decided to get the Pollo Capricciosa, it was an amazing dish, chicken topped with tomato and mozzarella pieces. On the side it came with fried Asparagus, Brussel Sprouts, and sliced Potatoes. Every time I tried something different on my plate, it offered a new taste experience. 

Dessert
Even though I've been to La Grolla multiple times, I have never gotten dessert there. I thought it would be a good idea to kick off my La Grolla dessert experience off with a Lemon Tart topped with mixed berries. This dessert was very appealing to the eye and just as appealing to my stomach. It was packed full of flavor and the berries were extremely fresh.

Conclusion
La Grolla continues to be a restaurant that I highly recommend for anyone who is in the Twin Cities area looking for a restaurant that is affordable, inviting, and extremely delicious. From fantastic parking availability for a restaurant in the heart of the city, to the incredibly fresh ingredients used, La Grolla is a staple in St. Paul.  I have had many great meals here and can not wait to go again.