Hyacinth

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Hyacinth

Date: Oct 4, 2024

790 Grand Ave

St Paul, MN 55105

Phone: (651) 478-1822

www.hyacinthstpaul .com

Compact, vibrant restaurant presenting Italian- & Mediterranean-inspired dinner menus.
Service options: Has outdoor seating · Serves great cocktails

If someone asks us, “do you know before you go to a restaurant if it is going to be good?” Our answer is simply we do not. E gets a lot of her suggestions from some of the same people on TC Live on MSP 9 TV. That said it can be hit and miss.
We normally talk over where we are going at our Friday night wine tasting. The servers and salespeople there know all the new and great places. That doesn’t mean they are always correct for us but it’s a better heads up. Plus, many times we get a great suggestion on what on sometimes vast menus to order. In this case Tracey said Hyacinth was a great place and she was correct.
To get to a great restaurant one must first find it. Our GPS will get us on the block but not always find the place. If you go around the Grand Ave block twice as we did, Hyacinth at 790 Grand Ave, is the dark area between Red Rabbit of St Paul and Bruegger’s Bagels. When you walk to it, at night it could be lit a bit better. None the less we found it. The building has a non-descript front but does say Hyacinth, they have a small entryway that three couple were nice enough to stand as we waited a few minutes for our tables. It is a bit reminiscent of a mom & pop establishment, but the food & drink are amazing.
Typical of a small great, QUIET restaurant it will be tight but not uncomfortable seating. Nut that helps to order as you can ask your neighbor what’s THAT? As our neighbors did. It was nice social. If you have a party of six or more there are other nice restaurants in the area you should try.
One issue we had looking over Hyacinth’s website was there was no prices. They said it was a lot of work to update their website and you would see the prices when you came in. A bit scary but it was fine. The menu was our favorite two-page menu, drinks on one side food on the other.
Our waiter was a young man called Riga. He is from Estonia. The name Riga is the same name as the capital of Latvia. His brother was named after the country of Estonia. If his parents had another child, they would have named it after Lithuania.
For wine E had the Cannonau Vigne from Sardinia for $13. I had Nebbiolo for $17 from the Italian Piedmont. My wine was good E’s was better! Always liking wine & bread we ordered flat bread for $10. For $10 additional you can add cheese, that you must do.

Then we went with a watermelon salad for $16 which was absolutely amazing. It had no greenery it had watermelon, hazelnuts, pickled frescos red peppers & red onions & flaked pecorino Romano cheese (which is similar to mozzarella only better).

We ordered two pastas the Bucatini the white pasta for $23 for a half. And Linguini with crab for $23 for a half. The Bucatini was more Minnesotan & bland and better. The Linguini had a greater variety of tastes including the clams that we did not prefer.
The Matre’d/owner came over to chat for a bit that we would love to see all restaurants do. We learn about the food, why the restaurant does what they do, and you just feel more special than someone stopping through for a meal.
Our bill was $125 plus $13 St Paul tax. So far, they have not cut down Grand Ave’s incredible trees we hope they never do as planned. Hyacinth is an amazing restaurant you must try, its on our top ten list! You’ll be glad you did!