We went to Joan’s with our dining group, Haute Plates, and left there not only fully sated, but euphoric. From the astounding service (Dan) to the overseeing by Joan herself, and all the prep by Jen for our group, we were already blown away. Then the food arrived. Each bite sent us into reverie. Are they magicians??Dietary restrictions: I cannot do butter. They were beyond accommodating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing, Brown Butter Pudding, Beef Tartare
Alan Nutt
Incredible experience! Food was off the charts!Dan is incredible talking through eat course and helping with recommendations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Zoe Kourajian
This was truly the best meal of my life. My husband and I went for my birthday, and they made it so special, with complementary, Prosecco, confetti, and a photo to take home. The food and the wine pairing were beyond incredible. If you are looking for, a special meal out, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I cannot wait to go back for my birthday next year.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lisa B.
What a great hidden treasure. We were greeted warmly even thought we were late (my fault). The food was pretty amazing--beautiful to look at, portioned just right--I had the quinoa lobster for my third dish and the market seafood was a mouthmelting cod. Plus our waiter (Dan I believe) was extremely professional, friendly and helpful without being overbearing. It all had the feel of a place where we were being welcomed in and made to feel special. The very essence of a great restaurant!
Aine K.
Had the most incredible experience here. The staff is absolutely wonderful and really went above and beyond to make our time special. I would have given it a 10/5 for the staff alone - but the food brought it up to a 20/5! It was one of the most delicious meals I've ever experienced, and was very fairly priced. I definitely recommend the steak and the brown butter pudding!
Sharon B.
Great service. Price fixe menu encourages you to try something new. Can't go wrong with any of the options. Had the braised pork shank and the tenderloin- both were both outstanding.
Mike Fischer
Rude. Over
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Brianne Vogel
My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at Joan’s. Our food, drinks, and service were phenomenal. We especially enjoyed the savory eclairs, beef tartare, duck breast, and brown butter pudding along with the intimate atmosphere. Highly recommend Joan’s for special occasions or just to enjoy an upscale dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brown Butter Pudding, Beef Tartare
Samantha Marren
Wow. 100/10. I'm having trouble writing this review because I have so much to say and feel simultaneously speechless.I knew I wanted to treat my partner to a coursed dinner for his birthday this year. I did a quick Google search and saw that Joan's in the Park was a highly rated restaurant in St. Paul that served a coursed menu. St. Paul is a short drive for us so a quick glance at the menu and reviews and I was SOLD.We arrived at this quaint, local, corner restaurant early for our reservation in hopes of being able to grab a round of drinks at the bar top while waiting to be sat at our table. The building radiated warmth upon walking up and we were greeted promptly and enthusiastically by a lovely woman at the host stand. We were lucky to be able to be sat right away and were so happily surprised to see that the host read our reservation notes (that it was my partners birthday and our shellfish allergy, etc.). They sent us a complimentary round of champagne to celebrate while our server Dan welcomed us in and answered any initial questions we had.Service, from start to finish, was a proper experience in real hospitality. We were so attended to the entire time. Dan did an exceptional job, we can't say enough. It is so refreshing to receive such care as a guest. It was refined, upscale, and truly fine dining, but it felt as cozy and loving as being in mom/dad/loved-one's dining room. The dining room was full, which is always a delight to see, and the energy of the space was upbeat and lively. The way a bathroom is kept says a lot about an establishment and the bathrooms were clean, they smelled nice, and were clearly well maintained.The menu was absolutely divine. First of all, it was SO fun to look through each course and see dishes that we've never had before, think about what we wanted to try, what we might share together and what we were most excited about individually. Then to receive each course and to be completely blown away by the flavors, textures, plating, and overall harmony of all of the ingredients... It is *abundantly* clear that whoever is leading the BOH/Kitchen is creating from a place of love because we could feel it in every bite of our evening. Each course was such a beautiful experience; however, my particular favorite was the poached shrimp for my second course. We shared a couple of desserts and a bottle of wine and had (EASILY) the best meal of 2023 at Joan's in the Park.The only TINY thing that came up for us, not worthy of knocking down any points or stars, was that when we first sat down at our table, because the dining room was so full, it was quite loud and very difficult to hear each other across the table. After a party or two left it was much easier to hear but some kind of sound proofing might do this intimate space some good :)There's a saying in the industry that goes something like, "guests will go to a restaurant for the food, but they will come back for the service." and I am thrilled to suggest that Joans in the Park will have you enthusing about both, for hours, possibly days or weeks, after leaving. We cannot wait to go back and we cannot wait to invite our friends and family to come with.Please do yourself a favor and get here ASAP.Vegetarian options: I noticed that each course had a strictly vegetarian option and, although I'm no longer vegetarian, I really admired seeing that.Dietary restrictions: My partner has a shellfish allergy and after informing our server, Dan was sure to communicate to us any dishes that we needed to avoid. The menu was very clear to being with, there didn't seem to be any dishes that had sneaky ingredients that we had to worry about (like an oyster sauce or something).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dana Malan
You can't do better than Joan's. Fantastic food, caring service, just a wonderful night every time.
We had an amazing time at Joan's in the Park! The food was scrumptious, the service was impeccable, and the cocktails hit the spot. We enjoyed the tasting menu, sampling our way through the courses.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Beef Tartare
Chantal Lindholm
Amazing atmosphere, food and wonderful staff! Was completely blown away by every course. Very accommodating to me being gluten free as well. Will definitely be back soon ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing, Brown Butter Pudding, Beef Tartare
D. DANIEL LICHT
Joan’s is a true experience. Delicious is an understatement with regards to the food and wine parings. Joan, Susan and all the people are so welcoming. The atmosphere is charming. Joan’s in the park is a true gem among the Twin Cities food scene.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julia S.
We had another excellent meal at this local gem. While there were some old friends as options on the menu (I'm looking at you, rye knots and browned butter pudding), there are also some newcomers. We loved the bread course, and if you love bread, you will, too. The rye knots are of course delicious, but don't pass up the other options. There are some savory treatments of traditionally sweet breads that are really fun. Our host went for the eclairs, and I went for the savory chocolate babka. It was extra delicious, and it made me want to start baking bread again. For my second course, I had the charred beets. The beets were accompanied by complementary flavors and textures--smooth goat cream, fresh tarragon, honey, juicy pear--what a treat! Next up was a pumpkin-forward gnocchi with pepitas, pumpkin caramel, brown butter, and tarragon. It was intriguing on the page, and ordering it was a good call. It was comforting and delicious with just the right amount of richness. Side note: one piece of oddly-specific praise for Joan's in the Park is that their brown butter rocks, and they use it well. Final course was the root vegetable tart. It had a crumbly crust, smooth and delicious filling, and roasted root vegetables in gorgeous gem tones. I loved the fig balsamic--the sweetness went so well with the sweet and savory vegetables. This was gosh-darned pretty as well as being so nice to eat. For dessert, I went for the signature brown butter pudding. I've had this before, and I just love it. It's creamy, smooth as silk, and has the right blend of sweet, salty, and toasty. It's one of my favorite desserts in the Twin Cities, and it's one that I recommend to fans of brown butter. The ambiance tonight was festive, as everyone was in the holiday spirit. It was a great way to kick off our Christmas festivities. As usual, I appreciated the beautiful plating: it's not just the food, it's also the plates. I love that they're all different, as it adds a touch of whimsy and nostalgia for me. Thank you as always!
Mclougle
This place was absolutely wonderful! The staff was incredible! Our server was Jen who was phenomenal, and the other was a delightful man who even took our coats when we were seated and also took the time to compliment my hair that I was earlier questioning to my boyfriend. :) The food was delicious! I don’t have a very sophisticated palette but I still really enjoyed my food! The filet minion and the brown butter pudding were both to die for! The drinks were great as well. But I would go back for the service alone. Every person we encountered was wonderful and attentive. All in all, we had a fantastic date! 10/5 stars! Highly recommend!
We went to Joan’s with our dining group, Haute Plates, and left there not only fully sated, but euphoric. From the astounding service (Dan) to the overseeing by Joan herself, and all the prep by Jen for our group, we were already blown away. Then the food arrived. Each bite sent us into reverie. Are they magicians??Dietary restrictions: I cannot do butter. They were beyond accommodating!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing, Brown Butter Pudding, Beef Tartare
Incredible experience! Food was off the charts!Dan is incredible talking through eat course and helping with recommendations.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This was truly the best meal of my life. My husband and I went for my birthday, and they made it so special, with complementary, Prosecco, confetti, and a photo to take home. The food and the wine pairing were beyond incredible. If you are looking for, a special meal out, I cannot recommend this restaurant enough. I cannot wait to go back for my birthday next year.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What a great hidden treasure. We were greeted warmly even thought we were late (my fault). The food was pretty amazing--beautiful to look at, portioned just right--I had the quinoa lobster for my third dish and the market seafood was a mouthmelting cod. Plus our waiter (Dan I believe) was extremely professional, friendly and helpful without being overbearing. It all had the feel of a place where we were being welcomed in and made to feel special. The very essence of a great restaurant!
Had the most incredible experience here. The staff is absolutely wonderful and really went above and beyond to make our time special. I would have given it a 10/5 for the staff alone - but the food brought it up to a 20/5! It was one of the most delicious meals I've ever experienced, and was very fairly priced. I definitely recommend the steak and the brown butter pudding!
Great service. Price fixe menu encourages you to try something new. Can't go wrong with any of the options. Had the braised pork shank and the tenderloin- both were both outstanding.
Rude. Over
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary at Joan’s. Our food, drinks, and service were phenomenal. We especially enjoyed the savory eclairs, beef tartare, duck breast, and brown butter pudding along with the intimate atmosphere. Highly recommend Joan’s for special occasions or just to enjoy an upscale dining experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brown Butter Pudding, Beef Tartare
Wow. 100/10. I'm having trouble writing this review because I have so much to say and feel simultaneously speechless.I knew I wanted to treat my partner to a coursed dinner for his birthday this year. I did a quick Google search and saw that Joan's in the Park was a highly rated restaurant in St. Paul that served a coursed menu. St. Paul is a short drive for us so a quick glance at the menu and reviews and I was SOLD.We arrived at this quaint, local, corner restaurant early for our reservation in hopes of being able to grab a round of drinks at the bar top while waiting to be sat at our table. The building radiated warmth upon walking up and we were greeted promptly and enthusiastically by a lovely woman at the host stand. We were lucky to be able to be sat right away and were so happily surprised to see that the host read our reservation notes (that it was my partners birthday and our shellfish allergy, etc.). They sent us a complimentary round of champagne to celebrate while our server Dan welcomed us in and answered any initial questions we had.Service, from start to finish, was a proper experience in real hospitality. We were so attended to the entire time. Dan did an exceptional job, we can't say enough. It is so refreshing to receive such care as a guest. It was refined, upscale, and truly fine dining, but it felt as cozy and loving as being in mom/dad/loved-one's dining room. The dining room was full, which is always a delight to see, and the energy of the space was upbeat and lively. The way a bathroom is kept says a lot about an establishment and the bathrooms were clean, they smelled nice, and were clearly well maintained.The menu was absolutely divine. First of all, it was SO fun to look through each course and see dishes that we've never had before, think about what we wanted to try, what we might share together and what we were most excited about individually. Then to receive each course and to be completely blown away by the flavors, textures, plating, and overall harmony of all of the ingredients... It is *abundantly* clear that whoever is leading the BOH/Kitchen is creating from a place of love because we could feel it in every bite of our evening. Each course was such a beautiful experience; however, my particular favorite was the poached shrimp for my second course. We shared a couple of desserts and a bottle of wine and had (EASILY) the best meal of 2023 at Joan's in the Park.The only TINY thing that came up for us, not worthy of knocking down any points or stars, was that when we first sat down at our table, because the dining room was so full, it was quite loud and very difficult to hear each other across the table. After a party or two left it was much easier to hear but some kind of sound proofing might do this intimate space some good :)There's a saying in the industry that goes something like, "guests will go to a restaurant for the food, but they will come back for the service." and I am thrilled to suggest that Joans in the Park will have you enthusing about both, for hours, possibly days or weeks, after leaving. We cannot wait to go back and we cannot wait to invite our friends and family to come with.Please do yourself a favor and get here ASAP.Vegetarian options: I noticed that each course had a strictly vegetarian option and, although I'm no longer vegetarian, I really admired seeing that.Dietary restrictions: My partner has a shellfish allergy and after informing our server, Dan was sure to communicate to us any dishes that we needed to avoid. The menu was very clear to being with, there didn't seem to be any dishes that had sneaky ingredients that we had to worry about (like an oyster sauce or something).
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
You can't do better than Joan's. Fantastic food, caring service, just a wonderful night every time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Brown Butter Pudding
Restaurantji Recommends
We had an amazing time at Joan's in the Park! The food was scrumptious, the service was impeccable, and the cocktails hit the spot. We enjoyed the tasting menu, sampling our way through the courses.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Beef Tartare
Amazing atmosphere, food and wonderful staff! Was completely blown away by every course. Very accommodating to me being gluten free as well. Will definitely be back soon ?
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wine Pairing, Brown Butter Pudding, Beef Tartare
Joan’s is a true experience. Delicious is an understatement with regards to the food and wine parings. Joan, Susan and all the people are so welcoming. The atmosphere is charming. Joan’s in the park is a true gem among the Twin Cities food scene.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had another excellent meal at this local gem. While there were some old friends as options on the menu (I'm looking at you, rye knots and browned butter pudding), there are also some newcomers. We loved the bread course, and if you love bread, you will, too. The rye knots are of course delicious, but don't pass up the other options. There are some savory treatments of traditionally sweet breads that are really fun. Our host went for the eclairs, and I went for the savory chocolate babka. It was extra delicious, and it made me want to start baking bread again. For my second course, I had the charred beets. The beets were accompanied by complementary flavors and textures--smooth goat cream, fresh tarragon, honey, juicy pear--what a treat! Next up was a pumpkin-forward gnocchi with pepitas, pumpkin caramel, brown butter, and tarragon. It was intriguing on the page, and ordering it was a good call. It was comforting and delicious with just the right amount of richness. Side note: one piece of oddly-specific praise for Joan's in the Park is that their brown butter rocks, and they use it well. Final course was the root vegetable tart. It had a crumbly crust, smooth and delicious filling, and roasted root vegetables in gorgeous gem tones. I loved the fig balsamic--the sweetness went so well with the sweet and savory vegetables. This was gosh-darned pretty as well as being so nice to eat. For dessert, I went for the signature brown butter pudding. I've had this before, and I just love it. It's creamy, smooth as silk, and has the right blend of sweet, salty, and toasty. It's one of my favorite desserts in the Twin Cities, and it's one that I recommend to fans of brown butter. The ambiance tonight was festive, as everyone was in the holiday spirit. It was a great way to kick off our Christmas festivities. As usual, I appreciated the beautiful plating: it's not just the food, it's also the plates. I love that they're all different, as it adds a touch of whimsy and nostalgia for me. Thank you as always!
This place was absolutely wonderful! The staff was incredible! Our server was Jen who was phenomenal, and the other was a delightful man who even took our coats when we were seated and also took the time to compliment my hair that I was earlier questioning to my boyfriend. :) The food was delicious! I don’t have a very sophisticated palette but I still really enjoyed my food! The filet minion and the brown butter pudding were both to die for! The drinks were great as well. But I would go back for the service alone. Every person we encountered was wonderful and attentive. All in all, we had a fantastic date! 10/5 stars! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Gnocchi, Brown Butter Pudding