Looking to uncover all that Macalester-Groveland has to offer? Get to know this St. Paul neighborhood by browsing its most popular local businesses, from a Mediterranean cafe to a Vietnamese eatery.
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the top places to visit in Mac-Groveland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of neighborhood businesses. Read on for the results.
1. Shish Mediterranean Grill & Café
Topping the list is Shish Mediterranean Grill & Café. Located at 1668 Grand Ave., it's the highest rated business in the neighborhood, boasting four stars out of 300 reviews on Yelp. Owner Leo Judeh came to the United States to box in the 1996 Olympics, later settled in the Twin Cities area and eventually opened the restaurant with his wife, Beth, according to the eatery's website.
Shish’s menu offers a variety of Middle Eastern dishes and many vegetarian options. Check out fare such as a lamb kebab with lemon, garlic, fresh herbs served with rice; a gyro or chicken shawarma platter served with a side salad, sauteed vegetables and tzatziki sauce; or a falafel burger with avocado, hummus, shata (hot sauce), cilantro, lettuce and tomato. Breakfast is served daily.
2. Grand Catch
Next up is Cajun and Vietnamese spot Grand Catch, offering seafood and more, situated at 1672 Grand Ave. With 4.5 stars out of 92 reviews on Yelp, it's proven to be a local favorite.
Make your own seafood boil by first selecting a shellfish option, which changes daily, and adding sauce and heat level. Appetizers such as dry-rubbed wings, fried shrimp and snow crab dip are on offer, as are shrimp rolls and fried white fish sandwiches. Click here for the full menu.
3. Everest on Grand
Nepalese and Indian spot Everest on Grand is another top choice. Yelpers give the business, located at 1278 Grand Ave., four stars out of 280 reviews. This popular restaurant offers appetizers, dumplings and noodle dishes along with veggie and meat curries and entrees made in the tandoori oven.
Noteworthy menu options include roasted chicken breast marinated in house yogurt sauce; goat curry cooked Nepali style with house tomato sauce, mushrooms and green pepper; and lamb momo with onion, ginger, garlic, cilantro and spices.
4. St. Paul Cheese Shop
Next up is St. Paul Cheese Shop, which has earned 4.5 stars out of 68 reviews on Yelp. The cut-to-order shop features a wide selection of cheeses, from house-made chèvre to manchego, and is located at 1573 Grand Ave.
Menu options include sandwiches and melts like the Surprise!, where the chef makes whatever he wants for you; the Smurk with turkey, provolone, caramelized onions and harissa; or the Spicymonger with sopressata, chèvre, pepper-onion relish and Sriracha. Check out the full menu here.
5. The Wine Thief & Ale Jail
Finally, there's The Wine Thief & Ale Jail, a local favorite with 4.5 stars out of 46 reviews. Stop by 1787 St. Clair Ave. to hit up the store next time you're in the neighborhood. The business offers unique and limited edition beers, spirits and wines, along with other libations.
Jamie P., who reviewed the spot on June 30, said, "The staff here (and the shop dog) are lovely, the prices are great, there are free sample pours and the bottle of rose they hooked me up with for $12 punched well above its weight."
