W.A. Frost & Company

W.A Frost & Company has a great atmosphere and ambiance- However, it's not worth much when you are constantly waiting for a drink and an hour for a few appetizers at 10pm. The patio was almost empty.

I get better service from my favorite dive bars. Overpriced, bizarre food and terrible service.

We ordered a cheese tray and a flatbread ahi-tuna appetizer- I'm still sick of crackers. Which is 90% of what we recieved.

Pros: Nice Patio

Cons: Terrible Service

Posted 10/01/09

I had my stomach all set for late happy hour and I was hungry. The bartender gave me a glass of wine and then ignored me for nearly 20 minutes. There was nothing I could do to catch his eye because it was noisy and he spent all his time way at the other end of the bar flirting with another customer. The only reason I'd see to go back would be that I could get a glass of wine for free, because I seriously could have left without paying and no one would have noticed.

Pros: good wine

Cons: worthless service

Posted 09/28/09

If you decide to eat here, ask to sit on the patio you will love it! One of my best dinning exp. ever we sat outside on a perfect night, ordered a great drink vodka bootleg. The service was super always is when your server has a helper to do the water and bring the bread out. The food reminds me a lot of what you see on top chef very trendy and up scale! Check this place out!!

Pros: patio, great menu, and service!

Posted 09/06/08

I took my date to this restaurant for her birthday. We had 7pm reservations and were seated right away. The dining rooms looked full but not crowed and we felt very comfortable in our corner. My date was wished happy birthday by our attendants which made her feel special. We were served promptly but we never felt rushed. We started with the Tapas Trio which was an excellent combination of shrimp, beef and salmon bites each with their own delicious seasoning. Peaches our my dates favorite fruit so she loved the fennel and peach salad with crumbed blue cheese and walnuts while I had a simple mixed green salad. We both had the filet which was also out of this world. My date loves red meat if it is not red but I like mine on the rarer side. Both were cooked to perfection and hot at the same time. They melted in out mouths. The filet was served on a bed of mascarpone herb polenta and mushroom ragout that was very good. We finished off our meal with the Mini Trio Plate for dessert which was also an excellent combination of creme brulee, strawberry-rhubarb cobbler and dark chocolate cherry cake . My date had a very good port to go with her dessert. We felt like we could linger and enjoy finishing our drinks and talking for as long as we wanted. I would recommend this restaurant.

Pros: pleasent staff, ambience

Cons: small parking lot

Posted 07/21/08

My wife and I love W.A Frost. It is always our first choice for date night. We especially love it at the bar - always great service and the bar menu is great food to share in a more relaxed setting. Our current favorite is the BLT with fries - it is so good. We highly recommend the bar for a great dinner or a relaxing drink. Can a brag about the patio in March? The patio is the best in the twin cities.

Pros: great service & great ambiance

Cons: it is a popular place, Valet parking is great on the weekend

Posted 03/08/08

We called ahead and made reservations for our 2nd wedding anniversary. The staff wished us as we entered and got us the best spot on the floor by the fire. Our waiter was very knowledgeable about the food. We ordered their goat cheese pizza which just melted in our mouth, so heavenly, then got the cauliflower soup which was even better, absolutely smooth and drizzled with a sundried tomato pesto oil, just delicious. For salad, we had the beet/goat cheese, it had a yum dressing and was excellent. My husband had the fish for maincourse and cleaned his plate clean! after all that before. I had a yaki soba with leek preparation which was alright, the waiter noticed my reaction and just took it off our bill!!! It was good but he wanted me to say it was excellent :) Our dessert - a perfect not too sweet, pumpkin cake with spiced icecream and a pistachio cream. I cant praise this place enough. They were so mindful and the decor was warm, cozy, perfect for a romantic date.

Pros: best service, top notch flavors and a very warm cozy ambiance

Cons: none

Posted 01/29/08

I took my husband here for his birthday. I had zero expectations and turned out to be extremely happy with my choice to take him here. The environment is dark and homey with a subtle hint of your grandma's tchotchke-filled parlor. I assumed it was dressy but people were there in jeans and sweatshirts and it didn't seem to be a problem. Ask for a table by the fireplace or along the back windows for maximum privacy and romance. We had the 6 course chef's tasting menu with wine pairings. It was expensive but when you see what you get, it's a great value. Delicious food we were talking about days later and very nice wine pairings. You get an amuse bouche (+ wine), a fish course (+ wine), a fowl course (+ wine), a meat course (+ wine), a cheese course (+ wine) and a dessert (+ wine). Despite all the courses and wines, you leave pleasantly satiated rather than painfully overstuffed. We made the mistake of ordering cocktails before dinner so by the time we got to the fowl dish, we were googly-eyed. I dreamt of the duck with apples last night, it was so good. We were seated by the server's path to the bar and even the bar food looked delicious. Service was very nice and unobtrusive. Our server was able to answer any questions we had. Food was delivered promptly and we never felt rushed. Can't wait for the weather to get good so we can dine al fresco on their patio.

Posted 01/28/08

I've been here twice, both times were related to an anniversary, and both times were great. The lighting and decor is very warm and romantic. The service is excellent from all of the staff and the food is just delicious and well presented. I haven't eaten anything bad there. The parking is somewhat limited in this St. Paul neighborhood, but that's the only real downside to this restraurant.

Pros: Food and service

Cons: Parking

Posted 01/02/08

My husband and I enjoy every minute spent at W.A. Frost. We've always had great food, great service, and enjoy the wonderful ambiance!! Good job W. A. Frost!! We'll be back again and again!

Pros: Ambience!!

Cons: Parking is limited

Posted 01/01/08

We went to WA Frost for the first time in late November for our Anniversary. It was a Saturday night and the restaurant was not too busy but the service was quite slow. The best part of the whole meal was the ambiance and the beauty of the interior since the food was horrible. My husband ordered the seafood stew and I ordered the fish special. Our food was cold and was incredibly bland. It did not appear that much thought went into the seasoning and preparation of the dishes. Thank goodness the martinis were good. I would consider going back and giving it one more chance for the ambiance alone but was really not impressed with my first visit.

Pros: Ambiance, martinis

Cons: Food not good, service slow and unattentive

Posted 12/26/07

This is one of my favorite restaurants in the Twin Cities. I love the historic building with its high ceilings, beautiful antiques, exposed brick, and wonderful outdoor patio. Even the bar area is beautiful. The atmosphere, service, and food are all consistently fantastic. I have been here many times over the years for brunch, lunch and dinner--always great! I have so many good memories of this place, so I hope it stays here forever.

Posted 09/26/07

Three of us ordered a burger - we asked for med. rare - we got a range of medium to well done - the bun was tough and it was pretty tasteless. The 4th person in our party ordered soup and salad. The salad
was miniscule in size but served on a very large plate. The soup was also served in a large
soup bowl but the serving size was about 4 tablespoons if that. I never mind paying for great food
and appreciate portion control - I do however resent paying for poor food that is served by a staff member that always asked about the food but left the table prior to listening to what we had to say or ask.

It is a fun place - enjoy the ambiance, but wouldn't go there again.

Posted 06/16/07

We started the evening in the bar with drinks. It was dimly lit and very romantic. They offered a flight of champagne which we were happy to try. It was fabulous! For dinner we got a nice table by the fire (I called ahead and requested this) which made the evening seem even more romantic. We both got the New York Strip and it is still the best one I have ever had. I have had the steak at Manny's and while it is great there, whatever sauce they have made it to die for. The service and desert were also great.

Be mindful that you will pay for such an evening. If you are thinking about money this is not the place for you. It didn't come cheap but it was my favorite eating experience in the twin cities so far and I cannot wait to enjoy it in the summer.

Pros: Food, drinks, service, ambience

Cons: Pricey

Posted 04/15/07

I have been a pretty faithful Frost patron for a few years now. There have been nights that were better than others. But over all good. But I have to say things have improved all around since Leonard Anderson became the Executive Chef. From the service (noticeably happier servers) to the menu, which has been gradually changing since February. Chef Anderson is definitely bringing a breath of fresh air and some much needed creativity to W.A. Frost. It seems to me that past chefs of this giant just rested on the fact that people seem to love this place no matter what. Which is a half truth. It is exciting to think that more than just good food and atmosphere will come out of Frost. People would be wise to keep an eye on this bright young chef.

Pros: Service, creative food etc...

Cons: Paying for valet parking, I feel this should be free.

Posted 03/30/07

W.A. Frost is a hands-down favorite.

The food is consistently outstanding. Count on fresh, locally grown, seasonal fare done in both traditional and innovative ways. The bar menu is more extensive, offering a wider range of food and prices. Don't skip dessert - or at least indulge in a hand-made truffle.

The setting is romantic. Picture an enchanted garden-like patio with twinkling lights for summer dining and warm, cozy nights in front of the fireplace for fall/winter dining. Exposed brick and original woodwork add charm throughout.

The service is very good. Don't expect lightening speed - after all, this will be a meal worth enjoying! Do, however, expect staff to be attentive and knowledgable about the food and the wines.

Pros: Food, ambience

Cons: Limited parking, call ahead for reservations if you prefer the main dining room

Posted 11/06/06

food good, love the patio and selection on menu. Great parking and location. Service was great also. I would go back again and again.

Posted 11/05/06

One of the best meals I've ever had was at W.A. Frost for Mother's Day with my son. Since then it's been consistently impressive. The waitstaff is attentive and knowledgable. They really make you feel comfortable and assist with choosing from the many varieties of cheese and wines. They are attuned to the flow of your dining experience. And the food - exquisite! With each course and its ingredients clearly explained you have a chance to explore all the dimensions of the dish. The recommended drink pairings were right on. I love the fact you can go all out in the formal dining room or just have a drink and a nibble (and maybe a smoke!) on the patio.

Pros: What a fantastic neighborhood.

Cons: It's worth the money you'll need to bring.

Posted 06/26/06

A few years back, my husband & I walked into W.A. Frosts for the first time on a very cold January evening & saw ladies in furs, which was more than a little intimidating at that moment. Had I made a terrible mistake? We'd just moved to the TC & I'd asked my co-workers to suggest the most romantic restaurant in a 50 mile radius. Was I about to have a ridiculously overpriced steak served to me by a snotty waiter? Thankfully, I was not. My husband & I still talk about how wonderful this dinner was. The five course tasting menu with the wine was amazing & our waiter was so cool, a real professional. He managed to give us fun details about the chef's choices, yet, for most of the meal we felt as though we were the only two people in the room, two very pampered people. Considering the OUTSTANDING food, service & wine, it was worth every penny.
We've been back since with larger groups for brunch on the patio & unfortunately, the service tends to be pretty standard for service in the TC, which isn't saying much. Still, the food was great & this is such a beautiful neighborhood & building that it is a lot of fun to take out of town guests here.
I hear a lot of people talk as if they couldn't go to Frost's, because it's too fancy. Yes, dinner here is very expensive for most of us, but don't rob yourself of this experience if you have a special occassion to celebrate, it really is as romantic as everyone says it is at night. Besides, we're living on the tundra out here! We've all got one of those dreadful furs in our family closet if we just dig far enough back!

Pros: romantic - food/wine - outdoor/fireplace seating

Cons: expensive - dinner waiter awesome/brunch service has been shakey

Posted 06/21/06

This is such a great little treat in Cathedral Hill. Food is excellent. Sometimes the bar is a bit crowded after work.

Posted 06/16/06

We recently went to WA Frost for a special evening out. We had no complaints. The food was excellent, the wine list was superior, and the wait staff was knowledgeable and attentive. Our appetizers were perfect. My dinner companion, who is the pickiest eater I've ever known, said the salmon was the best he'd ever had anywhere in the US. Period. I had the roasted chicken. The entire dish was exquisite. The black truffle madiera sauce was incredible. The bottle of wine we ordered was only $5 over retail. Unheard of! We will not wait for another special occasion to return.

Pros: Excellent food, Wine list, Great service

Posted 02/18/06

This is a perfect place for couples. We had great food, wine, and service. We sat outside on the big deck/patio, but the inside looked cozy for winter dining too. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Pros: Outdoor Dining, Service, Food and Wine

Cons: None

Posted 11/04/05

My wife and I have gone here several times for our anniversary and gotten the tasting menu. The wines are matched with the oustanding dishes perfectly. The service is phenonomnal. The wait staff is knowledgable about the dishes and wine, seem almost psychic in their timing of brining out dishes or refilling glasses, and very friendly without being annoying.

Pros: Service, Food, Ambiance

Posted 07/25/05

If you are looking for lunch and a drink at WA Frost's patio on a nice Sunday afternoon, don't go hungry. Why? The service was horrible. The drinks took 15 minutes to get to us. Our server or the kitchen lost our sandwich order and never told us, so 45 minutes of waiting I, the customer, had to track down the server and hostess to see that the heck happened. Yes, WA Frost is romantic, nice, etc. But between the bad service and the order being lost, I highly doubt that we will go back.

Posted 06/13/05

I love W.A. Frost! Our food was wonderful, so was our service. This building is one of the most beautiful places I have been. The artwork alone is worth the trip. We walked through the entire resturant before leaving, even the basement. If you go make sure you do that, especially the lower level beneath the bar!!

Posted 02/24/05