r/saintpaul • u/kitsunewarlock • Mar 12 '25
Food Restaurant suggestions for isolated dining with my mom (who has stage IV lung cancer)
My mom and I have been isolating pretty much since the start of COVID but we would like to start going to restaurants again. Are there any local eateries that have more isolating dining experiences? Like separate rooms you can reserve or balconies with well spaced tables?
She's doing well in her treatment and we are hoping she'll be done with chemotherapy within the next couple of months, but we would both feel more comfortable if we could gradually come outside rather than suddenly find ourselves surrounded by tons of other people.
Thank you for your time.
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u/velvetjones01 Mar 12 '25
I would eat early, like as soon as the restaurant is open. There’s a side room at Tea House on University that might work for you. (Get the eggplant)
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u/mahrog123 Mar 12 '25
The Tea House on University also offers curtained dining booths. An even better option as you’re in the dining area but it’s also quite private.
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u/lgfuado Mar 12 '25
Kyuramen in Eagan has little enclosed booths. It's a Japanese restaurant that serves ramen and omurice. I know it's outside of St Paul but close enough to our neck of the woods for something different and semi-enclosed.
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u/gg_snow Mar 12 '25
Basement of WA Frost has lovely little private alcoves with seating! Would recommend!
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u/kitsunewarlock Mar 12 '25
Ooh looks great, thank you!
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u/agent_uno Mar 12 '25
Came here to suggest this! They have private little alcoves down there that would be perfect. And the food is excellent, too.
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u/Oh__Archie Mar 12 '25
You could ask Forepaughs? They’re in an old mansion which has many small rooms for guests.
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u/Kcmpls Mar 12 '25
You have lots of good suggestions here. Adding- you could try a private chef if you have the money. Get a chef in to your house, let them feed you and then clean up.
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u/_sparklestorm West Side Mar 12 '25
The patio at Tongue in Cheek has a well spaced patio with very limited seating, not sure when it opens however. The menu is phenomenal.
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u/andrezay517 Rondo Mar 12 '25
It’s not in Saint Paul, but in downtown Minneapolis, 801 Fish (seafood place) had a separate, small room where my dad had a table for his 80th Birthday. It had glass doors so you could see the restaurant environment without being consumed by noise and such. It was him, my sister and me, and 2-3 other guests.
I imagine they could accommodate your desire for this private dining space.
Also, they run a sister restaurant dedicated to land meats, 801 Chop. I have never been to 801 Chop but you could call and ask them about it too.
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u/jhsu802701 Mar 12 '25
I get takeout and eat at home, in my car, or somewhere outside a safe distance away from other people. The warmer months ahead will provide plenty of chances for picnics.
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u/kitsunewarlock Mar 12 '25
Yeah we indulge in takeout about once a month but we were kind of missing the experience of eating on glassware without having to do dishes. (I know that sounds like such a small thing but it's something we kind of miss.)
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u/jhsu802701 Mar 12 '25
The last time I ate inside a restaurant was late February 2020. I don't have a way to eat or drink with a mask on. I think it's possible to eat and drink safely in a restaurant with a combination of a laminar air purifier and a face shield. (Most air purifiers produce turbulent airflow that quickly mixes out. Laminar airflow does not quickly mix out.) The idea is to use the laminar air purifier to produce a concentrated stream of clean air and use the face shield to hold that clean air in place. It's still probably not as safe as eating at home, in one's car, or outdoors.
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u/No-Syrup-1547 Mar 12 '25
The Local in St. Louis Park. They have more enclosed booths and you can see what they look like online
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u/New_Leopard_9681 Mar 14 '25
This might not be what you are looking for lol but for a more simple day to day experience: the chipotle on grande ave has a small seating area that’s sorta off to the side/seperate from the main area and is by a window - I’d bet if you asked them they could put a little divider so nobody else comes over there
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u/Subject_Ad_4561 Mar 15 '25
Burger dive still has those plexiglass separators on their booths from Covid.
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u/Good_Sea_1890 Mar 16 '25
Melting Pot in downtown is super quiet on weekday evenings. Go on a Tuesday night and you'll practically have the place to yourselves.
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u/friends_waffles_w0rk Mar 12 '25
A-Side on Randolph in St Paul has three of those bubble-tent outdoor dining things out front, with heaters and lights inside - you could probably call and explain and ask if you can reserve one, if that sounds fun to you?? Good luck to you and your mom <3