Tulips Restaurant in downtown St. Paul used to be a destination for those seeking out French cooking in the city. Sadly, other St. Paul restaurants fulfilled this need and Tulips Restaurant was forced to close its doors. Yet the 452 Selby Avenue address did not remain vacant for long and since 2002 it houses a premier Italian bistro named La Grolla.
Open Monday through Saturday at 11:00 AM and closing its doors Monday through Thursday at 10:00 PM (on Friday and Saturday the restaurant is open an hour later), this is one of the St. Paul restaurants that is open for brunch on Sunday from 9:00 AM until 3:00 PM, at which time dinner will be served until 9:00 PM.
When La Grolla took over the Tulips Restaurant spot on Cathedral Hill, the fact that so many eateries where already found in the neighborhood gave pause to chef Antonio Tettamanzi; yet with renewed enthusiasm he set out on a mission to bring the look and feel of a typical Tuscan Italian neighborhood eatery to the patrons, and his gamble paid off.
A visit to La Grolla is a bit of a culinary experience. It is not one of the formal St. Paul restaurants that require a shirt and tie, but instead it is the neighborhood eatery where you want to bring the kids to. Seating is close and if you are used to having a lot of elbow room, this might be a new experience. If you are yearning for the home style family experience, however, then this is right up your alley.
There is no stuffy atmosphere to be found. Instead, Antonio Tettamanzi serves up comfort foods, his very own creations in the form of daily specials, and also a menu that contains mouthwatering options for your taste buds: Rigatoni alla Matriciana ($10.95), Pollo alla Erbe ($16.50), Risotto Asparagi e Salmone ($18.95), and of course Ossobuco alla Milanese ($24.95).
Granted, the heir to the former Tulips Restaurant location does not offer cheap dishes, but then La Grolla portions are notoriously generous! Enjoy your meal on the patio or inside the restaurant and go ahead and do not forget to pair your meal with a wine. Park on Selby Avenue for the most convenient spots available, and remember to reserve a table if you are coming on the weekend! Although the host will try and find a place for you, if there are more than two people in your party, calling ahead to 651-221-1061 will prevent you from having to wait.
This is one of the St. Paul restaurants that are perfect for eating a romantic meal, having a family celebration, going to after work, or just hooking up with some friends. La Grolla truly is a worthy successor of Tulips Restaurant, and those frequenting Cathedral Hill for perhaps the first time will do well to seek out the reddish façade of La Grolla and find their own welcome into the world of the Tuscan style Italian bistro.
Source:
http://www.lagrollastpaul.com/
