Darin Kamnetz
It was easy to miss the news that a new restaurant next to the Palace Theatre in St. Paul opens this week, given all the Minnesota State Fair hoopla and other end-of-August news. But we’re glad Wrestaurant at the Palace opens Wednesday, offering another option for food and drink before the next concert at the Palace or the Fitz or Wild game at the nearby Xcel Energy Center. Any spot that has a patio along the pedestrian-only West Seventh Place wide street earns points too. The new restaurant used to be Wild Thymes Sports Bar but is now operated by First Avenue.
We recently attended a media preview of the restaurant now nearly six years in the making and left impressed by the gorgeous makeover and equally satisfying menu of shareable “snackatizers,” hefty mains, and craft cocktails. It doesn’t hurt that Minneapolis’ Wrecktangle Pizza, the name on the marquee, was named best pizzeria in the United States earlier this year, bringing some cred to this sit-down spot that also features a walk-up window for after-party slices (brilliant). We sampled the famous Detroit-style pizza with caramelized crust and nearly had trouble finishing the entire filling pie before moving on to the pizza rowls—rice paper-wrapped cheese delights. The signature cocktails are tasty too, with a surprise ingredient of curry powder in the Old Fashioneds, but a much too bitter Spritz.
Amy Nelson
If you’ve ever started your night with tots and a dog at Depot Tavern before a show at First Avenue in Minneapolis, you understand the appeal of this new spot that will offer some fun people-watching served up with spirits. And Wrecktangle has a much bigger bar, up to 40 seats, for a quick drink before getting in line nearby. We are already looking at the upcoming concert schedule to book our next visit.
Wrestaurant at the Palace officially opens Wednesday at 33 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul. A grand opening party is set for Sept. 9.
Darin Kamnetz
