Heartland Contemporary Midwestern Restaurant

There is nothing like bad service to put a damper on an evening. Service did not exist when we dined at Heartland last night. AWOL is the only explanation. No small plates for apps (without asking). No water (without asking), no bread (without asking). You wan to taste wine? You must be trying to get drunk cheap. I can't give you more than 3 tastes."" Between two people ordering 4 glasses of wine?? I had to grab a server on the floor to get bread. Never did our bar ""server"" ask us, ""how are you? do you need anything for you?"" Service? We got water by waving down our ""server."" We received our first courses. No plates. Food. Fish terrine was not good. marinated beets buried in sour cream and a pork chop that was 60% meat and 40% fat. Never again. more

A friend chose this for a get together...and I had heard such great things, I was very excited to check it out. Don't bother, the food is mediocre at best, the service was average, and the prices-- well, if you want to be one of those people who thinks if you spend a lot of $$$$ and that means you're going to get a great dinner, don't bother reading this review. I (and several in my party) have dined all over at some of the top restaurants in the country. This isn't it. Nothing great at all, I was bloated/sick for several days, and the selection was lame. It seemed like the chef was trying so hard to be uber chic, that all the duck, pork and crazy combinations just didn't work. You'd be better off staying at home and ordering Dominos. more

We’ve always been strong supporters of good, local restaurants but we don’t feel that way about Heartland. Lenny Russo is nothing but a huge ego. The restaurant claims to change menu daily, but all he is doing is changing one dish and maybe one dessert on the menu to something else, and putting the original ones back the following day. Be honest and just add “dish of the day” to your otherwise unchanging menu! Also, before he claims he is serving seasonal and local food, he should walk across the street and learn what’s actually local and seasonal! We see corn, zucchini, tomatoes at farmer’s market – why do we not see any of these summer vegetables sold locally used in his dishes? He needs to realize unique ingredients don’t necessarily make unique dishes – just because he serves boar doesn’t make his dish special and different.\r \r If you have $100 to spend on few drinks and nibbles – there are plenty other local restaurants you can go to and get much better food and service, and don’t have to feel that you wasted your $100. \r Pros: Nice building Cons: Chef/owner's rudeness, not friendly and slow service more

My all time favorite restaurant. I have been there too many times to count and I have never been disappointed. The menu changes daily and everything is fresh. The staff are all wonderful, attentive, and willing to go the extra mile to ensure you are happy and well cared for. If you haven't been here yet, go as soon as possible. If you are looking for a wonderful dinner, and have an appreciation for organic, skillfully prepared food, hurry to Heartland. You will not be disappointed!! Also makes a great date spot. Pros: Food, staff, atmosphere Cons: street parking only more

Had a large group after a Mac graduation. The servers easily accommodated the group, didn't even add an automatic tip for a large group. My beef entree had enough Morel mushrooms to share among four people. Both ""flora and fauna"" are well represented, and all dishes I tasted were wonderfully and differently flavorful. Excellent wine selection at a reasonable price. At the end of an extended meal we were satisfactorily full. We were not rushed, and the experience will bring us back from out of town. Pros: Bread, appropriate portions, wonderful sides Cons: Left standing at the front door for awhile more

Really craving a glass of crisp white wine last night, the hubby and I headed out to try a new wine bar (new for us anyway). We ended up at Heartland Wine Bar in St. Paul which offered us quite an experience. Located off St. Claire in St. Paul, it’s a cute, little place, tucked in next to the neighborhood dry cleaner, giving it a nice, neighborhoody feel. There was a small lot adjacent to the restaurant itself and plenty of parking on the street as well.\r \r The restaurant and wine bar themselves do not open until 5:30, so don’t ask for the happy hour menu, there isn’t one. We were the only patrons in the place at 5:30 and the next guests didn’t show for another hour. The “wine bar” area itself is long with 10 or so spots with a handful of tables in the back. Very quaint atmosphere, quiet, with low lighting, although I would have liked a couple of windows or at least better decorating as I felt wedged into their back hallway. I guess they certainly make due with the space they have.\r \r The wine list was impressive with a lot of unique choices. Although I love when wine bars offer flights, as it’s a great way to sample a nice variety, and Heartland doesn’t offer any. We settled for four full glasses of wine and eventually ordered a bottle of Albarino from Spain. This was the recommendation of our server/bartender and the pick was spot on, we really did enjoy it! We also ordered the cheese sampler, which again was an excellent pick, with three cheeses from Minnesota and Wisconsin.\r \r It was a wine and cheese night, so I can’t speak to their full menu, but overall we really enjoyed ourselves. I would certainly recommend this spot, but for $8/glass for their cheapest glasses and no happy hour specials, the bill adds up quickly. Pros: Great wine selection, very helpful server Cons: Wish they had wine flights more

This was my first visit to heartland after hearing years of hype. We were disappointed to find when we arrived that the dining room was closed and only the wine bar was open, this is apparently the case on Monday nights. I didn?t even know there was a wine bar and was surprised to find this hidden gem. The atmosphere was cozy, nice lighting and music, but small. The menu seemed a little over the top and we were unfamiliar with many of the wines on the menu. Our server was very knowledgeable and was patient with my boyfriend and I and our many questions regarding the food and wine. We ended up sharing a few things and everything was seriously delicious and beautifully presented. Keep in mind that the portions in the bar are smaller plates, our server told us this and we ended up getting just the right amount of food and with great suggested wine parings?our bill was still less than $80 for the two of us. We were so happy to find this place and now knowing that the menu changes and is updated on their website daily, we will definitely be back!\r Pros: great food & service Cons: small space more

Heartland is a great restaurant for a special occasion. The food is delicious, and reasonably priced for the quality of ingredients. The staff was ... more

I went here a second time because the first time I felt like I must have missed some exciting dish that makes everyone go bananas for this place. Nope, second time was the same let down food and lame atmosphere. Pros: Sausage Cons: Parking more

Six of us dined here on a recent evening. All enjoyed it. The menu contains many unusual items in unusual combinations, and changes frequently. An obvious effort is made to utilize local sources. Here are some we consumed: the lake trout gravlax, watermelon-cucumber gazpacho, hierloom tomato salad with blue cheese, Romano flat beans with walnut dressing, wild sturgeon with crayfish butter, and a chicken breast prep (details escape me now). All were pronounced excellent. I can say the sturgeon, one of my favorite aquatic foods, was outstanding, not only for the quality of the fish but for the sauce. Interestingly, the prosaic flat beans were wonderful. The only disappointment was the bird-like portion of the trout gravlax appetizer. It was $10 but, given the Lilliputian quantity, should've been $6. About six miniature potato chips and a barely detectable sauce accompanied it. I'm seeing this more and more: Extremely small appetizers costing more than they should. Better to increase the size and keep the price. Desserts may have been a bit over the top in terms of combinations; good, but they left us thinking about Cafe Latte's sweet offerings a short ways away. Food and wine prices are reasonable for a restaurant of this caliber. Decibel level when full was still conversational. Our server was fine, but she apparently expected us to tell her at the outset that we wanted the bill split in half. This is a very good restaurant and the beneficiary of one of New Jersey's finest exports, the chef and owner(?) Lenny Russo. Pros: Unique menu, interesting ingredients and combinations Cons: Not much; one appetizer (trout gravlax) was tasty yet miniscule more

Heartland is a great restaurant for a special occasion. The food is delicious, and reasonably priced for the quality of ingredients. The staff was very friendly and helpful when asked questions about food and wine recommendations. I will definitely be back, and have highly recommended Heartland to many people. more

My boyfriend and I have gone to Heartland four times now. Each time has been a treat. We enjoy high-quality food made from high-quality ingredients, and the price at Heartland is very reasonable for a special-occasion dinner. Having read some customer reviews complaining about the portions, I'm rather curious as to how much they manage to eat, because we leave there happily full every time. The last time we went was on the 13th with three other friends for a non-romantic Valentines day dinner, and everyone had a great time. All three of them called later to thank us for introducing them to such a wonderful place.\r \r One thing the place thankfully lacks is the pressure to be formal. It's gourmet food without the pretentious attitude. I have never felt uncomfortable or out-of-place, and the servers have been nothing but kind, helpful, and efficient.\r \r If you ever happen to go there as a couple, try the wine bar. Lenny's wife is awesome, and she made that night our best anniversary dinner to date. more

In keeping with my theme of buying local, my husband takes me to a well reviewed Heartland restaurant, St Clair Av, that is based on local food. I do not recommend the Heartland restaurant. \r \r When we go in, the place is empty (not a good sign for a business). I look at the menu, it is twice the price of my favorite restaurant , however there is a bountiful list of food listed on each item. We splurge, we take the three course meal. The waitress will substitute ice cream for the third course, since I have food problems. Now, where I come from, bread is served with every meal. So the joke of a bad meal is that you have to live on the bread. Well, at Heartland you have live on the bread, which is served first and I can't eat. Then came an appetizer the size of a quarter (I am not joking), served on a big plate. Oh that is just complimentary. The real appetizer comes next, a 3-4 inch diameter of food on a big plate, about 1/4 of what I would expect. It was good, or maybe I was just very hungry. Then the main course comes out, 4 thin slices of lamb hiding a tiny tiny amount of potatoes and carrots. I ask the waitress if I could have more potatoes and carrots, she says there would be a surcharge. I decline. It was good, or maybe I was just very hungry. Even in Europe I had more of a serving for lunch. Then desert came, four small scoops of ice cream. It was good, or maybe I was just very hungry. I think I could have gotten more food walking around the taste testers at Sam's club. My husband was there, or I would have gone begging to kitchen. ""Please, just a bit more food, I am very hungry"". Pros: the food was good Cons: Food Servings are incredibly miserly, the price was high more

One word for this restaurant is ""PERFECT"". Stop wondering if you should try this restaurant just GO you wont be disapointed. Pros: everything Cons: nothing more

Heartland was an oasis in the middle of our road trip from Washington to Maine. I thought we'd be stuck with fast food or potatoes and over-cooked meat for days but I was wrong. We ate ala carte and enjoyed everything from appetizers to dessert. The menu includes very fresh fish and twists on old home cookin' recipes. Lenny, the chef and owner, came out and joked with us that ""contemporary Midwestern is almost an oxymoron,"" something he's trying to change. They have a great selection of wines by the glass so we were able to enjoy champagne before dinner and wine with dinner. Our total bill was $109, which is amazing for so much great food. more

This was our second visit to Heartland in a few years - we save such places for special occasions and returned to celebrate our anniversary. I wondered if anything had changed since our last experience, which was impressive and memorable - we left again feeling happy and fulfilled. The atmosphere allows you to relax and take your time eating - this is a place dedicated to food, so you must enjoy it. No pretense regarding who you might appear to be (diners dress code varied), service was excellent and gracious all around. The prices are reasonable considering the high quality of product and flavors - all fresh, local ingredients - I had the three course ""fauna"" and my husband went a la carte - approx. $40 pp for food, we spent an additional $30 on beverages. It was my first time eating roasted goat - done med rare, tender, and mild in flavor with a delicious morel mushroom sauce. Dessert was enough for us to share - rich, flaky buttery chocolate with lavender creme anglaise. My husband had the MN free range chicken breast with garlic cream sauce and spring veg - he said it was the best meal he's ever had. In conclusion, and since Chef Russo reads these reviews, thank you, Heartland, for another experience that left us feeling content, well-fed, and lucky to know you're still there doing great things with food. I keep telling everyone I know that they should go...hopefully we'll be back soon! Pros: The food, the food, the food. more

I had heard great things about this restaurant and took several friends, all of whom had been anxious to try it. The main dishers were quite good, with some unusual touches. Pheasant, duck and lamb were imaginatively served, though the principal interest was in the accompaniments rather than the meats themselves. The portions were adequate. I was quite disappointed by the deserts. A small portion of apple strudel (albiet with a surprise ingredient--yams) was served ice cold. The pots de creme were quite ordinary. Coffee was unusually good. However the service was quite inadequate. Our server was totally sour and uncommunicative. When we were missing a fork, she spent five minutes chatting with her supervisor before bringing it. She whipped our wine glasses away before we had consumed all of our wine. She mixed up the orders on bringing them to the table, and brought four of five orders before bringing the fifth nearly five minutes later with no apology or explanation. This dramatic failure of service would be enough to doom this restaurant on the East or West coasts. I note that other reviewers both praise and complain about the service, so I can only conclude that the service is wildly uneven. I hope the owners will get serious about training their waitstaff, because this detracts seriously from the basically good food served here. Also I was surprised that a restaurant charging such high-end prices ($10 for a plate of braised cabbage as a side dish) does not accept American Express. The manager explained that Amex's higher charges ""cut into their profits."" While disarmingly frank, this is not what a customer spending $60-70 per person wants to hear.\r \r NOTE--RETURN VISIT: I returned for a second visit with guests from Washington two months later. The service had improved immeasurably. My guests and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves on this second visit, and they told me that this was one of the highlights of their week-long trip to the Twin Cities. Pros: Good, imaginative food, good wine list Cons: terrible service, no Amex, pricey: SECOND VISIT: Much improved service more

Reading other reviews made me wonder about whether I wanted to go to this restaurant. I'm glad I ignored the comments about poor service and went anyway. Everything was outstanding, from the diverse menu, the excellent wine list, and yes, the very good service. Maybe it is just me, but when I go out, I expect to have a good time, and that means not over-reacting to some perceived slight by a waitperson, who may have just had a large group's food come up, our just had to deal with some challenging customer more

The Heartland and I are having an affair. Just when it seems that nothing original was ever going to take hold, and last (!) in the Twin Cities, Heartland is still over in Mac-Groveland four years later. It's one of the few restaurants where you don't have to worry that your dollar is going to get stretched too far and get nothing in return. On a recent visit my date had a lovely pecan-encrusted walleye, with grilled green onions with an herb butter sauce. It was perfection. The flavors were solid and uncomplicated. It made one want to drink a gallon of Montrachet. My entree was a seared goose breast with golden raisins, braised red cabbage, and a veal glace that was a perfect balance of earth and sweet. I think the thing that I love most about Heartland is the wine list, the bar manager obviously sees no need to punish people for having good taste at any price range. The markup on all the wine is uniform, unlike most restaurants where the least expensive wine is doubled or even tripled in price! Service is effecient and friendly. I like my service reserved and competent, not overly familiar and inept. And last, the desserts are modestly portioned and never cloyingly sweet. I'd recommend Heartland to anyone for any occasion. The only drawback is that Heartland isn't near any other venues for after-dinner plans. One does have to drive to downtown, still only five minutes away. However, their new wine bar next dar does ease the conundrum of what to do after dinner. Pros: wine list, consistent food, professional staff Cons: location more

Went with a friend to split a bottle of wine and sample some menu items. The asian server who was not our server, but was continually helping our server was extremely courteous. Our server however, while professional, became increasingly rude throughout our stay there, even walking away from our table in a huff when I changed my mind and ordered coffee. I realize we did not spend a ton of money, but we both work in restaurants and did not warrent any reason for rudeness. We are ""restaurant trained"" (aka: we are not the kind of customers servers go nuts about ""behind stage"") and tipped her well. I feel that the waitress was being snooty because we did not spend over a $100. The food we sampled was delicious and I would love to go back for a date and order entrees. Perhaps my server will be more courteous then. more