Dining Diary: FoodSmith goulash, Russell’s chicken, Soul Lao crispy rice

After two fabulous weeks in Portugal and Northern Spain with readers I took a limited days to get over the jet lag then set about eating around town This week I hit a Grand Avenue newcomer walked to a favorite in my own neighborhood and visited an Asian spot I ve been meaning to check out for a long time It was a good week Russell s Roast chicken at Russell s on St Paul s Grand Avenue Jess Fleming Pioneer Press This was my second visit to this Grand Avenue newbie in the former Tavern on Grand space The first time was a bit chaotic and busy so I thought I d give them a few time to settle in before trying it again This time things were more dialed in We started with various cocktails My husband enjoyed his old-fashioned and while my espresso martini was pretty good it was a little too creamy for my liking I prefer mine black with a foamy top While waiting for our entrees we nibbled on chosen chicken Swedish meatballs covered in a sauce that contained various untraditional tomato flavor that I really dug It offered a bit of tang and interest to a dish that is often totally rich and salty My son ordered the restaurant s burger I had just one bite but it was a beefy delight that I ll be back to try again before our annual burger guide comes out My husband s salmon was prepared well and served over a tasty little German potato salad and my chicken was super juicy and flavorful but I didn t love the overly sweet honey carrots it came with A side salad was tasty though and I enjoyed the squash puree that was more of a sauce Overall the room is cute and the vibe is befitting the neighborhood It s great to have a new option on Grand Russell s Grand Ave St Paul - - russellsstpaul com FoodSmith Goulash at FoodSmith on Smith Avenue in West St Paul Jess Fleming Pioneer Press It was a beautiful Tuesday and our neighbors joined us for a lovely walk through the neighborhood for dinner We tried to hit El Cubano which is still on its winter schedule so the kitchen closed just as we were walking in No matter we ambled a sparse more blocks and hit FoodSmith on West St Paul s Smith Avenue The neighborhood pub has great food and decent cocktails a true neighborhood gem We started with selected excellent crispy Brussels sprouts sprinkled with a sweet balsamic glaze crisp smoked almonds and parmesan I was craving a good burger after Russell s so I ordered the Austrian Hunter Burger topped with crisp bacon mushrooms saut ed onions and gruyere It was a behemoth of a sandwich and the meat was juicy and the toppings flavorful I do think the patty was a bit underseasoned but that s splitting hairs The hand-cut fries here are also worth the calories My husband enjoyed a Reuben and the neighbors loved their tender steak and goulash a sort of tomatoey pot roast served with irresistible crispy sp tzle that reminded me a lot of my favorite of those I tried in Austria FoodSmith S Smith Ave West St Paul - - foodsmithpub com Soul Lao Wandering Leaf The plant-filled taproom at Wandering Leaf Brewing in St Paul Jess Fleming Pioneer Press I had been meaning for ages to get to the bricks-and-mortar version of this Lao restaurant so a friend and I stopped by for weeknight beers at Wandering Leaf and a sparse fantastic noodle and rice dishes here The operations are next door to each other so you can just place an order on your phone and go get it when they text you We liked our first beers a hazy IPA and a juicy West Coast IPA but our second called Pickles Are a Girl s Best Friend was a real showstopper Infused with pickles and hot chiles it s ostensibly not for everyone but the slightly puckery flavor with tingly notes at the end from the chiles was right up our alley and it went great with the food We tried the Naem Khao or crispy coconut rice and the Khao Soi Haeng a spicy rice noodle number The rice had tons of phenomenal crispy bits and little pieces of fermented pork that kept my fork returning and the spice level on the noodles was perfect I highly recommend a side of their super flavorful haba ero hot sauce if you are a spice lover like us Wandering Leaf s plant-filled taproom is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon There were even plenty of friendly dogs for petting on the day we were there Soul Lao W Seventh St St Paul - - soullao com Related Articles State lawmakers take aim at black area restaurant reservations Why fancy Easter dinners are dying and what we re eating instead Basket cheese holds the key to a tangy fresh Easter treat Quick Fix Poisson en Papillote Steamed Fish Parcels with Garlic Bread weeknight dishes Canned tuna and other pantry staples elevated