Iron Ranger Saint Paul

Very cool place! It is small but they do a great job using the space they have. The bar is very comfortable. The staff was friendly and very happy. Cool old pictures from the Iron Range area. Unique menu items. Very good prices! We will definitely be back! Looking forward to being able to sit on the great patio!

There are places to go for the food. There are places you go for the drinks. And then there are places you go for experience. Case in point— regarding the last option, should you travel to the upper shore of Wisconsin and cross by ferry to Madeline Island, my signature recommendation for relaxation and mental reconfiguration is Tom’s Burned Down Café. As stated in the name, after a fire burned the original establishment to the ground in the 1990s, the bar was reinvented out of a trailer of alcohol, a tarp-covered deck and seating improvised from beer cases, lawn chairs, bucket car seats and other makeshift materials. Although the patchwork décor clearly could have been updated and modernized since their conflagration, that would completely negate the let-it-go and live-in-the-moment experience Tom’s delivers. That comparable experience is what came to mind recently while having drinks at The Iron Ranger. Don’t get me wrong. The Iron Ranger is not improvised at all. However, what I like most about The Iron Ranger is that it makes the best out of their limitations. Firstly, it’s easy to miss among the many similar Grand Avenue storefronts. I must have walked past it for six months before a friend pointed it out to me. Step inside, and you might find it equally nondescript. A few tables and booths bookending the narrow space for the bar. Still, it is a cozy meetup spot if you’re seeking conversational privacy over food and drinks. However, should you continue to the patio space, you’ll discover a hidden gem fenced off from the surrounding storefront parking facilities. Even with simple décor of umbrella tables and planter-trimmed wood fencing, the space is bright and inviting to make one oblivious to the stark blacktop parking space beyond its boundary. Even more inviting is the service from the staff. Upon each visit I have felt catered to as if in a high-end establishment, yet still comfortable enough to engage with the staff on a friendly basis. Truly, each time I have been to the Iron Ranger I have been treated as a guest, whether with a table of friends or sitting single at the bar. On two occasions there was confusion with my order, that I, or a table-mate contributed to a delay in service, and immediately it was rectified and compensated in a matter that did not need to incur. When we assured the staff it was not a problem, each time apologies were given before being told, “That’s on us.” Suffice to say, the owner and staff are there to serve and make you feel comfortable as all establishments should, but few do. They strive to go out of their way. Their menu is equally comfortable. You’ll find typical bar fare, such as nachos, sandwiches, and pizzas. However, the food is not typical either. Numerous dining companions have noted their delicious surprise at their savory sandwiches or outstanding flatbread pizzas that stand out without being pretentious. Should your in-laws or siblings drive down from Grand Rapids, Bovey, or Chisholm and want a scenic place that didn’t make them feel out of place, while still providing an upscale memory; or if friends are in town from Chicago, New York, or Los Angeles, you could happily reconnect while feeling comfortable listening to a guitarist play standards from Dylan, Petty, Wilco or other easy-groovers. Because, at The Iron Ranger it’s not really about the food, or drinks, or even the space. It’s all about the vibe.