• St. Paul is home to several restaurants that bring a touch of Paris to the citytour Eiffel - Eiffel tower image by AlcelVision from Fotolia.com
  
  Winters in St. Paul can be long. The National Weather Service estimates that the Minneapolis-St. Paul area has at least one inch of snow on the ground for 100 days out of the year. Although some might take advantage of the white stuff to hone their skiing skills, others prefer warmer activities. St. Paul is home to many restaurants, including several French eateries, that offer locals a warm place to spend an evening enjoying a good meal.
  
  

Forepaugh's Restaurant

• Forepaugh's is located in a renovated Victorian mansion built in 1870, and has long been the go-to place in St. Paul for classic French cuisine. The interior is elegant and sophisticated, with dining rooms spread across three floors that feature warm tones, crystal chandeliers and rare antiques. A ground-floor covered patio and second-floor open-air deck provide al fresco dining opportunities, and a Chef's Tasting Room offers a private dining experience for four in the restaurant's stone wine cellar.
  
  The upstairs dining room offers a full dinner menu, while the downstairs dining room offers small plates that encourage diners to try several dishes. The dinner menu features a variety of appetizers, soups and sandwiches as well as seafood, vegetarian, beef, lamb and poultry entrees. Popular dishes include a classic beef Wellington, slow-roasted salmon with spinach, apple-beet sauce and a potato-leek fondue, and a char-grilled rib-eye steak with dauphine potatoes and sauce romesco. Reservations are recommended.
  
  Forepaugh's Restaurant
  276 S Exchange St.
  St. Paul, MN 55102
  651- 224-5606
  forepaughs.com
  
  

Brasserie Meritage

• The Hamm Building, constructed in 1919, is home to a classic French restaurant, Brasserie Meritage. Minnesota Monthly calls it a "real French brasserie" and a "seamlessly lively urban spot" with "some distinctly Midwestern embellishments." The magazine proclaimed it "Best French Restaurant" of 2008 and the "Best Restaurant in St. Paul" in 2009. The main dining room sweeps patrons away to a Parisian feel with its high ceilings, black and white tiled floors, large mirrors and dark woods. Sidewalk seating is available in warmer months.
  
  The menu changes throughout the year to reflect the freshest ingredients available. You'll find an assortment of amuse bouche, appetizers, soups, salads and entrees. Main dishes might include roasted loin of venison au poivre with grilled gingerbread and chestnut puree, steamed Mediterranean mussels with smoked pancetta, garlic, tomato and white wine, or spaghetti squash almondine with bleu cheese. Reservations are strongly recommended.
  
  Brasserie Meritage
  410 Saint Peter St.
  St. Paul, MN 55102
  651- 222-5670
  meritage-stpaul.com
  
  

Salut Bar Americain

• Salut's facade is as sleek and trendy as the inside is rustic and comfortable. The juxtaposition of quaint black and white checkered tablecloths with the custom-built wine cabinets creates an atmosphere of quiet sophistication. Colorful French artwork, oversized windows and dark-wood wainscoting complete the effect. Guests can enjoy a glass of wine on the outdoor patio, or sidle up to the oyster bar for a pre-dinner nosh.
  
  The thoughtfully prepared menu features raw bar selections, appetizers, salads, sides, sandwiches, burgers and pastas as well as grilled or broiled seafood, choice center-cut steaks or house specialty entrees. Popular dishes include Bleu Cheese Steak Frite with mushrooms and roasted garlic, broiled Arctic char with brown butter green beans and butternut squash puree, and duck a l'orange with carrots, leeks and potatoes. Reservations are strongly recommended.
  
  Salut Bar Americain
  917 Grand Ave.
  St. Paul, MN 55105
  651- 917-2345
  salutbaramericain.com