Tongue in Cheek pairs playful cooking with serious hospitality

What the public feedback says

Tongue in Cheek holds a 4.8 Google rating from 2,243 reviews, an unusually strong public signal for a restaurant with such a distinctive personality. Across the supplied reviews, diners repeatedly praise attentive service, creative food and an atmosphere that feels relaxed rather than ceremonious. Several describe returning multiple times, including one guest who associates the restaurant with a first date and has continued coming back.

The overall impression is of a mid-range Saint Paul restaurant that takes presentation and hospitality seriously without losing its sense of humor. Public listings span American restaurant, brunch spot, wine bar, cocktail bar and fine dining, but the reviews lean most heavily toward dinner, drinks and occasions that call for something more memorable than a standard neighborhood meal.

Food with room for different diets

The menu earns credit for being inventive rather than merely broad. Reviewers call the dishes unique, artfully prepared and, in one case, “addicting.” The smashburger receives particularly emphatic praise, while a watermelon salad and daikon radish pad thai salad were both singled out positively by another diner.

More importantly, vegetarian and gluten-free diners do not appear to be treated as an afterthought. One mixed group found the vegetarian options just as curated and carefully presented as the rest of the menu. Another reviewer highlighted the abundance of gluten-free choices. That combination makes Tongue in Cheek promising for groups with varied preferences, especially when everyone still wants food that feels deliberate.

The evidence is positive but not completely uniform. One experienced, adventurous diner wondered whether years of anticipation had raised expectations too far. The truncated review still praised the service and atmosphere, but it serves as a useful reminder that playful or unconventional cooking will not land identically for every guest.

Cocktails, service and atmosphere

Cocktails are a clear draw. One reviewer appreciated that the drinks were organized by flavor profile and praised the French Kiss, made with gin, lime, ginger, Aperol and bubbly. That structure should help diners choose by taste rather than deciphering a list based only on spirits.

Service is the most consistent strength in the supplied feedback. It is described as outstanding, wonderful and excellent across separate visits. The room also earns praise for a chill, fun atmosphere filled with unusual art and decor. Still, the visual style is divisive: one regular enjoys looking around, while another diner considered the wall art sloppy and amateur. The silliness appears intentional, but guests seeking restrained or polished surroundings may not connect with it.

Editorial verdict

Synthesizing the rating and review themes, Tongue in Cheek looks best suited to date nights, celebratory dinners and groups balancing adventurous eaters with vegetarian or gluten-free needs. Strong hospitality provides the foundation, while creative plates and well-organized cocktails supply the personality. The decor may split opinion, and unusually high expectations could blunt the impact, but the repeat visits and broad enthusiasm make this one of Saint Paul’s more compelling mid-range options to try.