One of the things that my wife and I love to do is find cool new places to eat that have really solid food, and a solid tap list of craft beers. Today we visited Ward 6 for our second time, and I thought I’d share a few thoughts about the experience.

Ward 6 is over on the east side of St. Paul, which is where I grew up many years ago. Although the area has changed quite a bit since I lived there, it still has the same working class vibe that it did back then. The years that I’ve been away from the east side have not been kind to the area, with a large influx of poverty and crime, but in the past 4-5 years things have really turned around, and Payne Ave. is now considered one of the best places to find good food in St. Paul. The area has also welcomed a large immigrant population, so there are lots of nice ethnic restaurants and groceries as well.

Ward 6 is one of the newest establishments to come back to the area, and it’s built in a beautiful old historic saloon that was ran by the Hamm’s Brewing company for many years. In particular the old wood bar is amazing to look at and just screams early 1900’s style. I’d encourage you to read up on the history of the building to really appreciate what this place has been through.

Both times that we’ve patronized Ward 6 it’s been for a brunch meal, so our menu choices have reflected that. One of the first things that we order when we go there is an order of beignets. These are one of my wife’s favorite treats, and finding places that do them is rare. We take advantage of them when we find them, enjoying a nice powdered sugar morsel.

On both occasions my wife has ordered their eggs benedict and found it to be absolutely satisfying. It’s a great example of what eggs benedict is supposed to be, and tastes great. The first time I went there I had their breakfast poutine, which at first had me nervous with a fried egg on top, but it ended up being really quite good.

Today I decided to try their biscuits and gravy, and was moderately pleased. My only complaint is that I prefer a flakier, lighter, biscuit, and Ward 6 seems to serve a denser, crispier one. The flavors of the sausage gravy were awesome though, so I was pleased with my selection. Someday, when I’m in the mood for a burger, I want to try their Fatty Melt. The Fatty Melt is a burger, but it is served with grilled cheese sandwiches in the place of buns. That’s right, you read that correctly.

The other big thing that Ward 6 has going for it is it’s beer selection. Almost everything that they serve is local Minnesota craft beer, and both occasions I’ve been there I’ve been able to get smaller sized pours of a few different brews. Today I got to try a couple beers that I’ve never had before, and enjoyed thoroughly, including a nice smooth IPA from a new brewery called Pyres.

Even though it’s a bit of a drive I find Ward 6 to be worth the travel. The building has a great atmosphere and the food is great quality. I’m excited to see places like this trying to revitalize a great old neighborhood, and make it a destination for everyone.