Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Maplewood

Service was great. Loved our waitress. Location is great. Food is good. I have had better lasagna but it was still good.

Being an executive chef in the past, I’m usually not all that impressed with restaurants. I’m frugal. I figure if I’m going to spend money on someone else to prepare my food, I’d better be making yummy noises with every bite… RARELY does that happen. For our 34th anniversary, my wife and I decided to give Russel’s a go. The atmosphere was quiet and charming, intimate. The wine selection was well suited to the menu. We started with the baked ricotta… Simple, delicious, unctuous. Main course: I ordered the pork chops, my wife ordered the pot roast. Two simple, humble, basic entrées readily found in any home kitchen. THIS was not home cooking. Both meals were visually stunning. The pot roast was melt in your mouth, delicious. The hint of sweetness form the braising reduction, paired with the light bite of the horseradish, along the the creaminess of the potatoes was a perfect bite. My meal, the pork chops, ummm… WOW! A thick double chop, that I honestly thought would be on the bland side. However, the chef was able to pull flavor all the way through the chop. Cooked to a perfect med-rare center, without the exterior becoming even a little dry and chewy is a feat, but they did it. The depth of flavor was amazing, tasting different nuances in every bite. Yes, I made yummy noises with every bite, my apologies to the table next to us. As a chef, I’m usually left searching for that “extra something” in my food… it’s called “love”. The back of the house staff is obviously very skilled, producing an incredible plate, but they also put their heart into their craft, giving that “extra something” that we crave. Hat’s off, knives down to you Russel’s on Macklind. You’ve made this chef very happy.

We had Fox tickets and were concerned with timing. Our waiter was extra attentive and made sure we were on time. The food was delicious and the restaurant beautiful!

The experience was wonderful from start to finish! The server was welcoming & quick to get our drinks. We had several starters which were great. Cannot miss the French onion soup. We had burgers & a steak. The pommes frites are outstanding...a treat! Overall one of our favorite spots to dine with great cocktails & wine list.

Acero made for a perfect anniversary dinner for a couple from out of town. They offered us complimentary sparkling wine and even had our menus printed with a congratulations. Everything was fantastic but the egg raviolo is not to be missed. Our waiter Simon made it a wonderful experience.