St. Croix River Restaurants with a View

These picturesque St. Croix River restaurants are worth the short drive from Woodbury, especially in autumn.

By: Tammy Sproule Kaplan | From the issue: October 2011

Photo: Tate Carlson

Current's sushi platter, served with chilled wine patio-side on the St. Croix River in Afton.

The St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin, is a quick drive from Woodbury. The river, a haven for boating, canoeing, camping, fishing and wildlife, offers scenic views year-round but especially in Autumn, when the river shines amidst fall colors and crisp sunshine. Now’s the time to venture east for a fine dining experience along the river.

Afton: Afton House Inn/Afton Hudson Cruises/Swirl Wine Bar/Current

Brothers Dave and Dan Jarvis of the Afton House Inn cover all the bases, from upper tier dining to casual bites, with the restaurants that line their property along the St. Croix River. Afton House offers award-winning fine dining with tableside preparations of traditional dishes like Caesar salad and steak Diane. Afton Hudson Cruises are at their peak this time of year, with themes that are anything but run-of-the-mill, like the Oktoberfest beer tasting and dinner cruise scheduled for next month.

A casual companion to the higher end options, Swirl Wine bar is where you can sip a glass of wine, browse for wines by the bottle in the shop and peck at a selection of small plates, desserts and truffles.

Current, the latest restaurant to show up in the Jarvis portfolio, is a logical addition to the mix, with contemporary cuisine, a mid-level price point, and a free- flowing dining space which makes visitors feel at ease whether having drinks at happy hour, sitting down for dinner or stopping through for lunch (bargain hunters: note the $6 lunch special, a half sandwich and fries or cup of soup).

Chef Marc Paavola, who is a Woodbury resident, comes to Current with a long history of cooking in well-known Twin Cities restaurants, like Sea Change, the Birchwood and Porter & Frye. The dishes he has created at Current are simple and fresh – nothing you haven’t heard of before, but with slight innovations in each to make them memorable. A turkey burger ($10) is topped with lingonberry jam, shaved green apples and sunflower sprouts, and served with a wild rice aioli. (The cheeses that top any burger are locally sourced from Minnesota or Wisconsin). A sushi platter ($12) features a wild rice spicy crab roll made with lump crab meat and wild rice, and spiced up with togarashi (an Asian spice rub) and Sriracha Thai hot sauce. Baby back ribs ($17) are played up with a Tahitian style guava marinade, served with sweet potato fries and haricot vert. All of the twists and turns on Current’s menu are easily digested in a setting with a side view of the St. Croix River. On a comfortable couch you can sip cocktails in the open air, or at a table, receive more formal dinner service. Even inside the dining room, French doors opening out onto the patio area lend an open-air feel. From any vantage point, this sight of fall color can’t be beat.

Stillwater: Rafters

In Stillwater, if it’s a day for shooting the breeze over a hefty burger and a cold beer, Rafters might be the ticket. It doesn’t have outdoor seating, but it does have large bay windows overlooking the St. Croix River. Co-owner Larry Cramer, a Woodbury resident, had the historic space remodeled to create a simple, comfortable atmosphere with original finishes like exposed brick before opening his restaurant on January 1 of this year. On the food side, the Rafter’s burger, made with two 1/3 pound patties, sautéed mushrooms, onions, hickory smoked bacon, Swiss, cheddar and pepper jack ($11.99), goes over big, but it clearly isn’t for lightweights.

Hudson: Pier 500

A short jaunt across the St. Croix River brings you to Hudson, Wis., and there you’ll find Pier 500. Set approximately 100 feet from the river, it’s known for casual, contemporary cuisine and beautiful views, with Hudson Pier and Lakefront Park lying right at its doorstep. Walleye plays a starring role on the menu, with a pan-fried, parmesan-crusted walleye entrée ($21), a beer-battered crispy walleye sandwich ($14), and walleye cigars ($8) and walleye cakes ($8) among the appetizer selections. With a patio that faces west and overlooks the pier, it’s a prime arrangement for dinner or the “Kitchen and Cocktail” hour offering drink specials from 3 to 6 p.m. daily and all day Sunday.

Share this Article