Dari-ette Drive-In ~ St Paul, MN

Cuisine: American, Italian, Ice Cream

Restaurant Features: Counter-Service, Drive-In

Location: St Paul

Address:  1440 Minnehaha Ave E St Paul, MN 55106 (651) 776-3470

Hours Sun-Thurs 11am-10pm   Friday 11am-11pm  Saturday 11am-10pm

**Seasonal  April-October

Links: Google Map

Atmosphere: Located on the east side of St Paul, Dari-ette is the local drive-in hot spot.   There are about 30 parking spots, each with its very own menu/ordering speaker.  Once you decide your order, place it with the waitress and he/she will bring it right to your car when ready.  Too messy to eat in the car? There is also a walk-up window and patio seating or a small selection of booths inside.

Menu: Appetizers include pasta salad, jalapeno poppers, chicken wings, garlic cheese toast, mozzarella sticks, french fries and onion rings.

Italian Specialties include Spaghetti or Rigatoni topped with Dari-ette's Famous Sauce, the "Italiano" aka Hot Dago, Meatball sandwich, Italian Chicken Sandwich and Italian club.

American sandwiches/entrees include Deep-fried Chicken, Shrimp dinner, Fish and Chips, Hamburgers, Chicken Fillet, Steak Sandwich, and Pork Chop.

Ice Cream treats range from cones, sundaes, banana split, floats, slushies, malts and shakes. 

Price guide: Appetizers $3-6, Sandwiches $4-6  Fried Chicken $11-22 Ice Cream $1-4

What I ordered: The Dari-ette Meatball sub. Three large meatballs on fresh, thick-sliced Italian bread, topped with homemade sauce and melted mozzarella cheese.  I thought the sandwich was good, but not the best I have ever eaten.  I liked the sauce very much, wish there was more of it than just the amount that spilled over.  The meatballs themselves were decent, but there was something about the flavor and texture that didn't win me over...too many breadcrumbs, perhaps? I was also disappointed that for $6 it didn't come with a side of chips or anything. I highly recommend eating this messy sandwich with silverware :)   

Service: Very friendly.  I can imagine that on a busy night it might be slow placing orders and having food brought out.

Overall Impression: Great place to take the kids for dinner and an ice cream!

Comments

[Shannon]

1.

Maybe the texture/flavor that you were picking up on was due to the meatballs being deep-fried.

[Peggy]

2.

Fun place to take your classic car or truck. Meatball sandwich is really good, my 7 year old loves the rigatoni w/ spaghetti sauce and the chocolate malts! Look forward to going there each season!

[J MURPHY]

3.

I HAVE NOT BEEN BACK TO THIS RESTAURANT IN ABOUT 7 YEARS DUE TO THE FACT, THE MANAGER WAS EXTREMELY RUDE TO ME. I CALLED THE DARIETTE BECAUSE I HAD AN UNDERCOOKED CHEESEBURGER AND POLITELY TOLD THEM TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS COOK THEM THOROUGHLY, WELL THE MANAGER WAS EXTREMELY RUDE TO ME!!! SAYING SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME, DID I SEE DR? HOW DO I KNOW IT'S THEIR FOOD?!?!? SHE WAS SO RUDE AND ACTUALLY HUNG UP ON ME! SO I HAVE NOT BEEN BACK THERE, I DO MISS IT BUT THAT SERVICE WAS NOT CALLED FOR AND IT WAS THE MANAGER!!!!

[Angelo]

4.

The Dari-Ette has the best and most honest "Fabulous '50s" ambiance of any restaurant I have been to in St Paul. As a long-time customer, the owners (same family since it was built in the early-1950s) have been nothing to nice to me, even when I was a bratty little kid!. The food is great, the staff is nice and it's an extremely clean and well-kept place. Definitely the coolest place in town to take your '55 Chevy (or 2005 Chevy) on a Saturday night.

[JESS]

5.

7 YEARS? BOY THAT IS A LONG TIME TO HOLD A GRUGE ABOUT A BURGER.TIME TO MOVE ON....

[jmurphy@empi.com]

6.

you are so right Jess. I actually did go back there last summer with my daughter and grandson and we ate car side which was very nice on a hot summer day. food was good and the manager was no where in sight! ha thanks~

[CRITIQUEYOURBUSINESS]

7.

YOU MOVE ON CHICK WHEN YOU BITE INTO A RAW BURGER!