The GOP "Steak Tax" at the St. Paul Grill

We scheduled a last minute late lunch early / dinner at the St. Paul Grill yesterday for the hard-working team at Capitol Report and Politics in Minnesota. [Capitol Report Managing Editor Bill Clementsand I have noticed a discernible difference in staff work product when stomachs are full of steak and walleye, as opposed to White Castles.]

Imagine my surprise when I picked up the menu and looked for my usual choice –the cheapest steak on the menu — and found that it wasn’t on the menu. The steak I usually order is about $26 (if memory serves) The cheapest steak on the menu was $46.45.

Here’s that steak.

From our perusal of the menu…

It appears that the price of entree choices was increased about 30 percent. Always one to try to beat the system, I ordered the lamb chops because at $48.95, the lamb chops were marked up less than the steaks (maybe Republicans don’t order much lamb.Baaaaaaa.]

According to St. Paul Grill General Manager David Soos, the Grill raised prices because of the "extra security costs along with increased prices from vendors during convention week."

What about other comparable restaurants? Pazzaluna raised their prices. Pazzaluna, of course, like the St. Paul Grill, is owned and managed by Morrissey Hospitality Restaurants.

About a block down the street on St. Peter is Kincaid’s, owned by Restaurants Unlimited based in Seattle. Kincaid’s didn’t increase prices. "The only thing we did different for the convention was to extend our hours," said Kim Oppergard, Kincaid’s general manager.

Across the river, Ed Carson, the General Manager of Manny’s Steak House, reports no price increases there. At The Oceanaire Seafood Room, Sales & Event Coordinator Amy Huston reports no price increases. James Murray, one of the owners of Murray’s, also reports no price increases. The Grill’s price increases were new news to the restaurants I talked to.

At first blush, The Grill’s price increases seem ridiculous. But to be fair, it looks to me like the St. Paul Hotel and the St. Paul Grill did spend some serious dough on security — and door openers. Dare you to try to get into the joint without having someone else rush to open the door. But perhaps more important, The Grill made clear to me earlier this week, and I overheard staff telling other patrons, "never mind the crowds, we’re trying to do our best to accommodate our regular customers."

Too bad about CNN’s Candy Crowley, though. "Too Exclusive" item, you have to scroll down the page.

Which they certainly did in our case. We made a reservation only several hours before we went, around 5 p.m. I recognized several other regular patrons, including Metropolitan Airports Commissioner and Lindquist & Vennum lobbyist extraordinaire Bert McKasy, and his better half, Carolyn McKasy, enjoying a birthday celebration with their extended family. Happy 40th birthday, Kristie McKasy!

All things considered, I’ll conclude The Grill should be forgiven for the GOP "Steak Tax." Particularly because I bet the steak tax helped pay for Republicanizing The St. Paul Hotel’s fine garden.