After two fabulous weeks in Portugal and Northern Spain with readers, I took a few days to get over the jet lag, then set about eating around town.

This week, I hit a Grand Avenue newcomer, walked to a favorite in my own neighborhood and visited an Asian spot I’ve been meaning to check out for a long time.

It was a good week.

Russell’s

This was my second visit to this Grand Avenue newbie, in the former Tavern on Grand space. The first time was a bit chaotic and busy, so I thought I’d give them some time to settle in before trying it again.

This time, things were more dialed in. We started with some cocktails. My husband enjoyed his old-fashioned, and while my espresso martini was pretty good, it was a little too creamy for my liking. I prefer mine black with a foamy top.

While waiting for our entrees, we nibbled on some chicken Swedish meatballs covered in a sauce that contained some untraditional tomato flavor that I really dug. It offered a bit of tang and interest to a dish that is often simply rich and salty.

My son ordered the restaurant’s burger — I had just one bite, but it was a beefy delight that I’ll be back to try again before our annual burger guide comes out.

My husband’s salmon was prepared well and served over a tasty little German potato salad, and my chicken was super juicy and flavorful, but I didn’t love the overly sweet honey carrots it came with. A side salad was tasty, though, and I enjoyed the squash puree that was more of a sauce.

Overall, the room is cute and the vibe is befitting the neighborhood. It’s great to have a new option on Grand.

Russell’s >> 656 Grand Ave., St. Paul; 651-313-5839; russellsstpaul.com

FoodSmith

It was a beautiful Tuesday, and our neighbors joined us for a lovely walk through the neighborhood for dinner. We tried to hit El Cubano, which is still on its winter schedule, so the kitchen closed just as we were walking in.

No matter — we ambled a few more blocks and hit FoodSmith on West St. Paul’s Smith Avenue. The neighborhood pub has great food and decent cocktails — a true neighborhood gem.

We started with some excellent crispy Brussels sprouts, sprinkled with a sweet balsamic glaze, crisp smoked almonds and parmesan.

I was craving a good burger after Russell’s, so I ordered the Austrian Hunter Burger, topped with crisp bacon, mushrooms, sauteed onions and gruyere. It was a behemoth of a sandwich, and the meat was juicy and the toppings flavorful. I do think the patty was a bit underseasoned, but that’s splitting hairs. The hand-cut fries here are also worth the calories.

My husband enjoyed a Reuben, and the neighbors loved their tender steak and goulash, a sort of tomatoey pot roast served with irresistible, crispy spätzle that reminded me a lot of my favorite of those I tried in Austria.

FoodSmith >> 973 S. Smith Ave., West St. Paul; 651-330-0896; foodsmithpub.com

Soul Lao / Wandering Leaf

I had been meaning for ages to get to the bricks-and-mortar version of this Lao restaurant, so a friend and I stopped by for weeknight beers at Wandering Leaf and a few fantastic noodle and rice dishes here.

The operations are next door to each other, so you can just place an order on your phone and go get it when they text you.

We liked our first beers, a hazy IPA and a juicy West Coast IPA, but our second, called Pickles Are a Girl’s Best Friend, was a real showstopper. Infused with pickles and hot chiles, it’s probably not for everyone, but the slightly puckery flavor with tingly notes at the end from the chiles was right up our alley and it went great with the food.

We tried the Naem Khao, or crispy coconut rice, and the Khao Soi Haeng, a spicy rice noodle number. The rice had tons of phenomenal crispy bits and little pieces of fermented pork that kept my fork returning, and the spice level on the noodles was perfect. I highly recommend a side of their super flavorful habañero hot sauce if you are a spice lover like us.

Wandering Leaf’s plant-filled taproom is a pleasant place to spend an afternoon. There were even plenty of friendly dogs for petting on the day we were there.

Soul Lao >> 2465 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; 651-363-3469; soullao.com