Casper and Runyon’s Nook on South Hamline Avenue in St. Paul has been a Twin Cities burger institution since it opened in 1938, serving the Juicy Nookie — St. Paul’s contribution to the loosemeat and stuffed burger tradition — in a neighborhood tavern setting that has barely changed in nearly 90 years of continuous operation. It appeared in Season 14, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Serious Sandwiches,” which aired June 11, 2012. Guy Fieri found a St. Paul tavern kitchen doing the stuffed burger the way it has been done since FDR was president — a beef patty stuffed with cheese before hitting the griddle, sealed shut so the cheese melts inside and stays there.
Quick Facts
Restaurant: Casper and Runyon’s Nook
City: St. Paul, Minnesota
Cuisine: Burgers / Pub Food
DDD Season: 14
DDD Episode: 9
Episode Title: Serious Sandwiches
Original Air Date: June 11, 2012
Address: 492 S. Hamline Ave., St. Paul, MN 55116
Phone: 651-698-4347
Website: https://www.crnook.com
Status: Open
What to Eat
The Juicy Nookie — a hand-formed beef patty stuffed with cheese, sealed shut, and cooked on the griddle so the cheese melts inside the burger rather than on top — is the signature that has been ordered at this counter since 1938 and the reason the DDD segment exists. The Double Juicy Nookie for those who need more is the natural escalation. The Tavern Fries are the side most regulars add without being asked. The Tap Beer List is as straightforward and well-chosen as the food menu. Find a St. Paul or Minneapolis hotel on Trivago.
Plan Your Visit
Check the website for current hours. The Nook has been open in St. Paul since 1938.
Address: 492 S. Hamline Ave., St. Paul, MN 55116
Phone: 651-698-4347
Website: https://www.crnook.com
Status: Open
Triple D Essentials
Stream the Serious Sandwiches episode on Amazon and bring the stuffed burger spirit home with Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Burger Joint Seasoning.
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Casper and Runyon’s Nook appeared in Season 14, Episode 9 of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, “Serious Sandwiches,” originally aired June 11, 2012. The tavern has been open in St. Paul since 1938.