FireLake Grill House and Cocktail Bar — Restaurant in Bloomington

I was really looking to eat at this restaurant. This was one of the highlights of our trip couple years ago when we stayed at radisson blu in 2017.

We had a really long day at the mall and we were winding down for the night and wanted to eat at this wonderful place. The hostess was extremely nice and I felt really great about choosing this restaurant once again, but when it came to a server, is when our experience went down the toilet.

From the start it seemed like the place was waaaay understaffed for a busy Saturday night plus the fact that it’s a Labor Day weekend. Probably not the best idea, but restaurant traffic is really hard to predict so it’s understandable. I worked at a restaurant once upon a time. I get it.

The only thing I wish is that our server was a little bit nicer. Yes, I know he was busy. And he was doing his best and in perspective it all seems like a first world problem, but I was trying to have a little small talk with him and he almost snapped at me. I ordered a drink and he asked for my id. I gave it to him. And then my husband did the same, ordered a drink and the server asked for an id, and said I don’t want to make you feel old. Then I proceeded with my question: so, how old do you think he is, you want to guess? ( again, this was just a small talk, I probably shouldn’t have asked that but it just came out. U know it happens when you are trying to have a good time lol ) And he answered: Im not going to do that right now, I’m way too busy for that.

PLS KEEP IN MIND IM NOT GRAVELY OFFENDED BY WHAT HE SAID. I am just sharing my experience.

I honestly wanted to cry right there and then. I did not want to eat there at all after that. Also my feelings get hurt a lot haha but you know I haven’t felt this way in a long time at a restaurant. Usually the server tries to make you feel entertained and happy which I was hoping for because we were going to spend 150 to 200 dollars there plus tip, which for me and my husband is not something that we take lightly. We work really hard for our money.

Anyway. We ended up just taking our drinks to the room and not eating. It took us about 25 minutes to get the drinks. And by that point, feeling so tired and hurt by the treatment we didn’t feel like eating at all. *also we had our 3.5 year son with us and if you are a parent you know how valuable quick service is.

It’s honestly so disheartening that our experience didn’t go so well.. I was really really looking forward to this. I hope that our breakfast will be better, because food there is fenomenal (and so were the drinks btw) I will give them another chance and just hope that maybe this guy was having a bad and busy night and was really stressed out and just couldn’t keep a happy face anymore.

We are all humans. We say things we wish we didn’t, and I wish I didn’t even start a conversation with him, but it just happened. Sometimes it does. Maybe next time don’t understaff your restaurant so your servers don’t...

The Venue is beautiful hands down! Since it was my birthday chose this location at mall of America, had reservations around 630p. The hostess was young and not diverse! Although she greeted us with a smile, the manager was directing her as we arrived. To be honest, it's alot of things to include in this review that I'd rather not mention only because after the dirty drinking glass, waitor not attentive and sitting there forever to eat, to be brought COLD FOOD! It added to the not so inviting experience! Needless to say after asking for the manager, it made matters worst! She was a KAREN🤭🫣 for those that know where I'm going with it! So it was a wrap! Not only as I was informing her of the dissatisfaction she kept cutting me off and thought it was OK to offer to cook more food which required an even longer wait. I thought that was inconsiderate. I'm the birthday girl now, and usually most places have a special little something or treat of choice, etc....never received anything or Acknowledgements. As I'm talking to the manager, she just rudely reaches over me , no excuse me, nothing 😤 so as she grabs my plate she started mouthing off under her breath, therefore I told her WE'RE DONE! WE WERE NOT STAYING AND HAD I KNOWN THIS WAS GONNA HAPPEN, WE COULD HAVE PICKED A DIFFERENT VENUE FOR MY BIRTHDAY! I was embarrassed in front of family and friends especially because we had been there long enough to eat a proper meal yet had to experience such rude service and many other things that are beyond measure. Again beautiful establishment. Oh another dissapointment, we wanted to play in billiards area and shoot pool but the manager said no, there was an event, they rented the entire part of the restaurant which included that area! Not sure how that works, but definitely wasn't told that when I made my reservations, so that enjoyment was taken away as well.🤷 If you like to socialize, sit at bar and casual drink, maybe order from menu if not rushing to the airport and you're a stuck up, snooty crowd with no swag, this is the place for you! The menu is well done, but the manager and it's team does not represent this brand at all. Very disceiving and overrated. Since it's in the Radisson Blu, it's getting exposure! So it works hand in hand, but for everyday people, not traveling, it's too stuffy. The vibe is too stiff. I travel and go to alot of restaurants and upscale venues, this was the worst treatment I've experienced in many years! Maybe revisit by myself just to see if there's a different experience 🤔 but it will...

Went here last night with some friends. We ordered appetizers cocktails and wine. For dinner we had Caesar salads with chicken and one with salmon. The chicken was like they put it in a crock pot and just let it dry out and then they made these weird cuts into it I don't know to make sure it was done or something but it was like shredded unseasoned chicken breast it was disgusting. I thought it was just mine but then my friend ordered a Caesar salad and it came out the exact same way unseasoned plain chicken breast nothing on it.

I wish I would have taken a photo but I ate the salad left the chicken. My friend that ate the chicken is sick and that is why I'm writing this review right now.

The salad and appetizers minus the chicken breast was okay nothing great but it was edible.

Then the worst part about our whole experience was our server. she was an older lady that was annoyed from the start, right away she had no time for us. we needed a minute after the hostess sat us to look at the menu and she didn't like that so it was down hill from there(hostess was very nice and everyone else we came in contact with was very nice) I'm not sure why she was so mean but she barely waited on us and when we told her to split the checks she dropped them and never came back to get them her expression was like it was her last straw. A man working eventually came over and closed our checks. Now that one of us is literally throwing up right now I wish we didn't leave a tip for this place.

It was not busy in there - about 5 tables worth and our server had one other table that came in about a half hour after us. right in front of us that she had no problem serving. Honestly we only left a tip because she was old so we felt bad that she was still working so late in life but she definitely didn't deserve it.

I wouldn't recommend this place solely on the quality of food, the server was...