Leader — Restaurant in Cambridge

Long, detailed review

I was excited to try Willards based on recommendation of others. Atmosphere was casual, modern and comfortable. Upon arrival in front door we weren't sure if it was seat yourself or hostess seating (it was shortly after 4pm on a Friday afternoon). We waited a moment or two and finally a server came to seat us. Once seated she brought us water….tepid, tap water - no ice. We had to ask for ice and straw. The menu has many delicious options. We had several questions about some of the different items to which the server seemed annoyed to have to answer. Both of us decided on the Reuben sandwich (the menu states no modifications or alterations).  At this first time visit I have a full arm cast and am unable to use my entire left hand and arm. I politely asked the server to please have the chef cut my sandwich in quarters to make it easier to eat. She stated that she couldn't do that. She was VERY adamant about no modifications to menu (INCLUDING cutting sandwich in quarters)...that the entree had to be served in such a way to be pleasing to the eye; that it will be plated how the chef deems best. I tried to explain why (as if she couldn't see the huge cast) I was making the request. She was uncaring...so I just let it go.

Once our food arrived, it definitely looked delicious and was served on a wood plank. The fries were (I'm pretty sure) hand cut, fried and seasoned well with flake salt and fresh chives. They were just the right crispness for me but too crispy for my companion. Ketchup was served in a mini ketchup bottle which was adorable. The Reuben itself was huge and could have been split.  Because of my recent arm surgeries (and the servers refusal to put in my request to the chef) my companion had to try to cut the sandwich into quarters for me. This was no easy task for a few reasons: the serving plank was full of food, platter had no sides, we only had a butter knife and the bread (artisan bread) was grilled so that the crust was nearly impossible to cut through. It would have made much more sense to just have the chef cut the sandwich - really a simple and NOT unreasonable request. Because of no sides on the plank, tough meat, dull knife and such a large portion of food we ended up with food spilling onto the table...sloppy and completely avoidable.

The artisan bread was slathered with butter and then grilled...the bread was a sponge that ended up being mush inside and out because of the amount of butter.  The crust was very hard (not unexpected in artisan bread). The braised cabbage didn't have much for flavor (no tang like a traditional sauerkraut, which I didn't expect it to have as it is described as braised) The meat itself had good flavor but had too much incredibly chewy (inedible for me) fat on the edges. The "good" meat was tough -  difficult to cut with just a butter knife. The Russian dressing was good.

Menu pricing was comparable to other like establishments: Reuben and fries $14.00. My small (probably 8 oz) ice tea was $2.50 with no refill (free or not) offered. A can of Diet Coke was $3.00.

Over all experience was disappointing to say the least. Most of which was due to the rigidity of sticking to the "no modifications" to the menu. I will try another visit as many of the items on the breakfast menu sound delicious. Hopefully today's experience was the exception to the norm. I will post an update when I...

Salmon, sourdough, dill, balsamic, and crème fraiche!? I promise ya won't be asking for less. In fact, you'll probably be wonton Smor... ;)

Here's the lineup: Salmon Gravlax Smorgas with Cucumbers, Egg, Dill, Crème Fraiche, and Sour Dough bread Cranberry Jalapeño Wontons with a Sweet Chili Sauce Bluegill Sandwich with Tartar Sauce, Nordic Pickles, and Bacon Cheese Fries Baby Back Ribs with Creamed Corn, Baked Beans, and Potato Salad Strawberry Cannoli with Whipped Cream

Leader is serving an impressive variety of high-end creations just a short trip north of the cities in Cambridge, MN!

I know it's cliche to say, but everything was excellent. Here's a few highlights The salmon appetizer was magnificently balanced. Flavorful salmon, cucumbers, and crème fraiche called out for texture--Enter sliced sourdough, a desirable vehicle for a rich dish finished perfectly with tangy balsamic. The wontons would put any store-bought Asian appetizers to shame, and I'm not complaining about that sweet chili sauce! Now for a meat-and-greet--Easy to pull off the bone, not soggy with sauce yet still smoky, savory, and tender, I'd call dibs on these ribs with some fresh creamed corn, baked-to-perfection beans, house-made pickles, and standout potato salad any day! But wait... the bluegill will make you wonder sand-which to order next time... hehe! Nothing bad to say about the breading, and terrific tartar sauce makes this main especially memorable Bacon Cheese Fries. Need they say more? Absolutely delicious, as the name suggests, not to mention these were some of the better fries I've tried in MN

And finally, a decadent Cannoli that could rival any high-end dessert. Creamy and subtly crunchy when it needed to be, the sweet strawberry brought back summer memories on a subzero 'sota day

Leader's location, a Restaurant and Apparel/Curated Goods shop in one, has a truly unique aesthetic; the experience is worth the short trip. It's more than fair to say I'm glad I...

Visited on a Saturday evening around 7pm without a reservation. We were seated promptly. Restaurant was close to being full. Came hungry and left hungry. Ordered one of their standard $10.00 cocktails that took too long to be delivered. Both of us ordered the Swedish meatballs. No complimentary bread. A salad is not included with a dinner and must be ordered separately. Pricing is more in line with downtown Minneapolis or the southwest suburbs and not representative of this non-metro and rural area. Meal arrived in average time. There were four meatballs, mashed potatoes and some thin sliced pickels in a "pretty plate" layout. Meatballs (4) were of average size, not very firm, only one was covered minimally with the gravy. Taste was towards the bland side. The small sized scoup of mashed potatoes could have come out of a powered box. They were extremely fine and almost soupy. No gravy was even touching them. Not what I was expecting from a chef inspired eatery with a recent extensive story in the Minneapolis newspaper. Too costly at $20.00 each plate for this area. What a shame. I'm not sure they will survive in business long unless they better fit in with their location and probable clientele. Younger folks might like the ambience, but can they afford it or spend enough routinely? And as I stated earlier, I came hungry and left hungry figuring my $70.00 bill should have and could have offered more. I do not enjoy pretty plates of food. I enjoy great taste and a bit more volume which includes a bread and salad as standard. We won't be driving the 30 miles back up there for this place. I would be very suspious of all the 5 star positive reviews especially from persons identified as "local guides." This is not an area that has lots of tourism visitor activity. Glowing positive reviews from: "Friends?" Owners? Relatives? Staff?...