Junction 70 Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Cottage Grove

Conjunction JUNCTION 70

While I'm hooking up words and phrases and clauses, people are flocking to Junction 70 over in Cottage Grove to check out how they function and now I'm going to have you singing this little ditty all day long! But in all seriousness, why is this place so popular? Is it because it's one of VERY VERY few restaurants the city has? Or, is it because it actually has some delicious food to enjoy? Maybe it's the large selection of brews on tap?

We had the chance to check this place out during their soft opening and really weren't all that impressed so we let the place fully open, work out the kinks and then head back to check out the full menu. I think we have some more visiting to do (eventually), but round number two wasn't all that spectacular either. Round number two had my wife ordering the cobb salad while I went with their "Philly" and we started the evening with some chips and queso and a couple of adult beverages.

I really don't have anything to say about the chips and queso.... It was chips and queso.... It was something to hold us over until our meals came and it filled a void. Oh look, here comes our meals! My wife's cobb was your typical, straight forward cobb - romaine, ranch dressing, ham, mixed cheese, double smoked bacon, tomatoes, smoked chicken and red onion with a side of her favorite dressing choices. She ate most of it, so I'm guessing she enjoyed it????

As for my "Philly" (yes I'm using quotes) - 12 hour pecan smoked prime rib, cheese sauce, mushrooms, onions, Anaheim peppers on a hoagie bun. I asked for no mushrooms because they're just an additive like "this or that", but my sandwich arrived with them on anyways. Ok, fine, I can just pick them off... Looked good, but it was just a glorified roast beef sandwich, not a Philly! It wasn't terrible, but it was nothing even remotely close to a Philly! Beef was lacking that 12 hour pecan smoked flavor, actually pretty tame and there was very little cheese. But, I kept the leftover queso which helped a little bit. Win for me!

We can't forget our little guy... He wanted the cheese pizza and he was definitely enjoying it. However, this foodie didn't get a chance to try it so I can't really tell you if you should order it for your little(s). I hear their wings are pretty stellar, so I'm sure I'll be back to see if they're worth adding to the wing challenge top 10 list or not. However, the Philly won't be making it on my top 10 list though. I think I'll have another beer and sing some more conjunction...

Mac n cheese was good on Wednesday, nice cheesy sauce. Went back Saturday afternoon and the Mac n cheese was terrible. The place was packed Saturday and the food suffered because of it. Very little sauce and sprinkled shredded cheese on top almost like they ran out of sauce and didn’t prep more so they sprinkled cheese on top hoping that would suffice. BBQ is ok at best, Ribs and brisket is a little chewy possibly parboiled and finished on the grill or smoker. Don’t get the wings. The wings tasted like they were par cooked in the oven then finished in the fryer (wings should be fried making a perfect crisp texture) which made the wings chewy and lacked flavor. This is a reataurant trick which makes cooking food faster. Pulled pork was good but who can mess up pulled pork? Nachos are doused sparingly with a liquid queso which leaves an eater with a mostly dry mouth.

Good beer, pretty good service every time I’ve been there. The beer, decent atmosphere and vibe is what’s bringing me back, i’d Rate the food ok at best

UPDATE: I ordered takeout yesterday 09/19/21. We ordered some BBQ meats and a salad. The BBQ was putrid. The best thing on the plate was the pickles and Texas toast. The ribs had no bark! no bark! it seems like they steamed them, then finished on a grill. They literally had grill marks like a steak or burger. I highly doubt they use a smoker. The brisket had a rubber/microwave texture. The pulled pork was OK, but had no smoke flavor and was crispy like it was fried on a flattop. The sauces were pretty good. The corn muffin was weird, with corn kernels and jalapenos in it. It was a waste of $70. I should...

I recently dined at your establishment; Junction 70 Grill. I wanted to take a moment to provide feedback on my experience.

While our waitress, Sidney, provided good service during our visit, unfortunately, the same cannot be said for our encounter with the manager, Patrick. I found his demeanor and approach to customer service to be quite unprofessional and abrasive.

As someone in the hospitality and travel industry, I value hospitality and understand the significance of creating a positive and inclusive environment for all patrons. Patrick's rude behavior was concerning and has left a lasting negative impression. It's important for any business, especially in the hospitality industry, to prioritize excellent customer service.

I believe that addressing these concerns and ensuring that all staff members exemplify professionalism and courtesy is crucial for the success and reputation of your restaurant. I hope this feedback helps in maintaining the high standards of service that your patrons deserve, however based on my experience, I don't believe that Patrick can ever provide that.

I will not be returning to your establishment (first and last), but I trust that you will take the necessary steps to address this concern and create a more pleasant experience for future customers. Word travels...