Riverside Tavern — Restaurant in Crosslake

We hadn't been here in some time, expensive eating is something we do on special occasions. We we're both pleasantly surprised they had redecorated and updated the place. It's very nice inside now, wooden floors, nice square bar with a fireplace in the center of the north side of the dining area. The south(right side)appeared to be dining. We didn't have reservations but were asked if we had them. Never needed them before, and was surprised they asked. (They were not booked up, immediate seats available). We we're seated in a high-top in the bar room. They now have TV's hanging over the bar too. Soon as I sat down, I noticed my silverware looked like it had missed the wash cycle. When our server came, I asked for a clean set, she asked for our drink orders and took away the silverware, wrapping it in the napkin they sat on. My husband ordered a draft beer, I ordered a $9 Old Fashioned. Drinks and silverware came quickly enough. Unfortunately, my Old Fashioned was ruined by the overpowered bourbon used. It was not a balanced drink. Once it got watered down, it was more drinkable. Don't get me wrong, I'm a Jack Daniel's girl but that OF was WAY overpowered. Hubby's beer was cold as it should have been. We ordered the onion ring appetizer, sadly, it was the best dish of the night. They were battered lightly and the sauce that came with them was good. Slightly spicy light a sour cream-siracha sauce. Hubby ordered a $28 sirloin that was 8 Oz. It was charred as the menu said and he asked for mashed potatoes and also got a small dish of carrots. The steak was charred and hard to cut through the crusted char. No flavoring on the steak, not even a butter bath before serving. The carrots were in a sweet cumin flavored broth that was good, again, spicy. Seems like the menu writers like spice here. Not too spicy to eat, just spicy enough to let you know it's there. The potatoes were russet, mashed, chunky and with some peels. They tasted good. I ordered a dish called Airplane Chicken($26). Curiosity got me. Sun dried tomatoes, pesto, and what kind of chicken....it was a small (boneless) breast, maybe 4 oz and had the drummie wing attached. When it came, it kinda looked like vomit on the chicken. The pesto and sun-dried tomatoes didn't mix well to make it a recipe. It was like "let's throw this together ". I wouldn't recommend it. My additional items were a baked potato and the same carrots as hubby got. Baked potato was good, fully cooked, carrots are also very good but as I got to the last couple pieces, I found a hair in the dish. Looked like a beard hair. Our server was shocked and said she'd take it to the cooks so they would know, however, didn't offer any reduction on the meal. This place now has what I would call, a limited menu, 6-9 bugers, 3-4 pasta dishes, some seafood and a couple steaks ranging from $28 - $78! Couldn't believe a 24oz porterhouse could cost that much in any restaurant! When we walked into the restaurant, my husband mentioned it was our anniversary, the one woman that seated us said she'd take us to her house and "cook us a good meal ". We kinda laughed it off, but thinking it was true! Disappointing evening at the Riverside Tavern. Our final bill for dinner, 1 OF, and 2 beers was $97. We should have driven to Baxter to our usual...

The new Riverside Tavern is a great addition to the Crosslake area. My partner and I had dinner there shortly after they opened and had one of the best dining experience to date up North. We had the chicken tika maslasa (Somehow Riverside has mastered making the best version of this Indian dish that I've ever eaten) and a lobster pasta (Which was also superb). Unfourtanately we went here for lunch on one of our last visits and had a very mediocre experience with their lunch menu. A group of 7 of us tried a variety of their sandwiches and burgers and was left underwhelmed by all of them. I would suggest elevating these menu items considering the price points of them. Also, the espresso martini was really bad. Regardless, we will certainly be returning, if anything again for dinner as we had a 10/10 experience with that portion of the menu. Happy to have you in our town, Riverside!...

Excited to have a new dining spot, BUT, we ordered the salmon spread and brussels spouts as appetizers. The salmon spread was okay, but how do 4 people split only 6 crostini toasts that were impossible to bite into. Brussel spouts were shredded and over done. The burgers were tasty, but onion rings were over cooked and tasteless. I ordered a 2nd glass of wine when my entree came and arrived after I was done eating. Maybe because we were on the patio the service was slow at 2 in the afternoon. Hardly any cars in the parking lot, but maybe the server was new. The building looks nice, but they need a manager or owner to keep tabs on the food coming out and the bar running smoothly. Apparently their is...