Layline — Restaurant in Excelsior

Update: I was finally contacted after my Resy review. We were given the opportunity to come back.

We finally did on 5/17/24. Our server was very friendly and was able to pay attention to her section. Appetizers did not disappoint . Duck Fat Fries and brussels sprouts. Drinks were delicious. Main meals: The Lobster Roll was delicious The halibut was delicious And….. we tried the Carbonara again and there were still some chili flakes, causing it to be a little spicy. There’s nothing in the description of the menu that talks about chili flakes or potentially being spicy. it was nothing like last time but still a shocker when you order a dish that you are not expecting to have heat.

Overall much better and we enjoyed our time. From 2 stars to 3. Because I want to love the carbonara not spicy or at least have it listed!

Girls night out.. First time at Layline.

4 of us ladies decided to try Layline on Friday, March 22nd. We sat in the main dining area right next to the bar. Our server, Molly I believe it’s listed as (PM B) on our ticket started out strong. Drinks were great and the apps were perfect.

Calamari Duck fat fries

2 of us had the tequila special cocktail and one had the dill and white chocolate gimlet - don’t be fooled it’s yummy!

We ordered our dinner and it fell apart from there.

2 of us had carbonara (not listed anywhere that it’s spicy.) 1 had sea bass The other had - Hong Kong .. had knowledge this dish would be spicy.

Our food arrived and we never saw our server again until it was time to either order dessert or get the check. She was clearly severing tables and also behind the bar.

Sea Bass - no complaints. One of the carbonara - no complaints C who enjoys spicy food ate it right up and loved the heat. I had maybe 3 bites and my mouth was on fire! I could not eat my dish. D who ordered the Hong Kong expected spicy but it was so hot she could not eat her dish. When our server came to clear what was left of our dishes. She asked D if she wanted a to-go-box and D said no. She never asked if there was a problem she just cleared a full dish. When she came around to mine I said I’ll take a to-go because it is way to spicy. She was shocked that mine was spicy she said carbonara should not be spicy. That’s when my friend who ordered the other carbonara dish chimed in and said it was so spicy, but I enjoyed it. She said she was going to tell the chef. I had maybe a little hope that they might fire another dish without the spice, maybe offer dessert or take it off the bill?

Nothing.. no comment on what the chef said just brought out my to-go- box along with our check.

I pondered for a day and finally called Saturday. The manager answered and I shared my experience. She did say Molly was both a server and behind the bar, she also was in the back when Molly asked the chef about my dish but never came out to check with our table.

She said it’s true the carbonara should not be spicy. They use a chili flake, which again is not listed, but it should be very mild..

I let her know about the Hong Kong dish. She said they have had several complaints that that dish is too spicy..

I told her I never expect a restaurant to give anything if the dishes don’t level up to the customers expectations, but there were two dishes at our table that were too spicy for either one of us to eat. And it was just blown off like oh well. We didn’t have a chance to chat with our server when our dishes first came out and or a manager.

She took my information and said she would email the general manager. It’s now been a week. I have not heard anything back and here I am leaving my review..

As far as the place itself, it’s very beautiful! It is very loud because everybody is sitting so close together and it’s a small space you have to elevate your voice in order to have a conversation with your own table but we also went on a Friday at 5:45 so maybe it was just that day of the...

I had the pleasure of dining at Layline in downtown Excelsior, MN, and it was an exceptional experience from start to finish. Layline, created by Innerbloom Hospitality in partnership with Restaurateur and Chef Daniel Del Prado, offers a high-quality American Kitchen experience that truly stands out. The renovation of the historic Gary’s First Class Car Care into a contemporary and eclectic space has resulted in a restaurant that combines a stylish ambiance with a consistently delicious menu.

As a fan of all Innerbloom restaurants, I was excited to visit Layline. The owner, Aaron Switz, is a good friend, and his other ventures, Josefina and Macanda in Wayzata, have never disappointed. This time, I brought my mom, who flew in from Germany, along with my wife and daughter, Benedetta.

I opted for the smash burger, which was incredibly juicy and flavorful, likely made with Wagyu beef, accompanied by their unbelievable duck fat fried French fries. As someone trying to avoid seed oils like canola and soybean, it was refreshing to enjoy quality French fries made with good fat.

We started with the chicken wings, which had an interesting marinade that included a hint of fish sauce, adding a unique twist. My wife and daughter shared the salmon, while my mom had the halibut. She couldn't stop raving about it and made sure to tell our waiter, Michael (I believe that was his name), how excellent it was. Michael provided great service, enhancing our overall dining experience.

Benedetta finished off the meal with a beautiful chocolate cake and ice cream, which was the perfect ending to a delightful dining experience.

The staff at Layline is impressive, managing everything smoothly. When a patron accidentally dropped a glass, the team immediately dealt with it efficiently. It's nice to see a restaurant staff that works well together and operates seamlessly.

The crowd at Layline is wonderful too, with everyone dressing well and exuding a pleasant, posh vibe. It's a fantastic addition to the cultural fabric of Excelsior. I'm thankful to Aaron and the staff for taking the risk and creating Layline. It’s a place that I’ll be returning to often.

A happy...

We came in today around 6 pm and decided to sit outside on the patio. The patio at this point was relatively empty. We put in our order for an appetizer and entrees right away. We got our soft drinks and the appetizer promptly. At this point, more tables are coming in, and it’s dinner rush. We finished our appetizer and waited for our entrees for approximately 30-40 minutes total. During that time I asked someone regarding our food once, our server came out and said that our food would come out soon.

With it being dinner rush, we tried to be patient but when we saw other tables getting the same dishes we ordered even though we ordered first we just wanted our check at this point. I tried to flag someone down for the check but no one was checking in on our table. So I decided to go to the hostess desk and talk to someone. When I was waiting at the front, I saw our server come out so I came back. Our server was getting our check and said something along the lines of:” Just so you know when it’s dinner rush, the food takes longer to come out.” with a very condescending tone as if we’ve never been to these kinds of restaurants before. Then he tried to minimize the fact that other tables were getting food before us by saying that we did receive the appetizer. Meanwhile, they received their appetizer and placed their entrees well after us. And still receive their main order before us with the same dishes we ordered. Not only 1 but at least 3 tables came in after us got their food first.

Mind you I work in the restaurant industry, so I understand how these situations can be stressful for servers, but what he said to us was out of line and very condescending. I didn't want to be a difficult customer and cause any problems that's why we just asked for the check. But for our server to come to us with that attitude afterward led me to write this review.

The only thing we tried was the calamari and it was good. Although, for the price point and the service it’s...