The Waterfront Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Menomonie

While in town for a baseball tournament on 5/31, we needed a quick lunch between games. It was lunchtime and we tempered expectations based on that, but what ensued was ridiculous.

We had a group of 9 adults and 7 kids (14-yr-old boys). Our server came over and with no greeting, simply handed us menus and gave us time to look. When she came back, we were all ready to order bc of limited time and she looked instantly overwhelmed by our group. We tried to make it easy for her, ordering by family using jersey numbers to differentiate orders. She stuttered and stammered for a minute or so, seemingly not understanding how it would work - she's had to have served bigger groups before so we weren't sure why it was so difficult for her to figure out. She started taking orders - my wife, realizing that it was busy and wanting to make it easy on her, ordered 2 mimosas (daily drink special), so that she wouldn't have to get more later. After all orders were taken, we waited nearly 30 minutes for just the drinks before several of us decided to go to the bar and order a different drink - wanted something until we got our ordered drinks. At the bar, I ordered a mimosa and a Busch Light which the bartender was able to get for me within 30 seconds. I noticed, just like the others that had gone in, our server was typing our orders into the POS.

After waiting another 10 minutes, our server came out with SOME of our drinks - my wife's 2 mimosas, my other Busch Light and a couple other drinks - and seemed shocked that we already had drinks (what are you gonna do when it takes 40+ minutes to bring someone a can of beer?). It took another 5 minutes for her to bring out drinks to the rest of our party.

After another 35 minutes of waiting (with no check-in from the server), we still hadn't received our food - this was 1 hour 15 minutes after we ordered. Finally, some of us got our food, but just the ones that ordered first. Then some others got their food, which by that point was cold and more or less inedible - my son ordered mac and cheese and ate only the chicken and bacon but the noodles were cold and didn't taste good anyhow. While those of us that did get food ate (even though we felt bad that 6 others in our group didn't have food) because we now only had 15 minutes to get back to the field...remember, our boys were playing in a baseball tournament. The server then brought out the bills to those that had food but only because we asked for them and after mentioning several times that we needed everyone's food because of the short time to get back.

Finally, after being there for 1 hour 45 minutes, our server came out and announced that those people that ordered "insert food order here" had their bills voided because they "didn't make your food". In total disbelief, one in our group asked if that means they were still getting their food and they wouldn't have to pay or what "voided" actually meant. The server, without any apology or accountability, simply said, we just aren't making it. Those that had their meals voided got up and stated that they were going to have to go somewhere else to get food. There was no disrespect or arguing, but just sheer disappointment that they waited almost 2 hours with no communication as to what was happening. As they walked out, the server again didn't apologize or take any accountability for what happened - she just shrugged and said "I don't know". Now, I'm not saying that any amount of apologizing would have actually made up for what happened or would have done anything in the service recovery aspect, but the words "I'm sorry" should have been the first two words she said.

I have already told several people about our experience and was holding off writing this review until I had time to process and calm down. Going forward, I will discourage anyone that asks for a recommendation from patronizing this bar/restaurant and I, along with everyone that was there that day and all others associated with the baseball team, will never go back to...

This rating is based solely off of April 11th, 2025 visit here. So was here on Friday April 11th just walked out about 923pm after paying my bill, tonight noticed the bill was almost $50 (should've been $38+tax) then noticed there was a gradituity on the bill, when I asked about this I was informed by the manager on duty (did not know this until after this encounter when I asked to speak with a manager) that it was added because we don't tip our waitress staff, however I have tipped EVERY SINGLE TIME I have ever been here. Usually a minimum of $5 I'll admit once or twice I only left a $3 tip.however this manager was having none of it, and stated she can remove the gradituity but then I would not be welcome back. (I just put $50 on the counter.) So besides the point I know it is courtesy to tip your server, but when did this become MANDATORY, let alone forced? She also said that I had been informed of this but I was NOT. Honestly it does tick me off a bit that I have/do tip but then get accused of this then threatened by the manager on duty. This is not right. And this review will stay up unless addressed and made right. I also asked who said they informed me because if someone is going to lie I do like to make them be held accountable. I even went so far as to ask her to review camera footage (me leaving tips would be on video footage) but conveniently was told they don't have cameras. All in all terrible night here. And that's saying something considering staff are usually very nice here, we even know some of the staff here, but it would not be right for me to ask them to get involved. It should be noted as well this is considered at the least deceptive business practices (at the very least) and is ILLEGAL. (Makes me wonder what the owner is/was thinking when hiring this particular manager A* I will call her in...

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. We came to Menomonie to go to a show at the M.T. theatre. So, we decided to eat here. We had 1.5 hours before the show,and figured we had plenty of time. Boy were we wrong!!! We got seated within 5 minutes of arriving, after they cleaned a table off. However, that's where the expediency ended! It took 30 minutes to get an app ordered. We got our drinks, but then waited almost an hour for being able to put in our food order. We ordered a club sand, a burger, with side salad for both. We waited until 5 minutes before we had to leave, and still had not received salad, nor dinners. I went up and told the host to cancel our order, and her the check for our drinks and ( half eaten) apps. She got our server. She told us the food "would be right out" . We said box it up then because we have to get to a show. We were told that the salads would be taken off the bill, because we never got them, even though the server was in charge of making those, and should have brought them out, anytime, and the food would be discounted 1/ 2 price, NEITHER OF WHICH HAPPENED! I WOULD NOT recommend this place TO ANYONE!!! It was a sad food disappointment and the service was TERRIBLE! The management was not involved or there, even though i asked. I tried calling 5 times over the last 2 months to get a resolution and refund for our horrible experience, but was never called back. So, I'm putting this review out, for everyone to know.

Buyer beware at the WATERFRONT! Don't waste your time on bad service, and mediocre food that you could make better yourself at home! Two...