BLVD Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Minnetonka

I decided to take my friend out tonight and up a place that serves some sort of crab cakes because I eat them any chance I can. So I looked at the menu in advance and knew exactly what i was going too order (haven't eaten all day so i was hungry) ... I was super excited to eat the crab cake BLT! So we get to the restaurant and the 1st hostess was amazing.. she was super friendly... spelled my name correctly and even catered to me request of letting me go the parking lot to wait with my pager (and got my # just in case the pager didn't reach me). I ended up receiving a phone call from the hostess stating our table was ready... so we walk inside and another hostess walks us around the hostess stand. I sat with my back facing the hostess stand wall..... as we are waiting I see and feel a clipboard fall from behind me hitting my thigh slightly and bouncing onto the ground... the hostess that walked us to our table came around the corner..laughing while asking me if the clipboard hit me and if I was OK? And out of shock and embarrassment that she thought this was a laughing matter verse realizing that could have hit my head or hurt me... my response was " no... I'm OK".... as she continued to laugh and apologize... (mind you my friend and I were not laughing).... So we ordered our food after this and my food comes.... it looks amazing (I have not eaten bacon in over 4 years) I cut into my crab cake blt..... just to be sadly disappointed! The crab cake had no taste... no texture... it was bland and mushy.. but because I didn't eat all day and ate most of my half and let my friend try and eat the other half. In the beginning of me having my friend taste the crab cake the waiter comes over and says... "how is everything tasting.... delicious right! " (how can you ask a question and answerfor the person... making them feel like they have to agreewith you?)... and i stayed quiet.... he looked concerned and again just not to make a show or have to explain why the bland tasting crab cake was gone was something I didn't feel like doing at the time.. he asked again how is everything and I said in a sarcastic tone... "great".... he repeated... "ok great"... At this point I was over the whole experience and was ready to go... so to sum it all up.. was the 115 and some change worth it... no! (And yes I still tipped very...

• EDIT *

It's been two days since I left, what I thought was a whitty tale of my night at BLVD. I was hoping for some sort of response from management. I was waiting for something along the lines of -" I'm so sorry you were offered a spot on the patio when we had nothing - (heaters) to help curb the cold. " or more so for the server- we won't keep the patio open for the 1 couple that will bite.

I stand on - good food - great customer service

My husband and I walked in when the wait was about 45 minutes. The host casually offered us the patio — cold, 59 degrees and wet it was completely empty for a reason. But we thought, "Sure, we’re easygoing. Let’s be those people who say yes to the patio."

Our server — chill guy, great attitude — brings us menus, makes some light conversation, and goes about his business like everything’s normal. But then I ask, “You have other tables inside, right?” And he just goes, “Nope. Just you guys.”

That’s when it hit me, half way into my meal. We were the only reason this guy was still clocked in. Dude got left alone outside… for us. One couple. Splitting a burger.

I’m sitting there shivering thinking, “We are literally holding this man hostage over a shared sandwich.” We even told him, “Let us know if we’re keeping you.” He smiled and said, “You’re good,” but man… I could tell the emotional damage was done.

To management: outstanding move. Keeping one guy on the floor for hours just to watch two people nurse half a burger in the wet cold patio, no heaters in sight. You really know how to run a team.

To our server: You deserved a blanket, a raise, and the ability to go home. Thank you for not making us feel like total jerks — even though, let’s be honest, we were kind of the villains.

Great service. Cold patio. Incredible guilt. Would recommend — just bring a space heater, a blanket and maybe don’t be the reason someone gets trapped outside...

Highlights: the patio is large and inviting, it's a very comfortable space the mocktails are very well done (I had the cranberry hibiscus tea tail). It's difficult to find interesting and nuanced NA offerings. the truffle fries aren't overpowered with truffle-ness as most truffle fries are

Downsides: there exists quite a disparity between the quality/taste of the food to the price service can be a little rough

I have my criticisms and while people typically take to writing reviews when they wish to complain, I would like to present this in a more constructive form as I think BLVD has so much more potential, as they are one of the few unique upscale dining places in the area.

My experience: the food and the price. I had the chili lime chicken salad for $20 during a recent lunch. Note the price: it's more expensive than nearly every burger and sandwich on the menu as well as the tacos. Given that, I was kind of disappointed by a generic plate of romaine with the occasional spiced peanut (the chicken was good but there wasn't much of it.) I understand food costs have drastically increased the past few years but even so, when the salads are some of the spendier items on the menu, they should probably be something special.

I've typically gone to BLVD for a drink and a snack after work, so the lunch price caught me by surprise. Following this experience, I'll most likely stick to my routine and pass...