Besse's On Clear Lake — Restaurant in Town of Bradley

Our first visit to Besse's was for lunch as they began filming the Restaurant Impossible episode.  Although we waited an hour for our mediocre food, we were among the "lucky" diners who at least got food (and almost had time to finish before the production crew hustled us out so they could begin work on the remodel). Our same party of four was invited back the next night for the grand reveal.  Our server volunteered he couldn't answer any menu questions because he was a bartender pressed into a new role.  Understandable considering the circumstances and he did okay.   Two of us ordered the curry walleye (delicious), one had stuffed meatloaf (very good), and one a pork chop that was disappointingly tough.  We also tried the chicken liver appetizer which was amazing with a ragu rather than covered in the prepackaged gravy that we had been served yesterday.  The updated appearance and good experience convinced us to make a return visit with others even though Besse's is a 45-minute drive (which means there are a fair number of other restaurants we could have chosen in any direction). So.....we visited as a party of six on a Friday evening and arrived to a pretty well-filled dining room (including the owner having dinner alongside the bar).  Our server was very young and not only could not answer menu questions I'm not sure he was legally allowed to bring us drinks from the bar which took about 15 minutes which might have been a great time to take our dinner orders, but that didn't happen.  We finally order dinner and wait 20 minutes for the arrival of two appetizers including another shot at the chicken livers even though the menu didn't note they were topped with the wonderful ragu that was used during the RI reveal.  Should have known better.  Once again we are served chicken livers drowned in prepackaged beef gravy.  Appetizers are eaten and we wait for soups (which eventually arrive lukewarm) and salads.  The appetizer dishes are left on the table and remained there for the remainder of our visit. Another long wait between the soups/salads and the arrival of the first entree.  Again, we are a party of six.  Half duck entree arrives as we near an hour since we placed our order.  FOUR minutes later, three more of us get our dinners.  Two half-rack of ribs, that while the meat was falling off the bone were very dry and a fish fry (walleye) that was a filet and a half  (who serves you half a piece of fish?).  Another SIX minutes (now a total of 10 minutes since the first entree was served) and the two "grilled" shrimp entrees are brought out and oh my.  First, $22 for a shrimp entree with FOUR shrimp is a head scratcher.  Even more of a head scratcher is what was the cook (can't use the word chef here) and server thinking that would have them serve shrimp that are so charred  that the entire bottoms are black and crispy enough that it flakes onto the plate? In the meantime, the owner finished her meal and left.  That meant it was play time for the service staff as six of them are drinking and having a party behind the bar (fortunately not our young server) with two of them even dancing to the music that is playing in the corner of the bar. Not sure how long Besse's will stay open after it is featured on Restaurant Impossible, but I do know we won't be visiting again and won't be surprised to see the word "Closed" next to its name on the websites that track what happens to the restaurants...

Have driven past this place for years and always wanted to try it out. We were out with friends yesterday, looking for a nice couples-dinner & decided to finally visit. Sadly disappointed.

We pulled up and it looked like we'd arrived at some sort of double-wide trailerhood. It was busy though, so we figured that was a good sign. We had reservations, which meant nothing. We still ended up standing and waiting for 20 minutes while other 4-person walk-ins, without reservations, were seated ahead of us.

Dinner for 4, without drinks, was $99. Prime rib was fatty and underseasoned. Tiny fillet mignon was sliding around a big platter by itself with a monkey dish of rice on the the side. "Full" rack of ribs was a disappointing half-rack of pork ribs with a monkey dish of overcooked cauliflower on the side. Definitely not worth the $20-25 per plate cost! We've had better at the local "family restaurant", for half the price.

Atmosphere was loud and overcrowded. There was live music that was so loud we couldn't comfortably converse. The space taken up for the musician resulted in the tables all being jammed together, so we were constantly getting jostled by passer-bys, and trays of food, drink & dishes were carried precariously above our heads through the entire dinner.

Only positive was that our waitress was nice.

Definitely put a damper on the evening. Sorry, but we won't be back &...

Very disappointing. Came for a classic Friday Fish Fry as I have done in the past 15ish years as able and was vastly underwhelmed after not being back for a few years and now moving up to the area. Despite the interior and menu makeover, this place in my opinion lost more than they know in the positive points of what the establishment once had. The cod breading was thick and salty (but thankfully at least crisp). The kitchen somehow ran out of tarter sauce on a Friday Night in a northern WI establishment, which frankly is unacceptable, and so after waiting 15 minutes for the kitchen to make more, the fish was cold. The coleslaw, which normally could save the day in this instance, offered nothing to quench the saltiness of the fish. Only saving grace was the waitress who was so busy but trying her best to make the most out of a tough situation. Never was asked if I needed another drink by the bartender, which also, a $5 Kessler and Coke, seemed a bit out of touch. The owner/manager seemed more concerned about impressing the south of the border tourist clientele and bragging of her experience with Robert Irvine than actually serving a customer who could come on a regular basis the basics of a Wisconsin Friday Fish Fry. I suggest that any self-respecting Wisconsinite should avoid this place, and as a new north woods local, I definitely will be and telling others not to waste their...