Bootleggers Lodge — Restaurant in Town of Nokomis

Short review: Small menu, iffy service, good and bad combo of food, not ADA compliant. Overall would not recommend.

Full review: When we first entered, there was no host and when we went to the bar, they told us someone would be with us and we stood there for a few minutes looking around. When they finally came over to seat us we were put at a decent table with a lake view…and then we had to move because “the table was for someone else.” So, we all get back up and are taken to the very back as far from the lake view as possible. The table was also directly across from the kitchen and a large walk in fridge that was slamming open and closed all night. Our waitress seemed to be new so she wasn’t the best but she did a decent job.

We ordered drinks (no drink menu was in sight) and then took a few minutes to look over the menus. Which only required about a minute to look over as there were 4 total entrees to choose from. When we ordered our entrees, our drinks had still not shown up. When they finally arrived, they were decent but nothing special. One of our old fashioneds was incorrectly made. Then about 10 minutes later they finally served us some bread and butter. It wasn’t the warmest but the garlic butter was tasty.

And now, for the food. Personally, I ordered the filet mignon and the meat was delicious. The side of the night was carrots which normally I would enjoy, but they were hard and cold, basically uncooked. I also had a side of French fries because they were “out of whipped potatoes and twice baked potatoes.” However, another member at my table had an entree with whipped potatoes…so not sure how that works. Someone else had ordered the scallop pasta and the pasta was so mushy it had to be sent back. Once the plate returned, the pasta was the same, maybe slightly warmed up but not new pasta. Very disappointing. Another member at the table had to send back their meat as they ordered it medium and it arrived rare.

As we were eating the waitresses are standing near our table talking to each other. And we then hear that the “catch of the day” had run out and could no longer be ordered…it was 6:15…how do you run out of so many things so early in the night?

Also, this place is absolutely not ADA compliant. If you require a ramp/can’t do stairs, you can’t get into the building or to the bathroom.

Overall, will never be returning as it was extremely overpriced for...

This restaurant is moving in the right direction!! After fairly recently being remodeled and, seemingly, restructured, they have major potential to become the best fine dining in the Northwoods. Chef Maja and her team have really kicked things up a notch and everything is done to a very high level of perfection. This place is no longer the out-dated definition of a Midwest Supper club. Upon pulling up to the property, it is clear to see that the building and location are beautiful. Nestled upon a hill overlooking the lake, it sets the tone for a relaxing night in a fantastic location. You walk through the doors to see nicely decorated interior and Brenda standing there waiting to greet you. She can seemingly handle your every need. We tend to make our way to the bar and try to grab our normal spots if possible. They have many fine spirits, wines, and craft cocktails to choose from. If you are unsure, the bar tenders can happily offer you some great recommendations. They have a seasonally changing drink menu as well, so there's always something for everyone. Once your table is ready, you are seated either in the bar area room or in the dining room. You may request either one when you first speak with Brenda if you please. We tend to sit in the dining room for a calm and quiet atmosphere so we can fully enjoy the fantastic food that is yet to come. Once seated, you can look over the menus and see what is to your liking. The menu changes with the seasons so it always leaves you looking forward to the next. It's not a very large menu but that just allows the kitchen to focus on giving you the best possible quality foods without having to be spread out into a million different items. The food is absolutely phenomenal. We have yet to find a dish that we haven't liked. There's no simpler way to put it. Each new dish we have tried just blows us away. We had dinner there last night for New Year's Eve and had Steak Tartare and Lobster Bisque for our appetizers and both were, by far, the best we've ever had. We really enjoy the specials they have from time to time as well. We thoroughly enjoy the events they host as well. Definitely looking forward to seeing where this...

This is a hidden gem in the north woods of Wisconsin. Bootleggers’s offers elevated food in an area of Wisconsin that otherwise only serves bar food. It has the ambiance of a restaurant in a large city. It is warm and inviting. They have a seasonal cocktail menu, but the bartender can create any cocktail you desire. We started with the mushroom crostini. It came with 4 pieces. The dominant flavor was the creamy LeClare goat cheese. It was delicious and I would order it again. We then had the baked French onion soup served with warm bread and a spectacular herbed butter. The soup was smothered in Gruyère cheese. Underneath was a delicious beef broth with caramelized onions and a baguette. It was perfectly flavored. Not too salty as some French onion soup can be. The entrees we sampled were the Wisco Cherry Pork and the Norwegian Salmon. Both were delicious, but the pork dish was the stand out. The pork tenderloin was so tender you didn’t need a knife to cut it. The cherry jus was not over powering at all. It helped to balance the flavors. The salmon has a crusted horseradish topping. It also was not over powering, but provided a nice balance, especially with the creamed brown butter white bean puree it was served on. Both dishes also were served with roasted Brussels sprouts. The bartender suggested wines that paired perfectly with each entree. We added a “surf” to our meal with trio of scallops. They were cooked perfectly with a seared top and tender. I would add them to any entree. The service was attentive and efficient. They offered suggestions and gave detailed descriptions. If you are looking for an upscale restaurant, look no further. We...