The Grocer's Table — Restaurant in Wayzata

Came here yesterday with my partner for my birthday. We tend to stick to Lowertown where we live but he had heard great things about The Grocer’s Table so we decided to try it out. The inside of the place is beautiful. We both agreed on that. Unfortunately that is pretty much all we liked about the experience.

We were greeted rather quickly when we walked in and were told they just had to clear a table off when we said we had a reservation. 15 minutes later we were finally seated. Not quite sure what happened but no apologies. I think our server had half the restaurant as it took him 5-10 minutes to stop by for the first time. He did apologize which was appreciated. He took our drink order (I got an iced americano and asked for a shot of hazelnut which I was charged for but was not added to my coffee and my partner got one of the shrubs). The americano was surprisingly smooth so I was pretty happy with that. The shrub was rather meh for $13.

We put in an order of the Brussels sprouts and the mac & cheese to start with as well as our entrees (half rack of ribs with a side of the jojo’s and the pasta of the moment). The place was pretty full so I can understand to a degree, but it took a good 25-30 minutes for the appetizers to come out. Both appetizers had no flavor. None. I don’t think there was a speck of salt that was used in either dish if you took away the grated Parmesan cheese on them. After asking for a salt shaker and using it liberally, they finally had some flavor. I was hoping the entrees would be better. They were not.

My pasta came out lukewarm to cold. The ribs came out rubbery and lukewarm. I don’t know if they both sat for a while because it was so busy, but it was kind of surprising. To make matters worse, neither of these dishes had salt either. It was shockingly bland. Maybe they ran out of salt in the kitchen. There seemed to be zero effort in making good dishes. They were completely forgettable other than the high price for them. I would typically ask for them to be remade if they come out cold, but all the food was so bland and took so long it wouldn’t have been worth the wait. We left without getting dessert.

I’m hoping it was just an incredibly off day for the kitchen, but I can’t see myself making that drive again to give it another shot. There are places at a similar price range that are simply better. All the best to them though. It’s a great...

Updated Review – 2 stars (Visited again in July 2025)

This is an update to my original 5-star review from a couple years ago. Since then, we’ve been back numerous times—and honestly, it’s just gotten worse each time. This most recent visit sealed it for us.

The food is still good—but the experience? Just consistently frustrating. This is officially the last time I bother with this place.

The first time we came, we didn’t realize you had to grab a table number before getting in line. So we waited, got to the front, and were told, “Oh, you don’t have a table number? You’ll have to go get one and re-wait in line.” Are you kidding? We just walked out.

This time, I came prepared—only to find out the system has changed again. Now you’re supposed to find a table before ordering, but there’s no structure. People are tossing sweaters and random items on tables to claim them, or one person camps out while a whole group skips the line to join them. I watched five people cut ahead of me that way, while I stood alone—because apparently if you're on a date, one person has to stake out the table while the other stands in line. It’s chaotic, unwelcoming, and just kills the vibe.

And honestly, the service just lacks basic friendliness or awareness. Like—greet your patrons. Look around. Make eye contact. One staff member rushed past me with a full tray and I had to step out of the way to avoid getting spilled on. No smile, no “excuse me,” nothing. I wasn’t expecting her to stop or anything—but a little acknowledgment would’ve gone a long way. The whole place just feels cold and disconnected. And yet you’re still expected to tip like it’s a full sit-down restaurant, even though none of the warmth or attentiveness that justifies that tip is actually there.

We’ve given it more than a fair shot—and each time, we left more annoyed than the last. The food isn’t worth the hassle anymore. We’re done.

Original 5-Star Review (Visited in 2023/2024?)

Lauren from the bar took great care of us—she did an awesome job 👏🏼. Food was wonderful. We got the oatmeal, Greek yogurt granola bowl, and quiche. The matcha latte and chai latte were also delicious. Highly recommend....

We were driving around Wayzata hoping to enjoy the lake views from the dock and pier and decided to find some coffee for a nice walk through the area. After searching nearby options, we came across The Grocer's Kitchen. They offered a full-service dine-in option, and after browsing the menu, we realized we were hungry enough to sit down and have lunch.

I ordered a double shot of espresso and a plain black iced coffee, while my boyfriend ordered an affogato. As someone who brews espresso at home, I immediately noticed the espresso grind was too fine, which made both the espresso and iced coffee overly acidic and not very enjoyable. I ended up adding caramel flavoring to the iced coffee to help balance the sharpness, which helped slightly. The affogato, unfortunately, was also underwhelming, the vanilla soft serve was fine, but the espresso acidity overpowered the dessert.

We were also surprised by the price: $4 for a single espresso and $10 for the affogato. Considering we regularly make them at home with premium ingredients like Häagen-Dazs (getting multiple servings from one pint), it felt overpriced for the quality and portion.

For lunch, we both ordered the Crispy Chicken Goddess Greens Salad. The portion was generous, and the chicken was crisp and well-cooked. However, the presentation could use some work, it came with two chicken tenders simply sliced in half and placed on top rather than being chopped or tossed into the salad. It was also very heavy on Caesar dressing, which made the salad a bit too salty. With half the dressing, it could’ve been excellent.

The space itself is stylish, very Pinterest-inspired, with a lively, somewhat loud atmosphere. It gives off a strong “girl’s brunch” vibe, and I can see the appeal for a social outing or quick bite in a trendy setting. Overall, it’s a fun concept in a great location, but the execution, especially with the coffee and value, could definitely...