Russell’s On the Lake Menu

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  • Ange F.

    This place is fantastic! Perhaps a little more expensive than places nearby, but that's because they make really great food. Every time that I go, there's either someone celebrating their birthday or anniversary - and they'd been coming for the past 10 years or so. It certainly is our new favorite place in the area. Their salad bar is worth going for alone! The dill pickle soup (though sounds strange) is quite fantastic. The prime rib will be enough food for a family of four (I know from first hand experience) and extremely tasty! Try their homemade bread pudding if you have any room after your meal, you'll be happy you did.

    (5)
  • Michael F.

    Picture a modest Minnesotan funeral home, with milky oak trim and neutral colors in each room. You're served a pale ale in a flute for no apparent reason, then brought a plate of unadorned iceberg lettuce with some creamy dressing from a bottle, which they are calling a 'salad'. Enter a wrinkly baked potato from yesterday that was just nuked, with individually factory packaged butter and sour cream packets. After all of these minor crimes, you receive a nicely prepared, subtly maple-glazed salmon filet on a leaf of lettuce with a fresh lemon slice as if they suddenly remembered what they were supposed to be doing, and can almost justify the price. Fine dining, Big Lake style. I don't particularly understand it, and I'm in no rush to return. On the other hand, table mates who stuck with the cream-and-butter based menu items - clam chowder, potatoes au gratin - and a 20 oz prime rib that could have fed the four of us, left happy. Perhaps I'm the one doing it wrong.

    (2)
  • Bill B.

    All in all- Weird ambiance, small, overpriced portions. You won't leave feeling like a valued customer, more like an inconvenience. Once you're allowed to leave, that is. The other review that compares this place to a funeral home is spot on. You can't be seated until all in your party have arrived, it would be too inconvenient for them to track names and tables. Although all of us were there at 6:35 for a 6:30 reservation, we weren't seated until 7. This, on a Tuesday evening, where the tables where 1/3 full at best. Like your beer in a bottle? Great! Because you won't get a glass with it. Half of us had the salad bar. Nothing special here. A big bowl of greens, some toppings and a a few pasta salads. No soup for you! Take care near the door in the back of the ...coffin holding area?....small salad bar room. The hostess nailed with the door on her way through to refill the salad pails. No apology, not a word. Looking back I wished I had the presence of mind to dump my plate on her. The other half ordered steak and shrimp, which arrived an HOUR after being ordered. We presumed the delay was caused by the half done baked potatoes being baked on demand? Steaks anyway were small, but grilled as ordered. While we had that hour to kill, we entertained ourselves by watching the other tables. Some guests would be seated, then just leave after 30 minutes of sitting around waiting for a server. Other guests would get incorrect bills and wait for them to be corrected. One table waited 35 minutes for the server to collect their money, another waited 30...pacing around the lobby...waiting. We saw this coming and quickly stuck the credit card up in the air when our bill arrived, forcing the server to take it, rather than risk waiting for her return as well.

    (1)
  • Paul K.

    The sandwiches and burgers are good, however the service is a little slow. I would recommend sitting outside by the lake and enjoying your time with whoever you dine with. The restaurant is clean, however outdated on the inside.

    (4)
  • Montessahall H.

    This review has been a long time coming. I have dined at Russell's for many years primarily for lunch. The real highlights of this place are:. 1. The waitstaff 2. The drinks. Unfortunately, the food has gone steadily downhill over the years. The portions have gotten smaller while the prices higher, presentation is poor and lastly, much of what I have ordered recently entrees and salads in particular, just doesn't taste very good. Yet, I may continue to frequent this place in the future. I will probably only order appetizers and cocktails. One last comment on the down side, this place looks Ike a funeral home and feels creepy as a result. It is in desperate need of remodeling.

    (2)
  • Sandy S.

    When a restaurant has several reviews (on several different sites even) stating a very outdated restaurant, slow service and mediocre food, it's my opinion that the establishment should take the criticism and find ways to make the restaurant better. One comment, that's one thing. But when you start to see a common thread, then it's time to take a closer look. What good does it do to lash out at customers by sending nasty, lengthy messages? A first for me. I stand behind my review. I have over 90 honest reviews. I have a profile and a picture. I am not a five star review left by anonymous reviewer with only a couple of quick reviews ( to make it look legit ) no profile or an actual pic. Seems rather sketchy. You won't get better if you don't listen to what your diners are saying. I would love this restaurant to be a shining star in this area, but if you don't fix the problems, how can you improve? It's not personal, it's business.

    (1)
  • Tony S.

    Awesome food with terrific waitstaff. It's small town USA so don't come prepared thinking it's a Morton's, but don't discount the fact that the food is wonderful! You can't help but try the Prime Rib special on the weekend . . . you'll leave with a meal in a doggie bag.

    (5)
  • Kelly P.

    LOVED Russell's On the Lake. I went with my mom, we sat on the patio and listened to some quality live music. Our waitress was so friendly and very prompt. I had the salad bar only (cause I'm like that) and my mom had the chicken artichoke sandwich with a side salad. She had the house made cucumber dressing and it was fantastic. The salad bar was soo good, I'll go again just for that. Everything was FRESH and you'd better believe they had a staff there to re-stock it anytime anything got below 3/4's full. I want to say the all you can eat salad bar is around $9, which isn't bad at all when you think about all the fresh veggies and things available to put on it. Yay for Russell's On the Lake in an otherwise bar-ridden city :) :) :)

    (4)
  • Jeff G.

    Great location and really nice wait staff. The chicken artichoke sandwich was very good and they serve Grainbelt!

    (4)
  • Amber B.

    Russells catered our wedding and it was such a great experience. I have never seen better service anywhere! The staff came out all at once to serve the food and almost everyone had their food immediatly. Noone had to wait to eat, which I despise at weddings. The staff were so friendly and they never once seemed irritated by any requests. Clean up was so fast, you hardly saw it happen. But somehow, we never felt rushed, it was amazing. Now the food, I can't rave enough about it! We had a tuscan chicken that was stuffed and had a tomato sauce on top. Oh. My. Goodness! Fabulous doesn't even do it justice! The food was piping hot, very moist and so good and flavorfull. The potato side dish was quite flavorful as well. Everyone was raving about the food and the service. Overall the experience was wonderful and if you need a caterer for your wedding, these are the people to do it! Prices were actually some of the better of all the places we looked at and the food was far more superior.

    (5)
  • Jim H.

    Been going here on Easter for year's. Today's reservation ended up being about a forty minute wait. This has usually been the case in the past, but today I was getting a bit miffed about it. Never the less, we waited and finally got seated. They only offer a buffet on Easter, so that's what this is about. Very nice salad bar, a fair but not overly large, selection of entree items plus desserts. Very reasonably priced and flavorful. As we've learned over the years - don't bother with the roast beef - you'll need a chainsaw to cut it. Everything else including the attentive service was very good. The owner, Russell, did stop by to check on us and apologize for the wait which seems always to be enough to get us back again. Big patio overlooking the lake is a plus during the summer months.

    (4)
  • Andy J.

    I've only been here once a few months ago and it was the worst service I've ever had in my life. Took over 20 minutes to get a water. The lunch took well over an hour. The worst part if it was they were not even busy. I could only see one other occupied table. I will never go back, which is to bad since dine options are very limited in Big Lake.

    (1)
  • Brett C.

    The view is gorgeous...the salad bar had a good selection....had steak and lobster which was delicious....service was very slow, BUT she had a bunch of tables and looked understaffed, so that's why....Service, although slow, was very very nice....stay away from the mojito's.....but sit on the patio!.....I will be back again...

    (3)
  • Scott J.

    Have eaten here several times over the years, have never had a bad experience. Ate there tonight, had the top sirloin. I ordered medium and got a perfect medium. Salad was good and potatos were delicious. Reasonably priced with good service! I thought about having the 20 oz prime rib special, but after seeing it served at the table next to me and it was HUGE and looked and smelled delicious. Way too much for me.

    (4)
  • Andrea B.

    I have to say this is my favorite place in Big Lake! I'm from out of town and I've been impressed every time. Great atmosphere, great service and great food. Amazing salad bar. You can even get a great view of the lake. My trips have involved steak, seafood and wine- all which would be repeats! Highly recommend.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

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Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Parking : Private Lot
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Good For Dancing : No
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Russell’s On the Lake

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