Sarna’s Classic Grill
3939 University Ave NE, Columbia Heights, MN, 55421
Sarna’s Classic Grill Menu
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Address :
3939 University Ave NE
Columbia Heights, MN, 55421 - Phone (763) 788-3939
- Website https://sarnasmn.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 1:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 1:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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John B.
I've been here a number of times over the years and I've yet to be disappointed. They have excellent burgers and steaks. My girlfriend loves their oriental salad. On Monday nights they have bar bingo that is also a lot of fun. I've never had the chance to sit out at their patio yet but it looks really nice and it's something I'm looking forward to at a future visit. It's not necessarily the cheapest restaurant around, but if you're looking for something that is a step up from Perkins-Quality restaurants and you in the Columbia Heights area this is one of my first recommendations.
(5)Mike O.
I like this place. Its a little over priced but pretty good food. I had Cuban Pot roast. It was good but didnt deliver the garlic or cumin flavor they advertised. My dad had a whiskey burger. It was also good, but didnt seem to have any whiskey sauce as advertised. The Strawberry salad was real good, as it should be for 13 bucks. The best thing we had were the Pierogis in butter with fried onions. Dang those are good!
(4)Kirsten O.
What a great little gem in Columbia Heights. We had a groupon so ventured down to check it out. Great menu with everything from sandwiches to juicy lucy burgers to full on dinners. I had a walleye sandwhich with sweet potato waffle fries, yum. My boyfriend had prime rib and what a hunk of meat that was with a salad and baked potato. Great drink menu too with lots of specialty cocktails including martinis resonably priced. I had the gobstopper martini and great layered number and a dragon's breath. Liked the dark wood interior. Our only complaint is that we ended up right next to the way too brightly lit waiter station. If they dimmed the light from a 100 watt to about 60 it would make it more pleasant for all the diners around. We also made a reservation for friday night and when we walked in at 7:30 there was about 15 people waiting that we went right in front of to our table. Worth checking out.
(4)Sandi M.
This is an awesome place to eat. They have a great variety of food, excellent atmosphere and friendly, helpful bartenders and waitresses. I have eaten here several times and each time the food was excellent and portions were more than adequate. I was able to bring home food for leftovers and the food is just as good when reheated. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who may be in the Columbia Heights area looking for a great place to eat or if you want to try some place new.
(5)Keith P.
Firstly, I'm gonna need everyone who gave this place more than 3 stars to write me with a better explanation as to why. What an absolute disappointment. Upon entering, your eyes light up with awe at the spectacular high ceilings, the gorgeous bar, the beautiful open concept kitchen, and the fantastic patio complete with water and fire features. The hostess was very accommodating and got us a table on the patio during a busy beautiful Friday night. The problem with that is when I called at noon to reserve a table on the patio, I was told it was completely booked and we would have to wait till at least 9 if we wanted to sit out there. Maybe even later. There was plenty of tables out there when we arrived at the height of dinner service. We thought that this beautiful restaurant would have food that backed up its style. It was not to be. Two of us had burgers. Totally uninspiring, bland, boring, and rather weak all around. In addition to being quite small. A half pound of beef? No, not even close. Just boring old French fries. Another had the pork tenderloin sandwich. This sandwich was literally between two pieces of toasted wonderbread. Really? Plain thin sliced white bread? Wow. My wife had the chicken Alfredo pizza. With that fantastic kitchen, I was thinking they would come up with something more hand made or wood fired. All I can say is "It's not delivery, It's Digiorno's". Totally frozen pizza like. My wife ate 2 small slices and threw the rest away. Dry, tasteless, and a travesty to the people of Italy. I will give 2 stars because the place is beautiful and the service was excellent. With food this bad, I can't go any higher than that. We all looked at each other and said there is no way we would ever come back.
(2)Paula H.
First time diners here and our experience was phenomenal! Perfectly prepared mignon and ribeye. Attentive staff. And not to mention, all for a great price. We're lifers now!
(5)Daniel L.
Two out of four isn't that great. First time there for my wife and I, we met good friends who had a gift card. Our dinners were good but our friends weren't so lucky. Three of us had pasta dishes. The penne arabbiatta was delicious and they made a special order chicken and vegetable fettuccine for my wife, she said it was very good. T said his pasta was dry...? Perhaps a bit too Al-dente. But B's meal had issues. She ordered a steak medium and was first presented with a medium well to well done steak. Obviously we sent it back. When it was re-presented it was so rare it was embarrassing. I'm guessing it was a new cook who had no clue how to cook steak. They did offer her a soup or salad while she waited for the steak to be re- cooked. But after the second presentation she just opted for a pasta dish to take home. The rest of us had already finished our meals. I didn't pay for the meal but I sure hope they comped B's meal. I'd say the kitchen needs a little more supervision on Tuesday nights.
(3)Shelly l.
Sorry, Iv'e just "meh I've experienced better. Its half a sports bar. Can get a little loud. Some of our food had a little issue, I won't get into details. Service was a bit rushed. Caused a little mix up. If you want hamburger not pink ask for it well done. Fish is a bit greasy. My specialty drink had nothing special about it, I would not try one a 2nd time unless you like average. Nice decor, has outdoor seating. First timer. Was very busy for a Wed. eve.
(2)Nichole B.
Hit up Sarna's for dinner with the boy, and I was pleasantly surprised! The interior is really cozy and clean; a riverstone fireplace gives it a cabin-like feel. We both enjoyed our margaritas, though I had to change what flavor I was getting 3 times since they were out of those ingredients. We decided to try their Spinach Artichoke Dip for our app....yeah, we devoured that plate. It was probably a frightening scene to behold. I am a sucker for spinach artichoke dip, especially GOOD spinach artichoke dip. Let me tell you, it was good. I would have licked the plate if I wasn't positive that the little old lady next to us would have smacked me with her purse. Our entrees arrived just as we finished hoovering down the dip, perfect timing! I thoroughly enjoyed my spaghetti and - judging from the lack of talking from the other side of the table - he really liked his mushroom chicken sandwich. In fact, I think I recall him saying that it was the best chicken sandwich he had ever had. When our waitress showed up to cart away the aftermath we begrudgingly declined offers of dessert. There was just no room left, thus we rolled ourselves out the door and into the car. It really was very good, and we will definitley be back! I am really looking forward to trying their Sunday Brunch!
(4)Brad S.
This review is not about the food, more about the poor service. We showed up and asked okra table of 5, the hostess looked at us like she had no clue what to do. Then informed us that they were very busy, she couldn't tell us if it was going to be a wait or what. She then informs another person to go see how far along a certain table is...very unprofessional behavior if you ask me. Needless to say we walked out and went else where where our business was wanted. If I could give a quarter star I would, we will never be back to try this place again, noway no how. Hell will freeze over before I set foot there.
(1)Dustin H.
1st order was a mock Chipolte burrito. I am A-OK with mockery on this one, if the formula works why not copy it? Then it arrived. If you are going to sell a $7 burrito for $11 at least don't make it dramatically worse than the $7 burrito. About 2oz. of chicken and what they call a Queso sauce. I know Velveeta when I see it, the only assocition with cheese in this fat like sauce is in color only. So I thought after the failed burrito run I would aim high and get the $29 Porterhouse. I've had better steaks at truck stops. I really want this place to succeed because there are so few options in Heights, but I haven't seen a restaurant fail this hard in a while.
(1)Brian S.
One of the north burbs best and here's why. It's original, not a chain, local, and has dependable delicious food. From comfort food and standards to unique menu offerings, this place has something for everyone. Next time you head out to Perkins or Applebee's turn around and eat here instead.
(5)Pamela H.
Went there with a Groupon. I would have been disappointed in the NY Strip if I had paid full price. A 14oz strip (with lots gristle) a baked potato (had to ask for butter and sour cream) and 3 pieces of broccoli for $24.95. Service was slow, but I think she was new. I'd try it again, but if it's the same result. I'm done.
(2)kyle t.
How do you judge a place. Well there are a whole bunch of ways really. I'll start with having your smoking area right at the front door as you walk in. Nothing I want more than the smell of cigarette smoke lingering as I think about what I'm going to have for lunch. Really. OK, to be fair I came here to meet a friend for lunch on a Sunday at about 1 and they have a brunch that goes till 2. They told us up front that they had a select menu if you weren't having brunch, no big deal. The brunch really didn't look that impressive and for $16 I figured I could do better, wrong. Now I understand the select menu when you doing brunch. I also know there are a whole bunch of things that you can make that are sort of on your brunch that really aren't a big stretch for your cooks. Now, that said this was a VERY select menu. It had like 8 things on it, a couple of salads, a couple of sandwiches, really nothing that was jumping out at me. I tried the BLT thinking this was pretty safe, how can you do a BLT wrong? Well you can start with not very good bread, soggy focasia. Than you can take that bad bread and put on it lettuce (easy part), some bad, cheap, under ripe tomatoes and top all that out by burning the hell out of the bacon! Wow! Bacon should be a food group, should have its own TV channel and people that can't cook it really need to look for something else to do with their time. Considering they have a buffet with bacon in it how can you not put decent bacon on your BLT? My guess is all the good stuff goes out on display and the burnt crap was tossed on my BLT! Bad start and even though I'll cut them some slack for the select menu on buffet day I won't go back. There are way to many places around for that. Poor bacon, RIP! KT
(2)Tim R.
How do you review averageness? It's hard to get up the energy to bother and sit down and write "Hey, this place is fine. You'll probably like it and then quickly forget about it" but that's pretty much Sarna's in a nutshell. Sarna's is a place I really want to like mostly for reasons more geographical than anything else. But the only thing I really love about Sarna's is interior with its high ceilings and attractive lighting. They have plenty of TVs to follow the game, but it doesn't feel intrusive or too much like a sports bar. The look of the place is probably the best thing it has going for it. While we're listing absolute positives I should mention that the service is always friendly and attentive. Out of ten or so trips in the past 3 years I've never had poor, or even below average, service. Of course looks and service are important, but the quality of food is paramount and that's where Sarna's falls into Bill McNeal's Canyon of Adequatequaluance (sorry that it's 2012 and I'm still making Newsradio references). The burgers are burgers, the pasta is pasta, the steaks are steak. Every meal is the kind where you ask the rest of your party how their food is and everyone says "Good" with a nod and then you start discussing something else. Nobody raves, nobody says you've just got to try a bite of their dish. It's all just fine. So if you live in the immediate area and you've always wondered if Sarna's is a worth a shot, I would give a qualified yes, but if you're elsewhere in the greater Twin Cities I would say there's a lot of other places to cross off your list first.
(3)Wendy J.
My boyfriend and I LOVE this place. Great atmosphere. Wonderful service. Reasonable prices. The food is always great. I get the Pecan Crusted Walleye with a side of veggies and mashed potatoes. I LOVE it. My boyfriend gets the club sandwich (which he has recently turned me on to). We both love their martini's. We go there for Saturday bingo every week for a month and stay for the meat raffle. We've been there for their Sunday brunch which has also been good. I didn't try their desserts though, because I didn't see it. If you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping in.
(5)Toby P.
Not much to talk about. Went on a Groupon and that's about the only way I would ever go back. Steaks are inconsistent. One way over cooked one under cooked. Service was decent but for the prices your better off at going elsewhere. They have an open kitchen and you can tell there are only line cooks working there, nothing close to a chef present. No quality control to speak of. Try it off you must but better values are plentiful.
(2)Laura T.
I have to say, I have NEVER experienced this kind of service before. EVER. Upon arriving to our table, the waitress angrily snarled, "What do you want?" There was no greeting or anything...she just got right to the point. Obviously we weren't prepared to order since we had just been seated. She then proceeded to roll her eyes and looked like she wanted to be anywhere but here. She never once asked how our food was and of course did not say thank you. She set the bill on the table and walked away. She was older than the other waitresses and I'm not sure if she just had a bad day, but whatever it is I would stay away from her. The food was average and the ambience was fine. I'm sure it would have been a lot better had we had a waitress who did not hate her job. I had a chicken salad on a pineapple boat with fruit. The fruit was fresh and the chicken salad was chicken salad. Prices were average as well.
(2)Chels R.
Meh. Stopped in for lunch and thought I had found a gem until I got my food. The server was nice but she told me I couldn't have my steak sandwich med rare as they weren't allowed to serve anything less than medium. Whaaa? I finished my meal before anyone stopped back at my table. I really wish someone had asked if everything was okay as I really wanted a glass of water. I probably won't be coming back. It seems a bit overpriced for what you get.
(3)Lindsay M.
Hard to believe that I'm giving a Columbia Heights establishment four stars on Yelp! Full disclosure: I grew up four blocks away from this University Ave. location. I've been here twice now including most recently, last night. Yes, my last meal of 2009 was at Sarna's! I was particularly impressed with the fried green beans. We went during Happy Hour to take advantage of the drink and appetizer specials. In addition to the fried green beans, we shared an order of Steak Sliders. I loved these - chipotle cheez-whiz, fried onion strings and all! I had the "Bleucy" for an entree. Think bleu cheese stuffed 1/2 lb burger with bleu cheese dressing, rosemary shallots, and lettuce. I'm a San Francisco Bay Area food snob and I've definitely had better bleu cheese burgers before. They should switch to actual bleu cheese (instead of the dressing) and arugula (instead of wimpy iceberg lettuce). Dad ordered the Guinness-battered fish and chips. He couldn't finish all the food and Dad has been known to have seconds/thirds/fourths at the "All You Can Eat" fish fry buffets. So I think this speaks to portion sizes. And you've got to love the price points. Everything is priced to please, especially given the depth of the menu and quality of food. Combined with friendly service and an inviting interior, Sarna's is a classic American grill that is quickly becoming a neighborhood gathering place.
(4)Eric M.
So, I've been here a few times, and this is mainly a dinner review. The breakfast/brunch on Sundays is better, at least from past experiences. In case you didn't know, Dinner on Monday's includes bar bingo. It's pretty annoying, and wasn't labeled anywhere until you get inside. We arrived around 630, and it started shortly after and made it hard to have a conversation. As far as gluten-free, they get an F. Maybe 2 things on the menu are gluten-free, the cobb salad and I think there was one other appetizer item. The burger I had was good, but really soggy (was a chipotle something burger), just soaked in a thin chipotle sauce. For somewhere that looks like it would be an upperclass restaurant, and prices to match that, it's really not. It's maybe a step or two above applebees/Fridays/etc. I might try the breakfast again sometime, but was not something I'd do for dinner again. Maybe drinks one night though...
(2)Matt B.
For me this is a local joint, and and a favorite. They have a beautiful building, great service, good food and fair prices. The lobby is especially inviting in the winter with two fireplaces radiating warmth. The outdoor seating is nice during the few months where outdoor seating is a good thing in Minnesota. The food is consistently good. They have a pretty complete menu including a good selection of different burgers and traditional entrees. Their prices are fair, even more so considering the quality of the food. The service is always great, the wait staff is attentive and quick.
(4)Karen S.
A few steps up from an Applebee's in my book (better food, but sports TV on all over the place), but nothing to write home about. Standard fare, but a decent amount of variety (entrees for 7 of us included jambalaya, chicken teriyaki, steak, chicken stuffed with something, and walleye). My pecan-crusted walleye was good. Vegetable side was bland, but kudos for having a decent variety of veggies (red pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, squash, maybe others). Prices are very reasonable. I almost gave this place 2 stars for the service. The food took about 40 minutes, which is ok, I guess, since this is after all a little fancier than applebees. But, there's no bread basket, no pre-entree salads (nor were we asked "would you like to start with a salad?"), no waitress checking on us. Food arrives. I receive the wrong side dish an alert my server (who wasn't our original waitress). BF gets his food and we realize we have each other's sides (the sides are on the plate w/ the entrees, making a simple switch difficult). Server tells the manager, who helped deliver our entrees, of the mix up and he goes, "Oh" and walks away. No apology, no offer to bring out new sides, nothing. Not all that bad since it's just the BF, but a little awkward trying to switch two kinds potatoes onto each other's plate. We were out with family and friends and I was excited to order dessert. When our server came to clear our plates, she dropped of the check and told us to enjoy our evening, no offer of dessert, or even coffee. It wasn't even 9:00pm, and the place was about 1/4 full. I checked with the hostess on the way out, "do you serve dessert?" Her response, "Oh yes, they're very good." Guess I'll never know! I don't think I'll be back...too far out of the way and nothing you couldn't get elsewhere.
(3)William C.
I had the beef stroganoff and ended with bread pudding. I had two glasses of Shiraz also. The cost seemed high for the quality. The wine was good for the $9 each but did make the bill high. The dinner was fine but the pudding was only OK. If you are a meat and potatoes person you may like this place more. The menu seemed to be more to that end. Not that there is anything wrong with that.
(3)Lori R.
Last meal on a trip to Minneapolis, brought us to Sarna's Friday night for dinner. I started with a glass of Menage a Trio red, which I always like but isn't common in restaurants. Having heard of juicy lucy's but never had one before, I knew right away I had to try one. So I ordered the Spicy Lucy. Husband got the Walleye Sandwich. Another ordered the Caprese Chicken and another the Whiskey Steak. We all upgraded to the sweet potato waffle fries with honey pepper aioli. They weren't kidding about having to be careful eating the Spicy Lucy, but it sure was good! Not very spicy though, but I can take a lot of heat. And I loved the sweet potato waffle fries. No sign of pepper in the aioli, but the honey was a nice touch. My husband liked his sandwich and the Caprese Chicken got a thumbs up. The steak-eater said it was okay but couldn't taste the whiskey, and he was a bit disappointed that it didn't come with a salad. Big thumbs up for the burger and waffle fries from this out-of-towner!
(4)Kelly S.
I've passed this place a number of times and have always wondered if it was worth trying. Thankfully I've recently discovered that the answer is a resounding yes. I enjoyed their classy meets family style atmosphere. I loved their fish appetizers and their drinks are fancy and delicious. I would definitely go there for happy hour just for the tasty drinks ... I don't recall what the drink specials were, but they're so good, I don't really care. Their main food was really great as well. I had a chicken Greek flatbread wrap that I didn't think I had room for, but it was so good, I couldn't help myself. Their wait staff was also cheery as they were bustling about during the dinner rush (I'd also recommend making a reservation during busy times). All in all, a great place to eat just North of Minneapolis.
(4)Pamela B.
Classic and casual, and yummy!
(3)Kye J.
First time there on a whim last Friday night, found a couple seats at the full bar and ordered two apps, steak bites with a peppercorn sauce and walleye bites. I ordered beef stew in a breadbowl off the weekly special menu. I don't like walleye on any level and never have, these nice flaky bites changed my mind forever. Thank you, Sarnas and those steak bites,,,wow, tender wonderful meduim cooked bits of heaven. Thank you for that mouthwatering treat, The stew was perfect, service was excellent, never had an empty drink, never did an empty plate make it more than 15 seconds before it was whisked away by one of many floor workers that obviously have eachothers backs at all times. They all seem to work well as a team, a manager was always within eyesight, the bartenders were quick, friendy, experienced and what I would expect but rarely get in other establishments......We enjoyed ourselves so much, we went right back the next evening. The bartender remembered us as we sat at the same place as the night before, ordered the same great apps and I had the best tilapia I have ever tasted (off the weekly special menu), and my fiance ordered the beef stew I had the night before. Two apps, two entrees, three beers and a bottle of Mark West wine and our bill was still under $100. Overall, they have it figured out, atmosphere, smiling faces, service, and quality. A well oiled machine. We will be sure to invite our friends on our next visit to show off what a gem we accidently found.
(5)Hannah B.
A great find in the Heights. I really wanted a juicy lucy burger, so my friends suggested we go to Sarna's because it was a) closer to their house and b) had good parking. What a pleasant surprise this place was. The service was good, food was great, and the beer even better. I'd definitely go back again.
(4)David C.
Huge portions of food, above average food, decent atmosphere with fireplaces.
(3)Patrick S.
Great spot in NE Mlps for lunch or dinner. Friendly staff, wide menu choices and solid service. Prices are in line with the quality of food and the serving portions are generous.
(5)Jeremy W.
Went for brunch,,decent buffet
(3)Lexi S.
HORRIBLE establishment! I went there last night with a couple friends to eat and have a couple drinks. I ordered a rib eye steak, it comes with mashed potatoes and green beans. The steak had No seasoning and I felt like I was chewing rubber. The green beans were slightly still froze and this is what they felt was ok to serve. BUT the big issue happened outside on they're patio. A guy we met up there was on the rocks and trying to get a nice picture, the Owner out of nowhere came and made the biggest issue over a frog being in the pond (that i think was already there) and told us we All had to leave! Over a statue frog being in the pond! I am DISGUSTED by the way we were treated and I will be looking into legal actions I can take to make sure no one gets treated like that again! I'm a business owner myself, so I know it was other ways for the "owner" to handle it! He probably will win "Jerk Of The Year". If you like to spend money, and get kicked out of places for no Real reason other than your skin tone.... This is the Perfect place for u! :-)
(1)Tommy_n_Loretta C.
Good food and decent service averagely priced.
(3)Tiffany L.
Great weekly specials, like all you can eat crab on Wednesdays and bar bingo on Mondays.
(3)Russel M.
It's just fine. If it were cheaper then the prices would match the quality of the food. Instead you pay about two dollars more than you should for everything on the menu. It's clean and friendly but it has nothing special to offer that you couldn't get somewhere else (at a better quality or a lower price).
(3)Terry D.
I have eaten here twice and not been disappointed, the atmosphere is great - not too loud as many restaurants are these days. Prices reflect the more mid/upscale style. The service is great and very accomodating. Good happy hour deals also.
(4)James D.
Sarna's is a semi upscale dinner and drinks type of place. The food is above average, although it is pretty safe stuff. One nice thing is the sheet variety of the menu. You can get all types of fare from meatloaf to pasta. I recommend the pork tenderloin sandwich. The sweet jam they spread on the bun makes it a pretty special sandwich. I also recommend the Heights Burger. This thing is more or less and elevated Big Mac and one of the best burgers I've had the pleasure of consuming. This place has more to offer than dinner, as the huge bar in the middle actually gets some use. The ladies tending bar are awesome and keep the beers flowing. This place is a little pricey, but happy hour is commonplace and brings your beer from $ 5 down to $ 2.50. I frequent this spot mostly because it is mere blocks from my house, but the consistently satisfactory food, great service, and tap beers at least keep me feeling good about it.
(4)Drew M.
This is like if TGI Fridays didn't suck. Just a regular American menu with solid execution. I've been a dozen times and have always had good service. The perfect neighborhood bar & grill.
(4)John W.
Very nice interior. Reminds me of red stone in Minnetonka. The new york strip steaks were cooked perfectly to order. They were under seasoned but very tender. Some salt and pepper would help but I thought it was a good steak. Noticed some great daily specials on the way out. Ill be back.
(4)Maxx M.
Customer service seems to be slipping here. My daughter and I stopped for lunch today. We haven't been by since last summer. But before that, we've literally been here hundreds of times...so our credentials are good. In one hour, our server only came to our table twice: once to take the orders and an hour later, to offer to fill a soda. But by then my coffee was way empty, my daughter's soda was dry, our food was gone, and I was super pissed, waiting for a check. (One of the managers delivered our food.) I was extra pissed because I watched our server wait on a table of four old biddies out on the patio 8 (eight) times while my daughter and I were ignored! Each time, she had to walk past us. I delivered my payment and my complaints to Mr. Sarna himself. He was very nice and offered us a gift card. We'll try them again and cross our fingers that things are better next time. -Daddy Maxx Retro
(2)Cassandra W.
We usually have a good experience here but we did Mother's Day brunch, and I ended up with food poisoning. Happy Mother's Day to me. Ugh!
(2)Terry A.
My wife and I have been coming here about every other week for quite a while now (years). The food is consistently very good and so is the service. We often get the steak bites for an appetizer - very good. I usually have a hamburger and my wife usually has a chicken dish - everything we've had has always been very good. If they have the rib eye on the menu, that is my favorite. I order my beef medium rare and it comes out right. I would categorize Sarna's as "Nordeast chic". It is a good solid restaurant where you can consistently get a good meal.
(5)Jeremy D.
The turkey club with whole grain cranberry bread was very good. Bar bingo on saturday and monday.
(4)Teresa E.
I drive by this place pretty often as it is near my home but always sort of mocked it because of its flashy lit up sign out front and its location for a sort-of upscale American grill that probably plays Eagles music or something. Anyway, we wanted to go out for dinner and usually pick a place on Central. Central being a total clusterf lately we wanted something close and not Central. We Yelp'd the menu and off we went to Sarna's! We sat on the HUGE stone patio that had a frickin water feature and TVs. The surrounding clientele were small family with baby, couple of old ladies smoking cigarettes, few old white guys that just finished golfing together and then a large group of more old white people who all ordered beer and laughed loud with all their bellies. Odd atmosphere. The server was prompt to our table and we ordered drinks right away. I didn't see anywhere on any of the menus of a non-alcoholic drink list so I asked. She looked at me like I was a visiting from the past and asked for a Surge or something she was vaguely familiar with. So I ordered a lemonade. It was okay. The food menu consisted of Applebees-esque varietals such as personal pizzas, burgers, fettuccini alfredo and steaks. We ordered the bacon tater tots for an appetizer. I've never had a bacon tater tot! It was a tater tot wrapped in jalapeno and bacon with an aioli sauce. This was awesome and very good! If you're in the area, go here, order these, and dip the heck out. I ordered the chicken pot pie. It was seriously cray when it came to the table. It was a steaming bowl of chicken and veg goodness with a massive VERY flakey square crust encompassing the entire bowl. (see pic. srsly) This was good... big serving, filling, tasty... but did not totally "wow" me, except for the presentation of the crust. Throughout dinner the server was fairly wishy-washy. It was as if she had been working since morning and her cat threw up on her sweater right before she left for work and she hasn't had a hug in a couple of weeks. No smiles, no genuine cares for our well-being... but maybe it wasn't all her fault. In addition to the blah service, the black flies were HORRENDOUS. It was so bad I had my left hand over my lemonade the entire time I ate my pot pie with the right hand. When my husband finished his plate before I did he left it off to the side as bait... pretty disgusting to eat while watching a swarm of flies devour the rest of his crusts and stuff. I normally at least wait to hear about dessert but I left the fly infested table before he even laid down the tip. I guess if we come back we eat indoors.
(3)Mick V.
Yummmm , great food , great atmosphere, great service , our server was Johnny on the spot when needed and didn't bother us when not
(5)Chris L.
Fair number of good to goodish reviews so we figured we'd try it while passing through the neighborhood in need of dinner. They did have a gluten free menu so a plus there. Service was fine. However, both of our entrees were very poor. Chicken stir fry that wife got was tasteless and had no sauce. My beef tips fared no better and tasted precisely like they'd opened a Lean Cuisine and dumped it on the plate. Lots of ugh's all around. I'd have rather done one of those crap chain restaurants than this. Sorry Sarna's.
(2)Catherine C.
After driving past this restaurant everyday on University Ave for about 10 months, I decided it was time to go inside and sit down to a dinner. I took my husband here on a Friday night for their Prime Rib Dinner that I had heard a rumor about. It's not very well advertised at all, in fact; I had to call them to make sure they still had this special on a Friday and Saturday night. They do indeed! A 14oz slab of beef, baked potato and a side salad with a warm dinner roll. Everything was delicious. You can get your prime rib with mushrooms or onions for a dollar extra, and it comes with a side of horseradish sauce. All this for $20 a plate. Now you haven't seen a person eat until you have seen a pregnant lady eat. I put that prime rib away. Potato too. And we even started out with an order of their giant onion rings and grainy honey mustard sauce. Sadly I couldn't partake in their happy hour, but it looked pretty good. I would definitely come here again for the prime rib, but also to try other menu items. I'm so glad this place is only a few miles away from me! A very nice restaurant in Columbia Heights.
(5)Eric S.
Tried the prime rib which was ok not the best in town for sure like they try to claim. I have been here two times both times we had the same waitress Jessi and would not sit in section again. She was no personality in fact felt she was trying to push us out so she could flip her table the second time. long periods between when you would not see her drinks went dry both times we were there. Don't think she is a happy person and it shows. Glad this is not close to me do not think I will go back!!
(2)Katrina O.
They have all the staples of a denny's or TGI Fridays. The food is usually good and above average, never had anything that's bad. However, I've never had anything exceptionally wonderful here either. All in all, if you're looking for something along the lines of a denny's but a little more upscale where the food will most likely be decent, this is the place to go.
(3)Jeannie V.
This place has been the closest restaurant/bar to my house for the past five years and I can count the times I've been here on one hand. That should say enough. But I'll elaborate. It reminds me of a slightly upscale non-chain Applebees - similar menu, similar layout, but with fireplaces, a nice patio, and more steaks. But I can't say I like this place much more than Applebee's. I've tried their dinner menu several times and Sunday brunch once. Because it's so conveniently located, I've tried really hard to like it. But every time I've been here I've never been in love with any part of the experience, there has been nothing that really draws me back. The food is "meh," the service is "meh," the ambience is "meh." Meh. I was bribed back for the first time in probably three years by a Groupon. To really make it a worthwhile deal, we had to order something more expensive than a burger or a reuben. The only option here is steaks, which I've avoided so far out of fear - I kind of assumed they wouldn't be so great, but decided to finally give them a shot. When ordering, the server, while nice enough so far, was kind of useless in terms of recommendations on drinks, sides, etc. We both ordered out steaks medium-rare, but while his NY-strip was cooked just slightly more on the medium side, my porterhouse had only the tiniest speck of pink in the entire hunk of beef - that's closer to WD than MR. I literally never send food back - I'd typically rather get a free dessert or something than waste a plate of food over a small mistake. But this was terrible - you could tell just by poking the top it was overcooked. So I did allow the server to send it back, and waited 10 minutes while watching my husband eat. As he was finishing the last bites of his meal, my new plate arrived. The server waited while I cut into it, to find purple inside - it was still completely raw in the middle. The server rolled her eyes and said "OK, so now this one is undercooked" and swept it away. When it came back it was still more rare than MR, but close enough - I was hungry and my husband was now the one to sit and watch me eat. On the bright side, the mashed potatoes and asparagus were good. Now, I know we got our meal at a discount due to Groupon, and I know I eventually sort of got the food I wanted, but after the multiple problems with my steak I would have expected some sort of compensation. At a very similar non-chain restaurant I worked at back in the day, you were expected to offer a free app/dessert/drinks, even a free meal or gift certificate depending on the circumstance. I realize the manager has to approve it, but the server needs to advocate for it. Maybe she could have recommended to the manager for me to get a cup of soup or side salad while I waited, or a dessert after the meal. Nada. Instead, she brought the bill and tried to clear our plates before I had even finished eating.
(2)Bill B.
Beautiful building inside and out. Arrived at 4:30 on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed by 6. Very popular with the locals that the staff fawns over and the expense of the new comers. Our server passed by the table 6 times, never asking how the food was or if we'd like a refill on beverages, while taking plenty of time to chat with the aged customers in surrounding booths. My wife loves the Oriental Chicken Salad, while I've tried both the Jucy Lucy and the the Porterhouse. In reading other reviews, I agree- It seems you can only get beef well done here, no matter how you order it. (And if you're ordering your steak well done, then please try the chicken) Curiously there is no side salad or bread offered with dinner. Just your plate 'o very plain, ungarnished food. There is a pull tab booth in the corner of the dining area, with a table for four just feet away. I felt sorry for the couple that had to put up with a a parade of rear-ends in their faces while they dined. All in all, Sarna's is 'adequate'. Not terrible, not fantastic. Just quite ordinary and forgettable.
(2)Chris P.
Meh, I've had better. Was there on a Sunday for their brunch which I have heard people rave about. Well, was I there on a bad Sunday? It was not as spectacular as it was hyped up to be. First let's start with attitude. The two older waitresses did not come across as friendly at all. The one with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail must have pulled it too tight and was probably in pain. She could not have cracked a smile or been friendly if it were required. Just referred to her as sour puss. During the buffet they have no regular menu, just the buffet. Salads you had either Caesar, pasta or mixed fruit. Not much of a choice. They also had salmon, cheese and crackers. Nothing to write home about and the salmon was a little bland. The main courses were your standard fair. Scrambled powdered eggs (yes you can tell they were powdered or liquid!) Eggs Benedict and thank goodness they did not overcook the poached eggs and the yolks were still runny. There was a weird French Toast that looked like left over Chibatta bread that had been sliced, dipped and cooked, a Banana's Foster French Toast, Bacon, Sausage, potatoes, pasta, brussel sprouts, fish, corn, prime rib and carved ham. It was all standard buffet fair and nothing special. They tried to upscale the entire experience but the managers and owners in jeans and a track suit just brought down the atmosphere as the wait staff were dressed better in their uniforms. One big note, you need to work on your maintenance. The tile in the rest room was falling off of the walls and there were big holes in the walls. Also, you couldn't get hot water in the rest room to wash your hands even after letting it run for minutes on end. I question some of the cleanliness and sanitary conditions as I watched people put infants on table tops and the bar counter and it was not wiped down or cleaned afterward. Details, details, details!
(2)