If I wrote this review prior to them revising their menu, it would've been 5 stars. HOWEVER..... one of the most disappointing changes was that they no longer make their homemade tater tots. This was the best thing on their menu and our family's favorite. Also, I ordered a Cherry Limeade (adult version) which I've had several times in the past. This time it showed up as a watered down Tom Collins with no garnish. My Husband had the steak sandwich which was generous but the steak was poor quality. I'm sad, this was one of my favorite restaurants that we drive 45 minutes to eat at. The good drinks and good quality of their food was the draw. I don't know if they are trying to make cut backs but it sure seems that way. I will state, though, that the service is still excellent.
(2)
Shawn S.
You will either love or hate Wild Boar. If you want free popcorn most of which ends up on the floor, great list of craft beers, loud atmosphere, high top tables, and decent live music with lots of beer being spilled by tipsy dancers - this one is for you. They are supremely busy on weekend nights so don't expect a customized experience - you will get lots of beer and food at a good price. The servers are busy so be patient and be READY when they come by, go at the pace of the place and you'll have a great time!
(4)
Shaun J.
Went for lunch on a groupon. Had wings and a side salad. Salad was fresh and good. Wings were piping hot. I had honey chipotle which was ok but not my favorite. The kid had bbq which she enthusiastically endorsed. Service was good. Lunch seemed ok atmosphere for a teen and we sat by the window for extra light. Not sure if the atmosphere would work for a family for supper.
(3)
Jim D.
We went to the Wild Boar for the first time with a Groupon for dinner (burgers/sandwiches/one beverage) for 4. We all had sandwiches or burgers, plus the various incarnations of potatoes, waffle fries, tater tots, etc. The burgers were excellent, juicy and done exactly as we requested, in my case medium. The potato options were also great! I had tater tots, spectacular. I will definitely go there again! The prices were also reasonable for really good burgers. Keep in mind, I'm a bit picky. I eat anything and everything, but this place impressed me, hence, the Yelp review. Enjoy!!
(5)
Niki N.
Husband and I have been looking for a reasonable bar with big screen TVs and decent food, boy were we thrilled here. We walked right in and nabbed two seats at the bar and asked the bartender to find the Gopher Hockey game. She quickly got us our drinks and had the game turned on for us. Our requests for menus was quickly filled. It was crazy busy but she was friendly and quick to take our orders, even chatted a little bit even though she was serving a big bar! I ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger (mid rare) with Sweet Potato Fries (yum), hubs had the Early Bird Burger (medium) with Tots. We had a great spot to watch hockey and chatty characters on all sides. Our food came in less than ten minutes and our burgers were delicious and done perfectly to order. If only Eden Prairie had something similar!
(4)
Don O.
Fantastic food. Nice lication with lots of free parking. The burgers are phenomenal. If you're really really hungry try the Piggy, but its better split with 2-3 people. Huge burger with pulled pork and bacon and a side of chili fries. If you finish everything by yourself to get a t-shirt. Even a man of my hunger could not conquer this beast but it sure as hell was fun trying. I plan on having my birthday dinner at this fine establishment
(5)
Jasmine B.
The Boar is a good place. Location is great, central to all the shops of Downtown Hopkins and right next to a large parking ramp (which is essential in the winter as Hopkins does a pretty terrible job of plowing). They have a back entrance from the parking ramp and front entrance from Mainstreet; both entrances have no signage or greeting, but it is a 'seat yourself' place. Their food is fine, its bar food after all, nothing spectacular. Their sweet potato fries are pretty darn good though. They typically have some pretty amazing drink specials during happy hour. $2 you-call-its, can't complain. The staff is knowledgeable, and mostly polite, but I have never had fast service here - hence 3 stars instead of 4 stars. I think they just might be understaffed, but regardless, its annoying when you need a refill, or want your check, and your server is nowhere to be found. Meat Raffle and Bingo nights here are a big deal, the place is always packed. There seem to be a lot of freeloaders during bingo - its free to play - and people take bigger tables than they need, but it really is a lot of fun to play. They have pulltabs for you gamblers (like me), a crane game with live lobsters, a skeetball game where you can win beers, and free popcorn for you freeloaders. One fun thing about the Boar - they always have some sort of activity or fun theme night happening - and you can win prizes for the best costume.
(3)
JR R.
My 2 stars may have been 3 or 4, had we not encountered a crabby employee during our last visit... Our server (Ashley) approached us at the recently vacated table we chose, and she seemed genuinely miffed that we had the nerve to sit there at all. (There was no "wait to be seated" sign anywhere.) She cleared the plates left by the previous customers, but never offered to wipe down the table surface...which was pretty gross. She was short with us, and obviously irritated by something - which she exhibited in every encounter she had with us. When I ordered my beverage, it came without a straw, and I really didn't want to ask her for one, fearing I'd get spit - or worse - delivered with my entree. My husband and I tried to maintain a courteous tone (despite her mood), and her attitude seemed to improve the longer we stayed, but by then the damage was done. Other than poor service, our food was just as we expected...nothing special, but with a bar-food-based menu, we weren't expecting much. I ordered one of the chicken sandwiches, with cheese, tomato and lettuce. I forgot they are served on an onion bun - which I'm not fond of - so ended up eating the sandwich without the bun. (No harm done; fewer carbs, right?) I've also had the fried pickles in the past, and they were decent, from what I remember.
(2)
Scott E.
Big Wild hockey fans and enjoy checking out different sports bars. We had a 2-4-1 coupon and decided to check the place out. Parking was easy in a large free public parking lot next to the building. For a Saturday it was busy. Big screens everywhere. Waiter was friendly. Grain Belt beer. Ordered the Sassy Sow with sweet potato fries and the burger with bbq ham and sunny side up egg. This burger came with mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The sandwiches were good. Not memorable. The coleslaw was one of the best I have had in years. The sweet potato fries were excellent. Crowd was thirty something. We had an issue with the burger and the sever had it fixed quickly. Very impressed. At the end of the day we asked ourselves if we would go back, and the answer was probably not. No real reason, just how we felt. We prefer our other places.
(3)
Jeff C.
The staff is more concerned about what. Everyone did the night before rather than wait on people. On a positive note the food was good and the service was good once I got someone's attention.
(3)
Jeannie E.
Came here with the boyfriend's family. He and I ordered iced teas, mom a Mike's Hard Lemonade and the rest ordered beers. Waiter comes back and informs us there are no Mike's left and they're out of iced tea. Well, he could make the iced tea, he whined, but it would take eight minutes. Forget it, didn't want to put him out since he sounded like it would have inconvenienced him. Went ahead and ordered our food. Boyfriend orders a bison bugler. Oh wait, they're out of those, too! Everyone else orders their stuff, me, a chicken sandwich with tater tots. Boyfriend orders nothing since he already struck out twice with the iced tea and bison burger. (Don't worry, he didn't starve, he ate half my food). 45 minutes later the food finally comes (Approximately 6 pitchers of tea could have been made by then!). The tater tots I ordered were nowhere to be seen. "I'll bring those out" when I inquired about them. 10 minutes later still no tots! The next time the waiter came by I told him to make sure they weren't on the check because I no longer wanted them. So guess what's on the check? No, not the tater tots but the Mike's they were out of and two iced teas! Talk about shitty, shitty service! We wished we could have just tipped the cook since the food was decent but the waiter sucked ass. Definitely won't be coming back here.
(1)
Bubs M.
Wild Boar is the best bar in Hopkins. They recently updated their menu, and now has some of the best food on main street. Especially the delicious Mac Attack (Cheese Burger with Mac and Cheese on it. High calorie heaven.) All the bartenders are super nice and fun to come hang out with. Except Mike, he drinks Miller Lite. Come on Mike, you're killing me.
(5)
Solomon N.
Good food and atmosphere.. Try the tots n sassy sow.. The food just bursts in flavour.. Not sure of dancing though but drinks are reasonably priced
(4)
Alex H.
I have been to this place a couple times to hang with friends and watch sports. I must say this place sucks. The servers are incompetent and rude. The food is just bland. I feel like a outsider among regulars. The people are who are regulars here are just idiots. Service is bad a lot of the people working, are on there cellphones. If your going to order food you gonna wait while they have a smoke or finish talking on there cellphones. STAY the F AWAY! A lot better sports places are out there. To watch games and enjoy the atmosphere.
(1)
Will C.
Fun dive bar with pool tables, darts, pull tabs , arcade games, and live music. This place is great! We like going after work for happy hours to shoot pool and drink beer.
(4)
Heather H.
Great place. The service is awesome. I'll be honest, every once in a while you feel a server getting overwhelmed since its always so busy, but 95% of the time, service is outstanding!!! Whenever possible, sit in Kasie or Kaitlins section! You'll have exceptional service! The food is really good... my only complaint is they took away the Bison Burger. Supposedly it wasn't a big seller. Pull tabs, darts, pool and free bingo twice a week! Fun times! Best part, a good draw of people, and you feel safe there.
(5)
Derek S.
I found a groupon for this place and thought it would be fun to try out. I was really surprised at how good the food was given that it's a pretty straightforward sports bar. The waiter was attentive and polite and we got our food promptly. The overall ambiance was a little too casual for my taste, but that's just me. I'd recommend the pulled pork sandwich for sure.
(4)
Sarah H.
This is a great place for a happy hour. The happy hour prices are good, both for the drinks and for the food. It's a sports bar, full of TVs, skee ball, Buck Hunter, meat raffles, and bingo. The staff is nice, but not particularly efficient or consistent. Sometimes I have had wonderful service, sometimes I have had terrible service.
(3)
Mason L.
I hate to be trite, but if I could have given this joke of a "restaurant" ZERO stars (or negative stars), I would have! I am surprised that the City of Hopkins hasn't shut this place down for health code violations. The restaurant floors were filthy, but I can handle dirty floors. However, I cannot handle dirty tables, silverware, plates and glasses at a restaurant. And, to make matters worse, when the food runner (who was not the waiter) delivered our food with dirty hands and fingernails, it was enough to cause my party to leave without eating or paying, especially when the runner's disgusting claws were actually on our plates, and clearly touching some of the food. When I brought the issues up to the waiter, she was dismissive and acted as if I was being petty. Her lousy attitude made it easy to leave without paying (or eating) and skipping the logical, "can I speak to a manger" step. I didn't want to speak to a manager. I didn't want the obligatory "I'm so sorry" routine and I certainly did not want an offer of "the meal's on me" or the "next meal is on the house." I wanted NO meal from this lousy dive (actually, this place gives a bad name to dives). I wanted to run far and fast, never to return. If the front of the house is this disgusting, I can only imagine what the back of the house looks like. Sends shivers up my spine even now. I ordered a turkey burger, not a turkey burger with a side of dirty hands and long, dirty fingernails. One would think cleanliness for the the food runners would be the bare bones basics of any restaurant (dare I call this place a restaurant?!?!?!), but I guess I am very, very mistaken.
(1)
Mike B.
Lunch tasted good and service was good, but the food gave me GI issues within 3 hrs. That's never a good thing. May go back for a beer, but not touching any grub there again...
(1)
Toni S.
I don't even know if 1 star is deserved to be honest but here ya go. We have been to this establishment 3 times now since relocating to Hopkins. All visits were terrible!! The service is horrible. We waited 10 minutes for a drink and another 20 to even order food at the bar. The bar tender just kept walking past us and we finally had to blurt out that we wanted to order. Meanwhile another unsatisfied customer came up to the bar and yelled out loud for everyone to hear that he had been waiting 15 minutes and wasn't even approached by an employee. He ended up leaving which is what we should have done. Anyway, we finally got food. My wings were cold and obviously had been sitting there while my friend's meal was prepared. Then it took about another 15 minutes to get the bartenders attention so we could pay and leave. The short-haired blonde at the bar finally came to our rescue so we only tried tipping her. Save your money and spend it at an establishment that values your service because if you're not a regular townie, they don't care about you!
(1)
Suzanne G.
What a disappointment! I waited way too long for a server to approach my table. I ordered coconut shrimp appetizer and 1/2 rack of ribs. It took VERY long time to get my appetizer. It seemed as though the shrimp were left in the fryer too long as they were way too brown and the coconut burned. When my entree arrived, the 1/2 slab was served whole. I asked the server to have the cook cut up the ribs. The ribs were dry. The coleslaw had absolutely no flavor. It would have benefited from some salt and pepper and vinegar and sugar. The mashed potatoes were homemade but served barely lukewarm. The ice cold butter took almost umtil I was done eating before it melted. All in all a very poor meal. I will not be back.
(1)
Theresa D.
I found this place when I purchased a groupon. The crowd seems to be a variety of old, young and everything in between. Had a really nice waitress both times I was here. I love, love the chicken dip! It's the only thing I have had here and it was amazing! Will for sure be going back!!
(4)
Mike W.
Left to find a bar that would play the final 4 game with sound on the screen. They said they would keep playing juck box music. Had 8 other people meeting for game and food here and to hear the game was nuts. The bar tender and others at the bar had no idea how to change sound system and really could care less. Went to Scoreboard instead and others people at the bar left too. Called people and told the to meet at Scoreboard for game and food.
(1)
Taylor B.
This place is great! Saturday they have all you can eat fajitas that are amazing! Great happy hour prices, friendly bar staff! This is our weekly stop for Friday or Saturday evening fun!
(4)
Matt G.
I would call this place a middle of the road type bar. Nothing great, yet nothing terrible. Service is decent and drink prices are reasonable. Plenty of TV's, a pool table, and some bar games to keep you occupied. Kind of disappointed the kitchen closes at 10 but you can still get 10 inch pizzas for $5.
(3)
Jason K.
4 stars for a bar. It is probably a 3.5, but I love the really eclectic menu for a bar and everything I had was super good. We entered through the back and they had some free popcorn if you desired. I ordered a tall Summit Saga IPA (One of Summit's finest IMHO) I was amazed at how many great options there were on the menu. My wife and I had a $20 Groupon and our waitress was super awesome. She had a great attitude, checked on the beer often and was just overall fantastic. I couldn't decide if I wanted a pizza, pulled pork sandwich, buffalo chicken sandwich, or the atomic chicken sandwich. I went with the atomic chicken sandwich with a side salad subbed for the fries. Our server said "No problem" Love it! My wife got a side salad, since she said she wasn't that hungry. The chicken sandwich came out quickly and the side salads were really good size. Lots of cucumbers and quality lettuce. Always a good sign that a restaurant cares about the food it serves. The chicken was plump and juicy with the spicy BBQ sauce. Just amazing! A kind of Hawaiian bun adorned the spicy chicken. I thought every bite was perfect. After tip and Groupon I think the whole bill was an additional $10 after the Groupon. Cool bar with lots of TVs for us to watch some college football.
(4)
Marilyn T.
Good atmosphere! Yea a little pricy. Very friendly staff!! Though we ordered a flat bread pizza. Suppose to get mozzarella cheese with it. Not! Also they assumed we wanted the draft beer when we wanted a bottle beer their mistake but We got charged for it.
I've been to the Wild Boar quite a few times. They never fail to disappoint me. Either the service is slow, or it is bad, or it is both. The prices and food aren't bad, but certainly aren't special. Once, I ordered a "dirty gin martini". I asked for Hendrick's gin. The waitress took my order and came back in five minutes and told me they didn't have Hendrick's gin. I said a rail gin would be fine. She came back five minutes later and said they were out of any gin. I said fine, make it a dirty vodka martini, any rail vodka. She came back and said they were out of olives. Uncool. The only reason I ever go there is to remind myself what poor service is.
(1)
Andrew C.
This is a great local restaurant with some really great food! My personal favorite is wing night on Wednesdays. They have some amazing wings with some crazy good sauces. I personally like the garlic ranch dry rub wings. Just a burst of flavor with a crispy, bread less wing
(5)
Jessica K.
I am really torn on this place. Some things were great, others were nothing to get excited about. My parents and BF went here after the movers finished (the BF and I weren't quite ready to get into the boxes and unpacking fun). Originally my dad wanted to do white castle, but I was able to convince him to find a different alternative. None of us had been here before so we decided this would be a good option. We came in through the back entrance (this was about 6 or 7pm) walked to the front and discovered that it was a seat yourself place. I have never been a fan of that so i was little annoyed. Fortunately there was ample space to seated (I just always wonder how clean it is). They had free popcorn, but the downside was the containers were only the size to have 2 handfuls of popcorn in, which was strange and annoying when you had 4 starving people. We ordered our drinks and the selection was good and the prices were great. We went on to order the fried pickles based off a tip on foursquare. They were delightful! The batter and pickles were great for fried pickles, but they lost points with the fact that the ranch was watery. Next onto ordering and how it was: Dad: Fried bologna sandwich-He loved it, the waiter even said it was his favorite sandwich. I think it all depends on if you are into that type of thing. Mom: Mushroom and swiss burger-she liked it and finished the whole thing, i assume that is a good sign. BF: Ordered the early bird burger but substituted the beef for chicken. I took a bite and it was great. The fried egg was perfectly. He did try substituting the tater tots which were actually pretty good (maybe even better than the standard fries). Me: I ordered the Ranch Hand burger, and was left underwhelmed. The burger was a little over done from what i ordered, but it was THICK. The bacon was crispy, the bun was decent, but it was supposed to come with peppercorn ranch, i could see a light white coating , but it was gone...guess it was more of that watery ranch that I was disappointed with before. SERIOUSLY! Thicken your ranch, don't water it down! The prices were good, the service was mediocre at best. All in all everyone was ok with their meals. Not something that I would put on a must visit list, but if i were looking for dinner and a movie (hopkins theater is across the street) I would consider coming back.
(2)
Zachary S.
Great local hang. Good menu and plenty of options. Staff in general seems friendly and on top of things. Prices are good, Happy Hour pricing is great. Lots of TVs around the restaurant for easy viewing of any sporting events. Stage and dance floor in the back. TIP: Look for their Groupon to come through once in a while. Makes for a great/inexpensive meal!
(4)
John I.
I really enjoy this place. I ordered a steak which was cooked perfectly rare they way I asked for it. The potatoes were great as well. I've also had their BBQ which was tasty as well. The service has been great everytime I have been there. It's nice to enjoy a spot with some nightlife outside of the city. I'll be back.
(5)
Melissa R.
This is where my boyfriend and I go to eat, drink and hang out with our friends. When we have eaten here we have always had a pretty good experience. The food is definitely much better than across the street at big 10 and the tavern who only serves pizza and deep fried bar food. The drinks are strong at the boar and the bartenders know us by name and are friendly and fast. On the weekends things get a little different.get regulars there of course, music is pretty good with a dj on Fridays, atmosphere is fun. There used to be pretty good space for dancing but it's now limited. Bathrooms are always gross...for years they haven't fixed the bathroom doors in the woman's bathroom (1 out if 3 actually lock) and are always unclean. I guess if you are drunk it doesn't matter. Overall...food is good, staff is nice and its a decent place to party. We go there because it's 6 blocks away and we can walkthere.
(3)
Courtney B.
We tried the Wild Boar last Thursday night with another couple. The place was packed (they were playing bar bingo) and no one took the time to greet us. You apparently seat yourself, although there were no signs indicating that. We almost walked out after a few minutes of walking around, but then a waitress grabbed us and said that they had a table open in the back. It was right next to the kitchen, meaning I had a great view in there (not a pleasant view). The booth was disgusting, table was wobbly and there was a hammer laying in it?! Service was pretty lousy, my beer had a rotten lemon in it and the food was average bar food at best. Will not go again, very disappointed!
(1)
John A.
Sports bar that offers sports on flat screen TV's, cold beer, mixed drinks, and bar food. Its a recipe that is pretty hard to get wrong. Lots of bar space, plenty of seating, and ramp parking right out the back door. Don't get dressed up to go to this place, sweat pants are OK.
(3)
Tiffany L.
This place was a complete disappointment I had a crowdcut that I had bought for dinner and almost forgot about until I got a reminder email when we got there it was a bar and grill like the title said but you seat yourself and the service wasn't so great. The food was nothing special I had ordered the chili and meatloaf because that's what they had listed as their specialty trust me nothing special and the burger my boyfriend got was good but since I live more than a half hour drive away I rather just stop by one of my local joints instead of taking a road trip out to eat a Wild Boar again.
(2)
Sammy S.
I frequent the Wild Boar mainly because it's my boyfriend's softball sponsor, however they do have some great bar food on the menu. Nachos are awesome, Saucy Sows are scrumptious (bbq pork sandwiches), and don't forget about the Frickles (Fried Pickles - come on people)! Their all-you-can-eat ribs is a really good deal, and the ribs are really good too. Standard bar prices, OK selection of beer. This is no top-notch eatery, however Wild Boar is perfect if you're in the suberbs looking for bar food and lots of TVs to watch some sports on.
(3)
Brent B.
Despite my early review this place hasn't kept up with its original promise. It seems as if it is getting a hard start at gaining momentum without a shtick. Lunchtime is barren whereas during any event or happy hour it's packed with bargain shoppers. Food hasn't become a focus sadly...
(2)
Amber E.
Being as I live a very short distance from this place, I thought it might be nice to have a neighborhood watering hole to patron once in awhile. This will not be that place. It's a typical dive as far as atmosphere goes. Service was slow, not very knowledgeable of what drinks their bartenders make particularly well, and rather inattentive. The fried pickle chips were decent. The mixed drinks were alright. Nothing special. The place looks like it needs a good wash down, from top to bottom. The booth I sat in had a sticky tabletop and a similarly sticky seat. Kinda engaged by gag reflex a bit. Late in the evening a DJ will treat you to the best of the worst of the 90's bump and grind songs. So loud, you'll have trouble hearing yourself think, never mind what the person sitting across from you is saying.
(1)
Ben R.
Divey and definitely a regular's bar...you feel like everyone in here knows everyone else, except for you. It's a decent place in the western burbs to go drink and it's definitely where the non-geriatrics in Hopkins will assemble on weekends. That being said, I keep feeling like it's not the same as it was a few years ago, can't quite put my finger on it. It gets very shady and tenebrous on weekend nights.
(2)
Ingrid Z.
I'm a Hopkins resident and came here for the first time last Saturday for the "Girls on the Town" event. Bingo was one of the events scheduled at 3 p.m. Not knowing any better, I thought it was just for our event. Wrong! It was packed and loud and definitely more bar than restaurant. People had kids there but it was not very kid-friendly. They were supposed to have planned for the GOTT event but obviously did not. Apparently they have bingo every Saturday at this time. When you walk in the front door, you are not greeted. You have to squeeze your way to the back to get the bingo cards and markers. No one tells you what the rules are or how this works. There was nowhere to sit and we ended up sitting on the floor. The woman calling bingo is rude and snotty and gives you a dirty look if you ask for clarification. They assume that everyone has played bingo at this specific location for years and no one new ever comes. Well don't worry, we won't be back! Also, apparently they do a drawing for meat, but when they were calling the numbers we had no idea what they were doing. The numbers were called at a quick speed, which makes it less boring, but the announcement before the game as to which type of bingo it is is about impossible to hear without the bar noise. Also, the specific rules (like you have to get blackout before 55 numbers are called) are also not explained, just assumed you know. Well don't worry, between the lack of somewhere to sit, the rude service, the poor atmosphere, the cigarette smoke wafting into the back, nothing to wipe your bingo card off with, etc., we will NOT be back. I really hope GOTT does not support this business in the future. If Hopkins is looking to make downtown like West End or Excelsior and Grand, this place needs to be the first to go. It's an embarrassment.
(1)
Ben K.
Wild Boar has really gone down hill over the last six months. We used to come down here almost every Friday after work for the tail end of happy hour. Half price apps, $4 tall EPAs. The last time we went, in early October, the burgers were disgusting. They were pre-formed, obviously frozen patties. Despite me asking for mine mid-rare, it was cooked to the consistency of a hockey puck. Fiancee's burger was no better. We complained; they gave us the burgers for free and made us still pay for the apps and the beer. When you serve disgusting food to regular customers and they're upset, you really should comp the entire ticket. The apps are still good. The cheese curds are nice. The burgers used to be hand-formed with what tasted like fresh beef, but clearly that is no longer the case. The menu changed slightly about six months ago and that's when the quality started going down. This last trip about a month ago was the straw that broke the camel's back, and we probably won't be back. It's a shame, because it used to be a pretty reliable spot. Two stars, because I'm hoping the management reads this and gets their head out of their ass and back to the way things used to be. If you can't make it for happy hour, I'd probably find somewhere else to eat.
(2)
Alexis A.
My first two experiences here were no more than two star due to terrible service, AND both times being out of wings....which I am yet to try, but want to. The third stop was average. I wised up by then, and just sat at the bar. Yesterday we got great service and that along with free peanuts made me a fan. The only food I've had so far is the State Fare Cheese curds, which were ok. It's a good spot for a drink before or after a movie. I'll take it over Big 10.
(3)
Ross M.
i come here because they are: 1) close 2) affordable 3) support local charities and groups 4) reliable and good service
(3)
Matthew M.
Was having some general maintenance done on my car, so I decided to walk down Mainstreet Hopkins. Saw the sign promoting the $5 burger on Mondays, so I decided I would try since the wait for the car was going to be a while. First impression was "What does this place want to be?" a local small hole in the wall, or big and busy. I got there for happy hour, so I started out with a pint of beer. I asked the server what they had on tap and he named a few and then had to look at the bar to see what he missed. I think he missed about 6 of the 12 or so. I asked about the burger special and he told me that it was just a plain burger with fries. You had to pay for add ons like cheese, lettuce, bacon, etc. I should of known then what I was getting myself into. I decided to add cheese (which was .50), since he didn't know how much every add on was. I didn't want a $5 burger to turn into $$. It didn't take too long for the cheeseburger to come out and after looking at it I understood why. It simply is a frozen patty with no seasoning on it. My best guess is maybe a 1/4 pound at best. When the sever came in to check how everything was I told him that I knew why it was a $5 burger. He chuckled and said yea I usually have to load up on barbecue sauce to make it somewhat good. Guess I should have checked reviews before going. Would maybe stop for a drink, but there are plenty of other options on Mainstreet.
(2)
Curt L.
Found myself Hopkins MN.............How did I get here? Anyway found myself at Wild Boar....How did I get here? I enjoyed a pretty good walleye sandwich with lettuce and tartar sauce on a heavily buttered & grilled bread. Ordered it based on memory....Ice fishing memories. I remember pulling walleye right thru the ice and flopping them right into the skillet (I only watched as I was a kid then). Tasty then and tasty now. I did enjoy the peanuts in the shell....complimenary as they should be. Not many people there as we were there at early lunch time. I most likely will never be here again..not because it was bad (it was not) but because I will most likely never be in Hopkins again.
(3)
Chad M.
It's a local bar, no doubt. It's affordable, the people and staff are nice, and the music is diverse. I love this place
(5)
Jon L.
The service was slow due to drastic under staffing. It took at least an hour and a half to get in and out. The steak I ordered had three "flaps" to it and looked as if it had come out of a butcher's garbage bin just before it was recycled as dog food. The potatoes had obviously been sitting in a heating pot all day as they had a yellow, crusty side to them. My girlfriend's walleye sandwich was a piece of walleye with some wilted lettuce on two pieces of bread that were soggy on one side and dried out on the other from sitting under a heat lamp for at least 15 minutes. And don't get me started on the sorry state of the chicken cheese dip. I don't understand why the management is trying to cut all these corners, not only is the Wild Boar on a main drag, but it's right across the street from a theater guaranteeing it steady business. I begin to wonder if anyone in charge of that place really cares whether it's in business a year from now or not. They certainly don't care about the food or service.
(1)
Who I.
Well, don't worry about eating too much at the all you can eat fish fry. Don't get me wrong, the fish is quite succulent, coated with a light, tasty batter, accompanied by a small side of singularly good coleslaw, crispy fries, tartar sauce and a lemon wedge. The first plate came with two fingers of fish. Forty five minutes later, twenty after flagging down a completely different waiter, I got another single finger of fish. Giving up at that point, I asked for the tab, only waiting another twenty minutes before flagging down another different waiter and asking if I could pay my tab at the bar, and having that waiter get my tab for me. I certainly did not eat all that I could, and maybe that's their goal. Mission accomplished, apparently.
(1)
Dave W.
I went on a Monday night. I had been here once previously. My buddy raved about the pulled pork sandwich he ordered. I had a rack of ribs. The ribs were fine... but nothing special. Tonight was going to be my night to try the pulled pork sandwich. They were out of pork. That's right, they were out of a signature sandwich. They were also out of ribs, walleye sandwiches and chicken wings. I don't know what was going on in Hopkins this past weekend, but how do you run out of your signature items on a Monday? That's embarrassing. I had a burger. It's no bargain, but it's good. I also had all-you-can-eat chili, a Monday night special. It's not worth the trouble. Just get a bowl for $5. I liked the chicken chili better than the beef chili. The beef chili was basically the chicken chili with beef in it. Weird. Good service. Pints of beer were overpriced. I can't say it is a bad place, but I'm hesitant to go back. I don't know what I'm going to be able to order when I walk in the door. They might be out of freedom fries, sweet potato fries and tater tots. The menu they have online is out of date already. They have a few unadvertised specials each month, as best as I can tell. Some of those might have changed since this summer, too.
(3)
Greg W.
Sports bar atmosphere. Walleye fingers were good, Teriyaki -chili chicken wings were delicious. Was looking forward to trying the boneless pork chop on their online menu, but when we got there they said they no longer offered it. Service was rather slow, epecially considering there was few people there when we arrived.
(3)
Mark J.
Since I've moved to the neighborhood I've been to the Boar a few times now and I think I can write an informative review. To start, the tap selection is not that great. A couple local offerings but then domestics. The few times I've had food, it's been nothing to write home about. The service has been good and no complaints there. The bathrooms seem to be in a constant state of remodeling or just rundown. They are currently in a remodeling phase. There is a convenient parking garage right behind the Boar. They have free bingo on Thursday nights which is fun. You can win gift certificates to the Boar. They have pull tabs with the elusive $3 bucket...a nice bridge between the budget conscious $1 buckets and the bigger spender $5 buckets. They have darts and pool tables in the back which have functioned when I've used them. The clientele can be....interesting....but they have always been nice. A-OK in my book.
(3)
Kelsey P.
This place has good food. Bar food, yes. But really good bar food. We went for beer and burgers (#merica). And there were some intense burger flavors. There was a spicy jalapeño one (my personal choice), a Mac and cheese one (my boyfriend's), and a breakfast one! This, of course, being in addition to the rest of the more traditional burgers. And there was more than creativity on their side - the food was actually cooked well too! Greasy but not to greasy, my medium was actually medium, etc. One thing of note, when we were there it was bingo night, which, meh. Whatever. But their bingo machine (I don't know what it's called- the thing they pull the numbers from) was SO LOUD. It sounded like someone dumping box after box after box of silverware down a flight of stairs.
(4)
Jake S.
I wasn't very impressed with the food or service. A friend and I stopped in to watch some NCAA ball and have some grub and beers while we did so. I ordered a Nordeast and my friend asked for a Coors. Simple, right? The waitress, who seemed a bit disinterested in being there, had it for a second, but right as she's walking away then asks, "You said Michelob, right?" I shouldn't be so judgemental on such a relatively minor thing as that, but it was a component of her lackadaisical demeanor that became more evident over the course of the meal. The beers came a few minutes later and we then ordered some cheese curds for an app and I went for the steak sandwich, tots, and seasoned sour cream (I don't recall my friend's food choice). The space cadet needed it all repeated back again which, although great to ensure accuracy, sometimes annoys me. She stopped back a couple minutes later to say the cheese curds would be right up. They weren't. A short time later, someone from the kitchen brought out both of our meals, plus the aforementioned curds. From the cool temp and consistency of the cheese, it was apparent that the curds had been done quite a bit before the rest of our food and had just been sitting there losing their warmth. Bad move. You just can't do that with the curds, man. Regarding the rest of the meal, I found the sirloin steak sandwich to be odd in appearance; it looked like a chicken breast that had been dyed grey. Having eaten steak sandwiches in countless other establishments, I was expecting something more akin to the standard thinly sliced steak, not this TV dinner/school cafeteria looking weird thing. The flavor was alright with the onions, mushrooms, and Provolone, but it had a huge piece of impenetrable cartilage/fat in the middle that just added to the dissatisfaction of it all. Oh, well. Lesson learned. The cole slaw was nothing special, even after liberal doses of pepper and salt. I picture it being ladled out of a 5-gallon bucket back in the kitchen. The tots were tasty and made even better by the seasoned sour cream. The highlight of the meal, really. It's like going to watch your favorite sports team, expecting the star player to have the best game, and it ends up being a bench warmer that keeps the team from getting blown out. Sometimes that's just how the ball bounces. Overall, the food wasn't terribly offensive, but a bit off and not what was expected. The service was lackluster-- it wouldn't have offended us if our waitress had smiled once or twice. For my money, though, I'm not inclined to rush back or recommend it to anyone. I've been here for just drinks in the past and perhaps that's the best way to keep it.
(2)
Taylor W.
The Wild Boar has never failed us. If your in the mood for a beer and a burger, this is the place to go. Good atmosphere, lots of TVs and great service. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)
E T.
Hmmm, second attempt in " downtown" Hopkins for a quick beer and snack after a movie. Bad service, she knew nothing about their beer, baaaaddddd cream cheese wontons and weird locals hang out there. How can a bar have such a bad selection of taps? And with so few choices, how can the server know so little? Ok, if you are on the mood for a cheap beer and burger, but if you are a foodie in the slightest, move on.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Late Night Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Jacquie W.
If I wrote this review prior to them revising their menu, it would've been 5 stars. HOWEVER..... one of the most disappointing changes was that they no longer make their homemade tater tots. This was the best thing on their menu and our family's favorite. Also, I ordered a Cherry Limeade (adult version) which I've had several times in the past. This time it showed up as a watered down Tom Collins with no garnish. My Husband had the steak sandwich which was generous but the steak was poor quality. I'm sad, this was one of my favorite restaurants that we drive 45 minutes to eat at. The good drinks and good quality of their food was the draw. I don't know if they are trying to make cut backs but it sure seems that way. I will state, though, that the service is still excellent.
(2)Shawn S.
You will either love or hate Wild Boar. If you want free popcorn most of which ends up on the floor, great list of craft beers, loud atmosphere, high top tables, and decent live music with lots of beer being spilled by tipsy dancers - this one is for you. They are supremely busy on weekend nights so don't expect a customized experience - you will get lots of beer and food at a good price. The servers are busy so be patient and be READY when they come by, go at the pace of the place and you'll have a great time!
(4)Shaun J.
Went for lunch on a groupon. Had wings and a side salad. Salad was fresh and good. Wings were piping hot. I had honey chipotle which was ok but not my favorite. The kid had bbq which she enthusiastically endorsed. Service was good. Lunch seemed ok atmosphere for a teen and we sat by the window for extra light. Not sure if the atmosphere would work for a family for supper.
(3)Jim D.
We went to the Wild Boar for the first time with a Groupon for dinner (burgers/sandwiches/one beverage) for 4. We all had sandwiches or burgers, plus the various incarnations of potatoes, waffle fries, tater tots, etc. The burgers were excellent, juicy and done exactly as we requested, in my case medium. The potato options were also great! I had tater tots, spectacular. I will definitely go there again! The prices were also reasonable for really good burgers. Keep in mind, I'm a bit picky. I eat anything and everything, but this place impressed me, hence, the Yelp review. Enjoy!!
(5)Niki N.
Husband and I have been looking for a reasonable bar with big screen TVs and decent food, boy were we thrilled here. We walked right in and nabbed two seats at the bar and asked the bartender to find the Gopher Hockey game. She quickly got us our drinks and had the game turned on for us. Our requests for menus was quickly filled. It was crazy busy but she was friendly and quick to take our orders, even chatted a little bit even though she was serving a big bar! I ordered the Mushroom Swiss Burger (mid rare) with Sweet Potato Fries (yum), hubs had the Early Bird Burger (medium) with Tots. We had a great spot to watch hockey and chatty characters on all sides. Our food came in less than ten minutes and our burgers were delicious and done perfectly to order. If only Eden Prairie had something similar!
(4)Don O.
Fantastic food. Nice lication with lots of free parking. The burgers are phenomenal. If you're really really hungry try the Piggy, but its better split with 2-3 people. Huge burger with pulled pork and bacon and a side of chili fries. If you finish everything by yourself to get a t-shirt. Even a man of my hunger could not conquer this beast but it sure as hell was fun trying. I plan on having my birthday dinner at this fine establishment
(5)Jasmine B.
The Boar is a good place. Location is great, central to all the shops of Downtown Hopkins and right next to a large parking ramp (which is essential in the winter as Hopkins does a pretty terrible job of plowing). They have a back entrance from the parking ramp and front entrance from Mainstreet; both entrances have no signage or greeting, but it is a 'seat yourself' place. Their food is fine, its bar food after all, nothing spectacular. Their sweet potato fries are pretty darn good though. They typically have some pretty amazing drink specials during happy hour. $2 you-call-its, can't complain. The staff is knowledgeable, and mostly polite, but I have never had fast service here - hence 3 stars instead of 4 stars. I think they just might be understaffed, but regardless, its annoying when you need a refill, or want your check, and your server is nowhere to be found. Meat Raffle and Bingo nights here are a big deal, the place is always packed. There seem to be a lot of freeloaders during bingo - its free to play - and people take bigger tables than they need, but it really is a lot of fun to play. They have pulltabs for you gamblers (like me), a crane game with live lobsters, a skeetball game where you can win beers, and free popcorn for you freeloaders. One fun thing about the Boar - they always have some sort of activity or fun theme night happening - and you can win prizes for the best costume.
(3)JR R.
My 2 stars may have been 3 or 4, had we not encountered a crabby employee during our last visit... Our server (Ashley) approached us at the recently vacated table we chose, and she seemed genuinely miffed that we had the nerve to sit there at all. (There was no "wait to be seated" sign anywhere.) She cleared the plates left by the previous customers, but never offered to wipe down the table surface...which was pretty gross. She was short with us, and obviously irritated by something - which she exhibited in every encounter she had with us. When I ordered my beverage, it came without a straw, and I really didn't want to ask her for one, fearing I'd get spit - or worse - delivered with my entree. My husband and I tried to maintain a courteous tone (despite her mood), and her attitude seemed to improve the longer we stayed, but by then the damage was done. Other than poor service, our food was just as we expected...nothing special, but with a bar-food-based menu, we weren't expecting much. I ordered one of the chicken sandwiches, with cheese, tomato and lettuce. I forgot they are served on an onion bun - which I'm not fond of - so ended up eating the sandwich without the bun. (No harm done; fewer carbs, right?) I've also had the fried pickles in the past, and they were decent, from what I remember.
(2)Scott E.
Big Wild hockey fans and enjoy checking out different sports bars. We had a 2-4-1 coupon and decided to check the place out. Parking was easy in a large free public parking lot next to the building. For a Saturday it was busy. Big screens everywhere. Waiter was friendly. Grain Belt beer. Ordered the Sassy Sow with sweet potato fries and the burger with bbq ham and sunny side up egg. This burger came with mashed potatoes and coleslaw. The sandwiches were good. Not memorable. The coleslaw was one of the best I have had in years. The sweet potato fries were excellent. Crowd was thirty something. We had an issue with the burger and the sever had it fixed quickly. Very impressed. At the end of the day we asked ourselves if we would go back, and the answer was probably not. No real reason, just how we felt. We prefer our other places.
(3)Jeff C.
The staff is more concerned about what. Everyone did the night before rather than wait on people. On a positive note the food was good and the service was good once I got someone's attention.
(3)Jeannie E.
Came here with the boyfriend's family. He and I ordered iced teas, mom a Mike's Hard Lemonade and the rest ordered beers. Waiter comes back and informs us there are no Mike's left and they're out of iced tea. Well, he could make the iced tea, he whined, but it would take eight minutes. Forget it, didn't want to put him out since he sounded like it would have inconvenienced him. Went ahead and ordered our food. Boyfriend orders a bison bugler. Oh wait, they're out of those, too! Everyone else orders their stuff, me, a chicken sandwich with tater tots. Boyfriend orders nothing since he already struck out twice with the iced tea and bison burger. (Don't worry, he didn't starve, he ate half my food). 45 minutes later the food finally comes (Approximately 6 pitchers of tea could have been made by then!). The tater tots I ordered were nowhere to be seen. "I'll bring those out" when I inquired about them. 10 minutes later still no tots! The next time the waiter came by I told him to make sure they weren't on the check because I no longer wanted them. So guess what's on the check? No, not the tater tots but the Mike's they were out of and two iced teas! Talk about shitty, shitty service! We wished we could have just tipped the cook since the food was decent but the waiter sucked ass. Definitely won't be coming back here.
(1)Bubs M.
Wild Boar is the best bar in Hopkins. They recently updated their menu, and now has some of the best food on main street. Especially the delicious Mac Attack (Cheese Burger with Mac and Cheese on it. High calorie heaven.) All the bartenders are super nice and fun to come hang out with. Except Mike, he drinks Miller Lite. Come on Mike, you're killing me.
(5)Solomon N.
Good food and atmosphere.. Try the tots n sassy sow.. The food just bursts in flavour.. Not sure of dancing though but drinks are reasonably priced
(4)Alex H.
I have been to this place a couple times to hang with friends and watch sports. I must say this place sucks. The servers are incompetent and rude. The food is just bland. I feel like a outsider among regulars. The people are who are regulars here are just idiots. Service is bad a lot of the people working, are on there cellphones. If your going to order food you gonna wait while they have a smoke or finish talking on there cellphones. STAY the F AWAY! A lot better sports places are out there. To watch games and enjoy the atmosphere.
(1)Will C.
Fun dive bar with pool tables, darts, pull tabs , arcade games, and live music. This place is great! We like going after work for happy hours to shoot pool and drink beer.
(4)Heather H.
Great place. The service is awesome. I'll be honest, every once in a while you feel a server getting overwhelmed since its always so busy, but 95% of the time, service is outstanding!!! Whenever possible, sit in Kasie or Kaitlins section! You'll have exceptional service! The food is really good... my only complaint is they took away the Bison Burger. Supposedly it wasn't a big seller. Pull tabs, darts, pool and free bingo twice a week! Fun times! Best part, a good draw of people, and you feel safe there.
(5)Derek S.
I found a groupon for this place and thought it would be fun to try out. I was really surprised at how good the food was given that it's a pretty straightforward sports bar. The waiter was attentive and polite and we got our food promptly. The overall ambiance was a little too casual for my taste, but that's just me. I'd recommend the pulled pork sandwich for sure.
(4)Sarah H.
This is a great place for a happy hour. The happy hour prices are good, both for the drinks and for the food. It's a sports bar, full of TVs, skee ball, Buck Hunter, meat raffles, and bingo. The staff is nice, but not particularly efficient or consistent. Sometimes I have had wonderful service, sometimes I have had terrible service.
(3)Mason L.
I hate to be trite, but if I could have given this joke of a "restaurant" ZERO stars (or negative stars), I would have! I am surprised that the City of Hopkins hasn't shut this place down for health code violations. The restaurant floors were filthy, but I can handle dirty floors. However, I cannot handle dirty tables, silverware, plates and glasses at a restaurant. And, to make matters worse, when the food runner (who was not the waiter) delivered our food with dirty hands and fingernails, it was enough to cause my party to leave without eating or paying, especially when the runner's disgusting claws were actually on our plates, and clearly touching some of the food. When I brought the issues up to the waiter, she was dismissive and acted as if I was being petty. Her lousy attitude made it easy to leave without paying (or eating) and skipping the logical, "can I speak to a manger" step. I didn't want to speak to a manager. I didn't want the obligatory "I'm so sorry" routine and I certainly did not want an offer of "the meal's on me" or the "next meal is on the house." I wanted NO meal from this lousy dive (actually, this place gives a bad name to dives). I wanted to run far and fast, never to return. If the front of the house is this disgusting, I can only imagine what the back of the house looks like. Sends shivers up my spine even now. I ordered a turkey burger, not a turkey burger with a side of dirty hands and long, dirty fingernails. One would think cleanliness for the the food runners would be the bare bones basics of any restaurant (dare I call this place a restaurant?!?!?!), but I guess I am very, very mistaken.
(1)Mike B.
Lunch tasted good and service was good, but the food gave me GI issues within 3 hrs. That's never a good thing. May go back for a beer, but not touching any grub there again...
(1)Toni S.
I don't even know if 1 star is deserved to be honest but here ya go. We have been to this establishment 3 times now since relocating to Hopkins. All visits were terrible!! The service is horrible. We waited 10 minutes for a drink and another 20 to even order food at the bar. The bar tender just kept walking past us and we finally had to blurt out that we wanted to order. Meanwhile another unsatisfied customer came up to the bar and yelled out loud for everyone to hear that he had been waiting 15 minutes and wasn't even approached by an employee. He ended up leaving which is what we should have done. Anyway, we finally got food. My wings were cold and obviously had been sitting there while my friend's meal was prepared. Then it took about another 15 minutes to get the bartenders attention so we could pay and leave. The short-haired blonde at the bar finally came to our rescue so we only tried tipping her. Save your money and spend it at an establishment that values your service because if you're not a regular townie, they don't care about you!
(1)Suzanne G.
What a disappointment! I waited way too long for a server to approach my table. I ordered coconut shrimp appetizer and 1/2 rack of ribs. It took VERY long time to get my appetizer. It seemed as though the shrimp were left in the fryer too long as they were way too brown and the coconut burned. When my entree arrived, the 1/2 slab was served whole. I asked the server to have the cook cut up the ribs. The ribs were dry. The coleslaw had absolutely no flavor. It would have benefited from some salt and pepper and vinegar and sugar. The mashed potatoes were homemade but served barely lukewarm. The ice cold butter took almost umtil I was done eating before it melted. All in all a very poor meal. I will not be back.
(1)Theresa D.
I found this place when I purchased a groupon. The crowd seems to be a variety of old, young and everything in between. Had a really nice waitress both times I was here. I love, love the chicken dip! It's the only thing I have had here and it was amazing! Will for sure be going back!!
(4)Mike W.
Left to find a bar that would play the final 4 game with sound on the screen. They said they would keep playing juck box music. Had 8 other people meeting for game and food here and to hear the game was nuts. The bar tender and others at the bar had no idea how to change sound system and really could care less. Went to Scoreboard instead and others people at the bar left too. Called people and told the to meet at Scoreboard for game and food.
(1)Taylor B.
This place is great! Saturday they have all you can eat fajitas that are amazing! Great happy hour prices, friendly bar staff! This is our weekly stop for Friday or Saturday evening fun!
(4)Matt G.
I would call this place a middle of the road type bar. Nothing great, yet nothing terrible. Service is decent and drink prices are reasonable. Plenty of TV's, a pool table, and some bar games to keep you occupied. Kind of disappointed the kitchen closes at 10 but you can still get 10 inch pizzas for $5.
(3)Jason K.
4 stars for a bar. It is probably a 3.5, but I love the really eclectic menu for a bar and everything I had was super good. We entered through the back and they had some free popcorn if you desired. I ordered a tall Summit Saga IPA (One of Summit's finest IMHO) I was amazed at how many great options there were on the menu. My wife and I had a $20 Groupon and our waitress was super awesome. She had a great attitude, checked on the beer often and was just overall fantastic. I couldn't decide if I wanted a pizza, pulled pork sandwich, buffalo chicken sandwich, or the atomic chicken sandwich. I went with the atomic chicken sandwich with a side salad subbed for the fries. Our server said "No problem" Love it! My wife got a side salad, since she said she wasn't that hungry. The chicken sandwich came out quickly and the side salads were really good size. Lots of cucumbers and quality lettuce. Always a good sign that a restaurant cares about the food it serves. The chicken was plump and juicy with the spicy BBQ sauce. Just amazing! A kind of Hawaiian bun adorned the spicy chicken. I thought every bite was perfect. After tip and Groupon I think the whole bill was an additional $10 after the Groupon. Cool bar with lots of TVs for us to watch some college football.
(4)Marilyn T.
Good atmosphere! Yea a little pricy. Very friendly staff!! Though we ordered a flat bread pizza. Suppose to get mozzarella cheese with it. Not! Also they assumed we wanted the draft beer when we wanted a bottle beer their mistake but We got charged for it.
(3)Zachary F.
Complete dive bar. My appetizer, fried pickles was served with some of the most watered down Ranch dressing I have ever had. My fiancé got the veggie burger, it was an undercooked bocca burger Patty. My walleye dinner, which was priced at $15 contained a flavorless filet that was not hot, over cooked and dry. All of the moisture that left my filet was soaked up by my fries, making them all mushy. The fries should have there own plate to prevent this from happening. This meal should not have cost over $8. The service was OK, and the general atmosphere of the place was casual. I recommend that the wild bore remove the walleye from there menu, and try something else.
(1)Evik J.
I've been to the Wild Boar quite a few times. They never fail to disappoint me. Either the service is slow, or it is bad, or it is both. The prices and food aren't bad, but certainly aren't special. Once, I ordered a "dirty gin martini". I asked for Hendrick's gin. The waitress took my order and came back in five minutes and told me they didn't have Hendrick's gin. I said a rail gin would be fine. She came back five minutes later and said they were out of any gin. I said fine, make it a dirty vodka martini, any rail vodka. She came back and said they were out of olives. Uncool. The only reason I ever go there is to remind myself what poor service is.
(1)Andrew C.
This is a great local restaurant with some really great food! My personal favorite is wing night on Wednesdays. They have some amazing wings with some crazy good sauces. I personally like the garlic ranch dry rub wings. Just a burst of flavor with a crispy, bread less wing
(5)Jessica K.
I am really torn on this place. Some things were great, others were nothing to get excited about. My parents and BF went here after the movers finished (the BF and I weren't quite ready to get into the boxes and unpacking fun). Originally my dad wanted to do white castle, but I was able to convince him to find a different alternative. None of us had been here before so we decided this would be a good option. We came in through the back entrance (this was about 6 or 7pm) walked to the front and discovered that it was a seat yourself place. I have never been a fan of that so i was little annoyed. Fortunately there was ample space to seated (I just always wonder how clean it is). They had free popcorn, but the downside was the containers were only the size to have 2 handfuls of popcorn in, which was strange and annoying when you had 4 starving people. We ordered our drinks and the selection was good and the prices were great. We went on to order the fried pickles based off a tip on foursquare. They were delightful! The batter and pickles were great for fried pickles, but they lost points with the fact that the ranch was watery. Next onto ordering and how it was: Dad: Fried bologna sandwich-He loved it, the waiter even said it was his favorite sandwich. I think it all depends on if you are into that type of thing. Mom: Mushroom and swiss burger-she liked it and finished the whole thing, i assume that is a good sign. BF: Ordered the early bird burger but substituted the beef for chicken. I took a bite and it was great. The fried egg was perfectly. He did try substituting the tater tots which were actually pretty good (maybe even better than the standard fries). Me: I ordered the Ranch Hand burger, and was left underwhelmed. The burger was a little over done from what i ordered, but it was THICK. The bacon was crispy, the bun was decent, but it was supposed to come with peppercorn ranch, i could see a light white coating , but it was gone...guess it was more of that watery ranch that I was disappointed with before. SERIOUSLY! Thicken your ranch, don't water it down! The prices were good, the service was mediocre at best. All in all everyone was ok with their meals. Not something that I would put on a must visit list, but if i were looking for dinner and a movie (hopkins theater is across the street) I would consider coming back.
(2)Zachary S.
Great local hang. Good menu and plenty of options. Staff in general seems friendly and on top of things. Prices are good, Happy Hour pricing is great. Lots of TVs around the restaurant for easy viewing of any sporting events. Stage and dance floor in the back. TIP: Look for their Groupon to come through once in a while. Makes for a great/inexpensive meal!
(4)John I.
I really enjoy this place. I ordered a steak which was cooked perfectly rare they way I asked for it. The potatoes were great as well. I've also had their BBQ which was tasty as well. The service has been great everytime I have been there. It's nice to enjoy a spot with some nightlife outside of the city. I'll be back.
(5)Melissa R.
This is where my boyfriend and I go to eat, drink and hang out with our friends. When we have eaten here we have always had a pretty good experience. The food is definitely much better than across the street at big 10 and the tavern who only serves pizza and deep fried bar food. The drinks are strong at the boar and the bartenders know us by name and are friendly and fast. On the weekends things get a little different.get regulars there of course, music is pretty good with a dj on Fridays, atmosphere is fun. There used to be pretty good space for dancing but it's now limited. Bathrooms are always gross...for years they haven't fixed the bathroom doors in the woman's bathroom (1 out if 3 actually lock) and are always unclean. I guess if you are drunk it doesn't matter. Overall...food is good, staff is nice and its a decent place to party. We go there because it's 6 blocks away and we can walkthere.
(3)Courtney B.
We tried the Wild Boar last Thursday night with another couple. The place was packed (they were playing bar bingo) and no one took the time to greet us. You apparently seat yourself, although there were no signs indicating that. We almost walked out after a few minutes of walking around, but then a waitress grabbed us and said that they had a table open in the back. It was right next to the kitchen, meaning I had a great view in there (not a pleasant view). The booth was disgusting, table was wobbly and there was a hammer laying in it?! Service was pretty lousy, my beer had a rotten lemon in it and the food was average bar food at best. Will not go again, very disappointed!
(1)John A.
Sports bar that offers sports on flat screen TV's, cold beer, mixed drinks, and bar food. Its a recipe that is pretty hard to get wrong. Lots of bar space, plenty of seating, and ramp parking right out the back door. Don't get dressed up to go to this place, sweat pants are OK.
(3)Tiffany L.
This place was a complete disappointment I had a crowdcut that I had bought for dinner and almost forgot about until I got a reminder email when we got there it was a bar and grill like the title said but you seat yourself and the service wasn't so great. The food was nothing special I had ordered the chili and meatloaf because that's what they had listed as their specialty trust me nothing special and the burger my boyfriend got was good but since I live more than a half hour drive away I rather just stop by one of my local joints instead of taking a road trip out to eat a Wild Boar again.
(2)Sammy S.
I frequent the Wild Boar mainly because it's my boyfriend's softball sponsor, however they do have some great bar food on the menu. Nachos are awesome, Saucy Sows are scrumptious (bbq pork sandwiches), and don't forget about the Frickles (Fried Pickles - come on people)! Their all-you-can-eat ribs is a really good deal, and the ribs are really good too. Standard bar prices, OK selection of beer. This is no top-notch eatery, however Wild Boar is perfect if you're in the suberbs looking for bar food and lots of TVs to watch some sports on.
(3)Brent B.
Despite my early review this place hasn't kept up with its original promise. It seems as if it is getting a hard start at gaining momentum without a shtick. Lunchtime is barren whereas during any event or happy hour it's packed with bargain shoppers. Food hasn't become a focus sadly...
(2)Amber E.
Being as I live a very short distance from this place, I thought it might be nice to have a neighborhood watering hole to patron once in awhile. This will not be that place. It's a typical dive as far as atmosphere goes. Service was slow, not very knowledgeable of what drinks their bartenders make particularly well, and rather inattentive. The fried pickle chips were decent. The mixed drinks were alright. Nothing special. The place looks like it needs a good wash down, from top to bottom. The booth I sat in had a sticky tabletop and a similarly sticky seat. Kinda engaged by gag reflex a bit. Late in the evening a DJ will treat you to the best of the worst of the 90's bump and grind songs. So loud, you'll have trouble hearing yourself think, never mind what the person sitting across from you is saying.
(1)Ben R.
Divey and definitely a regular's bar...you feel like everyone in here knows everyone else, except for you. It's a decent place in the western burbs to go drink and it's definitely where the non-geriatrics in Hopkins will assemble on weekends. That being said, I keep feeling like it's not the same as it was a few years ago, can't quite put my finger on it. It gets very shady and tenebrous on weekend nights.
(2)Ingrid Z.
I'm a Hopkins resident and came here for the first time last Saturday for the "Girls on the Town" event. Bingo was one of the events scheduled at 3 p.m. Not knowing any better, I thought it was just for our event. Wrong! It was packed and loud and definitely more bar than restaurant. People had kids there but it was not very kid-friendly. They were supposed to have planned for the GOTT event but obviously did not. Apparently they have bingo every Saturday at this time. When you walk in the front door, you are not greeted. You have to squeeze your way to the back to get the bingo cards and markers. No one tells you what the rules are or how this works. There was nowhere to sit and we ended up sitting on the floor. The woman calling bingo is rude and snotty and gives you a dirty look if you ask for clarification. They assume that everyone has played bingo at this specific location for years and no one new ever comes. Well don't worry, we won't be back! Also, apparently they do a drawing for meat, but when they were calling the numbers we had no idea what they were doing. The numbers were called at a quick speed, which makes it less boring, but the announcement before the game as to which type of bingo it is is about impossible to hear without the bar noise. Also, the specific rules (like you have to get blackout before 55 numbers are called) are also not explained, just assumed you know. Well don't worry, between the lack of somewhere to sit, the rude service, the poor atmosphere, the cigarette smoke wafting into the back, nothing to wipe your bingo card off with, etc., we will NOT be back. I really hope GOTT does not support this business in the future. If Hopkins is looking to make downtown like West End or Excelsior and Grand, this place needs to be the first to go. It's an embarrassment.
(1)Ben K.
Wild Boar has really gone down hill over the last six months. We used to come down here almost every Friday after work for the tail end of happy hour. Half price apps, $4 tall EPAs. The last time we went, in early October, the burgers were disgusting. They were pre-formed, obviously frozen patties. Despite me asking for mine mid-rare, it was cooked to the consistency of a hockey puck. Fiancee's burger was no better. We complained; they gave us the burgers for free and made us still pay for the apps and the beer. When you serve disgusting food to regular customers and they're upset, you really should comp the entire ticket. The apps are still good. The cheese curds are nice. The burgers used to be hand-formed with what tasted like fresh beef, but clearly that is no longer the case. The menu changed slightly about six months ago and that's when the quality started going down. This last trip about a month ago was the straw that broke the camel's back, and we probably won't be back. It's a shame, because it used to be a pretty reliable spot. Two stars, because I'm hoping the management reads this and gets their head out of their ass and back to the way things used to be. If you can't make it for happy hour, I'd probably find somewhere else to eat.
(2)Alexis A.
My first two experiences here were no more than two star due to terrible service, AND both times being out of wings....which I am yet to try, but want to. The third stop was average. I wised up by then, and just sat at the bar. Yesterday we got great service and that along with free peanuts made me a fan. The only food I've had so far is the State Fare Cheese curds, which were ok. It's a good spot for a drink before or after a movie. I'll take it over Big 10.
(3)Ross M.
i come here because they are: 1) close 2) affordable 3) support local charities and groups 4) reliable and good service
(3)Matthew M.
Was having some general maintenance done on my car, so I decided to walk down Mainstreet Hopkins. Saw the sign promoting the $5 burger on Mondays, so I decided I would try since the wait for the car was going to be a while. First impression was "What does this place want to be?" a local small hole in the wall, or big and busy. I got there for happy hour, so I started out with a pint of beer. I asked the server what they had on tap and he named a few and then had to look at the bar to see what he missed. I think he missed about 6 of the 12 or so. I asked about the burger special and he told me that it was just a plain burger with fries. You had to pay for add ons like cheese, lettuce, bacon, etc. I should of known then what I was getting myself into. I decided to add cheese (which was .50), since he didn't know how much every add on was. I didn't want a $5 burger to turn into $$. It didn't take too long for the cheeseburger to come out and after looking at it I understood why. It simply is a frozen patty with no seasoning on it. My best guess is maybe a 1/4 pound at best. When the sever came in to check how everything was I told him that I knew why it was a $5 burger. He chuckled and said yea I usually have to load up on barbecue sauce to make it somewhat good. Guess I should have checked reviews before going. Would maybe stop for a drink, but there are plenty of other options on Mainstreet.
(2)Curt L.
Found myself Hopkins MN.............How did I get here? Anyway found myself at Wild Boar....How did I get here? I enjoyed a pretty good walleye sandwich with lettuce and tartar sauce on a heavily buttered & grilled bread. Ordered it based on memory....Ice fishing memories. I remember pulling walleye right thru the ice and flopping them right into the skillet (I only watched as I was a kid then). Tasty then and tasty now. I did enjoy the peanuts in the shell....complimenary as they should be. Not many people there as we were there at early lunch time. I most likely will never be here again..not because it was bad (it was not) but because I will most likely never be in Hopkins again.
(3)Chad M.
It's a local bar, no doubt. It's affordable, the people and staff are nice, and the music is diverse. I love this place
(5)Jon L.
The service was slow due to drastic under staffing. It took at least an hour and a half to get in and out. The steak I ordered had three "flaps" to it and looked as if it had come out of a butcher's garbage bin just before it was recycled as dog food. The potatoes had obviously been sitting in a heating pot all day as they had a yellow, crusty side to them. My girlfriend's walleye sandwich was a piece of walleye with some wilted lettuce on two pieces of bread that were soggy on one side and dried out on the other from sitting under a heat lamp for at least 15 minutes. And don't get me started on the sorry state of the chicken cheese dip. I don't understand why the management is trying to cut all these corners, not only is the Wild Boar on a main drag, but it's right across the street from a theater guaranteeing it steady business. I begin to wonder if anyone in charge of that place really cares whether it's in business a year from now or not. They certainly don't care about the food or service.
(1)Who I.
Well, don't worry about eating too much at the all you can eat fish fry. Don't get me wrong, the fish is quite succulent, coated with a light, tasty batter, accompanied by a small side of singularly good coleslaw, crispy fries, tartar sauce and a lemon wedge. The first plate came with two fingers of fish. Forty five minutes later, twenty after flagging down a completely different waiter, I got another single finger of fish. Giving up at that point, I asked for the tab, only waiting another twenty minutes before flagging down another different waiter and asking if I could pay my tab at the bar, and having that waiter get my tab for me. I certainly did not eat all that I could, and maybe that's their goal. Mission accomplished, apparently.
(1)Dave W.
I went on a Monday night. I had been here once previously. My buddy raved about the pulled pork sandwich he ordered. I had a rack of ribs. The ribs were fine... but nothing special. Tonight was going to be my night to try the pulled pork sandwich. They were out of pork. That's right, they were out of a signature sandwich. They were also out of ribs, walleye sandwiches and chicken wings. I don't know what was going on in Hopkins this past weekend, but how do you run out of your signature items on a Monday? That's embarrassing. I had a burger. It's no bargain, but it's good. I also had all-you-can-eat chili, a Monday night special. It's not worth the trouble. Just get a bowl for $5. I liked the chicken chili better than the beef chili. The beef chili was basically the chicken chili with beef in it. Weird. Good service. Pints of beer were overpriced. I can't say it is a bad place, but I'm hesitant to go back. I don't know what I'm going to be able to order when I walk in the door. They might be out of freedom fries, sweet potato fries and tater tots. The menu they have online is out of date already. They have a few unadvertised specials each month, as best as I can tell. Some of those might have changed since this summer, too.
(3)Greg W.
Sports bar atmosphere. Walleye fingers were good, Teriyaki -chili chicken wings were delicious. Was looking forward to trying the boneless pork chop on their online menu, but when we got there they said they no longer offered it. Service was rather slow, epecially considering there was few people there when we arrived.
(3)Mark J.
Since I've moved to the neighborhood I've been to the Boar a few times now and I think I can write an informative review. To start, the tap selection is not that great. A couple local offerings but then domestics. The few times I've had food, it's been nothing to write home about. The service has been good and no complaints there. The bathrooms seem to be in a constant state of remodeling or just rundown. They are currently in a remodeling phase. There is a convenient parking garage right behind the Boar. They have free bingo on Thursday nights which is fun. You can win gift certificates to the Boar. They have pull tabs with the elusive $3 bucket...a nice bridge between the budget conscious $1 buckets and the bigger spender $5 buckets. They have darts and pool tables in the back which have functioned when I've used them. The clientele can be....interesting....but they have always been nice. A-OK in my book.
(3)Kelsey P.
This place has good food. Bar food, yes. But really good bar food. We went for beer and burgers (#merica). And there were some intense burger flavors. There was a spicy jalapeño one (my personal choice), a Mac and cheese one (my boyfriend's), and a breakfast one! This, of course, being in addition to the rest of the more traditional burgers. And there was more than creativity on their side - the food was actually cooked well too! Greasy but not to greasy, my medium was actually medium, etc. One thing of note, when we were there it was bingo night, which, meh. Whatever. But their bingo machine (I don't know what it's called- the thing they pull the numbers from) was SO LOUD. It sounded like someone dumping box after box after box of silverware down a flight of stairs.
(4)Jake S.
I wasn't very impressed with the food or service. A friend and I stopped in to watch some NCAA ball and have some grub and beers while we did so. I ordered a Nordeast and my friend asked for a Coors. Simple, right? The waitress, who seemed a bit disinterested in being there, had it for a second, but right as she's walking away then asks, "You said Michelob, right?" I shouldn't be so judgemental on such a relatively minor thing as that, but it was a component of her lackadaisical demeanor that became more evident over the course of the meal. The beers came a few minutes later and we then ordered some cheese curds for an app and I went for the steak sandwich, tots, and seasoned sour cream (I don't recall my friend's food choice). The space cadet needed it all repeated back again which, although great to ensure accuracy, sometimes annoys me. She stopped back a couple minutes later to say the cheese curds would be right up. They weren't. A short time later, someone from the kitchen brought out both of our meals, plus the aforementioned curds. From the cool temp and consistency of the cheese, it was apparent that the curds had been done quite a bit before the rest of our food and had just been sitting there losing their warmth. Bad move. You just can't do that with the curds, man. Regarding the rest of the meal, I found the sirloin steak sandwich to be odd in appearance; it looked like a chicken breast that had been dyed grey. Having eaten steak sandwiches in countless other establishments, I was expecting something more akin to the standard thinly sliced steak, not this TV dinner/school cafeteria looking weird thing. The flavor was alright with the onions, mushrooms, and Provolone, but it had a huge piece of impenetrable cartilage/fat in the middle that just added to the dissatisfaction of it all. Oh, well. Lesson learned. The cole slaw was nothing special, even after liberal doses of pepper and salt. I picture it being ladled out of a 5-gallon bucket back in the kitchen. The tots were tasty and made even better by the seasoned sour cream. The highlight of the meal, really. It's like going to watch your favorite sports team, expecting the star player to have the best game, and it ends up being a bench warmer that keeps the team from getting blown out. Sometimes that's just how the ball bounces. Overall, the food wasn't terribly offensive, but a bit off and not what was expected. The service was lackluster-- it wouldn't have offended us if our waitress had smiled once or twice. For my money, though, I'm not inclined to rush back or recommend it to anyone. I've been here for just drinks in the past and perhaps that's the best way to keep it.
(2)Taylor W.
The Wild Boar has never failed us. If your in the mood for a beer and a burger, this is the place to go. Good atmosphere, lots of TVs and great service. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone.
(5)E T.
Hmmm, second attempt in " downtown" Hopkins for a quick beer and snack after a movie. Bad service, she knew nothing about their beer, baaaaddddd cream cheese wontons and weird locals hang out there. How can a bar have such a bad selection of taps? And with so few choices, how can the server know so little? Ok, if you are on the mood for a cheap beer and burger, but if you are a foodie in the slightest, move on.
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