Very good food. Not too kid friendly but the staff was helpful. I love the poop-overs and honey maple butter they give you to go with your main dish. We had the French dip, I don't usually eat much meat and I thought it was great. i also had the chicken dumpling soup it was fab. The desert is some of the best I have ever seen. Most of it is made in house. the carrot cake is a full pound in one slice, HUGE. Its not cheap but not overly pricey. One old-school thing they do is serve chips and hard boiled eggs at the bar. This is something my grandpa always told me about. I talked to the manager about it and she thought they were one of they only places left in MN that serves hardboiled eggs at the bar the same way most serve pretzels. The atmosphere was great, very nice staff and the food was interesting and good . I will go there again. MAybe not with the the kiddos =)
(4)
Mike M.
Axel's in Mendota is top notch. Great steak, great wine, and impeccable service. This is a place I would take someone if I wanted to impress them.
(5)
Barbara S.
I have to agree with Jode D. We don't go here anymore either. And, I feel bad because our whole family used to love this place and started dining there over fifteen years ago. It was our go-to place for lunches, dinners and special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. And, we liked it so much that we went there several times even after the food became sub-par. During our last and final visit, we gave it one more try and ordered the onion ring appetizer. The waitress assured us they would be delicious, but the gigantic greasy rings were so coated with a salty breading that you could barely find the onion. We each had an onion ring (one ring was a meal in itself) and left the rest on the plate. The waitress asked if there was something wrong and when we told her that we didn't care for the dish, she argued with us and told us that it was one of their signature appetizers. Our experience with this particular waitress is an exception though, because the service in the past has always been very good. I believe there was a change of management over the years and that may have had something to do with the decline of the quality of the food. I would also encourage "the restaurant to live up to the standards they once had." I'd love to be a regular again.
(1)
Clark K.
As good as it gets. Popovers are the best, especially the maple butter. Pan fried walleye is the besy in the Twin Cities. My 15 year is stuck on the three pepper scallops and lobster ravioli. The brunches are first class. The service is "Oceanaire" like.
(5)
Adam W.
Let's not forget the happy hour experience, which comes around twice a day, every day. Half price apps, drink specials (try the bloody mary with blue cheese stuffed olives), house made potato chips on the bar...what could be wrong with these things? Answer: nothing at all. Note further that Axels is right off the Big Rivers Regional Bike Trail, and withing walking distance of historic Mendota village and Pike Island Park.
(4)
Annie P.
Going to up my last review by a star based on last night's great experience. We were long time customers of Parker House, now Axel's. When they sold out and went Corp. things did change. Food was hit or miss, some ingredients were definitely frozen, processed crap. Service has always been exceptional though, I will give them that. Last night we decided to give it another shot. We were seated by a very chatty, old host who thoroughly enjoyed listening to himself talk :) In an enjoyable way, of course. Our server Tricia, who has been there a long time, was very generous with beer samples and super helpful with menu choices. She made sure we always had a fresh beer without ever having to rubber neck and full glasses of water, I love that! My bulls bites were tender, nicely spiced with a cajun salt. Husband's walleyes was very moist and large in portion, enough to take home for lunch today. Overall we had a very enjoyable dinner, enjoyed the old school charm of Axel's& excellent service. Definitely will be returning.
(4)
Dave A.
Food was bad steaks tasted spoiled they apologized and made us another steak to take home smelled spoiled again gave to dog it threw up and we spent 114 for food that was terrible the soup was not tasty the only thing we enjoyed was popovers . No more axels
(1)
Kimberly F.
The food is always spectacular--so at least they have that going for them. I've been to Axel's a few times and have never been dissapointed by their food or service. Unfortunately when I chose to sit outside last night, the mosquitoes were so terrible that they were offering bug spray for guests to spray outside. They notified us that they released a bug bomb to try to limit the mosquitoes but honestly--it was so terrible that they should have closed off the area. My other complaint was the service--it took us 2 hours to get appetizers and food because our server had so many customers outside. There was hardly any assistance from other servers either. And by the time we got out bill, it was wrong. I love the food but they've got to get their operations in order.
(2)
B M.
I was not a fan of my experience this weekend. I called earlier this week to get a reservation for 2 for Saturday around 5pm. The person I spoke with told me they couldn't take a reservation. I've only been to this Axel's many times for lunch and assumed they must not take reservations then. I also checked their website and open table and didn't not see anything about reservations. I stopped by on Saturday at 5pm with my out of town guest. We asked for a table for 2 and the host asked if I had a reservation. I told her I called and they told me they wouldn't take one. She said that they were booked (even though I saw MANY open tables) and we couldn't be seated until 7:30pm. Really a 2 1/2 hour wait? You are not that "hot" of a restaurant. She offered we sit at the bar or in the "lounge." My guest is pregnant and I do not drink so out of respect for the bartender we opted not to sit at the bar and not have alcohol beverages which I realize was our choice. That wasn't exactly the atmosphere I wanted. So we said we would sit in their lounge. I still laugh out loud when we were seated there. The table came up to my knees, the chair was practically on the floor and the tables were so crammed together you literally couldn't sit at a table without half your body on the table next to you. After sitting down and thinking how ridiculous this area is for actually sitting people to eat we got up and left. The table was about the size of a dinner plate. I'm not sure how we would have fit our food and beverages on it. It's clearly meant for people waiting for a table to just have drinks. They shouldn't even offer to sit dinner guests there. It was a pretty big disappointment that they literally would not seat us and claimed every single table was booked. Mind you we came in at 5pm which is not typically the prime time for reservations on a Saturday. Needless to say we were not impressed. I've been to Axel's many times for lunch because I work close and was so excited to take my guest to dinner. I guess if I ever try this place again I will demand a reservation now that I know they take them.
(1)
Josh G.
This place used to be soooo good, now the service is slow and all unattractive old women, popovers are cold wet and taste like a pancake, the food is horrendous, how about a fan and some air flow in your sweat box, what a dump
(1)
Tom L.
Came early on Friday without reservation and sat right Down. Service was good, we ordered soup (seafood chowder) the best I've ever Had by far. Our entree was the walleye , which was very good (not great) with green beans , that were fresh and good, and Alfredo potatoes, which were not good..for me anyway. And popovers , which are always a treat. All and all the meal was good but VERY EXPENSIVE. I'd go back but would not order the walleye for $27. I'd try a steak, or maybe just a bowl of soup and a popover.
(4)
Crystal S.
This review is based solely on brunch, but I will definitely try dinner and happy hour!! The brunch though; yum!!! I didn't know what a popover was, but wow, they were amazing!! Plus, 99 cent mimosas and a table you can color on! Great food, great service, and it was actually cheap. Our brunch bill came to about $30 for 2 people. Overall; awesome brunch, we will be back for more!
(5)
Amy C.
I've lived five miles away from this restaurant for eight years and only "discovered" it last month. Eight years, wasted! I was skeptical, because I'm not a fan of the other Axel's Bonfire locations. This location has a different feel and much better food, and has quickly jumped to one of my favorite restaurants. First...the popovers. Such a nice upgrade from the usual boring bread basket. And the maple butter? YUM! The Cajun Chicken soup is one of the best bowls of soup I've had in my life, and that's saying a lot. It's not too spicy (so as not to offend the delicate Minnesota palate, I'm sure) and the texture is like velvet. I'd cut someone for that recipe. Also delicious are the pastas. Enormous portions and the side dishes are just as generous. You cannot leave this place hungry. I groan in agony as they show the dessert platter. I've never saved enough room to indulge....and really, the popovers with maple butter are really a pre-dessert. Great service, private rooms and a pretty cool bar.
(5)
Brenda B.
Some day I'm going to get here in time for happy hour... Fantastic small plates and love the homemade bar chips, and the American steakhouse fare is top notch. Excellent bartenders can concoct whatever you desire - they made a lemon basil martini for us. Come for the ice cream drinks, best grasshopper in the TC, stay for the food.
(5)
Jode D.
For old times sake, I hate to give them a bad review, but we do not go here anymore. The service here was always fantastic, and I think that has kept up pretty well. I don't remember getting bad service. It's just that the quality of food has really declined. We liked this place so much that we went there several times after having the first bad experience. One off night turned into too many. The last time I was there was for a work function. The people on either side of me did not bother to finish their dish, or even come close. My steak was very sub-par and gave me gastric distress, to put it politely. Seems like they are getting great reviews, but I just wanted to add a note of caution and perhaps encouragement to the restaurant to live up to the standards they once had.
(2)
Joe P.
As everyone says the pop overs are fantastic! I kicked it old school with the Axel's Bourbon Old Fashioned and it was good. I've had plenty better but many many worse. I ventured out and went with the sea scallops with bacon planks. Highly NOT recommended, scallops were bland and the bacon over done. I went with the Alfredo? Potatoes. Try something else, the mashed were good (my dad had them with the prime rib) the Alfredo were so flavorless i didn't even get half way into them. My sister had the walleye and it was amazing! Of course that's what they're known for so I should have stuck to the basics. The service was fantastic we had a young gent with real short black hair and thankfully he was our server I couldn't help but listen in on the older lady who was serving behind us typical super club server who didn't have time for your questions. I'll definitely go back just stick to the prime rib and walleye. Cheers!
(3)
Jordan S.
The food was excellent, but the service wasn't. The server seemed awkward the whole time, which made me uncomfortable. He also brought not only our (mine and my dad's) soups and popovers out before my little brothers' (7 and 4) food, but also our entrees. Big no-no when dining with kids. There is no way we'll be able to enjoy our stuff with the kids hungry. Otherwise, the food was delicious. We both had the cajun chicken soup. It was creamy, garlicy, and a little spicy, and we both wanted more of that. The popovers with sweet butter were also excellent-doughy and soft. I could see myself going back there for some wine, the soup and the popovers. We also both had the walleye, per other Yelper's suggestion. I had high expectations, and it totally lived up to them! The fish was tender and flaky, and perfectly seasoned. My 7-year-old brother ate 1/3 of mine that I couldn't finish, and he loved it too! I generally liked the decor. My dad came in a tee shirt and jeans, and I in a blouse and jeans, and I didn't feel out of place. He did when he walked in, but partway through our meal a family in workout gear sat down nearby and he felt more appropriately dressed. It's a really fancy place, but they put paper on the table with crayons. Not something I'd expect from a place with such professional service. I thought the entrees were a little pricey (more than I'm used to spending), but worth it because the food was so good. I would definitely go back with some friends for drinks, split an entree, and get more of the delicious soup and popovers.
Love, love LOVE this place! Lunch or Dinner! The food here is amazing. Service is superb! I took my friend here for Valentine day. I messed up and made reservations on opentable, only to realize at The restaurant that I scheduled it at the wrong establishment. They bent over backwards, and accommodated us right away. What I thought was going to be a ruined night, Axel's saved for us. Love the location as well.
(5)
Susan M.
Really good and really authentically Minnesota. We're from out of town, and have not had the opportunity to visit the area before. Axel's seemed like a great place for local people to go and have a great meal. We got to sit outside, which I much prefer when possible. The interior was a bit dark and clubby for me, but it would probably feel great on a cold winter's night. We had steaks, and walleye bits and big glasses of red wine, all delicious. The server was friendly and prompt--all that you can ask for. Go! You'll like it!
(4)
Cindy R.
Amazing! That is all I have to say. Made a reservation through Yelp...and were seated a few minutes early. Great supper club feel that I remember from the 60's. Wonderful service. Our table tried a half order of onion rings as an appetizer. That was plenty for five of us!! They were huge and excellent! It was fun to watch my (adult) kids enjoy the popovers.Yum! Then for dinner...a couple ordered walleye, two split a bone in rib-eye steak and one had shrimp risotto. All were excellent. LOVED the green beans and mo'taters!! Over all wonderful experience from start to finish. We will definitely go back when we return to the Minneapolis area.
(5)
Nicholas D.
Very nice place with delicious food the steak was actually cooked to a perfect medium.
(4)
J J.
Outside looked a bit iffy but the dining area and bar were very classy. Food was better than average. Wait service was very good. Menu could be a bit more expansive. Prices very reasonable.
(4)
Timothy C.
The service was absolutely amazing. This was our first time at axels and she took her time explaining the menu and recommending different things. The food was just as amazing. Cooked exactly how we ordered it. Lastly was desert, they bring out a whole tray with all the deserts and let you pick from there, even stuff from dinner, the Bailey's chocolate cake was delicious. I would highly recommend this location for a good date night or just a simple night out.
We stopped back here yesterday for the first time in a LONG time. I had the Peppercorn Medallions and they were over the moon good! My hubby had the Shrimp Caprese and not only was it gorgeous in presentation - but delicious too! The service is still wonderful and the atmosphere is so comfortable. Not the best place to hit when you are watching your waistline - but what a treat!
(5)
Roll T.
Back in the day, when I used to fly all across the country, this was my favorite spot to go in the Minneapolis area for a nice serving of pan-fried Minnesota walleye. As one goes further and further away from the "civilization" of the Twin Cities, a rather rambunctious bar lies in tiny Mendota, MN. Indeed, it is often stated that the population within Axel's often doubles or even triples the population of this dot on the map. Of course, this should come as no surprise given its relative proximity to Minneapolis -- and, more importantly, it's simplistic yet undeniably masterful preparation of Minnesota walleye. The beauty of this place lies in the fact that the layman will simply assume that this restaurant is a slightly fancier version of your typical chain restaurant. Indeed, the menu reads like something you would find at your typical boring no-chances restaurant: southwestern egg rolls, bbq wrapped shrimp, spinach artichoke dip. The appetizer items that don't sound like they are straight off the Friday's menu don't seem amazingly appealing: buffalo chicken wontons, deep fried blue cheese stuffed shrimp, etc. My advice is to simply skip all the non-walleye menu items. They do some decent to very good things with pasta dishes, but it is the fish that is the reason you are here. The last time I came here I went with the land and lake, and I went to town on a perfectly light fillet of fish that melted in the mouth, bread crumbs not overpowering but complementing each morsel of fish. The land part of the order was a mistake; there is no reason to waste precious space on second-tier cattle when you have ample room for Axel's fish. Each entree comes with veggies (or a salad - I went with the salad) and potatoes. Both the buttermilk smashed and loaded baked potatoes are good. In any event, if you find yourself within driving distance of this moderately upscale restaurant bar, you should probably skip over the typical $30+ offerings and just head over to Axel's for what remains the best preparation of the walleye I have ever eaten.
(4)
Amber S.
Made reservation on opentable and got seated more than 5 minutes early which was nice. Had the fettuccine alfredo and the axels sandwich. Both were very good but not great. Service was also quite good but not great. The dessert zapoli donuts were actually rather gross and not sweet enough - I was expecting something like olive garden's zapoli. The parking lot was not big enough to accommodate a packed house which was a bit strange.
(4)
Tom L.
I have been to Axels about a half dozen or more times. I was introduced to Axels by a cousin who comes into town about every 3-6 months and always treats us to this restaurant. This place is extremely comfortable and the food is top notch. You cannot go wrong with a place that serves popover's as an appetizer. They are always good. Although they sometimes come a little on the well done side. I have yet to have a bad meal or experience here. Service is top notch and it is clear they want you to be comfortable and happy. I only detract one star for price. It is a bit on the expensive side but what do you expect for all around quality. I suggest you try it when you are looking for a good / great meal and you want to take a good step up from your local boring bar and grill.
(4)
Brian S.
Axel's is definitely a classic in itself. They definitely did a good job with the acoustics, making a wonderful place to to relax and have a conversation. I love the popovers that they give before your meal; they are hot, fresh, and buttery. The regular butter and especially the Cinnamon butter are wonderful accompaniments. I had the special which was fettuccine with buffalo shrimp and scallops in a blue cheese Alfredo cream sauce. The pasta was aldentae, the shrimp and scallops were succulent, the celery was fresh and crisp, and the sauce was rich and creamy with that blue cheesy goodness. The Cesar salad was wonderful with crisp greens, fresh croutons, mildly salty anchovies (which I had for the first time,) crumbles of rich Parmesan, and a dressing that was not overpowering. For dessert, the cranberry bread pudding a wonderful medley of fresh cranberries, firm bread pudding, Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Round it all off with a 24 oz Linkage's honey wise and you cannot go wrong. Nicole, our waitress, was very nice, attentive, knowledgeable, and answering any questions that we had. There is something for everyone (pastas, seafood, steaks, and chops.) So, for traditional American cuisine in a classic, relaxing atmosphere with friendly and knowledgeable service, Axel's cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.!
(5)
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Address :1318 Sibley Memorial Hwy
Mendota, MN, 55150
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Gabriel S.
Very good food. Not too kid friendly but the staff was helpful. I love the poop-overs and honey maple butter they give you to go with your main dish. We had the French dip, I don't usually eat much meat and I thought it was great. i also had the chicken dumpling soup it was fab. The desert is some of the best I have ever seen. Most of it is made in house. the carrot cake is a full pound in one slice, HUGE. Its not cheap but not overly pricey. One old-school thing they do is serve chips and hard boiled eggs at the bar. This is something my grandpa always told me about. I talked to the manager about it and she thought they were one of they only places left in MN that serves hardboiled eggs at the bar the same way most serve pretzels. The atmosphere was great, very nice staff and the food was interesting and good . I will go there again. MAybe not with the the kiddos =)
(4)Mike M.
Axel's in Mendota is top notch. Great steak, great wine, and impeccable service. This is a place I would take someone if I wanted to impress them.
(5)Barbara S.
I have to agree with Jode D. We don't go here anymore either. And, I feel bad because our whole family used to love this place and started dining there over fifteen years ago. It was our go-to place for lunches, dinners and special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries. And, we liked it so much that we went there several times even after the food became sub-par. During our last and final visit, we gave it one more try and ordered the onion ring appetizer. The waitress assured us they would be delicious, but the gigantic greasy rings were so coated with a salty breading that you could barely find the onion. We each had an onion ring (one ring was a meal in itself) and left the rest on the plate. The waitress asked if there was something wrong and when we told her that we didn't care for the dish, she argued with us and told us that it was one of their signature appetizers. Our experience with this particular waitress is an exception though, because the service in the past has always been very good. I believe there was a change of management over the years and that may have had something to do with the decline of the quality of the food. I would also encourage "the restaurant to live up to the standards they once had." I'd love to be a regular again.
(1)Clark K.
As good as it gets. Popovers are the best, especially the maple butter. Pan fried walleye is the besy in the Twin Cities. My 15 year is stuck on the three pepper scallops and lobster ravioli. The brunches are first class. The service is "Oceanaire" like.
(5)Adam W.
Let's not forget the happy hour experience, which comes around twice a day, every day. Half price apps, drink specials (try the bloody mary with blue cheese stuffed olives), house made potato chips on the bar...what could be wrong with these things? Answer: nothing at all. Note further that Axels is right off the Big Rivers Regional Bike Trail, and withing walking distance of historic Mendota village and Pike Island Park.
(4)Annie P.
Going to up my last review by a star based on last night's great experience. We were long time customers of Parker House, now Axel's. When they sold out and went Corp. things did change. Food was hit or miss, some ingredients were definitely frozen, processed crap. Service has always been exceptional though, I will give them that. Last night we decided to give it another shot. We were seated by a very chatty, old host who thoroughly enjoyed listening to himself talk :) In an enjoyable way, of course. Our server Tricia, who has been there a long time, was very generous with beer samples and super helpful with menu choices. She made sure we always had a fresh beer without ever having to rubber neck and full glasses of water, I love that! My bulls bites were tender, nicely spiced with a cajun salt. Husband's walleyes was very moist and large in portion, enough to take home for lunch today. Overall we had a very enjoyable dinner, enjoyed the old school charm of Axel's& excellent service. Definitely will be returning.
(4)Dave A.
Food was bad steaks tasted spoiled they apologized and made us another steak to take home smelled spoiled again gave to dog it threw up and we spent 114 for food that was terrible the soup was not tasty the only thing we enjoyed was popovers . No more axels
(1)Kimberly F.
The food is always spectacular--so at least they have that going for them. I've been to Axel's a few times and have never been dissapointed by their food or service. Unfortunately when I chose to sit outside last night, the mosquitoes were so terrible that they were offering bug spray for guests to spray outside. They notified us that they released a bug bomb to try to limit the mosquitoes but honestly--it was so terrible that they should have closed off the area. My other complaint was the service--it took us 2 hours to get appetizers and food because our server had so many customers outside. There was hardly any assistance from other servers either. And by the time we got out bill, it was wrong. I love the food but they've got to get their operations in order.
(2)B M.
I was not a fan of my experience this weekend. I called earlier this week to get a reservation for 2 for Saturday around 5pm. The person I spoke with told me they couldn't take a reservation. I've only been to this Axel's many times for lunch and assumed they must not take reservations then. I also checked their website and open table and didn't not see anything about reservations. I stopped by on Saturday at 5pm with my out of town guest. We asked for a table for 2 and the host asked if I had a reservation. I told her I called and they told me they wouldn't take one. She said that they were booked (even though I saw MANY open tables) and we couldn't be seated until 7:30pm. Really a 2 1/2 hour wait? You are not that "hot" of a restaurant. She offered we sit at the bar or in the "lounge." My guest is pregnant and I do not drink so out of respect for the bartender we opted not to sit at the bar and not have alcohol beverages which I realize was our choice. That wasn't exactly the atmosphere I wanted. So we said we would sit in their lounge. I still laugh out loud when we were seated there. The table came up to my knees, the chair was practically on the floor and the tables were so crammed together you literally couldn't sit at a table without half your body on the table next to you. After sitting down and thinking how ridiculous this area is for actually sitting people to eat we got up and left. The table was about the size of a dinner plate. I'm not sure how we would have fit our food and beverages on it. It's clearly meant for people waiting for a table to just have drinks. They shouldn't even offer to sit dinner guests there. It was a pretty big disappointment that they literally would not seat us and claimed every single table was booked. Mind you we came in at 5pm which is not typically the prime time for reservations on a Saturday. Needless to say we were not impressed. I've been to Axel's many times for lunch because I work close and was so excited to take my guest to dinner. I guess if I ever try this place again I will demand a reservation now that I know they take them.
(1)Josh G.
This place used to be soooo good, now the service is slow and all unattractive old women, popovers are cold wet and taste like a pancake, the food is horrendous, how about a fan and some air flow in your sweat box, what a dump
(1)Tom L.
Came early on Friday without reservation and sat right Down. Service was good, we ordered soup (seafood chowder) the best I've ever Had by far. Our entree was the walleye , which was very good (not great) with green beans , that were fresh and good, and Alfredo potatoes, which were not good..for me anyway. And popovers , which are always a treat. All and all the meal was good but VERY EXPENSIVE. I'd go back but would not order the walleye for $27. I'd try a steak, or maybe just a bowl of soup and a popover.
(4)Crystal S.
This review is based solely on brunch, but I will definitely try dinner and happy hour!! The brunch though; yum!!! I didn't know what a popover was, but wow, they were amazing!! Plus, 99 cent mimosas and a table you can color on! Great food, great service, and it was actually cheap. Our brunch bill came to about $30 for 2 people. Overall; awesome brunch, we will be back for more!
(5)Amy C.
I've lived five miles away from this restaurant for eight years and only "discovered" it last month. Eight years, wasted! I was skeptical, because I'm not a fan of the other Axel's Bonfire locations. This location has a different feel and much better food, and has quickly jumped to one of my favorite restaurants. First...the popovers. Such a nice upgrade from the usual boring bread basket. And the maple butter? YUM! The Cajun Chicken soup is one of the best bowls of soup I've had in my life, and that's saying a lot. It's not too spicy (so as not to offend the delicate Minnesota palate, I'm sure) and the texture is like velvet. I'd cut someone for that recipe. Also delicious are the pastas. Enormous portions and the side dishes are just as generous. You cannot leave this place hungry. I groan in agony as they show the dessert platter. I've never saved enough room to indulge....and really, the popovers with maple butter are really a pre-dessert. Great service, private rooms and a pretty cool bar.
(5)Brenda B.
Some day I'm going to get here in time for happy hour... Fantastic small plates and love the homemade bar chips, and the American steakhouse fare is top notch. Excellent bartenders can concoct whatever you desire - they made a lemon basil martini for us. Come for the ice cream drinks, best grasshopper in the TC, stay for the food.
(5)Jode D.
For old times sake, I hate to give them a bad review, but we do not go here anymore. The service here was always fantastic, and I think that has kept up pretty well. I don't remember getting bad service. It's just that the quality of food has really declined. We liked this place so much that we went there several times after having the first bad experience. One off night turned into too many. The last time I was there was for a work function. The people on either side of me did not bother to finish their dish, or even come close. My steak was very sub-par and gave me gastric distress, to put it politely. Seems like they are getting great reviews, but I just wanted to add a note of caution and perhaps encouragement to the restaurant to live up to the standards they once had.
(2)Joe P.
As everyone says the pop overs are fantastic! I kicked it old school with the Axel's Bourbon Old Fashioned and it was good. I've had plenty better but many many worse. I ventured out and went with the sea scallops with bacon planks. Highly NOT recommended, scallops were bland and the bacon over done. I went with the Alfredo? Potatoes. Try something else, the mashed were good (my dad had them with the prime rib) the Alfredo were so flavorless i didn't even get half way into them. My sister had the walleye and it was amazing! Of course that's what they're known for so I should have stuck to the basics. The service was fantastic we had a young gent with real short black hair and thankfully he was our server I couldn't help but listen in on the older lady who was serving behind us typical super club server who didn't have time for your questions. I'll definitely go back just stick to the prime rib and walleye. Cheers!
(3)Jordan S.
The food was excellent, but the service wasn't. The server seemed awkward the whole time, which made me uncomfortable. He also brought not only our (mine and my dad's) soups and popovers out before my little brothers' (7 and 4) food, but also our entrees. Big no-no when dining with kids. There is no way we'll be able to enjoy our stuff with the kids hungry. Otherwise, the food was delicious. We both had the cajun chicken soup. It was creamy, garlicy, and a little spicy, and we both wanted more of that. The popovers with sweet butter were also excellent-doughy and soft. I could see myself going back there for some wine, the soup and the popovers. We also both had the walleye, per other Yelper's suggestion. I had high expectations, and it totally lived up to them! The fish was tender and flaky, and perfectly seasoned. My 7-year-old brother ate 1/3 of mine that I couldn't finish, and he loved it too! I generally liked the decor. My dad came in a tee shirt and jeans, and I in a blouse and jeans, and I didn't feel out of place. He did when he walked in, but partway through our meal a family in workout gear sat down nearby and he felt more appropriately dressed. It's a really fancy place, but they put paper on the table with crayons. Not something I'd expect from a place with such professional service. I thought the entrees were a little pricey (more than I'm used to spending), but worth it because the food was so good. I would definitely go back with some friends for drinks, split an entree, and get more of the delicious soup and popovers.
(4)Gary R.
Average bar food. Great building, and good beer.
(3)Candace R.
Popovers were a brilliant start, but...out of prime rib at 7pm???sirloin was tasty but it was not prime rib...creme brûlée was nicely carmelized, but the custard was runny. Our server was excellent, the French onion soup was up to par, green beans were crispy and the baked potato was a generous portion. Overall, a good, but not great, dining experience.
(4)Pat S.
Love, love LOVE this place! Lunch or Dinner! The food here is amazing. Service is superb! I took my friend here for Valentine day. I messed up and made reservations on opentable, only to realize at The restaurant that I scheduled it at the wrong establishment. They bent over backwards, and accommodated us right away. What I thought was going to be a ruined night, Axel's saved for us. Love the location as well.
(5)Susan M.
Really good and really authentically Minnesota. We're from out of town, and have not had the opportunity to visit the area before. Axel's seemed like a great place for local people to go and have a great meal. We got to sit outside, which I much prefer when possible. The interior was a bit dark and clubby for me, but it would probably feel great on a cold winter's night. We had steaks, and walleye bits and big glasses of red wine, all delicious. The server was friendly and prompt--all that you can ask for. Go! You'll like it!
(4)Cindy R.
Amazing! That is all I have to say. Made a reservation through Yelp...and were seated a few minutes early. Great supper club feel that I remember from the 60's. Wonderful service. Our table tried a half order of onion rings as an appetizer. That was plenty for five of us!! They were huge and excellent! It was fun to watch my (adult) kids enjoy the popovers.Yum! Then for dinner...a couple ordered walleye, two split a bone in rib-eye steak and one had shrimp risotto. All were excellent. LOVED the green beans and mo'taters!! Over all wonderful experience from start to finish. We will definitely go back when we return to the Minneapolis area.
(5)Nicholas D.
Very nice place with delicious food the steak was actually cooked to a perfect medium.
(4)J J.
Outside looked a bit iffy but the dining area and bar were very classy. Food was better than average. Wait service was very good. Menu could be a bit more expansive. Prices very reasonable.
(4)Timothy C.
The service was absolutely amazing. This was our first time at axels and she took her time explaining the menu and recommending different things. The food was just as amazing. Cooked exactly how we ordered it. Lastly was desert, they bring out a whole tray with all the deserts and let you pick from there, even stuff from dinner, the Bailey's chocolate cake was delicious. I would highly recommend this location for a good date night or just a simple night out.
(5)Melanie B.
One Word = Popovers!
(3)Joe L.
Loved the risotto and the creme brûlée, and the service was great. Would go back!
(4)Jennifer L.
We stopped back here yesterday for the first time in a LONG time. I had the Peppercorn Medallions and they were over the moon good! My hubby had the Shrimp Caprese and not only was it gorgeous in presentation - but delicious too! The service is still wonderful and the atmosphere is so comfortable. Not the best place to hit when you are watching your waistline - but what a treat!
(5)Roll T.
Back in the day, when I used to fly all across the country, this was my favorite spot to go in the Minneapolis area for a nice serving of pan-fried Minnesota walleye. As one goes further and further away from the "civilization" of the Twin Cities, a rather rambunctious bar lies in tiny Mendota, MN. Indeed, it is often stated that the population within Axel's often doubles or even triples the population of this dot on the map. Of course, this should come as no surprise given its relative proximity to Minneapolis -- and, more importantly, it's simplistic yet undeniably masterful preparation of Minnesota walleye. The beauty of this place lies in the fact that the layman will simply assume that this restaurant is a slightly fancier version of your typical chain restaurant. Indeed, the menu reads like something you would find at your typical boring no-chances restaurant: southwestern egg rolls, bbq wrapped shrimp, spinach artichoke dip. The appetizer items that don't sound like they are straight off the Friday's menu don't seem amazingly appealing: buffalo chicken wontons, deep fried blue cheese stuffed shrimp, etc. My advice is to simply skip all the non-walleye menu items. They do some decent to very good things with pasta dishes, but it is the fish that is the reason you are here. The last time I came here I went with the land and lake, and I went to town on a perfectly light fillet of fish that melted in the mouth, bread crumbs not overpowering but complementing each morsel of fish. The land part of the order was a mistake; there is no reason to waste precious space on second-tier cattle when you have ample room for Axel's fish. Each entree comes with veggies (or a salad - I went with the salad) and potatoes. Both the buttermilk smashed and loaded baked potatoes are good. In any event, if you find yourself within driving distance of this moderately upscale restaurant bar, you should probably skip over the typical $30+ offerings and just head over to Axel's for what remains the best preparation of the walleye I have ever eaten.
(4)Amber S.
Made reservation on opentable and got seated more than 5 minutes early which was nice. Had the fettuccine alfredo and the axels sandwich. Both were very good but not great. Service was also quite good but not great. The dessert zapoli donuts were actually rather gross and not sweet enough - I was expecting something like olive garden's zapoli. The parking lot was not big enough to accommodate a packed house which was a bit strange.
(4)Tom L.
I have been to Axels about a half dozen or more times. I was introduced to Axels by a cousin who comes into town about every 3-6 months and always treats us to this restaurant. This place is extremely comfortable and the food is top notch. You cannot go wrong with a place that serves popover's as an appetizer. They are always good. Although they sometimes come a little on the well done side. I have yet to have a bad meal or experience here. Service is top notch and it is clear they want you to be comfortable and happy. I only detract one star for price. It is a bit on the expensive side but what do you expect for all around quality. I suggest you try it when you are looking for a good / great meal and you want to take a good step up from your local boring bar and grill.
(4)Brian S.
Axel's is definitely a classic in itself. They definitely did a good job with the acoustics, making a wonderful place to to relax and have a conversation. I love the popovers that they give before your meal; they are hot, fresh, and buttery. The regular butter and especially the Cinnamon butter are wonderful accompaniments. I had the special which was fettuccine with buffalo shrimp and scallops in a blue cheese Alfredo cream sauce. The pasta was aldentae, the shrimp and scallops were succulent, the celery was fresh and crisp, and the sauce was rich and creamy with that blue cheesy goodness. The Cesar salad was wonderful with crisp greens, fresh croutons, mildly salty anchovies (which I had for the first time,) crumbles of rich Parmesan, and a dressing that was not overpowering. For dessert, the cranberry bread pudding a wonderful medley of fresh cranberries, firm bread pudding, Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Round it all off with a 24 oz Linkage's honey wise and you cannot go wrong. Nicole, our waitress, was very nice, attentive, knowledgeable, and answering any questions that we had. There is something for everyone (pastas, seafood, steaks, and chops.) So, for traditional American cuisine in a classic, relaxing atmosphere with friendly and knowledgeable service, Axel's cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.!
(5)