Lakes Tavern and Grill in Woodbury

Photo: Tate Carlson

The owners of Lakes Tavern and Grill.

Believe it or not, I’m a very finicky eater. So a restaurant review is a challenge I’ve gladly taken on so that others with similar ‘taste issues’ (no raw tomatoes, onions, sprouts or zucchini, dressing/mayo on the side, etc.) can find a great place to eat. Honestly, the menu at the new Lakes Tavern & Grill poses a challenge because it’s so hard to choose among the amazing offerings. I dined with various groups in recent weeks in order to experience Lakes to its fullest.  Here’s my take:   

3-Generation Birthday Lunch 

To celebrate my granddaughter Skylar’s 5th birthday, my mom and I took her out for lunch. We enjoyed the Lakes reuben, juicy lucy burger and mac and cheese from the kids’ menu. We were full and very satisfied, especially with a candle-lit cupcake surprise at the end. Kids eat free on Monday nights.

Couples Dinner

With 6:45 p.m. reservations, the four of us were seated immediately on a Friday night. For starters, chicken jambonettes with special house sauces had us wondering how wings could taste this great! Our friends selected bacon-wrapped filets, while my health-nut husband chose the southwest salmon salad and I had the crab melt. A few glasses of wine later, we all agreed it was worth the visit.         

Girls' Night Out

A group of my high school friends still gather quarterly to celebrate birthdays and life in general; six of us visited Lakes to acknowledge another “time passage” event. We ordered a variety of menu items to share such as the cobb salad, tavern nachos, classic flatbread pizza and warm Greek pasta. All was right with the world.               

Happy Hour

My neighbor and I checked out the drink specials and half-price appetizers during happy hour (twice daily) in the bar. We shared onion rings and the Italian flatbread pizza, which have become a huge hit (also a great way to use pizza ovens inherited by former tenant Boston’s).  The Lounge, a secluded corner nook featuring comfy leather couches and big screen TVs, can be reserved in advance (holds 10-12 comfortably).  

Lakes features an upscale, yet casual, décor. Rich woods, sandstone, brushed chrome and dark blue/black color combinations create a warm and comfortable ambiance for date night, girls night out, a family meal, happy hour, client entertainment or catching a sports event in the bar.  

Breakfast is also served at Lakes on weekends, and an extensive takeout menu is available, along with off-site catering. The 100-seat outdoor patio promises to be a hot spot for warm-weather dining and live entertainment. Big plans are in the works, so keep an eye out for upcoming promotions and announcements this spring.

Woodbury residents Mike and Susan Miller opened this venue in Woodbury Lakes lifestyle center in November. Before moving to Minnesota from Florida, Mike was an executive with Ruby Tuesday Restaurants (among others), having opened at least 120 restaurants in his career. The Millers also currently own four Green Mills in the greater Twin Cites metro area. They know the recipe for success. 

“A welcoming atmosphere, robust menu, attentive service staff and great value for a dollar are key ingredients in a winning restaurant,” says Mike. “So far, overwhelmingly, we’ve received positive feedback from customers, exceeded sales targets and met budgets, so we’ve adjusted our goals upward. We want to be that place where everyone says, ‘Let’s stop by Lakes’ for any occasion or reason.”     

Award-winning executive chef Christophe Ticarro and sous chef Christian Orosz created the menu which blends global cuisine influences, including French and Asian, with traditional American classics. Their goal is to offer so many delectable options that guests are compelled to come back again and again to try something different each time.

Community involvement is a priority for Lakes. Nonprofits, schools, sport teams, churches, etc., are invited to inquire about fundraising opportunities such as pancake breakfasts and give-back nights.        

&

Lakes Loyalty

Lakes Tavern and Grill offers a free customer rewards program.

Joining the Lakes Loyalty free customer rewards program online was simple. I received a $10 gift certificate just for signing up, and I’ll earn one point for each dollar spent. For every $100, I’ll receive another $10, along with event notices, birthday and anniversary specials and exclusive offers. There is no card to further clutter my purse. I just provide my phone number when visiting or placing an order. As a Facebook fan, I received a $10 certificate and get notices and offers regularly. Call 651.287.2000.

Share this Article

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•