Best Neighborhood Gem Restaurants in Lake Elmo

Crave has done something right lately! The menu changes are welcome and the food did not disappoint. I did several yummy chair dances while mowing down my burger. The kids meal entree (grilled salmon) was outstanding and now comes in a beautiful bento box with veggies, fries, and fresh fruit. It’s a bit pricey but this is THE destination for celebrations in Woodbury. I was highly impressed tonight - well done!

Such a wonderful place! If you haven’t ever been to the Lake Elmo Inn, it’s worth a trip. Located in the quaint downtown of Lake Elmo, this historic restaurant has been serving since 1881. I first went there about 5 years ago for a celebration with a group of friends, and its charm has stuck with me ever since. One of my favorite places to go. It definitely has a traditional ambience - you feel like you are walking into something special. But it’s comfortable - from the host, to the dining rooms to the service. It nods to what fine dining used to be - and what a great feeling that creates. And the food! The menu is perfectly curated to offer familiar favorites, and interesting evolutions of the standards. So make a date with your favorite somebody, and treat yourselves to an absolutely delightful experience.

We have frequented several Hazelwood restaurants around the Twin Cities and all uphold high standards we have for one of our favorite spots. This visit was no different. We brought long-time friends with us and it was their first time--of course they loved everything as well. The Walleye is fresh and delicious and they all opted for gouda hashbrowns instead of the rice. The roasted chicken was tender and flavorful. As someone who has a dairy allergy, I put my trust in the servers to protect my wellbeing. Our server here took great care of me and even suggested switching out the mashed potatoes for their amazing brussel sprouts! If only I could make their brussel sprouts at home!-- So good! 😋 We had a wonderful meal, drinks, and visit thanks to the great folks at the Bloomington Hazelwood.

Amazing bloody mary and mimosa bar, almost a meal in themselves! We were celebrating a birthday, which got us a free photo booth token and dessert to share. I didn't realize how big this place is! We were seated in the quieter dining side, but the live music playing in the other area wasn't too loud. Looks like a nice happy hour, too, so we'll have to return soon for that!

Our waiter Charles and his team helping him were amazing. Anticipated our every need and did not hover. Perfection on every level! Thank you Charles for making our son’s bday special! We will be back.