Axel's River Grille Mendota

Homemade Dressings,Cheer's Atmosphere,Great Service!!!! more

The waitress allowed us to split a lunch portion without extra charge, and also to split a drink 4 ways! And it was the best banana rum dacquiri ever. The food was awesome too, and we loved those popovers, served warm and fresh with cinnamon butter. We were thoroughly impressed with everything. Bathrooms are very impressive also. Pros: service, food, accommodation Cons: NONE! more

My fiance and I went to Axels on our first date in the summer of 2006. We've recommended the restaurant to many friends and family and have taken all of our out of town guests there for dinner. After some friends commented that they weren't too impressed with our recommendation, we have gone back a couple of times and now agree that the restaurant has absolutely lost its high rating in our minds.\r First of all, we were seated immediately in a booth on a Friday night at 8:00. Not a good sign. My caesar salad was almost flavorless and rather limp. My pasta primavera had about 1/2 a cup of water sitting in the bottom of the bowl. We're sure we could have done better at home. The mo taters that my fiance had looked like they'd been squeezed out of a tube and were hard and old looking. His steak left much to be desired and a better one could certainly be had at any number of local steakhouses. Even my usual cosmopolitan tasted different and wasn't even pink!\r We'd heard that Axels was under new management and we can certainly tell. What a tremendous disappointment. more

The prices are very reasonable for the quality of service and atmosphere and you get a lot of food for your... more

The prices are very reasonable for the quality of service and atmosphere and you get a lot of food for your money. I had to box the leftovers both ... more

The prices are very reasonable for the quality of service and atmosphere and you get a lot of food for your money. I had to box the leftovers both ... more

My boyfriend and I have been to Axel's River Grille twice now and both times we have left very satisfied and happy with the experience. We were seated right away both times even though we didn't have reservations and our servers were with us right away with waters and to take our beverage order. \r \r Their pop-up bread is excellent and goes perfectly with their brown sugar butter. I got a caesar salad (included with entree) both times and it was excellent. The meals we've chosen (Maria's Chicken, Saltambocca chicken, Spicy chicken penne and the Bone-in Ribeye) have all been delicious. Their Mo'Taters are probably the best mashed potatoes I've ever had and their green beans that come with the meal are perfectly cooked and seasoned. \r \r The prices are very reasonable for the quality of service and atmosphere and you get a lot of food for your money. I had to box the leftovers both times I've been there. \r \r I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants a romantic, affordable date restaurant or is just looking for something new. It is NOT like other Axel's in the Twin Cities--much more classy than the others. Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Good prices Cons: Can be a little tricky to find more

I went to Axel's on my birthday last year and had the most wonderful experience. Food was to die for - expecially the crab cakes! Pros: food and service Cons: a little hard to find at first more

We were at Axel's Sunday at noon with a party of 9. The experience was a pleasure from beginning to end. The hostess (manager?) couldn't have been more delightful. And our waitress was so friendly without being obtrusive. We felt like we were honored guests in someone's home. Such a delightful change from restaurants where you feel like you're intruding on someone's time to get them to wait on you. \r The food was delicious, although the Sunday noon (brunch) menu does feature a lot of eggs and a lot of hollandaise sauce, which the cooks were happy to leave off for most of the members of our party. I'm looking forward to returning on a week night to sample their regular menu. more

Just back from Axel's in Mendota, where my wife and I went to celebrate her birthday. We had a gift certificate that my wife had given me a couple of months ago. Our waitress told us that Axel's would not honor the gift certificate. I spoke to the restaurant manager (not Leslie, the actual [and very friendly] restaurant manager); rather, I spoke to a dark haired young woman in her 20s who called herself the manager and who quickly asked us to leave the restaurant.\r \r Now, we've been going to Axel's since it opened, and prior to that time I often went to the Parker House, which used to occupy the same space. I am a regular at Axel's, and surely have spent thousands of dollars there. I tried to get support from Doc, a long time maitre d' at the restaurant, but the young manager dismissed him by saying the he (maybe 30 years her senior) was merely one of her employees . . . . \r \r I'm one of those St. Paul regulars: I've gone to The Lex regularly for 30+ years. I've gone to Axel's regularly since it opened. But I have NEVER experienced the kind of brusque, rude, arrogant treatment that I found at Axel's tonight. \r \r Now, my wife is angry with me (for reasons I don't fathom). I would be embarassed to return to the restaurant. And it wasn't as though I had too much to drink: my one drink, because of the awkward (but aesthetically appealing) glasses that Axel's uses, I managed to spill on the table top.\r \r Would I recommend Axel's as a place to go to celebrate a big occasion? Well, uh, only if your luck is a great deal better than mine!!! What an unbelievable experience tonight was. I hope that, someday, we'll be able to laugh about it, but I am NOT optimistic. Pros: Pretty good food. Cons: Management !!! more

When I was spending a lot of time in the Eagan MN area in 2001, I had a lot of trouble finding really good food. Someone put me onto Axel's - the place isn't easy to find for an out-of-towner, but well worth the trip. I'd never eaten walleye pike, and this place is famous for the stuff - excellent! The only problem I had was that the service is very inconsistent - at times very good and at times terrible. Nice atmosphere, though, very cozy on a cold Minnesota night! Pros: walleye pike, desserts Cons: service (sometimes), hard to find more

I have been here 3 times. I will go again and again. The 'Bull Bites' are 'to die for'. So are the Matini's I love the atmosphere. The service is excellent. It is spendy, but you get a wonderfull experience. I will go again and again. Cons: last time seated near more

Took my girlfriend on a ""Valentine's Date"", my first visit ever to Axel's. We made reservations, got there plenty early for a ""before dinner drink"". Bartender wanted to see my ID, I'm 32, girlfriend 39, but he only asked for mine and looked at my girlfriend, said he ""didn't need to see hers"". Quite offensive. When seated for our tables, barkeep grabbed at the change back from the $20 bill and said 'thanks'. I had to ask him for it back. Again, quite offensive. Thankfully, our dining experience was just the opposite. Great food, great service. Pros: choc. martinis, brandy-7, vodka-tonic Cons: young barkeep, limited parking more

Don't judge this book by the cover, although Axel's looks like just another restaurant on the outside it is really a treasure. I met some girlfriends for brunch and was impressed! The brunch menu was full of delicious choices. The food was awesome. The prices were right on. The mimosas were a steal. The server was prompt, friendly and catered to our every need. We were dressed business casual, but it was certainly a place fitting for ""Sunday dress"" as well. I definately would do the 3 course choice for the value, but save room for dessert. I had Death by Chocolate and it was awesome! Pros: food, service, ambiance more

We were a little disillusioned. We thought we read that there was a view from the patio. There is no view other than the mural and the parking lot, but the patio was still quite pleasant. Yes, the menu was heavy on the red meat, but everything we tried was good. And we enjoyed many martinis from the extensive martini list. The staff was friendly and accommodating. Pros: outside dining, martini list Cons: meaty more

The ribs, salmon and walleye were all fantastic and generous. On Friday we got clam chowder that was absolutely excellent. The salmon portion was so huge it barely fit the platter and it was grilled to perfection - moist and delicious. Our bragging about their portions has interested several people. Very comfortable. They also have a walleye sandwich for lunch that is great. Pros: excellent food, great service, money's worth Cons: clone for Lake Elmo? more

This place gives you the feeling that you're eating somewhere that's historically significant, even though the Axel's name is relatively new. Formal and clubby at first glance, it seem less intimidating once your waitress writes her name on your table top! My friend ordered a steak that was big enough to feed her for three days; I had a tasty walleye and sirloin combination, and though I'm not a fish fan, I would order the walleye again! Might be hard to find this place if you're not familiar with the area, but it's very much worth the effort. Pros: Excellent food, Informal formality Cons: "Man" menu more

I love Axel's. There is a nice bar area and then there is another room off to the side for bigger parties. They have the best soup. Like on Tuesdays they have Cajun CHicken Soup and it should be sold in the grocery store it is so good! more

I love this restaurant because it offers a variety of mouthwatering meals (such as fish, seafood, steaks, chicken, sandwiches and more), which are moderately priced. The atmosphere is kind of dark and woodsy but warm and welcoming-romantic. The portions are very generous for the price. You get what you pay for! Pros: huge portions, good locations, atmosphere Cons: crowded more

Good food..even some excellent soups. If you go...pay with cash! On two seperate occasions while paying with credit card the card was charged more than the amount I charged for. The first time the lunch bill was 17.61, it showed up as $19.00. No big deal...but a second time?!? again. the bill was rounded up to an even amount (about 1.50 more). When I brought in my bill (which I had written out the amount on in addition to numerals) the management simple refunded the $1.50...No free dessert, no free meal.....where's the service? more