So we've been coming here since it opened and in fact had been to its predecessor in St. Louis before that. We're pretty familiar with what they used to, and are trying, to be and while we have come to expect lofty goals, it seems like the longer in the tooth this place gets, the more they lose focus. Our most recent Valentines visit reinforced this with some disappointing bar service and a 'special featured' appetizer that took our disappointment to the next level. I get that on a busy night like Valentines, stuff happens, but in this case it was still relatively early (5:30 pm) and they had more than enough employees, it's just that those workers constantly stepped on each other, ignored customers for lengthy stretches, and missed a few details that used to come naturally at this place. Combine that with food delivery confusion and a complete fail on the supposed special feature of "sealed scallops with risotto" app and it left us feeling unfulfilled on what should have been a romantic visit. The next time they offer the scallop app, we strongly suggest they actually do more than wave one side of the scallop over a lukewarm-warm pan (nothing that resembles a 'sear') and figure a way to cut the greasiness of the garlic rice dollops without covering everything in pea tendrils such that you don't notice the lack of sear marks and oily pooling. We give the place three stars based on the still modern and comfortable decor, nice ambiance, robust cocktail & beer selection and the execution of the Tuna Tartare - still one of the lady's favorite bites in town. Perhaps it's just a management/training issue, but it touches both the kitchen and the floor and will hopefully be addressed before our next visit. read more

Great bar service- very friendly Great food- shrimp cocktail is amazing Appetizer mushrooms are great read more

Baxters American Grille - Grilled Brussels - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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I came in here twice for dinner while staying at the holiday inn. The first visit the service was slow, haphazard and the food was just ok. I'm so glad we came back because the service was so much better. The food was still ok, but it was the service that made the visit. It's always the people that make a spot good. While here i had the filet tip gnocchi, spinach and artichoke dip, shrimp and scallop scampi and the purple haze mojito. The dip was the best item hands down. Our server the thurs night was amazing and i feel terrible in can't remember her name but she said shes an emt and works 3 jobs. Pay her more please. She's amazing. read more

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Have tried to go back to Baxter's a few times over the past year and it's just not worth it. The ambience is great for having that more cozy, lights down atmosphere for the dining area and the bar seems fine for those who want to be there for the bar, but for the food quality and the price it's just not worth it anymore. We had a 10 ounce prime rib and a smothered chicken breast dinner that both were overpriced and underwhelming. The prime rib was tough in spots and tasteless, and the singular chicken breast was small and thin. My wife's salad was fine and the dinner rolls were good, as were the garlic, mashed potatoes, but really that's it. A 10 ounce prime rib dinner, a grilled chicken breast dinner, an iced tea, and a small bottle of San Pellegrino sparkling water ran $89. If the meal was outstanding, I would not have a problem paying over $100 with tip for a nice night out, but this isn't it. There are plenty of other places to get better food at much lower price. Just steaks alone, we would've had a bigger and more tasty meal going to Texas Roadhouse and saving almost half. Unfortunately, this business has continuously been on the lower end in both food quality and affordability. read more

Baxter's is one of the best restaurants in the Blm/Normal Area! My boyfriend and I always choose Baxter's for special occasions because the food and service is consistently great. The Ribeye, Calamari, Crab and Shrimp Alfredo, and the Gooey Butter Cake are our favorites. read more

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Food was good. Steak was overcooked and dry, but my boyfriend had a filet and said it was good. Tuna tartar was delicious and the Cesar salad was good as well. Everything gluten free and they were accommodating the gf requests very well. Service was great. Our waitress was very nice and helpful. The restaurant is a little cold, but the booth helped with the temp. read more

We went to celebrate our anniversary we both had steaks they were cooked as we requested the service was very efficient

Moleke. Was very helpful and an excellent server. Everything went good for our especially meal. Thank you.

The Thai Shrimp appetizer was great as always. I also love the salad it rests on with diced mango chutney sprinkled throughout. The stuffed mushrooms were not good this time. A slightly odd flavor and also a grittiness to the sauce. The Bacon Bourbon Filet was great with a nice demi-glace sauce and crispy onions on top. The ribeye was too sinuey this time. Next time I'll go for the filet mignon (which by the way comes bacon wrapped by default). The Au Gratin potatoes were excellent! Nice cheesy and saucy. The butter cake was pretty good. It's a very thin slice and slightly gooey, but tastes great. It comes with chocolate ice cream. Next time I'll ask for vanilla. And possibly ask for a thicker slice of cake. The coffee was average. read more

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We held the rehearsal dinner for our wedding at Baxter's and could not be more pleased with our decision! Paige was super easy to work with over email and even made time to meet with us in person. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. The space was perfect for our number of guests and the staff hosting our event were very professional and helpful. We also had a cash bar which worked perfectly for our guests. The staff took lots of pictures of our group and went above and beyond! We are so happy we chose Baxter's for our rehearsal dinner and highly recommend them! read more

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We were there for a private meeting with a local chiropractor/scam artist. I thought that I would at least enjoy the meal... not so much. Meal was steak kabobs, vegetable skewers, rice and a horrible pesto based garbage sauce. That poor cow was killed twice. Once by the butcher and again by the cook. Dry, chewy, flavorless.... Dead. The vegetables were crunchy being nearly raw. Didn't bother with the rice as I was put off by the horrible green globs of a very poor attempt at a sauce. I choked down about three bites and then gave up. I placed my napkin in the bowl and pronounced time of death. Truly... I completely overpaid for this free meal... it was worth exactly what I paid. Chances of coming back and actually spending my money here?? Zero, zip, nada, dick... read more

I I met friends here while in the area. It was a good dining experience. The wine list had a variety of choices and there were some cocktail choices, as well. The menu had a variety of choices ranging from seafood to steaks to pasta to flatbreads. We ordered the prime rib and the halibut. The side choices were great- mashed potatoes, broccoli, or baked potato. There was also a sale included. I had the Baxter salad- mixed greens, smoked Gouda cheese, pecans, apples- and my friends ordered Caesar salads. Our server, Connor, was spot on. As a table, we were more concerned with talking and catching up versus diving into the menu and he was patient in letting that happen. read more

Tonight I had a carry-out order of the Smothered Grilled Chicken tonight (minus broccoli because yuck). Upon arrival to the restaurant, my order was brought out quickly. The food was SUPER solid. The chicken was cooked like perfectly (?) which honestly surprised me. It was seasoned quite well and the creamy garlic/mushroom sauce, Gouda, and bacon on top were superb flavor compliments. The rolls were delicious too - came with a garlic butter to spread on them. 9.2/10. Really recommend. read more

Baxters American Grille - Smothered Grilled Chicken - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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1st off for this to be attached to the Holiday Inn Express & Suites gotta give a credit didn't have to walk outside to get access to it. I truly enjoyed the Atmosphere it gave you an upscale kind of fill but also a local bar setting within it. I Sad at the bar to get a outlook of what they were offering a variety of libations on display and I selected the BlackBerry bourbon smash something that I had on the weekend cruise line many times before and this was a decent one. Then I ordered the drunken mushrooms and the prime rib sliders which were good something that I wasn't expecting but truly a good appetizer is and I wound up with the sticky ribs a North Carolina barbecue mustard based sauce ribs were good also. If you are in the area make sure that you give them a try stop by and experience something different. read more

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It was last Thursday, mid-afternoon, Mom and I went to Baxter's American Grille. I chose the Ribeye with French Fries as my main dish. Taste wise, the dish was smokey and tender in the meat department. For the side dish, eat it while there is warmth before the taste leaves you with dullness. Service from that day was lackluster because of the long waits and miscommunication of our appetizer being our main dish. A renovation is deeply needed for Baxter's American Grille layout and walls. It feels outdated and a smell lingers on. read more

Baxters American Grille - Ribeye - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Ribeye steak was well prepared, had great flavor as well did the baked potato. We really enjoy the setting, music was s moderate not to loud. read more

Baxters American Grille - Ribeye steak. - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Good food all the way around, their chicken and steak is delicious. You cannot finish off a meal without the gooey butter cake though.

Service Drinks Food -- I come to Bloomington often for business and this is the best experience I've ever had. I met with a group of coworkers and was very happy with the experience. Extra that I didn't have to leave the hotel to eat here! We ordered the spinach and artichoke dip and drunken mushrooms appetizers and they were excellent! I ordered the shrimp and scallop scampi as my meal and I was impressed by the freshness and the PERFECT cook on the shrimp and the extra large and very sweet scallops. Our server was friendly and on top of it and the food.... Whoa buddy. Yea, I'm coming back. read more

Baxters American Grille - Shrimp and Scallop Scampi - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Very impressive dinner spot! We came here for a wedding and stayed at Holiday inn, this restaurant is just next door. It is perfect for a nice dinner after a long flight. The restaurant looks pretty nice with great interior decorations. I ordered a miso glazed salmon, my husband had a prime steak, both uncle and mom had pretzel bun burgers, and dad ordered a salad. All of us enjoyed our foods, we also loved our wine. It is a nice place for a date, business dinner or family hangout. Plus the service is nice too. read more

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Surprised I haven't reviewed this restaurant. I love it!!! Great variety all well prepared. In fact I always stay at the holiday inn next door for the convenience of eating here. My favorites are the pork chop, steak tacos and blackened shrimp flat bread read more

Baxters American Grille - Crab stacker - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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Yum. We went with a large group, so the ability to make reservations online and by phone is nice. Good location and good ambience. Service was attentive. The menu was solid with a good selection of steaks, seafoods, pastas, flatbreads, and more. There were both affordable and expensive options. Everything came out fairly quickly and presentation was nice. Special 'shout out' for the Baxter Salad (a no-upcharge upgrade from the garden salad included with most meals) and the bread basket and butter which was surprisingly tasty. We dined indoors, but the outdoor area looked nice as well. We'll likely be back. read more

The ambiance is perfect for a gathering of friends and family. Food is very good and reasonably priced. The servers are very personable and attentive. read more

Great food! I ordered the steak kabobs, and they were delicious. They were served over a bed of rice, in a bowl, which was unexpected, but tasty! My boyfriend ordered the jumbo shrimp taco, and they were the largest shrimp he'd ever seen. Great flavor too. We had really great service from Drew, would def go back. It's def not your typical "restaurant attached to a hotel" which was my biggest reservation going in. Glad we gave it a chance! read more

I used to really enjoy this place as one of the only nice restaurants in town but the service has unfortunately gone down hill. Does not matter if you visit during busy hours or slower times shortly after opening for the evening. Hostesses always seem to greet with an attitude, only to have long wait times for water, drinks and bread with zero other people in our section. My partner and I went this evening to celebrate my birthday and were less than pleased, requesting our check after only about 10 minutes of being there. We decided to leave early immediately after getting our drinks when finding a gnat, leaf, and other unidentified bits floating in our 3 different drinks- asked our server to bring our food wrapped to-go at this point. Never got the complimentary bread. Won't be back. read more

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Dinner for 12 with our Monday dinner group. Mondays are half price bottles of wine!! I ordered the smothered chicken hubby the blackened grouper. Baxter salad was also servers with the dinner, very good salad. Got our entrees my chicken was so tough that I couldn't cut with a steak knife. Our server Lucy took it away and asked what I would like instead. I ordered the jambalaya. Just ok? Service was excellent food just ok. And btw they charge $2.00 a glass for ice if you want your drink on the rock. Never heard of that read more

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Food is good; but pricey for what they offer, whatsoever the service is good. What I personally dont like is the lack of light in the ambiance looks like midnight inside of the restaurant. read more

Great experience going here for our anniversary. Great drinks and bread, and we also ordered the calamari, ribeye, and crab & shrimp pasta- all were great! Moody ambiance perfect for an anniversary or special occasion. Definitely recommend! read more

Baxters American Grille - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

Sydney was our waitress tonight and she was phenomenal! She deserves 5/5 stars for her impeccable service and food recommendations. Then a 10/5 stars for being so personable. As for my meal, I highly suggest you get the bone in rib-eye with garlic butter *chefs kiss*. So dang good, a wheelbarrow ought to come with it to help get you into your car after. read more

Baxters American Grille - Bone-in Ribeye with a glass of Aviary Wine - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

We were in Bloomington for a conference and found this restaurant on Yelp. I had the prime rib which was outstanding. This restaurant is close to the airport and was worth the trip. Give this restaurant a try if looking for a great place for dinner! read more

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I made reservations at 430pm on a Sunday afternoon. The 2 hostesses greeted us and told us we'd be seated in 5 minutes. The place was empty except maybe 3 other tables...and we were seated next to a table of 8 people celebrating a birthday. WTF...? We asked to move over 1 table so both groups would have space. Seemed like only 1 waitress was working...other staff standing around. The waitress was great, felt sorry for her too. Food was ok, I had Cajun pasta, but there's nothing cajun about it. Fake andouille sausage (it was thinly sliced Eckrich sausage), non-blackened shrimp, and noodles. It was good, nothing special for $30. Wife had scallops and steak. Steak was prepped properly and was good, scallops too...just not sure it was a $60 plate. Overall, just average. Nice view of the lake, but there's better options available. read more

Beautiful place. Wonderful waitstaff.food was hit and miss. Got prime rib which was tasteless. Baked potatoes were excellent as were the salad and shrimp cocktail. Too loud for conversation but I think we will try again when it's not parents weekend. read more

Food and service are great. I really enjoyed it so much that I ate there twice in one week. The grouper special was amazing. Drinks really good. Ambiance very nice. Reasonable prices for quality. read more

Had the steak kabob and the meat was sooo tender and delicious. Very rare, so lots of juices. Upon first bite, there was a flood of rich meaty flavor followed by the recognizable tang of red wine, and finished with the citrus zing of lemon. Had a lovely procession of flavors. Felt compelled to close my eyes for this one. Baxter's salad was such a shockingly fresh floral flavor. Very delightful. Mildly sweet. Tons of aroma. A great compliment to a meaty entree. Atmosphere was nice and our server was so gracious. Perfect night! read more

A hot take. Baxter's tries to position itself as being a unique 5-star venue but it largely misses the mark all across the board. I appreciate small menus as it usually reflects quality over quantity but unfortunately our food was below average. The small menu is largely unimaginative and basically feels like you are looking at a google search result of "5-star plates for my business". We didn't try any wine at lunch but the selection looks solid. Bar also looks excellent so I imagine that's the key for Baxter's. Avoid the food and go for drinks and enjoy the patio with some live music (seasonal obviously). read more

Drunken Mushrooms Prime Rib Mashed potato's Fries Steak nachos All were amazing!! Eaten there twice, first time service and food was spot on 5 Stars. Therefore for the next family birthday gathering BAXTER's was the chosen location. -- second time; was a separate story. Food was still delish, but the service/kitchen was slow and server (Joc) was no where to be found. He would come by the table, take a few requests and disappear. Example; it was 20 min to bring first round of ordered drinks, and an hour for the meal to arrive post ordering. Reservation for 10 people at 6pm- did not get the check til 8:45p. This was not due to us visiting and carrying on, we had smaller children in attendance which is hard to entertain and corral with THAT slow of service. Due to the birthday celebration we brought a designer cake, once delivered server stated he would return with a serving knife/plates; an additional 10 minutes to return. Kids meal comes with ice cream, that was not offered/delivered. Children did not get refills on milk, either. Imagine your 5 year old and 2year old not getting an additional cup of milk with grandmas birthday cake and the 9 yo announcing that there is going to be ice cream too. Which is not delivered. Water was all we had to offer and 45 min after typical bedtime (nearly 3 hrs in a corner of a restaurant ) the children were less than angelic. We asked for checks to be split into 3 Tickets and got the "included" 20% gratuity charge, and on over $175 bill -- with less than desirable service, I was not impressed. read more

Used to be the best in town. Service and food has decreased dramatically. Maybe Kt was a bad night. That's the only reason I'm giving 3 stars. It really was a 1 star $120 meal. God awful. Bring back Chelsea and Breah read more

Excellent service at the bar. Great Cherry Old Fashion drink. Sticky ribs were amazing!!!

Our 3rd or 4th time coming here (we only come once a yr or so...) and here's what we thought... Ordered the thai shrimp appetizer, seared tuna, baxter's salad, and my partner had the 10z prime rib with mashed potatoes. He thought his food was bland - I tried it and concurred. Not one of the better quality prime ribs we've had. The thai shrimp were okay. Having eaten high quality seared tuna in the past I was not impressed with it. Way too many sesame seeds, rice was undercooked and the veggies it came with were extremely bitter - did not think the flavors complemented one another. The baxter's salad wasn't great paired with the tuna entree either but I've liked it in the past and my partner cleaned his plate - so be careful what you order it with. The server however, was amazing (I think his name was John???) and the service here is consistently very professional which we appreciate. Maybe it was just a bad night for the kitchen? We went around 715p. read more

Baxters American Grille - Thai Shrimp - New American Near Me - Bloomington, Illinois

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This has been a family favorite restaurant for many years now. I recommend the bacon bourbon filet.

Terrible service. Atmosphere is dark and dingy. Food is good but expensive and like I said terrible service. This all equals not worth it.