Met friends here for dinner. Made reservations and were seated out front. My wife said I have been here before, but I have no recollection. She and our friends said they have been here many times and it is a favorite. The steak burger is phenomenal. It is an actual piece of steak. It was cooked perfectly medium rare. I could actually eat it like a hamburger, though. It was not tough or chewy. I have no idea how they did it. Incredible. So simple, nothing on it. Kevin McGrath Best Burger on the Planet Award. I will definitely come here again and order this exact item. Salad also great. My wife and friends are already fans. Waitress awesome. Prices reasonable. Will do take out in the winter. Now to figure out who the dude was who went with my wife here before ... read more

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My girlfriends and I visited Coalition Restaurant for the first time. We only ordered drinks at the bar. Initially the restaurant appeared very fancy and I was unsure if we would "fit in". Once we sat down we realized the restaurant was filled with laughter and banter. The bartender, Ty, was so wonderful! Great drinks, great service, & a great atmosphere. We graciously were given a taste of their famous cauliflower appetizer and it was so flavorful with a hint of spice. I definitely will go back to try their dinner options! read more

Coalition Restaurant - Drinks at the bar! - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

Stop what you're doing right now and RUN to coalition. We started with the cauliflower appetizer and we were all speechless... that's how good it was. I chose the burger for my main course and I'm not kidding when I say I've dreamed of it after finishing it, it's that good! End off your dinner with the key lime pie and you'll be smiling for days! read more

Heed the advice of other reviews and choose elsewhere for your money and meal. Not one person in our party of 8 was satisfied. Several meals came to the table cold. Overall the quality of the dinner was largely disappointing, especially given the upscale pricing. And by all means necessary, do not order the steak sandwich. It was tough and chewy, to the point of being inedible. Two stars are solely for the service and vibe. If you're not going to eat, this would be viable option. read more

I enjoyed my time tonight at the coalition! Atmosphere 10/10 (as best it can get in an outside parking lot) Service 10/10 - she was so friendly and attentive! Food 7/10 Drinks 9/10 For COVID there's been a limited menu, so we didn't have as many options as I believe there usually is. That said, I was still a little confused what the "theme" or restaurant "type" The Coalition is. My walleye was tasty, but likely had too many elements. I would slim down of the guac, make it fresh avo, and eliminate the crispy onion. My friend liked her salad, but I'm surprised they didn't put it all on one plate. For drinks, we each had the pear martini and blood orange margarita. I loved the pear martini - so refreshing! I chose the blood orange margarita second to pair better with the walleye dish, as pear definitely didn't fit the palette. I was happy with both overall however. read more

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I have no complaints. Food was thoughtful and paired well with the wine; servers were friendly and knowledgeable. Bravo! read more

Coalition Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

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The food was good, service was good, cute restaurant, right on a main street around shopping and a close walk to the lake. We did brunch there and enjoyed it. Looked like it would be a good place for lunch to dinner too. read more

We came in for a lunch break on a Saturday. They were serving their brunch menu. I went for the garden salad with avocado added. Mom and Gran split a griddled cheese sandwich, and my aunt got the grilled chicken sandwich. All were delicious, and we especially loved that they brought us an order of donuts while we waited for our meal to come out. Gran says that their coffee is awesome, and my Coke came out with a wedge of like (yum!). Service was prompt and friendly, and the music they had playing was nice as well. The vibe is mellow, and the decor is pleasant (check out the ceiling tiles!). It's definitely a great place to stop when you're doing your gift shopping. read more

Coalition has amazing appetizers! I started out with a grapefruit gimlet. Not too sour, not too pine tree. I'm not a fan of gun, but this cocktail was smooth and refreshing! Just what you need to start off your outdoor dining near the lake! We had a group of six sitting al fresco. Our waitress was wonderful! Any was friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Loved her! We ordered appetizers...spicy fried cauliflower, mussels, Korean tacos, and pork buns. I chose the pork buns. They had a perfect little cloud of a bun. Flavorful pork topped with barely pickled cucumbers. So fresh! Delicious! For dinner their were burgers and salads, but I got the walleye with potatoes. It was so delicious! Breaded walleye with a lovely aioli and greens! Purple and white potatoes were sliced and covered with butter and cheese! The food here is just so good! The drinks are fun, delicious combinations. You really need to check this place out! If you're lucky Sally will come by and strike up a hilarious conversation with you and tease you a bit. She's lovely! Our group had so much fun talking with her! Go for the people & service and you'll stay for the food! read more

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Stopped in here for a bite of lunch and had the chicken sandwich on a cheesy biscuit. Delicious! I really enjoy more of a sweet flavor with my fried chicken and biscuits so I would opt to ask for some honey on the side. The bartender was awesome. She mixed me up a splendid lemon drop martini and I love the atmosphere. The menu is a bit limited so if you have picky eaters or people who like "plain" tasteless food send them to a commercial spot like applebees and take your own ass there and enjoy! read more

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Went with a girlfriend on a week night- had wine, beer, curds, fries and split the pork chops and Brussels. Super busy, service was fantastic. The food was alright. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything I would go back for. I've stopped by for drinks and smelled the delicious fries i the past. Maybe it hyped up my expectations? read more

Love the location in downtown excelsior. The restaurant is a cute date spot. We easily got a table of 4 on a Tuesday night. Apps: -Loved the fried goat cheese balls. Drizzled in honey and chopped pistachios. -Loved the Korean tacos. Soft, thin beef Served with kimchi. Lots of flavors in this one! -loved the pork sticky buns. I simply love the doughy texture of the sticky bun. The pork was good too. -shrimp toasties were ok. It was served with pesto. Main: -I did not like the lamb kabob. The waiter said this is the best thing on the menu. I knew I wanted meat so I blindly ordered it. It was ground lamb. Like a meatball on a skewer. The cous cous and veggies underneath were good - nice summer flavors. Side: - loved the cauliflower! read more

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The environment is cold literally and so dark. Salad was anemic and wait staff unfriendly. Just a cold and unremarkable smell experience for a special day. read more

Food (Salmon & Steak Sandwich) did not wow us. Seemed like it was trying to tho. Just eh.

One of our staples in the area. Love the cauliflower with red paper flakes as an appetizer. Service is always really good and friendly/welcoming. The only reason for my not providing a 5* is the request to have more variety on the menu, including additional meatless options. Maybe more seasonal variety? read more

Expensive food and then they add on an additional 4% add on for COVID?? How about you don't gouge your customers that are slowly coming back. read more

We had Brunch here after Easter. The staff was tremendous. Kind and helpful from start to finish. I went with the Enchillads and Eggs with a side of breakfast potatoes. Absolutely delicious. The side was big enough for three! The French toast was a hit with my kids. The walleye tacos were a big hit for a few members of our group! read more

Slow and moody service. Not family friendly. Gives customers with strollers a hard time. Waitress was the epitome of "Minnesota nice." Aka very passive aggressive. Food was bland. Impossible to eat huge salad that's served with a mountain of leaves and tasteless dressing. read more

I loved the look, feel and vibe of Coalition, and I definitely want to go back again next time I'm in Minnesota. The margarita was really good and very strong, although I do wish I'd ordered a more unique cocktail in hindsight. The steak sandwich was good, but not my favorite. I wished the steak was cut up prior to going on the sandwich and I wished there were more toppings, like lettuce, onions, etc. I'll definitely be anxious to try the other things on the menu if I make it back. My cousin got the shrimp scampi and loved it! read more

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We have been here several times and the food is amazing. The margarita is delicious. Nice wine choices too. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, including the appetizers. read more

Went here for dinner for the first time on Valentine's Day and it was PHENOMENAL. I had the pork chop and baked sweet potato and it was mouth watering. Cannot recommend enough! read more

My wife and I go here when we're looking to have a nice cocktail and sit at the rail. Ryan, one of their bartenders, is by far the best bartender we've ever had. He's got that classic bartender swagger- quick with a joke and he'll light up yer... well not smoke- but he'll do an amazing magic trick if you ask him. Love Coalition! read more

Split the walleye and Brie salad, the flavors on both really stood out and the walleye was cooked perfectly. One person in our group ordered the salmon and I thought it looked like it was overcooked, but it actually just had a nice char and was cooked perfectly on the inside. The cauliflower also had great flavor and everyone loved it, even the person that usually doesn't love cauliflower. We ordered a chocolate something for desert, I don't really care for sweets, but tried it and it too was very good. Our server was excellent and they corked our bottle of wine for $25. The dining area was cozy and nice. I also thought the prices were reasonable for what you got. read more

This place is a gem in the small town of Excelsior, MN! The ingredients of the food were so fresh and wholesome that I could hear your tummy thanking you for a healthy and tasteful meal. I was pleasantly surprised with the omelette-style dish I got (can't remember the name but I have attached a picture). Everything was perfectly cooked and portion sizes were the right amount. The place wasn't busy during brunch but neither was it empty. The large windows allow for a good time people watching. I wouldn't be surprised if the quality of the food in the rest of Excelsior is as good. I would definitely recommend brunch at Coalition to anyone who is visiting the town. The location is central and allows for a lovely post-meal stroll. read more

Coalition Restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Excelsior, Minnesota

I love salt, but this food had too much of it especially the "Asian" fusion food like steamed buns and noodle salad. The meats are heavily salted and inedible. We ate inside and flies were flying everywhere. Took awhile to order food too. Too over priced for what you get. read more

Quick and easy. The 50th and France area has a lot of really good dinner options. Barrio is always fun, Salut is great and Red Cow is always a solid choice. Coalition is a fantastic spot for brunch, lunch and dinner. We hit it for dinner and it was awesome! Walking in, this place had an upscale, modern rustic vibe. It was cool. Tables, high tops and a big bar in the main room and a rustic farmhouse style side room. The drink menu looked adventurous and great but like usual I was looking for a local beer. They had a good rotating selection of local taps and I landed on one. We ordered up the pulled pork buns and fried goat cheese. The pulled pork buns were amazing! I've had similar at a wonderous kitchen that is no longer around. It's an Asian dough that's soft and chewy containing a ton of popping flavors and textures. You get three and they are eaten like a taco. Highly recommend. The goat cheese was good. Breaking pretty thick and tough to crack, but the honey and pistachio was delicious. I got the burger and my wife got the watermelon chicken salad with a side of Brussel sprouts. The salad was served with the chicken on the side and she had to cut it up herself before putting it on her salad. We both thought it was weird, but she said after working for her salad, it was excellent. The brussel sprouts were sweet and served with grapes. They tasted fresh and sweet. I like em savory, so I let her eat the rest. The burger was a really solid cheeseburger. A soft buttered bun surrounding a very fresh and properly cooked local beef patty. Thick cheddar cheese, crunchy raw red onion, tomato and some bib lettuce. The best part was the special sauce. It was a 'fry sauce' like mayo and ketchup mixed. I wanted a side of it for my fries, but ate everything too fast. We got a couple of pies for dessert. Key lime and chocolate mouse. Both were fairly small but packed a ton of flavor. A perfect end to the meal. If you are looking for fresh tastes, excellent service in a comfortable environment this place is your jam. read more

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This restaurant is an Excelsior mainstay but their menu is tired and has not been refreshed in years. Hopefully the arrival of some new competitors will get them to update things. Right now it is a Fashion Emergency. read more

Bad service, bland food. Server never refilled the disgusting endless coffee or water because he never came back until he brought the bill.

Two words...Korean Tacos! We won't come to Excelsior without stopping in for them. Superb...super flavorful with a little kick.

My wife and I took a 15 minute ride to the city of Excelsior, which is right on the large Lake Minnetonka.We were meeting up with some friends we haven't seen in awhile. We sat down next to the front window and I ordered an IPA and met our friends. Lots of great options for lunch/brunch and they brought some doughnuts out for free as an appetizer. I tried one, pretty good! I ordered the bison burger with a side salad and my wife got the grilled chicken sandwich. Our awesome waiter recommended I get the burger medium-rare, because bison gets dry on overcooking. Cool tip. The burger was good, I cut in in half, which was probably a bad idea, because it got a little crumbly and fell apart, but that was on me. It was still a tad dry, but the bun and accouterments and meat were all solid. The side salad was amazing! the balsamic was super flavorful and t he quality of lettuce was spot on. I got one more IPA and we all talked for about 20 minutes after our meal was done and didn't feel rushed. Service and atmosphere were great. Good times. read more

First time checking this place out with a larger group of friends (14 to be exact). It is located in a pretty neat spot with a ton of stores and restaurants in the immediate area. The restaurant has an intimate setting with dim lighting and it's make the place appropriate for date night as well as a gathering with friends. The waiter that served us was great. He was knowledgeable about the entire menu as well as knowing the beer menu by heart and the details of each beer. One thing I did enjoy about the menu is that there were not too many items which makes it easier to order when it's your first time. I order the steak sandwich with the house salad and had there citrus beer (sadly can't remember the name of it). The sandwich with that beer pairing was delicious. The sandwich had a nice dressing on it with a side of au jus which topped it off. If this is your first time I will let you know they are smaller portions for some of their items so if you're really hungry ask the waiter which portions are larger. Other than that great time with friends and very friendly staff. Great place to visit! read more

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Great service. Food is a flavor explosion. In my opinion, I am willing to pay a decent amount of money for good food, and this food is worth the price. read more

OMGOODNESS! It's been several weeks since out visit to Coalition. I am still flashing back to those amazingly tender and flavorful smoked pork chops! read more

What a gem this was to find! The food was amazing. All of it. We started with the brussel sprouts and goat cheese balls. The presentation was well done and the flavor and combos were spot on. The menu wasn't as expansive as I was expecting, but that didn't matter. It was all so good that we will be back to try the rest. The steak sandwich was perfect - meat done exactly as ordered, soft bun, perfectly crunch fries. The apple brie salad was just right, with the perfect homemade salad. If I had one critique it would be that the desserts weren't homemade, but then, this isn't a dessert spot. However, that being said, they were still phenomenal and I'd go back for dessert and coffee again so it doesn't matter that they weren't homemade. The service was great, friendly, and prompt. We will definitely be back! read more

My sister & I were looking forward to enjoying another steak sandwich here, but were sorely disappointed. The steak was so tough that there was no way you could eat it as a sandwich. It was a chore to saw through it with a knife & fork. This applied to both sandwiches, not just one. Told the server who said she would tell the chef, but no offer to discount the price. Not going back! read more

Met a friend for dinner and it was wonderful. She wanted Shrimp tacos but sadly, they were out. I had ordered the Apple and Brie salad and had to stop myself from licking the plate it was so good. Service was great and the bartender was willing to make a Bootleg for me. The only thing I was not wild about was getting 4 messages this afternoon reminding me that I had a reservation. read more

I took the family last Friday (first Friday they opened). We had reservations, the restaurant was pretty full and had a steady stream of patrons coming in. Our server was impeccable, checked in with us often but not annoyingly. I got the blood red margarita to start and a Minnetonka mule, both reasonably priced cocktails for the western burbs (less than $10 each). We went with the servers recommendations for food: mussels, burrata, brussel sprouts, and ribeye. Everything was solid, just not outstanding. Nothing was wrong. Nothing really stood out either. I won't be rushing back. read more

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A perfect cozy place to wind down a long week with drinks and play catch up with friends! Loved their twist on gimlet and martini (yes, we love our tequila's) and food was perfectly paired! We celebrated my friends birthday and the staff were kind to offer a desert and oh my!! It was the best chocolate toffee cake I've ever had! read more

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Coalition is hands down the best restaurant in Excelsior, MN! The food is amazing, service is always great, and the atmosphere is perfect for a nice dinner! It is a pretty small location and is usually busy, so I definitely recommend making a reservation or going early to avoid a long wait. I have enjoyed pretty much everything I've tried on the menu, but typically go for the seafood pasta! If you want to try the steak but don't feel like a full portion, order a salad and add steak to the side for a small, but perfectly cooked filet on the side. You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu! And Coalition has a great drink list and wines to pair with any food. Definitely worth checking out this awesome restaurant in Excelsior! read more

Alright folks, I have given this place 3 chances!! In my book this place is OUT!! No presence of management, under trained/experienced front of house staff, and the high school aged kids seating tables need to be schooled on how to talk to guests... The ONLY saving grace is the Minnetonka Mule, great drink! The WORST thing about this place is their Ribeye... No joke, I have had better at Denny's! Go for a drink then gtfo, I'm over this joint. read more