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    Howard's

    4.4 (44 reviews)
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    Nice, casual vibe.
    John Z.

    The Food is Amazing! We went there with friends. I was a little disappointed going into what looked like a regular old bar. Wow, was I wrong: we started out with a smoked trout dip appetizer - super fresh - incredible! I had the Philly cheese steak sandwich on the recommendation of our server. The description said it was made with prime rib and I'm like yeah sure... Well, it was, and not only that they have fried the meat to get a nice crunchy texture on the ends. Perfection. The best Philly Steak sandwich I've ever had - including in Philly... Stillwater, you got it going on!!

    Bar vibe
    lindsay p.

    Dive bar vibe with the best food! We got the trout dip -- the pickled veggies were so good and the dip was light and fresh. Super nice stuff, comfy atmosphere, good bar menu New fave!

    Walleye Sandwich

    I can't believe there are no Yelp reviews on the Walleye Sandwich at Howard's. It was the best I've ever had! The filet was generously sized, super succulent and perfectly battered. The goodness didn't stop there. As others have mentioned, the smoked trout dip/spread is to die for. Adding pickled vegetables was a nice touch. We sampled the chicken chili was tasty and included a generous amount of chicken. Howard's may have a dive bar atmosphere, but the food we sampled exceeded our expectations!

    Lasagna
    Luke G.

    I was very surprised how the good food is! It's a bar, in a tourist city... which doesn't typically translate to made from scratch kitchens. This place is fantastic. The walleye boats were cooked perfectly and had a crispy batter. The homemade dressing on the salad was remarkable. The lasagna was sooooo good. Lasagna away from is usually not that great, but this was one of the best I've had.

    I love the food and ambience at this local restaurant, however, stop using colorful markers to write the specials. We can't read them.

    Rib eye steak
    Laura O.

    Very delicious Rib eye dinner for $29.00, There special tonight was actually a prime rib dinner for $32.00 but this caught my attention more. Done to perfection, not much fat SUPER flavorful! The asparagus was crunchy and delicious too and the loaded baked potato was filled with cheese goodness and bacon. They brought horsey sauce and au jus out too with the steak which was a nice touch even though we didn't order the prime rib. Heard the new owner was a Michelin star chef before he bought this place. Made a good choice eating here, general bar looking place.

    Nichole M.

    Great music, cold drinks and a fun atmosphere. Definitely a place to stop in and be. Appreciate the local feel and conversation. The service was on point. We were greeted, waters brought to the table and car bombs promptly delivered. Also took our pictures and gave us a bag for our to go. Wish we found this earlier in the day so we could have stayed longer.

    Exterior
    Catherine P.

    We drive from St. Paul consistently for this gem. The staff is lovely and the food is amazing; you can't miss the trout dip, the lasagna, the crab BLT, or the prime rib if it's on the menu. And though cheese curds are something you'll find on many menus in the area, Howard's are hands-down the best.

    Trout Dip

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    3 years ago

    Always great food and service!! Nowhere as noisy as Brian's!! Morgan makes GREAT Long Island Teas as well!!!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Historic building, fun staff, great food at a reasonable price. I love the chili and the fresh squeezed grapefruit cocktails.

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    The Next Stop - East bar view

    The Next Stop

    4.7(3 reviews)
    0.8 mi

    Stopped in yesterday, Friday for some live music @ 3:00. To my surprise @ about 20 to 3:00 Chris &…read moreMike were already playing!! The acts are set up just inside the door, nice! I liked how thoughtful Next Stop is of their acts; there are about three guitar stands attached to the wall behind where the musicians set up. I sat @ the table just inside the door. As most bars nearly all tables are hi-top, there was one standard height table w six or eight chairs near the middle of the bar. I felt this was the Townie Bar....full w a bunch of chill, kind folk. I didn't take a picture but there was a laminated sign on my table: For food and drink service please see the bartender. I was pleasantly surprised when everyone stepped out during the music break when the lovely bartender passed by, she stopped to ask if I needed anything? Very kind, as I can read and I knew the request. The bar was pretty full but not squished in like sardines full, nor loud. They have a parking lot, not a lot of spaces, so you just park along the edge/grass of the lot and all is peachy. I enjoyed that a couple few of the regulars ended up moving to the table next to me and danced for a lot of the gig! They were kind and lively ladies! The music was great, the environment comfortable and welcoming, the people friendly and attentive and friendly service; I definitely don't see this being my last visit. I didn't see anything on their social media or website and didn't ask yesterday to find out what's with the fireman theme? I really like it... look up, helmets make some of the light fixtures and there are figurine type things on the higher bar shelves. Next Stop Bar thanks for a fun and memorable inaugural visit, you've definitely made a fan and hopefully a repeat customer out of me, cheers!

    If you're tired of the boujee scene in Stillwater, the closest bar/restaurant across the bridge is…read morea steal. This place has a really down to earth vibe, the waitress is quite nice and there's good music. I would argue you're better off taking the extra 5 minute drive into Wisconsin because they have a delightful menu, my proof is the PB Bacon Cheeseburger (yes, as in Peanut Butter, it's fantastic)!

    Photos
    The Next Stop - Cool helmet lights

    Cool helmet lights

    The Next Stop - More helmets

    More helmets

    The Next Stop - Bar entrance

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    Bar entrance

    The Freight House - Slush in Pineapple

    The Freight House

    2.6(297 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    I'm giving this place 3.5 out of 5 stars because that's exactly what it is: average, and nothing…read moremore. Since Yelp doesn't allow half stars, I'm rounding down to 3. We went on a Monday afternoon, and the whole town was pretty quiet. Service-wise, we had no issues at all. The staff were friendly and attentive, so I can't speak to some of the negative reviews mentioning poor service. Here's where the problems start: the pricing. After tip, tax, a small appetizer, and two meals with no leftovers, our lunch total was $66. We only had water for drinks, and that felt very overpriced for what we got. We started with the cheese curds, which were around $13. The portion was small, maybe 25 to 35 curds, and they seemed like something you could buy frozen and make at home. They weren't bad, but they were definitely not worth the price, and I would skip them next time. I ordered their house-famous chicken tenders meal. The flavor was good overall, and the breading had nice seasoning, but it tended to peel off. One of my tenders was also tough and hard to eat, which was disappointing, though the other two were juicy. The fries that came with the meal were excellent and probably the highlight of the restaurant. They were perfectly crisp and seasoned well. I ordered an extra dipping sauce, but I never saw an itemized receipt, so I'm not sure how much it cost. It would have been nice to see the breakdown before paying. My wife ordered a sandwich and soup. I tasted the soup and thought it was good. She didn't have any complaints about her food, but said the restaurant was "mid" overall, and I agree. The bathrooms were another low point. They looked clean but felt worn down and not very well maintained. They also only had air dryers, which are loud, cold, and less sanitary than paper towels. On a positive note, the atmosphere was pretty good. It had a relaxed and casual vibe, which we both liked. Overall, for $66, the only leftovers we had were a few fries. Bigger portions would have made a difference. If I had been able to take some chicken tenders or part of my wife's sandwich home, I probably would have rated this 4 stars. When you add up the portion size, price, quality of the bathrooms, and the overall taste of the food, you get a very average experience. This restaurant isn't terrible, but it's not one I would go out of my way to visit again. There are many other options in the area that are a better value. If someone in your group really wants to come here, at least now you'll know what to expect.

    Huge patio! Did I say HUGE! Not kidding! If you ever can't get into another restaurant location…read more(sorry to say this) but come on down to the Freight House. They are located on the southwest side of the lift bridge with gorgeous views of the river, bridge and lots of great people watching. Huge patio umbrellas and the place is a well run machine. They have lots of great food options and I would say they have definitely updated their menu with more modern options....yay! I got the grilled peach salad and added salmon. Perfect summer salad. It included grilled peaches, blackberries, candied pecans, feta, spring mix and raspberry vinaigrette. It was light and delish. Service was great, helpful and shockingly fast. This is also a great place for huge parties of people. The tables are HUGE, just like their patio space. It's also recognized as a historical place. Check out the placard.

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    The Freight House
    The Freight House - Shrimp cocktail $17?!?

    Shrimp cocktail $17?!?

    The Freight House

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    The Velveteen Speakeasy - Speakeasy Views

    The Velveteen Speakeasy

    4.1(115 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Tucked away in the most unsuspecting spot, this is one of the hidden gems of Stillwater!…read more Plenty of street parking available outside or paid lot access across the street, sneak into the door and travel down to a whole underground speakeasy! The bartenders and servers keep the theme front and center in this prohibition-era spot! Plenty of comfy couches and seating arrangements to support small to medium groups! Cocktail menu has the classics and inventive new takes! Haven't had a bad drink from this spot in many a visit! Can't wait to see what they mix up next!

    On a beautiful day, we decided to make a stop for cocktails at The Velveteen. Upon arriving, we…read moreentered the door and descended dimly lit stairs, then passed through a stone hallway to reach the entrance. The wait at the table was longer than we anticipated but luckily for us, there were some bar seats available. The bartender at the moment was Cameron. He gave us the rundown on the food and drinks and made several recommendations. We started off the evening with the Don Corlone. It was very tasty and also an Andorran Martini. Both drinks were delightful and were semi-sweet but not too sweet. The mixture of the Don Corlione had a perfect blend of citrus and sweetness. We then ordered the pastry puff poppers and they were amazing. The sauce complemented the pastry puffs and the filling left you wanting more. To finish the night we ordered tiramisu, cheesecake, and some bubbles. Thank you Cameron for the amazing service and experience we hope to be back again soon.

    Photos
    The Velveteen Speakeasy - Incredible Bruschetta \

    Incredible Bruschetta \

    The Velveteen Speakeasy - $13 Smokey Robinson

    $13 Smokey Robinson

    The Velveteen Speakeasy - $14 Whispering Ashes- smoky, liquor forward, perfect

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    $14 Whispering Ashes- smoky, liquor forward, perfect

    The Wild Hare - Shrimp & watermelon ceviche

    The Wild Hare

    3.8(105 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    The service was fantastic, and the food was just as impressive. Wild Hare truly delivers with fresh…read moreingredients, thoughtful flavors, and a great overall experience. Definitely will be back!

    Stopped in for a quick lunch and sat at the bar which, should support the quick lunch goal -…read morehowever, service was surprisingly slow. It wasn't all that busy, roughly three staff members in and out behind the bar inclusive of an employee who was working on a sangria mix? Pre made cocktail mix? Not sure but he was putting something together the majority of the time I was in. I digress. It wasn't just myself and guest who experienced the slow service, there was another group at the end of the bar that had to ask multiple times for their tab to multiple employees. On to the food: -I went with the Royale Smash Burger, which was quite tasty and honestly, the seasoning of the burger and the cheese stood so strong on their own I wish I didn't have the tomato and pickles in hindsight. Really great burger! -the side fries were solid and seasoned perfectly! -the onion rings we split was surprisingly the opposite. No real taste to the batter, came out not super hot, and really soggy. The exact opposite of the side fries and honestly, wish we'd skipped on them. Overall, the service kind of killed the experience, the burger was solid, and I'd skip the onion rings. There's some decent spots in Stillwater and this place always seems super busy this was the first chance I had to stop in and... not sure with the other options I'd jump to go back. Perhaps it was just an off service/off afternoon?

    Photos
    The Wild Hare - Fun atmosphere!

    Fun atmosphere!

    The Wild Hare - Cheese curds

    Cheese curds

    The Wild Hare - Champagne Supernova

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    Champagne Supernova

    Howard's - bars - Updated June 2026

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