Loved this spot! It's tough to get a good drink in eau Claire but if you want one this is it. Fantastic cocktails and service. When we went they had live jazz music and the band was fantastic! I would go back in a heartbeat! read more

The Lakely - The outside - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

We were seated at a super cozy table in corner next to fireplace. Great atmosphere, hostess was very friendly, and service was very good. Drinks were great as well. BUT Food is very overpriced! Appetizers are very MEH! main course, $32 for a hanger steak and potatoes. You don't get an actual streak! You get 4-5 thin slices of meat on a MOUNTAIN of potatoes. Absolute rip off that will leave you hungry unless you feel like stuffing yourself with 30 mini potatoes. Dessert was lava cake and carrot cake. Both are not worth it. Carrot cake was overly sweet and exploding with nuts. Lava cake portion is very small and served in this enormous bathtub like trough that make ls it hard to share. Also not worth the 20-25 minutes it takes to get. I would return here though because of the good drinks, service and atmosphere. I would just get a burger next time and hope that it's decent. read more

Food was disappointing. $32 for a bowl of fingerling potatoes with 5 thin pieces of steak. I thought I was getting an actual steak not a bowl of potatoes. Apps were good as well as service. I would give the ambiance 4 stars. Probably a nice place to stop for a drink but would pass on the food. read more

Really love the vibe here! Was staying at the hotel so it was convenient to just come eat (plus they give you a BOGO drink token with your stay). It was only the restaurant week menu. Food was solid, I was most impressed with the drink and atmosphere though, which I loved! It was also open mic night! read more

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Stopped for a cocktail, sat outside in the patio on a perfect night. Service was very slow even though the place was rather empty. Severs were more than polite, though, once they stopped. After ordering cocktails (which were all delicious-I had the Cosmo), we chatted for a bit but no staff came over to check on our party of six. No second round for us since we were already there for over an hour with no check-ins. Eventually had to go into bar to pay our bill with no apologies given. May stop again, not sure. Make sure you have LOTS of time if you go! read more

Pretty meh. Food and service one step up from Applebees. Tasteless steak and pasta (who puts cukes in pasta?? Decent fries and good drinks. Disinterested and not welll informed server asked another table what was in a dish. read more

Meh. Not bad. Little pricey for what you get. Good taste. Would eat here again. Live music was a good touch. Enjoyable atmosphere We only had brunch here, but the server was raving about the supper. read more

The koldbordt was pretty amazing and the drinks were delicious. Their bartenders and runners were totally overwhelmed most of the night. But the real star is the outdoor space! Lots of different seating types, fire pits for late night, and a shady pergola. Live music inside was not my jam, but I wish there had been some music outside, too. read more

Best Sunday Brunch. The menu is unique and really great. Beautiful outdoor patio and nice atmosphere. read more

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I came here on a Tuesday night for open mic. I had the best time with all my friends and seeing the comedians and musicians perform. I got an NA cocktail and it was delicious! I love how anybody from the community can sign up to play at the open mic. Some of the comedians were hit or miss but still it was fun to be there. I didn't try any of the food but when I go back, it's definitely something I plan to do. read more

Wonderful place for breakfast! Great atmosphere, food, and service. We didn't wait long till someone asked what we'd like to drink as well as food. Waitress was great to give recommendations on items they liked as well as other customers liked. Food came out quickly and was delicious! Looking forward to coming back on our next trip to Chippewa Falls! read more

The Lakely - BYO Omlet - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Eau Claire, Wi. This place is located in the Ox Bow Hotel and has kind of an upscale vibe. We came for an early dinner so we were seated immediately. The simple salad was just that, small and simple with fresh greens and a very tasty vinaigrette. The asparagus soup was amazing with a dab of lemon garlic creme fraiche. The hamburger was on the small plates menu but it was a normal size burger. The burger was delicious but probably does not make my top ten. The puck was cooked a perfect medium well. The meat had a fine grind which gave it a very tender yet unusual texture. The taste of the 1/2 inch patty was excellent, probably premium beef. The brioche bun was not protected on the bottom by a leaf of lettuce so it got a bit soggy. The lettuce was shredded and piled above the puck and had very little function, taste or moisture control. The grilled mushrooms were a real plus, rich tasting and not mushy. Swiss cheese was ample but not overpowering, The chicken pot pie: So good. No it doesn't come out in an aluminum pie tin, but rather a very nice pastry shell. Featured really fresh veges and shredded chicken in a very light gravy. Again, an item from the small plates menu that was not at all small. Chocolate cake was dense but not too sweet. On top, a toasted creme anise chantilly. On the side a coffee simple syrup. A nice chocolate dessert experience. The waitress asked "How is everything tasting?" I really hate that. But she only asked once and was so sweet she gets a pass, even if she forgot my wife's coffee. This was good because the wife realized it would be unwise to have coffee at that hour. Upon return for Fathers Day brunch we both ordered quiches, meat and meatless versions. They were unlike any quiche I have ever tried, thick egg pie with no discernible cream or cheese that makes a typical quiche so good. Stephanie took both quiches and ate the topping off them. I summoned the waiter and ordered an omelette with smoked trout. The egg was thin and almost crepe like. Lots of spinach in there but not at all objectionable. I enjoyed it. I fully expected to pay for my quiche. However they deducted the cost of my quiche AND did not charge me for the omelette. A magnanimous gesture indeed. read more

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So I went back. It is still terrible. I asked for an alteration on a menu item to suite my taste and was told that the "chef" doesn't like to do that. FAIL I ordered one of their new "craft" cocktails and watched the guy make it. I asked the server if it was going to be good and she said "oh yeah, our bar manger knows what he's doing" I took one sip and almost threw up in my mouth. FAIL It took me 40 minutes to get my food and when it came it was room temp at best. FAIL Zero out of ten, would not recommend read more

I struggled between 3-4 and would give a 3.5 if I could. Personally, I found the dishes a bit lacking in flavor-- as in the seafood just tasted blah and one-note tomato. The caesar salad looked impressive, but its flavors did not blend. Disappointing. The drinks were nicely done. They had a good variety of options. The atmosphere is okay. Nice, chill vibe, but the jazz is hit or miss. One night was great, the next was just some mediocre trumpet player that sounded like he was doing technique exercises over a loop. Puke. I am not sure if I would return.. I definitely would not spend my money on the "meh" food, but I would have a cocktail. read more

Totally enjoyed this restaurant! Service, ambiance, quality of food, and entertainment. read more

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Very lovely, went here for an anniversary dinner. Cleaner and neat. Servers are attentive and friendly. Food is contemporary American with a nice twist. I enjoy the appetizers and the beer is cheap! The only problem I have is they book out their stage quite frequently, and sometimes the people who are performing aren't on par for what I consider to be a upscale venue. However, they have had multiple high profile guest so this evens out. Great food, excellent service. read more

i just experienced the worst service I have ever had in my life. We were a party of 6 having fun. We each had one drink. We were laughing and keeping to ourselves, the waitress came over and said she was uncomfortable serving us. We were so confused as to what the problem was and what was going on. i have never been so offended in my whole life. I have traveled around the world and dine out regularly. I know how to handle myself in a public place. The staff was so rude to us, it was so extra. Do not dine here - they do not respect their customers. We are in our 50's and they are in their 20's. It was a generational agism and unnecessary. My kids go to college here and I used to like staying at the Oxbow but I will NEVER STAY HERE AGAIN. I will also tell ALL of college parents that this place is weird and to not stay here! read more

We went here for dinner and I had the best walleye I have ever had. My wife had the sampler plate and it was delicious. read more

The Lakely - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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Very cool little restaurant in the Oxbow Hotel. We had brunch this morning before leaving the hotel. Service was OK. Not great but not terrible. It was comfortable pace -- sometimes I like a faster pace in the morning. I had the Belgian waffle with blueberries. It was really good. I would get it again for sure. My wife the quiche with spinach, mushroom, and red pepper with potatoes. She liked it. Portion size was on the smaller size. My son had the omelet. Portion size was on the smaller size -- certainly smaller than we are used to in the Chicago area. We shared the biscuits and gravy -- which might have been the star of the breakfast. :) They were super good. I'd say that menu is a bit limited. Half of the menu was drinks, which we didn't have any prior to getting on the road for home. We'll be back. read more

Had dinner with colleagues Thursday night. Sat inside for dinner. Delicious choices in draft ales and wines by the glass. Great table service. Really enjoyed the fresh garden salad and the short ribs. The white fish looked delicious as did the burger. Returned later to sit outside, enjoy the deejay's music, and have a cocktail. Delicious old-fashioned called a Grandpa or something or other. Great ambience. Everyone there seemed to really be enjoying the night. Look forward to returning to this very charming restaurant and bar. read more

When you see the phrase "hotel restaurant" as part of a restaurant review, it is almost always in the context of something like, "... but it's not bad for a hotel restaurant." Hotel restaurants bring to mind prepackaged food sold at an exorbitant mark up because the owners know they have a captive audience. You know, the kind of place that serves fast-food quality hamburgers for $15. So when we heard that The Oxbow was going to have its own restaurant, we quietly hoped that they would not become another example of the "hotel restaurant" stereotype. The Lakely, the new restaurant in the Oxbow, clearly throws that stereotype out the window. Helmed by renowned local chef Nathan Berg, The Lakely offers an innovative yet compact menu that should satisfy the needs of any diner in the Chippewa Valley. We decided, being the adventurous eaters that we are, that we would visit The Lakely on opening night. Obviously, the first night a restaurant is open is always an adventure, but we were remarkably surprised at how smoothly the service went over the course of the evening. Jimmy, our server, did an excellent job of making sure that the pace of our meal perfect, and his attentiveness to our table should be commended. We were also impressed with the speed of the bar service under lead bartender Jorja. Our beverages were promptly refilled despite the complexities of some of the cocktails on the menu. As a group, we sampled virtually the entire menu and we were, to say the least, impressed. While we could wax poetic about essentially everything we ordered, four menu items truly stood out. On the starter list, the roasted squash soup had an amazingly smooth texture and intensely rich flavor. Another starter of note was Berg's take on traditional Canadian comfort food, poutine. The substitution of thinly sliced potatoes for fries and the savory mushroom gravy turned this appetizer into a clear winner. Among the main courses, the clear consensus of the group was that the Hot Dish Au Canard was one we would definitely order again. The perfectly cooked duck combined with wilted greens, wild rice, and sarvecchio cream sauce was a wonderful, savory feature on the menu. Another star on the menu was the Wild Rice Kofta, an outstanding vegetarian option with a spiced tomato cranberry sauce. The Kofta was an eye-opening revelation, and proof that not all restaurants in Eau Claire force vegetarians to eat piles of steamed vegetables. Finally, we would be remiss if we did not mention the cocktail menu at The Lakely. Under the creative direction of lead bartender Jorja, there are several innovative beverages on the menu worthy of your attention. Two that stood out for us were the gin-based Corpse Reviver and the Maple Bourbon Sour, both of which became fast favorites among the group. The clear consensus of the group was that The Lakely was offering a menu that is truly unique in the Chippewa Valley. Nathan Berg's innovative food and his commitment to local producers, combined with a fun and creative cocktail menu, as instantly turned The Lakely into one of our go-to spots. read more

We were looking for an "upscale" dinner for a special weekend, and we found it! Limited menu (we were disappointed that pasta entrée was sold out,) but that meant that each choice was carefully chosen and prepared. Great customer care by our server, Morgan. Craft cocktails were unique (Getaway Car, Miles Away, Toast). Appetizers were devoured (Lakely Fries & Chickpea Fritters). Entrees were delicious (Klatt Farm Burger, Cedar Bee Chicken Breast, Local Beef Selection=roast with fingerling mashed potatoes). We didn't stay for the live jazz music, but setup look promising. Restaurant was very upfront in masking policy and in tipping policy. Yes, menu prices were high, but owners are committed to paying well above minimum wage without tips. We tipped 10% even though not required. read more

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Arrived at 11am for breakfast to be welcomed with live music and a whole restaurant to ourselves. The musician played on his guitar and violin as we ate our delicious breakfast on this cold and sunny morning. Our wives had the Norwegian breakfast while my friend had the breakfast burger and I had the wild rice porridge. All washed down with mimosas and bloody Mary's. It was a wonderful breakfast with great music and great service. Prices are decent and decor is nice. There is street parking nearby and the place looks to seat about 30 including seats at the bar. We are eager to come back during warmer times on their porch! read more

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This is a very interesting restaurant inside a hotel. The atmosphere is great for dinner and drinks. There is also an outdoor area that has vibe. I order a few drinks and a beef tenderloin. Food was great and the servers where on top on their service. read more

Went to the lakely and felt like it's gone downhill. Sat at bar for drinks and service was great. Counter service ordering makes it seem like a coffee shop not a dining restaurant. Food was good. I don't appreciate telling me tipping is optional because employees are paid a living wage. I doubt staff are paid much more than McDonalds which is not a "livable" wage. Let customers decide if tipping is optional. Also, by forcing payment upfront, staff can't be rewarded for great service. I hate to describe people to give compliments but reddish beard bartender and girl with dark hair, pony tails, big smile and big glasses both gave great customer service. I hope they got their share of tips we left! Food was good but menu pretty limited. read more

The Lakely won a place in my heart tonight as it is one of the coolest places in. Eau Claire if not NW Wisconsin. The restaurant within the hotel in this wonderful little area of EC screaming "rebirth" leaves me inspired and hopeful. At the same time I left a little disappointed. But just a little. The place is really nice. I may even stay in the hotel next time. Granted we visited on UWEC parent weekend, we had no serious or glam expectations for this little carve out of an area of Eau Claire that is "back" and offering tremendous value and attraction. If not for an inexplicable delay between our salads, an oddly timed delivery of a side of potatoes "because they were ready" and our main courses, I may have rated the place a 4. We waited no less than 35 minutes from salad to arrival of the entree. The potatoes arrived half way in between. We started with two salads - the simple and the beet. I preferred the simple salad - the vinaigrette won me over. The beet salad was good but the crouton sized beet chunks were too small unless my salad sharing spouse and daughter grabbed more than their share. Note to kitchen - I prefer sliced versus cubed beet for a salad. Our table enjoyed two lamb and one NY. Both entrees were delicious. I'd add a tiny side veggie to each dish. The small plates and salads are good for a starter. I just prefer when I know in advance no side is served with the entree. It's a timing thing. The lamb was tender and served in medallion sizes. I'd have the lamb again in a second. My daughter devoured the steak. I look forward to returning to the Lakely soon. I know my critique may read a little harsh. I'm not down on The Lakely. My hope is they get the timing worked out. Shouldn't happen with an established place. And next time I'd like to visit when the outdoor patio is open. read more

Great place to grab some drinks and food, nice dining inside and outside. It's priced higher than other restaurants but you're also getting higher quality ingredients and they pay their staff a living wage, which also means that a tip isn't required for the bill. The wait time for our drinks was longer than a normal wait. Also, wait until you see the bathroom sink, it's kind of trippy. read more

The Lakely - Charcuterie Board appetizer - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Stayed at the Oxbow Hotel which is connected to this restuarant. We decided to have a few drinks at the bar prior to going out.for the evening. My wife and I were impressed by the drink menu. They had so many amazing craft beers, specialty cocktails, wine and even martinis. The UW band was playing live Jazz music so we decided to stay and have dinner. We had a steak the dinner that was out of this world. Cooked perfectly! This place was very modern, classy, clean, friendly staff, clean bathrooms, and just an all around great place. We would stop back if in town. Prices were very fair! More of an adult style lounge bar and restuarant. Perfect for a date night! read more

The Lakely - Craft beer and Steaks! - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

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A breathe of fresh air from the standard bar and grill you'll find all over Eau Claire or Wisconsin. The Lakely gives locals a chance to try something new and exciting without having to travel far or to a big city but also gives people from out of town or state an authentic taste of Eau Claire. The drink menu is amazing, you can try a highly innovative cocktail, an old classic that you're probably familiar with, or a great craft beer selection. The food is top notch, using local farms to create healthy portions of full flavored yet simple dishes by some amazing chefs. And if you're not super hungry and don't want to spend too much, get a koldtboard - it's so good! You can tell the staff behind this place really cares about what they're putting out there. Everyone is full of passion and genuinely cares about the food, the drinks, and the ingredients being used. If you don't know what something is or have questions, just ask. Everyone is super friendly and eager to help or answer any questions you might have. Can't suggest The Lakely enough. Proud to have the place in my town. read more

Stopped in for a couple drinks around 5 pm. The bartenders were very educated on their alcohols and how to make drinks. They have a great list of many original drinks they have created. I tried one and I am sorry I forgot the name, but it was a list of ingredients you would not think would taste good, but actually, was a very refreshing drink. A nice place to go for unique drinks and nice atmosphere. The drinks shown were a brandy old fashioned sweet and a dirty martini. read more

The Lakely - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

This is our second time staying at the Ox Bow and eating at the Lakely. First time was great and we recommended it to friends. This time not so much, both hotel and restaurant staff were arrogant and rude and gave us the impression that they were doing us a favor for letting us stay there and visit there restaurant. There will not be a third visit! If I could give them a negative star I would. read more

I mostly come for breakfast. The omelettes are very good. My favorite is The Fallon...mushroom, cheese, optional ham. Nothing seasonal about this so I would assume it would be on the menu all year long but noooooooo. Why? It's now gone and replaced with something with apples in it. I don't want apples in my omelette. I want mushrooms and cheese....and sometimes ham. I eat breakfast here 2-3 times a week...when they have The Fallon. Farm to fork and organic is important to me so I choose restaurants by that criteria. I'll now wait for The Fallon Omelette to return before eating breakfast here again. I'm local and have several friends..one a chef...who won't come here anymore for similar reasons. A shame. P.s. how about some gluten free bread! read more

While visiting for brunch during the Eau Claire Music Festival, it took 2 hours to get food with a restaurant that was not filled. When we entered there were a number of empty tables, but the hostess did not seat us. We went to the bar where we had the best service, getting a great blood mary. That was the only highlight of the visit. After checking in two times with the hostess while at the bar, we found she crossed off our name and finally seated us. After seated, not one server acknowledged us for about 20 mins until I went over to what seemed like the manager and asked if we had a server. Ten minutes later our server came over telling us he wasn't comfortable with how many tables he was given. It was uncomfortable for us and him. The food; when it arrived lacked taste (eggs w bread pudding). Overall total miss read more

My husband and I stayed at The Ox Bow for a week while recovering from surgery at a nearby hospital. Since our hotel room wasn't equipped with a kitchenette and our mobility was restricted, we ate at The Lakely a lot, which turned out to be such a blessing! The service was lovely and the food was always fresh and delicious. My favorite dish was the piping hot, peppery Chicken Pot Pie! read more

My wife and I went last night. We arrived before dinner and started with a couple drinks. The atmosphere is great and the place was very clean. Staff had a professional appearance. As for the food we were very dissatisfied. We had poutine as a starter the dish was unevenly heated and the gravy was at least day old. I had the steak which was over done and under seasoned. My wife had the veggie plate and was dissatisfied with the seasoning as well. The band was great and we were in love with the atmosphere. We may not return for dinner, but may enjoy drinks some other time. Expected more. read more

Here on business. Was pleasantly surprised there was a restaurant in the hotel. Even more pleased by the delightful staff. And better yet when I learned it was a farm to table restaurant. The food and craft cocktails are delicious and I feel like I've been spoiled since I checked in. Thank you! I will definitely be back! read more

The Lakely - Restaurants Near Me - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Chef Eric's new menu is amazing. Such attention to detail, high quality ingredients and beautiful presentation. Check out the music offerings - this place is doing great stuff and I hope everyone can stop by to support local food and local artists. read more

For big city prices, I'd expect to go home with a doggy bag. Food sucks too. Fish was over cooked, brussel sprouts were salted to the point of nastiness and dessert conisted of a 3 day old muffin top. Unedible. The best thing about this place is the bathroom sink and the live jazz. left the place feeling swindled and hungry. read more

Coming from California I wasn't sure what EC would have in store for me. I like sustainable, humane certified, organic. I do and will pay for that. The Lakely has it and the food is wonderful. There's mellow live music playing this night that I'm here. A jazz ensemble on a cool and rainy November Thursday. I am biased in that we fell in love while Bon Iver songs misted in the background during morning French pressed coffees and evening buttery red blends...if you're looking for an evening from a magazine then come here; it won't disappoint. Oh...one last tip for The Lakely...hooks for jackets and purses at the bar and a brass foot bar would be nice. :-) read more

Fun night to hang at the bar for a couple of unusual cocktails. Jorja was awesome and we learned a lot about the different cocktails and ingredients. A true professional bartender! read more

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