A beautiful drive through the countryside led us to Shady Grove, a restaurant outside of Ellsworth, Wisconsin. Located in a small building that gives no clues to the delicious meals offered inside, Shady Grove is a hidden treasure among the farmlands of Pierce County.
We joined two other couples for a wonderful evening of food and conversation. Ellsworth is known as the Cheese Curd Capital of the World, so we decided to start off with deep fried cheese curds for an appetizer. I think we came close to inhaling them, they were so good. The cheese curds come from the local Ellsworth Co-op Creamery.
Several of the ingredients on the menu are local, including produce, honey, and caramels, as well as the bison rib eye steak from Buffalo Hills Ranch in River Falls. Even our beer was brewed in Wisconsin. We ordered the Fat Squirrel Ale from New Glarus Brewing Company. It went down easy, very smooth, with a hazelnut taste. Something to look for in Wisconsin liquor stores.
Most of the entrees were around $19. The most expensive dinners were the Filet Mignon for $23 and the Cold Water Lobster Tail for $22. The favorite meals at our table were the oven broiled lobster tail and the wild caught, fresh Alaskan Salmon and Halibut, which were "shallow poached in wine and stock."
There is a tempting selection of desserts. We chose the Lemon-Berry Jazz (lemon mousse, curd and blueberries in a flaky crust topped with blueberry sauce) and Chocolate Beyond Reason (layers of mousse, ganache and whipped cream in a chocolate cookie crust). Both selections were rated well by our group.
The interior of the restaurant is cozy, with seating for about 45 people (my estimate), and casual. It feels a bit like a lodge up north. You can dress up or down and fit in. There is also a small bar area. The restaurant is only open for dinner, Wednesday through Sunday.
Shady Grove is an excellent place to go for a special meal. I usually don't like to recommend restaurants, especially if I've only been there once, but some of our friends have been there a few times, and they say the service and quality of food has met their expectations each time. I'm more than willing to try again.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Good eating at Shady Grove
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12 comments:
Alaskan salmon - now there's one way to grab my attention!
Hi David, I think the best salmon I've eaten was at Dutch's Daughter in Frederick, Maryland. (I haven't been to Alaska... yet!) They served it honey-blackened, and it was delicious.
If you are ever in Washington D.C. or Baltimore, it is worth a trip to Frederick just to eat at Dutch's Daughter. If you go, be sure to try the cinnamon honey butter on the warm wheat bread they serve with every meal. Mmmm...
The Shady Grove is and would have remained an otherwise unremarkable establishment with décor somewhere between, and Old Country Buffet, a hastily finished basement and spare bathroom if it were not for its catastrophically bad service and management. I have eaten in thousands of restaurants across the country and on either side of both oceans (north, south, East and West) and have never had service or a meal that was so horrendously bad. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve had some bad food and service before, but NEVER have I had the management return my meal, which was incorrectly prepared (or at very least, not to my liking), and explain to me why I was wrong—without even the faintest blush of trying to be conciliatory. Now I have been told that this is a small restaurant in a small community, but it claims to have a Chef and I have had a better meal (at a better price) in Grapevine, TX (find that on a map).
This place is to be avoided at all costs—go to Applebee’s, you be happier and richer at the end of your evening.
Yikes! I'm sorry to hear you had such poor service. We had a wonderful experience, with friendly and professional service and excellent food.
This sounds like my kinda place. Chocolate Beyond Reason? The name alone has sent my salivary glands into overdrive. :)
Hi Christine, Thank you for visiting Rambling Traveler. I agree, Chocolate Beyond Reason is a great name for a dessert!
Shady Grove is the best restaurant I have ever been to! I live in Minneapolis and like to try new restaurants quite often, but I have found Shady Grove to be the greatest! A classy atmosphere with good service and amazing food! They opened an outdoor patio last summer as well. I have found the prices to be lower and the food to be much better than what I have found in the Twin Cities. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone!
Reply to Francis: I am sorry to hear your experience was not good. I LOVE the place! The food is superb - my mouth was in heaven. The calamari appetizer nearly melted in my mouth.
Most everyone I know considers me very hard to please, food wise. Not a true 'foodie'.. but close. This place is a gem! The crayfish and andouille(soup)sausage soup is rich and oh, so good.
I am telling everyone I know who appreciates honest (no chemicals/boxed/pre-made, frozen, cryovacced, etc.) food cooked to perfection to head right over to Shady Grove - they won't be disappointed!
Shady Grove now has a website!!! www.shadygrovewi.com
My son attended college at UW River Falls. He introduced us to The Shady Grove. My husband and I love The Shady Grove. The Bison Steak, calamari, and Duck are wonderful. We have had a celebratory graduation dinner with his future in laws in the middle of December and everything was wonderful. The service and friendliness of the staff are exceptional.
Wow, Francis. Are you sure you were at Shady Grove in Ellsworth, wi?? I found this entry doing a search forShady Grove after eating there and totally loving it. Food is the best. Will admit our server was not the best we've ever had but that canhappen anywhere I guess. We overlooked it because the food taste/quality was outstanding. Highly recommend it.
Hi Francis,
Are you sure your talking about the Shady Grove in Ellsworth WI. I've eaten there many times and love the food !. Its fine dinning but you can where jeans and leave with money still in your wallet. You must have mistaken this reataurant for the Shady Grove in Texas.
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