Wonderful Food, Friendly & Attentive Staff/Owners, Great Dining Room, Great Experience We were greeted at the curb before we could even enter. Nice! All of the above apply, and I could go on further. If this fits your budget, just book a reservation and treat yourself. read more

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Our New Year's Eve reservation at Chef Shack was our first time at the restaurant, and not the last. Bay City is a humble blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of town, so it's easy to find the restaurant. Parking was abundant. Upon entering, we found a cozy but not claustrophobic or loud environment. After waiting a few minutes, we were seated at a table for two with a view of the nearby fireplace. Service was impeccable. Every course was spaced out with precision so that we never felt rushed. NYE was a special event, $125 per person for couples and larger groups. The meal included two glasses of wine, a white from the central California coast and a dry red from New Zealand (if I correctly recall). There were also cocktails available for additional cost. There were four main courses offered, the choice taken by our server just after we were seated: veggie curry, steak, venison, or seafood bouillabaisse. Lisa Carlson of Chef Shack and Chef Nettie Colon were partnered for this night. The first course was a chickpea puff that was like a seasoned cloud. My husband doesn't like chickpeas but even he loved this. The next course was an empanada made by Chef Nettie Colon. Wow. No doubt, the best empanada I've had in my life. The salad was next, and what is usually a mundane side was elevated to delicious artwork. The main courses were next; my husband had the steak, while I had the venison. Both meats were delicious, but I must say, I'm glad I chose the venison because it was something special. I believe it had a cherry reduction on it, and the fruity sweetness added so much to the meat. After that came the dessert. We were each given a house-made scoop of ice cream to enjoy along with four chocolate and vanilla tartlets and a single slice of Benedictine cake to share. Everything was extraordinary. Something I truly appreciate about the meal was the perfect amount of food. We didn't leave feeling sickeningly full, but were 100% satiated. Chef Shack is truly a treasure tucked away in rural Wisconsin. I look forward to visiting again when they reopen in spring! read more

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It was.....okay. The food wasn't very warm - across the board (appetizer and four entrees). Flavor was pretty good. Coffee was fabulous (French press). Dessert was also above average but not enough to bump up to four stars. Service was great and ambiance is excellent! Overall good, not great. read more

Drove an hour to this supposedly special restaurant for our anniversary for their bbq rib special. Our entire experience was poor starting 5 minutes before our reservation time. We arrived 5 minutes early for our 5:00pm reservation and were told we needed to wait outside because they were having a meeting (it was 94 degrees outside). We then waited until 5:03pm when we were finally let in (now we are sweating profusely). Btw, when we were walking up they had just let others in and they were seated when we entered. Bad start, but we were hopeful our meal would be great. We were seated at the bar (per our reservation) and were handed one menu for the two of us. Our primary server was the bartender, who was quite kind but was in a tough spot with the owner watching her every move and ridiculing her right in front of us. They had no greens on their limited menu so we asked if they had any sort of side salad, but were ignored. We also asked if the ribs came with a vegetable; the owner did not know and said she would check with the chef. She never returned with an answer. The soup was good, the rest was below average. We ordered the focaccia which came in a brown paper bag and stapled?? The rib plate contained 3 ribs (which were dry, not very big and had little sauce). The ribs came with wasabi mashed potatoes, but there was no wasabi flavor to be found. If you are going to have a limited menu with one item, it better be really good - it was not. The owner made it a habit of asking everyone how their food was and before you could answer she would answer "yummy?" for you. Not only annoying, but it was obvious she did not really want to know. We almost felt like our presence was an inconvenience to the owner. Needless to say, we will not be back, nor will our dozens of friends who will hear about our experience. It was very disappointing!! read more

Wow! The food at the Chef Shack has always been special, and now with the owners/cooks recently back from Italy, the cuisine has leapt into another realm of delicious delight! I wish I could remember the names of all the amazing dishes we were served, but the the new serotonin pathways in my brain remain. The seating and decor was beautiful and seasonally festive. We sat in a cozy corner booth near a REAL fire place and it was lovely. Service was also fantastic, starting with being met just inside the door with an amazing drink that included a unique combination of elements. The wait staff and owners were friendly, attentive and created an overall good vibe. Highly recommended. read more

Gorgoeus summer Sunday arriving 10am. Food truck is only option: My husband & I got what was on the small menu: #1: 3) Tacos (chicken, pork, & sweet potato) -very good! The sweet pot. one was magical, who knew? My husband said "I could eat 4 of these!" And #2: Breakfast burrito (smoked chicken). OMG, off the charts on flavor Packed with so much goodness...potatoes, eggs, fresh herbs, some kind of heavenly green chili salsa...& chicken melts in your mouth... (based on the tacos, guessing pork burrito may even be better!). One of the best foods either of us have ever had. Note: No coffee here, no Bloody Marys. They do have beer & wine. Plenty of tables in their open back area. Can see the Mississippi from most spots - we were the only ones there. Small menu - no matter. Tastes to travel for. Still savoring, hours later. Food truck with essentially same menu every Fri & Sat night if you want the affordable taste sensation. Their culinary expertise made us ready & willing to go for their high end $95/ 6-course per person/plate Fri/Sat night option now! read more

Chef Shack - French Near Me - Bay City, Wisconsin

Worst italian feast ever:1) over $250 w/o alcohol. 2) deep fried apps (gross) 3) salad with beets (same salad I make at home). 4) watery pumpkin soup 5) hamburger helper pasta. 5) watery, tasteless polenta topped with a good new york strip 6) hard to identify desserts. This place has a lot of work to do to come back from this. This was no feast. Boring food and terrible flavors. read more

It was a very welcome surprise to find a place this good in this part of the rural Mississippi River valley. A family member booked this for a birthday celebration, so I took their word that it would be worth the trip, and they were right! The exterior is unassuming in the tiny Bay City, and the ambience is cozy, but not remarkable. The food and service, however, were extraordinary. I would say competitive with the best restaurants in the Cities. We had a fixed menu due to the size of our party and all the selections were superb. It started with an excellent vegetable soup with a tasty, nuanced broth, not exactly hot, but had a finish with a hint of spice. That was followed with a brilliant arugula salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette that, remarkably, satisfied both the blue cheese lovers and haters in the party. The one course that I was less excited by was an onion petal stuffed with mushrooms. It was good, but the balance was a little strong to the acid in the sauce. Interesting texture, but it needed something to balance the acid. I chose the lamb for the main which was simply excellent. Well cooked (to medium rare!) which let the flavor of the meat shine. After a nice cheese plate we finished with lovely lemon birthday cake which was bright counter to the savory meal. Throughout, the service was friendly and attentive. Lisa and Carrie, the owners, were lovely and satisfied all our special requests. The night was memorable for all. I grew up nearby and never would have expected a restaurant of this quality in the area. It would makes for a great conclusion to a day trip of enjoying the outdoors and historic sites along this scenic part of the river. read more

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The food truck has been tasty when we tried it. The prices and menu are not in my style ... to sit down and eat. They are quite busy ..: so it must be good. I would recommend if you are passing thru and want a romantic dinner. read more

We visited the Chef Shack this past Saturday evening. We made a reservation, but the restaurant was pretty empty for 6pm. It did get a few more patrons as the night went on. Service - I have a few thoughts on this. While the servers were very friendly, it was very frustrating that they told us they had no room on the outdoor patio when we could clearly see multiple open tables outside. Very unaccommodating if you ask me. Also - though the food came in a timely manner, the drinks took at least 10 minutes each time we ordered another. Ambiance - The restaurant is very rustic and homey feeling. It fits well in the small town setting. Very cozy. Drinks - I have the Blueberry Mojito. This was delicious and I did end up ordering two. It was unique and refreshing, but like I already mentioned, took a fort night to create. Food - We had a couple different meals throughout the table. We split the vegetable omlet, smoked salmon and liver pate as appetizers, none of them really stuck out to me. I had the halibut special - very dry and sadly didn't have a ton of flavor. I also tried the steak and frites. The frites were great, but the meat was just average. Kind of disappointing actually. Overall - We will not be returning to Chef Shack. We did not feel out meal was of value for the prices. read more

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We enjoyed the chefs dinner in June. Five plates, including three options for the main were served and everything was delicious. Drinks are offered and a wine paring comes with the main dist. This splurge was well worth it it. Make a reservation and enjoy the meal. read more

Adorable French bistro, exquisite food, flawless service, beautiful design. I highly recommend this hidden gem. We loved how friendly everyone was and the food was wonderful. We had the 7-course tasting menu and every course was great. read more

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Hidden gem here over the river from Red Wing Mn. This is a destination dining experience and it's WELL worth the trip. Open weekends in the summer, many awards on the wall and what comes out of the kitchen exceeds all of them. These gals have it down. Locally sourced, perfectly prepared, and supremely delivered. Their skill reflects their world travels and training to seek out new flavors and culinary delights. Normally when you get a multi course meal, you're going to get at least one thing that's just OK. Not here. After multiple visits, we've had not one thing that wasn't exceptional. Everything from tacos to duck breast. They deliver at a premium metro chef level, for half the cost. And then there's the bar. Equally on par with the food experience, the crafted cocktails are wonderful and compliment the menu perfectly. Paired with the rustic feel of old barware and old school mixology, they leave nothing to be desired. read more

First experience at Chef Shack but enjoyed a meal with another couple that were repeats. Bay City is well.....quiet. It's quaint though and feels a little like a destination :). On the one hand, Chef Shack might be better served being in Red Wing, Hudson or even Minneapolis, I think part of its appeal is that it is a bit out of the way. So, we were totally good with that. Simple menu, friendly and knowledgeable service. Amazing food. We all loved it!!!! It's not a cheap place to eat, but my Lord folks.....it's a good value for what it is. Our salads, entrees and desert was all fantastic! You haven't lived until you have tried the burnt honeycomb ice cream. Maybe the best part was fantastic cocktails and a very knowledgeable cocktail master Wayne who was great company, fun, and a real magician. If you are a bud light drinker, don't bother, but if you enjoy wonderfully delicious and creative cocktails commensurate with some of the top locations, they deliver albeit with a somewhat limited selection of scotch and whiskey. We will be back for sure. read more

Perfect in every way. Great southern French style atmosphere. Thoughtful and inventive dishes. Kind and attentive staff. Even the utensils and serving ware were special. Can't say enough good things. read more

This review is based on my trek to the Chef Shack food truck in Minneapolis for the 'shotgun burrito' featured on their menu. Service was quick and friendly, but the Shotgun Burrito missed the mark during my visit. The burrito features pulled pork -- an excellent filling if the burrito had been filled with more of it. Instead, the burrito was overstuffed with bland beans and rice. Pork was only prominent in the center of the burrito. The last few bites of the burrito featured an tangy homemade slaw that provided welcomed bites -- but weren't enough on their own to redeem the meal. The burrito came with crispy home fries chips and homemade pickles. The Chef Shack may provide the best food truck experience in Bay City, WI, but it doesn't stack up well against food trucks like Vellee. Thankfully, it's still early in the food truck season and the Shack has time to up its game. When I return to the chef shack at the end of summer, I expect the food to be better -- or the truck to be absent... From its return trip to WI. read more

Chef Shack - The Chef Shack food truck treks into Minneapolis. But is their shotgun burrito worth the trek? @yelpmsp - French Near Me - Bay City, Wisconsin

A gem in small town WI. Take a ride along the Great River Road in western Wisconsin (Hwy 35) and be sure to stop in Bay City to dine at Chef Shack. Quaint ambiance, friendly staff and amazing Owners/Chefs, Lisa and Carrie. Great wine, incredible mixology and exquisite cuisine - mmmm fantastique! read more

We've been wanting to make the trip out to Chef Shack Bay City all summer. We finally did and we were so glad. Bay City is lucky because there's not much else to recommend it and the Chef Shack brings some new life that that little corner of Wisconsin. We loved the warmth of the decor; it's interesting and eclectic without feeling overdone or cluttered. And the mix of barn, kitchen, camp and travel curiosities was fun. We particularly admired a piece of rose quartz the size of a small child near the fireplace. We started with the mixed green and caesar salads and both were excellent. Generous portions with a delicious mix of greens. Both were perfectly dressed with Chef Carlson's magic. I am always impressed with the subtlety of her dressings. We had the cast-iron fried walleye and the chef's vegetarian plate. The walleye was crispy on the outside and soft and flaky inside. It was really delicious on a bed of seasonal vegetables and potatoes that were fantastic. The vegetable plate, though, may have won the night. Seasonal vegetables also on potatoes with small sections of different delicious sauces made the vegetarian's heart swoon. Again, it is so great when chef's really put the same heart and creativity into the vegetarian offering as they do for meat & fish. To push the evening over the top we finished with two desserts, the chocolate po de creme and the vanilla creme brûlée. Both were amazing and the table couldn't pick a favorite. They alone might be worth the drive down from the Twin Cities. We were so glad to come down from the Twin Cities to see the permanent Chef Shack Bay City. We predict they'll gather quite a loyal clientele on and around the lake as well as fans from the Cities. We'll be back for Thursday night pizza night and we can not wait. read more

The meat and cheese tray is worth every penny. Not cheap but very different and pretty good. Still a bit of a mental leap to drive to historically decrepit Bay City for dinner but we did and were glad after. The unsightly main strip on 63 gives one the impression all that live there are meth heads and the like but one half block in we found Chef Shack. The meat and cheese tray is worth every penny. There is no real cheap way to get out of this place on a weekend evening. We had the walleye and the beef cheeks--the former was the better choice I thought. Good service. Weird beers and wine but the beer was decent if not a little spendy. Looking around at all the yuppies I sort of doubt this is the most expensive meal they've had in weeks. The inner-city of Bay City is much nicer than I expected. Wide, quiet streets and a great little park down on the lake. Too bad Bay City's first impression is that you really don't want to be here after dark when the toothless hillbillys come out from behind the stacks of used tires so they can concoct meth from the battery they just boosted from your car. Chef Shack used an iPad when we settled the bill. Cool. read more

Excellent veggie strata! Hosts were attentive and personal. Awesome experience for mothers day. Hoping to drop by again soon!

This is now the Chef Shack restaurant and opens Oct 31st. Chef Shack operates a high-end localvore food truck in the Mpls-St Paul area in the summer and at this location in bay city in the winter. read more

Chef Shack - River Bay Cafe is now CHEF SHACK! - French Near Me - Bay City, Wisconsin

I was hoping to be able to give Chef Shack a 5 star review. I have been wanting to go for quite a while. Every September, a group of 5 friends who all have Sept birthdays get together. We decided to make the long trip to Chef Shack this year. We were hoping for a special day with fantastic food. We made reservations 8 days in advance. Their policy states that for parties of 5 or more you have to give a credit card number and if you don't show, they will charge you 250.00 OK, I get it, you don't want to hold big tables for people that don't show up. They also state that you can not cancel within 24 hours of the reservation or they will charge you. OK, once again, I understand, you have a small place you need to fill the tables. So during the week, I received reminder messages, I received warnings the day before that we could no longer cancel and I received and replied to messages confirming the reservation. This morning, I received a text while I was asleep and phone call later as we were getting ready to leave which I missed. I started checking messages as my hubby was driving. It turns out they wanted to change our reservation. I called back right away. .The manager answered and said they wanted to move up our reservation because they wanted to close early. She transferred me to the chef who said they were closing early so the staff could go to Chicago for a competition. I asked her when they wanted us to come and she said 12:00. This is at 10:30 when I had already told her we were 2 1/2 hours away. She suggested rescheduling. I had explained that this was a special dinner we had been planning. Pretty much all she said was "we hope to see you another time" There was no offer for even a free drink or something to make up for ruining our special day. They messed up, they didn't properly block of the day in their system and they couldn't be bothered to check reservations ahead of time to see what they had. I got numerous e-mail and text messages along the way confirming the reservation, then this last minute cancellation. So, I can't review their food, but their customer service gets a zero, and no, we will not reschedule. read more

Wow !!! A couple of real Chef's, are running their own kitchen , and it really shows! I stopped for brunch on it's last day open, before a seasonal closing.. !!! I'm hoping it is a short one, but it is quiet in the River towns, so maybe it will be when the birds return! I had the root vegetables, and scrambled egg hash.. ( Hangover Hash), a Bloody Mary , and both were incredibly good, sorry can't give a 5 for hash.. But try it you will love it! ; the experience was a 5 ! The restaurant and bar are well done, and a unexpected treat for a small river town on WI 35 on "The Great River Road" ! If we want these great Chef owned, driven restaurants we need to support their efforts , here is one that deserves it! The hospitality, attention to details, quality of ingredients, and a Wood-fired out-door Pizza oven, Roman style dough.. Fresh ingredients, I can hardly wait for Spring! read more

Let me start by saying that our wait staff was fantastic! The owner/manager ruined our experience. We were a three person group that wanted to start with a croissant while we considered what we wanted for breakfast. While our waitress put in the order of croissants the owner/manager came and took our menus. When we said we weren't done with the menus, she told us that we couldn't order that way and we needed to decide on everything all at once. Completely ruined the atmosphere and experience. She then called our waitress to our table to reprimand her in front of us! Funny thing we could order desert after we were done with breakfast (like anyone has desert after breakfast)! Not happy especially when the breakfast was average at best and the bill was 120.00! read more

We had just completed a long hike at Frontenac State Park and were looking for food close by and came across the Chef Shack on google. Let me tell you, it was SO GOOD. We had the pork tacos, pork and egg burrito, and vanilla tart *chefs kiss*. My fiancé is super picky when it comes to food and he loved it. the girls working the truck were super nice and helpful. This was a hidden gem that we will be visiting again! read more

Fantastic food and ambiance: a warm and inviting restaurant. Worth the drive to this small town. Wonderful, unusual cocktails from Wayne the charming cocktail maker. Call ahead and make a reservation. read more

Ok Food at extravagant prices. The portions are extremely small as well.

Wonderful food, great quiet atmosphere with garden view and beyond the lake. Service very comfortable. Just catch their schedule and have a great meal with signature drinks like their frozen G&T concoction. We will go back next time we're in the area. What a lake gem! read more

Stopped for lunch on a sunny Sunday...a rare commodity this year. We were en route from Madison to Saint Paul and decided on a scenic drive home. The motorcycle traffic was unbelievable, luckily they were headed south and we were northbound. But the presence of motorcycles and their riders was felt from Alma to Maiden Rock. The lunch spots were jammed. We hit Bay City and saw the sign for Chef Shack and decided to give it a try. The place is larger than what first meets the eye...both inside and out. We were greeted at the door, requested to sit out front in the breezy shade, rather than the sunny and crowded back deck. We were charmed first by the server and then by the food. We opted to share the charcuterie plate and each had the mixed greens salad with herbs. Loved the salad and the dressing. There was watercress in the salad, a nice touch, and a turnip which seemed a little out of place but tasted great. The charcuterie plate was awesome. The beef tongue was our favorite but truthfully everything on the plate down to the pickles and the spicy, grainy mustard was delicious and appropriate to the plate. Menu was somewhat limited, but the items --at least as described -- seemed imaginative. Enough for me to want to make the trip again. Nicely operated restaurant. read more

Warm environment, attentive service, creative and delicious food... Not cheap but I wasn't expecting it to be. Harbor View, I might have to start cheating on you a little... read more

Huge disappointment. Only 3 items on menu. One was out by 7:30 and it was the only one with meat or fish. The pasta with mushrooms was okay but not worth the $24 price, especailly since it left us hungry. A small lettuce salad with Caesar dressing was $8 more. Mediocre wine list. They only bring bread if you specifically ask for it and then it is simply a bread slice of ordinary bread. Total came to more than $100 per couple and not worth that at all. Stay home, you have more choice and the food probably will be better. read more

Charming French rustic country dining experience. Lovely food and presentation. Love this place!

This was genuinely our best restaurant experience of the year. The servers were friendly, helpful, and professional. The hand-crafted cocktails were creative and delicious. The food was amazing--fresh ingredients, nice presentation, and amazing flavors. From the moment we walked in the door, we enjoyed every part of our visit. Chef Shack is clearly a labor of love. I'd encourage everybody who wants great food and a little adventure to make a visit to the Red Wing area and head over to Chef Shack. Don't head over for dinner without reservations, though--the dining room is cozy and unfortunately they had to turn a few prospective customers away on the night we were there. read more

We went for Sunday brunch. Should have been prepared, we were the only ones there and one other couple came while we were there. Ordered the spinich quiche, and when it came, it was barely lukewarm. Sent it back, and next time it was lukewarm. The coffee was good, but again, not hot enough. I like my food and coffee hot! read more

What a great little place! Very impressed! I was celebrating a friends birthday with 7 other girls. The service was great and the food was wonderful! The chef made sure I had a tasty gluten free meal. This place would be perfect for a cozy date night. read more

The Chef shack has friendly staff, a great ambience, and amazingly delicious food with fresh ingredients. What a great addition to Bay City!! We could definitely use more businesses like this in the area! A must try, you won't be disappointed. read more

We were looking forward to dining here, but unfortunately didn't have the best experience. Ordered the chicken, and it was not fully cooked. The waitress while nice about it was pretty uninterested. It came back cut in half recooked and dry, the rest of the food was great, but came back cold. Cooking chicken is 101 and pretty sloppy coming out raw in the middle like that. Our waitress seemed to be doing floor manager work as we ordered drinks and they sat at the bar while she did other work at the bar. On a side note I watched as their bartender made a dry martini for some other table...she had no clue how to make it. Would not recommend based of our experience. read more

Amazing ambience and unique delicious apps and entrees. Highly recommended!

This restaurant is a very quaint little place with huge potential yet fails miserably. I've eaten there twice and tried the handmade pizza's cooked in the outdoor oven. Although really charming, food takes forever and sometimes fails to deliver at all (out of items after a two hour wait) Owner likes to karaoke but seems to enjoy it so much, customers fail to be the priority. Really hoping they get it together, would love to frequent it more often with a large group of friends rather then my once a year to see if it's changed before recommending it.... read more

We had a fantastic meal here. Portions are not huge, so you can try an appetizer and entree without feeling too full. The menu is small, but even so, everything was so appealing, it was hard to decide. The night we went, we had grilled bread with duck giblets, gnocchi with tomatoes and corn, salmon with seasonal vegetables and chocolate torte. It was all outstanding. The restaurant itself is lovely, but not stuffy or formal - just a great place to treat yourself to a beautifully prepared meal. read more