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    Escape on 2nd Ave

    3.7 (11 reviews)
    Closed • 3:00 pm - 10:00 PM

    Escape on 2nd Ave Photos

    ESCAPE ON 2ND AVE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Sydney N.

    We came to Escape on 2nd while at a friend's cabin, and it's a great little spot! Looking like a small cabin on the side of the road, this joint definitely has a lot of character. On the inside are tons of random signs - from alcohol references to just the most random sayings you can find. We also loved the stocked and decorated bar to add to the ambiance. The bartender was friendly and helpful, and the food was quick! It was easy to order at the bar even though we were sitting at a table. One thing to note is Escape doesn't have a deep fryer! So no fries or cheese curds on this bar menu. It definitely sets this place apart from others in the area. We started with a round of their Bloody Marys - which is Escape's specialty! I loved that there were so many to choose from with different flavors and levels of heat. The bartender also let us sample them before ordering, which was really helpful. My table was pretty split ordering a few of the "kickle", a few of the "hot lips" and a "red neck juice" - unfortunately none of our group ordered the "escape bloody", but hopefully we will be back to try it! I had the "reck neck juice" and it was a delicious classic bloody with a little bit of a kick and a thick & chunky consistency. I loved it! Especially the Gouda and salami on top. For appetizers we ordered the Bavarian Pretzels & Parmesan Crusted Cauliflower. The pretzels were nothing out of the ordinary, but the beer cheese with them was delicious! I also really enjoyed the cheesey cauliflower, soft naan and garlic butter - a more unique offering at a bar like this. For food I just had a cheeseburger with grilled onions. It came with a side of chips, but I didn't eat many as they just came out of a bag and weren't homemade. The cheeseburger was delicious and fresh! Nothing crazy, but just a really good burger. Sets itself apart since it didn't have the deep-fried, greasy feeling. Overall, I would definitely come back if I'm in the area again to try more bloodies and more from the menu!

    Front of the building, view looking southeast.
    Maxx M.

    Interesting place - overall good - 3.5 stars. So...my buddy lives about 5 minutes away and he's been bugging me for over a year to drive to Clear Lake and checkout Escape on 2nd. He told me all about the awesome food (most made from scratch) and about the humble unpretentious atmosphere...kinda in the middle of nowhere. Yesterday, on Saturday night, 4 of us showed up to chow down and to throw back some drinks. GOOD: 1. I have mixed feelings about Escape. The real stand out are the Bloody Mary's. They have a wide variety of weird & wonderful Bloodys, many are like complete meals. One has a hamburger on top. They also offer some other specialty cocktails and a few wines. 2. They have a big list of casual style food with lots of flavors. 3. The prices are very, very reasonable. 4. The local customers are awesome. 5. Our server (and the bartender) was incredible. We left her a fat tip because she was working so hard - alone - as people kept piling in the front door. NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: 1. From what I can tell, hardly anything is really made from scratch, with the possible exception of the chili. I'm not sure about the artichoke dip. I liked the variety but I was disappointed in most of the quality. I guess I was mostly let down after hearing the hype from my buddy over the past year. The hype didn't match the reality. 2. They were ridiculously understaffed for a Saturday night. It was busy as hell but there was only one person out front (bartending and waiting) and one person in back (cooking). It was totally inadequate. Our server was busting her ass but she couldn't really keep up. The wait times were painfully long. We wanted to get more drinks but got tired of waiting. 3. There's a shortage of seating. If I was the owner, I'd dump the stupid pool table and add a few more tables. The 4 of us had to share our indoor picnic style table with 4 strangers because of the seating shortage. Interesting...worth the stop...but frankly, probably not a destination spot. -Maxx

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    4 years ago

    Awesome food, creative and delicious They have Daily specials that are unique and seasonal.

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    La Poblanita - Ground Beef Chimichanga

    La Poblanita

    4.4(179 reviews)
    44.6 mi
    •$

    Happen to be Cinco de Mayo - place was packed. It is a combo restaurant bodega. Menu has some good…read moreoptions - fajitas sound good. Portion was very good. Came with rice, beans, lettuce, and tortillas. It was cooked well, but lacked seasonings. The rice and beans were fairly bland as well. Overall OK, but could be better. 1 man, 2 cents...

    We just so happened to be in the Eau Claire area running an errand, and before we drove back home,…read morewe were feeling a bit peckish. We decided to check this place out for lunch since it wasn't too far from our current location. The restaurant sits in the middle of a strip mall, so parking was very easy and convenient. Inside the restaurant, a mini market selling basic Mexican ingredients and pantry goods is connected to it. Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted promptly and picked out a table to sit at. We came during lunch time on a weekday and there was quite a bit of people in the dining area (it wasn't packed, but for a weekday lunch rush it was fairly busy). We ordered the ground beef chimichanga and beef tongue tacos. The chimichanga was fried perfectly and the ground beef was very well seasoned. It was hands down one of the best chimichangas we've ever tasted. The tacos were also delicious. The beef tongue was very tender and the salsas that came with our meal paired excellently with the tacos. I also very much enjoyed the seasoned radish that came with the tacos as an extra condiment because it gave the tacos more crunch and texture. Overall, the food was excellent. Service was fast and very friendly. The dining atmosphere was casual and it reminded of the hole-in-the wall places I used to frequent during my childhood. As a California native, I approve. So far this has been the best Mexican restaurant (in the Midwest) that we've tried. Would highly recommend checking this place out if you are in the area.

    Photos
    La Poblanita - Mexican decor

    Mexican decor

    La Poblanita - Chicken Fajita

    Chicken Fajita

    La Poblanita - Signage

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    Signage

    Escape on 2nd Ave - tacos - Updated October 2026

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