This has been one of our favorites but it seems like we get seated at the worse possible tables. A table for two in the upper back room that is mostly used for large (noisy) parties or in front of the chalkboard menu. I really like the food here but they could make it more suitable for clientele by making a few simple changes. Move the menu board to the hall wall or pretty much anywhere else. Most people take a picture of it on their cellphones so they can be seated and peruse it. Print off a few copies for the elderly who can't stand there forever moving side to side as your kitchen help pushes through the door while they are struggling to see the menu board as their friends and family are shouting what the selections are ... ugh! It's ridiculous. read more

This place is a treasure. It is cozy and with a great decor. And it is great that the menu is always posted on the chalkboard behind the bar! I used to come here when I lived in Rochester decades ago, so it still is so much the same. My wife had the same stuffed mushrooms ($22), which she loved then as much as now. That was worth the visit alone. I had the halibut with black butter ($34), which I just don't get. The black butter is so overpowering, I couldn't taste the fish. Hint: Ask for the sauce on the side, as it was excellent with rice that came with the dish, but not the fish! Otherwise, the bread with the meal was good, and the wine selection was very good (try the Barrel Road for $7/glass!). The restaurant closes for the season November 18th, and reopens in May. It is up for sale, and I sincerely hope that the new owner keeps this treasure alive for all of us to enjoy. read more

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A nice day trip from the cities! My husband and I make an afternoon of it driving along the river on the WI side doing the many wineries/cideries then ending the day at the harbor view. This time we got an earlier start and had lunch instead. I was told the wait was 45 mins but we got in around 20mins. We didn't mind though, we grabbed a drink at the bar and went outside to sit in the shade in a couple of their cute chairs. Everything on their chalkboard menu looked amazing and the prices were more than reasonable for what came with the meal! Our fish entrees that came with a soup or salad and sides were roughly $30. This is on par if not better valued than some of the nice seafood places in the Twin Cities. We got the Haibut and the poached salmon, both were phenomenal! Looking forward to this yearly tradition every summer! read more

Harbor View Cafe - New American Near Me - Pepin, Wisconsin

Great food and service inside or out, with nice views. Our meals were tasty and well presented. Tables were well spaced and take out was available. read more

Harbor View Cafe - A great meal, too big for me to finish but it was good the next too. - New American Near Me - Pepin, Wisconsin

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Food was very good, very busy place. Friends of ours from the Mayo Clinic from Rochester met us there, after words enjoyed a bottle of champagne on there boat. We brought the dessert which was a whole Banana cream pie with a great sunset made the evening wonderful. Life is about making memories and that is our job for over 54 years and loving it. wwwpetruskaphotography.com read more

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Have been going here since 1991 and love the sautéed chicken breasts as well as the fresh ingredients locally sourced. Went there recently and ordered ahead, picked up, and ate outside (for Covid-19) and had a wonderful meal. Their Caesar Salad is incredible. Normally I eat way more bread than I should because it tastes so good. And the linguini in Chipotle sauce with fresh garlic cloves smothered over chicken breasts along side fresh green beans--so delicious. I can't wait to go back!!!! read more

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The tab: $185, without alcohol or deserts. We eat out often. And I --originally from Boston-- have eaten at seafood restaurants across the country, up and down both coasts. I've had memorable meals at revered places like Anthony's Pier 4 and walk-up seafood markets on the wharf alike. Atmosphere: Harbor View's management has this down *perfect.* The walls are entirely knotty pine, lined with filled bookshelves and nooks with antique, dimly-lit lamps. The tabletops and bar top is also solid, lacquered wood. You won't find cheezy wall-mounted fisherman's nets, lobster traps, anchors, buoys, and other ham-fisted attempts to create the atmosphere here. The atmosphere creates expectations of a superb dining experience. Upon seating, we were served bread. Not great -- as if purchased from HyVee a few days prior --dense, dry, hard, and cold. The butter was rock hard and difficult to spread. If you've ever eaten at Legal Seafoods, you know what a treat the bread is. My son and wife each ordered the "Alaskan halibut w/ black butter caper sauce." $35 I ordered the "Hawaiin swordfish - grilled w/ sriracha aioli & picked ginger." $30 And my daughter ordered "Atlantic salmon - poached in vermouth, cream, ginger, and leeks." $30 We also ordered the three-cheese stuffed mushrooms appetizer. The mushrooms arrived. Presentation wasn't great --just a brown and black "mess," but tasted great. Next came the soups and salad. I chose the Caesar's dressing. The lettuce was limp and seemed old. I don't recall any croutons, and the server didn't offer any cracked pepper. What I remember most was the dressing: it was served in an aluminum side-dressing cup; it just sat there, like greasy pudding. It was obviously poured from some commercially prepared --probably Sysco-- gallon-sized plastic jug (about on par with Applebees). The soup, minestrone, was the only choice (no lobster bisque or clam chowder)-- looked like something microwaved out of a can or what you'd get from Perkins. By now, I simply assumed this place doesn't waste time on frills (bread, soups, and salad). I figured this was like one of those awesome hole-in-the-wall places back home, where all you get are oyster crackers, but the lobster roll and fried haddock was so worth waiting for. Wrong. First came the halibut. It was lightly breaded, but appeared to be covered in HOT FUDGE sauce. It was possibly the most shocking, unappealing plate I had ever seen served at a restaurant. "What is that stuff?" I asked, pointing at the congealed black liquid. "Black butter?" she replied. There were capers in there somewhere, unrecognizable. Also on her plate was an aluminum salad-dressing cup of salsa --just unimaginative diced tomatoes with maybe a few onions and cilantro. It resembled whatever they grab from some stainless steel container at Taco Bell and throw on your burrito right before it's wrapped, stuffed in a bag, and handed to you through the drive-up window. My swordfish arrived. It appeared to be sprinkled with Old Bay. I've had better at places like the Twin Cities Grill (MoA) or Axels (Mendota Heights). It sat atop a pile of sour kale. I wasn't sure if I was eating kimchi, mustard greens, or sauerkraut. Whatever it was, it was awful. There was a few buttered baby red potatoes --about like you'd get at Boston Market-- maybe the best item on the plate. My daughter's salmon was covered in an unappealing, phlegm-yellow gelatinous substance with a marmalade consistency. After sampling, she didn't want anything on the plate. Also on her plate was another of those aluminum salad dressing mini-bowls, but filled with unseasoned boiled cranberries. Bright red. My guess is that the chef thought he or she was thoughtfully adding "color" to the plate. Who eats boiled cranberries? Also on her plate was an inverted-cup of rice that looked like something that came out of a microwave-heated Uncle Ben's packet. I can't remember the last time I've walked out of a restaurant feeling "Cheated." Unfortunately, this was my experience at the Harbor View this past Sunday. [*review by husband*] read more

We decided treat ourselves to a nice dinner as this place is supposed to be great. We should have left immediately. The hostess wanted to seat us at a street side window where the sun was shining in brightly ( it was 90 degrees outside and we were looking for a cool place) so we asked to be away from the window. The restaurant wasn't even half full, so there were plenty of other options. She was very abrupt and unfriendly and angrily took us to another area. The menu is written on a chalk board hanging on the wall. This is hard to read from some of the tables so we stood there to read it and felt like they were not happy about that either. We ordered the prawn skewers and steak skewers. They both came on a bed to steamed kale that was so tough you couldn't even cut it with a steak knife! And none of the food was hot, it was either just warm or actually cold. Definitely not worth the $100 we spent for 2 meals! On the plus side the busboy was very friendly and the waitress, when she got to us, was very friendly and nice The glass of wine was good. read more

I've been eating at Harbor View Cafe since it opened. Even through previous owner changes they maintained the essence of the restaurant which is QUALITY ingredients and locally sourced food. The newest owner has, unfortunately, strayed from this. The ambiance is still wonderful and I overheard others who liked their meals. I'm glad they had a good experience. But from the start of our meal it was obviously changed. The bread quality is not the same. Did we get bread? Yes. Was it good bread? Meh. The gazpacho was terrible. I ordered the salmon Niçoise salad and there were two deviled eggs, which were unfortunately made from boiled eggs you buy already boiled and pealed in a bag. The taste is unmistakable. I'm pretty sure the salmon was farmed, I didn't ask. The dressing was mostly olive oil (and way too much oil) and very low on flavor. The halibut wasn't the same. The Caesar salads weren't the same. This isn't the restaurant we knew and loved. I'm sad and won't be back. read more

It's been a number of years since we were here last. We always viewed it as a treat. It still is awesome. It's pricey but the portions are huge. I had the halibut steak with capers, vegetables and jasmine rice. My wife a had the chicken linguine. Both meals included a large salad and sliced bread. Desert was carrot cake aka mode and almond cake with linden berries topped with whipped cream We have always liked Harbor View and this year for my birthday was great. read more

Food is a bit high in cost, however the portion was large. The food is always delicious. The service was not of high quality but anymore that is typical. At least I did not have to serve myself! Nice view and the ambiance is relaxing. The menu is listed on a blackboard above the bar, which is not convenient, but it's been that way for as long as I have been coming here. read more

We've been enjoying this gem for years. Consistently delicious food, quaint atmosphere, friendly service and a beautiful view of the harbor. A great spot for a quality date night followed by a stroll by the water. read more

I've been coming to the area for over ten years and this was the first I've heard of this "not so" hidden gem. Guess if I'd paid more attention I'd already eaten here. The menu is on a chalkboard with few options. Perfect the cuz they hit all bases. Steak, chicken, seafood. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful the food is. Portion size.... Big! I was invited by a local who was shocked I hadn't been here especially because of my love of not just cooking food, but eating. I ordered the Hawaiian swordfish, not sure what made it Hawaiian but it was wonderful. As a appetizer I had the gazpacho, probably the best I've eaten. The swordfish came served on a bed of kale greens with a horse radish sauce that went perfectly with the fish. What makes this place is a certain ambiance like no other. You feel like your in a private library of a close friend. Being waited on by someone you love to hang out with. The chef is on top of their game. What more could you ask for. A view of the Mississippi maybe? read more

Harbor View Cafe - New American Near Me - Pepin, Wisconsin

Excellent food. Perfect day trip. My husband and I took a day trip and drove through the towns of Bayport, Maiden Rock, Stockholm, and Pepin. We had lunch at Harbor View Cafe. I've heard that it can be a long wait to be seated but we got there around 11:30 and it was just the two of us so we were seated right away. There was a larger group lingering outside waiting. The decor is homey with book shelves lined on top of the room. The menu is written on a chalk board. The service was attentive and friendly. We ordered the Roasted Squash soup, fresh salad, Linguine, and Sauteed Chicken. It was delicious and felt like a home cooked meal. We took a walk down to the harbor and it was such a beautiful day! So worth it. read more

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Fantastic food. Menu changes quite a bit. Every item exceeds expectations. Recommend reservations.

Excellent food, stellar service. Unique find in a small quaint town on the Mississippi. Will definitely be back

Harbor View is one of the best restaurants in Wisconsin. The interior is welcoming and the staff is incredibly friendly. They're food is seasoned perfectly and the servings are rather large with high quality ingredients. I would happily pay double the price for anything there. I highly recommend their red meats as well as the seafood! I'll say it again, this is the best restaurant in Wisconsin! read more

Scrumptious meal(s), excellent service, charming atmosphere, great view! Treated like a queen when we celebrated my 60th birthday yesterday! Many gluten free options for my guy (he chose swordfish)! Run, don't walk, to Pepin to enjoy this gem! read more

We decided to take a drive to the Lake City area and finding that the restaurant where we had eater pre-pandemic was now closed, decided to take a drive across the river to Pepin, WI, where we had eaten with another couple several years ago. If my memory served me right, we had thought it to be pretty good. It turned out that what I had recalled was accurate. It was lucky we were early, since, after the fact, I found that reservations were highly desirable. From start to finish, our experience was excellent. The server was prompt and courteous, and our food was delicious. I had the mahi-mahi smothered in small shrimp and my better half had the halibut. That also was excellent. Although some may consider Harbor View too pricey, I'd say you get your money's worth. The food and service are quality all the way, and if you want a night out to enjoy some fine dining, you can't go wrong. read more

It was ok. Food was decent but not really special and definitely did not match the price. I am ok with high price but it must matched by special taste. Not much for drinks. I had the fettuccine with prosciutto mushrooms. This is a no brainer...simple pasta dish...tasty but mostly because of all the butter in the sauce...prosciutto not really good quality...tasted funny. Mushrooms...ordinary. My wife had the chicken and she was surprised by how ordinary this was also for the price...something we could have done at home easily. My friend had the Haibut 40.00...again nothing to write home about...his girlfriend had the other type of fish but did not finish it. Again...food was edible and decent just not special. I have been to places where you spend 100 bucks and you walk away thinking...that was worth it. Again...decent food but nothing special which is what I was hoping. read more

Amazing food! Homemade with really fresh ingredients. NEVER been disappointed with quality or service. Now instead of stuck at home with Covid, take a scenic road trip from the Twin Cities via Hwy 61 to 10 to 35. Takeout at The HarborView is phenomenal, and you can sit in your car for a picnic, and face Lake Pepin's Harbor while you eat. read more

We stopped in last Saturday and had phenomenal food and service. I'm planning on trying a fish entree this weekend. Yes, we're going back again. Saturday will be our Easter meal. The drive from Prior Lake is worth it. Stay tuned. read more

This was the second time we've been here. The food was delightful and we will be back again. I had Swordfish on a bed of Kale and amazing little red potatoes! My husband had the seafood stew. It was fantastic! This place only takes reservations just before they open, so get there a little early. They have two seatings. First seating is at 5 and second seating is at 7 pm. The food is phenomenal!!! read more

Harbor View Cafe - New American Near Me - Pepin, Wisconsin

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We've been patrons since the place opened in 1980. We've dined there easily 100 times. Through two ownership changes and lots of staff the service and quality have always been wonderful read more

The scene at Harbor View is near perfection. A small river town that over looks Lake Pepin. Any way you travel into the city is picturesque and has a complete costal town vibe. The dining room has a similar feel to hanging out in someone's study with book lined walls and dark wood surroundings. The menu has plenty of variety and undoubtedly would have something to please anyone's palate. The last several times I was there I've orderd the halibut with a black caper butter and I've never been disappointed. Today we ordered coho slamon which surprisingly came with a heavy butter and wine sauce. The menu description said leeks and ginger which we interpreted as a lighter preparation. I ordered the snapper with red curry and shrimp. Unfortunately, the fish was totally lost in a dense flood of orange gravy. My other friend ordered the chicken which was smothered in cream, mushrooms, and garlic cloves. It sat over linguine and had to have contained a minimum of 3,000 calories. Every dish was massive and impossible to finish. We had a delightful almond cake for dessert which was crunchy, chewy, soft, sweet, and tart (from lingonberries) all wrapped up in one package. The flourless cake was flawless too. Our service was spectacular and even though lunch was too hefty on butter/cream and size we still had a relaxing and pleasant experience. I'll be sticking with my trusty pal Halibut in the future. read more

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Came with high expectations, as have been here 4 times in last 25 years, and all past visits have been great. In short, the place has clearly lost its way. They now apparently think large portions of average food are what the patrons want. Gone are the fresh ingredients, and inspired cooking. Ordered the salmon, and it was bland and overcooked. Came with soggy wild rice and limp asparagus. Lots of volume, but little flavor. Companion had the chicken marsala, which came with a plate full of pasta covered in a not memorable sauce. She was barely able to make a dent in it. Plenty of leftovers. I passed on the chocolate brownie with 3 scoops of store bought ice cream. Just too full and not hungry or interested any more. read more

What a great cafe that sits on the pepin lake in Wisconsin. If you've never been there you need to get their. Especially in the summer when the lake is a it's peak. It's absolutely beautiful.. They have a very friendly staff that will help you with all of their menu options. Great job harbor cafe I will be back. read more

Harbor View Cafe - Smoked fish with wild rice - New American Near Me - Pepin, Wisconsin

Great food & great service; well worth the drive from Minneapolis on a sunny Saturday!

My husband and I ordered the Alaskan halibut with black butter caper sauce and also the pork tenderloin with peach sauce; both were incredible. We walked in and ordered takeout. The restaurant is well set up for COVID. Patrons and staff both complying with mask orders. My husband and I got a drink and sat outside while the food was being prepared. We were in and out in 25 minutes. When we got home we put everything on dinner plates and were so pleased with the portion sizes. Salad, dressing, bread, butter, main course, sides. Such an amazing dinner and experience. Thank you! read more

Interesting menu, upscale taste and truly a gem in the rough. In all honesty we went expecting a really solid supper club/bar menu. What we got was so much more. It's pricey but it's worth it. Excellent wine cellar with a fun assortment of local wines. Service was phenomenal, but what would you expect when it is the owner waiting on you!! If you are in the area or if you want a fun road trip to a beautiful setting, I strongly recommend you try this restaurant. read more

Harbor View Cafe - New American Near Me - Pepin, Wisconsin

High expectation menu that doesn't deliver. The Mahi Mahi was so overcooked it was dry like cardboard. the greens with hit were hard to chew and the potatoes weren't done and had no flavor. My mashed potatoes were brown and tasted like wallpaper paste. My lamb leg was very tough. It was charred on the outside and underdone one the inside with gristle and hard to cut. We drove 1.5 hours for the meal and I wouldn't go back to this restaurant even if the meal was free. The service however was quite good and friendly. Don't bother to go here. read more

Last time their was almost 30 years ago and the good news is that it was still great. Sometimes change is nothing but change and like a great experience you hope not much has changed. Perfection is always difficult to attain and Harbor View still is my perfect place to dine. Thanx you for a wonderful experience again!!! read more

I'll keep it simple: Not A Fan. It seems to me to be another place where haphazard combinations of ingredients pass for creativity. Since when is sautéed kale (in vinegar even!) and bell peppers a part of a cassoulet, while the duck is absent? Even a "take" on a cassoulet... If it had been delicious, that would have been one thing, but it was really dry and I didn't care for it -- even though French cassoulet is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world. My wife enjoyed her seafood "chowder", which wasn't a chowder at all in the New England sense; it was more of a cioppino. Maybe I'll stick to the basics if I ever try it again. read more

cash only. this pissed us off a bit, but luckily, we had grabbed enough for our road trip. Note to all going on a road trip of any magnitude: bring cash. and jerky. Can't go wrong with jerky. We had to be a little on the cautious side given the amount of cash, so we each got an entree on the low end of the scale. I got the lasagna which was sooo frigging good. It had some creamy kinda cheese that I couldn't identify, and came with a salad (all dishes do. that or soup) Jill got the black bean cakes on a bed of kale and rice that was wicked. It had these little bowls of different dipping sauces. Nice and unexpected (unless you GO to Pepin just for the Harbor View) and I am not too sure why else you would go to Pepin but for this place and the view. Aptly named. Go there. read more

For the night of our fifteenth wedding anniversary, we wandered down to the Harbor View from our nearby B&B. I ordered the duck breast on a bed of wild rice - oh, yum - and my wife had the sturgeon. Also yum. The sturgeon was grilled and layered in a pesto, with a side of fresh horseradish. I took liberal quality testing bites fromher plate, just to make sure she wouldn't get a forkful of disappointment. For a side, my duck came with mashed root trio, I think it was called. Mashed rutabaga, parsnip, and carrot. Really tasty. Excellent presentation. Friendly staff. Specials on bottles of wine. Cool atmosphere. On a side note, while calculating the tip towards the end of the bottle of wine, we inadvertantly gave our server 40% -- how very un-Tom Emmer of us Minnesotans! read more

I am a fat hog. I love to eat, and I know food. I don't say this as an amateur; I am now in my 35th year in the restaurant business. I love to cook, and I love to eat. But you know what I love most about the Harbor View? It personifies what, to me, is restaurant perfection in that you always leave the place in a warm glow of appreciation. Much of that comes from the genuine bonhomie of the staff, and the room. It has been this way for decades-- I know, because I've been coming for that long. The place was sold a while back-- to employees who had been there for years, and it shows. The same warm conviviality, the care given to your food and comfort, the whole "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" vibe. The soft blue and white gingham tablecloths, the books, the shared vibe of the appreciation of life well-lived... ahh. If I could bottle this, and take it anywhere in the world, I'd be rich. To those who feel that immediate seating should be theirs on demand, I say you could never fully understand why something is worth the drive, and the wait. One of the things I like to do is get there, get on the list, and adapt my wait accordingly. If it's just a while, like under an hour, that means drinks like a Summit or Spotted Cow or a Manhattan. If it's more, that means a trip back up the road to Stockholm for some nosing around. Perhaps a stop at the ATM at the BP. Getting the table, I love the trip to the blackboard, and the ensuing anguish of decision. The food is not cutting-edge, or haute-toity (I just made that up! On the spot!!) but I have NEVER had a meal that didn't please me. They bake their bread on premise every day. They use good butter. They are lovely, warm people. And I often take leftovers home, in a nice, compostable container. It was good enough to be the late King Hussein's favorite restaurant in the US. Pretty much mine, as well. read more

This place is the best way to end a day trip down to Stockholm / Lake Pepin. Make sure you have enough cash or a checkbook since they don't take credit card (entrees are between $20 and $30). You can use the cash machine at the BP off of HW 35 if necessary. It can be busy. The wait for us was about an hour. During that time you can walk around, soak in the sites of the city, which is located on beautiful Lake Pepin. There was also a lively crowd that just waits outside after ordering a drink from the bar next door and socializes. I think this is the sailing crowd since there are so many sail boaters that come here. But they seemed very welcoming and friendly to all. The restaurant itself is a throwback to fancy restaurants of yesteryear. They don't subscribe to the modern small plate formula. Each entree is pretty large and includes a soup or salad. The food is very tasty. My dinning partner had the grilled chicken which was MASSIVE. I had the grilled salmon which I loved and was more than enough to fill me up. So much so we didn't have room for dessert. Something I definitely regret since they sounded amazing. It might seem like it's expensive but the huge amount of food you receive combined with how good it is, well, honestly it's a good value and a lovely dinning experience. read more

Hmm. So I live in the Red Wing area and have been waiting to come here as everyone I know LOVES this place. I have never heard a negative thing about this place. Needless to say, I guess I was expecting more..! I get they are going kind of rouge with the chalkboard menu- but for the price, give me a menu. I don't want to awkwardly stand next to a table and while I try to read the bad (tiny) handwriting of the menu behind the bar.. I got the Halibut and a Caesar salad. Salad had too much dressing. Halibut was delish but not worth $33, in my opinion. Would go back but will not be a regular here any time soon! read more

I used to love this place. However, the past few times I've received a subpar meal and service. I was fine with the price point when I was receiving excellent service with a meal that I would drive a couple hours for. But now? No way is this place worth that much of my money. $7.50 to add on a cup of mediocre 6oz soup? No thanks. It seems like this quaint, hole in the wall has lost its way... or its chef. I hope that whatever is going on is rectified soon. read more

Okay here's the thing; this restaurant is alright. I'm a gourmet cook and a foodie so I was excited when a good friend of mine who lives in the area suggested dinner here. I had been here before but it was many years ago and because I travel a lot I didn't remember the food. I ordered the halibut with black butter sauce. I couldn't eat the dish. The fish was horrendously overcooked. It was grainy and completely inedible. I ended up eating some of the rice with the sauce. The sauce was fine and I'm not sure why others say there are 30 ingredients, there might be 6 in a sauce like that. It's just a butter balsamic sauce which they seem to have added cornstarch to make it thick. I had the squash soup which was okay. My friend had the lamb which was so perfectly cooked. I almost ordered it but because he did I tried something else. I suspect because a lot of people don't really know how to eat lamb, which should be on the rare side, probably don't order that dish. Which is why I was happy to see that it was medium rare the way it should be. Basically I don't know who the cook is but it's all over the place. So if you know food and how it should be properly prepared and tastes I would suggest that you were going to get 50 50 out of this restaurant and pay an extremely high price for it. read more