Absolutely adorable spot! The decor is simple and rustic! Service spot on! She took her time explaining and was patient when I had a bit of a hiccup with my poached eggs The meal was phenomenal..I'm a sucker for Minnesota Wild Rice soup..and this was fantastic. My daughter got Swedish Meatballs and wife got an egg sandwich. I order the Ruben Benedict..first set of poached eggs were over cooked but they corrected it quickly and was a phenomenal breakfast! Highly recommend visiting! read more

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Having lunch with colleagues was fun here. I had the burger with fries. Very fresh, filling and flavorful. The tea complemented the meal well. We also shared a the popovers. They were large, fresh and very delicious. read more

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Leader is a large restaurant on the main strip of Cambridge. I love that it has a Scandinavian influence and had to order the Swedish Meatballs. The meatballs were tender and ere great with the Nordic gravy and lingonberry jam. I also had a chance to try the Mediterranean Bowl and Harvest Salad. Definitely cannot go wrong with any of these dishes. I plan to go back in the future to try their coffee and breakfast! There is also plenty of parking behind the restaurant and an entrance that is easy to access. read more

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We've been to this spot a couple of times and loved it every time. The feeling of the restaurant is fresh, bright and clean! The decor is almost like a farm house contemporary vibe. There is a department store attached, which was already closed when we got there. There's a rich history to the it and pictures along the back of the restaurant was very interesting to look at and read. The food is just amazing - looks so upscale and much care and attention put on it. Our server was very friendly and attentive. We will definitely go back to try other items on their menu! Highly recommended and everyone should stop in the experience it! read more

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Leader was incredible to our group of 13, and I couldn't recommend them more! We were in town for a bachelorette party and wanted to stop here for brunch on the way home. We called ahead to make a reservation, which I highly recommend because they opened at 9 a.m. on Sunday, and by 9:05 the restaurant was already full with people waiting. Our server, Lily, was excellent! Our whole table wanted to make sure I left a review for her specifically. She was so respectful and incredibly polite when we asked her to take a group photo. The food was delicious. We had a couple of vegans/vegetarians at our table, and while they had a few accommodating dishes, I really wish they offered a vegan meat alternative. Lily mentioned they normally don't do substitutions, but she let one of the girls swap the meat for hash browns on the eggs Benedict--she was awesome! Also, the hash browns were divine. The restaurant is attached to a few small shop, which gave us the perfect post brunch shopping experience. The whole place is definitely worth a stop! read more

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Neat drinks, ok food, quick service, really cool atmosphere. But very overpriced and disappointing food quality. If you want better food go to Pine Brook Inn. read more

Leader is a great spot in Cambridge! Great menu with dishes made with fresh ingredients. For starters my wife and I had the walleye cakes and popovers. It was my first time having a popover, very good especially with the maple butter. The walleye cakes were just ok, nothing really stood out about them. I was expecting more flavor from the cakes themselves as well as preserved lemon yogurt. The Reuben was fantastic. Pastrami had great flavor, the braised cabbage was cooked perfectly and the rye bread cooked perfectly. My only regret was not asking for a bit more sauce for the sandwich. Got a side of ranch for fries and it is made from scratch - delicious dill flavor. We decided to get the bread pudding and that was disappointing. Wasn't as ooey gooey as I prefer my bread pudding to be. We will definitely be back for another visit. read more

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So good need to try this place again so many options and homemade chicken tenders and ranch so much good food and the service was great and the ambience reminds me of my sisters work and love the store lots of funny stuff read more

After my last horrible experience, I have not been back. However, my friend begged me to meet her here for dinner a few weeks ago and since it's been a year+ since I last ate here, I begrudgingly decided to give it another shot. Nope. Still horrible. I had a chicken Caesar salad and it was so salty. Like SO salty. My friend got the club sandwich and it was "just ok". We got the popovers and they were super stale. Not sure who to bring this up to-I don't find any use complaining to the kind wait staff here, as none of this is their fault. Management needs to do some quality control and hire people in the kitchen who actually know what they're doing. read more

The ambiance was very open layout and spacious. Great for dinner with friends or date night. I ordered the swedish meatballs and they were absolutely delicious. Wish they came with more jam though. My friend had the airline chicken and loved it. The Mac and cheese portion was great. read more

Really really exceptional food, service, and a unique building. It's hard to find truly innovative restaurants like this in our smalls towns. We had the "Chef's Tour" which was a three course meal of smoked chicken wontons as the appetizer, pistachio crusted walleye, and blueberry pie and ice cream for dessert. We had the option to pair it with certain wines but passed on that. It was all so good and the service was fast and friendly. If we make it back to Cambridge we will be sure to stop in. read more

Leader - Pistachio crusted walleye, rice pilaf, and poached parsnips. - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

We came here after state baseball tournament and ordered burgers and Mac n cheese and loved every bite. Incredible food and such friendly service - I couldn't recommend this place more. Attached is a cute boutique attached made it fun to shop while we were in town. Also a coffee shop in the back with fresh baked goods read more

Leader - After shopping at Leader - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

Great food. Pot roast is amazing as are the burgers. I had the best chicken and wild rice soup I ever had. Friendly staff. Very clean and well decorated. I love the grandma China. They take pride in their restaurant and it shows. read more

WHAT IS GOING ON ? Since the change in the name/management I have only been here 1 time. And probably not again... It was a really hot summer day, like the 5th in a row! Walked in, and was hit with cold air. Great, right? Nope. After 2 minutes my hot sweaty parts were freezing sweaty parts. I looked around at the full floor, and saw kids with their hoodies up and pulled tight. Seniors with jackets on. People snuggling up to each other. The thermostat must have been set on 62, I swear. Sooo uncomfortable! And no manager in sight to talk to. Just a teenage hostess. No one with authority. Not even a chef that looked in charge. Of course, the cooks probably loved the temperature ! I will say our server was definitely a professional (experienced). Great job by her! Certainly an upgrade from the other servers I've experienced there. All the gals on duty that day seemed on point. However, when it is soooo cold, that your pancakes arrive so cold that the butter won't even melt on them, that is unacceptable. I will say that they serve a very tasty kind of bacon, and I appreciate that even cold it is fantastic. My pancakes were less than stellar. Unfortunately. Too bad. But the price was not overpriced. How cold was it? S O COLD I NIPPED O U T! read more

Wow, what a fun place. All kinds of Scandinavian food. The cocoa and sausage were excellent. The Swedish pancakes were a bit chewy, but the lingonberries made up for it. Great service! I hope to come back. read more

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Stopped up here tonight for the first time and will absolutely be back. Awesome food and our server was great. Can.not.wait to eat my leftover Mac and cheese tomorrow read more

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An overly Woke atmosphere in an overly woke state. While the food was acceptable quality the management seems to match perfectly the most negative image of The overly liberal Woke state of Minnesota. I could not even look at my camera photos on my TG-7 camera without being harassed by a manager claiming I was making people uncomfortable. Yet they had no issue with me doing the exact same thing on my I phone. So if you enjoy being judged and harassed, and if Woke people who insult you helps your digestion than the leader Resturant in Cambridge Minnesota is the place for you read more

A delightful find in the exurbs! The original Leader's is a family department store on the Main Street of Cambridge. The department store is more than 100 years old and still open, though much smaller and with a curated selection of Minnesota goods, home items, and outdoorsy style clothing. A portion of the store was carved off as a restaurant- Leader. It's a spacious and airy space that would fit well in a larger urban environment, yet feels at home in Cambridge. I was thrilled that they had a number of vegetarian items! My companion and I ordered the "Not scallops" which were oyster mushrooms sliced and seasoned to look like scallops served over pineapple rice. it was a tad salty, but still delicious. I also ordered a bourbon cranberry drink. Good, but a bit sweet for me. They have a number of interesting cocktails on the menu. The servers were attentive and helpful. I really enjoyed the meal and this restaurant! Highly recommend! read more

We were there for Mothers Day buffet. We go every year. This year something happen. The food was cold, not warm, cold. Had no flavor not even salt. I feel so bad because I love Leaders. Also our waitress was really nice but our service was not good. The food has gone down hill the last few times I have been there. Mother's Day was the worse. I need to find a new restaurant, makes me sad read more

Food 4/5 - The food is always delicious at Leaders! The Classic Eggs Benedict and coffee flight is my favorite. The food came out within a timely manner and everything was tasty. Service / Ambiance 4/5 - The overall service was good. The restaurant is clean and well lite. A friendly small town restaurant feel. read more

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Cute historic building with a coffee shop, retail store and restaurant. Haven't tried the food yet but the coffee flight was delicious and very reasonably priced! Can't wait to go back and try the food! read more

Leader - Coffee flight! 10/10 - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

This place is awesome! So don't let my slightly negative review discourage you! I've eaten here at least a dozen times and always sooooooo good. But today, seriously undercooked poached eggs on the walleye cakes! . To the cook: the white should never be like jelly. Anyway, nobody is perfect- keep up the great work and see you again! read more

I'm in town visiting for a wedding and was told this was the place to come for brunch. They were right! The coffee was delicious. My eggs Benedict was incredible - loved the crunch on the edges of the meat. My Swedish pancakes were okay - a little overdone. But not worth docking a star for. My waitress was kind. And the place had a modern, yet small town feel to it. Who knows!? I may come back in the morning. read more

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My wife and I were very pleased with our lunch at The Leader in Cambridge. The food was awesome. I had a Frisco Melt with fries it was very good. My wife had a plain hamburger with fries and she was very impressed. We were greeted at the door by a very friendly hostess who showed us to our table. She also said goodbye as we left. Our waitress was very attentive and refilled my water twice. Overall a pleasant meal. PS: The restaurant is adjoined by a clothing store, something not all that common in a small town. It was fun to look around. read more

Leader - Frisco melt crispy fries and Ketchup - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

The chicken wild rice soup was not edible due to the huge amount of rosemary that was added.

Today was the second time we've gone to Leader to eat. Our waitress Jenna was so great. She was friendly and quick. She checked back just the right amount. We were at a table near the window and we could see the snow falling and people walking along the sidewalk. It was bright and clean inside. We were having lunch and decided to try the cranberry jalapeño wontons which I would definitely recommend. They were perfectly crispy on the outside and creamy with a tangy, touch of spice on the inside. The chili sauce was also very good. My husband ordered a local beer and the chicken melt with fries. The fries were crispy and the chicken on the sandwich was sliced thin. I had the creamy chicken soup and beet salad. The beets were tangy and firm. This was a really good meal with wonderful service. read more

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Amazing service and delicious food. Had the biscuits and gravy. The ambiance of this spot was so great and rustic. Such a gem in a beautiful town. read more

Leader - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

I felt like I was on a High Street in London again when I entered the restaurant. I love businesses that restore our old buildings. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. No one is left waiting for any length of time for anything here. Customer service is beyond amazing. And so is the food. Completely perfect experience. read more

Leader - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

Great place to eat. Excellent food, service and atmosphere. Open chef kitchen! A must try!

We have had several meals at Leader and loved every one. Food is excellent and we have not been disappointed. Service is excellent as well. Quality food is worth the cost and cheap food is just that, low quality, cheap food. And food from scratch is not quick. This food is not pre-prepared with chemicals and warmed up like you get in cheap restaurants. And the wait time is relaxing IMO. read more

This was our dinner stop while running Ragnar. The food was amazing and the servers were so friendly. The Not Scallops got rave reviews from everyone. There's a cute store attached too!! read more

Leader - "Not" scallops and Swedish meatballs - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

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I discovered this fabulous gem while in Minnesocold. I was greeted by bubbly Rachel who recommended the cured pastrami and poached eggs hollandaise. I enjoyed coffee served with quaint mini pitchers (doo dads) of cream and honey complete with a golden spoon! The Leader is half restaurant and half clothing store. A great spot for breakfast and I'm sure lunch, lupper or dinner. The next time I'm in town I'll be sure to dine here. read more

Leader - Eggs hollandaise over smoked brisket and red cabbage. - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

I've dined here a few times before and each experience has been awesome! I have no complaints about the food, everything we've ordered had been delicious, one time the chef even came over and chatted with us for a bit and gave our kids a special dessert. This week I dined in for the cider pairing event. The event was a collaboration with Sap sucker Farms (mora, mn) and Leader. This event included a glass of cider, appetizer, first course, main course and dessert each paired with a cider, it was amazing! I would love to do something like this more often and it's great to have something like this in a more 'rural' area because there aren't many options for this kind of experience. read more

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Breakfast served until 2 pm is a big win for me! If you grew up in the Twin Cities you will remember the Daytons popovers which were a staple in my home - I'm proud to announce that Leader sells them as an appetizer served with maple butter - delicious! The aesthetics of this building are top notch and the restaurant is connected to a men's suit / clothing store and women's apparel / shoe and gift shop. Tall warehouse building ceilings allow for space and comfort dining in. There is also a full wrap around bar that you could watch your meal be cooked at or sit closer to the coffee bar for more intimacy. With tons of seating options - you will be pleased to know about loads of food options as well. From a basic egg breakfast to cranberry jalapeño wontons - the options are endless. Come support this business. Cambridge is so lucky to have you! read more

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Food is good and service is good stop and give it a try parking is iffy depending on the time of day you go I can't get in there then Park two blocks away and then you got people's Cafe which is good and Cambridge Bar and Grill read more

Delicious food with generous servings! The service is top notch. I really love the breakfasts - especially the Vegetable Scramble. Yum! Perfection! read more

This place has been so hit or miss for me. My parents love Leader and dine here regularly, but I seem to always be disappointed in one way or another. Most recently, I came here to meet my mother and got there early to get a table. I was sat quickly but no server or even waters until after my mother arrived, about 15 minutes later. We waited even longer and eventually had to ask who was in charge of our table, and they realized they forgot to give us a server (or something? Tbh idek what happened). Thankfully the server apologized for the wait. I had ordered some type of eggs Benedict and the dish had peppers in it not listed on the menu, so that was odd. The food is always pretty delicious, but I often get stared at by other customers, not sure if it's how I dress or because I'm not white but it's uncomfortable. The coffee is great at least! read more

Staff at door snotty.... When bringing a dance team for lunch.. Then went over to other staff and started complaining that we didn't want to wait a hour and a half!! Wow rude little thing!!! read more

It's hard to find places like this north of the metro, but they are starting to pop up. I hope that it is well received. It is an eclectic menu, to say the least, beautifully presented, packed with taste. The problem, in my opinion, is that a lot of people will be turned off by how vague the menu descriptions are. It is very erudite for a small, rural-American city. I think for this reason, Yelp can bridge the gap, allowing people to see what they are ordering. If all else fails, just go for it. Don't be afraid to step out of your box. A lot of plates are smaller in portion size, almost akin to a tapas restaurant, but again, they are almost always aesthetically pleasing. Everything we tried was delicious, and I'm pretty sure it is all locally sourced. It's clear they are also putting a fresh spin on items that are nostalgic and familiar to a MN palate. It's definitely worth trying, even if you may not exactly know what you're getting. And if fine dining is what you are looking for, then you should definitely try it, because the region is devoid of any other options in this regard. read more

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A perfect place to celebrate my Mom's birthday with friends. So excited for Chef Harvey's new restaurant! Outstanding service, ridiculously good food that looks beautiful, a gorgeous atmosphere, and a wonderful overall experience. Definitely listen to the servers, get the fried cheese, and try something new/outside your norm. You can't go wrong! Selfishly hope they will serve devils on horseback someday. You will definitely want to lick your plate here, and I think they'd support it. read more

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