My wife and I had a day off, so we drove to Cambridge to have lunch at Willards. Was it worth the 50 minute drive? Immensely! The space is very attractive, in a modern sort of way. The staff was friendly and the service was good. Upon a recommendation, as an appetizer, we split the "Devils on Horseback," which are bacon-wrapped dates with chopped walnuts accompanied by an excellent blue cheese dipping sauce. The taste was excellent and it was different (NOT in the Minnesotan sense of the word!). The flavors blended really well and it was quite tasty. (Nitpick, if you are going to call a dish something no one understands ("Devils on Horseback"?), please be more descriptive on the menu (the menu description is "blue cheese whiz, walnuts." It's a whole lot better than the name or description imply. My wife had the "Griddled Oatmeal Poundcake" (another ambiguous name), which was really an egg and thick cut bacon, which she enjoyed but it didn't seem too adventurous to me. The fried egg was done exactly how she requested. The star of the show, in my opinion, was the Maple Glazed Salmon Salad which was excellent. It looked beautiful and tasted even better. The salmon was cooked to perfection and the salad, which was substantial, had the kind of dressing you wished you could make at home. It was delicious! I highly recommend this destination restaurant! read more

Leader - Griddled Oatmeal Poundcake - fried egg, pork belly, maple, sesame seeds - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

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It's like going to Minneapolis but staying up north. Minus the crime...the food is fantastic and they even have Daytons old recipes. Run to this place as fast as you can read more

First of all, you should know that Willards is no more. It's now known as Leader. It's a modern restaurant located adjacent to a historic store that now sells men and women's clothing and crafts/gift ideas. We were led to believe that it was still Willards and to expect a phenomenal meal. The former chef used to have a chef's table with a several course meal. I expect that COVID-19 did in Willard's and a new owner/chef has attempted to carry on, in a slightly different way. The menu isn't the same. Sadly, we did not find Devils on Horseback on the menu. I had a frisco melt with an excellent tap root beer. My bride had a chicken salad sandwich on cranberry bread. Both were very good sandwiches. I could tell that the hamburger patty was fresh, not frozen. Overall, we were pleased with our dinner, the ambiance, and the service. Just don't expect what this place used to be. It's not that. read more

We stopped here for lunch on our way to the cities. The inside is very nice, it's well furnished and looks clean. They also have an event space at the bottom floor. The staff was sweet and willing to help you. There is wide verity of food on the menu, everything looked good. I got a grilled chicken sandwich with bacon, arugula, and cranberry aioli. They have a cute boutique attached to it, and i enjoyed shopping there. read more

We found this place by luck as it says Leaders on the building but it is indeed Willards. Very pleased from the moment we walked in...modern decor and friendly service. Order a hibiscus gimlet with vodka which was good but tart so if you are looking for something sweet this is not it, lol. It was my Husband, myself, and another couple and we all loved our food! Unique menu items as well as traditional items with an awesome modern twist! The popover and scone plate was amazing, 2 popovers and 2 scones for $9 plenty to share. Like I said, great find and we will definitely return soon!! read more

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Food is fresh often straight off a local farm. They are well staffed and adapt quickly to the changing conditions. It's the kind of place where the owners come out and greet people and work the front of house if it's busy. It's good for a cup of coffee to a tenderloin special. read more

FIRST time at the "Leader ..(Older GAL/ eating Single) ....on a FRIDAY "busy""lunch"...With a SMALL wait But was well worth the "wait".. tasty/Hot meal .. But My topper was the dessert "HOMEMADE "ICE CREAM" -SO GOOD ..something I definitely enjoyed .. Pat W read more

My favorite place to eat in Cambridge. I highly recommend especially their breakfast food!

Great food. Great drinks. Great service. The decor is beautiful! We really enjoyed our meal.

Recently visited for the first time for Sunday Brunch. Love the attached store. Very clean facility, including restrooms. Our food was OK. We had the Sliced Prime Rib Benedict (good, breakfast potatoes were basic and cold), Chicken Wild Rice Soup (very thick), Salmon Popover Scrambler (very good), and kids Mac n Cheese w/fries (reallllllly good). We also had a few cocktails, all of which were A+. We would try it out again for lunch or dinner in the future. read more

Leader - Benedict was good, spuds were bland and cold - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

Salmon, sourdough, dill, balsamic, and crème fraiche!? I promise ya won't be asking for less. In fact, you'll probably be wonton Smor... ;) Here's the lineup: - Salmon Gravlax Smorgas with Cucumbers, Egg, Dill, Crème Fraiche, and Sour Dough bread - Cranberry Jalapeño Wontons with a Sweet Chili Sauce - Bluegill Sandwich with Tartar Sauce, Nordic Pickles, and Bacon Cheese Fries - Baby Back Ribs with Creamed Corn, Baked Beans, and Potato Salad - Strawberry Cannoli with Whipped Cream Leader is serving an impressive variety of high-end creations just a short trip north of the cities in Cambridge, MN! I know it's cliche to say, but everything was excellent. Here's a few highlights - The salmon appetizer was magnificently balanced. Flavorful salmon, cucumbers, and crème fraiche called out for texture--Enter sliced sourdough, a desirable vehicle for a rich dish finished perfectly with tangy balsamic. - The wontons would put any store-bought Asian appetizers to shame, and I'm not complaining about that sweet chili sauce! - Now for a meat-and-greet--Easy to pull off the bone, not soggy with sauce yet still smoky, savory, and tender, I'd call dibs on these ribs with some fresh creamed corn, baked-to-perfection beans, house-made pickles, and standout potato salad any day! But wait... the bluegill will make you wonder sand-which to order next time... hehe! Nothing bad to say about the breading, and terrific tartar sauce makes this main especially memorable - Bacon Cheese Fries. Need they say more? Absolutely delicious, as the name suggests, not to mention these were some of the better fries I've tried in MN - And finally, a decadent Cannoli that could rival any high-end dessert. Creamy and subtly crunchy when it needed to be, the sweet strawberry brought back summer memories on a subzero 'sota day Leader's location, a Restaurant and Apparel/Curated Goods shop in one, has a truly unique aesthetic; the experience is worth the short trip. It's more than fair to say I'm glad I cam(bridge;) read more

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This place has so much going for it, but all three times I've been there, for breakfast, brunch & dinner, the food takes FOREVER to get to the table. Plan to be there for 90 minutes. Maybe it's intentional so you shop in their store instead of sitting at the table feeling hangry. ‍ read more

We made our NYE reservation weeks in advance, but upon arrival, they couldn't locate it, didn't check our confirmation number, and offered no apology. Instead, we were seated at a bar table near the expo line, with the constant shouting of a line cook nearby. There was no attempt to rectify the situation or apologize. We've been regular brunch patrons, despite declining service and food quality, in hopes things would improve. This was the final disappointment. We're taking our business elsewhere. read more

The food was amazing! We were visiting from Alabama and I'm so glad we stumbled upon Leader. The shop attached to the restaurant is adorable as well. The server suggested options and she was on point. I cannot recommend Leader enough. read more

I went in for breakfast after being seated. I ordered a Coke and my breakfast which was, steak and eggs with hash brown and toast. 5 minutes later to waitress comes up to me and states to me that they don't know how to make basted eggs, which is one of the easiest to make wow. So I said how about scrambled she said fine, after waiting eternity to get my order. My first bite of the scrambled eggs which was mostly salt the eggs were overpowered by it so was the hash browns which were grocery store bought and cut into triangles which taste is like salt, The steak had an outer crust like you would get in a fancy restaurant like a bourbon steak but salt again. And the steak was sliced into a few pieces you didn't get it as a whole. To sum it up I'll never be back I should have went to keys restaurant in Forest Lake. As far as atmosphere very loud and generic, The cost for staking eggs and a can of Coke $34 read more

I'm glad I made the trek up to Willard's! I have driven through Cambridge many times but never stopped, but maybe I will more often now that I know about Willard's. Willard is located in the same building as a family-owned department store, Leader's. They have a lot of cute clothes that I enjoyed perusing while we waited for our table. Willard's itself has a nice, bright interior ambience which makes it perfect for a meal any time of the day. I was there for dinner with a few friends, so we wanted to sample lots of different things. We ending up settling on the smoked trout dip, kroppkakor, devils on horseback, beets & berries salad, Parker house rolls, the petite filet, and the perfect burger. The devils on horseback are a must-- the blue cheese whip is such a clever way to incorporate the cheese. I also really loved the smoked trout dip and the kroppkakor, a unique and tasty pasta dish. The perfect burger was, of course, perfect. I also LOVED our almond joy dessert-- highly recommend!! We had great service as well, but I had to take a star off for a couple reasons. First, the fries are just over cooked! I love double-fried shoestrings as much as the next person, but some of ours could be snapped right in half and they all tasted a little burnt. The Parker House rolls were another disappointment. They tasted a bit old (definitely not as light and puffy as Parker House rolls should be) and the ham they came with was unexciting. They should be using country ham for some proper ham biscuits but I guess that's not that Scandinavian. I also didn't love the flavor of the filet-- I'm not sure if they do a marinade or something but it just wasn't for me. Regardless, Willard's is a fabulous dining experience and a great excuse to pull off the highway in Cambridge. read more

Wow, Willards is amazing. If Cambridge wasn't an hour away from my home, I would be there on a weekly basis. The perfect burger was just as it claimed to be, simply perfect, so good! My wife had the Salmon and I almost wished I had ordered it as well, it was delicious! Their menu changes often and with every change comes something new and tasty. It's worth the drive if you live in the Twin Cities to check out this unique eatery and have a fabulous meal! read more

I had the Reuben Benedict. Best egg Benedict I've ever had. All the food was very fresh. Service was great. We will be back often and we don't live close by. read more

The menu is fantastic with options for all kinds of eaters and appetites. The food is great, the service is great, and the space is comfortable with lots of daylight. A friendly locals place. read more

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The food was amazing and the waitress Christina was so attentive and sweet. They have lots of Gluten Friendly options. Plus the place was super clean. read more

Scandinavian in decor and ambiance and food will astound your mouth. In this visit, one of many, I had the perfect burger. It has been a while since we have met. It has gotten a little smaller and a little more expensive. It still is a power house of flavor and texture perfection. Temperature is not a question with the perfect burger because it is cooked to the perfect temperature of an even medium-rare. The pickles are crisp and vibrant and stand up to the smoky and thick bacon. If you press gently on the top of an assembled perfect burger you will see it give out, and take back spoonfuls of juice. This brings us back to the bun. It is fresh and hearty, but stands out of the way of the main attraction. Just robust enough to handle its juicy ridder. The perfect burger today will set you back $14 and that is high. If it were bigger you would have no room to try any of the other interesting things on the menu. read more

Leader - Perfect Burger - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

Yum, yum, yum!!! Headed up north and stumbled across this place on Yelp. So thrilled to find! Decor is wonderful and the food is exceptional!!! I had a salmon special that came on top on marinated vegetables! My husband had the pig burger and it was off the chain delicious too. Also, they are not afraid to make you a great mixed drink. I had the Rosemary greyhound and it was excellent! Staff was super welcoming as well! We will no doubt stop by each time we are in the area! Well done Willards!!! Bonus...when you are done dining, wonder over to the attached locally own department store, Leaders! Fantastic store with quality merchandise! read more

This place was such a pleasant surprise! Ordered the special, Prime Eggs Benedict. Delicious! Will definitely be going back soon.

Love this place! The food, the service and the atmosphere are amazing! We had our groomsmen supper here as well and they did a fantastic job! read more

This place is a hidden gem! It has a cool vibe, old building but modern elements. I personally like to see the food being prepared. Service was friendly and attentive. The food has some of the best flavors and combinations I've tasted recently. We will definitely be back! read more

Our second visit to Willards was disappointing. It's a wonderful open layout which is refreshing. The service was prompt, polite and attentive. The MN Chop Salad was a serious disappointment. The cider vinaigrette was overly sweet. At most there was a tablespoon of wild rice. The real disappointment was the iceberg lettuce which was starting to brown. At a high end restaurant you expect exceptional locally produced greens, not 'bag lettuce.' The Eggs Florentine were also a disappointment. While the creamed spinach was fine the poached egg was improperly done with the yolk solid and the egg white was runny. The consistency was opposite convention. There are not many high-end options in rural MN. We will visit again and hope to see Willards up their game to expectations. read more

Leader - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

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I came home to Cambridge to visit my parents for the holidays, and my mom and I came in to Willards on Saturday for lunch. They had the brunch and lunch menu available, and the first thing I noticed was the lack of vegetarian options available. I'm a vegetarian, so it's nice when there are one or two things to choose from. I was a little disappointed by the lack of meat-free options. I ended up getting the eggs Florentine, and they were really delicious! The hashbrown patty they were served on was really good, and the creamed spinach was delicious. I will say that the poached eggs weren't quite right--somehow, the yolks were almost completely hard cooked, and the whites were still runny...like, there were still clear, gelatinous parts of the egg white. I prefer my poached eggs with the white fully cooked, and the yolk very runny. Overall, it was a good experience! Nice, friendly server. read more

The wait staff were pleasant and very knowledgeable and efficient!The food was beyond my expectations for a small town restaurant! Prices were fair, menu was perfect for anyone wanting a light meal to someone wanting a more upscale experience! I will be back and would recommend it to everyone living close by and to others that are passing thru!! read more

Great wait staff. Friendly and able to describe the menu items, make recommendations, etc. The chefs have their own take on popular restaurant items as well as unique dishes. read more

Checked Yelp for a great lunch place in Cambridge and this fit the bill. Former Department store from 1918. Now a restaurant is in the former women's department of the store! Husband had the Reuben Benedict as they serve breakfast until 2 pm. Amazing hybrid combo of eggs Benedict and a Reuben sandwich!!! I had the Reuben sandwich which was perfect for me. I'm not a sauerkraut fan so usually have it left off but instead they use purple cabbage they've cooked in bacon. It made a perfect Reuben sandwich for me. We also had the Daytons popover as an app for a trip down memory lane to the Daytons dept store restaurant downtown Minneapolis. They were flaky, crispy, and served with maple cinnamon butter. Definitely recommend them. Meet the owners. A delightful couple who happened to be eating next to us. Husband's grandfather started the Leaders Dept store in 1918 and it's still in the family just pivoted to create a restaurant, bar space, and adorable coffee shop on one side (husband got a latte to go and couldn't stop raving) and a lovely store on the other side with beautiful clothes, gifts, homewares, etc. wonderful unique products at very reasonable prices. I could have shopped for another couple of hours after we finished eating. This place is truly a gem and worth a stop. Thanks again Yelp for a great suggestion. Never would have found it without you!! read more

Not completely clear if it's Willards or Leaders. Sign out front says Leaders, but charge came through as Willards on my statement. We ate here twice while in town for my wife's class reunion. We had dinner one night and breakfast the next morning. The food and service were good, though the wait staff was more enthusiastic than experienced, not surprising as I'm assuming you aren't going to find a lot of folks with fine dining experience in Cambridge, but they'll get there. I had the Fried Bluegill dinner. Being from Oregon I almost never have fried fish other than Fish and Chips. The Bluegill seemed slightly overdone, but that may be how it is supposed to be. It tasted good, just not as moist as I like fish. The sides were all excellent, especially the creamed corn. My wife had the half rack of Baby Back Ribs. The quantity was a huge for a half rack. She was glad she didn't order a full rack. The flavor of the ribs was excellent, the meat was tender, but not fall off the bone as we're used to, but that may be a regional thing. Her sides were also excellent. Our friend had the Bluegill sandwich and said it was very good. My wife came back and met some of here high school buddies for breakfast the next morning and she had the breakfast sandwich and it was very good. We'll be back in another 10 years for the next reunion. read more

Chef Harcey doesn't disappoint! We loved everything we had! The Devils on Horseback is a must-have and save room for dessert! read more

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Overall the food, atmosphere and drinks is good for the Cambridge area. We've been here about 10 times and the problem we keep running into is consistency. Eating in the restaurant is good, it's picking up that's the problem. Sometimes the popovers are hard and cold, sometimes they're warm. Sometimes the firecracker shrimp is spot on, sometimes the shrimp is in a soupy sauce with no ranch or anything else. The flavors are there, I just think they could put a little more effort into how things are prepared and sent out. read more

Very good good, very rustic vibes here, a little pricey but overall good stuff. Friendly staff and they give good food recommendations :)

The BEST restaurant I've been to. Knocks out Manny's, Capital Grille, Ruth's Chris or any other "fancy" place I've been to. The small town feel is the best. Chef Harcey is brilliant and the chef's counter dining is the best way to go. So glad there's a nice place to go, in Cambridge, Minnesota of all places, that you can get an amazing meal and not have to go downtown Minneapolis or Saint Paul. read more

Leader - Chefs' counter is the best way to go. Better than Manny's, besides their cheesecake, Capital Grille and Ruth's Chris. - Scandinavian Near Me - Cambridge, Minnesota

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Their cocktails are the best in the area - food is always amazing too. Service is always great as well.

The food is outstanding here! I've never been disappointed! The service staff is a little under the level of the food, but they make up for it in friendliness read more

Best quality restaurant in Cambridge. They have been very understanding and helpful during Covid and the quality of food has not diminished. Fantastic customer service, their servers are friendly. For the quality of the food their price is extremely reasonable and the portion sizes are more than adequate. The only downside I've seen is their lack of vegetarian/vegan options, though they always have a veggie burger on the menu (comes with cheese, probably Beyond TM) read more

Each time I visited, received a warm welcome and great food. Great spot! Ribs are on point as well as the chicken sandwich, and the perfect burger. read more

We went to Leaders for an early dinner and got right in. Our waitress was great and mixed a perfect couple of drinks. One berry type drink and the other a bourbon. Very creative and perfect blend to appreciate the different flavors. We ordered the popovers which had a really yummy maple butter. We ordered the mushroom burger and the chicken melt, both with fries. They were both grilled perfectly with a wonderful charred flavor from the grill. Both were cooked just right to our request. Service was wonderful and dinner was delicious. How much better can you get! Go and enjoy this restaurant. You'll be glad you did. Be sure to check out the cool store next door. That was fun too! read more