The theme here is books and menu items are titles. Driving around downtown looking for a homemade…read morebreakfast spot this was across the bridge. A nice neighborhood too. Luckily we beat the crowd and I was able to snag the last piece of quiche. Lots of groups gather here. I got a coffee that I think was local. There were 3 servers ours was younger and newer, Alyssa. I had to ask someone else for utensils before we got the food. We split some great hash browns. Basil got A farewell to sausages omelet and juice. We both enjoyed a local coffee. This was a great start to our trip out East to the Chicago burbs. I think it will be our stop from now on and should be yours as well.

Review Visit: November 14th, 2024…read more Maybe not THAT grand... The short trip to Eau Claire was coming to a close and I needed some food before I hit the road home. Around the corner from where Tim lives is a cafe he's been to a few times. We took the short stroll there to get some breakfast and coffee in us. We popped in after the major breakfast crowd and before the lunch crowd made the small cafe packed. We took a seat towards the front by the window so we could get some natural light to go with our meal. Our waitress was a hoot. She was professional but really chatty and we all quickly got on the topic of horror movies, spooky things, and the love for reading. I got the house coffee with a biscotti stick to go with it. Tim got a latte thing. The waitress forgot my biscotti but quickly brought it over when I asked her about it. As for our meal, I ordered just the french toast and Tim got a full course meal. I wanted to eat somewhat light as I had the long drive but... when I say I got french toast... it was the most basic two slices of french toast I've ever had. It ended up tasting decent but for $8.49, it just felt like it needed to some with a side of protein or eggs or something. Tim said his The Grand Gatsby and Bread Pudding was good, even if he doesn't care for Mango, which is what his Bread Pudding flavor was. The biscotti was really good, even better dipped in the coffee. The coffee itself was your typical drip coffee that you'd find across the country. Not great but not bad. It served it purpose. While it was a bit of a letdown that my last meal before heading home was less than stellar but the memories made at the cafe (and the whole trip) are one you can't put a rating on. With that in mind, if we visit here again in 2025, I will definitely get a more substantial meal than two meager slices of french toast.

Best meal out I've ever had in Eau Claire. They have it all- kid friendly atmosphere but in a super…read morecute instagramable old brick building with a bar. Foods kids will eat but with more refined options for adults- like the brussels and cauliflower which were crazy good. Tender florets with crispy exterior and well seasoned. The burgers were super tasty and honestly ate more like a sandwich (in the best way) because of the seasoning and other components. Adults had the mushroom- swiss and the OB. The kids cheeseburger was large and came with a generous serving of fries. 5yo also loved the cheese curds. They were a slightly distinctive style with cornmeal in the breading so very crunchy even after cooling off. Waitress was friendly and accommodating and food came promptly. We will 100% be back on our next trip to Eau Claire in the Spring. I would eat the cauliflower weekly if we lived close by. I also loved that they had dye free sodas and rootbeer.

First time here. Came with a small group after hearing they had excellent burgers, so we stopped in…read moreto check it out. It's a vintage-looking building with a fenced outdoor area filled with tables and metal chairs. Umbrellas provide shade if needed. Inside, there's a bar with seating and several tables of different sizes. The space has a vintage vibe with bare brick walls, a metal ceiling, wood floors, and even a six-foot-high metal vault door. We were greeted right away by our cheerful server, who explained the menu and took our drink order. I went with the mocktail, St. Peri Spritz (there's also a version with alcohol). While waiting for the rest of our group to arrive, we played some of the games available. There were several other groups there, some with kids, and the noise level was just right for conversation. When everyone arrived, we placed our full order: cheese curds for an appetizer, then a variety of burgers with sides including fries, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. The cheese curds came out first -- a generous portion and served hot. The breading had (what I think) chili flakes mixed in, giving it a little spice without being overpowering. Very good. The accompanying Spicy Valley Sauce was a nice addition and, again, not too hot. The burgers followed shortly after, and they were all excellent. I had the Wisco Whiz with cheddar, whiz, bacon, dijonnaise, caramelized onion, pickles, and a pretzel bun. It was almost perfect. The only disappointment was the bacon, which was tough and detracted from an otherwise amazing burger, so I set it aside. All the sides we ordered were also very good -- my Brussels sprouts were outstanding. Overall, a fantastic first visit. Excellent burgers, friendly service (thanks, Aubrey), and a casual atmosphere. Would love to come back again (hold the bacon).

Found this place on Yelp. We usually stop off for lunch around Eau Claire so was happy to see a…read morehealthy option. This little coffee shop is located inside a clinic. The food is delicious and we look forward to making this our new stop off while traveling north. Also, when leaving the restaurant you can go over the bridge and get gas at Woodmans-cheap. My husband kept raving about his Asian chicken salad. I ordered a cup of lentil soup which was more of a bowl for me and it was flavorful. I had tabouli which was not what I was expecting. I was expecting more of a grain mixture with herbs but what I got was basically a bowl of chipped parsley sprinkled with a grain. But, it was tasty. I don't know if I would order again unless I was really cutting calories...lol. I took a dessert to go. It was a custard/coconut type and I loved it! They advertised hand pressed lemonade on their specials board but when I went to order I was told that they didn't have any. Also, on the menu when I ordered my tabouli, on the menu it stated it came with flat bread. I went back to the counter to inquire about the flatbread I was told no, it doesn't come with the tabouli. I pointed it out on the menu and she proceeded to cross it off telling me it shouldn't be there. These two little things that happened were a turn off but not enough to stop me from going back. But if there are more of these types of bad customer service happenings I will exit and not return.

Really tasty food and good portions didn't slack on protein either.. coffee was unique and loved…read morethe lavender cookie

Good food, great ambience, wonderful server. Sit by the…read morefireplace or window for the best experience. And make sure youake a reservation.....the place filled up quickly.

Ok, here we go... In Eau Claire Wisconsin on business and Yelping to find an acceptable place for a…read morebusiness dinner with good friends. What pops up?? Mona Lisa! Asked some locals as well and the consensus was confirmed. We arrived early and spent an hour at the bar conversing with the staff. All friendly, all funny, all helpful. Popped over to the attached vintage antique/clothing store and found a cool shirt! The 6 of us sat down just after 6pm and started our culinary feast. Multiple appetizers, all fabulous including the Brussels, the Artichoke Hearts, the Pork Belly, the Focaccia Bread. I had the Wild Mushroom Ravioli with Chicken and quizzed my companions on their dishes to an enthusiastic thumbs up. There was the Gnocchi, the Carbonara, the Parmigiana.... All a solid YUMM! How was the service??? Top Notch? 5 Star?? Yes! Thank you Grace for honoring us with your fantastic service, attentiveness, humor, and smile! The atmosphere was also beautiful, soft, homey, nostalgic. If you are ever in Eau Claire, don't miss out on this amazing restaurant! Cheers

Attached to the Lismore hotel by Doubletree makes this restaurant super accessible to…read moreout-of-towners. Service 5/5: we did not make a reservation, but staff did everything to accommodate us and get us seated. I really appreciate how kind they were and once we were seated, our server was attentive, making sure our drinks were always filled and that we were enjoying our meal. Ambiance 5/5: stunning environment. I highly recommend you take a peek and look at the bar because it's a bunch of little pennies and it is the coolest sight to see (I believe I heard them call it the penny bar too). I really enjoy that you could see into the kitchen while the chefs worked and how fluid they all seemed to be in their craft. Food 3/5: I was really disappointed by the food. I ordered the roasted lamb as a big fan of lamb and it was overcooked and very salty. Also, the mint gelée coupled with the root beer glacé de viande was overwhelmingly sweet. The dish was lacking a balance of acid and spice. My fiancé ordered the tater tot hot dish and I am thankful that he ordered that because we ended up sharing that the rest of the meal. Even he could not eat the Lamb and he is must less picky about flavor profiles. The hotdish was a cheesy parmesan dream with sweet corn, peas, mushrooms and I liked the textural mixture of pork and veal. Overall, I'm not sure if I would come back for a meal here. I have seen that their pizzas are really popular because they are woodfired and I wish we would've checked that first, but I wanted a cozy elevated dinner and I'm still really bummed that we did not get that.

Been here before, but it's been a very long time. We were passing through the area and looking for…read morea place to eat. It happened to be a very busy weekend, and the Informalist was one of the few places that did not have a long line to get seated. Got in right away and seated for some brunch. The restaurant is spacious and well designed. It's a bit upscale, but perfectly capable of making people feel relaxed and welcome. We got greeted right away by the server and settled in with menus and waters. Our order wasn't complicated: some of the Custard Battered French Toast, a short stack of pancakes, and two eggs. I also ordered a London Fog Tea Latte (a little lavender, a little vanilla, and extra foam). It didn't take long for the food to come, but the London Fog took a while longer. The French Toast was amazingly good, and the pancakes and eggs were also very good. I was half done with my meal by the time my London Fog arrived, and the server was very apologetic (saying that the coffee shop was very busy). I might have been satisfied with that, but the London Fog was just okay. While there was some extra foam, the drink itself was flat, as if they just heated up the milk and mixed it with the tea. (They need to do a better job with polishing the steamed milk so that it creates a creamy texture, especially if they ar charging $8) Overall, a good experience, and a few tweaks would have made it excellent. Would stop again if I was in the mood for the French Toast.

I love the food here. Especially the volcano bowl and the crab salad. Very clean and bright…read morefacility, though I've always done takeout. The staff was great for any customizations and very helpful. They go the extra mile.

Super clean restaurant. They have several popular selections that you can order or customize your…read moreown bowl. Plenty of choices for the base, white rice, brown rice, or quinoa. There was one other choice too, but I forgot what it was. Lots of toppings. You can sub and add additional things. some bottled beverages for sale or free lemon water. Super clean on the inside. Staff was friendly. My bowl was delicious and I will definitely go back. The raw fish seemed very fresh and was very delicious.

Good food, surprisingly fast service. For a place with a sports bar-type atmosphere, it wasn't…read moreterribly loud, which my girlfriend really appreciated.

We ate here a couple of times while in Eau Claire. Good variety on the menu and the food is tasty…read moreand well presented. Service was friendly and took care of us without being a bother.

The chicken is the star her - you can literally see the fire-roasted chicken right when you walk…read morein, which sets the tone. The wings were solid, and the artichoke dip with garlic bread was legit. The ribeye was delicious, but the grilled walleye really stood out. I'm not from around here, but for an old Texan like me who is all about catfish, I loved it!

Fabulous service from Gabriel on a busy Friday night!! Irish Mule and Barrel Aged Old Fashioned…read morehit the spot. My guy ordered the Bourbon Pepper Sirloin and I went with the 1/4 Rotisserie Chicken and 1/2 Rack of Baby Back Ribs with Grizzly Skins for a side, The steak had good flavor and was tender. The ribs were tough and overcooked; I cannot believe a place featuring ribs doesn't cut the silverskin off, but here we are. I had to use my husband's steak knife to try and cut the ribs apart. The chicken was absolutely amazing!!! Since we shared, we both declared we'll only choose chicken entrees next time. Seating was comfortable and prices were reasonable. Would have been a five star rating if the ribs were handled properly.

Overall, the experience was average. The coffee was great! The food had some wait but was overall…read morewhat you would expect, nothing special. The overall vibe was honestly pretty loud, definitely not a place you could have a conversation (especially during a busy morning).

I've been dying to check out The Nucleus, and oh my gosh, I'm so happy I finally did! We had a…read morelittle girls' brunch on Saturday, and it was absolutely perfect! From the yummy food to the sweet service and the cutest decor, it's safe to say we're already planning our next visit to try more of the menu! I went for an blended coffee called The (Frozen) Girl Scout (a dreamy peppermint mocha), and they were so sweet to make it decaf just for me. Their blender was on the fritz so it wasn't blended but it was just as yummy iced!! For food, I couldn't resist the strawberry-stuffed French toast--let me tell you, it was AMAZING. They totally piled on the whipped topping, and I was living for it! I can't wait to take my sister here next time! I think we just found our new brunch spot!

Sandwiches here are delicious! I got the veggie sandwich and white bean chili. Both were very tasty…read moreand made me want to try more of their food! They have a great specialty food and gift selection. The staff is friendly and helpful. I totally recommend this place!

Great place, cute and the sandwiches were amazing! Definitely glad we checked this place out…read more Wish I would have had room to try the ice cream.