Decent Mexican and decent Italian, nothing is done great though. Service is good and it's in a great spot on the river walk. It's a cool place that does the fusion but not a favorite read more

Went there with high hopes and such a let down! Service was awful!! The waitress came to the table one time because she was too busy talking with bar customers... other staff brought the food and we were lucky to get a refill from another staff person passing by. The food was terrible.. bland and gross .. total waste of money. I could have gone to McDonald's and have gotten more for my money. I absolutely do not recommend this place. read more

Good service, good food, nachos is definitely a different experience, lots of people, would return for the nachos one day soon. However the stir fry pasta wasn't the "Asian" stir fry flavor we expected. read more

The food was SO GOOD. We were recommended this location by lots of locals. The cheese balls are the number one thing we were told to try, they have homemade ranch that was SO yummy. We recommend the blackberry sauce for the dip as well. JUST TRUST ME!! Our meals were DIVINE. My husband had the Nut burger and it was his FAVORITE BURGER OF ALL TIME. This is a HUGE statement as he is a burger snob. Allow it to cool for a second before eating it - it allows the peanut butter to cool a little. I enjoyed their wings (also DIVINE) the parmesean garlic was so very tasty. Had a wonderful experience!! Enjoyed the service, as she was so speedy & helping so many others as well. She did such an incredibly professional job - along with assisting so many other tables & being so quick, she was so very funny & we enjoyed her comrodery. read more

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We ate lunch here on a wonderful sunny day in their outside space. Staff attentive, food was good, and prices were fair considering the times. The serve their cheese curds in cute little wagons! The scenery is great with the river close by. We would certainly dine here again. read more

Well, we didn't know what to expect from the place, but we've been dying to try it for a while now. My Fiance and I walked in and were sat right away by a lady who appeared to be a server. Shortly after being sat Rachel stopped by and introduced herself and asked if we wanted drinks etc. We ordered drinks, and the firecracker Buffalo shrimp so we could look over the menu a bit more since we hadn't visited this restaurant before. The firecracker shrimp came up pretty fast and they were absolutely delicious. I knew from the service and the firecracker shrimp that we were in for a great night here. So my other half ordered the lobster sauce fettuccine, and I ordered the walleye. In between the time we waited for our food to come we were reading up on the history of this little honey pot. We saw they changed names a few times and decided to mix the Italian eatery with the Mexican dishes to make this place a success. We met a gentleman who has worked there for a while and he encouraged us to read the story on the menu and assured us we would love the food at Lock and Dam. Also, the wonderful Emma graced us with her presence, she seemed to know a lot about the restaurant. Emma we also very friendly, funny, and helpful. I cannot say enough about how wonderful these people were who served us, especially Emma and Rachel. The food was very delicious just as I had hoped it would be. My other half was very pleased and so was I. This place has won our hearts, the next time we visit we are going to try the igloo dining, with the food being that great and accompanied by great service we can't lose. Thank you Lock and Dam for making our first visit a very enjoyable one, we will return soon. read more

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We love Lock and Dam eatery in downtown Hastings! They have a variety in their menu so if you're craving a burger but your partner wants enchiladas you can both be happy! Service is quick and friendly. Their patio is great in the summer and they often have live music! Definitely a place to check out if you're in town! read more

First the igloo was nicely decorated and the table was perfect for 8 of us. It was warm and you could hear each other around the round table. Noah, our server was awesome!!!! The food was very good. Tasty and hot, which was a great compliment because the weather was pretty cold. Drinks were good and the 2 hours flew by Highly recommend! Marlene read more

Some of best Mexican food we've had anywhere in the US. Homemade chips with guac, salsa and queso were excellent. Taco salad was outstanding. Chicken Monterrey was one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had - anywhere in the world. Service was fast and friendly - wait person recommended Chicken Monterrey and so glad she did. Hidden gem - very strongly recommended. read more

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Stopped in for an impromptu night out. Enjoyed a nice evening outside on the patio. Our server Jaida was fantastic. She was on top of everything. We ordered a couple drinks (watermelon jalapeño margarita, pictured, amd a spicy paloma). Both were good and even had a little tajin on the rim. Asked about the specials and ended up splitting two, a Strawberry salad and a creamy pesto ravioli. Both were good and just the right amount of food. Will definitely stop in again. read more

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Foods ok but our server on the patio never came back after she brought drinks. Also no ice in the water.

Tried this place out on a Sunday afternoon. Service was fast (surprisingly opposite to what the other reviewers shared). The kid who served us was very thorough, patient and quick to bring the items. The food itself was ok, nothing spectacular but not too bad also. The cheese curds were greasy and salty. The walleye was mid at best. Burger was edible but nothing to specially come back to this place. The house chips and salsa were good and the couple of drinks we tried were reasonable. The patio is nice and has a good view of the Mississippi. There was this novelty item (see pic) of a 5 pound burrito (with your choice of meat) for $25. The server shared that back in the days, they would do a 30 minute challenge and if you finish it within that timeframe, the burrito would be free and you get a shirt and a pic on the wall but they don't do that anymore so I just got the burrito for novelty purposes and clocked myself to finish as if I were doing the challenge. If it were just the food, would give it 2 stars but adding one for the ambience and the additional one for the service. read more

Lock and Dam Eatery - 5 pound burrito. Used to be a 30 minute challenge but now is only available to be done for fun - Italian Near Me - Hastings, Minnesota

Not my favorite place in Hastings! I've gotten the burger and the chicken Alfredo pasta and wasn't super impressed with either. It could've been because I went on busy nights and they may be more known for their Mexican cuisine. Very nice staff though read more

Eh....poor slow service. Stopped in for lunch, but ended up only getting a coke and the cheese curds. Started off well enough. Was seated at a high top in the bar area, and then there I sat for 10 minutes before being approached by any of the wait staff. They were not busy. 6 people at the bar and myself at a high top (not sure on how many people in the back). When Kiki did approach it was only to take my drink order. She seemed a bit surprised when I asked for cheese curds too. Then off she went. Did not inquire nor wait for my main order, but no worries she would be back to take that right? Well, the coke and cheese curds where delivered fairly quick, but not by Kiki but a kitchen runner. Drank the coke and finished the cheese curds (it's now been 25 minutes since I arrived) and Kiki then appears and asked if I would like to order. I said no, just the check. She brings the check and it automatically has a credit card convenience fee of just shy of 4% added. I paid cash ($20 on a $13.62 bill) and Kiki asked if I wanted my change back. Really? I'm sorry, but I am NOT leaving a 50% tip. When she did rerun with my change it was wrong. Short the copper. Sorry, but I will not be returning. read more

Lock and Dam Eatery - Cheese curds - Italian Near Me - Hastings, Minnesota

Great patio and decent food. Wine and beer selection is minimal but covers the bases. The Old Fashion was surprisingly good. We ordered the Triple Dip (tortilla chips and triple dips, salsa, guacamole and queso dip) and split the cheese curd burger with sweet potato fries. Our waiter was great, timely, attentive and friendly. read more

Lock and Dam Eatery - Patio - Italian Near Me - Hastings, Minnesota

This place is pretty much the definition of mediocrity. I guess I should have known this going in, given that they claim to be an Italian/Mexican/American restaurant. Very much a jack of all trades, master of none situation. We lucked out and arrived right before the dinner rush, and so were seated right away. The atmosphere is alright, nothing special but it will do. We ordered cheese curds, coconut shrimp, a flavored lemonade, and a burger. The curds and shrimp were fine, but nothing to write home about. My husband asked for his burger to be cooked medium, and it was definitely burned to a crisp. Skip the lemonade and just get a water. The food was pretty reasonably priced, except for the burger which we thought was overpriced for what it was. Service started out pretty quick, but slowed down as more people were seated for dinner, which is to be expected. Would I come here again? If I find myself in the area without dinner plans (and the Onion Grille doesn't have any open tables), then sure. Nothing here was bad, per se. Will I seek this place out specifically? Nope. read more

It was the Mississippi Belle until 2014, and Italian moved to Mexican; well, mostly. Visited today with my wife and two daughters, and enjoyed a pretty good meal at a reasonable cost. I had the beef Chimichanga and it was generous with beef. Almost too much for my old stomach to hold, but with small bites along with family small talk, I managed to leave only a small portion on my plate. It was a slow day, but service was good with a friendly waitress. read more

They ran out of a lot of food the night prior to us going there. They offered Mexican rice because they ran out of cilantro. The Mexican rice taste like it was out of a box, but seasoned like spaghetti. My wife had the Mexican burger. Cooked from a frozen burger patty and fries were over cooked. I felt so bad for the staff. read more

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Had the best service and the most amazing food! Love the outdoors was along the river. I recommend the Crab-cakes, Mahi Mahi and the Steak Burrito. Impressed! read more

The chicken enchiladas w green sauce were delicious. Same with the tex mex red over chimi and house margarita! This is a win!

Service - 5/5 Atmosphere - 5/5 Food - 3/5 Incredible service with friendly, happy employees in an absolutely perfect location, right next to the river. Live music, lots of shade. It was exactly what you would expect from a restaurant on the river with such a gorgeous patio. The food however, was ordinary. It wasn't bad or inedible by any means, but everything was very bland and had a weird chipotle type aftertaste, including the salsa. If you love chipotle seasoning, this place is where you want to go. They should also try and refine their menu. Italian, Mexican, and American? Sounds like too many options to perfect one of the above. Overall, I would recommend this place with the caveat of chipotle. :) read more

Lock and Dam Eatery - Cheese Curd Burger - Italian Near Me - Hastings, Minnesota

party of six seated in the outdoor 'igloos' for my wife's birthday. seated right away then ignored for 15-20 minutes finally had to go in and ask for a server. waiter took our drink order, obviously forgot(or written down...) and had to come back and take again. I asked for 2 different beers which both turned out to be of stock. Waiter spilled a portion of one of the drinks. Manager did provide gratis chips and salsa. Most of the food came except mine which the kitchen apparently forgot to prepare. had to ask for silverware 3 times after food arrived as basically only had butter knives at the table. had to wait another 15-20 minutes at the end for the check. finally had to go in and ask to settle up. first check had a couple of drinks we never ordered or received. second check attempt had an extra entree, again we never ordered or received. After all that they added an automatic 20% gratuity. most food was decent. Mexican Lasagna was pretty bland. Won't be going back.... read more

Waited for 10 minutes at the hostess stand while many employees walked by. And no one acknowledged us. Finally a hostess made her way over and talked to the group that came in behind us and started to seat them. I said excuse me we were here at least 5 min before them. She said oh they have a reservation so I'm seating them first. Keep in mind this happened at 5pm on Sunday and it was Not busy. Ok that's fine but for no one to even acknowledge us was crazy. We decided to leave. Happy to support local businesses that have good customer service. Won't be back. read more

Great food and service! One of our favorite go-to places! Fantastic food, drinks and atmosphere!

My wife and I took our kids (ages 13, 11, and 7) here for breakfast. We enjoyed it so much. The kids insisted we return the next day. The breakfast burrito was a major hit - all of the kids got it the second day. I had the Mexican omelet and it was delicious - the flavor were savory and the hash browns were crisp. The wait staff was kind and friendly and we all had a really pleasant experience. The coffee could be better.. but that's a minor criticism at contrast with everything else. Definitely recommend. read more

Watch your Bill! We ate at Lock and Dam on Sunday, 08/28/19 between 4PM and 6 PM - We were there for that long because it easily took over an hour to get our food. Upon receiving our food, we noted that the prices did not match those which are stated on the menu. Four different menu items showed a higher price on our receipt! I pointed this out to our server and he brought this this to the Manager's attention. The Owner(?)/Manager returned with a receipt that showed that $2.50 had been deducted. As a bit of background, I have over four decades in Senior Food Service Management with my last four years in the Loss Prevention field for the same industry. I explained that you simply can't have a menu with one price and charge the guest a higher price. The manager/owner - who NEVER did even think to apologize - told me that she knew this and had already "fixed a couple." A couple? I asked her about all of the guests around me? The patio was full! If "a couple" had already been "fixed," why were we still overcharging the guests? She simply said that she would take care of it and left without ever apologizing. I asked a worker if they knew about the price differences. The worker stated that they were charging "Car Show" prices, but this has NOW been fixed. Mind you, The Hastings Saturday Night Cruise In was last on 08/10/19 - EIGHT days ago! I found the manager/owner's attitude to be both inhospitable and deceitful (she could have explained "car show prices."). I left simply believing that multiple customers have been overpaying for quite some time. My Loss Prevention experience has taught me that you can quickly accumulate significant funds with incremental over-charging such as this. I will never patronize this place again - Unethical ownership is a deal breaker for me. read more

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After a fabulous hike through Afton State Park we stopped in Hastings for dinner outside. We sat outside on the lovely patio. We started with the chips and salsa. The salsa come in a cute jar and if the lid came too I would have put it in my purse. The salsa was so so good. I had the avocado salad with salmon and it was perfect. My husband had the burger which he said was good but not his kind of fries. Our waiter was a delight but the service is a bit slow. There seemed to be a lot of confusion about what table got what food. I know the hospitality industry has been hard so I can be patient! read more

good service very clean price is good food was hot and fresh It is a nice place to enjoy a meal read more

Good grief get your shit together!!!! Worthless help. The arrogance of the hostess and whoever was trying to run thing's was eye opening. Food was unimpressive. Mexican Italian???? Gross. Try doing one of those well. Neither of the so called Mexican or Italian dishes were worth the stop. We should get gas money and a stipend for the waste of time coming here. read more

My party of five dined in one of their outdoor igloos. This was our first time trying one out and we really enjoyed it. The temperature outside was right around zero degrees, but inside the igloo was warm and comfortable. The food itself was good, maybe not great, but we were all satisfied with our meals. Calli D was our server and she was very attentive, knowledgeable of the menu and made the whole experience better. If you're looking for a unique night out give the igloos a try! read more

Lock and Dam Eatery - the inside of a building - Italian Near Me - Hastings, Minnesota

Good. One entre was Luke warm and needed to be sent back but then it was fine. Busy interesting area by riverfront. Hadn't been to that area for many years. read more

Service, food, water, management all BAD! Table who sat down after us got served 1st. All the extras we asked for were missed. My friend had to go inside for our water, and that tasted gross! Bathroom stinky, restaurant stinky. My friends street taco meat was dry so she didn't eat them. When manager came out to our table she stood with both hands at her waist, said 1 fryer was broke, and lied and said the table of 5 were there 1st thats y they got there food 1st, no one was seated there when we were seated as we walked by the table, fryer broke um I ordered a salad, my friend ordered soft street tacos (no frying) only thing that needed frying were the nacho chips. Why did the table of 5 who were seated after us received their food first? We are brown and they are Caucasian? After 1 beer my friend was accused of being drunk and was cut off, but a Caucasian male sitting near us Was drunk and they continued to serve him!!! Instead of the female manager making things right by at least removing the uneaten tacos from our bill, or offering to re cook them or offering a different item, it got uglier! She said we needed to leave and pay, she stood at our table until my friend paid, seriously, she was horrible to us, she said if we didn't pay right away as he acted, she said she would call police, I told her 'please do" they can test us all, I wasnt worried as the only beer drank by all 3 of us was the 1 beer my friend had. She was slurring but she had a mini stroke in the past and thats her speech. Really, this is management, horrible!!!! After we left, my friend called to speak with manager and explained our friend had a disability with her speech, and she hung up on my friend!! WOW Wtf is wrong wit that lady! I guess we were the wrong color! read more

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So far we have had great food and service at L&D. My spouse and I love the Gringos Nachos! My pescatarian daughter always enjoys the salmon entree. read more

Great place right in downtown Hastings. We tried several things including the Gringo Nachos and they were fantastic. Our server Anne was the best! Nice beer selection which makes or breaks a place. Having the outside area is such a plus. read more

This place has the potential to be good... nice patio area with a view of the river and nicely updated inside. But the food and service are definitely lacking. We received our appetizer (chips and queso) before our two beers, and we waited a very long time for our meals. Yes, the patio was busy but the inside was not. I'm wondering if they are struggling with staffing right now as I know a lot of other restaurants and businesses are as well. "Jumbo Scallops: 5 jumbo scallops pan seared placed on homemade mashed potatoes, topped with lobster cream sauce" - I received 5 scallops but they were breaded and fried... which was very odd as the menu description clearly says they are pan seared. The mashed potatoes and lobster cream sauce were good, although I couldn't find any actual pieces of lobster in the sauce. It was also served with a side of green beans with an Asian style dressing... they did not compliment the dish at all. read more

We visited on a Friday night - it was busy but 4 of us were seated immediately about 7 pm. Our server promptly brought the requested waters and told us about the Friday specials. Three of us chose those and we thought they were great. The 4th person got something else and liked it too. We thought the prices were reasonable for post covid eating out. read more

Had a wonderful dinner with a large group. We all tried something different. The patio was lovely and the service was great. Fajitas, stir fry, salmon, tacos and shrimp were delicious. Don't leave without ordering a slice of chocolate cake. It's the bomb!!! read more

I can't say enough on how fantastic our service was. The food was very good. Everything from Mexican to Italian to your basic hamburger. We were a group of 12 and everyone was very impressed. Thank you read more

A nice half hour drive from St. Paul. A great variety if menu items. I went Mexican, Basil went Italian with the bag of seafood. We started with guacamole. A chunky type loaded with tomatoes and lots of lime flavor with multicolor chips. There were a lot left over so I got some salsa which I loved and brought home. I loved the enchiladas and I chose verde sauce. So good and Basil ate my rice. I'm just happy with the entree. We both got lemonade which they make their own by adding flavor purees. I got peach, he got strawberry. Excellent service from Samantha. The hostess was actually the owner, and she expanded her old Italian restaurant(which we loved) into this gem. We got the chocolate cake for home. Dense like Cafe Latte, very moist with a great frosting. If you make the trip from 61 take your first left after the bridge on 4th. Then left to 2nd and a left to the corner, and there you are. On the way back check out the scenery on your left and you'll see why it's called lock and dam. read more

Wow! It's been quite a while since I've been compelled to give 5 stars. Great job of dealing with a long line at the door all while social distancing. Staff was happy, friendly, and made us feel like we were the most important to them. Food came and my girls and I all thought we had the best pasta entree. Food looked nice and taste was even better. For dessert we had fried ice cream and were amazed at the appearance, flavor, and textures. Thanks Lock and Dam for a great meal and Allie for tremendous service. Pastas: steak tortellini, chicken fettuccine, and a shrimp Greek pasta. read more