There's a lot that I like about The Grocer's Table.
Loves:
- The food is always fresh, delicious, and there are always plenty of options; the breakfast Quesadilla is my favorite! Breakfast/lunch/dinner, you can't go wrong with a mealtime here.
- Seasonal options for both food and drink are always available and rotating.
- Full bar serving speciality cocktails and fantastic wine options.
- The bakery and fun dessert items are some of the best you'll sample in Wayzata! (Big shout out to their baker/pastry chef!)
- I love the little shop they have and all of the unique, locally sourced kitchen and home items they sell.
- I love the views from Lake Minnetonka if you choose to dine al fresco on their patio.
- I love that I've never been rushed, whether I've come to eat and stayed to work a couple of hours, or I'm having a reunion with family/friends, regardless of how busy the restaurant may be, I appreciate never feeling rushed out.
- The space itself has an eye-catching country luxe aesthetic; super cute.
What doesn't drive me wild:
- The coffee's... they're a hit or a miss. The baristas are friendly; it's not a service issue. I'm unsure if it's the bean or simply the combinations I've chosen. For example, the "Latte of the Moment: S'mores" as an iced latte with oat milk, is not that girl. For what latte's cost these days, it's never a fun time when I have a "miss" experience here with the coffee.
- Reservations are not accepted.
- The crowding for the business is fanta$$$tic, but for patrons, it can feel overwhelming. During the warmer months, there is additional seating available on the patio. However, if you plan to dine with a large party (or even just a party of four), it's recommended to arrive early, especially on weekends.
- This last point recently occurred, so I can't say this is something I've noticed happens all the time, but once is enough to mention it. During extreme busyness, while I was waiting for my meal in the takeout area, I noticed an employee on the line working as an "Expo", ensuring the dishes were being served correctly, rearranging food that was already on the window ready to be served to the customer, with his bare hands. No gloves, no hand-washing in between. As a culinary school graduate, I know all too well the significance and scrutiny kitchens face in relation to ServSafe and proper food handling practices, regardless of how busy an establishment gets, especially (and traditionally) the person on the Expo line should be of the highest qualification and awareness as it relates to safe food handling practices. I was shocked to see servers coming up to him to grab plates, the cashiers, who, although busy taking orders, could also see him "finalizing" dishes yet no one mentioned anything to him about putting on gloves or washing his hands. I could've assumed the hands may have been washed before approaching the line, but watching him touch his hair, bite his fingernails, and then rearrange food on the plates made me cringe internally when I noticed this. My hope in mentioning this is that, if the restaurants read this, they can offer retraining to equip better whoever is Expoing their line.
Besides and otherwise, The Grocer's Table has always been a place in Wayzata known for its great food, and I wouldn't say that the minor hiccups I experienced change that for me. The misses are tweaks surrounding training and consistency, but at the heart of this establishment, there's a lot of great food, so I would not discourage you from checking them out if you find yourself hungry in the Lake Minnetonka area. read more