My husband and I decided to dine at The Informalist for breakfast after staying at The Lismore. He has been to the restaurant previously but I had not. The ambiance was nice and there was no wait for a table at 9:40 on Sunday morning. The small booth table for 2 we were seated at was rather small and that became more obvious when our plates were brought and we had to rearrange for them both to fit. The server was attentive and kept my water glass full. The menu had a good selection, although in my opinion too many Benedict varieties, and I opted for the Cajun omelet and my husband the Eau Claire scramble. We both enjoyed our breakfast except for the burned toast-- turn the toaster down! We thought it was also reasonably priced and would certainly visit for breakfast again!! read more

I stayed at the hotel and spent a little time in the lounge restaurant that evening prior to dinner. Environment is a little sterile and cold feeling. Bartenders were very good and knowledgeable, but I could not get past the atmosphere. I was on a date and did not want to start out on the negative side. read more

Waited for 15 minutes and was never greeted or offered water. The place wasn't even half busy but there were waiters everywhere. Walked out and the hostess was talking to another waitress and didn't say anything as we left. As of out of towner, I wouldn't recommend this place unless there are no other options. read more

We have lived in Eau Claire for 17 years and have eaten far and wide. The informalist offers a unique locally sourced menu with a variety of price options that are delicious. My husband just devoured the best damned trout he's ever had. He's had it in Montana and Minnesota and this was #1. I had the beet pizza. Perfectly prepared. We also had dessert - tres leches. Fantastico! My wine glass of rose was generously poured. Our waiter was exceedingly polite and brought us complimentary champagne when we mentioned it was our first time here. We'll be back! read more

OK, there are a couple hipsters in Eau Claire. I found this restaurant to be nice, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I think the place was set up to make me think I was going to get an over the top experience and what I got was meh. Not that it wasn't OK food, but it was a little too much fanfare for not a lot of creativity - especially for the price which is somewhat high for here. Overall, I would come back, but maybe for a drink or if I end up staying in the attached Doubletree hotel. That said, if you are not getting enough hipster action, you may want to drop in and your experience may vary with miliage. read more

Best hotel lobby restaurant I've ever been to! I've loved every dish I've ever had. All appetizers, entrees, and desserts have been fabulous! Blown away by the quality of food. read more

Large group for Saturday brunch is this completely empty restaurant. Sure hope EC can figure out how to get and people downtown. Most dishes were unremarkable. However, the pork belly with roasted cauliflower was one of my top 5 meals this year. Perfectly cooked, delicious confit and savory sauce. Man, this is a good dish! read more

For my birthday this year we decided to save ourselves the trip to the Twin Cities for a nice dinner. I chose The Informalist over other choices in the area for two reasons: 1. It's new and 2. The asthetic and menu reminded me of some of my favorite restaurants in other cities. I was so excited! When we came in, we were greeted right away, but it took a few minutes to actually get seated. They were checking on tables. The restaurant was about half empty, so I found this odd. We were poured water quickly after we sat down - but it had no ice and was room temperature. I'm picky when it comes to water temp, so honestly, this bothered me a bit. While we were pouring over our menus, my sweetheart pointed out the salt and pepper on the table. It's a cool look, as they are in small dishes on the table, open. However, my sweetheart was bothered by this because it's pretty unsanitary, especially if someone was to sneeze on the table. I then ordered a cocktail - the Media Luna. It was different but very good. I was pleased with it, especially because their options on house cocktails seemed limited to me. We took some time to make our choices because the menu is all over the board - both in price and options. There are three kinds of ramen, though, which baffles me. We settled on splitting an order of crab cakes, wings for him, and the po'boy for me. The food came quickly. We were disappointed with the crab cakes. While they were absolutely delicious, you only receive two in an $11 order, which seemed pricy. My sweetheart was not happy with the wings. In his words, "they were the blandest wings I've ever had." The sauce itself had no heat to it, even though it claimed to be chili sauce. The po'boy was the highlight of the evening. I enjoyed it and my sweetheart did as well. However, it was EXTREMELY messy. The sandwich consisted of andouille, bacon, aioli (the star of the dish!) and pickled onions. Because of this, there was nothing really holding the sandwich together. My napkin looked like a war zone afterward and I was embarrassed with how many times I had to wipe my face and hands off before reassembling my sandwich. In all honesty, unless things change, we probably won't be back. For a special occasion, I left feeling sad that I hadn't picked another restaurant. Perhaps the clientele that are paying $250 a night at the Lismore will? read more

My husband and I decide to renew our vows for our 10 year anniversary and when looking at places to host a dinner, someone mentioned The Informalist and I am so pleased that we chose them. Between the wonderful help from the management (Holly), the waitstaff, the hostesses, the bartenders, and the chefs, our party was treated to some of the best service and food we could have ever asked for. The food was amazing and not only because they use farm fresh ingredients locally grown, but that the chefs were all passionate about cooking and sending out the best food that they could. If I could give more than 5 stars I would. We will definitely be going back and will be making sure to tell our family and friends to go there too. read more

What a treat! On a long drive from Chicago to Minneapolis, we decided to take a bit of a break and have a sit-down dinner. The food was outstanding and the service even better. Started with the smoked trout pate-- delicious as was the bread and beet horseradish that came on the side. The Brussels sprouts were soooo good and the kids loved the pizza. The sirloin tips were "melt in your mouth" and the veggie burger very good. The skillet cookie with marshmallow slab and vanilla bourbon ice cream was also a big hit! Michael, our server, was the bomb. Was totally worth the few extra minutes off the highway! read more

We stayed at the Lismore and unfortunately dined at the3 Informalist 3 times. All three times the food took way too long to arrive. When it did it was cold and twice over cooked. Breakfast was an absolute mess. They may have a great idea and I do wish them well, but they completely fail in the execution category. I had the Halibut for dinner. Presentation was good but it arrived cold, and the portion was not even an appetizer. They seem to have a considerable issue with preparing more than one meal at a time. Breakfast took almost 45 minutes to arrive and there was nobody in the Resturant. When it did, again the food was cold. Somebody please explain how that happens? I would advise not dining here until they figure out who they are and how they are going to deliver the dining service to their customers they believe they can. read more

We ate here both nights we were in town, the second night because everything was closed on Easter. THE PROs The restaurant is beautifully designed, on par with what you'd expect to see in cities much larger than eau Claire. We had 4 wines, they were all very solid. I had a burger that was pretty good, although i asked for it medium rare and it was served rare. Not a big deal. The peanut butter cheese cake was quite good but it was about 1/4 the size of a standard slice of cheesecake. Not exaggerating; this was a diminutive slice of cheese-cake. The mousse liver ravioli were good, although the raviolis were a bit undercooked, so slightly tough/chewy. Also a pretty small portion. THE CONs The service is appallingly bad. The first night on 2 separate occasions the server asked if she could clear plates that still had food on them and we had to tell her no. Then without asking she took a glass of wine off the table that still had a healthy swallow or two left. The second night I think it may have taken an hour to get our food. The server did apologize but didn't offer to comp anything and also had a terrible excuse ("we had a very busy day", when in fact the restaurant was deserted during the day because it was Easter). The server did not ask us if everything was ok until we were done, and my wife had to flag down another server to get a 2nd glass of wine. Last but not least, the server dropped our check without offering us dessert. Disappointments with the food included the roasted asparagus which was over-cooked and which I sent back (I send a dish back about once every 3 years) and the pizza, which wasn't up to snuff for a restaurant like this one. read more

Nice atmosphere but food was ho hum. Waitress seemed disinterested in helping us. Ordered martini with twist, brought with olives, twice! Pizza was good. Steak was ordinary. Drinks were good and imaginative. But not going back. read more

Great and friendly service! Interesting menu and great tasting food. Will definitely eat there again!

Food was good. A tad pricey. The menu was a bit limited, good of you were a vegetarian though. They had good music, but the decor was a bit bland, all black and white. Staff were great though, never ran out of our beverages. read more

I'm not one to get all geeked up about the "farm to table" concept. Nor am I one that wants to "be seen" at some hipster place. We ended up trying this place because we were staying at the Lismore and lazy. Overall, I'd say laziness paid off this time. The concept of everything served here comes from within the state is not lost on me. There's surprising a large menu of items and the chef has made some pretty cool combinations. I ordered a "white lasagna" thinking I'd get the standard cube of cheese and pasta. Not the case at all. Some kind of "whole wheat" pasta squares hand constructed with pieces of chicken, cheese, carrots, radish, and beans. It's put together very well and you actually can taste everything, which was good. I also got to sample some greyish mashed potato something or other and it was very good. The "butter" and on site baked rolls are a nice touch and don't look or taste like your standard processed items. They made for a nice introduction. Overall, this isn't a place I'd get all crazy about, but it's a great concept and the food is worth the visit if you're in town. read more

Great find in Eau Claire! In town on business and was delighted to have a lovely meal paired with a nice glass of vino. I had the trout and it was delish! Perfect portion and full of flavor. Wine was also a pleasant surprise. Emily my waitress could not have been nicer. Overall great food and service. Will definitely be back and highly recommend if your looking for something beyond a chain. read more

So my sister and I came in to celebrate my graduation from university and we got a server named Emily. I felt really bad that we came in an hour before they closed but wow the workers didn't even mind. They were so nice, especially our server, Emily (If you get her congrats because she's amazing). The bartender was also amazing. He mixed such delicious drinks and even gave us a sample of their mulled wine. We got the Basil pesto pizza and it was cooked to perfection. Everyone was just so passionate and it felt like we were really welcomed. I definitely want to return. We also ate breakfast there and it was also oh so delicious. We got the Huevos Rancheros and the Brioche French toast. 5/5. Would give it a 10/5 if possible. read more

Mediocre at best. The menu shows great variety and promise, but the execution is lackluster and substandard. The elk steak was bland and the accompanying chard was overpowering-not the chard precisely, but more the vinegary sauce. The bison short ribs were only slightly better, while the noodles were overcooked and over salted. Both dishes were an insult to the beasts and the senses. The service was pompously delivered and unbecoming a city such as Eau Claire. While the hotel has been remade and is a pleasant stay, there are much finer dining experiences within walking distance. read more

The Informalist is a beautiful restaurant and so different from the usual Hotel dining experience. The Penny bar, named for the pennies lacquered into the bar not the cost of the drinks, is actually my favorite place to sit for dinner. The drinks are outstanding and very unique! The bartender is extremely knowledge and attentive. He mixed me the best drink I have ever had after asking me what kind of liquor and flavors I like. I tried several other drinks all delicious. I love the burgers and pizza but the Lamb shank is fabulous! read more

Disappointed in the skilllet I had for breakfast. It was dry, salty, cheesy, and more than half the skillet consisted of deep fried potatoes. Even though there were a few people in the restaurant, we had to wait quite a while for our food to be prepared. I could find a better breakfast at any truckstop, much less pay $15 to wait 40 minutes for this disappointment. read more

Ordered the margarita pizza and there was nothing but 1 piece of tomato on each slice. My girlfriend had ordered it there before and showed me a picture of it, which looked great, so this was extremely dissapointing. Not at all what either of us expected, not to mention it was burnt. read more

I can only rate this restaurant based on my one experience. Easily without a thought it was 5 stars. It was Derby day and I am a bourbon drinker so I ordered a Mint Julep for the cocktail. I had never had one, and wasn't sure about the mint. I normally drink good bourbon straight up or on ice. It was excellent, I had another. My wife who does not drink straight booze also had one and liked it. We ordered a pizza, a simple tomato pesto if I remember right. I'm not kidding, it was the best pizza I have ever had. Not doughy and overloaded, the taste was absolutely the very best. The server could not have been more or less attentive, just right. Very jazzy and nice atmosphere. Will be back for dinner sometime soon no doubt. 6 star experience. read more

Great food! Staff was excellent and very friendly. I will definitely be back- would love to try one of their burgers.

I love the vibe of this place. My friend and I went there for dinner on a Friday night and enjoyed the uniquely crafted cocktails to get us started. The cheese plate is out of this world, with locally sourced ingredients and a delicious spread, and the pizzas are also wonderful--unique toppings that go great together on a pizza. Very attentive and friendly staff as well. read more

This place just keeps getting better! I went there a few times after they first opened and I thought the food and waitstaff experience was so-so... now I go and the food is DELICIOUS, the service is QUICK AND FRIENDLY, and the presentation is spot-on. A unique atmosphere, tasty food, wallet-friendly prices... It's my new favorite place for a quick dinner or evening out with friends or out-of-towners. :) read more

We had high expectations and were really disappointed. The food was OK - we expected the wow factor. Staff didn't seemed focused on providing excellent customer service and the restaurant wasn't busy at the time we dined. At this point, not on our list to try again as we couldn't find anything in our experience to bring us back. . . read more

A gem in downtown Eau Claire. Cool contemporary design, locally sourced food, excellent service. Here on business and very glad I found this place! read more

My waitress was fabulous and very sweet. I came in for a late night light dinner and had a glass of wine and the "cheese platter". The cheeses were good, but the real stars were the pickled wild strawberries and the candied walnuts bring out the flavor of the cheese. If only the pickled gooseberries and currants were to find a different home, the appetizer would impeccable! :) read more

Excellent brunch and dinner. This is one of our go to spots. Service is usually exceptional. Drink list is wonderful. Please support this restaurant. Their food and dedication to sustainability are commendable. read more

We ate here twice in July with with visiting family members. Both times members of our party ordered salads and either pizza or hamburgers and desserts. We all agree that our meals were wonderful. Our waitress (we had the same waitress on both occasions) was engaging, helpful, and efficient. The hamburgers were the best we've had in Eau Claire and the pizzas, salads, and desserts were delicious. We are aware that The Informalist had a few problems when they first opened but those issues seem to have been resolved. We look forward to returning and exploring the rest of the menu. We will re-rate the restaurant when we've had the opportunity to explore the remaining offerings. read more

we ordered a steak at the informalist. We asked for medium rare but it was medium well. We told our server and she told the manager. Later she came to our table with dish of braised greens and said it was a "gift" from the kitchen to make up for the steak. The manager came to our table and we told him our steak was unacceptable and he humored us by trying to cut it and he couldn't because it was so tough. He apologized over and over again and promised our next visit to the informalist would not be a disappointment. He said he sent out the braised greens so we wouldn't be hungry. He wasn't trained in customer service. He didn't take our steak off the bill and we left almost all of it on our plate. I like the atmosphere and ingredients but I hesitate to dine here again. read more

One of the best dining experiences I have had in Wisconsin. The service is impeccable and the food is sublime!! Elegant but unpretentious.

My husband and I were heading to northern Wi and looking for an interesting hotel and restaurant in Eau Claire to enjoy for one evening. The Lismore and the Informalist were perfect. We are particular about fresh food and ingredients, and love uncomplicated food that lets the flavors of the food come through. We shared the blue salad with pears, and the farm fresh vegetables (predominantly tomatoes, cucumbers, radishes and beans) Both were lightly dressed, and wonderfully fresh. My husband had the bone-in pork loin. It was flavorful and moist. I had the whole trout. It was delicate and flavorful. We sat at the bar overlooking the kitchen and really enjoyed it. Service was friendly, timely and appreciated. Overall - it was an excellent experience and we highly recommend it. read more

Got the absolute pleasure of dining at the Informalist three nights in a row on my visit to town. One of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at on the road in my years of travel. The only mistake I made was not getting one of their handcrafted burgers three nights in a row - I got the green&gold burger special one evening - definitely something they should consider putting on their permanent menu! WOW! Great service, forward-thinking, a must-see when visiting Eau Claire. read more

Service was great and food was very good. Well done burger still very juicy. I didn't have time to try something more fancy unfortunately; the menu had a lot of nice variety. Latte was fantastic and smooth, no need to add sweetener. read more

I was in Eau Claire for 3 weeks for business. Coming from California I wasn't sure what to expect but I stumbled upon this place and ended up eating here numerous times. Pros: atmosphere, friendliness, sustainable food and vegetarian options. The food is pretty good. It's not Wayfarer Tavern San Francisco but I don't imagine you'd be disappointed either. Cons: One of the times at breakfast I found the potatoes (which quite honestly I'm not a fan of how they make them) were so salty they were inedible. That was the same for the others in my group. It may have been the one time, but either way they need to step up their breakfast potatoes game...maybe skin on, cubed, peppered, grilled with onions style. Bacon...I love bacon, and they have thick sliced, however, I once found it to be too salty, other times not and quite honestly it's too thick. I do prefer a thicker cut but I don't want a pork chop, I want bacon, crispy. This thick stuff doesn't get as crispy at least the way they made it when I said crispy. It kind of reminds me of this ridiculous bloody mary thing where they load the drink up with a colossal amount of garnishments...a pickle spear and wedge of jack cheese is fine, no need for the overkill, this is how I feel about the bacon. I don't mean for this to sound negative since I'm sure the owner reads this. It's one person's opinion and I'd prefer it to be viewed possible opportunities or ideas. I'd still eat here again. read more

Just finished another fabulous meal here! We've been fans since it opened and it just keeps getting better. Fresh, locally-sourced ingredients for the wood-fired vegetable pizza, filet mignon, pickled root vegetables, farmer's salad and winter citrus pie. Our server Tianna and the rest of the staff delivered outstanding service despite the crush from the Jazz Fest. Go downtown, Eau Claire! read more

Nice place but a little exotic for my tastes. Server was good. Service was good overall too. Food was just to "special"

Are you kidding me ??? In Eau Claire WI ? wow, great gem of a restaurant in the Lismore Hotel (Hilton property) in Eau Claire Wisconsin. The most interesting menu I have come across in years, especially in a hotel restaurant. Got to meet Amy (sp?) the main Chef who created this eclectic wonderful menu. I had two appetizers and salad off the starter menu, wanted to try the wood fired pizza but was so overloaded with flavors, it would have been a let down. Try the Great Plains Oysters and Oysters and ends, ...not what you think they are ! A must if you are in this cute part of WI, also, all ingredients are supplied by local farms... oh and John the bartender was cool as well. read more