If you're in the Baxter/Brainerd Lakes area and looking for a hearty meal, we highly recommend…read moreGrizzly's Grill Smoke & Fire. Mike and I ordered the BBQ Combo Platter for Two, and there was so much food that we ended up taking more than half of it home! That's definitely a win in my book. The portions are huge, the food was very good, and there are plenty of options on the menu for everyone in your group. Grizzly's is known for its generous portions and wood-fired barbecue favorites, which definitely lived up to the hype. What really stood out was the seating. If you're traveling with a large family or a bigger group, this is a great spot because they have plenty of room to accommodate larger parties. The atmosphere is casual, welcoming, and perfect after a day of shopping or exploring the lakes area. Monique's Rating: 1/2 Must-Try: BBQ Combo Platter for Two (unless you're feeding a small army!) Bottom Line: Come hungry. Leave with leftovers. That's never a bad thing!

Grizzly's a lovely place for dinner with a group when visiting the Brainerd/Baxter Lakes area…read more I went there with a number of friends while visiting on a business trip. When you walk in, you will find the up north cabin core decor, is one might expect for a place named grizzlies. The day we were there they were just starting a new menu. Not a ton of options for vegetarians, but I was still able to find food to eat. The cocktails were tasty. The staff was so very, very sweet. One of my companions ordered a sesame Tuna bowl and that was quite good. Everyone enjoyed their perverse and steaks. Definitely a place to bring the family to.

We visited Moonlite Bay on a meat raffle night, so we got there early to make sure we could grab a…read moretable. It was definitely a busy, fun atmosphere! Our waiter provided excellent service and was attentive throughout the meal. The kid's meals were delicious, and the burgers were outstanding--definitely the highlight of our visit. The wraps and sandwiches, however, could use some improvement. The Buffalo Chicken Wrap wasn't nearly as spicy as expected and tasted pretty mild. The Chicken Bacon Ranch was on the dry side and came with a thick slice of American cheese, which didn't seem like the best choice. I think it would be much better with shredded cheese and a side of ranch to add some moisture and flavor. Overall, we'd come back for the great service, burgers, and lively atmosphere, but we'd probably skip the wraps and sandwiches next time.

The food was very dry. I ordered a rueben and the meat was not fluffed it came out like sandwich…read morecut corned beef. there was barely any sauerkraut and no thousand island sauce I had to ask for some. Everyone in my family's food was sub par especially the stir fry. there was no sauce on the stir fry and the rice was overcooked. Will not be eating here again.

Hands down the BEST brisket sandwich I've ever had. The maple syrup dip for the sweet potato fries…read moreabsolutely sent me over the edge... I could not stop dipping. Honestly, I need that on chicken & waffles ASAP. If you get the opportunity, make a stop in Crosby for lunch or dinner. Everything on the menu looked amazing, and I had the hardest time deciding. So glad I went with the brisket sandwich because WOW... totally worth it.

Amazing food, great service, drinks were good! The food has a high class feel to it. Would recommendread more

It WAS a great place to go but today the "new management" fired most of the long term staff and bar…read morestaff. Old staff was excellent. We will now go to Applebees or Boulder Tap House or Blackbear restaurant. Those are great places.

We absolutely love coming here for the excellent customer service and the Blakes apple cider on…read moretap! You never know what's gonna happen on a Saturday night or who you're gonna meet! Such a fun place to come! The employees are so much fun!

We went in hoping to have a quiet dinner, and that is what we had. Tip is to sit (we asked the…read morehostess specifically) on the Dining side and not in the bar area. Service was prompt and polite, food was very good, I had the Walleye sandwich with fries seasoned well. Tartar sauce was excellent just like I like it. My wife had the chicken tikka masala and was very pleased with the flavors, and the garlic. We would come back. Probably the best place to eat in the town.

This has become one of our mainstays and one of the few restaurants with a chef who cooks most…read morethings rather than buying them packaged. The renovation was amazing a the slick decor looks great. The service has been universally good. The food is consistent with some huge winners. I love the Swoardfish, the Sirloin, Chicken Tiki Marsala, the Salmon, all the burgers and the Greek and Caesar Salads. The dry rubbed wings are great starters. Come here or their sister place Lakes Tavern for good food and a fun time.

I was in Brainerd for a Farm to Kids Roadshow - with my Renewing the Countryside hat on connecting…read morefarmers to schools for local food sourcing. So I thought I'd check in on one of my favorite chefs Matt Annand (featured in the MN Homegrown cookbook) and sadly Prairie Bay is closed. But he's now running the show at Notch*8. He's still bringing the good stuff - elevated but recognizable supper-club style wedge salad, tender brisket on focaccia with an onion soup jus that was so satisfying. (Literally- I could make a post about the jus) The show stopper? This off menu (but I'm told it could become a regular) desert has no name as of yet - but I'll give you my take... Zabaione takes a trip to the lakes region and cosplays as a roasted marshmallow - falls in love with the local berries and settles down in a house with a view. Make sense? The zabaione had a perfect balance/consistency- but the brûlée at the end was brilliant. I was here "out of season" for local fruit but I know Matt is committed to local sourcing - so an excellent dish will only get better with "in season" fruit. (I'd love to have seen a kernza flour + hazelnut cookie on top - but that may be gilding the lily) great job crew!

We stopped at Notch 8 to check it out. We sat at the bar and Ryan waited on us. We ordered the…read moreDumplings, which were fabulous. Also we ordered the Ahi Tuna Asian Bowl, another delicious meal. I do have to say that Ryan made our experience perfect, he was very helpful with the specials and service! He is a gem!

We have been going to Norway Ridge for more than 20 years. The food and service is always great…read more We went on July 16th and it was extremely warm in the restaurant. We couldn't wait leave. They had fans going but it did not help. They now charge extra if you want a dinner roll or a caesar salad. If I am paying $60 for a steak I would expect that I would get a dinner roll. Between the warm temperature and extra costs we will have to think twice if we ever go back

Our family of 11 enjoyed our meal at Norway Ridge. We had great food and drinks and waitress was…read moreprompt and took very good care of us.

We got a big take out order for a family reunion and the pulled pork, ribs and au gratin potatoes…read morewere amazing!

Unfortunately, this wasn't the best first experience we were hoping for. The food was…read moredisappointing--it tasted like it had been reheated rather than made fresh, and the quality didn't justify the prices. Service was also lacking. The atmosphere didn't make up for it either. The space felt dark, dated, and sticky, which made it less inviting than we'd hoped. Overall, we left feeling that the experience didn't match the cost. I hope some improvements are made, as this place has the potential to offer a much better dining experience. It is well-known in the area but didn't live up to its reputation.