This past Father's Day my mom and I had brunch at Layline. It was a special place for us because my…read moredad owned the building before it was Gary's first class car care. My dad passed 8/30/2024 so we came to have breakfast in his old shop to celebrate him. I loved how they kept the building as is with some additions and lovely upgrades. The bar area and some seating is located in the previous two stall garage. The staff was very friendly and the food was amazing!

This is it--the perfect place for a summer meal. From the amazing food and great service (thanks,…read moreTheresa!) to the stellar patio, Layline delivers an absolutely amazing experience. If I had found this place earlier this summer, I probably would have spent many happy evenings here. (I truly can't emphasize how well this restaurant captures summer vibes.) The menu was great and ticked all the boxes, taking advantage of the bounty and mood of the season. For our starters, we ordered the arancini and the johnnycake. Both were delicious. The arincini was crispy on the outside and oozed with creamy cheese. The romesco sauce complemented it perfectly. The johnnycake was fluffy and delicious and had the perfect balance of sweet and salty (don't skip the jalapeño infused maple syrup--it isn't spicy; it's just an extension of the sweet and savory balance). For our salads/veggies, we split the last three on the menu: the cauliflower, the Brussels sprouts, and the watermelon salad. My friends, don't skip any one of these. The cauliflower is a cauliflower steak that is perfectly cooked (be sure you get a lovely toasty bit!) and made for delicious savory-salty-tangy mouthful with its tomatoes and onions. Doenjang and tahini? Heck yes! The sprouts were covered in a spectacular mojo verde (imagine what pesto would be if it were Indian and you'd not be far off) that was a creative and absolutely apt pairing. As for the watermelon salad, it was all summer: chunks of watermelon, crumbles of feta, basil, hazelnut, and rings of Calabrian chili. It tasted exactly like relaxing on the porch with your most sophisticated but still totally chill bestie. For my main, I ordered the linguine pomodoro e vodka. Dude. It was so stinking good. I love a good tomato sauce, and this one did not disappoint. Crispy breadcrumbs? Yes. Mint and basil? Yes and yes. Chili oil? Heck yeah! This packed a punch and was an absolutely glorious foil for the burrata. As for dessert, I went for the crème brûlée. It was really good! It was rich and creamy (almost buttery) and absolutely chock-full of vanilla bean. Very good indeed.

We had guests from out of town and decided on Coalition to see the town and Lake Minnetonka…read more They serve brunch on weekends. Free parking right behind in the East lot, it was already more than half full at 10am. They had just opened and there were already a few tables occupied. It felt busy and maybe they didn't have enough staff for that time. There were only 2 staff taking orders. We stayed inside as it was a very hot day. We've been there for dinner before and always liked the modern cozy interiors. Our server took our drink orders and gave us a complimentary order of cardamom donuts, as if they knew it would be a while. The brewed coffees came out pretty fast but he didn't come back to take our order until almost 10:30, when we finally flagged him down. The food didn't take long but he forgot to put in my MILs side order of bacon so that didn't come out until we were mostly done eating. They had a good breakfast selection and lunch was available as well. We ordered: Salmon Eggs Benedict French Toast Avocado Toast Pesto Frittata Grilled Chicken sandwich Crispy chicken sandwich Everyone was happy with their food and we're happy to find another brunch place to take visitors to.

Coalition is one of my go-to spots in Excelsior…read more The patio is such a great vibe in the summer. It feels lively but still relaxed, and it's perfect for sitting and people watching. Service is always friendly however sometimes it is very slow. They have one of the best happy hours in the area. They have great options for cocktails. They do a great job with their drink menu, which makes it an easy place to sit and stay for a while. For dinner, my go-to is the salmon with mashed potatoes. It's consistently solid and something I come back for. Korean tacos are also so delicious. Easy place to recommend.

I love this bakery! Anytime I'm in excelsior I try to stop in for a pastry or cookie and a cup of…read morecoffee. Their baked goods are fresh, flavorful, and high quality. I recommend trying the Coconut Rocher for a unique blend of flavors! It's incredible. Their croissants are flakey and light weight and the various sandwiches and quiche options make this a great spot to grab a light bite for breakfast or lunch! The bakery is cute and cozy with big windows looking out to the Main Street of excelsior and a few different tables inside. The staff is always kind and quick even during busy periods. Make sure to check them out!

Amazing food, love their sandwiches and baguettes. They are very kind people, never have had a bad…read moreexperience!

A staple in Excelsior for years. Variety of tasty food choices and fun coffee drinks. Amazing wait…read morestaff with genuine friendly service. Small town vibe - a true gem for Excelsior!

We came here for brunch on a Monday and it was quiet. Service was great and friendly…read morerecommendations. Prices were ok. The frittata was good but a little too salty. The soup was good. The chips and guac was perfect for snacking while we wait on our food to arrive. The portions are generous and I didn't even finish my frittata. It's a nice to stop for a bite before heading down the lake front for a walk. They had a gift stores attached so it was fun to see what is being sold there. The place is not very loud for conversations.

What better than a quaint small town, with delicious quaint restaurants, and then finishing off…read morewith a classic ice cream shop! So many different flavors; literally something for everyone. Please save some space after your dinner for this -- don't be like me... eating until I'm full and then STILL trying to get a double scoop. I couldn't do it... oh but I did do it. And it was WORTH IT! All that sugar got to my head and I didn't even think to take a pic of my ice cream... Get yourself a waffle cone though, so good! The folks here are patient and sweet. You're gonna want to try a few things before committing. They're all good!! There may be a line depending on when you go but it goes by pretty quickly. If you start to get impatient, just remember that when you get to the front, you don't want anyone rushing you while you try all those delicious favors.

Stopped in on a Sunday afternoon. When we first arrived there was a short line but it quickly grew…read moreout the door and stayed consistently busy. The decor was cute & ice cream themed. They have over a dozen flavors of ice cream. Some are listed on the display while others are on signs on the wall above the ice cream. I got the "Halley's Comet" single scoop in a waffle cone. It was vanilla & chocolate ice cream w/ caramel ribbons & Carmel truffles. It was good & reasonably priced. They have 3 tables inside so it's smaller, there's some benches outside too. I would for sure stop here again if I'm in the area! Such a nice treat.

I love Lago Tacos! If you are a vegetarian, I implore you to try the fried avocado tacos - they are…read moreamazing! Ive been here a few times and it never disappoints. The restuarant is usually busy, but will only take a few minutes for a table. Really cool vibe inside. Staff are all very friendly and come around often! I am always excited to visit and I cant wait to try more items in the future.

Yummy food for Taco Tuesday (that's not tacos!). Today the Chop Salad - romaine, roasted corn black…read morebean salsa, queso fresco, tortilla strips with an avocado vinaigrette - was calling my name and turned out to be delicious. The accompanying spicy mayo was not for me., but the avo vinaigrette was crazy good. Everything was fresh and the layers of flavor were remarkable for a humble salad. The chips and queso, holy cow! The queso was thick and yummy and the GIANT BAG of chips would feed a lot of people. The chips are thin and crisp and perfect with the queso. I'll definitely return to try more!

I absolutely love Maynard's every time I go! I usually come here with friends for a night out, but…read morethis time I went during the day with coworkers, so I finally got the chance to try more of the food! Maynard's has so much space, making it a great spot for bigger groups, and the outdoor patio is amazing. Plus, being right on the lake makes the whole atmosphere that much better, especially on a nice day! For food, our group tried the Ceviche, Buffalo Chicken Wrap, Cranberry Turkey Melt, and Firecracker Chicken Wrap. Everything was a hit! And you absolutely can't go to Maynard's without getting the fries with seasoned sour cream -- a MUST! Overall, we all loved our food, the service was great, and it was just as fun during the day as it is at night. Definitely one of my favorite spots!

This place is pretty much a staple for Minnesota summers. Being on lake Minnetonka and the size of…read morethis place makes it a VERY desirable place to go! It truly always feels busy here! There is a parking lots but expect to park in the street or down the street. Given how busy it always is, the staff keeps up! Our food was out fairly quick and our server was attentive! I have been here before, but the food quality seems to have gone down hill. At least for the outdoor patio (the menu is different inside) I had the walleye sandwich and it was not good. The quality of fish, the bread tasted stale and there was too much bread and sauce. The burger was a standard burger and nothing special. The ceviche was good!! But it's not chopped up, and was hard to eat with the chips. I did get some alcoholic drinks and those were great! My personal opinion is that the drinks and apps here are good! Anything else is very sub par... The vibes here are awesome! I will be back but sticking to the apps and drinks

We went there for my birthday and again this location has to be my favorite for the setting and…read moreservice. The gin cocktail and chicken rotisserie sandwich were just what I needed. But the suggestion to have the Gouda Hashbrowns was so welcome. Forget about fries these Hashbrowns were the best! Hands down. Good for larger parties of six or perfect for two. Can't wait to go again.

The old saying goes "consistency is key", and consistency is what you get at Hazelwood. The…read moreslightly elevated price point matches their slightly elevated menu, vibe, and service. If you want to come here even relatively close to peak hours, I would highly recommend a reservation. My personal favorites here include the Rotisserie Chicken Sandwich and the Minute Chicken. I've gotten both items multiple times and they are consistently great. Do yourself a favor and get the Dessert Flight; the portions are more than fair for the price and the Banana Cream Pie is to die for. We recently did brunch at Hazelwood for the first time. The Monkey Bread is a generous size with a crispy outside and gooey center - exactly how you would want it to be. The Smoked Gouda Hash browns are worth getting on the side with any item that doesn't already include them; they are so creamy and have a rich cheesy flavor with a nice crispy top layer. Unfortunately, I would not recommend the Avocado Toast. The bacon bits, lettuce, and poached egg completely overwhelm the avocado, which is virtually nonexistent. It's served on a very small and boring piece of wheat toast.