What a surprise treasure in what seems like the middle of nowhere northern Minnesota. It is, however, just 10 miles north of the partying metropolis of Bemidji. The food was gourmet though the prices didn't reflect it. Happy hour was a special treat with two dollars off many drinks and all the appetizers. The service was fantastic. Krista was extremely attentive, kind, and personable. We were also visited several times by the manager who just wanted to check and make sure we were well taken care of. Yes, because of Krista, we were. Highly recommended. My only complaint is that there weren't many vegetarian options... actually no vegetarian options. read more

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We went for some music and drinks, had a pub burger which was great good Happy Hour and great service from everyone, very impressed

Wow!! What a delicious meal and perfect hosts!! We had a child and two diners with diet restrictions and the menu accommodated everyone. Food was amazing, the wine selection fantastic and the hosts were read more

Had a really good meal here. All three of us liked our dinners. Service was good not great. Drink menu interesting. Lots of good food options. read more

The atmosphere is classy and the staff is friendly. They have live music or trivia most weeks. The food is good and the burgers are always a great option. read more

This is a fantastic restaurant! The food is amazing, the service is fabulous and the restaurant is beautiful. Also the prices are more than reasonable compared with other restaurants of this caliber. read more

Turtle River Chophouse - Blackened salmon and shrimp. Delish! - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

My family and I wanted to try something we hadn't previously when visiting for vacation. We traveled an hour an 15min from our vacation spot for dinner. Highly disappointed in the food we received, the salmon was prepared nicely with a great sear and hot and lemon glaze the bed of rice was less than desirable cold and no flavor. The vegetable was the woody stocks of asparagus mixed with 4 thin carrot slices and 3 halved Brussel sprouts all cold as well. Our children enjoyed the Alfredo the chicken was tender and had great flavor. The shrimp scampi had a bit of a kick to it but overall was ok. The steak was mediocre. Our waitress was great very attentive to our needs kept drinks full and checked on things several times throughout dinner. $300 for the 9 of us to eat read more

The restaurant is clean, and in good appearance. Felt that the service was OK. The food was over priced for what you got. I ordered the walleye, and a side salad. What I got was fish nuggets and a handful of fries with a salad for $29. Overall experience would to try another restaurant next time, sorry. Customer reviews or lack of them should tell you something read more

The vibe within this restaurant was a mix of modern meets sports bar meets quirk. There were large banana plants/trees inside adding some greenery to the overall muted feel of the interior. The TV screens near the bar gave the spot a more relaxed feel. We had a party of five and were seated right away with a reservation. The staff was friendly and helpful. Most of our party chose the "fish and chips" entree while I opted for the Smoked brisket. Each entree came with a side salad or soup which is a nice touch! This is not something that's typically offered within the East Coast restaurants I'm used to visiting. The brisket was tender but I was a bit surprised to see if covered in bbq sauce when it came out-- next time, I would ask for it to be on the side. We also decided to share some desserts as a group and really enjoyed the peach/berry crisp with vanilla ice-cream. It definitely tasted home-made! We had an early dinner and by the time we left the restaurant was full with a few groups waiting outside -- clearly people like this spot for weekend dinners! read more

Turtle River Chophouse - House side salad, summer shandy and a Bourbon Baller - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

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Phenomenal. We are thoroughly convinced this is the best restaurant in Bemidji by far. The food, ambience, and service just wonderful. Highly recommend. read more

Having driven by this spot countless times since relocating to Northern Minnesota, my curiosity was always piqued by this nice looking little restaurant in the middle of a non distinct rural residential area. Am I glad we made the reservation and committed to having dinner here, even in the middle of the mask mandate we are under right now due to COVID-19. The staff here were super welcoming and friendly, greeting us as we walked in with a genuinely warm hello. Seating was prompt and as we made our way to our booth I noticed that they really had everyone spread out appropriately and thoughtfully. They all were wearing masks as they hustled around the establishment and they also have a touch less menu option where you can view the menu on your phone. Pretty convenient and state of the art. You have a view of the kitchen and can see the crew working though the window as well as smell the aromas coming through to your booth. We sat close to the kitchen so I'm not sure how the smells carry, but I won't complain about where we sat and the yummy you could smell. The food was generously portioned, fresh and arrived promptly. The food was delicious and I thoroughly enjoyed my shrimp tacos. Watching the other members of my party eating and not leaving anything left to take home - it was pretty clear we all enjoyed the meal. The place is clean, roomy and well lit with indoor or outside seating. I will be back. read more

Rather annoyed they are charging customers now to use debit or credit cards when their menu prices have also steadily increased. Just feels like a way to get extra money. BRING CASH OR CHECK! read more

Turtle River Chophouse - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

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A quick trip to Itasca State Park turned into a day trip to Bemidji. We haven't been to Bemidji in a few years, and it looks like there are a lot more dining options than back in 2011. We decided to get a bite at Turtle River Chophouse; a place that my friends have raved about. We were there at the right time on St. Patricks Day, as the place was starting to get a little busy. Finding an open table was not too difficult and staff were very courteous. There were multiple people who served us, but it was a very concerted effort and there were no delays or mess ups. We started with the Filipino egg rolls. Very different and unique. Also had a nice bite to them. Big serving size and we had plenty of leftovers. For the main course: The missus opted for the Chophouse burger (side of fries), as it looked great when delivered to the table next to us. I opted for the vegetarian "Homemade Black Bean Burger" with a fruit cup as my side. The food arrived quickly and looked great! Of course we were both starving after the long drive up here! Both burgers were fresh! The chophouse burger was fresh and cooked to perfection. The carmalized onions were too sweet; a good indication that they were actually cooked down and not just a sauteed with a bunch of brown sugar. The vegetarian burger was pretty interesting - topped with sprouts and a pepper pico - and had a great flavor to it. Of course we had a lot of leftovers. :) This place must be pretty popular as the line of people waiting to get in was getting longer by the minute. Glad we got in when we did. :) Food was certainly good and we'd return here if ever in the Bemidji area again... read more

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First of all the only reason for four stars was our waitress Ali. Probably the best service we have had in a very long time. Sweet, Friendly, Attentive, helpful in menu choices she checked on us frequently and inquired about my un eaten fish. In fairness I think I'm not a fan of Mahi-mahi. That being said the food was good but did not match the prices. Very over inflated for the quality. We had checked out the menu on line ahead of time but expected more upscale food for the price. The mushroom soup I had was excellent probably too salty for most but I like salt. they did take some off our bill even though I told her I didn't care for the fish but probably my own taste everything was right about our service. Mixed feelings... loved the service-thank you Ali !!! May just have drinks and an appetizer next time. read more

Very friendly and quick service. Salmon and wild rice was delicious, especially the honey Dijon sauce. Would definitely return! read more

Turtle River Chophouse - Salmon with wild rice and veggies with AMAZING sauce - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

We have been going to Chophouse since 2015 as our family lives nearby and they enjoy the 2 for 1 happy hour on Fridays from 3pm to 6pm. However, within the past few months, unfortunately the management changed the happy hour for the worse. Their first big mistake was to eliminate the 2 for 1 wine deals during happy hour. Their second big mistake was to shorten the happy hour by one hour: 3pm to 5pm. The atmosphere is still attractive and a nice place to gather, but the casual observer will notice that fewer people are showing up on Fridays. Message to management: in order to continue to bring the locals and the visitors to this fine establishment, revert back to the previous happy hour recipe, and reap the rewards. We will be watching, at least for the next year, to see if this easy correction gets fixed. If not, well, we will find another spot. read more

Turtle River Sh*thouse serving up grade A dog food. Parmesan linguini tasted like pasta-roni and bread like card board. Mediocre service. if you're gonna boast sushi, you better know how to make sticky rice. This place used to be good, not sure what happened. read more

Bring your own condiments and BEWARE...pay only with cash! Food was good but no way 4 stars. When we got the bill I found out how chintzy and greedy they run this place. Owners are you listening?$1.00 for a tablespoon or so of mayo in a tiny plastic cup, $1.00 for a tablespoon or so of mustard (for my daughters burger) and $1.00 for a couple tablespoons of ranch. $3.00 for 3 tablespoons of condiments? Not cool or disclosed to us. Then the kicker...they added a 4.3% credit card processing fee of $1.97. See photo. Server tried to blame cc companies and say all restaurants are doing it! Not so! If the owners are complaining about one of the costs of doing business and feel they must make the customers pay all the fees, why don't they stop taking credit cards and see what happens to the size of their average bar and table tabs! They will plummet. No way I eat at a place where I get nickel and dimed to death having to pay $1.00 extra for mayo on my $12.00 burger! Booooooo and this shouldn't last even if you are doing it at all four of your places in Bemidji - Red Stu, Bar 209, and The Cabin. Customers and patrons...ask if they will be charging extra for every little thing and check your receipts! Bring cash or a debit card or get ripped off...and oh yes, I hope you don't like mayo, mustard or ranch on your burgers and fries. read more

Turtle River Chophouse - All 4 of these places in Bemidji under same group and charging for condiments and charging 4.3% credit card processing fee! - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

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Great egg rolls! Decor and atmosphere very relaxing. Has a speakeasy feeling. Friendly staff.

On a recent trip to visit my grandma in Bemidji, we drove a few miles out of town to visit Turtle River Chophouse, and I was impressed! We had heard the happy hour was amazing, but unfortunately we assumed no happy hour on Saturdays (we were wrong), so we just missed it. The cocktail list was impressive and very reasonably priced! I had the Parsley A Cocktail, and I was a fan. I haven't had parsley in a drink before, but it was fresh and not overpowering. The dinner menu is expansive and interesting, with something for everything. I chose the Gorgonzola sirloin, and it was cooked just as I asked, flavorful, and filling. The rest of my group was equally pleased with their entrees. The pasta dishes were very large, and could easily be split. My grandma ordered a burger that looked amazing, and I got to taste one of the homemade sweet potato tots that she had. Delicious! We had dessert planned back at my grandma's, but the dessert menu looked great, so I'll definitely save room on my next visit. read more

This is a great place to eat. The waiter Kia was very friendly and the other staff members were excellent too. The food was delicious. I had the stuffed spinach chicken and my husband and his brother had steak with crab on top. The steaks were perfect medium and my chicken was very tender. The salad before the meal had fresh cucumbers and tomatoes on it. They tasted like they were right out of garden. All the salad dressings were homemade! Yummy! I would highly recommend this place! The sushi here was good too! read more

I had the Chicken Linguini. The sauce flavor was good and the chicken had a nice flavor - but I wasn't too fond of the bread it came with. It seemed doughy to me. My fiancé had the steak, he said it was okay. The service was a little slow, but they were also pretty busy for 7pm on a Friday night. All in all it was a nice experience. read more

Lovely restaurant with many options to choose from. Have great appetizers (My group and I enjoyed the spinach dip and mozzarella sticks) and also has a chill atmosphere. We had Walleye and a fried chicken sandwich for dinner, super yummy would definitely go back again. When you come in you seat yourself, they also have outdoor seating! read more

Been to the Chop House a few times: PRO's: Nice menu for Bemidji area. Ideal bar set up w/ TV's. I haven't been disappointed w/ the food....last time out tried the Macadamia Walleye and it was outstanding! Crusted and lobster cream was icing on the cake. This dish was extremely good. Nice thick walleye cut too. CON's: Dining room w/ the open ceiling can be very loud. The male waiter staff/Manager on duty...wearing jeans and Abercrombie type shirts??? Seriously? Jeans is fine...but would it hurt to dress something so your customers know you work there? A nice Polo with a chop house logo would be ideal. I had the manager on duty approach our table, asking how was our meal...and I thought "Who the heck are you"? Four 1/2 Stars--for Bemidji. Nice Work. read more

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Amazing selection of items you won't find on your regular bare menu. We spent our 25 anniversary there and they offer free desert.

Worse experience ever. Party of 10 in center of dining room making so much noise you. Couldn't talk to your own dinner mate. Food got cold fast under air conditioner vent Told waitress very unpleasant experience and she agreed they were noisy, she said we could have eaten outside!REALLY!!!!! We told her noon even tried to get them to calm down Save your money. They don't need it read more

Really good food. Awesome happy hour food special on apps and sushi rolls. Excellent service I was just passing thru or I would be a regular here read more

Food was excellent, service was excellent, our server Jamie Vanasse was great, she knew all the foods. I had one of the specials the 2 sirloin tips - huge, each topped with a crab cake, brussel sprouts and garlic mashed potatoes and a sauce to die for I just can't remember what it was béarnaise I think. It was pricy but worth every penny, there was enough there for 2 meals. Hubby had the ribs, garlic mash and Brussel sprouts and we both agree they were excellent. Would we go again, if we are in the area? Yes in a heartbeat. If we are you should go, you don't know what your missing. read more

Turtle River Chophouse - Rib, garlic mash and brussel sprouts - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

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Wonderful attentive server!! Our food arrived fast and beverage refills never needed to be asked for. I had the prime rib sandwich and it was so very yummy!! My husband had the Gary Burger and equally enjoyed it!! It was a perfect place to refuel after 18 holes of golf at Castle Highlands read more

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This experience was absolutely horrendous. We were there on Saturday (5/27). We were in a party of nine and made reservations earlier in the day. We got to the restaurant, ordered (split into 3 checks) and didn't have any issues up until then. A few select people at our table got their meals but the others waited for over 40 minutes, just to have a lady (most likely in a management position) come and tell us they had messed up with the orders and offered us nothing but bread rolls. We waited for an extra 10 minutes (by then the others were finished with their meals) and the food came out for those who did not previously get theirs. The same lady came back and offered us two free desserts, which we accepted but obviously would have rather had those specific meals comped. The food was very mediocre. (Vegetables were raw, all meat and seafood dishes were dry, drinks were made incorrectly) Each group then got their bills, but they messed up yet again and all of the bills were wrong resulting in us having to stay longer to sort it out. This was an absolute waste of time and money. This was supposed to be a fun family night out, but it ended in us all leaving embarrassed and disappointed. We will certainly never be back. Would absolutely NOT recommend. read more

Made a weekend run up to Bemidji to visit family, which typically comes with the usual chain restaurants visits due to generic menu's that everyone can find something they like. However this particular weekend took a turn for the better as we drove about 7 miles north of Bemidji and found ourselves at the Chophouse. We find it important to find a place that is't too loud as some people in the group are a little hard of hearing. I was worried this large of a room might be loud as the sound would carry and bounce around. As soon as we walked in and looked up you can see they have done extensive sound proofing to eliminate that issue as best they can! They have a lot of TV's and were happy to put all 3 games I requested on the tv's (I am a needy guest apparently)! We went on a Saturday so we assumed there was no happy hour and we went around 7, we should have called, they have happy hour daily! We started off with a little sushi which I found to be quite delicious, a Spicy Tuna roll. For dinner I went for the Seafood and Bacon Gnocci, it was better than I was expecting. Not sure why I was expecting less, but I was happily proven wrong. Everything was cooked perfectly and presented beautifully. In good weather conditions it was only about a 15 minute drive from downtown, but I can imagine in winter weather conditions it could be a bit longer of a drive, so plan accordingly, but definitely plan on visiting the Turtle River Chophouse! read more

I'm so glad Bemidji opened another restaurant. I personally thought this place was great! Lots of unique options and great happy hour specials. It's a very busy place so not a ton of privacy but the food was excellent! My favorites so far are the Big Bang rolls and the campfire s'mores. I will definitely come back. :) read more

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I stopped for dinner at Turtle River Chophouse with a couple of coworkers, while we were passing through the area on a Wednesday evening. I'd checked the Yelp! reviews in advance and was slightly worried given the low opinions of a few reviewers. But I had no reason to fret; I found that the best reviews were accurate and the critical reviews made little to no sense. Giving the restaurant a low review because of a small credit card processing fee, for example, seems very petty and does a disservice both to the restaurant and to users of Yelp! It makes me wonder how many of those people were throwing shade at Turtle River in service of some other restaurant in Bemidji. Anyway, our experience was entirely positive. The menu was loaded with a wide variety of fare, all of which looked interesting and unique. In some cases that's a red flag ("jack of all trades, master of none" syndrome), but not here. I enjoyed a speciality mushroom and Swiss burger. The bun was fresh, the (huge!) burger was done to perfection, and the garlic mayo added a nice kick to a familiar formula. The fries were crispy and flavorful. My colleages also greatly enjoyed their homemade bean burger and prime rib sandwich au jus. They have a decent selection of draft beers, including excellent selections from the local Bemidji Brewing Co. I had a pint of the Summer IPA and thought it was terrific. Like some other reviewers I looked askance at sushi on the menu here in the Minnesota north woods, and didn't have the courage to try it. However, I saw giant platters of various rolls being delivered to other diners, and they all seemed very satisfied and happy with the quality of the sushi. I would not hesitate to try it the next time I get a chance to visit Turtle River Chophouse, if I'm in the mood for sushi. The service was prompt, attentive, and cheerful, despite the dining room and bar being pretty busy at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday. No understaffing happening here! Overall I felt a fun vibe at Turtle River. All the staff members with whom I interacted seemed genuinely happy to be there and dedicated to good service. The decor is open-plan sports bar-ish, with little decor of note, which doesn't make for a very interesting environment, and seemed slightly behind the times and out of step with the great menu. However the place was clean, and not as noisy or obnoxious as one might expect from such an environment. In fact I appreciated the selection of background music. A Gorillaz song was starting as we were leaving. Anyplace where they play Gorillaz is OK in my book. I thought the prices were commensurate with the quality and quantity of the food, and the quality of the service. I've (recently) paid much more for meals that I enjoyed less. And the prices for the large plates seemed pretty good for what was on offer, and they all were accompanied by a good selection of sides. I see nothing to complain about in the prices. Enough said. In the final analysis, I'd say this place is a hit and there's a good reason that it's busy even on a Wednesday evening. I'd be happy to return and will look forward to it. read more

Not impressed with the restaurant. I ordered a 12 oz New York steak had to stretch it to make 8 oz. Ordered it medium rare, it came out rare rare. Two others ordered steaks also and both were disappointed. The steak dinners were 35.00 each and were way over priced for quality and quantity. The wait staff was pretty good. Restaurant was way too loud felt like a bar not a fine dining restsurant. Will never go there again, save your money and time. read more

Menu is very creative. Good size portions. Recommend their house made drinks and desserts.

Always love going to the Chophouse. The new interior is very inviting and comfortable. The Food is always good and nicely plated. The other night I tried the Gorgonzola sirloin and it was not a good cut of meat. Very tough for a $28 steak. Hopefully it was just a one time thing. read more

Stayed overnight while traveling from Kansas City. This place is one of the best if not the best environments I've found in Bimidji. Staff is friendly and responsive. Food menu had wide enough variety to please most folks. Full bar with drafts. I'd personally recommend the ghost chicken tenders... they were dynamite with our group. read more

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Excellent variety of food & seafood & burgers & great quick attentive service. Priciest place in the area! But food is worth it! read more

Turtle River Chophouse - Sweet - Steakhouses Near Me - Bemidji, Minnesota

The chophouse has gotten better since they stripped down the menu, moved away from the 2 for 1 drinks and started to control the noise. The Chophouse is a local a bar and grill, and they're starting to play to their old-school Bar 209 strengths. Service has always been great. Tip your server. Management invisible. Ignore them. Kitchen competent for burgers and fries. And that's plenty. Action item: Cut back on the TVs. We're eating not watching. Action item: get rid of the nickel and dime credit and debit card surcharge. Action item: get rid of charging for extra mayo and dressing.Surcharges for management means less tips for servers. read more

What an enjoyable meal. Sushi was abundant and nicely done. The walleye cakes are superb and exemplify Minnesota. Macadamia walleye was wonderful. The blueberry rhubarb crisp topped the meal off with a bang. Great service and nice atmosphere too. read more