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Nicollet Island Inn
Categories: Event Planning & Services Hotels Hotels & Travel Hotels Restaurants Breakfast & Brunch Restaurants Canadian (Traditional) Hotels, Breakfast & Brunch, Canadian (Traditional)
95 Merriam StMinneapolis, MN 55401
Neighbourhood: Nicollet Island
(612) 331-1800
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 7:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sun 9 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
29 reviews for Nicollet Island Inn
Review Highlights
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"Delightful Sunday Brunch - Five Courses with complimentary..." In 5 reviews -
"We all enjoyed the Petit Croque Monsieur for the third..." In 2 reviews
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"...on to the creme brulee french toast which was delicious." In 4 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Shawn K.
Osseo, MN
2/22/2012
The prices are higher than I'm used to, but the service was extraordinary. Our server had very good knowledge of the wines we asked about.
The restaurant manager (Bill) interacted with us on a few separate occasions throughout the night, and he definitely knows and understands customer service. From what I could tell, that attitude carried throughout the staff here.
We tried a few types of wine, which were excellent, and a dessert which was exactly what I was hoping for.
One of the best customer service experiences I've had in the Twin Cities area. -
Review from Summer L.
2/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
If you want an indulgent, foodie, ultra-rich brunch where cost isn't of terrible concern? You need to head to Nicollet Island Inn on your next available weekend morning.
I'm no fan of French food. But brunch is another story; the French tend to shine in the world of pastries and fluffy savories. And starting out with those is a great way to get the ball rolling. The rest of the menu is a multi-course, choose-your-adventure experience where you can dodge any silver bullets that can infect even the most well-intended tasting menus. As you run through a bit of this and a bit of that, you are never overwhelmed yet definitely leave full.
Service is quick, friendly, and attentive. When you see the bill, this helps cushion the blow quite a bit.
Bonus, especially if you're not good with keeping up conversation: get a seat with a street view where you can laugh at the countless people who can't navigate a 4-way stop. Heaven forbid a bicycle add to the mix. You'll be entertained forever. -
Review from Mon P.
Minneapolis, MN
Very beautiful building and romantic dining area. The service was also excellent. The food, however, was not all hit. The french onion soup was really good. It was cheesy on top and bubbly hot, a tad bit too sweet but very good nonetheless. My bf's New York Strip Steak Frites was extremely tender, but tasteless. He sarcastically said .. my steak tastes like tofu!!! lol The homemade steak sauce was also very strong, but didnt go that well with the steak. I could taste too much tamarind in there.
I ordered two small plates for my meal. The lobster bruschetta looked good, had plenty of topping, but not that flavorful and the baguette was kinda soggy. The crab cake though was very good.
So it's all mixed bag here. -
Review from Jeff M.
Minneapolis, MN
2/5/2012
We've been here for dinner before and though it was okay. My wife and I had the Sunday brunch today and are stuffed. There were highs and lows to the 5 course meal, but $36 was a fair price to pay. The highs for us were the french toast, duck confit hash, and eggs benedict. The service was great and the food came out at a perfect pace. I wouldn't say it's the best brunch in the Twin Cities, but I'm happy we tried it at least once.
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Review from Leah B.
Osseo, MN
11/9/2011
Lawyer and Kleenex Needed Brides.We looked at this venue two years before and had it booked 2 years prior with a large deposit. I hosted my wedding here on the 22nd of Oct 2011.The EVENTS MANAGER made me CRY on my WEDDING DAY! She came in ranting and raving at me, harrassed my guests and tried to charge us for things not in our contract to include a $650 extra charge for the day of my wedding because I was in the rooms decorating for my ceremony and reception! The extra charges were eventually dropped after a contract lawyer was involved however I never recieved an apology for her behavior. The venue is beautiful, all other staff were wonderful, food was good but my wedding was a disaster because of this one person and her horrible attitude. BEWARE! You definately can not judge a book (the Inn) by it's cover.
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Review from Adrienne R.
St Paul, MN
8/3/2011
My husband and I had been to the Nicollet Island Inn in the past for drinks at the bar, were quite impressed by the gorgeous architecture, and decided to return for dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
Too bad for us.
I expected to be presented with a menu of timeless, simple, well-prepared cuisine that effortlessly mirrored the classic elegance of the venue--- basics like peppercorn crusted filets and buttery baked potatoes.
Instead, we were presented with a menu that's obviously trying too hard to compete with the new-age flavor combinations--and not having much success.
We both had the onion soup, which was okay, though tasted more burnt than caramelized. I ordered the New York Strip Frites. I still have yet to be able to determine what exactly was in the "special house sauce," but I can tell you that it's unpleasant sourness did little to cover up the chewy, lack-luster steak. The grilled asparagus was excellently done, but the sweet potato fries were over-seasoned to the point where I left most of them on the plate.
On the plus side, the service was quick and courteous, and the server even devised a clever substitute when the drink I requested wasn't on the menu.
Overall, a "meh," and certainly not worth the hit we took on the wallet. I might go back for drinks to soak up the beautiful surroundings, but definitely won't be seeing the dining room again. -
Review from Bill N.
St Paul, MN
8/15/2011
We've been to the Nicollet Island Inn - a few times in the last six months. My wife and I really like it. The food is very good. It's not in the knock your socks off - best meal ever category, but it is a great place and off the beaten path.
Over this last weekend, we hosted another couple and each of our meals was fantastic. (Two steak entrees, one fish and the lamb cassoulet). Salads are ala carte but your entree is served with a coordinating side item. The service was right on - not too slow and not rushed. We ordered a bottle of wine and thought it was reasonably priced.
The bar area is tiny, but they had a live piano player on Saturday and some of the music spills into the dining room which adds to the evening. The other reviews about the decor are right - the restaurant is part of a small hotel in a historic building. A short walk from the hotel is Minneapolis night life in either direction on Hennepin Ave.
If you are a true foodie - then there better places in Mpls/St. Paul. If you want a nice dinner in a quiet out of the way setting - yet close to Minneapolis - give Nicollet Island a try. -
Review from Josh T.
Saint Paul, MN
11/9/2009
The words "cute" and "quiet" are often used to describe both the hotel and restaurant at the Nicollet Island Inn. So are the words "dated" and "funereal." Its location is charming and unique, situated between downtown and the bustling Near Northeast neighborhood. The ambiance is romantic in an "old school Midwestern river town" sort of way, as long as the police aren't fishing a body out of the river during your dining experience (believe me, this happens with some regularity). I was a little taken aback by the copious baskets of plastic plants, but the views are generally great, especially in the summer.
The food is solid and can occasionally be wonderful. The people in my party who ordered beef or pork were wildly enthusiastic about their meals, from preparation to presentation. Those who had seafood dishes were not nearly as happy. In my experience, that's not really unusual in our landlocked hamlet.
Everyone agreed that the desserts were delicious. The apple tart was both beautifully presented and utterly delicious.The German chocolate cake is deliriously rich and featured surprisingly varied layers of flavor. Unfortunately, I hear they recently lost their pastry chef, but one hopes they keep up the dessert quality.
The service was unpretentious and efficient. I'm not really sure who dines here routinely (I'm not rushing to go back) but if someone invites you to a function here, you should certainly go and expect to be modestly impressed. -
Review from Susan D.
San Rafael, CA
9/24/2011
I ate here with a conference group of about 80 people so I'm not sure if they where unprepared or the food is always bad. Really though how is it even possible to mess up risotto? The seven people at my table all had on a sour face.
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Review from Eric B.
6/4/2008
I wish I had old money and I'm afraid that monocles and hankerchiefs don't fit my Royal Robbins (with flaps) casual attire.
I was looking for a place to hold a company dinner and my brother recommended this place. It's in a beautiful location and its a fun walk to get there via the Heritage Trail by the river. It's a nice brick building with blue windows and nice flower boxes. Someday, I'd like to come back and try the hotel.
The reception and dinner went very well and my collegues and friends really enjoyed the room (including an outdoor patio), the buffet dinner, and the friendly and attentive service. It was a real hit and I have Jodie at the Nicollet Island Inn for helping me through the details. -
Review from Dale G.
4/27/2009
Jeff O. is correct the location is beautiful. The food, on the other hand, not so much. Okay, so they were pushing the new chef's menu and I thought at $25 for three courses, why not?!
The mixed green salad was okay. (Mixed greens over Belgian Endive with oil and red wine vinegar. Nothing special.) The steak was ordered medium and came out rare to med rare. (Some part moo'd when poked with a fork) Potatoes reminded me of frozen hash brown cubed potatoes and they were oily. The ratatouille was dry with an overpowering combination of sage and rosemary. Not pleasing to the eye nor palate. The pineapple bread pudding was edible but not something i'd order again. -
Review from Adam P.
Minneapolis, MN
4/3/2009
Overall, the Sunday brunch was decent. The french toast was great with its crispy outside and soft center, but everything else was ok or a bit sub-standard actually. For example, the duck was quite salty, and when paired with pork, it became even more so, and the mimosas were terribly strong. Who drinks like that so early in the morning, and at Sunday brunch too?
The atmosphere felt...old. I can appreciate history and antiques, but this was just old.
And should I ever decide to move nearby, I learned from watching the people outside, I will have to take up jogging. -
Review from Alison T.
Saint Paul, MN
8/3/2010
This is where Grandma and Gramps come to live it up. Don't expect anything modern out of this place. Hubby and I were here for a wedding reception recently, which took place in two basement rooms. Very moth-bally is the best way I can describe it. Updates are needed to the decor.
I am assuming the wedding banquet food came from the Nicollet Island Inn kitchen. Most of the selection was actually very tasty, including the chorizo stuffed mushrooms and creamy fingerling potato boat thingys. Perhaps the views are pretty upstairs for a Sunday brunch, but on previous tours of the main dining room, it seemed too stuffy to be worth a visit for dinner. -
Review from Jeff O.
Atlanta, GA
4/1/2009
Location is fantastic - the inn is overlooking the Mississippi river.
Dinner started out well - but we received way undercooked sausage and the waiter's attitude was utter indifference. I guess he likes raw pork.
Service was slow - but this is what I've come to expect in downtown Minneapolis.
On the plus side - food was quite good over all (other than the raw sausage). The bouillabaisse was very tasty and the spicy shrimp appetizer was delicious. -
Review from Jess L.
- Service: 5 stars
- Soup and Salads: 5 stars
- Main Courses: 2 stars
- Ambiance/Decor: 3 stars
From our greeting at the front desk to the time we left, the staff was extremely pleasant, warm, and friendly. I was extremely impressed with the entire service staff that we came in contact with.
We decided on soup and salad as an appetizer, as we knew if we had both an appetizer and the soup/salad, we wouldn't be able to walk out to the car later. The boyfriend had the onion soup, I had the black bean/bacon soup, and we shared a beet salad. The waiter was 100% correct, that the onion soup was to die for. I was sad I didn't get their onion soup when I tasted the boyfriend's soup, but I was still happy with my bean/bacon soup. You can't go wrong with bacon. Also, the beet salad was AMAZING. Don't let the menu or your server fool you into getting the V/B salad. Stick with the beets, you won't be disappointed.
As for the dinner itself, I had the duck and the boyfriend had the corn-crusted walleye. The duck was ok--the skin was crispy, as promised, but the meat was fairly dry for having been cooked for days in its own fat/juices. The duck we had at the Red Stag on Monday was much more tender and flavorful. The waiter had mentioned the duck's saltiness, but assured me that it wasn't overwhelming. In my opinion, it was very close to being overwhelmingly salty, and if I say something is salty, then you know it's too salty. I was a little disappointed that the waiter talked me out of ordering a side of asparagus with my meal. I would have liked the asparagus more than the frisee that came with the duck. All in all, my meal was ok. I wouldn't order the duck again.
The boyfriend's meal was fairly disappointing. The waiter told us the corn-crusted walleye had a very subtle corn taste to it, but there was nothing subtle about it. It was like an ear of corn in fish fillet form. The tartar sauce tasted like the stuff you get in a school lunch, and the sweet potatoes looked exactly like the fish fillets, so we had no idea he even had potatoes on his plate until he started playing with what he thought was a leftover fish patty.
We aren't big on dessert, which is a shame, since everyone seems to have great things to say about dessert. The hostess had asked if we were there to celebrate anything special, and we told her it was our year and a half. The waiter brought us champagne at the end of the meal in recognition of that celebration. Nice touch!
All in all, I can guarantee that we'll be back for onion soup and a beet salad, but likely not for dinner. The food just didn't impress.Listed in: Soup!
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Review from Josh S.
Minneapolis, MN
5/28/2011
Management is ridiculously stuffy and lame. Rooms are nice but over priced even for a historic site.
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Review from Ian S.
4/11/2007
More like the Old Money Island Inn.
Make sure to bring your monocles and handkerchiefs when you go here for brunch. The fancy old ladies will be out in force and looking to regulate on anyone who isn't up to the Standard To Which We Are Accustomed.
This is the kind of place with brass plaques on the walls that mention people long dead and money spent long ago. -
Review from Chris R.
Hopkins, MN
6/7/2010
Went here for Sunday Brunch with the wife to celebrate of first anniversary (thanks Groupon!).
5 courses, champagne and mimosas? yea, we can handle that.
Our waiter was attentive and nice. Came around just often enough to keep drinks full and our table clear when we were done with a plate. Never had the awkward "I'm still eating that" situation.
Our table was... OK. We mentioned it was our anniversary when we made the reservation, and the woman @ the restaurant said "Oh, we have just the spot, overlooking the river... very nice and romantic". I guess I was envisioning something quiet, tucked away with a great view of the runoff/estuary that borders the inn on the northeast side. turns out, it's just kinda up against the window with a view of people biking by and where everyone else sits.... not very private or "quaint" but hey, we'll go with it.
The food was very good. First course was pastries - nice, but a little simple. Traditional breakfast course next - we went with the french toast and Eggs Benedict - both very very good - possibly favorite of the day. Third was like a appetizer course. I went with the smoked salmon - good but not over-the-top good. Next was the main protein course. I had the bouillabaisse and she went with the trout. I wasn't crazy for mine, but her fish was good. Finally desert - I'm always a fan of eating desert at 11 in the morning, the cheesecake was pretty solid; the apple crisp was probably the better choice here.
All in all, a very enjoyable meal. It all had a very classic, upper-crust old school feel. A little stodgy, and a lot less hungover people than I'm used to on a Sunday morning, but hey I can class it up on occasion. I recommend this to anyone looking for a brunch celebration (like an anniversary, or maybe a birthday). I'd probably take my mom here for her birthday or mothers day, she'd get a kick out of it. -
Review from Jeff J.
East Bethel, MN
10/16/2009
I wish I could give two ratings; one for the restaurant and one for the hotel.
I stayed there my wedding night and ate at their restaurant. Two different experiences.
The hotel was nice, quiet and romantic, Victorian style. Nothing too fancy, but it was really nice; just perfect for what I was looking for. The service was good, and they were very welcoming.
The dining experience that night was not great at all. They decided to trim their menu to exclude the very thing that I had decided to eat there for. And the other option, the chef's tasting menu, they also decided to scrap. So, I settled for their ribeye steak, and I was promised that it was wonderful. I've had better at Outback. Way too fatty, gristly and expensive for the quality. It was a romantic setting, however, and that was nice.
Now the breakfast on the other hand we had ordered to our room, and the Creme Brulee French Toast was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. What a wonderful breakfast, not at all what I was expecting when I think of french toast, but I was delightfully surprised. If you ever decide to eat breakfast there, you have to try this! I have been back a couple times to have this since.
Overall my experience with Nicollet Island Inn was "A-OK.". The only downfall was the cutting out of certain items from their menu, and then the ones that were left weren't good at all. It looks like changing the menu was a temporary thing, but if the food quality is still the same it doesn't really matter. -
Review from Eric E.
Fort Myers, FL
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very nice and great spot for a romantic night away. My wife and I stayed the night and room was comfortable. We woke early and had a nice morning walk around the island. then had breakfast at the Wilde Cafe.
very relaxing and enjoyable weekend. -
Review from Betsy W.
Osseo, MN
9/16/2010 1 photo
Delightful Sunday Brunch - Five Courses with complimentary champagne or mimosas. We had high expectations and we weren't disappointed. It's hard to please two members of our party especially, one being a Culinary Institute chef, and the other a life-long foodie. The menu is well-rounded and our waiter weighed in with recommendations. The Duck Confit and Eggs Benedict were wonderful. We all enjoyed the Petit Croque Monsieur for the third course. The Corn-Crusted Trout was outstanding, and the Strip Steak was great. The key lime cheesecake with blackberry tequila coulis was beautifully presented, and the warm apple crisp was a hint of autumn.
One disappointment was remedied: Our table was in a bay window that received too much sun. It was extremely warm, and we requested to be moved. Initially, there was some hesitation about accommodating the request, and others were seated at the table we'd left and had a similar issue. Good customer experience requires that we not be concerned with house issues - originally the response was "we have other people coming for this open table you'd like to move to." Well, okay, but we're here already and they're not.
This is a beautiful, historic venue sure to impress out-of-town visitors and residents alike. While the brunch itself may seem a little pricey at $34pp, it was a terrific experience that demonstrated value and we'd definitely return. -
Review from Jen B.
Minneapolis, MN
1/24/2011
I will start with the positive-
The place is beautiful. The scenery inside and out is wonderful. There was a guy playing the piano and singing and it was a nice touch.
The negative-
The waitress was so slooooooooooow. And she talked so quiet, we couldn't even hear her. It was kinda weird. Then, after ordering, it took FOURTY FIVE minutes to get our food. I was so hungry and crabby by the time we got our food, it kinda ruined it for me.
I ordered the steak and stuffed lobster, which is $45. I was expecting a fantastic meal. Nope. The steak actually was wonderful, except it was like 3 bites. The stuffed lobster was beyond disgusting. It was a lobster tail shell stuffed with a TON of peas, a few pieces of corn and about 2 chunks of lobster. I was very confused by this. It was NOT good.
After the long wait for the not so great food, we had to wait at least 20 minutes to get our check after our plates were cleared.
We went for our Anniversary. It was a romantic setting, but the food and service was a big let down. I doubt we'd ever be back. There's too many other high priced places in the city that offer great service and fantastic food. -
Review from Steve W.
Andover, MN
7/30/2007
I didn't find this place as stuffy as Ian did, but I wasn't overly impressed either. Good meal and good ambiance, and I will probably go back again, but nothing that just makes me crave going to the place. The view from the restaurant isn't great (lots of joggers and horses, but no real river view) and the food is high quality, but not pulse stopping.
Contrary to Ian's review I actually saw a wide range of people in the restaurant, so I wouldn't categorize it as too old or stuffy. But I also wouldn't go out of my way to go back again. -
Review from Mitzi G.
Wailuku, HI
11/17/2008
SUNDAY BRUNCH:
Its a very cute hotel and restaurant. I wouldn't come in jeans but for $30 its a good brunch for the girls, or to take your grandma to, they also have a private room you could ask for if you had a little party, I picutre bridal/baby shower. The indoor area is very pretty, dark wood, fresh cut flowers, and a lot of older patrons.
There are five courses and you are able to pick from 3 to 5 items per course. This may sound like a massive amount of food but the portion size isn't out of control and they time it out so its just enough food to make you satisfied but not bursting at the seams. The first course is a basket of pastries at your table and choice of juice, coffee, mimosa or champagne. There is a full bar if you don't like any of these choices. I started with coffe and a scone then moved on to the creme brulee french toast which was delicious. The petit croque monsieur was just okay, I like my bread a bit more toasted. The grilled trout with capers was very good and the bouillabaisse (my friend and I split the two plates so we could taste both) was cooked perfectly. Others ordered the strip steak that looked perfectly done. I was sad the profiteroles were off the menu but I settled for the cheesecake that was accompanied by a tart sorbet, good but nothing memorable.
I had to take a star away for our waiter. We heard the waiter next to our table and he was AMAZING, very friendly and descriptive of all the food he presented. We couldn't get our waiter to smile for the life of us and he was not pleasant to interact with. The host/manager was also a delight so hopefully if you go you won't get our guy. -
Review from Jon B.
Minnetonka, MN
12/14/2009
I've eaten here occasionally over the years and more recently have been here with a small group of business associates for a holiday dinner several years running now. It seems like food quality slips every time I go. Most recently I had a rib-eye that was correctly cooked medium rare but had the texture of a well-done steak (hard and dry... I didn't even know it was possible for a rib-eye to be hard and dry). The wife had bouillabaisse with a number of gritty mussels, a few shrimp, and a microscopic piece of salmon. My overall impression of all the food was that it seemed like the kitchen staff was putting in a good effort but I just don't think they are working with quality ingredients.
On top of that, we found the busy-body manager rather obnoxious -- among other things, loudly ordering the bartender to close out our bar tab because our table was ready while the guy was still taking our orders (the bartender was a bit mortified and just transferred the tab) and ripping menus out of peoples' hands when the starters arrived saying he didn't want us to get grease on them. The manager's social and customer service deficiencies aside however, the rest of the staff was very friendly and helpful.
It's a shame because I think it's a really picturesque setting but the place is definitely suffering from neglect. -
Review from D L.
San Francisco, CA
5/20/2009
This review is for the Nicollet Island Inn dining room (not the accomodations). We went with a party of 10 and requested a private room. The room was a bit small for 10, it actually seemed more like a room for 7 or 8 max, but the food was quite good. All of the members of our party were satisfied with the service we received and the food ordered. The ambiance of the dining room was nice; however, it seemed a bit dark overall - good for a date, perhaps not so good for a large party.
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Review from Rachel S.
Otsego, MN
12/3/2009
Went for our anniversary. They bring out a neat one bite appetizer the chef created for the night and finished with a one bite dessert for each of us. I wouldn't go all the time, but for a special occassion and a slower pace it works for me.
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Review from G. L.
Evanston, IL
3/31/2011
Awful. Haven't even stayed there, and that's because this place lost the reservation made through their own on-line booking system. The dinner reservation made through open table worked just fine, but I cancelled that since it only made sense if we were to eat there as well. No effort to explain the situation by the management. Ruined a weekend get away for us. Would never recommend. There are too many nice new hotels in Minneapolis to put up with this kind of thing. Run in the opposite direction.
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Review from Doris B.
Minneapolis, MN
5/11/2010
My two adult children took me to Nicollet Island Inn for the Mother's Day brunch, and we were all looking forward with great anticipation to what we thought would be a wonderful meal. We used to come here every Mother's Day when they served a marvelous buffet brunch, but when they discontinued the buffet several years ago and replaced it with a limited fixed menu, we stopped coming. However, my son decided it was time to give it another try. What a terrible disappointment this turned out to be. While the presentation of the food was very nice, the taste did not equal the appearance. Despite the cost of the brunch ($44 per person), the portions were unbelievably small, so we couldn't even share, had we chosen to do so. I ordered the quiche, which resembled and tasted like no quiche I had ever eaten before. I did not care for the taste at all. I could not possibly describe what the ingredients were. My daughter had the eggs benedict, and that also did not look or taste like any eggs benedict she had ever eaten. My son had the beef dish, which looked lovely on the plate, but tasted like shoe leather. The service left a lot to be desired. Our coffee cups went unfilled for long periods, while waiters were scurrying about, paying no heed to our table. This experience put a damper on an otherwise lovely Mother's Day. We will never return to Nicollet Island Inn, and it is strongly suggested that you read the comments of other reviewers who had similar negative experiences before you make a decision to dine here. .
