Who would think that the Embassy Suites houses one of the best restaurants in town? Friends suggested we have dinner here ..... I spent years traveling, staying in hotels and eating mediocre hotel food so my expectations were in check. What a pleasant surprise. The service was excellent. (Thanks Grandma Sue,our waitress) and Benjamin, the manager for making all the right food recommendations. My friend had sturgeon (I tasted it and that celery root sauce? Unbelievable). My other friend had the award winning steak (she loved it) and I had one of their small plates. It was tender shredded lamb over mashed potatoes surrounded by sweet vegetables topped with hand made french onion rings. I would go back for that again and again and .....I think you get the point. Ambience, service, incredible food. I'll go back.
(5)
Patrick C.
Okay, I have to say that I really like this place. I have never been disappointed. The service is usually great. I will say that the last time I visited there it took almost five minutes for them to get our table ready. Somewhat annoying, but not a deal breaker. The food is fantastic, especially considering it's in a hotel. The salad/soup bar is great. I love their homemade soup. Their free bread is, also, good. It tastes like real bread, and not something bought from Cub. Now, for the real shocker! I've ordered sea food from this place on multiple occasions, and I never once got a yucky piece of seafood. And, I know when seafood's bad. It's the worst thing ever. I so frequently get bad seafood in Minnesota that Wolley's deserves some serious credit for their quality fresh seafood. My crabcake sliders I had the last time were divine. Not the smallest taste of fishy; they were sweat and delicious. My partner had the Walleye I think, and I tasted it; it was great. No fishy taste at all. I've also had burgers, steaks, and other entrees at Wooleys and have enjoyed them, as well. Go here for seafood or anything else. You will not be disappointed. I honestly can't think of anything bad to say, and I love to criticize.
(5)
Suzanne V.
While on a recent business trip to Minneapolis, I stayed at the Embassy Suites in Bloomington by the airport and had dinner at their on-site restaurant Wooley's Steakhouse. I wasn't in the mood for steak and found a great selection of other dishes on their menu. The waitress was very pleasant and recommended I try the walleye fish, which is local to the area. My walleye was grilled (or sauteed) and served with spinach and wild rice and was very tasty. I had also ordered a side of their mac and cheese, which was tasty but the bits of bacon cooked in it was mainly pieces of chewy fat and not meaty. Still tasty, nonetheless. For dessert I had their molten chocolate cake with ice cream. It was served with barely a partial scoop of ice cream and raspberry puree around the plate. Would have been better had there been more ice cream. Overall it was a good experience, considering how convenient it was to eat in the hotel where I was staying and not have to go out in -10 weather. I'd for certain eat there again!
(4)
Kevin C.
Good steak after a day on the road. Cooked exactly to how I asked for it. I would definitely come again.
Just ate here for Restaurant Week. Got French onion soup, top sirloin, and bread pudding. So good! Especially the bread pudding. Will definitely go here again. Great food, great service.
(5)
Christopher B.
This place was located in the Embassy Suites. It environment was very relaxing and comfortable. The menu was limited with certain items, but adequate. The Cuban sandwich was excellent. The prices were reasonable for a meal while traveling. The only downside to the restaurant was the service. The waitress was adequate, but very slow with getting the orders, etc. But that might not be the case for each server. It's worth a shot, if you are in the area.
(3)
Mei P.
We've been to Woolley's many times and they've never failed to make us happy. We bring all of our friends and family. The service is excellent. The food is amazing, although when I ordered pasta once (which was good) I wish I had gotten the steak instead. My brother in law had the prime rib and I had the pasta... I was so jealous. This is one of our favorite places to dine in. We'll be back again for sure. Oh and the mash potatoes and bread pudding (separately) are amazing.
(5)
Joey K.
Woolley's did a nice job accommodating us as a larger party on short notice. The atmosphere was great and the service was good. Pretty enthusiastic and professional overall. The food was okay, nothing really to write home about. Then again I ordered the sirloin which isn't exactly the best cut. Next time I would chose the prime rib or ribeye but at almost $40 I can think of other places I would rather go. Like I said, it's a great venue and very classy with good hosts. I just think I could have gotten a better steak for the price somewhere else.
(3)
Gary B.
A "Happenings" coupon motivated a recent visit with a friend of mine and I must say, this sort of random "discovery" was well worth the spend, even without a coupon. We are both well-traveled and are highly experienced restaurant customers. First, to us, nothing rolls out the red carpet welcome mat like a no-charge corkage fee. That's right. No charge. (We always try very hard to bring in a wine that would not be on a restaurant wine list.) Next, the service was downright perfect. Our server explained not only the menu but also what sounded to me to be the best New Years Eve dinner event in the Twin Cities (I wish I had a date). It's also always a good sign when you see dining room staff assisting each other keeping up with on-the-spot customer requests. There was something special about the bread. How they can get something to the table that was oven-fresh amazes me. It must have been oven fresh. We both ordered the "martini steak" - flank steak topped with a green olive and bleu cheese mix - cooked to perfection. I had the steamed broccoli, friend had a "loaded" baked potato - (where was the nearest defibrillator, just in case). We got there early. When we left, there were a lot more customers sitting down to what would be a splendid dinner experience in a lovely setting - all personally guaranteed by the Executive Chef who I notice visited every table. What are you waiting for..........?
(5)
James S.
On a business trip I had the opportunity to dine at this establishment and found that the food is spectacular. I only wish my stay was longer so I could sample more items on the menu. I started the meal with one of my favorite appetizers "French Onion Soup" which was one of the best I have ever tasted. Next came the Lamb chops which where cooked to my tastes, rare. Once again the plate was perfectly plated and prepared. If you ever find yourself near this place be sure to stop and have a meal. You will not be disappointed.
(5)
Jazmin C.
Hostess seemed immediately annoyed with our presence. Had to wait 20 minutes for a table, only to find out there were ample tables available. They must have been understaffed because the cocktail waitress never took our drink orders while we waited for our table at the bar. We were taken to our tables then never greeted by any server. After 5 minutes or so I had to go to the host to ask for a help. She rudely told me the female server in our proximity was not ours, and our male server will be with us shortly. He still never showed up so the hostess reluctantly took our orders. The food was good but overpriced for the small portions. I had the Alaskan Salmon, and a blackberry mojito. He had the prime rib. If it weren't for our gift certificate covering most of the cost I would have been even more irritated. We will Never eat here again.
(1)
Deanna A.
Service was great but food left a bit to be desired. Ordered M-rare prime rib that was served warm and more medium than rare. It was bland with only flavor on the edges. Broccoli was cooked perfect but had too much salt and pepper so couldn't even eat. I would only recommend for travelers staying at the embassy suites.
(3)
Dirk P.
I got the waleye appetizer it was pretty good ibalso got it for an entree it wasn't as good. The drinks we good had a nut it evert drink. Which made for plenty of jokes.
(3)
Emily J.
Stayed at the embassy and this was the restaurant inside of the hotel. Turns out this is the best steak I've eaten in my life! Everything is al a carte but all sides are large enough to spilt and salads can be ordered in half sizes. Prices are spends but it's worth it!
This is a rather small restaurant inside of a hotel near MOA in MN. When I was there the service, although a little slower, was understandable since it seemed our waitress was the only waitress for all the tables. So down to what really matters, the food. I got the lamb chop based off another review I saw on Yelp. The chops, although ok, were by no means great. They were slightly overcooked but in the end were ok. My business parter got a steak. He ordered it Med-rare and it came out closer to rare. He seemed to like it so the temp was not a deal breaker. Wings were wings, nothing special. Will I return...maybe if I want to be lazy and not drive any distance over 5mins
(3)
Chad R.
Great atmosphere and food. Attached to the embassy suites. Very relaxing and comfortable.
(5)
Lance W.
Shrimp and scallops were decent, the sauce they were in was very good. The top sirloin was over cooked. We had a group of 20, 2 servers and the service was still poor. Failed to split up checks while taking orders so our group had to wait around an extra 40 minutes after our meal to try and pay. Expectations did not meet price or look of resturaunt.
(2)
Grace H.
There was some confusion from my friends about where exactly the restaurant was located. It would be helpful if there was some sort of more visible signage outside of the hotel indicated that Woolley's is located inside. One of my friends ended up calling and asking for directions from the hotel parking lot "Just come on in Sir". After all of us arrived our server was very friendly about explaining the restaurant week menu. Walleyed done 3 ways was ordered while my boyfriend and I went with the upgraded option of Surf and Turf and Filet Mignon. Even the medium rare beef was overdone more than we liked. The food was decent but pretty pricey. Honestly we've never been super impressed with restaurants located within hotels. I guess I read that this one is independently operated but I've had better quality steak for less in other restaurants in the cities. It was also odd that we got a private conference room. It would have been cooler to dine in the main area with foliage (not sure if they were real). There was this weird buzzing noise initially from the speakers but our server noticed and either was able to turn it off or I just got so used to it that I filtered out the horror movie-ish background music. I saw an earlier photo of a creme brulee from restaurant week with a smaller portion than what we got from the same restaurant. Soup and entree portions were on the smaller end so not sure why we were rewarded with the surplus for dessert but I'll take it.
(3)
S L.
One of the BEST filet I've ever had!! Service is excellent and the sale bar is very impressive. I highly recommend this restaurant. The manager was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the wines as well. I would come back again!!
(5)
Mahva J.
Despite this restaurant being in the burbs and in a hotel, they know how to prepare excellent food and to serve their patrons well. I've been here a few times (I forget to check in) and I've yet to be disappointed with the meal. Other than some of their desserts (don't get anything mousse-like), I'm very happy to have whatever I choose. If you're seeking a great place for an adult brunch that's run well, here's your spot. The variety and quality of food is surprising (again, ignore the location) and well worth the cost. You get much more than you pay for here, easily.
(4)
Katarina G.
One of my favorite steakhouses besides Manny's ofcourse. Delicious and upscale. Highly recommend for Valentines day as they had a jazz/classical band playing right outside the restaurant in the hotel :)
(5)
Stephanie C.
Our waiter Jesse was attentive and efficient from start to finish. I ordered the Grilled Romaine Salad for dinner, substituting fresh avocado for the prosciutto. I wish I'd taken a picture of my meal! They beautifully placed the romaine, sliced cherry tomatoes, shredded Parmesan cheese and sliced avocado, which was fresh and firm. Thank you for a delicious, vegetarian meal at a steakhouse.
(4)
Randy W.
My wife and 23 year old son went to Woolleys for a New Years Eve meal. We were hungry for a good steak. We live in town but decided to try Woolleys for steak over Timberlodge and Outback, among other steak places. In a nutshell, it was "ok" and a bit expensive for the end-result. It's a great environment for dining, and the servers are certainly friendly. We were seated and given a great basket of tasty bread and butter. I'd go back just for the bread. I decided last minute to have the 12oz prime rib ($25) and my son and wife decided to split the 10oz ($45) filet mignon. I got a baked potato of average size and flavor, and the prime rib was OK. It came with a cup of au jus with mushrooms which had a bit of a salty flavor but was good. My meal came with nothing else...no option for a side of veggies or salad, etc. Just the meat and baked potato. My wifes' filet mignon came with some asparagus (about 7 smaller-sized spears) and a square of au grauten potatos which were actually pretty darn good (she really like them and I had a bite). She, and my son, said the filet was "ok". They each had a soda, I had 2 CC-cokes (first one was a CC-7up but I drank it anyway) at 6.50 each (They were smaller giblet-type glasses). We could have opted to include the salad bar for an additional $5 with our meals if we wanted but declined. I think the salad bar would have been a good option, but looking back, I think it should be included. $90 later, still feeling somewhat hungry, and not "wow'd" with the overall experience, we were on our way. We stopped at Culvers on the way home for our ice-cream dessert. I think our next steak-craving will be at the either Timberlodge or Outback. I think for nearly the same price, we would probably feel a bit more like we got our money's worth. Great bread and butter, great au grauten potatos. The rest..."ok".
(3)
Anton H.
Awesome Steaks and amazing service! I recommend Jesse as a server. He is the bomb!!
(5)
Kurt H.
Stopped here for dinner while on a layover in Minneapolis. My wife ordered the NY Strip, and I weighed in with my usual ribeye, med. rare. The steaks were cooked to order, and arrived cook to a perfect temperature. Excellent marks for preparation. Our salads were crisp and delicious, with an appropriate amount of toppings. Where the restaurant seems to fall down (for me, at least) is seasoning. Our steaks were good, but lacking something. If I had to make a guess, it would be "salt". They have a nice, local and regional craft beer selection here, and I ordered a coffee porter to pair with the ancho chile and coffee rub on my steak. Again, very good...but no "pop" to the flavors of the steak. I'm still sad about it, because the rest of the experience was very nice, indeed. The service was excellent, and our waiter could not have been more accommodating, gracious, and attentive. At this price point, I'd say that the food does not create a great quality/value quotient. Lunch or brunch may be better, and if I get the chance, I look forward to giving Woolley's another chance. How it breaks down: 3* - Food 5* - Service 2* - Value for the money
(3)
Jason V.
Not a bad place for being located in a hotel. Elk sausage is very tasty. Walleye was good too. Wine selection is decent. Good place
(4)
Julio M.
Would you look at that....my expectations were just exceeded. I entered into the Woolley's experience expecting sub par service and lackluster food, but received the exact opposite. Server blew my mind with an extreme amount of food/wine knowledge and the good food left my taste buds saying, please Julio....gimme more. Well little taste buds, just hold your horses and just look at it because Papa Julio will be back for another Woolley's extravaganza.
(5)
Jim H.
We love love love the Steaks (and everything else for that matter)! Anton is a fantastic waiter and made our special night just a bit better. Would refer to anyone and will be back soon!!!
(5)
Maria T.
Food was good. Will return. Had a glass of Cakebread Pinot Noir, 6oz petite filet with grilled asparagus and fingerling potatoes, fresh bread and soup/salad bar. Included scallops on the side as a special for tonight.
(5)
Pepe C.
This place has a fantastic selection of beers on tap. It is a great hotel bar/pub to retreat at if you are staying overnight near the airport. I see lots of good stuff about the food but I wasn't impressed at all with my lamb hoagie. Most hotel pubs struggle to get food right so I wasn't expecting any great food but was very impressed with the beer selection and highly recommend it if you are looking for a good place to relax and get a few pints of draft beer.
(3)
Henry W.
Th first time we came to woolleys, we were not expecting the great food! As an appetizer we got the diablo bites and fell in love with the tender meat! Our dinners were both excellent and have been hooked since our first visit. We have been here twice and will keep coming back! The service was very attentive to what we needed and there was never an empty glass!!!! For dessert, get the cheesecake, it is to die for. We highly recommend this Resturaunt!
(5)
Mike B.
My family and I went here for their Easter brunch buffet, choosing this over Jax because of the bottomless champagne/mimosas and ease of access for my parents coming from Rochester (the hotel is located right next to the Mall of America). It was...okay. The atrium of the hotel where the restaurant is located was pretty typical for an Embassy Suites, and it was packed with both hotel guests and brunch patrons. There was a good spread of food -- carving stations with lamb, beef, and pork, a full breakfast buffet spread with eggs benedict, french toast, bacon, and sausage, and your typical lunch fare of pasta salads, seared ahi tuna, shrimp cocktail, etc. There was also a full dessert bar with cupcakes and various types of cake. As can be expected from any buffet, most of the food that was supposed to be hot was lukewarm and prepared en masse, so you don't get the attention to detail that usually accompanies such high-priced food. The things that were supposed to be cold, like the ahi tuna and shrimp cocktail, were excellent, but the french toast, eggs, benedict, sausage, lamb, and chicken were all almost cold by the time I got to them. Moderately tasty still but slightly disappointing. Most of the desserts tasted like they had come in a box and had simply been placed out for the brunch. Service was good, and my mimosa was never completely empty before somebody offered a refill. Overall, it was a passable brunch buffet, but for close to $40 a person, I expected a little bit more in terms of keeping the food fresh and hot. After several mediocre, expensive brunch buffets in the last few years, I think it's time to try somewhere that actually serves a meal for Easter Sunday next year.
(3)
Emily K.
Great food, great service. Sit in the gazebo! Jesse was a great server and the ambiance was perfect. The steak was amazing and we even got a free dessert for my friends birthday. Salad bar was tasty, too. We come here all the time for special events and it keeps getting better.
(5)
Bryan M.
Went here for my bday party. Jesse was an awesome server who really knew his stuff. I ordered the filet mignon, it was delicious! Great environment and service... Couldn't have been better! Will be back before I know it!
(5)
Laura H.
Husband and I ate here for our Anniversary, Prime Rib and a steak! Staff was friendly and food came quickly, It was fabulous!
(5)
Gretchen D.
Surprisingly good hotel restaurant. Decor not much to look at. It's basically in the atrium of the Embassy Suites hotel (which itself has seen better days.) However, the food was excellent and the service was okay. I had a steak. it was cooked properly. the "classic" topping (Blu cheese, bacon, etc.) was very good. Asparagus was beautifully cooked. bread was good. They forgot my request to swap out the potato and made a mistake on a colleague's order--but they comped her a free dessert to make up for it. Everyone else said their meals were good too.
(4)
Teri B.
This place was wonderful! The food was lovely and the waitstaff couldn't have done a better job. The menu is allergen friendly and the waiter was sure to double check the details. We had three beef dishes which were all great! We came here because our flight was delayed and needed to be near the airport. What a great meal!
(5)
Jill C.
My husband and I are very picky about restaurants and are not often impressed, but Wooley's did it. Our first visit was dinner on a Tuesday night and we will go back again. Although the restaurant is in an open atrium, the pools and tropical plants create an intimate setting. Service was prompt and our server Jesse was fantastic: knowledgable, warm, and helpful. All the specials sounded wonderful. We chose the classic filet mignon, Wagyu filet, and shrimp & scallops over wild mushroom risotto. Everything was amazing, delicious, and unpretentious. Portions were perfect (if you expect a trough of food, go to Champps). Great beer selection. We will try the wines when they have half-price bottles (Wednesday nights).
(5)
D T.
I had not been here in a while, so I was really surprised at how skimpy the portions have become. I had the shrimp and scallop risotto. The menu said mushroom risotto. There were three small shrimp, three scallops and a small amount of risotto with two tiny little mushrooms and one little cherry tomato cut in half. Also, entrees used to come with a side salad. I would have paid the $3.95, which seems a little silly in light of the skimpy $29.00 entree, but the waitress walked off without ever asking if we wanted a salad and didn't come back until the meal was almost ready. The meal was good, but I left hungry and I am not a big eater. My husband had the prime rib. He said it was okay. I think the hotel has also lowered its prices to increase occupancy as the lobby area was very loud and busy and as we ate dinner there were children running wild on the walkways on the floors above where we were seated. Overall, not impressed.
(3)
Martin L.
I stopped here because I was in the area and I had a hankering for a good sit down meal. I wanted something a little on the higher end and this seemed to fit the bill. I had the walleye fingers as an appetizer which were excellent, even coming from someone like myself who grew up in Minnesota. Then I went for the pork porterhouse with Cajun slaw and sweet potato. The slaw was excellent and all the menu items blended well together. The portions were generous, in fact the waiter even commented that it was the largest sweet potato anyone in the kitchen had ever seen. The service was pretty good until I was done eating and then I had to wait some time before someone noticed to bring me a bill. I did not really care for the ambiance since the restaurant opened right up into the atrium and commons area of the hotel. I would prefer a restaurant that is enclosed but that's not a huge deal. All in all, very good food and a good dining experience but lacking the elements of a true five-star restaurants in my opinion. Prices were maybe a tad high but not outlandish.
(4)
Jim L.
This place has great food. Walleye, Steak, Seafood, Asian salad. All great and worth the price. The service is outstanding and I have also seen the kitchen, it is clean. They do pay attention to detail. The chef is awesome. He used to run Saturday cooking classes, i hope he brings those back. They have a bar area with TVs or they have a formal dining area for a nice, quiet dinner.
(5)
Nicholas G.
I Love You Woolley's Wo-Wo-Woolley's! Make it, serve it Woolley's Woolley's... Don't stop cookin' 'cause I feel alright now... Wait a second, how did Billy Idol get involved with food? Well, the answer my friends is because I'm just that clever and I thank this 80's rock star for his catchy tune and inspiration. Please don't stop cookin', because it's places like these that I tell everyone they need to try at least once in their lifetime. What is that exactly? A fine dining restaurant, that yes is on the expensive side, but worth it. You're actually getting what you're paying for and that's some of the finest, well made and elegantly presented food that you won't find at some chain restaurant made by a line cook, but rather an experienced chef. In fact, I would even say some chefs need to be reeducated on how to make food after going to places like Crave, which also has a higher priced menu, but nothing like Woolley's! So what would I recommend? That's simple... EVERYTHING! No I didn't try everything on the menu, but the few things that my wife and I did were amazing and I have no doubt the rest of the menu would follow suit. This was our first time at Woolley's and it's definitely a place that we would return to for a special occasion or anniversary. Lets face it, we're just a modest living couple and unfortunately, we're unable to eat out at these excellent places all the time, but when we do, we go all in! Okey okey, I'll get to the food... :) My wife went with the Woolley's Filet which she Oscared and included your choice of potato(she went with fingerlings) and asparagus. If you can use a fork to cut through you filet like it was butter and it melts in your mouth just the same, than you have yourself one amazing cut of beef. To make things that much better, their creamy crab Oscar was the "icing on the ca... - beef". I decide to go with their Top Sirloin and chose their scalloped potatoes which were very creamy with just the right amount of crispy edges. Not quite as tender as a fillet, I could still cut this thing like it was and their onion and mushroom medley topping that came with my steak was the perfect combination. Lucky for me, it was also lobster tail night and of course I had to add a tail on to my dinner and it was cooked exactly how it should be, flaky and delicious, not rubbery and fishy! We're not done yet! You have to try their salad bar... Really, the salad bar? Yes, the salad bar! But they're all the same... No, no they're not! Too many places have disgusting looking lettuce that's brown and looks like it had been out all day and the bar itself looks like a bomb went off and a complete mess. A lot of places also provide some kind of bland and boring cold pasta of some kind as well... Not here! Everything looked fresh and well maintained the way it should be and while I would have added a little more seasoning to their minestrone, it was still really good. The thing that surprised me the most was their potato salad. I've had so many variations of potato salad with plenty of them needing to be thrown away that after tasting Woolley's creation, I had to ask the server if I could get the recipe. There was just something about it that my wife and I couldn't figure out, but damn was it good and I even told my wife it was easily my favorite. We finished the night off with their Berry Crisp that was a combination of fresh berries, ice cream and their homemade whip which was of course was creamy and yummy. I'm not big on dishes like these, but my wife is and she sure liked it and yes, I did have a few bites and I would recommend it for sure. Woolley's isn't going to have you "feel like a pony", but they may have you "feeling alright" and singing ... Hey, hey what do ya' say, I got STUFFED! :)
(4)
L E.
Brunch was overpriced and service was the WORST! The brunch offerings looked unappealing so I ordered lunch. My dish (short rib ravioli in sage butter sauce) had good flavor but was undercooked at the edges- and I don't mean al dente. The edges were hard and almost unchewable. My husbands egg dish did not come as described on the menu (was supposed to have a tortilla on the bottom but I guess the chef forgot). How they got such good reviews on opentable, we'll never know. Oh and it was deserted at prime Sunday brunch time- we should have just left before ordering as we were tempted to do. Sometimes the presence or absence of a crowd tells you all you need to know. They had no idea how to handle open table reservations and we didn't get our points for that reservation. They were unresponsive to our follow ups to correct that situation.
(2)
Nicole B.
My husband and I had a different experience than some of the other reviewers. We had our Valentines Dinner there and would not return. We sat at table 72, trust me this is a table you do not want. You'll be constantly distracted by people being walked to their tables and servers going in and out of their station. We felt out in the open and on display. It was far from romantic lets just say that. As far as the food goes the diablo bites were good and so was my wedge salad (very fresh) our entrees however were not good. My husband order the NY strip with Blue cheese hashbrowns - do not order the hashbrowns, they looked awful and didn't taste much better. I ordered the Filet oscar style - my steak was not bad but it was not your typical yummy, tender filet. The $5.00 baked potato was a joke, it was very small and VERY overdone. Our waitress disappeared after the food was dropped off. After a while, the manager came over, asked us how everything was. We should have told him we were disappointed but to be honest, I didn't feel like going through the whole ordeal with a "manager" that was arguing with one of his servers right in front of us a few minutes prior to stopping by. (not very professional of a manager) He did ask us if we wanted a box, which we did. Funny thing, instead of walking to the server station to get us a box (which was literally right there) he went to find the waitress, who then brought us our box. I went to grab the box from her to box up our food and she said she would be glad to do it. I mentioned that I would actually prefer to box my own food and she replied that "She would not feel comfortable with that" so off she went with our food. We ended up throwing the food away. It was really not good and not knowing how it was handled grosses me out. I knew this place was no Wildfire, but we were expecting it to be better than TGI Fridays. What a waste of $125.00 bucks! Next time we'll stick with Wildfire we have yet to be disappointed there.
(1)
James C.
My wife and I come here at least once a month and we have the best server named grandma sue she knows that if she is not working we don't stay and she always makes time for us no matter how busy she is. It is so great service that she actually orders our food for us and no matter what she orders we are never disappointed she is awesome so if you get a chance come see her and tell her james and bev sent you . You will not be disappointed. Plus if the machine is running you get cotton candy at the end yummy
(5)
Dave A.
Tricky to review because service and quality seem to vary. A few years ago I would rate this a 4 star and their Mother's Day brunch ranks with Lake Elmo Inns 5 star, without a doubt. However, recent visits seem to disappoint someone in our party every time.....plus no more palate cleansing cotton candy sorbet. Oh my! Suggest you stay with the steaks or prime rib if you go.....but places like Mannys, Wildfire, etc., are better.
(3)
Mike D.
Been to woolley before, usually when I stay at the Embassy. Tonight I was staying down the street. Wanted to avoid the mall and chains so try woollies, again. Food was very good as I remembered. I like the "corner bar" area. Tables set up in the bar makes dining alone more comfortable. service was fast and friendly. Wine list was way above average and tons of beers on tap. Tonight I had the walleye panko with a wedge salad. Both where very good, although a bit pricy, again,hotel restaurant by the airport,so... There is lots of poor quality and chain food in the area so Woolleys is an excellent alternative.
(3)
Clarissa H.
Woolley's is located inside the Embassy Suites. We were in town for the Mall of America and stayed at the Crowne Plaza across the street. We had brunch here on Sunday morning and it was very good. Davey was our waiter and was very attentive and provided excellent service. Our group had eggs benedict, spa omelet, huevos rancheros, and a five egg omelet. Everything was delicious! Including the complimentary mimosas and cranberry scones. They also offer lunch items but all of us were in the mood for breakfast. Highly recommended for Sunday brunch if you are in this area.
(4)
Veronica B.
We dined on a Monday night so it wasn't very busy. Our server was very nice. I had the Black and Bleu Pasta was fantastic! I had it without the bleu cheese crumbles. It was spicy and so delicious! Two of us had the salad bar, it was good. Your run of the mill selections. The Chicken Caprisi was good; had a very strong wine flavor to it. The Cheesecake was good. I wouldn't recommend the Carrot Cake as it didn't have a lot of flavor. Will definitely be back.
I had a gift certificate from restaurant.com . I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the food. I wouldn't normally pick a hotel restaurant, but since it is one of the Twin Cities Originals, I thought we'd give it a shot. We went for lunch on a Monday - the restaurant was very quiet. My fiance and I both ordered the filet which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I have to admit it was one of the best steaks I've ever had - super tender, cooked perfectly and good flavor. We added the soup and salad bar for $4 each. The salad bar had a good selection of salads and salad toppings and two kinds of soup. The soup was also delicious. I'm not sure I'd go for dinner because the prices are a little steep for Bloomington, but it was affordable for lunch. Service was attentive but not over board, the way I like it.
(4)
Mark M.
It was great to find such a nice restaurant right inside my hotel. I had the fillet one night and the pork porterhouse the next and both were excellent. Kim, the server at the bar could not have been more pleasant. I say give it a try!
(4)
Brad J.
Had a son back in town on a Sunday and thought we'd head out for a nice brunch and conversation. We had been to Wooley's several times for dinner and had great meals and service. Definitely one of our favorite pricey places to go. Brunch did not go as well. Brunch is ordered off the menu with some tasty sounding selections. When the order arrived one order was missing the toast, another toast order was burned. When a staff person stopped by to ask how things were we asked if we could get the missing order and a less- burned set. He returned in less than two minutes with the returned toast on the plate simply shuffled and now cold. We asked him for some hot sauce and he said "I'm not sure if we have some". We asked him if he might ask someone and he said he would. We had to wait until the next person came along to ask again. Coffee was refilled while we waited for new toast but the coffee was warm at best. The hostess stopped by and asked how things were so we asked for some hot coffee and got even more lukewarm offerings. In the end, warm toast arrived as we finished the meal. Remarkably hot cups of coffee came with the waitress explaining that it took so long because she knew the carafe was cool and was waiting for a new pot. The mugs were so hot and the toast event so recent that we felt a microwave was involved. Hot sauce arrived while some food was still on the plates. This is not an inexpensive place and we have had such great experiences here in the past that this experience really disappointed us. Hopefully it doesn't reflect a management change.
(1)
Sean F.
My family came to Woolley's for my wifes birthday. She wanted steak for her birthday dinner, and I found a gift certificate on restaurant.com for this place, so we figured it would be good to try. I was impressed by the wait staff, as they were very attentive, and were very nice and friendly to my 7 year old son. Steaks were cooked to perfection, and the salad bar was a bonus. Although, being in the hotel atrium was a bit annoying because of the people all around.
(3)
Lindsay M.
Wolley's Restaurant handled the Catering for my wedding... let me tell you it was FABULOUS! They went above and beyond what I expected. I expected your typically wedding buffet and was blown away with the display of the food and taste of the food! Their servers were outstanding constantly checking on not only my groom and me, but our guests as well. I saw them throughout the evening chatting with guests, refilling drinks, offering food from the buffet and items from the candy/chocolate fountain table around the room! From start to finish, Woolley's was the perfect fit for our (and anyone's) reception party. We were thrilled to work with their Catering and banquet staff!
(5)
Cristin M.
My mom got a free restaurant.com gift certificate, so we decided to use it at a place that we normally wouldn't go to. Personally, I would not normally choose a hotel restaurant, but that's what she wanted to do. It's located in an Embassy Suites, and is situated in the atrium area, but not to be confused with the regular hotel restaurant, which is also in the open-air atrium area. Anyway, we went as a group of 5, plus a toddler. The staff was really friendly and in love with my nephew. They made sure that he had things to occupy himself while everyone else was waiting for their food or eating their meals. I ordered the top sirloin, and it was really tender and flavorful. My sides were good too. The biggest complaint is that the potatoes were a bit salty. I also tried my brother-in-law's asparagus and it was the same story. My mom and sister also commented on the level of salt. I think the problem was the the cooks must have been using coarse sea salt like it was regular table salt, and really piling it on. That being said, plus the location, and price, I probably won't be back. I can get a better meal elsewhere for the price. I am adding a star because the staff were really friendly and my steak was actually pretty decent.
(3)
Matthew M.
Decided to finally try this place after seeing numerous coupons in the local paper. Boy am I glad I did. We were celebrating an anniversary dinner and wanted to eat at a somewhat nice place. Just remember that it is a hotel restraunt. The decor isn't anything to brag about, but it isn't dirty. I had the Short Ribs for dinner and they were perfect. Nice and tender and not overly greasy. Amazing flavor in the gravy. My wife had the Shrimp and Scallops and had the Lobster Sauce on the side. The scallops were nice and big and not rubbery. Next time we go I think I will try a steak since it is a steakhouse. Our server was Jesse who was very attentive. I think he had more tables than he should of had, but he still did great. The only complaint I would have is that we ordered martini's before dinner. I think the glasses were washed and still warm when they poured our drink. That made the martini warmer than we like.
(4)
Mark M.
Normally I try to avoid hotel restaurants like the plague, but I was forced into this one after being stranded by the airport due to all the lovely snow just before Thanksgiving. I liked the server a lot, she gave great recommendations and they were all good. Calamari wasn't rubbery and tasted great, and the filet was cooked on the lighter side of medium rare just like I asked. The cut of beef wasn't the best in the world, but the service and prep made up for it.
(3)
Blake L.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Woolley's during restaurant week because of the number of menu options were extensive. We were seated at a booth which oversaw the elevators and had a main walkway next to it. The elevators have very bright lights on the outside of it and you can see the patrons on the elevators due to the fact it was glass encased. Out of the corner of my eyes during dinner, I kept seeing these elevators lights going up and down randomly which was quite disconcerting and eerie. The hotel patrons obviously were using the main walkway which we were next to. The views were a couple doing public displays of affection for an extended period of time and adolescents with swimming trucks falling off their buttocks. I felt like I a was in a carnival. The food was average. I exited feeling like i witnessed a part of a public performance art vs. a dining experience such as Tony and Tinas wedding.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Mur B.
Who would think that the Embassy Suites houses one of the best restaurants in town? Friends suggested we have dinner here ..... I spent years traveling, staying in hotels and eating mediocre hotel food so my expectations were in check. What a pleasant surprise. The service was excellent. (Thanks Grandma Sue,our waitress) and Benjamin, the manager for making all the right food recommendations. My friend had sturgeon (I tasted it and that celery root sauce? Unbelievable). My other friend had the award winning steak (she loved it) and I had one of their small plates. It was tender shredded lamb over mashed potatoes surrounded by sweet vegetables topped with hand made french onion rings. I would go back for that again and again and .....I think you get the point. Ambience, service, incredible food. I'll go back.
(5)Patrick C.
Okay, I have to say that I really like this place. I have never been disappointed. The service is usually great. I will say that the last time I visited there it took almost five minutes for them to get our table ready. Somewhat annoying, but not a deal breaker. The food is fantastic, especially considering it's in a hotel. The salad/soup bar is great. I love their homemade soup. Their free bread is, also, good. It tastes like real bread, and not something bought from Cub. Now, for the real shocker! I've ordered sea food from this place on multiple occasions, and I never once got a yucky piece of seafood. And, I know when seafood's bad. It's the worst thing ever. I so frequently get bad seafood in Minnesota that Wolley's deserves some serious credit for their quality fresh seafood. My crabcake sliders I had the last time were divine. Not the smallest taste of fishy; they were sweat and delicious. My partner had the Walleye I think, and I tasted it; it was great. No fishy taste at all. I've also had burgers, steaks, and other entrees at Wooleys and have enjoyed them, as well. Go here for seafood or anything else. You will not be disappointed. I honestly can't think of anything bad to say, and I love to criticize.
(5)Suzanne V.
While on a recent business trip to Minneapolis, I stayed at the Embassy Suites in Bloomington by the airport and had dinner at their on-site restaurant Wooley's Steakhouse. I wasn't in the mood for steak and found a great selection of other dishes on their menu. The waitress was very pleasant and recommended I try the walleye fish, which is local to the area. My walleye was grilled (or sauteed) and served with spinach and wild rice and was very tasty. I had also ordered a side of their mac and cheese, which was tasty but the bits of bacon cooked in it was mainly pieces of chewy fat and not meaty. Still tasty, nonetheless. For dessert I had their molten chocolate cake with ice cream. It was served with barely a partial scoop of ice cream and raspberry puree around the plate. Would have been better had there been more ice cream. Overall it was a good experience, considering how convenient it was to eat in the hotel where I was staying and not have to go out in -10 weather. I'd for certain eat there again!
(4)Kevin C.
Good steak after a day on the road. Cooked exactly to how I asked for it. I would definitely come again.
(5)Brian G.
Just a good meal. No frills steakhouse.
(3)Sheng T.
Restaurant week: Scallops appetizer. 3 stars. Recommended by the server. Wedge salad. 4 stars. Loaded with bacon! Grilled walleye. 3 stars. Plain, plain, plain. Black and Bleu pasta. 4 stars. Filet beef tips in the pasta were amazing! Chocolate Ganesh cake. 3 stars. Nothing special. I think Applebee's molten lava is better. Vanilla bean creme brûlée. 3 stars.
(3)Melissa H.
Just ate here for Restaurant Week. Got French onion soup, top sirloin, and bread pudding. So good! Especially the bread pudding. Will definitely go here again. Great food, great service.
(5)Christopher B.
This place was located in the Embassy Suites. It environment was very relaxing and comfortable. The menu was limited with certain items, but adequate. The Cuban sandwich was excellent. The prices were reasonable for a meal while traveling. The only downside to the restaurant was the service. The waitress was adequate, but very slow with getting the orders, etc. But that might not be the case for each server. It's worth a shot, if you are in the area.
(3)Mei P.
We've been to Woolley's many times and they've never failed to make us happy. We bring all of our friends and family. The service is excellent. The food is amazing, although when I ordered pasta once (which was good) I wish I had gotten the steak instead. My brother in law had the prime rib and I had the pasta... I was so jealous. This is one of our favorite places to dine in. We'll be back again for sure. Oh and the mash potatoes and bread pudding (separately) are amazing.
(5)Joey K.
Woolley's did a nice job accommodating us as a larger party on short notice. The atmosphere was great and the service was good. Pretty enthusiastic and professional overall. The food was okay, nothing really to write home about. Then again I ordered the sirloin which isn't exactly the best cut. Next time I would chose the prime rib or ribeye but at almost $40 I can think of other places I would rather go. Like I said, it's a great venue and very classy with good hosts. I just think I could have gotten a better steak for the price somewhere else.
(3)Gary B.
A "Happenings" coupon motivated a recent visit with a friend of mine and I must say, this sort of random "discovery" was well worth the spend, even without a coupon. We are both well-traveled and are highly experienced restaurant customers. First, to us, nothing rolls out the red carpet welcome mat like a no-charge corkage fee. That's right. No charge. (We always try very hard to bring in a wine that would not be on a restaurant wine list.) Next, the service was downright perfect. Our server explained not only the menu but also what sounded to me to be the best New Years Eve dinner event in the Twin Cities (I wish I had a date). It's also always a good sign when you see dining room staff assisting each other keeping up with on-the-spot customer requests. There was something special about the bread. How they can get something to the table that was oven-fresh amazes me. It must have been oven fresh. We both ordered the "martini steak" - flank steak topped with a green olive and bleu cheese mix - cooked to perfection. I had the steamed broccoli, friend had a "loaded" baked potato - (where was the nearest defibrillator, just in case). We got there early. When we left, there were a lot more customers sitting down to what would be a splendid dinner experience in a lovely setting - all personally guaranteed by the Executive Chef who I notice visited every table. What are you waiting for..........?
(5)James S.
On a business trip I had the opportunity to dine at this establishment and found that the food is spectacular. I only wish my stay was longer so I could sample more items on the menu. I started the meal with one of my favorite appetizers "French Onion Soup" which was one of the best I have ever tasted. Next came the Lamb chops which where cooked to my tastes, rare. Once again the plate was perfectly plated and prepared. If you ever find yourself near this place be sure to stop and have a meal. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Jazmin C.
Hostess seemed immediately annoyed with our presence. Had to wait 20 minutes for a table, only to find out there were ample tables available. They must have been understaffed because the cocktail waitress never took our drink orders while we waited for our table at the bar. We were taken to our tables then never greeted by any server. After 5 minutes or so I had to go to the host to ask for a help. She rudely told me the female server in our proximity was not ours, and our male server will be with us shortly. He still never showed up so the hostess reluctantly took our orders. The food was good but overpriced for the small portions. I had the Alaskan Salmon, and a blackberry mojito. He had the prime rib. If it weren't for our gift certificate covering most of the cost I would have been even more irritated. We will Never eat here again.
(1)Deanna A.
Service was great but food left a bit to be desired. Ordered M-rare prime rib that was served warm and more medium than rare. It was bland with only flavor on the edges. Broccoli was cooked perfect but had too much salt and pepper so couldn't even eat. I would only recommend for travelers staying at the embassy suites.
(3)Dirk P.
I got the waleye appetizer it was pretty good ibalso got it for an entree it wasn't as good. The drinks we good had a nut it evert drink. Which made for plenty of jokes.
(3)Emily J.
Stayed at the embassy and this was the restaurant inside of the hotel. Turns out this is the best steak I've eaten in my life! Everything is al a carte but all sides are large enough to spilt and salads can be ordered in half sizes. Prices are spends but it's worth it!
(5)Marques S.
Restaurant week let down.... This was my second trip Woolley's, the first trip coming 4-5 years ago. My memories of the original visit were good enough that when my suggested we visit for RW, I was in favor. We arrived prior to our reservation time, to only wait at the reception table for 5 minutes before anyone acknowledged our presence. We were finally seated by a waiter that walked by. When we walked in we were surprised to see that the dining area was fairly empty and several people were sitting at the table post meal. After we were seated, we were greeted by our server whom promptly took our beverage order. We ordered calamari as an app, which came about 15 mins later. Until then we enjoy the complimentary bread plate. When the calamari arrived we were both disappointed by the lack of flavor the calamari offered. Our salads came about 20 minutes after ordering them. The wedge salad was solid on flavor, wish it was a bit bigger but I understand... It's a RW 3 course meal. Following the salad we waiting another 20-25 minutes for our entree. I ordered the filet mignon with an Oscar topping (extra $7) cooked medium. The filet came out overcooked and charred on the outside. The flavor was decent but it was overpowered by the burnt taste of the charred underside. The side were so/so the asparagus was cooked nicely, however, the fingerling potatoes were dry and lacked flavor. At this point in the meal, my wife and I were tempted to get the check and walkout, skipping dessert. I convinced her to sit tight and get dessert. I got the creme brûlée, which was very good. The manager came over and asked us how our meal was and I told him just what we thought and he politely thanked us for our feedback and we left disappointed with our meal and the pace at which it came. Our 3 course meal took approx 2 hours and the restaurant not busy AT ALL. On several occasions our glasses were empty and no one asked if refills were desired. Our expectations were much higher from a restaurant that charges premium prices.
(3)Joe B.
This is a rather small restaurant inside of a hotel near MOA in MN. When I was there the service, although a little slower, was understandable since it seemed our waitress was the only waitress for all the tables. So down to what really matters, the food. I got the lamb chop based off another review I saw on Yelp. The chops, although ok, were by no means great. They were slightly overcooked but in the end were ok. My business parter got a steak. He ordered it Med-rare and it came out closer to rare. He seemed to like it so the temp was not a deal breaker. Wings were wings, nothing special. Will I return...maybe if I want to be lazy and not drive any distance over 5mins
(3)Chad R.
Great atmosphere and food. Attached to the embassy suites. Very relaxing and comfortable.
(5)Lance W.
Shrimp and scallops were decent, the sauce they were in was very good. The top sirloin was over cooked. We had a group of 20, 2 servers and the service was still poor. Failed to split up checks while taking orders so our group had to wait around an extra 40 minutes after our meal to try and pay. Expectations did not meet price or look of resturaunt.
(2)Grace H.
There was some confusion from my friends about where exactly the restaurant was located. It would be helpful if there was some sort of more visible signage outside of the hotel indicated that Woolley's is located inside. One of my friends ended up calling and asking for directions from the hotel parking lot "Just come on in Sir". After all of us arrived our server was very friendly about explaining the restaurant week menu. Walleyed done 3 ways was ordered while my boyfriend and I went with the upgraded option of Surf and Turf and Filet Mignon. Even the medium rare beef was overdone more than we liked. The food was decent but pretty pricey. Honestly we've never been super impressed with restaurants located within hotels. I guess I read that this one is independently operated but I've had better quality steak for less in other restaurants in the cities. It was also odd that we got a private conference room. It would have been cooler to dine in the main area with foliage (not sure if they were real). There was this weird buzzing noise initially from the speakers but our server noticed and either was able to turn it off or I just got so used to it that I filtered out the horror movie-ish background music. I saw an earlier photo of a creme brulee from restaurant week with a smaller portion than what we got from the same restaurant. Soup and entree portions were on the smaller end so not sure why we were rewarded with the surplus for dessert but I'll take it.
(3)S L.
One of the BEST filet I've ever had!! Service is excellent and the sale bar is very impressive. I highly recommend this restaurant. The manager was very friendly and very knowledgeable about the wines as well. I would come back again!!
(5)Mahva J.
Despite this restaurant being in the burbs and in a hotel, they know how to prepare excellent food and to serve their patrons well. I've been here a few times (I forget to check in) and I've yet to be disappointed with the meal. Other than some of their desserts (don't get anything mousse-like), I'm very happy to have whatever I choose. If you're seeking a great place for an adult brunch that's run well, here's your spot. The variety and quality of food is surprising (again, ignore the location) and well worth the cost. You get much more than you pay for here, easily.
(4)Katarina G.
One of my favorite steakhouses besides Manny's ofcourse. Delicious and upscale. Highly recommend for Valentines day as they had a jazz/classical band playing right outside the restaurant in the hotel :)
(5)Stephanie C.
Our waiter Jesse was attentive and efficient from start to finish. I ordered the Grilled Romaine Salad for dinner, substituting fresh avocado for the prosciutto. I wish I'd taken a picture of my meal! They beautifully placed the romaine, sliced cherry tomatoes, shredded Parmesan cheese and sliced avocado, which was fresh and firm. Thank you for a delicious, vegetarian meal at a steakhouse.
(4)Randy W.
My wife and 23 year old son went to Woolleys for a New Years Eve meal. We were hungry for a good steak. We live in town but decided to try Woolleys for steak over Timberlodge and Outback, among other steak places. In a nutshell, it was "ok" and a bit expensive for the end-result. It's a great environment for dining, and the servers are certainly friendly. We were seated and given a great basket of tasty bread and butter. I'd go back just for the bread. I decided last minute to have the 12oz prime rib ($25) and my son and wife decided to split the 10oz ($45) filet mignon. I got a baked potato of average size and flavor, and the prime rib was OK. It came with a cup of au jus with mushrooms which had a bit of a salty flavor but was good. My meal came with nothing else...no option for a side of veggies or salad, etc. Just the meat and baked potato. My wifes' filet mignon came with some asparagus (about 7 smaller-sized spears) and a square of au grauten potatos which were actually pretty darn good (she really like them and I had a bite). She, and my son, said the filet was "ok". They each had a soda, I had 2 CC-cokes (first one was a CC-7up but I drank it anyway) at 6.50 each (They were smaller giblet-type glasses). We could have opted to include the salad bar for an additional $5 with our meals if we wanted but declined. I think the salad bar would have been a good option, but looking back, I think it should be included. $90 later, still feeling somewhat hungry, and not "wow'd" with the overall experience, we were on our way. We stopped at Culvers on the way home for our ice-cream dessert. I think our next steak-craving will be at the either Timberlodge or Outback. I think for nearly the same price, we would probably feel a bit more like we got our money's worth. Great bread and butter, great au grauten potatos. The rest..."ok".
(3)Anton H.
Awesome Steaks and amazing service! I recommend Jesse as a server. He is the bomb!!
(5)Kurt H.
Stopped here for dinner while on a layover in Minneapolis. My wife ordered the NY Strip, and I weighed in with my usual ribeye, med. rare. The steaks were cooked to order, and arrived cook to a perfect temperature. Excellent marks for preparation. Our salads were crisp and delicious, with an appropriate amount of toppings. Where the restaurant seems to fall down (for me, at least) is seasoning. Our steaks were good, but lacking something. If I had to make a guess, it would be "salt". They have a nice, local and regional craft beer selection here, and I ordered a coffee porter to pair with the ancho chile and coffee rub on my steak. Again, very good...but no "pop" to the flavors of the steak. I'm still sad about it, because the rest of the experience was very nice, indeed. The service was excellent, and our waiter could not have been more accommodating, gracious, and attentive. At this price point, I'd say that the food does not create a great quality/value quotient. Lunch or brunch may be better, and if I get the chance, I look forward to giving Woolley's another chance. How it breaks down: 3* - Food 5* - Service 2* - Value for the money
(3)Jason V.
Not a bad place for being located in a hotel. Elk sausage is very tasty. Walleye was good too. Wine selection is decent. Good place
(4)Julio M.
Would you look at that....my expectations were just exceeded. I entered into the Woolley's experience expecting sub par service and lackluster food, but received the exact opposite. Server blew my mind with an extreme amount of food/wine knowledge and the good food left my taste buds saying, please Julio....gimme more. Well little taste buds, just hold your horses and just look at it because Papa Julio will be back for another Woolley's extravaganza.
(5)Jim H.
We love love love the Steaks (and everything else for that matter)! Anton is a fantastic waiter and made our special night just a bit better. Would refer to anyone and will be back soon!!!
(5)Maria T.
Food was good. Will return. Had a glass of Cakebread Pinot Noir, 6oz petite filet with grilled asparagus and fingerling potatoes, fresh bread and soup/salad bar. Included scallops on the side as a special for tonight.
(5)Pepe C.
This place has a fantastic selection of beers on tap. It is a great hotel bar/pub to retreat at if you are staying overnight near the airport. I see lots of good stuff about the food but I wasn't impressed at all with my lamb hoagie. Most hotel pubs struggle to get food right so I wasn't expecting any great food but was very impressed with the beer selection and highly recommend it if you are looking for a good place to relax and get a few pints of draft beer.
(3)Henry W.
Th first time we came to woolleys, we were not expecting the great food! As an appetizer we got the diablo bites and fell in love with the tender meat! Our dinners were both excellent and have been hooked since our first visit. We have been here twice and will keep coming back! The service was very attentive to what we needed and there was never an empty glass!!!! For dessert, get the cheesecake, it is to die for. We highly recommend this Resturaunt!
(5)Mike B.
My family and I went here for their Easter brunch buffet, choosing this over Jax because of the bottomless champagne/mimosas and ease of access for my parents coming from Rochester (the hotel is located right next to the Mall of America). It was...okay. The atrium of the hotel where the restaurant is located was pretty typical for an Embassy Suites, and it was packed with both hotel guests and brunch patrons. There was a good spread of food -- carving stations with lamb, beef, and pork, a full breakfast buffet spread with eggs benedict, french toast, bacon, and sausage, and your typical lunch fare of pasta salads, seared ahi tuna, shrimp cocktail, etc. There was also a full dessert bar with cupcakes and various types of cake. As can be expected from any buffet, most of the food that was supposed to be hot was lukewarm and prepared en masse, so you don't get the attention to detail that usually accompanies such high-priced food. The things that were supposed to be cold, like the ahi tuna and shrimp cocktail, were excellent, but the french toast, eggs, benedict, sausage, lamb, and chicken were all almost cold by the time I got to them. Moderately tasty still but slightly disappointing. Most of the desserts tasted like they had come in a box and had simply been placed out for the brunch. Service was good, and my mimosa was never completely empty before somebody offered a refill. Overall, it was a passable brunch buffet, but for close to $40 a person, I expected a little bit more in terms of keeping the food fresh and hot. After several mediocre, expensive brunch buffets in the last few years, I think it's time to try somewhere that actually serves a meal for Easter Sunday next year.
(3)Emily K.
Great food, great service. Sit in the gazebo! Jesse was a great server and the ambiance was perfect. The steak was amazing and we even got a free dessert for my friends birthday. Salad bar was tasty, too. We come here all the time for special events and it keeps getting better.
(5)Bryan M.
Went here for my bday party. Jesse was an awesome server who really knew his stuff. I ordered the filet mignon, it was delicious! Great environment and service... Couldn't have been better! Will be back before I know it!
(5)Laura H.
Husband and I ate here for our Anniversary, Prime Rib and a steak! Staff was friendly and food came quickly, It was fabulous!
(5)Gretchen D.
Surprisingly good hotel restaurant. Decor not much to look at. It's basically in the atrium of the Embassy Suites hotel (which itself has seen better days.) However, the food was excellent and the service was okay. I had a steak. it was cooked properly. the "classic" topping (Blu cheese, bacon, etc.) was very good. Asparagus was beautifully cooked. bread was good. They forgot my request to swap out the potato and made a mistake on a colleague's order--but they comped her a free dessert to make up for it. Everyone else said their meals were good too.
(4)Teri B.
This place was wonderful! The food was lovely and the waitstaff couldn't have done a better job. The menu is allergen friendly and the waiter was sure to double check the details. We had three beef dishes which were all great! We came here because our flight was delayed and needed to be near the airport. What a great meal!
(5)Jill C.
My husband and I are very picky about restaurants and are not often impressed, but Wooley's did it. Our first visit was dinner on a Tuesday night and we will go back again. Although the restaurant is in an open atrium, the pools and tropical plants create an intimate setting. Service was prompt and our server Jesse was fantastic: knowledgable, warm, and helpful. All the specials sounded wonderful. We chose the classic filet mignon, Wagyu filet, and shrimp & scallops over wild mushroom risotto. Everything was amazing, delicious, and unpretentious. Portions were perfect (if you expect a trough of food, go to Champps). Great beer selection. We will try the wines when they have half-price bottles (Wednesday nights).
(5)D T.
I had not been here in a while, so I was really surprised at how skimpy the portions have become. I had the shrimp and scallop risotto. The menu said mushroom risotto. There were three small shrimp, three scallops and a small amount of risotto with two tiny little mushrooms and one little cherry tomato cut in half. Also, entrees used to come with a side salad. I would have paid the $3.95, which seems a little silly in light of the skimpy $29.00 entree, but the waitress walked off without ever asking if we wanted a salad and didn't come back until the meal was almost ready. The meal was good, but I left hungry and I am not a big eater. My husband had the prime rib. He said it was okay. I think the hotel has also lowered its prices to increase occupancy as the lobby area was very loud and busy and as we ate dinner there were children running wild on the walkways on the floors above where we were seated. Overall, not impressed.
(3)Martin L.
I stopped here because I was in the area and I had a hankering for a good sit down meal. I wanted something a little on the higher end and this seemed to fit the bill. I had the walleye fingers as an appetizer which were excellent, even coming from someone like myself who grew up in Minnesota. Then I went for the pork porterhouse with Cajun slaw and sweet potato. The slaw was excellent and all the menu items blended well together. The portions were generous, in fact the waiter even commented that it was the largest sweet potato anyone in the kitchen had ever seen. The service was pretty good until I was done eating and then I had to wait some time before someone noticed to bring me a bill. I did not really care for the ambiance since the restaurant opened right up into the atrium and commons area of the hotel. I would prefer a restaurant that is enclosed but that's not a huge deal. All in all, very good food and a good dining experience but lacking the elements of a true five-star restaurants in my opinion. Prices were maybe a tad high but not outlandish.
(4)Jim L.
This place has great food. Walleye, Steak, Seafood, Asian salad. All great and worth the price. The service is outstanding and I have also seen the kitchen, it is clean. They do pay attention to detail. The chef is awesome. He used to run Saturday cooking classes, i hope he brings those back. They have a bar area with TVs or they have a formal dining area for a nice, quiet dinner.
(5)Nicholas G.
I Love You Woolley's Wo-Wo-Woolley's! Make it, serve it Woolley's Woolley's... Don't stop cookin' 'cause I feel alright now... Wait a second, how did Billy Idol get involved with food? Well, the answer my friends is because I'm just that clever and I thank this 80's rock star for his catchy tune and inspiration. Please don't stop cookin', because it's places like these that I tell everyone they need to try at least once in their lifetime. What is that exactly? A fine dining restaurant, that yes is on the expensive side, but worth it. You're actually getting what you're paying for and that's some of the finest, well made and elegantly presented food that you won't find at some chain restaurant made by a line cook, but rather an experienced chef. In fact, I would even say some chefs need to be reeducated on how to make food after going to places like Crave, which also has a higher priced menu, but nothing like Woolley's! So what would I recommend? That's simple... EVERYTHING! No I didn't try everything on the menu, but the few things that my wife and I did were amazing and I have no doubt the rest of the menu would follow suit. This was our first time at Woolley's and it's definitely a place that we would return to for a special occasion or anniversary. Lets face it, we're just a modest living couple and unfortunately, we're unable to eat out at these excellent places all the time, but when we do, we go all in! Okey okey, I'll get to the food... :) My wife went with the Woolley's Filet which she Oscared and included your choice of potato(she went with fingerlings) and asparagus. If you can use a fork to cut through you filet like it was butter and it melts in your mouth just the same, than you have yourself one amazing cut of beef. To make things that much better, their creamy crab Oscar was the "icing on the ca... - beef". I decide to go with their Top Sirloin and chose their scalloped potatoes which were very creamy with just the right amount of crispy edges. Not quite as tender as a fillet, I could still cut this thing like it was and their onion and mushroom medley topping that came with my steak was the perfect combination. Lucky for me, it was also lobster tail night and of course I had to add a tail on to my dinner and it was cooked exactly how it should be, flaky and delicious, not rubbery and fishy! We're not done yet! You have to try their salad bar... Really, the salad bar? Yes, the salad bar! But they're all the same... No, no they're not! Too many places have disgusting looking lettuce that's brown and looks like it had been out all day and the bar itself looks like a bomb went off and a complete mess. A lot of places also provide some kind of bland and boring cold pasta of some kind as well... Not here! Everything looked fresh and well maintained the way it should be and while I would have added a little more seasoning to their minestrone, it was still really good. The thing that surprised me the most was their potato salad. I've had so many variations of potato salad with plenty of them needing to be thrown away that after tasting Woolley's creation, I had to ask the server if I could get the recipe. There was just something about it that my wife and I couldn't figure out, but damn was it good and I even told my wife it was easily my favorite. We finished the night off with their Berry Crisp that was a combination of fresh berries, ice cream and their homemade whip which was of course was creamy and yummy. I'm not big on dishes like these, but my wife is and she sure liked it and yes, I did have a few bites and I would recommend it for sure. Woolley's isn't going to have you "feel like a pony", but they may have you "feeling alright" and singing ... Hey, hey what do ya' say, I got STUFFED! :)
(4)L E.
Brunch was overpriced and service was the WORST! The brunch offerings looked unappealing so I ordered lunch. My dish (short rib ravioli in sage butter sauce) had good flavor but was undercooked at the edges- and I don't mean al dente. The edges were hard and almost unchewable. My husbands egg dish did not come as described on the menu (was supposed to have a tortilla on the bottom but I guess the chef forgot). How they got such good reviews on opentable, we'll never know. Oh and it was deserted at prime Sunday brunch time- we should have just left before ordering as we were tempted to do. Sometimes the presence or absence of a crowd tells you all you need to know. They had no idea how to handle open table reservations and we didn't get our points for that reservation. They were unresponsive to our follow ups to correct that situation.
(2)Nicole B.
My husband and I had a different experience than some of the other reviewers. We had our Valentines Dinner there and would not return. We sat at table 72, trust me this is a table you do not want. You'll be constantly distracted by people being walked to their tables and servers going in and out of their station. We felt out in the open and on display. It was far from romantic lets just say that. As far as the food goes the diablo bites were good and so was my wedge salad (very fresh) our entrees however were not good. My husband order the NY strip with Blue cheese hashbrowns - do not order the hashbrowns, they looked awful and didn't taste much better. I ordered the Filet oscar style - my steak was not bad but it was not your typical yummy, tender filet. The $5.00 baked potato was a joke, it was very small and VERY overdone. Our waitress disappeared after the food was dropped off. After a while, the manager came over, asked us how everything was. We should have told him we were disappointed but to be honest, I didn't feel like going through the whole ordeal with a "manager" that was arguing with one of his servers right in front of us a few minutes prior to stopping by. (not very professional of a manager) He did ask us if we wanted a box, which we did. Funny thing, instead of walking to the server station to get us a box (which was literally right there) he went to find the waitress, who then brought us our box. I went to grab the box from her to box up our food and she said she would be glad to do it. I mentioned that I would actually prefer to box my own food and she replied that "She would not feel comfortable with that" so off she went with our food. We ended up throwing the food away. It was really not good and not knowing how it was handled grosses me out. I knew this place was no Wildfire, but we were expecting it to be better than TGI Fridays. What a waste of $125.00 bucks! Next time we'll stick with Wildfire we have yet to be disappointed there.
(1)James C.
My wife and I come here at least once a month and we have the best server named grandma sue she knows that if she is not working we don't stay and she always makes time for us no matter how busy she is. It is so great service that she actually orders our food for us and no matter what she orders we are never disappointed she is awesome so if you get a chance come see her and tell her james and bev sent you . You will not be disappointed. Plus if the machine is running you get cotton candy at the end yummy
(5)Dave A.
Tricky to review because service and quality seem to vary. A few years ago I would rate this a 4 star and their Mother's Day brunch ranks with Lake Elmo Inns 5 star, without a doubt. However, recent visits seem to disappoint someone in our party every time.....plus no more palate cleansing cotton candy sorbet. Oh my! Suggest you stay with the steaks or prime rib if you go.....but places like Mannys, Wildfire, etc., are better.
(3)Mike D.
Been to woolley before, usually when I stay at the Embassy. Tonight I was staying down the street. Wanted to avoid the mall and chains so try woollies, again. Food was very good as I remembered. I like the "corner bar" area. Tables set up in the bar makes dining alone more comfortable. service was fast and friendly. Wine list was way above average and tons of beers on tap. Tonight I had the walleye panko with a wedge salad. Both where very good, although a bit pricy, again,hotel restaurant by the airport,so... There is lots of poor quality and chain food in the area so Woolleys is an excellent alternative.
(3)Clarissa H.
Woolley's is located inside the Embassy Suites. We were in town for the Mall of America and stayed at the Crowne Plaza across the street. We had brunch here on Sunday morning and it was very good. Davey was our waiter and was very attentive and provided excellent service. Our group had eggs benedict, spa omelet, huevos rancheros, and a five egg omelet. Everything was delicious! Including the complimentary mimosas and cranberry scones. They also offer lunch items but all of us were in the mood for breakfast. Highly recommended for Sunday brunch if you are in this area.
(4)Veronica B.
We dined on a Monday night so it wasn't very busy. Our server was very nice. I had the Black and Bleu Pasta was fantastic! I had it without the bleu cheese crumbles. It was spicy and so delicious! Two of us had the salad bar, it was good. Your run of the mill selections. The Chicken Caprisi was good; had a very strong wine flavor to it. The Cheesecake was good. I wouldn't recommend the Carrot Cake as it didn't have a lot of flavor. Will definitely be back.
(4)Joe H.
Really, Really good. I often travel on quick trips for work - get in late and eat in bad hotel restaurants or just settling for some snacks and a grumbling stomach. Woolley's, located in the Embassy Suites at MSP, is a godsend to a biz traveller like me. Open late, the Woolley's menu is available at "The Corner Bar" making dining alone comfortable. I had the short ribs. Perfectly tender and not swimming in some saucy braising liquid. The risotto and butternut squash puree combination under the beef added creaminess and spice from the ginger hiding in the squash purée that went perfectly with the Brussels sprouts scattered on the plate. The crunchy sweet potato things added some crunch, but I kept wishing they would stop covering up all the other goodness on my plate. My compliments to a great restaurant when I wasn't expecting it. I can't wait to be stranded at MSP again so I can stay at the Embassy Suites and have a great meal at Woolley's. The wait staff rocks too!
(4)Molly E.
I had a gift certificate from restaurant.com . I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the food. I wouldn't normally pick a hotel restaurant, but since it is one of the Twin Cities Originals, I thought we'd give it a shot. We went for lunch on a Monday - the restaurant was very quiet. My fiance and I both ordered the filet which came with mashed potatoes and vegetables. I have to admit it was one of the best steaks I've ever had - super tender, cooked perfectly and good flavor. We added the soup and salad bar for $4 each. The salad bar had a good selection of salads and salad toppings and two kinds of soup. The soup was also delicious. I'm not sure I'd go for dinner because the prices are a little steep for Bloomington, but it was affordable for lunch. Service was attentive but not over board, the way I like it.
(4)Mark M.
It was great to find such a nice restaurant right inside my hotel. I had the fillet one night and the pork porterhouse the next and both were excellent. Kim, the server at the bar could not have been more pleasant. I say give it a try!
(4)Brad J.
Had a son back in town on a Sunday and thought we'd head out for a nice brunch and conversation. We had been to Wooley's several times for dinner and had great meals and service. Definitely one of our favorite pricey places to go. Brunch did not go as well. Brunch is ordered off the menu with some tasty sounding selections. When the order arrived one order was missing the toast, another toast order was burned. When a staff person stopped by to ask how things were we asked if we could get the missing order and a less- burned set. He returned in less than two minutes with the returned toast on the plate simply shuffled and now cold. We asked him for some hot sauce and he said "I'm not sure if we have some". We asked him if he might ask someone and he said he would. We had to wait until the next person came along to ask again. Coffee was refilled while we waited for new toast but the coffee was warm at best. The hostess stopped by and asked how things were so we asked for some hot coffee and got even more lukewarm offerings. In the end, warm toast arrived as we finished the meal. Remarkably hot cups of coffee came with the waitress explaining that it took so long because she knew the carafe was cool and was waiting for a new pot. The mugs were so hot and the toast event so recent that we felt a microwave was involved. Hot sauce arrived while some food was still on the plates. This is not an inexpensive place and we have had such great experiences here in the past that this experience really disappointed us. Hopefully it doesn't reflect a management change.
(1)Sean F.
My family came to Woolley's for my wifes birthday. She wanted steak for her birthday dinner, and I found a gift certificate on restaurant.com for this place, so we figured it would be good to try. I was impressed by the wait staff, as they were very attentive, and were very nice and friendly to my 7 year old son. Steaks were cooked to perfection, and the salad bar was a bonus. Although, being in the hotel atrium was a bit annoying because of the people all around.
(3)Lindsay M.
Wolley's Restaurant handled the Catering for my wedding... let me tell you it was FABULOUS! They went above and beyond what I expected. I expected your typically wedding buffet and was blown away with the display of the food and taste of the food! Their servers were outstanding constantly checking on not only my groom and me, but our guests as well. I saw them throughout the evening chatting with guests, refilling drinks, offering food from the buffet and items from the candy/chocolate fountain table around the room! From start to finish, Woolley's was the perfect fit for our (and anyone's) reception party. We were thrilled to work with their Catering and banquet staff!
(5)Cristin M.
My mom got a free restaurant.com gift certificate, so we decided to use it at a place that we normally wouldn't go to. Personally, I would not normally choose a hotel restaurant, but that's what she wanted to do. It's located in an Embassy Suites, and is situated in the atrium area, but not to be confused with the regular hotel restaurant, which is also in the open-air atrium area. Anyway, we went as a group of 5, plus a toddler. The staff was really friendly and in love with my nephew. They made sure that he had things to occupy himself while everyone else was waiting for their food or eating their meals. I ordered the top sirloin, and it was really tender and flavorful. My sides were good too. The biggest complaint is that the potatoes were a bit salty. I also tried my brother-in-law's asparagus and it was the same story. My mom and sister also commented on the level of salt. I think the problem was the the cooks must have been using coarse sea salt like it was regular table salt, and really piling it on. That being said, plus the location, and price, I probably won't be back. I can get a better meal elsewhere for the price. I am adding a star because the staff were really friendly and my steak was actually pretty decent.
(3)Matthew M.
Decided to finally try this place after seeing numerous coupons in the local paper. Boy am I glad I did. We were celebrating an anniversary dinner and wanted to eat at a somewhat nice place. Just remember that it is a hotel restraunt. The decor isn't anything to brag about, but it isn't dirty. I had the Short Ribs for dinner and they were perfect. Nice and tender and not overly greasy. Amazing flavor in the gravy. My wife had the Shrimp and Scallops and had the Lobster Sauce on the side. The scallops were nice and big and not rubbery. Next time we go I think I will try a steak since it is a steakhouse. Our server was Jesse who was very attentive. I think he had more tables than he should of had, but he still did great. The only complaint I would have is that we ordered martini's before dinner. I think the glasses were washed and still warm when they poured our drink. That made the martini warmer than we like.
(4)Mark M.
Normally I try to avoid hotel restaurants like the plague, but I was forced into this one after being stranded by the airport due to all the lovely snow just before Thanksgiving. I liked the server a lot, she gave great recommendations and they were all good. Calamari wasn't rubbery and tasted great, and the filet was cooked on the lighter side of medium rare just like I asked. The cut of beef wasn't the best in the world, but the service and prep made up for it.
(3)Blake L.
My boyfriend and I decided to try Woolley's during restaurant week because of the number of menu options were extensive. We were seated at a booth which oversaw the elevators and had a main walkway next to it. The elevators have very bright lights on the outside of it and you can see the patrons on the elevators due to the fact it was glass encased. Out of the corner of my eyes during dinner, I kept seeing these elevators lights going up and down randomly which was quite disconcerting and eerie. The hotel patrons obviously were using the main walkway which we were next to. The views were a couple doing public displays of affection for an extended period of time and adolescents with swimming trucks falling off their buttocks. I felt like I a was in a carnival. The food was average. I exited feeling like i witnessed a part of a public performance art vs. a dining experience such as Tony and Tinas wedding.
(2)