These folks had a rocky start, but are really doing super now. Copper River has turned into a favorite among my friends and family. Never had a bad steak, the happy hour specials rock, and the service has always been stellar. Oh, they also work hard to accommodate food allergies.
(4)
Bill D.
Where to begin.... Some of the glassware was sticky, which means it was still dirty from the last use for all I know. Our server had trouble opening a bottle if wine and had to ask one if the hosts for assistance. Also, they apparently do not know how to do a proper wine tasting as they missed a couple steps and departed with our cork in tow. Our server also made us order our entire meal up front, which is rather odd for a fine dining establishment. We're used to taking our time with a fine meal, eating each course in turn with a short break between each. They don't do that here, which must meant they are more interested in turning over tables than the guest experience itself. All that and we only have out drinks so far. Or I should say most of them (I'm still waiting on one, but every other drink arrived nearly 10 minutes ago). We ordered an appetizer to share (and our server was aware of this) and i also ordered a salad which usually follows the appetizer at most other restaurants. We were served both at the same time, which was again somewhat disappointing. Ok, I'm officially annoyed now. I ordered my Fillet Mignon at Medium. It was served Rare. I honestly don't know how you make that kind of mistake. They insisted on reheating it to Medium, even through I repeatedly requested Medium Well since they can't cook meat apparently. Also, reheat? So now it'll come out dry and tough regardless if how it gets cooked. Her sea bass however was quite good, though the risotto had a rather odd texture to it, and much too much kernel corn thrown in. We also noted that the wine chiller they use doesn't stay chilled long. We ended up getting a second one with a little bit of ice in it. They use a stainless steel chiller which is fine for short term use, but anything longer than 15 minutes and they start to warm up rapidly. Oh wow! Apparently every table gets bread except ours! We're part way through our meal and only just now realized other tables had bread and we did not. Oh well. So my steak comes back. Where I had cut it some in the middle to check it, they completed the cut so now it was kind of butterfly cut, and they threw it back on the grill cut side down and cooked it more that way. So I ended up with a steak that was Medium in the middle, Medium Rare at the ends/tips, somewhat dry and significantly charred all the way around. Not tasty at all. Of course the potato and veggie had cooled down by this point, so overall it was a rather unpleasant plate. For her, the risotto was mushy and oniony for being described as a sweet corn risotto. This was underneath the sea bass on her plate. It did honestly taste weird. We've both had risotto from other restaurants, and she has taken to making different flavors of risotto at home using the correct type of rice for that. But this one was just wrong on many levels. Our dessert, which they comped for the other screw ups, was another joke. She had ordered a molten lava cake, which came slightly cooler than room temperature, was not even remotely 'molten' and actually tasted a bit weird too. Had one bite of it and that was all. While waiting for her dessert to come, we also noted that other tables were being offered cracked pepper for their salads. We didn't get the same offer for my salad. Another thing that bothered me all through our meal was that every time our server offered to bring me a soda refill, I ended up waiting a minimum of 15 minutes for it, usually longer. It got to a point where I just stopped asking and drank wine. Our server was inattentive, had a poor memory, and generally seemed to be just a bit flustered or confused the whole evening. Since she was proving to be unreliable, we simply stopped asking for things. We also took not of how everyone was dressed. This is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant, as stated on their own website, so again there was a certain expectation. The servers and bussers were all dressed the same in black pants or slacks and white long sleeve button down shirts. The hosts and the manager however were w hole different story. Apparently spandex I various patterns and bright colors (or just plain black) is perfectly acceptable attire. So while the host girls are all walking around trying to show off how thin and/or sexy they are ( I heard another table say they looked like 'little sluts') the woman who was apparently the manager seemed to think a leopard print spandex top and black spandex bottom was perfectly fine as long as she had a light sweater over her top. Sorry, but all of them just looked trashy which made them stand out compared to how the rest of the staff was dressed. Something else we noticed: we were rushed through the whole meal. It was not quite an hour from when we arrived and were seated to when we had completed most of our meal. Other tables appeared to be having similar experiences. I'd guess they simply over booked and were trying to push everyone through to get them all fed.
(1)
Missy M.
We had an amazing dinner last night. Our waiter was attentive but not too attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu and food in general. He did a fantastic job with recommendations and answering questions...mentioned "the chef" quite a few times, which I actually thought was a nice touch. The waiter was obviously a good, which I appreciated. And the food was just fantastic. Tuesdays are $1 Blue Point Oysters! Which was a very pleasant surprise since that was what I couldn't stop thinking about after I pulled up the website. We shared a kale salad, which was excellent. I liked that the candied nuts on the salad also had a little bit of kick to them. Then we both tried fish entrees off the signature menu. Both were unique and perfectly prepared. For a change of pace we ordered Moscow Mules! The restaurant itself is big and open but cozy at the same time... lots of warm hard wood, fire places and cute little bench/booths. I definitely can't wait to come here again...worth the price tag.
(5)
Sean G.
Ok, I have to give credit where credit is due. NOBODY likes or appreciates a snarky critic who only looks @ the negative aspects of a situation. As some of you read, my (our) past experience here was.....well....NOT the best. We went back, sat in the lounge area by the bar and ordered a simple meal - I had the French dip & a micro brew, my wife had surf & Turf bites & wine - BOTH EXCELLENT! The atmosphere was casual, and pleasant, food & drink delicious, and the bartender (pregnant & friendly) on top if it ! Really, a totally different & enjoyable experience. Nice job folks!
(4)
melissa p.
Me and 5 girlfriends dined here during restaurant week. The menu sounded exciting and delicious, but it was disappointing overall. The highlight of our dinner was the tortillas and garlic dip that was given to us right when we were seated. The garlic dip was so good that we wanted jars of that to take home with us. The other highlight was the mussels appetizer. The sauce that came with the mussels was spectacular. I would not recommend the blue crab salad. I'm sure that the blue crab came from a can. After that, the dinner went downhill. The ribeye dinner with mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and voodoo sauce, was such a letdown. The steak was overcooked (medium instead of medium rare and medium well instead of medium). The voodoo sauce was just like a runny bbq sauce, nothing special. The steak was smothered in it and I wish I would have said no sauce or sauce on the side. The potatoes were decent but the corn was awful. Super charred and cooked so long the kernals were concave. Gross. 5 of us ordered the ribeye and we were all jealous of the one person who ordered the salmon. At least that was cooked how it was supposed to be cooked. As for desserts, the creme brulee was too eggy. The chocolate lava cake was the worst! There was no cake and no molten chocolate. Instead, the entire "cake" was a thick pudding-like consistency. This was the only dish the server bothered to ask about and she did take it back and bring a new one, but since it was basically the same as the first, it made no difference. It wasn't super busy, yet our server never stopped by to check on how our dishes tasted. If she would have taken a closer look, she would have noticed that 5 of us barely touched our steak and 5 of us barely touched the creme brulee. I might venture back just to sit out on the patio and enjoy some mussels, but I'd steer clear of everything else I tried.
(2)
Maryanne D.
The only good things we had were the wine itself (which the restaurant had no control over) and the Chilean sea bass ( just the fish, the side kinda sucked). Crab cakes were fried, had no real flavor and were dry - I had to ask for sauce. Server didn't know how to open a bottle of wine and got help from the manager who took the cork so I couldn't smell it. My husband's steak was undercooked so they took it back, butterflied it and cooked it a little more, used the same sides which were cold when the plate was sent back out. We never got bread and my husband didn't even know they offered cracked pepper for his Caesar salad until we saw the manager offer it to another table. Our bottle of wine got warm quickly despite the chiller it was sitting in on the table - I had to ask the server to get ice for it. My molten lava cake was not at all hot. We got a lot taken off our check, but no manager ever stopped to talk to The server was rushing us through our meal, and we were out of there in about an hour.
(1)
Chris R.
Very good. Had the yellow fin and it was excellent. Not sure why the place has such a low rating.
(4)
Traci H.
Had a kid free night so we thought we would give this restaurant a try. What a disappointment. Food was WAY overpriced, and the quality was poor. Food was overcooked and the chicken cordon bleu I order was overly crunchy and greasy. I couldn't even taste the ham that was suppose to be stuffed in it...in fact, I am not sure any was even in there! It was a week night and they weren't very busy, but the music was so loud it was hard to have a conversation. Saw what we thought were two managers. Not once did they stop at a single table in the dining room to see how anyone's meal was. They spent their time at one particular table outside talking to one couple. That was it. We didn't even get a thank you for coming from one of the gentleman when we walked out and he was the podium. Been there, done that, and won't go back again.
(1)
Mike A.
I'm a big fan of this place. We've been 10+ times and both the food and service have been consistently good. Yes, prices are higher than an Applebee's or a pizza place, but Lakeville desperately needs a restaurant like this.
(4)
Brad P.
We had an excellent meal. The bacon wrapped buffalo shrimp were a wonderful surprise. We will be back again and I recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Wayne S.
Good food and drinks! We've been several times and have yet to experience anything negative (so glad the last place here closed). Fish was great all three times we've been here and the service was good.
(4)
Neka F.
We ordered the surf and turf and chili glazed salmon and it wasn't what I expected. The food looked good but it was all cold. I wouldn't go back but it was just interesting to try something new.
(2)
Monica S.
If I could give it a negative star tonight I would. My husband and I have frequented this establishment a few times in the past and everything seems to be going downhill. Tonights meal was a total letdown. My husband ordered the filet medium but it came out cooked very well done. I always order the baked Opakapaka and tonight it was so over cooked I had to use a knife to cut it. There were only diners at 3 other tables when we entered and only one more couple came while we were eating. For only having 4-5 tables tops, the wait staff was slow and unfriendly. We saw the manager walking food out to another table but not him nor our server asked how our food was tonight. Maybe they knew it wasn't good and were too embarrassed to ask? Very overpriced for the quality of the food and service you get. We figured tonight we would give it one last shot but we won't be back.
(1)
Melissa S.
We are doing an alphabet restaurant tour and this is what we chose for the letter C. We ordered the calamari, king crab legs and the mahi mahi. Calamari: so good! Comes with a sweet and tangy sauce that really makes the dish! Mahi mahi: comes on a bed of little potatoes, bacon and lobster. Has a bit of a kick to it. So good! King crab legs: you get about three. Comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus. My husband said they were very good. Service was great. Everyone was very friendly.
(5)
Karl W.
It's unfortunate for the low star reviews that CR has received. We have come twice in the last month and the food is fantastic. Love the idea of the Prime burger which is a ground beef burger with a ribeye steak on top. It's also very tasty with the marbleized fat throughout the ribeye. Have also had the Turkey melt which has asparagus and really makes the sandwich. Lastly we had the Cobb salad and added Filet Mignon. It runs $7 to add the Mignon and you only get 6 small pieces, however the filet made the salad an easy 9 out of 10 for me and was needed. It seems ridiculously priced but I will mostly likely have it again. So the major issue that CR has is the pricing of its meals. They have only been open for about a year and you can easily be paying $20 a plate for a burger or fish, but for me its well worth it. The steak on my salad was so good that I need to come back and try the dinner as I have only been here twice for lunch. I came on a Saturday afternoon and there was only 2 other people eating so when I have no reservations elsewhere and want last minute dining, this will be a good option.
(5)
Athony B.
What an amazing dining experience! Everything thing from the ambience to the service to the quality of food and to the management, this place is top notch.
(5)
Amy B.
This place was top notch! We were referred here for a rare date night and WOW we were so grateful for the tip. My husband had the Ribeye cooked to perfection with garlic mashed potatoes, I had the Braised Lamb Shank with Caramelized heirloom carrots and a side of Brussels Sprouts with bacon jam and we shared a creme brulee. It was all delicious, the service was attentive, knowledgeable and courteous. We look forward to going back.
(5)
Josh V.
Best steak in the Twin Cities in my opinion. I have been looking for a go to place for ten years now and finally have one. A good wine selection, especially if they keep their half price wines on Monday.
Review Title: Do you smell that? The case of the musty meat. Don't do the Bite sized surf and turf unless you can tolerate beef that appears grey in color and smells... musty. I sent it back and ordered fish tacos which taste very bland and below average. My date had a steak sandwich that he hated. He waisted 3/4 of his food and so did I. Never again...
(1)
Nicholas G.
Take Me To The River... "...Drop me in the water." Wait - wait - wait! I would prefer to not be dropped in the water, but I would like to be dropped off at a front door and not just any front door, the front door of a place called Copper River Fish & Chop House. Oh, and it's a pretty nice front door too! Settled in the heart of the vast expanding Lakeville, MN lies one of the most uniquely designed restaurants I've had the privilege of visiting and the food they're serving is just as unique. I'm all about the food, but I have to mention how amazing this place looked first, because it's not too often that a restaurant actually takes the time to make their establishment look as amazing as Copper River's was. Beautiful wood walls, wood structural beams, wall of windows leading out to an enormous patio with fire pit and simply gorgeous! On to the food... We started our evening with an order of Crab & Bacon Hush Puppies that are served with a jalapeno, honey and a hint of cilantro aioli sauce that was easily the best I've ever had and our server Jessica was kind enough to send some home with my wife and I. Yep, it was that good! I asked her what they served with their fish items and she replied, "a standard tarted sauce" and my response... "Throw it away and use this instead!" Copper River's menu has plenty to offer all walks of life, but two stood out to my wife and I the most. My wife went with a Pumpkin Seed Crusted Sockeye Salmon with Butternut Squash Bisque and Granny Smith Apple Slaw. WOW! Easily one of the best meals either of us have ever had, period. I even made the comment that it compared to some of the outstanding food creations we've had traveling to resorts out of the country and my wife said, "It's better!" and I would have to agree. I'm not big on slaw, but this was some awesome slaw and the same can be said for butternut squash. I tend to stay away from it, but the combination of the entire dish was ridiculous and thankfully it's not a crime to have food this good. I decided to go with the Lobster Pot Pie that also included; bacon, onions, celery, carrot, peas with lobster cream and puffed pastry. This thing measured about 6 to 7 inches wide by about 4 inches high and man was this pot pie delicious! Perfect golden brown pastry crust with an amazing tasty filling that you have to try. Think I finished it? If your answer was yes, you'd be right! Copper River Fish & Chop House is doing it right and my wife and I will be adding this to our list of favorites and will definitely be stopping back for some more. You need to plan to make a trip to Copper River, trust me, you'll thank me when you're finished with your meal. Copper River priced themselves to please pretty much everyone and I as the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for." So if you wanna make plans to go to Red Lobster for a "good meal", well...... I think you get my drift! :) Did I get that annoying dancing fish song stuck in your head now? Well, you can thank the Talking Heads and As Seen On TV for that mistake of a song. There's just one last thing you need to do and that's to grab that dancing fish you wasted your money on, throw it in the garbage and head down to Copper River Fish & Chop House and spend your money the right way. Take Me To The River! :)
(4)
Shawn P.
My wife and I went there for the first time. I had the Scallops in Lobster Bisque, it was to die for. I am a scallop snob, and I prefer to cook my own at home after so many bad ones over the years. These were superbly cooked, fresh, tender, nothing short of perfect. They were the best scallops I have ever had., and I make good scallops. The lobster bisque drizzle was beyond words, so velvety smooth and creamy. My wife had the Mahi Mahi with Voodoo sauce. It was quite good, but not out of the park delicious like the scallops. I also really liked the wine list, it was short, to the point, and had several great choices Red and White, with out being over the top too many to pick from. The Rumbauer Chardonnay was a perfect match for the Fish and Scallops. Will definitely be going back to try it again.
(5)
Audrey C.
My husband and I go to Copper River now and then for "date night". I enjoy the grilled swordfish, blackened topped with blue cheese. Absolutely divine! Meat is juicy and flavor is incredible. I highly recommend it!
(4)
Cindy D.
My husband & I went for our 14yr. Anniversary, we both had the surf & turf. Very very good. Spendy but very good. But the onion soup is always burnt.
(5)
Lola S.
We've been there 3 times, and will be coming back again soon. Their seafood is excellent, and the bartender makes a mean cosmopolitan. We have not been disappointed. Last time I had the scallops and they were cooked to perfection. My husband had the crab staffed salmon special, and loved it. Mussels were good, but the sauce was to die for. If you like oysters, order the variety, and don't stick to their special. It's an interesting space with unexpectantly great food. The staff is very attentive and welcoming. This place gets the thumbs up for a date night.
(5)
Travis Y.
@Bill D(o), after reading your review, we had to try the place out. I feel sorry for your boyfriend
(4)
J B.
We thought it was great. I had the walleye dinner and my husband had the lobster rolls with real lobster. The portions were ridiculously large. My husband's meal came with two rolls. We got the lobster and corn hush puppies for an appetizer and key lime pie for dessert. We actually took half the slice home it was so large. Great atmosphere with really unique booth seating. We ate inside but the patio and bar were inviting. Oh, and fantastic martinis.
(5)
Jordan B.
Great place to grab a drink after work or sit down for nice meal. Have had the spicy chili glazed salmon multiple times and it was prepared perfectly. The service needs an upgrade as the staff does not always seem knowledgable about the menu and are not as professional as you would expect. Overall, a fantastic place to dine and a great value
(4)
Steve C.
Restaurant week or every week this place is great for your surf and turf. Not many places down in the south to get a great steak but this is the one. Rumors have it that the chefs are originally from Oceanaire but that doesn't mean much if the food was garbage. Never had a bad experience here. Managers and servers are courteous and the renovations from what this restaurant was before it was copper river is great. Also a great restaurant week spot if you want a value.
This place has great seafood that's not made too salty. The dishes here are large in portions compare to other seafood restaurants. I recommend the champagne mussels.
(5)
Eric E.
I heard that Copper River closed for good on Saturday, May 2. Web site is down, and no one answered the phone today.
(2)
Doug W.
It is closed. Not a lot more to say about it. It keeps bugging me to write more about it. I hope that this is finally enough about a closed business.
(1)
Carnivore X.
The wife and I were looking for dinner, and were driving around randomly when she spotted a "fish and chips" place. I made a bold decision, and we pulled into the parking lot to at least look at the menu. We had found the Copper River Fish & Chop House completely by accident. This journey began with a misread sign. I ordered the coconut shrimp, which was served over a tropical fruit salsa (meh), and with a Meyer's rum glaze (excellent). This was so good, we ordered a second batch. These were the best coconut shrimp I have ever had. I had the house special halibut with fingerling potatoes and brussel sprouts and something known as "homemade bacon jam." Homemade Bacon Jam. HOMEMADE BACON JAM!!! Y'all, this is stupid good, and will improve anything it is in the same room with. Wife ordered a filet mignon with onions and mushrooms, and it came complimented by garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. The veggies were not all that good, but I, Carnivore X, do NOT CARE about veggies!!!! The steak was cooked to a proper rare, and was properly dispatched, My halibut was an amazing creation, made better still by the BACON JAM (which also made the fingerling spuds better). The coconut shrimp were, as stated above, the best I have consumed. We had a chocolate molten lava cake and the red velvet cake. The red velvet cake came with its own zip code, and my wife loved it. I crushed the molten cake. No complaints about dessert. What is all the fuss about the BACON JAM, you ask? First, it is based on bacon. Good bacon. Next there is something sweet, perhaps maple syrup (I was told, but have forgotten, and it really doesn't matter). Finally, there is a little something that creates a nice bit of heat on the finish. There is nothing about this BACON JAM that is not awesome. Not the awesome that is thrown about carelessly when a lesser descriptor will do, but truly inspiring of awe. I want this stuff on everything I eat from now on. It simply is that damn good. Next time, we will get more BACON JAM and put it on everything. I swear, if you spill some on your napkin, you will view napkins as a valid food group. I am glad I do not make a habit of photographing my food, as in this case, my tongue would have gotten in the way of most of the pictures. I would like to make special mention of our server Lee. He answered our questions, kept our beverages filled, and conducted his duties flawlessly. We also had an opportunity to talk with the manager Calvin, who was very friendly and happy to talk about his wonderful establishment and answer any questions we had. We will definitely be returning to this establishment. Soon.
(5)
B M.
Great food, drinks. and service....2nd year in a row we've stopped here for lunch after flying in from Atlanta for the weekend. The best between Mpls., and Rochester.
DELICIOUS Fish! Went here on a whim. Party of Fpur. We all tried a different fish dish and No one was disapppointed. Exciting and interesting options. Not stuff you'd usually find on a Minnesota menu. Our server was a doll, lots of smiles. Of course, my hubby was schmoozing a bit. Skip dessert. Not good. Can't wait to go back!
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Jorn K.
These folks had a rocky start, but are really doing super now. Copper River has turned into a favorite among my friends and family. Never had a bad steak, the happy hour specials rock, and the service has always been stellar. Oh, they also work hard to accommodate food allergies.
(4)Bill D.
Where to begin.... Some of the glassware was sticky, which means it was still dirty from the last use for all I know. Our server had trouble opening a bottle if wine and had to ask one if the hosts for assistance. Also, they apparently do not know how to do a proper wine tasting as they missed a couple steps and departed with our cork in tow. Our server also made us order our entire meal up front, which is rather odd for a fine dining establishment. We're used to taking our time with a fine meal, eating each course in turn with a short break between each. They don't do that here, which must meant they are more interested in turning over tables than the guest experience itself. All that and we only have out drinks so far. Or I should say most of them (I'm still waiting on one, but every other drink arrived nearly 10 minutes ago). We ordered an appetizer to share (and our server was aware of this) and i also ordered a salad which usually follows the appetizer at most other restaurants. We were served both at the same time, which was again somewhat disappointing. Ok, I'm officially annoyed now. I ordered my Fillet Mignon at Medium. It was served Rare. I honestly don't know how you make that kind of mistake. They insisted on reheating it to Medium, even through I repeatedly requested Medium Well since they can't cook meat apparently. Also, reheat? So now it'll come out dry and tough regardless if how it gets cooked. Her sea bass however was quite good, though the risotto had a rather odd texture to it, and much too much kernel corn thrown in. We also noted that the wine chiller they use doesn't stay chilled long. We ended up getting a second one with a little bit of ice in it. They use a stainless steel chiller which is fine for short term use, but anything longer than 15 minutes and they start to warm up rapidly. Oh wow! Apparently every table gets bread except ours! We're part way through our meal and only just now realized other tables had bread and we did not. Oh well. So my steak comes back. Where I had cut it some in the middle to check it, they completed the cut so now it was kind of butterfly cut, and they threw it back on the grill cut side down and cooked it more that way. So I ended up with a steak that was Medium in the middle, Medium Rare at the ends/tips, somewhat dry and significantly charred all the way around. Not tasty at all. Of course the potato and veggie had cooled down by this point, so overall it was a rather unpleasant plate. For her, the risotto was mushy and oniony for being described as a sweet corn risotto. This was underneath the sea bass on her plate. It did honestly taste weird. We've both had risotto from other restaurants, and she has taken to making different flavors of risotto at home using the correct type of rice for that. But this one was just wrong on many levels. Our dessert, which they comped for the other screw ups, was another joke. She had ordered a molten lava cake, which came slightly cooler than room temperature, was not even remotely 'molten' and actually tasted a bit weird too. Had one bite of it and that was all. While waiting for her dessert to come, we also noted that other tables were being offered cracked pepper for their salads. We didn't get the same offer for my salad. Another thing that bothered me all through our meal was that every time our server offered to bring me a soda refill, I ended up waiting a minimum of 15 minutes for it, usually longer. It got to a point where I just stopped asking and drank wine. Our server was inattentive, had a poor memory, and generally seemed to be just a bit flustered or confused the whole evening. Since she was proving to be unreliable, we simply stopped asking for things. We also took not of how everyone was dressed. This is supposed to be a fine dining restaurant, as stated on their own website, so again there was a certain expectation. The servers and bussers were all dressed the same in black pants or slacks and white long sleeve button down shirts. The hosts and the manager however were w hole different story. Apparently spandex I various patterns and bright colors (or just plain black) is perfectly acceptable attire. So while the host girls are all walking around trying to show off how thin and/or sexy they are ( I heard another table say they looked like 'little sluts') the woman who was apparently the manager seemed to think a leopard print spandex top and black spandex bottom was perfectly fine as long as she had a light sweater over her top. Sorry, but all of them just looked trashy which made them stand out compared to how the rest of the staff was dressed. Something else we noticed: we were rushed through the whole meal. It was not quite an hour from when we arrived and were seated to when we had completed most of our meal. Other tables appeared to be having similar experiences. I'd guess they simply over booked and were trying to push everyone through to get them all fed.
(1)Missy M.
We had an amazing dinner last night. Our waiter was attentive but not too attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu and food in general. He did a fantastic job with recommendations and answering questions...mentioned "the chef" quite a few times, which I actually thought was a nice touch. The waiter was obviously a good, which I appreciated. And the food was just fantastic. Tuesdays are $1 Blue Point Oysters! Which was a very pleasant surprise since that was what I couldn't stop thinking about after I pulled up the website. We shared a kale salad, which was excellent. I liked that the candied nuts on the salad also had a little bit of kick to them. Then we both tried fish entrees off the signature menu. Both were unique and perfectly prepared. For a change of pace we ordered Moscow Mules! The restaurant itself is big and open but cozy at the same time... lots of warm hard wood, fire places and cute little bench/booths. I definitely can't wait to come here again...worth the price tag.
(5)Sean G.
Ok, I have to give credit where credit is due. NOBODY likes or appreciates a snarky critic who only looks @ the negative aspects of a situation. As some of you read, my (our) past experience here was.....well....NOT the best. We went back, sat in the lounge area by the bar and ordered a simple meal - I had the French dip & a micro brew, my wife had surf & Turf bites & wine - BOTH EXCELLENT! The atmosphere was casual, and pleasant, food & drink delicious, and the bartender (pregnant & friendly) on top if it ! Really, a totally different & enjoyable experience. Nice job folks!
(4)melissa p.
Me and 5 girlfriends dined here during restaurant week. The menu sounded exciting and delicious, but it was disappointing overall. The highlight of our dinner was the tortillas and garlic dip that was given to us right when we were seated. The garlic dip was so good that we wanted jars of that to take home with us. The other highlight was the mussels appetizer. The sauce that came with the mussels was spectacular. I would not recommend the blue crab salad. I'm sure that the blue crab came from a can. After that, the dinner went downhill. The ribeye dinner with mashed potatoes, corn on the cob and voodoo sauce, was such a letdown. The steak was overcooked (medium instead of medium rare and medium well instead of medium). The voodoo sauce was just like a runny bbq sauce, nothing special. The steak was smothered in it and I wish I would have said no sauce or sauce on the side. The potatoes were decent but the corn was awful. Super charred and cooked so long the kernals were concave. Gross. 5 of us ordered the ribeye and we were all jealous of the one person who ordered the salmon. At least that was cooked how it was supposed to be cooked. As for desserts, the creme brulee was too eggy. The chocolate lava cake was the worst! There was no cake and no molten chocolate. Instead, the entire "cake" was a thick pudding-like consistency. This was the only dish the server bothered to ask about and she did take it back and bring a new one, but since it was basically the same as the first, it made no difference. It wasn't super busy, yet our server never stopped by to check on how our dishes tasted. If she would have taken a closer look, she would have noticed that 5 of us barely touched our steak and 5 of us barely touched the creme brulee. I might venture back just to sit out on the patio and enjoy some mussels, but I'd steer clear of everything else I tried.
(2)Maryanne D.
The only good things we had were the wine itself (which the restaurant had no control over) and the Chilean sea bass ( just the fish, the side kinda sucked). Crab cakes were fried, had no real flavor and were dry - I had to ask for sauce. Server didn't know how to open a bottle of wine and got help from the manager who took the cork so I couldn't smell it. My husband's steak was undercooked so they took it back, butterflied it and cooked it a little more, used the same sides which were cold when the plate was sent back out. We never got bread and my husband didn't even know they offered cracked pepper for his Caesar salad until we saw the manager offer it to another table. Our bottle of wine got warm quickly despite the chiller it was sitting in on the table - I had to ask the server to get ice for it. My molten lava cake was not at all hot. We got a lot taken off our check, but no manager ever stopped to talk to The server was rushing us through our meal, and we were out of there in about an hour.
(1)Chris R.
Very good. Had the yellow fin and it was excellent. Not sure why the place has such a low rating.
(4)Traci H.
Had a kid free night so we thought we would give this restaurant a try. What a disappointment. Food was WAY overpriced, and the quality was poor. Food was overcooked and the chicken cordon bleu I order was overly crunchy and greasy. I couldn't even taste the ham that was suppose to be stuffed in it...in fact, I am not sure any was even in there! It was a week night and they weren't very busy, but the music was so loud it was hard to have a conversation. Saw what we thought were two managers. Not once did they stop at a single table in the dining room to see how anyone's meal was. They spent their time at one particular table outside talking to one couple. That was it. We didn't even get a thank you for coming from one of the gentleman when we walked out and he was the podium. Been there, done that, and won't go back again.
(1)Mike A.
I'm a big fan of this place. We've been 10+ times and both the food and service have been consistently good. Yes, prices are higher than an Applebee's or a pizza place, but Lakeville desperately needs a restaurant like this.
(4)Brad P.
We had an excellent meal. The bacon wrapped buffalo shrimp were a wonderful surprise. We will be back again and I recommend it to anyone.
(5)Wayne S.
Good food and drinks! We've been several times and have yet to experience anything negative (so glad the last place here closed). Fish was great all three times we've been here and the service was good.
(4)Neka F.
We ordered the surf and turf and chili glazed salmon and it wasn't what I expected. The food looked good but it was all cold. I wouldn't go back but it was just interesting to try something new.
(2)Monica S.
If I could give it a negative star tonight I would. My husband and I have frequented this establishment a few times in the past and everything seems to be going downhill. Tonights meal was a total letdown. My husband ordered the filet medium but it came out cooked very well done. I always order the baked Opakapaka and tonight it was so over cooked I had to use a knife to cut it. There were only diners at 3 other tables when we entered and only one more couple came while we were eating. For only having 4-5 tables tops, the wait staff was slow and unfriendly. We saw the manager walking food out to another table but not him nor our server asked how our food was tonight. Maybe they knew it wasn't good and were too embarrassed to ask? Very overpriced for the quality of the food and service you get. We figured tonight we would give it one last shot but we won't be back.
(1)Melissa S.
We are doing an alphabet restaurant tour and this is what we chose for the letter C. We ordered the calamari, king crab legs and the mahi mahi. Calamari: so good! Comes with a sweet and tangy sauce that really makes the dish! Mahi mahi: comes on a bed of little potatoes, bacon and lobster. Has a bit of a kick to it. So good! King crab legs: you get about three. Comes with mashed potatoes and asparagus. My husband said they were very good. Service was great. Everyone was very friendly.
(5)Karl W.
It's unfortunate for the low star reviews that CR has received. We have come twice in the last month and the food is fantastic. Love the idea of the Prime burger which is a ground beef burger with a ribeye steak on top. It's also very tasty with the marbleized fat throughout the ribeye. Have also had the Turkey melt which has asparagus and really makes the sandwich. Lastly we had the Cobb salad and added Filet Mignon. It runs $7 to add the Mignon and you only get 6 small pieces, however the filet made the salad an easy 9 out of 10 for me and was needed. It seems ridiculously priced but I will mostly likely have it again. So the major issue that CR has is the pricing of its meals. They have only been open for about a year and you can easily be paying $20 a plate for a burger or fish, but for me its well worth it. The steak on my salad was so good that I need to come back and try the dinner as I have only been here twice for lunch. I came on a Saturday afternoon and there was only 2 other people eating so when I have no reservations elsewhere and want last minute dining, this will be a good option.
(5)Athony B.
What an amazing dining experience! Everything thing from the ambience to the service to the quality of food and to the management, this place is top notch.
(5)Amy B.
This place was top notch! We were referred here for a rare date night and WOW we were so grateful for the tip. My husband had the Ribeye cooked to perfection with garlic mashed potatoes, I had the Braised Lamb Shank with Caramelized heirloom carrots and a side of Brussels Sprouts with bacon jam and we shared a creme brulee. It was all delicious, the service was attentive, knowledgeable and courteous. We look forward to going back.
(5)Josh V.
Best steak in the Twin Cities in my opinion. I have been looking for a go to place for ten years now and finally have one. A good wine selection, especially if they keep their half price wines on Monday.
(5)Tammy K.
Had the sea bass which came over a bed of very tasty potatoes. Love the kick of spice! My husband had the ribeye steak which was wonderful with asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. The calamari appetizer was also very good. The chocolate dessert and creme brûlée were oh so good! Be sure to save room for dessert! Someone else in our group had the 8oz sirloin which was just ok. If that had been better, would have given it 5 stars.
(4)Janell H.
Review Title: Do you smell that? The case of the musty meat. Don't do the Bite sized surf and turf unless you can tolerate beef that appears grey in color and smells... musty. I sent it back and ordered fish tacos which taste very bland and below average. My date had a steak sandwich that he hated. He waisted 3/4 of his food and so did I. Never again...
(1)Nicholas G.
Take Me To The River... "...Drop me in the water." Wait - wait - wait! I would prefer to not be dropped in the water, but I would like to be dropped off at a front door and not just any front door, the front door of a place called Copper River Fish & Chop House. Oh, and it's a pretty nice front door too! Settled in the heart of the vast expanding Lakeville, MN lies one of the most uniquely designed restaurants I've had the privilege of visiting and the food they're serving is just as unique. I'm all about the food, but I have to mention how amazing this place looked first, because it's not too often that a restaurant actually takes the time to make their establishment look as amazing as Copper River's was. Beautiful wood walls, wood structural beams, wall of windows leading out to an enormous patio with fire pit and simply gorgeous! On to the food... We started our evening with an order of Crab & Bacon Hush Puppies that are served with a jalapeno, honey and a hint of cilantro aioli sauce that was easily the best I've ever had and our server Jessica was kind enough to send some home with my wife and I. Yep, it was that good! I asked her what they served with their fish items and she replied, "a standard tarted sauce" and my response... "Throw it away and use this instead!" Copper River's menu has plenty to offer all walks of life, but two stood out to my wife and I the most. My wife went with a Pumpkin Seed Crusted Sockeye Salmon with Butternut Squash Bisque and Granny Smith Apple Slaw. WOW! Easily one of the best meals either of us have ever had, period. I even made the comment that it compared to some of the outstanding food creations we've had traveling to resorts out of the country and my wife said, "It's better!" and I would have to agree. I'm not big on slaw, but this was some awesome slaw and the same can be said for butternut squash. I tend to stay away from it, but the combination of the entire dish was ridiculous and thankfully it's not a crime to have food this good. I decided to go with the Lobster Pot Pie that also included; bacon, onions, celery, carrot, peas with lobster cream and puffed pastry. This thing measured about 6 to 7 inches wide by about 4 inches high and man was this pot pie delicious! Perfect golden brown pastry crust with an amazing tasty filling that you have to try. Think I finished it? If your answer was yes, you'd be right! Copper River Fish & Chop House is doing it right and my wife and I will be adding this to our list of favorites and will definitely be stopping back for some more. You need to plan to make a trip to Copper River, trust me, you'll thank me when you're finished with your meal. Copper River priced themselves to please pretty much everyone and I as the old saying goes, "You get what you pay for." So if you wanna make plans to go to Red Lobster for a "good meal", well...... I think you get my drift! :) Did I get that annoying dancing fish song stuck in your head now? Well, you can thank the Talking Heads and As Seen On TV for that mistake of a song. There's just one last thing you need to do and that's to grab that dancing fish you wasted your money on, throw it in the garbage and head down to Copper River Fish & Chop House and spend your money the right way. Take Me To The River! :)
(4)Shawn P.
My wife and I went there for the first time. I had the Scallops in Lobster Bisque, it was to die for. I am a scallop snob, and I prefer to cook my own at home after so many bad ones over the years. These were superbly cooked, fresh, tender, nothing short of perfect. They were the best scallops I have ever had., and I make good scallops. The lobster bisque drizzle was beyond words, so velvety smooth and creamy. My wife had the Mahi Mahi with Voodoo sauce. It was quite good, but not out of the park delicious like the scallops. I also really liked the wine list, it was short, to the point, and had several great choices Red and White, with out being over the top too many to pick from. The Rumbauer Chardonnay was a perfect match for the Fish and Scallops. Will definitely be going back to try it again.
(5)Audrey C.
My husband and I go to Copper River now and then for "date night". I enjoy the grilled swordfish, blackened topped with blue cheese. Absolutely divine! Meat is juicy and flavor is incredible. I highly recommend it!
(4)Cindy D.
My husband & I went for our 14yr. Anniversary, we both had the surf & turf. Very very good. Spendy but very good. But the onion soup is always burnt.
(5)Lola S.
We've been there 3 times, and will be coming back again soon. Their seafood is excellent, and the bartender makes a mean cosmopolitan. We have not been disappointed. Last time I had the scallops and they were cooked to perfection. My husband had the crab staffed salmon special, and loved it. Mussels were good, but the sauce was to die for. If you like oysters, order the variety, and don't stick to their special. It's an interesting space with unexpectantly great food. The staff is very attentive and welcoming. This place gets the thumbs up for a date night.
(5)Travis Y.
@Bill D(o), after reading your review, we had to try the place out. I feel sorry for your boyfriend
(4)J B.
We thought it was great. I had the walleye dinner and my husband had the lobster rolls with real lobster. The portions were ridiculously large. My husband's meal came with two rolls. We got the lobster and corn hush puppies for an appetizer and key lime pie for dessert. We actually took half the slice home it was so large. Great atmosphere with really unique booth seating. We ate inside but the patio and bar were inviting. Oh, and fantastic martinis.
(5)Jordan B.
Great place to grab a drink after work or sit down for nice meal. Have had the spicy chili glazed salmon multiple times and it was prepared perfectly. The service needs an upgrade as the staff does not always seem knowledgable about the menu and are not as professional as you would expect. Overall, a fantastic place to dine and a great value
(4)Steve C.
Restaurant week or every week this place is great for your surf and turf. Not many places down in the south to get a great steak but this is the one. Rumors have it that the chefs are originally from Oceanaire but that doesn't mean much if the food was garbage. Never had a bad experience here. Managers and servers are courteous and the renovations from what this restaurant was before it was copper river is great. Also a great restaurant week spot if you want a value.
(5)Megan F.
Visited on a Sunday early evening and the place was very quiet and very few people in the restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday with his parents. Waited at the front for a few minutes before being greeted by a staff member. We were seated in a nice cozy booth and within a few moments brought out a signature "flatbread" basket with an edamame hummus. Now I don't know who they think they are fooling but their flatbread is a spinach tortilla that has been grilled and cut into triangles and served slightly warm. It's no flatbread. Sundays and Mondays are half price bottles of wine so we decided to share a bottle. The waitress was very professional but not the most attentive. I had to ask for refills on my water a few times as well as on my diet coke. I had the lobster & corn bisque to start and it was very tasty. My in-laws split an iceberg wedge salad and the kitchen was nice enough to split it into two servings for them. They both said the salad was very good and fresh. I ordered the blackened fish tacos which were a very good deal for $9 and comes with a nice size piece of blackened fish and four tortillas and all the fixings. My husband had the lobster rolls and he said they were good but nothing compared to Smack Shack or 1029 bar. My in-laws again split the Parmesan walleye and the kitchen split it into separate plates for them. The portions were huge but they said it was a little over-breaded and fried in parts. Since we were celebrating my husband's birthday they served him a complimentary creme brûlée dessert with fresh berries that was very good. All in all the experience was ok but for the prices (most dishes are upper $20's and scallops were $36) in the south suburbs it's a little too high priced. I can get just as good food at Porter Creek in Burnsville for about $10-15 an entree cheaper and they serve you real bread for a starter.
(3)D T.
This place has great seafood that's not made too salty. The dishes here are large in portions compare to other seafood restaurants. I recommend the champagne mussels.
(5)Eric E.
I heard that Copper River closed for good on Saturday, May 2. Web site is down, and no one answered the phone today.
(2)Doug W.
It is closed. Not a lot more to say about it. It keeps bugging me to write more about it. I hope that this is finally enough about a closed business.
(1)Carnivore X.
The wife and I were looking for dinner, and were driving around randomly when she spotted a "fish and chips" place. I made a bold decision, and we pulled into the parking lot to at least look at the menu. We had found the Copper River Fish & Chop House completely by accident. This journey began with a misread sign. I ordered the coconut shrimp, which was served over a tropical fruit salsa (meh), and with a Meyer's rum glaze (excellent). This was so good, we ordered a second batch. These were the best coconut shrimp I have ever had. I had the house special halibut with fingerling potatoes and brussel sprouts and something known as "homemade bacon jam." Homemade Bacon Jam. HOMEMADE BACON JAM!!! Y'all, this is stupid good, and will improve anything it is in the same room with. Wife ordered a filet mignon with onions and mushrooms, and it came complimented by garlic mashed potatoes and asparagus. The veggies were not all that good, but I, Carnivore X, do NOT CARE about veggies!!!! The steak was cooked to a proper rare, and was properly dispatched, My halibut was an amazing creation, made better still by the BACON JAM (which also made the fingerling spuds better). The coconut shrimp were, as stated above, the best I have consumed. We had a chocolate molten lava cake and the red velvet cake. The red velvet cake came with its own zip code, and my wife loved it. I crushed the molten cake. No complaints about dessert. What is all the fuss about the BACON JAM, you ask? First, it is based on bacon. Good bacon. Next there is something sweet, perhaps maple syrup (I was told, but have forgotten, and it really doesn't matter). Finally, there is a little something that creates a nice bit of heat on the finish. There is nothing about this BACON JAM that is not awesome. Not the awesome that is thrown about carelessly when a lesser descriptor will do, but truly inspiring of awe. I want this stuff on everything I eat from now on. It simply is that damn good. Next time, we will get more BACON JAM and put it on everything. I swear, if you spill some on your napkin, you will view napkins as a valid food group. I am glad I do not make a habit of photographing my food, as in this case, my tongue would have gotten in the way of most of the pictures. I would like to make special mention of our server Lee. He answered our questions, kept our beverages filled, and conducted his duties flawlessly. We also had an opportunity to talk with the manager Calvin, who was very friendly and happy to talk about his wonderful establishment and answer any questions we had. We will definitely be returning to this establishment. Soon.
(5)B M.
Great food, drinks. and service....2nd year in a row we've stopped here for lunch after flying in from Atlanta for the weekend. The best between Mpls., and Rochester.
(5)Steve K.
Took spouse for Valentine's day. Restaurant was busy but we were seated within 5 minutes of our reservation time. Waiter was good - knowledgeable, attentive, and not pushy trying to turn tables over. We were there for a leisurely evening so liked having time between courses. We had a fish entrée (char) and a pork chop entrée, which was one of their weekend specials (app, entrée, dessert - chosen from a limited selection). Our waiter was able to accommodate a change in the dessert selection. Both meals were very good - would order either again. Portions were right for us - we left very satisfied. Thought the value was good.
(4)M K.
DELICIOUS Fish! Went here on a whim. Party of Fpur. We all tried a different fish dish and No one was disapppointed. Exciting and interesting options. Not stuff you'd usually find on a Minnesota menu. Our server was a doll, lots of smiles. Of course, my hubby was schmoozing a bit. Skip dessert. Not good. Can't wait to go back!
(5)