I went to Granite City in Arbor Lakes late last night. We had great experience! It was a fairly nice atmosphere, good food, service, and beer. I thought the beer was particularly good. I thought the beer flight/sampler was good value. Our waitress was very helpful! She made good conversation and recommendations. She explained the different beers and foods that we were curious about. Lastly, although we stayed about two hours she made sure we knew we felt no rush. Overall I recommend Granite City!
(4)
Kelsey P.
The best way I can think to describe Granite City is like a classy Applebee's. It's a chain bar and grille, except more appropriately it's a chain brewery and restaurant. Do I know the difference between a grille and a restaurant? No. Restaurant sounds nicer. Granite City is nicer. Idk. Anyway. It's a great place for a nice date if you're on a budget. Yes, you can buy a $35 steak there, but you can also buy a $20 one. The real reason Granite City as a chain stands out? That beer though. Some of it is wonderful. Some of it is also terrible, but that is my preference, as a human being with strong opinions. If I liked a Kolsch, I'm sure the Lazy Lake would taste a lot less like actual lake water. If you're not going to get the sampler, which I strongly recommend you do, go for the two-step or two-pour or two-fer... It was two-something. It was different but really good. Now that I have that out of my system I can acknowledge that functional adult human beings don't go on dates just for beer. I had a chicken Caesar salad because I'm a boring person and my boyfriend had the Bock Mac n Cheese. The Caesar was good but nothing extraordinary. The Bock Mac n Cheese was stellar though. And those bowls just never end. We like to eat and neither of us finished the whole meal in one sitting.
Great beers ok food. Really hard to find parking though. Service was ok. Not a prime location but ok compared to the other places in area
(4)
R S.
The food and service was great for our group of 30. Boneless wings and spinach artichoke dip are great starters. Try the Northern Cheddar and Ale Soup. Spot on. The Mediterranean Chicken is great but beware of the broccoli that comes with it as the portion is huge.
(3)
Shahab s.
Did visit this location during a business trip. I got their beach 1000 with 8% alcohol and it was awesome, As Hilton was nice enough to offer a shuttle to their location that means I was able to drink 3 glasses and man o man it's strong but in a good way I got their big show burger and it was tasty , a little bit to generous on fried onion but other than that it was perfect. Our server been really polite with a big smile . She was right on top of her job but a bit too pushy about more drinks . Very satisfied and highly recommended.
Glorified Perkins at best. I had the grilled chicken and broccoli. The chicken is the same quality you get from cub. Genetically modified and hard as a rock. It's quite disgusting that they fed me this and have the audacity to charge 13+ for it. The broccoli is a new one for me, it hard to cut... I can eat raw broccoli fine. This is physically hard to chew. My wife ordered a noodle asparagus dish, the asparagus is chopped so thin we questioned I it actually had asparagus in it. The flavor was fine but it's a 14$ bowl of flavors noodles. Cheap noodles at that. Save your time and money. The beer also tastes very watered down. The double ipa is at best a regular ipa.
(1)
Maxx M.
Excellent. We stopped in for lunch yesterday. We couldn't have asked for anything more. The only reason I didn't give them five stars is because I'd have to stop by for dinner and see if they're just as great during a dinner service. DRINKS: My wife had hot tea and I had the Broad Axe (Oatmeal Stout). It was good--dark and creamy--surprisingly smooth for such a dark beer. The fermentation tank display is pretty cool. APPETIZERS: We had the Northern Cheddar & Ale Soup and the Turkey Wild Rice Almondine Soup. They were really, really good. MEAL: I had the Maple Pepper Bacon and Tomato Fire Roasted Flat Bread and my wife had the Vodka Mussels (technically an appetizer). They were both fantastic. SERVICE: The service was very good. Our server was nice, knowledgeable, and on top of everything. I had a good view of the kitchen and most of the staff from my booth. I noticed that these guys are super efficient. They're like a hive of busy honey bees, everyone buzzing around, doing their jobs. They're also surprisingly quiet--no yelling. They put a card on our table which indicated that we were first-time customers--very clever. I'd like to go back again (without the card) and see if everything is just as good. Finally, the manager handed us two chocolate chip cookies and thanked us as we walked out the door. Nice touch. We'll be back to try dinner. -Daddy Maxx Retro
(4)
Abby P.
This place has a great happy hour! The portions were big! Service here was average. And food was great! Really enjoyed it.
(4)
Jake S.
The food and brew here are a step above what you would find at most comparable chain restaurants, prices correspond to that premise. I see a lot of reviewers complaining about the burgers, but am guessing that they order them well done. I always order them medium and they have always come out pretty tasty. I belong to the Mug Club and receive 25 oz. mugs for $5 ($4 on HH) as well as 10% off food. My favorite meal is the bleu peppercorn burger (bleu cheese and bacon!) with waffle fries and GC dip (sour cream/mayo concoction), washed down with a Two Pull (lager/bock blend) or 3-Headed Monster (bock/pale ale/stout blend). I have tried most of the other menu items, but burgers and beer are my go to combo when I visit. The staff is usually pretty friendly and on the ball. It is almost always busy, so expect at least a 20-30 minute wait even at off-peak times on weekends, and up to an hour at lunch and dinner rush. Being next to I94 and the various shopping blocks make this a hotspot for the area. Parking can be a pain at times, especially since Redstone opened next door. Overall, I enjoy my experiences here as I am pretty low maintenance and know what to expect.
(4)
Vic R.
Still a pretty good brunch. Our server Elizabeth was a little indifferent, but great food !!!! 10 of us.
(3)
Mark M.
They said 5-10 minutes for a seat sat us in about 10 minutes so far so good! Hostess that sat us didn't seem to happy to be working here. Waiting for anyone to take our drink order manager walked passed asking all that ate how brunch was ignored us? Still waiting for drinking continue review in a few... Ok well I finally had to get up and ask if anyone was working our table. Buffet was so so not good enough to say yes come in! Maybe menu items are better? I am all about "energy" during the time we walked in sat ate and we're done not once did anyone from staff make eye contact say hi or smile except for waiter that said sorry for drink issue because no one knew whom had our table but he never came back to check if we needed a drink or if all was ok we left not thrilled at least the hostess said thanks for coming in. 1st impressions say a lot sadly I won't be back for a 2nd if u go, I hope service is much better skip the buffet!
(2)
Robert B.
Went here over a busy time on Christmas eve. The first concern I had was one person had a seeing eye dog in the party. They seemed a bit unsure what to do. First, the hostess found her manager to point out the dog. Why? The dog clearly has identification. He quickly told the hostess, it is a companion dog. I was a little put off by that uncertainty of the hostess. Second, when taken to our table she took the party way too fast. She did not time herself to the pace of the group. On to the food and drink choices that were presented. Almost everyone had a steak of some kind. Two came back the improper temperature. The well done was closer to medium and the medium rare was rare to the point of cold in the middle. The high price of the steaks they should be done perfectly. I chalk it up to a busy night. It also took some time for the meals to come out. I'm a beer lover so I was happy with the different micro-brew selections. I picked a seasonal winter beer. I enjoyed the taste of the beer. It was slightly watery would be the only point I would make with it.
(3)
Sandy S.
This places sucks. Beautiful day, we decided to sit outside. Meh. The "view" was the noisy expressway. Took forever to get drinks. Took a long time to get a server to take our order. Far too long to get the food. No bread in table to help take the edge off. We sat and watched one of us eat their soup while the others just sat there with hands in laps. Twice TWO different servers asked us if the food they brought out was ours? No. Don't you guys have freaking table numbers?! Wait staff were truly CLUELESS. When food did come (and not delivered by our server), I laughed at the French Onion Soup. The cheese (normally found on top of the soup) was in fact, stuck to the sides of the bowl--on purpose. My daughter had to peel it off and put it in the soup. If she didn't, she would have had no cheese. Shrimp tacos were just ok. I did like the small portion of corn and black bean salsa. Their raspberry tea was some of the worst I had ever had. The kicker of this visit was the server's bussing of the table. While we were sitting there, he cleared our table. He proceeded to arrange all of our dishes, slopping the black bean juice all over my leg, making a mess. He then went to another table to bus. Stopped again at our table to drop off the bill. While digging for it in his pocket, he set down the other people's dirty dishes right in front of us. Ugh. Actually, now that I think about it, the bowl was full of pasta. Geez, I sure as heck hope he wasn't heading to the wrap that up for the other customer. Not. Going. Back.
(2)
Pamela H.
I've driven past this place about 5,000 times but never went in. Tonight there was a dine and donate event at Granite City for my friend. Granite City graciously offered 20% of our tab to the benefit. And for everyone who brought in the flyer. The wait staff was great. And the food was solid. One person at our table wasn't sure of what beer they wanted to order so the server graciously brought her some samples. At our table we ordered the Cuban sandwich, the prime rib sandwich, & a regular cheeseburger. They were all delicious and hot and served timely. It really pains me to give 5 stars to a chain restaurant but they did a great job at the same time giving to charity. How could you go wrong?
(5)
Bryan M.
Very good. We came here during our vacation and were impressed. The food was great. I tried a flight of beers and wasn't crazy about any of them, but the mixed drinks were good. We would definitely come back next time we are in town.
(4)
Taylor S.
I received great guest service and food. I always order the Adult Bock Mac & Cheese, but it is not your typical Mac & Cheese. They use different seasonings, bacon, creamy cheese sauce, etc. Everything tastes fresh. Sooo delicious! Mmmm. I love the atmosphere of the dining and bar sections. Very roomy, warm tones, dim lighting in the evenings, awesome place for a date night or to go out with the family to talk and eat great food!
(5)
Karena V.
Visited here with the boyfriend for the first time. I got the Salmon Oscar with asparagus, broccoli & lump crab. We also ordered some sweet potato fries & I also got a Bloody Mary. I was not impressed by the salmon oscar, the salmon was cooked perfectly yes, but lacked flavor & had some charred bits. A little sauce &/or marinade would have done a little good. The greens were wilted & not fresh. The Bloody Mary was beyond a disappointment. It tasted like flavored water & colored water, not even tomato flavored. I couldn't even taste the vodka, there was no spice & the shrimp on the skewer was practically raw. However, the sweet potato fries were the best I have ever had-perfectly crisp & delicious.
(3)
Ethan C.
The service and food here is always good. Join the mug club, you'll save on the beer brewed onsite and on your entree. They also send good coupons via email. Basically, they've got great loyalty benefits. Every time we're here, a manager chimes out to check on us, the servers work as a team to see that our needs are met and the food is good. Definitely let do the brunch on Sunday!
(4)
Scott F.
I've been a Mug Club member for a long time. The specials, the seasonal brews, the parties are all great! Now they have a good variety of appetizers and the flat bread pizzas are really good! Wonderful happy hour! We've never had food here we didn't really like. By far my favorite restaurant.
(5)
Paul D.
I used to think this was a good restaurant. Nice options on the menu. Nice environment. But today was the last straw. "Would you like food with your salt?" Everything seemed to have salt as the primary ingredient. Even nachos were too salty. My son would not eat his chicken, so I tried it and I could not swallow more than one piece. If I order chicken for my toddler, I expect it to taste like it. Never eating here again.
(1)
maryalecia b.
I had their salads twice and really enjoyed them! The third time I had fish and chips, and was not so impressed. It wasn't bad, but the serving was too big and the fish was a bit over cooked (the breading was too dark). My husband enjoyed the beer selection and was surprised at how good a price the sampler was. We went twice later in the evening during the week when it was basically dead; service was very prompt and friendly. The third time was on a Saturday night when it was crazy busy. We still got seated in a timely fashion. I was a little put off by the mannerism of the waitress, who seemed to be trying way too hard to be upbeat and friendly. Unfortunately, it just came across as very fake and awkward.
(3)
Brett B.
Good food! Solid beer. I got the bedda chedda burger and the Bennie beer. Both were great. The beer was caramel-ly, but not to sweet. The burger was actually cooked medium, the way I wanted it. Someone else I was with tried the Northern Beer and that was VERY light. Just a warning for you IPAers out there. Definitely recommend this place.
(4)
Troy S.
We go for brunch, good selection of breakfast and lunch items. Great bacon! Service is decent. Busy but worth it. Prices are more than fair what the food you receive. Great omelets options and very good biscuits and gravy!
(5)
Sean H.
This has been my local for MN grill for years. They brew the best IPA I have ever had! The service and food has always been good ... The Thai shrimp appetizer is awesome..the flat breads ...Juicy Lucy... It's all good... The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is I yet have to give any restaurant ...the full Monty!
Like others have said, make sure you join the Mug Club to get a good deal on their brews. The food and service here isn't bad and I like that kids eat for free on Sunday. The Northern Ale soup is delicious and it really comforting during the cold fall/winter days.
(4)
John C.
My new hangout! Their boneless wings put Buffalo WW to shame! Friendly and prompt bartender and food served hot and fresh. Prices are consistent with the location and target demographic.
(5)
Jennifer L.
The food is good, the beer is awesome! A regular date night spot for us. Good evening atmosphere good service without hovering, the noise level is perfect too. I definitely recommend.
(5)
Whitney G.
The breakfast buffet at this location is quite amazing. I felt like I had to be rolled out! The $8 all you can drink mimosa/bloody mary special is pretty great as well. The brunch includes croissants, prime rib, an omlette station, scones, scrambled eggs, waffles or french toast, eggs benedict, and some lunch options. The service is usually pretty great, and worth the 20 minute wait.
(4)
Tim L.
It's just ok here, food is ok, floor is extremely greasy and slippery in the dining room which is gross. Friday at 8pm and the fries were old and stale, desert is meh and the strawberry on the cake was rotten. I guess OK is the best rating they get.
(3)
Dan P.
Last couple visits its been beer and apps. The apps are ok-appearance, flavor, value. Problem with the beer though- all five or six house brewed options (nice profit margin I bet) just don't taste that good. Am I an expert-No. But I used to homebrew and I've drank ALOT of beer over the years so I'm familiar with the types and varieties you know? Latest example was their Scotch Ale. Big let down as it was not smooth and sweet like other Scotch Ales and it's flavor reminded me of every other beer served at GC except the very light lager. Hey GC- try Great Divide Brewing Co. Claymore Scotch Ale or any of the other leading Scotch ales to see what good examples taste like ok? I was definitely more impressed with GC beers in the past. Maybe the competition around town is raising the bar?
(2)
N C.
If this review were just on the food and ambiance, it would be a 4, but because humans were involved, it is a 3. We arrived last Sat night around 9pm. We were guided to a high top in the bar where we wanted to sit. We sat 8 minutes with several servers walking buy but not a glance. I proceeded back to the hostess stand and asked if we had a server. The hostess asked what table # we were at. Um what? Shortly after, a girl came to wait on us saying "oppps.....really sorry, my bad." Ok, fine. Move on. My friend asked for a pint of "x" beer......the server than asked "is that 16, 20, or 24 oz?" Its a pint. Yep. Its true. After this, it just got comical, we had three servers in 2.5 hours. We watched the hostess mope around like the world was ending. Dragging her feet and pants on the floor, hugging herself like she was sick and near death..........I get it, you want to go home early like everyone else. Then a miracle occurred......the hostess must have been released because like magic, her coat went on and smile came across her face. At least that was fun to experience. Thanks for the laughs Granite City.
(3)
Kayla G.
Service was great! Thanks Adam! Hostess was non-existent for 5 minutes or so and then when she showed up she didn't even greet us! Or say hi! You are the hostess sweetheart, that is your job to welcome people. Servers passing by the front seemed to not care either.. I am a server and I would never leave a guest at the front like that! We did come at an "off" time in the restaurant world.. Too early for dinner servers and at the tail end of lunch server's shifts, but still not an excuse. But where did the quality go!? I swear our salads had canned chicken in them! No grill marks, no real edges and overly moist.. As in sitting in juices in a can. Plus super thingy sliced similar to Asian take-out. I was looking forward to a good, filling salad. This used to be my favorite restaurant and now that I no longer live in Minnesota I thought it'd be great to go back, but maybe not.. If the quality is gone, I am not interested in dining. Drinks were good and desert for my mom's birthday was too! I don't know why but the hostess situation, and the quality of chicken have ruined my opinion of Granite City :-(
(2)
Alec D.
Great food, great beer. Idaho Nachos, Reuben, Batch 1000 beer. All great. Friendly, fast service. 8 craft beers in a flight for $4.95! Great value.
(5)
Bao H.
Guess -- At first glance I thought this was a Guess store. Guess what? I was wrong. Though it wouldn't hurt to become one I "guess". This was your typical sports bar with some swank. I ordered the bleu cheeseburger and some waffle fries. Overall, I didn't think it was that great. My burger was pretty dry and the waffle fries, well they were waffle fries. I don't think waffle fries were ever an IN thing. The place like I said nothing too fancy and stuck to pop, but if you're looking for a quick drink I "guess" this place will do. - Enjoy!
(2)
Joe B.
I like the service here. It is always solid. Servers know their menu, the food is served promptly. The menu is standard american fare. They changed menu recently. The main knock for me me is the beer. I really appreciate that they make their beer on site, and it is not filtered. They really are not great beers. Maybe up the IBUs a titch on your APA? Maybe the use of a different hop varietal? Do something that will put your name on that beer. Your beers are fresh, just kind of blah. Better beer would get you another star.
(3)
Michael B.
I Have been going to Granit City for many years and have never had a bad experience. The servers are fantastic (Logan and Kelsey) and the managers are always great also (Amy, Pete and Bob). If you like a place that is friendly with great food adn BEER. This is the best place in town.
(5)
Randall N.
Meh. Classier than Applebees/TGI Fridays and a step above both in food but not by much. overpriced at every level. The server we had could not take a joke and made us all uncomfortable with her surliness. With all the options for food in Maple Grove this is not where I would choose to come. Their beers are decent though...but with the boom in craft brewing occurring in MSP right now there's nothing worth noting.
(2)
Christine D.
We just moved to MN and came here the first few days we were in town. The food is amazing (as is the beer) and the staff is super friendly and nice.
(5)
Justin S.
Granite city is just a consistent choice for any meal, but I focus on lunch and dinner. I mainly stay with the burgers since they come out on this glorious thick delicious bun that is fluffy and baked to perfection. I have to say I'm a bun guy and their burgers are placed on a very good one. The waffles fries are staples here and the seasoned sour cream is very tasty, although they are just as good in ketchup as they are in the special sour cream. It's an upcharge, so be ready! Their salads are pretty excellent as well with my most recent one being the Asian chicken salad.....also they are pretty massive and come in large bowls by any standard. The beer here is always cold and refreshing. The only draught beer they have on tap is their own with a seasonal beer rotating in and out. The porters, bock, and IPA are my favorite for a bit heavier beer with the Northern light being a good tasty light beer and is not watery at all. Their combination of Northern Light and Brother Benedict Bock is called a Two-Pull and is my favorite choice when visiting. There generally is a wait, so be prepared for that on prime nights.
(4)
Darryl D.
Favourite spot to visit in Maple Grove. Love the new patio and the choice of beer is always great. Love the burgers here and the staff are very easy to deal with and wanting to ensure we have a good time.
(5)
Brent E.
Great place, staff was very attentive and helpful. We visited on a Sunday evening while the U of M men's hockey and the Wild were both playing on TV, so the place was hopping. Staff did a great job of keeping the beer's coming and getting our orders processed. Our appetizer showed up after the main dishes but the staff was visibly upset and correct the issue by removing the item from our bill. I suspect this oversight was based on the number of people in the packed joint for the games. Beer is outstanding, worth the trip. Food is better than average. We had the french onion soup and it was very good. the kids meals came with a large portion of very fresh fruit, our kids love this. We will be going back to the Granite City location.
(4)
Chris E.
I came here for my 5th year anniversary. I'm from Southern California visiting family in Minnesota so I had never tried this place and went based on a recommendation from my Mother. Knowing her tastes, I expected this place to be so/so or worse. We ordered the Tomato Basil Flat Bread Pizza appetizer along with a few drinks. The pizza was pretty decent, nice and light, not oily, and portioned just right for 2-3 people. I had a Northern Light Lager; Nothing too special, just a typical light lager that tasted on the same lines as something Miller would churn out. The girlfriend had a Flying Monkey and a drink that was off the menu. Both felt a little weak on the alcohol side. We split a medium rare Grilled London Broil with Bourbon Sauce and fully loaded mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked perfectly with the perfect amount of pink. The marinade really resonated in the beef. It did taste a bit oily, as if a lot of butter was used (as I'm sure it was). The mashed potatoes were standard of this type of a restaurant. If you have never been to Granite City I'd equate this to a BJ's. It serves the same type of food, same type of drinks, for the same amount of money. Not bad, but nothing to go to war for.
(4)
Julia D.
Our FAVORITE place to eat!!!!! Me and my husband came here on our first date and ever since we looooved this place! I love there new menu and the patio they added . Perfect place to go on a summer night!!!
(5)
Lynn S.
My husband and I tried Granite City for the first time and we loved it. Nice variety of menu options, great service, fun atmosphere and we enjoyed the food. We will for sure be going back again.
(4)
Christine C.
Things I love about Granite City in Maple Grove: 1. Delightful, attentive waitstaff 2. Waitstaff works as a team 3. $7 flat bread during happy hour 4. Their Peppered Bacon/Tomato flat bread is a delightful blend of sweet, peppery bacon and basil, cheese, and fresh tomatoes. 5. The chopped salad is the best mixed up pile of things I love 5. They will place eight delicious beer varieties in front of me via the beer flight option 6. Cute messages written on my to go box 7. They allow me to keep experiencing Granite City at home by letting me walk out carrying two growlers full of my favorite brews.
(5)
Salinee H.
Good service and pretty decent bar food. I like their lunch specials during the week. They have a good variety of specials, including smaller burger options. I wish it wasn't just during the day when they had that because who really needs a half pound burger. They make their own beer but I'm not too much of a fan of it.
(3)
D J.
New to the area, this is one of the first places we dined at. Our first experience was very good, I would have rated that 4 stars at least just for the food. Our next couple of visits haven't been quite as nice, but we still enjoy it there. The difference seems to be in the servers. First visit we had a young lady serve us, and she wasn't real outwardly friendly to begin with, but did soften a little and had some conversation with us. The next two visits we had male servers, neither of whom I would call 'friendly', but they got the job done, even if a they could have been a little more attentive. I guess we just like to enjoy our meals and we're friendly people so we like being treated likewise. I would say the food wasn't quite as good as the first time either, but that could be with what we ordered. So, Granite City, train your staff to be a little warmer to your guests. Believe me, we want our money to buy us an enjoyable experience, and our jury is out on the consistency of the quality here. Even when you're busy and crowded, as is often the case, we would like to know that we can expect the same good meal time after time.
(3)
Jeff T.
GC is my go to restaurant. Good beer and good food seems to be a rarity for breweries and they pull it off. We get the Idaho Nachos with every first time visitor. The flat bread pizzas are great starters for a big group or enough for a whole meal for one person. The ribeye and filets are both very good. My favorite beer is The Duke IPA and their seasonal Oktoberfest is also tasty. For dessert, the chocolate cake with the hot whiskey butter is our favorite. Join the Mug Club for 10% off your entree, 25 oz mugs and gift certificates. For lighter meals, their burgers and chopped salad are also very good.
(4)
Abe M.
This is one of those "if only there were half stars" kind of ratings. I have eaten here a few times now and keep coming back to fill up my growler. First off the growler. With all the beers they brew it is hard not to find one you like. I first bought the growler when the refill price was $6, then it was raised to $7, and now it is back down to $6.50. It seems to fluctuate based on the price of hops. I can certainly understand this and even at $7, it is still a great price. I can usually get 4 glasses of beer out of 1 growler. The food: I have eaten many meals here and the food is not that unoriginal. There is nothing that I have found that really makes it stand out. Although I usually judge these places off of nachos, I have never had them here. Next time I eat here, that is what I'm going to order. So drink and be merry and enjoy!
(3)
D K.
Food has really gone downhill since their hey-day but still good. The beer is as good as ever and the service is great. Brunch is nothing special but at least it's not overpriced like many.
(3)
Rosie Y.
This was the second time I've gone to Granite City. The service here sucked...really really bad. The food was good though. I would have preferred going to the Rosedale location due to the poor customer service here.
(2)
Shane H.
Surprised at the service and food--in the best way. Our hostess was very pleasant and led to an even more pleasant waitress. We didn't know what to order so we went with the popular burger dish. I was blown away and that's very rare for a...burger. It's pricier than your typical 4 star place, but the atmosphere was upscale and had some good sized TVs to watch sports.
(4)
Julie N.
I have to start by saying I'm not a huge fan of chains (I'm pretty sure this is one anyway) but this place has never done anything but amaze us every time we've eaten there. I always want to try something new but the Rosemary Honey Filet seems to always be what I order bc it's sooooooo delicious and full of flavor. Our "must have" every time is the French Onion soup to split and we try and get a different app every time. Def try the spicy asian shrimp something or other app because that's our fav so far. We had the nachos one night when our eyes were bigger than our stomach but it was pretty tasty. Service has always been great. Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is because I didn't want to get too crazy :)
(4)
Hanna M.
Dusty window blinds, bland food, soggy fries, and dirty dishes. Not much else to say about our experience.
(2)
Emily B.
Here for lunch on a weekday afternoon before heading to the airport. I have zero complaints. Beer was great, food was great and my waitress was super friendly and attentive without hovering. I also appreciated the help when I was having trouble deciding on what to have for lunch! For the price the lunch menu is a great deal and the perfect amount of food. Salad, 1/2 sand which (I had the prime rib) and just enough fries! She also did a great job of helping me select a beer (two pull), I am an avid fan of the micro brews but she did a great job and nailed it!
(4)
Amy R.
Ventured out to the burbs to meet a friend for brunch and was quite impressed with the variety and quality of their Sunday brunch. I'm told they also have a Saturday brunch. Service was good. Ambiance was favorable and the food was tasty for a reasonable price. Great selection of breakfast options : Eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit, pastries, waffles, french toast hashbrowns and a lot more.
(4)
John L.
Great Sunday buffet at St. Cloud location. Bri was our waitress. She was friendly and attentive and really nice. Prime rib awesome. Everything was superb. We will go back more often. Even the Manager greeted us and thanked us for coming.
(5)
Lisa M.
I'm usually a fan of stand-alone restaurants more than I am of chains, but Granite City rises above those standards. Their flatbread pizzas are great! The Pepper Bacon and Tomato is my all-time favorite. If you're out for a drink, be sure to try one of their 6 in-house specialty brews: Northern Light Lager, Brother Benedict's Bock, Duke of Wellington IPA, Broad Axe Stout, Wag's American Wheat, or the Two Pull. I've sampled all of them and they are all excellent! If you're more of a cocktail fan, try the Flying Monkey--it's like candy! Most recently, my friend Karah and I were there for New Years and we ordered the "date night meal" for $50 which included salads, an appetizer, a main entree (we got the Fillet Mignon--yum!), and a dessert! Definitely worth the money when split in 2. All in all, Granite City is a nice place to go for a meal. It's a mix between casual and classy, so whatever you're wearing, you'll fit in. I recommend it. P.S. I went to the Cedar Rapids, IA location for Sunday brunch and it was the BOMB. Buffet style gourmet breakfast? I ate until my stomach almost exploded. Delicious.
(4)
Michele M.
I have met up with friends at Granite City in St. Cloud, Eagan, and, most recently, in Maple Grove. The food is consistently good and the atmosphere is comfortable. The happy hour specials were wonderful - I do recommend stopping by from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. We enjoyed $5 Cosmos and $7 flatbread pizzas - BBQ chicken and Margherita. Both were very tasty. Our server, Gina, however, was absolutely outstanding! She is a true asset to the Granite City in Maple Grove.
(4)
Christopher S.
Solid. Service, staff, food and fun. Hit the brunch on sat (limited brunch menu) or sun (full, overwhelming brunch) and have a home brewed micro to drink. Lots of fun staff, and great locally brewed beers. The only downside? Long lines on weekends, so plan ahead! :) I still don't know why anyone would order a miller lite at a brewery...sigh. 5 stars!
(5)
Jacque U.
We took a co-worker out for lunch today and everyone really seemed to enjoy their meals. I ordered the lunch portion of the Bruschetta Chicken Salad with a cup of the black bean chili (cup of soup is included). It was very tasty! I liked that the salad came with 4 toasts so you could actually build bruschetta if you wanted. I would have liked some more greens though, it wasn't much of a "salad". Around the table people had burgers, buffalo chicken sandwiches, and the AYCE soup & salad for lunch and I didn't hear a single complaint. The birthday girl got a giant cookie for dessert which we all dug into and thoroughly enjoyed. I would definitely go back. My only warning would be that it can get pricey. $13 for a lunch plus tip is a little much in my book.
(4)
Robyn F.
I've been here thrice and enjoyed it all three times. The food is good, the beer is good, and the service and atmosphere are good. This is going to become a regular spot for dinner.
(4)
Ali H.
Meh. Four or five stars for good beer and daily happy hour specials. Minus a star for a bland, extremely greasy and salty flatbread to accompany the beer. Plus a half star for an AMAZING asian shrimp appetizer. It was the only truly good thing we ate. And it was actually really great and cheap during happy hour. I don't really like this place in general, but I'd go back for beer and that shrimp. But that's probably it.
(3)
Aaron E.
My wife and I's typical place to go when we wanted to go out to eat. Moderately priced, consistently good food, never bad service even when busy, managers always talk to us and have handled the rare issue easily and satisfactorily. My wife almost always gets the Bruschetta Chicken Salad. It is quite good, I must admit. The toast pieces that come with it are amazing. I've gotten everything from the oriental salad to a burger to a pizza and haven't been disappointed once. I like beer and am not a beer snob that's going to suggest changing the way their beers are made like someone else, and I do enjoy they have different types of beers than your typical place would. All in all, it's a very good place for a casual meal. Not an anniversary/date place by any means, but that's not what it's going for. I came close to giving out 5 stars, but I don't just hand those out lightly. By far my favorite place to go in the north western suburbs though.
(4)
Emmaline D.
Enjoyed the atmosphere. My husband and I were there on a Friday night at 6:30 and there was a 15 minute wait. We ordered the mussels - they were good quality but the vodka sauce was to salty. Actually I have ordered several things that were to salty, the Jambalaya was NOT authentic and waaaay to salty. For my entree I got the Korean Tacos - YUM! I was very happy with this meal and the garden salad with dressing on the side is always delicious and refreshing. My husband's meal (rib eye) was just slightly overdone, and we had 3 different managers come to our table to apologize, offer to fire a new steak, offer us a free dessert, and also a gift card. I was impressed with the service!!! I am looking forward to trying their brunch soon.
(4)
Ben D.
Holy good God above, Lord Almighty, and all the other semi-religious exclamations I can use in one sentence. I have never been surrounded by such awful people in my entire life! Every table surrounding ours made it blatantly obvious they didn't care for my kind in the restaurant, and by that of course I mean they don't like people that aren't obese. I have never seen such a disgusting crowd of people shoveling bits of seperated chicken into their mouth so fast without stopping to wipe their mouth/hand, or even to breathe. Their beer soaked shirts and buffalo sauced lips, cheeks, and teeth chowing into what I assume was once an animal but you can no longer tell from it being deep fried and slathered in an unidentifiable sauce that has a VERY pungent odor... For a moment there it looked like ethel and her severely overweight 12 year old were fighting with forks over the last chicken wing. This is why I don't do chain restaurants, and probably why when I ordered a salad I literally heard a chuckle from the waiter... The only thing that made my experience here warrant two stars (seeing as how my salad was so soaked in dressing they might as well just sent me a cup of that with no lettuce) was literally the booze we consumed, well that and watching the man going through his midlife crisis freak out when he apparently couldn't read that the Ghost Wings are so hot it will burn everything inside of you. Oh yes, this was a bad decision to eat here... one that I will not soon make again.
(2)
Rachel R.
I've been here a few times and I've never been disappointed. The food is always great, the service is awesome and they have a good beer selection. Classic American restaurant, family friendly and fairly casual. It can get noisy when it's crowded, so that's something to keep in mind.
(4)
kyle t.
We used to go here a lot. The food is good but not great. Good beer though they have a very small bar, seating wise. Made a trip there this weekend and had a very good burger. Service was OK, not great but real good burger and a nice beer does something for me. As the sit down chains go this place is above average but really doesn't go much higher than that. Very American food with not much for the creative side. They do have a Sunday brunch and if you love meat and hate the veggies this is the brunch for you!!!
(3)
Matthew M.
I really want to give Granite City more stars. I like the atmosphere, but the food and service have really gone downhill over the years. For the price, there are much better options. A lot of the food is pre-made and the beers come out with an inch or so of space left for more beer (which equates to about a 1/4 of a total pint glass). I'll take my money over to Redstone for better food or to Five Guys for a better burger.
(2)
Mad G.
Oh boy. I do not have many good things to say. Here's one thing....the ambiance was very nice. The meals, not so much. My wife and I ordered two burger meals and the kids, toasted cheese sandwich meals. Both came with something similar to fries. We ordered the Bedda Chedda Bacon Burger and the Blue Peppercorn Burger. Both were really dry and lacking flavor. We didn't finish either burger. The fries are very thin and after they cool down are like eating little sticks...again not with much flavor. The kids' sandwiches were fine. They ate them, but they barely touched the thin fries. We were pretty disappointed with this place. I was thinking of giving them a 1-star, but the wait staff was very friendly so I gave them a 2. I doubt we will ever come back.
(2)
Adam S.
There beer is ok, not great, but pretty solid. I'd still rather have a Summit. I do like their burgers and cuban sandwich, but their entree's leave something to be desired. Their fried walleye is bad, they call it "lightly" breaded. There is nothing light about the breading. Batter is heavy and thick, it's the opposite of "light". Stick with beer, burgers, and sandwiches. For whatever reason it's often packed, so I usually skip it as it's not worth waiting for.
(3)
Newman Z.
Beer and service is good, but food is awful. Tried chop salad, chicken sandwich, and hamburger. Needless to say, making food is not their strength.
(2)
Ann V.
With my love of bbq sauce, I consider myself to be a big critic of it. I ordered the bbq chicken flatbread pizza which is now my favorite dish in the place. I don't think I'll ever eat there without ordering it.I was there for lunch so I didn't get to try any of the drinks, but I plan on returning for happy hour -half of my bbq pizza and drinks! Cheers to that!
(4)
Charlene M.
I've been here several times, and the food is consistently greasy.
(3)
Jayme N.
First off, I want to put it out there that I really don't drive out to Maple Grove to eat very often. The brunch at Granite City is one of the best I've been to in a long time! My husband had a "build your own" bloody mary which he also said was fabulous. I didn't have the chance to try everything, but that just gives me the chance to go back! At $14.99 per adult and FREE for kids under 6, the quality of food, number of choices and friendliness of staff, I'm more than happy to drive out of Blaine for great breakfast!
(4)
Kayla M.
I'm usually skeptical about the places my boyfriend picks to eat at. He always says he "read reviews" but he clearly doesn't use Yelp because we've ended up at loads of crappy restaurants that were supposedly excellent. With that said, Granite City does not fall into the crappy category. We got there a bit early Friday evening, close to 5. Thank goodness too 'cause after seeing the evening crowd hit on our way out I think the place probably gets pretty packed. There's a good reason for that crowd though, they serve awesome beer and fantastic food. We started with the Truffle Fries and the Crispy Buffalo Shrimp. My only complaint is that the fries are teeny weeny. I wish they'd have been a little larger but the truffle oil you get to dip the fries in makes you forget how irritatingly small they are. It's YUMMY. I didn't try the Buffalo Shrimp but they looked awesome. They were served similar to the way sushi rolls are usually served and they were, according to the boyfriend, VERY good. Our starting beers were the Wag's Wheat and the Broad Axe Stout. I'm not a beer guru so I'm not going to pretend I am and start reviewing the beers like one. The Wag's Wheat was super light. Almost too light for my taste really. Still good, but very light. The menu warns of this but I didn't take it seriously. I only had a couple of sips of the Stout, which has a chocolatey taste and a lot of personality. Main meal consisted of the Linguine Pomodoro (for me) and the Prosciutto Olive Flatbread Pizza (for the boyfriend). The Prosciutto Flatbread Pizza looks SO good and (again) according to my boyfriend it really was incredible. I want to get a flatbread for myself the next time we go. The Linguine Pomodoro was amazing. And whoever the heck decided it needed red pepper flakes was genius. They added the tiniest hint of spice, it was perfect. You just can't understand how tasty this dish is until you order it yourself. I almost forgot, we also ordered the Ale and Cheddar soup. Served with bits of Rye bread sprinkled atop, this soup is a must have. I've never had Ale and Cheddar soup so I don't know if it's usually rich in flavor but Granite City's version certainly is. The last beers we ordered were the Shandy and the Brother Benedict's Bock. The Shandy, which is half lemonade and half of their Northern Light Lager is very refreshing. It's a great summer drink, light, and lots of flavor. The Bock, which I expected to be too strong for my liking was just the opposite. Like the menu says, the Bock is smooth. Like the Stout, this too has a lot of personality but I definitely preferred the taste of the Bock. After about twenty minutes of sitting, waiting for our bellies to be ready for some desert we decided on the Cheesecake Chimichangas. It's served with either caramel or chocolate syrup. We chose caramel. Sided with vanilla ice cream and some whipped cream. This is not a small desert. I could have made a meal out of it if I had the whole thing to myself. It's very filling, sweet, and absolutely delicious. I suggest leaving some space in your belly before ordering desert otherwise you might leave with a button undone on your britches.
(4)
Erica B.
Yes, its a chain eatery, but I give it 4 stars. I frequently choose to eat here during the week because it is usually easy to get a table (large dining room). The menu is very large and varied. I always find something that I like and the same goes for my guests. Ive heard their own brewed beer is noteworthy too. The patio is a little noisy during the summer due to the nearby roads, but that is a small drawback considering everything else this place has going for it. Staff is friendly and attentive. There are many vegetarian items on the menu. Great bar area with plenty of TVs.
(4)
Eric S.
Now I know everyone is against the "Chain Restaurants" but we all end up at one more often than not. Well, I do anyways. This is one of my personal favs. It is in an extremely busy area so if possible avoid coming during normal lunch/dinner times on the weekends as you will more than likely have to wait. They have 4-5 beers that they brew right there, my favorite is the Northern Lights Lager, also The Duke Pale Ale is rather tasty. I'm not sure about the others because guess what? I haven't tried them. They have a really good version a Cuban Sandwich and most of the signature selections on the menu are excellent, like most chain's their burgers are just so so, kinda what you'd expect so why bother ordering one! They don't really have any special appetizers either just your basics pretty much, but overall I like this place and their home brewed beer!
(4)
Joy V.
Customer service is excellent. We had a slight problem and the wait staff were there to please. Caring manager and wait staff. The two of us sat in the bar area tonight for an early meal. Thank you, it was a pleasure to have good customer service. This is in Maple Grove.
(5)
Bob D.
This place has the absolute best IPA beer in town. I am a mug club member and enjoy telling others about the great food and beer made right here.
(5)
Sccott S.
I had an enjoyable experience. Bri was a great server very attentive, friendly and nice. The blu peppercorn burger was done exactly how I ordered it. A great value.
(4)
Mackenzie T.
I went to Granite City for the first time in years for my sister's 21st birthday, the environment was very nice. It was moderately crowded but was not too loud, given it was late in the evening. The food that my party of 6 ordered came quickly, I would highly recommend the adult macaroni and cheese and the meatloaf. Our waiter was pleasant and was very helpful in helping decide what to order. I'm definitely coming to eat here more often!
(5)
Cacilie K.
Sunday brunch here is one of my favorites, unlimited mimosas! You can sit inside or outside depending on the weather! I have been here on a date, and with family. The atmosphere is very flexible.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch, Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Johanna L.
I went to Granite City in Arbor Lakes late last night. We had great experience! It was a fairly nice atmosphere, good food, service, and beer. I thought the beer was particularly good. I thought the beer flight/sampler was good value. Our waitress was very helpful! She made good conversation and recommendations. She explained the different beers and foods that we were curious about. Lastly, although we stayed about two hours she made sure we knew we felt no rush. Overall I recommend Granite City!
(4)Kelsey P.
The best way I can think to describe Granite City is like a classy Applebee's. It's a chain bar and grille, except more appropriately it's a chain brewery and restaurant. Do I know the difference between a grille and a restaurant? No. Restaurant sounds nicer. Granite City is nicer. Idk. Anyway. It's a great place for a nice date if you're on a budget. Yes, you can buy a $35 steak there, but you can also buy a $20 one. The real reason Granite City as a chain stands out? That beer though. Some of it is wonderful. Some of it is also terrible, but that is my preference, as a human being with strong opinions. If I liked a Kolsch, I'm sure the Lazy Lake would taste a lot less like actual lake water. If you're not going to get the sampler, which I strongly recommend you do, go for the two-step or two-pour or two-fer... It was two-something. It was different but really good. Now that I have that out of my system I can acknowledge that functional adult human beings don't go on dates just for beer. I had a chicken Caesar salad because I'm a boring person and my boyfriend had the Bock Mac n Cheese. The Caesar was good but nothing extraordinary. The Bock Mac n Cheese was stellar though. And those bowls just never end. We like to eat and neither of us finished the whole meal in one sitting.
(4)Taylor N.
I ordered the salmon caesar salad to go. The salmon was not cooked thoroughly at all and was still a slimy dark pink color on the inside. It was also still cold. I also ordered a loaf of bread with it and half of the loaf was rock solid. I go to Granite City a lot and am usually pleased with my meal, but the past TWO experiences have not been pleasing at all! The previous experience that I was there I was with my fiancé and we wanted to start off with a couple of drinks and eventually order food. We told the host that and she said she would not seat us at a table because we wanted to start off with a few cocktails and she said that we couldn't do that at a table we could only sit up at the bar and do that. It was not busy that night either. So, we went up to the bar and had a drink and eventually ordered dinner. As we were waiting for our dinner I saw a waitress who was bringing out a side salad to a table reach her hand into the salad and take out the tomatoes that were in the salad. That is disturbing to see as a customer because she did not have gloves on and she was on the floor of the restaurant in front of other guests! That is unacceptable!! I am not pleased with how the Maple Grove Granite City runs their restaurant.
(1)Yasmin B.
Great beers ok food. Really hard to find parking though. Service was ok. Not a prime location but ok compared to the other places in area
(4)R S.
The food and service was great for our group of 30. Boneless wings and spinach artichoke dip are great starters. Try the Northern Cheddar and Ale Soup. Spot on. The Mediterranean Chicken is great but beware of the broccoli that comes with it as the portion is huge.
(3)Shahab s.
Did visit this location during a business trip. I got their beach 1000 with 8% alcohol and it was awesome, As Hilton was nice enough to offer a shuttle to their location that means I was able to drink 3 glasses and man o man it's strong but in a good way I got their big show burger and it was tasty , a little bit to generous on fried onion but other than that it was perfect. Our server been really polite with a big smile . She was right on top of her job but a bit too pushy about more drinks . Very satisfied and highly recommended.
(5)Mercedes M.
My fiancé and I always meet his parents and brother here for brunch. The wait staff is always kind and attentive, the food is good especially the cinnamon pecan rolls mmmmmm. The earlier you get their the better, it fills up pretty quick.
(3)Joel V.
Glorified Perkins at best. I had the grilled chicken and broccoli. The chicken is the same quality you get from cub. Genetically modified and hard as a rock. It's quite disgusting that they fed me this and have the audacity to charge 13+ for it. The broccoli is a new one for me, it hard to cut... I can eat raw broccoli fine. This is physically hard to chew. My wife ordered a noodle asparagus dish, the asparagus is chopped so thin we questioned I it actually had asparagus in it. The flavor was fine but it's a 14$ bowl of flavors noodles. Cheap noodles at that. Save your time and money. The beer also tastes very watered down. The double ipa is at best a regular ipa.
(1)Maxx M.
Excellent. We stopped in for lunch yesterday. We couldn't have asked for anything more. The only reason I didn't give them five stars is because I'd have to stop by for dinner and see if they're just as great during a dinner service. DRINKS: My wife had hot tea and I had the Broad Axe (Oatmeal Stout). It was good--dark and creamy--surprisingly smooth for such a dark beer. The fermentation tank display is pretty cool. APPETIZERS: We had the Northern Cheddar & Ale Soup and the Turkey Wild Rice Almondine Soup. They were really, really good. MEAL: I had the Maple Pepper Bacon and Tomato Fire Roasted Flat Bread and my wife had the Vodka Mussels (technically an appetizer). They were both fantastic. SERVICE: The service was very good. Our server was nice, knowledgeable, and on top of everything. I had a good view of the kitchen and most of the staff from my booth. I noticed that these guys are super efficient. They're like a hive of busy honey bees, everyone buzzing around, doing their jobs. They're also surprisingly quiet--no yelling. They put a card on our table which indicated that we were first-time customers--very clever. I'd like to go back again (without the card) and see if everything is just as good. Finally, the manager handed us two chocolate chip cookies and thanked us as we walked out the door. Nice touch. We'll be back to try dinner. -Daddy Maxx Retro
(4)Abby P.
This place has a great happy hour! The portions were big! Service here was average. And food was great! Really enjoyed it.
(4)Jake S.
The food and brew here are a step above what you would find at most comparable chain restaurants, prices correspond to that premise. I see a lot of reviewers complaining about the burgers, but am guessing that they order them well done. I always order them medium and they have always come out pretty tasty. I belong to the Mug Club and receive 25 oz. mugs for $5 ($4 on HH) as well as 10% off food. My favorite meal is the bleu peppercorn burger (bleu cheese and bacon!) with waffle fries and GC dip (sour cream/mayo concoction), washed down with a Two Pull (lager/bock blend) or 3-Headed Monster (bock/pale ale/stout blend). I have tried most of the other menu items, but burgers and beer are my go to combo when I visit. The staff is usually pretty friendly and on the ball. It is almost always busy, so expect at least a 20-30 minute wait even at off-peak times on weekends, and up to an hour at lunch and dinner rush. Being next to I94 and the various shopping blocks make this a hotspot for the area. Parking can be a pain at times, especially since Redstone opened next door. Overall, I enjoy my experiences here as I am pretty low maintenance and know what to expect.
(4)Vic R.
Still a pretty good brunch. Our server Elizabeth was a little indifferent, but great food !!!! 10 of us.
(3)Mark M.
They said 5-10 minutes for a seat sat us in about 10 minutes so far so good! Hostess that sat us didn't seem to happy to be working here. Waiting for anyone to take our drink order manager walked passed asking all that ate how brunch was ignored us? Still waiting for drinking continue review in a few... Ok well I finally had to get up and ask if anyone was working our table. Buffet was so so not good enough to say yes come in! Maybe menu items are better? I am all about "energy" during the time we walked in sat ate and we're done not once did anyone from staff make eye contact say hi or smile except for waiter that said sorry for drink issue because no one knew whom had our table but he never came back to check if we needed a drink or if all was ok we left not thrilled at least the hostess said thanks for coming in. 1st impressions say a lot sadly I won't be back for a 2nd if u go, I hope service is much better skip the buffet!
(2)Robert B.
Went here over a busy time on Christmas eve. The first concern I had was one person had a seeing eye dog in the party. They seemed a bit unsure what to do. First, the hostess found her manager to point out the dog. Why? The dog clearly has identification. He quickly told the hostess, it is a companion dog. I was a little put off by that uncertainty of the hostess. Second, when taken to our table she took the party way too fast. She did not time herself to the pace of the group. On to the food and drink choices that were presented. Almost everyone had a steak of some kind. Two came back the improper temperature. The well done was closer to medium and the medium rare was rare to the point of cold in the middle. The high price of the steaks they should be done perfectly. I chalk it up to a busy night. It also took some time for the meals to come out. I'm a beer lover so I was happy with the different micro-brew selections. I picked a seasonal winter beer. I enjoyed the taste of the beer. It was slightly watery would be the only point I would make with it.
(3)Sandy S.
This places sucks. Beautiful day, we decided to sit outside. Meh. The "view" was the noisy expressway. Took forever to get drinks. Took a long time to get a server to take our order. Far too long to get the food. No bread in table to help take the edge off. We sat and watched one of us eat their soup while the others just sat there with hands in laps. Twice TWO different servers asked us if the food they brought out was ours? No. Don't you guys have freaking table numbers?! Wait staff were truly CLUELESS. When food did come (and not delivered by our server), I laughed at the French Onion Soup. The cheese (normally found on top of the soup) was in fact, stuck to the sides of the bowl--on purpose. My daughter had to peel it off and put it in the soup. If she didn't, she would have had no cheese. Shrimp tacos were just ok. I did like the small portion of corn and black bean salsa. Their raspberry tea was some of the worst I had ever had. The kicker of this visit was the server's bussing of the table. While we were sitting there, he cleared our table. He proceeded to arrange all of our dishes, slopping the black bean juice all over my leg, making a mess. He then went to another table to bus. Stopped again at our table to drop off the bill. While digging for it in his pocket, he set down the other people's dirty dishes right in front of us. Ugh. Actually, now that I think about it, the bowl was full of pasta. Geez, I sure as heck hope he wasn't heading to the wrap that up for the other customer. Not. Going. Back.
(2)Pamela H.
I've driven past this place about 5,000 times but never went in. Tonight there was a dine and donate event at Granite City for my friend. Granite City graciously offered 20% of our tab to the benefit. And for everyone who brought in the flyer. The wait staff was great. And the food was solid. One person at our table wasn't sure of what beer they wanted to order so the server graciously brought her some samples. At our table we ordered the Cuban sandwich, the prime rib sandwich, & a regular cheeseburger. They were all delicious and hot and served timely. It really pains me to give 5 stars to a chain restaurant but they did a great job at the same time giving to charity. How could you go wrong?
(5)Bryan M.
Very good. We came here during our vacation and were impressed. The food was great. I tried a flight of beers and wasn't crazy about any of them, but the mixed drinks were good. We would definitely come back next time we are in town.
(4)Taylor S.
I received great guest service and food. I always order the Adult Bock Mac & Cheese, but it is not your typical Mac & Cheese. They use different seasonings, bacon, creamy cheese sauce, etc. Everything tastes fresh. Sooo delicious! Mmmm. I love the atmosphere of the dining and bar sections. Very roomy, warm tones, dim lighting in the evenings, awesome place for a date night or to go out with the family to talk and eat great food!
(5)Karena V.
Visited here with the boyfriend for the first time. I got the Salmon Oscar with asparagus, broccoli & lump crab. We also ordered some sweet potato fries & I also got a Bloody Mary. I was not impressed by the salmon oscar, the salmon was cooked perfectly yes, but lacked flavor & had some charred bits. A little sauce &/or marinade would have done a little good. The greens were wilted & not fresh. The Bloody Mary was beyond a disappointment. It tasted like flavored water & colored water, not even tomato flavored. I couldn't even taste the vodka, there was no spice & the shrimp on the skewer was practically raw. However, the sweet potato fries were the best I have ever had-perfectly crisp & delicious.
(3)Ethan C.
The service and food here is always good. Join the mug club, you'll save on the beer brewed onsite and on your entree. They also send good coupons via email. Basically, they've got great loyalty benefits. Every time we're here, a manager chimes out to check on us, the servers work as a team to see that our needs are met and the food is good. Definitely let do the brunch on Sunday!
(4)Scott F.
I've been a Mug Club member for a long time. The specials, the seasonal brews, the parties are all great! Now they have a good variety of appetizers and the flat bread pizzas are really good! Wonderful happy hour! We've never had food here we didn't really like. By far my favorite restaurant.
(5)Paul D.
I used to think this was a good restaurant. Nice options on the menu. Nice environment. But today was the last straw. "Would you like food with your salt?" Everything seemed to have salt as the primary ingredient. Even nachos were too salty. My son would not eat his chicken, so I tried it and I could not swallow more than one piece. If I order chicken for my toddler, I expect it to taste like it. Never eating here again.
(1)maryalecia b.
I had their salads twice and really enjoyed them! The third time I had fish and chips, and was not so impressed. It wasn't bad, but the serving was too big and the fish was a bit over cooked (the breading was too dark). My husband enjoyed the beer selection and was surprised at how good a price the sampler was. We went twice later in the evening during the week when it was basically dead; service was very prompt and friendly. The third time was on a Saturday night when it was crazy busy. We still got seated in a timely fashion. I was a little put off by the mannerism of the waitress, who seemed to be trying way too hard to be upbeat and friendly. Unfortunately, it just came across as very fake and awkward.
(3)Brett B.
Good food! Solid beer. I got the bedda chedda burger and the Bennie beer. Both were great. The beer was caramel-ly, but not to sweet. The burger was actually cooked medium, the way I wanted it. Someone else I was with tried the Northern Beer and that was VERY light. Just a warning for you IPAers out there. Definitely recommend this place.
(4)Troy S.
We go for brunch, good selection of breakfast and lunch items. Great bacon! Service is decent. Busy but worth it. Prices are more than fair what the food you receive. Great omelets options and very good biscuits and gravy!
(5)Sean H.
This has been my local for MN grill for years. They brew the best IPA I have ever had! The service and food has always been good ... The Thai shrimp appetizer is awesome..the flat breads ...Juicy Lucy... It's all good... The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars is I yet have to give any restaurant ...the full Monty!
(4)Mary M.
Service is great, have you eaten several of the entrées and they've all been good. The blue cheese peppercorn burger is fantastic!
(4)Sonya K.
Like others have said, make sure you join the Mug Club to get a good deal on their brews. The food and service here isn't bad and I like that kids eat for free on Sunday. The Northern Ale soup is delicious and it really comforting during the cold fall/winter days.
(4)John C.
My new hangout! Their boneless wings put Buffalo WW to shame! Friendly and prompt bartender and food served hot and fresh. Prices are consistent with the location and target demographic.
(5)Jennifer L.
The food is good, the beer is awesome! A regular date night spot for us. Good evening atmosphere good service without hovering, the noise level is perfect too. I definitely recommend.
(5)Whitney G.
The breakfast buffet at this location is quite amazing. I felt like I had to be rolled out! The $8 all you can drink mimosa/bloody mary special is pretty great as well. The brunch includes croissants, prime rib, an omlette station, scones, scrambled eggs, waffles or french toast, eggs benedict, and some lunch options. The service is usually pretty great, and worth the 20 minute wait.
(4)Tim L.
It's just ok here, food is ok, floor is extremely greasy and slippery in the dining room which is gross. Friday at 8pm and the fries were old and stale, desert is meh and the strawberry on the cake was rotten. I guess OK is the best rating they get.
(3)Dan P.
Last couple visits its been beer and apps. The apps are ok-appearance, flavor, value. Problem with the beer though- all five or six house brewed options (nice profit margin I bet) just don't taste that good. Am I an expert-No. But I used to homebrew and I've drank ALOT of beer over the years so I'm familiar with the types and varieties you know? Latest example was their Scotch Ale. Big let down as it was not smooth and sweet like other Scotch Ales and it's flavor reminded me of every other beer served at GC except the very light lager. Hey GC- try Great Divide Brewing Co. Claymore Scotch Ale or any of the other leading Scotch ales to see what good examples taste like ok? I was definitely more impressed with GC beers in the past. Maybe the competition around town is raising the bar?
(2)N C.
If this review were just on the food and ambiance, it would be a 4, but because humans were involved, it is a 3. We arrived last Sat night around 9pm. We were guided to a high top in the bar where we wanted to sit. We sat 8 minutes with several servers walking buy but not a glance. I proceeded back to the hostess stand and asked if we had a server. The hostess asked what table # we were at. Um what? Shortly after, a girl came to wait on us saying "oppps.....really sorry, my bad." Ok, fine. Move on. My friend asked for a pint of "x" beer......the server than asked "is that 16, 20, or 24 oz?" Its a pint. Yep. Its true. After this, it just got comical, we had three servers in 2.5 hours. We watched the hostess mope around like the world was ending. Dragging her feet and pants on the floor, hugging herself like she was sick and near death..........I get it, you want to go home early like everyone else. Then a miracle occurred......the hostess must have been released because like magic, her coat went on and smile came across her face. At least that was fun to experience. Thanks for the laughs Granite City.
(3)Kayla G.
Service was great! Thanks Adam! Hostess was non-existent for 5 minutes or so and then when she showed up she didn't even greet us! Or say hi! You are the hostess sweetheart, that is your job to welcome people. Servers passing by the front seemed to not care either.. I am a server and I would never leave a guest at the front like that! We did come at an "off" time in the restaurant world.. Too early for dinner servers and at the tail end of lunch server's shifts, but still not an excuse. But where did the quality go!? I swear our salads had canned chicken in them! No grill marks, no real edges and overly moist.. As in sitting in juices in a can. Plus super thingy sliced similar to Asian take-out. I was looking forward to a good, filling salad. This used to be my favorite restaurant and now that I no longer live in Minnesota I thought it'd be great to go back, but maybe not.. If the quality is gone, I am not interested in dining. Drinks were good and desert for my mom's birthday was too! I don't know why but the hostess situation, and the quality of chicken have ruined my opinion of Granite City :-(
(2)Alec D.
Great food, great beer. Idaho Nachos, Reuben, Batch 1000 beer. All great. Friendly, fast service. 8 craft beers in a flight for $4.95! Great value.
(5)Bao H.
Guess -- At first glance I thought this was a Guess store. Guess what? I was wrong. Though it wouldn't hurt to become one I "guess". This was your typical sports bar with some swank. I ordered the bleu cheeseburger and some waffle fries. Overall, I didn't think it was that great. My burger was pretty dry and the waffle fries, well they were waffle fries. I don't think waffle fries were ever an IN thing. The place like I said nothing too fancy and stuck to pop, but if you're looking for a quick drink I "guess" this place will do. - Enjoy!
(2)Joe B.
I like the service here. It is always solid. Servers know their menu, the food is served promptly. The menu is standard american fare. They changed menu recently. The main knock for me me is the beer. I really appreciate that they make their beer on site, and it is not filtered. They really are not great beers. Maybe up the IBUs a titch on your APA? Maybe the use of a different hop varietal? Do something that will put your name on that beer. Your beers are fresh, just kind of blah. Better beer would get you another star.
(3)Michael B.
I Have been going to Granit City for many years and have never had a bad experience. The servers are fantastic (Logan and Kelsey) and the managers are always great also (Amy, Pete and Bob). If you like a place that is friendly with great food adn BEER. This is the best place in town.
(5)Randall N.
Meh. Classier than Applebees/TGI Fridays and a step above both in food but not by much. overpriced at every level. The server we had could not take a joke and made us all uncomfortable with her surliness. With all the options for food in Maple Grove this is not where I would choose to come. Their beers are decent though...but with the boom in craft brewing occurring in MSP right now there's nothing worth noting.
(2)Christine D.
We just moved to MN and came here the first few days we were in town. The food is amazing (as is the beer) and the staff is super friendly and nice.
(5)Justin S.
Granite city is just a consistent choice for any meal, but I focus on lunch and dinner. I mainly stay with the burgers since they come out on this glorious thick delicious bun that is fluffy and baked to perfection. I have to say I'm a bun guy and their burgers are placed on a very good one. The waffles fries are staples here and the seasoned sour cream is very tasty, although they are just as good in ketchup as they are in the special sour cream. It's an upcharge, so be ready! Their salads are pretty excellent as well with my most recent one being the Asian chicken salad.....also they are pretty massive and come in large bowls by any standard. The beer here is always cold and refreshing. The only draught beer they have on tap is their own with a seasonal beer rotating in and out. The porters, bock, and IPA are my favorite for a bit heavier beer with the Northern light being a good tasty light beer and is not watery at all. Their combination of Northern Light and Brother Benedict Bock is called a Two-Pull and is my favorite choice when visiting. There generally is a wait, so be prepared for that on prime nights.
(4)Darryl D.
Favourite spot to visit in Maple Grove. Love the new patio and the choice of beer is always great. Love the burgers here and the staff are very easy to deal with and wanting to ensure we have a good time.
(5)Brent E.
Great place, staff was very attentive and helpful. We visited on a Sunday evening while the U of M men's hockey and the Wild were both playing on TV, so the place was hopping. Staff did a great job of keeping the beer's coming and getting our orders processed. Our appetizer showed up after the main dishes but the staff was visibly upset and correct the issue by removing the item from our bill. I suspect this oversight was based on the number of people in the packed joint for the games. Beer is outstanding, worth the trip. Food is better than average. We had the french onion soup and it was very good. the kids meals came with a large portion of very fresh fruit, our kids love this. We will be going back to the Granite City location.
(4)Chris E.
I came here for my 5th year anniversary. I'm from Southern California visiting family in Minnesota so I had never tried this place and went based on a recommendation from my Mother. Knowing her tastes, I expected this place to be so/so or worse. We ordered the Tomato Basil Flat Bread Pizza appetizer along with a few drinks. The pizza was pretty decent, nice and light, not oily, and portioned just right for 2-3 people. I had a Northern Light Lager; Nothing too special, just a typical light lager that tasted on the same lines as something Miller would churn out. The girlfriend had a Flying Monkey and a drink that was off the menu. Both felt a little weak on the alcohol side. We split a medium rare Grilled London Broil with Bourbon Sauce and fully loaded mashed potatoes. The steak was cooked perfectly with the perfect amount of pink. The marinade really resonated in the beef. It did taste a bit oily, as if a lot of butter was used (as I'm sure it was). The mashed potatoes were standard of this type of a restaurant. If you have never been to Granite City I'd equate this to a BJ's. It serves the same type of food, same type of drinks, for the same amount of money. Not bad, but nothing to go to war for.
(4)Julia D.
Our FAVORITE place to eat!!!!! Me and my husband came here on our first date and ever since we looooved this place! I love there new menu and the patio they added . Perfect place to go on a summer night!!!
(5)Lynn S.
My husband and I tried Granite City for the first time and we loved it. Nice variety of menu options, great service, fun atmosphere and we enjoyed the food. We will for sure be going back again.
(4)Christine C.
Things I love about Granite City in Maple Grove: 1. Delightful, attentive waitstaff 2. Waitstaff works as a team 3. $7 flat bread during happy hour 4. Their Peppered Bacon/Tomato flat bread is a delightful blend of sweet, peppery bacon and basil, cheese, and fresh tomatoes. 5. The chopped salad is the best mixed up pile of things I love 5. They will place eight delicious beer varieties in front of me via the beer flight option 6. Cute messages written on my to go box 7. They allow me to keep experiencing Granite City at home by letting me walk out carrying two growlers full of my favorite brews.
(5)Salinee H.
Good service and pretty decent bar food. I like their lunch specials during the week. They have a good variety of specials, including smaller burger options. I wish it wasn't just during the day when they had that because who really needs a half pound burger. They make their own beer but I'm not too much of a fan of it.
(3)D J.
New to the area, this is one of the first places we dined at. Our first experience was very good, I would have rated that 4 stars at least just for the food. Our next couple of visits haven't been quite as nice, but we still enjoy it there. The difference seems to be in the servers. First visit we had a young lady serve us, and she wasn't real outwardly friendly to begin with, but did soften a little and had some conversation with us. The next two visits we had male servers, neither of whom I would call 'friendly', but they got the job done, even if a they could have been a little more attentive. I guess we just like to enjoy our meals and we're friendly people so we like being treated likewise. I would say the food wasn't quite as good as the first time either, but that could be with what we ordered. So, Granite City, train your staff to be a little warmer to your guests. Believe me, we want our money to buy us an enjoyable experience, and our jury is out on the consistency of the quality here. Even when you're busy and crowded, as is often the case, we would like to know that we can expect the same good meal time after time.
(3)Jeff T.
GC is my go to restaurant. Good beer and good food seems to be a rarity for breweries and they pull it off. We get the Idaho Nachos with every first time visitor. The flat bread pizzas are great starters for a big group or enough for a whole meal for one person. The ribeye and filets are both very good. My favorite beer is The Duke IPA and their seasonal Oktoberfest is also tasty. For dessert, the chocolate cake with the hot whiskey butter is our favorite. Join the Mug Club for 10% off your entree, 25 oz mugs and gift certificates. For lighter meals, their burgers and chopped salad are also very good.
(4)Abe M.
This is one of those "if only there were half stars" kind of ratings. I have eaten here a few times now and keep coming back to fill up my growler. First off the growler. With all the beers they brew it is hard not to find one you like. I first bought the growler when the refill price was $6, then it was raised to $7, and now it is back down to $6.50. It seems to fluctuate based on the price of hops. I can certainly understand this and even at $7, it is still a great price. I can usually get 4 glasses of beer out of 1 growler. The food: I have eaten many meals here and the food is not that unoriginal. There is nothing that I have found that really makes it stand out. Although I usually judge these places off of nachos, I have never had them here. Next time I eat here, that is what I'm going to order. So drink and be merry and enjoy!
(3)D K.
Food has really gone downhill since their hey-day but still good. The beer is as good as ever and the service is great. Brunch is nothing special but at least it's not overpriced like many.
(3)Rosie Y.
This was the second time I've gone to Granite City. The service here sucked...really really bad. The food was good though. I would have preferred going to the Rosedale location due to the poor customer service here.
(2)Shane H.
Surprised at the service and food--in the best way. Our hostess was very pleasant and led to an even more pleasant waitress. We didn't know what to order so we went with the popular burger dish. I was blown away and that's very rare for a...burger. It's pricier than your typical 4 star place, but the atmosphere was upscale and had some good sized TVs to watch sports.
(4)Julie N.
I have to start by saying I'm not a huge fan of chains (I'm pretty sure this is one anyway) but this place has never done anything but amaze us every time we've eaten there. I always want to try something new but the Rosemary Honey Filet seems to always be what I order bc it's sooooooo delicious and full of flavor. Our "must have" every time is the French Onion soup to split and we try and get a different app every time. Def try the spicy asian shrimp something or other app because that's our fav so far. We had the nachos one night when our eyes were bigger than our stomach but it was pretty tasty. Service has always been great. Only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is because I didn't want to get too crazy :)
(4)Hanna M.
Dusty window blinds, bland food, soggy fries, and dirty dishes. Not much else to say about our experience.
(2)Emily B.
Here for lunch on a weekday afternoon before heading to the airport. I have zero complaints. Beer was great, food was great and my waitress was super friendly and attentive without hovering. I also appreciated the help when I was having trouble deciding on what to have for lunch! For the price the lunch menu is a great deal and the perfect amount of food. Salad, 1/2 sand which (I had the prime rib) and just enough fries! She also did a great job of helping me select a beer (two pull), I am an avid fan of the micro brews but she did a great job and nailed it!
(4)Amy R.
Ventured out to the burbs to meet a friend for brunch and was quite impressed with the variety and quality of their Sunday brunch. I'm told they also have a Saturday brunch. Service was good. Ambiance was favorable and the food was tasty for a reasonable price. Great selection of breakfast options : Eggs Benedict, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs, fruit, pastries, waffles, french toast hashbrowns and a lot more.
(4)John L.
Great Sunday buffet at St. Cloud location. Bri was our waitress. She was friendly and attentive and really nice. Prime rib awesome. Everything was superb. We will go back more often. Even the Manager greeted us and thanked us for coming.
(5)Lisa M.
I'm usually a fan of stand-alone restaurants more than I am of chains, but Granite City rises above those standards. Their flatbread pizzas are great! The Pepper Bacon and Tomato is my all-time favorite. If you're out for a drink, be sure to try one of their 6 in-house specialty brews: Northern Light Lager, Brother Benedict's Bock, Duke of Wellington IPA, Broad Axe Stout, Wag's American Wheat, or the Two Pull. I've sampled all of them and they are all excellent! If you're more of a cocktail fan, try the Flying Monkey--it's like candy! Most recently, my friend Karah and I were there for New Years and we ordered the "date night meal" for $50 which included salads, an appetizer, a main entree (we got the Fillet Mignon--yum!), and a dessert! Definitely worth the money when split in 2. All in all, Granite City is a nice place to go for a meal. It's a mix between casual and classy, so whatever you're wearing, you'll fit in. I recommend it. P.S. I went to the Cedar Rapids, IA location for Sunday brunch and it was the BOMB. Buffet style gourmet breakfast? I ate until my stomach almost exploded. Delicious.
(4)Michele M.
I have met up with friends at Granite City in St. Cloud, Eagan, and, most recently, in Maple Grove. The food is consistently good and the atmosphere is comfortable. The happy hour specials were wonderful - I do recommend stopping by from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. We enjoyed $5 Cosmos and $7 flatbread pizzas - BBQ chicken and Margherita. Both were very tasty. Our server, Gina, however, was absolutely outstanding! She is a true asset to the Granite City in Maple Grove.
(4)Christopher S.
Solid. Service, staff, food and fun. Hit the brunch on sat (limited brunch menu) or sun (full, overwhelming brunch) and have a home brewed micro to drink. Lots of fun staff, and great locally brewed beers. The only downside? Long lines on weekends, so plan ahead! :) I still don't know why anyone would order a miller lite at a brewery...sigh. 5 stars!
(5)Jacque U.
We took a co-worker out for lunch today and everyone really seemed to enjoy their meals. I ordered the lunch portion of the Bruschetta Chicken Salad with a cup of the black bean chili (cup of soup is included). It was very tasty! I liked that the salad came with 4 toasts so you could actually build bruschetta if you wanted. I would have liked some more greens though, it wasn't much of a "salad". Around the table people had burgers, buffalo chicken sandwiches, and the AYCE soup & salad for lunch and I didn't hear a single complaint. The birthday girl got a giant cookie for dessert which we all dug into and thoroughly enjoyed. I would definitely go back. My only warning would be that it can get pricey. $13 for a lunch plus tip is a little much in my book.
(4)Robyn F.
I've been here thrice and enjoyed it all three times. The food is good, the beer is good, and the service and atmosphere are good. This is going to become a regular spot for dinner.
(4)Ali H.
Meh. Four or five stars for good beer and daily happy hour specials. Minus a star for a bland, extremely greasy and salty flatbread to accompany the beer. Plus a half star for an AMAZING asian shrimp appetizer. It was the only truly good thing we ate. And it was actually really great and cheap during happy hour. I don't really like this place in general, but I'd go back for beer and that shrimp. But that's probably it.
(3)Aaron E.
My wife and I's typical place to go when we wanted to go out to eat. Moderately priced, consistently good food, never bad service even when busy, managers always talk to us and have handled the rare issue easily and satisfactorily. My wife almost always gets the Bruschetta Chicken Salad. It is quite good, I must admit. The toast pieces that come with it are amazing. I've gotten everything from the oriental salad to a burger to a pizza and haven't been disappointed once. I like beer and am not a beer snob that's going to suggest changing the way their beers are made like someone else, and I do enjoy they have different types of beers than your typical place would. All in all, it's a very good place for a casual meal. Not an anniversary/date place by any means, but that's not what it's going for. I came close to giving out 5 stars, but I don't just hand those out lightly. By far my favorite place to go in the north western suburbs though.
(4)Emmaline D.
Enjoyed the atmosphere. My husband and I were there on a Friday night at 6:30 and there was a 15 minute wait. We ordered the mussels - they were good quality but the vodka sauce was to salty. Actually I have ordered several things that were to salty, the Jambalaya was NOT authentic and waaaay to salty. For my entree I got the Korean Tacos - YUM! I was very happy with this meal and the garden salad with dressing on the side is always delicious and refreshing. My husband's meal (rib eye) was just slightly overdone, and we had 3 different managers come to our table to apologize, offer to fire a new steak, offer us a free dessert, and also a gift card. I was impressed with the service!!! I am looking forward to trying their brunch soon.
(4)Ben D.
Holy good God above, Lord Almighty, and all the other semi-religious exclamations I can use in one sentence. I have never been surrounded by such awful people in my entire life! Every table surrounding ours made it blatantly obvious they didn't care for my kind in the restaurant, and by that of course I mean they don't like people that aren't obese. I have never seen such a disgusting crowd of people shoveling bits of seperated chicken into their mouth so fast without stopping to wipe their mouth/hand, or even to breathe. Their beer soaked shirts and buffalo sauced lips, cheeks, and teeth chowing into what I assume was once an animal but you can no longer tell from it being deep fried and slathered in an unidentifiable sauce that has a VERY pungent odor... For a moment there it looked like ethel and her severely overweight 12 year old were fighting with forks over the last chicken wing. This is why I don't do chain restaurants, and probably why when I ordered a salad I literally heard a chuckle from the waiter... The only thing that made my experience here warrant two stars (seeing as how my salad was so soaked in dressing they might as well just sent me a cup of that with no lettuce) was literally the booze we consumed, well that and watching the man going through his midlife crisis freak out when he apparently couldn't read that the Ghost Wings are so hot it will burn everything inside of you. Oh yes, this was a bad decision to eat here... one that I will not soon make again.
(2)Rachel R.
I've been here a few times and I've never been disappointed. The food is always great, the service is awesome and they have a good beer selection. Classic American restaurant, family friendly and fairly casual. It can get noisy when it's crowded, so that's something to keep in mind.
(4)kyle t.
We used to go here a lot. The food is good but not great. Good beer though they have a very small bar, seating wise. Made a trip there this weekend and had a very good burger. Service was OK, not great but real good burger and a nice beer does something for me. As the sit down chains go this place is above average but really doesn't go much higher than that. Very American food with not much for the creative side. They do have a Sunday brunch and if you love meat and hate the veggies this is the brunch for you!!!
(3)Matthew M.
I really want to give Granite City more stars. I like the atmosphere, but the food and service have really gone downhill over the years. For the price, there are much better options. A lot of the food is pre-made and the beers come out with an inch or so of space left for more beer (which equates to about a 1/4 of a total pint glass). I'll take my money over to Redstone for better food or to Five Guys for a better burger.
(2)Mad G.
Oh boy. I do not have many good things to say. Here's one thing....the ambiance was very nice. The meals, not so much. My wife and I ordered two burger meals and the kids, toasted cheese sandwich meals. Both came with something similar to fries. We ordered the Bedda Chedda Bacon Burger and the Blue Peppercorn Burger. Both were really dry and lacking flavor. We didn't finish either burger. The fries are very thin and after they cool down are like eating little sticks...again not with much flavor. The kids' sandwiches were fine. They ate them, but they barely touched the thin fries. We were pretty disappointed with this place. I was thinking of giving them a 1-star, but the wait staff was very friendly so I gave them a 2. I doubt we will ever come back.
(2)Adam S.
There beer is ok, not great, but pretty solid. I'd still rather have a Summit. I do like their burgers and cuban sandwich, but their entree's leave something to be desired. Their fried walleye is bad, they call it "lightly" breaded. There is nothing light about the breading. Batter is heavy and thick, it's the opposite of "light". Stick with beer, burgers, and sandwiches. For whatever reason it's often packed, so I usually skip it as it's not worth waiting for.
(3)Newman Z.
Beer and service is good, but food is awful. Tried chop salad, chicken sandwich, and hamburger. Needless to say, making food is not their strength.
(2)Ann V.
With my love of bbq sauce, I consider myself to be a big critic of it. I ordered the bbq chicken flatbread pizza which is now my favorite dish in the place. I don't think I'll ever eat there without ordering it.I was there for lunch so I didn't get to try any of the drinks, but I plan on returning for happy hour -half of my bbq pizza and drinks! Cheers to that!
(4)Charlene M.
I've been here several times, and the food is consistently greasy.
(3)Jayme N.
First off, I want to put it out there that I really don't drive out to Maple Grove to eat very often. The brunch at Granite City is one of the best I've been to in a long time! My husband had a "build your own" bloody mary which he also said was fabulous. I didn't have the chance to try everything, but that just gives me the chance to go back! At $14.99 per adult and FREE for kids under 6, the quality of food, number of choices and friendliness of staff, I'm more than happy to drive out of Blaine for great breakfast!
(4)Kayla M.
I'm usually skeptical about the places my boyfriend picks to eat at. He always says he "read reviews" but he clearly doesn't use Yelp because we've ended up at loads of crappy restaurants that were supposedly excellent. With that said, Granite City does not fall into the crappy category. We got there a bit early Friday evening, close to 5. Thank goodness too 'cause after seeing the evening crowd hit on our way out I think the place probably gets pretty packed. There's a good reason for that crowd though, they serve awesome beer and fantastic food. We started with the Truffle Fries and the Crispy Buffalo Shrimp. My only complaint is that the fries are teeny weeny. I wish they'd have been a little larger but the truffle oil you get to dip the fries in makes you forget how irritatingly small they are. It's YUMMY. I didn't try the Buffalo Shrimp but they looked awesome. They were served similar to the way sushi rolls are usually served and they were, according to the boyfriend, VERY good. Our starting beers were the Wag's Wheat and the Broad Axe Stout. I'm not a beer guru so I'm not going to pretend I am and start reviewing the beers like one. The Wag's Wheat was super light. Almost too light for my taste really. Still good, but very light. The menu warns of this but I didn't take it seriously. I only had a couple of sips of the Stout, which has a chocolatey taste and a lot of personality. Main meal consisted of the Linguine Pomodoro (for me) and the Prosciutto Olive Flatbread Pizza (for the boyfriend). The Prosciutto Flatbread Pizza looks SO good and (again) according to my boyfriend it really was incredible. I want to get a flatbread for myself the next time we go. The Linguine Pomodoro was amazing. And whoever the heck decided it needed red pepper flakes was genius. They added the tiniest hint of spice, it was perfect. You just can't understand how tasty this dish is until you order it yourself. I almost forgot, we also ordered the Ale and Cheddar soup. Served with bits of Rye bread sprinkled atop, this soup is a must have. I've never had Ale and Cheddar soup so I don't know if it's usually rich in flavor but Granite City's version certainly is. The last beers we ordered were the Shandy and the Brother Benedict's Bock. The Shandy, which is half lemonade and half of their Northern Light Lager is very refreshing. It's a great summer drink, light, and lots of flavor. The Bock, which I expected to be too strong for my liking was just the opposite. Like the menu says, the Bock is smooth. Like the Stout, this too has a lot of personality but I definitely preferred the taste of the Bock. After about twenty minutes of sitting, waiting for our bellies to be ready for some desert we decided on the Cheesecake Chimichangas. It's served with either caramel or chocolate syrup. We chose caramel. Sided with vanilla ice cream and some whipped cream. This is not a small desert. I could have made a meal out of it if I had the whole thing to myself. It's very filling, sweet, and absolutely delicious. I suggest leaving some space in your belly before ordering desert otherwise you might leave with a button undone on your britches.
(4)Erica B.
Yes, its a chain eatery, but I give it 4 stars. I frequently choose to eat here during the week because it is usually easy to get a table (large dining room). The menu is very large and varied. I always find something that I like and the same goes for my guests. Ive heard their own brewed beer is noteworthy too. The patio is a little noisy during the summer due to the nearby roads, but that is a small drawback considering everything else this place has going for it. Staff is friendly and attentive. There are many vegetarian items on the menu. Great bar area with plenty of TVs.
(4)Eric S.
Now I know everyone is against the "Chain Restaurants" but we all end up at one more often than not. Well, I do anyways. This is one of my personal favs. It is in an extremely busy area so if possible avoid coming during normal lunch/dinner times on the weekends as you will more than likely have to wait. They have 4-5 beers that they brew right there, my favorite is the Northern Lights Lager, also The Duke Pale Ale is rather tasty. I'm not sure about the others because guess what? I haven't tried them. They have a really good version a Cuban Sandwich and most of the signature selections on the menu are excellent, like most chain's their burgers are just so so, kinda what you'd expect so why bother ordering one! They don't really have any special appetizers either just your basics pretty much, but overall I like this place and their home brewed beer!
(4)Joy V.
Customer service is excellent. We had a slight problem and the wait staff were there to please. Caring manager and wait staff. The two of us sat in the bar area tonight for an early meal. Thank you, it was a pleasure to have good customer service. This is in Maple Grove.
(5)Bob D.
This place has the absolute best IPA beer in town. I am a mug club member and enjoy telling others about the great food and beer made right here.
(5)Sccott S.
I had an enjoyable experience. Bri was a great server very attentive, friendly and nice. The blu peppercorn burger was done exactly how I ordered it. A great value.
(4)Mackenzie T.
I went to Granite City for the first time in years for my sister's 21st birthday, the environment was very nice. It was moderately crowded but was not too loud, given it was late in the evening. The food that my party of 6 ordered came quickly, I would highly recommend the adult macaroni and cheese and the meatloaf. Our waiter was pleasant and was very helpful in helping decide what to order. I'm definitely coming to eat here more often!
(5)Cacilie K.
Sunday brunch here is one of my favorites, unlimited mimosas! You can sit inside or outside depending on the weather! I have been here on a date, and with family. The atmosphere is very flexible.
(4)