I had a lemon drop martini and it was good. I ordered the walleye fingers and the coating was soggy and the fish was luke warm. My daughter had the margarita pizza which was cold and the crust was soggy. Not impressed with "Bonfire".
(3)
Bill D.
I've armed my lesson at this point. Don't eat anywhere named "Axel's". Food can't decide if it should be hot or cold. Soda is flat. Water tastes like it's from old pipes (needs filtering or softening or something). Her steak medallions were so charred as to be inedible. They offered other food to compensate, but honestly if the kitchen can't get the basics right, what makes you think I want to try a more complex to make food item? Highly doubt we'll be back to any Axel's location ever again. This is four in a row (different restaurant each time).
(1)
Mike O.
I like the early (up to 6) and late (after 9) happy hours with 1/2 off pizza and appetizers and $2 off drinks. Sometimes enjoy both in one day. My huge Coors light is $4.50. Thurs, Fri and Say are great happy hour nights, they have lines. Sat. nite they have live bands at 9pm, just when happy hours kicks in. Very good 2 and 3 person bands like Ken Valdez.
(5)
John L.
Absolutely horrible service. Sat and waited very long (20 minutes) for service. Ordered some drinks and waited again to have our order to be taken. We were informed that all we could get were pizzas or appetizers as the cook quit. We were there for steaks. Asked to talk to the manager and he was too busy. Said we were leaving and received a billed for our non alcoholic drinks. Fuming now! Would never recommend this place,? As we were walking out I noticed people at the bar were just served what looked like pork chop.
(1)
Jon C.
Wasn't very impressed with how our server "of 20 years" handled herself when it came to a mix up with our tab. Brought in a large group and when I questioned why they pulled what seemed like a bait and switch, she unprofessionally got very loud to the point of awkwardness that I can't say I ever see myself ever going back to this location again. I'm sure they have much more professional staff members here, but I can only speak of the service I received which was obviously bush league at best. My suggestion if you're going to visit this place is sit at the bar.
(1)
Richard H.
Food was spoiled. Chessy potatos tasted like they were made with spoiled milk. Told the waiter when they brought the check. He said "thats strange.". Then handed us the bill. He never checked in with us during dinner nor could we flag him down. That was the last straw on bad food we've encountered over a number of visits and we are a pretty easy to please family. How do you leave 0 stars on yelp?
(1)
Birdie G.
I've been to this location on numerous occasions. The wait staff is patient, incredibly knowledgeable and the manager can often be seen overlooking the floor to make sure things are being taken care of. Regarding the food, well...there was no option for a 10 star rating, so the 5 will have to do. It is always delicious, prepared to perfection and everything on the menu is worth every penny I've paid so far. We'll definitely be going back :)
(5)
Just M.
4 stars for the happy hour!! The pizza and tall tap beers is why we go. We live very close and seen many changes to the place. Some good and some bad. Service is good (we ask for brad). It's a great place to people watch as sometimes the cougars are on the prowl :) Friday nights have the dueling piano's and that can be fun. The lettuce wraps are my wife's favorite and I go for pizza. The rest of the menu is fine and priced fair. The desserts there are nothin to write home about. Stick to the staples their known for. 4 stars for happy hour special, people watching and dueling pianos.
(4)
Chad G.
This place is consistently horrible about once in every three months we forget and try it again only to be disappointed. Tonight we ordered carry out, the said 20 min and it took 50. Apparently 50 min. was not enough time to get our food even warm. Our pizza was raw on one side and burnt on the other, walleye fingers were so salty they were inedible and we did not receive two of our $6 add on salads as additional sides to our entrees. I had a salmon BLT that consisted of two pieces of non toasted white bread with a 2oz. Piece of salmon that covered a 3rd of the bread. If you are considering eating out in Prior Lake or Savage, keep driving. This place may look nice but the good is always underwhelming!
(1)
Ryan B.
Went here for the Easter Brunch. They were very busy and I can see why. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was fantastic. Great Job!!!
(5)
Tina T.
Grabbed late night HH on Friday. I have to say, I was quite surprised with the food and establishment. Servers are very friendly and attentive as well. I got the wings, artichoke flatbread and a mango mojito. They were all delish and less then $20! Will def be back to try other menu items. Def a fan of the HH prices!!
(4)
Ron P.
We stop in here just for happy hour. Good value with half price apps. and reduced price on all drinks. We usually sit at the bar and know one of the bartenders because he used to work at another restaurant.
(3)
Beth N.
Like a lot of the reviews, I have a bad experience (even boycotted this place for a year or so) and then go back eventually because it can't get worse right? Well, it isn't getting better. Went there tonight with my daughter and our server was Jasmyne. Disappeared for 20 minutes at a time and brought our check without asking if we wanted dessert. The margharita pizza my daughter ordered had some strange green sauce drizzled all over it and my French dip tasted strange like the meat was old. My husband refuses to go there because he's tried everything on the menu and it's just not good! I don't get it. It's not that hard. Need more restaurants in this area.
(2)
Chris P.
I used to think that Axel's was a good place to go, well, probably not in Savage. I don't know if they have changed their menu but it is nothing to talk about. The hostesses seemed to be confused about what they are doing and were a bit rude. The waiter was nice and friendly but the service from the bar was slow. Ordered several items to pass around and nothing stood out. The Margherita Pizza was not good and should not be called a Margherita Pizza. Look up a recipe, they don't follow it. It is supposed to be a thin crispy crust with the tomatoes, mozzarella, onion, oregano, parsley, garlic, basil and olive oil. I think they may have lightly brushed on some olive oil and threw on some garlic (not much) and the tomatoes and the cheese. WHERE WERE THE HERBS? Not a bit of green on that pizza at all. YUK! The salad was over priced and just a pile of BORING iceburg lettuce and there seemed to be cabbage mixed in with this, did not eat much of that. Bull bits are their specialty? They should have been called bull-s**ts. These things had no taste at all and the sauces that came with them also had no taste. Did they even put horseradish in the horseradish sauce? The baked spaghetti was a total let down. The meatballs were overcooked and dry and the spaghetti was over cooked and had the consistency of paste. Overall it tasted like someone opened a can of chef boyardee and baked it with leftover meatballs. The kabobs were presented nicely but once again, over cooked and dry. This place needs to know how to season food, make sure it is cooked properly and to amp it up for the price. Then again, I guess it is as good as it gets in Savage, MN and the people there think this garbage is fine dining. All this place wants to be is a happy hour drinking spot with tacky bar food.
(1)
John C.
I really like the ambiance and selection here. Great variety of specialty pizzas, Mexican food and Minnesota staples (walleye, beef). The kids can make their own pizzas and sundaes. Waiters seem to be especially friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Decent live bands on the weekends and lots of TVs for sports when the conversation with your spouse gets dull. I haven't tried all the dishes yet (I will for the right price Axel), but I have grown fond of their unique take on Mexican cuisine. I am a self-pronounced Mexican food expert, so that is saying a lot. My only complaint is that I miss the mexican combo plate they used to offer. What the dilly yo! That thing was crazy delicious.
(4)
Bridget K.
Not a good experience last night....after ordering we waited for an hour only to have the waiter come out and say they ran out of the food I ordered so I ordered the fish and chips. We waited another half hour and when our food fianlly came I received a cone filled with French fries and 2 very small pieces of fish (they actually were approx 2" x2"). Very disappointing and expensive.
(1)
Gus S.
We ordered the prime rib (medium rare) and the salmon with wild rice. I make better wild rice at home - their wild rice has no flavor whatsoever. With the prime rib we ordered the loaded baked potato which was totally cold and inedible (they did offer dessert at their expense). I make better popovers at home (their popovers are doughy and soft - not crisp). For a $100 dinner this was very disappointing. We will not be going back - for this amount of money the St. Paul Grill is definitely much better.
(2)
Deborah N.
While on vacation here, we stopped in for dinner. The restaurant was busy but there was no wait and we were seated immediately. The server offered suggestions and pointed out new items added to the menu. My husband got the pork chops, my son got the "drunk and dirty steak," and I settled on white chili and house salad. All of us were pleased with the selections we had made and the portions were more than ample. My house salad was very large and I was unable to finish. Our server suggested dessert but we were more than satisfied with our meals. The restaurant is very nice inside and there were two pianos there but no one playing while we were there.
(4)
Karl W.
I am doing my review based on my history of dining here which is always a positive experience. They should have better food for how nice the place is, but my meals are always above average No problems with the service ever. I usually come in before noon and get served quickly. Might seem small but the paper towel dispensers are killer. They pre dispense 24" of PT's and with how crappy most restaurants are its very convenient and fast when done washing my hands. Once I rip the towel of another 2 foot section is quickly dispensed!!! No i won't eat here because of it but they do understand my bathroom needs and it's the best around
(4)
Mike E.
I have never experienced a "wow" factor at any Bonfire or Axel's. It always seems to be a "flat" experience for our group. Our recent experience at the Bonfire in Savage was no different. The blackened walleye salad was entirely unimpressive...and this is labeled a "Signature Item" on the menu. The fish itself was a healthy-sized fillet (I ordered the full size salad for $14), but the seasoning was unimaginative, and the dressing on the salad was bland. My boss ordered the "Bull Bites", their "signature blackened tenderloin tips" - he said they were bland and uninspiring. This is just another suburban wasteland of a restaurant.
(2)
Sandy G.
We had a reservation and were seated almost right away. Our server Megan was great. Attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I really liked my walleye bites, especially the tartar sauce. Yeah, the tartar sauce was that notable. My butternut squash ravioli was okay. I loved the actual ravioli and the braised ribs on it but the chunks of squash and onion haystacks atop were meh for me. Hubby loved his ranch dressing for his wings. They seemed to excel at condiments as we both took notice. He liked his walleye and seemed happy with the steak. Why don't we rate it higher? A) It isn't in our home town and therefore doesn't seem worth the drive and B) We LOVE the steak houses that are in our town. We went here because we had a gift card to use. All in all, it was a solid okay.
(3)
Andy T.
My wife and I wanted a nice Sunday dinner out. Bonfire is where we ended up. They happened to have a St Patrick's Day menu. We ordered the corned beef and cabbage dinner special. Our waitress informed us she didn't want to serve us "The bottom of the barrel" dinner. They were basically out of corned beef. She instead gave us free Reuben soup and bought a round of Guinness! Fantastic! That's why we love Axel's Bonfire! Occasionally the service struggles, but tonight they hit a grand slam. I ordered the Land and lake which was perfectly cooked and my eye had the pan fried walley, also perfect. Keep up the great work ! Well be back soon!
(5)
Mike D.
Went to Axel's last night with a friend. The service was okay and the food was good, but this wasn't a spectacular meal. With a couple of flat-bread pizzas, two beers and two margarita's and a shared desert totaling 70 bucks, it seemed like something should be a little better to justify the price tag.
(3)
Trevor H.
Uh Oh, not sure what happened earlier this year since I see a lot off horrible reviews. But I usually hit up this place every time I am home and hanging out with friends and have a great time. Love the Bull Bites!
(4)
Lisa M.
I've had worse at Bonfire..... Went here recently for a large group dinner. We were in a separate room with our own hard working server. The room itself was nice a big, but it was very warm in there. I typically stay away from places with FIRE in the name because no matter the temp outside there is always a damn fire burning inside - Grrrr. We started with some nachos and bull bites. I did not have either, but everyone enjoyed. I started with a delicious pear margarita - Mmmmm, I then switched to a pear, pomegranate drink which wasn't as good. I had the bruschetta salad and white bean chicken chili. The chili was okay. It was good, but not very hot. I then moved to the salad. It was full of chicken and nice ripe tomatoes and was served with some toasted baguettes with cheese. I had 2 of the 6, it was too much food. They could have cut back on the balsamic on the salad, but overall pretty good. Dining companion had a fish special with some awesome green beans. He liked. Everyone at the table liked their food, which ranged from Chicken Enchiladas to Fettuccine Alfredo and halibut. I've eaten at different Bonfires and I've had a range of results - from decent to down right awful. The was decent. I would not choose Bonfire if given a choice, but it was okay. Not in my neighborhood, so not my choice.
(3)
David H.
I've not dined at this location, but have been to the bar 4 times now.....each time in the late afternoon, and each time with very few customers in the place (due to off hours). I would expect that if I'm either the only person at the bar, or one of 2-3, that I would receive some pretty decent service, though this is not the case. It seems that whoever is tending bar, is either busy off doing something else, or is more interested in talking to a friend or co-worker. I've been a couple of other locations, and the food was great, and the service was great.
(1)
tres t.
I have been there several times, not any more. Food is ok. The service is just terrible. Last couple of times we waited 30 minutes from when we order. The waitress completely ignored us. When she delivered our Pizza and Salad, the pizza was cold and the salad was warm. When we asked for it to be remade she literally huffed away and made it a point to ignore from that point on. The Manager was no where to be seen, we paid our bill and left. while there are very few dining choices in Savage. Mediocre food, indifferent and down right impolite service makes Axels not worth the money. I agree with the other reviewer who says the service is "RUDE RUDE RUDE never come back"
(1)
Maura S.
I have eaten at Bonfire before and never had a problem. However, the service we received on our last visit guarantees that we will never return. When we got to the restaurant, we discovered that it was happy hour (3-6)...great! We ordered a large sampling of appetizers. What we didn't realize was that it was also Sunday kid's night (kids make their own pizza and ice cream sundays). Our waitress deserted us for larger (kid-filled) tables. We were left with empty glasses throughout the entire meal, and dirty plates sitting on the table long after we had finished. It seemed like tour waitress was so busy catering to the needs of the "kids' night" that they forgot that there were other patrons waiting.
(2)
Jen W.
This place seems to be relying on the fact that there aren't a lot of other options around. Without any competition, they don't have to be that good. And they're not. And yet, when we showed up on a Friday night, it was packed. The list of wines by the glass is extremely limited, though the specialty cocktail list is long. I had the salmon and ate maybe 4 bites of it. It was overcooked and oversauced. My date had the walleye which was full of bones. Yes, fish have bones, I know, but usually when you order walleye they fillet it so you don't get stuck with a mouthful of bones with every bite. The crowd is older, with the post-divorce-looking-for-a-hook-up vibe. Over the course of dinner, we had 3 different servers so of course there was confusion about orders. Overall, I wasn't impressed. However, if I'm in Savage and need a nicer place for dinner than Arby's, I might end up here just b/c of the lack of other options. I won't be happy about it though. And I won't get the salmon or the walleye.
(2)
C R.
We live very close to this location and were regulars for a long time (1-3 times per week). Since new management took over it has gone downhill drastically and fast and now we rarely go. All of the good bartenders and servers have quit or have been fired and they must have taken the cooks with them. The food prices have gone WAY up and the quality has gone to hell along with the portion sizes and service. The food quality is especially bad now. The managers (Jeanie & didn't catcher her name) are rude rude rude and have no business running or working in a restaurant. Last night was our final visit to the old stomping grounds and we will NEVER be back. After a horrible meal and even worse service and a terribly rude manager (Jeanie), I woke up at 3:00AM with the worst stomach ache I have had in a very long time. Still feeling the effects 12 hours later. I must not be the only person in the area that feels this way as it seams that very few people go there anymore. I hope they fold up, close the doors and a new, much improved and much needed restaurant comes to town... Good bye Bonfire!!
(1)
Louise R.
We love Bonfire! I often meet friends for lunch and take family to dinner here. Always great service, the food is wonderful and I've never been disappointed with my choice. Will be coming back for sure.
(4)
Rachele R.
Where to begin....I dined here a couple of nights ago and the restaurant was a third full but the service was slow. The staff was polite but no sense of urgency. I order a pizza which I was excited about and but the center of the pizza was still doughy. My table also ordered the bull bites and the were full of gristle and tough. The carrot cake was simply divine. Adam the manager was sent over the our server, because we wanted to give the feed back and to complement our server but he was defensive and just thought we were trying to scam the restaurant, which was no the case. we did not ask for any comps and figured that since they were remaking the food to just order more drinks from the bar. I know places have off nights, but please do not give costumer attitude. Apparently our server said Adam acts like the alot to customers and employees alike....
(1)
Robert P.
How many times can one place disappoint? The Savage/Prior Lake area is in desperate need of decent restaurants and when Bonfire moved in years ago it filled a huge gap for good food and a nice place to spend an evening. The food was very good and so was the atmosphere and staff. Somewhere in the past five years they started to loose what has been Axel's strength, good food. I used to eat at Bonfire at least four times a week (lunch and/or dinner) but over the past five years experienced the food quality going down. It's like they had a menu and a formula and were milking it. I don't know what their talent is in the kitchen but it's nowhere we're it once was. Recently they changed their menu and I had hoped that with it they had rededicated themselves to food but after trying them today again (four times in the past two months) I see that they haven't changed anything but their recipes. Food quality is bad, just plain bad. Lukewarm, reheated, leftovers instead of fresh made. They pretend but the guy on the back obviously don't care... I'm sorry, I want to come and find the food on par. Quit disappointing me, I can't stand it anymore...
(1)
Ben B.
There is one reason to go to this place. Happy Hour! The special is $2 off everything,1/2 off apps (simple) and the bartenders in the afternoon are top notch. They are not fake and they know what they are doing. Good pours too! No better deal in the Savage, PL area. Yes you might see the 40 something swingers but don't feed them, they wont bother you.
(4)
Rosemary G.
I visited Axels with family and friends last month, having visited once before and had a good experience. The setting is great for all, family, singles, groups etc and mood is upbeat. That is all I can say that is positive about the restaurant. From start to finish our experience, apart from our poor server who kept apologizing, was awful. Ordering took half an hour for our drinks. Food was late, cold, uncooked, overcooked and inedible for some. Two hours later, we were very ready to leave...we did not want to make a fuss.....our server was mortified. The manager came over and asked could he get us anything to make up for the dinner! I ask managers.....why do you ask the customer what can you bring them to make up for bad food? Why do you think customers want to try more bad food???? The bill came and we thought oh........discount? NO!!! We did not make a scene, paid our bill and left our poor server a good tip as it is not fair to penalize the server for a bad manager..........so I left my name and number and a note on my disappointment.......inviting him to contact me......explaining once again I did not want a scene in front of my visitors......I did not want to spoil what had been a lovely visit. NEEDLESS to say......no call.......no letter of apology. AXELS......you should be ashamed of your manager in Savage!
(1)
Joel M.
Here is what I sent the GM I am writing in to complain about the food we received last night at your location. The server did seem to have a lot of big tables so maybe that could have been some of the issue, but I too run a restaurant so this is not an excuse. Here is what went down in no particular order.. Sat... waited... ordered drinks.. waited a loooong time.. no waters were brought to the table... we just waited. Keep in mind we had two kids with us age 5 and 10. they did have crayons to play with but were thirsty and starving. drinks come.. we order appetizers.. appetizers finally come.. they were great.. we order more drinks. wait for the drinks... and then we order our food. 3 prime ribs, one taco salad with chicken, one burrito, one brisket platter, kids chicken fingers, kids pepperoni pizza. we wait.. and wait. and wait more.. and more.. we ask about the kids pizza and if he will be able to help in the process as he has before.. we are assure yes. that doesnt happen. food arrives... but not all of it. the 5 year olds chicken fingers are forgotten. the servers are too busy talking to eachother to get our food out in a timely manner. chicken taco salad didnt have ANY chicken in it.. if it did there was perhap .5 oz in there. mother in laws burrito was ICE cold.. I dont even think it was cooked. rice cold, beans solidified, cheese hard as a rock.. Pizza raw under cooked... crust looked as thought it wasnt even cooked. Rare steaks not cooked rare... LOTS of fat and grissle. asked for a side of bbq sauce for the brisket... it came... but after the food was complete. chicken fingers finally arrive aprox 10-15 mns LATE so obviouslly not put in on the order.. they too are undercooked. order more drinks because obviouslly upset. manger makes a quick cameo but I am told by the family to not complain in fear of retaliation. we pay the bill which was not cheap... and leave. this was for a birthday and the restaraunt was picked specifically because he loves the location in st paul but family lives in the save area.. this was AWFUL for the price.. the food quality was more of something you would find at a ma n pa location not the famed axels bonfire that it should have been. I believe our tab was near 300$ for an awful experience.. The staff was in clusters busy talking to eachother even right by our table while our food was "auctioned" off. I am sure you know what that means.... not knowing where the food comes out and guessing or asking US where it should go, it didnt come out all at once... there were more than enough servers standing around that could have followed our order.. even though the whole order didnt come out.. what can be done about this terrible TERRIBLE experience?
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Linny W.
I had a lemon drop martini and it was good. I ordered the walleye fingers and the coating was soggy and the fish was luke warm. My daughter had the margarita pizza which was cold and the crust was soggy. Not impressed with "Bonfire".
(3)Bill D.
I've armed my lesson at this point. Don't eat anywhere named "Axel's". Food can't decide if it should be hot or cold. Soda is flat. Water tastes like it's from old pipes (needs filtering or softening or something). Her steak medallions were so charred as to be inedible. They offered other food to compensate, but honestly if the kitchen can't get the basics right, what makes you think I want to try a more complex to make food item? Highly doubt we'll be back to any Axel's location ever again. This is four in a row (different restaurant each time).
(1)Mike O.
I like the early (up to 6) and late (after 9) happy hours with 1/2 off pizza and appetizers and $2 off drinks. Sometimes enjoy both in one day. My huge Coors light is $4.50. Thurs, Fri and Say are great happy hour nights, they have lines. Sat. nite they have live bands at 9pm, just when happy hours kicks in. Very good 2 and 3 person bands like Ken Valdez.
(5)John L.
Absolutely horrible service. Sat and waited very long (20 minutes) for service. Ordered some drinks and waited again to have our order to be taken. We were informed that all we could get were pizzas or appetizers as the cook quit. We were there for steaks. Asked to talk to the manager and he was too busy. Said we were leaving and received a billed for our non alcoholic drinks. Fuming now! Would never recommend this place,? As we were walking out I noticed people at the bar were just served what looked like pork chop.
(1)Jon C.
Wasn't very impressed with how our server "of 20 years" handled herself when it came to a mix up with our tab. Brought in a large group and when I questioned why they pulled what seemed like a bait and switch, she unprofessionally got very loud to the point of awkwardness that I can't say I ever see myself ever going back to this location again. I'm sure they have much more professional staff members here, but I can only speak of the service I received which was obviously bush league at best. My suggestion if you're going to visit this place is sit at the bar.
(1)Richard H.
Food was spoiled. Chessy potatos tasted like they were made with spoiled milk. Told the waiter when they brought the check. He said "thats strange.". Then handed us the bill. He never checked in with us during dinner nor could we flag him down. That was the last straw on bad food we've encountered over a number of visits and we are a pretty easy to please family. How do you leave 0 stars on yelp?
(1)Birdie G.
I've been to this location on numerous occasions. The wait staff is patient, incredibly knowledgeable and the manager can often be seen overlooking the floor to make sure things are being taken care of. Regarding the food, well...there was no option for a 10 star rating, so the 5 will have to do. It is always delicious, prepared to perfection and everything on the menu is worth every penny I've paid so far. We'll definitely be going back :)
(5)Just M.
4 stars for the happy hour!! The pizza and tall tap beers is why we go. We live very close and seen many changes to the place. Some good and some bad. Service is good (we ask for brad). It's a great place to people watch as sometimes the cougars are on the prowl :) Friday nights have the dueling piano's and that can be fun. The lettuce wraps are my wife's favorite and I go for pizza. The rest of the menu is fine and priced fair. The desserts there are nothin to write home about. Stick to the staples their known for. 4 stars for happy hour special, people watching and dueling pianos.
(4)Chad G.
This place is consistently horrible about once in every three months we forget and try it again only to be disappointed. Tonight we ordered carry out, the said 20 min and it took 50. Apparently 50 min. was not enough time to get our food even warm. Our pizza was raw on one side and burnt on the other, walleye fingers were so salty they were inedible and we did not receive two of our $6 add on salads as additional sides to our entrees. I had a salmon BLT that consisted of two pieces of non toasted white bread with a 2oz. Piece of salmon that covered a 3rd of the bread. If you are considering eating out in Prior Lake or Savage, keep driving. This place may look nice but the good is always underwhelming!
(1)Ryan B.
Went here for the Easter Brunch. They were very busy and I can see why. The food was amazing and the atmosphere was fantastic. Great Job!!!
(5)Tina T.
Grabbed late night HH on Friday. I have to say, I was quite surprised with the food and establishment. Servers are very friendly and attentive as well. I got the wings, artichoke flatbread and a mango mojito. They were all delish and less then $20! Will def be back to try other menu items. Def a fan of the HH prices!!
(4)Ron P.
We stop in here just for happy hour. Good value with half price apps. and reduced price on all drinks. We usually sit at the bar and know one of the bartenders because he used to work at another restaurant.
(3)Beth N.
Like a lot of the reviews, I have a bad experience (even boycotted this place for a year or so) and then go back eventually because it can't get worse right? Well, it isn't getting better. Went there tonight with my daughter and our server was Jasmyne. Disappeared for 20 minutes at a time and brought our check without asking if we wanted dessert. The margharita pizza my daughter ordered had some strange green sauce drizzled all over it and my French dip tasted strange like the meat was old. My husband refuses to go there because he's tried everything on the menu and it's just not good! I don't get it. It's not that hard. Need more restaurants in this area.
(2)Chris P.
I used to think that Axel's was a good place to go, well, probably not in Savage. I don't know if they have changed their menu but it is nothing to talk about. The hostesses seemed to be confused about what they are doing and were a bit rude. The waiter was nice and friendly but the service from the bar was slow. Ordered several items to pass around and nothing stood out. The Margherita Pizza was not good and should not be called a Margherita Pizza. Look up a recipe, they don't follow it. It is supposed to be a thin crispy crust with the tomatoes, mozzarella, onion, oregano, parsley, garlic, basil and olive oil. I think they may have lightly brushed on some olive oil and threw on some garlic (not much) and the tomatoes and the cheese. WHERE WERE THE HERBS? Not a bit of green on that pizza at all. YUK! The salad was over priced and just a pile of BORING iceburg lettuce and there seemed to be cabbage mixed in with this, did not eat much of that. Bull bits are their specialty? They should have been called bull-s**ts. These things had no taste at all and the sauces that came with them also had no taste. Did they even put horseradish in the horseradish sauce? The baked spaghetti was a total let down. The meatballs were overcooked and dry and the spaghetti was over cooked and had the consistency of paste. Overall it tasted like someone opened a can of chef boyardee and baked it with leftover meatballs. The kabobs were presented nicely but once again, over cooked and dry. This place needs to know how to season food, make sure it is cooked properly and to amp it up for the price. Then again, I guess it is as good as it gets in Savage, MN and the people there think this garbage is fine dining. All this place wants to be is a happy hour drinking spot with tacky bar food.
(1)John C.
I really like the ambiance and selection here. Great variety of specialty pizzas, Mexican food and Minnesota staples (walleye, beef). The kids can make their own pizzas and sundaes. Waiters seem to be especially friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. Decent live bands on the weekends and lots of TVs for sports when the conversation with your spouse gets dull. I haven't tried all the dishes yet (I will for the right price Axel), but I have grown fond of their unique take on Mexican cuisine. I am a self-pronounced Mexican food expert, so that is saying a lot. My only complaint is that I miss the mexican combo plate they used to offer. What the dilly yo! That thing was crazy delicious.
(4)Bridget K.
Not a good experience last night....after ordering we waited for an hour only to have the waiter come out and say they ran out of the food I ordered so I ordered the fish and chips. We waited another half hour and when our food fianlly came I received a cone filled with French fries and 2 very small pieces of fish (they actually were approx 2" x2"). Very disappointing and expensive.
(1)Gus S.
We ordered the prime rib (medium rare) and the salmon with wild rice. I make better wild rice at home - their wild rice has no flavor whatsoever. With the prime rib we ordered the loaded baked potato which was totally cold and inedible (they did offer dessert at their expense). I make better popovers at home (their popovers are doughy and soft - not crisp). For a $100 dinner this was very disappointing. We will not be going back - for this amount of money the St. Paul Grill is definitely much better.
(2)Deborah N.
While on vacation here, we stopped in for dinner. The restaurant was busy but there was no wait and we were seated immediately. The server offered suggestions and pointed out new items added to the menu. My husband got the pork chops, my son got the "drunk and dirty steak," and I settled on white chili and house salad. All of us were pleased with the selections we had made and the portions were more than ample. My house salad was very large and I was unable to finish. Our server suggested dessert but we were more than satisfied with our meals. The restaurant is very nice inside and there were two pianos there but no one playing while we were there.
(4)Karl W.
I am doing my review based on my history of dining here which is always a positive experience. They should have better food for how nice the place is, but my meals are always above average No problems with the service ever. I usually come in before noon and get served quickly. Might seem small but the paper towel dispensers are killer. They pre dispense 24" of PT's and with how crappy most restaurants are its very convenient and fast when done washing my hands. Once I rip the towel of another 2 foot section is quickly dispensed!!! No i won't eat here because of it but they do understand my bathroom needs and it's the best around
(4)Mike E.
I have never experienced a "wow" factor at any Bonfire or Axel's. It always seems to be a "flat" experience for our group. Our recent experience at the Bonfire in Savage was no different. The blackened walleye salad was entirely unimpressive...and this is labeled a "Signature Item" on the menu. The fish itself was a healthy-sized fillet (I ordered the full size salad for $14), but the seasoning was unimaginative, and the dressing on the salad was bland. My boss ordered the "Bull Bites", their "signature blackened tenderloin tips" - he said they were bland and uninspiring. This is just another suburban wasteland of a restaurant.
(2)Sandy G.
We had a reservation and were seated almost right away. Our server Megan was great. Attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. I really liked my walleye bites, especially the tartar sauce. Yeah, the tartar sauce was that notable. My butternut squash ravioli was okay. I loved the actual ravioli and the braised ribs on it but the chunks of squash and onion haystacks atop were meh for me. Hubby loved his ranch dressing for his wings. They seemed to excel at condiments as we both took notice. He liked his walleye and seemed happy with the steak. Why don't we rate it higher? A) It isn't in our home town and therefore doesn't seem worth the drive and B) We LOVE the steak houses that are in our town. We went here because we had a gift card to use. All in all, it was a solid okay.
(3)Andy T.
My wife and I wanted a nice Sunday dinner out. Bonfire is where we ended up. They happened to have a St Patrick's Day menu. We ordered the corned beef and cabbage dinner special. Our waitress informed us she didn't want to serve us "The bottom of the barrel" dinner. They were basically out of corned beef. She instead gave us free Reuben soup and bought a round of Guinness! Fantastic! That's why we love Axel's Bonfire! Occasionally the service struggles, but tonight they hit a grand slam. I ordered the Land and lake which was perfectly cooked and my eye had the pan fried walley, also perfect. Keep up the great work ! Well be back soon!
(5)Mike D.
Went to Axel's last night with a friend. The service was okay and the food was good, but this wasn't a spectacular meal. With a couple of flat-bread pizzas, two beers and two margarita's and a shared desert totaling 70 bucks, it seemed like something should be a little better to justify the price tag.
(3)Trevor H.
Uh Oh, not sure what happened earlier this year since I see a lot off horrible reviews. But I usually hit up this place every time I am home and hanging out with friends and have a great time. Love the Bull Bites!
(4)Lisa M.
I've had worse at Bonfire..... Went here recently for a large group dinner. We were in a separate room with our own hard working server. The room itself was nice a big, but it was very warm in there. I typically stay away from places with FIRE in the name because no matter the temp outside there is always a damn fire burning inside - Grrrr. We started with some nachos and bull bites. I did not have either, but everyone enjoyed. I started with a delicious pear margarita - Mmmmm, I then switched to a pear, pomegranate drink which wasn't as good. I had the bruschetta salad and white bean chicken chili. The chili was okay. It was good, but not very hot. I then moved to the salad. It was full of chicken and nice ripe tomatoes and was served with some toasted baguettes with cheese. I had 2 of the 6, it was too much food. They could have cut back on the balsamic on the salad, but overall pretty good. Dining companion had a fish special with some awesome green beans. He liked. Everyone at the table liked their food, which ranged from Chicken Enchiladas to Fettuccine Alfredo and halibut. I've eaten at different Bonfires and I've had a range of results - from decent to down right awful. The was decent. I would not choose Bonfire if given a choice, but it was okay. Not in my neighborhood, so not my choice.
(3)David H.
I've not dined at this location, but have been to the bar 4 times now.....each time in the late afternoon, and each time with very few customers in the place (due to off hours). I would expect that if I'm either the only person at the bar, or one of 2-3, that I would receive some pretty decent service, though this is not the case. It seems that whoever is tending bar, is either busy off doing something else, or is more interested in talking to a friend or co-worker. I've been a couple of other locations, and the food was great, and the service was great.
(1)tres t.
I have been there several times, not any more. Food is ok. The service is just terrible. Last couple of times we waited 30 minutes from when we order. The waitress completely ignored us. When she delivered our Pizza and Salad, the pizza was cold and the salad was warm. When we asked for it to be remade she literally huffed away and made it a point to ignore from that point on. The Manager was no where to be seen, we paid our bill and left. while there are very few dining choices in Savage. Mediocre food, indifferent and down right impolite service makes Axels not worth the money. I agree with the other reviewer who says the service is "RUDE RUDE RUDE never come back"
(1)Maura S.
I have eaten at Bonfire before and never had a problem. However, the service we received on our last visit guarantees that we will never return. When we got to the restaurant, we discovered that it was happy hour (3-6)...great! We ordered a large sampling of appetizers. What we didn't realize was that it was also Sunday kid's night (kids make their own pizza and ice cream sundays). Our waitress deserted us for larger (kid-filled) tables. We were left with empty glasses throughout the entire meal, and dirty plates sitting on the table long after we had finished. It seemed like tour waitress was so busy catering to the needs of the "kids' night" that they forgot that there were other patrons waiting.
(2)Jen W.
This place seems to be relying on the fact that there aren't a lot of other options around. Without any competition, they don't have to be that good. And they're not. And yet, when we showed up on a Friday night, it was packed. The list of wines by the glass is extremely limited, though the specialty cocktail list is long. I had the salmon and ate maybe 4 bites of it. It was overcooked and oversauced. My date had the walleye which was full of bones. Yes, fish have bones, I know, but usually when you order walleye they fillet it so you don't get stuck with a mouthful of bones with every bite. The crowd is older, with the post-divorce-looking-for-a-hook-up vibe. Over the course of dinner, we had 3 different servers so of course there was confusion about orders. Overall, I wasn't impressed. However, if I'm in Savage and need a nicer place for dinner than Arby's, I might end up here just b/c of the lack of other options. I won't be happy about it though. And I won't get the salmon or the walleye.
(2)C R.
We live very close to this location and were regulars for a long time (1-3 times per week). Since new management took over it has gone downhill drastically and fast and now we rarely go. All of the good bartenders and servers have quit or have been fired and they must have taken the cooks with them. The food prices have gone WAY up and the quality has gone to hell along with the portion sizes and service. The food quality is especially bad now. The managers (Jeanie & didn't catcher her name) are rude rude rude and have no business running or working in a restaurant. Last night was our final visit to the old stomping grounds and we will NEVER be back. After a horrible meal and even worse service and a terribly rude manager (Jeanie), I woke up at 3:00AM with the worst stomach ache I have had in a very long time. Still feeling the effects 12 hours later. I must not be the only person in the area that feels this way as it seams that very few people go there anymore. I hope they fold up, close the doors and a new, much improved and much needed restaurant comes to town... Good bye Bonfire!!
(1)Louise R.
We love Bonfire! I often meet friends for lunch and take family to dinner here. Always great service, the food is wonderful and I've never been disappointed with my choice. Will be coming back for sure.
(4)Rachele R.
Where to begin....I dined here a couple of nights ago and the restaurant was a third full but the service was slow. The staff was polite but no sense of urgency. I order a pizza which I was excited about and but the center of the pizza was still doughy. My table also ordered the bull bites and the were full of gristle and tough. The carrot cake was simply divine. Adam the manager was sent over the our server, because we wanted to give the feed back and to complement our server but he was defensive and just thought we were trying to scam the restaurant, which was no the case. we did not ask for any comps and figured that since they were remaking the food to just order more drinks from the bar. I know places have off nights, but please do not give costumer attitude. Apparently our server said Adam acts like the alot to customers and employees alike....
(1)Robert P.
How many times can one place disappoint? The Savage/Prior Lake area is in desperate need of decent restaurants and when Bonfire moved in years ago it filled a huge gap for good food and a nice place to spend an evening. The food was very good and so was the atmosphere and staff. Somewhere in the past five years they started to loose what has been Axel's strength, good food. I used to eat at Bonfire at least four times a week (lunch and/or dinner) but over the past five years experienced the food quality going down. It's like they had a menu and a formula and were milking it. I don't know what their talent is in the kitchen but it's nowhere we're it once was. Recently they changed their menu and I had hoped that with it they had rededicated themselves to food but after trying them today again (four times in the past two months) I see that they haven't changed anything but their recipes. Food quality is bad, just plain bad. Lukewarm, reheated, leftovers instead of fresh made. They pretend but the guy on the back obviously don't care... I'm sorry, I want to come and find the food on par. Quit disappointing me, I can't stand it anymore...
(1)Ben B.
There is one reason to go to this place. Happy Hour! The special is $2 off everything,1/2 off apps (simple) and the bartenders in the afternoon are top notch. They are not fake and they know what they are doing. Good pours too! No better deal in the Savage, PL area. Yes you might see the 40 something swingers but don't feed them, they wont bother you.
(4)Rosemary G.
I visited Axels with family and friends last month, having visited once before and had a good experience. The setting is great for all, family, singles, groups etc and mood is upbeat. That is all I can say that is positive about the restaurant. From start to finish our experience, apart from our poor server who kept apologizing, was awful. Ordering took half an hour for our drinks. Food was late, cold, uncooked, overcooked and inedible for some. Two hours later, we were very ready to leave...we did not want to make a fuss.....our server was mortified. The manager came over and asked could he get us anything to make up for the dinner! I ask managers.....why do you ask the customer what can you bring them to make up for bad food? Why do you think customers want to try more bad food???? The bill came and we thought oh........discount? NO!!! We did not make a scene, paid our bill and left our poor server a good tip as it is not fair to penalize the server for a bad manager..........so I left my name and number and a note on my disappointment.......inviting him to contact me......explaining once again I did not want a scene in front of my visitors......I did not want to spoil what had been a lovely visit. NEEDLESS to say......no call.......no letter of apology. AXELS......you should be ashamed of your manager in Savage!
(1)Joel M.
Here is what I sent the GM I am writing in to complain about the food we received last night at your location. The server did seem to have a lot of big tables so maybe that could have been some of the issue, but I too run a restaurant so this is not an excuse. Here is what went down in no particular order.. Sat... waited... ordered drinks.. waited a loooong time.. no waters were brought to the table... we just waited. Keep in mind we had two kids with us age 5 and 10. they did have crayons to play with but were thirsty and starving. drinks come.. we order appetizers.. appetizers finally come.. they were great.. we order more drinks. wait for the drinks... and then we order our food. 3 prime ribs, one taco salad with chicken, one burrito, one brisket platter, kids chicken fingers, kids pepperoni pizza. we wait.. and wait. and wait more.. and more.. we ask about the kids pizza and if he will be able to help in the process as he has before.. we are assure yes. that doesnt happen. food arrives... but not all of it. the 5 year olds chicken fingers are forgotten. the servers are too busy talking to eachother to get our food out in a timely manner. chicken taco salad didnt have ANY chicken in it.. if it did there was perhap .5 oz in there. mother in laws burrito was ICE cold.. I dont even think it was cooked. rice cold, beans solidified, cheese hard as a rock.. Pizza raw under cooked... crust looked as thought it wasnt even cooked. Rare steaks not cooked rare... LOTS of fat and grissle. asked for a side of bbq sauce for the brisket... it came... but after the food was complete. chicken fingers finally arrive aprox 10-15 mns LATE so obviouslly not put in on the order.. they too are undercooked. order more drinks because obviouslly upset. manger makes a quick cameo but I am told by the family to not complain in fear of retaliation. we pay the bill which was not cheap... and leave. this was for a birthday and the restaraunt was picked specifically because he loves the location in st paul but family lives in the save area.. this was AWFUL for the price.. the food quality was more of something you would find at a ma n pa location not the famed axels bonfire that it should have been. I believe our tab was near 300$ for an awful experience.. The staff was in clusters busy talking to eachother even right by our table while our food was "auctioned" off. I am sure you know what that means.... not knowing where the food comes out and guessing or asking US where it should go, it didnt come out all at once... there were more than enough servers standing around that could have followed our order.. even though the whole order didnt come out.. what can be done about this terrible TERRIBLE experience?
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