New Year's Steak & Lobster at Woolley's

In what's become an annual tradition, our famous Steak & Lobster Special is back for the entire New Year's weekend! Welcome the new year with a feast fit for 2014.

For just $100 per couple ($50 per person), you'll receive: 

• Freshly Baked Bread,
• Salads,
• 6oz Certified Angus Beef Filets, 
• Fresh Cold Water Lobster Tails,
• Vegetables Du Jour & Woolley's famous Scalloped Potatoes.
• PLUS, as an added holiday treat, couples who order the special will receive a bottle of house wine or champagne compliments of Woolley’s! (A glass of champagne or house wine will be offered to individuals partaking).

The Steak & Lobster Special will be available from 4:30 to 11pm throughout the weekend, and on New Year's Eve, we'll be featuring live musical performances from local musicians. For those that are hungry for something other than steak and lobster, the full regular dinner menu will be available as well.

Beginning on Friday, December 27 through Tuesday, December 31, join us for a feast worthy of ringing in 2014! Space does fill up quickly for this once a year event, so reservations are strongly recommended. Reserve your spot online at Open Table or by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010. 

Happy New Year!

We're Thankful for...YOU!

Thanksgiving is always a wonderful reminder to be thankful. And while we know that gratitude shouldn't just be something felt in late November, it did give us another reason to pause and reflect. That's why we wanted to take the time to express our thanks.

We're so thankful for all of our wonderful guests and clients who trust Woolley's with their meals, their holidays, their special occasions, and share their lives with us. It's such a treat to see so many repeat guests and couples and families who continue to celebrate life's milestone's here.

Additionally, we're grateful when our diners take the time to leave reviews and comments that let us know how their experiences went. We always get so excited that so many of you had such a wonderful dining experience at Woolley's. So, a hearty thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a review after visiting. It's a great way for us to measure customer satisfaction and work to make your guest experience as enjoyable as we can.

We also wanted to share a few of these latest reviews as a way of acknowledging and thanking guests for both their patronage as well as for taking the time to follow up with a recommendation for their fellow diners.

***** GREAT FOOD

"We don't go to Woolly's as often as we'd like to. However, every time we go, we love it, and say to ourselves, "Why don't we come here more often?" We enjoy the atmosphere, and the service and food are always great. It is a little pricey, but worth it." -- 11/24/13

***** GREAT BURGERS

"We go to Woolleys often for lunch on the weekends. The place is usually pretty quiet. Service is always good. The Hen House burger is great!" -- 11/16/13

*****

"Wonderful atmosphere.... tables nestled in the mist of an abundance of tropical plants. we were celebrating a family birthday. Not a huge menu, but we each ordered something different and everything was delicious. By far of best part of the experience was the waiter! He was very intuitive, picked up on a couple of things we were teasing each other about and ran with it like a pro! He took good care of our group." -- 11/03/13

***** ALWAYS GREAT FOR LUNCH

"Food and service are always the best, and it's always a pleasure to return!" -- 11/03/13

***** BEST DINING SPOT IN THE TWIN CITIES

"Woolley's Steakhouse is the BEST place to dine out in the Twin Cities. I have dined here frequently and never come away disappointed. I love to cook at home and spend a great time doing so. When it comes to dining out, I like a place that gives it their all to give me and my family a memorable experience. Woolley's offers that consistency and always exceeds my expectations in food quality, value, and service,.... all in a cozy setting. I LOVE the variation in the menu that goes with the seasons, and I like that they offer things I would never attempt to cook at home. Manager Ben runs a tight ship and I love seeing the same employees every time I visit. I've never met an employee there I didn't like and I always walk away truly satisfied!" -- 10/25/13

"Great food and a really nice waitress.We definitely will be back." -- 10/25/13

And to show our gratitude, we invite you to visit us this month since we've declared all of December Customer Appreciation Month. It's just our way of giving back after such a great year. 

December is Customer Appreciation Month

Once again, we're happy to celebrate the holidays by declaring December Customer Appreciation Month at Woolley's!

All year long, you support Woolley's with your dining dollars and by recommending our restaurant to your friends and family. This month, it's our turn to give back. Throughout December, while you worry about the perfect gift for everyone on your list, we've got a little extra something just for you. The best part? You don't even have to go out of your way to get it.

For the entire month, dine at Woolley's or host a catered event and 50% (that's right, HALF) of what you spend on food and beverages will be given back to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can use in 2014! This is just our way of saying thank you for your business and patronage.

Not only is this is a great way to show your friends and family a fantastic time at Woolley’s (plus: no cooking or clean-up for you), but the free gift certificates also make wonderful Christmas gifts!

To make your party's reservations or to book your catered event, call 952-854-1010.

This holiday season, leave the cooking and the gifts up to us - Happy Holidays!

Bell's Brewery Craft Beer Dinner - Thursday, November 14

In less than two weeks, we're so excited to be hosting another Beer Dinner. On November 14, join us for a Bell's Brewery Craft Beer Dinner.

What began in Michigan almost 30 years ago as "quest for better beer and a 15 gallon soup kettle [has] grown into a regional craft brewery that employs more than 200 people over an 19 state area, in addition to Puerto Rico and Washington DC."

For the occasion, we've taken six of their brews and paired them with the perfect palate pleasers for one epic dining experience for all you craft beer lovers out there. Mark your calendars and make your reservations for our six-course Bell's Brewery Craft Beer Dinner on Thursday, November 14, at 6:30pm.

MENU

Social - Third Coast Pale Ale

Chef's Choice butler passed Appetizers

1st Course – Amber Ale

Seared Sea Scallops - Buttercup Squash, Apple Mustardo, Bacon Maple Glaze, Apple Chip

2nd Course – Best Brown

Quail - Grilled Quail, Blackberry Vinaigrette, Frisee, Quail Egg, Cornbread

3rd Course – Two Hearted IPA

Sturgeon - Carrot, Ginger, Curry, Caviar

4th Course – American Porter

Rib-Eye - Charred Eye of Rib-Eye Steak, Celery Root Puree, Chanterelle Mushrooms Ragout, Leeks

5th Course – Cherry Stout

Waffles - Chocolate Waffles, Bing Cherry Syrup, Chocolate Ganache

Six great Bell's Brewery beers and those courses to match makes this one can't miss Beer Dinner!

Priced at just $55 per person (plus taxes and gratuity), space is filling up fast, so call 952-854-1010 to secure your reservation or for more information.

Autumn Review Round-Up

Looking at online reviews can be an extremely rewarding experience for restaurants as it allows us to not only acknowledge the hard work of our staff members, but it also allows us to correct any areas where we may not have lived up to our guests' expectations. 

As we were reviewing our recent OpenTable reviews that our diners were so gracious to leave, we were beyond excited that so many of you had such a wonderful dining experience at Woolley's. A hearty thank you to everyone who took the time to leave a review. It's a great way for us to measure customer satisfaction and work to make your guest experience as enjoyable as we can.

We also wanted to share a few of these latest reviews as a way of acknowledging and thanking guests for both their patronage as well as for taking the time to follow up with a recommendation for their fellow diners.

***** GREAT FOOD AND SERVICE

"The Rib-eye was perfect and the panko walleye was really good too. And the cream of mushroom soup was fabulous! Jessie our server was the BEST!! What a personable guy!" -- 9/28/13

***** AS ALWAYS...AMAZING

"We love both restaurants with menus by Chef Peter. For a great date night you should give Woolley's a try!" -- 9/21/13

*****

"Very excellent food---prepared perfectly! Our server was second to none. Very friendly, efficient, observent, and yet not intrusive. An excellent dining experience!" -- 9/20/13

****

"It was our first visit. Fabulous food. Our waiter made great recommendations in food and wine and was very personable and attentive. Being seated in the area around the open foyer of the hotel (with balconies overlooking the area) was a little distracting. We would love to go back!." -- 9/20/13

***** TERRIFIC PLACE FOR LUNCH

"Sandwiches and salads are always great! Bread served with the meal was warm and delicious. Service is outstanding!" -- 9/7/13

***** THIS IS OUR FAVORITE

"When ever we want to have a special romantic evening this is our first choice" -- 9/6/13

***** EXCELLENT FOOD AND SERVICE

"Food is always great for lunch, from sandwiches to salads. Service is always friendly and served with a smile." -- 8/31/13

****

"Friendly, competent server who willingly accommodated a special request. Woolley's is a good restaurant to visit regularly." -- 8/30/13

*****

"Always great food and the mimosas are great!" -- 8/25/13

***** WONDERFUL LUNCH

"Sandwiches and salads are the best for lunch at Woolley's. The complimentary bread is delicious and is an added incentive to dine at Woolley's. Staff is always friendly and willing to go out of their way to make your dining experience enjoyable." -- 8/24/13

So, a hearty thank you to all of our wonderful guests who go the extra mile to leave us a review. We just love hearing about everyone's experiences, so keep up the good work!

If you haven't yet left a review after dining with us, we sincerely encourage you to hop online, head over to OpenTable.com and let us know what you thought of your meal, your drinks, the service, your whole experience!

Summit Beer Dinner - Tuesday, May 21, 1013

In less than two weeks, we're so excited to be hosting another Beer Dinner. This time, the brews had to travel all the way from St. Paul, so we're simply thrilled to be able to showcase a local brewery for our latest installment.

A pioneer, Summit Brewing Co., has been delighting beer drinkers both here and afar for over two decades. We've taken six of their brews and paired them with the perfect palate pleasers for one epic dining experience for all you beer lovers out there! Brewers Mike Lundell and Nate Siats will be on-hand to guide your experience.

Mark your calendars and make your reservations for our six-course Summit Beer Dinner at 6:30pm on Tuesday, May 21.

Summit Beer Dinner Menu

Amuse – EPA

Grilled Prawns - Grilled blue prawns with fresh mozzarella, on toasted rye bread with pickled red onions.

1st Course – Summer Ale

Lobster Ravioli - Fresh pasta stuffed with house made ricotta cheese and cold water lobster, roasted  Roma tomato and cream sauce with a chive pesto.

2nd Course – Horizon Red Ale

Duck Sausage - Smoked duck sausage with a spicy citrus remoulade, and a toasted barley risotto.

3rd Course – Meridian Belgium Session Ale

Copper River Salmon - Cedar plank Copper River salmon, sweet corn succotash, buerre Rouge, fried leeks

4th Course – Saga IPA

New Zealand Lamb - Grilled Lamb Rack, Humboldt Fog smashed potatoes.

5th Course – Oatmeal Stout

Carrot Cake - Brown butter carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Six great Summit Brews and those courses to match makes this one can't miss Beer Dinner! Priced at just $48 per person, space is filling up fast, so call 952-854-1010 to secure your reservation or for more information.

Deschutes Beer Dinner - April 5, 2013

Our latest in a special line of Craft Beer Dinners prepared expertly by our restaurant chef Adam to go along with the perfect brews.  Now up, Deschutes! Join us on Friday, April 5, at 6pm for the perfect coupling of Craft Beer and Cuisine.

Brewing superb beers from their picturesque headquarters in Bend, Oregon, we're thrilled to have some top notch Deschutes brews on hand to pair with Chef Adam's amazing food line-up.

Did we mention that Deschutes is also sending us a keg of Armory XPA, their Experimental IPA, never before seen in Minnesota?

Deschutes Beer Dinner

April 5th at 6pm 

Amuse 

Mirror Pond Pale Ale – Smoked Beef Carpaccio, Tomato Caper Relish, EVOO, Sea Salt and Fresh Lemon Juice

1st Course 

Chainbreaker White IPA – Seared Sea Scallops, Fennel, Orange Segments, Star Anise Buerre Blanc 

2nd Course 

Armory XPA – Confit of Rabbit Leg, Mixed Greens with Ancho Chili Vinaigrette, Camembert 

3rd Course 

Black Butte Porter – Black Butte Braised Pork Belly, Parsnip Two Ways, Cocoa Nibs and Fennel Pollen

4th Course 

Red Chair NWPA – Charred Beef Strip Loin, Wild Mushroom Demi, Dauphine Potatoes, Carrot Puree

Dessert 

Hop Henge – Ginger Scented Flourless Chocolate Cake with Candied Ginger, Whipped Cream, and Crispy Carrot

At $45 (plus gratuity) for all six-courses plus six amazing pairing brews, it is truly a steal. 

Space is limited to the first 30 reservations, so secure yours today at 952-854-1010.

Here's to 2013 - New Year's Eve Specials at Woolley's

In what's become an annual tradition, our famous Steak & Lobster Special is back for the entire New Year's weekend! Welcome the new year with a feast fit for 2013.

For just $100 per couple ($50 per person), you'll receive: 

• Freshly Baked Bread,
• Salads,
• 6oz Certified Angus Beef Filets, 
• Fresh Cold Water Lobster Tails,
• Vegetables Du Jour & Woolley's famous Scalloped Potatoes.
• PLUS, as an added holiday treat, couples who order the special will receive a bottle of house wine or champagne compliments of Woolley’s! (A glass of champagne or house wine will be offered to individuals partaking).

The Steak & Lobster Special will be available from 4:30 to 11pm throughout the weekend, and on New Year's Eve, we'll be featuring live musical performances from local musicians. For those that are hungry for something other than steak and lobster, the full regular dinner menu will be available as well.

Beginning on Friday, December 28 through Monday, December 31, join us for a feast worthy of ringing in 2013! Space does fill up quickly for this once a year event, so reservations are strongly recommended. Reserve your spot online at Open Table or by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010. 

Happy New Year! 

Customer Appreciation Month

December is Customer Appreciation Month at Woolley's!

All year long, you support Woolley's with your dining dollars and by referring your friends and family. This time, it's our turn to give back. This whole month, while you worry about the perfect gift for everyone on your list, we've got a little extra something just for you. The best part? You don't even have to go out of your way to get it.

Throughout December, book any party of five or more and 50% (that's right, HALF) of what you spend on food purchases will be given back to you in the form of a gift certificate that you can use in 2013! This is just our way of saying thank you for your business and patronage.

Not only is this is a great way to show your friends and family a fantastic time at Woolley’s (plus: no cooking or clean-up for you), but the free gift certificates also make wonderful Christmas gifts!

For parties of 12 and under, make your reservations online at Open Table or by calling Woolley’s at 952-854-1010.

For reservations for parties larger than 12, please contact Ben Berry via e-mail or directly at 612-309-3801.

Woolley’s also offers two distinctive private dining rooms as well as two open-air semi-private options for you and your guests' dining enjoyment. This holiday season, leave the cooking and the gifts up to us!

Happy Holidays!

Woolley's New Belgium Beer Dinner - November 15, 2012

We're super excited to be hosting our next Craft Beer Dinner at Woolley's. On Thursday, November 15, join us as we welcome New Belgium Brewing Company for a six-course dinner. Each course will be specially paired with the New Belgium brew that best complements the flavors of that fall dish.

New Belgium Beer Dinner
November 15^th -- 6:30 - 8:30pm

Social – Fat Tire Amber Ale

Fat Tire poached pear, crostini, sweet and spicy pecans, gorgonzola

1^st Course – Shift Pale Lager

Roasted beet and carrot soup, yogurt, seared scallop and crispy parsnip

2^nd Course – Ranger India Pale Ale

\Bib lettuce, apple cider vinaigrette, toasted pumpkin seed, prosciutto de parma, triple-cream bleu brie

3^rd Course – 1554 Enlightened BlackAle

Grilled venison tenderloin, local winter squash hash with apple and brussel sprouts, apple cider-lingonberry glaze

4^th Course – Snow Day Winter Ale

Smoked and braised lamb shank, cauliflower puree, braising jus and crispy sweet potato straws

5^th Course – Trippel Belgian StyleAle

Whiskey caramel bread pudding, Jack Daniels macerated black berries

Six different beers and a menu like that, and we're pretty sure that this is one event that you won't want to miss! Priced at just $45 per person, space is filling up fast, so make sure to call us today at 952-854-1010 to secure your reservation or for more information.

Hope to see you there. Cheers!

Fall 2012 - RESTAURANT WEEK: October 21 - 26

Mpls St Paul Magazine's Restaurant Week is back for their Fall edition. Join us once again for three-course lunches and dinners at a special price!

Lunch — $20

LUNCH ONLY: Free glass of house wine to start or non-alcoholic beverage

Appetizer (Choose one):

Soup & Salad Bar - Prepared fresh daily, featuring two house-made soups.

Entrée (Choose one):

Pasta Vodka - Ground spicy Italian sausage, roasted red peppers and Prosciutto ham, simmered in a creamy vodka tomato sauce, tossed with penne pasta and topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Minnesota Walleye - Grilled, Beer Battered or Panko Crusted with wild rice, vegetable du jour
Petite Martini Steak - A flat iron steak grilled and seasoned with all the makings of a martini (shaken not stirred) and garnished with St. Peter’s bleu cheese crumbles and green olives. Served with vegetable du jour and scalloped potatoes
Black and Bleu Pasta - Spicy beef tips sautéed with red onion, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and bacon. Tossed in linguini noodles with a Southwest sauce and topped with bleu cheese crumbles
Almost Famous Chicken Sandwich - Grilled chicken breast, jalapeno aioli, chicken fried bacon, butter lettuce, avocado, tomato slices, 7 grain Ciabatta.
Legendary Ken Burger - Ken Davis Sweet and Smokey BBQ, Cheddar, sautéed onions, bacon
Kielbasa Mac and Cheese - Macaroni noodles, knights vail gouda, cheddar, grilled kielbasa sausage and fried leeks
Pastrami Sandwich - Hot pastrami on Russian rye bun with horseradish mustard, Swiss cheese, spicy house made pickles and an over easy egg. Served with pasta salad

Dessert (Choose one):

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Creme Brulee

New York Style Cheesecake

Dinner — $30

Bottles of wine from our award winning wine list are available all week at ½ price!

Appetizer (Choose one):

French Onion Soup

Caesar Salad

Classic Wedge
Winter Green

Entrée (Choose one):

Filet Mignon - 6oz center cut filet mignon, roasted shallot demi-glace, asparagus, roasted fingerling potatoes
Short Ribs - Slow braised short ribs, carrot ginger puree, foie gras butter, whipped Yukon gold potatoes, braising jus
Chicken Marsala - Chicken breast, classic marsala mushroom sauce, whipped yukon gold potatoes
Panko Crusted Walleye - Minnesota’s state fish hand breaded with parmesan seasoned Japanese bread crumbs, pan seared and served with lemon aioli sauce and rice pilaf
Grilled Salmon - Heirloom tomato-caper relish, lemon buerre blanc, fingerling potatoes
Top Sirloin - 8oz top sirloin on a bed of sautéed mushrooms and onions. Served with vegetable our famous scalloped potatoes
Kielbasa Mac & Cheese - Macaroni noodles, knights vail gouda, cheddar, grilled kielbasa sausage, fried leeks
Pork Tendorloin - Center-cut tenderloin, sweet potato hash, apple, brussel sprouts, apple cider lingon berry glaze. Candied bacon, cheddar ale biscuit
Martini Steak - A flat iron steak grilled and seasoned with all the makings of a martini (shaken not stirred) and garnished with St. Peter’s bleu cheese crumbles and green olives. Served with our famous scalloped potatoes

Dessert (Choose one):

Molten Chocolate Lava Cake

Creme Brulee

New York Style Cheesecake

Sounds great, right?! Well, we hope you'll join us through Friday for Restaurant Week. Secure your reservations by calling Woolley's at 952.854.1010 or online at Open Table. 

Who Likes Molasses?

I visited a trendy, newer Minneapolis restaurant last Friday night with a party. The service went from barely attentive to completely disinterested. Granted we were a large group; however, we had reservations and we called ahead to confirm that they a) had no problem accommodating us, and b) could easily facilitate separate checks.

The wait times between server visits and to even receive our meals grew steadily. By the time we received our dinners, we had no choice but to finish them promptly to abet the now persistent hunger pains. The server was not concerned with how we enjoyed our meals, and at the end of the meal (which came about rapidly), when many in our group would have liked to order espresso or even a dessert (or several), she completely vanished for almost half an hour to work at the arduous task of settling our checks.

It was a bummer on several levels. For our group, it was frustrating as we would certainly have liked to order additional drinks or after dinner add-ons, such as dessert. Additionally, for the restaurant, they had 18 captive diners to impress that night at a single table. In one fell swoop (and in spite of the stellar food quality), I doubt a single person will return due to the poor service. Not only did the service prevent the restaurant from repeat clientele, but they also completely ruined their own chances at higher check amounts that visit, since they did not check back to refill drink orders or inquire at the end of the meal.

The final icing on the cake involved when the checks were presented. All of them had a 20% gratuity tacked on. I know mandatory gratuity is standard for large parties. I'd consider myself a generous tipper with 20% being my standard, but we really would have appreciated the heads up from staff that the gratuity was added to avoid mistakenly adding one's own, as well the opportunity to compensate for the level of service commensurate with our experience.

This experience is reminiscent of a post from last September, where we debated the likelihood of returning to a restaurant if the food quality and/or service was lacking. To read that post, click HERE. I argued that I'd be hard pressed to revisit a restaurant at which I received lackluster service and a great meal, but would give a restaurant a second shot if I received great service and a less than stellar meal.

How about you? What are your biggest dining pet peeves? Would you give the restaurant I visited another chance on the basis of their food quality, chalking it up to an off-night on service)?

(An interesting aside is what diners consider acceptable for tipping. Our sister restaurant, Chez Daniel, had a lovely discussion about that on their blog, Bienvenue. To read: Tipping, Tipping, Tipping).