25 Best American Restaurants near Big Lake

“Always a good meal at Lakes Cafe! Great specials as well.“

“I just attended a celebration of life there...the food was delicious and the staff was amazing when it came to handling a large crowd! I would definitely recommend!!!“

“Great food and the best staff love this place !“

“Amazing service, food, and drinks! KC (bartender) always takes great care of us - she’s very attentive and friendly! Every time I visit my best friend in the area, this is where we go! 😁“

“Awesome food and service! I love that the owners are SO HANDS ON and such hard workers! They are always supporting the community with their generosity!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If joy had a flavor, you’d find it at Hen & Hog. We stumbled upon this place one lazy Sunday — one of those accidental discoveries that end up rewriting your weekend rituals. Now we make the drive from Big Lake every couple weeks, because honestly, brunch anywhere else feels like a compromise. The first thing that hooked us was the Flaming Hen Sandwich. It’s not just a dish — it’s a declaration. Crispy-edged perfection with that sweet-heat swagger that wakes up every corner of your mouth. Then came the Pork Belly Bites, glazed and glistening like they’d been kissed by angels with cast-iron skillets. And those Minnesota Wontons? A love letter to comfort food — golden, tender, a little nostalgic, a little bold, like home and adventure decided to share a plate. The space hums with warmth — rustic wood, soft light, laughter that doesn’t echo, it settles. The staff greets you like they’ve been saving your table all week. You can tell the bartenders know their craft; they pour not just drinks but little conversations that make you feel seen. Every visit feels like a reminder that good food isn’t just cooked — it’s cared for. And these folks care deeply. So here’s to the people who turn ordinary brunch into a reason to get in the car and drive miles just to feel this alive again. Let me add this. I'm a Chef by trade. I'm picky. I'm nice but my expectations are high. They have EXCEEDED expectations EVERY time. Hen & Hog, you’ve officially become our weekend pilgrimage. We’ll keep coming back — for the food, for the people, for that feeling that we’ve found something rare and real. — Bethany Nelson Lieser“

“The food and drinks were amazing. Thank you to our server Devan for the recommendations and excellent service. Definitely going back!“

“Awesome food and service! I love that the owners are SO HANDS ON and such hard workers! They are always supporting the community with their generosity!“

“What an awesome place! Great food and leadership!“

“Great service from Chris at the bowling/arcade bar!“

“This is hands down THE BEST place to eat! I have a special needs ( Autistic, ADHD, vision impaired) grandchild and she requests this Culvers daily. We have tried others ( The St Cloud location made us leave because of her excited squeals) but the way the entire staff treats her and the rest of us when we walk through that door in Monticello is OUTSTANDING!! They can see if she's having a tough day and they go above and beyond to accommodate us. I have NEVER taken her anywhere else in Monticello that has accepted her the way Culvers staff has. They are always polite, fast and very welcoming. I don't know all of their names but Anthony and Chad are two of her favorite people. The manager is wonderful! When my bill fold got left behind she worked hard to reach out and get it back to me, she went above and beyond and I can't tell you how very much that ment to me. We don't feel like customers, we feel like family. The staff never seems crabby or like you are a burden, they really seem to enjoy their job. That speaks volumes about management. We cannot say enough good things about the staff 😃 Thank you Monticello Culvers for accepting my Granddaughter for who she is ❤️“

“The chef is something else in everything that he cooks! 🤗😑 Menu is pleasing to any craving.“

“Wonderful restaurant“

“nice clean place, good food and friendly staffs!“

“We didn’t eat and just had a few pitchers of beer with our bowling games but we got checked on frequently by our server (Jesse) and felt comfortable and taken care of! Our group had the whole VIP area to ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed our time. Would come back!“

“Love being part of this group!“

“We reserved a party room for a small business event. Deb was very easy to work with and Michelle was helpful when I had questions and Deb wasn't available. Their rates were incredibly reasonable. The flexibility was hard to beat! When we arrived, Mike and Deb were great about making sure we had what we needed. We had 2 servers- mine was Emily and she was very on top of things. The food was good and the drinks were good- I heard no complaints from any of our guests about the food, drinks or service. Kudos to the kitchen for pace and standard. Also, the room afforded a lot of space and a great deal of privacy from the rest of the bar which was perfect for us. Overall, I wish every venue was as great as this one! Thanks Liberty crew!“

“Great place with good food!“

“Veronica was awesome very personable, kind and thorough and serving us a great meal. Highly recommend Perkins and if you’re lucky you’ll have Veronica as your service gal! My wife and I enjoyed the visit very much.“

“Hawk's burgers are the best.“

“Applebees is pretty consistent across locations which is good being a chain store. We had quick service. Waiter was attentive. If get there during Happy Hour can be a good deal and get in and out rather fast. Nice atmosphere during March Madness as many TVs to watch the games were on.

Kid-friendliness: Have a good kid menu with options for main course and side for almost every kid. Cost friendly for kids menu also.“

“Bingo was a blast very reasonably priced. Good food and beverage. Very friendly staff“

“Angus burger wrap was delicious & strawberry peach boozy lemonade is fantastic!“

“We went to D. Michael B’s on Tuesday night for their “Italian Night” where all pasta and bottles of wine are 1/2 price. My wife ordered the alfredo and I ordered the pastalaya. The portions were generous and both of our pastas were very creamy with sauce. This was the 3rd time I’ve had the pastalaya there and I love it. It’s got a little kick to it but not too spicy. I definitely recommend checking out D. Michael B’s if you haven’t been before!“

“A little slow to get our check but the food was good!“