Machine Shed Restaurant Lake Elmo

What's happened to this place??!! Took my mom, my girlfriend, my grandma (my mom's mother) out for lunch yesterday (Saturday) for my mom's birthday. She's been looking forward to this all week. I don't see my family all that often because I moved away from St Paul and don't make it that way all that often so this was extra important. I ordered 9oz sirloin, I made my mom order the 14oz so she can take a bunch home for later, my girl got the little one was Parm crust and grandma got some chili. All steaks ordered medium rare. I got mine... It was RAW. NOT EVEN CLOSE. My mom's was ok at first she even thought it was a lil more raw than normal but found out pretty quick into a couple bites that it's now RAW just like mine. My girlfriends was perfect. In fact she thought it was real good! So at least there's that. I alerted the server, who was great. This isn't on her. She took the steaks back to make some new ones. Brought new ones back out and waited to make sure these were good. Mine was ok now. But now...my mom's steak was sliced almost all the way in half thin and flipped back on top of itself as if to try and hide that they did this. On top of this... The meat was not colored right. Looked as though the meat was thrown in the microwave then tossed on the grill to add the grill marks and of course it wasn't even close to medium rare...or even medium for that matter. I'm in disbelief. I also feel really bad for the server I could tell she was really upset this now happened. She got the manager and this man proceeds to come to the table to find out what the issue is now and responds to what we tell him with "oh yea, I seen the cook do that it's fine he did that so it would cook more thoroughly it's ok I seen it...." Ok so...now Im actually in disbelief. I just responded by "if you know how to cook a steak...or even just how to cook you know that you DO NOT slice a steak in half thickness to cook it!!!" Nevermind that myself as well as my mom remember this place having a damn good steak!!! It always has... That's why we came here for a birthday steak. I could tell I was gonna hit a point to were I was going to do something or act a certain way that I will later regret so after kinda arguing with my mom a little I told her just to take my steak it's fine we are leaving. Of course she didn't want to do this but she knew why she needed to and that's because we needed to just leave. So...her two bad steaks were taken off the bill and the one I got and gave to her I ended up having to pay for. (Which after thinking is ridiculous. She didn't get the steak she wanted and I didn't get anything) the bill was $75.00 (Root beer and other drinks) I tipped the server $15.00. This isn't on her...I really felt bad that her employer put her in this situation. So almost $100.00 for that experience???? What happened to this place??? I decided I'm going to contact them tomorrow (Monday) in hopes that the 9/5 business hours manager is different.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 1

I recently had the pleasure of being served by Jasmine and Donna at Machine Shed- Lake Elmo the last 2 mornings. From the moment we arrived, they greeted us with a warm smile and genuine enthusiasm.

Throughout the meal, their attentiveness was remarkable. They anticipated our needs, refilling drinks and checking in at just the right moments, all while balancing other tables with ease. The knowledge of the menu was impressive; they offered excellent recommendations and made sure we had everything we needed for a great dining experience.

What stood out most was their friendly demeanor—which made us feel like valued guests rather than just another table. Their professionalism and positive energy truly enhanced our meal.

Overall, our visit memorable, and I can’t wait to return to Machine Shed for another fantastic experience!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: French Toast

Went here for Grandma's 90th and we were treated like royalty! Such kind and helpful staff and the food was incredible! BIG appetizers for the whole party and everyone's lunches were fantastic. I will dream about the potato soup. Great prices, great service, and EXCELLENT FOOD! Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Jasmin was great, and the food was yummy! The Mac and cheese is to die for!

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Slow ,slow service. Food was bland. Didn't refill coffee.

Parking: Next to hotel.

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 2

Service: 1

Wonderful food. Staff were friendly. Susan the waitress was awesome! She was patient & kind, she went out of her way for our family’s needs. She was attentive to our needs.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Service was quick, sweet and efficient!
Got the shed sampler and the chili, the artichoke dip isn't that great but the mushroom bites are incredible and the fries are great!
My only real complaint is that everything was a tad overly salty.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 5

Good food, my burger didn’t have any lettuce or tomato’s which was kinda sad. But they had bread that you could dip in apple pie filling which was great.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 3

Service: 5

Fantastic! We had a family group of over 30 people and they accommodated us so graciously. Our server Jasmin was fabulous. Attentive, fun and kept all of our orders and bills straight!
The food was also delicious. Pecan rolls the size of a football, blueberry pancakes and a big buffet.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We had a family get together of 30 people and had a private room. Everything was done perfectly and food was great! Highly recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

After a long day exploring the zoo with two very tired and restless toddlers (ages 1 and 3), we were on the hunt for a place to unwind and have a nice meal. Machine Shed Restaurant was the perfect choice, but what made our experience truly exceptional was our incredible waitress, Jasmine.

My mom and I were doing everything we could to keep the kids entertained—walking them around the restaurant, browsing the little store, and even resorting to tossing the 1-year-old in the air to avoid a meltdown. Jasmine noticed our efforts right away and went above and beyond to make sure our family had a comfortable experience.

The highlight? She offered us some fresh fruit from the buffet while we waited for our meals. Any parent knows how much of a lifesaver this is—getting the kids fed first, especially when they’re overtired and hungry, can turn the whole dining experience around. Her thoughtful gesture not only helped calm the little ones, but also allowed my mom and me to enjoy a few moments of peace before our meals arrived.

And let me just say—the food was delicious! Everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and made with real care. But honestly, it was Jasmine’s attentiveness that really made our visit a 5-star experience. She even hand-delivered my cocktail instead of just leaving it on the table, showing such a personal touch that really stood out.

I can’t recommend Machine Shed Restaurant enough—especially if you’re lucky enough to have Jasmine as your waitress. Her attention to detail and genuine care for her guests turned what could have been a stressful evening into a relaxing and enjoyable family meal. Five stars all the way!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Dinner was pretty good.. the side of veggies was a nice touch.. salad bar was good.. menu was pretty expansive, lots to choose from

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Machine shed is wonderful, it's very convenient next to the hotel and it's a great meetup location for breakfast right off of the highway

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The food was exceptionally good tasting and looked homemade excellent. Service was really great as well.

Wheelchair accessibility: I had two people in wheelchairs neither one had any problems at all

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Country Fried Steak, Meatloaf, Pot Roast, Salad Bar

Everything was fabulous!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5