Gastropubs near Eau Claire

“I absolutely love The Informalist and have a five-star experience nearly every time I come here! From the ambiance to the service to the food, they consistently knock it out of the park.

HOWEVER, we dined here last night, and I have to say, the airline chicken was extremely disappointing. I’ve ordered this dish before and was really looking forward to having it again, but it has been completely reworked. The last time I ordered it, it was a savory chicken thigh with a delicious sauce and cornbread. It was comforting, flavorful, and honestly one of my favorite dishes on the menu. When I ordered it on September 18, 2026, I was surprised to receive something entirely different. It was essentially a chicken breast served with untrimmed green beans and felt like a completely different dish from the one I remembered, and not worth the $38 price tag.

The rest of our meal was phenomenal, and I still love The Informalist, but if a dish is going to be changed this dramatically, I really think it needs a new name or a clearer description on the menu. What I received was simply not what I was expecting based on my previous experience with the dish.

For reference, the photo with the dish in a bowl is the airline chicken on a previous visit. The photo with the pizza in the foreground is from last night.“

“Great food, friendly staff. Small issue with my order, but they immediately made it up to me without me even saying anything.

I got the chicken tacos, which were fantastic. Ordered carryout, so the food in the attached photo probably comes out even better when you get it at the restaurant.

Would definitely eat here again if I'm ever back in Eau Claire.“