Harbor View Cafe is a great place to stop at for dinner if you are on the water or ending your river drive by Pepin. The inside was cool and comforting I would say. The staff was great and friendly. The food is all great and fresh and love how the menu is always different. I got the chicken breast and the flavor was great. Also had a spotted cow since I was over the border.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Laurie Seebach
We have visited this restaurant for over 35 years. Our most favorite restaurant! However, we experienced a visit on Saturday afternoon that led us to the conclusion, with a very heavy heart...this would be our last visit? We invited two friends along that had never experienced our most favorite restaurant and was so excited to share it with them. The visit ended with total embarrassment? Our most favorite dish, sauteed chicken breast with garlic chipotle sauce and linguine, was cold and the chicken was hard to slice into. This use to be the most flavorful dish, but this lacked flavor as well as being cold. Our friends had two different dishes. The pesce and the halibut. The fish in the pesce had small bones in it which was a total surprise to our guest. The other item ordered, the halibut, was slathered in a black mass that looked like a balsamic reduction that totally over powered the halibut. (I believe it was supposed to be a black butter caper sauce) The comment was that it looked like a chocolate yule log! Our guest commented that it totally took away the flavor of the halibut. If you order the halibut, my advise is to get the black butter caper sauce or whatever it was, on the side. At $40 per meal, this was an expensive disappointment. All in all it's always a beautiful drive to Lake Pepin. Next trip we will be going to a different restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
GoDro
Love this place! Food has never disappointed. Super friendly and hospitable. Serving staff is absolutely top-notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark Miner
Great food as always. Wounderful view.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Susan Kirk
This is one of our favorite restaurants. We haven’t been for several years so we were delighted to get in without a wait. I had the halibut which I loved and my husband had the pork chop, which was a meal for two. The menu is completely different than it was the last time we were here some of my favorites no longer on the menu, we still enjoyed our menu choices and in the experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Skeen
I ordered the halibut. What I received was a dried out piece of fish with a glob of supposedly balsamic and butter reduction but which in reality was a past due gel like thickened gravy. The accompanying plain white rice was lukewarm, dried out and tasteless. After a complaint to the wait staff, the entree bill was reduced by 25%.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
Emmy Husfloen
My 2nd time here, but my husband's 1st time, I chose a different dish this time. We had water to drink, some bread, 2 entrees Halibut with white rice and Salmon with wild rice for $83. It was good but not for that price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
Sadie Traulich
The food and service in this small-town gem were exceptional, making it a rare find that’s truly worth the price. The overall experience for our late night group of six was unmatched! The staff on food suggestions was great. Fun to try something and someplace new.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jill Bollettieri
First time visitors. We had a lovely time and the food was excellent. Our server was terrific as well. Cannot wait to come back again soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Timothy Lynaugh
The Harbor View will always remain one of our favorite places to visit. The food is outstanding, server’s know the menu and are able to make suggestions based on your preferences. For us it’s more than a 90-minute drive. It is definitely worth the drive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alaskan Halibut with Black Butter Caper Sauce, Saffron Chicken
6/24/24 Update: Without a doubt, it used to be a family favorite restaurant we'd frequently visit. A change in ownership and a new chef led to extreme disappointment for this visit. Grizzly inedible steak. Halibut, that was not up to the usual standard. The only same great item was the stuffed mushroom appetizers. No longer a favorite of our, and at $40/ plat, we will not be returning sadly.
Original review from 2019: Best small-town coziest and tastiest restaurant in the Midwest! Savory food that you'll never forget. Wonderful staff that welcomes you like family. Go enjoy the view, relax and take in all the tastes.... :)
Food: 1
Service: 3
Scotty K
A group of friends from Minneapolis gathered excitedly at the Harbor View Cafe, a beloved restaurant they had been frequenting for over three decades. With fond memories of delicious meals and warm ambiance, they anticipated another delightful evening of fine dining. However, upon perusing the menu, they were taken aback by the drastic changes that had occurred.
The menu, once filled with familiar and comforting dishes, now boasted a selection that seemed to belong to another era. It was as if the restaurant had undergone a culinary revolution, introducing bold and unconventional flavors. One particular salmon dish, served with wild rice, caught their attention. It was accompanied by a curry sauce, a fusion of flavors that seemed out of place in the context of their cherished memories.
Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to give it a try. As the dish arrived at the table, the aroma of the curry sauce wafted through the air, piquing their senses. However, the first taste was met with mixed reactions. The combination of the delicate salmon, the earthy wild rice, and the unexpected curry sauce created a flavor profile that was undeniably unique but not entirely to their liking.
Despite their disappointment, the group of friends reminisced about the countless meals they had enjoyed at the Harbor View Cafe over the years. They chuckled at the unexpected twist and found solace in the fact that change is an inevitable part of life. While this particular visit may have left them with a taste of uncertainty, they remained grateful for the cherished memories and the enduring bond they shared.
Leaving the restaurant that evening, they couldn't help but wonder what other surprises the future might hold for their beloved Harbor View Cafe. This no longer may be a summer monthly ritual trip. I have never given this restaurant less than 5 stars previously.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Ann Norton
Outstanding food, excellently prepared, very creative dishes..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kordel Eberly
EXCEPTIONAL food! Great little place with a nice view of the harbor, and an impressive, unexpectedly awesome French inspired menu! Eat here!!!
Harbor View Cafe is a great place to stop at for dinner if you are on the water or ending your river drive by Pepin. The inside was cool and comforting I would say. The staff was great and friendly. The food is all great and fresh and love how the menu is always different. I got the chicken breast and the flavor was great. Also had a spotted cow since I was over the border.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We have visited this restaurant for over 35 years. Our most favorite restaurant! However, we experienced a visit on Saturday afternoon that led us to the conclusion, with a very heavy heart...this would be our last visit?
We invited two friends along that had never experienced our most favorite restaurant and was so excited to share it with them. The visit ended with total embarrassment?
Our most favorite dish, sauteed chicken breast with garlic chipotle sauce and linguine, was cold and the chicken was hard to slice into. This use to be the most flavorful dish, but this lacked flavor as well as being cold. Our friends had two different dishes. The pesce and the halibut. The fish in the pesce had small bones in it which was a total surprise to our guest. The other item ordered, the halibut, was slathered in a black mass that looked like a balsamic reduction that totally over powered the halibut. (I believe it was supposed to be a black butter caper sauce) The comment was that it looked like a chocolate yule log! Our guest commented that it totally took away the flavor of the halibut. If you order the halibut, my advise is to get the black butter caper sauce or whatever it was, on the side.
At $40 per meal, this was an expensive disappointment.
All in all it's always a beautiful drive to Lake Pepin. Next trip we will be going to a different restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Love this place!
Food has never disappointed.
Super friendly and hospitable.
Serving staff is absolutely top-notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food as always. Wounderful view.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is one of our favorite restaurants. We haven’t been for several years so we were delighted to get in without a wait. I had the halibut which I loved and my husband had the pork chop, which was a meal for two. The menu is completely different than it was the last time we were here some of my favorites no longer on the menu, we still enjoyed our menu choices and in the experience
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered the halibut. What I received was a dried out piece of fish with a glob of supposedly balsamic and butter reduction but which in reality was a past due gel like thickened gravy. The accompanying plain white rice was lukewarm, dried out and tasteless. After a complaint to the wait staff, the entree bill was reduced by 25%.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 3
My 2nd time here, but my husband's 1st time, I chose a different dish this time. We had water to drink, some bread, 2 entrees Halibut with white rice and Salmon with wild rice for $83. It was good but not for that price.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 4
The food and service in this small-town gem were exceptional, making it a rare find that’s truly worth the price. The overall experience for our late night group of six was unmatched! The staff on food suggestions was great. Fun to try something and someplace new.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
First time visitors. We had a lovely time and the food was excellent. Our server was terrific as well. Cannot wait to come back again soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The Harbor View will always remain one of our favorite places to visit. The food is outstanding, server’s know the menu and are able to make suggestions based on your preferences. For us it’s more than a 90-minute drive. It is definitely worth the drive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Alaskan Halibut with Black Butter Caper Sauce, Saffron Chicken
Restaurantji Recommends
6/24/24 Update: Without a doubt, it used to be a family favorite restaurant we'd frequently visit. A change in ownership and a new chef led to extreme disappointment for this visit. Grizzly inedible steak. Halibut, that was not up to the usual standard. The only same great item was the stuffed mushroom appetizers. No longer a favorite of our, and at $40/ plat, we will not be returning sadly.
Original review from 2019: Best small-town coziest and tastiest restaurant in the Midwest! Savory food that you'll never forget. Wonderful staff that welcomes you like family. Go enjoy the view, relax and take in all the tastes.... :)
Food: 1
Service: 3
A group of friends from Minneapolis gathered excitedly at the Harbor View Cafe, a beloved restaurant they had been frequenting for over three decades. With fond memories of delicious meals and warm ambiance, they anticipated another delightful evening of fine dining. However, upon perusing the menu, they were taken aback by the drastic changes that had occurred.
The menu, once filled with familiar and comforting dishes, now boasted a selection that seemed to belong to another era. It was as if the restaurant had undergone a culinary revolution, introducing bold and unconventional flavors. One particular salmon dish, served with wild rice, caught their attention. It was accompanied by a curry sauce, a fusion of flavors that seemed out of place in the context of their cherished memories.
Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to give it a try. As the dish arrived at the table, the aroma of the curry sauce wafted through the air, piquing their senses. However, the first taste was met with mixed reactions. The combination of the delicate salmon, the earthy wild rice, and the unexpected curry sauce created a flavor profile that was undeniably unique but not entirely to their liking.
Despite their disappointment, the group of friends reminisced about the countless meals they had enjoyed at the Harbor View Cafe over the years. They chuckled at the unexpected twist and found solace in the fact that change is an inevitable part of life. While this particular visit may have left them with a taste of uncertainty, they remained grateful for the cherished memories and the enduring bond they shared.
Leaving the restaurant that evening, they couldn't help but wonder what other surprises the future might hold for their beloved Harbor View Cafe.
This no longer may be a summer monthly ritual trip. I have never given this restaurant less than 5 stars previously.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 3
Outstanding food, excellently prepared, very creative dishes..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
EXCEPTIONAL food! Great little place with a nice view of the harbor, and an impressive, unexpectedly awesome French inspired menu! Eat here!!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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