1855 Saloon and Grill Restaurant Review
1855 Saloon and Grill
As a rule, we try not to review an establishment the very first time that we experience it. We prefer to go anywhere from two to four times, averaging out our experiences and tempering initial reactions with overall knowledgeable judgements. We seldom rely on knee-jerk reactions for our reviews, though at times the knee-jerk reaction is too strong to pass up, whether it be good or bad. We learned this lesson of averaging with our very first trip to the Cloud Nine Grille, and subsequent trips where we felt compelled to eat crow.
We have now been to the 1855 Saloon and Grill five times and believe that we have experienced enough to even out any reviews that we may have made after each individual trip.
We’ll start with the first time that we went to the 1855. We had heard that this was a very popular and very crowded new place, and so we decided to go shortly after they opened, for lunch, under relatively stressless staff circumstances. Our experience was very positive. We arrived at around 11:15 AM on a Saturday, and by 11:30 the place was packed. We ordered a caesar salad with sliced beef filet, bleu cheese, eggs and red onion, as well as a panini melt, consisting of “rustic bread, roasted turkey, capocollo ham, pepperoni, crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese and tomatoes”.
We left very satisfied with both the service and the food, and we eagerly anticipated another return to experience dinner. And so, obviously, we returned for dinner. On our first return visit, we arrived by 5:30 on a Wednesday evening. We were again seated immediately, but within minutes of arrival a waiting list began to form. The service suffered from the influx of diners, yet it was still adequate. On this visit, we ordered the Pesto-brushed salmon grill and the Rustic loaded filet.
Dinners are served with bread and with two butters. One is your average butter, the other is a roasted vegetable sun-dried tomato butter, which is above average. The rustic loaded filet was described as “a beef filet cutlet stuffed with prosciutto, sausage, pepperoni, tomatoes, Parmesan, spinach and mozzarella, served with mixed raviolis and a tomato cream sauce”. And that is exactly what it was. This time, the salmon did disappoint, being charred and dried out with a very strong fish taste. The filet, however, was again “adequate”.
On subsequent visits, we’ve asked more people to tag along to get their impressions as well. On those visits, various diners tried the Prime Rib (Saturday evening special ), filet with crab cakes, steak with beer battered shrimp, shrimp toasted with almonds and cocunut, and an assortment of cheeseburgers. Again, the food was very adequate, if not spectacular. On the other hand, with the menu being very moderately priced, spectacular probably should not be an expectation.
The 1855 Saloon and Grill is owned by the same owners of Tru’s in Cambridge. You will find many similarities in the menus between these two restaurants. The formulas for both restaurants become obvious fairly quickly. While on the surface the menus seem almost overwhelming due to selections, those with a discerning eye will find that many of the items are basically the same dish, with minor modifications. Unique recipe items are used time and time again in various dishes, giving a superficial plethora of flavors. In reality, peppers, Parmesan, artichokes, prosciutto, bacon and spinach are used in several dishes anchored by different meats to offer seemingly endless options.
Don’t get us wrong - that isn’t a criticism. It shows a practical creativity that will allow these restaurants to stand out, and yet still charge very reasonable prices.
The main quibble that we have with the 1855 is with their service. The staff is very young, and very inexperienced. There is no professional service to speak of, just youthful workers making their way through, apparently, high school. A recent visit, unfortunately seated in the vicinity of the server stations and kitchen, provided us an indepth understanding on where the staff stood with American Idol contestants. It also allowed us to chuckle at flashbacks created by overhearing the very childish flirting techniques of high school aged teenagers. After listening to the rambunctious teenage banter coming from the kitchen window area, you couldn’t pay us enough to return to that awkward age of false bravado aimed at covering teenage insecurity.
But perhaps the most perplexing moment dealing with the 1855 staff came when we ordered a bottle of wine (Seghesio Sangiovese) to have with our dinner. Our very nice, yet very young and green server asked us if we wanted that “to go”. This is a question that we haven’t yet figured out. Needless to say, we clarified our request and asked to have it served with dinner.
We like the 1855 Saloon and Grill for what it is; a solid restaurant in an area desperately needing such a thing. As such, one can overlook the hiring compromises that the owners have clearly needed to make, while applauding the crafty yet practical creativity that went into making the menu interesting, and yet still affordable.
1855 Saloon and Grill
218 South Main Street
Cottage Grove, WI (608) 839-3700
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This review seems to fit our experiences. We live just outside of the village and have been quite happy to have 1855 around since it opened. As noted, the food is quite good, though not spectacular. However, considering choices in the immediate area, we have been there probably ten or so times.
The issue with the staff is a legitimate one. They are typically quite nice. But, they are young and really could use an import or two from the Madison scene to teach them and get things running in a better manner. It is frustrating for those of us who go out to eat a fair amount to deal with the inexperienced staff.
It certainly isn’t a deal-breaker. However, they may find that once the novelty of having a decent restaurant in town wears off, folks will be less likely to continue to come back without better service.
This all sounds more negative than it should, however, and I recommend the restaurant even to those who have to travel there. It is a fine place to eat, at a very reasonable price. And, it is smoke-free.
My wife and I went on Mother’s day at 5:30. We were told it would be a short wait because they were “waiting for waiters”. The one hostess said 10 to 15 minutes and then the other chimed in with “4 minutes”. We then sat at the bar where the scene would be best described as chaotic. We said there for 15 minutes while, not only did we not get served, no one even looked at us. I was never actually able to figure out who the bartender actually was. We finally left for another restaurant. It was disappointing because I had heard good things about the food. There seems to be a disturbing trend lately of opening up beautiful new restaurants with good food and then forgetting about service entirely (i.e. Cloud 9). I know good staff is hard to find but it is worth the investment. I don’t blame the staff that was there. They were young and inexperienced. This place definitely needs some experience service professionals to guide the others.
I am really surprised by these reviews I just ate there on May 15th my birthday and had a wonderful time with my family. I was greated at the door and we were able to get seated in 5 mins tops. Great food, I love the house salad it is awesome. The staff people that waited on us was yes young but excellent. She even warned me of something that comes with my order that is normally very spice hot and she offered to make a change if I wanted to. I just wanted to let you know you can gte a very positive experience out of 1855.
my husband and i went to 1855 may 17, around 6:30 pm. we were told a 20 minute wait which turned into 35. 4 young women were behind the hostess station either talking or just hanging out.
our wait was worth it though, food is fresh, and portions are huge. my baked potato could feed a small country! that explains all the to-go containers passing us as we waited.
next time if it warms up, we will try the patio.
Hi,
We have been to 1855, about 12 times. Each time, we choose this location, it is not only because it is close by, but the food is wonderful. It is a relaxed and clean atmoshere, with fresh and creative food. I would agree with one small point in the previous reviews. The hostess station should be addressed.
a group of us friends all 50 somethings asked for a spot where we wouldn’t be bothered too often as we had alot of catching up to do. There were about 2 tables in use at the time, 5:30 pm. First she wanted to put us in a booth along the main isle-4 ladies, drinks, over 50 Hello lots of “can you let me out I have to use the restroom” all evening-plus main walk-way-noisy. We were wandered around for awhile and ended up in the back area-that was fine.
I too noticed (I arrived 35min before the others) that the waitstaff seemed to be having a flirt fest around the hostess stand and in the bar area where I was still waiting for someone to ask if I wanted another drink. Bartender was nice enough but ,way too loud and trying to be friendly for me. A gaggle of waitstaff were busy chit chatting around the drink station. Playing with some glob of something that looked like plastic yo-yo and then the bartender wanted in on the blue glob toy. Very unprofessional.
Food was all very good, everyone said they would have what they ordered again.
Filet, BBQ pork tenderloin and chicken/mashed spuds. Except for me, seafood pizza. I asked for cocktail sauce to give it some flavor and it arrived when I was ready to get a to-go box. I would still go back but, get something else. I didn’t really find them to be inexpensive. They are not a Ruth Chris’ but they are not inexpensive either.
As a resident of C.G. I have been here several times — and done take-out as well. I think the food is slightly overpriced given the quality, but I like the atomsphere inside.
I would not reccomend take-out mainnly because the portions are significantly smaller (the prices, miraculously, stay the same).
Overall, I’ve found 1855 to be somewhat inconsistent. Sometimes our service is great and the food is perfectly cooked… other times we find the service seriously lacking and the food only so-so.
We live in rural Town of Burke and, as anyone who lives between Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove can appreciate, are always willing to embrace a new (non-chain) restaurant.
We’ve been to 1855 about 5 times since it opened. Our first couple visits were wonderful, and I recommended it highly to business associates and friends. Around the 3rd visit, there was a pronounced decrease in the quality of food and service.
We tried to dine there about 4 weeks ago, and with a hungry 5 year old in-tow, weren’t up for a long wait. I called from the car to ask about wait time and the possibility of making a reservation on the way over.
As others here have mentioned, the phone was answered (I can only presume) by one of the ditsy teenage hostesses. We were given the impression that we had called in the middle of prom, there was so much giggling and banal chatter around the hostess’ desk that we could barely converse. Not that she was willing to, of course, because after 2-3 sentences, the girl on the phone decided she was done with me, and hung up.
We haven’t been back since, and that really saddens me, because we so desperately want a good place to eat not far from home.
I agree with what previous commenters have suggested, if 1855 hopes to survive, the owners are going to have to get their arms around this ridiculous “teenage hostess” situation. Placing aloof, poorly trained, poorly polished children in the front lines in a position of greeting customers is just plain silly.
Had a wedding aniversary 1855 in April with a lot of family and friends. It’s a beautiful building inside and out.
Unfortunately, the food, nor the service was up to par. It’s obvious that the owners put plenty of money into the building, perhaps they should put money into hiring decent staff to go with this business so people will actually walk thru those doors more than once.
Yes, I really am the “Bruce” who posted last week; like an idiot I gave the 1855 yet another chance, and not only did they “let us down”… the experience was an unprofessional disaster from start to finish, including (and my wife, child and myself would be willing to take a polygraph to confirm this - oh, by the way, our waitress was “Stacy”, who did a fine job, in spite of her management’s shortcomings) having to admit to us, on a Thursday night, after 30 minutes of waiting for our meals, that they had “run out” of mashed potatoes.
The manager was willing to “wipe our slate clean” just to get us out of the place, but I insisted on paying for what we had consumed so that I had a record of our visit, which I would gladly share with anyone who inquired. I paid for what we ate, and couldn’t get the hell out of that place fast enough. They left my wife’s meal sitting under a heat lamp for 30 minutes while they tried to decide how to diplomatically tell me that they were out of mashed potatoes, after earlier telling me that they were out of shrimp and scallops.
This is clearly a restaurant on the ropes. Beware the 1855.
Went early, dinner decently portioned and tasty for the price. Really good bread.
Service from young man OK.
On Mondays, there’s a horse-drawn carriage giving rides out front!
We ate there for lunch one day shortly after it opened - pizza was good, rueben had a very different flavor.
We gave it another shot w/ friends on 8-6-08, a Saturday night b/c friends had been told how great it was. We were told it was about a 45 minute wait, which was pretty accurate.
I agree w/ someone’s prior comment about the bar being chaotic and not know who the bartender was…one polite young man was working frantically to cover all sides of the bar - while two young girls just stood around staring at the bar, maybe clearing a glass or two but that was all.
We were seated and our order was taken. Our appetizer came with the soup and salad…Brushetta and Brie = excellant. The soup was luke warm…Our meal came and was two prime rib dinners medium rare and one loaded/stuffed shrimp and one stuffed shrimp. One primerib was overdone, then other seemingly not even cooked. Ranch dressing was on the side and had hair in it. The raw prime rib and loaded/stuffed shrimp dinners were sent back to be corrected. Both came out satisfactory, yet all dinners lacked flavor, though the sweet potato fries were excellant. The side order of pasta was a horrible choice by both parties who ordered it and the other tried it and agree’d it was tasteless.
Our waited came back and said “free dessert for your troubles”, which on a list of about 7 items, 2 we were told they were out of (it wasn’t even late in the evening!), and by the time he came back for our order - guess what, they are out of what we wanted as well.
We also did not receive the bread basket that other tables had, and drink orders were not delivered as ordered.
As far as the staff being inexperienced, that is NOT an excuse. They need to be better trained or replaced if they cannot act professionally when in plain sight or at a table.
We advised the manager, who didn’t seem to care much until it was noted that we would contact the newspaper and write a review. We were offered a $25 gift certificate and a business card w/ “free meal” on it.
Unsure if we will be back, though it was suggested we return during a “less busy” time - really…”less busy”? I’ve also been to the sister restaurant in Cambridge, the service is only slightly better but the food is still lacking quality for the price.
We have been to the 1855 for lunch twice, both times the food was excellent & the service was very good. Liked it so well that we are going back with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday.
As far as waitstaff no problem I can remember my teenage years.
We finally visited 1855 this evening. We were very pleased.
The food was excellent, and our waitress was attentive and courteous. She stated that the menu had just changed, so we don’t know what was on it before, but the Thai Pizza and Wood Fired Salad were very good. We will go again.