The Green Room: Waconia, MN

March 3rd, 2007 in Restaurants, Reviews

We have been meaning to catch up with Chris and Laura for quite some time but our schedules just never seem to match up. We had originally planned on doing some sledding or tubing after this week’s snow storm but with temperatures in the mid teens, it didn’t seem like a very good day for racing head first down an icy hill on a modified inner tube.

While Kim and I were at Target spending $130+ after coming for light bulbs, I e-mailed Chris to see if they had any suggestions for something different for lunch. He asked, simply, “what about Waconia?”

When I posed the question to Kim she eyed my with confusion and distrust and said, “why?!” After explaining that it was their idea her eyes softened and we were on our way out West with Chris and Laura.

We arrived at The Green Room in Waconia, MN at around 12:45. It was a wonderful day for a drive with clear blue skies and plenty of time to catch up on the weeks we had missed meeting up with each other.

Laura had read about this wonderful little location in the Star Tribune’s article 7 restaurants worth the drive and they have visited the location at least four times since. They have only eaten lunch but that may soon change.

We walked in and were greeted by the wonderfully colorful blue tile work in the entry way which is guarded on the other side by deep red draperies hanging over the entrance. After a quick wipe down, we were seated at a table next to the window which was letting in the blinding sun. The restaurant’s photographer and bus boy/server asked if we would like the curtains lowered but after a week of gray and snowy skies, it was a welcome sight that we opted to keep.

The menu is fairly simple. A single page of excellent items that changes frequently. According to our server this is the 5th iteration of their menu since opening a year ago today. After she told us of their evolving menus my comment was, “this sure isn’t Applebee’s!” and that would certainly explain why Laura’s favorite menu item (it escapes me as I write this) no longer appeared on the menu today.

We got to ordering quickly and both Chris and I immediately set ours eyes (and stomachs) on their portabello mushroom sandwich which, the menu noted, came loaded with roasted red peppers, grilled onion, and mozzarella along with their standard lunch sides of jo-jo potatoes and a petite green salad. Strangely enough Kim and Laura both ordered their grilled chicken salad which came topped with arugula, parmesan dressing, walnuts, and apple.

Chris and Laura remarked that the service was usually top notch and while today was a little slower than they were treated to in their past visits it was still well above par for the rest of the Twin Cities’ restaurant scene. I must agree that not only was the server knowledgeable and friendly, she was most accommodating to our needs and was happy to supply us with copies of their brunch and dinner menus to whet our appetites for future visits.

Our lunches came out and looked fantastic. While I didn’t taste any of the grilled chicken salad, Laura claimed that she absolutely loved the dressing. I took one bite of the portabello sandwich and was definitely diggin’ this place. It was well done, tasty, and wasn’t falling apart on the bun, something that I find happens when the mushroom is too greasy or over prepared with too much olive oil. The small green salad wasn’t bitter as many field green salads tend to be and I was pleasantly surprised that the seemingly non-existent dressing added a great flavor without drowning the leaves as I normally prefer.

After lunch we were asked if we wanted any dessert. Chris and Laura were raving about their chocolate lava cake in the car and after lunch my interests were certainly piqued by the prospects of having my sweet tooth sated.

They had plenty of good stuff on their dessert menu including the pecan raisin bread pudding which I quickly ordered sans ice cream and Laura’s favorite chocolate lava cake which everyone else went for.

Lava cakes generally take a while to prepare and we happily waited while chatting with the server. She was proud of their menus and suggested that while their lunch service was excellent, their dinner is far superior and we should seriously consider coming back soon. Please note that she said that reservations are pretty much required.

I’m a big bread pudding fan but not much of a fan of raisins. When this particular slab came out I was surprised at how light and fluffy it was without overpowering me with either the raisins or the pecans. Kim, Chris, and Laura’s lava cakes flowed with ease and they seemed quite pleased all around.

Overall, I am very impressed with The Green Room in Waconia. I generally don’t agree with anything that’s said in the mainstream reviewing media but this time I must wholeheartedly agree that it’s certainly worth the drive and it’ll be one that I promise to make again for both their brunch and their dinner.

If you’re looking for a nice night out with family or friends and you’re looking to eat at a quiet little restaurant backed by some big names in the restaurant business, I highly suggest that you check out The Green Room in Waconia, MN. You won’t be disappointed.

See all the pictures from today here (camera).