Recently I met up with MSPD for lunch at a place I have been passing but not stopping, much like the recently reviewed Windmill Cafe, Wally’s Roast Beef. Open since 1969, this is a Bloomington lunch-time institution and one that I had been repeatedly told to visit.
MSPD suggested earlier in the week that we arrive at 11:15 so as, “to beat the rush,” and so we did. I had The Rooster along with me as The Wife was out of town and so we sat down at one of the many empty tables and waited. As the two of us waited the line started forming from the counter and led out the door. The clientele was nearly 100% blue collar and service industry people. National Guardsmen, nurses, a lone City of Bloomington employee dressed in a reflective orange vest, etc.
Wally’s menu is extensive but includes a variety of simple items such as their three colored plate specials (red, blue, and green) offered every day, their insanely inexpensive daily specials such as pork tenderloin or BBQ beef sandwiches, and a variety of sides including potato salad and french fries. But even with all of that, their trademark are the roast beef sandwiches they have been slinging for just over 40 years.
Being that I was hanging out with The Rooster I asked MSPD to order for me. I wanted a half order of their blue plate special (hot roast beef sandwich with gravy, mashed potatoes, and vegetable for $5.69), potato salad side, and a meat loaf sandwich. Unfortunately MSPD ordered me instead a red plate special (meatloaf sandwich) only. MSPD also ordered their red plate special but grabbed an order of potato cakes along with it. In addition to their excellent sandwiches they have a large variety of canned and bottled beverages including several diet and caffeine free versions which was quite pleasing.
My meatloaf sandwich with gravy, mashed, and veggie was exactly that. Nothing special here including the meatloaf or the bread. If you’re looking for some modern twist on a home-cooked diner favorite, well, you’re in the wrong place. The meatloaf was tasty but the gravy definitely drowned it out. The bread was tasteless but the mashed potatoes were definitely good and obviously were as ‘real’ as they claimed on the menu. The corn was served in a plastic cup with a heavy dose of liquid in the bottom and after eating a few bites I poured it over my remaining mashed potatoes and cleaned the plate. After I finished, with MSPD commenting on how fast I ate it, I sat staring at the partial menu posted on the wall of the dining room and decided I couldn’t leave without tasting a signature roast beef sandwich.
I placed the order for two sandwiches (MSPD didn’t take much convincing to order one for him too) with au jus and a root beer for me. I was quite surprised, even after staring at the prices on the menu, that the bill for the two sandwiches, au jus and drink came out to be just under $9. The order was up quickly and I headed over to pick up BBQ sauce and horseradish sauce for the sandwiches and then went back to the table. MSPD had mentioned the horseradish sauce felt as if there were chunks of the root in there and a quick finger test confirmed his claims.
The roast beef on the sandwiches were not evenly distributed between the two. MSPD had about twice as much on his as I did but the meat was rare and looked good. The bun was nothing special at all but did well to soak up the copious amounts of BBQ and horseradish sauce I put on top. The sandwiches reminded me of what Arby’s commercials make their sandwiches look like–nice firm buns and roast beef and not the smashed final product you usually receive. While the sandwich was fine but definitely in no way worth the $3.50 price tag but if I were in the mood for Arby’s at lunch time I’d much rather go there instead as at least I know I’d be supporting a local business. While the sandwich was nothing wonderful, the horseradish sauce carried enough kick to clear out my nostrils even though I am a hardcore addict for the stuff (quite similar to my obsession with chilies). While you can get “horsey sauce” at Arby’s, it has been dumbed down to fit the tastes of the majority of Americans and Wally’s has kept the standard where it belongs.
Overall I was pleased with almost everything about Wally’s Roast Beef in Bloomington and I will definitely be back again and again for lunches when time and schedules permit. While their signature item didn’t really do it for me, they have plenty of other options which are good and with such a steady flow of business at lunch, they have to be doing something right. I suggest that if you can find the time in your day that you head over to Wally’s Roast Beef to check it out. 40+ years proves you won’t be disappointed.
Address:
Wally’s Roast Beef
Southtown Office Park
8120 Penn Ave S
Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone:
952-884-4349
Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 11 AM – 3 PM
See all the pictures from Wally’s Roast Beef on Flickr here.
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November 1st, 2010 at 8:58 am
Sandwich not worth $3.50???? I’ve never been to Wally’s, but it is hard to imagine a sandwich that isn’t worth $3.50. I don’t know where you’re buying your sandwiches, but I didn’t think there were any places left that would sell you a sandwich for less than $3.50, unless it’s off a dollar menu at McDonalds. I’m not even sure I could make a sandwich at home for less than $3.50.
November 1st, 2010 at 9:36 am
I am a big fan of Wallys. The food is good and simple. I would agree that you have to be a little bit careful how you order. Get a special of some kind and its very inexpensive. Start ordering individual items and it adds up fast.
To answer Reuben, the sandwiches are very simple. Its a bun with some fresh rare roast beef. Thats it. That said, I am a big fan, and could probably eat three in a sitting, but to me, the value is the Hot Beef (Blue Plate Special!). I guess everyone would have a different idea as to the relative value of the $3.50 sandwhich.
November 1st, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Been to Wally’s a few years ago. It was great for what it was. I would only go there again if I was in the area during lunch.
The key to a place like this is that they serve up memories too. How many times have you heard “you have to go to (OLD PLACE), they make the best (FOOD ITEM).” Usually, the food is good, but it doesn’t live up to the hype.
There is a speacial spot in my soul for rural bars/restaurants. My grandparents used to own one. I spent several nights on a bar stool eating cheese curds and the best burgers ever made.
(Does anyone else think it’s funny that Rueben is commenting on sandwiches?)
November 1st, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Really BIll, comparing Wallys to Arbys? How about the Mona Lisa vs my 3 yr old’s finger paintings? That’s just crazy talk. Arbys uses reconstituted “beef product”. Ground up, rolled and pressed beef, fat, and sweepings, extruded into one of those yucky looking rolls they use. Wallys uses a piece of beef, cut from a cow and roasted to yummy, tender goodness. I eat @ Wallys about once a week, and sadly, ’cause I’m not usually near Bloomington, Arbys about the same amount. Not only is the Arbys thing smashed flat, on a soggy paper mache’ bun, but they are really greasy. Real roast beef aint greasy bud.
November 1st, 2010 at 2:06 pm
*shrug*
November 1st, 2010 at 2:21 pm
FYI: “Au jus” means “with the juice” – so if you order some, you are ordering “jus”, not “au jus”.
Roast beef and jus, roast beef with jus, roast beef au jus, all are pretty much correct.
Roast beef and au jus, roast beef with au jus, etc., not so much.
November 1st, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Being that they’re offered as separate items on the menu I’m going to stick with my original statement that I ordered sandwiches with au jus. You know to make it clear that I ordered three distinct items.
But hey, I always appreciate a lesson from pedantic foodies.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:33 pm
Thank you. I thought you might get mean. Ha.
November 1st, 2010 at 3:35 pm
Nothing like posting something you know will piss me off ;-)
November 1st, 2010 at 4:10 pm
If she’d unbunch her undies and eat a McRib or Crave Case once in a while, maybe she wouldn’t be so uptight Bill.
November 1st, 2010 at 5:10 pm
MSPD, you disappoint me. My undies are far looser than Bill’s!
The “ow joos” thing is a particular pet peeve of mine. Have you two no pet peeves?????
Uncircle those wagons!
November 1st, 2010 at 5:15 pm
My pet peeves, in order:
1. Using “borrow” instead of lend. I have only seen that used in this horrendous state.
2. People who wear underwear.
November 1st, 2010 at 5:22 pm
1. I agree.
2. Uh-oh.
November 1st, 2010 at 5:31 pm
My only pet peeve is gravy. I’d eat that sandwich if they didn’t ruin it with all that gravy.
*ducks…
November 1st, 2010 at 8:39 pm
Hey, some of us get a cheap thrill out of this. I’ve added it to my list of hobbies on Facebook – we’ll see how many Like’s it gets.
November 2nd, 2010 at 4:01 am
[...] Roehl hits Wally’s Roast Beef in Bloomington, the Perennial Plate visits the Jonjak Cranbery Farm in Wisconsin (and check out our visits to a [...]
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:10 am
Bill, will you borrow me $10?!
November 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 am
Chad, need a new pair of panties?
November 2nd, 2010 at 9:48 am
I, too, hate the “borrow” thing in Minnesota. The other one that gets me is “Are you coming with?” Um, do you mean “with me/us?” Coming with? Gimme a break!
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:05 am
In the spirit of the day, my pet peeve is any person, action, characteristic, or object that begins with “politic”. If you start with politic, I hate you.
And, yeah, as a non-Minnesota native, for years, the “come with” was always followed by me waiting several seconds for the rest of the sentence.
Borrow vs. lend — ouch.
Belinda Jensen on KARE11 saying “acrosst” (e.g. the storm is heading acrosst the state). YOU’RE A PROFESSIONAL TELEVISION PERSONALITY….IT IS ACROSS. THERE IS NO ‘T’. ANUNCIATE!
Spelling “lose” with an extra ‘o’ (you loosers)
Seen vs. saw (almost always used during a reference to hunting or fishing…e.g. “I seen a huge buck out there, but I didn’t have my rifle with.”)
Them vs. those (e.g. “Them bibbies are real nice…you get ‘em at Fleet Farm?)
Vegetarians. Especially people that go to a restaurant and complain that the restaurant doesn’t offer enough vegetarian options and won’t make special off-menu items for them. Even worse is when vegetarians, people with very restricted diets, or people that are overly sensitive to certain seasonings/spices (e.g. salt…you know who you are prolific MSP-based Web poster on Chowhound and occasionally here) do any kind of restaurant review/commenting.
Usually they don’t mention their own predisposition/flaw…they just say how bad restaurant-X is, how unaccommodating the service is, and how nobody should go there (but, oh, by the way, I could only eat from the bottom 1/100th of the menu and it’s a steakhouse/BBQ joint).
Other pet peeve…people who go on and on about their pet peeves.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:14 am
People who eat at McDonald’s and consider themselves knowledgeable about food.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:43 am
You’re just jealous of their versatility. Snob.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:45 am
I’m just jealous that they only have the McRib a couple times a decade.
November 2nd, 2010 at 10:59 am
Now we’re getting to the truth.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:17 pm
“Pepsi ok?”
People who don’t use turn signals.
Cheaters.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Bring instead of take.
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
“Acrosst” instead of “across”. It’s not even a word. A local weather person says it all the time.
November 3rd, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Yes. And apostrophe””s on plural””s.
November 4th, 2010 at 6:24 am
MSPD, don’t you have a vegetarian in your family, or is that mooses?
ATM Machine. redundant.
being late for work, which iam going to be, because I’m too busy trying to think up ways to annoy Bill.
November 4th, 2010 at 6:24 am
“You are posting comments too quickly. Slow down.”
this
November 4th, 2010 at 10:01 am
anyways:(
bb
November 4th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
How about people who play “Duck Duck Grey Duck” It is “Duck Duck GOOSE”! dammit!
November 4th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Perish the thought. Thankfully, no.
November 4th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
Hot water heater. Why would you need to heat hot water??
Pre-thaw before cooking. What’s pre-thaw, frozen, right?
November 4th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
Or unthaw. As in FREEZE!
November 5th, 2010 at 11:44 am
Hmm, I may have meant unthaw. Either way…
November 8th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
I never congratulated Reuben on his 100th comment. Congrats.
March 4th, 2011 at 9:29 am
Wally’s has moved to Southtown Office Park at 8120 Penn Ave S., Bloomington
March 7th, 2011 at 8:15 am
Per SuburbanMPLS and this blog post: http://annmartina.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/rebooted-wallys-roast-beef-bloomington/ I have updated the address information for Wally’s to reflect their new location.
I’m pretty disappointed to hear that they had to move after more than 40 years in the same location. Glad I got to experience in its old location though.
March 8th, 2011 at 11:01 pm
It’s a bummer that they had to move, the charm for me was the suburban strip mall. It’s actually moved into the same office complex I work in so it’s definitely odd to see a 60′s style diner/cafeteria occupy space in an office building.
March 31st, 2011 at 8:43 pm
I was leaving United Liquor tonight, which is in the nearly abandoned strip mall north of the old Wally’s location, and noticed a restaurant a few doors down with a big “Grand Opening” sign. It was for a place called “Penn Lake Roast Beef”. I thought it interesting that a second roast beef joint would open up in the area, until I drove around and saw Wally’s was gone. Glad to see they’re not gone for good.
This Penn Lake place looked rather nondescript. I cant’ see myself ever stopping there for a meal. I’m not a frequent diner at Wally’s, but I love knowing it’s there.
April 2nd, 2011 at 2:16 pm
Wally’s had to move. The hardware store owns the building and they are taking the entire building for expansion of the hardware store. The new roast beef place was started by an ex-cook from Wally’s.