Girls night out.. First time at Layline. 4 of us ladies decided to try Layline on Friday, March 22nd. We sat in the main dining area right next to the bar. Our server, Molly I believe it's listed as (PM B) on our ticket started out strong. Drinks were great and the apps were perfect. Calamari Duck fat fries 2 of us had the tequila special cocktail and one had the dill and white chocolate gimlet - don't be fooled it's yummy! We ordered our dinner and it fell apart from there. 2 of us had carbonara (not listed anywhere that it's spicy.) 1 had sea bass The other had - Hong Kong .. had knowledge this dish would be spicy. Our food arrived and we never saw our server again until it was time to either order dessert or get the check. She was clearly severing tables and also behind the bar. Sea Bass - no complaints. One of the carbonara - no complaints C who enjoys spicy food ate it right up and loved the heat. I had maybe 3 bites and my mouth was on fire! I could not eat my dish. D who ordered the Hong Kong expected spicy but it was so hot she could not eat her dish. When our server came to clear what was left of our dishes. She asked D if she wanted a to-go-box and D said no. She never asked if there was a problem she just cleared a full dish. When she came around to mine I said I'll take a to-go because it is way to spicy. She was shocked that mine was spicy she said carbonara should not be spicy. That's when my friend who ordered the other carbonara dish chimed in and said it was so spicy, but I enjoyed it. She said she was going to tell the chef. I had maybe a little hope that they might fire another dish without the spice, maybe offer dessert or take it off the bill? Nothing.. no comment on what the chef said just brought out my to-go- box along with our check. I pondered for a day and finally called Saturday. The manager answered and I shared my experience. She did say Molly was both a server and behind the bar, she also was in the back when Molly asked the chef about my dish but never came out to check with our table. She said it's true the carbonara should not be spicy. They use a chili flake, which again is not listed, but it should be very mild.. I let her know about the Hong Kong dish. She said they have had several complaints that that dish is too spicy.. I told her I never expect a restaurant to give anything if the dishes don't level up to the customers expectations, but there were two dishes at our table that were too spicy for either one of us to eat. And it was just blown off like oh well. We didn't have a chance to chat with our server when our dishes first came out and or a manager. She took my information and said she would email the general manager. It's now been a week. I have not heard anything back and here I am leaving my review.. As far as the place itself, it's very beautiful! It is very loud because everybody is sitting so close together and it's a small space you have to elevate your voice in order to have a conversation with your own table but we also went on a Friday at 5:45 so maybe it was just that day of the week and time.
Steve Vakulskas
Layline is an exceptional restaurant. The food options are “creations” by the chef. This is high quality food with outstanding flavor, texture, and options. The management and servers were friendly and efficient. Cocktails are also creative and tasty. Outstanding place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Fat Fries, Carbonara
Elizabeth S.
Unfortunately this restaurant will most likely not be an option much longer based on its sub-par leadership. The servers and bartenders are great but the lack of Management is appalling. If you don't want a vibe and you want to be among very few diners then you should go on a weeknight; it's crickets. I've witnessed staff being told to leave early due to lack of tables being filled. There's more guests on Friday and Saturday night, but if you've dined here more than twice, you will have the menu memorized as it has not changed in a year.
Alix Henderson
Very average for the price. Much better food and atmosphere elsewhere in the area. Expectations were high and not met. The s’mores dessert was probably the worst dessert I’ve ever had. Not worth it in my opinion, let alone how the owner has negatively impacted other local treasured businesses, will not return.
Dan D.
Excelsior wins again! What was an auto repair shop has transformed into a great neighborhood style restaurant with an extra helping of class. A busy but manageable Thursday evening we were seated on the temperature controlled and enclosed patio. The menu offered many options to tempt the taste buds. We decided to split the grilled cabbage Caesar salad, my wife chose the Lobster Roll, and I toyed with the idea of making it two, when she offered to split entrees. I selected the Fusilli pasta with shrimp. The Caesar was fantastic! One of the best I've had recently. Perfectly dressed with a light and flavorful dressing. Glad we split as it really could be an entree. The entrees arrived and we both dove into the lobster roll. It was stuffed beyond the roll with super fresh and sweet lobster. The roll was perfect and the butter and aioli were great accompaniments. I could have easily eaten an additional whole sandwich after my half. The fusilli was good. Since I jumped on the lobster roll I think the fusilli lost some temperature but that was my only concern. Large helping of al dente fusilli and copious amounts of shrimp. The sauce is deceptively light but has a slow heat on the back end. Blistered d tomatoes added a nice pop of acid to the dish. Service was great. Our server was prompt and friendly. She offered great suggestions and demonstrated an understanding of the menu that showed great training and appreciation of the efforts of the kitchen. Definitely would visit again !
Keiana Bushinski
My boyfriend and I absolutely loved this place! The food was amazing and the drinks were phenomenal.the atmosphere was very cozy and intimate. We definitely will be returning. We got the oysters, calamari, lobster roll, and the steak. Only down side I would say is that the calamari was overloaded with veggies. I thought we got a large plate of it and was pleasantly surprised but after digging in we quickly realized it was mostly veggies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Duck Fat Fries, Lobster Roll
Jessica M.
Really wanted to love this place, but didn't. The orange fennel salad needed seasoning. The Brussels sprouts were delicious. Our main dishes arrived cold. Must have been sitting back there for a while. Cold steak and fries - not good. My friend said her Chilean bass tasted good even though it was cold. Overall: meh.
Anne V.
So overpriced and the condescending server upsold us without full disclosure of the actual content of the appetizers. They tried to sit us on the indoor 'patio' when the reservation was for inside. As I mentioned, the total cost was laughable against the meh quality of the food. We won't be going back to this Wayzata wanna-be. Excelsior needs more down to earth restaurants.
Jennifer H.
This is a cute spot! Much smaller than I expected. Definitely make reservations if you plan to eat here. The host greeted me kindly and led me to the table. The server was friendly, answered our questions and gave her recommendations. I ordered the cosmojito, fried calamari and butternut squash. I was also able to taste my friend's brussel sprouts. The cosmojito is a pretty drink that is refreshing. It's sweet and tart without being too much of either. I didn't taste the alcohol at all. That could be a good or bad thing. The calamari comes with green beans and red bell peppers. All fried in the same batter. Or should I say, the beans and peppers came with some calamari. There wasn't much calamari. The batter, while perfectly fried (the right amount of crisp) was bland. The Thai chili sauce was the star of the show. Though I enjoyed it and like sauces in general, I don't like my food to depend on the sauce. It should be a nice compliment. I'm not sure what was on the butternut squash. It didn't do it justice. It had a charred almost burnt flavor and took away from the natural sweetness of the squash. The brussel sprouts were bland and had no distinct flavor.
Gnome H.
Once again the burbs' get a non-chain that puts out an unchanging lackluster menu, but this is what the typical burb eater wants, apparently. So let's dive in. What's to like? The Johnycakes. Yes, this is the stand-out of the menu and unique enough to give the place half a star (if I could). Get a couple. Better yet, order them for dinner and call it brunch. I would also say the server we had (both times we've been there) was super busy but good despite. The rest of the menu looks interesting but just doesn't quite deliver. (avoid the dry pastas) Unfortunately the wannabe Caribbean wallpaper doesn't prop up the food any more than being stuck in a table in the middle of a loud crowded bar area. The wine selection is so bad they know people will bring their own so they have jacked up the corcage fee higher than any place in the metro. Of course they did, how else will they push warm Pinot's and 100% markups. As I always say, if a place doesn't store their wine at the proper temp it's just Applebees in drag. We ate there twice hoping to give it a chance but won't be back. This is too bad as there are only so many places out on the west side.
I am very happy we tried Layline despite some negative feedback I’ve heard. The food was excellent.Oysters were scrumptious, appreciate the fresh horseradish and delicious mignonette. We were all raving about the Brussels sprouts, unique flavors that were spot on. Duck fat fries with truffle Mayo, yum.For our entrees we chose the sea bass, scallops and mushroom tagliatelle, all excellent and cooked to perfection. The pineapple with the sea bass didn’t make sense, seemed more like an after thought on the plate but I would order again as the fish was cooked to perfection.The one area that could use some attention would be the service. We asked for water multiple times and asked for our dishes to be cleared in between courses. Not a big deal, very minor. Service was pleasant and allthe dishes and drinks made it to our table in a timely manor.I look forward to returning!
I'll give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt after seeing many good reviews but I can't say my experience was the same. We arrived right when they opened at 5 hoping to get in and out within an hour or so. The service at the bar was friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable. The drinks and food were extremely lacking. We got a flat beer and a wine that had been open some time. After sending those back for alternates we were content. The calamari came out and was so tough we could barely chew it and the flavor combination was strange for the dish. They replaced it with the tuna crudo which was fresh, but lacked flavor as othera have said. The entrees took an hour to arrive, just when we were about to leave. The mushrooms on the pasta could have been mistaken for the calamari, so chewy they were not edible. The beet salad was good but lacked flavor also . When all was said and done we somehow spent $75 on a beet salad and a few drinks. We won't be rushing back as almost every other option in exclsior is preferable at this point, but hope to have a better experience when we give them another chance.Kid-friendliness: Would not recommend for children.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Chelsea Davis
Food was delicious and unique. The ambiance was funky. It gets a little loud when busy.
Loved this place. Food was extremely amazing. The lobster roll was probably the best thing I've ever eaten. The brown butter made it. Great service from Brian (believe the bar manager??). Fun night with a dear friend of mine. Great vibe and decor.
Girls night out.. First time at Layline. 4 of us ladies decided to try Layline on Friday, March 22nd. We sat in the main dining area right next to the bar. Our server, Molly I believe it's listed as (PM B) on our ticket started out strong. Drinks were great and the apps were perfect. Calamari Duck fat fries 2 of us had the tequila special cocktail and one had the dill and white chocolate gimlet - don't be fooled it's yummy! We ordered our dinner and it fell apart from there. 2 of us had carbonara (not listed anywhere that it's spicy.) 1 had sea bass The other had - Hong Kong .. had knowledge this dish would be spicy. Our food arrived and we never saw our server again until it was time to either order dessert or get the check. She was clearly severing tables and also behind the bar. Sea Bass - no complaints. One of the carbonara - no complaints C who enjoys spicy food ate it right up and loved the heat. I had maybe 3 bites and my mouth was on fire! I could not eat my dish. D who ordered the Hong Kong expected spicy but it was so hot she could not eat her dish. When our server came to clear what was left of our dishes. She asked D if she wanted a to-go-box and D said no. She never asked if there was a problem she just cleared a full dish. When she came around to mine I said I'll take a to-go because it is way to spicy. She was shocked that mine was spicy she said carbonara should not be spicy. That's when my friend who ordered the other carbonara dish chimed in and said it was so spicy, but I enjoyed it. She said she was going to tell the chef. I had maybe a little hope that they might fire another dish without the spice, maybe offer dessert or take it off the bill? Nothing.. no comment on what the chef said just brought out my to-go- box along with our check. I pondered for a day and finally called Saturday. The manager answered and I shared my experience. She did say Molly was both a server and behind the bar, she also was in the back when Molly asked the chef about my dish but never came out to check with our table. She said it's true the carbonara should not be spicy. They use a chili flake, which again is not listed, but it should be very mild.. I let her know about the Hong Kong dish. She said they have had several complaints that that dish is too spicy.. I told her I never expect a restaurant to give anything if the dishes don't level up to the customers expectations, but there were two dishes at our table that were too spicy for either one of us to eat. And it was just blown off like oh well. We didn't have a chance to chat with our server when our dishes first came out and or a manager. She took my information and said she would email the general manager. It's now been a week. I have not heard anything back and here I am leaving my review.. As far as the place itself, it's very beautiful! It is very loud because everybody is sitting so close together and it's a small space you have to elevate your voice in order to have a conversation with your own table but we also went on a Friday at 5:45 so maybe it was just that day of the week and time.
Layline is an exceptional restaurant. The food options are “creations” by the chef. This is high quality food with outstanding flavor, texture, and options. The management and servers were friendly and efficient. Cocktails are also creative and tasty. Outstanding place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Fat Fries, Carbonara
Unfortunately this restaurant will most likely not be an option much longer based on its sub-par leadership. The servers and bartenders are great but the lack of Management is appalling. If you don't want a vibe and you want to be among very few diners then you should go on a weeknight; it's crickets. I've witnessed staff being told to leave early due to lack of tables being filled. There's more guests on Friday and Saturday night, but if you've dined here more than twice, you will have the menu memorized as it has not changed in a year.
Very average for the price. Much better food and atmosphere elsewhere in the area. Expectations were high and not met. The s’mores dessert was probably the worst dessert I’ve ever had. Not worth it in my opinion, let alone how the owner has negatively impacted other local treasured businesses, will not return.
Excelsior wins again! What was an auto repair shop has transformed into a great neighborhood style restaurant with an extra helping of class. A busy but manageable Thursday evening we were seated on the temperature controlled and enclosed patio. The menu offered many options to tempt the taste buds. We decided to split the grilled cabbage Caesar salad, my wife chose the Lobster Roll, and I toyed with the idea of making it two, when she offered to split entrees. I selected the Fusilli pasta with shrimp. The Caesar was fantastic! One of the best I've had recently. Perfectly dressed with a light and flavorful dressing. Glad we split as it really could be an entree. The entrees arrived and we both dove into the lobster roll. It was stuffed beyond the roll with super fresh and sweet lobster. The roll was perfect and the butter and aioli were great accompaniments. I could have easily eaten an additional whole sandwich after my half. The fusilli was good. Since I jumped on the lobster roll I think the fusilli lost some temperature but that was my only concern. Large helping of al dente fusilli and copious amounts of shrimp. The sauce is deceptively light but has a slow heat on the back end. Blistered d tomatoes added a nice pop of acid to the dish. Service was great. Our server was prompt and friendly. She offered great suggestions and demonstrated an understanding of the menu that showed great training and appreciation of the efforts of the kitchen. Definitely would visit again !
My boyfriend and I absolutely loved this place! The food was amazing and the drinks were phenomenal.the atmosphere was very cozy and intimate. We definitely will be returning. We got the oysters, calamari, lobster roll, and the steak. Only down side I would say is that the calamari was overloaded with veggies. I thought we got a large plate of it and was pleasantly surprised but after digging in we quickly realized it was mostly veggies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Duck Fat Fries, Lobster Roll
Really wanted to love this place, but didn't. The orange fennel salad needed seasoning. The Brussels sprouts were delicious. Our main dishes arrived cold. Must have been sitting back there for a while. Cold steak and fries - not good. My friend said her Chilean bass tasted good even though it was cold. Overall: meh.
So overpriced and the condescending server upsold us without full disclosure of the actual content of the appetizers. They tried to sit us on the indoor 'patio' when the reservation was for inside. As I mentioned, the total cost was laughable against the meh quality of the food. We won't be going back to this Wayzata wanna-be. Excelsior needs more down to earth restaurants.
This is a cute spot! Much smaller than I expected. Definitely make reservations if you plan to eat here. The host greeted me kindly and led me to the table. The server was friendly, answered our questions and gave her recommendations. I ordered the cosmojito, fried calamari and butternut squash. I was also able to taste my friend's brussel sprouts. The cosmojito is a pretty drink that is refreshing. It's sweet and tart without being too much of either. I didn't taste the alcohol at all. That could be a good or bad thing. The calamari comes with green beans and red bell peppers. All fried in the same batter. Or should I say, the beans and peppers came with some calamari. There wasn't much calamari. The batter, while perfectly fried (the right amount of crisp) was bland. The Thai chili sauce was the star of the show. Though I enjoyed it and like sauces in general, I don't like my food to depend on the sauce. It should be a nice compliment. I'm not sure what was on the butternut squash. It didn't do it justice. It had a charred almost burnt flavor and took away from the natural sweetness of the squash. The brussel sprouts were bland and had no distinct flavor.
Once again the burbs' get a non-chain that puts out an unchanging lackluster menu, but this is what the typical burb eater wants, apparently. So let's dive in. What's to like? The Johnycakes. Yes, this is the stand-out of the menu and unique enough to give the place half a star (if I could). Get a couple. Better yet, order them for dinner and call it brunch. I would also say the server we had (both times we've been there) was super busy but good despite. The rest of the menu looks interesting but just doesn't quite deliver. (avoid the dry pastas) Unfortunately the wannabe Caribbean wallpaper doesn't prop up the food any more than being stuck in a table in the middle of a loud crowded bar area. The wine selection is so bad they know people will bring their own so they have jacked up the corcage fee higher than any place in the metro. Of course they did, how else will they push warm Pinot's and 100% markups. As I always say, if a place doesn't store their wine at the proper temp it's just Applebees in drag. We ate there twice hoping to give it a chance but won't be back. This is too bad as there are only so many places out on the west side.
Restaurantji Recommends
Nice and cozy. Food was good.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I am very happy we tried Layline despite some negative feedback I’ve heard. The food was excellent.Oysters were scrumptious, appreciate the fresh horseradish and delicious mignonette. We were all raving about the Brussels sprouts, unique flavors that were spot on. Duck fat fries with truffle Mayo, yum.For our entrees we chose the sea bass, scallops and mushroom tagliatelle, all excellent and cooked to perfection. The pineapple with the sea bass didn’t make sense, seemed more like an after thought on the plate but I would order again as the fish was cooked to perfection.The one area that could use some attention would be the service. We asked for water multiple times and asked for our dishes to be cleared in between courses. Not a big deal, very minor. Service was pleasant and allthe dishes and drinks made it to our table in a timely manor.I look forward to returning!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Duck Fat Fries, Brussels Sprouts
I'll give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt after seeing many good reviews but I can't say my experience was the same. We arrived right when they opened at 5 hoping to get in and out within an hour or so. The service at the bar was friendly, prompt, and knowledgeable. The drinks and food were extremely lacking. We got a flat beer and a wine that had been open some time. After sending those back for alternates we were content. The calamari came out and was so tough we could barely chew it and the flavor combination was strange for the dish. They replaced it with the tuna crudo which was fresh, but lacked flavor as othera have said. The entrees took an hour to arrive, just when we were about to leave. The mushrooms on the pasta could have been mistaken for the calamari, so chewy they were not edible. The beet salad was good but lacked flavor also . When all was said and done we somehow spent $75 on a beet salad and a few drinks. We won't be rushing back as almost every other option in exclsior is preferable at this point, but hope to have a better experience when we give them another chance.Kid-friendliness: Would not recommend for children.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Food was delicious and unique. The ambiance was funky. It gets a little loud when busy.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Fat Fries, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts
Loved this place. Food was extremely amazing. The lobster roll was probably the best thing I've ever eaten. The brown butter made it. Great service from Brian (believe the bar manager??). Fun night with a dear friend of mine. Great vibe and decor.