Axel’s Tavern

Very consistent food. Just a wonderful atmosphere and great staff.

We have a newborn at home, so we really miss dining out for good food. After a few painfully slow and annoying TAKE-​OUT experiences at the nicest restaurant in Maple Plain, we gave Axel’s Tavern in Loretto a call. Ordered some soups and side salad «to go» and also asked for some bread on the side.
The service was kind and hospitable when my husband got there. (Which was so appreciated, as often nice restaurants tend to seem kind of bothered by non-​dining folks.)
The Chipotle Black Bean special and Chicken Dumpling soups were both really great! From-​scratch taste! The «side Caesar» was enormous (and genuinely delicious,) and the bread was almost a half loaf of crusty baguette perfection.
Thank you, Axel’s Tavern, for a truly great and satisfying lunch at home!

I like this Axels location. Its in the wayyyyyyy West Metro and its a cozy place with great service. I went on a Sunday night and had the «unlimited baby back ribs.» The meal came with ribs, bread, soup or salad, veggies, and a potatoe choice for $ 14.95. Great deal. My friend had a pork sandwhich of sorts. The only complaint is that on the menu it says «choice of cajun or …» He chose Cajun and when the bill came, there was a $ 1 extra charge. I am big on transparency so this bothered me. There is a tiny patio out front and the a downside is people smoke literally right outside the front door so when it opens, whooosh! Smoke smell. In summary, you should go here if you like to explore greater parts of the «metro» and have a nice meal. You can then pop next door to the CHooCHoo for a drink, thats what the staff does when Axles’ closes :)

Our friends had raved about finding this place in Loretto. They weren’t aware it was part of chain, which shows you how much they must get out.
We made it a stopover on a long bike ride into the western ‘burbs and arrived a little before noon. You know those Dawn of the Dead movies where the riders come upon a roadhouse and can’t find anyone to wait on them? First signal.
The service was extremely slow for a place that had one or two tables occupied. We sat on the front porch, which may have spread the server too thin. Eventually we placed drink orders and eventually the beers arrived. Two of us had Surly Benders in the 24 ounce mugs. The server told us they weren’t as full as they should be because they’d hit the end of the keg, and she’d top us off when the keg got changed.
(To her everlasting credit, she later brought us full pints without charge, though our original mugs were short less than two inches.)
I ordered a Buffalo Chicken sandwich in the vain, ongoing hope I can find one as good as what Urban Wildlife used to serve. This was not it.
When I heard one of the other sandwiches was served on a baguette, I asked about the bread for the Buff Chix. It was a hamburger bun, but the server offered to substitute the baguette. Point two for her.
However, the «baguette» was more in form than constitution – a sort of Jimmy John’s interpretation of a French loaf. The sandwich was just OK. Not much spice in the sauce. A commercial blue cheese spread on the side. Fresh tomato, small ring of onion, decent leaf of lettuce. Fries, average, which means not worth the calories. Side pickle would fit nicely in a bloody mary without making you feel it had dislodged any important ingredients.
Eventually, the check came after we asked for it, but I had to go looking for it later in order to pay.
Bottom line: nothing was horrible and the people were very nice when we could find them.

Good selection of Scotch. Great apps. medium prices-​worth it.

Great for the family. My daughter loves the steak! Good kid-​friendly service.