Ox Yoke Inn

I was the other person referenced in Linda B’s review. Everything she said is as it happened. We had been looking forward to the deep fried mushrooms, and stopped by after a hike to order those and some burgers. Never got the chance. It was clear that the waitress felt that we were not important enough to even acknowledge. She was ringing up some tickets (I guess) when we walked in. All the tables were full of dirty dishes — no clean tables at all. A large crowd had just left. I waited until after she finished ringing the tickets, expecting her to acknowledge me (as I was standing in her line of sight), but instead of acknowledging me, she looked at me and went on to do something else. I spoke up and asked her if the booths were open. Her response — a rude «I can’t hear you.» I asked again, and she said «I’ll get to them when I can.» Well, «when she could» was a long time, even though there were only two tables filled with customers in the restaurant at that time. It was a full five minutes or more before she came over with menus and cleared the table. Never asked us what we wanted to drink. Never actually said anything. But when she served another table that came in significantly after us, that was the last straw. We left. We were used to slow service there, but never anything like this, and have never been treated so rudely. We will not return.

I have been to the Ox Yoke many times. The food is good for a «Greasy Spoon» type place. The service has never been great, but acceptable. BUT TODAY… we stopped in after a hike and was greeted by mostly empty restaurant, after the noon crowd. The one and only waitress ignored us until my companion tried to talk to her concerning seating. My companion was meet with a rude and uninviting snarl of «What?, I can’t here you you!?». Eventually we were seated… and waited… and waited… about 10 minutes in all before the very unconcerned, and not so busy waitress actually cleared our table from the past guests, and handed us menus. And then we waited… and waited, some more… another group entered the restaurant and seated themselves. They some how got drinks (we were still waiting to be acknowledged… and we waited some more. We decided that if the waitress did not attend to us in the next five minutes we would just get up and leave. (we waited and were patient way longer than we should have been). Well then the s@%* hit the fan when the waitress approached the other table and took their order. We did get up and leave. To add insult to injury, the waitress did not acknowledge us doing so, and walking right past her, with even a blink of the eye. You can be assured that today the Ox Yoke lost a few regulars.
I must add that this waitress has worked at the Ox Yoke for a very long time and was very familiar with her job. No learning curve going on here.
If I could give them less than one star I would

Prime rib is the best! T bone and rib eye!!! Everything here has been great. Very casual place with food as good as the bigger and more expensive restaurants. Great prices too!!! We go every chance we get.

I stop in here quite often. Good place for all kinds of people from families to bikers.
Solid food for the price. I am a big fan of the Lyndale breakfast and their breakfast sandwich. Real good coffee, lemonade and a full bar.
I will only give their steak 3 stars, kind of salty. The burgers are good, my friend liked their ribs. I think their wraps are good as well.
It has the small town up north feel. Décor is basic, pull tabs, a bar that seats about 10 – 12 people. Two up tables, 4 up tables, and they will push them together for large groups.
There is a large dining area on the other side, altho I’ve never sat over there…
Friendly staff and people. A very comfortable place to swing into. Food is good and won’t break the bank.

Definitely a restaurant that has gone down hill. Been going there with my parents since I was 6 – 7. Stopped back there a few weeks ago to eat. Way too overpriced and waitress actually got annoyed when I requested no tomatoes. She didn’t seem to care if we were there or not. Won’t be back. Sad because my dad grew up in lyndale and I have pleasant memories of going there.

I have been going here for about 20 years. Moved to within 2 miles. I want to like it but it is getting tough.
Last time we went, I took the family visiting from Argentina. We did not go out to eat much when they were here, with 7 of us it gets expensive. For there last Saturday in MN we took them to Ox Yoke.
They were busy, we were seated right away, got lucky a big table next to the kitchen and door, was open. There was a couple waiting, and I watched as they were neglected, for way too long.
They wait for food was long, the burgers were good, the blue cheese burger is always good.
When the bill came they had added a tip for themselves. I loathe this, places that add gratuity need to learn the meaning of it.

Ox yoke has gone down hill over the years. Take out has been cold and no care. Building inside is grungy.

The place was crowded, so I stopped on my way back from the client’s office. I ordered a mushroom cheeseburger with tomato, no bun and a side of cole slaw. The burger came on a bun, no tomato, The burger itself was good, but the canned mushrooms really detracted from the taste. The cole slaw was a big bowl of dressing with some shredded cabbage. The bill came to $ 13.

Went in last night, had to wait a bit, (place in a small town), smaller place but got seated in a few minutes. Very friendly staff, good menu, steaks, chicken, ribs, burgers. Ordered a Sirloin, which was quite good, comes with soup, salad, roll, potatoes. All good. Come hungry! This place reminds of of so many places that I’ve visited (old school), who haven’t tried to do so much that it compromises what they are all about at the start, i. e if your worried about your diet, go somewhere else. Good Food (plenty of it!), good service, great small town atmosphere. I will be back!
p. s. I didn’t have the cheesy au gratin potatoes, but man they looked good!

Don’t be fooled by your first view of the Ox Yoke. The inside maybe small and a little old but the food will surprise you. I have tried a few different things on the menu but the pork tenderloin sandwich was great, as well as the wraps. I have always chosen to have my meal with the sweet potato fries and have not been disappointed. The prices are on par for the type of food you get. It is probably not worth traveling miles out of your way for but if you are somewhat nearby, it is worth a try.

I have been wanting to make the stop here for many years and I finally found time today coming from the Brinkmann collectible Man-​Tique auction in Delano today, I was not exactly sure which turn coming east on old highway 12 but as I aproached Cty rd 92, the small blue Cty hwy sign near the turn assured me this was the way, a few miles through the countryside a right on 6 and a left back south on 92 and there it was, right in the heart of downtown Independence, a welcoming dirt gravel parking lot next to a one level brown old country bar that looks like it should have great burgers, a nice clean place with a 12 foot bar and maybe 12 tables, it was about 3:00 in the afternoon and there were 3 or 4 groups of families and freinds enjoying themselves, I sat at the bar and Julie warmly greeted me and asked if I wanted a menu, the menu had a nice selection, more than you would expect, I started with a cold Grain Belt bottle and ordered the Northwoods burger, its a ½ lb burger with american cheese and bacon and raw or fried onions, I passed on the onions this time but for $ 8.95 you also get a generous portion of fries with it, The bun was a quality bakery bun that fit the perfectly cooked to medium ever so slightly rare high quality meat pattie perfectly, the fries were really good, not soggy but perfectly cooked also, I highly recommend hole in the wall out of the way establishments like this not just for the great food but just to help keep them in business, the trip here is worth it as I wlill be back with my friends next time after this scouting run.