Phil’s Tara Hideaway

Best steaks around Stillwater — also the Greek food is fabulous! The gyros and salad is a big serving for lunch and it tastes great
This tiny restaurant is worth the wait and the cramped quarters inside.

First time eating here after hearing great things. Can’t say enough about it, had a great time, wonderful food, fun server. At our table we had the trout, pork tenderloin, grouper and medallions and they were all incredible!

Wow, I cannot believe it took me this long to go here– I have heard nothing but people bragging this place up and for once they were all correct. The parking lot was full and I said to dining partner – well it must be good – we went in and were told a 45 minute wait but luckily two people at the bar got their seat so we strolled on up and sat right in the center of bar. Two fabulous drinks later – a French martini with the goose – we had decided to split a few things so we could try more items and still leave room for something sweet. We had gnocchi with duck confit – wooowwwzza…that was spectacular. The Greek people know how to make gnocchi too. We also had beef skewers with gorgy cheese and caramelized onions. So damn good. To top of this mouth carnival we had chocolate turtle cake with a truffle on the side and some sea salt whipped cream. I’m going back to Phil’s as soon as I can swing it.

I first discovered Phil’s a few years back when we went at the recommendation of my parents. Simply delicious. I’ve been here on a few occasions since with my family and have been pleased with everything I’ve tried. The steaks are tasty, the Greek platter is generous, and the soups are rich and creamy. It was hard to pick just one side! I will certainly be back in the near future.

Not from here, but stopped in based on Unilocal… Could not be more happy with the decision.
Part one: The apps… We had the octopus, the Tuna Poke (on the specials menu) and oysters 2 ways… The octopus was, for the first time ever in my experience, completely tender… The poke has a fresh taste… It was delectable. I am not much of an oyster fan, but it put both my wife and daughter in a great mood, so must have been special.
Part 2: The soup. It was clam chowder… It did not disappoint at all and hit all of the proper notes. My wife also said, and she is a ranch enthusiast, that it was the finest example of restaurant ranch she has ever had… And she said ever a couple times.
Main course: The Ribeye. Amaze balls! Not often is black and blue raw as well prepared or as flavorful… The sides held to the same high standards set by all the other elements of the meal.
End of the day, this was our last meal before we get on a plane and end our vacation… And we could not have made a better decision… I would put this place right up there with the big name chef haunts…
Truly great!

So I was totally starving and we wanted to take our two looney teen boys out to eat somewhere new. I had a crazy CRaZY day working the ER, we got to Phil’s and they quoted us a 30 minute wait. I ALMOST… almost said SCReW it and left but we decided to wait. We got a table in 10 minutes (YaY!) and were greeted by our awesome server in like 5 seconds! The place is pretty small as it is a VERY old building and pretty loud but it worked. The minute I opened the menu my eyes bugged out of my head. Their online menu doesn’t really reflect the level of awesomeness I saw before me. I had a VERY hard time deciding cuz so many dishes looked soooo good. The server told me their steaks are all hand cut and their seafood came in fresh today. So I guess I needed BOTH!!! We ordered some fresh oysters 2 ways. They were the FRESHEST and most buttery creamy oysters I’ve had outside of the Deep South. One was an orange basil and the other a champagne citrus. OMG to die for! My side salad choices were off the HOOK!!! I chose the Duck Confit and Crispy duck skin salad with trumpet mushrooms and these little, crispy, lightly tempura battered artichoke nuggets. It was one of the best salads I’ve ever had, let alone a side salad that you can also order in 3 sizes. My main dish? I ordered a petite strip steak with one of their many choices of toppings, the Gorgonzola Crema with mushrooms and Caramelized Onions cooked to a perfect medium rare. Since I also was craving seafood I chose the add-​on of broiled jumbo shrimp, and it was SERIOUSLY, not messing around FRESH, and cooked to perfection. I chose the grilled broccolini and feta side as I do low carb. My hubby ordered the Tour of Greece plate and shared it with one of the boys. It was HUGE and featured an awesomely seasoned Pork chop, spanakopita, Gyros, orzo, and a Greek version of lasagna. HOLY COW (or should I say, LAMB?) that Gyro meat and tzatziki sauce were the freshest and most flavorful I’ve ever tasted (no joke). My other son ordered the build your own STEAK burger with thick cut bacon and premium Swiss. He said it was a 10 out of 10! I can’t wait to go back and try the salmon with scallop mousse with crab croquette and the blue crab stuffed trout. I HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this restaurant and I will tell you the service was equally outstanding. I’m glad I didn’t say SCREW IT!

It really was just ok. Small portions for the price but it taste great.
Great ambiance. Small, intimate, and quiet. Great for a date night. The wait staff was very nice and courteous.
The only reason it’s only getting three stars is because of the price to food ratio.

This place is a true gem! It’s a modern Greek twist on a classic Midwest supper club! They know how to cook meat and then they take that perfectly cooked meat and pair it with a great mixture of spices and veggies. They also have great Greek flavor mixed into their dishes. I recommend the pork tenderloin with a cilantro white cream sauce, on a bed of onions mushroom and chorizo! WOW!
Great staff who knows the menu and the great wine selection!
It’s also got that great vibe! My wife and I finish out wine and dinner and then went to enjoy the bar a finish out the nice with a great glass of 10yr Tawny port!
It will be our go to spot from now on!

One word: Ribeye. If only I could eat you everyday! This ribeye had so much flavor and was so tender. It was awesome! I think it was pretty big, 20 oz? but me and meat… I don’t know what happens. I ate the ENTIRE THIING. I should have stopped, I know I should have, but I couldn’t. This steak seriously competes with Ruth Chris, however, it’s only $ 28 here! I could do this weekly! Yum! Went here off a friends recommendation, her status just increased to best friend!
I love that the place is casual too. It’s a little log cabin and you would be ok wearing jeans here or shorts, or your fat pants to eat a 20oz steak. :) Eat your meat!

Delicious! I haven’t been to the Hideaway for almost 20 years. Not sure why it took me so long to get back there, but I can tell you that we’ll be back often.
Two words: lobster bisque. I could have eaten just a bowl of that and gone home happy. It was SO good that I shamelessly made the three others in our party eat off of my spoon. I got it with the broiled shrimp, which was also wonderful. My son-​in-​law said that the Tara steak was the best he’s ever had. My husband loved the truffle burger and fried potatoes, and my daughter ordered the «small» gyros, which was huge.
Food was great, drinks were great, service was great.
Make reservations for your next special occasIon. You will love it!

We came here to celebrate my birthday a few months after the fact and it was incredible.
We arrived early, before the huge rush, were seated promptly, and our server was excellent. She knew the menu, drinks, and was just overall super friendly and fun!
We had the scallops as an appetizer and they were perfection. You know how scallops can be if they are overcooked but these were smooth and silky.
We both upgraded from the house salad to a glazed pear salad or something like that but next time, I am sticking to the basic house salad. I didn’t care for the upgraded salad nor did my dining companion.
For our entrees, we had the fried shrimp and steak and an add on of gorgonzola cream for the steak. I eat steak about twice a year and I ate every last bite. I actually got one of the smaller steaks but it was plenty for me. The purée potatoes were delicious. I most definitely recommend those.
I saw the burgers and they looked amazing. I am already thinking I will have one next time.
Dessert was mehhh… So unmemorable, that I can not even remember what we shared but it was nothing great. Not enough to decrease my rating but next time, I will probably skip dessert.
We met the owner outside and he was a super nice, down to earth guy. You can certainly tell an establishment when the owner is present vs. not present. My Dining Companion says he also saw him the last time she was there as well. Kudos to the owner for having such a presence at his business!

Tara Hideaway serves a likeable combo of Greek/​Mediterranean influenced cuisine and American supper club food, making it a great place if you are dining with a mixture of sophisticated and not-​so-​adventuresome friends. It’s good, solid food but not off-​the-​charts wonderful. I’d give it 4 stars for food alone.
I don’t come as often as I’d like because the place is usually packed. Today I had a 5 oz Tara steak, side salad, and Greek potatoes. Hubby had Mediterranean walleye, clam chowder, and fries. Everything was standout, and I’m happy that they offer smaller versions of most entrees. Greek potatoes are an item to share: thick slices of deep-​fried spuds topped with feta. Tasty but heavy.
On other occasions friends and I have had roasted pear and gorgonzola salad, ½ Greek salad + ½ order gyros, and California burger. We would happily order any of these again. Burger had great charbroiled flavor, and the crispy, potato-​y fries were just yummy! Salad ingredients were fresh, crisp, green, and tasty, with no wilted leaves (I’m amazed at how often I get questionable greens, even at «nice» restaurants.)
The place gets extra points for its warm, friendly atmosphere. It’s well-​kept and agreeable but not fancy, with log cabin construction, solid wood tables, and pleasant lighting. Service was efficient and accommodating with no snootiness and no fawning I-​want-​to-​be-​your-​best-​friend creepiness. The people who work here, from host to kitchen staff and owner, seem committed to giving you straightforward, tasty food. It feels like they want you to have a good time and come back. show less