Manhattan Beach Lodge

Our server Gabby was the best part of tonight’s disappointing meal. She was very nice and apologetic when I sent back a Lakeside Burger because everything except the lettuce, tomato, and onion was burnt. A woman in a random hoodie brought the replacement and rudely threw it on the table. It was still cold and raw in the middle, and the bacon crumbled into ashes between my fingers. I could eat it after taking most of the bacon off. Gabby seemed embarrassed and apologized again. This isn’t the first time we’ve had trouble with the food. On our first visit, the kitchen was out of what I ordered. By the time the server told us, the kitchen had closed in mid-afternoon, so I had nothing to eat while the rest of my group ate. We returned later and had a few good meals with great service, but the food was wildly inconsistent. One week the shrimp were large, the next they were much smaller and came with a different sauce. The kitchen has serious problems with either skill or attitude, probably both, and the rude woman didn’t help. This used to be a wonderful place, but it’s gone downhill a lot. I hope they fix it. For now, there are other good, more consistent restaurants in Crosslake.

Restaurant review only. This was our anniversary dinner, and we drove out hoping for good food. We like supporting local businesses, but left disappointed and won’t be back. Maybe it was just an off day. We were ignored by two hostesses at the entrance. When the young hostess finally acknowledged us, she didn’t greet us, just said the kitchen closed at 3:30 and we’d have to order quickly. After we sat down, another table seated later got a server first. Our food arrived lukewarm. The server was upbeat and kind, but we didn’t feel looked after. She checked once, didn’t offer a drink refill, and didn’t come by again even though she walked past us several times. We asked several people for the bill, then asked the assistant manager, and still had to wait. He was kind and apologized as we left, but we were ready to go. Credit to the bussers, who cleared things as they went and didn’t leave a dirty plate on the table.

We arrived during the dinner rush without a reservation and expected a long wait, or maybe to be turned away. Crystal greeted us with a warm smile and found us a table within minutes while we were on the wait list. She made us feel like VIPs, and her kindness and professionalism never made accommodating us feel like a hassle. Her care set the mood for the night. The food was phenomenal and the ambiance was perfect, but Crystal’s service is what made it such a memorable dinner. It turned what could’ve been a stressful evening into one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. Can’t wait to return. If Crystal greets or helps you, you’re in for a great experience.

We didn’t expect to get a table. We expected basic decency. Yes, we arrived with 11 people over the 4th of July weekend and had no reservation. That didn’t make it okay for the host to laugh in our faces more than once when we asked about the wait. It wasn’t nervous or lighthearted, it felt condescending and dismissive. The restaurant could have said it was full and probably couldn’t seat us that night without mocking us. That isn’t professional. If the behavior is being defended publicly, it points to poor training and worse leadership. The response to my first review defended the staff but didn’t take responsibility for how guests were treated. The Director of Operations might be someone you’re proud of, but from our side we saw smugness, not professionalism. Other restaurants were busy that night, many without needing a reservation, and none treated us this way. We’ve worked in hospitality ourselves and know the difference between being busy and being disrespectful. I normally wouldn’t write a second review, but the response to my first one deserved an answer.