Love the service, atmosphere, food and the bathrooms!
We have had consecutively, 2 good experiences. During both, every staff member has been courteous and helpful. The decor is pleasant and warm, and the music is played at a level that allows listening AND conversation. All food from appetizer to dessert has not only been tasty but delivered promptly. We have two small children and they are equally well received. The Family Restroom is an option that is not often seen, but certainly appreciated!
Baxter's is our new favorite restaurant for special occasions!
I recently held a work celebration at Baxter's for 30 people. Â Everything was wonderful and more importantly easy! Â The special event's staff made the planning and logistics very easy and we were able to set the whole event up via email. Â Additionally once onsite the staff helped me set up and were very gracious in attending to my guests and their special requests. Â The food was wonderful and I would definitely recommend Baxter's for both dinner for 4 as well as your next party!
Review Source:See Christopher H.'s review below.
I 'dined' at Baxters with Christopher H. for my sister's (his daughter's) graduation celebration. To summarize his review, the soup and salad took over 45 minutes to reach the table, an hour after ordering a member of our party was asked to order something else, and our server diappeared into the night. Please find it and read the details because his comments are incredibly accurate.
That being said, the food wasn't very good either. I rarely have just a plain 'bad' experience at restaurants and this was one of those rare times. We waited for too long for mediocre food and paid too much; certainly a bitter taste resonates in my mouth.
[I had the braised beef]
After Christopher H. reviewed our negative experience and gave his personal opinion, an individual who appears to have an association with Baxters American Grill, named Raphael P., personal messaged my father and insulted him and my family in response to the comments made.
I have alerted Yelp in regards to the abuse but I wanted to send a warning out to those who might have negative thoughts about this place, that you may get harassed by a staff member afterward.
He went on to mention that our family should not be allowed in restaurants ever again, and I know I'm not supposed to boast my elite status, however I obviously have a clear idea of what a good dining experience should include versus a bad one, and I had a very BAD dining experience here.
There are so many other nice restaurants to choose from in the Bloomington-Normal I can't even begin to recommend you find somewhere else.
I award no stars, won't ever be back, and hope that the childish name calling for bad reviews has ended.
Our family of 5 headed to Baxters post-graduation to celebrate my daughter's accomplishment at ISU. Â We were seated promptly at 7:30, however, it did not take long to learn there was a table of 20 in the restaurant whose reason to celebrate must have been so much more important than ours. Â The volume of revelry overtook every part of the restaurant. Â
We ordered a bottle of wine and then later our order (remember my wife ordered the prime rib). Â 45 minutes after ordering, the salad and soup was delivered to the table. Â An hour after ordering, the server informs my wife that the prime rib wasn't really good that evening (it was tough) and so what else would she like. Â This was literally a first for us when at a restaurant like this and it was extremely disappointing.
An hour and a half after ordering, the food arrived with an apology that the table of 20 backed things up. Â It seems as though they effected every part of the restaurant.
We didn't order more drinks or get dessert, as the evening left a bit of a bad taste in our mouths. Â At no time during the evening did any kind of manager ask if everything was ok or anyone make any effort to make sure EVERYONE in the restaurant was pleased.
The bill came and the prime rib was included, but removed further on down, after the tax had already been calculated on the full amount. Â I just wanted to get out of there and so the $1.80 wasn't worth the fight.
If you're a table of 20, have fun at Baxters. Â If you're a family planning on special evening, take your chances.
Sat at the bar with a very friendly bartender, Christina. Friday night, place is packed, but she kept my glass full and the food was hot when served.
Had the Tuna Tartare marinated in cilantro-lime & wasabi, with crisp tortilla- very fresh and wonderful. Nice presentation.
Then I ordered the Scallops Three Ways - WOW! 6 big scallops, 2 Blackened, 2 with Blue Cheese stuffing, 2 with a Bearnaise sauce, Asparagus spears on the side. Easily the best scallops I've had in Bloomington.
Very nice establishment. I got the vegetarian penne w/o the mushrooms and it was delicious.
The waitress was very friendly and picked up conversation with us readily. It's right by the airport so if you're wanting to grab some non-airport food before you leave Bloomington, IL. Hop on over the Baxter's. I'm glad we chose not to go the the Buff Wild Wings next door and ate here instead. Â
The ambience and environment were very classy and sets the mode for a great meal. Nice and quiet and peaceful. It was quite dim/dark in there for the middle of the afternoon, but I think that the dining area gets full facing sunlight around noon so the shades were drawn partially.
My coworkers got the french dip on pretzel bun, which they thoroughly enjoyed. If I'm ever in Bloomington again, I'll definitely make a stop.
I gotta give this place five stars. Â I think every time we go back it gets better and better. Â Wednesdays 1/2 apps. Â Calamari (spicy) is excellent. Â Pulled pork slides with crispy onion straw and a Stella = happy. Â Their filets are cooked to perfection and topped with a garlic butter, mashed potatoes could feed everyone sitting at your table. Â Oh and their Antipasto is AAAAHHHHMMMAZZING. Â Great wine sections, dirty Baxter's martinis...shall I go on? Â Two of my favs there ribs or there stuffed chicken that tastes like Thanksgiving! Â Stuffed with stuffing! Â Dessert is Butter cake, do not get anything else but the buttttttter cake...by far the best dessert I have ever had and we are chocoholics! Â Oh ya one more thing French Onion Soup! Â GET IT!
Review Source:I dined here with my sister's graduation with my family on an early Saturday night.
The food was good, but definitely stick with the steak over the seafood. Â My sister and I got the filet migon wrapped in applewood smoked bacon. I had mine prepared medium well and it was cooked to perfection and delicious. I had the garlic mashed potatoes, which tasted good as well.
My boyfriend and my mom got seafood - salmon for the bf and the cod for my mom. My mom thought the cod tasted "earthy" (due to the rosemary). My boyfriend liked the salmon but found it to be somewhat undercooked in the middle. He asked for spinach but got asparagus which was boiled and therefore not crisp.
My brother got the seafood jumbalaya which he enjoyed a lot. He found the spice level to be good. My dad got a pasta dish which he enjoyed.
Overall, good experience and good service. Kitchen was a little slow but again probably due to the number of diners on graduation day. Â I was bummed that we had to skip on the dessert since we were running late already.
I would try it again if I am ever in the area.
I haven't been to the dining room much, but the bar is great. Â Good selection of wine and beer. Â Staff is friendly and will remember repeat customers. Â They have specials a few days a week (half price bottles of wine on Mondays, etc.) Â They have good live music several times a month (which can make the bar crowded so get there early if you go for the music). Â Very classy, nice decorations, typically business type clientele. Â One of my Blm favorites.
Review Source:The "Good"
1. Finally B-Town has a place where I can get a decent martini.
2. The atmosphere is great, as well as the music.
3. The service was pretty nice.
4. The Prime Rib was pretty damn good. A little fatty, but still great flavor.
5. The BBQ Sauce on their sticky ribs -- best I've EVER had. I would have licked that plate clean, had I been home with it.
The "Not so Good"
1. This place was packed and I'm not sure that the kitchen knows how to keep up with it.
2. The mashed potatoes...I am pretty sure those weren't real potatoes.
3. The food presentation on the plate is awful. On one end I had the Prime Rib, on the other -- this little dollop of the "potatoes". The middle of the plate was totally empty like something was missing. Â
I'll be back, but probably just for appetizers and martinis the next go 'round.
I have gone to Baxter's twice now and both time were nice! I went back there with my friend because I had a good experience with them! I am aware of their half price appetizers on Wednesdays but did not know about the half price on the bottled wine on Mondays till now when I read the review below. Glad that I read it. Both time I had great experience! The waitress was really nice and professional! Most of the food are somewhat on the expensive side but consider the fact that they are good, I don't mind paying more. We both ordered the 6 oz Filet. My friend's seemed to have a much bigger piece but whatever. They were kind of blend to me but I am used to marinate my meat, so it is probably normal to most people.
The decor is nice. We enjoyed the dinner and the night out!
The interior and exterior of this restaurant was very decorative and had a classy feel and look to it, as I walked in - the first thing that caught my eye was wine bottles (Cakebread, Silver Oaks, Mondavi Opus One, Rodney Strong) ....most of them I drank and some I didn't. From that sign, I knew that this was my kind of place to wine and dine.
The waitress handed me a wine list and to my surprise I did not see any of the bottles that I saw when I first walked in. I asked her and she she told me that she will bring the "special' wine list.
I've been to many places in Bloomington and so far no one serves aged prime rib, so when I saw it on the menu - I had to order it. They offer two sizes, 12 oz and 16oz. - of course I had to go with the super-size 16oz.
The waitress was very attentive and friendly, she made sure that our glass of wine never was empty, she kept pouring and opening another bottle of wine while we ate.
The prime rib was not too lean but on the way too fat side. It was very flavorful and not exactly the perfect, melt in your mouth prime rib that I was expecting. Overall, I did enjoy my dinner experiences here and would definitely come back for another slice of prime rib.
Four stars for the wine selection and the service. Three stars for the food.
Open on a Monday night!
Prior to choosing this place, spent a good deal of time trying to find a (decent) place to eat in Bloomington IL on a Monday evening - that was OPEN.
Glad we choose this place!
1/2 price bottles of wine tonght! Â No brainer - took advantage of this great deal and a great pinot noir.
Ordered the shrimp and scallop angel pasta. Â It was absolutely PERFECT. Â The best I have ever had. Â The side caesar was excellent - no disgusting jar sauce - just a really good salad in it's simplicity. Â The rolls were excellent.
The menu is not extensive at all... But you may find it difficult to decide on an entre'.. so many GOOD choices.
Others at the party were very happy with there meals.
Service excellent. Â This is a top notch restaurant without the pretentious bs.
I will enthusiatically return. Â I highly recommend.
Okay, if you 're going to be charging 20 percent more than a comparable restaurant, it better be great. That's the problem, it's good, not great. Until it's great, the place will never get where it could be.
Clam chowder was really good. Â My steak seemed old. I know it sounds weird, but the food , as delivered, seemed old. At first I thought it was me , then my wife said,"Does the food look old to you." Once again, I'm not crazy.
Yet, it wasn't bad enough to complain. What were they going to do ? It was obviously how the kitchen functions. So, I'd just get the same thing again. Also, I think that part of the problem is that the restaurant does not have a lot of customers, so the food is not moving out of the kitchen. It does make a difference in any restaurant whether its Biaggi's or Benningo's or Aleta Janes (all good places, by the way).
The drinks from the bar were very good. So, as a place for just drinks, it's quite good.
As I left for lunch yesterday to get a salad at Baxter's my friend said "I dream about their wedge salad." All of their salads look and taste amazing. I love the BBQ Chicken salad. It has iceberg lettuce, but I can't imagine any other lettuce working for it.
I feel like Baxter's appeals to a slightly different lunch crowd than the rest of the restaurants in Blono. Everyone in the restaurant for lunch was either in a suit or business casual. For a short while I imagined I wasn't a public interest lawyer, but a rich lawyer having a power lunch with clients. Then I drank the iced tea and snapped back to reality. The iced tea was not good. The waitress was very nice about replacing it with something else and then wouldn't let my glass stay empty for more than a couple of seconds.
I've had dessert there once. It was a Banana Bread Pudding and it was amazing.
The beer selection is decent and they served hefewiezen in proper glasses.
A bit out of the way, across from the airport but this is well worth the detour. Ended up here for lunch and it was a really nice experience. Items on the lunch menu are mainly in the $9-13 range and are quite typical: pasta, salads, sandwiches. We ordered a seafood pasta: really good and a spinach salad with shrimps. Both dishes were satisfying and well prepared. Service was also courteous and efficient as you would expect. Yes, I'll be back when in the area.
Review Source:I think Baxter's has turned a corner. Â Consistently, I have gotten good food here.
Pros:
decor is nice...kind of darkish, but nice. Â Clean and lots of booths (nice booths)
Service has been good.
THe food has been good...tastes like homemade salad dressing, too
It's generally not too busy, so a wait is rare
Cons:
don't like their patio...its right off the bar and just seems weird feeling
menu is not huge, which is both good and bad...not a millions choices, but the ones you get are good
salads are a bit steep on the price side
Overall, I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere of Baxter's. Their Spanish and artichoke dip is the best in town (IMO). Also, their Sunday brunch is pretty decent as well. Pretty reasonable price for good food. However, the food service was quite slow last time I went. That's the only reason I didn't give it a five.
Review Source:Nothing super but everything solid and in the upper echelon of BloNo restaurants.
Bread service was nothing special and consisted only of one type - Sister Schubert's rolls that come frozen at Sam's club. Â They are REALLY delish though despite my description. Â I know this because my family begs for them all the time since I bought them once.
We both had the 5 onion soup - too much tarragon or something in it for my taste.
I had seared ahi tuna with sticky rice and cucumber salad. Â The dipping sauce was sweet. Â Bf had mahi mahi with a shrimp sauce and asparagus. Â Nice presentation. Â
Nice beer selection. Â Service was good. Â The bill for the two of us each with one beer, tax and tip was $64.
Substitue the any salad for the house salad (field greens, wedge, etc). Â The crab meat on Filet Oscar was also not fresh, which it normally is. Â Asparagas is a $1 upcharge on the Filet now. Â They are trying to hard to stretch the food quality. Â The new ownership's decision to skimp on the salad, bread, and fresh fish is ruining what was a perfectly restaurant. Â Otherwise, they have an impressive selection of appetizers, pasta, fish, and steak, all with an upscale and unique twist. Â I recommend the steak, Mahi Mahi, Carbonara, and pork chops. Â The steak is the best in town. Â Dessert is disappointing, lacking any creativity or variety. Â Decent drink list. Â Upscale, comfortable decor. Â Open kitchen. Â Good service. Â Other pluses include outdoor seating and the fact that they are the one of three decent restaurant in town open on Monday (the others are Lancasters and Luca Grill) and one of two restaurants in town whose kitchen is open until 10 (the other is Lucca Grill).
Review Source:Came here will staying in the adjacent hotel. Â Normally hotel restaurants are a dive, but this place rocked. Â Sat at the bar for dinner. Â Pork ribs were surprisingly tender and literally fell off the bone. Â They were well marinated and I suspect boiled, but who knows. Â Specials of the day were a Mako shark steak and a tomato basil pasta dish, which the people next to me ordered and seemed to enjoy immensely. Â Everything seemed reasonably priced for the high quality.
Review Source:J Bucks used to be at this location. Â I had been there a few times. Â It was ok.
We tried Baxter's about a month ago. Â I had chicken and my husband had ribs. Â We both had salads and the artichoke dip appetizer. Â The salads were nice- not homemade dressing, but ok. Â The appetizer came with a bagillion chips, but it was okay too.
The place was pretty empty. Â There were 4 tables occupied and 2 servers. Â I would say that the service was good. Â Our was attentive, but not hovering.
My husband liked his ribs, a lot. Â I did not like my chicken. Â It was a roasted chicken, so it's obvious that they have to do this ahead of time so guests don't have to sit there for hours. Â HOWEVER, mine was about as dry as you can get it. Â Think of National Lampoons Chistmas Vacation turkey dry. Â The manager offered us a dessert for our troubles, which was nice.
3 stars because the food was just so so. Â I have to really like my food to want to go back to a place. Â It's just not a place that I think of to do when I want to go out to eat.
I've been to this restaurant twice now. Â The first time it was outstanding. Â The second visit, a day or so ago, was not quite as good. Â They seem to have changed the menu slightly. Â On the first visit, the menu looked very much like that of a high-end steak house. Â The menu's were simply printouts the second time, and we were told there were in the middle of a menu change.
I had the salmon salad this time. Â The salmon was not over-cooked. Â It was flaky with a good flavor. Â The greens were fresh. Â The combination of apples, goat cheese, and bacon was well-proportioned.
The service was pleasant and attentive.
I think that despite the recent changes, this place is still one of my favorite in Bloomington-Normal so far.
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