After reading other reviews and listening to hype from friends, my wife and I decided to try the Black Otter for our wedding anniversary dinner.
When we arrived, parking was a bit disorganized. There is an asphalt strip in front of the door that isn't clearly parking, but cars parked there anyway. We parked in the dirt lot on the south side of the building just next to some railroad tracks.
When we went inside, we were greeted, asked where we were from, and given a number. They then sat us at the bar while we waited for the server to come take our food order. The bartender asked us what we wanted to drink and we couldn't decide so she promised to come back in a few minutes. She never came back to take a drink order so we didn't bother to order any.
After waiting ten minutes or so, the server came and took our food order. About five minutes after that, she came back to tell us which table number was ours, although she didn't offer to show us to our table. She told us about the soup and salad bar.
We found our seat in the dimly lit dining room and went to the salad bar to get some food. After we had eaten that, our entrees came out. We ate, paid the check with a modest tip, and left. Here's my breakdown of the evening:
Atmosphere/décor: Dated and ugly. My wife noticed that the window shades were somewhat dusty and dirty. The place was altogether depressing and way too dim in the dining room to see anything. This place needs some serious updating and needs to get their décor out of the 1970s.
Salad/soup bar: The salad bar was comically small despite our friends' insistence that they had a "huge" salad bar. The ingredients at the bar were tasty, but the lettuce was obviously from a giant bag of shredded lettuce and not freshly cut. The soup was tasty but definitely canned or frozen and not made fresh. Altogether OK but not up to par from a Wisconsin supper club.
Food: Fairly good, but nothing terribly spectacular. My steak was slightly undercooked which was disappointing from a place supposedly known for awesome steaks. It was a very large portion for the price, making it an OK value.
Service: This is where the Black Otter really fell flat. Like I mentioned above the bartender didn't seem interested in trying to take a drink order when we weren't sure what we wanted the first time. The server did an OK job. She was very polite and friendly, but seemed to be doing the minimum amount of work necessary for a server. She never offered to take a drink order or asked if we'd like to order dessert (so we didn't).
I really disliked being seated directly at the bar despite the restaurant only having five out of about 15-20 tables occupied when we walked in. Having our food order taken at the bar and then being seated to eat was also very strange. The whole thing reeks of this restaurant trying to maximize profit by minimizing your interaction with the server and maximizing your time at the bar even if you don't necessarily want to be at the bar. No matter since the bartender didn't seem terribly interested in selling us drinks anyway. I wonder what they do if guests under 21 come in for dinner? Do they sit them at the bar anyway? Sounds like a recipe for trouble.
Sorry Black Otter but we won't be back. If we lived locally you might be good for an occasional dinner out but you're definitely not worth the 35-45 minute drive otherwise.
I will miss this place. Â I have been visitng it once a year while going to the EAA fly in. Â Hotel rooms have gotten so ridiciulous though with their prices and policies, I think this will be my last year.
Anyway, the restaurant: Â When you come in they seat you at the bar area even if they are not busy. Â You sit there awhile, a waitress comes in and takes your order for dinner, then tells you she will prepare a table for you. Â Then she comes back in and tells you what table number to sit at.. Â Seems odd all these extra steps you have to take. Â They make you wait even if you make it clear you are not going to order anything from the bar.
But, the wait is worth it. Â they have a wonderful salad bar and the New England clam Chowder is excellent. Â The meat servings are huge and reasonably priced. Â If you are staying in the Appleton area, definitely give this place a visit.
When my husband and I have a night out and we want a great dinner and nice friendly service, this is the place we pick. Â
The food is outstanding, I have yet to have anything that was not top notch, the salad bar and soup bar is great.
We have a date night this weekend and we are going to be there.
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