Branding Iron Restaurant

I wanted to give two stars but I cannot. Scott F's review from 7/30/2011 is accurate. The very courteous and attentive waitress served us a bottle of wine that we hope she just opened and then recorked in the back but it had a very bad metallic after-taste and I could not ignore it. Who uncorks a bottle of wine in the back? Oddly most of the wines were available by carafe rather than by bottle. Was my wine old? Refilled? My New York Strip 19.95 with salad bar and baked potato for the evenings special was served medium rare despite my request for it to be served rare. It had significant gristle. My wife reported her rib eye was tough. My youngest daughter liked her burger a lot. The salad bar was an interesting anachronism. It was fresh however. The baked potato was well baked, the appetizer of house-made onion rings were delicious, and the view of the river valley was indeed beautiful. P.S. The beer selection was very limited with nothing of interest.

Went for a dear friend's rehearsal dinner. Parking was much to be desired. Walked in, lovely hostess greeted us and personally escorted us to our private party and assisted us to our assigned table.

There were gorgeous bouquets on each tables. As well as tortilla chips with salsa and mixed salted nuts. The apps (chips/salsa/nuts) did not appear to be part of the restaurants usual menu. They also were lacking in culinary art and flavor. The salsa tasted like tomato paste and the chips were stale.

The salad although fresh, was rather plain.

The walleye was top notch "lake". Lightly battered on the outside and flaky texture on the inside. No overkill on the grease! The steak was a little dry for my liking, despite my request for MR. Monstrous potatoes.

Service was a key component of our merriment that evening. Pleasant, on task, always flashing a smile and a moment away with the beverages!

I would definitely return for another round of "lake" and drinks but I'll pass on the beef.

Oh, Branding Iron, you are...not really that good.  I mean, not terrible, you won't starve there.  But I would not go here of my own accord.

Being taken here by one's in-laws, however, is another story, so there you go.  It's a very standard American-style restaurant; meaning steak, some pasta, salads made with lots of iceberg lettuce, etc.  Pretty much all the food here is mediocre in the strongest possible sense - not bad enough that you wouldn't eat it, but not good enough that you really enjoy it, either.  That goes for everything we had from the salad bar and side dishes to the entrees (fish, their allegedly famous ribs, etc.). There is one exception: they do, in fairness, know exactly how to cook up a steak.  I would not order anything else here, though.

Once again, if you're hungry and driving by and it's late at night, you will do fine here; the food is okay and the portions are solid sizes.  Wait staff was nice enough.  But don't go expecting a great meal, either.