What a great way to cap off a day--Willard's!!
Cambridge, MN
- Okay, so our first suggestion was: spend the late morning and early afternoon at the Audubon Center of the North Woods at Maple Syrup Day (Saturday 3/23/19). Have the pancake brunch with real maple syrup and then spend the rest of the day observing making of maple syrup...maybe carry some firewood...and enjoy the fresh air on beautiful Grindstone Lake.
- Our other suggestion was to grab dinner at the end of the day at Crazy Mary's Cafe in Finlayson...just a few miles away. We enjoyed a great pulled pork and a breakfast salad that they created for us today.
- But, there's another great idea...and we tested out the 'light' version of it on the way home.
After you spend the day outside in all that fresh air, drive back
through Cambridge (downtown Cambridge...not 'suburban Cambridge') and
stop at the fairly new Willard's - attached to the Leader store (there's
an entrance to Willard's in the front and in the
back and through the Leader store when they're open).
An outstanding idea!
We arrived around 7 PM and the place was packed! We came in through
the Leader store, so I could scope out the shopping and then we could
check out the seating options. There were one or two tables open, but
we asked if we could grab 2 seats at the counter,
so we could watch the action in the open kitchen. Yes!!!
Grabbing the seats overlooking both the grill and the Chef de Cuisine
working his magic with saute pans was perfect. And, because the place
was so busy, it was an action-packed hour in the kitchen.
Since we'd chowed down on a huge lunch at Crazy Mary's, we just couldn't
grab another meal. So we selected a salad and a dessert, plus a glass
of malbec from wine list. Then we settled in for the 'open kitchen'
show.
I haven't had such an entertaining time since John and I waited (a long,
long time) for a table at the Fig Cafe in Glenn Ellen (wine country), California.
We shortened our wait there by saying, 'yes, we'd love to sit at the
counter overlooking the kitchen.' Otherwise,
the wait would have been another hour.
Willard's has a brand-spanking new, shiny open kitchen. Giant grease
hood over a flat top, a giant gas range, a grill for grilling veggies
and other goodies...plus a giant commercial mixer (they have a pastry
chef on staff)...and the final prep station and
chilled drawers were right in front of us. These were our version of
the 50 yard line seats for taking in the kitchen action.
What a fun way to spend an evening---and John was able to learn what
'sous vide' means...so an educational opportunity as well (they had
ribeyes in the sous vide 'hot tub'). The guy making the burgers was
friendly (we tried to only chat when he was between
orders) and had recently moved to Cambridge from the Mpls 'burbs.' He
said he was really enjoying Cambridge life. Before we left we gave
him a few tips on things to do with his Grandma when she comes to visit
in Cambridge!!Willard's kitchen was art in motion...
The chef de cuisine cranked out a huge number of plates in our time at the counter. Saute pans were filled, flew on the burners, some into the oven, others off the burners and onto sturdy stoneware plates or bowls...a thrill a minute. There were
Serious Burgers at Willard's
This grill guy cranked out burgers (80% ground beef, 20% bacon) with bacon and cheese...burger after
burger, grilling the buns, making a great swirl of sauce on the bottom
bun, carefully placing the
burger on top, then adding a stack of
house-made pickles, the top grilled bun and a toothpick
to try to make the thing stand up. At one point, we told him a double
burger was about to 'take a fall'...but he straightened it out without a
disaster.
Dishes were 'grounded' on their plates with smears of sauces or puddles
of purees...each plate made into a work of art and then carefully
checked for any drop of food that was out of place. Burgers served on
wooden planks...like 2x6s...with a big tall burger
at one end, like the tower at the end of a street.
Our 'light' snack at Willard's in Cambridge
John enjoyed his little gem lettuce salad (he did
One of the chefs created a bain marie which he dutifully stirred every
few minutes until the contents were ready. A young man in training was
grilling thin carrots...turning them with a giant kitchen tweezers.
Everyone managed to communicate in a place where
I thought it might have been hard to hear each other. But it all
worked like clockwork (if you ever watch a Gordon Ramsey kitchen
show...this was the OPPOSITE of what usually happens in any Gordon
Ramsey made for TV kitchen).
Willard's Reminded Us of the Fig Cafe
This was so much fun. A reminder of a great experience at the Fig Cafe (there, the kitchen was about the size of one sandwich station at Marianne's Kitchen...with 3 people working elbow to elbow---one sauteing things on a burner over her head!!) plus great banter with the 'burger guy' here (this was the third position he had held in this particular kitchen).
An interesting menu...little plates, 3 salad options, then entrees...the
salmon, pork, meatballs, etc...and some dessert options
including...yes, RICE PUDDING (and you thought we weren't hip with our
many Marianne's Kitchen rice pudding mixes....including the
one that REQUIRES wine!!). BAM!
When to visit Willard's in Cambridge
One of the servers clued us in that Friday and Saturday are hoppin'....so plan accordingly or make a reservation. She said it ramps up Thursday night...hence the crowd tonight. She also suggested that the chef offers a tasting menu at $75 per person including 5 items of his choice. Served at the counter, this would be a fab evening experience, too.Willard's in Cambridge Pastry
Finally, their pastry chef cranks out some great
looking desserts and
morning coffee items. Near the rear entrance, they have an espresso bar
and dessert case...there was an enormous gluten free brownie, a couple
of French pastries...everything looked wonderful.
Final Thoughts on Willard's
Willard's...a place to enjoy a great meal....and maybe have that window into the kitchen experience...in beautiful downtown Cambridge. And, you can shop while waiting for a table or after you've enjoyed your oh so tasty dinner....perfect!
Details:
Website: https://www.willardsmn.com/
Google Map: Directions
Minnesota Monthly: Review
P.S. on Willard's in Cambridge, MN
The restrooms are shared with the Leader Department Store. Leader has been in continuous operation by the Johnson family for 100 years, and has now been upgraded to a very complimentary and contemporary experience adjacent to Willard's...a good place to browse while waiting.The restroom decorations reflect the long history.
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