Maynards

Classic American restaurant right next to the lake! Came here on a Sunday afternoon and was genuinely surprised how packed the restaurant was especially because it was already so late and it feels like there's not many people living in Excelsior.- Firecracker Shrimp Tacos - Honestly the tacos were not bad although all the ingredients came together in a way that I thought it would. The tortilla unfortunately tasted like it was from Costco and all the other ingredients like the guac, salsa, etc. seemed to also come from Costco. However, I will say that the shrimp itself was very good and I loved the sauce they drizzled all over it. Also the portion size was huge as I could barely finish the 3 tacos.- Downeast Blackberry Cider - Delicious! Not sure if there was a lot of blackberry flavor to it but I like how it is has more a soda taste rather than beer. I definitely felt a bit buzzed after drinking the tall glass.Overall, not a bad place for lake views and food. Definitely recommend walking along the lake afterwards!

Stopped here on my second night in Minnesota and grabbed drinks before dinner on the outside warf. It was nice weather and the lake was so pretty to look at. We then went in for dinner at our reservation time and were seated right away.For dinner I got the thai chicken bowl which was very yummy! The portions were very good and I did feel like I was getting my moneys worth!The service was a bit disappointing if Im being honest. There were a few times where I felt like the server blatantly ignored us or gave us the vibe we were a burden on them. I understand having a bad day and as a former server I get the exhaustion from a long day, but we werent really asking for much and I did feel disrespected by them ignoring us blatantly.

Been here a few times last summer and this summer and my opinion pretty much remains the same.. it is what it is! There is always a large crowd here but that is because of the proximity to the water and the ease of access next to the lake. Also, there is ample seating either inside or outside or even in the shade, depending on what you like. There is also some bags and yard games to play and there is a lot of space to dock your boat which is convenient. The service is always.. very ok. They take the orders quickly, the food comes in a decent time, but if you need anything else after that, might as well forget it. The drinks come at a fairly swift speed, the food is always the delay. The food is very much ok. It is not great at all, and I don't think that they have to have great food since people are going to come here regardless. And honestly, I'll be back too. All about location. I can say that the one food item I have gotten here (the cheeseburger) is pretty dang good, almost not complaints there.

Great food. Friendly service. Fun atmosphere! Nice local restaurant. My husband loved his rib-eye steak. Drinks were not watered down. Good wine.

One of my favorite spots in MN, with a beautiful patio overlooking lake Minnetonka. Beware, it is always busy here and outside is self-seating/no reservations!We came on a Monday night and had to do quite a bit of circling the parking lot and waiting around for a table. We were lucky enough to get both decently quickly.To drink I had the Skinny & Spicy Marg - if you like both of those things, this is perfect! Beware, it gets spicier as you drink more and more, but I loved the jalapeno flavor.For dinner I had the poke bowl, it was delicious and flavorful - the perfect fresh meal to eat on the water! My only downside was I wish it had more veggies - it needed a bit more of a crunch.Overall, I feel the price is a little high for the food options, but you can't beat their location!

I had a fantastic dining experience at Maynard's in Excelsior, MN. The Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl was a standout--absolutely fresh, with generous portions of tuna that were anything but fishy. Even though it wasn't served with sushi rice, the incredible flavor of the fish more than made up for it. I also tried their specialty cocktail, the Bootleg, which featured Sapphire gin, soda, and their unique Bootleg mix. It was a delightful blend of freshness, citrusy brightness, and pure refreshment. The service was attentive and friendly, enhancing the overall experience. Sitting at the wharf added an extra charm to the experience, offering a laid-back atmosphere and a unique menu. The vibrant setting by Excelsior Bay made it feel like a perfect escape. Highly recommend this spot for both the food and the overall ambiance!

First Maynards visit of the season! The patio was sunny with a slight breeze. There was a new ordering system (at least for the early season before more staff comes back). You need to order food online via a QR code which gets delivered to your table. Drinks can be ordered at the bar or there are a few roaming servers that will take your drink order. Ordered the buffalo chicken wrap with the waffle fries and the seasoned sour cream of course! The parking lot is always packed. It was a nice perk that they had giant outdoor screens to watch the masters

This is one of my favorite spots to eat during a Minnesota summer. The outside is seat yourself, we got there at 8 on a Friday night and found a spot right by the water. I ordered the cheeseburger and subbed for the waffle fries with seasoned sour cream for an extra $3.95. The food was great, I love their waffle fries.

I've only ever come here to eat outside, not inside. You definitely go here for the atmosphere and being on/near the lake, not necessarily the food. It's overall decent food but a high price - I paid $13 for chips with one 2oz container of salsa and one 2oz container of Guacamole. My friend enjoyed the crispy salmon bowl and said it was tasty but nothing overly impressive. Service was good! I wouldn't recommend it as a place you go for a quick bite, so service is more laid back as they know people tend to stay a while. Overall I recommend for a fun night with friends or family. Every other Wednesday in the summer there is "Excelsior Concerts in the Commons" which is only about a 5 minute walk from Maynard's. I suggest doing both!

Super fun place to go with friends and/or family! Great drinks, great food, and even better views. I had a bootleg and a bloody mary which were both great. We had cheese curds and chips and salsa as an appetizer which were both solid. I had the crispy chicken sandwich with waffle fries which was good. I wanted to order the buffalo chicken wrap without cheese but they apparently cannot customize the wraps which I thought was a little weird. Will definitely be back!