Chef Shack

Our New Year's Eve reservation at Chef Shack was our first time at the restaurant, and not the last. Bay City is a humble blink-and-you'll-miss-it kind of town, so it's easy to find the restaurant. Parking was abundant. Upon entering, we found a cozy but not claustrophobic or loud environment. After waiting a few minutes, we were seated at a table for two with a view of the nearby fireplace.Service was impeccable. Every course was spaced out with precision so that we never felt rushed. NYE was a special event, $125 per person for couples and larger groups. The meal included two glasses of wine, a white from the central California coast and a dry red from New Zealand (if I correctly recall). There were also cocktails available for additional cost. There were four main courses offered, the choice taken by our server just after we were seated: veggie curry, steak, venison, or seafood bouillabaisse. Lisa Carlson of Chef Shack and Chef Nettie Colon were partnered for this night.The first course was a chickpea puff that was like a seasoned cloud. My husband doesn't like chickpeas but even he loved this. The next course was an empanada made by Chef Nettie Colon. Wow. No doubt, the best empanada I've had in my life. The salad was next, and what is usually a mundane side was elevated to delicious artwork. The main courses were next; my husband had the steak, while I had the venison. Both meats were delicious, but I must say, I'm glad I chose the venison because it was something special. I believe it had a cherry reduction on it, and the fruity sweetness added so much to the meat. After that came the dessert. We were each given a house-made scoop of ice cream to enjoy along with four chocolate and vanilla tartlets and a single slice of Benedictine cake to share. Everything was extraordinary.Something I truly appreciate about the meal was the perfect amount of food. We didn't leave feeling sickeningly full, but were 100% satiated. Chef Shack is truly a treasure tucked away in rural Wisconsin. I look forward to visiting again when they reopen in spring!

The food truck has been tasty when we tried it. The prices and menu are not in my style ... to sit down and eat. They are quite busy ..: so it must be good. I would recommend if you are passing thru and want a romantic dinner.

Gorgoeus summer Sunday arriving 10am. Food truck is only option: My husband & I got what was on the small menu: #1: 3) Tacos (chicken, pork, & sweet potato) -very good! The sweet pot. one was magical, who knew? My husband said "I could eat 4 of these!"And #2: Breakfast burrito (smoked chicken). OMG, off the charts on flavor Packed with so much goodness...potatoes, eggs, fresh herbs, some kind of heavenly green chili salsa...& chicken melts in your mouth... (based on the tacos, guessing pork burrito may even be better!). One of the best foods either of us have ever had. Note: No coffee here, no Bloody Marys. They do have beer & wine. Plenty of tables in their open back area. Can see the Mississippi from most spots - we were the only ones there.Small menu - no matter. Tastes to travel for. Still savoring, hours later.Food truck with essentially same menu every Fri & Sat night if you want the affordable taste sensation. Their culinary expertise made us ready & willing to go for their high end $95/ 6-course per person/plate Fri/Sat night option now!

It was a very welcome surprise to find a place this good in this part of the rural Mississippi River valley. A family member booked this for a birthday celebration, so I took their word that it would be worth the trip, and they were right! The exterior is unassuming in the tiny Bay City, and the ambience is cozy, but not remarkable. The food and service, however, were extraordinary. I would say competitive with the best restaurants in the Cities.We had a fixed menu due to the size of our party and all the selections were superb. It started with an excellent vegetable soup with a tasty, nuanced broth, not exactly hot, but had a finish with a hint of spice. That was followed with a brilliant arugula salad with a blue cheese vinaigrette that, remarkably, satisfied both the blue cheese lovers and haters in the party. The one course that I was less excited by was an onion petal stuffed with mushrooms. It was good, but the balance was a little strong to the acid in the sauce. Interesting texture, but it needed something to balance the acid. I chose the lamb for the main which was simply excellent. Well cooked (to medium rare!) which let the flavor of the meat shine. After a nice cheese plate we finished with lovely lemon birthday cake which was bright counter to the savory meal.Throughout, the service was friendly and attentive. Lisa and Carrie, the owners, were lovely and satisfied all our special requests. The night was memorable for all.I grew up nearby and never would have expected a restaurant of this quality in the area. It would makes for a great conclusion to a day trip of enjoying the outdoors and historic sites along this scenic part of the river.

We enjoyed the chefs dinner in June. Five plates, including three options for the main were served and everything was delicious. Drinks are offered and a wine paring comes with the main dist. This splurge was well worth it it. Make a reservation and enjoy the meal.

We visited the Chef Shack this past Saturday evening. We made a reservation, but the restaurant was pretty empty for 6pm. It did get a few more patrons as the night went on.Service - I have a few thoughts on this. While the servers were very friendly, it was very frustrating that they told us they had no room on the outdoor patio when we could clearly see multiple open tables outside. Very unaccommodating if you ask me. Also - though the food came in a timely manner, the drinks took at least 10 minutes each time we ordered another.Ambiance - The restaurant is very rustic and homey feeling. It fits well in the small town setting. Very cozy. Drinks - I have the Blueberry Mojito. This was delicious and I did end up ordering two. It was unique and refreshing, but like I already mentioned, took a fort night to create.Food - We had a couple different meals throughout the table. We split the vegetable omlet, smoked salmon and liver pate as appetizers, none of them really stuck out to me. I had the halibut special - very dry and sadly didn't have a ton of flavor. I also tried the steak and frites. The frites were great, but the meat was just average. Kind of disappointing actually. Overall - We will not be returning to Chef Shack. We did not feel out meal was of value for the prices.

Perfect in every way. Great southern French style atmosphere. Thoughtful and inventive dishes. Kind and attentive staff. Even the utensils and serving ware were special. Can't say enough good things.

Worst italian feast ever:1) over $250 w/o alcohol. 2) deep fried apps (gross) 3) salad with beets (same salad I make at home). 4) watery pumpkin soup 5) hamburger helper pasta. 5) watery, tasteless polenta topped with a good new york strip 6) hard to identify desserts. This place has a lot of work to do to come back from this. This was no feast. Boring food and terrible flavors.

Hidden gem here over the river from Red Wing Mn. This is a destination dining experience and it's WELL worth the trip. Open weekends in the summer, many awards on the wall and what comes out of the kitchen exceeds all of them. These gals have it down. Locally sourced, perfectly prepared, and supremely delivered. Their skill reflects their world travels and training to seek out new flavors and culinary delights.Normally when you get a multi course meal, you're going to get at least one thing that's just OK. Not here. After multiple visits, we've had not one thing that wasn't exceptional. Everything from tacos to duck breast. They deliver at a premium metro chef level, for half the cost.And then there's the bar. Equally on par with the food experience, the crafted cocktails are wonderful and compliment the menu perfectly. Paired with the rustic feel of old barware and old school mixology, they leave nothing to be desired.

Adorable French bistro, exquisite food, flawless service, beautiful design. I highly recommend this hidden gem. We loved how friendly everyone was and the food was wonderful. We had the 7-course tasting menu and every course was great.