Coalition Restaurant

I come to Coalition regularly. It is one of my go-to spots to meet people. I’m taking a moment to recognize their amazing happy hour! It’s early but well worth it! Menu has great options that are somewhat different than their regular menu. Prices are reasonable. Their cocktails are great as well! My goal is to try everything but for this visit we had the shrimp tacos, Tuna poke 🔥 and stuffed piquillo peppers. Favorite was the tuna! Beautiful, fresh and the crispy sushi rice was perfect! The peppers were good though a little messy. Curious as to the choice of presenting them upside down on the toast versus right side up. I’d suggest right side up, with a shred of basil or maybe mint to add color and contrast. Can’t wait to go back!

Met friends for an early dinner (5pm) and pretty quiet, which was nice because it's a small place and we found that later as it became more crowded it was pretty loud. Love the atmosphere and could see dropping in for a drink at the bar during "social hour". They make a great Old Fashioned. We had never been here before and it was suggested that we try the steam buns and crispy cauliflower. The steam buns were delicious and the "bun" was something I had never had before. More of a doughy consistency and a very nice take on pulled pork. Yummy. Didn't really care for the crispy cauliflower but that's just me. For dinner my friend and I decided to split the grilled seafood risotto minus the scallops. It was also delicious. Unfortunately, my husband ordered the roasted chicken dinner thinking it would be your traditional dish, but it was swimming in a strange, tangy sauce and neither of us cared for it. Should have paid closer attention to the description at $29.50. For dessert we all split a key lime pie. Very nice. Overall, a lovely experience and we will definitely be back. The service was outstanding all the way around.

Coalition is a local restaurant in downtown Excelsior. The food is familiar but with unique twists that make each entree exciting. The restaurant is quaintly situated on the not-to-busy Main Street and surrounded by other shops and restaurants. If the weather is nice, sitting outside lets you soak up the beach-town vibe with a good meal.

Have eaten there many many times. Great service. Everything on the menu is good, except maybe the chicken wings which I like drier and more well done.

Good restaurant I think we just happen to have a not great experience. I got the salmon. The salmon was delicious, but the sponge potato sides were not cooked quite right tasted funny.

Best martini in Excelsior. Also only bar in Excelsior that makes their blue cheese stuffed olives.

We stopped in for a couple drinks and nibbles during happy hour on 4th of July. Nice clean spot with top tier fries. The charred corn salad was presented nicely.

The coalition is located in central Excelsior and is an upscale place to get dinner. I had the walleye over linguini which was different but delicious nonetheless. The one thing that stunned me was looking at their beers on tap and seeing Pilsner Urquell. As someone who lived in Czechia it was a welcome surprise. While it wasn’t served the Czech way and didn’t taste as fresh as it is in Czechia it was good and tailored to the American drinker.

some weekend brunch at @coalitionexcelsiormn (arguably the best location). perfect weather, back patio and spot to bring your pups. generous portion sizes, exceptional craft cocktails but a little $$$$$ to become a repeat diner. I guess that's all restaurants these days ‍ all around decent meal. menu items featured: bisquit benedict, charred corn salad - added shrimp (would skip it next time) & korean tacos.

Stopped in a Sunday afternoon for a drink and some apps, we sat on the patio which was sunny and pleasant. We thoroughly enjoyed both apps we tried and my cocktail was unique and delicious. Service wasn't terribly fast but our waiter was helpful and polite and we weren't in a hurry anyways. Looking forward to returning.

The Pork buns were SOOO DELICIOUS!!! Get the pork buns appetizer!!! The duck risotto was a limited menu item and the duck was small and not great. Not much flavor, the steak sandwich was ehh. The fries were good though.

First time at a Coalition Restaurant was a great experience. We stopped in after shopping just after 2:00. There were plenty of options to choose from as we had the brunch menu, specials & happy hour menu. The complimentary donuts took the edge off of our hunger while deciding. We landed on the Apple Bibb Salad and Grilled Chicken with Fig & Brie Sandwich with Fries! Everything was just delicious and they split the salad & sandwich for us that & the presentation were appreciated! Our server was pleasant and helpful! Would definitely return when in the area.

What a gem! Picked this place out strictly on ambiance through the window and now potentially my new favorite spot in Excelsior. Went here for brunch with my dad and daughter. They brought out freshly made doughnut holes with homemade raspberry sauce. What a treat - and honestly all my 1.5 yr old even needed. Food was great and service was even better.

Friday night date night was a success! We were one of the last tables of the evening to be seated, but the staff was beyond gracious, helpful and gave appropriate amounts of space. The food was delicious, despite the 90+ degree weather outside the curry soup was one of favorite dishes, I almost asked to take a cup home! The sticky buns were a close second with a good spice and strong flavor.

This place never disappoints! Korean tacos are so consistently good we never skip them. They tweaked the burrata starter by adding olive tapenade and it's amazing. The walleye was prepared perfectly with great sauce for the fish and potatoes. Server was familiar with us and gave just the right amount of attention. We sat closer to the windows and much cuts down on the noise, great night overall.

Three stars for the lousy service. We weren't served for up to 20 minutes and the restaurant was not packed. Definitely enough servers so not sure why it took so long. Tried the cheeseburger. It was pretty good, it nothing to rave about. I did appreciate that they grilled the bun.

The restaurant is cute and rich, I loved the brick/industrial finishes as well as the beautiful ceiling. Although the food took a while to come out (it was a Saturday evening) it was fresh and tasteful! Our server was great as well.

Coalition Restaurant is noisy, crowded, worn, and uncomfortable. Our reservation resulted in a high-top, which we had not requested or desired. We ate their earlier this winter, and the kitchen ignored an alteration to a menu item that the server said would be easy to accomplish. Twice burned. Never again.

I decided to try this place for something new and I honestly would have tried more things except the starters cost as much or more than the entrees. Coalition Burger and fries were good; the burger was cooked to a perfect medium rare but the skinny fries were a little limp and greasy. I also tried the Fried Goat Cheese with honey and I was not impressed. There was a lot of breading, the cheese was cool in the middle, and the honey as a dip made the whole thing cloyingly sweet. One and done for me. Spending $20 for a Tuna Tartare appetizer I really was expecting more than a few chunks of tuna and a plateful of greens and wonton strips. I had to hunt for the tuna, although the avocado was nice. Again, almost $20 for a Charred Corn starter I was surprised it was a lot of greens, a couple of red jalapeño slices and a barely-discernible spoonful of charred corn. The cilantro lime dressing was good but this is NOT a Charred Corn starter; it's a salad with a bit of charred corn and a lot of tortilla strips. I'd go back for the delicious burger but not the rest.

I have no idea why there's mediocre reviews of this place because I absolutely love it! Been here several times and the food and service is always top notch. I was in tonight with my parents and we got the burger, salad, green beans, and the salmon. Everything was delicious. I love their cocktails too! Perfect date spot imo. Will be back every time I'm in town!

I went in for a quick vegetable bite. I got the cauliflower and the cabbage fritter. The cauliflower was good, although def deep fried with probably a gluten batter and a sauce that had msg- it was sweet and spicy and did taste good The cabbage fritter on the other hand was not edible. Overly deep fried and served in some Butter sauce. I took one bite and didn't finish even that.

My daughter and I had a very nice lunch at Coalition. We started with the Prickly Pear Margaritas and they are highly recommended by the both of us. Great flavor and just the right balance. It was my first time at Coalition and I selected the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Brie and fig jam. It was very good. My daughter has been here before and ordered her usual Poke Bowl. We had the Chocolate Torte for dessert. She loved it but I thought it was just ok. Service by Terra was excellent.

We ordered the Burrata, fried chicken sandwich, and the bear burger. It was all amazing!! The fries are so yummy too! All the food was hot and fresh tasting. The house margs are outstanding, some of my favorite margs I've ever had. Our server, Carlos, was top notch. Our drinks and food were timely. Love the cozy atmosphere and Coalition! Highly recommend!!

Pros: Good location Beautiful, but dark interior Ample alcohol selection Burrata appetizer was nice Cons: NY strip steak overcooked and hollandaise was super salty - for 42 bucks you'd think it would be amazing. It was simply plated as well. Slow service Food was mediocre given prices Parking is a challenge Pro tip: There are many wonderful restaurants in the area vying for your business. This one is just ok. Maybe check out the others.

We recently went to Coalition (in Excelsior) for lunch. They have a new menu and the pleasant ambience they have always had. My husband had a stellar hamburger and I chose an appetizer and cup of black bean soup. The shrimp bruschetta I was looking forward to was no longer on the menu, but remains on the online menu. I chose the burrata panzanella from the "greens" section in its place. The menu did not indicate that both items would have a significant amount of spicy heat. It would be wonderful if restaurants offered items with or without heat, or at least a clear warning in the menu entry. I was unable to eat the soup and nibbled at the burrata with its spicy topping. Our waitperson was terrific, a bright spot in a disappointing visit. Please, restaurants, widen your seasoning repertoire beyond hot and spicy.

Love the atmosphere and design of this location! I would say upscale casual type of feel. I have been here twice and have tried a lot. Favorites: Cauliflower, Fried Goat Cheese Balls, & The Coalition Blood Orange Margarita Would be a great place to stop in for dinner or even just drinks & apps. Love this for dates or dinner with friends especially! As far as entrees go the walleye is good but I recommend getting the aioli on the side or the leftovers will be soggy. The chicken sandwich is really good plus the fries are delicious, but I think it's hard to have a bad chicken sandwich anywhere.

Food was average, perhaps because it was room temperature. After being greeted and ordering drinks, we placed our food order. We waited 45 minutes for our food and were ignored by the waitstaff the entire time. No one even asked if we wanted another drink. We won't be going back.

I love the coalition atmosphere and the service was excellent!! For its price, the food is good - but not incredible. I'd like to return and try some of their other entrees. Goat cheese balls - best part of our meal. So delicious and actually decent quantity for the price. I'm not a huge fan of goat cheese and these were amazing! Steak sandwich - decent. Nothing too special though, and the horseradish was a bit overwhelming. The fries were pretty average. Burger - good burger. Better than your classic restaurant burger.

This place is popular for lunch. My husband and I went there for lunch date. The food is ok. But this place is overpriced. I rather go to other places in downtown excelsior than this place.

I checked out Coalition for the first time to grab breakfast on a Saturday. Loved the atmosphere and variety of food! I got their Bloody Mary and would NEVER suggest anyone getting this. The drink was so thick I thought I was drinking cold tomato soup with some crushed tomatoes in it. It also had no other flavor profiles beyond tomato. I switched to their espresso martini, which our server special concocted for us as they don't have espresso- so used coffee, Khalua and vodka- great drink! We started with their donuts which were very dry and tasted like they'd been fried in the oil used for everything else, again a miss. But the enchiladas and eggs made up for the two misses- 10/10 recommend this! Great flavor, texture and presentation. All in all things were a bit spendy for a few things to be such misses, but I'll be back for the enchiladas!

The food was good, service was good, cute restaurant, right on a main street around shopping and a close walk to the lake. We did brunch there and enjoyed it. Looked like it would be a good place for lunch to dinner too.

I was 80 miles into my bike ride and needed a place to refuel and rehydrate. I saw they had patio service (this being the time of COVID) which was great. If you want to stay rather than just get takeout, you need to give your name and number for contact tracing. I'm usually uptight about privacy stuff, but I actually prefer to be notified if I'm exposed. I did just literally roll up, but they do take reservations, so that's probably a safer bet. I ordered the ribs which come with corn pudding and coleslaw. It was all delicious. I like that they don't default to fries as the side so I can pretend this is healthy. I had iced tea to drink and they gave refills which is great because it was about 90 out. It was a little awkward starting out biking after a full meal but ribs taste so much better than gels.

This is a great room, nice feel on a cold MN night...but I will say the service was great, drinks were very tasty and the menu has a nice selection of dishes for all different tastes. Exceptional service, a little loud room but not a surprise with how many tables they have an how close together they are. I picked a table along the wall but I will say the bench seating was very uncomfortable, at least for my big butt. My issue was not with the food, although the gnocchi that was served with the fish was on the poor side. Dense, gritty, heavy just not very good...fish was very well done that was served with it. The price was ridiculous, I get paying for good food but for what we ordered this was over the top! I know it will keep me from coming back! Good, not great meal, great service but not worth the price! Just my two cents or more in line with the meal, $37! KT

The environment is cold literally and so dark. Salad was anemic and wait staff unfriendly. Just a cold and unremarkable smell experience for a special day.

Slow and moody service. Not family friendly. Gives customers with strollers a hard time. Waitress was the epitome of "Minnesota nice." Aka very passive aggressive. Food was bland. Impossible to eat huge salad that's served with a mountain of leaves and tasteless dressing.

Heed the advice of other reviews and choose elsewhere for your money and meal. Not one person in our party of 8 was satisfied. Several meals came to the table cold. Overall the quality of the dinner was largely disappointing, especially given the upscale pricing. And by all means necessary, do not order the steak sandwich. It was tough and chewy, to the point of being inedible. Two stars are solely for the service and vibe. If you're not going to eat, this would be viable option.

I loved the look, feel and vibe of Coalition, and I definitely want to go back again next time I'm in Minnesota. The margarita was really good and very strong, although I do wish I'd ordered a more unique cocktail in hindsight. The steak sandwich was good, but not my favorite. I wished the steak was cut up prior to going on the sandwich and I wished there were more toppings, like lettuce, onions, etc. I'll definitely be anxious to try the other things on the menu if I make it back. My cousin got the shrimp scampi and loved it!

Stop what you're doing right now and RUN to coalition. We started with the cauliflower appetizer and we were all speechless... that's how good it was. I chose the burger for my main course and I'm not kidding when I say I've dreamed of it after finishing it, it's that good! End off your dinner with the key lime pie and you'll be smiling for days!

Went here for dinner for the first time on Valentine's Day and it was PHENOMENAL. I had the pork chop and baked sweet potato and it was mouth watering. Cannot recommend enough!

My girlfriends and I visited Coalition Restaurant for the first time. We only ordered drinks at the bar. Initially the restaurant appeared very fancy and I was unsure if we would "fit in". Once we sat down we realized the restaurant was filled with laughter and banter. The bartender, Ty, was so wonderful! Great drinks, great service, & a great atmosphere. We graciously were given a taste of their famous cauliflower appetizer and it was so flavorful with a hint of spice. I definitely will go back to try their dinner options!

I've been here many times but seem to have neglected my Yelp duties of writing a review. This particular visit was on Super Bowl Sunday. My wife and I needed a quick break before the game. We fortunately caught the 2-5pm happy hour. I enjoyed $5 draft beer. They usually have a selection from Modist but ran out and I settled for Insight. Still good. The service is top notch. Dave the GM was super friendly and got us started as they approached a shift change. There was a seamless transition to our new server and she was fantastic too. The real deal was the $7 cheeseburger and $5 fries. $7 is like the going rate for a Big Mac or something of that ilk. What you get is a scrumptious cut of hand ground beef on a sweet and puffy buttered bun. A real steal by my estimation. One order of their hand cut fries is enough to serve two. They are hand cut and not some garden variety frozen fry. Super delicious. Check em out and cheers!

Food: They had a very interesting menu; sort of hearty food with a frilly twist. For example, my boyfriend had the ham and cheese which came with a jam on it. I ordered the frittata with no bacon or cheese, and it was still just as flavorful, light and delicious even without those extra calories! The potatoes served on the side were average, slightly underdone, but the French Fries served with the sandwich were crispy and yummy! Finally, we split the French Toast (add berries) for a savory experience. Venue: A very trendy looking restaurant with a mix of booths, high tops and standard tables.

Met friends here for dinner. Made reservations and were seated out front. My wife said I have been here before, but I have no recollection. She and our friends said they have been here many times and it is a favorite. The steak burger is phenomenal. It is an actual piece of steak. It was cooked perfectly medium rare. I could actually eat it like a hamburger, though. It was not tough or chewy. I have no idea how they did it. Incredible. So simple, nothing on it. Kevin McGrath Best Burger on the Planet Award. I will definitely come here again and order this exact item. Salad also great. My wife and friends are already fans. Waitress awesome. Prices reasonable. Will do take out in the winter. Now to figure out who the dude was who went with my wife here before ...

Food (Salmon & Steak Sandwich) did not wow us. Seemed like it was trying to tho. Just eh.

Went with a girlfriend on a week night- had wine, beer, curds, fries and split the pork chops and Brussels. Super busy, service was fantastic. The food was alright. It wasn't bad but it wasn't anything I would go back for. I've stopped by for drinks and smelled the delicious fries i the past. Maybe it hyped up my expectations?

Split the walleye and Brie salad, the flavors on both really stood out and the walleye was cooked perfectly. One person in our group ordered the salmon and I thought it looked like it was overcooked, but it actually just had a nice char and was cooked perfectly on the inside. The cauliflower also had great flavor and everyone loved it, even the person that usually doesn't love cauliflower. We ordered a chocolate something for desert, I don't really care for sweets, but tried it and it too was very good. Our server was excellent and they corked our bottle of wine for $25. The dining area was cozy and nice. I also thought the prices were reasonable for what you got.

One of our staples in the area. Love the cauliflower with red paper flakes as an appetizer. Service is always really good and friendly/welcoming. The only reason for my not providing a 5* is the request to have more variety on the menu, including additional meatless options. Maybe more seasonal variety?

I enjoyed my time tonight at the coalition! Atmosphere 10/10 (as best it can get in an outside parking lot) Service 10/10 - she was so friendly and attentive! Food 7/10 Drinks 9/10 For COVID there's been a limited menu, so we didn't have as many options as I believe there usually is. That said, I was still a little confused what the "theme" or restaurant "type" The Coalition is. My walleye was tasty, but likely had too many elements. I would slim down of the guac, make it fresh avo, and eliminate the crispy onion. My friend liked her salad, but I'm surprised they didn't put it all on one plate. For drinks, we each had the pear martini and blood orange margarita. I loved the pear martini - so refreshing! I chose the blood orange margarita second to pair better with the walleye dish, as pear definitely didn't fit the palette. I was happy with both overall however.

I have no complaints. Food was thoughtful and paired well with the wine; servers were friendly and knowledgeable. Bravo!

We came in for a lunch break on a Saturday. They were serving their brunch menu. I went for the garden salad with avocado added. Mom and Gran split a griddled cheese sandwich, and my aunt got the grilled chicken sandwich. All were delicious, and we especially loved that they brought us an order of donuts while we waited for our meal to come out. Gran says that their coffee is awesome, and my Coke came out with a wedge of like (yum!). Service was prompt and friendly, and the music they had playing was nice as well. The vibe is mellow, and the decor is pleasant (check out the ceiling tiles!). It's definitely a great place to stop when you're doing your gift shopping.

Coalition has amazing appetizers! I started out with a grapefruit gimlet. Not too sour, not too pine tree. I'm not a fan of gun, but this cocktail was smooth and refreshing! Just what you need to start off your outdoor dining near the lake! We had a group of six sitting al fresco. Our waitress was wonderful! Any was friendly, helpful, and accommodating. Loved her! We ordered appetizers...spicy fried cauliflower, mussels, Korean tacos, and pork buns. I chose the pork buns. They had a perfect little cloud of a bun. Flavorful pork topped with barely pickled cucumbers. So fresh! Delicious! For dinner their were burgers and salads, but I got the walleye with potatoes. It was so delicious! Breaded walleye with a lovely aioli and greens! Purple and white potatoes were sliced and covered with butter and cheese! The food here is just so good! The drinks are fun, delicious combinations. You really need to check this place out! If you're lucky Sally will come by and strike up a hilarious conversation with you and tease you a bit. She's lovely! Our group had so much fun talking with her! Go for the people & service and you'll stay for the food!

We had Brunch here after Easter. The staff was tremendous. Kind and helpful from start to finish. I went with the Enchillads and Eggs with a side of breakfast potatoes. Absolutely delicious. The side was big enough for three! The French toast was a hit with my kids. The walleye tacos were a big hit for a few members of our group!

Stopped in here for a bite of lunch and had the chicken sandwich on a cheesy biscuit. Delicious! I really enjoy more of a sweet flavor with my fried chicken and biscuits so I would opt to ask for some honey on the side. The bartender was awesome. She mixed me up a splendid lemon drop martini and I love the atmosphere. The menu is a bit limited so if you have picky eaters or people who like "plain" tasteless food send them to a commercial spot like applebees and take your own ass there and enjoy!

Love the location in downtown excelsior. The restaurant is a cute date spot. We easily got a table of 4 on a Tuesday night. Apps: -Loved the fried goat cheese balls. Drizzled in honey and chopped pistachios. -Loved the Korean tacos. Soft, thin beef Served with kimchi. Lots of flavors in this one! -loved the pork sticky buns. I simply love the doughy texture of the sticky bun. The pork was good too. -shrimp toasties were ok. It was served with pesto. Main: -I did not like the lamb kabob. The waiter said this is the best thing on the menu. I knew I wanted meat so I blindly ordered it. It was ground lamb. Like a meatball on a skewer. The cous cous and veggies underneath were good - nice summer flavors. Side: - loved the cauliflower!

My wife and I go here when we're looking to have a nice cocktail and sit at the rail. Ryan, one of their bartenders, is by far the best bartender we've ever had. He's got that classic bartender swagger- quick with a joke and he'll light up yer... well not smoke- but he'll do an amazing magic trick if you ask him. Love Coalition!

Expensive food and then they add on an additional 4% add on for COVID?? How about you don't gouge your customers that are slowly coming back.

I love salt, but this food had too much of it especially the "Asian" fusion food like steamed buns and noodle salad. The meats are heavily salted and inedible. We ate inside and flies were flying everywhere. Took awhile to order food too. Too over priced for what you get.