Harbor View Cafe

A group of friends from Minneapolis gathered excitedly at the Harbor View Cafe, a beloved restaurant they had been frequenting for over three decades. With fond memories of delicious meals and warm ambiance, they anticipated another delightful evening of fine dining. However, upon perusing the menu, they were taken aback by the drastic changes that had occurred. The menu, once filled with familiar and comforting dishes, now boasted a selection that seemed to belong to another era. It was as if the restaurant had undergone a culinary revolution, introducing bold and unconventional flavors. One particular salmon dish, served with wild rice, caught their attention. It was accompanied by a curry sauce, a fusion of flavors that seemed out of place in the context of their cherished memories. Curiosity got the better of them, and they decided to give it a try. As the dish arrived at the table, the aroma of the curry sauce wafted through the air, piquing their senses. However, the first taste was met with mixed reactions. The combination of the delicate salmon, the earthy wild rice, and the unexpected curry sauce created a flavor profile that was undeniably unique but not entirely to their liking. Despite their disappointment, the group of friends reminisced about the countless meals they had enjoyed at the Harbor View Cafe over the years. They chuckled at the unexpected twist and found solace in the fact that change is an inevitable part of life. While this particular visit may have left them with a taste of uncertainty, they remained grateful for the cherished memories and the enduring bond they shared. Leaving the restaurant that evening, they couldn't help but wonder what other surprises the future might hold for their beloved Harbor View Cafe. This no longer may be a summer monthly ritual trip. I have never given this restaurant less than 5 stars previously.

First time visitors. We had a lovely time and the food was excellent. Our server was terrific as well. Cannot wait to come back again soon.

The food and service in this small-town gem were exceptional, making it a rare find that’s truly worth the price. The overall experience for our late night group of six was unmatched! The staff on food suggestions was great. Fun to try something and someplace new.

Updated 4/9/2022: 3.5 stars. Unfortunately the food was not as good as it was last time I was here in 2021 (see original review below). Some items like the beef tenderloin was very good but other items like the soup were a miss, and the dessert (chocolate pie) was fine. The bread served as a starter is good but I think they are serving it with unsalted butter? I'm sad because the quality was inconsistent between courses and overall was not as good as it was a year ago, but the price was the same (~$35/person). Original review from 2021: Wow, the food was phenomenal! Everything had such complex flavors. The chefs deserve high praise. I would definitely drive 90 minutes from Minneapolis to eat here again!

On a whim, my bf and I took a little road trip to Pepin, where we came upon this whimsical and cute restaurant by the lake. It was dinner rush, but they sat us quickly. The server was a little slow to take our order, but the host and another server made sure we got bread and water. Yes, that sounds very peasant, but we didn't mind. Despite the place running out of Coq Au Vin, I was happy with my seafood dish. My bf ordered the lamb shank and it was delicious; perfectly cooked. Service was a little slow, but food made up for it. Well worth the drive.

Lovely to visit. Open March to September. A great destination restaurant. Make a day out of it Simple dishes bursting with flavor. Portions large enough for family style sharing. Menu is a chalk board. Protip: take a photo and peruse the daily offerings back at your table.

The Harbor View will always remain one of our favorite places to visit. The food is outstanding, server’s know the menu and are able to make suggestions based on your preferences. For us it’s more than a 90-minute drive. It is definitely worth the drive.

Over the years we’ve stopped to enjoy the food and service at the Harbor View Cafe in Pepin, Wisconsin. It is a very pleasant drive from the Twin Cities. It has so much history and now a collection of great memories for us. The location is fabulous – offering a “harbor view”. Dining at sunset is completely amazing! It offers a pleasant and homey atmosphere – you can’t beat the magnificent views of the Mississippi River and sense of fun and community in the air. Dating back to1980 its casual atmosphere and seafood has been the draw for us. It’s nice to know that they support local growers and farmers when possible; surely the reason behind why their salads and soups taste so fresh. Pepin has been a fun stop during COVID-19; we’ve traveled there with our pop-up teak table and chairs for two. We order our food, say hi, thank them for their award-winning hospitality and enjoy the outdoors. It’s fabulous to walk along the pier, take in live music, and chat with a few sailors. The Atlantic Salmon is well basted and has a nice crust. We can also recommend the Alaskan Halibut, Onion Soup and Carrot Cake. The accompanying rice has always been served cooked just right. The menu seems to be kept more up to date on their Facebook page. It’s really close to the train track – and we love trains. Our orders have ready within a reasonable time. Weekends are certainly more popular times and it can become challenging to find outdoor seating if you don’t bring your own. Parking is no problem.

Took a drive Saturday to one of our favorite restaurants in the area!. We go here a couple times a year to enjoy both the food and the search for Eagles. Once again we observed around 5 Eagles soaring above the Mississippi's main channel and its backwaters and at the Harbor View Cafe we were greeted by a friendly staff and feasted on Grilled pork tenderloin and Chicken breast pan fried with roasted garlic chipotle sauce. OMG!! Both dishes were excellent and plentiful. We stopped short of full so we could share a piece of Georgia Walnut Pie with Ice Cream on top. We look forward to numerous repeat sojourns here this summer!!

I had expected a great dinner based on Some local people First this chalkboard menu was hard to read and I didn't want to stand there trying to make a good decision in front of the bar our meals were fairly good and one sorta bad. It was not what I expected. I think if you're a regular you know what to expect but we didn't. The staff was fine the ambience fair I'll never know if they change menus because I'm not going back hoping of a new dish only to read the chalkboard.

People may say Harbor View is a hidden gem on one of the most scenic roadways in Wisconsin. In reality it's not hidden at all as soon as the doors open the waitlist starts. They move that line quickly and the food is so worth the wait. Daily menus are posted each day on Facebook to assure the highest quality. Can't wait to go back.

Beautiful view!!! Beautiful menu, nice servers and staff. World class restaurant is a beautiful setting.

This used to be a wonderful autumn destination dining place twenty years ago, now it is a drive by. What is up not putting their menu on the website and referring folks to see the "chalkboard menu" on Facebook? This is super annoying and a waste of time and effort. It's a "chalkboard" not a walk on the moon. Anyway, I guess given the decline in the quality and taste of the food it really doesn't matter where they display their menu.

We walked by the tables outside of the Harbor View Cafe on our way to a different restaurant and a couple was sharing a decadent looking piece of carrot of cake. Yum! When we got to our destination and asked to be seated outside they said the deck was closed. So, we left and went back to the Harbor to eat outside. My husband and I shared the chicken breast in champagne grapes on linguine. Wow! Who would have thought warm, tiny grapes would be so delicious in champagne sauce with chicken?! such a large portion that even after splitting the meal we had left overs to take home. Desert? Of course! Carrot cake! We did have to order our food to go to eat outside but the waitress, who has been working there for 20+ years, brought our food to us. Highly recommend!

I had been to the Harbor View Café several times before. But this time was a disappointment. I will give readers here a bit of advice: the menu is on a chalk board. However it is really incomplete in describing the dishes. Ask how the entre is prepared and what are the sides / vegetables - which are not mentioned. Today I ordered a "chicken breast with garlic and chipotle sauce". What I got was a breaded, deep fried chicken breast (if I wanted that, I could have gone to Chick-Filet.) But the most strange: it was covered with at least 20 roasted garlic cloves. Pieces of the fettuccine were 'stuck together and hard' - this happens when you don't give the noodles a stir or two. The service is good. It's a nice quaint café, but it's slipped from previous visits.

Wow the food quality has gone downhill In the past few years. Friendly, people the food value was terrible. The Halibut was the most expensive thing on the menu and was just bad. No wait on a Sunday afternoon should have been a warning. The drinks and great view made up for some of the experience.

It doesn't even deserve one star. Took my parents both which had dementia for a drive today. Thought we'd stop and eat there. My father got a slice of pie from a place and Stockholm was worried it was going to melt because it was sour cream and raisin brought it in to keep it cool they got all in an uproar, which is odd because I've managed restaurants and most restaurants have no problem with you bringing in something as long as you didn't bake it nor was he going to eat it there. So I put it in my purse. I was then told I couldn't even have it in my purse. Then my mother wanted a burger which they don't have so we decided to leave the owner, then followed me out and accosted me had her finger in my face and asked me if I was rude to her weight staff I was not rude. I just didn't understand why I couldn't have pie in my purse, my personal belongings for my father, who has dementia and my mother as well. I asked her to please stop because both of my parents have dementia. She wouldn't stop kept in my face. Total bitch would never eat there would never recommend it have never been treated so poorly in my life She should be embarrassed as a business owner. I have never in my life I have managed restaurants all my life and never ever have I treated anyone that way or would I ever

***Please note this would be a 4.5 if not for the bartender*** This restaurant has come highly recommended by friends with good taste. As we were bumming around river towns on a glorious October day with no real time schedule, we decided to put our names on the dinner waiting list and were told an hour plus wait. No worries! At that time, the hostess indicated that should seats open up at the bar, we were welcome to eat there. We wandered around Pepin for an hour, circling back to see two seats open at the bar. Next to us, a couple was enjoying lasagna. When we inquired with the shirt-haired, stocky, breast-tattooed bartender about ordering, she raised her voice and melted down. "WHO told you you could eat here? You can't! We close at five and I have ALL THIS to clean! I am not serving food here! Drinks only! I'm out at five!" She was clearly very concerned about getting out of there promptly, and let us know in no uncertain terms that we were cutting into her evening gaming time. Perhaps there was a Pokémon raid scheduled she was potentially going to miss out on. Others at the bar, and at least one coworker, seemed embarrassed by her behavior. We promptly got up from the bar and went back outside to wait for our table, which was ready a few minutes later. Our server, Carissa, was lovely, donning funky earrings and still smiling after her beautiful & busy fall day serving hungry Citiots like us. The menu is unique, especially for small-town Sconni, and you'll find something new to try. We enjoyed our dinners, a Hawaiian Opakapaka and a MASSIVE portion of stuffed mushrooms with linguine. We took desserts to go, and the buttercream pie was particularly sublime. Prices are definitely on the high side, but the place, and Pepin businesses in general, is/are aimed at a metros-with-money crowd. My husband and I have both spent years on the other side of the bar, and we have ZERO tolerance for bad service. And, as it were, the bitchy bartender was still there when we left an hour plus later - and, in fact, they continued seating patrons right up until 6, so she clearly missed her D & D date. There is absolutely no reason to EVER let a customer know they are interfering with your evening plans. The bartender's craptastic, "me me me" attitude colored what would have been a positive experience at Harbor View. If help were easier to find, she should be fired. It's not easy to hire right now, so they must be scraping the bottom of the bartender barrel. Had this woman been my employee back when I ran a restaurant, she'd be out the door that very day. So - good food, nice atmosphere, great waitress, horrible, rude bartender. She doesn't have the service bent to even make the cut at Wal-Mart.

Cute restaurant with friendly service! The dishes are quite large with good flavors. If your looking for a place thats not "bar food" check it out. We would come back Forsure!

We decided treat ourselves to a nice dinner as this place is supposed to be great. We should have left immediately. The hostess wanted to seat us at a street side window where the sun was shining in brightly ( it was 90 degrees outside and we were looking for a cool place) so we asked to be away from the window. The restaurant wasn't even half full, so there were plenty of other options. She was very abrupt and unfriendly and angrily took us to another area. The menu is written on a chalk board hanging on the wall. This is hard to read from some of the tables so we stood there to read it and felt like they were not happy about that either. We ordered the prawn skewers and steak skewers. They both came on a bed to steamed kale that was so tough you couldn't even cut it with a steak knife! And none of the food was hot, it was either just warm or actually cold. Definitely not worth the $100 we spent for 2 meals! On the plus side the busboy was very friendly and the waitress, when she got to us, was very friendly and nice The glass of wine was good.

We've been enjoying this gem for years. Consistently delicious food, quaint atmosphere, friendly service and a beautiful view of the harbor. A great spot for a quality date night followed by a stroll by the water.

Food is a bit high in cost, however the portion was large. The food is always delicious. The service was not of high quality but anymore that is typical. At least I did not have to serve myself! Nice view and the ambiance is relaxing. The menu is listed on a blackboard above the bar, which is not convenient, but it's been that way for as long as I have been coming here.

It's been a lot of year's since we came upon this amazingly awesome establishment! Still here THANKFULLY, still consistent still worth the trip ! Service outstanding, chill, you get to view trains going by , sailboats on lake Pepin - you've got to check it out it's so worth the trip from Eden Prairie- Sunday drive-

Great food and great service. When there isn't a huge wait I'm a big fan. When there is a huge wait, I applaud HV for being that good.

Great view!! Great menu!! Family has been dining here several times per summer for over 20 years!! Keep up the good work!!

This was my 4th trip to Harbor View Cafe and every time has been amazing. My go-to is always the garlic chipotle chicken breasts but everything I've had here is excellent. The entrees come with soup or salad and bread with butter and their house made salad dressings are delicious. There is usually a wait, so just be prepared for that and grab a beer at the small bar next door while you wait it out. They post their menu daily on their Facebook page, so check it out. They always use fresh, high quality ingredients. One of my favorite restaurants!

Fantastic food. Menu changes quite a bit. Every item exceeds expectations. Recommend reservations.

This has been one of our favorites but it seems like we get seated at the worse possible tables. A table for two in the upper back room that is mostly used for large (noisy) parties or in front of the chalkboard menu. I really like the food here but they could make it more suitable for clientele by making a few simple changes. Move the menu board to the hall wall or pretty much anywhere else. Most people take a picture of it on their cellphones so they can be seated and peruse it. Print off a few copies for the elderly who can't stand there forever moving side to side as your kitchen help pushes through the door while they are struggling to see the menu board as their friends and family are shouting what the selections are ... ugh! It's ridiculous.

Excellent food, stellar service. Unique find in a small quaint town on the Mississippi. Will definitely be back

Great dinner tonight Salmon poached in parchment was excellent! The Ahi tuna was medium( not rare ) But good. Great service. Attentive staff,

It's been a number of years since we were here last. We always viewed it as a treat. It still is awesome. It's pricey but the portions are huge. I had the halibut steak with capers, vegetables and jasmine rice. My wife a had the chicken linguine. Both meals included a large salad and sliced bread. Desert was carrot cake aka mode and almond cake with linden berries topped with whipped cream We have always liked Harbor View and this year for my birthday was great.

The tab: $185, without alcohol or deserts. We eat out often. And I --originally from Boston-- have eaten at seafood restaurants across the country, up and down both coasts. I've had memorable meals at revered places like Anthony's Pier 4 and walk-up seafood markets on the wharf alike. Atmosphere: Harbor View's management has this down *perfect.* The walls are entirely knotty pine, lined with filled bookshelves and nooks with antique, dimly-lit lamps. The tabletops and bar top is also solid, lacquered wood. You won't find cheezy wall-mounted fisherman's nets, lobster traps, anchors, buoys, and other ham-fisted attempts to create the atmosphere here. The atmosphere creates expectations of a superb dining experience. Upon seating, we were served bread. Not great -- as if purchased from HyVee a few days prior --dense, dry, hard, and cold. The butter was rock hard and difficult to spread. If you've ever eaten at Legal Seafoods, you know what a treat the bread is. My son and wife each ordered the "Alaskan halibut w/ black butter caper sauce." $35 I ordered the "Hawaiin swordfish - grilled w/ sriracha aioli & picked ginger." $30 And my daughter ordered "Atlantic salmon - poached in vermouth, cream, ginger, and leeks." $30 We also ordered the three-cheese stuffed mushrooms appetizer. The mushrooms arrived. Presentation wasn't great --just a brown and black "mess," but tasted great. Next came the soups and salad. I chose the Caesar's dressing. The lettuce was limp and seemed old. I don't recall any croutons, and the server didn't offer any cracked pepper. What I remember most was the dressing: it was served in an aluminum side-dressing cup; it just sat there, like greasy pudding. It was obviously poured from some commercially prepared --probably Sysco-- gallon-sized plastic jug (about on par with Applebees). The soup, minestrone, was the only choice (no lobster bisque or clam chowder)-- looked like something microwaved out of a can or what you'd get from Perkins. By now, I simply assumed this place doesn't waste time on frills (bread, soups, and salad). I figured this was like one of those awesome hole-in-the-wall places back home, where all you get are oyster crackers, but the lobster roll and fried haddock was so worth waiting for. Wrong. First came the halibut. It was lightly breaded, but appeared to be covered in HOT FUDGE sauce. It was possibly the most shocking, unappealing plate I had ever seen served at a restaurant. "What is that stuff?" I asked, pointing at the congealed black liquid. "Black butter?" she replied. There were capers in there somewhere, unrecognizable. Also on her plate was an aluminum salad-dressing cup of salsa --just unimaginative diced tomatoes with maybe a few onions and cilantro. It resembled whatever they grab from some stainless steel container at Taco Bell and throw on your burrito right before it's wrapped, stuffed in a bag, and handed to you through the drive-up window. My swordfish arrived. It appeared to be sprinkled with Old Bay. I've had better at places like the Twin Cities Grill (MoA) or Axels (Mendota Heights). It sat atop a pile of sour kale. I wasn't sure if I was eating kimchi, mustard greens, or sauerkraut. Whatever it was, it was awful. There was a few buttered baby red potatoes --about like you'd get at Boston Market-- maybe the best item on the plate. My daughter's salmon was covered in an unappealing, phlegm-yellow gelatinous substance with a marmalade consistency. After sampling, she didn't want anything on the plate. Also on her plate was another of those aluminum salad dressing mini-bowls, but filled with unseasoned boiled cranberries. Bright red. My guess is that the chef thought he or she was thoughtfully adding "color" to the plate. Who eats boiled cranberries? Also on her plate was an inverted-cup of rice that looked like something that came out of a microwave-heated Uncle Ben's packet. I can't remember the last time I've walked out of a restaurant feeling "Cheated." Unfortunately, this was my experience at the Harbor View this past Sunday. [*review by husband*]

Food was very good, very busy place. Friends of ours from the Mayo Clinic from Rochester met us there, after words enjoyed a bottle of champagne on there boat. We brought the dessert which was a whole Banana cream pie with a great sunset made the evening wonderful. Life is about making memories and that is our job for over 54 years and loving it. wwwpetruskaphotography.com

This place is a treasure. It is cozy and with a great decor. And it is great that the menu is always posted on the chalkboard behind the bar! I used to come here when I lived in Rochester decades ago, so it still is so much the same. My wife had the same stuffed mushrooms ($22), which she loved then as much as now. That was worth the visit alone. I had the halibut with black butter ($34), which I just don't get. The black butter is so overpowering, I couldn't taste the fish. Hint: Ask for the sauce on the side, as it was excellent with rice that came with the dish, but not the fish! Otherwise, the bread with the meal was good, and the wine selection was very good (try the Barrel Road for $7/glass!). The restaurant closes for the season November 18th, and reopens in May. It is up for sale, and I sincerely hope that the new owner keeps this treasure alive for all of us to enjoy.

Great food and service inside or out, with nice views. Our meals were tasty and well presented. Tables were well spaced and take out was available.

It was ok. Food was decent but not really special and definitely did not match the price. I am ok with high price but it must matched by special taste. Not much for drinks. I had the fettuccine with prosciutto mushrooms. This is a no brainer...simple pasta dish...tasty but mostly because of all the butter in the sauce...prosciutto not really good quality...tasted funny. Mushrooms...ordinary. My wife had the chicken and she was surprised by how ordinary this was also for the price...something we could have done at home easily. My friend had the Haibut 40.00...again nothing to write home about...his girlfriend had the other type of fish but did not finish it. Again...food was edible and decent just not special. I have been to places where you spend 100 bucks and you walk away thinking...that was worth it. Again...decent food but nothing special which is what I was hoping.

A nice day trip from the cities! My husband and I make an afternoon of it driving along the river on the WI side doing the many wineries/cideries then ending the day at the harbor view. This time we got an earlier start and had lunch instead. I was told the wait was 45 mins but we got in around 20mins. We didn't mind though, we grabbed a drink at the bar and went outside to sit in the shade in a couple of their cute chairs. Everything on their chalkboard menu looked amazing and the prices were more than reasonable for what came with the meal! Our fish entrees that came with a soup or salad and sides were roughly $30. This is on par if not better valued than some of the nice seafood places in the Twin Cities. We got the Haibut and the poached salmon, both were phenomenal! Looking forward to this yearly tradition every summer!

We've been patrons since the place opened in 1980. We've dined there easily 100 times. Through two ownership changes and lots of staff the service and quality have always been wonderful

Great food & great service; well worth the drive from Minneapolis on a sunny Saturday!

Delicious meals! Took a trip to Pepin to visit this gem, what great food & ever changing menu. Once an item is gone, they erase items from the board. We saw two items erased during our visit. Wait about 20 minutes to get a table @ 3pm, but worth it!

Harbor View is one of the best restaurants in Wisconsin. The interior is welcoming and the staff is incredibly friendly. They're food is seasoned perfectly and the servings are rather large with high quality ingredients. I would happily pay double the price for anything there. I highly recommend their red meats as well as the seafood! I'll say it again, this is the best restaurant in Wisconsin!

I expected top-notch service AND food from this place based on the things I have heard over the years. The food was very disappointing--I got stuffed mushrooms over linguine and my dining companions got the pork shank, the halibut, and the marlin--so I tasted four things and there was nothing I would order again. The halibut is trumpeted as one of the most delicious things on the menu--when i tasted some of this I could barely get past the smell---oh so fishy and the sauce was overpowering apparently to cover up stinky fish, The curly Kale that was underneath the pork and marlin was not cooked appropriately and was somewhere between raw and done. I would take either way but it has to be one or the other not just flashed under some steamy water. The pork was tender but had a sweet sauce and tons of it all over it so you could not really get past the flavor to embrace the meat. I think the sweetness came mostly from carrots. The Marlin was dry and bland. The salad was swimming in dressing My stuffed mushrooms had a ton of bagged cheap cheese in and all over it... I took three bites. The wines were not very good and I have had way better bread at most places. I just don't know why people think this is good food because there are so many other dining choices where you can really get a chef inspired and created meal. I think they are all just heady with the view of the water and being in this quaint little town. Two things I would eat again---the pear crisp and the root vegetable puree. The prices here are averaging around 20-25 a plate and i think they are going for an elegant yet casual dining experience. The service was not overly eager to explain the food --and you have to get up and stalk people behind the bar to try and read the teeny tiny chalkboard menu so of course you still have questions about things as they put about 12 ingredients in everything--they need to practice some restraint and let the food flavor speak for itself with perhaps a little enhancement of sauce or dressing. I had to ask for water three times. When my companions got their 7.00 dessert it was a chocolate torte sitting naked on a plate. No raspberry drizzle or anything. Seemed like just another disappointing plate and not the fun joyful celebration dessert should be. You will have to wait 45-minutes or better to get seated here more than likely---I don't think I will make the 60 mile trip from the twin cities to experience this ever again.

Last time their was almost 30 years ago and the good news is that it was still great. Sometimes change is nothing but change and like a great experience you hope not much has changed. Perfection is always difficult to attain and Harbor View still is my perfect place to dine. Thanx you for a wonderful experience again!!!

I've been coming to the area for over ten years and this was the first I've heard of this "not so" hidden gem. Guess if I'd paid more attention I'd already eaten here. The menu is on a chalkboard with few options. Perfect the cuz they hit all bases. Steak, chicken, seafood. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful the food is. Portion size.... Big! I was invited by a local who was shocked I hadn't been here especially because of my love of not just cooking food, but eating. I ordered the Hawaiian swordfish, not sure what made it Hawaiian but it was wonderful. As a appetizer I had the gazpacho, probably the best I've eaten. The swordfish came served on a bed of kale greens with a horse radish sauce that went perfectly with the fish. What makes this place is a certain ambiance like no other. You feel like your in a private library of a close friend. Being waited on by someone you love to hang out with. The chef is on top of their game. What more could you ask for. A view of the Mississippi maybe?

We decided to take a drive to the Lake City area and finding that the restaurant where we had eater pre-pandemic was now closed, decided to take a drive across the river to Pepin, WI, where we had eaten with another couple several years ago. If my memory served me right, we had thought it to be pretty good. It turned out that what I had recalled was accurate. It was lucky we were early, since, after the fact, I found that reservations were highly desirable. From start to finish, our experience was excellent. The server was prompt and courteous, and our food was delicious. I had the mahi-mahi smothered in small shrimp and my better half had the halibut. That also was excellent. Although some may consider Harbor View too pricey, I'd say you get your money's worth. The food and service are quality all the way, and if you want a night out to enjoy some fine dining, you can't go wrong.

We stopped in last Saturday and had phenomenal food and service. I'm planning on trying a fish entree this weekend. Yes, we're going back again. Saturday will be our Easter meal. The drive from Prior Lake is worth it. Stay tuned.

Scrumptious meal(s), excellent service, charming atmosphere, great view! Treated like a queen when we celebrated my 60th birthday yesterday! Many gluten free options for my guy (he chose swordfish)! Run, don't walk, to Pepin to enjoy this gem!

Excellent food. Perfect day trip. My husband and I took a day trip and drove through the towns of Bayport, Maiden Rock, Stockholm, and Pepin. We had lunch at Harbor View Cafe. I've heard that it can be a long wait to be seated but we got there around 11:30 and it was just the two of us so we were seated right away. There was a larger group lingering outside waiting. The decor is homey with book shelves lined on top of the room. The menu is written on a chalk board. The service was attentive and friendly. We ordered the Roasted Squash soup, fresh salad, Linguine, and Sauteed Chicken. It was delicious and felt like a home cooked meal. We took a walk down to the harbor and it was such a beautiful day! So worth it.

I was really looking forward to eating here after reading many positive reviews. The food was disappointing though, not bad but not great. We had the halibut with black caper sauce and the fish was bland while the sauce a bit salty. I ate it but would not order it again. My sister had the pork loin and said the meat was tender but the dish didn't have a lot of flavor. The service was excellent and the view magnificent. I would give it another chance but have no real desire to return.

Amazing food! Homemade with really fresh ingredients. NEVER been disappointed with quality or service. Now instead of stuck at home with Covid, take a scenic road trip from the Twin Cities via Hwy 61 to 10 to 35. Takeout at The HarborView is phenomenal, and you can sit in your car for a picnic, and face Lake Pepin's Harbor while you eat.

What a great cafe that sits on the pepin lake in Wisconsin. If you've never been there you need to get their. Especially in the summer when the lake is a it's peak. It's absolutely beautiful.. They have a very friendly staff that will help you with all of their menu options. Great job harbor cafe I will be back.

This was the second time we've been here. The food was delightful and we will be back again. I had Swordfish on a bed of Kale and amazing little red potatoes! My husband had the seafood stew. It was fantastic! This place only takes reservations just before they open, so get there a little early. They have two seatings. First seating is at 5 and second seating is at 7 pm. The food is phenomenal!!!

The scene at Harbor View is near perfection. A small river town that over looks Lake Pepin. Any way you travel into the city is picturesque and has a complete costal town vibe. The dining room has a similar feel to hanging out in someone's study with book lined walls and dark wood surroundings. The menu has plenty of variety and undoubtedly would have something to please anyone's palate. The last several times I was there I've orderd the halibut with a black caper butter and I've never been disappointed. Today we ordered coho slamon which surprisingly came with a heavy butter and wine sauce. The menu description said leeks and ginger which we interpreted as a lighter preparation. I ordered the snapper with red curry and shrimp. Unfortunately, the fish was totally lost in a dense flood of orange gravy. My other friend ordered the chicken which was smothered in cream, mushrooms, and garlic cloves. It sat over linguine and had to have contained a minimum of 3,000 calories. Every dish was massive and impossible to finish. We had a delightful almond cake for dessert which was crunchy, chewy, soft, sweet, and tart (from lingonberries) all wrapped up in one package. The flourless cake was flawless too. Our service was spectacular and even though lunch was too hefty on butter/cream and size we still had a relaxing and pleasant experience. I'll be sticking with my trusty pal Halibut in the future.

Came with high expectations, as have been here 4 times in last 25 years, and all past visits have been great. In short, the place has clearly lost its way. They now apparently think large portions of average food are what the patrons want. Gone are the fresh ingredients, and inspired cooking. Ordered the salmon, and it was bland and overcooked. Came with soggy wild rice and limp asparagus. Lots of volume, but little flavor. Companion had the chicken marsala, which came with a plate full of pasta covered in a not memorable sauce. She was barely able to make a dent in it. Plenty of leftovers. I passed on the chocolate brownie with 3 scoops of store bought ice cream. Just too full and not hungry or interested any more.

My husband and I ordered the Alaskan halibut with black butter caper sauce and also the pork tenderloin with peach sauce; both were incredible. We walked in and ordered takeout. The restaurant is well set up for COVID. Patrons and staff both complying with mask orders. My husband and I got a drink and sat outside while the food was being prepared. We were in and out in 25 minutes. When we got home we put everything on dinner plates and were so pleased with the portion sizes. Salad, dressing, bread, butter, main course, sides. Such an amazing dinner and experience. Thank you!

Interesting menu, upscale taste and truly a gem in the rough. In all honesty we went expecting a really solid supper club/bar menu. What we got was so much more. It's pricey but it's worth it. Excellent wine cellar with a fun assortment of local wines. Service was phenomenal, but what would you expect when it is the owner waiting on you!! If you are in the area or if you want a fun road trip to a beautiful setting, I strongly recommend you try this restaurant.

I used to love this place. However, the past few times I've received a subpar meal and service. I was fine with the price point when I was receiving excellent service with a meal that I would drive a couple hours for. But now? No way is this place worth that much of my money. $7.50 to add on a cup of mediocre 6oz soup? No thanks. It seems like this quaint, hole in the wall has lost its way... or its chef. I hope that whatever is going on is rectified soon.

For the price we were expecting so much more! Presentation was good but my halibut was dry, probably over cooked and $33. My husbands salmon was delicious cooked just as he likes it. The server, she never gave her name, came to tell my husband they were out of the drink he had ordered after he had left the table for a few minutes then never came back to ask what else he would like until she served our meals. She was not attentive and it wasn't that busy when we were there. No one "ever" asked us how our meals were, not even as we were presented with the check. I can get a comparable meal for less and much better service elsewhere!!