Lovechild

It was an interesting and amazing experience.I'd recommend making reservations since they're only open for a few hours per day. The atmosphere was very nice and the staff was very attentive. They were constantly coming around filing our cups and making sure we didn’t need anything. There was a little bit of wait between appetizers and entrees so I would say to expect to spend about an hour and a half to two hours there. My table ordered a variety of food and we all shared family style. We had the ribeye, lamb, pork and 3 different pastas. Overall, all the food was very tasty. The pork was a bit dry but still tasty. The pasta with shrimp was good. One was dairy free and more lemony, which made it more refreshing. Everyone agreed that the ribeye was the best, and may be one of the best they've had in town. We also had the tres leches cake that was very good as well. I would say, this place would be a very good date night place or the place to go for a special celebration.

There is no other place like this in LaCrosse. If you’re looking for the best place to eat, look no further. The service is perfection, knowledgeable, prompt. Food is incredible, delicious, fastidiously prepared. Atmosphere is classy yet unpretentious. Dress up, dress down, no pretense. Seriously go to this place and enjoy one of the best meals of your life.

My husband and I loved our meal at Lovechild and had great service from Larson. Delicious and refreshing apple-Manchego salad, fabulous lamb shank, and amazing beef tenderloin. We had a lovely bottle of Cava, too. The atmosphere is beautiful. We’re from the Minneapolis area, and wished we lived closer. This place is a gem!

Love the atmosphere and the vibes. The dimmed lighting is so perfect for a date night. We were seated right away without waiting since we arrived at 5p. The food was amazing and great portions. Only negative thing was that we waited an hour for our entrees other than that I have no other complaints.

Lovechild is an elevated dining experience in La Crosse. The atmosphere is quiet, dark, and romantic with an open kitchen. The service is impeccable. It’s prompt and professional. I felt like I was in a large metropolitan city. The Arancine appetizer was delicious. It was a serving for 2 and was a traditional Arancine with rice, cheese and a marinara. What made these unique is that there was a sausage component. 💯 delicious. We had two pasta entrees, both were delicious. The rigatoni had a scrumptious marinara and sausage, with a bit of a spicy kick. The bolognese was delicious with a mild spice. This place is 💯 on our must stop list while visiting La Crosse.

Lovechild – The Perfect Solo Date Spot From the moment I walked in, I knew Lovechild was my kind of place. The boutique vibe, dim lighting, and soft candlelight created the perfect atmosphere—but bonus points for still being able to read the menu without squinting! I started with the jicama salad with mango and avocado—fresh, flavorful, and generous with the avocado (which I love). For my entrée, I had the spaghetti with spicy shrimp, arugula, chilies, garlic, and lemon. The spice was balanced—just enough heat to taste it without sweating—and the lemon added a bright kick without overpowering the dish. They also brought out some sourdough bread, and wow—it was incredible. Crusty, soft, and so, so good. My table setup was one of my favorite parts—a small cocktail table paired with a high-backed loveseat that made it feel like I was in my own private booth. The chair itself was stunning and so comfortable. As a tall woman, I loved the legroom—I could cross my legs easily—but the table-to-chair height felt a bit off. I almost felt like a little kid at the grown-up table, reaching up to eat. A minor thing, but noticeable. Still, the whole experience made me feel pampered and totally at ease. Love Child was the perfect place to take myself on a date—and I’ll absolutely be back.

I was in La Crosse for work and had the longest day, and had basically only eaten breakfast at the time I strolled up to Lovechilld at 7pm, so I was up for some real food. I had a few strikes on me coming in here and wasn’t sure I’d find what I wanted at a restaurant in a small town in Wisconsin, but I was super wrong. First, I don’t drink anymore, but the bartender made a phenomenal virgin salted cucumber gimlet that was not only pretty but very fresh and summery (and if you drink, I’m positive it would be just as good with alcohol!) I also don’t eat red meat, so while I was studying the menu, my server recommended the apple salad it was perfect to start - not too heavy but the manchego cheese and chives gave it a tang and heft, much more complex than just eating apples. I finally ordered the Loch Duart salmon and I’m not joking, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. The salmon is from Scotland and if you’re into the history of your food, you should definitely look that up - but it was beyond good. The curry was slightly spicy, the lentils were just the right amount of salty, and the greens on top were lemony and fresh… superb! I am not shy to admit I ate it all and it wasn’t a tiny portion of fish, AND ordered dessert (to go, so can’t comment on that yet), and still managed to run a few miles after I got back to my hotel. Never expected it, and now I’m searching for other unexpected things in this town (hiking! views! nightlife!) all because of this meal.

Amazing experience from beginning to end. The staff is incredible. The drinks & food impeccable!

Fantastic restaurant in LaCrosse!!! The food was spectacular! We shared the burrata and the lamb appetizers and they were phenomenal. We were a party of four and they were perfectly shareable. For main, I ordered the lamb shank and it was spectacular: falling off the bone, perfectly seasoned. I wish there was a better proportion in terms of risotto amount to the amount of meat that came on the dish. But that is a super minor detail. Dessert was also amazing! I ordered the lemon creme brûlée and sweet and sour were perfectly balanced! Service was also great. They don't take reservations for parties smaller than six. It was quite a wait for a Saturday night, and totally worth it. The ambience is amazing. The decor is welcoming. The restaurant itself is big, with tall ceilings and the decor makes it super cozy and warm. Great for the WI winters!

This place is super fancy if you're wanting to spend an evening in a well decorated ambience. Or if you're trying to really impress a date. The wait for a table is long if you come anytime after 5 PM, and the service staff does not appreciate you standing, even if there are no seats available to sit. They would rather have you wait outside than clog up their entry. Which was sad, because I saw several open tables That never got sat. I hear they have a rotating menu, I was not impressed with the limited offerings that they had. The best thing was the lamb skewers, but everything else was very bland and lacked any kind of flavor. We decided not to stay for dinner and left after paying for the apps. Drink menu was pretty extensive considering how few food items were offered. Be prepared to spend well over $15-$20 on a drink that is probably about 8 ounces. Considering the area, restaurants and bars that have really great cocktails for under $7-$8, this was a huge disappointment.

Lovechild has a good thing going and they know it. We dressed up as suggested (coat and tie) and went early (5:30pm) and immediately learned there is no longer a dress code and you can walk in and be seated right away. The furnishings are very nice, large tables, comfortable padded booths and spacious bar seating. Our table was directly in front of the kitchen, which is large with many, many staff. We were in the catbird seat to see just about every dish that came to the floor. We started with the Triple Cooked French Fries as an appetizer. Very unique dish. Almost a short tube of mashed potatoes deep fried like a tatter tot. Soft middle and light crunchy coating. Served with a superb horseradish sauce. Very rich For entrees we ordered the halibut with a sardinian pasta and the lamb shank with risotto. The halibut portion was generous and was dressed with an attractive bread crumb topping. The presentation of the fish was very nice, but the fish itself and the taste were off. The fish was too moist and too much salt was used in preparation. In retrospect, it is highly likely that the fish was too wet prior to cooking. It was overly soft and kind of mushy. Easy mistake to make. The heavy salt load was hard to overlook. The lamb shank looked beautiful - perfectly roasted. It was large, meaty and super savory. The Demi glaze was rich, but it too was over salted. Everything about the shank was superb except the saltiness. The risotto was smooth, buttery and adorned with scallions. Every bite was delicious. We ended the meal sharing the warm apple crostata with bourbon caramel sauce . The dish not prepared correctly by the kitchen. I will not go into the details. We mentioned the problem to our server who removed the item from our bill. Note: I would normally down grade my rating for a situation like this. The saltiness of our meals is a big deal. That being said, the restaurant is very nice, the staff are superb and their offerings are unique.

In our last visit to Lovechild I gave this restaurant one of my strongest, most positive reviews. Our second visit did not disappoint! We were warmly greeted for our reservation - made by the Charmant Hotel (a unique benefit of staying there) - and ushered to a semi-circular booth near the center of the restaurant. Our server, Albana, was excellent in every way - prompt, attentive at the right times, responsive to our requests, and spot on in her menu recommendations. For starters we went with the Sweet Corn and Tomato Salad with toasted house-made croutons and pistachios. Superb! Albana coupled that with her recommendation for a lighter red wine to pair with our menu choices of pasta and fish. Her tastes were excellent in recommending the 2021 Langhe Nebbiolo. A wonderful bottle! I returned to my favorite from my last visit - The Pappardelle with Gorgonzola cream, pistachio, sage, and garlic. Simply a beautiful, artful plate of pasta. My wife chose, off Albana's recommendation, the Baked Halibut with salmoriglio sauce, Calabrian chilies, and a flavorful summer vegetable fregola. It was a divine seafood dish that was gorgeous to the eyes. We finished our meal with a pistachio crème brûlée topped with fresh raspberries and paired with two savory cookies. Lovechild hasn't lost a step. The vibe, the service, the food - all still top-rate!

I went to Love Child with a few of my girl friends when we were visiting our friend in LaCrosse! When we went it was about an hour wait at about 7 on a Saturday night, and they text when your table is ready, so it's perfect if you want to get a drink before somewhere near by. Once we got back to the restaurant we were seated right away! We started with beef carpaccio and the triple Cooked French fries and both were delicious, the fries were different and yet so great, the horseradish sauce was a nice touch. I love that the carpaccio had burrata and a fresh chimichurri sauce to bring together the flavors perfectly. I really loved the freshness of the apple manchego salad as well, everything is cut up the same so you don't know if you're going to eat the cheese or the apple, I thought it was so fresh and delicious!! For the main meal we had the halibut which was cooked perfectly, the pappardelle which was also great and the sausage rigatoni was probably my favorite of the night! I could have eaten so much more of it!! It was a little spicy and so flavorful. I highly reccomend coming here for a girls dinner or date night! The staff was so helpful and the place is beautiful.

Let me start by saying we went on a Wednesday evening just to have a nice meal with my mother. The drinks are to die for!!! Even though the waiter was hesitant with my full glass and spilled a bit of the drink- it was still delightful. I think the chicken was better than the filet if I'm honest; the spices in the skin were spicy but not overwhelming. The potatoes that came with the fillet were disappointing.... They were just breakfast potatoes that seemed frozen. Also, the fillet was not served rare and it came out medium. So for the cost - I feel 4 stars is appropriate.

The food and service were very good. The waitress was very friendly and did a great job.

Atmosphere is very much a date night. Wished I was warned how long it would be to get the lamb shank with risotto as it was nearly 30 minutes between appetizer and main dish. Also, the risotto in the main dish did not have much flavor and did not do anything to enhance the flavor of the lamb, it was kind of pointless.

I would recommend Love Child. At first glance of the menu, it seemed limited and expensive but the dishes served were excellent. My husband had the chicken thighs and I had the pork chops. The meals are served with their own side dish that compliments the meal. We both had a couple cocktails and those were excellent also. In the end we spent less or the same there that we do at any other restaurant. Service was good.

This was the best restaurant I have ever been to in La Crosse. As an Eagle Alumni, I have been to a lot of restaurants and this one is top tier. Our server, Zachary Kenneth, was of profound talent. His character was not only outstanding, but the service he provided was immeasurable. I left Lovechild feeling at home again.

The pasta and potatoes were delicious, I recommend!! The staff were very friendly and kind.

We came here for our 4th wedding anniversary. The food and service were fantastic. I also really liked the beet cocktail that I got. We enjoyed everything about our experience at Lovechild Restaurant, and cannot wait to dine here again. It is a great place to come for a special occasion or just a nice dinner. We had the Apple/manchego salad, lamb skewers, filet, rigatoni with sausage, and the donuts and they were all delicious. I also really appreciated how busy they were but the lighting and noise were at perfect levels for us to have a pleasant experience.

The food was so good I would like to eat there nightly. Apple salad and pear salad were great starters. We had the trout and pappardelle entrees, and flourless cake and donuts for dessert. The staff is super friendly. Expect a wonderful experience when you dine here

My absolute favorite place in La Crosse. Service is attentive, polite, and warm. The owner is proud of the restaurant she and her husband have created. Ambiance is amazing. AND I haven't even got to the food yet... I nearly always order the Arancine fried risotto appetizer, the Spicy Shimp Spaghetti with arugula, and of course, their signature Portuguese cinnamon sugar doughnuts with lemon sauce. Trust me. The best. FWIW, the chicken thighs with toasted croutons are a close second favorite. Everything I've sampled here is top shelf. Including the cocktails. Just amazing. Thank you LoveChild team!

Highly recommended by the AirBnB hosts, and rightly so. It is worth the visit all in its own.

Great meal in pretty Venetian style setting. Smart and attentive service, interesting and inventive cocktails, nice assortment of wines. We enjoyed the apple and Manchengo salad, house-made pasta, and the dish special.

Wonderful experience, excellent atmosphere! Starter: Triple Cooked Fries with Horseradish Sauce - fries are HUGE! Entree: Mezze Rigatoni, outstanding dish... was told, after I finished, that half the fun was stuffing the (outstanding) sausage into the rigatoni and eating Service: Kayla was an outstanding bartender and very attentive server (my glass was always full!). Bonus: What a wine selection!

I consider myself a regular when in La crosse at this gem! When you enter Lovechild, expect to be filled with a warm, romantic, feeling. This is a place to have a romantic dinner but also a place to stop at the incredibly beautiful bar. Staff is always charming, professional and observant. When dining at this level, this is a huge plus! The menu is inventive (the beet salad with this delicious farro comes to mind) yet keeps the star dishes like the pappardelle and spiedini! For vegans and vegetarians, there are definitely options. Now dessert is certainly worth sharing! Recently my obsession has been the rice pudding! Creamy, not too sweet and everything a rice pudding should be, it is the perfect way to end a perfect dining experience. Thank you LoveChild.

The food here is amazing!!!! It was so delicious. It does live up to its reputation. But knocked down 2 stars because the service was horrible. We received our appetizers immediately but waited over an hour for our main dishes. Is this normal for fine dining? I don't remember waiting that long at Waterfront.. just saying. And it didn't seem too busy, most people were done eating or eating dessert. Not once did our waiter come over to apologize during the wait or ask how we were doing. He did apologize once he brought out our dishes. We had a sitter for the kids and it was already way past the time we said we'd return. Therefore we just had them pack our meals once they arrived. Birthday dinner ruined. Flavorwise: steak was a little salty but I like it like that. The steak was cooked perfectly to my liking! Every bite was so juicy and flavorful. The pork rib was very perfect too! I could taste the pesto and panko crumb on every bite. We had the pea bruschetta and lamb bites for appetizers. I honestly didn't care for them. (Forgot to take photos of those.) Overall, ambience is great. Very romantic and moody. Food is delicious but service is bad. Because of bad dine-in experience, most likely won't return to dine-in but will do takeout!

I tend to overestimate when I come here because I don't want to miss out on starters or desserts! They are great at accommodating food allergies and you can tell everything is fresh!

Wow, this is the best restaurant in La Crosse, they do not take reservations for less than 6; so we came at 5:15 and got a table in the front and had the best people watching experience ever!!! The food was great the chicken thighs were so flavorful and the tenderloin was awesome. I never have dessert, but the Apple Tart was outstanding.

The food was amazing. The appetizer, the drinks, the meal, the dessert. I've been dying to go back!

This place is truly a GEM! I am from out of town and every single time I visit town, I NEED to come here. It never disappoints - the food is always amazing, and the service is awesome. They are very attentive. The ambiance is also BEST! I wish we had a place like this in Chicago.

Ahhhhhhmazing! We had our Family Valentines Dinner here. The food was delicious! One of our starters was the lamb and it was a table favorite. I had the braised lamb shank it was tender and very good. The crème brûlée is to die for, don't miss out on that! Definitely a must try in Lacrosse!

I generally like the food here and have tried about half the menu. My main complaint is the main entrees do not come with a salad and there's no bread for the table. Both can be added as extras, however for 49 dollars for a filet, throw in a salad.

Loved the cocktails and pasta. Lovely restaurant with cozy romantic atmosphere. Helpful staff with recommendations for the shrimp lemon pasta was a great suggestion.

Arrived shortly after 17:00 for dinner with my wife, seated immediately in a large comfortable booth. Wait staff was at the ready and highly professional, prepared, and knowledgeable. Constantly working as team on all tasks related to a high level of service. Alec was our server, knowledgeable with every item on the menu right down to the details of food preparation. Creative wine suggestions that paired with the food perfectly. Food quality - off the charts, fresh, thoughtful and expertly prepared. No detail was left out. Apple Manchego salad and triple cooked French fries should not be missed. Egg tagliatelle pasta was excellent and memorable with fresh tomatoes and garlic. Not to be outdone by my wife's spicy shrimp pasta dish that was gluten free, not that you could believe it was gf. Donuts with lemon curd capped off an excellent meal, I would highly recommend and will dine here every time I make it to La Crosse.

This restaurant is my favorite restaurant in the world. Love the food The owners are fantastic The bartenders and waitstaff are knowledgeable and friendly. The room is beautiful.

Fantastic. Immaculate. Scrumptious. Comfortable. Cozy. Insert any other adjective you want, this place is a gem. The vibe there was exactly what we were looking for. Very chill with awesome cozy sofas and chairs to dine in. I got the pan seared rainbow trout and I should have ordered a second plate it was that good. My wife got the beef short ribs which were also incredible. The serving sizes were medium to big so I definitely didn't have room for dessert. Prices were a little up there along with the drinks. Had to get a brandy old fashioned and of course it was delicious.

We just had another great meal at Lovechild restaurant. It has quickly become our favorite spot in town for consistently great dining. We hosted a small group for dinner, and we were lucky to be seated at the table in front. It gives you a nice, semi private area, without being totally separated from the cool vibe of the main restaurant. I was a little worried about seating nine people at a table for eight, but it worked out great. The service, as usual, was spot on. At one point there were four servers at our table, delivering entrées in a timely manner so that all of the food was at perfect temperature. Food? Have I mentioned the food? For appetizers, we've never gone wrong with the lamb skewers; we also added some of the salmon bruschetta... The plates were empty in record time, and are guests all seemed to be pleased. However, we had forgotten to save room for entrées! I always order the fresh, homemade pasta with Gorgonzola cream sauce, and one of our other guests joined me in that order. We were both extremely satisfied. I've had a similar dish at another establishment here in town, and there's no comparison. I feel pretty safe in guaranteeing that you'll be happy with that order, no matter what your preferences are. The chicken thighs were similarly well received...And to be honest, I really don't know what the other people ordered since we were busy talking and laughing and not necessarily eyeing each other's food! But I can tell you that only one doggy bag was requested, for everyone else had pretty much licked the place clean. And nothing makes me happier than seeing someone enjoy dinner! Even though everyone was groaning by this time, I had to insist that we order the Portuguese donuts for dessert. Honestly, the name does not do them justice, and I can just tell you to save room for at least one. And don't pass on the lemon curd that is served with them! Joan Ferris is a gracious and thoughtful proprietor; she strives for perfection in all areas of fine dining. We are so lucky that she's here in LaCrosse!

Entering was like a magical transformation.... I have been wanting to try this place for sometime.... The setting is lovely and romantic.. We started at the bar where we found the baristas very pleasant and helpful. Extensive wine list and craft cocktails were impressive.... We were moved to a quaint table for dinner. I don't think there is a bad place to be set at. The menu is small but as I took a peek at the plates passing, it all looked amazing.... We tried the salmon dill crostini.. yum. Yum. A salad which was well prepared.... The main course was melt in your mouth braised lamb and risotto.... Now, should I of had dessert so close to after Christmas Cookies. No. But I Did All because the coffee smelled so good as a cup went by. A very good experience.... I will be back to try the house made pasta dishes. Thank you Lovechild ...

We dined at Lovechild for my birthday a few months ago and we are still talking about our experience there! First off, when you walk in, you feel like a total star. The cocktails were amazing, and the food and service were even better. Whatever you guys do with the croutons on the chicken...seriously could eat an entire appetizer of those chicken croutons lol The braised beef and polenta was to die for as well. We are excited to come back as soon as we move to the area. Thank you for creating such a magical place in La Crosse!

Incredible. The roasted chicken thighs are in my top 10 meals I've ever had (and I eat out at a lot of restaurants so that says a lot). Triple cooked French fries, apple manchego cheese chive salad & fried mozzarella are all incredible appetizers!

Absolutely amazing! Came across this place after leaving another restaurant near by that left me hungry and with a sour taste in hospitality. As soon as I enter Lovechild I am greeted by a friendly host. I sat at the bar while I waited for a table (that only took 15 ish minutes). The bartender was friendly and made an amazing drink called the beet drop (highly recommend). I got a table soon after. The waiter was friendly and helpful with any questions I had. I ordered a pasta dish and added chicken. Delicious and flavorful. Ended the night with the apple tart which was made to perfection. I couldn't have asked for a better end to a solo night. Even the music was great. I found myself Shazamming lol. Interesting decor. I loved their paintings. Especially Cupid. Their restrooms were clean and even smelled clean. They had fresh roses on the sink counter which was a lovely add on. HIGHLY recommend. This place deserves all the recognition. Sorry didn't have time to take pics of the food. I was super hungry.

Came back from Madison just to eat dinner again and was told they did not take reservations for two tops. Arrived when they opened to get a seat and was asked If I had a reservation?? Sat at the bar and waited 35 minutes to be sat, while we watched other two tops being seated. I complained on the way out and hostess blamed it on the kitchen. Never coming back and I'm absolutely sure they don't care..

This is an awesome restaurant in LaCrosse! The ambiance is lovely, the service top notch, and the food excellent! Be sure to order the triple-cooked French fries as your starter. I had the tortelli with sweet potatoes and my husband had the roasted chicken thighs. Delicious!! Our server, Ethan, was courteous, knowledgeable and attentive. Don't pass up your chance to have an outstanding dinner when you are in La Crosse.

Wow such a great place. I don't mean in any way to demean La Crosse Wisconsin but this would play well and so many other bigger cities. But I love the fact that it's here so that we can stop by when we're in town. Our second visit absolutely lived up to our first. The corn and tomato salad was fresh with local ingredients and had flavor that just popped. The braised lamb shank was done wonderfully and the risotto was Al dente. Finally the braised beef ravioli was perfect. I love the simplicity of the space. It's warm and inviting but also cozy and romantic. Service was great. Wine list was diverse. Great meal or great meal and date night.

Nothing better around, hands down--phenomenal food, excellent cocktails, spot on service, and the vibe!!! Haven't tried anything on the menu that wasn't delicious, but the chicken thighs are succulent with a little spice that make them my go-to. Perfect for a special occasion, but don't wait for one to enjoy it.

Traveling through and found this gem on Yelp. Great service, great food and great atmosphere. The pork tenderloin entree is the bomb.

Local treasure. I strongly recommend trying this place if you are in town. The food was incredible. The level of service is fantastic- it was a busy night. They apologized a couple of times for not being as attentive as they hoped to be, but I thought they were superb. I didn't drink alcohol so I can't comment on that. But the ambiance, food, and service made for a wonderful experience.

Well this place lives up to the hype. I must say, I was pleasantly surprised- this is a lot coming from me. The food is excellent, the service is good, the ambience is great! I definitely will be returning!

Had fresh garden salad with dill and this alone makes me wish I lived closer to LaCrosse! Also enjoyed fresh pasta and the portion was perfect. The ambience was very cool . Will go back to try other menu items.

We went on a Monday evening for dinner. The place was NOT busy with only about 50% occupied. We ordered our food and it took almost 2 hours to get it. Because we were on a time constraint we actually did not eat in the restaurant. We packed our food right away and ate it at home. The food was good but the service was not the best. My first time here and not very pleased.

This place was highly rated on YELP. It delivered. I passed on the apps and went straight in for the signature dish - Braised Lamb shank with Risotto. Delicious. The bartender (I sat at the bar as a solo act) was great. Knowledgeable, sweet and engaging. Appreciate that as a traveler. So...the braised lamb shank was delicious without doubt. Highly recommend that dish even thought the chicken thighs, trout and pork tenderloin were also tempting. Bon Apetit.

Food and cocktails were delicios and the service was fantastic! Deffinitly coming back!

Had a great experience at Lovechild. Our server was very knowledgeable and the food was top notch. I will be back again the next time I'm in Lacrosse.

Excellent dinner and very nice atmosphere. We are at the bar and our bartender was very drink knowledgeable. The food was very good.

We called last minute to see if they had an opening to seat 5 on a Saturday, we were told they had one table available so we rushed over there and were seated promptly after we arrived. Our server was very pleasant. The ambiance here was spectacular. Our food and drinks were delicious! 10/10 recommend this restaurant.

Excellent restaurant I had the ribeye and my dad had the lamb shank. Both meals were cooked perfectly tender. Staff was more than friendly and the atmosphere lively. If you're in the area I highly recommend.