Lowell Inn - Hotel & Restaurant

Stopped in for tea with my mother and 6yo daughter. The service was great and the modifications for my daughter (lemonade instead of tea and slightly different courses) were perfect. She was included but served things she would eat (eg Nutella star-shaped sandwich in place of chicken salad). So fun!

We went here for the afternoon tea on a cozy winter weekday. The place had a festive feel and the staff were genuinely nice and accommodating. Our server Harper was great! We enjoyed the four courses. The kids were served hot chocolate in lieu of the tea. It was nice to see that the place was packed on a weekday! For the price, it's worth the visit from the twin cities.

Did the Thanksgiving buffet in banquet hall. Food was out of this world, oh so delicious. Many options. Would have loved to take home leftovers 😋 Our group has already decided that this is our go to restaurant every Thanksgiving. Wait staff was phenomenal. Set up of hall was well planned out, not on top of each other. Our server, Paula did a fabulous job, very attentive. Robin C

The Lowell Inn was very impressive! It did not disappoint. Walking in, my eyes went directly to the beautiful chandelier! The gentleman at the front desk was so very nice and helpful. He was the same gentleman who checked us out. I asked him some questions about the hotel and was very knowledgeable. The price was a little high but that was because of the history, location, and the room (the penthouse) we stayed in.

A post Thanksgiving extended family gathering was planned for 35 family members. The menu was the Deli Lunch Buffet at $21.95 per person. There was to be a cash bar that required the inclusion of sodas for $2/glass. Water and coffee was provided. Kids meals of chicken fingers were $13.95 each.|The Lowell Inn has always provided a lovely meal in a lovely setting.|Today’s meal presentation was a great disappointment. The bread and rolls for the deli sandwiches were dry and cold. The meats were flavorless, the cheeses spare and two flavorless cold salads were in small bowls. The cookies were not fresh. |It was certainly not up to the usual standards of this historically fine dining restaurant.

The lovely old Lowell Inn never disappoints. Beautiful, comfortable old rooms and public spaces, an elegant white-tablecloth dining room with good and interesting food, the Matterhorn Room and its unforgettable fondue dinner, and a lovely shaded patio. All this just a block from Stillwater’s Main Street. There is a modern wing with smaller, plainer rooms (some with balconies), but I’ll always choose the charming old rooms. They’ve been remodeled, but retain their old world charm. We had a corner suite, with a multi-windowed bedroom, sitting area, walk in closet, sleek new bathroom and entry area. Friendly and helpful staff too. We’ll be back!

Lunch visit with a group. This is a gorgeous place and the wait staff could not have been nicer and more efficient. The food was disappointing, though. My husband ordered chicken and waffles but was later told it wasn’t available. I had the almond crusted walleye, which was thin and overcooked to the point where I needed a knife to cut through the bottom of it. The sour cream mashed potatoes were scrumptious, but the four impossibly skinny stalks of asparagus were tough and tasteless. Bread slices served in a basket prior to the meal were warm and looked good but were actually crumbly and stale. I remember dining at the Lowell for my birthday every year when I was younger so I really wanted to love it again, but I won’t be going back.

Review is for hotel room #227 and breakfast at the restaurant. The room was charming. Bathroom was very nice. Can't beat the location in Stillwater. I stayed here for the Log Run Half Marathon. It's a walking 2 blocks from the shuttle pick up and 3 blocks from finish line. My expectations of the room were just what it was (historic building) based on other reviews. The hotel was very quiet and the AC worked very well and was very quiet. Please get new pillows for the rooms. Pillows were as old as the building. ;) Flat, compact, pancake pillows. At the hotel price point, it's reasonable to expect new pillows. The breakfast was delicious at the restaurant and received a 10% coupon at check in. The staff was super nice and helpful.

I absolutely adore The Lowell Inn. This has become my favorite place to stay when in Stillwater. This historic hotel is beautiful and has so many details that can not be missed. The hallways are reminiscent of the past and remind me often of the Titanic and the dining rooms have an old elegant charm. There are fresh baked cookies upon check in and there are brochures for all the activities for you to do in Stillwater. The rooms are always comfortable and clean and some have even had famous guests in the past. The Lowell Inn serves breakfast and lunch everyday and the food was phenomenal. We were offered an assortment of fresh bread. For lunch we ordered the Almond Crusted Walleye with sour cream mashed potatoes and asparagus with a lemon cream sauce. Which I will definitely be getting again! Our other order was Chicken A La King and had fresh ingredients and great flavor.

The Lowell Inn is a fun place to eat with it's beautiful stately décor that transports you to a fancy swiss chalet. There are 4 dining rooms + the newest 2010 event space. The Matterhorn room only serves a 4 course fondue menu that must be reserved at least 24 hours in advance at $58/person, only served on Friday and Saturday nights. I am not sure where else except the mainstream melting pot you can get this experience. Sabrina was our server for the night. She was knowledgeable and brought out all the food in a timely manner. There was only one other couple the night we went on a Saturday in late June. Our experience was very private and quiet while surrounded by wood carvings that took 3 painstaking years to make. The food was good. The cheese course was my favorite. This is a lot of food. Make sure this is your only meal for the day! They do let you take the oil course and grapes home in a doggie bag. I highly recommend this meal for a fun night out!

My sister and I were in town for a family reunion and my sister had booked a room that we shared. Be aware that this is like a boutique hotel no refrigerator no microwave no charging stations for phones. Bed -mattress pretty firm plenty of pillows clean room and within walking distance of bars and restaurants

Excellent location - better than average breakfast - friendly and helpful staff Don't count on wifi

Love breakfast! Amazing food and huge portions! Coffee is divine! We love the old world charm of the restaurant and the hotel.

1 Not happy this hotel there's lady bugs inside the room 5 of them carpet dirty,bathroom smell mildew so is our room everything outdated it would be nice if they clean all towels are old the bed sheets,pillows smells musty the rest lady bugs went to the sinks

Ok, I wasn't going to take the time to write a review until I saw another review years earlier about some noise they heard during the night. It must have been between 3:30-4 am when my husband and I awoke to what sounded like chairs slowly being pushed across a wooden floor. We are fairly certain it was coming from directly above us (we were on the 2nd floor) which is strange because I thought it was another hotel room (with carpet). I would say the noise was continuous for about 10-15 minutes. It was so strange. I mean, if they are going for an old spooky hotel I think they nailed it on the head here.

Brought my daughter and her friends here to celebrate her 13th birthday with a fancy brunch. The food was so good, but more important the owner and waitress were so nice to the girls and made them feel so special. We loved the atmosphere here too, of course. Beautiful building.

There were four of us that went for the fondue dinner. Our waitress Sabrina was excellent and really personable. There were four courses offered. The first course was bread with a cheese fondue, and marinated veggies. The salad was next. The hot oil fondue included shrimp, duck and beef. The last course included fresh grapes Devonshire cream and brown sugar. Very light and tasty, not too sweet. We of course added the chocolate fondue on to our courses. Which was fabulous. At this point we were all basically pretty miserable from being so staffed. Parking is easy because they are a hotel and have a parking ramp attached.

I went to here to try their high tea 4 course meal/snack. The building had a very retro/vintage vibe, so definitely picture worthy. The pictures below captured the food that I had. Tldr version: tea bag tea served with good snacks! High tea 4 course meal was served with your choice of tea. The tea weren't really high quality tea; they were different variety tea bags so I was disappointed a bit initially. The 4 course included: warm scone, mushroom soup, small "sandwich" snacks/finger food, and finger dessert. All and all, the food was very pretty and tasted good; however, they weren't, out of this world good and didn't really leave a lot of impression. However, if you want to get away from the city to go to a cute town, definitely recommend Lowel Inn in Stillwater, MN!

Went to an event held in the Lowell inn restaurant a few days ago. The food was overpriced for what it was, the staff was ill prepared. --- For the price paid, IMO, the food was mediocre. Terrible service by the event staff. Don't read this wrong, the staff weren't rude, they were polite and appeared to work with what they had. The place was ill prepared and understaffed. I thought maybe this would be a nice place to go based on reading some historical notes on who former guests were. --- I've been around the world many times and eaten at/stayed at 1-5 star venues in may countries. I've written restaurant reviews professionally for a few years, reviewing 4 and 5 star restaurants for a restaurant review company. IMHO, this was one of the worst for value. Unimpressed.

Was excited to stay here based on pictures and other reviews as I was in town to play a show for a military fundraiser event. Well as luck would have it I left my wallet back home and didn't have my I.D. when I informed the man at the front desk about it and told him that the company that booked the room for the event can be called and the problem will be fixed he was extremely rude and let me know how much extra work that this was creating for him. As far as the room it was quaint and dated. The bed was about as comfortable as sleeping on top of my humvee in Afghanistan. Truly one of the most uncomfortable beds I have encountered in my travels. I understand keeping with being a historic hotel vibe but updating the mattress once every 40 yrs wouldn't hurt. The bathroom "nook" had a very institutionalized toilet that you would find in barracks built in WWII. They boast and 8.8 on Hotels.com but I don't see it

D U M P ! ! ! Hampton Inn price for Motel 6 amenities. Does not include breakfast. The man at the counter was very nice and that's about it. Nothing has been done to make it livable for the 21st century. The hotel was built in 1920 with Louis 14th period decor everywhere. The place needs cleaning and dusting. Toilet seat without cover, floorwith boards missing covered over with carpet. Only thing connecting the room to 21st century in the flat screen TV! The city should have it turned into a B&B to serve that segment of the market. This may have been a fine hotel a hundred years ago. Today, it is hundred year old dump.

What a friendly and beautiful inn. Staff are so welcoming. Service is superb. Food was outstanding?

Super clean, one of a kind hotel. Definitely fits the antique vibes of Stillwater. Very thankful to have found this place.

its a very romantic and upscale classic restaurant and hotel, we couldn't stay for the night since they were all full but the food was good, we had the Wally and the Orange Duck, very good and tasty, not the best but very good, staff was ok, make sure to park besides the building and they will validate so you don't need to pay for parking.

Tried to make reservations for breakfast after reviví bf a gift card from our bed and breakfast. The receptionist was beyond rude. Her tone of voice when we asked for a specific day was critical and unneeded. I get you're busy. But WOW. The attitude of this middle aged woman when I simply asked. No apology for her tone, nothing. We won't be supporting this business and will not recommend this to other patrons. Do better.

We had lunch at the Lowell Inn today and it was very good. My wife had the Chicken Salad and I had the French Dip. We both had a cup of the Cream of Mushroom Soup and it was wonderful as usual. Miranda was our server and she did a super job of taking care of us.

DO NOT stay if you need an elevator (you use a walker or wheel chair). ADA rooms only accessible via 25 step staircase or three doors without handicapped openers from parking lot. Dangerous staircase between 2nd and 3rd parking lot door. Although ADA bathrooms are well designed, this is not an ADA friendly hotel. I can't imagine a handicapped visitor negotiating these three parking lot doors without a caregiver. Staff was grumpy and un impressed with our need for a safe elevator. Very disappointed.

This is a restaurant review, not of the inn itself. We stopped in here for desserts one night in Stillwater. The place was nearly empty. Our desserts were very tasty, though the caramelized sugar on the top of my creme brulee was too thick--I almost couldn't break through it to the apple cinnamon goodness (yes, a unique flavor of the day which was very good). The waitress was very kind and personable and the overall feeling was of an elegant bygone era. Sadly the dining room seems to reflect that age a bit too much. And if the traffic the night we went by is any indication, I'm not sure how long this old gem will remain. Hope they can renew it. It would be a shame to lose.

It had been a few years since I had stayed at the Lowell and a recent evening with friends out in Stillwater led to an impromptu stay. I was happy to see that the place is still very much thriving (Think Dirty Dancing ambiance). We had a very comfortable room. I felt like it was a little overpriced but hey, it was the last room in town and walkable after our dinner and visit to neighboring wine bar. Enjoyed it very much!

best bed...just fantastic. Gorgeous quaint 1920s victorian design. you feel like you're in a time wrap. I absolutely loved its charm. rooms were spacious too.

Our family went for Christmas Day brunch and were completely delighted by everything, the delicious buffet, the service, the holiday decorations, the cozy atmosphere of this historic building . Such a nice way to celebrate the holiday.

I haven't been to the Lowell since 1965 (!), but it was just as nice as it was back then. My son and I went yesterday and we both ordered Eggs Benedict. I also ordered the Mushroom soup. The food was good, the food presentation was beautiful and the service was excellent, but the pink lemonade, not so much! It was as if someone whispered "pink lemonade" over the top of a glass of pink liquid! I had to think really hard to detect any lemon flavor. They might want to change protocol on how they make their lemonade.

Schmaltzy, cozy, retro. Food is serviceable-to-good, and a good value. And holy buckets, there's chicken a la king on the menu! I had a steak salad with beets and cheese. Greens were nice and fresh, and the steak was tender. However, with a sugary dressing, beets, and candied walnuts, it was just unmitigated sweetness. The small amount of feta was not enough to balance it out. My dining companion shared a bit of her bacon-wrapped scallops with me. They were cooked just right. Service was friendly. It seems to be frequented by the over-sixty crowd--there are a lot of newer, hipper restaurants in Stillwater--but it's worth a trip for the atmosphere alone.

I'd like to give them a 3.5 but alas, no half points on Yelp. The staff were great and I thought it had a certain old-timey charm, but the general scent was off-putting for someone with allergies and the pancake pillows were basically useless. I didn't mind the firm bed that other reviewers talked about, but good service and historic charm may not be enough to bring me back. I really wanted to love this place, but for the price and what we got, just kind of liked it. Note: this truly is not a place for new couples. My boyfriend and I aren't new but it was still kind of awkward having your loved-one poop on the other side of a curtain. If you're a shy pooper - which so many of us are - beware.

The history Lowell Inn is beautiful. We, however, stayed in a room in the Annex part (which is newer and more modern(?)). For $183.00 per night, we did at least expect a little more in amenities than what was available. We at least wanted a fridge, which is not included - no top on the ice bucket so ice melted in a couple hours. Wifi was tolerable, beds were pretty soft and the bathroom was just big enough for the door to open and miss the toilet - very small. Coffee was down the hall by the ice machine and was just instant Sanka. I will admit it is in a perfect location for all the special places in Stillwater, you can walk to all of them. When everything closes, we needed somewhere to keep the food we couldn't eat at dinner! Parking was free with validation from the hotel and it does connect to the annex. There are no luggage carts (or elevators) so be prepared to carry your things to the room.

I recently rented the Mt Vernon Room for a group event at the Lowell Inn. From the time I reserved the room through the actual group event I/we had a five-star experience. The quality of their service, the thoughtfulness and attentiveness of their staff was excellent. We each ordered off the menu for brunch/lunch and were completely pleased. If you are looking for a place for your group, I highly recommend The Lowell Inn. Carolyn Germaine MSPOfficiants.com

Celebrated my 50th birthday a few weeks back and my family and I had the pleasure of staying at the Lowell Inn. Wonderful room, incredible location, and top notch service with a smile! We really did enjoy this historic hotel, but the location of being right downtown was the selling point.

What an amazing experience! A wonderful place to stay. Lots of restaurants and shops near by. Right by the water and walking paths. A beautiful hotel and pleasant staff.

We have been enjoying Tea Rooms all over the world. The most important thing is the set up, the ambiance, the silverware, the tableware. Going to a Tea Room in a wonderful place and historic place like the Lowell Inn one expect a service closes to the Victorian style. Porcelain, silverware, the right sizes for spoons. It was deceptive to see the hot water served in cheap stainless steal containers and ceramic cups. There were no tea pots. The milk was served in plastic containers and one of the serving was spoiled. Needed to be refreshed. We did not have the supply for enough spoons for the soup or the tea or dessert. The service was fine. Abby was attentive and trying to supply us with all what we needed after request. Now, the food. The scones were warm and nice. The mushroom soup was lukewarm and little too heavy due to the starch added. The canapes were OK and savory. The dessert was not as expected since the cocoa used was poor quality, the mini cakes were dry and a little heavy. As we mentioned above, if the service is improved to the level of the historical place, it will be the best Tea Room, east and west of the Mississippi.

I was really excited to stay here and very disappointed. The women at the counter was extremely rude and unaccommodating. They put us in two separate rooms for two separate nights and did not want to help or work with us and was so unkind. The rooms were also not clean, both rooms we stayed in had hairs from previous guests everywhere- which during a pandemic is especially gross. I will be returning to Stillwater but never to Lowell Inn! So disappointing.

I was just at the Lowell inn on sept 18 for my birthday. The service was very poor. Distracted waitress, room temperature fish, one cup of coffee, brought sugar instead of cream, cool coffee!! Husbands cola drink lacked carbonation, his lunch was good. She spent over long visiting with local patrons which impacted our service considerably. Only two tables in dining room and three were outdoors. We intended to order dessert but chose to just leave the establishment. I called restaurant manager and though I explained number if tables, he launched into Defense of his staff. It was not a satisfactory Result to this drab experience.

I came here for there high tea. It was a very good price for the amount and quality of food. The mushroom soup was delicious and the dessert was good. The tea however was just a selection of tea bags. Would come here again to eat, but not for tea time. The actual Inn was adorable and fun to be at.

I recently got married at the Lowell Inn! The beginning process of touring and setting a date was so promising, but not long after booking I realized why the venue was available at such short notice. The event coordinator lacked in so many areas that the differences from what the Lowell Inn had advertised versus the actual experience was the most stressful part of my wedding. When meeting with the event coordinator for the first time we were under the impression that we would be able to get ready at the hotel by booking some rooms. After booking our wedding date, we went to book the hotel rooms. It was quite the surprise when no rooms were available, the first disappointment. At our last meeting, I brought up how frustrating it was not being able to get ready onsite. We were then promised a reservation in a small conference room to get ready; except, that room wasn't actually available, so we were put in a large dining room which lacked accessible outlets, had poor ventilation, and no privacy to change because kitchen staff members kept walking through the room. In planning the wedding I had so many ideas that I wanted to implement in the space. I found out very quickly that I was very limited. We were given two hours to decorate on the day of the wedding. This included decorating the outdoor ceremony space which we had been told would be set up and cleaned of leaves and other debris before we got there. It wasn't. Doing first looks while the leaf blower is going and chairs are strewn everywhere was definitely not how I had pictured this precious moment. The cherry on top was the event coordinator on the day of my wedding. In our first meeting she explained how she would be there for us on our special day. Fast forward to wedding day, and she didn't even acknowledge me. I can't make this up! I couldn't have found her even if I had tried. Her lack of care, assistance, and attitude were the worst part of our wedding. She just about ruined our day. I could go on and on about how horrible this experience was from being threatened with cleaning fees for wanting to have a treat bar to no changing tables in the event center bathrooms to almost being charged fees for moving tables! I would not recommend having your wedding here. However, I would recommend attending a wedding there because the food at our reception was absolutely wonderful and the wait staff was quite lovely! They were the best part of the day and the only reason why my rating has one star.

Wife and I did the fondue for two for dinner. 50 dollars a person. The fondue flame was way too high and made the oil way too hot. It burnt our meat to a crisp. I had to cut the meat to tiny slivers to make it edible. The serving staff had no idea what to do to fix the problem. They did comp one of our meals because of the problem which was nice. I will not do this fondue experience again however. Not worth it. The salad given as one of the courses was very cheap as well. I would rather do the regular restaurant.

Room was small but very cute and unique. Staff was very friendly and accommodating to some business needs. The restaurant on site is excellent. Try the triple berry jam. It's delicious

My husband and I were attending a wedding in Stillwater and we selected this hotel for our accommodations. The best part about the inn is the location, which can't be beat. Its why the hotel is on the expensive side. It was incredibly nice to be able to walk to restaurants and bars. (We walked to the Oasis Cafe, definitely recommend). The room we stayed in was Victorian style and completely outdated. The bathroom was separated from the main room by a curtain...new couples might want to think again. The bed was comfortable enough. It unfortunately took us awhile to figure out how to use the window shade. We would have enjoyed our stay much better if instructions were made available. The parking validation was a nice added convenience. The checkout time isn't posted anywhere and I had to dig through old emails to find the time. Due to this we were a bit late and the front desk was not very nice about it. Luckily there were no additional charges.

A Sunday Brunch at Lowell Inn was a holiday event when I was a kid. Fast forward 30 years, and now my family has been enjoying an occasional Sunday Buffet brunch for no other reason than we love a brunch buffet. The Lowell Inn is a hit with us! Sure, it's a bit of a drive all the way to Stillwater, but the food and price makes up for it. You start with a variety of breakfast meats, scrambled eggs, cheesy hash browns, french toast, berry blintzes, but the highlight for us the the carved NY Strip and the other rotating entrees. There's also fruit, salads, soup and a few other things on the big buffet table. We all love the dessert table filled with various slices of cakes and pies. You might this think this is a special-occasion-only brunch destination, or one not for the kids, but think otherwise. The staff is welcoming, the food is fresh, and who doesn't like to feel a little classy in a historical building while they eat?!? I

We stayed here for our anniversary. When we arrived the lobby and restaurant looked well kept. After about 5 minutes of standing at the counter waiting with no one there we got checked in. I think this was because the summer help was in short supply at this point. So not a big deal. I will admit the journey from the front desk to our room raised concerns. Neither of use has stayed at this type of hotel before. The room was exactly as the pictures described it online! The bed, shower, sink and toilet all share a common area. I hope your comfortable around the other guest with you! All togather it was a enjoyable stay! The parking ramp is nice so you can stay parked and walk around town. My only complaint is the mattress! Ours was hard! I think that for the rate charged a deal could be made with someone for better mattresses than the ironing board that is currently in place!

I am writing today because I want you to know how absolutely unhappy we were with our stay. I do not know where the noise was coming from, either above us or below us. But the noise was that of a chair being pushed across the floor. Not just once, but all night long. From 3:30am until 11:00am when I checked out. It all started about 3:30 AM. We tried calling the front desk at 4:00 AM but there was no answer. I did mention this to the front desk people (man and a woman) at 11:00 AM today when I checked out. They did not seem to care one bit. Actually made an excuse that is would be nearly impossible for noise to travel to the room because there is 16 inches of concrete...somewhere I guess. Anyway, I am just letting you know that it was our last time staying at the Lowell Inn. Too bad really. The first time was 27 years ago when I asked my wife to marry me in Stillwater. Thanks for the memories. (Just not this one)

Classic spot in historic Stillwater that oozes East Coast charm. We came here the night after Christmas for a quiet dinner with the family, and it was nearly private dining. Here's what makes this place a winner: 1) charming ambiance (I'm a sucker for portraits of George Washington, what can I say?) 2) my first encounter with spaetzle (german egg noodles) I'm a fan! From now on every future spaetzle I eat will be held up and compared to those of the Lowell Inn. 3) Creme Brulee that is among the best I've had anywhere. 4) Mushroom soup that likewise is among the best I've tried. Overall the rest of the food at Lowell Inn is solid. Entrees were all generously portioned, nicely plated, and most importantly, tasty! But there are a few misses, namely the appetizers and salads. What we ate: STARTERS Beet salad -- I've had better and I'm pretty sure the beets came out of a can and then were diced. Cheese fondue -- I'm not a big fondue fan so maybe I'm the wrong person to ask, but I don't think this was all that good. The veggies were cold and so when dunked in the hot cheese it was an odd combination (hot on the outside, cold in the middle). Escargot -- my favorite of the apps we tried, but just about anything tastes good if you put enough butter and garlic on them. ENTREES Duck a la Orange -- Nicely prepared, good portion, and flavorful sauce Proscuitto wrapped chicken -- I didn't try it, but it looked moist and succulent. Beef Wellington -- Not something you see on every menu and quite tasty! Also a generous portion. Stuffed Pork Tenderloin -- the highlight here was the side of spaetzle. I could have eaten a plate of these! DESSERT Creme Brulee -- The creme had a lovely almond flavor and was among the best I've had -- definitely get this! Molten Lava Chocolate Cake - Nothing too memorable about this one. Did I mention the Creme Brulee? I'd come here again in a heart-beat -- would be especially nice for a brunch.

We had 17 of our family in the Matterhorn Room for gourmet fondu prior to New Years. It was a great evening. We chose to pair the wines with each course. Service was fantastic and personal. Highly recommend to those who want to have a relaxing dinner. Sauces were great!

A great tradition is flourishing again. Forget the negative reviews, the Lowell Inn menu is delightful, and business is surging, even after 90 years. The best Beef wellington I have ever had (and I have eaten it at the long-gone Bakery Restaurant in Chicago, where it was first created). Thee Sunday brunch is fantastic and only $15.99. But the signature dish is Sauteed Chicken Livers, whether as an entree or an appetizer. I would add to this a wonderful and charming service. Doesn't get better. The building and furnishing are unique--the Matterhorn room was hand carved over several years. If you need a plain room with Ikea furnishings stay away.

Sadly, the food can't live up to the hype here. Had the lunch special, a parm-crusted chicken thingie which was just gross. Clearly a pre-prepped frozen chix breast, and overcooked at that. tough, stringy, unappealing. Came with an anemic salad of the iceberg variety, and a handful of flaccid fries. Really, more than anything, it was just sad. Nothing on my friends' plates looked much better, to tell the truth. We got a few desserts to pass around, but those, too, were uninspired (and several looked to have arrived fresh from Costco). The grapes in brown sugar are apparently a local favorite. Floating in yogurt, i found them goopy and strange. the ambiance is .... historic, and actually has some potential (but could use some "freshening"). wait staff is strangely amateurish. I mean, they seemed to be trying hard, but falling short. this could really be a great place, and perhaps once it was. But right now it's merely overpriced and piss-elegant. For the money, there are way better options in the area.

Scallops and walleye were fantastic! The rest was pretty good, but overall, the quality didn't quite reflect the price.

I was very excited to come try the food at Lowell Inn, but was somewhat disappointed. I heard a lot of good things, but perhaps I came on an off day. I went there for a business lunch. I ordered the roasted beet salad. When it came out, it didn't have any beets! When I told the server, she looked confused. She took my plate and the chef just threw on a handful of cut up beets. I don't think they were fresh, it seemed like they were canned or jarred beets. My guest also had items missing from his plate. He did say that the staff didn't seem to be on there usual A game. I will return, but I don't have high hopes. Besides the missing main item to my dish, it was average. It was something I could have easily made myself at home.

We ended up having our family Christmas this past weekend, due to some people coming from out of state and not being available closer to the holidays. We set up a reservation for around 40 and they put us in a nice room that adjoined to the main dining hall. When we arrived we all congregated in the main foyer, which is beautifully decorated in Victorian-esque furniture and fixtures. It looked very formal, but was quite comfortable. They brought out coffee and cream while we waited. After the majority of our party arrived, they took us back to our dining room which was beautifully set up for our party. With the size of our group we chose to go ahead and partake in the beautiful brunch that they offer on Sundays. It saved the kitchen staff as well as all of us our sanity. The brunch was a nice spread, with something for everyone. It ranged from your standard bacon, eggs and sausage, to steak, walleye and roasted pork. It was beautiful with the fresh salads and fruits as well. I have to say that the walleye was super dried out, I think that was the only complaint. The dessert table caught my eye! Big beautiful scratch made eclair! Yes please! Between the ambiance and the food, I would definitely go back! I am thinking it might be fun to stay in the hotel as well!

I ate my first escargot at the Lowell Inn in the 1960's. (I never stopped loving the dish) I returned to Stillwater for a visit and had to stay there. I loved everything about it. The food, rooms and staff. If you want cookie cutter this isn't the place for you. However, if you seek different and old world charm this is the place.