It may be cooler near the lake, but Hazellewood Grill and Tap Room in Tonka Bay is a hot spot among dining choices in the southwest metro.

From the moment I walked into the Hazellewood Grill I felt elegant warmth. The interior design simultaneously evokes feelings of a northern Minnesota lodge and a California beach town.

Owners Pat Woodring, Scott Foster, and Merilly Hessburg opened their doors in September 2004. Hessburg is a Minnesotan but was living in California when she planned her new restaurant and wanted its interior to be reminiscent of California. Hazellewood is the name of her family’s cabin at Lake Vermillion near Ely, Minn.

Its elegance is displayed by stone pillars on either side as you enter and three stone hearth fireplaces are scattered throughout the restaurant.
Seating is ample and versatile. From the high table to the traditional four-chair table to a booth, all arrangements are available. The bar area offers the Fireside Room, an intimate meeting room that seats 24. This can be reserved for a minimum charge with at least two weeks notice.

Hazellewood is suitable for all ages because one can enjoy a casual dinner or lunch or a fancy fine dining experience. They also have a menu for kids.
My guest ordered the meatloaf and “smashed” potatoes, for dinner. The meatloaf was excellent smothered in a red marsala sauce, while the “smashed” potatoes were gourmet style with asiago cheese.

“We call it smashed potatoes, not mashed potatoes,” explained manager Laura Juza. “It sounds a little better.”

Unique things always interest me, and I love good fish, so I tried a honey glazed salmon and it was a great catch. It looked extremely delectable when placed before me with bacon shallots, and surrounded by pea ragout. I bit into that thick, juicy salmon and savored its velvety yet subtle honey flavor. I have a new favorite salmon dish.

I asked our waiter for other uncommon entrées. He mentioned the clay pot fish, which is mahi mahi with kalamata olives and herbs baked right in the bowl in which it’s served. They have also featured a clay pot of halibut, red snapper and filet of sole, among others.

We ordered the Greek Isle Flatbread with chicken, a sort of mini-pizza with mozzarella, and just the right amount of feta cheese, to allow you to taste the other ingredients. It was a perfectly delicious starter dish.
Dessert was a to-die-for apple crisp with vanilla bean ice cream in a substantial portion size. We shared this treat, but it comes in the same portion size if one person ordered it.

If it isn’t in the budget for a three-course meal the wait staff solves that problem by offering complimentary popovers, which are rolls served with a butter consisting of maple syrup and hazelnuts. That touch of sweetness was enough to carry my guest and me to cloud nine.

The tap room serves a vast array of wines and spirits, including 15 different martini drinks and 14 liqueurs from Amaretto to Zambuca.

Several doors down, the owners of Hazellewood recently opened Joey Nova’s delicatessen and pizzeria. Joey Nova’s is an East Coast style eatery with a seat-yourself atmosphere and it offers pizza, sandwiches, pastas, and the East Coast torpedo roll, served with kettle chips, pickle and cole slaw.

Brian Busch is a freelance writer living in Chaska. He can be reached at jbbusch@chaska.net.

Hazellewood Grill and Tap Room
http://hazellewoodgrill.com
5635 Manitou Rd., Tonka Bay
952-401-0066