"Our visit to Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar was truly enjoyable. We stopped by during a quiet period, so we were seated right away. One of the owners, who was both friendly and attentive, looked after us. We tried the Biscuits and Gravy (without the chili oil) and the Carrot Cake French Toast—both dishes were outstanding and unlike anything we'd tasted before. We're certain we'll return in the future."

"I've not left a restaurant with such a deep understanding of its city like I have with Lake Avenue. Duluth's urban renewal is charming in the same way a childrens' soccer match is, in that there is an earnest attempt regardless of the result. The same cannot be said about Lake Avenue. A rotating menu will always be bold, and I would have commended them for this had the execution not been so poor. In the images I've included, you'll see the Tofu Masala ($24), the Mac and Cheese ($20), and the Steak Dinner ($53). While I cannot be certain which ingredients were used to push these dishes to such a steep price, I know salt was not one of them. The keen-eyed gourmet will undoubtedly spot the great unifying force of the culinary world, fresno chili and pickled red onion. The unnecessary inclusion of these in both the Tofu Masala and the Steak Dinner unfortunately speaks truth to Lake Avenue's attempt at being something it is not - a restaurant worthy of its prices. Neither the Steak nor Tofu Masala benefit from these flavors, but if your menu is on rotation and you lack the culinary experience to accommodate this, it does provide a universal shock to the palette that might distract your guests from the dish's lack of cohesion. In other circumstances, I would not be so harsh, but the $120 (pre-tip) bill my partner and I paid makes that irresponsible. This is Duluth, Minnesota; leave Lake Avenue, walk 20 seconds in any direction and you'll wind up in a T-Shirt shop or a Bar & Grill. Lake Avenue is not fighting the expectations of its patrons, but the ones that it sets upon itself. Find what works and do it well. No one is asking for anything else."

"This place was excellent! It’s a little hidden and you have to go through the market entrance. The salmon was great and I think the portion was perfect for me. I also got the carrot cake for dessert and it was super rich and dense. Super delicious spot for dinner!"

"The food was good however not spectacular. I had the red snapper ceviche and the pork belly sandwich for dinner with a black sesame cheesecake for dessert. The sandwhich was amazing but the fries were plain.The ceviche was watery (if that makes sense) but still good, and the cheese cake was average. The wait staff was incredible however and I would definitely go back."

"Great service, fresh ingredients, unseasoned food. The wings were good but the pork bolognese was watery and flat. For the prices the food should be fantastic, but it ended up being like hospital food with a gorgeous presentation."