Nicollet Island Inn Restaurant

Rating:

It was a moonlit night, and romance was in the air. I hadn't had dinner at the Nicollet Island Inn in many years, but I knew that much had changed since my last visit. The venerable hostelry had new owners since my last visit, and a new chef, Erick Harcey.

As we entered, we passed a horse and carriage with a waiting coachman. The host seemed surprised to have guests without reservations, but soon seated us in the dining room, where a drama was unfolding. At a secluded table, a young man sang a love song to his sweetheart, accompanying himself on guitar, while his friends looked on from a discreet distance. When the song ended, he asked for her hand in marriage.

It was happenstance that we witnessed this scene, but not surprising: With all of its Victorian charm, the Nicollet Island Inn is the perfect place to propose.

The dinner that evening was a delight. Chef Harcey, who grew up on a farm near Winona, puts a strong emphasis on locally grown and sustainably produced meats and produce, and his menu features grass-fed beef from Thousand Hills in Cannon Falls, poultry from Wild Acres Game Farm in Pequot Lakes, and much more.

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