The Chocolate Moose in Ely

Would have given it less stars but we didn't eat the food. After seeing that the menu had changed we paid for our coffee and walked out. They took the breakfast burrito off the menu and raised the prices. We were pretty much the only ones there. We are now at a different restaurant that is so packed we had to set at the bar. When I asked someone about the Chocolate Moose, I was told that someone else is "kind of running it now". We are very sad. It was a family tradition and have many great memories still. Like I said though, we didn't try it so go judge for yourself.

Just OK.

We came in around 830 so near the end of the dinner rush. Food was fine but my husband and I bother ordered American fries and they were very burnt. We enjoy crispy American fries but even we considered them burnt. The burgers were lacking seasoning, as in no salt or pepper. I left dissatisfied and wouldn't go back there again.

It's awesome,the atmosphere food,and the people who work there!!

Really disappointing. Our group ate here after we had a decent experience several years ago, but this place has really gone down hill. The service was terribly slow, we waited over an hour for our food, which is overpriced for what you get. My wife got the ribeye and asked for some bbq sauce which they provided. When we got the bill, we saw that they charged us for bbq sauce! I've never been charged for a condiment any where. There are much better places to eat in Ely. Stay away.

Similar to other recent customers, we had a terrible experience. We waited for 15 minutes after seated for someone to ask if we wanted a drink. Then waited another hour and a half for our food. I ordered the meatloaf and after one hour and 15 minutes they waiter tells me it's sold out. I sub'd for the walleye sandwich which promptly arrived undercooked and shredded in about 15 more minutes. Worst filet of walleye I've ever seen. This place is horrible service and mediocre, bad food. I can't believe it deserves all the tourist attraction and hype. Stay away. Gators Grill Cheese place down the street had far better food and great service. Boathouse also seemed nice and had good brewpub.

Overpriced yuppie slop.. Yuk

We ordered 6 Nina Moose burgers and we're not asked how we wanted any of them cooked, so we were served varying degrees of rare, medium and well done. We walked in an were seated right away but then waited 50 minutes for our food. We saw it sitting on the counter and several waitresses walk by, none of them picked it up. I think the worst part of the experience was our poor waitress was serving us, a party of nine, and a party of 21, and none of the other waitresses or the hostess checked on us for water or anything. After 5 days in the boundary waters I expected more for my first meal back. The dessert titles are misleading though, the chocolate fudge cake was not a cake at all, more like a silk pie. I won't be eating here again.

Great burger!

Good variety and the food was good. Going back for breakfast in the morning.

Good atmosphere!

Stopped here since I was prepping a canoe trip with nearby outdoor store. Prices are very high considering quality of food and service. Easy to prepare sandwich was a "meh" experience, visually unappealing and tasted below average. No free refills on non-alcoholic bulk beverages? Service is what you'd expect from an underpaid iPhone-wielding millennial. I tipped 20% in the hopes tips are shared with the janitor and dishwasher..... only those tasks had been accomplished well.

Great food!

Service bad. Limited menu

Amazing food, fantastic vegetarian selection (eggplant sandwich!), great coleslaw, great fries, and they served locally brewed coffee as well as Dorthy Molter root bear. Atmosphere was comfortable, place looked awesome, and service was wonderful. Definitely a must-visit if you come to Ely, and if Ely's not on your trip, make it so!

My wife and I ended up in Ely 9 years ago after a boundary waters camping trip, and the Chocolate Moose was a highlight of that visit - a table for two in the "second story" alcove, good food, drink, and desserts.We recently returned with our two young kids, and I was dismayed to read the spate of bad reviews -- had things really go so wrong for this Ely institution? It had been top of our list of places to eat, but the reviews gave us pause.I'm happy to say: it's still the Chocolate Moose. The food was excellent, our kids were happy with their offerings (no small feat), and the service was prompt and friendly.My sense from the recent reviews is that a large party had a rough visit and they ALL left a one-star review. Come on, people. As Ely's dining options grow, do yourself a favor and check out one of the originals.

Went to the chocolate moose for breakfast with my wife on our honeymoon vacation to Ely. The woodsman scramble was 'eggcellent'. My wife asked for cheese to be added to her scrambled eggs and they did so for no charge. The toast was extra thick and fresh! The coffee was good. Overall the moose is a little on the expensive side but as far as scrambles go I've never had better.

Delicious food. Awesome live music. Excellent customer service. We will be back!

We locals in Ely rejoice when the weather warms up because that means the Chocolate Moose is opening for the season. Freshly-made healthy food with a gourmet twist, good wine, great homemade pies, terrific salads and a corn bread that is out of this world are just some of the reasons why we love the Moose. My favorite is the Monterey Burrito with fresh salsa fresca, guacamole and sour cream for lunch and the Walleye for dinner. Located in the beginning of downtown at the intersection of Central Avenue and Sheridan (main) Street next to Piragis Outfitters.

Pricey, but good food.

Terribly disappointed. Used to be a fixture for my family. These days the food comes out soaked in oil to the point of being inedible. Couldn't even enjoy the coffee -- it tasted like it had sat on the warmer all night and boiled down to a sludge. Gave it a couple tries and now I'm done. Can't justify the expense with so many other good options in town. I won't be back.

Love this place!!

Great place to eat on the way into or out of the boundary waters!

Good to see it closed. Never had a very good experience there.

Eaten here several times, always delightful!

Bland food.

Very bad experience, myself and my wife ordered the walleye sandwich. After waiting an hour and half for food we took a bite and started pulling bone out of our fish. We told the waitress our issues and she asked the chief about our issue and the response was that the fish comes with bones. The waitress then asks if we want our plates taken away .. and she did then asked if we wanted desert.. very unpleasant experience and to top it off she comes back to the table and saying that she hopes we had a great time and hands us the bill.. 32 dollars for 2 bites of boney fish and 2 hours later.. I personally will never eat there again and will tell people to star clear

Great food!

Been there many times. Never had a bad experience. It's not McDonalds, so don't expect 3 minute meals. Great food and desserts. Cocktails adequate. Best of all it's in Ely!

Horrible service, over an hour to get our food after putting in our order. Staff didn't seem to bother with customer service. Didn't ask us how we wanted our burgers cooked, and their "American fries" are just diced potatoes.

Salad was ok. Lot of flies in the restaurant today.

The worst latte I have ever had. Luke warm soy milk with no coffee flavor. I think they just microwaved the soy milk...

Went on recommendation of a friend, and glad we did! Best food we ate in Ely. Nice selection of food and beers, awesome chocolate mousse cake. Would go again for sure.

We waited about 40 mins to get seated well after lunch rush. Then waited 45 mins to get served. Food was okish. Water wasn't refilled. Servers were nice but slow.

it was good food really busy, n good service

Delicious food and very friendly staff. Stop in here if you are in town!

Not impressed, food was over priced and not very good in my opinion.

Great place, fantastic burgers! Great staff!

Great Food & Service

This review is actually for the Labor Day 2016 weekend. I hadn't planned to post a comment, but see I'm far from the only complaint about the restaurant lately.We'd eaten here MANY times in the past and the food/service were always great. However, on the Labor Day 2016 weekend, not only were they out of many of the entrees/wines/desserts we were interested in, but the dinner roll I received was cold and had several spots of mold on it. We were told the reason a lot of the items on the menu were out was that it was the end of the season. Really? So nobody in the Ely area goes out to dinner after Labor Day? And there are no more vacationers as well? I find that hard to believe.

Okay dinner. The walleye was nicely done, but the Brussel sprout, bacon salad was terrible. There was too much heavy green dressing gobbled onto it. It looked worse than it tasted. Service was good. The Thai lettuce wrap was okay. Not likely to return soon.