Small Bites: Casper's Cherokee Tavern is new and improved

Props to Rick and Jim Casper. Their long-standing Casper's Cherokee Sirloin Room in West St.

[Sheryl]

Very, very, very slow service!

[MFB]

We ate at the Cherokee on Wednesday, 8/26, and I was stunned to see this review on 8/27. The service was slow and terrible. We had to remind our waiter 3 times to bring the drink order. The entrees arrived before the soups and salads. Those were boxed for us to take home! The "signature" Au Gratin potatoes were awful, and they used to be a highlight of the meal. A glass of the house red wine cost $9. All 4 in our party noted the absence of any of the former waitstaff. It will be a long time before we go there again - if ever.

[Anj]

I agree with you MFB

I ate there with my husband for our wedding anniversary and it was pretty bad.

[Ms V]

Yeah - they fired all the waitstaff and had them reapply, if they wanted to. The previous waitstaff were seasoned professionals who didn't forget your drinks, made sure the bus boys watered you regularly, and gave real service to the customers. They WERE a union shop; not anymore. I had been going there since the mid-80s and was disappointed to hear about the change. It is one thing to update your interior (haven't seen the new bar but the old bar was beautiful), but quite another to eliminate union staff to hire cheaper labor and then raise prices. When my mother would come to town, she would take us all (me, boyfriend, both sisters, their husbands, their 2 sons, and my sister' stepdaughter) for a family dinner. I was never a big fan of Mancini's, but it sounds like that is where my sister made reservations for this year's visit from Mom. What a shame.

[WhatEver]

That's too bad. The Cherokee Room was always a favorite. I hope it makes it. We need a place like that here in West St Paul. Keep trying Caspers.

[Denise in Groveland]

WhatEver wrote:

That's too bad. The Cherokee Room was always a favorite. I hope it makes it. We need a place like that here in West St Paul. Keep trying Caspers.

The Cherokee has been on a slide for some time. The staff was the thing that brought regulars back and Bob Sr's little boys dumped them to kill the union. I, for one, hope the union fights the Caspers. We do the grandkid's Nook and Shamrocks regularly, but we will not patronize a union busting shop. Ricky and Jimmy made a bad move. Perhaps if Tommy and Bobby were still involved cooler heads would have prevailed. I would love to know what Ricky and Jimmy's Mom Dorothy thinks about the "new" Cherokee.

[stpaulnative]

whoa ... I had a great time there. I didnt realize it was bad for the people above me. I liked the service and the food was even better. Id say try again people above me but if not Ill just keep going there for you.

[Cherokee Tavern]

Sheryl wrote:

Very, very, very slow service!

Please give us another try...this is our first week and our systems are still being developed. Our staff is working very hard to improve the speed and efficiency of our crew. We value your input and will work hard to make your restaurant experience the very best.

[Cherokee Tavern]

We're very sorry to hear of your experience. We are working very hard to make our restaurant a neighborhood gathering place. Every day we are making improvements, and appreciate your input to help us in that endeavor. Our new wine list is currently in development, and will have house wines as low as $3/glass. It will be coming out next week. Please consider visiting us again when our grand opening is announced. Thanks again for your comments.

[Cherokee Tavern]

Anj wrote:

I agree with you MFB
I ate there with my husband for our wedding anniversary and it was pretty bad.

Thank you for your patronage--especially on such a special occasion. Our intent with our remodel was to become the neighborhood gathering place--and are working hard toward that goal. We appreciate your comments, and are working hard--between the new staff, the new menu and the new atmosphere--to make our vision a reality. We hope that you visit us in the near future.

[hirudo]

I went there with business clients. It was good food and decent service. I can't complain.

[MFB]

Cherokee Tavern,
Mine was the second post on this exchange. e also were there on our anniversary. I stand by what I said. It was a terrible dining experience, from the long wait for the $9 glass of house red wine to the entrees coming before the salad. Why in the world did you dump all the experienced waitstaff?? Those people knew the names of the regular customers, chatted with everyone amd STILL managed to get the right order to the right people in the right sequence in a timely manner.

[Whats Up]

We have eaten at the Cherokee twice since the new opening and it was OK. However, there seems to be a difference in what the wait staff is charging for drinks. You order from one and it's one price and you you order from the other and it's another price. You might want to train the "unfortunately non-union staff" to be consistent on the prices of the drinks. In addition, I wanted to add that we started coming to the Cherokee again about a year ago beause of the Karaokee on Friday nights. The hosts of the Karaokee show are the best in town and we have been going to their show for years. The people who usually come to perform at the show sound professional and is an enjoyable experience. However, it would be nice if the show was moved into the dining area where the stage is. The accoustics in the bar area are not complimentary to the singers or the listners. I don't know what has changed but a totally different crowd was there last night than usually had been there in the past and it was not a pleasant experience. They showed lack of courtsey to the singers, and the audience. The reason why we were going to this show is because of the wonderful talent that they draw and hope to continue to hear that wonderful talent. I did not see the usual crowd. Maybe it's becuse of the Holiday weekend or if it's because of the roudy atmosphere which was there last night. I'm not sure what the space is for in the dining area with what looks like a stage but it would be nice if the Karaokee show could be a part of that room. It would seem that the sound would be much better and not sound like we are attending the same show that goes at other places which we no longer frequent. We are confident that the Caspers will be able to make this a fun enjoyable place that would be a good place to go for "all demographics"

[LaJeSe]

My husband and I visited the Cherokee tonight and it was a wonderful experience. The staff was young, but courteous and proficient. The service was good from the entrance to the departure. The food was incredible. We've been going to the Cherokee for the last 34 years and will go again. I like the change. It wasn't the "union" that made the Cherokee successful, it was the people and I saw a building full of people working hard at their jobs while being friendly and kind.

[MFB]

LaJeSe wrote:

My husband and I visited the Cherokee tonight and it was a wonderful experience. The staff was young, but courteous and proficient. The service was good from the entrance to the departure. The food was incredible. We've been going to the Cherokee for the last 34 years and will go again. I like the change. It wasn't the "union" that made the Cherokee successful, it was the people and I saw a building full of people working hard at their jobs while being friendly and kind.

No, it was not the "union" which made the Cherokee successful, it was competent waitstaff with many years of experience, staff who knew their customers and knew how to make a restaurant work. The man who waited on us took our entree orders but had to be prompted to ask us about the soup/salad and potato preferences.

[Jackie]

Rick and Jim are cheap business owners -- always trying to save a few dollars. Rick is a lot worse than Jim, but I won't support this penny-pinching, service lacking, non-customer caring establishment.

[Sarah]

I eat there all the time and I find this place AMAZING. The food is delicious. The place has been open for a month of course the staff isn't going to be as fast as you would like, but I am sure after a few months of getting used to the place and becoming more familiar with everything, things will be smoother for the waitftaff. They are still figuring stuff out i'm sure. As for Rick and Jim, I have to say Great job guys! It looks fantastic. The food is amazing. Your staff is fun. I have had nothing but great expeirences.

[old timer]

Cherokee Tavern wrote:

<quoted text>
Thank you for your patronage--especially on such a special occasion. Our intent with our remodel was to become the neighborhood gathering place--and are working hard toward that goal. We appreciate your comments, and are working hard--between the new staff, the new menu and the new atmosphere--to make our vision a reality. We hope that you visit us in the near future.

Lets face it, the food hasn't changed all that much. Caspers went with the closure/reopening as a method for ridding themselves of all their dedicated, but unionized employees..... Bad move for humanity

[Old Cherokee Burger]

I want the old Cherokee Burger back!That was the best burger in St. Paul

[jer from Mendota Heights]

After sitting in a booth for 20 minutes and watching waitresses walk past us, we got up and left, passing the 2 giggling teenagers at the hostess stand..We then drove to the Fireside on Robert Street and had good service and a delicious reasonably priced meal. Maybe not as "Tendy", but they got our money.