Spoonriver serves some of my favorite kinds of foods, and I seek out restaurants like this one on a regular basis. I like the atmosphere, as it's a nice medium between casual and upscale. Patrons wear everything from jeans and birkenstocks to very dressy/business wear. I've had some great dishes at Spoonriver -- the delicate beet ravioli, the lamb burger and several other mediterranean-inspired meals. Today, though, I had a roasted chicken salad that was terrible, especially considering the $12.50 price tag. The greens were not very fresh and were overdressed, making the salad an unappealing mess. The roasted chicken on the side was a dry piece of chicken breast, dry enough to be almost without flavor. The lentil and mushroom soup I had on the side was okay -- not particularly memorably seasoned. I'll go back to Spoonriver, probably to get the lamb burger, but I'll be ordering other items more carefully. Other reviewers have noted that Spoonriver's service can sometimes be spotty, and I've found that to be the case, too. Some staff are very friendly, some behave as though they're deigning to serve you only with great reluctance. A tip: while you're in the area, check out the Mill City Museum next door.
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