Discover the Fun Vibe of Frisky Otter: Your Next Hangout Spot in Ely, Minnesota

Britta, Midwest NoBounds LLC
13 minutes ago
3 min read

Some restaurants are the type where you walk in, have your meal and leave. Other restaurants are the type where you walk in and stay a while. The Frisky Otter in Ely, Minnesota is definitely one of those places where you are welcome to stay as long as you like. You have the choice of having a seat in their main dining room, at the bar area, or at their outdoor patio. A bonus to the outdoor patio is you can sit with your furry friend and be served with their own doggie dish meal! Discover a special night of entertainment from a live band or games. With their welcoming staff, you'll feel like you've met a new friend with a food menu that seems endless with a variety of choices. From chicken, ribs, seafood to wraps, pastas, salads, and soups, there's something for anyone to enjoy. To narrow down the menu, check out the daily specials. At the bar you can order your favorite beer or have fun with the knowledgeable bartender and try a specialty drink. On the weekends, the Frisky Otter serves breakfast!

The Frisky Otter officially opened it's doors June 2024 by Micheal Cascone with his wife, Nicole. Micheal Cascone was previously from the northwest Chicago area and made his first visit to Ely, Minnesota when he was 15 years old. He bought a place in 2015 to live part time and vacation. With many visits through the years, he knew that Ely was the location he wanted to retire to. To make that dream happen his journey started when he rehabbed and open a restaurant in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. With success for 12 years he sold the restaurant to his employees and made his move to Florida. He then started Blue Golf Reality that he ran for over 37 years. With the thoughts of retiring approaching, the town of Ely, Minnesota never left his mind. In Ely, The Rockwood Bar and Grill was closed down and empty. Micheal Cascone saw the building as a prime spot and opportunity to open Frisky Otter and make his retirement dream come true. Not only that, he wanted to bring something to Ely for others to enjoy that would benefit the town. Something that had a Wisconsin supper club style with home cooked meals, comfortable atmosphere, and a staff that would enjoy coming to work and be excited to greet customers. Micheal has a firm belief, having a staff that are taken care of and happy is just as important as customers leaving satisfied and wanting to come back for more. With this philosophy, Micheal has proven this method gives true success.

My Experience

When I first walked into the Frisky Otter I was very surprised to how welcoming the atmosphere was and with how friendly the staff was. From the busy day I had and having my son fall asleep on me, our server was very helpful while I was trying to juggle things around. He checked with me to make sure I was seated comfortable and made sure things were placed on the table so I wouldn't accidentally knock anything over while holding my son as he rested. He was very quick but patient at the same time which is hard to do on a busy day of customers. My group took advantage of the Friday seafood special. I ordered the salmon and it was a delight. The salmon wasn't over cooked and the sauce added a flavor that was enjoyable but not over powering. I was still able to enjoy the flavor of the salmon while having the addition of a creamy sauce. The portion sizes were perfect for me with very little left for me to take home. If I had the opportunity I would have hung around longer to try more of their menu and to see if a band was playing that night. Ely, Minnesota was a very nice town to visit and I will definitely visit again. Next time I'm in town the Frisky Otter is on the top of my list to return to for a place to eat.

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Location

302 E. Sheridan St.

Ely, MN. 55731