Kate’s On State

This food is beyond fantastic. Kate was in the kitchen and our experience was phenomenal. We like to try different entrees every time and have never been disappointed. For those of you who whine about paying top dollar for your meal… you get what you pay for. Bravo, Kate!

My husband and I are a couple of foodies we had read some good and poor reviews but decide to try it anyways. It was delicious. The shrimp crostini app was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The seafood and wild mushroom ravioli had the best sauce, and the seafood was seasoned perfectly. We will deff. Come back. The missing star is bc of the price. $ 130 for 4 alcoholic beverages, 1 app, and 2 dishes. A bit spendy, but worth it o guess. Also lovely atmosphere.

After reading the positive reviews we decided to stop in for dinner after a movie at the Rivoli. I wish we hadn’t. The menu items we tried were ridiculously over-​priced and not tasty.
After getting confirmation from our server that the crab cakes were made with lump meat and her representation of them as a big seller, we started with an order of those. The identically shaped patties about a 3/​8″ thick were presented on a thick bed of baby spinach leaves with a lemon wedge and sided with mayo/​chili sauce concoction and a few capers. They gave the impression of being right off the Sysco truck rather than being chef made and they tasted like it too. The sweet buttery taste of any crab meat that may have been present was overwhelmed by heavily spiced salty filler. These could only sell well in a market that is unfamiliar with what a good crab cake should look and taste like.
The spinach salad came with blue cheese, cherries, red onions, and walnuts. I’ve not had blue cheese paired with bing cherries and now know why. It does not resonate. The walnuts would have been tastier with a little toasting. I paid $ 3 extra for chicken which seemed to be a few strips of previously handled frozen chicken breast heated up in a microwave. The whole works was tossed with a tasteless dressing that no apparent purpose beyond glistening the spinach leaves.
Laurie ordered a Caesar salad. Aside from the romaine lettuce, there was little resemblance to a classic Caesar. The server emphasized no anchovies were used in the salad or the dressing and we happen to love anchovies. It presented as Romaine afloat in a pool of bland dressing topped with sliced tomatoes, mushrooms, and soy beans instead of croutons.
An 8″ baguette was served with three… things. Butter with something, olive oil/​balsamic, and marscapone whipped with Cheyenne pepper. Except for the oil and vinegar, those were bland too.
We cut our losses at that point and asked for the check. Crab cakes, two smallish salads, and a beer set us back over $ 50. We left, disappointed and disillusioned, in search of something decent to eat.

Best Jambalaya pizza ever. Always a rave when I bring family and friends from outta town. Lacrosse can boast of having the best pizza in the USA… Great service too from Rebecca and Brian.

Best pizza in the state. Comparable to some New York joints. Only gripe is the pizzas are a bit over priced for what they are.

The place is nice and fresh-​looking, but the music was terrible. I heard the worst, whitebread version of «Try A Little Tenderness». The server was very nice and knowledgeable.
This place is crazy expensive for a little town like La Crosse. The side salad was strange. I think they just threw any odds and ends that were in the kitchen onto a plate. The bread was good, but I don’t need half a loaf. Maybe leave off the salad and bread and give me a person-​sized portion of pasta and it would need to cost $ 30. I think Laura M was correct in her review when she said the chicken was frozen. I think the pesto sauce may have been as well. Quality is on par with Olive Garden.

Nope. I was the only person in here at 5:45pm. The servers behind the bar were VERY busy eating their snacks casually, and assembling side salads after they touched their mouth.
The poor nice server Marcie, was clueless on what any of the dishes contained. She was fumbling through the menu when I asked «what kind of sauce? Red or white?» Was she new? She should’ve said something. The «chicken» on my pasta was CLEARLY frozen, pre cooked, then microwaved not fresh. Ew! For $ 27 !!! It was also supposed to contain pancetta (similar to thick cut chunks of bacon) I mentioned to the server … She said «you can barely see it, it’s really tiny crumbles.» Not true — but… ok… The artichoke dip was oily and garlicky. I LOVE garlic– but it was the only thing I could taste. 2 stars for the wine and the spicy pasta sauce. La Crosse… This is not cool! I travel here often for work and won’t be back!!! Don’t go here if you hate mushrooms — it’s on ALL of their meals.

First thing I noticed was the fact that it was highly recommended to have a reservation and when we arrived at 6:30pm on a Friday there were very few tables full. The next thing I noticed was that there was no one at the bar. We enjoy a cocktail prior to dining so a nice bar is important to us. I ordered a lemon drop martini, something I’d expect to executed well in an upscale place. It was not, too sweet and the bartender openly was reading a recipe and trying to figure it out.
The stools at the bar are very uncomfortable, almost like the don’t want you to stick around there.
Ok enough negative. The staff were delightful. I liked the quasi booth we were seated in. I liked the décor in general although I couldn’t quite wrap my head around what they were trying to represent since they specialize in northern Italian cuisine. Quite contemporary.
We had the stuffed port. App. Which was good but I’d have to say I’d try something else next time. My husband had the filet with lobster ravioli and both were fabulous!!! Wish I had ordered it. I had the Angry Seafood. Although very complex, I was sad. My bad, I should know better than to have delightfully fresh seafood slathered in spicy red sauce. Although I love spice it really overshadowed the lightly sea flavor of the seafood.
It was my husbands birthday so they gave him a birthday Tiramisu with candle at the end of our meal. Such a nice touch.
Going back again but will enjoy our pre-​dinner cocktail somewhere else before we get there. Looking forward to trying other selections.

Service was decent and the food was spectacular! I have never had crab cakes that were as savory or delicious. The pasta that came underneath it came with a delicious sauce with the right amount. The décor was modern and allowed for privacy. Cannot wait to eat here again!

Again took my family to eat here and overall the food was decent. Seems that the service and the food was trying to hard. Food was over seasoned with sauce in the pork dish I had. The true flavor of the pork was over powered with the heaping of sauce that overpowered the dish. I will say all of the appetizers were very good and we ordered 5 different plates as they were truly the highlight of the experience. server had a slight attitude. We handled her just fine just a little unprofessional for a reasturant trying to be an more upscale establishment. The rest of my family and friends enjoyed the food but again not overly impressed. Atmosphere was very warm and inviting besides the wait staff. Will try again in the near future.

Just because you serve food on white plates with sprinkled parsley doesn’t equate to a 5-​star, fine-​dining experience. (Don’t believe me? Look at all the pictures on Unilocal for Kate’s on State. It’s like a parsley bomb went off in the kitchen and got all over the plates)

We had supper here last night and had a very good experience. The waitress was very informative and helpful with very quick service. The food is primarily pasta with 2 chef selections that were is osso bucco and a steak option last night. I had the angry seafood pasta and my husband had the carbonara, both were amazing. Bathrooms were clean and ambience was great. Would absolutely recommend this restaurant.

My favorite restaurant in La Crosse, so far. I ordered the portobello for an appetizer and it was amazing. Full of flavor and good sized for 2. For dinner, I ordered their special, osso bucco. The osso bucco was good but the butternut squash risotto that it sat on was to die for. Literally, one of the best things I’ve eaten recently. I highly recommend the pear champagne vinegarette because it’s super delicious. Can’t wait to go back! For the appetizer, osso bucco, and a non– alcoholic drink costs about $ 45 before tip. Pricy but so good!

Haven’t been here at the new location. Was very impressed. First of all if you have everything my beautiful wife wants to accommodate her dietary needs.BONUS. Second of you make an amazing filet, amazing. So that coupled with GREAT service from Ashley our waitress, this experience is one of the best I have had in La Crosse.
They have many options to satisfy GF. Come in and have a great meal and enjoy the ambiance of Kate’s!

Have been traveling extensively in North America and Europe on business and pleasure and enjoyed many good restaurants. Kate’s On State belongs definitely to the selective groups of them! And you don’t expect it in La Crosse, Wi necessarily. What a wonderful surprise.
The menu is well selected and the food is superbly prepared. Service is outstanding, very knowledgeable and extremely courteous and accommodating! Highly recommendable!

I usually don’t like to rate places when I’m only going to visit once on business travel, because I want to get a good feel for what a restaurant is like over multiple visits. However, I was sufficiently impressed by Kate’s on State.
The food was excellent: I had two of their appetizer plates, and everything was absolutely delicious and also beautifully presented. Rich and flavorful, but without feeling heavy and greasy.
I also thought the server, Rachel (?) was quite good. Not just friendly, but very… professional. It’s a difficult thing to explain, but it reminded me of servers in Italy, where being a waiter or waitress isn’t just something that people do out of desperation to pay bills for a few years in college, but a career one takes pride in and really enjoys as a profession.
Highly recommended. If my experience is at all representative, you will not be disappointed dining here.

Kate’s on State is an amazing restaurant. La Crosse is lucky to have such a place. Everything I have tried there has been incredibly delicious; from the salads to the seafood. If you are in La Crosse you need to check out this restaurant.

Kate’s features an upscale Italian inspired menu that makes it hard for a first time visitor to choose what to get.
I arrived with a friend and we were promptly seated (being a Tuesday, the restaurant was sparsely populated). Service was good although not exemplary. And my Beefeater martini that I ordered with a twist oddly came with olives as well.
The good news is the food was fantastic. We both had off menu specials, my friend going with a tenderloin filet served with lobster ravioli and shrimp while I had the ossobuco. The shank was tender and delicious, but the risotto with baby Bella mushrooms was amazing!
The real star of the night was desert. I had the apple crisp with vanilla ice cream and asked for the bourbon cream sauce from their pumpkin pecan bread pudding. It is to die for! Be sure to ask for it — you’ll be happy you did! Unfortunately, despite much pleasing and begging I couldn’t get the recipe much less an ingredient list — but I will order the bourbon cream sauce with the apple crisp again — maybe even as my dinner!

When you go to Kate’s, order the filet and lobster ravioli. There are so many tempting seasonal option and honestly, everything is great, but the filet and ravioli is off the charts.
For an appetizer, I would suggest their crostini with Gorgonzola. It is typically paired with a fruit of some kind (ie fig jam, fresh pear) and it is always really tasty.
The service is good, the atmosphere at the new location is very nice and their food is amazing.

Hands down, might be the best restaurant in La Crosse. If you haven’t heard of this place you’ve been living under a rock because the food here is so rich, creamy, delicious, and downright naughty, you’ll wish you extended your gym membership after eating here. My husband doesn’t even like Italian, and this is his all time favorite place to indulge.
I have dined here more than 30 times and I’m sure the waitstaff knows me by name. I have never ordered anything bad on the menu because it would just be impossible.
My all time favorite: The raspberry pork medallions with couscous. Absolutely delightful and one of their seasonal specials. (BTW, if you haven’t dined at Kates and you’re looking for a knock-​your-​socks off experience, order one of the specials. They are all seasonal and fabulous. You can’t go wrong.
Other runners up: Crab cakes, gnocchi, Apple Gorgonzola Bruschetta, The filet with curry sauce and lobster ravioli, ohh the list goes on!
Don’t forget dessert! The chocolate bread pudding is so mouth watering and sweet, served with cool ice cream. It’s enough to feed a small army.
Don’t forget to check out the restrooms for humor. Kate has designer shoes pegged on the wall in the ladies room. Otherwise, the restaurant is anything but funny. Very classy and well decorated. The new location is conveniently located downtown and has that fun downtown feel.
Can you tell I love this place?