Reviews of Cantilever Distillery + Restaurant, Cocktails & Tastings (Winery)

Tamara Gordon

So happy to have this great place up north. A high end restaurant and bar with great food!

Rhonda Williams

For the 1st time this summer, all 5 people actually enjoyed their meal. From fish, to beef tips, to shrimp, to hamburgers. Great stuff and first class salads

Scott Cleveland

Gorgeous hotel with elegant rooms that have comfy beds, large bathtubs, and the staff are so friendly. The food and spirits are fantastic and I would definitely recommend the pork belly nachos!

Mason Humphrey

Always an excellent dining experience. They offer great specials and I love their "go to" menu items. Don't miss out on the amazing drinks...my favorite is the Ranier Dog! They have it all- even stellar non-alcoholic drinks ????

Teresa Cleveland

Stayed here last night and it was so great! Such a classy place nestled in the quaint town of Ranier, MN. Very clean and super comfy beds and the claw foot bathtub was so inviting for a good soak. I did not want to leave! Sat outside in the hot tub waiting for some northern lights to appear and the sauna was perfect too! Can’t say enough about this gem. Food was awesome and the cocktails made from their distilled spirits are superb! If you’re looking for an awesome place to get away from the big city and relax in some luxury, this is it! Talked to some out of town guests and they loved it as well and were so happy to find this place to retreat to from the big city.

Ryan McDonald

This place is gem! General Manager, Ed Gackley and staff were tremendous hosts for my wife and I who spent our anniversary at Cantilever. The spirits are outstanding. In terms of accommodations, you will not find a more quality boutique hotel in Northern Minnesota, and quite possibly the state. We will be back!

Emma Norwood

Amazing place. We took a wrong turn coming home from the national park and were very surprised to find this restaurant/distillery. They have a great menu that is very well priced. The drinks were well worth the cost. We bought a flight of the aged liquor with bourbon, Canadian whiskey, and rye. We also got the clear liquor which had two types of gin (amazing) and vodka. Was pleasantly surprised when we bought a bottle that the flights were comped. This place is well worth the stop or even drive from central all MN.

William McCrary

Nicest Hotel/restaurant in Northern Minnesota. I was very impressed with the originality of the building,the friendly staff, the high quality cocktails, the cleanliness and the variety of the food in the restaurant. I highly suggest everyone should check this place out.

Janelle Johnson

Had a wonderful ‘date night’ with my Wife last evening. Started with a Revolver (bourbon and coffee liqueur, then we shared appetizers. The cauliflower with peanut satay was surprisingly good and the pulled pork nachos are among the best nachos I’ve ever had. I ended the meal with ‘The OG’ (the Cantilever hot toddy) and it was fantastic. Jenn tried the Rainier Tea (their version of the long island iced tea) and she loved it. The best part of the evening was meeting up with 2 great couples including the Mayor and First Lady of Rainier! Unique atmosphere and excellent staff. Planning on becoming a ‘regular’ at this place.

Lou

We had a wonderful experience at Cantilever! The rooms were very comfortable and cozy with attention to detail (Beds hard to get out of, in a good way)! The staff was friendly and very attentive. When down in the hotel lobby you are invited with and open air bar with a view of the Lake and boat access. Wonderful amenities within a short walking distance. I will definitely be back! Don't miss out of the their very own high quality spirits.

Bruce Lidkea

Fabulous food, atmosphere, service.. oh yeah and Ed was great to meet!! Thanks Andres for the Fabulous meal!!❤❤❤❤❤

Hailey S

I have to say that I was very excited for Cantilever to open. This town really needs a place like this. The building and atmosphere is exquisite. However, I was pretty disappointed at the tiny cocktails served at Cantilever, especially given the price. I have no problem paying $7-12 dollars for a cocktail if it is a nice-sized libation but the cocktails at Cantilever are SMALL and expensive. You hardly get any liquid for what you are paying. So if you want to go out with friends and have a few drinks, this place is going to cost you (and you won't even get to drink that much). That said, the cocktails all tasted really good. I want this establishment to succeed but think they need to be more generous in their drinks. Otherwise, I am afraid this place is not going to make it in this town given the small drinks they serve and the cost of those drinks. Folks will just go other places where they get a cocktail for half the price and double or triple the volume.

Richard Mutton

Great time spending the weekend at the newest addition to Ranier, MN. The attention to detail in the rooms to the food and drinks were second to none. Stamping the bun with the bridge logo, was the icing on the cake(burger) Staff's focus on customer satisfaction didn't go unnoticed.

Dana Kelly

Rooms were a very cool modern industrial style! Friendly & helpful staff helped with a booking issue we had. Drinks from the distillery were tasty & refreshing. Food was great too!

Jon Turner

Just left unimpressed. Male bartender was horribly slow and inattentive. New York strip was overcooked, ordered medium rare and it was medium plus. Ridiculous amount of flies all over bar.

B Owen-Boerger

Out of all the hotels I have ever visited, this one is my favorite. The people and atmosphere made my experience, perfection!

Michele Marckesano

A well curated drink menu. Ranier Mule is my favorite - a sweet refreshing liquid ginger bite of a cocktail. There is always adventure in their stable of creative drinks so take your time. Deviled eggs with a sweet meaty pulled pork twist and walleye tacos..... Can't lose.

Sarah Palmer

Came to visit grandparents at the cemetery and decided to wander this cute little town. Super excited to have found this place. Not what I would have expected. Amazing flavors in the crafted cocktails. Will be back just for this. We live over 4 hours away. Waitress is adorable and so sweet.

Samuel Horvath

Staff is extremely helpful and friendly. Attention to detail in the design and furnishings, makes it interesting and comfortable at the same time. We truly enjoyed our stay there. Food is great as well. Only complaint is nowhere to go for breakfast because restaurant doesn’t open until 11:00 and the restaurant across the street can’t find people to work until afternoon as well. I’m sure things will change when people decide to work again. All in all…a great stay.

Andrew Valen

My wife and I have been here three times now, it would have been more if COVID hadn't shown up. Each time the service has been fantastic, the food delicious, and a wonderful atmosphere. Great job guys!

Dawn Conlin

The food was great! Drinks were nice! Pricier, but what you expect of this quality. Bought a bottle of gin to bring home because it was that good. Will likely be back, or at least try and find the gin again

Jisoo Kim

Exceptional cocktails and food!! Wild rice soup was to die for. Would love to come back for a full night's stay!

Jolene Stahn

Nice place with a decent amount of things to do for a small town. Very new looking place very nice decorations. Not a huge fan of granite style floors but it didn’t hurt anything. I loved the hot tub on the third floor. The only thing was the shower curtains smelled like wet clothes. Hopefully they change that. Would love to stay again.

matt shermoen

Very good food and top shelf cocktails. Friendly wait staff and GREAT service. Will be back .... Worth the drive!

Dan Britt

Uhh yeah, I'm going to rain on this parade. We stopped in to have a drink, and stood by the sign that said please wait to be seated. So we did, for 10 minutes, in plain view of the bartender and some woman folding napkins near the door. They couldn't have cared less. We walked out. Not going back.

Zack Saunders

We have stayed at the Cantilever a few times now and every stay has been wonderful! The hotel is clean and inviting and the little town of Ranier is adorable. We will definitely be back!

Robin Niedenfuer

We stopped by here on their second day open, drinks were awesome, decor and design is stunning! Nothing quite like it in the area!! All the details make a huge difference and don’t go unnoticed. The windows into the distillery offer a neat dining experience. The staff was super friendly and helpful! I also participated in a beautiful, relaxing yoga class hosted by one of their instructors, Hailey! Absolutely loved it ! The studio space was beautiful - I can’t wait to go to more of their classes in the future! Unfortunately we did not have a chance to try any of the menu items but will for sure be back to try the full menu! (I will add to this review once we are back- with further details). Would definitely recommend this beautiful hotel and bar with the bonus yoga offerings!

Jeff Olson

This place has great craft cocktails! We had awesome and personable service from Linda. She was very knowledgeable about the spirits and the general area of Ranier. We had an Old Thyme and a GinRita and both were fantastic. We bought a bottle of rye to take home. Will definitely come back! Thank you Linda (and bartender) for the great service and craft cocktails!

Ed Morff

Food was great. Service was especially good. The cocktail with rye was so delicious and it did the trick.

Tom Sprester

Great spot across from the Lake with beautiful rooms and very cool vibe. The food was great, definitely try the short rib nachos and the "drummies". The service was excellent and I loved the branded merchandise. I grabbed a hat for myself and a sweatshirt for my wife. I will definitely be back.

Austen Jarboe

Thought we would stop for food… bad mistake. Immediately when we walked in, we were accosted by a gentleman saying our parking space was 15 minutes when there was no sign. Didn’t argue, and moved my truck. Came back in, and my spouse was still standing there. No one had communicated why. I asked and no one could give me straight answer.The people in Minnesota are not as nice as you would think. Walked out.

Jerry Yang

Me and a friend were looking for things to do and places to go while way up north in Minnesota, and this popped up! I had no idea this was here. Great atmosphere and beautiful hotel. Will definitely be recommending to others if they are heading this way in the future. :)

Wayne Schrock

Had dinner and drinks with the family and everyone enjoyed the food, I would recommend the blackened walleye. The wife and I had drinks that were a definit hit as well. Who thought an old fashion would be so good! Can't wait to try the bottle of brandy. Keep it up Cantilever team!

shum Shum

This place is a one of a kind experience! Nested in downtown Rainier, MN, this place provides not only a place to stay before heading into Voyagers National Park, but is a destination on its own. Great experiences to be had include: walk along the quiet streets and beaches of Rainer, with views of Rainy Lake; ice cream on the lake; amazing cocktails made with the distillery-produced gin, bourbon, and vodka; fabulous food (including gluten free pasta and good burgers); sun set; and shoring up the rain cover of the pontoon we were pulling as clouds rolled in (yes, boat parking on the street is possible in Rainier) and really comfy sleeping in our immaculate room. Finally, the staff was so friendly. Truly “Minnesota nice”, although technically Ed and Sofia hailed from Canada and Alabama respectively, they are true Minnesotans all the way! Ed, who I caught sweeping floors, is the general manager. Made me feel good to see work ethic like that. I highly recommend a stop here on your adventure.

Andy Kucera

Named for the architecturally intriguing bridge that makes the border crossing less than 1/2mi away, Cantilever is a unique Boutique Hotel in Ranier, MN. You'll stay on top of an active distillery in a brand new building with amenities you would expect from a Wyndham property. Would recommend for explorers, couples, and those looking for a high end experience right in the heart of the scenic Boundary Waters area.

Renee Hepperlen

Cantilever was awesome! Great scene, quiet comfortable sleeping space, tasty drinks, mouthwatering food, and accessibility to the lake and other local sites! Give it a try, you will love it!

Diane Kuykendall

Excellent Cocktails, the food is amazing and I love the upscale ambiance! Absolutely love it!

J Hamilton

The food was so good. I had the deviled eggs for my app. Then the ribeye for dinner. A few house whiskey drinks. Absolutely a gem of an restaurant. The place is so cool, incredibly inviting. The owner took time to come introduce himself and talk to us . I will forever be a customer, and an overnighter in the hotel.

John Becker

Really great experience. Clean rooms, friendly staff. Excellent food and service!

Matt Foster

Strongly recommend making time to stop in Cantilever’s if you are traveling. The cocktails are tasty and unique, amazing fries and the walleye tacos are to die for! The staff was so pleasant, friendly and warm. Brittney is an excellent bartender who knows quite a bit about the area!

Samantha Bromenshenkel

Stopped to grab lunch as we walked around town. Excellent food, fantastic service and very very good beverages. May have to check out the hotel some day also. Nifty all around.

Scott Hutchinson

We were excited to try this place because of the great reviews and fun menu, but were extremely disappointed when we had to wait 2 hours from sitting down until getting our food. We were told that the kitchen was backed up, so we would have to wait about 25 minutes before getting to order. That was fine, but it was bordering on ridiculous when we got to order after that and had to wait an additional 1.5 hours until getting our food. Food was lukewarm when it came.

Liz Leeds

Super nice, good food and good drinks.

George Johnson

I went there for the first time this past Friday (2/14/2020). I was pleasantly surprised with the food, atmosphere, and the high level service; especially given that it just opened up. Food and drink options were very plentiful, and my steak was cooked to perfection. I’m excited to go back!

Kingston VIP

If you are in the area, you need to stay here. This was the nicest hotel I've ever stayed at.

Madilyn Race

We had so much fun this weekend! The rooms were very modern, extra spacious. The ahi tuna and cauliflower appetizers were simply delicious and the unique drinks were divine!

Ken Hanson

Brand new restaurant, distillery and hotel in Rainer. Great new spot. The distillery is one block up from Loony's brewery. The mocha with coffee liquor and lavendar whipped cream was decadent. Spare Ribs nachos over the top and do different from most cheesy, Mexican type nachos. The shrimp cocktail is extremely fresh and lovely. Wait staff are very engaging and attentive. Others were sharing a tiramisu martini that looked amazing! Cool ciazy quaint vibe!

Liz Myers

Attention to detail on decor made for a great atmosphere. The food was tasty and drinks were exceptional. Can't wait to come back to stay at the hotel.

Chris Pollnow

Wonder hand made cocktails, featuring locally distilled spirits, Cantilevered Bourbon, Cantilevered Rye, Cantilevered Vodka, and Cantilevered Gin. Served in an open, stylish setting.