La Crosse, WI: Culina Mariana

Location: This restaurant is located at the Shrine of the Lady of Guadalupa. That means that this restaurant is a bit out of the way from most of LaCrosse.

Cuisine: According to Urban Spoon, this is a European restaurant. I would consider it to be more American in style.

Atmosphere: The view from here could be magnificent if it's the right season. Unfortunately, when we were there, it was past peak fall colors, most of the trees were bare, and it was just a cloudy, rainy late fall day, so I wasn't all that impressed with the view while looking out the large windows over the forested area beside this restaurant. It reminded me of eating in a Christian retreat sort of room, which I suppose perhaps at one point, this part of the shrine was used as some sort of conference room or possibly a dining room. There is a high ceiling with chandeliers hanging, large wooden tables that looked heavy and glass protecting the wood, and heavy wood chairs. Most of the smaller tables were already taken when we arrived, so we ended up sitting at a table for six, and the tables were so wide across that we sat next to each other rather than across from each other.

Ordering: When you walk into this restaurant, you order your food at a counter with a register and pay up front. Right next to that was the dessert counter with various dessert items wrapped in plastic wrap. You get a number upon ordering to have your food delivered to your table. The menu, for the most part, is written on a chalk board behind the counter. What had peaked my interest based on their internet menu were some burgers that said they were gouda stuffed burgers. They don't have those anymore, and when I inquired about them, they said they removed them from the menu because too many people wanted them without cheese.

Service: Service was quick and friendly, and the wait staff was very good about making sure our water was refilled. There were signs on the tables explaining that water would only be provided when asked for to help save on expenses from people who didn't want water. It also reminded people to tip their servers. I can see how this may be a problem when you pay for your food in advance.

The Food: The food was good--I ordered a "specialty burger" which is just to say a 1/3 pound organic burger, and had to pay to have additional toppings put on it. It was served on ciabata bread, and came with homemade tortilla chips and salsa. I think I could have had more of these chips, as the amount of them seemed a bit sparse, and homemade tortilla chips are almost always good. The salsa was on the mild side and I wasn't impressed with that as much, and it was obviously made with the upper midwest palate in mind.