TRU Possibilities in Cambridge
TRU Tavern and Grill
159 W. Main Street
Cambridge, WI (608) 423-3000
TRU Tavern and Grill opened in April, but we hadn’t had the opportunity to go and check it out. Located on Main Street in an old mill that is over 150 years of age, this once housed the rather infamous Clay Market Cafe. We most recently visited the building when Serendipty occupied the mill. In the beginning we had been excited about Seredipity and it’s promise, but it fizzled in execution and in atmosphere and eventually closed doors.
Enter TRU. We were a bit leery of the press coming out of this restaurant. TRU seemed to be offering high quality meals at extremely reasonable prices. In fact, rumor had it that there was no meal over $20 on the menu. This we had to see to believe.
Being either naive or foolish (or perhaps a bit of both), we ventured to the quasi-tourist town of Cambridge the day before the Fourth of July holiday to try TRU out. Living slightly southeast of Madison, it was easier to get to this restaurant than to any restaurant on Madison’s West Side. A quick 18 minutes in the car and we arrived at TRU, eager to test it out. We arrived early by some dining standards, asking for a table at 5:30. Because we did not have reservations, we were told there would be a 25 minute wait. This was perfectly understandable, and we settled ourselves in the still relatively quiet bar.
By the time our table became available, people were lined up deep at the bar battling for drinks. TRU had quickly filled up and was buzzing with patrons. We were seated within the promised timespan. The dining room was packed, and had been upgraded since our last visit. It had a cleaner, more cared-for atmosphere than when Serendipity occupied the space, but it was still noisy, with voices bouncing off the walls and around the room.
(Note: I’m going to post some photos that I took with my camera phone. Don’t laugh. I need a serious camera phone upgrade! You can click them to enlarge them.)
Rumor had it that the menu was varied, interesting, and reasonable in terms of price. We found that to be the case, and spent quite some time debating our selections. The menu ran the gamut, with an array of tempting appetizers including the “Wood Oven Bake”, a spread of spinach and artichokes baked in a parmesan cheese sauce and served with wood fired pizza bread. This appetizer cost $6.50, and looked intriguing, but we had gone into the dinner with images of a wood burning oven baked pizza dancing in our heads. And so we ordered the aptly named Wood Fired Pizza to kick off our meal. The menu promised a pesto tomato basil sauced crust, mozzerella, goat cheese cream, spinach, roasted peppers, and wild mushrooms, for a mere $7.50.
And that is almost what we got, too. The pizza was delivered to us a short while later and it was more than amply sized. It could have well served 4 people as a split appetizer. And it almost lived up to it’s promise. (You will note that this statement becomes a theme for the evening). The crust edges were crisp and had the consistency that one expects from a wood oven pizza. But the middle of the pizza was underdone, with the toppings cold and the crust soggy. The promised wild mushrooms turned out to be some seriously undercooked plain jane button mushrooms.
But the flavor was good, and we can only imagine that this pizza will become a favorite if prepared properly and as promised in the future.
In fairness, we must take a moment to now note that the crowd in the restaurant had become close to unmanageable. The place was packed to the gills with not only no empty tables, but all chairs occupied as well!
Our entree choice was difficult. TRU offers everything from grilled salads to tempting sandwiches, to seafood, pasta, pork, chicken, steaks and combos. The fresh Wild Alaskan Salmon Grill ($12.95) can be prepared a number of different ways, including pesto brushed, or with lemon white wine, butter, shallots and capers. The Skillet Chicken ($12.50) was described as breast cutlets topped with spinach, proscuitto, red wine sauce, asiago and parmesan cheeses. We were incredibly amused by the description of the Beer Battered Shrimp. Described as large shrimp with cheese curd filling, wrapped with bacon, then fried and served crisp, we tossed around the idea that the only thing this item needed to become the quintessential Wisconsin dish was a grilled split boiled in beer bratwurst serving as the base of the dish.
We chose two of the steak dishes for a few reasons. First, we’re steak eaters, we admit. But we were curious to see how the promise of their low cost yet quality steaks held up. We know quality steaks, and we are not afraid to spend $40 to get one, so this was a real challenge in our opinions. We ordered the Tavern Filet, a black pepper crusted filet served with roasted red peppers in a red ale tomato sauce for $17.50. Also ordered was the Tavern and Grill Strip Steak, $18.95, topped and crusted with shaved proscuitto, bruschetta tomatoes, and parmesan cheese.
And once again, TRU almost lived up to the promise. First, I know we don’t have to tell you this, but I still feel the need to say it. When someone who is not your server rushes out with your meals after a significant wait, their hands wrapped in towels so that they can carry the plate, proudly proclaiming, “These plates are REALLY HOT!”, don’t for an instant believe that this is a good thing. It merely means that it’s been sitting under the heat lamp begging for your server’s attention, while the plate heats up and the food gets cold.
And so it was.
The Steaks were of adequate quality for the price, and the effort put into the steaks to make them unique dishes was appreciated. However, the steaks were cold. They weren’t lukewarm. They weren’t even really room temperature. While the flavor was great, and the presentation was nice, the steaks were cold. And that is the bottom line.
The steaks came with a choice of sides. We choose the garlic parmesan fries and the wild rice blend with vegetables. The fries would have been spectacular if they hadn’t suffered the ill effects of the heat lamp. The wild rice blend was good as a dish, but disappointing if you expected more than a speck or two of real wild rice. It was mainly your average white rice.
Our server, who had been absent for most of the meal, tried to entice us into dessert as well, with the warning that they seemed to be out of many of the items on the menu. Instead, as is our tradition, we finished the meal with a couple of glasses of port. After another wait, we got our port served in tequila sipping glasses rather than port glasses. Showing a sense of humor, our server hastened to assure us that they simply did not have port glasses, but don’t worry, he wasn’t giving us tequila.
In fairness to the restaurant, we believe that we picked what was probably their busiest evening that they’ve experienced since opening. The wait staff seemed extremely competent, but very overwhelmed. The kitchen was operating under the same conditions.
And so we wrapped up our excursion to TRU Tavern and Grill with mixed emotions. We like the menu and the atmosphere. We really like the prices. We liked the promise of the flavors, and we believe that if the food were served at the right temperatures and without the obvious waiting time under the heat lamp, it would be really very good. We believe that the waitstaff would be top notch under a more controlled crowd situation.
So, we’ll go back and give them another try on a quieter evening. We hope that they truly do live up to their possibilities during that visit.
[where: 159 W. Main Street, Cambridge, WI]
Yes,
You DO need a better camera!
Vic, by your comment, it sounds like Madison Dining Online needs to pony up for a new camera!
In comment to your article about TRU, I must say I agree to some level. The food is amazing for the price and I have ordered out both times. I do agree they seem a little overwhelmed with business but that is the first great restaurant to have opened in that town in many years. I really hope you try again b/c the food is really great and worth the money. Thank you.
We went to Tru’s for our third visit this Friday night to try the fish fry. We arrived at 5PM and it wasn’t busy at all; got immediate seating. This was a horrible experience! Two of us ordered the cranberry margarita special which was completely tasteless; nothing by salted ice water. The one brandy old fashion drinker said they forgot to put brandy in the drink! Those that had the fish said it was OK at best! The pizza was definitely not up to par with other wood oven pizza’s we’ve had; it was soggy in the middle! When we commented to the waitress about the watered down drinks, her comment was “What do you want me to do about it?”
We live in the area and dine out every weekend and often during the week and rarely run into such rudeness and attitude. We won’t be back and I suspect Tru’s will be closed soon, just like the rest of Cambridge’s main street.
Well, give them a chance, for cripes sake!
My wife and I have been to Tru’s at least a dozen times. The food has always been excellent and the atmosphere a delight. We strongly recommend this restaurant to our friends. Hats off to the new owner and his hard working staff. We can’t wait to see them again.
Are you guys CRAZY!!! The food is awesome and the staff is wonderful. They are very nice . We are repeat customers and will continue our 20 trip to the place. We have tried a variety of steaks, chicken and appetizers — All were wonderful. Everytime we go its absolutely PACKED. So go early!
My first experience at Tru was a really great one. We sat in the bar area and I had the dinner burger & it was cooked to perfection. The poor bartender was being run ragged though. They were having him serve all of the tables in the bar area as well as make all of the drinks for both the dining & bar areas. That being said he was very pleasant, gracious, and really made our dining experience.
Since then i’ve been there 2 more times and the food and service have been progressively worse. This is not to say they were awful experiences, especially considering the food for the price. However there are a couple of servers there that are really bad, boardering on rude. I suspect the cause of the problems is just too much business. I hope they are able to overcome this & don’t become victims of their own success. I really love their flavor combinations.
We are annual visitors to Lake Mills from the wonderful state to the South. We’ve seen and tried all the restaurants to come and go in Cambridge over the years.
Tru is the best by far. We dined there on a Wednesday evening. Not only the inside was full, but the patio tables were busy also (and being entertained by a great guitar player.)
Our wait was less than the hostess advised. Our waitress was very polite. And, most important, the meal was served hot and promptly.
The food may not be quite the gourmet quality attempted by previous owners, but the quality was very good in our opinion. Six of us tried various appetizers and main courses. Each of us was very pleased.
From reading other reviews, perhaps we will stick to weeknight visits to avoid overcrowding.
We moved here to Fort in 1990, and in all the years that we have lived here this is the first time I have ever recommended a restaurant to anyone. I even went as far as to have my husband make copies of their menu so that I could hand them out. Tru is difinitely 5 stars.
We tried out TRU tonight, had a very cheerful server named Kris. We had to wait about 15 minutes to be seated outside. My husband and I both had the fish fry and found it to be very good and inexpensive. I really liked the sweet potato fries. We’d recommend this place to others, and the guitar player was great!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE TRU! I’ve only been there once when they first opened and I’ve been begging my boyfriend to back ever since Get the cheese curds…and the Bartender named Blake is the best bartender in the world.
We have enjoyed eating at Tru three times recently and have always had wonderful food and drinks. Owners, Craig and Lisa are incredibly involved and committed to great food and service. Craig has been at the counter each time as the food comes out of the kitchen to assure it gets out to the tables quickly. The cooks and servers work like a well oiled machine–good teamwork. We love having this super new restaurant so close to us in Lake Mills–a breath of fresh air.
Have dined here on several occassions — great food at terriffic prices. I have had an entree, salad, pizza…and they have all been really good. Great Mojitos too! It really is a wonderful addition to Cambridge — and I hope it stays there for many years!
I visited TRU for the first time this past Saturday, while shopping with a friend. We were both very impressed with the menu, our food and the waitstaff. I had the Panini Melt and my friend had Quesadillas; both were wonderful! We sat in the bar and were also able to get glimpses of the patio patrons’ food as it was taken past our table after leaving the kitchen. Everything I saw looked fantastic. One of my favorite discoveries was that they offer raw veggies and a yummy, home-made ranch dip as a side. It’s great to have a choice other than fries, which is all many restaurants offer. After looking at the dinner menu, my husband and I will be going there to celebrate my birthday this Friday. I am looking forward to trying some of their great sounding entrees.
Great!
My best friend and I went to TRU last night while she was home visiting WI. I was a little skeptical about how it would be after reading some of the comments on here days prior, but I just have to say that the food and wine was FANTASTIC!!! I’m originally from Cambridge and used to enjoy The Clay Market Cafe, Graham’s Cambridge Mill, but haven’t been to please with other new restaurants. I would highly suggest TRU and feel as though the pricing for the portions was unbeatable. I had the Topped Ravioli with shrimp and scallops…it was delightful! I do have to say though, we went on a Tuesday night. i’ve seen how busy this restaurant can get on the weekends and with the staff being as young as they were (many in high school) I can see how there would be a long wait for a table and food.
Marginal food.
Poor service.
Another Restaurant bites the dust…
TRU started out with a bang…we were all so hopeful, especially after the crash and burn of Mill Street Inn. The food was interesting, economical and overall very good. That was earlier this year.
I recently took my four year old daughter for an impromptu early dinner (as I had burned the one at home). We arrived around 5:30, and were told they were all ready and seated us immediately. As we languished for over half an hour without a soul in site, it becamse apparent that this table situation wasn’t going to work out. Not only was the table rocking like a drunken sailor, but my daughter’s chair was also rocking, creating the strangest and yet dangerous situations I’ve ever faced in a restaurant. When a server finally appeared and I addressed the situation, she was greatly offended by my suggestion that we be moved to another table. Did I mention that this server was a cast off of the defunked Mill Street Inn and had in her previous life told me to just “eat my dinner” when it arrived partially frozen?
I will not even go into the mediocre stuffed shrimp and dry macaroni. Or the fact that the server removed my daughters cup as she was trying to drink it and threw it away. The experience was horrendous. Goodby TRU.
Never been to TRU But the owners have recently opened a spot in Cottage Grove named 1855 Saloon and Grill. We have been there many times already and the menu seems real close to TRU. We LOVE this place. The food the service the drinks the people are all very acceptible. I would recommend the place to anybody. Cottage Grove really needed a place like this