The Axe And Fiddle - Cottage Grove

I really enjoy stopping by here on my way home for a quick snack and a drink.

So good I had to go back. Wonderful dishes flavors. The smoked salmon soup, Mac n cheese, beer, sweet potato tater tots... So much delicious food. And right in historic downtown. The venue boasts music and shows too. All in a charming environment.

Fun place to catch a little live music. Good gin tonics. Friendly staff and crowd.

This could have easily been a five-star review, but I witnessed something concerning. I noticed the cooks touching every piece of food with their bare hands, and they didn’t wash their hands before handling another person's meal. I watched one line cook press a pulled pork sandwich together with his bare hands, coming into direct contact with the meat, and then he repeated the same process with someone else's food. The lack of gloves and poor handwashing practices were alarming; it felt like everything served had been touched by cooks with unclean hands. While the food itself is excellent, the food handling is very poor. I strongly recommend a health department inspection to ensure that the staff understands proper food safety. Until the employees who are unaware of these standards are either retrained or replaced, I won’t be bringing my family back to this restaurant. It's unfortunate because the atmosphere inside is truly delightful.

The food was excellent, the service was outstanding, and the entertainment by Goldpine was fantastic!