The FieldHouse to become Butler’s Steak and Ale

Norman Butler IMG_0403 Norman Butler, owner of the downtown Northfield eating and drinking establishments, the Contented Cow and Chapati, is taking over the FieldHouse Sports Bar & Grill in the River Park Mall. The restaurant will be named Butler’s Steak & Ale but will remain The FieldHouse for another month while he changes the menu and applies for a new liquor license under the new name. Temporary hours will be Wednesdays through Saturdays, 5pm to midnight and Sunday brunch, 9am to 3 pm.

Update 9/3: The FieldHouse reopens Friday, Sept. 4 at 5pm. Here are some pre-opening photos.

Butler's Steak & Ale Butler's Steak & Ale Butler's Steak & Ale
Butler's Steak & Ale Butler's Steak & Ale

32 Comments

  1. Adam Elg said:

    This is fantastic! Way to go Norman!

    August 27, 2009
  2. Rob Palmquist said:

    Yes, a new place to get a great Steak.

    September 1, 2009
  3. Jerry Bilek said:

    way to go Norm. call it the Butler did it with a Holmesian theme.

    September 2, 2009
  4. Griff Wigley said:

    The FieldHouse reopens tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 4 at 5pm. I’ve added 5 pre-opening photos to the blog post above.

    September 3, 2009
  5. Julie Bixby said:

    Thanks Griff!
    Yes, we are opening tonight. Our transition menu will include steaks, chops, chicken, shrimp, salads, hamburgers…
    Our Sept. hours will be Wed -Sat 5pm-midnight and Sunday 9am – 3pm for a brunch.
    On Saturday Sept. 12th during Defeat days we will be open 10am – midnight.
    We want to extend and invitation to everyone!
    Julie

    September 4, 2009
  6. Adam Elg said:

    Anything for vegetarian folks?

    September 4, 2009
  7. Griff Wigley said:

    Adam, nothing veggie yet but it was being discussed last night. They did have salmon on the menu. I’m lobbying for walleye and catfish.

    Robbie and I were among the 7 pm-ish carnivores. She had the sirloin and I had the ribs. Yum!

    September 5, 2009
  8. john george said:

    Adam- Does grass-fed beef count?

    September 5, 2009
  9. Diane Burry said:

    Actually, the phone number is changing.
    By next week it will be
    507-786-9797.
    And I must say the St Olaf telephone company has the best customer service I have ever encountered!
    Diane

    September 6, 2009
  10. Julie Bixby said:

    Griff,
    The Northfield News article is misleading in that it says Butler’s Steak & Ale will not open until the end of Oct.
    We are open now as the Fieldhouse until the end of Sept.
    We have limited hours Wed – Sat 5pm – midnight, Sun. 9am – 3pm, until further notice.(We will be open at 10am on Sat. Sept. 12th for DJJD) We have a full but transitional menu that will grow and change and have a full bar. We plan on a very busy Defeat of Jesse James Days. Our plan is to open for lunch and dinner Monday – Saturday and brunch on Sundays as soon as possible.
    Stay tuned for updates! Butler’s also has a facebook page.
    Adam – comment #7- We do have a couple salads that are vegetarian, but would love suggestions on expanding the vegetarian options!
    Thanks!
    Julie

    September 7, 2009
  11. Julie… how about grilled or stuffed Portabella mushooms?

    September 7, 2009
  12. john george said:

    Robbie- I grilled a mushroom the other night. It never did fess up to where it was the night before.

    September 7, 2009
  13. Into something rotten, no doubt!

    September 7, 2009
  14. john george said:

    Robbie- I just thought of a vegan desert idea. Layer grilled mushrooms between chocolate bars and graham crakers and call it “S’pores.”

    September 10, 2009
  15. A.RIpka said:

    timothy – what did you have and what was wrong with it??? you can’t critique without specifics. i have to say that the beef tips and the baked brie were fabulous!! normally i don’t have bread pudding at restaurants (out of respect to grandma!) but i tried it and it was SO YUM YUM! the staff are super friendly and make you feel at home. i have yet to have a full meal (waiting for my guy to get off nights), but i have nothing but good things and soooo look forward to it. as an artist, i know great work takes time, but the small taste i’ve had i’m super psyched! as for vegetarian, i second the portabella option. there seem to be a lot of vegetarian/vegan peeps in town, so it might be worth exploring those options. flourless chocolate tortes are always delish. great job you guys!

    September 22, 2009
  16. Julie Bixby said:

    Timothy – I too would like to know what you had. Also, what were the service issues? Without specifics it is hard to correct potential problems.

    As with any new business it takes time to get everything just right. Happily we have gotten wonderful comments and already have repeat customers.

    As far as the health inspection it was NOT unexpected. It is common when a restaurant changes hands for this to happen. I am happy to report that Greg Stevens, the health official, was VERY pleased with what we have done.

    We invite everyone to stop by and have a great experience!

    Julie

    September 22, 2009
  17. Julie Bixby said:

    An update on our hours:

    Butler’s Steak & Ale is now open 7 days from 3pm.

    September 22, 2009
  18. Griff Wigley said:

    Julie, I’ve removed ‘Timothy’s’ critical comment, as the email address used for it bounces. It appears as though this is the same person who submitted comments critical of some of the Best of Northfield restaurant winners last spring. That email bounced, too.

    I let this critical comment get posted this time without checking it first. I figured that since the Cow/Chapati/Butler’s is a client of mine and since I’ve been doing some promotion here of the Butler’s opening, I thought it important that we not be overly protective.

    Alas, I was wrong. I should have checked. My apologies to you and Norman.

    September 23, 2009
  19. kiffi summa said:

    Griff: I think it’s great that you removed the comment and apologized. Thank you.

    But I think there is a need for you to follow up further on this comment which turns out to be false. It was there for several days, and may have caused Norman’s new venture some damage. It was obviously in it’s anonymity (unverifiable e-mail) meant to do harm.
    Am I incorrect in thinking that someone with your skills should be able to trace the origin of this mischief, and expose it? The last thing you should want is for this site to be infected with the anonymous venom of the Newspaper’s site.

    This following the anonymous, or at least unreported, origin of a false complaint against Norman’s businesses needs to be brought to a public resolution for Norman’s sake. Is the same vicious personality at work in both these occurrences?

    If it is possible to electronically trace the origin of that comment, I think you need to do it.

    September 23, 2009
  20. Julie Bixby said:

    Thank you Griff for your investigation and removal of “Timothy’s” comment.

    It is sad that there are people that only wish to do harm and cause problems for others and do it hiding behind false names. It is obvious by the vague, destructive comment that this person has never been into Butler’s.

    Thanks to everyone who has visited the new restaurant and speak highly of it.

    Julie

    September 23, 2009
  21. Griff Wigley said:

    Kiffi, I can see the IP address of the computer that was used to submit the comment but I don’t know to how to pinpoint a location for the computer. And the IP address is not a very accurate indicator either, as ISP’s can assign a range of IP addresses to a customer or area and then those addresses can be dynamically used instead of being ‘static.’

    Since this is not a criminal matter, I think it’s best to let it go.

    September 23, 2009
  22. norman butler said:

    Griff. Thanks for sending me the archived comments of timothy Ivory Juan Paramo.

    For the longest time I thought it was either a disgruntled former employee or a public official, either appointed or elected who routinely indulge in the game of ‘gotcha’. BTW this is the most insidious and damaging effect of these anonymous poison pen commentators; I flail in the dark at badmouthers both real and imagined.

    But a comment from a well-wisher yesterday turned darkness into dim light and now I think I know my enemy. And lo and behold, he’s in the restaurant business!

    September 23, 2009
  23. A.RIpka said:

    next time let’s get NCIS to investigate!

    September 24, 2009
  24. norman butler said:

    Well, Griff? Can I say more about Mr X, aka timothy Ivory & Juan Paramo?

    September 28, 2009
  25. Griff Wigley said:

    Sure, Norman. I’d rather you didn’t name names since I don’t want LoGroNo to be seen as a ‘judge, jury, and executioner’ forum.

    September 30, 2009
  26. norman butler said:

    Below is a re-presentation of the opinions of timothy Ivory and Juan Paramo with an observation from Griff to me. Also, just after the Fieldhouse had re-opened earlier this month, Mr X complained to the Health inspector that I was trading without a food license (not true), that I was transporting food from The Cow and Chapati to The Fieldhouse (not true), and that I was intending to grill outside The Cow during DJJD without a commercial BBQ (true). Finally, Mr X (named by my informant) has been telling people that I buy sub-standard meat for my restaurants from a local store (not true). Who is Mr X..? You can work it out.

    From Griff to me 9/23/09:
    Juan Paramo used an email address with the domain name
    paramoconsultores.com.
    timothy Ivory used a Yahoo address.
    But after investigating, I see that both comments came from the same computer, as the IP address is the same.

    On the opening of the Ole Cafe:
    Juan Paramo – 2008/05/16
    Mr. Wigley. I know you have talked to the owners already and they told you the day the cafe was going to open, last wednesday!

    Juan Paramo – 2008/05/31
    I read your reviews Bill (Bill Roehl) but one question? Do you have any food background? have you worked on the industry before?. I just think that in general all the food reviews that I see on the Star Tribune, Pioneer Press and other publications are not made by people who really know much about this particular industry. I do agree with your comments, don’t take me wrong, The cafe can get better and I am sure it will.

    On the Best of Northfield:
    Juan Paramo – 2009/01/31
    I am sorry but I believe must be a mistake; do you really think that Chiapati is the best place for dinner?, nothing against them but the food is horrible!!! I invite everybody to take a look inside the kitchen and tell me if you would go back, and
    for the best burger, I am sorry but a previously frozen beef patty can not be the best burger in town, I know I have freinds that work there; to me, without a doubt Northfield Golf Club’s burger is the best in town, made withy freshly ground beef and very good sides, and how about Perkins?

    Juan Paramo – 2009/01/31
    Oh!! I forgot and what about Fermentations? they do not count? their food is fabulous

    On Butler’s Steak & Ale.
    timothy Ivory – 2009/09/21
    I am sorry to say this but i was very very dissapointed with the quality of the food. I was looking forward for a good quality steak house in town. Once again we missed the mark, there is room for improvements and I wish them the best, please fix all the service issues and the quality of the food because you have
    potgentially a good concept. Try to hire a real chef and not just a cook; i think it would be worth it. I heared also that they had an unespected Health Inspection visit. I wonder what was all that about????

    September 30, 2009
  27. Barb Kuhlman said:

    We ate at Butler’s Saturday night and really enjoyed it. Ed had the ribs and I had the stuffed portobello mushrooms. We thought both were good. We especially liked the house salad and the garlic mashed potatoes. The portions were generous and the service good. I think Butler’s fills a niche which has been lacking in Northfield.

    September 30, 2009
  28. john george said:

    Norman- I just haven’t had a chance to get down to your new place, yet, but you must be doing something right to stir up this much animosity. Keep up the good work!

    September 30, 2009
  29. john george said:

    Norman- Better late than never, or, is it better never late? We finally had a chance to get to your new Steak and Ale, and it was a fantastic experience. Karen and I split a ribeye, as your portions are like so many other restaurants- one entre is enough for both of us. The steak was great, tender enough that I cut it with my butter knife. The garlic mashed potatoes were great, and I love the horseradish sauce! We split a piece of the chocolate cake, also. This is definitely going to be a regular stop for us now. Keep up the good work.

    October 26, 2009
  30. Julie Bixby said:

    Thanks John! We are so glad you had a great experience with great food.

    Just a note to those who have wondered about the identity of the person who said bad things about Butler’s. We do not believe it came from the Ole Cafe.  The Ole Cafe is a great place with great food and awesome desserts. Keep up the good work!

    November 1, 2009

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