The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern

328 Front Street South, La Crosse, WI
Capacity: 400 people

About The Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern

Four unique dining spaces plus outdoor patios offer an elegant backdrop for any event from a private business presentation over lunch, a bustling conference with 300 guests, to a relaxing cocktail reception. Your guests will feel at ease with every need artfully met.

Event Pricing

Wedding Menu Package
$55 - $68 /person
Pricing for weddings only
Plated Dinner
$22 - $42 /person
Pricing for all event types

Event Spaces

The Banquet Room
The Banquet Room
The Cargill Room
The Cargill Room
The Private Dining Room
The Private Dining Room

Recommendations

Wonderful Winter Wedding Location - An Eventective User from Minnesota

Joanna, Danielle, and the entire team were wonderful to work with from the initial visit to the venue, throughout the planning, and the execution of our wedding. The atmosphere and food were incredible. I cannot recommend this place enough!

Perfect Friday Wedding - An Eventective User from La Crosse, WI

My husband and I were very happy with our choice of hosting a Friday wedding for our family and friends. The guests and wedding party were thankful for the Friday evening event as they were able to enjoy the remainder of their weekend as they wished. The service, food, coordination of the event, atmosphere and décor were all absolutely perfect. I highly recommend The Waterfront - Cargill Room as a venue choice, in addition to the Friday evening ceremony and reception. If you are hesitant on the selection of a Friday event date, DO NOT BE. I would do it all over again.

Right out of a Bridal M agazine - An Eventective User from Milwaukee, WI

We recently attended a wedding at the waterfront. It was by far the best wedding we have been to. The room was so beautiful even before the decorations! The food was cooked to perfection. It was the first time we had steaks not overcooked at a wedding. The staff went above and beyond. We would recommended hosting your next event at the Waterfront.

Perfect wedding venue - An Eventective User from LA CROSSE, WI

The Waterfront venue was an amazing venue for a wedding!! The view is breathtaking. The Cargill room is fabulous with windows facing the river and such beautiful lighting. The staff was friendly and extremely accommodating! The food was perfectly prepared and the presentation was beautiful. A perfect day!!! I highly recommend The Waterfront for any event; and especially a wedding!

Wedding - An Eventective User from Onalaska

We just had a beautiful wedding. Kate was absolutely fantastic to work with! We can't thank her enough. She had answers for all our questions and helped us every step of the way. We considered everything top notch just as the bride and groom wanted. We highly recommend the Waterfront!!!

Whisked the Worry Away - An Eventective User from Appleton, WI

A few weeks ago, we held my daughter (and new son-in-law's) wedding reception at the Waterfront Restaurant in La Crosse. The entire event was nearly effortless. My daughter and I are both 'planners' and like to have details buttoned up. Katie (on staff wedding planner) was not only highly detail oriented, she was graciously a step ahead of us the whole journey. She was organized, had excellent suggestions for our consideration, readily answered our questions and is super friendly! The day of the event, we had willing hands (and positive attitudes) to ensure everything was handled and worry-free. The food was superb and the service was outstanding. Without hesitation, I would recommend the Waterfront for any occasion.

Outstanding Wedding Reception Experience - An Eventective User from West Salem, WI

I had my wedding reception at the Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern and it was simply spectacular. From the early stages of planning and on, Kate Sanquist made me feel like I was the most important bride she was working with. She offered extremely helpful advice during my moments of indecisiveness. She was exceptionally responsive with any e-mail or phone call. I felt completely at ease throughout the entire process. The evening of the big event the staff was super friendly and accommodating. I never had an empty water glass and was always greeted with a genuine smile. I had MULTIPLE guests come up to tell me how wonderful all the staff was to them and how outstanding the food was. They made a huge (positive) impression on my guests. I would highly recommend the Waterfront Restaurant and Tavern to anyone who is looking for an establishment to hold an event.

Golden Eagle Dinner - Gateway Area Council, BSA - An Eventective User from La Crosse, WI

We have chosen to hold our annual fundraising dinner at The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern because I know that I can count on an attentive staff for our program needs, impeccable service, and a delicious meal for our guests. Our guests and dignitaries are always impressed with the beauty of the Cargill Room and the spectacular view of the Mississippi River and surrounding bluffs. Our organization highly recommends The Waterfront Restaurant & Tavern for all of your event needs.

Most beautiful venue in the region - An Eventective User from La Crosse

We've hosted several events here, both large and small, and keep going back for a reason. The staff is highly professional and accommodating, the food is second to none and you can't beat the view of the beautiful Mississippi River. Love, love, love this place!

Fabulous event venue! - An Eventective User from La Crosse, WI

This is our second year at the Waterfront for our new Annual Downtown Trend Event. Jen and Jessica were fabulous to work with and so flexible in regards to the new concept of this event. We were able to showcase downtown with food and beverage tastings, fashion and interior design showcases, product innovations and a silent auction. The facility works well for the concept and everyone on staff both in the planning and execution of this event was helpful, professional and positive! We love the Cargill Room at the Waterfront, greatly appreciate the excellent service and would highly recommend this venue for ant event!

Coulee Region Volunteer Recognition Breakfast - An Eventective User from La Crosse, WI

Each year our organization CRVC, Coulee Region Volunteer Coordinators hosts an annual Volunteer Recognition Breakfast in April honoring our dedicated volunteers – the Waterfront is the perfect venue for such an event. From the early stages of planning until the morning of the Breakfast, Jen and her crew pay close attention to details such as timing, menu selection and ensuring everything is perfect for our Volunteers. The building is gorgeous, the table settings are beautiful and all of our other requests are met. We could not ask for a more honorable and stunning site to thank our loyal and steadfast Volunteers. .

Stunning! - An Eventective User from La Crosse, WI

My husband and I just had the most amazing wedding ceremony and reception at the Waterfront on 3/14/15. Every member of the Waterfront staff was attentive, prompt, polite and easy to communicate with. Kate was especially fabulous to work with. She is fun, energetic, calming and very professional. Kate became a member of our family with her kindness and ability to understand our wish list for the event. The food was delicious. The drinks were flowing. The venue was stunning. The staff was extremely helpful and took great care of our guests. There isn't one thing we would change about our wedding, except that we wish to do it all over again. As a lifelong resident of La Crosse, the Waterfront is by far the most elegant venue for a La Crosse wedding. No other venue comes remotely close to the level of class and fun you get compared to a wedding at the Waterfront. We ate. We drank. And we were certainly merry!

AMAZING VENUE - An Eventective User from La Crosse, WI

Both my husband and I had such an amazing wedding reception at the Waterfront and would definitely recommend it to others! Kate was wonderful to work with and extremely helpful! The staff was so friendly and well organized, we could not have asked for a more perfect day and reception. There are no other sites with such a gorgeous interior and incredible view, we received so many compliments from our out of town guests! Thank you so much to the staff of the Waterfront, especially to Kate who made this experience truly wonderful!

Perfect Wedding Ceremony and Reception Venue!! - An Eventective User from Madison, WI

The Waterfront is a perfect wedding venue and reception!! Besides the beautiful location and building the food and service was excellent. The wedding coordinator, Kate, did an exceptional job and made it a perfect evening! I would highly recommend the Waterfront for your special event!

An amazing day made perfect! - An Eventective User from San Diego, CA

Kate and the Waterfront team made our 8/10/14 wedding day run flawlessly from start to finish! Kate was absolutely the best to work with! We were planning from a far and it could not have been easier! The Waterfront team is top of the line and handled everything so professionally. Kate was there the day of the wedding to ensure everything ran smoothly. Having our wedding at the Waterfont was the best decision and it turned out as beautiful as I imagined it would be. The Waterfront comes highly recommended!!

Fantastic wedding! - An Eventective User from Cedar Falls, Iowa

My husband and I appreciated working with Kate, Jen, and the entire crew of the Waterfront during our wedding on 4/19/14. Their staff is absolutely phenomenal – from the planning side, tasting, the delicious and beautiful cake (with very little direction), to the execution of everything on our wedding day – we could not have been more pleased! Many of our guests are still raving about the meal and the wait staff as well (6 months later!) Kate was absolutely on top of things – responsive to emails, multiple iterations of meals and headcount, and providing helpful suggestions throughout. On a personal note, she was the best stress relief for me (the bride) prior to the wedding. I knew on Thursday afternoon when we dropped off the decorations for the wedding on Saturday that everything was in her capable hands, and I did not have to worry any more. It was the best wedding present we received! Jen did a beautiful job on the cake and was a delight to work with throughout the planning and tasting process. The ladies who helped serve our sweetheart table were attentive, polite and friendly. They helped make the experience even better. At the end of the night, all of our decorative items were boxed up and ready to be taken out – a pleasant surprise and much appreciated. The Waterfront staff provided an exceptional wedding experience. I highly recommend them! Thanks for helping to make our wedding a wonderful and memorable day! We look forward to visiting the Waterfront when we are in La Crosse (and hopefully every year on our anniversary).

Above and Beyond Service! - An Eventective User from Warrens, Wisconsin

After working in the service business and planning weddings myself, I knew I wasn't going to be the easiest bride! I've eaten at the Waterfront for several years now, and have always raved about the food! But when I met Kate at the Waterfront, I knew in an instant I had made the right choice! Kate and her staff went above and beyond on every level! From accommodating us setting the room up, assisting with that, the menu tasting, WOW, and the day's events, superb! Speaking of the day's events, I literally showed up five minutes before walking down the isle, Kate was there, onsite and I never had to answear a question or concern from anyone. We are still getting comments on how fabulous the food was, and I agree. The Waterfront even helped accommodate a breakfast the morning after for all our guests staying in the area, it was the perfect ending to our weekend! My husband and I can't wait to celebrate years of anniversaries with the Waterfront! THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Superb! - An Eventective User from La Crosse, Wisconsin

We had a wonderful experience working with Kate and the entire staff at the Cargill Room for our wedding and reception! From the moment we started corresponding via email I knew we were in good hands. All of our questions were answered promptly and professionally. Kate really made us feel like our wedding was just as important to her as it was to us. She was so much fun to work with too! We held our wedding ceremony on the patio and had the reception immediately following. Personally, I think it's the perfect location for an outdoor wedding in La Crosse. We had so many people come up to us during and after the wedding telling us it was the nicest wedding they had ever been to. With all of the stress that goes along with wedding planning it gave us such peace of mind to know that we didn't have to worry about anything related to the venue, they really know what they're doing! If you choose to hold your wedding or special event at the Cargill Room you won't be disappointed!

Perfection - An Eventective User from Lino Lakes Minnesota

The Waterfront is perfection. From the great staff Kate and all the servers, bartenders and chefs, we felt so comfortable. Being an out of state bride, there was a lot of nerves about how everything would turn out but Kate and her staff made it so simple. This was the easiest part of wedding planning and on the big day it could not have been more perfect. All I hear from family and friends is how wonderful the food, cupcakes and venue was. It was out of this world. If you are getting married in lacrosse this is the best place to have your reception!

A Fairytale! - An Eventective User from Kansas City, KS

Living out of state and planning a wedding long-distance is typically a very difficult thing to do. My husband and I picked the Waterfront for our reception and I was so happy that we did!! Originally from La Crosse, I wanted to get married back home, and being 7 1/2 hours away added a extra level of difficulty to wedding planning. Kate and the team at The Waterfront were always accommodating and I never had to worry about anything up to or on the day of our wedding! They guided us through the process and were always accommodating to our schedule when we could make it to La Crosse. When we showed up the week prior to our wedding with our vehicles full of boxes decorations, Kate understood the vision that we were going for, even with everything boxed up. The Waterfront team did such a great job that I started crying when I walked into the room for the first time on the day of our wedding because they implemented everything so well. It was absolutely perfect! Besides the amazing service and support, the food was absolutely phenomenal! Almost a month later, we are still getting compliments on how amazing everyone thought dinner was that evening. The service during dinner was prompt and professional and the staff at The Waterfront made sure every guest was happy. The staff was great in making sure everything kept moving smoothly and we truly didn't have to worry about a thing. Overall, The Waterfront made our day even more of a fairytale then I could of imagined. The staff, quality of food, and location are the best of the best in the area. I highly recommend The Waterfront for any occasion as they will make sure your day is a fairytale too!

Best, easiest decision in our wedding planning - An Eventective User from HOLMEN, WI

Choosing the Waterfront was, hands down, the best decision we made in our wedding planning. Their wedding coordinator, Kate is amazing and is a huge reason why I would recommend this place to anyone for any kind of celebration. The venue is beautiful, offering a spectacular view of the Mississippi. The patio is a great perk, regardless of the season. I had my wedding in the middle of December and it was beautifully decorated—lights on the patio, large Christmas trees in the entryway (which they offered to take down if I wanted). They have centerpieces to use if you want, should you be on a tight budget. The linens they have are very nice and the chairs are pretty, so no need for chair coverings and no need to purchase/rent linens. The food was great and the space was perfect for our wedding of 235 guests. Kate was always prompt in returning e-mails and phone calls. Her answer was always, “no problem.” I met with her as often as I wanted to feel comfortable with the plan and timeline. She made me feel so at ease, it was like having a wedding planner. She was present for the entire duration of our reception—she was even there in the morning when we picked up the decorations. Amazing lady, fantastic facility, great food, wonderful memories.

Couldn't have wished for a better day! - An Eventective User from La Crosse

We couldn't have wished for a better reception at the Waterfront for our recent wedding. Every interaction from the initial meeting to the tasting and subsequent meetings were so professional. The staff was amazing and no detail was to be overlooked. Kate was outstanding and answered any questions we had in record time. She put us at ease knowing that the day would go perfectly. The room was set up beautiful - exactly as I imagined; actually better then we could have imagined. The food got rave reviews from our guests and the cake was to die for. Kate and the staff at the waterfront were delightful. I will be singing their praises for years to come!

Amazing Wedding Experience - An Eventective User from Sparta, Wisconsin

The Waterfront is an amazing venue! I am so glad that my husband and I chose to have our rehearsal dinner, wedding ceremony and reception there! The atmosphere is absolutely beautiful! Not only is the venue amazing, the staff is as well. Kate was a pleasure to work with and made our special day stress-free and she made sure everything went smoothly. The staff, both at the rehearsal dinner and the wedding reception, were friendly and top-notch! I couldn't have asked for a better experience at The Waterfront. I would highly recommend them!

Flawless Wedding Execution - An Eventective User from Apple Valley, MN

My husband and I are incredibly grateful for the wonderful execution of our wedding reception at The Waterfront. The service and support were superior! Every detail was accomplished to perfection - from the initial food tasting, to the table settings and decorations, to the efficient delivery of dinner, to the bar service. The food was absolutely outstanding. The presentation of food was very professional and visually appealing. The staff was equally outstanding. Everyone was so sweet, accommodating, and efficient. We received so many compliments from guests about the wedding. The Waterfront exceeded our high expectations in everything. In particular, Kate – the event coordinator at The Waterfront – made the event what it was. She did an exceptional job handling our wedding. She continually went above and beyond to meet our every request, gave outstanding recommendations, and was incredibly accessible throughout the entire experience. Kate was a dream to work with. We truly couldn't have asked for a better experience throughout the wedding planning process. I would recommend The Waterfront and Kate in a heartbeat – they both blew us away. The location was incredible too. The property is very well taken care of, they are right on the river, next to a beautiful park, and you often see ferry boats. At night the bridge is lit up. Overall, very picturesque and so many great options for stunning photographs!

It was perfect!! - An Eventective User from la Crosse, Wi

My husband and I are both originally from prairie du chien, which is another wonderful town on the river... and when we were finally engaged I knew the waterfront would be the perfect place for our perfect day! And we were right. The waterfront staff , the revenue and Kate made our day something that our friends and family will never forget! I highly recommend this space to everyone!

Wonderful wedding experience -- would definitely recommend! - An Eventective User from IOWA CITY, IA

Kate and the whole Waterfront team were so wonderful. Everything about the whole process with them was as stress-free as possible. The wedding went off without a hitch, and we got so many compliments from our guests about the venue and the food. The food was great, the service was great, and Kate was amazing. Thank you Waterfront!

Venue Types
Amenities
  • ADA/ACA Accessible
  • On-Site Catering Service
  • Outdoor Function Area
  • Valet Parking
  • Waterview
  • Wireless Internet/Wi-Fi
Features
  • Max Number of People for an Event: 400