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1. D'Amico Cucina
100 N 6th St, Historic Butler Square, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · 612-338-2401
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DOWNTOWN. This elegant, world-class restaurant regularly gets rave reviews for its contemporary Italian cuisine. The menu – featuring roasted meats, parchment-baked fish, and fresh, inventive pastas – maintains a consistently high quality, and the excellent wine list complements the superb cuisine. Located in an historic warehouse, the restaurant boasts simple, understated decor, complete with high ceilings and magnificent art.
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2. Campiello
1320 W Lake St, Minneapolis, MN 55408-2763 · 612-825-2222
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UPTOWN. This snazzy Italian restaurant specializes in outstanding pastas, salads, pizzas, and poultry. Catch a glimpse of the chefs at work in the open kitchen as they prepare spit-roasted chicken and risotto, balsamic-glazed beef short ribs, and sauteed halibut. To finish off, make sure you sample the Italian cookie platter or the chocolate truffle cake. The dining area features elaborate, hand-painted, faux-finished walls.
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3. Bellanotte
600 Hennepin Ave, # 170, Minneapolis, MN 55403 · 612-339-7200
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DOWNTOWN. This suave downtown spot promises an evening of fine dining and a sophisticated, white linen setting. Italian-inspired cuisine is the specialty, and sure to impress the palate are dishes such as butternut squash ravioli, penne vodka tossed with salmon, and four-layer lasagna with ground beef Bolognese sauce and sweet ground sausage. After dinner, make your way over to the beautiful onyx-topped bar and enjoy some of Minneapolis' best people-watching. Wednesday nights feature live jazz from 7:30pm-9:30pm, and you can land terrific drink and food specials during happy hour.
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4. Zelo
831 Nicollet Mall, Medical Arts Building, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · 612-333-7000
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DOWNTOWN. Zelo successfully brings the scintillating atmosphere, tastes, and aromas of Northern Italy to downtown Minneapolis. The sophisticated restaurant's rich, dramatic interior is marked by bold bronze and black tones, intimate booths, and a trendy bar scene. The menu includes pastas, pizzas, wood-grilled pork and steaks, fresh fish, veal scallopine, and even an ahi tuna burger. Complete a meal with molten chocolate cake, artisan cheeses, or a tripartite gelato sampler.
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5. al Vento
5001 34th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55417 · 612-724-3009
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NOKOMIS. Hearty southern Italian cuisine comes to South Minneapolis in this cozy restaurant. Yellow-gold paint and whimsical decorative touches create an intimate, welcoming space. Octopus with saffron potato and citronette makes for an unexpected starter, while updated classics like spaghetti with tomato and veal meatballs and gorgonzola-crusted steak with wild mushroom ragu populate the entrees menu. Arrive early on weeknights to sip half-price bottles of wine between 4:30pm and 5:30pm.
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UPTOWN. Delicious Northern Italian cooking is Giorgio's specialty. A range of enticing entrees is reconsidered in light of each new season's bounty, and even so, selections remain consistently inventive and well-prepared. Try sautéed baby octopus with zucchini, risotto cakes, and pepper oil, or give yourself over to rosemary-tinged lamb. You'll also want to enjoy Tuscan breads and pastas, which are always fresh and flavorful.
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7. Figlio
3001 Hennepin Ave S, Calhoun Square, Minneapolis, MN 55408 · 612-822-1688
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UPTOWN. Snug Figlio, one of Minneapolis's trendier restaurants, is just the place to brush shoulders with a well-heeled crowd. Famous for its small plates and wood-grilled meats and seafood, Figlio promises incredible, rustic fare. At lunch, creative pizzas, pastas, and salads reign, but at dinner, you'll want to try garlicky, brick-pressed chicken or maybe Tuscan lamb chops. The best tables are located in the rear near the fireplace, and you can also dine al fresco.
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8. Prima
5325 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419 · 612-827-7376
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SOUTH MINNEAPOLIS. Whether you're looking for an on-the-go sandwich for lunch or a leisurely, first-date dinner, Prima is a wise choice. Locals rave about the deli sandwiches, piled high with choice meats and accompaniments like brie and spinach. Pastas take center stage at dinner – five-cheese tortellini and spaghetti vongole are dished up in generous, savory portions. Agnolotti, small pasta stuffed with a puree of red peppers and goat cheese, is not to be missed. With several dishes geared towards vegetarians and a kid-friendly atmosphere, there's something for everyone at this favorite neighborhood bistro.
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9. Ciao Bella
3501 Minnesota Dr, Bloomington, MN 55435 · 952-841-1000
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BLOOMINGTON. Sister restaurant of Zelo, Ciao Bella is a trendy, smartly decorated eatery that's quite popular at lunch and dinner with the business crowd. The moody restaurant features sensous curves, exposed brick, wrought iron, and bold design elements, including a funky bar. Pizza is king at lunch, but at dinner you'll want to sample excellent pasta dishes – fusilli with grilled chicken is not to be missed. Fresh fish, steaks, and chicken also prove delicious. Reservations are suggested.
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LORING PARK. If you're in the mood for family-style Italian food, try downtown's Buca di Beppo. Inside, colorful dining areas feature a wide range of eccentric statues and paintings. For dinner, try a Napoli-style Pizza Bianca, or if you're looking for something a little different, sample salmon Siracusa (with olives and capers) or Buca's own chicken Vesuvio. Chocolate lovers will want the spumoni or cannoli, both of which are sinful. Along with family-style offerings, individual-sized portions are available.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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