For not having a reservation, only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The servers and the staff were all nice and friendly and regularly checked in to ensure we had everything we wanted. The restaurant is beautiful inside and the vibe was very welcoming. - The beet bruschetta is amazing! Absolutely delicious and surprised me how amazing it was based on the simple menu description. - The mushroom pasta was my favorite pasta of the night -- excellent texture of the pasta and the mushroom filling was literally like a pillow! Only note was it was a bit more oily than I prefer. - Torchio pasta was delicious -- just wish there was more pork to balance the toppings with the pasta and sauce. - The dessert was okay. The crust was a bit more firm than expected for a tart shell. The flavors were not anything I've tasted before. Overall, I can see why Bar La Grassa is a Minneapolis favorite! The pasta flavors are creative and delicious!
Ate there on Juneteenth, and had a good experience. I ordered the Pasta Negra for dinner and it was as I had hoped: Delicious and easy to eat, for me personally. I think it may be a regular dish I will order and suggest to others to try. As for the tiramisu, it was the best I've ever eaten, and I've tried several bakeries and store-sold tiramisus. I have no doubt in my mind that the other dishes are as good as the dinner and dessert I had that night. While a bit loud I did not mind it. Doesn't take away from the nice atmosphere of the restaurant, and it was clean. Service was as excellent as the employees who work there. I am considering taking family to here at some point in the future. Overall, this place is one you should dine in if you need time for yourself or if you're on a date. Only con I have is finding nice parking to dine there.
So. Incredibly. Good. This restaurant was a recommendation from a colleague and it didn't disappoint. The apps (Caesar salad and focaccia) were okay but the pasta was the star of the show. I did the short rib one and wish I lived closer so I could eat it weekly. Even though it was packed, the service was quick. Definitely worth the trip!
We visited Bar la Grassa for a weekend date night and overall had a good experience. We made reservations for the Pasta Bar and upon arriving right on time for our reservation, we were instructed to wait as customers were staying a little longer than usual. It's not ideal, but it's not a huge issue. In terms of ambiance, the restaurant has a dark and moody vibe. After we were seated at the Pasta Bar (which faces the back of house/kitchen), we were promptly greeted by a waitress and given menus, tableware, and water. We ordered a bottle of wine, the charred red onion w/ goat cheese bruschetta, spaghetti and meatball (not on the menu, you have to ask for it), and the mushroom & taleggio agnolotti (which was like mushroom dumpling-shaped pasta), and the tiramisu for dessert. The good: The wine was chilled perfectly, the staff was kind and prompt, the tiramisu was the perfect round out to the meal, and the spaghetti and meatball was everything you want in a classic dish -- al dente noodles, acidic tomato sauce, and a moist meatball. It was so fun seeing the back-of-house in action! The not-so-good: We were a little surprised that the charred onion & goat cheese bruschetta was cold. We figured the charred onion would be served hot. The mushroom & taleggio pasta was so rich we could only eat a few bites. We both love mushrooms and pasta so were taken aback by how rich this dish was. Overall, we had a great night out at Bar la Grassa and it was fun to see all the staff working in the back-of-house and the chefs prepping pasta and meals, so definitely recommend getting reservations at the Pasta Bar.
Bar La Grassa in Minneapolis offers a delightful Italian dining experience with a cozy, intimate ambiance perfect for a date night. Here's a quick look at why it's worth a visit: Ambiance:Dark, cozy, and inviting, Bar La Grassa provides the perfect romantic setting. The warm, intimate atmosphere makes it an ideal spot for a special evening out. Appetizers:The Soft Eggs & Lobster Bruschetta is a standout. The eggs were incredibly fluffy, and the generous portion of succulent lobster made this appetizer memorable. It's a delightful start that sets the tone for the rest of the meal. Pasta:I tried the Gnocchi with Cauliflower & Orange, a dish that impressed with its unique flavor profile. The tender gnocchi, combined with the unexpected but delightful hint of orange, created a refreshing and harmonious dish. The Crab Ravioli was rich and flavorful, with a delicate crab filling. Although the portion was smaller than expected, the quality of the ravioli made it a satisfying entrée. Dessert:Their Tiramisu was exceptional. It had creamy layers with a perfect balance of coffee and mascarpone, providing a light yet indulgent finish to the meal. Service:The staff were attentive and friendly, enhancing the dining experience with their excellent service and knowledge of the menu. Overall:Bar La Grassa combines a romantic, cozy atmosphere with exceptional food and great service. From the unforgettable Soft Eggs & Lobster Bruschetta to the unique Gnocchi with Cauliflower & Orange and the divine Tiramisu, this place is a top choice for a memorable Italian dining experience in Minneapolis. Highly recommended for a special night out!
We came here for a friends birthday and it was a perfect choice. The dim lighting and beautiful interior made the place feel so upscale and perfect vibe for a romantic and special date or celebration! We had 6 people with us so we got to try a LOT of the dishes. I got the squid ink pasta and it was fantastic. the mussels had no sand in them and they tasted very fresh. Watch out though because it will make your mouth, teeth and lips black so it might not be a good dish to get for a first date (it's so yummy tho). The Torchio w/charred pork & pea shoots was great. The ziti shrimp was by FAR my fave and will absolutely be getting it next time. Literally any dish you choose will be amazing. The service was great. I cannot wait to return!
First things first, if you're thinking about going to Bar La Grassa, you definitely should! I decided to take myself out to eat as a celebration for recently becoming a licensed therapist, and Bar La Grassa pulled me in with their delicious looking menu. I had Ryan as my server, and he was incredibly patient with me as I asked questions and shared food allergy concerns. As a previous server, I always value when servers are honest about the menu. Ryan gave me honest feedback when I asked him his opinion on dishes. I had the caeser salad and the crispy pork & carrot puree bruchetta to start. I paired this with the boulevardier, which was a bit lighter in color than I've had before, but it was still very good. For my main course, I had the maltagliati w/ milk-braised short rib and ricotta sugo. My only wish is that there had been more short rib in the dish. I had gotten my fair share of meat from the bruchetta, but if I hadn't had that, I would have been more disappointed with the lack of short rib. I paired the pasta with a glass of nebbiolo wine, thanks to Ryan's suggestion. I finished my meal off with the tiramisu and an espresso. I'm a snob when it comes to tiramisu, and honestly, this was one of the best I've ever had. The espresso paired nicely since it was fairly sweet. I also had a little more wine left, and they also paired nicely together. Finally, I took a piece of lemon tart home to share with my partner. We haven't dug into it yet, but based on everything else, I'd be incredibly surprised if I didn't love it. My total came to $125.01 before tip, which was about what I was expecting. It was a pretty perfect celebration dinner, and I am excited to try more dishes in the future!
Back again at BLG for another celebratory dinner. We started with the ricotta and tomato bruschetta (came with two large slices) and then shared the crab ravioli and the braised short rib pasta. Service was quick and friendly - all of the staff knows the menu very well. It was a bit loud in the restaurant tonight, but it was just fine for our group of 2
Tried Bar La Grassa for the first time over the busy Memorial Day weekend. The atmosphere was great and we were seated at a table by the window. The service was top notch with our waitress answering all our questions and expertly describing the dishes and our water glasses were never empty. We started with Soft eggs and lobster - fantastic. I'm not a fan of soft eggs but I would eat this any day. The lobster shined through very nicely. Charred red onion with goat cheese - delicious. The visual made me think it was mushrooms vs charred red onion but once I took a bite - wow! Such flavors. Arancini - was a good representation of Arancini. The arancini and sauce paled in flavor when put next to the soft eggs and lobster and charred red onion with goat cheese. We did order four pastas of which the spaghetti carbonara was the winner in our book. The pasta nera with mussels and braised tomatoes was tasty but was exceptionally salty, likely due to the squid ink. I would probably choose that as an appetizer if it were available in a smaller plate size. The mushroom and taleggio agnolotti had definitely a potent and stronger than Brie cheese that was not to our tastes. The maltagliati with milk braised short ribs and ricotta sugo was very mild and bordered on bland for our liking. I was so full at this point with lots of leftovers going home with me, but I had to try a dessert for my birthday. We got the tiramisu - delicious. I really enjoyed the way they made the tiramisu with chunky pieces of nuts in one of the middle layers. But my most favorite of the evening was the vanilla bean ice cream with espresso - wow!
Everything about this restaurant was incredible, ambiance, drinks & great service. Would highly recommend any of the dishes we got (burrata, lobster ravioli and the mushroom pasta was the best thing we tried on the menu! 5 stars