We did a pre-Symphony tasting menu and enjoyed the experience. The salad was subtle, a squash puree instead of dressing, pasta dish al-dente, the two white wines quite sophisticated and layered in a way that augmented the food flavors. We shared the scallops and New York Strip and these were nicely prepared and matched in the wine department. The only adverse feedback was the absence of a chocolate dessert, and the Budino was matched with Pumpkin creme (hello... great with my Turkey dinner- last I knew this is spring!) The cappucino was tasty, and all in all this was a pleasing experience.
First off I’d really like to thank the staff for being so accommodating to my fiancé and I last night. We showed up for our reservation to celebrate his birthday and we’re seated at a table that most people would have enjoyed. However, my fiancé is a veteran and occasionally certain situations can over stimulate him. The tables and other guests next to us were a little too much for him. With the restaurant so busy, I assumed we wouldn’t being able to move tables and we would have to leave. But I approached the Host desk to ask if there was another table available, and they were more than happy to help us. They found a more quiet, spaced table in the back and asked if that would be suitable. So again, thank you for the amazing hosts for helping us. On top of that, our server was attentive during our time there.Now on to the food! We both enjoyed the overall experience of the chefs tasting menu. Out of the tastings, we loved everything but the scallops. Someone else may love them, but we prefer our scallops cooked. But, it was an adventure to try something new and out of the box for our palates.Overall, we loved our experience at Monello. We will be happily coming back, next time I’ll just know to request a table in the back.
Desserts are mouthwatering! You cannot go there and skip dessert.The arancini appetizer was a pleasant surprise.We ordered the spaghetti nero which was good and also the pappardelle with wild boar but that one was tasteless.Great service!! 5 star service.
A poor start when arriving at 5:35 PM for our complimentary valet parking included in Monello's pre-symphony special at the Ivy Hotel that houses the restaurant, the doorman advised us that they were restricting parking to hotel guests as there was "something going on at the Convention Center". We dropped off our two dinner guests to get to our 5:45 dinner reservation. After parking next door at the Hilton Garage, we joined our table at 6:10, still plenty of time for our 8PM concert at Orchestra Hall. Service was excellent, ah but the three course dinner! Starting after a round of cocktails, came the first course, a green salad. As a (very old) traditionalist, I am not a fan of "yuppy greens" but prefer lettuce. Now I don't expect or crave head lettuce, but consider a green salad to have romaine, escarole, curly endive, endive, leaf or bib lettuce in it. Alas, at least for myself I found the salad consisting of arugula (AKA "rocket" or raquette) with shaved fennel, (both of which I detest) diluted with an occasional baby spinach leaf, I personally was not pleased nor were two of the other three diners. The next course was a small fistful of an obviously house made pasta, tasty and just the right quantity not to upset one's anticipation of the main course. There were two choices of mains, scallops or steak. Now I am not one to generally complain about quantity being sufficiently well fed over my lifetime, but two scallops? My wife who ordered them was a bit surprised as well and she weighs in at 105 pounds! She found the preparation to be quite tasty but thought a third scallop would not have been out of the question. Three of us ordered steak. We were each presented with two strips of beef measuring about 2 3/4 x 5/8 x 1/2 inch thick on a bed of very good whipped potatoes and a delightful sauce. We all agreed that although tasty, the beef was aged as it was so tough that the cow must have died of old age. Due to our parking misadventure, there was no time for desert (that was not included). And you know, at $39 for the 3 course set menu + a cocktail + tax and a 20% tip + having to pay for free parking, there are several restaurants in Minneapolis where you can still get a decent meal. Unfortunately, none are in immediate proximity to Orchestra Hall.
We came here on a whim for dessert, and it was absolutely incredible! The dessert menu offers surprising variety, with something for everyone. Each member of our party ordered something different: the cheese with pear, lemon meringue crostata, pistachio gelato, and the almond butter cake with apple. We all thought we had the best dessert. I don't believe you could go wrong with anything on that menu. The flavors are wonderfully diverse, with combinations one might not expect. We also ordered some "kiddie cocktails" that were uniquely formulated by the bartender on the spot. They too were wholly enjoyable with flavors that complemented themselves fabulously. The staff we interacted with were quite friendly, courteous, and knowledgeable. Definitely stop by, if you're interested! They told us about their dinner options, a mix of traditional and modern coastal Italian cuisine as well as seasonal menu options.
Went here for my birthday ... unfortunately the flavors promised were not delivered. It lacked complexity altogether. We ordered the ravioli - (the sauce tasted flat and store-bought, and the Casarecce - the main flavor in this was butter. 2 stars because the crushed potatoes were the best we had that night and the service was just okay.
Delightful waitstaff and delicious dinner. We were there for our 33rd anniversary. Our waiter welcomed us with a card signed by some of the staff, and helped us pick out a wonderful wine to accompany our dinner selection. Overall a very relaxing place for our special event.
We had a great time at Monello for my birthday tonight! Great food, great service and a great ambiance! We'll be back!
Great Italian restaurant with a perfectly small menu which I prefer! Do a few things well instead of many things mediocre! We came here for the first time before a concert at the Minneapolis orchestra hall and again stopped by for a night cap. Great service and very good food.
We absolutely loved our evening at Monello Cucina! The food and wine were fantastic -- and perhaps what really stood out to us was our wonderful server. He was tremendous - so much fun, very knowledgeable about wine, and made it a lovely experience for us. We also really felt welcomed and it was fun to see the friendly energy emanating from all of your staff at the restaurant. Clearly they enjoy working at Monello. We highly recommend Monello Cucina and look forward to a return soon! Happy Holidays!