I - Nonni Menu

  • Antipasti
  • Asseggini
  • Degustazione Menu
  • Primi Piatti
  • Secondi
  • Bar Antipasti - Happy Hour
  • Dolci

Healthy Meal suggestions for I - Nonni

  • Antipasti
  • Asseggini
  • Degustazione Menu
  • Primi Piatti
  • Secondi
  • Bar Antipasti - Happy Hour
  • Dolci

Visit below restaurant in Saint Paul for healthy meals suggestion.

Visit below restaurant in Saint Paul for healthy meals suggestion.

  • Kelly J.

    I came here with my boyfriend for our anniversary dinner. This place is hidden and I hope it stays that way! The food was amazingly delicious, the wine pairings were superb and I can only mention a certain dish that will change your life: Figgy Toffee Pudding. Seriously - you must get it. Dessert will never be the same again. We had the tasting menu which is more than enough food, and quite a good deal for the price. You start with an appetizer, then have a pasta dish and after the pasta you still get a main course! The sausage rigatoni is simple but pristine, and I cannot say enough about the halibut I had - to die for. They have a seasonal menu so the dishes available when you go may be very different, but I can be quite sure that the food will be consistently delicious no matter what time of year it is.

    (5)
  • Ann Marie F.

    Sat solo at the bar, and ordered my Aperol spritz... Different than Italy, yet completely delish! I had the calamari appetizer, very lightly breaded, and tasty. But then came my antipasti: cacciucco alla Livornese. Wow! A spicy tomato sauce (broth), literally packed with seafood! I'm sure this dish is to be shared, but I ate it as my dinner! Make sure you order extra grilled bread to sop up all the sauce! Gotta run, spritz just delivered! After a long trip to Italy, I was craving some good food! I'll be back!

    (5)
  • Randy K.

    Delicious halibut and shrimp pasta. But, $12 for a salad with too much pepper, one tomato and some romaine lettuce barely enough for one person is outrageous. Setting is very pleasant and service was OK. There are better Italian restaurants in St. Paul at fairer prices. We won't be back. Deserts had nothing of interest.

    (4)
  • Chris S.

    I gave this a solid 4 stars, great service, great food, and a great time. In town on business, my colleagues and I were looking for a nice Italian experience and we found just that. Whether you're in the mood for a casual fine dining experience or looking for a trip to old country Italy, you're in for a treat! I highly recommend this restaurant for a night you won't soon forget.

    (4)
  • Mike E.

    You can expect a memorable experience" when dining at I Nonni - it will be a meal not soon forgotten. As others have mentioned, the service is exceptional, and the entire staff seems to work in perfect harmony. If you can, request to be seated in Jay's section, as he has 20+ years of experience in formal Italian dining. He's a star and a delight. The lighting and mood are perfect for a formal occasion, or for a semi-formal cause for celebration. I ordered the DEGUSTAZIONE, which is one item each from antipasti, primi and secondi, which currently runs for $39. I chose the VONGOLE (steamed clams, smoked soppressata, scallion, potato puree), GARGANELLI (braised rabbit ragu, treviso, caprino, rosemary), and the AGNELLO (lamb chops "scottadito", lemon, fingerling potatoes, arugula, pecorino). The vongole and agnello both stood out as all-star dishes, the kind of flavors I will remember for months, or even years. I am told some of the wine options here are not sold anywhere else in the US, and they have an attached market where you can buy wine to take home. Our meal ended up lasting 3 1/2 hours, with the time passing impossibly fast. Truly an awesome experience.

    (5)
  • Meghann F.

    The food was very good as the other reviewers have suggested - we had a deal that I got with wine and three courses for two peeps - we had some salad to start and ordered a couple of extra things beyond our deal - I got the scallops for an entree and my boy got the lamb, steak and sausage sampler - both were amazingly good. We got a gnocchi w/ meat as a pasta - extra - i forget because it wasn't on the menu and tried the ricotta cheese dessert - which was essentially a cannoli. The wines that we got were amazing - i first got a really dry red - i forget the kind - but it was $16 and tasty! (and covered by the deal ;)) The service was okay - they were really, really busy - the server forgot one of our extra courses that we ordered - which was okay because we had plenty - and we might have ordered a bottle of wine if she had come around more often - like i said they were super busy - so it wasn't her . . .maybe they need more staff? We had others looking after us - getting us bread and water as well - but they missed out on us ordering some extras because they didn't have the time to spend that I guess I expect more at a fine dining establishment?

    (4)
  • Nicholas G.

    We're off to Mendota Heights where a place called I Nonni Osteria & Buon Giorno is serving some fantastic Italian cuisine. I Nonni may be on the higher end of the price list and if that's a deal breaker for you, then stop for lunch and let Buon Giorno, their pasta bar and fresh Italian market make something delicious for you. There is plenty to choose from and you can even take some of it home with you from their fresh market. If you're eating at I Nonni, I recommend their house special spaghetti and sausage and I guarantee that you WILL NOT find a better dish anywhere else that shares similar ingredients, period!

    (5)
  • aaron a.

    I previously rated I Nonni at 4 stars. Little did I realize how wrong I was. This is a five star Italian restaurant all the way through. The service is exceptional. The wine list is amazing. And the service is outstanding. The food outshines all of that. The last nightly special I had yesterday knocked me back a few paces. It was among the best seafood dishes I've ever had. Zuppa de Pesce taken to a new level, loaded with clams, lobster, shrimp, tuna...wonderful and delicious...sea beans? Who would have thought. Saffron, lovely. This was the highlight of this month for me. It was terrific! We come here often for happy hour to eat at the bar. This place has the best pizza in the city. We always get the margarita and add anchovies Napolitana style. Amazing thin crust, just like we ate many times in italy. The sauce perfect, the ingredients top shelf. And at 1/2 price between 4-6 for a measly $6, I can't think of a better deal on a pizza anywhere especially at this quality. Every dinner I've had here in the last 9 months has been exceptional and we eat here up to 2 times a week. It's so consistently amazing that I have a hard time going anywhere else for Italian food in MN. No, actually, I probably won't bother going anywhere else for Italian in MN. I found the best around.

    (5)
  • Jim R.

    We have visited this out of the way Italian restaurant on 4 different occasions. Each time the food and wine has been excellent. Our most recent visit in August didn't live up to the other 3 and it underscores what a difference the waiter can play in your overall dining experience. Our first visit (yea Groupon), we had Jay - and his descriptions of the food, helpful tips about portions and wine recommendations really put the icing on the cake for my wife and I. We've eaten at hundreds of restaurants and I'd have to put Jay up there in my top 5 waiters ever! So on our subsequent visits we asked to be seated in his section and had 2 more 5 start experiences. One time we even let him just bring food and wine based on what he thought was good. Probably our best dining experience since our trip to Italy last year. This most recent visit we couldn't get in Jay's section (he was working the great patio and it looked like rain so we opted to eat indoors). The food was just as good but our efficient and impersonal server left us wishing for Jay. Food recommendations: Peekytoe crab salad (yum!), fried zucchini blossoms, Oso Buco, Blood Orange Sorbet (love it!) and whatever wine Jay recommends to go with your food.

    (4)
  • Sophie C.

    Out of the three restaurant week trips (128 Cafe, I Nonni, Capital Grille) I took in February, I can safely say that I Nonni is probably the only place that I would return to. It was very confusing at first as we walked right into the bar area. We just stood there for a while confused. Then we realized that the host table is just past the bar area - they need a better position for the host, or have the host stand by the door. We were seated at a booth - the ones where the back is positioned against the wall, and it is almost like a mini-sofa in which we sat right next to each other. It was a bit awkward at first since we were across from other tables in the middle of the dining room - felt like we were staring at other diners unintentionally. For drinks, I had the Moscato D'Asti La Caliera - this was really good, my cup of tea!! Light, fruity, not-too-sweet. I am on a hunt to find it in stores now. For appetizers, I had Pan Fried Veal Liver with bacon and caramelized onions. This was really fatty, melt-in-your-mouth, and flavorful! Maybe a little too fatty...I felt a little heartburn after. My friend had the Raw Beef with shaved parmesan cheese and arugula. This was definitely a lighter appetizer. It was refreshing - although not much flavor, but very fresh beef! For entrees, I had the Pan Seared Duck Breast with Foie Gras. This is the first time ever I have ever had duck breast! I think it was medium rare as far as I can tell. It almost tastes a bit like roast duck with the crispy skin. The Foie Gras was fatty, melt-in-your-mouth. I think the dish could use a little bit more veggies as it was very meat-heavy. My friend had the Braised Beef Ribs - and wow, the portion was HUGE. Unfortunately, this was a miss. Even though the beef itself was very tender, the sauce is somewhat bland and doesn't add much to it at all. Time for Desserts: Tiramsu - it was decent, fluffy and light, but not memorable. HUGE portion again! Chocolate Torte - BEST chocolate torte I have ever had. They drizzled some olive oil and also sprinkled some peanuts on top, which added some saltiness. And to my surpise, it worked really well with the semi-sweet, bitter and dense chocolate!! I left nothing on this plate. Note that they have a seasonal menu - so it does change. I am looking forward to coming back to try the $45 three course tasting menu! Last note - great service from our waitress as well!

    (4)
  • Bruce K.

    Above average, but not great Italian restaurant. Had the pappardelle and rigatoni, both of which were made in house. The taste and texture we're fine, but nothing spectacular. In most cases homemade pasta really distinguishes itself from boxed pasta, but not here, so I was a little disappointed. My companion had the lamb chops, which was good, but overpriced. Almost 40 $ for three average sized chops? Come on. The setting is nice with a large high ceilinged room and an adjoining Italian market. Service was friendly and attentive. It is quite drive , so I don't see myself going back, but is certainly a good option if you're in the area.

    (4)
  • J H.

    I really like this restaurant although it is located in a bizarre place. The first time we are here was inside which was stuffy. The second time on deck (in summer obviously) and atmosphere was terrific. The food both times have been terrific Italian and decent wine selection. It's worth going and finding this restaurant for very good Italian.

    (4)
  • Tony S.

    A completely overrated restaurant. If you like foo foo food with poor flavor combinations, then by all means, visit I Nonni. Over priced and the service was poor. The menu has very limited options. I like quality dining. I am not stuffy or pretentious. I do, however, like value. If I am going to pay a lot for a meal, I expect it to be high quality and appetizing. The salumi antpasti was dry and flavorless. The salads were strange combinations of odd favors that seemed poorly researched. It took 3 requests and more than 10 minutes to get a basket of bread brought to the table. I will not visit this restaurant again. Go there if you are among the group that pretends to like overpriced food that really is not very good. I have had much better Italian food at several other places in the Twin Cities. Go somewhere else.

    (2)
  • Renisha P.

    This has to be one of the best Italian restaurants I've eaten at. I've been here twice so far and every appetizer, entree and dessert I've had was really good! I don't have any complaints except that it is quite a drive for me to get there... but it was worth it :)

    (4)
  • Mia T.

    The BEST fried calamari I've had (and I've had it at almost every restaurants we go to that serves that). It was so fresh & tender with right amount of flavoring; not chewy and crumbly dough like some places. The food is phenomenal. It was fresh, flavorful, traditional (as it gets). The service was also excellent! Waiters was attentive to you, knowledgeable about the foods. It's one of those place that serves you with fancy utensils/dishes & there's a more utensils & dishes than what you'd know to do with them. This place is classy and serene so do dress up a little. The wine cellar walking makes it unique. The restaurant itself isn't big so you may have to make reservation. It is connected to the market. I haven't been there but I can imagine it carrying wide variety of Italian foods.

    (5)
  • DeAnna J.

    Goodness gracious, great balls of meat. LOL. Did someone say threecoursemealfor45dollars?!? Umm, eff yes! Seriously. The best! I had the INSALATA di TESTA (house-cured salumi with warm brussel sprouts, sweet onion and shaved pecorino) as my starter. Proceeded to this GIANT brick of LASAGNETTE (neapolitan style with sausage ragu, prosciutto meatballs, ricotta, parmigiano reggiano) - not even kidding. This thing could have fed two. Last but not least, my third course was the MAIALE (slow roasted bone-in pork loin, roasted sweet spaghetti squash pancetta brussel sprouts). Amazing. The portions were out of this world. I finished my salad (first course), and literally took two bites from each entree. To top it off, I had the Panna Cotta for dessert. A cup of coffee. And a Noncino Manhattan. The walnut bitters was the perfect companion to the Bulleit. Would I come back here again? Well, duh. I've been here many a times. It's definitely my pick of Italian when I want a nice, sit down dinner. P.S. The service was phenomenal as well. :)

    (5)
  • Jim W.

    The short answer for the three-star rating is this: Of the five food items we ordered, only one was good enough to be considered 5-star -- the other four items did not "wow", and a couple of them were not prepared well. And for the prices you pay, there is no excuse for anything being less than "wow". Also, although the reservation noted that we were there for our anniversary, not a word was said about it, nor a token dessert offered as acknowledgement. So: Why ask??? Read on... The evening started well with two very nicely executed cocktails at the bar, as we waited for a table on the patio. It's a beautiful space. We ordered the $45 three-course dinner, plus an appetizer and an extra salad, and split everything. We had: 1) the Mussels appetizer -- this, with the bread and butter to sop up the broth, was excellent; this was 5-star. (But the kitchen didn't catch a completely-closed shell - meaning dangerous to eat - which maybe they should have). Overall: Excellent 2) Greens salad -- nice honey vinaigrette dressing, although a bit sweet for me; the greens were not bitter at all; Overall: Above average 3) Asparagus w/fried egg on top -- interesting combo; however, the asparagus tended to be a bit tough and stringy in too many bites; when I mentioned this to the waitress, she explained that the kitchen keeps the length of the asparagus the same, thus resulting in some tough portions. Then she promptly went away. I'm sorry, but that explanation didn't do a thing for my experience of the dish. Overall: Average (flawed execution) 4) Linguine and clams -- a minuscule portion, and I do mean minuscule. We knew that the 'tasting menu' portions were smaller, but please... Beyond that, it was not very good; it was not rich in flavor, and there was also an "off" taste to it; I mentioned to the waitress that it tasted like un-reduced (uncooked) wine left in the broth, and she acknowledged my experience, but then again just went away. And that was that. Overall: Below Average (flawed execution, average recipe) 5) Encrusted Halibut -- needed salt (not on the table), but was good after that. My wife evaluated it by saying it was not bad, but she wouldn't order it again. I.e., no "wow" factor. Overall: Above average to average So, in the end: - some food was flawed - some was average - no attempt to correct the issues - no acknowledgement of our anniversary - small portions - high prices What would you rate this experience?? For me it was not "The Best Italian Food in the Twin Cities"...

    (3)
  • Yvonne C.

    This is our favorite Italian restaurant in the Twin Cities area by a long shot. If you want top-notch customer service, exquisite food, and relaxing/cozy ambiance- this is the place for you!

    (5)
  • Lila C.

    Lindsey D. and I made our 2nd annual summer pilgrimage to I Nonni a couple weekends ago, depending on the time this can truly be a feat coming from downtown Minneapolis. Sadly we didn't make it in time to grab a table outside but we did take a romantic stroll around the small pond after dinner like an couple. First things first, the price increase on HH - the HH items are now at reduced price rather than 1/2 off. A little confusion when we received the menu because the bartender gave us a "bar menu" with a selection that stated "reduced price antipasti", however that is their HH menu and they must only distribute that during HH because the prices listed on there are already at the reduced prices. We had: - Steamed Mussels, which were a miss, small shriveled and dry. The garlicky tomato sauce (practically a soup) that accompanies the mussels is still tasty as ever though. I always ask for spoons to go at it. No shame. - Calamari Fritti, still a home run dish! Seriously, how do they do such a light batter? And never chewy, this goes down like butter. - Rigatoncini, sausage ragu, parmigiano - DELICIOUS. I love meat sauce so this was the perfect dish for me (and you if you're also a meat lover), the ratio was a dozen noodles on a large ladle scoop of red sauce. Every bite was as if the flavors of Italy had exploded in my mouth. The table bread is perfect for dipping in this and the mussel soup.

    (4)
  • Christine P.

    This was my first time at Osteria l Nonni and I have to say it exceeded my expectations. We were seated indoors, at a table w/ beautiful views overlooking the patio and water behind the restaurant. We started with a caprese salad- called, BURATTA. The creamed mozzarella was so fresh and the texture was much smoother than some varieties...local tomatoes, basil & tuscan oil... Very simple, but fantastic! Discovered an amazing red wine, Ca'Rugatte Valpolicella Ripasso... Delicious!! Going on my top 5 red wines list. Next, I had the Chittarri blue lump crab w/ avocado, and Fresno chilis... Excellent combo of flavors. Fresh as can be! My main course was AGNELLO: lamb chops "scottadito", lemon, rosemary potatoes, fennel caponata... The lamb was EXTREMELY tender and flavorful... Literally, fall off the bone. It was the fav of the table! At this point in the meal, I was very full, so plenty of sharing was in order! Lastly, we saved room for the most amazing carrot cake!! It rivals the best carrot cake I've tried from Daube's Bakery in Rochester. I believe a bake-off is in order! I was very pleased with our dining experience at l Nonni. The service was impeccable... our waters were refilled after every 4 sips! If you want to enjoy some killer Italian cuisine and sip delicious wine, then this is the place to visit!

    (5)
  • David C.

    I've been here 5-6 times with my CEO, and look forward to it every single time. Expensive and worth it. Every dish is prepared with ultimate care and passion. It really shows through, starting with the tableside breads. Wine list is mostly Italian and exquisite. Service and presentation are both impeccable, however don't come here for dinner without allowing 2-2.5 hours for a memorable and lingering experience. They will not rush you out to turn your table, and far from it, they want you to chill and enjoy yourself and the very comfortable environment, which is decidedly upscale and appealing. EVERYTHING is truly Italian, from the menu language to the neo-Roman-ruins wall plaster and columns, to the ambiance. Did I mention the food? Dreamy Italian-foodie cuisine. FANTASTIC RESTAURANT, and knowledgeable, attentive servers and bar staff. Also--- try Tuesday's Tasting Menu: as much as you want of anything/everything on that particular menu. I have not yet had it, but cannot wait to get my ass in there on my least favorite day of the week, Tuesday. Nor have I been here for Happy Hour, but apparently the apps and pizzas are half price. Gotta do both of these soon, next time up to Minneapolis.

    (5)
  • Linny W.

    It is a wonderful place to eat. I took a friend before the St Paul Chamber Orchestra Concert for Dinner. We ordered Mussels; they were wonderful and the tomato broth was superb. The bread they served is the best bread I have had for soaking up the broth. I ordered Sea Bass. The fish preparation was wonderful but it had a fishy smell. It did not taste fishy. I plan to go back and try another entree and order the mussels again! The service was great!

    (4)
  • Mike B.

    Another great experience for my wife and I. Leisurely 3 hour dinner with a great bottle of wine. Everything is excellent but its all about the pasta

    (5)
  • Beth J.

    To be honest, Italian food has never really excited me... until I found i Nonni. Located off hwy 13, i Nonni is tucked away in an unassuming small office complex at the front of a gated community. The interior has a simple elegance that perfectly complements the style of food their delivering. Also, their little known patio is a great place to enjoy a relaxing glass of wine while you listen to the waterfall of the man-made lake behind it. Their happy hour is one of the best in st. Paul in terms of value. $10 crafts of wine and half price, amazing appetizers. The mussels in a spicy tomato broth are the best mussels in the twin cities - some how two loaves of their warm crusty bread always seem to disappear, while I use it to soak up every last drop of the well developed, perfectly seasoned tomato broth. Also, their perfectly tender micro pork shanks fall off the bone - convenient, because I seriously could not eat them fast enough. SO GOOD! Finally, their sausage pizza has a nice cracker thin crust with a generous amount of cheese and high quality Italian sausage. I've sampled all most the whole bar menu and been very happy with everything I've ordered, but in my experience with their dinner menu, some things have been hit and miss.

    (5)
  • Shanno R.

    This place was so wonderful...we will be back! We had a very romantic anniversary dinner here on Friday.. Love this place! Our waitress was great she recommended a wine for me which was exactly what I was looking for! I did notice that our waitress seemed to take her time while serving us but I felt like it was intentional to not rush us through and let us have a relaxed dinner. I never once had an empty glass and the timing of our dishes was perfect. We started with the carpaccio which was the best we've ever had and a very large portion. We wanted to try a variety of items on the menu so we both ordered the tasting menu (3 courses of your choice for $45) it was a great idea! The crustacean stew was superb, the seafood was perfectly cooked and the broth was addicting. We also had the warm brussel sprout salad, super yummy! The shrimp fettuccine with mushrooms had a fabulous sauce, and again shrimp cooked perfectly. The braised short rib with kale and mashed potatoes had so many great rich flavors and it was perfectly tender! We just loved every dish that came out. The portions were so big we brought a good amount home and warmed it up the next day- just as yummy as the first day! We also brought home a piece of tiramisu..Yum.. It was perfectly creamy and light and fluffy :) What a great meal and great experience! I'm so happy we decided to try this place :)

    (5)
  • Shanna K.

    Went here for a lovely meal with a good friend while I was in town visiting this past September. It's taken me a long time to write this review unfortunately so I've lost a lot of detail but suffice it to say... I was very impressed. The atmosphere is elegant and the bar knows how to make a fine cocktail. I like my cocktails far less sweet than most women and they really listened to my preference. I started with their variation on a negroni and it was perfect. After time to sip and contemplate we decided on the prix fixe menu with wine pairings. At $39/per person - (exclusive of pairings) this is a hell of a bargain. Unfortunately I can't recall the price point for the wine pairings but I remember that it was quite reasonable. Our meal began with sweetbreads and shaved lardo. Outstanding. Not too rich and just enough for the two of us to share. Next up was veal shoulder tagliatelle. This is one of my absolute favorite types of pasta and the tender, melt in your mouth veal shoulder took it right over the top. Out of the entire meal this was my favorite dish, hands down. Lastly, our main was the hangar steak, which was also delicious, perfectly cooked and well proportioned. I had a fantastic time and would not hesitate to return. It's nice for smallish groups and great for a date night as well.

    (5)
  • Melissa B.

    I came here for the first time with my family last week. The gnocchi was my favorite. For dessert, I would definitely recommend the cheesecake. Excellent service too.

    (4)
  • Kathleen K.

    This is the second time we have eaten here and both times it has been wonderful. They have a tasting menu that allows you to select an option from antipasti, primi and secondi for $39 (several options have an upcharge). I recommend that option. The first time I had an amazing gnocchi with fava beans. We started with: CARPACCIO thinly sliced beef, arugula, lemon, parmigiano My tasting menu: INSALATA DI MARE house specialty-crustacean salad, mussels, clams, shrimp, squid, lemon, wild arugula CARBONARA torchio, maine lobster, farm egg yolk, black pepper, pecorino IPPOGLOSSO pan roasted halibut, apple wood smoked bacon, caramelized sweet onion-sea beans, basil sauce My husband had: OSSO BUCO gremolata braised veal shank, saffron risotto, bone marrow, veal jus The carpaccio was excellent and the salad was very good. My only complaint about them was the arugula. It was very tough and sharp edged, it may have been a little old. Lobster carbonara was so wonderful that it begged to be sopped up with some bread (which I did). I would go back and just order that. My only complaint about the halibut was the onion-sea beans. They had an off taste with the fish and sauce and were over-cooked slightly. They did a fantastic job on cooking the thick halibut as it was perfect. My husband is a very picky eater but he loves the osso buco. He said it was even better reheated the next day. Their Sangiovese wine (by the glass) was perfect! Cost is in the high range and service was very good.

    (5)
  • Joe K.

    I did the Degustazione Menu for a three course experience. My favorite was the anitpasta Caciucco alla Livornese. The broth was on an another level compared to the rest of my meal. My Primi was the Funghi e Nocciola which was overwhelmingly earthy. I wish I had ordered what my friend got the Piramidi di Gamberoni essentially shrimp ravioli. My Secondi was the Capesante con Funghi. The scallops were amazing but I didn't care for the parsnip puree. If you want a starter to share, get the Formaggi. You won't go wrong with cheese, dried fruit and crackers. Overall an enjoyable experience but a little pricey for what you get. I'm more interested in Buon Giorno next door.

    (3)
  • Mon P.

    Yep .. still as good as it gets! We came here for an early dinner tonight. My bf was complaining a bit at the beginning because of the long drive, but by the end of our meal, he said .. yep .. this place was worth the drive and totally deserved 100 out of 100. The first thing that I have to mention is the service. It was impeccable. I was so lucky to sit in the same server section that served me the last time I was here. Jay was absolutely amazing and so elegant. He was very knowledgeable. He explained the menu to us in great details. Too bad we didnt drink wine with our meal, because we overheard the manager mentioned to the table next to us that Jay knows more about wine than he does. Actually, it was not only Jay that was amazing. It seemed like everybody was working harmoniously here. Our water was filled probably after every 3-4 sips, our silverwares were replaced after each course, our bread basket was never left empty, and the most important thing we didnt have to wait for food that long even though the place was almost all full. We decided to go for a traditional three course degustazione. I chose raw tuna with sicilian relish and white shoyu from antipasti, garganelli with braised rabbit ragu from primi, and braised beef short ribs from secondi. Bf chose romanesca salad from antipasti, lingunie with fennel sausage from primi, and grilled hanger steak from secondi. Then we ended our meal with chocolate cake and pistachio gelato. My raw tuna was very good. It was so moist and just melting in my mouth. The sicilian relish and white shoyu was a perfect combination for the tuna. My bf's salad was also good. The roman lettuce was so fresh and crisp, and the dressing with all those shaved cheese were great. My pasta dish was nice, though the cheese flavor was a bit too strong to my liking. My bf's pasta dish was really good. I dont know how they made the lingunie, but it was very good al dante. You could taste that it was not too mushy soft or too crunchy hard. It was a bit chewy but also soft at the same time. .. just perfect. My braised beef short ribs was amazing. It was so moist and so tender. The spinach with parmigiano potato puree was a great addition to the dish. My bf's steak was amazing. It was medium with pink center. Though it looked so pink, it didnt taste that pink. It was actually very tender and just melted in your mouth. The dessert was a great ending to the meal. Though the chocolate cake was a bit too sweet to my liking, the pistachio gelato was really nice. My bf is a chocolate and ice-cream lover, so he liked the dessert very much. He would probably lick the plate clean if he could.

    (5)
  • RICK L.

    My wife and I recently visited i Nonni for the first time for our wedding anniversary. By the menu, reviews, and price range, we expected a top-level experience. But overall, the establishment fell short. The food was excellent. My wife, who has to eat gluten-free, had the hanger steak "secondi" and enjoyed it quite a bit. She was disappointed in the caprese-style antipasti ($13) that was a special that night -- in particular, the mozzarella was nothing "special." I had the halibut and it was very good. Where I take away the most points was the atmosphere. We were seated at one of the tables in the main room -- not the bar area, but at the edge of the main room, closest to the bar area. The bar area was loud, frenetic, and full of slobs in T-shirts -- completely out of character with the restaurant. It's a very schizoid identity that i Nonni should address. When I spend $140 on a dinner for two, I don't expect the atmosphere of a Chaamps.

    (3)
  • Alex C.

    I had heard a lot about this place so I was pretty excited to get a Crowd Cut here. Their market is huge. It's like a fancy version of the old Cossetta's market. Their restaurant is beautiful. I was the only person in a tie the night I was there but I definitely got a country club vibe from the place. It is really nice looking inside and I thought the people were all great but my wife echoed what others have said about a pretentious feel. That being said, the food was fantastic and very well priced for a fancy restaurant. I started with the lamb crudo and the portion was big (of course not too big...I can never have enough raw meat) and incredibly tasty. Sometimes stuff like this leaves an oily or fatty film in my mouth but not here. My wife started with a beet salad that she really enjoyed. Everything appeared to be in perfect sized bites. For dinner I had the hanger steak which tasted and looked like a large tenderloin. The sauce was mushroom and cooked cherry; a strange but amazing combination. The cherry added just the perfect amount of sweet to the meal. This was one of the best cooked steaks I've ever had. My wife had the lobster mac & cheese for under $20. There was an awful lot of lobster for a dish under $20. She greatly enjoyed it too. For dessert, we finished with the figgy toffee pudding. This was the best fig newton tasting dish ever created! I like fig newtons, my wife didn't like it as much so that meant more for me. It doesn't look like a fig newton but it tastes like a newton with cream and a little salt to help maximize the flavor. That toffee is just awesome! It's a great special event space. Entrees were between 20 to 30 (my steak was 27 and a ribeye was 32), the noodle dishes are all under 20 with half sizes available. If you're hungry, you're crazy not to do the tasting menu at $39 which gives you a smaller noodle, entree and salad/appetizer.

    (5)
  • Ken S.

    In my humble opinion this is by far the best Italian restaurant in the Twin Cities area. Been a regular since opening and the high standards has not changed at all. The service staff is top notch, many of them veterans from opening day. Try the three course tasting menu along with wine pairings and let them help you make your choices. During nice weather the patio is a must. Buon appetito!!!

    (5)
  • Rob G.

    I just had dinner at Osteria I Nonni for the third time, and I couldn't live with myself if I didn't take a few minutes to give them a glowing review. I Nonni is probably the best Italian restaurant in the Twin Cities. Why do I say that? It's because they win first prize in all categories. The food is absolutely spectacular. This evening I tried the veal sweet bread as an appetizer and it was delightful. Next, the sausage gnocchi blew my mind as they somehow managed to evenly balance the ingredients to simultaneously enhance the high grade of the pasta while complementing the spices in the meat. My main entree was the halibut which was perfectly cooked and topped with fresh spinach leaves, served with a split pea mash that was phenomenal. The service is always terrific. You'll never be left alone for too long although a standard dinner will last about two to three hours, depending on your pace. It leaves a lot of time for conversation which makes this place a top-notch dating venue, assuming that you're willing to pay more for good food and that you're not an introvert. The dining room is dimly lit and the tables are set with quality dinnerware and are well spaced to allow for some privacy. If you're with someone, I'd suggest a booth but they'll get you to the right table when you check in without having to explain what you need. They've got an eye for that sort of thing, I suppose. I am really looking forward to my next visit and can't say enough to recommend I Nonni to anyone who is looking for an A+ dinner experience.

    (5)
  • Andy O.

    This is five star all the way. This is probably the best Italian restaurant around. I've been here twice, both for special occasions and it did not disappoint. The prices are a little high, but you are getting really amazing food in a beautiful restaurant. Definitely give yourself some time to eat and enjoy, this is not a place to rush through dinner. Dinner for two here works just as well as a group setting. The menu is always changing so don't be afraid to try something new.

    (5)
  • Anne W.

    Consistely good qaulity, intersting without being wacky, and excellent service. I'd go 4.5 stars if I could. I Nonni has a number of exceptional dishes (which may or may not be on teh menu at any given time) including the lamb, sweetbreads, carbonara, asparagus w/ egg, pheasant ravioli, and the orange polenta cake for dessert. I find a few dishes (the mussels and some seafood pastas) too spiced for the delicacy of the seafood, and some of the desserts are a little wacky without that wackiness necessarily adding to the flavor. The wine list is excallent, and Jay is great with getting to know our wine tastes and helping to select a diffent lovely botle to try each time we go there. The service in general has always been excellent; the servers are experienced, professional, and just plain nice people. Overall, one of my favorite places in the St. Paul area.

    (4)
  • David H.

    So I'm not sure how I hadn't previously discovered this place, but I'm sure glad that I have now. We had 3 in our party and all did the DEGUSTAZIONE MENU, which for $39 gets you a 3 course meal, which in many other establishments is a "tasting or sampling" situation. Not in this case, you get a full portion or serving for each course. Between the 3 of us, we didn't order any duplicates, and I can safely say that each and every selection was done to perfection. Their wine menu is all Italian varietals, with most sourced from sustainable family vineyards/wineries. I'm pretty confident in saying that I haven't had this good of food or service in MPLS, and will obviously go back, as well as recommend to all I encounter. Hope this helps!

    (5)
  • Sara B.

    I will never go back to this restaurant! You'd have to pay me to eat there. My boyfriend and I went there for his birthday. He had purchased a Groupon for this place. We are not dense enough to realize that the $60 Groupon would cover the entire meal, so we just thought, it will get us to try a new place! We made our reservation for 8:15. We were seated at exactly 8:15, so that was really great. The problem was, we were seated RIGHT next to the out door of the kitchen. I realize that they were trying to utilize the space in there and have as many tables as possible, but that is a HORRIBLE table to sit at. The experience just got worse from there. The busser brought us water. Great. The server didn't come over to our table until after 8:30, with absolutely no apology that we had been sitting there for over 15 minutes without even so much as a greeting. So we FINALLY ordered drinks. He acted very pretentious, and seemed a little "judgy" to us. Then, he dropped off the drinks and didn't come back. We didn't order an appetizer (which at this point we were contemplating getting up and leaving but we were far too hungry) until after 9!!! Food was excellent and perfectly timed. I don't think that the server made very good recommendations to me personally, but the things my boyfriend picked out were AMAZING! Anyways, at the end of the meal, this great server that we had been dealing with all night, dropped off the dessert menu and NEVER came back. And I'm not exaggerating, we sat there for a half hour and I gradually became less and less interested in dessert. Almost to the point of walking out on our tab. We are both past servers so we knew that that was not the best way to go about it. So we looked around and realized he was sitting at a table with friends/family/customers, I don't know. We were in perfect eye-shot of him, so I got up put on my jacket and grabbed my purse and stood there. Nothing. We finally flagged down another server to take care of our tab for us, which he did. And again, no apology. At that point, we should have grabbed a manager, but it was after 11 and we did not expect to be there for 3 hours because of poor service. Needless to say, the food was great, but the service is what is going to make me NEVER go back. I'd rather have great service with mediocre food, it makes the experience much more enjoyable!

    (1)
  • Ceci C.

    Never ever come here again!!!!! Oh my god, I don't know where to start... The menu, oh my god, it's really hard to understand, it's not ENGLISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Geez... All the portion is super small, (thank god it's small cuz it's nasty!!!) I orderred CARNE CRUDA, supposed to be steak and egg, sounds yummy, right? Well, not at all!!!!!!!!!!! The rest of our table all tasted a little bit, and they all felt nasty.. I managed to finish most of them cuz it's expensive, but it's pretty much is chopped raw beef with some peanuts on it, and an egg on it.. the whole portion is smaller than a pudding dessert!!!!!!!!!!! Service, hmmmm, the server is not smiling or whatever, they all look very serious.. during our meal, nobody came and asked us if we liked it or not, and they served one of our friends meal wrong.... and they still charge 18% gratitude fee.... REALLY??!!!... The last but not the least, we waited sooooooo long for them to serve our dinner... since some ppl orderred appitizer and some didn't, they served those ppl first and the rest of us just watched and waited until the one got served finished... Come on, we want to eat with all of our friends together!!!!!!!!!!! not watch some of them eating and waited for an hour to start a meal... Seriously, if there's a option to give a no star, I would give a no star.. Sorry Chef of I Nonni, it is THAT bad last night....

    (1)
  • MALEAH A.

    I can't justify only giving this place four stars. The food is among the best I have ever tasted in my life, and the service is equally impressive. However, if this was a 6 star rating system, I would give it 5 out of 6, because the ambiance in this place is lacking. I would describe it as "stuffy" with it's "straight from the office" business clientele (it was pretty busy and i counted maybe 4 women against about 15 men). The decor was pretty commercial, as well as the location. But, once you get passed all of that, and get down to what matters most (the food), this place is very deserving of it's 5 star rating. We had the groupon, so we decided to go all out and each get the tasting menu. I had the Finnochio salad, the Tortellini, and the scallop and pancetta entree. The salad was light and refreshing, a great start to my meal to get the taste buds going but still leaving plenty of room for the rest of my meal. The Tortellini (3) were cooked perfectly and had very tasty shrimp inside (although i did get a small piece of shell in one bite!). The sauce on these was buttery and delicious. The scallops....oh my ...... AMAZING. AMAZING. AMAZING. The best scallops that I have ever tasted. Cooked to perfection, lightly accompanied by cooked pancetta and mushroom bits in some sort of carmely glaze. so so so good. The boyfriend had the clams to start, which were very rich and multi-dimensional with flavors. He followed with the gnocchi. These were really really really great as well. They were the size of scallops! Super soft and buttery, with pancetta and mushrooms, i had to help him with this one! Then he finished with the hanger steak. It was almost too pretty to eat! Perfectly cooked medium rare with a nice crust on the outside, served with mushrooms and candied garlic cloves. AWESOME FLAVORS!! We each had the house wine (he had red, i had white) which were very good as well, and finished with the chocolate/hazelnut torta and a coffee. YUMMY!! This entire meal was such a treat to my tastebuds!! I haven't eaten like this in a long time, and it was nice to awaken my senses again. Because of the super high prices (w/ tip our bill totaled $135) and the stuffy atmosphere of the restaurant, I don't know if we will be back soon, but the chef here needs to open a restaurant for a younger crowd in a more ideal location, and we will be it's the best customers!!

    (5)
  • Erika B.

    Amazing food. Love the fettuccine. Appetizers are great. Most of the staff is very knowledgeable.

    (5)
  • Pat S.

    Four of us dined there last week for my birthday celebration. We had had poor service there in the past, but that was years ago, and we wanted to give them another try. We will NEVER go back! There was a private party in the wine tasting room and we were told that that was the reason we had to wait so long between courses. What? Why didn't the manager put on more staff? Is a private party more important that what might have been some regular customers? The whole, sad experience took a little more than two hours; and between each course, we had to send one of the water-pourers to find our waiter. Even at the end of the meal, when it was time to settle up, the waiter brought only a listing of our meals and not the charge slip (and the credit card had already been in his possession, so he should have been able to figure out we wanted to pay immediately and get the heck out of there! NEVER AGAIN!!

    (1)
  • Shaun V.

    Great food but the service was so horrible we will not go back. They need a manager to monitor their servers better. Condescending and non attentive.

    (1)
  • Jennifer K.

    WOW. A real date. With a babysitter, soft lighting and tablecloths. Well-we missed our reservation so we had to sit in the bar-so I guess there wasn't tablecloths-but I did not care. Not a bit. This was awesome. Through the whole meal, my husband kept pestering me..."You're going to give it five stars right? Right??". Yeah. This was a very memorable meal-and when I'm covered in baby green beans I will think back on it fondly. We shared a few things and enjoyed everything we tried. The calamari with sea salt and lemon was five hundred thousand times better than Olive Gardens. We also shared a half order of Carbonara-and lucky me-my husband doesn't like bacon ( I don't get it either) so more for me. Then we shared the rosemary shortribs on top of mashed potatoes. I only had about a bite of this but my husband went to town-and still had enough to bring home for lunch. I was done-but Tim loves chocolate, and got a flourless chocolate hazelnut torte with ricotta and grey salt. The combination of flavors was amazing...I just had a taste, but it was warm and rich, and not too sweet. Even the coffee was amazing. We came home to a little baby jamming out to Glee-and we have a lot to be thankful for this season--This is a great place to get away to for some grown-up restoration. BTW-we stuck with the homemade ginger ale-but apparently they have an amazing wine list.

    (5)
  • Dan C.

    I will say that a recent dinner I had here was unequivocally the best meal I've had since moving to Minnesota three years ago. Until now I didn't realize you could find half decent Italian food east of Chicago. I was starting to give up hope. From the appetizers to the dessert everything was a home run. If you are partial to seafood I highly recommend the "Spaghetti Nero" which is squid ink pasta and octopus in a slightly spicy red sauce. The sauce in it of itself was fabulous. On the appetizer side I highly recommend the "Tonnato" or slow cooked pork. Succulent. I can't wait to get back.

    (5)
  • Tony E.

    I recently took advantage of a Groupon ($70 in food for $30) to go to I Nonni with my mom and girlfriend. What a delightful meal! I had been a few years ago and it was quite good, but this dinner was really something special. I Nonni does a prix fixe menu, its Degustazione menu, which is a great deal - an antipasti, primi, and secondi course, all for $35. We had a wide array of stuff, but the courses that impressed me post were the Pici al Ragu di Salsiccia (a pasta with a spicy pork sausage ragu) and the plain old Pollo alla Diavola (roast chicken), which might be the best chicken I've ever tasted. The service was really excellent - cosseting and pampering without being overbearing. I Nonni is a bit spendy but I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to going again (I have two more Groupons!).

    (5)
  • Tracy H.

    My husband and I had a Groupon coupon for I Nonni. It was the first time we had eaten here. It was absolutely wonderful! I am vegan and there was really nothing in the entree section of the menu for me to eat, but the chefs whipped up a perfect meal of polenta and mushrooms. We will definitely be back!

    (5)
  • Donna N.

    I simply love this place (and not just because my husband proposed to me there....) It's beautiful, the service is fantastic and the food is always excellent. Menu is always changing and creative. Food seasoned as it should be. Consistent die hard staples there are: Frito Misto, Fried Calamari, Romaine Salad (the olive oil they us is like $75 dollar a quart and lovely), Linguini with Clams and any risotto or fish is fabulous. Recently ordered my first steak there it was perfect. I had skatewing ONCE there (it was heavenly) I nudge them all the time, but as they remind me, good skatewing is hard to get these days so they don't purchase it. Oh well. Deserts may not be up to "sweet tooth" Minnesota taste, but they are true Italian. Less sweet and just right. Let the wait staff suggest a wine or try to paring. Sampling Menu is always a great choice

    (5)
  • Beth S.

    Stopped in for early dinner - first time here. The interior is really attractive and the patio charming - we would have requested a table here if we had known about it! We split the calamari - perfectly done with light crispy breading served simply with fresh lemon slices. I had the salad Rucola, it was outstanding and such a lovely presentation. We both ordered a half order of pasta - hubby had the special - gnocci with sausage/fennel red sauce and I had the Linguine with lump blue crab, sweet corn, avocado and peppers - both were absolutely wonderful. This was the perfect amount of food for a light supper. We WILL be back - I'd love to try the Osso Bucco or lamb chops nest time! Our waiter was super and it sounds like Happy Hour on the patio is a great deal - I just wish we lived closer and wouldn't have to fight rush hour traffic to get there... The only caution is that I think things can get very loud if it's full. The ceilings are high and while it was less than half full during the time we were there, the noise was greater than I would have expected. This place is definitely worth your while if you like Italian food...

    (5)
  • D R.

    It's okay... But there must be something more in this part of the world. Ladies and gents, this place is clean, reasonably well decorated, decent kitchen. But there is NO way anyone who has ever eaten Italian food would even give this four stars. Everything is over salted. Lamb ordered medium rare was medium (and TOUGH). Nice wine list and friendly staff saves it... Otherwise I would have dropped to 2 stars. Polenta waaaay too cheesy and overcooked. Pasta carbonara had about half a pound of butter in it and, sorry, but lobster and guancale is just too rich to put together. Had I not been eating veggies for days I would have passed on it. Should have. But they try and the bread is good. I'm going to stop now before I drop a star. Sorry! Don't waste your time if traveling. Leave this to the locals to support it. They obviously like it.

    (3)
  • Nicole T.

    Amazing food. Superb wine list and advice about wine from the manager. Disappointing service from the actual server. We were really excited to try this restaurant and looked at the menu online beforehand. At that time we noticed a wine special based on the dow. If the dow is down, your wine is retail, not restaurant priced. Lucky us (?) the dow was down, and we asked her about the special. She fought us and told us that the dow was actually up and was very rude when we showed her that she was wrong. It was our first time there and she was not interested in explaining the menu to us. It really put me off and I contemplated asking for a different server at the start of the night, but I think she was the only one working. We had great attention from other service staff (water fillers, food delivery) but the actual server was abrasive and rude throughout the meal. That said, the food was incredible. We had a tasting menu and were thrilled with everything we tried. Seriously. Amazing. I wish we could give a 2 for service and a 5 for food. My boyfriend says she's going to track me down and that she was probably just having a bad day. He's nicer than I am. We will try it again, but maybe sit at the bar if she's having another bad day.

    (4)
  • paul m.

    Food, excellent. I mean really good! Atmosphere and service, so so. They were really lacking in the area of personal attention. When we first sat down, we couldn't order our Calamari because the waiter kept walking away, like, during mid sentence. It got to the point where we were trying to decide whether to just leave or to ask for another waiter but we didn't see any others. About 20 minutes in we got our drinks and some bread along with a few minutes time with our server and we were back in business. OK. I get it. You have a great restaurant but it's difficult to get enough people in to support your venue. There is no sense in moving people through quickly if no one is there to replace them so you try to keep the place full by slowing everything down. Eventually though, you get to the point where you can't stretch it any further. Again, the food was fantastic! I won't bother you with what we ordered because I doubt you can really go wrong with anything you decide. just make sure the babysitter plans to spend the night.

    (4)
  • Bo T.

    With two friends in Italy this week, I too was craving good authentic Italian. So, for my birthday, my fiance took me to I Nonni. Of all places it was in Lillydale - I really didn't know there were any restaurants in Lillydale, but I'll try anything once. The place was pretty empty on a Monday night. Nice ambiance but a bit stuffy - seems like just a country club crowd. A negative - for an empty night it took our waiter at least 10 minutes before taking our drink orders, but from the looks of it he was the only waiter for everyone there. He made it up by suggesting a very nice red, so we're all good there. I ordered the calamari. It was decent, but didn't wow me. I also had the beet salad - very good. For a main course, I ordered the Elicoidali alla Barese (a spicy pork sausage pasta) - not bad at all. I'll probably go back to I Nonni again someday. All in all, I Nonni was decent. Noteworthy is the water service - I mean it - our glasses were refilled constantly.

    (3)
  • John B.

    The tasting menu is great, food is very tasty, portions are bigger than you would expect for a tasting menu so be prepare to take food home. Service was ok our server forgot to get a candle for my friends birthday (I called ahead to remind them) Overall I would recommend people try this place food is delicious.

    (4)
  • Jim C.

    We were able to score a last minute reservation through Open Table on Saturday. We went w/ another couple and am pleased to say that our food was uniformly good. For openers, we had bruschette with tomato, basil and garlic. We also ordered the beets w/ goat cheese--wonderful. Finally, the mixed seafood--Frito Misto--tasted very fresh, not something you can bank on in the Cities. For main courses, we had pan seared tuna, CAPPELLINI alla NAPOLETANA and LINGUINE con COZZE e VONGOLE. My capellini was excellent w/ the buffalo mozzerella providing a nice texture and taste complement to the pasta. Service was attentive--in particular, they were incredibly attuned to filling up your water glass. I kid you not, I personally had my water glass topped off over 30 times during our 2 hour visit. Several times, as the water person circled our table topping off 1/2 oz deficits in people's glasses, he actually hit me a second time as he went around. It got to the point where were were trying to see if anyone could actually completely drain their water glass before the dude came back. However our efforts were in vain. I never got to see the bottom of my glass and only succeeded in filling my bladder. It got us to wondering whether the wait staff earn wage augmentation based on the amount of hydration dispersed. For some reason, this place doesn't always come to mind when I think about Italian, but we will definitely visit more frequently ahead.

    (4)
  • C. N.

    My wife bought a groupon here so tonight we finally made the trip to I Nonni for dinner. We had reservations for 6.30pm and were seated immediately upon arrival. As others have commented the menu is difficult to understand and requires clarification by the wait staff. The only thing this place has going for it is the water service. My glass was never more than half empty. With regards to the remainder of my dining experience I'd say theres nothing special here; definitely not a great value. First off I'd say the food is slightly over priced for what it is. The meal was ok but nothing we had was memorable. There was no pop in the food. Nothing that made either of us think about returning to I Nonni. The service was not quite up to par for a restaurant that seemed to have an upscale presence. There were approximately 8 wait staff in the dining room with the restaurant maybe half full. Service was a bit slow, wait staff was not attentive aside from the water boy. They brought 2 baskets of bread out from the kitchen and only 1 butter. The table next to us got the bread and butter. Our basket of bread was set aside until someone brought some butter out a few minutes later. I had to ask for silverware when my meal was brought out. I handed our waiter our groupon along with my credit card and he ran my card for the full amount of the bill. To add to this the restaurant is on the other side of town for me. Now if this place had amazing food I wouldn't mind driving over but for average food that is over priced and only maybe average service to go with it. We will not be returning to I Nonni.

    (2)
  • Bryan K.

    This was my first dinner experience here. I go to the deli for lunch all the time and have put a few back in the bar, but have never eaten in the restaurant. This place has it all. Delicious, authentic dishes with delicious, authentic ingredients. The price is reasonable for a white linen dining experience and the wait staff could not be more friendly and personable. My gal and I started dinner with a crustacean stew that was fun to eat (calamari tentacles) and we each had a pasta dish. The spaghetti with blue crab, avocado and red chili was divine. I could not recommend this place highly enough. The atmosphere may seem upper echelon, but it is a direct reflection of the food. And any pretentiousness is washed away by the lovely staff. A great place!

    (5)
  • Henry N.

    We have been going to the restaurant since it opened and have never had even close to a bad meal. They have been through 3 chefs but the quality has not changed but what has changed is the inventiveness. Wally is incredible with local flavors and we are looking forward to the dinners this summer. Try the patio if the weather is nice.

    (5)
  • Steve W.

    Great wine selection, very creative menu and great service! The food was excellent, especially for those in our party that ate meat. My veggie options were good, but not nearly as unique or creative as the meat based options. I've seen other reviews on I Nonni that knocked the speed of service but I didn't experience that at all. Overall it was a great experience!

    (5)
  • Rhonda G.

    Queenie got me thinking about the whole Italian thing. I have come to the conclusion that there's Italian and Italia, more like Italy and definitely more upscale and expensive. Both have a large customer base. It's beautiful and classy. I second new yelper John G. on the calamari. Don't pass on this, very light. The only one in it's class is It's Greek to Me, and I make a meal out of those. Main courses, I go for any kind of a clam sauce. In places like this I order pasta cooked through, not al dente. If an irate chef ever complained, I'd order something else. I remember desserts being delicious. Unlike my favorite spagetts places, portions are not large. It's probably enough, for an average appetite. But psychologically I like to know it's there. It's probably wasted on tee totalers like me, with the wonderful wine selection, but I still have an appreciation for the aesthetics and have a great time.

    (4)
  • Paul S.

    Likely the best Italian experience we have had in the Twin Cities time and again. The food is amazing, atmosphere inviting, and you can never go wrong with a stop at the Buon Giorno market next door for all of your interesting Italian ingredients. Another great touch is that you can dine in many fashions. You can have an elegant dinner in the main dining room, reserve the wine room for special occasions, simply grab smaller bites or a more casual meal in the bar, or in the summer, have the chance to dine out on the patio. Too bad it just isn't a bit closer!!!

    (5)
  • HBmarch F.

    I admit the service was great (your water glass will never be empty!) but the food was less than spectacular. We both had the arugula salad to start off (with fried leaks), which was good. My husband had the bucatini, which disappointingly did not taste like fresh pasta. I had the pollo and found it to be way too salty. The mushrooms in the dish were doused in a pool of oil. Not very good. I found it to be overpriced and would have had a much better Italian meal for less money (and a better atmosphere) at Bar La Grasa. Kudos to their wine selection though!

    (3)
  • Ben K.

    Overall, there isn't anything specific to complain about, but nothing rave about either. The food is decent, and certainly not the boring Americanized style Italian food one usually finds in a suburban strip mall setting. Our entire table was pleased with their dishes, though no one raved, everyone finished. I felt my pasta was bland, and while the menu stated spicy sausage, I don't think there was so much as black pepper. The menu is diverse enough that anyone in a group, even with various dietary requirements should be able to find something, and in general the menu is well designed with an emphasis on local ingredients. There is a $35 prix fixe option allowing one to selected a antipasti, primi and secondi, though not all the dishes in each category are available for this. It is a nice touch, and the portions are adjusted so doing so does not create a meal so large one's stomach becomes distended. All things considered, this is a solid choice in the area. There are better options in other parts of the city, so I wouldn't go too far out of the way, but when in the area, would not hesitate to return.

    (3)
  • Kristi C.

    Delicious food, superb service. Our server took the time to tell us about the region our wine was from, the local farm where our pork entree was raised and presented dessert with a birthday candle for my dinner guest - without my prompting, I might add!

    (4)
  • Barbara S.

    The food here is mediocre at best, but I think people are lulled into thinking they are dining someplace special because it's a little pricey (although you can get a small portion of pasta for a decent price), and the wait staff is snooty and condescending. It's the kind of restaurant where you ask for a table and the place is empty, but they insist on looking through their reservation book. The times I have been here (work functions, birthday) the service is always uneven . . . sometimes you are made to wait endlessly (and the waiter will not make eye contact with you), and other times your dish arrives literally five minutes after you order it. It's anybody's guess what kind of service you are going to get at any given time. But if you like a quiet, country club feel, you will like this. And, they are vigilant about refilling your water glass (if you're into that).

    (2)
  • Guya I.

    It is always a Five here. Start with their housemade limoncello cocktails--- Nice hot bread, most excellent service. We had the sampler of 3 courses-- A Burrata salad, Gnocchi-- which was killer, and a main entree that for me I asked for a veg dinner, some kind of pea puree, fennel puree, micro mushrooms and fried pea shoots---christ almighty it was good. Killer wines, and really nice table service to serve wines. Server was Jay-- excellent and always well done !!

    (5)
  • Becky L.

    The combination of flavors was very creative.

    (4)
  • Stacie H.

    If this place was located in a better traveled area I'm confident it would be one of St Paul's hottest Italian restaurants. I never even hear if this place until Travel Zoo offers a great $55 for 2 deal (1 app, 2 glasses of wine, 2 entrees, 1 dessert) We took the opportunity to get dressed up and made 7:30 reservations on a Friday. When we pulled up we were a little dismayed, it wasn't our usual local craft place - next to a gated community and looked like it could be a little 'chainy'. Boy - I loved being proven wrong! The atmosphere is a little older and kind of reminds me how my Mom would decorate it, but the service and food made me quickly forget! To start we had the squash blossoms and added the beef carpaccio (which is huge - so we didn't need both) I had the chicken - which is crusted in porcini mushrooms and served with a mortadella risotto and rock shrimp sauce- Wow! What bold flavors that perfectly combine! Jay had the lamb chops which are a spectacular house specialty. Dessert was ok - I don't remember it so it couldn't have been so mind-blowing. By the time we were done we were some of the last people in the place - seems to make an early night. I recommend this as a nice quieter dinner with family member - aka I'd take my parents here!

    (4)
  • Dave C.

    I had the rehearsal dinner for my brothers wedding here and all I can say is OMG...... They had us in the back room that had wine from floor to ceiling on the walls. It was amazing. The food was great as well. We started with a normal bruchetta and then a crostini with an olive tampanade on it. Next we had a very light salad which was delish. Served with a nice thin slice on asiago on top. We then had a light pasta, which was a little on the al dente side, but was still great with a nice light tomato cream sauce. After than I ordered the steak which was grilled to perfection. Perfectly medium rare and really let the meat speak for itself. My gf got the chicken which was amazing as well, and HUGE portions. and best of all.... the Tiramisu... and for those of you who don't speak Italian, this dessert translates to "Pick me up". Oh did it ever "Pick me up" and slam me back into the best food coma of my life. Words cannot describe this dessert, so please. Come here and order it. You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :4:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Romantic
    Noise Level : Quiet
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

I - Nonni

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