Cindy D.

I came back here to celebrate my birthday again, and it was super busy, so definitely make a reservation! We ended up sitting by the entrance. We kicked things off with their chicken wings, which were really tasty, kind of like an Asian fish sauce flavor. Of course, we had to get oysters because that is what the birthday girl wanted! I also tried the crispy Brussels sprouts; they were just okay. For our mains, we got the salmon and their amazing pappardelle with hearty pasta and tomato-braised lamb shoulder, seriously so good! And, of course, I had to have my Old Fashioned. For dessert, I picked the chocolate mousse, which was really nice. Just a bummer they didn't have a candle for the birthday celebration. But everything else was awesome, from the service to the food!

Jazlynn P.

Went for brunch, can't wait to try dinner! Let me start by saying that I loved the decor. As a plant mom myself, I loved the real plants and the wallpaper complimented the ambiance perfectly. Brunch was busy so service was a bit slow but the food came out quick and hot! I honestly loved everything but I think the Johnny cake was my favorite. The mushroom omelette was very flavorful with the Brussels sprouts and caramelized shallots. The French toast was uniquely different with the cognac whipped cream- more like a dessert! Can't wait to get back to try dinner!

Heather R.

I really enjoy this place. The ambiance is fantastic; decor is gorgeous and it's got a great cozy feel. The service is always pleasant, however the food feels a bit overpriced. I ordered the oxtail pappardelle which was just ok. No fresh Parmesan on top and the presentation was mediocre. There is street parking and a limited space, free garage directly behind the restaurant. I live close by so will definitely return but I wish the food had a bit more attention to detail.

Claire W.

Really good service! The dishes were also all very good. I suggest getting the brussel sprouts! The only thing that could have been better was how loud the restaurant can get.

Michael K.

Originally came in for Winter Restaurant Week; I had heard some great things about Altera in an Esquire magazine's travel section while I was at the airport. Also this is local to me in my hometown of Saint Paul so I couldn't wait to try it! For RW we had the Hamachi Crudo (fresh but little too sour with the lime), Johnnycake (best thing I've had in a minute), Gemelli Verde (crazy flavorful but shrimp forward), Pappardelle (hearty pasta with tomato braised lamb shoulder), Carrot Cake w/ mango sorbet (it was alright), and finally the Chocolate Espresso Cake (dry dry dry). Initial thoughts were 4/5 stars but came in for dinner a second time tonight and was impressed by just about everything we tried! Tonight my friends and I split a bunch of appetizers. We had another Johnnycake (one of my favorite things on the menu, comes with whipped honey butter, maple syrup, chives and choice of regular maple or jalapeño maple syrup), Arancini (not as flavorful but relied heavily on the romesco to add depth), Crispy Brussel Sprouts (unique with mojo verde, ricotta salata, pepitas), and Pok Pok Chicken Wings (savory and drenched in fish sauce in the best possible way). We also had Hugo Spritz's (Prosecco, St Germaine, and mint). The interior is a little loud but a fabulous well decorated space for happy hour drinks and elevated eats with friends! This is one of my new favorite local spots, 10/10 recommend a try. Probably skip on dessert, it's not their strong suit, however everything else, fantastic!

Lindsay S.

Ok, second time here and I NEED to review this place for these reasons: 1. That Johnny Cake is crave worthy and has me telling everyone about it. Get it! 2. I haven't tried anything I didn't love yet... This is the perfect place to go with friends and split a bunch of things. I did this both times and I went and you get a little bit of a lot of dishes. (I try to do this wherever I go) 3. JOHNNY CAKE! It was THAT good! I should have gotten one to go! Ok... the other food was great too! What i tried: Appetizers- - Johnny cake 10/10! For real... get it. It's available during brunch too. - Brussel Sprouts 9/10 really tasty and a different take on them. So good. - Marinated cucumbers 7/10. We make these at home but it was nice to have something bright and fresh. Our server told us a 2/3 portion is served with the wings. - Arancini 5/10. Not my favorite. They rely a lot on the spread on the bottom of the plate. I wish they had something to give them their own flavor, but if you want something not too bold, these are for you. - Chicken Wings! 10/10 These were the perfect amount of salt/ citrus flavor that I wanted, cooked perfectly (aka crispy) and they came some cucumbers. Win win! I want these again! Pasta: Gemelli Verde pasta with shrimp 10/10. So flavorful and had a little kick. These noodles were very unique and makes you think you are eating your greens because the pasta is green. So good! Cocktails: Our groups go to is the St Germain Spritz (Hugo Spritz) but the time before I tried the Stones Throw Martini - really interesting flavor/ unique and also the "Sun Dream". This one went down easy. Overall, I would come back here and share more food. Who else wants to go?? Tip: go on a sunny day and sit by the bar for great pics. This place is gorgeous so it's easy to get some. Thanks Michael and Jai for joining me!

Gifty V.

I've been wanting to try Altera since they opened a couple of months ago, but I hadn't made it a priority yet. Thankfully, my husband made reservations for Restaurant Week, and I'm so glad he did. The space is super cute, with bold wallpaper and an elevated but welcoming vibe. It's intimate, but the tables are really close together, so don't expect a private conversation. Start with the ARANCINI. I cannot stress this enough. The gyoza was good, but the arancini? Out of this world. Four perfectly sized, crispy, flavorful bites that were so good I barely needed the sauce (though I wouldn't have minded a little extra). For my main, I had the pappardelle pasta. Delicious, but I got so full from the arancini that I took most of it home. (It made a fantastic next-day lunch, by the way.) My husband got the salmon, and it was perfection. I never order salmon at restaurants because most places overcook it, but this may have been one of the best I've ever tasted. Next time, I'm getting that for myself. Dessert was solid but not a standout. The chocolate espresso cake was good, but I'm not a huge dessert person, so it didn't leave a lasting impression. Same with the carrot cake--I took a bite of my husband's, but I'm not a carrot cake expert, so I can't really say much about it. Service was great. Our waiter wasn't super chatty, but it was Restaurant Week, and they were slammed, so I completely understand him moving efficiently. He was polite, on top of everything, and left a great impression. I honestly can't wait to go back. This was one of the best meals I've had all year, and I'm already excited to try more from their menu. If you go, ORDER THE ARANCINI.

Elly P.

Must Order: 1. Paloma - The Best in Highland Park High speed grapefruit juicer to aerate and have chemical reactions when mixed into drink fluffy grapefruit. It is well balanced meal-like cocktail. I can totally go on liquid diet this way. or be vegan. 2. Butternut Squash a la plancha note to self learn how to make sage brown butter. It really took squash into another level. The plancha caramelized the squash into perfection Ambience: Crate and barrel cross with a jungle theme speak easy with a dash of obsession to house plants Service: Very attentive. Attention to details. For example: we love the hot sauce so much. They packed to go small container of it for us. What a nice surprise. We sat at the bar the wiped down the table in between meals clear our plates. Foods: Hamachi crudo Melt in your mouth fatty fish with fresh lemony after taste and crunchy black sesame. The Serrano is too mild. But don't worry ask for the "hot sauce" it is bomb! If you're wondering it's from company called "Fizzeology" it is a fermented chilli sauce (Thanks for sharing Altera) Le cheeseburger Fresh thick cut potato. That just melt in your mouth with crispy lightly crusty batter. My guess is the boiled the potato before frying. Papardelle House (Hand) made pasta. Definitely stick to your rib kind of dish. And your rib will thank you for how good it taste. Seasoned perfectly. Perfect texture, just really good traditional dish. *note to self - add nuts to pasta dish for nice crunch Carrot cake New generation of carrot cake with an updated flavor profile. Mango Lassi? yeap that apparently goes with carrot cake. Who knew. Cocktails: Altera old fashioned Smell so sweet like vanilla cardamom. But it is not a sweet drink Sun Dream Just like the name taste like the sun. The Bee pollen dust on the glass...yeap I licked that. Delicious. Fun Fact: It is same company as The Agra Culture before this, and event kept some of the staffs. I was told that Sunday to Tuesday slow days. In case you want to walk in without RSVP

Alexie S.

The food was good they had a wide variety of different things that you could order. I really liked that there were live plants on shelves and by the big windows. Our waitress was nice! I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles and they were really good.

Sam B.

I saw this hot new restaurant pop up on my Instagram feed and immediately told my husband to make a reservation! We visited on a Saturday evening and overall, had a good experience. The atmosphere: Altera was simple to find and street parking was easy. Upon walking in, the atmosphere was darker, romantic, and cozy --- perfect for a date night! The food: We ordered the Pok Pok Chicken Wings to start. Do yourself a favor and ORDER THESE! They are the perfect combination of salty, spicy, and delicious. The marinated cucumbers that come on the side are mouthwatering! The wings were more of an Asian-style chicken wing. Delicious! We also ordered the Altera Cheeseburger cooked pink but it didn't come pink. Not a huge deal. The "Chips" side that came with the burger weren't hot, unfortunately, they were barely warm. They had huge potential to be amazing but they weren't very warm. Finally, we ordered the Dan Dan Noodles, which were good but not hot, which was a bummer. The flavors of the dishes were there, but we wished the "Chips" and pasta were hot, or at least warm. I know they've only been open for about 1 week so I totally understand they're still working through things in the kitchen. I'll definitely be back for the Pok Pok Chicken Wings and to order other menu items hoping the food is hot next time.

Victoria L.

Visited Altera with a few friends and instantly fell in love with the aesthetic super cute, chic, and thoughtfully designed. The environment was warm and welcoming, perfect for a casual night out or a special dinner. They had a great selection of alcoholic drinks, but I opted for a non-alcoholic frozen sparkling water-style drink that was super refreshing and fun. We were impressed that everything is made from scratch. The spicy gyoza was a standout appetizer crispy on the outside with a flavorful punch of spice on top. For my entrée, I had the Germelli Verde, and you could truly taste the difference in the fresh-made pasta. It was delicious and perfectly balanced. Definitely a place I'd return to great food, friendly vibes, and a menu that feels both elevated and approachable.

Susan K.

Beautiful ambience, great service, interesting drinks & delicious brunch menu! Would like to see menu indicate GF options. Nice fruit salad w/ the mushroom omelet. Definitely share the hash browns. The spinach & eggs were served over rice and hot sauce is on the side & was definitely a great flavor boost.

Sadie S.

10s ACROSS THE BOARD!! it took us 20 min to agree on what to get bc everything sounded so good! what we NOMd: Hamachi Crudo / Dan Dan Noodles/ Grilled Pork Chop - crudo was alright I'm not a big sashimi fan tho. - the dan dan noodles were SO good - idk what they be doing to their szechuan but they're doin it! it's very light and not super heavy or packed with msg. I was once considered the only asian to not like sushi, now i'm one that doesn't like msg. the flavor was there. - don't get me started on the sweet potato that came with the pork chop... SLUT for any kind of potato. ginger orange vin topped on... it was healthy lol. i thought it was garlic for some reason at first so I was a little offput and felt nostalgic for garlic so i didn't enjoy it as much. the pork chop was really yummy- had a nice subtle lemongrass smokey flavor. made me miss my aunts bbq drinks: cocktail of the moment: i don't remember what all was in it, but my friend liked it he said it was a bit bitter but grew on him - i didn't like it. it had a strong unpleasant aftertase, but I am a fruity and sweet girl. i got the claudel... dangerous. service, etc.: the hosts were so stylish and Debby (or waitress) was a DELIGHT we will be back just for her! the food came out super fast like less than 10 minutes. the chairs were super comfy but the circle 2 person tables are kind of small especially if you're sharing like we were and like to eat a lot like we do (we held back tonight). we split everything and was surprised when it was only $54 between the two of us. we can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu!!