Food & service were amazing! Would highly recommend, and would definitely go back! Ambiance was nice too! read more

Excellent food and wonderful service. Highly recommend this place for a casual family dinner or group dinner. Must try their calamari! It's the best one I've had for years! read more

See all

Finally got to try out Zelo before a concert in downtown. They offered free valet parking but I was able to find a spot on the street. Reservations were a good idea for a Tuesday at 5:30pm. Started with the Brussels sprouts which I would highly recommend and a grapefruit Gimlet. This was on the sweeter side but to be expected with this type of drink. They also served complimentary hot bread with the creamiest butter. So good. I ordered the tortiglioni rossa pasta and it was incredibly flavorful. You can choose between a small and large order and I got the large so I could take home leftovers for only a few extra dollars. Service was nothing to rave about. I like asking servers what they recommend on the menu but our questions did not seem appreciated by our waiter and it took awhile to get the bill at the end. I like that they try to use local ingredients and liked the set up with the dining rooms and separate bar area. There were tons of business people in suits but it would be a great place for a date night as well. read more

See all

The place is beautiful and the service was excellent. Our server was extremely attentive to our needs. The pasta was perfectly cooked and flavorful. All the drinks we ordered were also delicious. Unfortunately, the acoustics were terrible and the place is incredibly loud making it difficult to have a decent conversation without trying to shout to drown out the noise. Overall it was a really good experience and we had a fun time. read more

Food and service are amazing every time. Huge menu. You can't go wrong. Burrata is so tasty as is the pork chop. Our table ordered every dessert and they were ALL winners. read more

Before going on any family trip, we do a lot of research as to where we want to eat. My parents were flying in for my masters graduation and wanted to find somewhere special to eat. Zelo came up in our search multiple times and the menu looked really nice. We made a reservation and I wasn't sure what to expect. We pulled up and I was so glad to see that they had complimentary valet parking since parking in the North Loop is always a pain. I walked inside and we were seated right away. It's beautiful and has a very high end and classy feel. Every dish I saw on the way to my table looked incredible. We were seated in a booth in the back corner which worked out perfectly. I must mention that the service here is incredible. We had an amazing waitress who was very on top of everything we needed, never letting my water glass get half empty, to how sweet she was. The other staff working were so helpful and attentive too. We ordered an appetizer to start and opted for the matchstick zucchini which was definitely not what we were expecting. We expected more like zucchini sticks but it was basically zoodles in a light sauce with slivered almonds and fresh parmesan. It was truly delicious and amazing how they can elevate such a basic vegetable. For entrees, I opted for the butternut squash ravioli without the pancetta ham. I was a little hesitant because it didn't sound super exciting and I've had some bad ravioli in the past. I have very high ravioli expectations! Some other dishes ordered at or table were the Walleye, Linguini di Mare and the special of shrimp and scallops. Everything came out and was presented beautifully. I ended up splitting my dish with my mom who had the Walleye. Seriously the food was so delicious I am still dreaming of those raviolis. Everything is so flavorful. I loved the fish and it was so fresh. We couldn't say enough good things about this meal. It was also my birthday and the waitress knew this and brought out two different desserts for us to share which was so sweet. This is probably one of the best meals I've ever had. I loved Zelo and can't say enough good things about it. Yes it's expensive but you are getting very high quality and delicious food with great service. read more

See all

I guess i can only add to the great food by saying that their hot tottie is amazing. It was 2° short of perfection, but maybe it was so cold out that it felt warm vs hot. The chicken parm was perfectly crispy and tender on the inside. Zelo is a hero, not a zero read more

Caramelized Brussel Sprouts. Now I'm a fan so when I saw the following you would understand. This could be dessert!! I started with the Chicken Fennel soup which I'm sure was someone's Grandmas recipe. Chunks of chicken with celery, carrots and spinach. Prefect consistency. My dinner was the Brasiliana Salad less the sweet onions. I couldn't finish it. I made sure I had all the avocado and as many hearts of Palm I had room for. The building that housed the restaurant was once a furrier and a shoe store. You felt the historical nature. read more

See all

Welcoming ambiance, must try Italian restaurant in the city! We can customise the menu based on meat preferences. Recommended for date/anniversary nights. Service was good. Free parking available. read more

Zelo - Fettuccine with Chicken - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Good food, but I've had better Italian. a bit overpriced. The waiter was nice but upsold us on the wine that wasn't worth the cost.

This is definitely a place I'd take someone if I had someone I wanted to impress. Food, decor, service are high level.

Zelo was our choice for drinks and dinner after a matinee performance of Hamilton at the Orpheum. We arrived just after it opened at 4 and were seated at a comfy booth. When you walk into this sleek, downtown eatery the smell of the wood fired ovens immediately tantalizes your senses. The linen tablecloths and leather chairs and booths are elegant yet welcoming. Our server Michael ("John" if the review was going to be bad, lol) started us off taking our drink order. There's a nice wine list and a full bar, so I went for a Bulleit Manhattan, my new obsession. Sadly, it was disappointing. The orange slice floating in it made me think I had been served an Old Fashioned by mistake but there were maraschino cherries, too. It just wasn't good. For starters we chose the Roasted Cauliflower and the Scallops. It's worth noting that all of the fish and seafood here is flown in fresh daily. The scallops were perfectly seared, with crispy prosciutto, arugula, and brown butter. I am a scallop hound and these were absolutely melting in my mouth. The salty, bacon-y prosciutto gave them a delightful burst of umami. The cauliflower, with chiles, lemon, and Parmesan, was a little underwhelming. Next time I'd try the caramelized Brussels sprouts. For mains we both got the halibut special on Michael's recommendation. I was leaning toward the cedar-planked sockeye salmon special because I love gnocchi but Michael's lovingly detailed description of wild-caught Alaskan halibut sautéed in brown butter, served with Minnesota sweet corn, roasted baby potatoes, chanterelle mushrooms and topped with fennel fronds and a sweet corn and chive beurre blanc finished with truffle oil... well, come on. We both got the halibut. Well done, Michael, because THAT was a memorable plate of fish. I think the fact that we both used bread to wipe our plates clean says it all. Y. U. M. The prices here are not for the budget-minded; at $180 for two people (before tip) it's an outing I would plan for when I want to splurge, to celebrate, or if someone else was paying. ;D read more

See all

Great food and ambiance. Server was good too. I had the halibut which was very well cooked - light and delicious

I travel constantly and try chicken parm wherever I go. I went here last night and had one of the best parms hands down. It was complimented by a great in house made spaghetti. Had tirimisu for dessert and a great local lager! I'm definitely going to come back again many a time! read more

I've been here twice now, first time it was during the super bowl in downtown MSP and it was mediocre. Food was good but nothing special, and we had this margarita flat bread that tasted like any other flat bread. I would have given this place a 3 stars based on the food and service we got at that time. Service was slow and the lady seemed impatient while we were asking what to order. However, the second time around, it was better, the server was very nice and recommended us the specials of the day, which I decided to pick the salmon dish of the day. It included potatoes and beet salad. The salmon was grilled perfectly and was tender. We had this mushroom dish as an appetizer and that was great as well. Overall, you can tell the pasta was home made and the seafood tasted great! I would come back again to try other dishes. read more

Zelo - Salmon & beet salad special of the day - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Reservations weren't made and the dining room was full, but we were willing to find seating by the bar. Been wanting to check this place out due to rave reviews. We opted out on appetizers to ensure room for dessert. That was a smart choice. We both had the larger plates of the pasta which was quite filling and satisfying. The server indicated the pasta is made in house. I recommend ORDERing PASTA. Our meal was delightful. Service was exceptional from start to end. A few people checked in on us during the meal as well. Next visit I'll make reservations to check out the dining room. read more

See all

I cannot say enough great things about this place. I don't know how they've managed to hire such an incredible staff. From the moment we walked in, we were taught about the history since the hostess had a moment to brief us on our first visit. The architecture is stunning. The food is absolutely delicious & all fresh as can be. I am eating gluten free at the moment, and their house made gluten free noodles are insane!! So good! My Partner got a margarita pizza also completely made in house. Our server was Diana - an amazing human being who made our visit so special. Please don't skip your visit to Zelo when you're in town. We cannot wait to come back. :-) read more

See all

Picked this restaurant after looking specifically for a highly rated Italian restaurant in Minneapolis. This one did not disappoint! A group of 5 of us arrived around 7pm on a Saturday without a reservation. The dinning room was completely full (they told us the wait would be an hour to an hour and a half), however they said they could seat us right away in the bar/lounge area. We opted for that, and the area was still very nice with fast service. The only complaint was that it was very cold, and all of us had to keep our jackets on. We ordered 3 appetizers- mozzarella stuffed eggplant, bruschetta, and grilled sweet potatoes. The bruschetta was nothing extraordinary, but it did have very fresh tomatoes. The grilled sweet potatoes were our favorite. A little salty but the flavor was amazing. Main courses come in half and full sizes. The full sizes seemed kind of small (as in everyone still finished all their food after sharing 3 decent sized appetizers), so I can't imagine the half size portion would be enough to eat. The sauces on the pasta were very light, and everyone enjoyed their food! read more

See all

Took the earliest flight into Minneapolis, and though I bought a pastry at the airport, I only ate the pretzel snack on the plane so when I arrived, I was starving. Took a while to get my rental, then I got lost going into downtown, so by the time I settled in, I was ravenous!!! Wanted pasta and Zelo came up. Friendly greeting, and I just said I'd sit in the bar, and grabbed a small table toward the back. They have two sizes of glasses of wine: 3 or 6 oz, and of course I took the larger...lol! I ordered the calimari fritti, the small portion, to start and they were nice and crispy. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs for lunch. The the sauce was light and stuck to the pasta which was delicious. The meatballs had maybe a little too much Italian breadcrumbs mixed in...I don't know, they were ok, just not what I expected. Other than that, I had a pleasant lunch, sitting next to the window, and watching a sampling of Minneapolis peeps walking by. Service was friendly and attentive and it was a savior. I'd definitely come back if in the area. read more

See all

Such a beautiful place. I heard a rumor that it was newly remodeled and opened and I think it's beautiful. I called it upscale and a friend said it wasn't but BELIEVE ME. The food? Amazing. I wish there was a better selection of drinks. I had the sea food pasta. I brought it home and tore it up. Wonderful experience. Beautiful ambiance. read more

P R E T H E A T E R M E A L Late Sunday afternoon we arrived long before the curtain went up on The Book of Mormon. Our timing was perfect. It was crowded!! Our waiters and host staff were top notch professionals. I know from experience that sometimes there is more money to be made on a Sunday or Monday night than any other night. These folks were here to make money, not piss around! The Parmesan Encrusted Shrimp caught my eye, so I added a side of pasta with marinara sauce. This was died and went to heaven good. Just simply exquisite . We also had the Calamari and Butternut squash raviolis. All fantastic. After the show was over, downtown was hoppin. Sunday night what? Zelo was still full! C O M E H E R E O F T E N read more

Zelo - Before BOOK OF MORMON - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Amazing Italian cuisine, attentive wait staff, and mouth-watering, high quality, savory menu. The wine and cocktail menu is also impressive. I came here with friends for dinner and we all ordered various dishes (eggplant parmesan, beef tenderloin crostini, classic bruschetta, salmon, halibut w/ aoili, linguini primavera, and risotto), which were all fantastic. The special dishes are always worth trying because they truly are just that, special, and something you can get nowhere else. We also loved their wonderful desserts. We got the tiramisu, limonetta bella, creme brulee, and budino. Ok, it didn't hurt that our waiter was also a very attentive and attractive French guy. ;-) Overall, we had a memorable experience from the intricate decor and sophisticated atmosphere, the meal, to the lovely customer service. This place is worth many repeat visits. read more

See all

Went to Minneapolis for a work conference. Service was quick and serves gave excellent suggestions. I got the seafood pasta. Food was amazing. Went back again for lunch later in the week! Would definitely visit if I even find myself back in the city and would recommend to friends. read more

It has been a short while since my visit to Zelo and I have procrastinated writing this review. However, the fact that this restaurant still stands out in my mind as exceptionally wonderful must mean that it's an excellent restaurant. I sat in the bar area and was really happy about the seating options. They did a great job designing the space to accommodate various parties of diners. I also liked the change in atmosphere from the regular dining room. I was still able to experience a classy restaurant without the underlying pressure from a white table cloth. I had a burger and it was really delicious, but what really stood out was the service! They were so attentive and cheerful. My water glass never got to halfway because they consistently made sure it was full. That's a subtle detail that I always appreciate because it's a way of showing that they care and not something I experience regularly. I highly recommend checking out Zelo if you want a nice meal in the downtown area. I can't wait to go back. read more

Zelo - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Mmmmmm. This place rocks. Absolutely phenomenal meatballs! Made with sausage ragu. If you only get the meatballs you are a huge winner As you add pasta / steak / seafood / pizza to your order you will be very happy. The sausage pepperoni pizza is awesome. The full bar and killer wine list only adds to the experience. Servers and bartenders ROCK. This isn't Old School Italian you find in SFO or NYC but it's really really good. The ragu wins. read more

See all

This is my second time. I had the lasagna with meat sauce. It was really good. The staff was very professional. The dining room was upscale but not stuffy. The noise level was busy but it was no problem to converse easily. I would say that someone is paying attention to the details at this restaurant. Our dining experience was considered important to them. read more

!!! Make a reservation !!! Even on weekday nights it's busy here and you are lucky if you get seating in the bar area. The interior is lovely and feels really intimate, romantic, and classy. The service is extraordinary. Perfect vibes for a date night! The herb linguini with lamb is easily my favorite!! If you were to get one thing it should be this one. The pasta is cooked to perfection and the flavor is so rich. (I do have to note that this dish tasted better my first time having it than my second - It was unbelievably amazing the first time) The chicken risotto has really subtle flavor, a little too subtle for my taste. I wouldn't order it again. My boyfriend liked the linguini di mare - it had a huge portions of seafood! Zelo is easily my favorite spot for pasta and a date night. All the starters we've had were amazing and the bread in the beginning is also good! I am leaving this review at 4 stars until I can do a third visit to verify that the herb linguini with lamb is just as amazing as the first time I tried it. read more

See all

As I arrived in this fair Twin City, I learned it was a "beautiful" day. This consisted of temps in the 30s. Regardless, I was warmed at Zelo. While it was pretty packed for a Tuesday, I still had a lovely side table allowing me to take it all in. Question of the day: what is the difference between their flat bread and pizza? Admit it you want to know. It's kind of like when my 6-year-old asked what made it a muffin or a cupcake. Well I can't answer that in good conscience. Since I'm here to serve, the answer is the crust (and the toppings). I chose the flatbread mushroom why? Need I say the truffles? Yes always it needs to be said. Shout out to my waiter Shawnah who educated in the ways of Zelo flat bread, specifically these are B-I-G. Big and good! I was more than 40% full, which after having a "starter" is a score! Large mushroom pieces and a hint of truffle, crispy crust and just the right amount of brie. So part two of the shout-out was the recommendation on the ravioli. There were two sizes, and initially I leaned toward the "big" because I roll like that. Upon further discussion I went with the smaller accompanied with the promise that she wouldn't let me go hungry. I believed her and my faith paid off. Later in the episode, I discovered these are already some big ravioli, and four is plenty, compared to the large size, six. The flavor and consistency was correct across the board. And I reached the exact amount of full without getting crazy. Sadly I couldn't partake in dessert but that was a wistful choice for sure. I enjoyed the experience and the service, and this is a cozy spot in downtown Minneapolis worth a return. read more

I was so happy to see Zelo reopen and was exciting to eat here. Ambiance was great, and bustling for Thursday night. Server was attentive for the most part. For apps: prosciutto and burrata and scallops. Both small plates were to die for. Some of the best prosciutto I've ever had and the scallops were cooked to perfection! For main courses: dry aged NY strip and linguine with braised lamb. Steak was ordered medium rare and came out less than rare. Server didn't check back until half way through the meal, by the time she did come back we had picked at the edges of the steak and over half way through the pasta; did not want entree recooked by that time. Beyond being cooked improperly, steak had no flavor. For $60 steak, I expected something much better than what we received. Mushrooms and onions on steak were cooked to mush and flavorless. Manager was kind enough to take the steak from our bill. Creme brûlée for dessert did not disappoint! read more

Zelo - Scallops - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Stopped in to eat at the bar on my way back to my hotel after reading several positive Yelp reviews. It's a brisk easy wall through a trendy little part of downtown. This was the best place to eat if you're alone and traveling for work! Half pours and half portions have become one of my favorite things. I get to try fun dishes at a serving size that is just right for me. I treated myself to a half pour of rose, a small salad, and a half portion of their fall inspired butternut squash ravioli. In true for it was served with a brown butter sauce and crispy ham on top. I didn't want this plate to ever end. Warm, smooth, fall flavors in every bite. Would absolutely come back to eat in the dining room with friends or coworkers. read more

Zelo - 3oz pour of Whispering Angel rose for $6 - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

See all

Food was excellent and service was great. The atmosphere was a little loud and not what I would consider romantic.

Best Italian in the Twin Cities. So glad they are back. Great service and unique takes on traditional fare that will never disappoint.

I have been to Zelo pre-renovation in 2015 and post-renovation in 2017. In 2015 I thought the restaurant had great ambiance with a super grown and sexy vibe but someone should have taken out the shells from my clam chowder. The soup was very rich and creamy and fitting for the cold winter afternoon but the chowder needed to be strained a little bit more. The service was definitely top-notch so that didn't hinder my experience. Upon my return in 2017, after the renovation, I had their grilled herb salmon which was just delightful. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and very moist. I loved their salad garnish as well that complimented the salmon very nicely. I would highly recommend Zelo for a business lunch as it is refined and has a large array of lunch options. read more

Our second evening in Minneapolis and both my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this dining experience. Our waitress (Carly), the drinks, food, and even dessert was exceptional. My wife had the Chicken Parm, I had the Pesto Sea Bass and both were incredible. Dessert was a Lemon flavored desert recommended by our waitress (which I'm not ordinarily a fan of) but, without doubt, a must. read more

This restaurant is comparable to some of the finest Italian restaurants, not only in America's major metropoles, but in Italy itself. The menu, at first glance, seems too simple, covering all the basics, unassuming... and before you realize what's happening, the underlying power of every dish, starter, mains and deserts.. begins to reveal itself. The wine menu and all the private reserve additions and secrets seduces you and compels you to partake in even more and more delectable and marvelous taste bites .. To put simply, I am seduced by the food and drink offerings at this restaurant. This restaurant embodies unassuming, beautiful, classy, impeccable service, clear and well explained menus, beautiful designer lighting that is complementary to the space and it's guests. Four years later, I can confidently say, that am ready to bring my most cosmopolitan and highly accomplished friends here. read more

Came in Saturday night with a group of 11 for a friends 30th birthday. Waitress was very nice but would disappear for long periods so we all ordered apps and meal at the same time to avoid a delay. They provide complimentary bread 5/5 warm with a crisp crust and melt in your mouth butter be careful because you can become full of the basket alone haha. Crab cakes were a very small portion for the cost. Would rate 3.5/5 have had better in MN. The beef crostini meat was a pleasant surprise only negative was that I felt it was to salty. For main course I had the pork chops which they cook only medium with roasted potatoes 5/5. Portion size was large chops seasoned well and potatoes were oh so good. My bf has the lobster ravioli special which he also raved about and couldn't finish ( because of the damn bread) haha would recommend coming back again to celebrate a birthday read more

See all

Recently I was visiting Minneapolis for a conference and after arriving early evening on a Sunday, I was looking for some good Italian food, not too far from my hotel. Based on several positive Yelp reviews, I decided to check out Zelo. I'm very glad I did. Since it was a little past the normal dinner hour and I was alone, I decided to sit at the bar. The bar was very chill and had a comfortable feel to it. Both the bartenders were great as well. I ordered a vodka martini and it came out just the way I like it. Also, as you can see from the photo, it was a serious martini pour and was very reasonably priced. I started with their Caesar. The dressing was delicious with all the flavors in balance. The grilled croutons were also great. The Caesar is available in full or half serving. The half serving is plenty large for a side salad. For my entree I chose the Tortiglioni Rossa. I wasn't terribly hungry so felt like pasta would be the perfect choice for me. I have to tell you that the sauce was fantastic. The sausage had just a little spice, the roasted peppers gave a little smoke and the peas a little sweetness. I will crave this dish. It was that good. The gentleman next to me at the bar had the Pesto Crusted Sea Bass. It comes on a bed of mashed potatoes with crispy onions on top. I think he enjoyed it a lot as he tucked it away quickly. It looked really good. Overall, I really liked Zelo with one minor exception and it was not the fault of the restaurant. The Minnesota Vikings had a game earlier in the day and just as I was finishing up, two rowdy groups came in for drinks and dinner. They had clearly been drinking for a while, which is fine, but the loud talk kind of spoiled the relaxed mood I was in after a nice meal and a couple of cocktails. Note to self: Don't eat in the bar on game day. Sit in the dining room instead. If you are in Minneapolis and downtown, definitely check out this restaurant! Should I find myself in Minneapolis again, I will most certainly return to sample more of the menu at Zelo. read more

See all

Awesome dinner experience! Erin took care of us and we had exceptional food, service, and ambience. We had the Parmesan shrimp and Brussel sprouts appetizers. My husband had the lasagna and I had spaghetti and meatballs. The meatballs were so delicious! We ordered the apple cobbler dessert. Everything was delicious and amazing! read more

Zero was the last restaurant we went to in Minneapolis. We were craving Italian food and were pleased. We ordered the lamb pasta, ravioli and calamari, all of which were great and the right portion size. The service was amazing, unlike a few other places in Minneapolis which were not too happy to have a toddler in the restaurant, the staff were accommodating and we ended up having a great experience. read more

Fantastic vibe and great food! Go eat here nowwwwwwwwww. I wish I was closer to this place so I can go more often!