Bar La Grassa

Bar La Grassa is pretty much perfect. The service is always incredible, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting. This recent visit, we had 4 dishes to share amongst 3 of us and still managed to have a little leftover!

We ordered:
* Pasta nera w/ mussels
* Calamarata w/ tuna
* Cavatelli w/ rabbit
* 'Nduja egg raviolo

I loved it ALL and would happily eat those first 3 dishes every week. Parking in the area can be tricky so make sure you have time to find a spot or just stick with valet parking at the restaurant. I definitely recommend a reservation because they tend to be booked out!

My go to Italian restaurant when I want to treat myself. Valet and plenty of metered street parking as long as you don't go during Friday and weekend nights (gets busy). Reservation highly recommended but they may have last minute bar seating.

Always get their pasta and splurge on their gigantic steak but they are known for their soft eggs & lobster bruschetta. Fav pasta is the mushroom taleggio so flavorful.

It took me a while to write this review so I could fully decide what I thought. To start, service was great - our waitress was pleasant although refilled our water after every sip, which we thought was a bit much. It is a fun ambiance and pretty high paced with the ability to see the kitchen. We sat in the dining room but we could still feel the energy from the kitchen. It'd be fun to sit at the pasta bar for a casual date.
The food - yummy but did not blow my socks off. Focaccia was delicious, but the toast was just okay. Meatball was savory and filling, but I felt like it was missing something. My partner got a Mediterranean style pasta which was absolutely amazing. I got the orange gnocchi and I wish I had gotten something else. I think it just wasn't for me and I was looking for another complimenting flavor other than just orange.
Will we be back? Yes. Will I order different items? Yes.

We hadn't been to BLG in a few years and didn't know why. It's still a terrific experience. Every bite was a delight, the service was stellar and the ambiance was elegant. Not quite, a bit busy but we were able to chat among ourselves with ease. Highlights include the Soft Eggs & Lobster, which I realize everyone mentions, but deservedly so. I was thrilled with the Hendrick's Gibson, given that cocktails onions seem to be vanishing from our planet. Having no room for dessert, I only had the Crespelle and then every bite of it. BLG is a five-star treat.

Had a really amazing experience eating there last night. And a big part of that was our server, Rodge. You could really tell he's passionate about food and his job. His knowledge about the menu was extensive and he was so kind to answer my 50 questions about the menu! He describes every dish you ask about so well!

The food is really unique but you can also tell the chef was really thoughtful about how they paired flavors together. When thought like that goes into food, it just makes it that much better of an experience. They make their bread in house and so definitely try the bruschetta. I had the roasted beet pesto and the charred red onion/goat cheese. Both were great. The beet one has a kick (crushed red pepper) so keep that in mind.

My favorite of the pastas (my friend and I had 3)
Maltagliati w/milk-braised short rib and ricotta sugo
Carbonara was also really good!

Really nice ambiance and comfy seating. Enjoyable experience overall. Be back next year when I can eat pasta again :)

I tried to make a reservation for the Friday after Valentine's Day 3 weeks ahead of time and it was fully booked, so plan ahead! We did end up getting off the waitlist that afternoon for a pasta bar spot. I would definitely recommend a table over the bar if you can manage to get a reservation.

The food here is incredible-- the best pasta in the twin cities. The soft eggs and lobster bruschetta is truly the best dish I've ever had anywhere. It is a MUST everytime we come here. We tried the Cavatelli with rabbit sugo and the fusilli with orange and lamb sausage. Both were good but the rabbit sauce stood out. I tried the Poway sunset drink which I didn't realize was a martini. I couldn't taste anything except the Tito's vodka, so would only recommend if you enjoy strong martinis. This is the perfect place to try out for a date night in North Loop! The vibes and food are top notch.

A group of friends and I rented the private dining room as a pre-NYE celebration. They have quite a high minimum to reach but I get that it was a weekend night.

It was fun ordering a bunch of things off the menu, we had great service and a nice time!

My favorite appetizer was the grilled prawn dish, very tasty! I loved the octopus over arugula as well but wish there was more octopus.

I had the crab ravioli for my main, the pasta was so thin tasted freshly made, and the crab filling was sweet and tender. I sort of thought there was too much sauce (and don't get me wrong I am a big sauce person) but the flavors were so good they didn't need all that butter and cheese to hide behind.

Overall this place never disappoints!

YALL! THE SOFT EGGS AND LOBSTER ARE LIFE CHANGING. I was a bit hesitant about getting eggs for dinner, but after all the reviews I had to give it a try. I'm not going to lie, I think I had more lobster than eggs...they are THAT generous with the serving of lobster. PRO TIP - I came alone and they can actually do a half portion of this dish because it's really that filling and big! I finished it myself but was also hungry so don't be fooled, the half portion is also massive! next, I got the MUSHROOM & TALEGGIO AGNOLOTTI!!! also, a win. 10/10 dish!! I have never seen this type of pasta before so was pleasantly surprised and the flavors were all there. Top 5 restaurant i've had in my life! The minneapolis food scene is so amazing and this is definitely one of the top places to check out!

I've heard so many people rave about Bar La Grassa, but after my visit yesterday, I likely won't be coming back.

Mocktails - great and described by my husband as "delightful" and "nostalgic"

Appetizers - average - the dill in their caesar salad was a nice touch but the focaccia was just OK  and the arancini was uninspiring

Pastas - average - the spaghetti carbonara was okay but heavy and tiring after a few bites. The maltagliati with short rib was also heavy but my husband at least liked it. My favorite was the pasta nerra which was the lightest of the pastas but largely flavorless

Desserts - yum! Second best part of the evening after the mocktails. We're big fans of the dark chocolate budino

Service - okay but we were not happy afterwards - we ate at the bar, where bartenders and waitstaff were courteous and attentive BUT don't trust them to pack your food. One of our dishes had 5 mussels when getting packed but only 1 mussel came home with us (this has sadly happened enough times that we count). If you want to take home leftovers, make sure to stay away from one of the guys working behind the bar. It's funny they did this because when we asked if we were ordering too much food, they said no and told us the leftovers would be just as good (which it wasn't when we noticed all the seafood was missing)

Overall, Bar La Grassa was an average experience but the service left a bad taste in my mouth.

Whenever I tell people that BLG's Gnocchi w/ Cauliflower & Orange is one of my favorite pasta dishes in the Twin Cities, they always scrunch their face....until they try it! I can't explain the flavor combos in this dish, but I certainly will attempt: pillowy, perfectly seared gnocchi are coated in a decadent, creamy sauce mixed with tender yet meaty cauliflower pieces and a hint of orange citrus balanced with chives. Such a unique, flavorful and indulgent dish.

I've also had a few of their smaller plates which don't disappoint. The Prosciutto Di Parma comes thinly sliced with shaved butter, just as thin, to match the creamy, buttery, salty texture of the meat. The Focaccia w/ Beans is also delectable. A flavorful white bean mixture pairs well with soft and seasoned focaccia bread. The service is always excellent and the vibes are whatever you want them to be - elevated comfort, cozy, swanky, date night - really, BLG is what you make it, which is the best kind of restaurant in my opinion. A consistent spot in the heart of North Loop with a loyal following for good reason!