I've been here so many times and tried a different pasta every single time and every single one of them is amazing. This is a super busy spot so you have to get a reservation. Don't sleep on the lobster and egg toast! It's different but so good! Vibes are great. Date night or girls night, won't miss! read more

Amazing food experience. The only downside was that it was so noisy that it was difficult to relax and enjoy the food/conversation. Their mocktails were refreshing, balancing sweetness and complexity. The pasta, it goes without saying, is incredible. I ordered the mushroom taleggio agnolotti. It had a lot of layered flavors to it but was still creamy and comforting. The portions often look small in pictures, but in reality were plenty filling. For dessert, we ordered the tiramisu and the chocolate basque cheesecake. Both were superb. We ended the night plenty full but wanting more! We sat at the pasta bar and watched the servers come in and out with people's orders and everything looked delicious. It seems to be one of those places where you'll love your food no matter what you order. I'm excited to try their sister restaurants, 112 Eatery and St. Pierre's. read more

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A Minneapolis staple and local culinary classic, whether you're camped out solo or with a friend at the pasta bar or with a group on the main dining area, BLG never disappoints. Friendly service, inspired menu with a mix do staples and seasonal offerings, and a general feeling that you're experiencing something unique to Minneapolis, Highly recommend the red win spaghetti, carbonara, and grilled prawns. read more

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I'm just realizing that they have not written a review for BLG yet I've been countless times. Bar La Grassa is a go to restaurant for me in the twin cities. I celebrated my birthday here with a group of friends last year as well as celebrated my anniversary dinner here. I adore this restaurant, they never miss. Every time I've come it's been exceptional service and the food, incredible. If you're a pasta lover this is THE spot for you. read more

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There are some classic food establishments in Minneapolis that just nail every single detail which keeps them in the forefront of the scene year after year...and Bar La Grassa is one of those! Street parking available on hip and trendy Washington Ave! They also have a decently priced valet for diners not looking to search nearby for parking! The interior is moody and hip with dim lighting, exposed brick, and a social energy. It's always busy without feeling stuffy or crowded. The service is top notch...fresh silverware and plates with every course, consistently filled water, servers that are around but not overbearing, and courses that come out with exquisite timing! We enjoyed an appetizer, a few bruschettas, and a few pastas on our most recent visit. Arancini were the perfect start: crispy, creamy, and a little spice from the sauce! Chicken Liver Mousse Bruschetta was the weak point in the meal as it just seemed to be lacking a component that balanced the richness of the mousse. The Crispy Pork Shoulder and Carrot Bruschetta was VERY salty, but I kinda enjoyed how it would make my mouth water, quenched by the creamy carrot puree. The Gnocchi are little pillows of heaven, and the orange sauce is such a pleasant surprise. The real star for me was the Mushroom Agnolotti: little pillows of creamy, mushroomy goodness topped with a plethora of additional mushrooms. Chef's kiss. Can't wait to come back again and again! read more

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This place is seriously so amazing! I went with a group of girls which then lends us to be able to try several different dishes and everything was perfection! We got a few of the bruschetta and the soft egg and lobster was so amazing! I know its a bit spendy, but it is divine! I at the Bolognese and it was so delicious! I have noticed that they do rotate the noodle that the Bolognese is on, but I don't think that should matter as they were fantastic. Since it was a group of us girls, there was a selection of dishes and everyone was in love with their food. I can not wait to go back! read more

This was an absolutely fantastic dinner from start to finish. Our waiter set the tone right away with how warm, helpful, and genuinely enthusiastic he was. His recommendations were spot on and you could tell he actually cared about making sure we ordered things we would love. Appetizers came out quickly, which I always appreciate. The ricotta bruschetta is outstanding. The tomatoes are perfect and have this subtle little kick that makes the whole thing pop. The arancini was totally fine, nothing groundbreaking, but the light lemony note was a nice touch. The roasted sunchokes with spinach were a great surprise. Really flavorful and cooked perfectly. They paired well with everything else on the table and added something different in a very good way. The pastas are where this place really shines. The gemelli is unreal. It has the perfect amount of heat, the sauce is rich and bold, and the meat is unbelievably tender. This is the dish I would tell anyone to order. The cavatelli with rabbit sugo was decent, but a bit bland compared to everything else. To end the night, the limoncello sorbet absolutely hit the spot. Bright, refreshing, just sour enough, and honestly the perfect palate cleanser after a heavier meal. Between the incredible service, the standout dishes, and the cozy North Loop vibe, this was easily a five star experience. I cannot wait to come back. read more

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The food was delicious! Be mindful that the overall noise level is a bit loud since seating is close-set, but every dish my group of 6 ordered was so good! I got the Gnocchi with Cauliflower & Orange and it was the best gnocchi dish I've ever had. We did have a weird experience with our server though, and I don't think I plan on returning. read more

Visited 10/1/25. Bar La Grassa never really changes. Always very busy no matter the day, always great pasta, and always hard to find parking (good ol North Loop). But it's true-definitely give yourself time to park in advance and you may have to use a lot. I end up often going across the street to the Nordic lot if I can't find a meter. We were seated right away with a reservation and we had a few drinks then ordered the focaccia to start. Can't really say I would recommend the focaccia-maybe it would be better with the beans option but at that point I would get a bruschetta instead because the focaccia alone is lackluster. For dinner I got the ziti with shrimp which I had never had before and loved! Made for good leftovers too. Super creamy and I liked the size of the ziti. My mom got the maltagliati and my sister got the classic red wine spaghetti. These were both also solid options. Overall I'm always down to come here and definitely would if I had an event downtown but be mentally prepared for everything to be busy! Good for them honestly! read more

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Had a couple days in Minnesota for the fair, but needed to pre-game first. Many suggested Bar La Grassa and they were correct, it did not disappoint. The soft egg and lobster bruschetta is killer. We tried a bunch of pasta dishes and they were all fantastic. We had one little hang up where my order got mixed up (they thought I ordered Bolognese when I asked for Bagnoli) and given the massive amount of food we already had we told them not to worry about it. Well, they went ahead and fired up the correct plate for us, which they didn't have to do (but we ate it up). Kudos for the fantastic service. Cocktails and mocktails were all good too. Definitely a stop if you're in Minneapolis. read more

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Technically 4.5 stars but alas no option yet. The issue we had is the menu online did not match the menu we were given at the table and the meal I was planning on having had to change. From appetizers to main course. Pretty open floor plan with a hint of Italian and American style decor. Paige took great care of us, knew the ingredients of dishes well (Gluten Free guest with us) and Paige made sure we enjoyed our friend's Birthday Dinner. I had the Spiced carpaccio bruschetta for starters. Then crab ravioli with Miso & Carmalized honey crème brûlée for dessert. Pasta was freshly made with a "decent" size of crab with the current cost of food, and the crème brûlée had a very unique taste and texture, which was so good, I almost wanted to order another to go! Haha. read more

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Obviously BLG is the top 3 pastas place in Twin Cities. Love how the pasta is cook to perfection, much cheese from my liking but the taste was outstanding. Caesar Salad - my oh my.... That's F.... Delicious!! read more

Bar La Grassa - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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The ambiance and food here is wonderful. I am picky about pasta and the Mushroom and Taleggio Agnolotti was superb. The waiter was knowledgeable about every dish and wine. This was very helpful since I don't know that much about food and wine pairings! I recommend going in the later hours when everything calms down. Overall great food and this was certainly an awesome experience! read more

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Always such a wonderful experience at BLG-- right from the start! The dining room was busy as usual, but it felt lively (not crowded at all). Our server was extremely attentive and checked in with us often. I'm usually one who asks for recommendations, and he gave great answers. It was very obvious that he actually liked the food and wasn't just trying to sell us the more expensive cocktail option or starter. We ordered a bruschetta and some arancini to start, then split a few entrees. (The cavatelli with rabbit sugo is chef's kiss-- 10/10.) For dessert we went with a light lemon sorbet. All the food was amazing, of course, and we know we'll be back in the future. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

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The best italian food i've found in minnesota! Good prices, really really great kind and attentive staff. amazing vibes. We had to wait a little for our table, but after experiencing how great the food and staff were i did not mind! They also had a mocktail menu which is always appreciated read more

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My partner and I went to Bar La Grassa for dinner on my birthday. It was busy and a bit crowded. We sat at the dinner bar (we did make reservations in advance). The crab ravioli was incredible. The sauce had an umami that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. The tiramisu was also delicious. I'm glad we went and I would go again, but be prepared for a crowded and noisy space. The tables and chairs are really packed in. read more

Bar La Grassa - Crab Ravioli (and Gnocchi with Cauliflower and Orange to the right) - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We made a reservation for a small group of girls as one of our first stops in our trip and it looked like it was a smart choice. The seating we got was a located in a corner booth which was private and allowed us to connect with each other comfortably with a ton of seating space since we had 5 people. Everyone was super nice and friendly, sharing some congrats to our friend who was in some obvious bachelorette attire. While we waited for our final party to arrive, we also took quite some time to decide on what to order. I never felt like we got any pressure or annoyance but the servers were happy to share some personal favorites and explain the flavor profiles of some dishes which ultimately inspired what we ordered. Drinks were flowing and I got the Valentine which looked as good as it tasted, while ensuring the alcohol content was still there. Out of all the food dishes we ordered, Ziti w Shrimp & Vin Santo Cream, Gnocchi w Cauliflower & Orange, Maltagliati w Milk Braised Short Rib & Ricotta Sugo, Nduja Egg Raviolo, my personal favorite for the food was probably the Ziti then the Gnocchi. The orange from the Gnocchi really surprised me. But Ziti+Shrimp+Cream will always be a solid yes from me as long as it's done right. The others were good but I probably wouldn't order it again as I had a ton of others I wanted to try! Also btw that Raviolo was the largest I have ever seen! Although anything eggy isn't my fav, I'm glad we got it to share as a whole table. As they make their own pasta, it didn't feel right to not try a variety of things right? And don't forget about dessert! We got the Sweet Corn Creme Brûlée to share which never though I would enjoy but actually was quite pleasant as well. It would be good to try at least once. read more

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I went here for my birthday and absolutely loved it! Italian food is always my favorite to treat myself, especially when it's gifted to me. I got a mocktail, my favorite! We started with the Glazed Octopus with Salsa Verde, which was my favorite dish we had! Octopus can be hard to cook since the texture can get gummy really quickly but this was amazing. The sauce had a slight sweetness and paired beautifully. We also got the Pickled Tomato Ricotta and White Anchovy Avocado bruschettas. Great pairings! I ordered the tried and true Carbonara. Rich, filling, and satisfying! My family got the FUSILLI w/ORANGE & KALAMATA OLIVE LAMB SAUSAGE, LAMB SHANK w/BUCKWHEAT TESTAROLO, and []. All great choices but my dish was my favorite. We finished it off with tiramisu and vanilla ice cream for dessert, and a dark chocolate budino. They gave me a candle for my bday! Everyone was so nice and the place itself was very comfy. Overall great place to celebrate, probably not great for the wallet, but birthdays only come once a year read more

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You know a place is good when it is absolutely packed on a Tuesday night. I highly recommend making a reservation. We sat at the pasta bar and never felt rushed to make decisions or leave; which was great because we were busy yapping. Our server was great and helped us with recommendations. We ordered the spiced carpaccio and the "famous" gnocchi with cauliflower and orange. This was the perfect amount of food for two people. This is a pasta place that makes good pasta! I would 100% go back. I need to eat my way through the menu. read more

Ordered: Espresso Martini (~$15) Gnocchi w Cauliflower & Orange (~$28) Ziti w Shrimp & Vin Santo Cream (~$28) Maltagliati w Milk Braised Short Rib & Ricotta Sugo (~$29) Nduja Egg Raviolo (~$10) Sweet Corn Creme Brûlée (~$15) Aya's take: First stop on my first trip to Minneapolis! The ambiance is chill, rustic, and there's plenty of seating for parties of various sizes. We were a party of 5 and got a nice corner table for dinner. We got 4 pasta dishes which were all actually solid. I'm not a gnocchi person but this Gnocchi w Cauliflower & Orange was very well executed! The gnocchi were light and pillowy on the inside with a slight brown exterior. The orange sauce was delicate and not overpowering either. The Nduja Egg Raviolo was a good try. It's like the ravioli version of a poached egg. It has a very cheesy taste and well-seasoned. My favorites were the Ziti w Shrimp & Vin Santo Cream and Maltagliati w Milk Braised Short Rib & Ricotta Sugo. Both were cooked perfectly, the base was super creamy, and both the shrimp and braised short rib were well-seasoned. The short rib could've used some tomato flavor but the shrimp was surprisingly addicting. The Sweet Corn Creme Brûlée was a good try! If you like a sweet & savory dessert, this is the one for you! So glad we snagged a last minute reservation at Bar La Grassa! Definitely worth a visit if you're in MPLS. read more

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Perhaps the best managed, skilled service and waitstaff in the business. Food is really exceptional and remarkable. Views of the park are outstanding. Parking is somewhat limited, but they do have valet. Highly recommend this restaurant for business and social dinners. I don't think I ever felt so well taken care of and totally comfortable in a restaurant! read more

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We went back to Bar La Grassa before a show at the Fillmore. Five O'clock is a good time to find a seat at the bar. Roger seems to be a permanent fixture behind the bar, and he remembers us and everybody. He is the consummate bartender and server. As always, we loved our pasta and had a great time. Bar La Grassa is always upbeat and a lot of fun. It's ridiculous that this Minneapolis icon isn't on every best of Minneapolis list. read more

The entrance was kind of hidden and then you walk into a dimly lit room, it seems like a good spot to celebrate a birthday or special occasion. For started we had the bruschetta and were given the wrong bread order but I ended up liking the bread instead of what we actually ordered which eventually arrived. Our table ordered the braised rabbit, raw tuna pasta dish and I had the crab ravioli. I got to sample them all. For me, the crab ravioli felt like the pasta was undercooked. It was tough to chew. I tasted the rabbit and that was nice, my favorite was the raw tuna with pasta, it seems like an odd combination but it totally worked with this dish and I thought it was great. read more

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Bar La Grassa is easily the best Italian in Minneapolis! The cauliflower gnocchi is my boyfriend and I's favorite dish and we get it every time. Showstopper! My best friend loves the crispy insalata, so we got it this time and it was a great start to the meal. I can't think of what our last dish was called, but it had sausage with orange/olive flavors. The orange was minuscule and I never tasted it. The pasta was incredible as well and will definitely add to our list of recommended repeats at BLG. Their service is wonderful as usual. read more

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Good food but the portions are quite small. Kinda buzzy trending towards noisy. Hard to even get a reservation.

The food was great but never do walk-in if you're hungry. You'd end up waiting for a long time.

I went to Bar La Grassa and it was absolutely amazing as always! We sat at the pasta bar which is my favorite. Love watching all the dishes come out. Our server was incredible. We had their focaccia bread and loved it! The 'Nduja egg raviolo was incredible! Recommend dipping your bread in that sauce! We got the Cavatelli w/Rabbit Sugo and Spaghetti Carbonara both insanely good! Too full for dessert this time but will go back again! read more

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I came here on a Wednesday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. We were a party of 5 and made a reservation, yet we still had to wait more than 15 minutes for our table and could see multiple tables open. Throughout the whole night, service was incredibly slowwwww (the primary reason for 4 stars instead of 5). Food, on other hand, was fantastic. We started by splitting a couple of appetizer--the bruschetta and pear salad. Highly recommend the salad! I followed with the papperdelle and veal ragu--simple and flavorful. I also got to taste all my friends' dishes and the mushroom agnolotti was a standout! read more

Bar La Grassa - Papperdelle with Veal Ragu - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I would say overall the experience was good. I wasn't a huge fan of the Bruschetta's but my husband loved them so I don't want to give less stars for that. The bruschetta's are basically a meal on their own, they are pretty large portions. We sat at the pasta bar which is basically bar seating and it was totally fine. The service as just ok. We had to wait for a while to ask for a dessert menu which was slightly annoying. The affogato was delicious by far my favorite dessert. The ambience of the restaurant a great. A really good spot for a date night. read more

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Delicious food! Loved everything we are there. I feel like the pricing is very reasonable for what you get. Parking is available with $15 valet, but we paid for street parking nearby. Definitely recommend a reservation made way ahead of time if you are thinking about going. read more

Bar La Grassa - Caesar salad - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I have to continue to add reviews-this place crushes it every damn time! If you haven't gone yet I'm not sure what you're waiting for - it's a dynamic experience and worth the prices and waitlist for reservations . read more

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We stopped in for a nice dinner while in Minneapolis. We were seated in a back corner and it was difficult to hold conversations because it was so loud. The waitress was really nice and attentive. She gave us a few great recommendations. We had a nice bottle of Domaine Serine red wine that really complemented the food. The pear salad was delicious but a bit sweet. The veal pappardelle dish was a bit sticky and had very little meat which was disappointing. The flatbreads were great especially the mushroom one. We really enjoyed the cheesecake too. I would recommend reserving a booth though so you can hear your party's conversation better. The prices are pretty expensive but it is Minneapolis. It would be a good date spot or venue for celebrating a special event. read more

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I'm sorry, but this place has got to be the biggest upset of 2024 for me, and I dine out A LOT.    I found this place on TikTok and saw the plethora of good reviews and I was sooo excited to try it! Talk about a letdown; $150 later, I see this place is not for me. The ambiance is nice; it's very low-lit and would be a great place for date night, but that's where it stops.    Our server, Tim W., was fantastic before we ordered, but after, it went completely downhill, and I am still trying to figure out why. He didn't check on us to see what we thought of the food and only came back after we asked another server if we could get our checks because he was MIA the entire night. He came back with an attitude, didn't speak to us, or apologize for his lengthy absence, like nothing. It was veryyy awkward.    We tried the Soft Eggs & Lobster, Arancini, Gnocchi w/ Cauliflower & Orange, Gemelli w/Chicken, and Maltagliati w/ Short Rib.    EVERYTHING WAS BLAND! How is that even possible??? I couldn't believe it. Where is all the flavor everyone raves about???    Of the items we tried, the Maltagliati and Soft Eggs & Lobster were the best, with some flavor but not a knockout.    The worst pick was the Gnocchi, which was highly disappointing because that was what I was looking forward to the most.    The manager came by and asked what we thought, and I told her I didn't know if I was catching them on a bad day or what, but this was not appetizing. She didn't really care or try to improve our experience, so that was what it was.    Anyways, maybe I'm just too Southern? I don't know but this Texas girl was not moved and will not be back. I hope this helps another foodie like me not waste their hard earned money on a mediocre experience. read more

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Went to BLG for dinner recently, after not having been in a few years. We were meeting out of town friends for an early 5:30 dinner on a Thursday, and the place was still busy. When we left around 7:20 pm, there wasn't an empty table in the place, though there was kitchen bar seating still open. The open kitchen is one of the fun things about this place- occasionally there will be a gout of flame erupting behind you, or you can see pasta being made, or meat being sliced. The wine list is also very impressive. For starters we ordered the Caesar salad and the butternut squash with dried chili (which wasn't spicy at all). All of the pasta is made in-house. The cauliflower gnocchi and the rabbit pasta are long-time favorites, but tonight I tried something different- the Fusilli with orange and kalamata olive lamb sausage, which came in a broccolini pesto, and it was fabulous. Other diners ordered the Maltagliati with milk-glazed short rib and ricotta sugo and the Bigoli with clams and lemon butter and everyone was very happy with their dinner. The food was all great, but I was disappointed that they no longer serve the bean antipasto when you sit down, nor did they give us the sea salt chocolate caramels after the meal. Those were just the extra touches that made the place stand out, the food is still fantastic and it remains one of my go-to places for a nice meal. read more

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amazing food. very knowledgeable waiter, Joshua! This gentleman made our dinner amazing with his explanation of the menu and the kindness to our 1 year old granddaughter. Next time we're in town I will go and request him. Enjoy it read more

I was traveling for work and remembered having an amazing meal here when I visited 6 years ago. The restaurant was bustling on a Tuesday night but it was a great spot to meet with a client and have a professional conversation. Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and passionate about the menu. We devoured the CRISPY INSALATA W/SAPORI DI MODENA and Mushroom and Taleggio Agnolotti. This is a must visit for locals or folks visiting read more

We absolutely loved our experience here. We didn't have a reservation & were able to grab a seat at the bar for dinner. I would highly recommend a reservation as it got crazy busy the later into the evening it got. The bartenders were knowledgeable & gave excellent recommendations. We started with the spiced carpaccio bruschetta; delicious and definitely enough to split for up to three people. The mushroom dish was tasty, however the chili garlic sauce in the chicken confit did take the cake for us. Overall perfect vibes for a date! read more

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I've ate here many times & the food never fails to amaze me. We had our waitress surprise us with a pasta (maltgliati w/ short rib) & it was the table's favorite dish. Always recommend this to people looking for good food in Minneapolis. Not pictured, but everyone needs to try the Nduja egg ravioli. read more

Bar La Grassa - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Bar la Grassa is a very romantic place, perfect for a couples dinner. The ambiance and service are top tier, and it is a very nice, classy place for celebrations. Their wines are very delicious and the waiter gave a very nice recommendation. I found the food to be okay, but not amazing. The crab ravioli was veryy crabby and did not have a lot of dimensional flavor. The mushroom pasta was also okay, but lacked dimensional favor as well. I found myself somewhat tired after a few bites of each. The bread was very garlicky and soaked in the flavor, so it was very strong. They have valet parking, but you can also find street parking if you plan ahead. Make reservations for sure, especially dinner. read more

I am bummed about this review. We have been coming here for years. We don't live in MN but we would come through here every year prior to our 4th of July trip to Iowa. It has always been amazing. Unfortunately, the time has come to find another go to in this neck of the woods. Here is why: we arrived on time and the valet guys were great as usual. The $15 charge to park is annoying. Go to Ciao Bella and the parking is free and the food is amazing. We were greeted by the hostesses which was lovely and then they seated us at the back counter facing the kitchen per our request. Then we were approached by our server, Marcie. She seemed nice but we immediately felt that feeling of "I don't think she likes us...maybe even hates us". We felt like she was tolerating us and truly not connected to our experience. It's hard to explain but the vibe was very disconnected. She did her job but we just didn't feel the love. My wife ordered the paparadelle with veal ragu and I ordered the shrimp with ziti. Both were delicious but I failed to tell Marcie I preferred my pasta soft versus al dente so it was a little harder than I liked. It was delicious so I ate it anyway. I will say, the appetizer that kept bringing us back was the focaccia and beans. It was very disappointing as it was quite flavorless and crunchy for cooked beans. Here is where it was the icing on the poop cake: the seats are very close and they sat a couple of young men next to us on my wife's side. The one next to my wife was sitting sideways with his back about one inch from my wife while she was trying to eat. You would think the service staff would be on top of this and suggest to the young man that the seating is tight and suggest he face forward so as to not crowd the people next to him. Plus who wants to eat with someone's back nearly on your plate. But they said nothing. The woman next to me was so close that every time she flipped her hair I got face swatted by a horse tail. I think they lost their mojo here. I did mention it to the hostess on my way out but I don't feel I should have to manage the situation. We have enjoyed the many trips here but next year will hopefully be the start of someplace new. The food here is amazing but the seating is a bit questionable. Don't give up space to make an extra dollar versus customers being comfortable. read more

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