My dinner at La Grolla was pretty good! I went with coworkers while my boss was in town. I like the ambiance, it's cozy and would be great for a date night. We tried a few different appetizers. The burrata was quite good and I liked the crab cakes, they are pretty unique so don't expect a classic Baltimore style. Bruschettas were just ok. For my entree I got the penne vodka and really liked it. My boss got the cacio e Pepe and was visibly disappointed. It just wasn't cheesy, and for this kind of pasta (not really sauced) that left it disappointingly bland. She was also quite disappointed with her cosmo-- she couldn't put her finger on it but maybe just too boozy or a cheap triple sec. I got the Italian Paloma which was alright. Generally I wasn't that into their cocktail menu unfortunately. Probably wine is the way to go here. Service was kind and prompt. They bring around a dessert tray for you to look at before ordering which was kind of a blast from the past. I would come back here, but there are better Italian restaurants in Minneapolis. read more

Arrived during a snow storm, so the place was relatively quiet and we were seated for our reservation early. You can park in the lot adjacent but don't scan the QR code in the lot, scan it in the restaurant and then it is free. Server was a pro, and the old fashioned I had was good. Old school old fashioned but with rye. I had the lasagna which was good. We bruschetta as an appetizer and they were very good. Wife and kid had the same thing and they thought it was just okay. We were there for mom-in-law's BD so had crème brûlée for desert and that was yum. Strong first experience, I'd go back. read more

La Grolla - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Decided to give this place a try for Valentine's Day and made a reservation. The interior is very charming and intimate! Residential street parking and walk a block or two. We ordered Ravioli Di Granchio and Tortellini Prosciutto E Piselli with a few glasses of red wine. The Ravioli was the winner by far! Although it was stuffed with snow crab, shrimp, and smothered in a lobster sauce, it was very subtle and not overly fishy. The pasta itself was delicious and well made. A balanced dish overall! The tortellini, on the other hand, was not as delicate or cohesive. The prosciutto was more like sausage bits you'd find on a pizza. Paired with the peas, it didn't land for us. The service was very pleasant and gave us the impression it is family run! We would definitely go back to try other dishes, but be more conscious of what we're ordering. read more

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This was a lovely restaurant and I enjoyed all the food that was ordered. The pasta was delicious and I loved the salad that we also ordered. The restaurant was super inviting when we got inside and our waitress was very attentive and answered all the questions we had about the menu. The tables were lined with white table cloths and candles and just very inviting. read more

La Grolla - Primavera Salad - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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The ambiance was really nice and the service very attentive. But the food was disappointing. Do you know the pasta Delta serves in flight in the United States? It's superior to the food at this place. - Italian Man. read more

Service was fantastic. The food was good and the vibe was terrific. We are definitely going back. Beautiful little place in a neighborhood and is right on the bus route. The restaurant pays for your parking too. We loved it! read more

La Grolla - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Felt that we were seen as 'low value customers'... Also the pasta was rather bland and watery.. read more

Found this restaurant randomly after being in the area and really loved the vibes it set off. We sat in the patio and there were fireflies dancing around us! Ambience was pretty awesome. Service was a little slower but nice. Satisfied with the pastas we got -- creamy lobster sauce was really good. Overall, pretty affordable for a really nice area :) read more

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After reading multiple reviews, we decided to check out La Grolla for mid afternoon lunch on a Saturday afternoon. A beautiful day allowed us to enjoy their garden seating. The interior of the restaurant is cozy and inviting with a full bar and plenty of beers on tap. Offering a lunch menu we went a little crazy because we were in Minneapolis for race weekend and my husband was carb loading. We started with appetizers that included the fried olives stuff with Gorgonzola, which were so different from anything that we had tried before, and really tasty. The bruschetta included Kalamata olives, in a really flavorful twist. The star of the show was a (lightly sautéed) mushroom salad that really was outstanding. We split everything so we got to taste it all. In addition to the standard menu, there were daily specials available. We enjoyed several pasta dishes that were exceptionally generous in portions and super flavorful. The farfelle pasta with pink sauce, spinach and sausage was absolutely outstanding. The garlic was sliced razor thin (think good fellows!) just provided a phenomenal taste to the entire dish. Complementary bread first time around anything extra is reasonably priced. Outstanding olive oil on the table. Honestly, all ingredients were top shelf. Our service was attentive and left us wanting for nothing. I love the fact that we were able to relax and not be rushed. We definitely return here again. Check out La Grolla if you are in that neck of the woods - just a short Uber ride from the downtown Saint Paul area. read more

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My family and friends went last weekend to test out the food here at La Grolla for a potential rehearsal dinner location for my wedding next year. The food was wildly delicious! From the bread to the pasta - very well done. I had the tortilla with chicken and white sauce. I got one of the pastas that is house made. I would recommend to anyone who is looking some fresh pasta and sauce! The service was good and they made sure we were set with our food and water. The space was a little loud but I still felt close to my group to hold a conversation. read more

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I think we found a new favorite Italian restaurant. I've been meaning to come check this place out and I'm glad I did. They have fresh pastas, I ordered the Alfredo to try the noodles and sauce, it was delicious! Noodles were light and bouncy. I will have to go back and try the gnocchi next time. My daughter loves penne alla vodka, it's the sauce that makes the dish. We started off with coffee, my daughter thought I was trying to do desserts first. Server was smiling, he said which ever order you want. They also have delicious desserts. Big restaurant with multiple dining rooms. Free street parking and lot on the side. Definitely recommend if you're in the area. read more

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First time there with my daughters. We enjoyed the ambiance and cozy environment but the pasta was very basic. In fact one of my daughters said her pasta was chewy, not cooked enough. We all had different dishes and all agreed that it was sub par for the price we paid. Pretty disappointing. Won't be back. read more

If it weren't for the extremely slow service, this would be a 5 star review. The food was absolutely delicious. I am very impressed with the quality and the options. The seafood options were priced very well in my opinion and the taste was top tier. However, the service was extremely slow. We almost walked out after not being able to order drinks or food for 30 minutes after we were seated. It would have been nice if we could at least have a drink to sip on, but our server was no where in sight. We almost got up to leave when finally, someone came by to take our drink order. We were given bread, but no olive oil or balsamic so we had dry bread. Couldn't find anyone to flag down to ask for some! Hoping to return one day to give it another shot. Maybe it was a bad night. read more

La Grolla - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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My partner and I celebrated our anniversary and had dinner here. I was excited to come back for the second time as it has been 8+ years since I've been here. My partner was never here and I was excited for him to experience it. When we arrived early for our 8pm reservation, we were told to have a seat and wait to be called for our table. The host was friendly and wished us a happy anniversary. My partner made the reservations and must have put a note in there. I thought that was sweet. So, we sat down and waited for our table to be ready. The entrance had about 4-5 couples waiting to be seated. You could tell some of them were there for awhile as they were checking in the reservation multiple times. We ended up having to wait over a half an hour to be seated. We tried to remain positive, but questioned why they have reservations as it felt like a first come first serve basis. We did notice a sign at the host area that says if you are more than 15 minutes late to your reservation, they will cancel it and offer your table to present guests. Once we were seated, we were asked for our beverage orders and bread came shortly after that. I was half expecting for a warm introduction or a thankful sentiment for waiting so long even after having reservations. We had oil on the table and was looking for pepper to add to the oil to dip our bread in. We weren't able to find our sever, but she showed up after we enjoyed a few pieces of bread. She asked if we needed any advice and asked us if we wanted to hear the specials. We ended up choosing two of the specials for dinner. We also bordered the fried green olives. The appetizer itself was the best part of the meal. Very tasty and not something you typically find elsewhere. The main dishes were hot, but it wasn't what I was expecting after hearing the special. My surf and turf meal was steak with marsala mushrooms and scallops. I will say the scallops were amazing and didn't contain any grit. I was unimpressed with the steak. It was smothered in the sauce and wasn't medium as I requested. It was nearly all well done. The steak was also cut up into pieces which I thought was weird. I did have a few bites that I had to spit out as it was too fatty or had gristle. If I had known the steak was smothered in the sauce and had no charring on the steak, I wouldn't have chosen that; or I would have asked for the sauce on the side. My partner's enjoyed his salmon, but said it was on the smaller side and also smothered in sauce - which he would have appreciated on the side had he known it was smothered in sauce. Had the specials been explained in more details we could have made some adjustments to our meal. I know that sometimes with special events, the expectation may be higher than normal, but I'm just disappointed in how the experience turned out. I'm noticing more and more there seems to be a lack of an apologetic nature in customer service. That goes a long way in my book. Overall, we ate the meal and it wasn't one of our favorites. Very unfortunate experience considering the price of the meals. We left with a "whomp whomp" experience. read more

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The staff was very inattentive, waited for our reserved table for 30 minutes. Ordered drinks and my kids milk had ice in it, I never seen milk served with ice so it was "weird". Carpaccio was nice but the mushrooms were cold. It felt like it was cooked but then rewarmed however as we went into next courses noticed that the kitchen was doing their part but waitress was always behind. Our dishes were served and they were great. Desert was disappointed to say the least, crème brule had the eggs cooked during the process and you could taste the scrambled egg flavor. Truly disappointing service! In 2 hours 3 course meal, waitress showed up 4 times and never followed thru with the things we requested. read more

Everything was "the best" until the new owners and management took over I gave it 3 tries but will most likely not go back. Their "special" was awful (was told it was chef's day off so assistant cooked). They took one look at my meal and agreed so I got something else. 5 other people at dinner were in agreement that food was marginal to mediocre. This was my "go to place for best Italian in town. Left my card, asking gm to call me - never heard back. Called next day, left a message - never heard back. I guess the staff didn't want gm to know that I was disappointed. read more

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This was my first experience at La Grolla and felt is was a very mid compared to other Italian restaurants in the Twin Cities. First I'll start with the good: Ample street parking as well as validated parking in the nearby lot. Beautiful interior and clean gender neutral bathrooms! The charm inside is perfect for date night or catching up with friends. And the service was awesome - each employee I encountered was amazing. Parmesan and fresh cracked pepper offered for each dish. The not so good: The burrata was mid and forgettable. It took a very long time for the 3 of us to get our meals. My lasagna was not that great - it didn't have much flavor and the noodles were overcooked, resulting in a kind of mushy mess. Since it's such a staple dish and very approachable to many people it's a good baseline by which I judge a restaurant. I might be back again to try more dishes and will see if my opinion improves. However, there are other Italian restaurants that I would pick first before returning to La Grolla based on my first experience. read more

Zuppa de pesce was perfect - and all six of us loved our meals. Service and ambiance were good. Table was ready on time.

My friend loves La Grolla - as a Twin Cities native, he has raved about it for years. I thought it was - just okay. Very loud and very crowded - which can oftentimes add to a restaurant's charm. I didn't find it so charming. The waitress, though very friendly and well-intentioned, was largely absent. To her credit, she appeared to be handling the entire place by herself! The chicken and salad were fine. My grandma was born in Southern Italy - so my mom prepared incredible Italian food. She set the bar very high. read more

I visited La Grolla for the first time with some girlfriends earlier this week. I have lived in the Twin Cities for over 10 years and had not heard of this spot before. It is a cute Italian spot located in Summit Hill neighborhood of St. Paul. It is much bigger on the inside than it appears from outside.the service was welcoming, the food was fresh and delicious. There is a parking lot right next to the building. If you bring your ticket in with you, they will validate for free parking. A very nice perk, especially with street parking being limited. read more

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Restaurant is small and intimate setting. Food was not great. Had the beet carpaccio and it was cut very thick. There was also too much dressing. We also got a very burnt roll of bread. I requested new, unburnt bread and they brought back the same bread just with the burnt pieces sliced off. Service was okay but did have to ask people other than our server for assistance at times. Pasta was not great either. read more

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La Grolla is one of the few restaurants I've been able to find that not only take reservations, but are incredibly flexible when it comes to changing them! Our waitress was incredibly helpful when describing the menu items and very efficient. The dim lighting definitely made for more of an intimate dubbing experience and the restaurants size further added to that. My pasta was incredibly flavorful and is one I will definitely be going back to get again. My friend said her gnocchi was very rich and delicious and the salad was very fresh and the chicken made it filling! The one thing to note is that they tend to walk around to each table displaying the deserts which was definitely a little awkward as we were not looking to have any. Other than that and the bit of steep pricing, I highly recommend checking out La Grolla. read more

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Great ambiance and lighting. We had the pasta and the pork chop was delicious. Went for a family dinner and everyone was delighted with their choices, some are even going back for a second dinner before our trip is over! read more

Can't believe I'm saying this, but I would've preferred to have gone to Olive Garden. The food quality and taste is on par with Olive Garden. I had lasagna that was clearly reheated from who knows how long ago, and I can't believe I'm saying this too, but it had way too much cheese! The lasagna appears stuffed, but it's literally just a ton of pasta with a scanty amount of meat filling sauce in between, and then a ton of cheese on top. I also had crab cakes with a spicy sauce on it that ruined to crust of the cake. I was not pleased at all! Service was so slow, but my waitress was nice; just seemed over extended with multiple tables. The restaurant is a nice vibe aesthetically, but it's a small restaurant, so the tables are all placed so close together. It was quite uncomfortable. Frankly, I won't be back again mainly because of the food. Everything else was minor in comparison to that. read more

La Grolla - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Our waiter Paul , was excellent, food was very so-so. We used to visit La Grolla every other month, prior to ownership changing some years back. We visit maybe 2x a year now. Likely ,after this visit, we won't go back for a long time. The bread changed. It's soft bread and doesn't stand up to dipping in the olive oil. Game changer negative. The delicious lobster fettucine that used to come with awesome large tiger shrimp, easily removed from their shells; it changed quite a while back, and now comes with small, spongy shrimp instead. Not worth it, and the dish is no longer a favorite of ours or friends. Our service was great, our memories over the years are great here. Very sad that the bread/oil, and favorite dishes disappeared or have been modified to be less than they once were the last 5 times we have tried to make it a favorite spot of ours, again. We won't be returning anytime soon, and it makes us sad to say this:( read more

Attended a business dinner with the team on Tuesday evening. The restaurant was filled to capacity. We started with the stuffed olives, baratta, and bruschetta. All three apps were delicious. I had the Pollo Champagne. The chicken was delicious. It came with scalloped potatoes and mixed vegetables. We finished with the cheesecake and tiramisu. The service was outstanding, the atmosphere was lively and refreshments hit the spot. Everyone had a delicious meal. I highly recommend this establishment. read more

La Grolla - Pollo Champagne - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Great Italian food! The vodka sauce was delicious and was a good portion. The waitress was very attentive and kept up with our large party. Great for family dinner or date night. read more

The food was to die for. From the complimentary bread to the 3 different pastas that we ordered were phenomenal and nothing like I have tasted before. The ravioli shrimp, as raved by everyone, was the best thing my tongue has ever tasted. The alfredo pasta as well was delicious. And the bread was so soft and hot, it almost melted away. The staff were the sweetest people. The whole ambiance was amazing as well. Overall, would visit again/10 read more

La Grolla - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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Great food and their outside patio is second to none! Service was excellent as well. Can't say enough great things about the champagne chicken - tender, juicy and flavorful! Great fettuccine Alfredo as well! Special Barramundi perfectly prepared with a ton of artichoke hearts. Excellent lemon sauce. read more

La Grolla - Champagne Chicken sub Fettuccine Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

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La Grolla is my most frequented Italian venue in St. Paul. You can park in the lot next to the building and they will give you a parking voucher. Reservations are a must, but I prefer the bar and can usually do that if I forgot to reserve. Patio is nice if the weather is nice. Intimate romantic light inside or out. Great for date night. Wine selection on point. Absolute favorites are : CAPESANTE (dont be afraid of alien appearence, those are just crunchy noodles with scallops hiding in yummy sauce under it. I would have never ordered this without a recommendation now it is a MUST) Diver sea scallops, wrapped in angel hair, lightly deep-friend, served with lobster sauce and topped with basil oil TARTARE DI TONNO. (If you don't feel like heavy pasta and want lighter) Tuna Tartare* seasoned with cilantro, jalapeño, lime, capers, cucumber, onion, avocado, arugula and cayenne aioli RAVIOLI DI GRANCHIO (just the right amount that you can finish) Homemade large ravioli stuffed with stone crab and shrimp in a creamy lobster sauce read more

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First off our waitstaff Lisa was friendly, knew the menu inside out and patiently answered our questions about entre options. Second, although the restaurant was busy at the time of our 7p reservation, we were not rushed by the staff. And last but not least, the food was wonderful. We'll be back! read more

Delicious food, relaxing atmosphere and friendly staff. We had the fried olives for an appetizer, they were amazing. Rich and briny with just the right amount of creaminess from the Roquefort. I had the pomodoro salad which was fresh and satisfying. My brother had the tortellini and those little filled rounds were soooo tender and delicious. The sauce was rich but not thick and pasty like some Alfredo sauces get. Overall everything was great and we will definitely return to try new dishes. read more

This place was soo busy! We had a reservation and even then we had to wait for our table. We got seated and taken care of right away. The server was really nice. I ordered a mojito and did not like it, it was way too strong and not sweet enough for me so the server was nice enough to switch for another. You get bread for the table with oil and balsamic which was okay, nothing special. But then when we got our meal, it was HUGE and so so amazing! I took the rest home and had enough for three more meals!! Would definitely come back. Love the vibe! read more

La Grolla - Cartoccio - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Some of the best Italian in the Twin Cities. They seem to take pride in the freshness of their ingredients, and they did not disappoint! I went here on a Friday night and it was surprisingly NOT very busy. However, I did make a reservation just in case. They serve bread as an appetizer upon arrival and provide a light oil to compliment. Their wine and atmosphere were great and prices were not egregiously overpriced. Perfect for a date-night. read more

To sum it up: This place ain't it, fam. My family of four came in on my dad's recommendation and after today's lunch I trust his recommendations as much as I believe that our Canadian neighbors would invade Texas. First, when we entered there was a very omnipresent odor that was sustained for the entire duration of the meal which frankly is best described as a foul combination of body odor and urine that you can find lingering in public transportation areas or the homeless. Since the smell is SO prominent around the entire restaurant I assume someone working there might not realize they have a BO issue (or maybe multiple people...). Second, BE WARNED that if you get the ravioli you are getting a solid 6 pieces total. Great choice if you are going for something extremely light compared to the rest of your party, perhaps. My brother who got it says that the $19 price was probably justified by the "special crab" in it even though the dude admitted he cannot tell the difference between canned crab and fresh crab. Service was okay but slow, it seemed like the waiters came by multiple times to pick up empty dishes (like 3 times) and by the time we were very clearly wrapped up we still had to ask for the check. No water was refilled for me. On the bright side I got the lunch combination of a pasta (tortellini) and salad (beet salad) and to my pleasant shock both seemed to be the same portion size EACH as the regular pasta dishes that the rest of my family got (mind you that every other pasta dish we ordered was priced greater than $17). I thought maybe I was getting scammed and that both the salad and pasta would be $17 each but surprisingly it was not. That surprise was probably this place's one and only saving grace. Also, I don't come to St. Paul all that often but be warned there is an additional 5% surcharge. There is no warning about this on the menu as far as I can tell so I am giving the benefit of the doubt that the locals already know this and maybe this is standard around the neighborhood. I don't want to gripe about it too much since I'm sure it's used for a good cause/mandated but a disclosure SOMEWHERE on the menu for the people coming out of town would be nice. Overall, seemed like there were plenty of nice restaurants around the area so if you are looking for a decent meal I would not pick this place. read more

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La Grolla has yummy food, great service and one of the prettiest hidden patios in Saint Paul. I definitely recommend sitting outside! Get one of the pastas with the lobster sauce, it's to die for! read more

La Grolla - Ravioli Granchio - Italian Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

La Grolla is the perfect place for a romantic date night. The atmosphere is so cute and dimly lit with candles, one side of the dining room faces the street and there were some interesting looking dwelling places there lol, but big windows facing the dark sky, it's lovely! I was in fact here on a date and there's something so romantic about being candle side, the way it illuminates whoever you're with, you get the picture! 10/10 for ambiance alone! Our waitress was this truly kooky lady, she was spinning around the dining room like a fairy and was clearly having the time of her life. I had no idea what she was saying 90% of the time hah. Loved her authenticity! I ordered the Penne a La Vodka with sausage (penne sautéed with shallots, tomato, basil in a creamy vodka sauce), sooo good. The perfect amount of flavor and creaminess. The sausage was a good addition! In true non-elite behavior, I didn't take any photos so I could soak everything in, the atmosphere, food, candle light, vibe. My date ordered the Surf & Turf special and the steak was incredible, melt in your mouth, fantastic cut! His came with a side of veggies and mashed potato's that resembled cauliflower (?), he loved it. The side bread with oil and vinegar was a nice touch! I can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. We also ordered a bottle of the Malbec, which was superb! 100/10 would recommend! read more

The Hopinator's no. 1 favorite place for lunch. Better even than McDonalds! The patio is open now and we have been enjoying sitting under our favorite umbrella. read more

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Just wow. The patio in the summer makes you feel like you're eating pasta on the streets of Italy. The indoors is snug and loud just like a restaurant in Paris- which I love! So if you're looking for something intimate I wouldn't suggest here BUT the food is amazing so just get over it and come anyways I always have great service and the wine/drink menu is perfectly paired. read more

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Fantastic food, fun staff, and beautiful building inside and out. I have no idea why this is not a 4.5 star rated place. People can be real jerks over minor things. Easy to see bs in some of the reviews. My wife and I love this place. You will too! read more