I had been to this bright, modern, inviting restaurant inside the Sheraton Hotel for a Yelp Elite Event at Lela's famous Not Your Basic Brunch Buffet, so I was really looking forward to coming for birthday dinner with the Other Deb. I was not disappointed. We got all dressed up to make the evening more special with the white linens and the crystal wine glasses, impeccable service and delicious food. We started with a cocktail and our server kindly told us to relax, enjoy our drinks, and he would be back in a short while. At the perfect moment he materialized and we ordered. Typical Debs, we got exactly the same thing: the beet salads and the lamb chops. The beet salads were composed of both red and golden roasted beets, goat cheese, and arugula on an artistic beet purée swath. Lightly dressed in a vinaigrette, it was the perfect start to our meal. The salads are not side salads, they are huge but quite light. Then came the main event, the New Zealand lamb chops. Six bones in pairs with a mouth-watering crust that caused me a slight problem. I wanted to pick up the bones and gnaw off the remaining meat but we were in a *really nice restaurant! Served on top of a creamy, luxurious roasted parsnip purée, the lamb was indulgent and addicting. How so? Well...let's just say I requested all twelve bones in a to-go box, warmed them up and gnawed myself into happiness the next day! Finally, because it was my birthday dinner, they brought a pretty little flan to celebrate. I don't like sweets, but the Other Deb said it was light, creamy, and scrumptious. I can't wait to go back. read more

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Service was great. Deviled eggs were boring. Wagyu burger was good. Drink was strong.

My husband and I planned a Christmas Day out and chose Lela for dinner, we are so happy we did! From drinks to appetizers to main courses were all phenomenal! Our server Brandon was awesome and gave us time to just enjoy our night together! The ambiance was perfect, very romantic but also ready for larger parties if needed! We tried the snapper ceviche, meatball for appetizers and the sea bass and lobster pasta for main courses. Everything was cooked and plated beautifully! If you are in the Bloomington/Edina area this is a must try! read more

My initial restaurant options for Valentine's Day were all booked, and thankfully I stumbled apon Lela with one reservation spot open! The restaurant decor and ambience was nice! Perfect to take someone on a date. For starters, I got the Burrata Salad and Pork Dumplings. Then I ordered the 18oz Ribeye Steak, and Mac and Cheese and Seasonal Vegetables (asparagus) as sides. My girlfriend got the Pan Seared Barramundi, Lobster Tail, and a side of Creamy Potato Puree . The Burrata Salad was a great start! With all the ingredients in one bite (Prosciutto, Arugula, Fig, Toasted Walnut Balsamic Glaze), it definitely was delicious. The pork dumpling was next. I was expecting something like potstuckers or gyoza. However, what I got was... quite confusing. It was wrapped and fried like cream cheese wontons, but with pork fillings. This is not a pork dumpling. It left me disappointed. I don't recommend getting it. Next came our mains with sides. The ribeye steak was cooked to how I liked (medium rare). Great natural steak flavor. A big slab of 18oz. There's no going wrong here. Was it the best steak or one of the best\top steak I ever had? No. But like I said, it definitely was a good one. My girlfriend's Pan Seared Baramundi was delicious! Good flavor and well seasoned.The crispy skin did get soggy from the juices throughout the meal, but it was still tasty. It also came with a good sized fennel salad. She said her Lobster Tail was alright, and liked the Baramundi better. I'm allergic to shellfish, so I'm not going near it. The sides were meh... nothing special. The Creamy Potato Puree and Mac and Cheese were big in portion. Enough to feed at least two for each of them. However, they (including the side of asparagus) were more on the bland side I would say. Sadly there were no extra seasoning on the table, and didn't feel like it was worth asking for. Lela is a nice restaurant. My girlfriend and I had a good time together. The food overall were decent too. However, it's not a restaurant that I would be raving about or want to be running back to right away. But, it's also not a spot that will disappoint. Overall: 3.5/5 read more

Lela - Burrata Salad and Pork Dumplings - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I think the atmosphere is pretty good and it is definitely a good place in the area for people to gather. Certain parts of the restaurant are darker and there may not be enough light even when it is daytime. The server recommended the meatballs, and I could see why. A picture of the meatballs was also on the website. They were made from pork, beef, veal, and tomato garlic confit, and the overall taste was a great combination of all of those. For both the snapper ceviche and the ahi tuna poke, there was not enough ceviche / poke but a lot of nachos on the side. The heirloom tomato & burrata was a good starter as well. Its taste could be off depending on the person's taste. To me, it was pretty good. In terms of the dessert, I recommend the chocolate molten cake a la mode. The crème brûlée was tasty as well. Overall it was a fancy place and one to go for special occasions. I would consider it a place that parties of 3 and above can go to when around the area! read more

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Great to have something nice so close to home, eggs Benedict was good, the plate it came on was cool..., lackluster. Sourdough bread hard to cut through. Maybe if it was toasted on a grill? My husband had the Lela omelet- now that was delicious. You know it's the small things that " chap me". I had to ask for salt and pepper ( it's not on the table), my husband had toast soft butter given.., BUT NO JAM! we asked for some.., our server said it doesn't come with jam.., he brought a nice little jar selection ( no charge)! THINK! what does my customer need here? Come ON!‍ All in all it was decent. Will be back for lunch or dinner. It's worth coming back to. And tip well- it's more the service sometimes that brings one back to try an establishment one more time. I know our guy didn't ask questions, but he was nice, did bring our food in a timely manner. read more

Lela - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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We came here for the Thanksgiving Dinner special. Wow, it did NOT disappoint. This was probably one of the best turkey dinners I've had! The meal started with a Purple Bulleit cocktail (which was good and strong) and the Lela Simple Salad (light and a large size). We ordered the turkey dinner for the main entree. It was served with carrots, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce, and gravy. The portion size was generous and it had both dark and white meat. The turkey was moist and everything had good flavor, especially the gravy. For dessert, we had black coffee and the pumpkin pie. I couldn't quite pinpoint it, but there was extra maybe cinnamon in the pie. It was excellent! The staff was attentive and helpful. We had asked for extra gravy and it was brought out quickly. The restaurant is very open but tables were spread out so it didn't feel like we were on top of our neighbors. I'm looking forward to coming back to Lela to try their dinner menu. read more

Lela - Pumpkin pie and black coffee. Yummy! - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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3AM wake-up, whirlwind day of Midwest travel....road food.......so, was so happy to finally settle in and pull up Yelp for best restaurants in the area. And not just because of my day or the previous reviews written----- Lela was EXACTLY what was needed!!!! The decor is modern and cozy in the feeling of having segmented seating areas. Love a high top table that's actually comfortable! My stomach was eager for a Real Meal.... And WOW, it got real! Lela salad was dressed well with tasty Parm shavings. Kudos to the bartender in making a dirty martini that tasted of perfect essence of gin and olive. And then came the Lobster Gnocchi. The bites of Gnocchi, they were large and a cool shaped rectangle but light and flavorful. The Sauce gave a bit of sweetness that OMG.....harmonized with the mushrooms! These beautiful mushroom gave perfect subtle flavor but moreover great texture. I ate the whole dish, had to, it was so tasty. Kudos to Lela, thanks for topping off a day as being delicious and relaxing!!!! read more

Lela - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I was staying across the street at the Hilton but read the reviews on Lela and felt compelled to check it out. Sat at the bar where I had the food fortune to be served by Christopher. After enjoying a perfect slightly dirty Grey Goose Martini with three blue cheese olives (thanks, Christopher for making those from scratch) I started with the seared scallops and some sourdough bread. Awesome presentation and better flavor. Switched to a glass of Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc and ordered the Shrimp Scampi. The Scampi was flavorful and the sauce didn't overpower the shrimp, which was exactly how I prefer it. If you're in the area, Lela is definitely worth a visit and you'll enjoy it even more if you sit at the bar when Christopher is bartending! read more

Lela - Seared Scallops - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Yum! Great ambience followed by amazing food. You must try the lobster deviled eggs! The wait staff was quick and pleasant and the cocktails were delish! read more

This is reviewing Lela's Sunday Brunch Snowstorm won't stop us from getting our brunch on here! Met some friends at Lela for their "Not your basic" brunch buffet. Let me tell you, it is not basic at all. Lela is attached to the Sheraton hotel in Bloomington with its own separate entrance. Very open and bright, the wine glasses hanging when you walk in is a sight to see. My friends and I wondered how long it took to create the piece because it looked like it took a long time. We had a larger party so waited on a few to come strolling in but on Sundays there is no other menu except for the brunch buffet. $29.95 a person seems high but trust me, you will be satisfied and it is oh so worth it. Coffee was included and you can add bottomless mimosas/bellinis for an extra $10 (don't mind if I do). Once we got our drink orders in, we all went up to the buffet to get our first round. The choices were really high quality. I will say, for a shorter person (I'm 5'2), it was a bit of a reach to get to the some of the items because the counter is so high. As you move down the buffet, you pass a variety of pastries, breakfast items and then..wait for it..you hit gold! You get to the big seafood Paella pot and the seafood tower on ice. Great big crab claws, lobster claws and shrimp looked delicious! You also have the make your own omelet or pasta station as well. I had to carry two plates the first round because there was so much to choose from that I wanted to try. Some of my favorites were: Flank steak with chimichurri sauce - tender steak with a flavorful sauce Seafood paella - Some of the seafood was a bit dry from sitting out (crab claw) but overall great flavor and high pieces of seafood Seafood tower - chilled lobster claws, crab claws, and shrimp were juicy and oh so good I went back for more Pastries- I really liked the mini croissant and caramel roll This is definitely not your basic brunch and is a great deal for what options you have. Will definitely be back for more! read more

I was very excited to try brunch at Lela. The regular menus here are very good but the brunch is very ordinary. Pros: Mac and cheese is excellent Heirloom carrots were excellent (except the burned ones) Nueske Bacon - always excellent Crab Claws Jumbo chilled shrimp Crab Cakes Cons: Paella was disappointing with little flavor, no crispy rice and a minimal amount of shrimp and mussels (the seafood was very good). Pretty much all rice. How about adding some saffron, garlic, snap peas, peppers and Palacios Chorizo? I am very picky on my Paella and know how hard it is to perfect. Pancakes were extremely thin with little flavor (I'll share my recipe) Omelets are all grease. The lady working the omelet station puts in a ladle of oil and then proceeds to cook the omelet. It tasted all like grease. Made to order pasta would have been good if the pasta wasn't WAY overcooked. Bottomless bubbles - flat prosecco Our table server was great. The lady working the omelet and pasta station was not. She was hostile and acted like requests were out of line. It was a make to order station and people were just choosing from the options available. She way overcooked my pasta and I saw a lot of uneaten omelets on tables. They need someone else or they might as well just throw the food directly in the trash. We never saw the pie, skirt steak or the salmon croquettes. They did have fresh fruit but the watermelon was awful (and out of season). We were disappointed in most of the desserts. Nothing was labeled and the mini dessert that looked like creme brulee was a banana pudding. My special needs brother doesn't have teeth so we paid $29 for mac and cheese and banana pudding for him. Everything else was chewy or the substandard pancakes. But I knew the price going in. I would have given 2 stars but I am rounding up to 3. They can do, and have done, much better than this. Plus the server was nice to my brother. read more

This is the best restaurant in the whole United states. I'm here for a week staying at the Sheraton and every night I have been coming to Lelas and the food just keeps getting better and better each night. This is five star Michelin Worthy restaurant. Every dish that comes out not only looks like an art masterpiece it tastes like one too. Last night I had the scallops which rocked my world, the next night I had the carpaccio and let me just say it was so delicate yet so flavorful with hints of truffle oil and capers and beautifully little potato string sticks that they made themselves. I also brought a bunch of the people that I work with here and we came for happy hour we ordered the espresso martini. The maitra g came to our table and topped off our espresso martinis with these beautiful delicates little baby white chocolate mini balls. The attention to detail in this place is crazy amazing. The staff really know their stuff highly educated and super personable. The food and the service are beyond my expectations and I have dined in fine restaurants all over the world. Literally I wish I lived here and I would just come every night and work myself through the menu. read more

A wonderful restaurant! Food is delicious but I am writing mainly for the service. Bartenders and hosts are all friendly and accommodating, but makes it special for me is the floor manager or lead server of this establishment! My colleague and I almost missed a flight if it wasn't for the manager. Without going in to detail, we owe this gentlemen A LOT! read more

What can I say, Lela had been the talk at some of the YEE events after the Lela brunch event. So for my good friend's birthday we went to Lela to give it a shot. I got to Lela after she did and she was thoroughly impressed by the attentiveness of the wait staff and wasn't too pushy with getting our orders in so that they can turn the table over. When I arrived, the restaurant wasn't busy and I was able to find my friend. I was promptly greeted by our wait staff. The decor is different than the previous restaurant. Lela didn't disappoint us from service to food to drinks to dessert; however, it was little odd that we were suppose to get chips with the cerviche appetizer but when it came out, there were no chips too eat it with so I felt awkward asking the server about getting us some chips. The cerviche was unexpected since it was just chunks of octopus versus having a pico de gallo mixture mixed together with a seafood. Needless to say it was still very tasty. Then we had our entrees. My friend had the smoked mussels and it looked delish but she felt like the mussels were tiny. My steak salad was done medium but it was hard to cut like it was too tough or that the steak knife was dulled. The salad dressing was a perfect combination of tart with salty. It brought all the flavors together with the steak, tomatoes and Bleu cheese. It was great too have the manager stop by to say hello and check on us. I could only count a handful of times that a manager actually stopped by too check on how the evening had been with their guest. He was so personable and have us free dessert for my friend's birthday and asked that we come back to celebrate at Lela each year. That was so sweet. I'm not a big chocolate person but I was in heaven. I think the chocolate cake was a flourless chocolate cake. It was not too sweet and rich with the right amount of chocolate taste and sweetness. We both love it and the berries was a nice touch of balance for the taste buds. Overall: great service, good food but can be spendy, nice list of cocktails and wine-love the sparkling Moscato from Italy. Nice individual bathrooms but not good for families with young children in diapers as there's not a changing table available. I would come back again and will have to come during their brunch as I've heard it's awesome. read more

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TL:DR party of 13, on a Monday Night, not busy, food was great, but the kitchen took too long to make our meals. Monday night team meeting with a reservation. The place was not crowded, in fact there was plenty of seating at the bar and for dinner. the atmosphere was great, and the staff was wonderful. Our waiter Juan was great, and Cesar took care of our drinks. For the food and staff, I would say 5 stars for the kitchen and delivery of the plates, 2 stars We ordered our food together, which went well, and all our salads arrived together which was great. But when it came to our entrees, that is when it broke down. After 50 min of waiting, the first plates of our main course arrived.. Thank goodness for conversation and more scotch. Half the table received their food, and the other half was still waiting. So those who had their food waited patiently for the other half to receive theirs. after 10 min, and the plated food started to get cold, the people who received their plates started to eat, and by the time many of them finished their plate, then the second half received theirs. it was a good 25 min gap between the first half and the second half. Poor execution. But the food was good, no complaints and the staff was attentive. I would reconsider another venue if you have a large party. But for 4 or less, it might be worth while going. would I go back, for a small group of 4 or less, but not for a larger group. read more

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I have had the privilege of dining at Lela's many times over the last few years. Enjoyed the offerings of Chef Woodman, Chef Thomas and Chef Joe. Next best thing to dining in at Lela's is take-out. Last evening we ordered family style Bolognese Pappardelle, Lela simple salad, warm crusty French bread with top shelf EVOO and balsamic, and a dessert sampler of decadent chocolate cake, tiramisu, red velvet, and key lime. The food is top quality just like we are accustomed to when dining in. At $65, believe me this is a steal. It filled the bellies of 5 hungry adults with ease. Can't hardly wait till Lela opens their doors once again and I can assume my seat at the Omakase table. read more

There is so much to love about Lela: their house made pastas, remarkable meats, Happy Hour, impressive wine and cocktail programs, and omg their "Not Your Basic Brunch". Got me on my knees, Lela. The Sunday Brunch is high on my local brunch list. It's $29 per person, which I think is reasonable for high quality AYCE food. Especially since their brunch spread is, as inferred, not basic. They have a seafood tower, fantastic flank steak, charcuterie display, build-your-own pasta and omelette stations, and dessert. Steak + shrimp + mimosas = a morning trifecta. It's just $10 extra for bottomless bloody marys or mimosas. On holidays (like the recent Easter brunch I gorged myself at), they add carving stations to their brunch lineup. Lela also hosts cool events, like wine dinners and omakase (chef's choice dinner). Check out their site for upcoming events and watch out for me barreling towards that seafood tower. read more

Lela - Easter Brunch buffet + carving stations - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Had a wonderful night celebrating our anniversary. Great feeling from the moment we arrived. The restaurant service was very attentive and the suggested Seabass was prepared exactly the way we love and Bolognese so delightful and filling. We are definitely going again soon. read more

Steak, shrimp, crab claws, oh my. Would that be an exquisite meal for a special occasion? Absolutely! What is you could have all of that plus even more? Not possible? Well, it is very possible at Lela's Not Your Basic Brunch! Talk about a foodie paradise. Sure there are the breakfast staples like pancakes, eggs, bacon, sausage and hash browns. They even have a terrific omelet station. But Lela takes all of this to the next level with fresh shrimp, crab claws, skirt steak and paella. Yes amazing paella that will take you to Spain and back. Meatballs, chicken fingers, empanadas, heirloom carrots, charcuterie board with great cheeses, granola and more dessert pastries and treats than you can eat. I'm sure I am missing some items. I guess we'll have to return again soon to refresh my memory. :) My personal favorites were the shrimp, skirt steak with fresh Chimichurri sauce and the paella. Well I should also add that the bacon was terrific, so were the meatballs. I also liked the eggs with chorizo. Yes this was not basic, it was excellent. Brunch is one of our favorite meals, maybe our favorite meal. I mean how else can you get all of these amazing options at one sitting? At Lela's Not Your Basic Brunch. This is now offered on Sundays so if you so incline, you can enjoy on Saturday and Sunday. We'll certainly be back! read more

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Lela has a great happy hour and wonderful service and food. Adel is our favorite server and we always have a wonderful experience dining at Lela. The burata, meatball and Mediterranean salad are all wonderful. They have great wine options and the cocktails are strong and delicious! read more

Lela - Wine and kitchen - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Good job, Good job Lela. My husband and I live close by and were great fans of the Sofitel restaurants over the years and it took us having purchased at a local fundraiser a stay-vacation at the Sheraton that also came with a gift certificate to Lela. Awesome- we checked into the hotel-had wonderful bar service in the lobby by Terrance (a very good tanqueray martini) as we watched the Wild in their last game of the Stanley cup. Headed to the Club room and enjoyed some nice hordevours and conversation with other travelers. Later, we enjoyed dinner at Lela- the hostess let us sit anywhere-a biggy in my book. We chose a nice booth-but there are plenty spaces to like. The bar close to the kitchen seemed like the place to be.. since it was happy hour.. but we chose a quieter/cozy place. I believe Reed was our server and he was very attentive and helpful in our decision making. Beef Carpaccio, Romaine caesar salad, lobster truffle gnocchi, honey vinegar heirloom carrots a glass of house red wine.. and please do not pass on the desert sampling of 3 freshly made donuts.. the highlight is definitely the savory MN wild rice donut with pine cone powder. ahh... I think I went to heaven. Very nice experience. Would recommend. read more

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Steak was amazing!! Truly melt in your mouth. Kids spaghetti was also delicious. We all loved our dinner so much, we went back for breakfast (which was also outstanding)! We will be back. read more

Definitely a yes! Why? Easy parking, great lunch menu, clean and crisp uniforms(it matters to me), polite and patient waitress, great tasting food and bright dining room for lunch. I ordered the salmon with side of carrots. Salmon was made on a cedar plank and was done perfectly with crispy outside. Little bit of brown sugar and bit molasses made it oh so delicious. Carrots we boiled first and then charred black on grill, it was great. I can eat it again. I would say give this place a try. All 3 of my coworkers were extremely happy with the food , service, quality and price. So go for it read more

Lela - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Lela is a very nice restaurant with a upscale vibe, which is attached to the Sheraton Hotel. I came to Lela for Easter Brunch. Which is $39, for $10 extra you can enjoy bottomless mimosas or bloody marys. There was a dessert bar. A salad, soup, breakfast pastries, cold seafood (crab/lobster claw, shrimp cocktail), fresh fruits, 2-3 entrees (prime rib & salmon with a side of corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, boiled starches). I would say the food selections were minimal. The dessert selections were delicious. read more

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On our first visit to Lela, a Monday evening, we met friends and shared some small plates then each had a different entree. For small plates, we had the meatball which was good, the crab cake which was outstanding, and the Ahi Tuna Poke which was pretty pedestrian. My husband had the Wagyu burger which he absolutely delighted in! It was almost too hot to handle and delicious. It came with fries that were also wonderful. One friend had the bucatini with seafood which he devoured so I'm thinking he liked it! One ordered the Cesar salad and a cup of clam chowder. I ordered the house salad and a cup of clam chowder. The salads were tasty and light - not overpowered by dressing. The clam chowder was a yummy generous portion - enough to satisfy our hunger along with the salad. It is an open atmosphere and, while it was a quiet Monday evening, I can see how it could get very noisy very quickly. One thing that popped out to me was the many round tables for larger groups. I LOVE that! Great thinking on the part of the designer! It is much larger inside than it appears outside and very clean and welcoming. Our server, Adele, was professional, friendly, and not too overbearing. Overall, it was a very pleasant evening with good wine and wonderful food. We will definitely be back - for a date night. read more

Excellent service, friendly waitstaff, good food, and a welcoming atmosphere to enjoy your meal.

We came here to Lela for Sunday brunch and it did not disappoint! The cute semi-private booth we were sat at was comfortable and allowed us to all communicate with each other without distractions. The windows let in some bright sunshine. The staff was amazing and very kind. My favorite part was the food, of course. I first walked thru to let my eyes see all the options. There were so many choices from seafood, pastries, comfort food, fruit to jambalaya. There is even a pasta bar and omelet bar to make your own personal entrée. It's also possible to add on endless mimosas for a set price (I think $15). I didn't get it this time, but would consider in the future. They also have an impressive wine list, if that's your morning thing! I really enjoyed my many plates of food for brunch here and cannot wait to go again! read more

Lela - Pumpkin pie season - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Disappointing. Sea bass was overcooked and $28. Kids pasta was rubbery and only about a 1/4 cup for $8. Plus side, staff was all friendly. read more

My husband and I went to Lela for dinner--it was a Friday night around 9PM. We hadn't made reservations and were able to get in almost right away after a few of the workers walked past us without any recognition, there were only about 3 other small parties besides us. Food was underwhelming. I ordered Pan Roasted Lamb Chops: the lamb chops weren't game-y, but also didn't really taste like anything, they also didn't have even cooks all around--I asked for medium rare and some were well done, some were medium, and some were medium rare. The Sumac Potatoes that came with the dish were also poorly seasoned and just tasted like plain potatoes. My husband ordered the Skirt Steak with Brandy-Peppercorn sauce and a Lobster Tail. His plate literally came with the two pieces of meat and nothing else, not even the slightest piece of garnish. His steak also was nothing to get excited about--just an average-tasting steak. Our server was great & one of the chefs came over at one point to ask us how our meal was which was a nice gesture until he started wandering his eyes where he shouldn't be, which made both me and my husband uncomfortable. Wouldn't come here again and wouldn't recommend to anyone I care about. read more

Lela - Lobster Deviled Eggs - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Fantastic place! The service was very attentive workout being invasive, Sarah was our marvelous server and was very informative and made great suggestions. The $15 three course lunch is really unbelievable, especially for such a reputable hotel and dining experience. The Manager, Andrew came out to assure that we were happy and taken care of, that's always a kind touch! Ordering the lobster deviled eggs and phenomenal chocolate mousse is an absolute must! Lela is a great place for a date, nice dinner, casual lunch, happy hour or brunch! Can't wait to come back! read more

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I have been to Lela on several occasions at all different meal times. I was there on Valentine's Day for dinner with my boyfriend, I've had the pleasure of feasting on their weekend brunch, and today, I visited Lela for lunch. It was my first time trying their lunch and I was looking forward to seeing the options on their menu. I came in around 3pm (due to work I had an extremely late lunch) and I was one of a few customers who were in the restaurant at the time. My waiter came out to greet me, and he said "My name is Adele, like the singer, but I cannot sing" His welcoming nature immediately put a smile on my face. He gave me a bit of Lela history and mentioned how long he had personally worked there. It was a nice way to begin my meal. After reading through both their regular lunch menu and their prix fixe lunch menu, I decided to get the 3-course meal from the prix fixe menu. There a few different options for an appetizer/entree/dessert. The trio I chose included the Lobster Deviled Eggs (usually $10 on the main lunch menu) if you purchase the appetizer alone, the Bolognese Pappardelle ($16 on the regular menu) and the Tres Leches cake. Everything was incredible! I had no complaints. My waiter was a delight and the food was high-quality. The Lobster Deviled Eggs not only look beautiful in presentation, but the hint of lobster made such a difference. I could tell the pappardelle was freshly made...the pasta's texture was perfect. I thought they were going to skimp me on portion size due to the inexpensive price, but the entree portion was plentiful and it really doesn't get any better than a $15 3-course meal. Let me tell ya, the tres leches cake was to die for...I told my waiter that I am not someone who usually gets dessert; I've honestly never had a sweet tooth. However, this tres leches cake was an exception. I finished the entire plate. It was moist (still hate that word) and the frosting was light and creamy. The blueberries added a refreshing component to the dessert that I really enjoyed. I wish Lela wasn't located all the way out in Bloomington because I'd definitely be there more if it was closer. Don't let it being attached to a hotel scare you away...it sure measures up to any other restaurant in the Twin Cities area! Their brunch buffet has so much to offer (that other places do not). Now that I've been there during all mealtimes, I can say that their chefs and employees know exactly how to run a business. Bravo! read more

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Food was delicious! We had an awesome server who took care of my group very well and made sure we had everything we needed. The vibes here were classy and clean! Had a great birthday dinner and delicious dessert on the house. They are very accommodating to larger groups too read more

Lela - Ribeye steak was delicious, they had different salts to go with it too. I chose to have all 4 salts and they set it on the side for me - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I came here for lunch today and I was blown away! The place is bright and clean inside, which is something I noticed right away. Now on to the food... Lobster deviled eggs (you only get two for $10, but they are A-MAZING). Smoked salmon club sandwich: One of the best salmon sandwiches I have ever had. No joke. The salmon was fresh and the combo of the tomato, bacon, arugula, onion and dill spread gave a little bit of a "kick". Shrimp scampi pasta: My dad had this and devoured it. The shrimp were enormous too, which is always a plus! Prime rib french dip: Generous portion! My mom had this and said it was delicious! Dessert: Three gourmet donuts for $9.50. We had the chocolate topped with carmelized banana, white chocolate with coconut and a maple with wild rice. When I left, I was so full, but in a good way! The service was top notch and the food was some of the best I've had in a long time. I can't wait to come back and try their brunch next! read more

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Went here for Restaurant week. 2nd place on our Restaurant week to try. Beautiful place and easy to find location. Dining area is absolutely beautiful and stunning! Covid precautions in place! Yayy! Upon seating we noticed a card for their "Wine series" in which it featured meals and wine for a spendy price. We love these kind of events so signed up right away. I also checked in with Yelp and noticed the drink coupon. We asked about it and the waiter was confused. We noticed it said Happy Hour and it was 550pm so was excited to use it. The waiter was really confused and asked if he can talk to the manager about it and asked us where we got the coupon. Then another waiter came with him and said that they didn't know about it and that Yelp does whatever they want without telling them. I told the second waiter that I'm a "yelp-er" and when checking in found it. Regardless, they honored it. Thank you. (* they only offer a Chardonnay or Cabernet for happy hour. Waiter gave no name for the wine but The Chardonnay was light and crisp and I enjoyed it very much!! I'm more of a Pinot Grigio gal but this Chardonnay could change my mind. ) Introduction to the meal was a bread basket with olive oil. I want more of the bread! Wonder if they sell it on the side. Starters we had the crab cakes and tuna tartar. Loved it both! The tartar came on a bed of guacamole. I like my tartar with a little more citrus and with guac I love citrus even more! The first bite didn't give me that but towards the end I finally tasted the citrus I wanted. Crab cakes were fried to perfection and it didn't crumble apart. It also came with a sauce which paired well. We ordered another glass of wine and our waiter made it very clear that the wine would be at full price and that the coupon would not work for it. I understand that the coupon was for Happy hour only which ended at 6 pm, so Thank you for the reminder- twice, actually. Entree was the sea bass and steak pasta. Sea bass was the highlight of the two. The crisp seasoning pan seared to the outside of the fish along with its perfect portion was tasteful and nice! It was not gummy or overcooked at all. I will have to admit that the presentation was truly immaculate on this huge shell looking plate. The pasta wasn't bad at all but we felt like it needed a little more salt. Creamy sauce with small pieces of steak and noodles. It tasted really good but just a little more salt would make it even better. We finished our experience with cheesecake and a molten chocolate cake with a scoop of ice cream. Really, nothing out of the ordinary but a good palate cleanser at the end. Overall I would recommend Lela's to others as something to try. Would I come back?- truthfully if we didn't jump to sign up for the dinner event I would probably say no. read more

Lela is located at the bottom of a Sheraton - but don't let that fool you - there's some major tastes that come out of here. Unfortunately, our reservations were at 8:30 pm, and the kitchen closes at 9 pm, which we didn't know when we booked it and ended up being very rushed through dinner. The staff was super nice about it, and it's not their fault, but I wish I would have known that when I made the reservation. We ordered our cocktails, and there was a slight mix up (One was supposed to have blue cheese olives, but they both came with blue cheese olives,) but other than that the service was good and our server was friendly and attentive. We got the ahi tuna to start, which was great. For the mains, I ordered the pappardelle and my fiance got the creamy spaghetti. Both were absolutely divine. The pasta is homemade daily, and you can truly taste it. The noodles were fresh and cooked to a perfect al dente. The sauces were creamy and delicious and the meats were done so well. It was unfortunate we had such a rushed experience because the food really was really good. I'd be willing to go back (much earlier than 8:30 pm!) read more

Lela - Pappardelle - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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I was at Lela for a couple of special events previously and couldn't be happier with the food and service. I was stoked to drag my husband here for their brunch after raving about all the delicious offerings. It's quite a drive for us since we're on the eastern side of the suburbs, but we hopped on his motorcycle and made the drive out. At 11am it wasn't busy yet so we were seated quickly. The restaurant is bright and beautiful. I love that it doesn't feel like its part of a hotel. Very smartly designed and decorated space. I ordered a coffee then we went to fill some plates. I couldn't stop talking about their empanadas, skirt steak, seafood paella, and seafood tower. I was excited for my husband to try everything...but they didn't have empanadas this day :( We get back to our table and our bill is already waiting for us...okay...we haven't even eaten yet. It felt like we were already being rushed out. I was also considering a cocktail, but decided not to since I didn't want our server to bring another bill and waste paper. So the food, some of the dishes were a hit, unfortunately there were more misses. Meatballs, I love. The skirt steak is good with the chimichurri sauce. Jumbo cocktail shrimp cooked perfectly, can't go wrong with these. Fluffy pancakes with whipped cream and fruit was refreshing. No empanadas was a disappointment, I'll survive, but we were there at the start of brunch and they ran out of stone crab. I had two pieces and there were none left. I guess it worked out anyhow cause these pieces were mushy. Not the quality I've had before. The paella was the biggest upset, the rice was overcooked, but the worse of it was a claw that I grabbed, it was sooooo dry my husband refused to eat it. I took a bite and it was like sandpaper. I've never had such a bad piece of seafood. It clearly sat in the pan for too long. The time it took us to get there and back was much longer than the amount of time it took us to eat. No point in lingering when you're not going for seconds . read more

We went to Lela for Brunch on Mother's Day because we wanted an upscale meal with endless choices. Aka my mom wanted to eat at a nice buffet. I've heard good things on social media about Lela and since it's new I thought we'd check it out so we did. We made a reservation for 7 and got a seat inside. We hoped we could sit outside but most tables were for parties of 4 or less. When we were ready to start filling our plates, we realized the crazy number of options there were: scrambled eggs, omelettes, fruit, veggies, salad, seafood, steak, sausage, potatoes, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, bacon, desserts and of course... bottomless mimosas. I swear, I had 8 plates of food and loved every plate. I tried a little bit of everything with very minimal waste. Our whole table was sampling things off each other's plate to figure out if we wanted our own and usually we did! The staff was great weird refilling the trays and all of our food was hot (when it was supposed to be) and ice cold (when it was supposed to be). We will definitely be back for more celebrations or whenever I feel like putting down multiple pounds of food! read more

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Came with excitement and left conflicted. Ambience: open concept with modern decor and plenty of breeze and natural light. It's a nice design!!! Service: confusion between staffs. We had a waiter came out introduced himself as our waiter and the specials of the night. A few minutes later, a waitress came out and took our order. A few minutes later, the same waiter came back wanting to take our order. We ordered the meatball, crudos sampler, seared chicken breast with mushroom lemon risotto, 16oz New York strip, potato purée, and mascarpone spinach. The meatball and crudos sample as appetizers were solid. The meatball was moist, the ratio between veal, pork & beef was balance. Furthermore, the tomato sauce added a tangy refreshing taste to the meat. The crudos sampler were refreshing, light on the palate and was the highlight of the day. My friend had the chicken breast and he devoured it quickly. I stole some of his mushroom risotto, and boy I'm glad that I did. Not sure if they precooked the rice and sauce separately first, but the dish came out 10 minutes we ordered it, and the flavor was sublime. The sauce was creamy, the sage flavor hits your taste bud instantly, and the rice/mushrooms had great texture. If it has a little bit less salt, it would has been the best thing of the night. Steak: the seasoning was good and didn't needed the extra flavored salts that were offered. I was disappointed since I ordered it medium rare, but it came out medium most of the streak. The waitresses and manager came out to apologize and asked if I want to get a new piece, I declined since we had to leave to our next event. Potato purée: flavor was good, but it was dense. Would've been better with more cream/butter. Mascarpone spinach: "bad" Right away I noticed the spinach leaves were yellow in color. If this was fresh spinach, it shouldn't be this yellow. The overall taste was acidic and overpowered the subtle earthiness of the spinach. The manager told us that the cheese made it acidic. I told him that mascarpone has a citric component to it, but it's mildly sweet also. I don't know what type of mascarpone you guys are using, but it should be this acidic. He didn't responded. My friend who's normally not a picky eater took one bite of the spinach and requested to send it back. Furthermore, he wasn't even interested in eating half of my streak. For the price that we paid, I expected the quality to justify the price. This is a classic example of focusing too much on the aesthetic appearance of the restaurant, and not enough on the quality of the food. Stay hungry and thirsty my friends. read more

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We were staying at the Sheraton for a night. So just because it was convenient & had pretty good reviews also, we decided to go here for breakfast. I got the Avocado poached eggs and the husband got the Crepes & Ham. Both were absolutely delicious. I savoured every bite and was satisfyingly full by the end of my meal. It was a good portion. Although the price is a little bit on the high side, the quality and ambience make it worth it read more

Lela - Avocado poached eggs - New American Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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