What a beautiful space and what beautiful food. We had a delicious dinner at Zelo. I wasn't sure what to expect but the food exceeded my expectations. The space is a bit cramped, but still managed to feel open. They have a mixture of booths and tables, along with a nice bars area. They offer a comprehensive drink menu and extensive wine list. The appetizer we had, the calamari, was perfectly cooked and the sauce offered just the right amount or bite without overpowering the dish itself. I had the pesto sea bass for the main dish. The fish was buttery and flaky with a kick from the wasabi mashed potatoes. The sauce on the plate was a nice balance of sweet with the heat. Our waiter, Benjamin, who was fabulously helpful, suggested the Peach Cobbler for dessert. It was just like you'd expect of your grandmother was a pastry chef. We also tried a lemon dish, which had a beautiful balance of sweet and tart with a trio of textures. I would absolutely recommend Zelo if you're looking for a nice meal in Minneapolis read more

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Had the perfect dinner at Zelo while traveling in Minneapolis. Kathleen was our waitress and she was lovely and so knowledgeable. We started with a small portion of calamari. Perfectly cooked and delicious aioli. I had the yummiest chopped salad with a lemon vinaigrette and salmon cooked to perfection. My friend has the house made pasta which I sampled and was so delicious. You could taste the spices. Perfect night! read more

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We celebrated a birthday at Zelo and enjoyed the following CHICKEN AND WILD MUSHROOM RISOTTO. The creamy risotto paired well with the flavorful chunks of chicken and mushroom. SPICY CRAB SPAGHETTI The spaghetti was cooked al dente and had just the right amount of spice. Both dishes were filling and packed with flavor. The restaurant seemed ill-prepared for the amount of parties they had that evening. Service took approximately 2.5 hours. I will go back just not on a Saturday evening. Bonus! The espresso martini was delicious read more

Zelo - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Went after work during a business trip with a group of 7. The resident host let us know that this was a pretty solid choice so we were thrilled after having had some bad dinners all week. Finally. A meal that I didn't feel hungry or gross after. We got a couple appetizers but I usually try not to fill up on those. I love eating healthy and the herb grilled organic salmon really hit the spot. The dish came on a bed of roasted heirloom potatoes, zucchini, basil, dressed with a lemon-thyme sauce. It was the perfect portion- but keep in mind that I'm 105 lbs- so the amount can't be enough for most. I eat a lot for my size but even then, i'd say most will need a side. Our waiter was a pleasure- she was attentive to detail and came back to check on us every now and then. read more

Zelo - Herbed grilled organic salmon - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I stopped by Zelo on a business trip to Minneapolis. I can't comment on the parking situation as it was walking distance from my hotel. The restaurant itself is well decorated and seems to pull in a lot of local business people. From the front desk to the server, the service was friendly and timely. Having been first-time visitors, the server walked us through some menu highlights, which was appreciated. As for the food itself , the bread service was warm and great tasting bread. I tried a tomato Basil soup, which was usual but enjoyable. My favorite was the chicken parm. The sauce was sweet and rich, which I loved. The chicken wasn't dry at all and had a decent batter around it. The spaghetti for it was served on the side and needed a bit of salt but created a good portion size. I loved the food and suggest it to anyone who happens to find themselves in the area! read more

Zelo - Chicken parm - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I enjoyed Zelo a couple times recently. I want to give it more than a 4 star but can't give it a 5. The dinners were delicious. I loved the chicken parm dinner, the chicken was perfect and the spaghetti was good but didn't blow me away. Another dinner was the brick chicken and that was a good meal too worthy of 4 stars. The bread is 5 star for sure!! It was so delicious. The service and staff was great, the last time our female server was excellent. The atmosphere was a very nice setting inside. Outside ignore the surroundings and get inside. Overall Zelo is a wonderful restaurant and I would definitely visit again. read more

Zelo is my go-to before Orchestra Hall and a favorite of family and friends alike. The menu is varied enough for every palate, and the service is the best in the Twin Cities. I particularly like any of the seafood dishes as they are perfectly composed and sized to satisfy. Start with the parmesan shrimp, the beet salad and a glass of wine and you'll have room for one of their amazing entrees. The house made pastas are a real treat, and the veggie sides dishes are not to be missed...especially the roasted carrots. Teamwork evident from top to bottom, all attentive to your experience. You won't regret a visit to Zelo! read more

In town for a conference, a group of us organized a dinner landing at Zelo. The space is in an old building with soft ambiance. Our table in the middle of the floor and action, was at the same time very cozy and intimate. I had a perfectly filthy martini with blue cheese olives as my cocktail. Our table had a variety of appetizers to start our feast: roasted cauliflower, burrata & prosciutto di parma, and braised meatballs. All delicious. My main was the Classic Chicken Parmigiana - lightly breaded cutlets, with the marina and al dente pasta. Delicious! read more

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Dinner time @ Minneapolis... looked up restaurants @ Yelp as usual and had hard time between three but I am very happy I picked Zelo! It was a fabulous diner! The service was friendly, suggested the specials of the day which was two different fish and we ordered those, we also ordered a Salad and the Prosciutto with Burrata. Loved it all, delicious and tasty, to finish off we got the Chocolate Flowerless Cake with Vanilla Ice cream... wow!!! So yummiii!!! The restaurant is beautiful and well located. If I come back to Minneapolis I surely be back! read more

Zelo - Prosciutto Burratta - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Delicious! I had the mussels and the scallops. The mussels had a full flavored broth. I only wish I had more bread to soak it up. The scallops had a prefect amount of crispy bacon on top. So good. Best thing I've eaten during my visit to Minneapolis read more

Zelo - Mussels - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Food and service was great. I liked how they blended some local ingredients into their Italian style.

My pasta was excellent and I loved the budino. The server was very friendly, and I loved people watching from the windows in the bar! It was busy so I recommend making a reservation. read more

Zelo is great. My co workers & I had great service from Kaleb. I ordered the Tortiglioni Rossa which was really good. Also had a pineapple martini that was nice. For dessert I ordered some lemon cake thingy which was good too. Beautiful restaurant. Will recommend and return. read more

Zelo - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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came here with my work team after a long day of meetings. The service is incredible - the wait staff is incredibly friendly and helpful in recommending things from the menu and explain stuff. We got the steak bruschetta and avocado bruschetta and parmesean shrimp to start which were also delicious. The steak roast thing was my absolute fave. I got the pesto sea bass for my main course which was pretty phenomenal - well cooked and incredible flavors. creamy burre blanc. We got the pumpkin cake for dessert which was INSANE. Highly recommend the dessert. The ambiance was upscale and classy but not stuffy. Overall such a fantastic experience and the perfect place to grab dinner with parents or colleagues etc. read more

Zelo - Pesto Crusted Sea Bass - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Loved this restaurant. Great ambience and service. The restroom, which can be forgotten at times, were clean. That's a plus. Decent wine selection... something for everyone. What I ordered: Calamari fritti. 5/5 from start to finish. Burrata and prosciutto di parma. 3/5 Pesto crusted sea bass. 4/5 I enjoyed every bite of it. A bit pricey I would say. Tiramisu. 4/5 Expect your check to be on the sort-of high side, about $100 per person, but be prepared to enjoy the visit. Keeping it in mind for next MN trip. read more

Zelo - Pesto Crusted Sea Bass 4/5 - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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A Mpls tradition for at least 25 years (less a brief pandemic shutdown), I think of Zelo as the home of the best pasta in the city. The Classic Lasagna is unmatched. If pasta can melt in one's mouth, this is that pasta. Zelo serves a healthy portion of this decidedly-unhealthy delight. We also enjoyed the fantastic tomato basil soup, a chunky, sweet bowl of brilliance. One of us ordered a 6 oz filet mignon, declared it "just fine" but his isn't a steakhouse. Better was the side of fontina potato frico (which I think of as a variation on potato pave), which was as close dessert as we would get. I may go back just for that. My Basic Blue Salad was also just fine, though I did not detect any actual blue cheese that would have provided a creamier bite. Great table service, too. I noted at least 4 different servers bringing us menus, bread, cocktails, entrees and then bussing the table clean after. Speaking of drinks, my ongoing quest for pearl onions was nicely quenched with a Hendrick's Gibson. Cold and crisp. That pickled onion lived a short but vital existence only to end up as a perfect finish to my martini. Zelo was buzzing on this midweek evening, creating a pleasant ambiance. Perhaps best of all, the complimentary valet provided at least one guy who could drive a stick. I have learned to ask at when arriving, as many valets either cannot operate a clutch or worse, will lie about it. We tipped him well, topping off a terrific evening. read more

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Zelo, my old friend, I've missed you so over these 3 long years. We had such good times, and I thought I'd never see your hallowed dining room again. Welcome back. This is my new (?) favorite restaurant. Upscale Italian ambiance, delicious food, with optimal service - what's not to love? The beef tenderloin crustini is a must have - 3/16ths slice of rare beef over truffle aioli with a dot of ricotta? Sign me up. Caesar was fresh and tossed with a creamy dressing and big flakes of parm. My pesto house made pasta was good, but a touch over salted. My date's crab spaghetti was amazing. Topped the meal off with a chocolate budini (molten cake) with gelato and a cappuccino. Delightful. read more

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I had a great time eating here with one of my good gal pals that I haven't seen in 10 years. It was a perfect choice for visiting Minnesota for the first time. I even got a chance to talk to the manager and tell her my likes and one small dislike. She was very open to the conversation. The place is lovely and the booths are wide enough for two people to sit comfortably on each side. We had a table full of appetizers instead of a main meal. It was a good way to sample a lot of food and fill our bellies. read more

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I was visiting the area, and we came to Zelo for a team dinner. It was surprisingly very busy for a weekday night, so it was a good thing that we had reservations. We all got drinks, and I went with the sangria - it was perfectly made! We also started with meatballs and brussel sprouts to share, which were fine. For my meal, I ordered the lasagna, which is my #1 favorite food, so I wanted to see how Zelo did with theirs. It was very good. I loved that they used ricotta, had plenty of cheese, and the perfect amount of sauce on top. The overall taste was fantastic! My only complaint was that the bottom layer was crispy/crunchy and overdone. If it had been properly cooked, I'd put it up there with the best. The small portion was good enough for me for one meal. Everyone on my team enjoyed their meals - they all had pork chops, pizza, chicken parm, ravioli, etc. We ended with desserts to share, and I will say I was not really impressed, they were just okay. I would just recommend sticking with the meals as that is where they excelled. I would definitely recommend Zelo if you are in the area for an enjoyable Italian dinner. read more

Loved most of the food. Really enjoyed the Tuna appetizer. Sea Bass was a 10! I've only had one other dry aged steak and it was amazing so I was expecting the same here. The steak was good,, but didn't seem dry shed at all, so not worth the price tag. We asked the server how long it's been aged and she didn't know so we lost our confidence even more (assume it would be bragged about). Loved the atmosphere as well, great vibes. Will be back for the tuna and Seabass for sure! read more

If you ever get the chance to visit downtown Minneapolis, please, please, PLEASE stop at Zelo--and be sure to ask for Jaime ! Despite the dining room being packed, he took amazing care of me, even though I was dining alone. I felt seen, welcomed, and truly valued. Can't wait to come back!! read more

more of a classy ambiance - great for business meetings, team dinners, dinner with parents (which is what we did!) it's a solid spot, just misses with the "IT" factor. servers are very kind and had great recs we enjoyed. fav dishes: crab cakes, linguine, Rossa pasta & tres leches gelato skip on: risotto, tiramisu (very rummy, unless ur into that) , caramel custard (too sweet) read more

Zelo - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

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Beautiful restaurant in downtown Minneapolis. Italian food and homemade pastas are on point. Lasagna, spicy lump crab spaghetti, and the squid ink pasta special was all delicious. The service was superb. Our waiter was honestly the coolest waiter and most on point while laid back waiter I've ever had. Definitely a must try. read more

Honestly this place didn't wow me, all of the entrees seemed like they were lacking something and for the price points I just don't have a reason to return with so many other options in the area. The atmosphere was unique and very well lit. It was a bustling place on a Tuesday which made it a little noisy. The staff was very attentive and the complimentary valet was nice but other than that it was an underwhelming experience. read more

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Benjamin was our server for the early evening and did a great job. First time in Minneapolis and will definitely go back to this restaurant. The pasta was fantastic and my sincerest compliments go to the chef(s)! The ambiance of the restaurant was also very satisfying. read more

Amazing food and service! Drinks, the entire and desert were all delicious! I can't wait to come back!

Best ravioli in town! Bartenders are a hoot, food is delicious, good ambience. Only bad thing I noticed is the chandelier decorations were noticeably dusty but I think they renovated and cleaned things up read more

Everything from the drinks to food was amazing. The dessert is so good.Erika was an amazing waitress. read more

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Food was excellent as was the ambiance. Not the best for indoor lighting when it gets dark out, but very classy restaurant in Minneapolis. I came here for a birthday dinner and tried a handful of espresso martinis, an aperol spritz, mussels, lamb crostini, and herbed pasta with braised lamb. Everything was so flavorful, even their bread was light and fluffy, very satisfying. The flavor profiles of everything were spot on. The mussels were divine, I'm not usually a big mussels person but the sauce was exceptional and perfect with the bread. My meal was the lamb herb pasta which was so so good, I loved the herb flavor which really elevated the pasta. I had the large portion which was actually a lot of food, I had leftovers. The lamb was braised so perfectly and the pasta was fresh made in house and you could tell, bellissimo! Would absolutely come back to try other things on the menu, very good Italian food! read more

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Amazing service. Great pasta. I love their bread. I'm so glad they reopened. It's beautiful inside too. White table clothes.

Zelo is consistently delicious. My office is close and I'm always happy when we do team dinner here. Fish, pastas, small plates; everything I've had has been great. Portions can vary a bit so be sure to ask - the boar ragu pasta I had once was enormous I half wish I could've finished it! It's not inexpensive but the quality is great, just hope my boss forgets how much we spent last time so we can go again soon. read more

My husband and I went to Zelo before a concert at the State Theatre on a Friday night and everything about our experience was amazing! We decided to go here last minute so we didn't get a reservation, but we arrived early enough to get a spot at a table in the bar, which was first-come. The food was just fantastic! We started off with the bruschetta - very good! It was served in a yummy crostini, which wasn't too crusty. I did think it was weird that it wasn't topped with cheese, but we just asked for some parm and that really hit the spot. For dinner, I had the homemade house ravioli and my husband had the lasagna. These two dishes can be hit-or-miss at restaurants, but the flavors were SO flavorful and savoy! We also had the bread basket and it tasted fresh, and was served deliciously warm with butter. We ended with the Budino because of course! Perfection! Service was also fantastic - I believe our server's name was Carly and she was so lovely and attentive. She really made our experience great! read more

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Erica our server was absolutely wonderful! This was the fastest food has ever been brought out ever in my opinion. Food was so so delicious! 10/10 - side note the inside is so beautiful! I will eat here every time I'm back in Minneapolis! Again thank you Zelo staff and Erica for making our dinner excellent! read more

Zelo - Classic Chicken Parmigiana and spaghetti with meatballs - Italian Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ahi TUna absolutely amazing. Espresso Martini yummy with an extra shot of espresso. Mussels great. The stra berry salad was perfect, every bite had my mouth watering. Was a treat. read more

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Great food. Veg ravioli was amazing. Gluten free parpadelle was a treat. Shay, Ellen and Janette were an outstanding service team. We will be back yet this week! read more

We had the delightful dinner to celebrate a colleagues event. We really enjoyed the food and the environment made for a perfect setting for an enjoyable meal and discussion. The waiter was a little bit stiff, but maybe he was trying to add to the ambience. He kept saying " i will be serving us" which seemed odd and a tad pretentious ;-) lol read more

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The primavera was the best pasta I've ever eaten. Went here twice on a work trip the food was so good. The staff is incredibly fast and friendly. Best eating experience I've had in a long time. Would love to know the secret ingredients of the primavera. read more

The Pepperoni pizza was amazing, the chicken parm was tender and huge and the fettuccine was so good. Great wine Austin Hope and the bread and salads were excellent. read more

Some of the best Italian here in Minneapolis! Chicken parm is a 9.42/10.00, and the service was immaculate. Highly recommend for a nice date night or with family! read more

It was my wife's birthday, we usually dine at Hells Kitchen and walked by Zelo a lot and were interested in trying it out. Before going there we read some reviews on Yelp and a few people gave a glowing review to the server Benjamin.I joked to my wife, wouldn't it be something if we got Benjamin as our server. Imagine our surprise when we got seated to our table and the server introduced himself as Benjamin. We mentioned we only have an hour to eat since we have theater tickets, he fast tracked our order and I mentioned that we are here to celebrate my wife's birthday, he then said he wants to buy her a dessert and said that anytime we are here we can request him. Needless to say, we give the food 5 stars out of 5 and give Benjamin 6 stars out of 5 read more