I Nonni

I used to really like this place. On a recent visit I was left to wait for my entrée whilst a group was given priority. This despite the fact that there was almost no one else present… not a good sign at 8pm on a Friday. When my pasta finally arrived it was overcooked. The flavors were interesting, but heavy handed and sickly sweet. The wine list is still quite impressive, but honestly… the food, past prime.

We went last night and ordered from the Restaurant week menu which offered appetizer, main course and dessert for $ 35 each. All of the items we had were fantastic. The charred octopus, carpaccio, scallops, short rib, tiramisu, and bread pudding were all prepared perfectly and were extremely tasty. Service was great as well. Highly recommend this place

Beautiful dining room, prompt service, OK food.
My bucatini was VERY spicy and the sauce was orangey-​red color. Just mediocre. The crab salad was tasty and the gnocchi was delicious. Our waiter was very good, but felt inclined to touch each of us on the shoulder at some point in the evening. Kinda creepy! Enjoyable evening, but I would ‘t rush back again soon.

Decent food but not great, especially considering the price tags. The food seems a little heavy handed. Flourless chocolate cake is one of my favorite desserts but theirs is too dense. This was my second time here and I haven’t been overly impressed either time. Lovely décor with cathedral (noisy) ceilings, a fire place and view. No toilet paper or soap in the bathroom. Friendly, attentive service. Wanted to love it, but it’s just okay.

Sat solo at the bar, and ordered my Aperol spritz… Different than Italy, yet completely delish! I had the calamari appetizer, very lightly breaded, and tasty. But then came my antipasti: cacciucco alla Livornese. Wow! A spicy tomato sauce (broth), literally packed with seafood! I’m sure this dish is to be shared, but I ate it as my dinner! Make sure you order extra grilled bread to sop up all the sauce! Gotta run, spritz just delivered! After a long trip to Italy, I was craving some good food! I’ll be back!

This is difficult because the food is very good. However, the service is embarrassing. We arrived, sat at the bar for dinner, had to stop someone to order a drink. Then had to ask (katlyn) for a menu. Had to stop her again to ask her name so we didn’t have to keep saying ’ hey you’. We had to ask if there were any specials which she then shared. The first pasta was very dry, we didn’t eat it or complain, just ordered more. What came out was baby sized portions with more attitude. So bottom line we dropped $ 200, were treated rudely (not restaurants fault) and left hungry.

My husband and I went for our anniversary last week, and had a delicious meal. He had the New York Strip special (which was MASSIVE and perfectly cooked), and I had seared scallops, which were amazing. He had a salad to start and I had a half serving of shrimp pasta in brown butter sauce that had a TON of shrimp. Yes, as other reviewers mentioned, it was a little pricey. But the service was EXCELLENT, and they gave us complimentary champagne because it was our anniversary. I can’t believe I’ve lived in the area so long without trying it… we’ll definitely be back next time we are looking for a place to celebrate.
And now we want to visit Buon Giorno, too (next door). When we aren’t stuffed :)

Happy Hour is amazing, even if the app prices are a bit high (still a good discount from the regular menu price.) We got the calamari, carpaccio and gnocchi. The carpaccio is my fav, and the calamari is the best in town. The gnocchi is delish too, but maybe not as amazing as the other apps, but still amazing.

This place is stellar! And, I think if I went there for happy hour I would give it five stars. The only reason it is minus one star is because the prices are so high. The food and the service were stellar!
Went on a Friday night and our waitress was excellent. Checked in to make sure we had what we wanted but wasn’t over bearing.
I had an old fashioned to drink and it was very good. The next time I want to try the drink with chamomile infused liquor.
For dinner we had the linguini with shrimp and mushrooms and the spicy squid ink pasta with seafood. There was definitely some spice but it was so good! And, the bread is delicious! Super dense. Unfortunately they don’t make the majority of their bread/​pasta in house but it still tastes so good. We had the figgy bread pudding for dessert and it was just ok. I’m looking forward to returning in the future!

Overall the food was pretty good and I would eat it again, but it was a little pricey. The Romanesca anchovy salad was very tasty. I knew I had to get the guanciale pasta dish, pig cheeks are wonderful. I went with the pork chop and was a little disappointed in how it was cooked. This was a 1 ½ inch thick chop and I thought it was over cooked, it was drier than I care for. We will be back to try the grocery store and the fast serve selections of pasta and pizza.

I really like this restaurant although it is located in a bizarre place. The first time we are here was inside which was stuffy. The second time on deck (in summer obviously) and atmosphere was terrific. The food both times have been terrific Italian and decent wine selection. It’s worth going and finding this restaurant for very good Italian.

Delicious halibut and shrimp pasta. But, $ 12 for a salad with too much pepper, one tomato and some romaine lettuce barely enough for one person is outrageous. Setting is very pleasant and service was OK. There are better Italian restaurants in St. Paul at fairer prices. We won’t be back. Deserts had nothing of interest.

Above average, but not great Italian restaurant. Had the pappardelle and rigatoni, both of which were made in house. The taste and texture we’re fine, but nothing spectacular. In most cases homemade pasta really distinguishes itself from boxed pasta, but not here, so I was a little disappointed. My companion had the lamb chops, which was good, but overpriced. Almost 40 $ for three average sized chops? Come on. The setting is nice with a large high ceilinged room and an adjoining Italian market. Service was friendly and attentive. It is quite drive, so I don’t see myself going back, but is certainly a good option if you’re in the area.

A completely overrated restaurant. If you like foo foo food with poor flavor combinations, then by all means, visit I Nonni. Over priced and the service was poor. The menu has very limited options. I like quality dining. I am not stuffy or pretentious. I do, however, like value. If I am going to pay a lot for a meal, I expect it to be high quality and appetizing. The salumi antpasti was dry and flavorless. The salads were strange combinations of odd favors that seemed poorly researched. It took 3 requests and more than 10 minutes to get a basket of bread brought to the table. I will not visit this restaurant again. Go there if you are among the group that pretends to like overpriced food that really is not very good. I have had much better Italian food at several other places in the Twin Cities. Go somewhere else.

Out of the three restaurant week trips (128 Café, I Nonni, Capital Grille) I took in February, I can safely say that I Nonni is probably the only place that I would return to.
It was very confusing at first as we walked right into the bar area. We just stood there for a while confused. Then we realized that the host table is just past the bar area — they need a better position for the host, or have the host stand by the door.
We were seated at a booth — the ones where the back is positioned against the wall, and it is almost like a mini-​sofa in which we sat right next to each other. It was a bit awkward at first since we were across from other tables in the middle of the dining room — felt like we were staring at other diners unintentionally.
For drinks, I had the Moscato D’Asti La Caliera — this was really good, my cup of tea! Light, fruity, not-​too-​sweet. I am on a hunt to find it in stores now.
For appetizers, I had Pan Fried Veal Liver with bacon and caramelized onions. This was really fatty, melt-​in-​your-​mouth, and flavorful! Maybe a little too fatty… I felt a little heartburn after. My friend had the Raw Beef with shaved parmesan cheese and arugula. This was definitely a lighter appetizer. It was refreshing — although not much flavor, but very fresh beef!
For entrees, I had the Pan Seared Duck Breast with Foie Gras. This is the first time ever I have ever had duck breast! I think it was medium rare as far as I can tell. It almost tastes a bit like roast duck with the crispy skin. The Foie Gras was fatty, melt-​in-​your-​mouth. I think the dish could use a little bit more veggies as it was very meat-​heavy. My friend had the Braised Beef Ribs — and wow, the portion was HUGE. Unfortunately, this was a miss. Even though the beef itself was very tender, the sauce is somewhat bland and doesn’t add much to it at all.
Time for Desserts:
Tiramsu — it was decent, fluffy and light, but not memorable. HUGE portion again!
Chocolate Torte — BEST chocolate torte I have ever had. They drizzled some olive oil and also sprinkled some peanuts on top, which added some saltiness. And to my surpise, it worked really well with the semi-​sweet, bitter and dense chocolate! I left nothing on this plate.
Note that they have a seasonal menu — so it does change. I am looking forward to coming back to try the $ 45 three course tasting menu! Last note — great service from our waitress as well!

This is our favorite Italian restaurant in the Twin Cities area by a long shot. If you want top-​notch customer service, exquisite food, and relaxing/​cozy ambiance– this is the place for you!

I gave this a solid 4 stars, great service, great food, and a great time. In town on business, my colleagues and I were looking for a nice Italian experience and we found just that. Whether you’re in the mood for a casual fine dining experience or looking for a trip to old country Italy, you’re in for a treat! I highly recommend this restaurant for a night you won’t soon forget.

The BEST fried calamari I’ve had (and I’ve had it at almost every restaurants we go to that serves that). It was so fresh & tender with right amount of flavoring; not chewy and crumbly dough like some places. The food is phenomenal. It was fresh, flavorful, traditional (as it gets).
The service was also excellent! Waiters was attentive to you, knowledgeable about the foods. It’s one of those place that serves you with fancy utensils/​dishes & there’s a more utensils & dishes than what you’d know to do with them.
This place is classy and serene so do dress up a little. The wine cellar walking makes it unique. The restaurant itself isn’t big so you may have to make reservation. It is connected to the market. I haven’t been there but I can imagine it carrying wide variety of Italian foods.

This has to be one of the best Italian restaurants I’ve eaten at. I’ve been here twice so far and every appetizer, entrée and dessert I’ve had was really good! I don’t have any complaints except that it is quite a drive for me to get there… but it was worth it :)

The short answer for the three-​star rating is this: Of the five food items we ordered, only one was good enough to be considered 5-​star — the other four items did not «wow», and a couple of them were not prepared well. And for the prices you pay, there is no excuse for anything being less than «wow». Also, although the reservation noted that we were there for our anniversary, not a word was said about it, nor a token dessert offered as acknowledgement. So: Why ask??? Read on…
The evening started well with two very nicely executed cocktails at the bar, as we waited for a table on the patio. It’s a beautiful space.
We ordered the $ 45 three-​course dinner, plus an appetizer and an extra salad, and split everything. We had:
1) the Mussels appetizer
– this, with the bread and butter to sop up the broth, was excellent; this was 5-​star. (But the kitchen didn’t catch a completely-​closed shell — meaning dangerous to eat — which maybe they should have).
Overall: Excellent
2) Greens salad
– nice honey vinaigrette dressing, although a bit sweet for me; the greens were not bitter at all;
Overall: Above average
3) Asparagus w/​fried egg on top
– interesting combo; however, the asparagus tended to be a bit tough and stringy in too many bites; when I mentioned this to the waitress, she explained that the kitchen keeps the length of the asparagus the same, thus resulting in some tough portions. Then she promptly went away. I’m sorry, but that explanation didn’t do a thing for my experience of the dish.
Overall: Average (flawed execution)
4) Linguine and clams
– a minuscule portion, and I do mean minuscule. We knew that the ‘tasting menu’ portions were smaller, but please… Beyond that, it was not very good; it was not rich in flavor, and there was also an «off» taste to it; I mentioned to the waitress that it tasted like un-​reduced (uncooked) wine left in the broth, and she acknowledged my experience, but then again just went away. And that was that.
Overall: Below Average (flawed execution, average recipe)
5) Encrusted Halibut
– needed salt (not on the table), but was good after that. My wife evaluated it by saying it was not bad, but she wouldn’t order it again. I.e., no «wow» factor.
Overall: Above average to average
So, in the end:
— some food was flawed
— some was average
— no attempt to correct the issues
— no acknowledgement of our anniversary
— small portions
— high prices
What would you rate this experience?
For me it was not «The Best Italian Food in the Twin Cities»…

Lindsey D. and I made our 2^nd annual summer pilgrimage to I Nonni a couple weekends ago, depending on the time this can truly be a feat coming from downtown Minneapolis. Sadly we didn’t make it in time to grab a table outside but we did take a romantic stroll around the small pond after dinner like an couple.
First things first, the price increase on HH — the HH items are now at reduced price rather than ½ off. A little confusion when we received the menu because the bartender gave us a «bar menu» with a selection that stated «reduced price antipasti», however that is their HH menu and they must only distribute that during HH because the prices listed on there are already at the reduced prices.
We had:
— Steamed Mussels, which were a miss, small shriveled and dry. The garlicky tomato sauce (practically a soup) that accompanies the mussels is still tasty as ever though. I always ask for spoons to go at it. No shame.
— Calamari Fritti, still a home run dish! Seriously, how do they do such a light batter? And never chewy, this goes down like butter.
— Rigatoncini, sausage ragu, parmigiano — DELICIOUS. I love meat sauce so this was the perfect dish for me (and you if you’re also a meat lover), the ratio was a dozen noodles on a large ladle scoop of red sauce. Every bite was as if the flavors of Italy had exploded in my mouth. The table bread is perfect for dipping in this and the mussel soup.

I’ve been here 5 – 6 times with my CEO, and look forward to it every single time. Expensive and worth it. Every dish is prepared with ultimate care and passion. It really shows through, starting with the tableside breads. Wine list is mostly Italian and exquisite. Service and presentation are both impeccable, however don’t come here for dinner without allowing 2 – 2.5 hours for a memorable and lingering experience. They will not rush you out to turn your table, and far from it, they want you to chill and enjoy yourself and the very comfortable environment, which is decidedly upscale and appealing. EVERYTHING is truly Italian, from the menu language to the neo-​Roman-​ruins wall plaster and columns, to the ambiance. Did I mention the food? Dreamy Italian-​foodie cuisine.
FANTASTIC RESTAURANT, and knowledgeable, attentive servers and bar staff.
Also— try Tuesday’s Tasting Menu: as much as you want of anything/​everything on that particular menu. I have not yet had it, but cannot wait to get my ass in there on my least favorite day of the week, Tuesday. Nor have I been here for Happy Hour, but apparently the apps and pizzas are half price. Gotta do both of these soon, next time up to Minneapolis.