Best Restaurants for Local Ingredients in Downtown / North Loop

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianIndianChineseSpanishComfort Food

Regions

Twin Cities / MinneapolisTwin Cities / St. PaulTwin Cities / Western Suburbs

Neighborhoods

BloomingtonDowntown / Mill DistrictDowntown / North LoopMinnetonkaSaint Paul

Top Rated

CharmingFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasionsGreat for brunch

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh Top

Accessibility

Gender-neutral restroomWheelchair access

9 restaurants available nearby

1. Blondette

3.7

Very Good(112)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Downtown / Mill District

Booked 1 time today

A local favorite, Blondette is a brunch restaurant located on the fifth floor of the historic Rand Tower Hotel in a bright, glass-covered atrium with an outdoor terrace and firepits and one of Minneapolis’ only retractable roofs. Blondette offers a casual brunch each weekend from 9am - 2pm that highlights the best of American cuisine fused with local ingredients.Blondette also offers curated holiday menus for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Eve, Easter and Mother's Day. SPECIAL OFFER: The 2,000 sq. ft. restaurant is available for private dining, reception events or a full buyout for up to 80 people. Book an event by March 31, 2025 and 10% off your event package!

2. Zelo

4.9

Exceptional(4101)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 40 times today

At Zelo, we serve simple, fresh Italian cuisine made from local ingredients. Our handcrafted meals accompany a thoughtful, approachable wine selection. We believe dining is more than a menu: it is an experience, and ours is quality. When you’re our guest, our staff learn your name and remember your favorite glass of wine. We passionately commit to bring you the full dining experience – quality food and wine presented with welcoming service. Every meal. Every day. Please join us. An enduring Minneapolis destination, Zelo was opened in 1999 by Rick Webb, a Minnesota restaurateur whose pursuits have set the standard in Twin Cities dining for over 40 years. Looking for another unparalleled dining experience in the south metro? Visit Rick Webb’s acclaimed Ciao Bella, the restaurant that inspired Zelo’s handcrafted food and dedicated service.

A photo of Nolo's Kitchen & Bar restaurant

3. Nolo's Kitchen & Bar

4.7

Exceptional(1127)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Contemporary American • Downtown / North Loop

Booked 62 times today

**Please note all reservations are for Nolo's Kitchen, the rooftop is first come, first serve. For cabana rentals please visit https://www.rooftopbarmpls.com/cabanas**Located at the historic Gardner Hardware Building at 515 Washington Ave N in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis. The NOLO's team consists of Marty Collins, Brett Johnson and Peter Hoff, each native Minnesotans with extensive industry experience. Marty has owned over 10 restaurant concepts in Minneapolis, MN, Kansas City and Columbia, MO, and Iowa City, IA. Brett and his family have owned and operated The Hilltop Restaurant for the past 40 years. Pete, the head chef, brings his most recent culinary experience and creativity from California to NOLO’s, The Rooftop Bar and The Basement Bar. His culinary vision and passion for local ingredients create new modern comfort food dishes. The team shares a passion for the restaurant and bar industry and sees an opportunity to fill gaps in the market in the North Loop.

4. Ciao Bella

4.8

Exceptional(6769)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Bloomington

Booked 69 times today

CURRENTLY, ALL RESERVATIONS MADE WILL BE FOR INSIDE SEATING. PATIO SEATING IS ALL FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE. THANK YOU.At Ciao Bella, we serve simple, fresh Italian cuisine made from local ingredients. Our handcrafted meals are accompanied by a thoughtful, approachable wine selection. We believe dining is more than food: it is an experience, and ours is quality. Enjoy your handcrafted meal on our lively outdoor patio, or take in the local art collection in our dining room. Our philosophy is simple: quality food and wine presented with welcoming service. Every meal. Every day. Please join us. A Minneapolis metro favorite, Ciao Bella was opened in 1997 by Minneapolis restaurateur Rick Webb, whose pursuits have set the standard in Twin Cities dining for over 40 years. Heading downtown? Visit Ciao Bella’s sister restaurant, Zelo, for another dining experience from Rick Webb featuring handcrafted food and dedicated service.

A photo of FireLake Grill House Mall of America restaurant

5. FireLake Grill House Mall of America

4.3

Awesome(950)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• American • Bloomington

Booked 19 times today

Enjoy farm-to-table dining in the heart of the city at the highly acclaimed FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar, located in Radisson Blu Mall of America. Voted one of the best restaurants in Mall of America. Each dish is prepared with local, Midwestern ingredients from Twin Cities-based food artisans like Red Table Meat Co. and Stickney Hill Dairy. Our culture is deeply rooted in the flavors and service of the north. From a two-person date night to a 100-person special event, we have you covered. Our private dining spaces are perfect for holiday parties, corporate meetings, wedding rehearsals, baby showers, birthday parties, and friend/family gatherings. We are open 365 days of the year, including Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Thanksgiving, and New Years. Whether you are from out of town or from down the street come experience a taste of Minnesota at FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar. *Covered Parking Garage with Validated Parking when dining in FireLake.*Valet Parking Offered.

6. Crasqui

4.9

Exceptional(107)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Venezuelan • Saint Paul

Booked 5 times today

Crasqui is a lively Venezuelan restaurant in Saint Paul. Recipes are inspired in our chef-owner Soleil Ramirez childhood, family and friends in her home-country Venezuela. For us Crasqui is more than just a restaurant—it’s a vessel for memories, dreams, flavors, and connections. We will keep infusing our passion, dedication and love into every dish to make every guest experience memorable.

7. Aspen and Oak

4.5

Awesome(2)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Comfort Food • Bloomington

Booked 1 time today

Located in the Doubletree Bloomington South Hotel on the corner of HWY 100 & 494. We feature local flavors and ingredients. Big screen TVs great for cheering on the local (or not so local) teams. 14 Taps showcasing local (and Micro) breweries. Hand crafted cocktails. Handmade desserts. Best kept secret in Bloomington! **************Mother's Day Brunch.Sunday May 12, 2024 11am-2PM.Build your own Omelete Station, Ham & Marinated Tri Tip Carving Station, various fruits, salads, entrees and desserts. Adults $40 Children 12 & Under $15.

8. Clay Oven

new

(0)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Indian • Minnetonka

Booked 4 times today

Clay Oven Plymouth is the culmination of a life long dream and desire of owner Mr.Diljit Khosa to showcase the true diversity of Indian cuisine. To translate this vision, Executive Chef Sam combines fresh local ingredients from the Pacific Northwest with traditional ingredients and spices from across India. The tastes are at once familiar, yet new and exciting. Prepare for a dining experience with diversity and subtlety of flavors not available in any other Indian restaurant!

A photo of LARS Restaurant & Bar restaurant

9. LARS Restaurant & Bar

4.5

Awesome(0)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Bloomington

Welcome to LARS Restaurant & BarOur Bloomington, MN eatery provides a casual dining experience with a menu infused with local ingredients and flavors.The features, feel, and ambiance of LARS is specifically designed to resonate with all our patrons, on many levels. From delicious cocktails to bar rituals and even live music, there is always a welcoming atmosphere.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington, D.C. Area •2 reviews
5.0
Dined today
They treated me so well and the food was unbelievable. I enjoyed dining alone here while on travel but it’s also a great spot for dates and group dinners.
More info
ZeloPrice: Moderate• Italian• Downtown / North Loop
•
4.9
K
KentVIP
Minneapolis - St. Paul •41 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
We had a wonderful dinner. Service was great, food delicious and great experience. Thank you Anna, Nickie!
More info
Ciao BellaPrice: Moderate• Italian• Bloomington
•
4.8
G
GretchenVIP
Minneapolis - St. Paul •6 reviews
4.0
Dined 5 days ago
The ambience is great, fun atmosphere. Food was delicious. Unfortunately our server was not attentive and quite rude to our group. Aside from that, our experience was great.
More info
Nolo's Kitchen & BarPrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Downtown / North Loop
•
4.7
PC
PamC
Minneapolis - St. Paul •15 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
Good food and service! We had popovers that were phenomenal before our entrees.
More info
FireLake Grill House Mall of AmericaPrice: Expensive• American• Bloomington
•
4.3
T
thomasVIP
Minneapolis - St. Paul •20 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jan 19, 2025
Lovely setting, attentive service, delicious meal and exciting cocktails. We loved every aspect of our date night dinner. Beef tartare, scallops and duck were all outstanding and beautiful. Passionfruit tart also very nice. Don’t miss the passionfruit cocktail with bubbles, sidecar or espresso martini. Exceptionally good.
More info
BlondettePrice: Moderate• Contemporary American• Downtown / Mill District
•
3.7

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