452 Selby Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55102
651-221-1061
http://www.lagrollastpaul.com/
Category: Italian
Rating (Scale 1-10, with 10 being the highest):
Food: 10
Service: 9
Ambience: 9
Recommendation: Excellent. This restaurant takes the concept of a neighborhood eatery to the next level. Superb Italian food with ambience and service to match.
The concept of a neighborhood Italian bistro is nothing new to the Twin Cities (case in point, Al Vento in SE Minneapolis and Arezzo in Edina’s 50th and France area). La Grolla, like the others, offers a cozy and warm atmosphere reminiscent of small family run establishments around Italy. It is located in the Cathedral Hill neighborhood of St. Paul, which is St. Paul’s “Restaurant Row” with many eateries such as WA Frost, Zander Café, Moscow on the Hill located right next to each other. The dim lighting, coupled with faux finished walls and paintings depicting scenes of Italy allows you to reminisce about time spent with your loved one strolling down the streets of a small Italian town.
But what about the food - does it live up to the standard set by the ambience? Will I leave feeling that I experienced a slice of Italy – in St. Paul? Yes and Yes. It’s a joy to experience a culinary adventure where the chef is at the top of his game. Chef and owner Antonio Tettamanzi opened La Grolla in 2002 and based on the busy dining room on a Tuesday night it’s apparent that he has found a winning combination. The standard menu is complemented by a full page specials list. The wine list has some great selections – we picked an Italian Pinot Noir (2006 Laetitia Pinot Noir) and were thrilled. For appetizers we loved the Asparagi al Gorgonzola (grilled asparagus with polenta and gorgonzola fondue) and Carpaccio di Manzo (thin sliced beef tenderloin with parmesan and lemon/Dijon vinaigrette). The asparagus was tender and grilled perfectly (slightly charred), the gorgonzola fondue wasn’t overpowering, and the polenta was delicious. The Carpaccio was superb – the hint of sourness from the vinaigrette matched perfectly with the fresh shaved parmesan. The fresh and simple Caprese Salad was to die for, with the tender mozzarella being the highlight of the salad. We tried one of the pasta specials – Parpadelle with Porcini Mushrooms and Duck
Ragu. The pasta was fresh and the ragu sauce had earthiness from the porcini and a hint of sweetness from the duck. The Gnocchi alla Salentina (potato dumplings with tomato, basil and mozzarella) was at par with the best we have had in the Twin Cities. We love Gnocchi, but also have high standards when it comes to this, one of our favorite Italian delicacies, which is too often butchered by the best restaurants in the US. Luckily for us, La Grolla does Gnocchi really well – it melts in your mouth and is paired with a light tomato sauce that still allows you to appreciate the flavor of the Gnocchi. Our friends had the Spaghetti Puttanesca (with kalamata olives, capers, garlic, and basil), Pollo alla Capricciosa (pan seared breaded chicken breast with tomato and mozzarella), and Pollo Champagne (pan seared chicken breast with shallots, sun-dried tomatoes, and champagne cream sauce) and were very pleased with their meal. For dessert, we went traditional – the Tiramisu was
delicious.
Our server did a great job managing a busy restaurant. We were never neglected, our food was served promptly and the bread (awesome!) was replenished several times. The restaurant also has patio dining and has just started serving Sunday brunch.
$$-$$$. Dinner for two with a couple of appetizers and half a bottle of wine was $100. Street parking on Selby Ave.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
La Grolla
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2 comments:
well it was the first time at La Grolla and for the past 3 days I cannot stop to talk about it.
The restaurant feel like its alive with the aroma of the spices used in the kitchen.Prompt seating at 7 pm
The server was a delightful young woman, she took our orders and then....BANG the food start coming.
The olive fritte was the perfect starter for my light Pinot grigio, capesante " Spider" were so delicious with a lobster sauce and basil oil.My friend got the Beet carpaccio with gorgonzola fondue... sooo good.
We were surprise because we ever heard about this restaurant before from the Press, only from our collegue at work.
The entree were earthy and with so many different flavors, FANTASTIC, we had the Lamb shank balsamic braised onions,Cartoccio , a wrap pastas with tons of seafood fresh a tasteful.My friend had a mix grill seafood combination WHAOOO.
The desserts were all made at the restaurant were delicious, tiramisu' so light and fluffy, cheesecake....almon Tulip with cream and berries.
I give a ten to la Grolla.
I met the owner, Antonio,he was so helpful on pick us the wine to combine with the dishes.
Thanks again We will be back soon.
Gourmet chef
I have never been so disappointed by a restaurants ability to properly address and respond to a dining issue - an issue that was created by problems in the restaurant. On the evening of June 5, 2009, a group of five of us dined at La Grolla for a birthday celebration. Although the food was acceptable, when it came time to pay the bill, the waiter mischarged one of the diner’s bank cards, adding in a hefty tip for herself. When the issue was addressed with the waiter, she supposedly corrected the problem. Of course, when reviewing bank charges the following week, the incorrect charge had been processed, a difference of about $25. When the diner called the restaurant to resolve the mischarges to their account, the owner did not take the time to listen to the caller, became upset, and yelled at the caller, calling the diner a “fucking faggot.” The owner was not being provoked in any way, as the diner simply wanted to resolve the mischarge to their account. This kind of behaviour is unacceptable. The owner hung up on the diner and the issue is still unresolved. There are at least five people in the Twin Cities that will never return to La Grolla and these five will share the story with others. It will be a wonder if this restaurant remains in business when the owner is projecting his unhappiness on to what could have been repeat diners. I do not recommend dining here under any circumstances.
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