Starling — Restaurant in Edina

I received a recommendation on Yelp about this new establishment and decided to visit for both lunch and dinner in two different occasions. Overall I think this is a very solid place that has something for pretty much everyone.

My favorite item was the Balinese fried rice, which had a fair amount of cucumber and tomato on the side, along with shrimp paste and shallot in the fried rice with varying spice levels. I highly enjoyed consuming each grain and realized that the dish itself could even satisfy two people's hunger. Absolutely great. I also enjoyed the sticky wings which had a certain level of saltiness due to the fish sauce caramel and crispy garlic. I have never had wings like that and thoroughly enjoyed the taste and the size.

The grilled sourdough had an innovative idea with anchovies on top of romenesco, almonds, manchego cheese, and of course, the sourdough bread. However, the anchovies, due to the already extremely salty taste, still ended up overpowering, and as a result didn't manage to offer an enjoyable experience. In addition, the Filipino adobo pork had some really tender braised pork shoulder, but had way too much cane vinegar that resulted in the rice extremely salty, to the point that I wasn't able to even eat it. I think maybe having little vinegar in the bowl, or simply having the vinegar in a small bowl on the side would be better for the dish.

I have ordered two desserts, and both are solid choices! The ube tres leches cake had the ube taste and had the wetness of a tres leches, containing condensed milk that heightened the sweetness. The chocolate ganache is what one can imagine from a chocolate fudge, except for the fact that it was Mexican chocolate which resulted in a bit of a stimulating taste, if you have had Mexican chocolate before.

Overall, a solid place that I would recommend those around the Edina area to visit. They also had good service and atmosphere which actually make this location a fitting place for a date or a...

July 2nd 2024- Had a very enjoyable HH, although the waitress was inattentive, slow and never came back to fill up waters or ask us if we wanted another cocktail- so we left earlier than we would have. We were sitting empty water, empty cocktail and empty plates for 25mins then had to flag down another server to get our bill. We did enjoy the food- presentation and taste. And the vibe music and ambiance were great for a Tuesday night.

July 21st, 2024- waiter Johnny (spelling?) was a delight- thoughtful on menu suggestions, quick to refill water and come back to the table at all the right times. Happily enjoyed the Poke bowl with sauce on the side (surprised to see the pickled golden beets since it wasn’t on the menu but a bright crunchy note- countering the salty/savoring dish) While, I enjoyed the flavors and simplicity of the poke dish, I was craving some heat/spice. Fries were also a surprise but a good one- well seasoned -curry salt was tasty! The hummus was a true delight- that chili flake flavor 🤤. Happy to have the Shi-Sho Mojito for a second time and well made- but the best taste of the night was the Barbera- great Italian table wine with depth and brightness- just the right cherry/spice and everything nice. Had a great time at girls night out- had good service. Disappointed on my friend’s Valet experience- The valet parked the car in the same lot as me just a few spots down- just illegally (not in an actual parking spot due to some construction/fencing. My friend had to pay $10 for having the car in the same lot as me for free just 2 feet further- if we would have known that she would have parked on the street and walked. 🤦🏼‍♀️ happy to come again to this place - enjoyed trying...

This place is interesting. It is a fusion of menu items from all over - stuff you don't normally see together in the same place. That means variety, but it also felt slightly confusing. But to be clear, that was just my personal feeling, not a critique of the food itself!

Speaking of the food, it was delicious! I had the Balinese fried rice, and it was really good. One of my friends had a burger (standard), and the other had yakisoba, both of which were also tasty. This is a new place, and I understand startup costs are high, but I didn't feel the value for the cost matched up - prices were a bit high.

The atmosphere was beautiful! It was lush, green, airy, fresh, and had a lovely golden warmth about it.

The service was fantastic. Our server, Johnny, was friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. He took excellent care of us.

One thing I'd like to see changed is how The Starling serves their dishes. I prefer the customary approach of having all the dishes served simultaneously, rather than one plate served as it is prepared from the kitchen. Unfortunately, the Starling follows the style of bringing each person's dish as it's ready. I'm not a fan; I believe everyone should be served together as a matter of etiquette. I don't like eating while others are still hungrily waiting for their food—it's so tacky!

We will give it another shot and try another dish or two. I hope they adjust how they serve their dishes. Wishing them good luck...