Fhima's Minneapolis — Restaurant in Minneapolis

We are a dining review group called Haute Plates, reviewing on @Google Maps and @OpenTable. I've been here multiple times, but the rest of the group has not. By categories of stars available here, it comes out on top. And overall, we had a great evening and incredible food. But there were issues. So I'll break this down with a pros/cons list. PROS: *First of all, is there a more elegant and beautiful space? The atmosphere is over the top, and delicious in its own right! *We were greeted immediately; traffic during construction and rain had been horrible, so our group arrived at differing times. This was not an issue for the reservation. Those of us there already had a drink at the bar, and paid our bar tab before being seated at the table. *Eli personally greeted us and gave the group his family's background. *We all did the Moroccan Tasting & Wine Pairing, tempted by it on the website at $75pp *The wines and four courses were overall excellent as far as flavors were concerned. CONS: *While waiting for others at the bar, I ordered a Negroni. The bartender made it with a very floral-forward gin. I couldn't stand it! I said I wasn't a fan, and couldn't drink it. No remake was offered, which I found somewhat remarkable. *Part of the Moroccan tasting (incidentally; we just returned from Morocco) included a seafood tagine. The glory of a tagine is, in part, the presentation of it in it's beautiful cookware. We were served it already plated, but I noticed other tables of 6 or more were served their tagine in the cookware. Food good; presentation not. *One of our diners is deathly allergic to pistachios, which we made known to staff immediately. Luckily I noticed the pistachios on the affected party's plate. Honest mistake in a prix fixe meal, but a warning to all to stay attentive, whatever the restaurant. *The meal is advertised on Fhima's website as $75pp flat fee, 4-course tasting with wines. The bill ran $95pp. I showed the website's screenshot. They reran the bill, were apologetic, and all ended up ok. But by this time, we all felt so bad for saying anything. At the same time, we felt bad about the overcharge. So we left Fhima's feeling bad, when we wanted to be happy. OVERALL: Despite a few negatives, we loved Eli's personal attention, the delicious food, the interesting wines, and the gorgeous ambience. The "cons" were a fluke, as every restaurant can have, but as a reviewer, I also need to point out that they happened. In any case, I plan to return. Everyone has...

10.2023 I wanted to love it... and I still want to love it... It's a beautiful space in a terrible location... Food: Expensive for what you get. Was it good? -- the comments at the table were that the main dishes were heavily marinated -- as in too much. / The fries were good, but don't ask for anything other than what they give you as a condiment. / If you're a vegetarian and/ or have food allergies expect little to choose from and know the menu items can't be altered. -- apparently the chef - the kitchen - isn't able as much is prepared in advance. Beverages: If you order something more than once you'll be given a different glass 'which is great!' --except the sizes between glass vary quite a bit. Meaning, you might be paying for that larger glass of whatever and have much less quantity in your "new" glass... Service: Beyond awful. We often - to no avail, had to search the restaurant looking for our waitperson/people -- and couldn't see them anywhere to request service. Our waitress (Kim H) was pretty, but super quiet -- so quiet, we could hardly hear her... She tried, definitely tried - I think (I hope) -- perhaps she is newer to serving???.. and the men that assisted didn't speak much, if at all... and they also were not easy to find. It's like they all disappeared from the place... or hid out of sight. Atmosphere: Pretty... basically it's the old Goodfellows architecture with some curtains around the booths... It's super loud (so many hard surfaces for sound to bounce from / nothing to absorb the noise). We could hardly hear one another at our table and heard more from the tables in the middle part of the restaurant vs at our table on the side/edge. -- also to note--- the place was quite empty. Would I return?: When asked this, my first thought was yes but only to the bar for fries, or an appetizer and a beverage. However, when I saw what we paid for a dinner for a few people I was shocked!.. FYI: that moroccan sampler comes with two pieces of bread... TWO! -- if you want / request more bread because two pieces of bread is far from enough for that platter - you will be charged $5.00 more for one more "serving" of bread. What restaurant does that?!?!?... none that I've been to in years. Back to "would I return?" -- the main reason I said I would return, but only to the bar was because my thought was that at least we could find our server at the bar. But I could be mistaken there too as I didn't see anyone at the bar when we...

If I possess a superpower, it would be the ability to sniff out spectacular eateries and travel destinations wherever my adventures take me. And tonight was no exception as I had an exhilarating culinary escapade at Fhima's in downtown Minneapolis Minnesota.

I arrived thirty minutes early for my reservation so that I could indulge myself with their historic bar and artisanal cocktails offerings. The moment I stepped inside, I felt like I traveled back in time; enchanted by its antique furnishings complemented by vintage decor and ambiance that transported me straight into another era.

They had a wonderful happy hour menu, but I opted for their signature old-fashioned cocktail called “Phone Call from Istanbul.” Bar manager Nils Larsson, prepared me a smoked signature, old-fashioned cocktail, which I filmed live on Facebook. As I stated there, it may well have been one of the best, old-fashioned cocktails I have ever had. I must say, I was more than pleased.

As our conversation progressed we started talking about mixology and spirits wherein interacting with him became even more captivating and informative resulting in sharing with Nils Larsson (the manager) my original 1915 Singapore Sling recipe from Raffles Hotel Long Bar, which he recreated flawlessly giving rise to taste buds stimulation. It was so unique, and a photograph of it is included.

I proceeded to have a Moroccan dish “Lamb Meatball Tagine”. It was served to me in the tagine, and, as the server lifted the top of it, and waved it about, the aromatic signature of the dish, with its wonderful blend of Moroccan herbs and spices took me away to exotic lands and musings.

Lamb Meatball Tagine Onion confit, Ras Al Hanout (Ras el hanout is a spice mix with cumin, ginger, tumeric, cinnamon, coriander, pepper, and more. It is often called for in many Moroccan dishes), Seasonal vegetables. Paired with a 2020 Joseph Drouhin Bourgogne, France.

My dining experience was beyond my expectations and I’m already contemplating when I will visit again. While I was doing so, Nils brought me a glass of late harvest Hungarian wine. What a great way to finish off a wonderful evening, my first in Minniapolis. I wholeheartedly recommend that you try Fhima’s Restaurant if you are anywhere near the area. This is one of those rare finds and unlike most anything you could...