Giulia — Restaurant in Minneapolis

My husband booked dinner reservations here out of the blue for a random Monday night. Because of the MLK holiday and it faking on a Monday we were able to street park kitty-corner from the restaurant. Walking in and taking in the atmosphere my immediate thought was that this was an upscale, hip locale. Repurposing an old bank compete with marble toned columns and vault doors, this space is utilized fantastically. The dark tile set behind and around the open kitchen is a great contrast to the marble walls. Open wood and pipe shelving with lots of greenery brings a light and modern feel breaking up the space. Despite being a marble hall, the sound is well balanced and not loud. Some additional thought and planning could have gone in to the bathrooms as the restaurant does not have their own but shares with the hotel lobby. Having to cross the entire lobby to the front doors to use the facilities is not how I would prefer to wash my hands but the bathrooms were clean and matched the overall decor.

We ordered burrata and cocktails to start. (Pictured Right) AN ELDER HIGHLANDER monkey shoulder scotch, bonded bourbon, ginger, soda (Left) "HAIL TO THE COUNT!" orange-kissed new amsterdam gin, campari, carpano antica sweet vermouth Both were lovely but mine, the whisky based drink, didn't taste like alcohol and went down dangerously. More than one of these could be consumed without a second thought. I also ordered a glass of the chianti though it didn't technically pair with our entrees.

For mains we ordered the Sweet Corn Risotto and the Salmon All'Arrbiatta. The salmon was cooked perfectly; flakey and crisp on the outside while tender and most inside. I've decided I'm at an age where I won't eat overcooked proteins and I was far from disappointed. I appreciated the ratio of sauce and toppings to fish and loved the freshness of the arugula, fennel, and radish. The Risotto seemed like it could be a hairsbreadth between amazing and overkill with frico (cheese rinds), pickled mushrooms, peppers, and of course sweet corn. We ordered it with sausage and it was fantastic. The rice was properly cooked and the flavors of the cheese, corn, wild mushrooms and peppers were an incredible blend. Topped with the delicately crumbled sausage it packed a unique flavor that I will happily return for.

We finished with the Panna Cotta which, while not necessarily traditional Italian as presented, was the right finish to the meal for our region. Chocolate and salted cream with strawberry rhubarb coulis and peanut brittle was the perfect marriage of Minneapolis and Italy. Overall we enjoyed the meal and appreciated our server Ella very much. As Giulia continues to establish itself as a restaurant in a hotel downtown Minneapolis with a fantastic cocktail menu (one very different from other such restaurants) I for one am excited to see how they progress and plan to...

I had an unforgettable pre fixe experience at Giulia, one that completely exceeded my expectations and left me already planning my return. Every element of the evening, from the food and wine to the service and ambiance, was executed with such care and creativity. It is rare to find a dining experience that feels this thoughtfully composed and genuinely exciting.

The decor and environment were absolutely stunning. Elegant yet comfortable, with soft lighting, warm textures, and a layout that made the space feel both lively and intimate. It set the tone for what turned out to be one of the best tasting menus I have had in recent memory.

Chef Brandon Hurley is truly a talent. Not only is his technical execution impeccable, but he was also such a joy to talk to. It was fun to nerd out about food with someone who clearly brings both passion and precision to the plate. Each dish was layered, intelligent, and full of surprises without ever feeling overly complex.

The first course opened with a smoked paprika macaron topped with Wagyu stone, ground mustard, and gherkin, paired with a sesame cornet filled with salmon, lemon dill crème fraîche, and a chive baton. The pairing with an extra dry Prosecco was perfect and immediately set a high bar.

Next came a scallop crudo that was as visually beautiful as it was refreshing. Cured scallop with dill oil, celery green apple vinaigrette, daikon, and a delicate honey tuile created a clean and balanced dish. The mitake pasta that followed was deeply satisfying with earthy shiitake ricotta, summer truffle, braised meat, and a mustard cream that brought everything together seamlessly.

The pressed lamb course might have been my favorite. Tender and flavorful, it was elevated by bright citrus and creamy cabbage with peas and demi glace. Every bite tasted like spring, vibrant and full of life.

We ended with a stunning torta di cioccolato layered with hazelnut meringue, dark chocolate, and a beautifully bitter burnt cream. It was indulgent without being overwhelming and the perfect final note to an already phenomenal meal.

Giulia’s Italian wine selection is exceptional, offering both familiar varietals and exciting discoveries. The pairings throughout the evening were thoughtful and enhanced each course in ways that felt intentional and precise.

I am already looking forward to the seafood focused pre fixe menu launching July 15. I will definitely be back to explore more, including the regular dinner menu and brunch. Giulia is the kind of place that makes you fall in love with dining out all over...

My spouse and I had a reservation for the valentines menu. It was our first time and we love tasting menu experiences. We recognize it was a holiday weekend so knew it would probably be busy but figured that at the $90/pp price point, it would be a descent experience regardless. Well, it was memorable…as one of the worst restaurant experiences we’ve ever had! It was so terrible we couldn’t help but laugh our way through the meal. The server was kind, and the space was beautiful but those were the only redeeming qualities.

The courses came out quickly…so quickly we would be half way done with one before the next was on the table. We asked the server to slow down, but the only thing that slowed was the wine pairing - twice the glasses came out after the food itself. And for an additional $45pp the four half glasses were not anything special or particularly paired well with the food.

And the food…the first course of meat and cheeses were fine, but the grilled focaccia was cold and doughy. I would say the salad course was of cheap banquet quality - soggy, wilted, and over dressed. The pasta course came out lukewarm and tasted undercooked. The espresso agnolotti was bitter due to poorly treated hazelnuts and the filling was gritty. The presentation was hilarious to us - it looked like poop! The gnocchi-inspired dish tasted like a brick of frozen spinach with chunks of bacon. Both were almost inedible. The veal was good, and the only dish we agreed was presentable, but the risotto was undercooked, dry, and tasteless. The portions of lobster were appreciated but the lobster itself was rubbery. Finally, the dessert - the orange pana cotta tasted like perfume and the cannoli looked amazing but the cookie was not fresh and the filling tasted like canned frosting. In hindsight we should have opted for the regular menu, but now seriously trust the judgement of anyone firing the dishes out of...