Granada Theater — Restaurant in Minneapolis

We recently hosted a wedding reception the end of May at the Granada Theater in Uptown Minneapolis and want to share the many good things we have to say about how well it worked for us. So, it's a long review!

First, the Granada Theater is beautiful inside and has spaces that can work well for both intimate and larger events. The front lobby bar/restaurant can open up to a patio area on the front sidewalk along Hennepin Ave. Further inside is the charming Spanish garden theater area with gorgeous original plaster motifs from the 1920s, including a beautiful starlit ceiling. The weather was beautiful the day of our event and we were fortunate to use all indoor and outdoor spaces.

Second, Amy, the owner, was easy and flexible to work with in planning our event and meeting our needs. The number of in-house services that the Granada Theater has available also made our planning job easier: multiple bar packages and in-house bartending; in-house catering with multiple delicious food options and packages; in-house AV/tech support to go along with use of the stage and movie screen; and the choice of in-house DJ services, hire your own DJ, or bring a playlist. Nearby parking is available with discounted rates when reserving through the Granada website.

Finally and importantly, our event was so much fun! It started on a festive note the minute we walked up to the theater and saw it listed on the theater marquee! The good mood continued when the staff was friendly and helpful as soon as we entered the space to begin our set-up. They continued to make us feel welcome throughout the evening from bartenders to servers, and more. Amy was available onsite for anything we needed. Luke was great in handling our AV/tech needs all evening for microphones, Powerpoint events, and dancing to a playlist. Our food was delicious, as we knew it would be based on an advanced tasting session. The flow and timing of the event went off without a hiccup. The atmosphere was warm, festive and relaxed. We couldn't have asked for a better evening and event!

Since our event we have continued to hear positive comments from our guests about how lovely the Granada Theater is, how wonderful the food was, how friendly and engaging the staff was, and how much fun they had!

The Granada Theater made our event unique and special in so many ways. Based on our experience, we would highly recommend this lovely venue for your next event, be it a wedding or a neighborhood/family/business gathering. We are very happy we made the choice that we did!

(On a side note, we were fascinated to learn from Amy about her restoration work on the theater, and to read more online about the history and architectural uniqueness of the Granada Theater. A...

We celebrated a lovely Galentine's evening and got tickets for Amore Under the Stars on Valentine's Day. We arrived around 7:30 PM to find the lobby completely full, so we waited alongside other guests. Our tickets stated that we should arrive by 7:45 PM to be seated by 8 PM, as the show would start on time. However, we didn’t get to our seats until after 8 PM.

We had mezzanine seats on the third tier, though it appeared our originally assigned seats on the first tier were taken, as a woman was already sitting there. The show eventually started, and while the venue was beautiful and the performers were talented, the service and overall organization left much to be desired.

We noticed that other tables had water, but no one stopped by ours to offer any. When we went downstairs to get drinks, we were told a waiter would be coming around. After waiting 30 minutes with no service, we decided to go back to the lobby bar to get our own drinks. By the time we returned, a server had finally stopped by with a drink menu and water.

When someone finally came back to check on us, we asked if a food menu was available and were initially told no. Later, a staff member returned and mentioned that a charcuterie board was an option. However, he didn’t have pricing information and had to leave to find out. When he returned, he showed us a picture with two size options, and we ordered the smaller one. Unfortunately, it took over 20 minutes to arrive—surprisingly long for something that typically takes just a few minutes to prepare.

Despite the disorganized service, the bartenders were attentive and made our drinks quickly and as ordered. Overall, while we enjoyed the ambiance and entertainment, the event could have been much better organized to enhance...

My friends and I (a group of 11 people) attended the NYE event and we all (individually) had terrible experiences. Keep in mind all of us paid for different 'packages' with our significant others and it seemed regardless of if you paid for standing, a table, or VIP; the experience was definitely memorable, but in the worst of ways. And the tickets were not cheap! From both bars telling conflicting information on where we could get a drink, to a few of us that couldn't get a drink or waited 30+ minutes for simple cocktail, to my friend who paid for the VIP package that included champagne that they NEVER received. Also note that friend was unable to utilize ANY of the VIP perks. They advertised that a dance instructor and other table games would be provided and that also was not the case. The cherry on the cake for me personally was when the host guided me to my assigned spot (seat 1&2 table4) only to find a couple in my spot. For reference, this table was directly under the performer. Instead of the host redirecting the couple she asked me if I was ok sitting somewhere in the back. In which I annoyingly responded "what is the alternative??". I did not feel comfortable making a scene for my assigned table/seat. Keep in mind I am a woman of color and the demographic of this event was predominantly 45+ and Caucasian.

Pros: The aesthetics of the place. Its a beautiful building and a great spot for photos.

Cons: Overpriced, service, misleading advertisement, and the "Rosa Parks" moment in seating.

Overall, will NOT return...