Liliana — Restaurant in Woodbury

High-end Italian dining has finally arrived in Woodbury. On the evening that we visited, Liliana had been open just five days, and it’s not your typical family-style restaurant. This is a true fine dining establishment—operating on an entirely different level from anything else in the area. And yes, all of the pasta is made in-house.

Liliana comes from the same team behind Estelle and Mario’s in St. Paul. The chef has previously worked at St. Dinette and Mucci’s. We’re incredibly lucky to have this group’s modern Italian pasta bar right here—literally down the street from us, across from Sam’s Club in Woodbury.

Three of us dined that night and sampled quite a bit of the menu. With just one exception, everything was outstanding.

We started with their version of garlic bread. It may sound crazy, but imagine a bagel and cream cheese made in heaven. Light, airy, fresh, flaky bread brushed with garlic butter, filled with whipped cream cheese, and topped with Grana Padano. Simply wonderful.

We split two pasta dishes. The mafaldine with guajillo meatballs sounded fantastic. While the meatballs were a bit dry and lacked the expected spice, the dish was still very good—just not quite on the same level as the next one.

The rotolo was like lasagna made in heaven. It featured paper-thin homemade pasta layered with arrabbiata sauce, ricotta, mozzarella, and fontina, then rolled, sliced, and baked on edge with a generous spoonful of whipped cream cheese and spinach. It was spectacular. Highly recommended.

The group at the next table chatted with us as they left and convinced us to order the popsicle dessert: a brown sugar vanilla ice cream bar with cookie crumble and dehydrated raspberries. So rich, creamy, and satisfying. We also split the carrot cake, served warm with cream cheese frosting and a unique carrot-miso sauce that surprisingly worked well.

I've uploaded photos of all the dishes.

Overall, this was an excellent dining experience. Just a heads-up—the dining room was quite noisy, making it tough for an old guy like me to follow the conversation. There is a small patio as well, which may be a...

My wife and I had an amazing dinner at Liliana on Friday night. We had a reservation and were seated right away. Most tables and bar seats were full when we arrived, but it didn't feel uncomfortably crowded. Noise carries in a space that open, but we could still comfortably talk to each other.

The space is classy and well designed with finishes that feel special without being too stuffy or buttoned-up. Our server was extremely friendly, attentive, and quick to offer spot-on recommendations.

The bada bing cocktail was perfectly balanced. The suppli were crisp on the outside with a gooey center and paired with a pepperoni ragu I would buy by the jar. The garlic bread was a perfect little boule with a cheesy center.

The pasta they make in house was the star, of course. The rotolo was a clever take on lasagna served as charred pinwheels, rich and satisfying. The cavatelli was the standout surprise for both us: duck ragu, peach, crème fraîche, and cocoa that came together in a way that felt fresh and bright. I honestly wasn't sure I'd dig those flavors in combination, but it was a big hit.

We tried the carrot cake for dessert. It had perfect moisture and texture, light cream cheese frosting, and a luxurious mix of pecan crunch, brown butter ganache, and caramel.

As a surprise finishing touch at the end of our meal, we were each given a warm zeppoli that was absolutely delicious. What a way to send your guests off!

Easily the best Italian I have had in the east metro and frankly in the suburbs overall. The temperature was a bit warmer in there than I'd have preferred, but otherwise everything was exceptional....

I was actually impressed by this place. I love trying new restaurants and seeing how they grow over time. Some lose quality, and others thrive and do better. Consistency is key in a restaurant.

Anyway, the food was very good. The pasta is probably one of the best-cooked pastas I’ve had in MN. Even though the bar is not high, it was still pretty well-cooked al dente. I wish they hadn’t put cheese on my seafood pasta, but it was still delicious. The Supple was pretty good, but I did not like the sauce. It wasn’t bad; it’s just a taste preference for me.

The service was weird. Maybe it’s because they are still working on things, but the way the guy explained the menu sounded like we had never visited an Italian restaurant before. Also, adding to it by saying the drinks have no refills? We didn’t ask, why are you even saying that? 🤔😂 Do we look that cheap? Anyway, next time I will make sure to wear my suit and tie.

I will come back for sure and try different things. It sucks that you can’t order for pickup. Also, I loved what they did to the inside of the restaurant. It’s beautiful, and the fact that they are making the pasta fresh, I loved it! The prices are not bad, for the quality food that you get. Worth it!. Found my...