We got prepaid tickets for Solera's NYE party. We paid $73/ticket for what was advertised to be a really great party... We had to wait in line for over an hour in the freezing cold. When we... More

We got prepaid tickets for Solera's NYE party. We paid $73/ticket for what was advertised to be a really great party... We had to wait in line for over an hour in the freezing cold. When we got to the door the bouncer didn't check out tickets or ID and ignored us when we asked why we had to wait so long in the cold. We finally got inside and found more long lines for coat check and longer lines at the bar. The place was packed with people and understaffed. It was the worst NYE expereince ever. Horrible planning on Solera's part. I would never recommend this place to anyone and I will never go back.
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I was fortunate to tour the kitchens with the chef here last weekend after a nice dinner and it was quite eye-opening! They put out thousands of great dishes a night and make it look so simple. Lots... More

I was fortunate to tour the kitchens with the chef here last weekend after a nice dinner and it was quite eye-opening! They put out thousands of great dishes a night and make it look so simple. Lots of options and quite authentic. I have been to Spain twice and prefer to eat at Solera. All of our tapas were great and (I thought) priced fine for the value. I loved the scallops like a fat kids loves cake. The place is drop dead gorgeous, natch. Great date spot. They host movies on the roof at dusk on Sunday.
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I've had many great nights at Solera. They put on great parties, have the physical space (how about that rooftop deck) that could make any restaurant jealous, and have big-time investment money... More

I've had many great nights at Solera. They put on great parties, have the physical space (how about that rooftop deck) that could make any restaurant jealous, and have big-time investment money sunk into the building. It should succeed. The problem with the place is that I can't tell what they're trying to do. If you compare it to La Bodega, obviously, the food is better. But how much better? I think they won some international best-restaurant award a while back (probably "sponsored" it or something), but is the food deserving of it? Maybe tapas don't allow a chef to really show off his stuff. I'm not a chef, so I admit my ignorance there. But their banquets appear to be such a big money maker that I worry their food isn't exciting because of it. Imagine having to serve 250 plates at once -- how much time are you going to spend making each plate truly special.
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Ok... I agree.. the food at Solera is exotic but really not my choice for a restaurant. First, the menu is filled with foods with foreign names. So you have to ask for help, and sometimes I just... More

Ok... I agree.. the food at Solera is exotic but really not my choice for a restaurant. First, the menu is filled with foods with foreign names. So you have to ask for help, and sometimes I just do not want to ask. Next, everything is appetizer size.. so you only get a couple of what your ordered - which can be hard to split between three people. Last, the price. Not really worth the high prices to get such a small meal.
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If you're looking for something classy, exotic, stylish & yet elegantly fun - check out Solera. Just the name sounds exotic, like Puss In Boots were saying it to you. SOUL AIR AHHH This... More

If you're looking for something classy, exotic, stylish & yet elegantly fun - check out Solera. Just the name sounds exotic, like Puss In Boots were saying it to you. SOUL AIR AHHH This extravagantly decorated, totally done up restaurant features gorgeous wrought iron work beautiful & colorful tile mosiacs and more. They have a dj late nights, and movies on the roof in the summer, so it's a super romantic, sultry date spot. The food is spicy, yet tasty. They serve up a variety of well thought up tapas and authentic dishes that put a trendy fusion trend to Spanish food. They season flavorfully with coriandor, cilantro, paprika, peppers and more. There are dishes with meltingly succulent goat cheese and even wonderful seafood dishes. The prices are high, but it's so worth the expense for this Out Of Minnesota experience.
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Solera is a phenomenal restaurant -- one of my favorite in MSP. Great bar scene, great people watching, wonderful decor. Not too noisy, so you can actually have a conversation while there! ... More

Solera is a phenomenal restaurant -- one of my favorite in MSP. Great bar scene, great people watching, wonderful decor. Not too noisy, so you can actually have a conversation while there! Located in the heart of downtown minneapolis, Solera also offers a great roof-top movie during the summer, which is a great way of meeting people. The small courses add up, and become expensive, but are divine! Wonderful taste but pricy. Be prepared to spend money!
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