Al Vento

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5001 S 34th Ave (at 50th Street E)
Minneapolis, MN 55417

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(612) 724-3009
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Al Vento - Minneapolis, MN
Al Vento - Minneapolis, MN
Reviews
( 19 )
( 10 )
( 4 )
( 3 )
( 8 )

Best

This restaurant is wonderful, delicious food, excellent service, a great date night - you can't go wrong here.

Worst

was there on sunday for brunch good times but then it was time to leave. Wow 20 min yes 20 min before we could find our waitress. There were 3 tables that were going to walk out b...

Best Italian Gem...Just like you're in Italy 10/29/2007

Hands down best italian restaurant in the twin cities. It is a perfect cozy spot that offers a beautiful setting in the middle of a quaint south minneapolis neighborhood. THe wine is great but the food is better. Their house made mozzarella is to DIE for as well as their bread and other beautiful appetizers. The beet salad was so delicious. I have had beautiful halibut steaks w/risotto as well as great pork and steak, cooked to how you want it. I recommend it for an intimate date dinner or a night out with girlfriends. I love this restaurant! Also they just put in a full service bar, so I am excited to try one of their speciality drinks. Pros: atmosphere, food, wine, location Cons: that they don't have more locations more
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Good all around restaurant, but the background noise tends to be high. 6/11/2007

Al Vento has a bread and tomato soup that may sound strange but is a delight to eat. The gorgonzola encrusted steak is excellent. The menu could offer a few more pasta dishes, like a medium to hot Italian sausage dish. All-and-all this is a very good neighborhood restaurant. Pros: Some interesting and tasty dishes Cons: The ambient noise level is high. more
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Saturdays Quite Busy 2/13/2007

We took our guests here after raving about Al Vento several times. We usually go on one of the wine special nights. The food is always great! Saturday, however, was way overbooked. We had reservations & still waited. The restaurant was really noisier that we had ever experienced. Food was great, though a bit garlicky for one guest.. Even though the restaurant was really busy, the pacing of our meal was very good. This is important to us. I guess that is why we waited a bit for our table. Pros: very good food, cordial staff Cons: very noisy on Saturday more
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Worst All-Around Dining Experience 2/3/2007

Don't do it! The service was horrible. And the food was worse. It took more than 20 minutes order a glass of wine, and even longer to actually get it. We sat at the bar for awhile before being seated, and were politely introduced to and welcomed by the folks there, but they absolutely were not about to get us a drink! Good luck finding your wait-person, they rarely make an appearance, especially when needed! Paper tablecloths? C'mon, even Olive Garden has cloth. The dining room was so loud as to be uncomfortable, it's not that much fun to have to shout at your dining companion. I'm still amazed at how badly prepared the food (when they finally got the order right) was. We couldn't even eat it. How do you make fettuccine tough, chewy and stuck together in clumps? I just wanted to get out of there, but again, couldn't find the waiter, then the bill was all wrong. A waste of time and money. Thank goodness Surdyks was still open so we could go buy a nice bottle of wine and enjoy it at home so that the evening wasn't a total loss. Pros: This has the potential to be a nice place Cons: Slow and incompetent service, really awful food more
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My favorite hideaway in the Cities!! 6/2/2006

I was introduced to Al Vento on a first date, and have been back countless times since. I have been able to walk in with two people on a Friday night and get a table...but it's not recommended. The menu is awesome and always changing. The wines are plentiful to choose from. The staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. The prices are extremely reasonable for the fare and I think moderate upscale would be accurate, but feel free to wear jeans. Very relaxed and cozy atmosphere. It's a great place to bring a date, girlfriends, business associates, but probably not kids. Although I would love to keep this gem all to myself, I have to share...don't miss it. Great food, great service, great value. Pros: Ambiance, Price, Wine Cons: Cozy more
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Hold the salt 5/16/2006

We two separate times to al Vento with about five weeks between visits. Entrees were good, pasta itself is nice but the ""mother sauce"" is extremely salty. I would never go back and order a pasta dish with that sauce. Servers were nice but on the first visit the waiter brought the wrong entree to one of our diners. He pulled all of the dinners on the table and brought new meals for everyone ten minutes later, I thought that was impressive. On the second visit our waiter was trying to over-impress us, would have been better had he dialed it back. Nice space but noisy. Pros: decor, waitstaff, entrees Cons: mother sauce, waitstaff more
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Hidden Gem 5/11/2006

Al Vento has become my girlfriend and I's favorite restaurant. The atmosphere screams modest yet romantic and the service is always top shelf. The food, however, is by far the biggest reason we keep going back. We have yet to be disappointed in any meal we've had, and each time we visit it seems to only get better. Favorite dishes include dijon rosemary pork tenderloin, roasted chicken with gnocchi and crab cakes. They also have a great wine selection as well as draft beer, including Bell's Oberon and Rush River Amber. Pros: great food, reasonable prices, atmosphere more
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Solid food... poor service. 4/2/2006

I live in the Nokomis neighborhood, and I welcome this and any moderate-upscale restaurant addition to this growing part of our city. That said, I have now (as recently as 3/31/06) gone to al vento for dinner 3 times and have yet to have a remarkable experience. While the food has always been above average (not dazzling), I feel that the consistently poor service I have received on each visit fails to justify me returning again. While another reviewer has titled their al vento review ""Never had a bad meal,"" I'd suggest that simply not having a ""bad"" meal does not constitute a restaurant worth visiting because, really, isn't that the point? Pros: Location, Ambiance, Above average Italian Cons: Service, Service, Menu getting stale more
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Reason to get out of the suburbs 4/1/2006

Great neighborhood restaurant. Excellent food; fresh and flavorful. A little cramped. Service knowledgeable but a bit slow. We will definately return. Pros: Unique, Great food, ambiance Cons: Slow service more
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If you like hand made pasta... 3/30/2006

We live a few blocks from Al Vento, and we're elated that we can walk to such a great restaurant. Short of flying to Italy, you won't find great hand made pasta like this in the cities. If you happen across Ricardo, I'm sure you'll agree he's one of the warmest, friendliest and interesting waitors in the city. Don't expect to get in and out of here in an hour - it mimics Italy in more ways than one. You'll want to reserve a few hours to really enjoy your Al Vento experience. If you don't know the wine list, look for Ricardo; he'll set you straight. Any of the pastas are wonderful, but the Bucattini is a staple that doesn't go wrong. If you're making a reservation (recommended) ask for the front room. Or, if it's busy, grab a seat at the bar. Pros: Home made pasta, Friendly service, Just like itlay Cons: Slow - like Italy, hit or miss service more
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Never had a bad meal 12/27/2005

My husband and I have dined hear several times and every time the food has been phenomenal, the service helpful without being intrusive, and the ambiance lovely. If there is an encrusted pork on the menu definitely try it, as well as all whitefish. They have wonderful outdoor patio seating in good weather and an interesting and unique wine list. Pros: Delicious Food, Smart Servers, Parking Lot Cons: Sometimes Slow more
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in and out 11/10/2005

if you are looking to get in and out in a reasonable amount of time...with a party of three or more, forget it!! We had a reservation for a party of six. We waited for an hour for a table and waited a half hour to even be offered a drink. We were offered no special consideration after being pushed aside for such a great length of time. After finally being seated, our service was more than lacking. Our server treated us as if we were an inconvenience in his night. How unfortunate, as we were all career restaurant employees. We are always more than patient and tolerant because we relate to being busy. It seemed too much to ask to even get a smile. Our group loves to dine....spend money and experience the menu and ambiance as a whole. We will make sure to dine elsewhere in the future. more
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If you're willing to pay a little... 10/31/2005

I took my parents to Al Vento during a 3-hour layover in the Twin Cities. The close proximity to the airport made it the perfect restaurant for the evening. Try the plate of mixed bruschetta for an appetizer--the walnut and artichoke variety was our favorite. Their staple dishes air on the side of caution, but are still tasty. The dishes that get changed periodically are the inspired ones. I had duck breast with polenta, asparagus and a wine and berry sauce. The chef really lets the ingredients shine through. The desserts are pricey for such small, common fare. The service was helpful, although sometimes on the slow side. They seem to be understaffed on weeknights. Pros: Changing Menu, Elegant Ambience Cons: Understaffed, Low Lighting more
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Ricardo was excellent! 9/11/2005

We had made a reservation for 6:00 on a Friday night. When we arrived the host was on the phone for quite a while with a customer. He apologized profusely for the wait. We were seated immediately. The decor was simple yet romantic. Our server, Ricardo, was wonderful! We started off with the sample bruschetta which was fabulous. I had the spinach and ricotta ravioli, it was great. My husband had the halibut (just for the halibut) and it was served over a bed of saffron risott. Excellent as well! The service was slow at times but everything else about our experience was so great that it was easy to overlook it. I am telling all of my friends that this hidden gem is a must! Don't be swayed by the outside look of the building and corner it is on, looks are deceiving! more
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Good Food...Horrendous Service 9/5/2005

Based on the positive reviews, I dined here on a Saturday night, with reservations. The food - when I received it was great - but the service was the worst I have ever received in this city. After being seated, it took 20 minutes before we were approached by a waiter and then only because I sought one out. To make a long story short, we received appetizers after an hour but no main course, and after 90 minutes, we were brought the check. At that point, I informed teh waiter that we had not received the main courses, and it took another 90 minutes to get out of there. They did offer free desserts, but that took 30 minutes and when we got the bill, learned that they had only comped one of them. The food is good but not worth the misery of the service. Avoid this place. Pros: Food Cons: Service more
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A VERY nice dining experience! 8/25/2005

Great Italian restaurant in residential Minneapolis. Great Apps, Great (and cheap) wine list, Great food (I had the canneloni) and AMAZING dessert in the creme brulee trio (pistachio is delectable)!! Extremely worthwhile restaurant. more
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A very nice restaurant 7/16/2005

We had no reservations at 7:45 on a Saturday night yet were seated within a half hour which I found to be quite reasonable as Al Vento isn't the largest place. The service here was wonderful. Absolutely the best waiter I have experienced here in Mpls. My date and I both had the scallops with arugula risotto. Yummy! Flavorful and contrasting. The scallops were huge! The dessert of chocolate oblivion was also delightful and a perfect dish to split with that special someone. I though the restaurant was quite loud, however. Lighting was very romantic, but just very noisy. Pros: Service, food, parking Cons: loud more
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A Taste Adventure 4/24/2005

I live in South Minneapolis, and I love this place! I have taken many guests to this gem and everyone I take always calls me to get the name, as they want to go back. The tepenade sampler was great. I loved the Mushroom Lasagna but is was a fall menu item, and the wine list is a taste adventure. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a hidden romantic gem! Pros: Great Food, Good Wine, Atmosphere more
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Good food, slow service 4/5/2005

I was very disappointed in the slow service we experienced. It took us 20 minutes before anyone came to talk to us and another 20 minutes to get a salad. Overall it took almost 2 hours to eat dinner due to the slow kitchen. The food was good but with so many other local options it is hard to justify going back. Pros: atmosphere, food Cons: service more
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Great food, but some flaws 3/25/2005

The food was very good, however, I thought the prices for food & wine were rather high. Good creme brulees, but tiny. We sat for what seemed like an eternity until acknowledged by our server. Wine pours seemed way too small, esp. for $9 a glass. Our server brought our $50 bottles of wine tucked into his armpits! A pop gets served in a wine glass, with about four mouthfuls in it. Service was slow, drab, boring, uninspired, timid, no personality anywhere in the place. No hustle, no organization, no rapport, no handshake, NOTHING above average. A busser brought plates for the apps a minute after another busser had already done so. Bread wasn't served until the appetizers were eaten and cleared, and we only got one small piece per person. Water glasses went empty for long stretches. Our meals didn't arrive together. The room was a bit loud. Pros: great food, nice room, romantic Cons: average service, slightly expensive, a bit loud & cramped. more
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Menu for Al Vento


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Local regulars and Twin Cities foodies flock to owner-chef Jonathan Hunt's (formerly of Pane Vino Dolce) new neighborhood spot, which has an inviting atmosphere--a dining room...

  • 6/9/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 4:30pm-10pm Fri-Sat 4:30pm-11pm Sun 10am-2pm, 4:30pm-10pm
  • Payments: Master Card, American Express, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Nokomis, Keewaydin
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