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Interior - Zelo, Minneapolis, MN

Zelo

4.8 (4345)
$30 and under
Italian
831 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402

Make a reservation

A photo of Zelo restaurant

Zelo

4.8
$30 and under
Italian
Downtown / North Loop

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 52 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • Good for business meals
At Zelo, we serve Italian food the way it's meant to be - simple, seasonal, and crafted by hand.
Our pastas and breads are made fresh each day, and our ingredients are thoughtfully sourced locally and from Italy.
For over a quarter century, Zelo has been part of downtown - a place to gather for great food, a deep and approchable wine list, and a cocktail program rooted in both classic and Italian influences.
We believe the best restaurants are built on consistency, energy, and obsession with detail - in the kitchen, behind the bar, and throughout the dining room.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Thu 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Jason Gibbons
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / North Loop
  • Cross street
    9th
  • Parking details
    Complimentary valet available Monday through Saturday after 6 p.m. Adjacent public lots and on-street parking are also available.
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Zelo.

4.8

4.8
(4345)
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Minneapolis - St. Paul

    Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Zelo offers a vibrant dining experience with "superlative food and service." The restaurant excels in Italian cuisine, with highlights like the "best steak" and "incredible" octopus. The ambiance is lively, complemented by efficient service. Despite occasional noise, patrons enjoy Zelo's "delicious food," making it a go-to for both locals and visitors.
4,345 Reviews
  1. Chris Gold

    Seattle7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very nice wine selection. Great pasta and very attentive service.

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  2. Patricia

    Minneapolis5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I chose salmon for my main course. It was absolutely delicious! The staff, at every level were friendly and helpful.

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  3. Julie Gold

    Minneapolis37 reviews

    1.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 1
    This was the first time I have dined at Zelo. I was very disappointed. The presentation was lacking finesse, the portion size was underwhelming, and there were no vegetables. We couldn't hear each other based on where we were seated, when the whole point of going out is to have one on one conversation and be treated. I left with the impression that there was a financial challenge occurring with the restaurant. While the server tried very hard, it would have been helpful to have more of his attention for questions. He was serving too many tables. I won't go back. There was nothing delightful about the evening and I go out to be delighted.

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  4. Mark

    Minneapolis9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 1, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We love going to Zelo and having Benjamin wait on us. He makes our dining experience very enjoyable every time and he knows what to recommend if/when you have questions.

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  5. Eric

    Des Moines1 review

    5.0

    Dined on October 30, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The 10 oz filet was on the best steak I’ve ever had. The espresso martinis were delicious. We hadn’t been since 2018 and it was even better than we remembered. 5 stars!

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  6. Deirdre

    Minneapolis4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on October 30, 2026

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Great server and very good food, though my dish was over salted. And it was a special. Perfect for pre-orchestra fair, and the wines were yummy. I love that you don’t have to get an entire portion of pasta or wine. Really do you think for a four top? We should’ve been at a table and not a booth, but we didn’t complain. Always very lively, and a little old old-fashioned. Shout out to Benjamin a great server!

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  7. Melissa Gold

    Minneapolis9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food and service are always great here, and the ambiance is vibrant and upbeat - Zelo is one of my favorite restaurants. I highly recommend!

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  8. Angela

    Chicago9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    All of our food and drinks were fantastic. Food and price point is what keeps this place full. Absolutely delicious!

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  9. Stephanie

    Minneapolis4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food (especially the octopus) and incredible service. A great evening out.

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  10. Sam

    Atlanta2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on October 24, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Found the reservation last minute to celebrate a friends birthday. Everything was nothing short of amazing. I’m not a big Italian person, but the food was delicious! We had the chicken parm, seafood pasta, & braised lamb. The lamb was the star of the show. The cocktails were all very well balanced as well. Our waiter was kind, attentive, and had great energy. Will definitely be back! 10/10

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Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Contemporary Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Tue–Thu 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Jason Gibbons
  • Neighborhood
    Downtown / North Loop
  • Cross street
    9th
  • Parking details
    Complimentary valet available Monday through Saturday after 6 p.m. Adjacent public lots and on-street parking are also available.
  • Additional
    Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, polished attire; many guests treat Zelo as a spot to dress up a touch for anniversaries and special nights.

Zelo tends to build into an early-evening buzz, reviewers note the dining room often transitions from a quiet start into a vibrant, busy room by around 5:00–6:00 PM, and a 5:30 PM Saturday visit was reported nearly full before a concert. The room commonly quiets down after large theater groups leave, making later-evening hours calmer.

Zelo feels elegant and welcoming, reviewers highlight beautiful domed ceilings, wooden booths and a long bar that creates a polished, comfortable dining room. The space often moves from a quieter start into an energetic, sometimes quite loud, evening service, while the bar area is noted as a slightly quieter spot for conversation.

Yes, Zelo welcomes families: reviewers used it for a high-school graduation, noted children dining (a child enjoyed bucatini), and many dishes come in two sizes, which is handy for kids.

Thursday lunchtime is a great pick, guests report the bar is full at lunch on a Thursday, creating a lively downtown scene.

Yes, Zelo is a popular choice for special evenings: guests frequently mention anniversary dinners and milestone celebrations in its elegant, welcoming dining room.

Zelo centers on a main dining room with comfortable booths and a long, active bar area where you can sit at the bar.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Minneapolis - St. Paul
  4. Twin Cities / Minneapolis
  5. Downtown / North Loop

Make a reservation

A photo of Zelo restaurant

Zelo

4.8
$30 and under
Italian
Downtown / North Loop

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 52 times today
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