What it's actually like
Zelo is overwhelmingly well-regarded as a fine-dining Italian establishment with exceptional, consistent quality across food and service. Reviewers praise the sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere, homemade pasta and fresh ingredients, and knowledgeable servers by name. The main criticisms center on occasional noise levels and pacing during busy service, with a rare complaint about inconsistent pizza quality and one hygiene incident.
elegantwarm-lightingmodern-meets-historicsophisticatedinvitinglively-but-refined
Diners keep mentioning
beef crostinispinach fettuccinebutternut squash raviolicrab cakestruffle pizzalinguini di marein-house made bread and gelato
Ambiance
upscale-casual
Noise level
lively
Dress code
smart casual
Outdoor seating
No
Good for
date night, special occasions, happy hour
Reservations
OpenTable
Wait reality — Popular spot that fills quickly; bar area offers immediate seating without reservations, while main dining area may require advance booking during peak times. Best to call ahead or arrive early to avoid wait.
Derived from 66 recent Google reviews — not marketing copy.
When to go
- Monday: 4:00 – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM
- Saturday: 4:00 – 10:00 PM
- Sunday: Closed
What's cooking
Appetizer
Braised Meatballs$20.95
Bolognese sauce, fontina
Calamari Fritti$24.95
gremolata, lemon garlic aioli
Crab Cakes$27.95
jumbo lump, truffle aioli, dijon mayo
Parmesan Crusted Shrimp$24.95
lemon garlic aioli, cocktail sauce
★ Seared Ahi Tuna$21.95
avocado, sweet soy, spicy mayo, sesame crisps
Salad
Basic Blue$17.95
romaine, croutons, tomato, local bacon, red onion, blue cheese dressing
Beet Capresevegetarian$18.95
heirloom beets, local burrata, basil, extra virgin olive oil, sea salt, avocado, 12-year aged balsamic
Brasilianavegetarianvegangluten free$18.95
tomato, heart of palm, celery, sweet onion, avocado, lemon vinaigrette
Caesarvegetarian$17.95
Parmigiano Reggiano, grilled ciabatta croutons
Ciao Babyvegetarian$17.95
organic greens, pine nuts, local goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette
Heirloom Grainvegetarian$18.95
spinach, avocado, fontina, green onion, tomato, lemon, extra virgin olive oil
Lo Carb$22.95
romaine, pepperoni, fontina, smoked turkey, egg, avocado, tomato, pancetta ham, red wine vinaigrette
Organic Salmon Salad$26.95
organic greens, balsamic vinaigrette, grapefruit
Soup
Daily Soups$8.95
Tomato Basilvegetarian$8.95
Pasta
Buccatini Amatriciana$20.95
extra virgin olive oil, garlic, guanciale, tomato, pecorino, Italian parsley
Butternut Squash Raviolivegetarian$23.95
browned butter, pancetta ham, sage, Parmigiano Reggiano
Chicken Risotto$23.95
pinot grigio, wild mushrooms, Parmigiano Reggiano, taleggio
Classic Lasagna$22.95
ricotta, mozzarella, Parmigiano Reggiano, Bolognese sauce or Vegetarian with marinara
Herb Linguini Primaveravegetarian$21.95
roasted peppers, wild mushrooms, spinach, zucchini, tomato, basil, pecorino
Herb Linguini with Lamb$28.95
red wine, tomato, pecorino
House-Made Raviolivegetarian$21.95
ricotta, Parmigiano Reggiano, fresh herbs, tomato
Spaghetti and Meatballs$23.95
Bolognese sauce, Parmigiano Reggiano
Spicy Crab Spaghetti$30.95
Fresno chilies, lemon, mint, extra virgin olive oil
Spinach Fettuccine with Chicken$22.95
spinach, almonds, light cream sauce
Tortiglioni Rossa$23.95
sausage, sweet peas, roasted peppers, Romana rossa sauce
Entree
Ahi Tuna Burger$24.95
avocado, butter lettuce, Fresno chili aioli
Bella Burger$21.95
caramelized onion, fontina, pickles, tomato, our special sauce
Cheeseburger$19.95
choice of local cheddar, fontina, Gruyere, mozzarella or blue cheese, butter lettuce, local tomato
Crab Cake Sandwich$26.95
dijon aioli, bacon, marinated tomatoes, organic greens
Turkey Club$19.95
Thielan Meats' ham and bacon, Wild Acres Farm smoked turkey, butter lettuce, tomato, Gruyere, mayo
Walleye Sandwich$24.95
bibb lettuce, tomato, lemon garlic aioli
Wild Acres Farm Turkey Burger$21.95
butter lettuce, tomato, basil aioli
Side
Caramelized Brussel Sproutsvegetariangluten free$15.95
local honey, toasted almond
Roasted Cauliflowervegetariangluten free$15.95
extra virgin olive oil, lemon, Fresno chilies, Parmigiano Reggiano
Seafood
Herb Grilled Organic Salmon$28.95
roasted heirloom potatoes, zucchini, lemon-thyme sauce
Linguini di Mare$29.95
shrimp, scallops, mussels, fresh fish, saffron-tomato broth
Pesto Crusted Sea Bass$39.95
mashed potatoes, crispy onions, Thai chili beurre blanc
Walleye Milanese$28.95
mashed potatoes, marinated tomatoes
Find it
Address
831 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN
Phone
(612) 333-7000
Restaurant group
independent