Pasta in this city runs from Fulton neighborhood patios to North Loop rooms with a line out the door on a Friday, and none of it needs a passport metaphor to prove itself. This list sticks to the plates that hold up: risotto worth ordering twice, a cavatelli regulars will not abandon, and a lemon risotto that has outlasted several trends.
№ 01
Rinata Restaurant
$$
2451 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55405 · +16123748998
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This Uptown room keeps a straightforward Italian menu of risotto, pasta, and tiramisu, and the kitchen's consistency is the draw more than any single dish. Service tends toward warm and unhurried, the kind that makes a walk-in dinner easy. Bread service has drawn complaints on off nights, but the pasta itself is the steadier bet.
What to orderrisotto, pasta, tiramisu
№ 02
Broders' Cucina Italiana
$$
2308 W 50th St, Minneapolis, MN 55410 · +16129253113
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A south Minneapolis Italian market and kitchen counter that has built its name on house-made pasta sold both to go and to eat in. It is a lower-key operation than its sister room, better suited to a quick lunch or a stop for dinner ingredients than a long sit-down.
№ 03
Red Rabbit Minneapolis
$$
201 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401 · +16127678855
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Red Rabbit's cavatelli is the dish regulars return to without fail, and the garlic bread cheese curds function as the unofficial starter of the room. The $20 girl dinner special has become its own draw for groups. This is casual Italian built for repeat visits, not for reinvention.
What to ordercavatelli, garlic bread cheese curds, girl dinner
800 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis, MN, 55401 · +16123333837
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Isaac Becker's North Loop pasta room turns out gnocchi and a rotating pasta list that regulars work through one dish at a time, with the gnocchi drawing the most consistent praise. No reservations means real waits on weekend nights, though a Friday party can still land a table inside ten minutes. Service pacing has drawn some complaints, but the pasta carries the room.
What to ordergnocchi, pasta, risotto
the Cedar Avenue Burger Mile $$
5600 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55417 · +16128222040
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Known first for a distinctive wood-fired pizza crust loaded with sauce and toppings, Fat Lorenzos also runs a full Italian menu with sandwiches, cocktails, and gelato worth staying for. Prices run higher than the casual setting might suggest, which has been the main complaint. The sandwich and gelato pairing gets particular notice.
What to orderpizza, sandwich, gelato
№ 06
ie - Italian Eatery
$$
4724 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · +16122008397
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A neighborhood Italian spot built for group dinners, with pasta carbonara, risotto, and tiramisu anchoring a menu that leans comforting over ambitious. The room has held its regulars for years, and interactive, attentive service comes up often. It is a reliable choice rather than a destination in itself, and that is the appeal.
What to orderpasta carbonara, risotto, tiramisu
№ 07
Zelo
$$$
831 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402 · +16123337000
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The pesto crusted sea bass gets singled out as one of the better plates in the room, alongside a pasta and risotto list built for occasion dining downtown. Complimentary bread service draws praise even when the entrees draw mixed reactions. Portions and pricing have drawn some pushback, but the room handles last-minute reservations well.
What to orderpesto crusted sea bass, risotto, pasta
5000 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55419 · +16129259202
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The Lemon Risotto has been the signature order at this Fulton neighborhood room for years: creamy Arborio rice with a bright citrus edge that regulars name specifically. Patio seating and a dedicated parking lot make it an easy stop, though street parking fills fast nearby. Salad and pasta round out a menu built on simple execution done well.
What to orderLemon Risotto, pasta, salad
№ 09
Element Wood Fire Pizza
$$
96 Broadway St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 · +16123793028
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A counter-service wood-fired pizza spot known for inventive seasonal pies and a feta dip that draws its own following. The wood-lined room reads casual and quick rather than sit-down, with orders turning around fast. It stands out in a crowded pizza field for range beyond the standard toppings list.
What to orderWood-fired pizza, feta dip, inventive seasonal pizza
№ 10
Carbone's Pizza & Pub Minneapolis
$$
4705 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55407 · +16127240063
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A pizza and pub room built around slices, pepperoni, and cheese pies, with a happy hour built on three-dollar slices that draws a steady crowd. Patio seating adds to its appeal on warm days, and service has been described as prompt even for lunchtime groups with kids in tow.
What to orderpizza slice, pepperoni pizza, cheese pizza
2115 W 21st St, Minneapolis, MN, 55405 · +16123773695
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Best known now for a baloney sandwich that has become the thing regulars order after a ride around the Chain of Lakes, the Kenwood also runs a steady brunch with quick seating even for reservations made same day. Outdoor seating and a solid non-alcoholic drink list round out a menu built for casual stops rather than formal dinners.
What to orderbaloney sandwich, brunch entrees, appetizers
Frequently asked
What is the best pasta restaurant near me in Minneapolis?
It depends on the neighborhood. Fulton has Broders' Pasta Bar and its lemon risotto, the North Loop has Bar La Grassa's rotating pasta list, and Uptown has Rinata and Red Rabbit for a more casual sit-down. Each entry here is ranked by its Insider Score, a measure built from the review record, not from any payment. No restaurant on this list paid for its placement.
Is Bar La Grassa in Minneapolis or does it require a reservation?
Bar La Grassa is in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis and does not take reservations, so weekend waits are common. It is a genuinely different city from St. Paul, and this guide only covers Minneapolis proper unless otherwise noted.
Which pasta spots on this list are good for groups?
Red Rabbit, ie - Italian Eatery, and Carbone's Pizza & Pub all handle groups comfortably, with casual seating and menus built for sharing. Broders' Pasta Bar also works well for a smaller group looking for patio seating in the Fulton neighborhood.
How are these Minneapolis pasta restaurants ranked?
Each restaurant carries an Insider Score built from the pattern of real customer feedback on file, not from advertising or paid placement. No restaurant on this list has paid to appear here; the ranking reflects the record as it stands.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Marit Solheim
Staff Writer · Top of Minneapolis
Marit Solheim is the Food Editor at Top of Minneapolis. Born and raised in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis, she spent six years on the line in downtown kitchens before she started writing. She covers the institutions and the chef tier in both downtowns and holds the desk to one standard: know which city you are standing in.
