Biella

Our experience at Biella was exceptionable and memorable. We had a group of about 13 for a birthday party. They put us in a nice area towards the back which felt very private and they even added a special touch of flowers to the table which was extremely thoughtful. The owner Mark Nazigan seated our group and was very friendly and pleasant. It was nice to see that he made a point to greet every table and make sure each guest was enjoying their experience. Our server was very knowledgable on the food and wine. They had a fabulous sea bass special which Chef Raul seared perfectly. After sharing a few small plates such as mussels, baked brie, scallops and a fabulous flatbread each course was spaced out perfectly so we didn't feel rushed or full. We had a chance to socialize giving us a chance to breath and anticipate what was next. I would recommend the tiramasu for dessert. It is one of the chefs grandmothers recipe from Italy and you could tell it was authentic and above average!!! Prices were extremely reasonable as well with most entrees under $20. All in all, fantastic restaurant, great ambiance, and accomodating staff!!! We will be back!!!

Pros: Fabulous food and excellent service

Posted 10/25/09

We had 12 people for a birthday party.The staff was very accommodating and knowledgeable. We tried many dishes from the delicious mussels, salads, short ribs, pasta, halibut and sampled many desserts. The food was exceptional and the executive chef Raul cooked everything perfectly. The atmosphere of Biella is so charming! We will definitely make Biella one of our favorite places to dine out. Thank you to the great staff for making this an awesome experience!

Pros: Excellent Service and Fabulous Food

Posted 10/08/09

My family and I came into Biella on a weeknight and had a wonderful time. We were welcomed at the door by the owner, Mark. The atmosphere in the dining room was very warm and appealing. Our server, Judy, was very friendly and helpful explaining items on the menu. We ordered salad, scallops, pizza, and cheesecake...all were outstanding!!! Thank you for a wonderful eveining out. We will be back to dine with you!!

Pros: Superior service and food!!

Posted 10/07/09

The birthday dinner mentioned in the last review was my first and probably last dining experience at Biella. Might go back for the tiramisu but that's it. The food was ok but cold and nothing special.
It was nice that the manager gave my niece a price break but she (and the chef) could have solved the problem from the very beginning of the evening. They were friendly people but all demonstrated lack of customer service (obviously part of the culture). She told them what was promised by the boss. All they had to do was make it happen.... and they didn't. The requests should have been doable even on the fly. It's not like the place was really busy!

Pros: awesome tiramisu

Cons: food, customer service

Posted 10/06/09

I couldn't believe this place was in Minnesota! When my group arrived we were not only greeted by the owner but two other employees welcomed us. I never had that happen. First of all the decor is not only historic by utterly charming. The place was buzzing in a nice way and it was a Monday! We had a drink at the bar at which the bartender was friendly and professional! He really knew his wines and liquors. He suggested the Marktini invented by the owner. If you like Cosmo's you'll LOVE this drink! Everyone we talked to at the bar was either a local or a regular. They couldn't stop raving of this little find. We finally sat down and our server Angus was also professional and attentive. He was from Scotland and actually was one of the Queen's servers at one time. I loved his accent. I think my husband was jealous. The food was perfect. I had the mussel appetizer and the Manhattan Fillet. For $23 it was a steal. You would pay double that downtown for JUST the steak. We had trouble picking a dessert as the server told us ALL were homemade. When we left we were thanked by our server and the owner personally thanked us himself. Even David the bartender thanked us and held the door for me on the way out. Now that was class. This place is as good as you'd find in Boston, New York or San Francisco. I'll be back and will probably become a regular as well!

Pros: Great food, reasonable prices, first rate service

Cons: Hard to get in on weekends

Posted 10/06/09

We had the misfortune to pick this restaurant for our 21st wedding anniversary. Food was bad, undercooked, and inedible. Service was excruciatingly slow when we were in a rush with a play to catch. The server knowing our timeline told us five minutes before we needed to leave that our main entrees were not ready and that she could pack it for us. We said that they knew the timelines we were under and should just remove the cost of those items and we would be leaving without them. The owner yelled at the server and came to confront us. He told us that good food had to be prepared and that we could not realistically expect that it would be prepared in our needed timelines. He did not respond when asked why the server took the order knowing our timelines and the restaurant's inability to meet them. Food was brought out uncooked and we were forced to pay. The server and the owner were extremely rude. The appetizers were not appealing. The owner knew this was our anniversary and did his best to destoy our special evening.

Pros: Location

Cons: Poor service, confrontational owner/manager, bad food

Posted 07/31/09

Fun happy hour, great scallops, amazing pasta, fresh fish and best cheesecake in town. Stags Leap priced great. Service was professional and knowledgeable. We will be back. Oh, cute host.

Pros: love love the scallops

Cons: our evening had to end

Posted 04/19/09

Best food in Minnesota!!!!! Amazing chef, excellent atmosphere, terrific service!!!! The bartender made me the best expresso martini I ever had. One of the best restaurants my family has gone to in years. Just want to say thanks, Biella keep up the good work.

Pros: Food, service, martinis

Cons: Cant eat there 7 days a week

Posted 03/09/09

You have to try the "best " Italian restaurant in the Twin Cities. The intimate yet energetic atmosphere is just like being in Tuscany with exposed brick walls, fabulous food and great service. The chicken Ravello is AMAZING!!! Biella deserves 10 stars!!!

Pros: Food, service, ambience, cost

Cons: none

Posted 02/28/09

Every time I arrive at Biella I am assaulted by wonderful smells and new tasty entree's, my favorite thing about the restaurant is the menu that changes and new dishes that the suburbs have never seen. I went in on Monday and had the asian chicken salad, something you wouldn't usually see in an Italian restaurant, it was amazing. The napa cabbage was fresh and crunchy the salad has more then enough chicken and the housin sauce blended acidity and sweetness to perfection. The best part was Biella offered my friend and I movie tickets to the local theater, every Monday the owner is giving movie tickets to customers in a dinner and a movie promotion. I defiantly will be back often on Mondays and in the future.

Pros: Parking, service, great variety

Cons: some menus can be hard to read and can be loud on the weekends

Posted 02/25/09

Wow! This dining experience was excellent and the food was superb. I was with 3 other people and we all tried each others food - everything was excellent from the creamy artichoke dip appetizer, to the crisp arugula salad (with goat cheese and raisins - I was skeptical about the raisins but they added a great flavor), to the creamy risotto with seafood, to the fish special - swordfish with olive tapenade - to the almond pannacotta with pureed kiwi topping - again skeptical of the combo but it was fantastic! The wine list was extensive. Great customer service as well! We will definitely be going back.

Posted 11/08/08

We love to find and frequent unique owner/chef run restaurants. Fortunately, the Twin Cities has a lot offer in that category. Still, we live in the western suburbs and have struggled to find a place ?out by us? that we can fall in love with. We tried Biella when it first opened and thought it was good, but it seemed to go through a period where it was less than stellar ? lots of turn-over ? particularly with Chefs. Great News: We gave it another shot and are quickly becoming ?regulars?. The original chef is back, the bar and wait staff are seasoned and personable ? and the food is out-of-this-world. The steak tartar is the best we?ve found and daily pasta specials are unique and always beautiful. Two thumbs up from a couple that has tried them all!

Posted 10/15/08

Biella is not only a great place for an excellent meal but also for happy hour! I met several girlfriends for Ladies Night in Excelsior. We stopped by Biella and fournd a seat at the bar. There was a fun crowd so we
enjoyed the atmosphere. As always we had great wine and awesome service! Biella is aways highly recommended!

Posted 10/10/08

I've been to Biella several times, and each time the meal has been a disaster. Soup so salty nobody could eat it. Cold entrees, gummy pasta that's been parked under heat lamps for far too long, overcooked lamb, frozen creme brulee - I've never had a good meal there. I keep wanting it to get better because Excelsior is so charming and the restaurant has a nice atmosphere, but I'm disappointed every time. We don't go there now, and I know other locals that won't go there either due to bad food.

Pros: Ambience, location, parking, wine list

Cons: Food

Posted 10/09/08

We normally don't venture to restaurants on the outskirts of the city, but when a friend told us how great Biella was, we had to try it out. And are we glad we did! Our server was very knowledgeable on the specials, wine selections, portion sizes and made sure we were satisfied with every course.
Now let's talk about the food....oh my, was it amazing! We started off with the Artisan Board and the Grilled Prawns. There was a wonderful assortment of cheese and meats on the Artisan Board and the Grilled Prawns were incredible. For the main dish, I had the outstanding Chicken Ravello which had this amazing sauce. My husband had the filet and it was cooked to perfection.
As we were dining, I was impressed by the manager/owner of Biella. He was working the room too--asking guests if they were enjoying the food, shaking hands with some regulars and even clearing some plates.
We believe in supporting non-chain restaurants such as this--ones where the owner has put his/her whole heart into making it a success!

Pros: Menu, service

Cons: Far side of the Twin Cities--but worth the drive!

Posted 09/04/08

I was in town covering the RNC, I am based out of New York, a colleague from Minneapolis suggested
Biella, I will admit I am a bit of a food snob so I was a bit skeptical of some suburban Minnesota restaurant.
Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised to find such an eclectic menu & Wine List with a great atmosphere.
I started with the Short Ribs with Blue Berry Demi Glace, they were rich but perfectly cooked and the sauce was outstanding, My colleague had the Scallops with Thai curry (nothing Italian about that) and they to were fantastic. From there we shared an artisan cheese platter which was very nice and well thought out.
For entrees I had the Arctic Char which was nicely cooked served with fingerling potato's, spinach and a really amazing Asian mustard sauce...this was a five star dish!!! My colleague had a simple Penne Pasta Bolognese but raved about it....The service was great just enough without going overboard, This place reminds me of some of the great neighborhood places in Manhattan.., I have a new perspective on the Minnesota Dining scene...

Pros: Great Dining Experience

Cons: Kind of far from the downtown area (20 min)

Posted 09/04/08

A friend of mine recommended this quaint little Italian restaurant in Excelsior. He said he was a regular there. Since I was not to inclined to drive out to the Lake from downtown due to the gas prices and being skeptical I asked why he recommended it. While he noted the food and service was always on the mark the Owner and Chef actually care about the customers as guests and not as money in their pockets. I called to make a reservation and was surprised when the owner actually called me back to confirm my reservation. I said I was a friend of Tom Diamonte. Immediately the owner Mark said "Oh, Tom and Dianne?" I said "Yes!" He then said jokingly "I'll just have to give you Tom and Dianne's table right in the window tonight." I couldn't believe it! He didn't even know me and it was my first time in. Anyway, we showed up that night and Mark was there to greet my wife and myself with a warm welcome. He then proceeded to show us to out table in the window.

We started with a pizza to share which was perfect. We shared the Citrus Salad. And by the way, when we asked to share the salad we did not get a dumbfounded stare like we did at Manny's one time when we asked to share a salad there. The salad was light and delicious! My wife was exited they had "Small Plates" since she is not a big eater. The Scallops were to die for she said. I had the filet which was actually better than the one I had at Manny's the week before! For dessert, we had the Panna Cotta which was so light it almost floated off the plate! A perfect ending until Mark came by with two glasses of Amarretto to enjoy saying that he appreciated us trying Biella out for the first time. And while enjoying our Amarretto I noticed Mark working his way around the room thanking the other guests for coming in. I also noticed the Chef talking to the table next to ours and answering questions about some of the dishes. This is truely a special place where your patronage is thoroughly appreciated!

Pros: Pride of Ownership, Great Customer Service, Unique Supurb Food

Cons: A little noisy at 7PM. Go a little later in the evening!

Posted 09/04/08

We have been to this quaint restaurant a few times now. The restaurant is well thought out. Our most recent visit was a Thursday night. The place was packed. Atmosphere was a lively, upbeat dining crowd. Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by the owner. Once seated at the table, the staff was friendly and very attentive throughout our entire dining experience. We ordered a Biella pizza as an appetizer, salmon, mussels and a filet. Each item was superb, cooked to perfection, and portioned appropriately. We were very pleased with the wine selection that was available.

We have also been to the restaurant during the "non-prime" dining hours, and it provides a wonderfully romantic atmosphere.

All the times that we have dined here, we have received genuine customer service. The owner or managers are always buzzing around the restaurant making certain that everyone in the restaurant is having a delightful dining experience......

Posted 09/04/08

Decent food, decent service, horrible ownership. I asked to speak to the manager (owner) regarding a spill on an expensive purse- no blame (but the spill was mussel juice and stinky). He ditched me- into the kitchen and would only send our server. I waited for him and told him I didn't want compensation, staff punishment or anything other than his personal consideration. HE DIDN'T CARE AND WAS UNBELIEVABLY RUDE. When I inquired about a dry cleaner, his response was that he didn't dry clean. I could go on and on. I was fair. He was a business owner who didn't deserve to have a successful enterprise. As a business owner and resident of the community the restaurant serves, I've never been so offended and underwhelmed by a business. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS RESTAURANT OR PATRONAGE OF ITS OWNER.

Pros: NICE STAFF, CONVENIENT TO WHERE I LIVE

Cons: HORRIBLE OWNER

Posted 08/28/08

We were at Biella this past weekend for my birthday. Because the reviews have been so good, we were sure that the restaurant would meet our expectations. However, that was NOT the case.
We were a little early for our reservation, but were still seated promptly, which I appreciated. It's beautiful, but very loud--it was hard to hear the person across the table. I noticed an indication that the food has gone downhill, because the restaurant was mostly empty at 6:45 on a Friday night. The varying sizes of appetizers, pastas, and entrees made it easy to choose our meals. We had the Caramelized Sea Scallops and the Bruschetta for our appetizers and they were wonderful. We chose the seafood linguini for our pasta. It had a 'cream' sauce that was overly thickened, lumpy, and lacking in flavor. The whole thing was covered in grated cheese, as if to disguise the poor quality.
For my entree I ordered the grilled filet, but asked them to leave the sauce off. Our waitress (poor thing) told me that the chef would not prepare the meal unless he could put the sauce on! I have never heard of a chef turning down such a simple request. Misplaced attitude, he must be believing his own reviews.
At that point we should have left, but I didn't want to upset my fellow diner, so I ordered the Lasagne. $19 for a piece of meat lasagne, nothing fancy about it. It was so salty that after the first bite I could not eat any more. Our waitress noticed that I was not eating my dinner and came over to ask about it, but by this time my dinner partner offered to eat it as a leftover, so I didn't return it to the kitchen. My dinner partner enjoyed the filet, which was cooked to perfection. He liked the sauce and the wheat berries that came with it.
Our waitress, who was very good. Without my saying so, she realized that I found the entree unacceptable. She comped us the $19, but by then it was too late. As a birthday outing, it was a complete disaster--we will never go there again.

Posted 08/25/08

Me and my girlfriend went to Biella's for a special occation and couldn't have been happer. We arrived early so it was still quiet. Beautiful setting in excelsior. Our server was exceptional. He explained to us what each dish was how it was prepared what it would accompany. He had great sugessions for me and my lady. The food was delicious. We were very happy with our experience and plan to return again.

Pros: experianced servers, delicious food

Cons: could use some music playing or some more visuals on the walls

Posted 05/06/08

The time that i spent at Biella was great! The food was excellent, and i have never had anything like it anywhere else. The service was also great. The servers were friendly and enjoyable, and it was worth the long drive!

Posted 10/31/07

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Posted 09/20/07

We really enjoyed our time! Thank you to all who helped our evening be memorable! It was an absolute delight. From the Truffle Potato Leek soup to the Gelato, and everything in between. Perfect 10!

Pros: Very well thought out food and wine menus. Everything has a counterpart

Posted 09/11/07

From the moment my my husband and I walked in, we got the idea that while this is an upscale restaurant, we wouldn't see self-congratulatory rigidity. Everything is warm, intentional, and "just so" without being sterile. It was obvious by the owner's kind and relaxed demeanor and chatter-filled atmosphere that we were going to be taken special care of without the pressure to play hoity-toity.

My husband was so impressed with Mark Nazigian, the owner, who wasn't standing either front or back shuffling his staff about perfecting everything. But in the most unobtrusive way, between hosting and quietly mingling, he would from time to time pick up this and that. A man appreciatively at home in a second home.

Our server was both delightful and knowledgable of the menu, describing each dish in an engaging way without making us feel he was auditioning off-Broadway . (I especially liked the Chef's creative descriptions on the menu - "Preambles" "Notables" "Imperatives" - who wouldn't want to keep eating, or at least keep reading?!)

And, thanks to Chef Tommy Hearn, our server did, indeed, deliver gifts to our taste buds! Nothing a city kid like me couldn't recognize, but salmon, chicken, lamb, and duck (yes, I ate off my husband's plate) so tender, with sauces so perfect in texture and taste, it was a one-table holiday feast. The extremely scrumptious duck - the dark, sweet sauce completed it - was especially memorable!

Pros: Incredibly unforgettable food!

Cons: Far drive from St Paul if weather's bad

Posted 09/07/07

We checked this place out because a friend had raved about it. I am not easily impressed, however, this place has done it right! The food was great. (always go with the special, or the fish of the day) The chefs put a lot of passion into the dishes, and the server (Joe?) loved to sell it! He liked it more than we did. Service was proffesional, and timely. We hate when servers don't leave you alone long enough to enjoy th food, and are stuffy. He was not. We must recommend the duck! I think it was a special, but if the chefs offer it....BUY IT! The wine list is great. Awesome Super Tuscans!
Hey, Biella....keep on the good work!!!

Pros: Very proffesional staff, highly skilled chefs

Cons: VERY BUSY, try on a weekday!

Posted 09/06/07

Boy, our experience was the BEST!! From the food, to the wine, and atmosphere! I have no idea what anyone would complain about? The Chef came and spoke to us, the server was VERY KNOWLEDGEABLE, and the food was everything I was expecting from the word on the street! This was our first time, and was our anniversary. THEY EVEN HAD A CARD WAITING FOR US AT THE TABLE!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS PLACE!!! If you have not gone...GO.

Pros: everything!!

Cons: Nothing!!

Posted 08/30/07

I went to the obove mentioned place and was very disappointed in the food. I'm a avid restraunt go're. I heard many good things about the place.But when i was finished with my meal Ihad heard Chef Jemery was replaced " what a shame"his food was very good.I had the lamb trio, wich i had looked very nice but was over done, and the rissotto was under done and chrunchy,My companion had the pork wich was also over done. I did'nt understand because it wasn't very busy. I must say the waite staff is very knowledgeable but as for the food i wouldn't recomend this place to any one. I have had good food here in the past and service maybe they need to look at whats going on inthe kitchen. Thank you , Avid Restraunt Go'er

Posted 08/12/07

After several consistent visits as a secret critic always does, I have to say this place is GREAT for the most part... I say for the most part only because a few times it lacked consistency on food quality. It is a small, lovely place with a very nice menu and great ambience. The scallops appetizer is a must, though small - it is very tasty. Small irritations like our guest asked for a scoop of icecream with his dessert and we were charged an additional $7.95 for that. Tisk tisk Biella. Our tab was already at about $400, how about a free scoop of ice cream maybe? On another visit, our meal was just average thus the comment about consistency. All in all, I would say go for it. It's a quaint, nice, european style place and those seem hard to come by these days. Enjoy!

Posted 06/28/07

This is the kind of restaurant that when describing it, one could easily run out of positive adjectives! My husband and I truly enjoy and appreciate an establishment that has taken it's time to think of every minute detail. It is clear that Biella and it's staff have acted in this manner. The owner and host (Mark) greeted us immediately on a very busy Friday evening at 8pm and we were seated promptly. Our waitress (Kathy) was full of genuine smiles and was calm and relaxed as she patiently guided us through the extensive wine list and chose the perfect ones for us. The bus boy was attentive and our water glasses were never below the half way point and our basket of very warm and hard to stop eating bread was always kept full. To start with, we had the mussels (a true original recipe for the twin cities. fabulous!) , scallops (incredible sause of coconut cream with a mango salsa...WOW) and mushrooms in a phyllo pastry (scrumptous!) followed by the shrimp cannoloni and lobster ravioli. (absolute perfection )! To complete our already amazing meal we had a warm mixed berries crisp and a chocolate souffle cake with an "Italian milk shake" that the owner sent over. Our overall experience was a 10 ! The recipes were truly unique and though we live about 45 minutes away, we can hardly wait to return with friends and family! I must admit, we did over eat, and a walk to the lake was a nice finishing touch. We would honestly and whole heartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone and everyone! Thank you Biella, for a perfect evening!

Pros: I think that our "rate it" says it all. It was all perfect and the bathroom was not only wheelchair accessible, but motorized scooter accessible!

Posted 06/22/07

First of all, I am surprised that the restaurant chose to write a defensive message back to the customer who wrote the previous review! I think that is an example of customer service that speaks for itself.

We went to Biella on a Saturday night with a group of friends - we had a table of 8 people. Our reservation was at 8:15pm but we did not get our dessert until after 10pm due to the extremely slow service. When the food came out, 2 people had to immediately send their meals back because they were undercooked. They told us they were all out of several things we ordered, and they did not have enough bread for our whole table so they just brought out a small basket. I thought it was very strange that not everyone was able to have a piece of bread! The food was OK, but nothing special. The atmosphere is really wonderful, however. I don't think we would go back again.

Just a message to the customer relations person at Biella... if you do choose to respond to this review you should say something like, "We are sorry we did not meet your expectations and we will do everything we can to improve" and leave it at that.

Pros: Ambiance, people-watching

Cons: Service

Posted 05/20/07

My wife and I went to Biella for dinner for a nice night out. The meal started well with an appetizer called the Artisan Board. That was followed by a rather good wild mushroom cream soup. I think once the kitchen had to get involve the meal fell apart. We had been there nearly two hours before our main course arrived. The waiter came to our table three times to tell us our food would be up soon. Once the food did arrive my wife's food was cold and burnt while my lamb was rather tasteless. Wanting just to finish our meals and get out we elected not to make a big deal of this and didn't solicit service. When the waiter came by to ask how our food was we told him with was "OK" meaning "just OK". When he asked why, my wife told him her meal was cold and burnt and slow coming out. His response was to give a short laugh and leave. Later the owner stopped by and admonished us that we should have sent the food back immediately and that there was nothing he could do about it at that point. Keep in mind we never asked anyone to do anything.

I would say skip this one -- the kitchen can?t handle the table load and front staff doesn't know what to do unless you're telling them how wonderful it all is, ie. ?kissing their butts?.

Pros: Good appetizer and soup.

Cons: Slow, bad customer service in response to bad delivery.

Posted 04/14/07

My wife and I went to Biella for the first time ? we chose the place based on all the stellar reviews so our expectations were high. Our expectations were met and exceeded. We had a reservation, we were seated immediately by a very friendly greeter, and moments later our outstanding server appeared. The menu is set up similar to the way you see menus in Italy ? by courses. The portions are large and the food mostly outstanding. We shared an appetizer - Pizzetta Saltimbuca with Grilled Chicken and Prosciutto, my wife got the Baby Spinach Salad with pears and blue cheese ? she said this was the best salad she ever had, we each got a pasta dish that was outstanding, my wife had the venison chop that was wonderful. I got the NY strip steak, the steak was the only miss of the evening, it was slightly over done and not real flavorful. The only criticism we have is that the dining room is very loud, at times it was hard to hear each other. It was fairly expensive, without tip we dropped $170 A less expensive way to enjoy this place would be to share appetizers, have a salad and skip one of the two Piatti courses. The next time we go we are going to share the chicken pizza, have a salad and a pasta course and call it good. That will still be in the $100 range with a bottle of wine. At $10.00 the Pizzetta Saltimbuca is an outstanding value, it is larger than a dinner plate.

Pros: Outstanding food and service

Cons: Noisy - pricey

Posted 04/08/07

Love the food, love the atmosphere... I can't say enough good things about this restaurant! Chef Andrew is incredible... his knowledge of food and how he prepares it, is a delight in itself! If you love Italian-Americana Food, you will LOVE this place... Very romantic, great food, great wine selection... worth every penny! Keep up the great work!

Pros: Awesome quality!

Cons: none come to mind!

Posted 04/06/07

We had a phenomenal experience dining at Biella! I've had my fair share of fine dining all over the world and this food ranks right up there! The scallops we had as an appetizer were well prepared and absolutely delicious. The flavors were put together nicely, complemented well by the brilliant wine selection. I highly recommend this restaurant; we'll most certainly be back!!

Pros: Food quality\\taste

Posted 02/21/07

My husband and I dined here for the first time for our 5th anniversary. It was amazing. When I called to make reservations, I told the host that my husband is in a wheelchair and we would need a table where he not only fits and is comfortable but where he is not in the way of the servers or other patrons. They not only had a perfect table ready for us, they coned off a perfect parking spot for us in the back close to the door. We only had to park, come in, and viola! Our table was ready. Our server was gracious and attentive. I did have to ask for the specials, but she was ready whenever we needed her. We chose the lamb and pork tenderloin. All the food was amazing. We sampled each other's dishes and agreed that we had chosen the best from the menu. Our server suggested a great white wine for me and recommended the Creme' Brulee for dessert. Everything was scrumptious. At the close of the meal, the host came over to check on us and presented us with a personalized anniversary card and a gift card for $10 off our next visit. We felt pampered, attended to, and cared for without feeling crowded and out of place. We aren't usually fancy pants people, prefering french fries to french cooking. However, we will be going back to Biella to celebrate our next special occasion.

Pros: Romantic, Service, Food

Cons: Noisy, Strong Fish Smell from the Special when Delivered

Posted 09/30/06

Nice "lite" atmosphere. Well timed courses by servers and kitchen. Often a "Twin-Cities whos-who" which is unusual for us in the SW burbs. Slightly daring menu without conflict.
Excellent "dining" experience repeatedly. I would take my CEO as well as my mom.

Posted 07/08/06

Not having dined at many "authentic" Italian restaurants, we found the menu somewhat confusing. The service is what you would expect from an upscale establishment. The food was some of the best I've ever tasted, the Fettuccini Bolognese alla Rossa was an excellent blend of sweet and flavorful that had me wanting to order another plate. My second plate, the Proscuitto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin, comprised of the tenderest cuts of pork with an interesting but delicious mix of sweet corn and creamed spinach.
Ending the meal with some simple yet satisfying coffee and biscotti was the perfect finish to a wonderful meal.

Pros: Food, Food, Food

Cons: menu

Posted 05/26/06

Great service, very nice setting, and the food is just excellent.

Posted 05/25/06

Our last minute decision turned out to be the best. I am new to the Excelsior area and I was very impressed by everything at Biella. The staff was very knowledgeable and made fantastic wine reccomendations. The atmosphere was very pleasant and romantic. This is our new favorite spot!!

Pros: wine list

Cons: none

Posted 02/20/06

My husband and I recently dined at Biella with another couple. The entire experience was fabulous. The food was beyond my expectations. The chef went to every table to ensure the meal was to everyones satisfaction. I couldn't have been more pleased. This is a perfect restuarant for a special evening out.

Pros: romantic, great food, great wine

Posted 02/20/06

This was a fantastic dining experience on par with the top restaurants in Minneapolis. The food and service was excellent but the personal touch is what really puts Biella into the upper echelon.

Posted 02/15/06

My husband and I went for a special occasion, and I was very disappointed to find no vegetarian options on the menu. I am usually pretty safe with Italian fare. I asked the server if they had anything and he went and talked to the chef and came back and offered "pasta with vegetables." How unimaginative and disappointing!

Cons: limited menu

Posted 01/23/06

Great Food, Great Service! We were apprehensive about sitting at the bar, restaurant was packed, but when the bartender greeted us we were so pleased. BEST BARTENDER IN TOWN!!! I don't know what imalive had but I think he should change his name to imamoron.

Pros: Bar Service

Cons: Little Noisy, Very Busy

Posted 12/25/05

How often do you go to restaurant once, twice, maybe even three times and never get a simple, "it's good to see you" The staff at Biella seem to be very perceptive as to who is who. I've been there several times and each time the food and the staff woo me more. I eat out at least twice a week and have concluded that Biella is at the top.

Pros: Service, Food, Wine List

Posted 10/19/05

Everything about my husband and my dining experiences at Biella have been wonderful. We have tried many of the items on the menu. As a starter the scallops are our favorite but for parties to share the pizzas are great. The daily fish is usually what I love, my husband loves the filet, though we have never been disappointed with any of it. The servers make you feel so welcome, they are very knowledgeable and very attentive. If you like wine they have a great menu for that as well. We enjoy going during the week for a more intimate dining experience because the weekends can get really busy. Definitely one of our favorite restaurants.

Pros: food, service, wine

Cons: noisy

Posted 05/31/05

I am from New York and Philadelphia two of the best dining meccas in the U.S. for Italian restaurants and I can't believe I've found a place here in the Twin Cities that is comparable. You are actually treated as a guest and NOT a customer. Food is fabulous, service impeccable (and very friendly) and the atmosphere is downright charming. A nice change from the numerous chains in the cities. Also, the chef actually came by to say "hi" and also the owner. I was totally impressed. It will be a frequent stop on my culinary excursion.

Pros: Great staff, homemade desserts, ambiance

Cons: none that I could see

Posted 04/07/05

Ineffective unprofessional and stressed out young staff,appearing to have been recruited at local highschool;Drafty,loud ,cold room with chairs wiggling so at the seams(oh,they are all like that says the teen maitre D)that best behavior and immobility for fear of crashing thru one's chair is highly recommended. A la carte"game" was a pheasant with all the wild flavor of a back yard chicken .the mushroom salad showed some potential,but for $100 for two(including $30 bottle of wine}a miserarable performance

Cons: bad service, drafty cold room, mediocre food

Posted 03/11/05

Biella is a very good restaurant, combining good service with very high quality food. The wine list offers a nice variety and is not over-priced. Try the scallops for an appetizer - they are great. The service was professional and prompt. It was full so I recommend reservations.

Posted 01/29/05

This little quaint resteraunt is the perfect image of what fine dinning should be. From the friendly staff that greats you with smiles and an amazing knowledge of their menus and wines. This place has everything a couple could possible need or want.

Pros: Friendly Staff, Amazing Food, Delicious Location

Posted 12/06/04