Azia & Caterpillar Lounge

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2550 Nicollet Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55404

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(612) 813-1200
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Azia & Caterpillar Lounge - Minneapolis, MN
Reviews
( 79 )
( 19 )
( 11 )
( 10 )
( 23 )

Best

I am a regular customer at Azia and find the entire management and staff to be exceptional. I have had the pleasure to have met Paulo Morales and find him to be extremely profess...

Worst

Closed

Dream Up 7/2/2005

Yeah! Someone got the whole thing right! Love you Azia! more
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So Conflicted 7/2/2005

Unfortunately I have to admit that my experience at Azia was wonderful. I had always avoided the place because it seems grossly out of place to me. There are hundreds of little restaurants owned by poor imigrant families up and down Nicollet where you can get great soups and sandwiches for great prices and Azia stepping in seemed unfair. My brother insisted when my parents came to town that we go, and I got dragged in. I still don't know how I feel about why they chose the neighborhood they did. But my confession: it was wonderful. Pros: everything else Cons: location more
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Two very cool rooms 2/24/2005

The restaurant, and its attendant bar, are extremely pleasant. Food is uniformly above average (I do understand some of the complaints about portions, but the quality is high and priced in accordance). The adjoining Caterpillar Lounge is a great room, with a clean decor and great bartenders. I will say that the bars could drop their prices by 10 percent across the board and make it up in volume. Saturday nights in the Lounge are great, Wednesdays almost as good (fantastic music both nights, not too loud). Spoil yourself. Pros: fast valet, bathrooms rule, pretty people Cons: no street parking, drinks pricey more
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How to impress a coast snob. 2/20/2005

Finally it seems, somebody in the Twin Cities figured out that we don't have to keep proving to our visitors that ""we're cool, we're hip"" and thereby asserting that we're actually just some spread-out fragmented Milwaukee with nothing more original to claim than the opening scene of Mary Tyler Moore (by the way, that wasn't our concept either). Azia, you've proven yourself as the only place in the TC's I've yet taken my coast-snob friends, where they actually remark how cool it would be to have an 'Azia' back home. Cranberry Puffers, Spanker Soup, Tuna Tartar and Mercy Martini, you and I are friends to the grave. more
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Stop At The Bank First!! 1/27/2005

This is one of the few places in Mpls that I have heard multiple complaints about. The common theme being the fact that this place is ridiculously overpriced. I was there a month ago with a friend. She was ""up-sold"" a glass of red wine. When it showed up, the ""pour"" couldn't have filled the lower quarter of the wine glass. It was equivalent to a wine-tasting. Azia is no better with their portions of rice (Of all things! it's RICE for cripes sake!!). We ordered a Thai dish and asked for more rice, as portion that came with was not enough to match the Thai sauce. When the server brought more, it was JUST as teeny tiny as the first portion. Not good. Not good at all. :-( Cons: price, portions more
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Great Time!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1/7/2005

A great place to eat. They have an incredible menu. And a cool drink menu full of beer, wine cocktails and sake! Great service and good portions. I would recomend it!!!!! Pros: Good service, Good food, Good atmosphere more
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delicious 11/29/2004

my boyfriend and i stumbled upon this place after a worrysome walk down ""eat street"". we weren't sure we'd find anything! azia turned out to be a gem. i am a vegetarian and was thrilled by the menu, you can add mock dock to nearly all of their entrees. i had the cranberry mock duck, he had the sea bass. both were amazing. their wine list is extremely thorough and the desserts great as well. i'd love to go back. Pros: atmosphere, food, service more
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classy 9/10/2004

I went to Azia with some friends for lunch the other day and I wanted to let everyone know how incredible everything was. They played classic Irving Berlin and Stan Getz for the music selection which sets the tone for the whole restaurant. We felt that we were in an upscale joint in Southeast Asia. The lunch menu allows you to try some of their famous entrees at a cheaper price and smaller portion, which is perfect for our diet. I hope everyone has a change to try some of their eclectic cuisine. Not many places have a menu as diverse as theirs. Pros: diverse menu, service, design more
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Azia reigns!!! 9/8/2004

After reading about Azia in Bon Apetit and seeing them on the news I though I should go in with my husband and check it out. We had reservations, which I highly recommend, for a Thursday night and I was amazed and impressed that we have this caliber of a restaurant in Minnesota. Not only was the server knowledgable and polite, they were able to help us order and recommended a fantastic bottle of wine with dinner. The wine list is one of the best I have seen in the cities. The menu was so diverse I can't wait to go back and try other dishes. My husband and I were so happy we made a reservation later in the month for my parents anniversary. Go and be amazed! Pros: wine list, food, service more
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service made it bad 9/4/2004

the food was great, my husband surprised me with a party of 12. the service made both me and my husband very upset. attitude and delays were par for the course. good food and great atmosphere, shame that the service brings it down. Pros: cranberry curry, drinks Cons: , delay more
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Over Rated 8/26/2004

I had heard a lot of good things about this place, but was disappointed. It has a way nicer atmosphere than any other place in the vicinity. However, the food was just okay and you didn't get much for what you pay for. If you 're looking to impress with a cool decor, then this place is for you. If you want authentic cuisine, try some where else. more
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Service is wonderful 6/6/2004

I have to say that there is something great about going into a restaurant at midnight and not getting attitude from the servers about wanting to dine so late. My family and I went in late to grab some food and they were so friendly and attentive, even though it was nearing closing time. Very cool. Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Food Cons: , A little too dark more
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I wub you Azia! 5/24/2004

Thank GOD someone finally got it right! Azia rocks across the board! From the time you walk in the door to a happy smiling hostess from the time you leave and feel the need to give your sever every last dime for a tip because he or she treated you like FAMILY! No need to worry about the food here either because everything is amazing right down to their orgasmic chocolate cheese cake desert! Myself and my friends can walk in and put trust in any server to let them order our meal for us because they know their stuff! Thanx so much for all the amazing food and fun I wish I could move in there! -Jen Henson Pros: Service!, FOOD!, Fun! Cons: , none, none more
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jb 5/23/2004

I recently visited this place for the first time with my friends. I was disappointed with the service that we received. We waited for over an hour for our food to arrive, and when it finally did arrive it was very disappointing. I've had much better food at the smaller Asian resturants down the street and for a much better price!! Cons: , service more
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Food & Frolick part 1 5/18/2004

Talk about getting the best of all worlds...I took a group out to AZIA for drinks and appetizers, and the praise was unanimous. The tuna tartar was by far the favorite, served diced and uncooked, and mixed with spices and herbs - chiefly wasabi. The sushi-ahi tuna was then wrapped in seaweed, and surrounded by baked crackers. In the spice department, it is served as a ""one star"" meal, but you can request additional stars, which I would recommend doing. AZIA has got to have one of the most impressive drink menus in the cities. The sake list is the largest I've ever seen in the area, (served in the traditional ""cascade"" style) and the martinis are very creative. The interesting thing is that what is on the martini menu only scratches the surface of what they make. The chocolate cake or the espresso martinis make wonderful desserts. Pros: Atmosphere, Martinis, Appetizers more
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Amazing 5/17/2004

I was visiting the Twin Cities last week and was recommended by some locals to check this restaurant out. I was amazed to find that a restaurant of this caliber, with the excellent wine list and the incredible food, was tucked just outside downtown in this eclectic neighborhood. The staff was friendly and knowledgable and were able to help me find exactly what I wanted. The owner came over and asked me how I was and if everything was ok. After dinner I went to the back lounge to listen to some DJ's and ended up hanging out all night with some people I met and I had a blast! I can't wait for the next time I go to the Twin Cities! Pros: wine list, food, friendly staff more
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Azia & Caterpillar Lounge 4/8/2004

During the past year Azia has quickly become my favorite bar and restaurant destination in the Twin Cities. I've brought large groups of friends (20+), business clients from around the world and dates to Azia. I have never made a reservation and have never been disappointed. Everyone has always been very accomodating. The service and food have always been excellent. Of special note Friendly Bartenders Best Sake list in MN Outdoor seating Great martinis and other inventive drinks A wide selection of Asian Fusion foods with good vegetarian options always consistently prepared Very accomodating service even if you show up with a large group at 1am and want full dinner service The staff has always done whatever was necessary to make my dining experience enjoyable Azia has been a wonderful and welcome addition to the neighboorhood. Pros: Food, Drink Menu, Service more
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its got the looks 4/5/2004

Azia's another resteraunt where its looks have gone to its head. You walk in and are greeted by a pretty face surrounded by pretty decor. The place looks amazing.....but...I feel that on weekends they're more concerned with packing the people in than on giving good service. And i don't blame the waiters. With the amount of people i saw here it'd be hard to give that. For the prices i don't want to keep on bumping into the table next to me while i'm eating. Pros: decor more
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Great Food! 3/31/2004

The food was definitely great! However, in the few times I have visited the place, going in a large group (more than 5 people) was a huge mistake. Service was poor- the person waiting our table continously disappeared. The next time I went, the service was better, and the food was definitely worth going back for. Pros: food, ambience, bar Cons: , parking, service more
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Cool Place 2/17/2004

My boyfriend took me to Azia for Valentine's day because I love thai food. The restaurant is beautiful and has a nice ambiance. I was not too impressed with our service, it was not really bad but not great either. We ordered the cranberry cream cheese puffs and those were WONDERFUL. I didn't see many entrees that piqued my interest (i'm a vegetarian, a picky one who doesn't like a lot of vegetables) so I decided to be safe and go with the pad thai. It was good but not as good as Sawatdee's or Chiang Mai Thai's. I ordered a mai thai and was pleasantly buzzed when we left. I would go back again! Pros: ambiance, specialty beverages, priced right more
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Menu for Azia & Caterpillar Lounge


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An uber-hip hangout with imaginative, Minnesota-influenced pan-Asian fare.

Owner Message

  • Located on eat street in Uptown, Azia has brought a new kind of sophisticated, yet laid-back eloquence to the diversified Nicollet Avenue strip. The winning quality of this restaurant has been recognizes by being named Bon Appetit's "Where to Eat" in 2003 and 2004.

    As one critic states, "Sacred Asian art meets James Bond chic." Let Chef and Owner, Thom Pham, take you on a culinary adventure ranging from traditional stir frys to a North Woods Walleye in Jalapeno-Basil sauce, to a perfectly braised tenderloin topped with an exotic Asian mushroom demi-glace. When you visit, chances are good that Thom himself is on site and tending to every guest as though he's invited them for a private dinner party. In fact, fundamentally, he has.
    Azia also offers a wide variety of original house cocktails, the largest sake menu in Minnesota, a refined wine and list and beer, bottled and on tap.

Editorial

  • In Short
    Black leather jackets are de rigueur on Azia's slick clientele, who congregate at high booths and little tables. The place suits any mood, with a bustling bar up front; an...

  • 6/16/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-2am Sun 3pm-2am
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Discover, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Whittier, Powderhorn
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