Biella

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\r enjoyed the atmosphere. As always we had great wine and awesome service! Biella is aways highly recommended! more

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 more

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. \r \r 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! more

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

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. \r 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. \r 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. \r 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! more

I was in town covering the RNC, I am based out of New York, a colleague from Minneapolis suggested\r Biella, I will admit I am a bit of a food snob so I was a bit skeptical of some suburban Minnesota restaurant.\r Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised to find such an eclectic menu & Wine List with a great atmosphere.\r 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.\r 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...\r Pros: Great Dining Experience Cons: Kind of far from the downtown area (20 min) more

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 more

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. \r 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. \r 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. \r 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.\r 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. more

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 more

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! more

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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 more

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. \r \r 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. \r \r 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?!)\r \r 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 more

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! \r Hey, Biella....keep on the good work!!! Pros: Very proffesional staff, highly skilled chefs Cons: VERY BUSY, try on a weekday! more

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!! more

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 more

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! more

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! more

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.\r \r 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.\r \r 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 more

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.\r \r 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?. \r Pros: Good appetizer and soup. Cons: Slow, bad customer service in response to bad delivery. more