Zelo   

831 Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612-333-7000
www.zelomn.com

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The folks who brought you Ciao Bella and other fine Italian dining spots also have a downtown Minneapolis mainstay. At once reminiscent of a Roman palace and what a Roman speakeasy might look like, Zelo's bronze and black interior is -- dramatic. Plush booths, a vaulted ceiling and just enough lighting create a mood of comfortable intimacy under the Foshay Tower. The staff here is on you with the same immediacy as the decor, but in a good way. You'll be presented with yet another northern Italian (Tuscan) menu that offers little in the way of dishes that are stunning in their uniqueness. Pork tenderloin, various seafood, and pastas anchor a list of likely entrees. Wood-roasted pizzas and panini sandwiches are more intriguing, and moderately priced. The Zelo bar, which you'll walk through to get to the restrooms, is in style with the just-legal drinking and ogling crowd. That room is another world, one filled with the chatter and laughter of singles draped in black. Zelo is a good alternative to your regular downtown lunch place, or a romantic choice for after-the-show dessert. -- John Sharpe