You have several good choices in the Twin Cities, so some will come down to what kind of atmosphere you want.

For really lovely food, great wine list and a beautiful dining room, La Belle Vie is a great choice for a special occasion. (Johnny Michaels oversees the bar cocktail menu, and the drinks are inventive & top-notch.) The fixed price menu is a great way to celebrate; you can order it with or without wine pairings. LBV is on the edge of downtown, near the sculpture garden, the basilica & Loring Park.

For a completely different atmosphere, I'd suggest Piccolo. As the name suggests, the menu consists of small plates, with very inventive ingredients and foodie-friendly. The also have a chef's menu with 5 plates now for $48 I believe. Very nice wine list, though no cocktails. The restaurant is in a South Minneapolis neighborhood, small and intimate, as would fit the name as well. Chef/owner Doug Flicker is nearly always in the kitchen. Mark my words, he'll be a James Beard award winner some day soon.

For another different choice, you might try 112 Eatery. This is Italian food, done by chef/owner Isaac Becker (JBF best chef - midwest winner). The restaurant is downtown Mpls, warehouse district, with brick walls and an intimate setting.

I could go on (clearly I go out to dinner too much), but there are so many good options in the Twin Cities these days. Let me know if you'd like other suggestions.

Thanks so much! I read about La Belle Vie and 112 Eatery. I'll take a look at Piccolo. Have you eaten at Haute Dish? This is our top choice right now, but I read the reviews and they seemed slightly mixed. Thoughts? Heartland looked amazing, but too adventurous for my folks.

thanks!

Travail in Robbinsdale, Piccolo, Restaurant Alma, Bar Lagrassa

Bar Lagrassa is Italian...fabulous!

Thanks all!

hrwasko - I like Haute Dish - it's quite good, and an adventurous take on comfort food. (The stuffed mushrooms came out looking like a large sushi roll, with the portabella slices wrapped around the outside!) It's downtown on Washington, in the warehouse district. Parking meters take credit cards, fyi. I would note, only for full and fair disclosure, that right next door is Sex World - with a large neon sign as advertising. There's no worry about the neighborhood or anything, but it is a consideration depending on your parent's sensibilities.

I too like Travail in Robbinsdale - the 10 course tasting menu is a real deal. The chefs bring the food to the table, so no real servers. The downside is that they don't take reservations, so if you're going on a Friday and Saturday, you can be in for a long wait. It's a fun atmosphere, casual.

Bar LaGrassa mentioned above is owned by the same folks as 112 Eatery. Also very good food. Probably more casual than 112 Eatery - more upbeat atmosphere. Downtown in the warehouse district.

I've found Heartland hit or miss - some great dishes and some that just don't work. Given I live in Mpls and it's a drive, it's not a hardship given all the other great choices.

Have fun!