NOLO's Kitchen & Bar

Alright, let's talk about NOLO's Kitchen & Bar in Minneapolis--a spot that nails the balance between casual comfort and elevated flavors. Tucked in the North Loop, it's got that trendy but unpretentious vibe, the kind of place where you can roll in for a chill lunch or come back later for cocktails and a good time.I went for the chicken rice bowl, and honestly? Solid choice. The flavors were on point, the portion was just right for lunch (enough to satisfy but not send me into a food coma), and the chicken was nicely done. My only gripe? The carrots. They were cut a little too hefty, which made them awkward to eat--I like a veggie that cooperates with my fork, you know?Presentation-wise, it could've been a little more polished, but at the end of the day, taste wins, and it delivered. The space itself feels inviting, like somewhere you'd meet up with friends for a low-key meal but then get convinced to stay for "just one more drink." Which, honestly, I wouldn't be mad about.Would I come back? Absolutely. But next time, I'm thinking dinner and a cocktail--because if the food's this good at lunch, I bet the evening menu is even better.

Finally made it down for a brunch at Nolo's. I just don't get down town for food, parking, prices, etc.We got to Nolo's yesterday, early. Doll got the Avocado toast, single egg. I tried the fried rice with sausage, egg and peas, and a side of potatoes. All dishes were pretty good, no complaints. For the size of the room, it was a little loud. I just don't get downtown that often. I would recommend this place, very good food.

TLDR: baby I'm still hardcore food poisoned and I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel yet. Suffering is all I know besides the seat of my porcelainI went yesterday for brunch with my girlie and let me tell you.... I have spent more time indisposed in the last 24 hours than I have ever. Let me preface by saying I have an allergy to dairy, I'm not talking intolerance, like I eat some cheese and I am DONE DONE I get nausea and sick and hot and dizzy. So I am veryyy careful when it comes to my food cause I am not trying to spend my time feeling like that. I told the waitress I have the allergy and I ordered the avocado toast minus the burrata and replaced it with some poached eggs. I said that I can't do butter and I can't do cheese and the waitress said she got me. I got the avocado toast and the toast itself was like,,,, fine. I liked the flavor but the portion was a bit small. Par for the course though. I looked at the side salad cause I was ready for my fiber but!!!!! I saw the Parmesan on it!!! I called the waitress over and I asked if she could check if the side salad had cheese on it. Guess what. YEP! She was very sorry and said she could bring another side salad for me but I was just like nah I just need a new fork cause I leafed through the salad (pun intended) to find the cheese. I ate the rest of my toast cause I was just trying to have my breakfast and I thought at least the toast was safe. Flash forward a few hours I am BENT over the toilet for hours shooting Calabrian chili out of all orifices. I did not want to spend my evening like this and I know you don't either. It's been 24 hours now and I am still unwell. I don't know if there was more dairy hiding under that avocado that I didn't find or if there was something else in there that destroyed the sanctity of my life but I know that I most definitely will not be back to NOLOs. Here's the positive: staff was super nice, they comped my meal bc of side salad issue. The space was cute and very full at like 10 so that's good. Drinks were fine too-- I had to finish with a ginger beer because somehow I already knew this storm was coming. Ok see ya I gotta throw up again. Hope no one else had this experience.

Great place for an early happy hour! Highly recommend. Drink prices are cheap ($6 cosmos, $5 glasses of wine) and the food is good! We both ended up ordering the beef rice bowl -- very tasty and I wished I had a second one! We also ordered sides of fries, which are off menu ($6 for fries). Big portion and great for sharing with the table over drinks! Service was quick and friendly, and overall a very lively atmosphere. Check it out!

This is only a rating of the food, not the service or atmosphere, since I ordered food from down in The Basement Bar, but this was so good!The yuca fries were super tasty--the chicken seasoning made the yuca itself really flavorful, and the avocado aioli was subtle and not too avocado-y or mayo-y. And, a great portion size as yuca goes! I also got the rice bowl with chicken ($22), which I liked--I very much appreciated how it was a very reasonable ratio of rice to other ingredients, as often times a restaurant rice bowl will end up being like 75% rice and 25% protein/veg, but this felt like a much better balance. Even though I thought it could've stood to be cut a little smaller, the chicken was some of the best-seasoned I've had; tastes like it was well-marinated and well-seasoned in the cooking process. The veg was pretty standard; I personally prefer a bit more flavor when it comes to veggies in a rice bowl, like some pickled variety or the like, but the portion was great. I also expected the chili crunch to be a bit spicier, but perhaps that's just my Asian palate. Overall though, tasty!I'll have to go back sometime earlier in the day, since I've heard good things about their brunch menu.

I had the opportunity to check out Nolo's in the North Loop of Minneapolis, and it was a great experience. A few friends and I stopped by on a busy Friday evening, but they did an impressive job getting everyone seated in a timely manner. Our food arrived quickly, and both the food and drinks were excellent. I ordered the ahi tuna bowl, which was packed with flavor--a perfect mix of different tastes that really worked well together. One thing to note, though, is that the pricing is a bit on the higher side; the ahi tuna bowl was $25, which felt a little steep.Parking in the area can also be challenging, especially on a Friday night with events happening at nearby stadiums. There's a lot of street parking, but be sure to pay, as enforcement is active. Overall, the vibe at Nolo's was upscale and welcoming, making it a spot I'd definitely return to.

The food is amazing I had the soup and chicken rice bowl. Ingredients are fresh and food I flavorful. Soup was super hot in temperature so it was perfect. Service is quick, we made a reservation so we didn't have to wait. The ambiance is nice, romantic feel, great for a 1st date. Lots of tables, nice relaxed atmosphere.

We stopped by for brunch while walking around the North Loop. It was super busy, but with the help of the very nice host, we were lucky to grab a spot. The restaurant itself feels eclectic and modern. The food reflects the restaurant's vibe - fresh and fun. I had a great sweet potato hash and a delicious spicy Bloody Mary. My friend had a breakfast fried rice (how fun!) and an espresso martini. We would definitely make a habit of coming here if we lived nearby!

We love a classic NOLO's experience. The food is always good and the libations are always flowing. Good vibes, good staff, and being downtown is always fun. Not my first or last time here. I had the walleye sandwich, which I think is newer to the menu. 4.8/5 stars.

I'm upgrading my rating to four stars since they have greatly improved their cocktail menu and have amazing crunch bowl entrees. Their appetizers are good too, I liked the Ahi Tuna appetizer. We also loved their Margaritas!The wait was over 30 minutes on a Monday night at around 5:15 but there was a Twins game the same night. Make dinner reservations just in case! I liked the service as well since they were knowledgeable, patient with my questions and friendly.