La Belle Vie

You may ask why I am writing a review for a restaurant that is closed? And my answer is that La Belle Vie is not just any old restaurant. My review is not about the food. The sophisticated cuisine was spectacular – there are plenty of reviews and articles to vouch for that. La Belle Vie is an important milestone in Minnesota fine dining restaurant history. In its seventeen years of operation, La Belle Vie garnered a slew of accolades including recipient of the respected AAA Four Diamond Restaurant since 2012 and housing Chef Tim McKee, named Best Chef Midwest and winner of the prestigious James Beard award in 2009. Before the new generation of trendy, over-​priced, craft cocktail-​Brussels sprouts-​carpaccio-​duck confit upscale restaurants popped up on the restaurant scene of downtown Minneapolis, there was La Belle Vie, a classic, exquisite, old-​school white tablecloth, and opulent restaurant.
It was bittersweet to dine at La Belle Vie the last week prior to closing its doors on October 24^th, 2015. The employees minds seemed disconnected from the experience and the mood was gloomy – with the prospect of losing their jobs and moving on. Rightfully so. In my lack of filter moment of trying to be complimenting and celebrate the loss of a phenomenal restaurant, I remarked, we drove a combined four hours to experience a restaurant that we’ve longed to experience, blah, blah. The employee remarked, «Yeah, it would have been nice to have that influx of support before the news of us closing in a month.» I sulked into my chair wishing I could retract my blunder of a comment.
Sadly, I came to the realization that the dining experience at La Belle Vie was a representation of the past. I would contend, the lack of wanting to mold, adjust, and join the craze of the new wave of restaurants claiming to offer fine dining sans pretentiousness in understated, minimalist décor, and lack of dress code was its downfall. With the modern times, La Belle Vie transitioned into a «special occasion restaurant». I applaud La Belle Vie for attempting to stay true to its roots. Unfortunately, for the Twin Cities restaurant industry, I suppose it does not equate to financial success. The dining experience ended the best way possible with a personal thank you from Chef Tim McKee.
Bottom line: La Belle Vie, you will be sorely missed, but props to you for setting the precedent for fine dining in the Twin Cities. Merci et à la prochaine La Belle Vie, dans un autre forme réincarné j’espère!

I wanted to write my review for this pillar of the Minneapolis restaurant community before it closed its doors, and subsequently, its Unilocal page, for good. LBV hanging up shop is a travesty of the highest magnitude for the Minneapolis food scene. It’s kitchen and bar have spawned the careers and restaurants of some of the best chefs in the TC (Heyday, Spoon and Stable, Il Foro, Monello, and Saffron just to name a few), and thus, is hugely responsible for putting Minneapolis on the map as the next great food city.
With that out of the way, onto the actual experience. With the kind of pedigree mentioned above, you know La Belle Vie has talent both in the kitchen and on the drink program and my visit in July highlighted the high bar that has been maintained even with the rotation of so many brand-​name Twin Cities chefs and cocktail maestros. My girlfriend and I went for a late, elegant dinner on a Wednesday night the week of the 4^th. The intimate dining room was already pretty scant with people, and as our dinner went on, it completely cleared out to the point where we had a private event for the last hour or so of our meal. Absolutely magical.
The food itself (the Chef’s Tasting Menu with the wine pairing split between my girlfriend and I) was also a work of sorcery. Every piece of meat (the halibut and beef were standouts), every veggie, every sauce… all cooked and plated precisely how it should be. The wine/​drink pairings, presented beyond knowledgeably by our server, were as spot on as they could be for enhancing the dishes and the drinks themselves. The pace of the meal was phenomenal, with each dish and glass of wine coming out almost exactly after we finished our previous course. This is what you expect from a restaurant of this caliber (and when you’re paying for a restaurant of this calibur), and LBV knocked it out of the park. There may be other restaurants in town cooking similar quality food for cheaper, but the whole experience from beginning to end was more complete than anything else I’ve had in Minneapolis, and it’s a tragedy that the full-​blown fine dining extravaganza will no longer be available to Minneapolisites.
Cheers to you, your long run, and an unforgettable culinary experience, La Belle Vie.

Sadly I think the chef and his crew have already stepped away from what was once their passion. The fish course was overly salted and way over-​cooked; the lobster like rubber and the duck breast was tough. We were looking so forward to experiencing a restaurant where a James Beard award-​winning chef was. One would think the chef would want to leave on a high note as his name is associated with this architecturally lovely restaurant, but alas I suspect he longer cares. Both my date and I have worldly food palates and we left vastly disappointed.

food was alright, had better before, prices are way too much for that restaurant
good thing they will be closing

My husband and I finally made it to La Belle Vie last night — just one week shy of them closing their doors for good. We definitely regret not coming her sooner as the service, ambiance and (of course) food were all amazing and this definitely would have been a place that we would have planned to return to. We had the 8 course tasting menu which was very good and took us through many different flavor profiles and ingredients as the evening went on. My one complaint would be that service was actually pretty speedy and I got the vibe it was faster than normal if not even a bit rushed. My guess for this is with so many people trying to get in for one last meal here that they’ve sped service up a bit to accommodate as many people as they possibly can. It’s definitely a shame that after such a long tenure in the twin cities, La Belle Vie is closing.

I’m writing up this review as I finish the last course of the Chef’s Tasting Menu. This place will close its doors forever in 2 weeks. The owners said that this was too much of a special occasion restaurant to continue to operate. I say that if what I ate tonight was normal, then this restaurant was doomed long before the decision was made.
The food was just ok, trying too hard and not delivering. It’s like the kitchen has just given up and is producing «just food enough». The issue is that there are (and have been) decent restaurants opening up in the Twin Cities and this place found itself actually having to compete with restaurants headed by chefs that have traveled to places with a history of great food and worked under great chefs.
Overall, this menu being served in the last days of the restaurant’s existence is boring and lacking in vitality. A poor but fitting farewell for an establishment that is too mediocre to exist in the new age of food enlightenment that Minneapolis is entering.

If you’re ready for a long relaxing amazing meal that is although very expensive and this is the place for you. The service is the best that I have ever had the waiters and waitresses know the menu extensively explant to you in terms that you understand and are so kind and considerate. The drinks are to die for if you don’t want to do a full meal at Hally recommend going to the bar

3.5 stars. My sweet boyfriend surprised me and took me to La Belle Vie for my birthday. It was a bit hard to get to considering the construction around the building. Upon entering, there was a bit of a pretentious feel from the staff, but the interior was simply breathtaking. They sat us in the dining room at a large table for two which was very quiet and intimate. The table settings were truly gorgeous, private and spacious. I loved this! I was honestly just wishing there was a piano player :)
We ordered two different white wines to start — both solid and enjoyable, but not exceptional (which is what you are expecting given the price point). The bread and butter were very good — one was a mild butter, the other a smoked butter. They brought us an amuse bouche of little brioche rounds with Gruyère crisp — not so good. They also brought us brioche — not so good either.
My boyfriend and I decided not to do the tasting menu — we just weren’t in the mood for five courses and aren’t dessert people (which is a course in the tasting menu). Our waiter seemed disappointed we decided to order off the a la carte menu, but that was what we wanted. We ordered the langoustine pasta dish and the quail as our appetizers. The first was horrible– I was shocked. All the flavor was coming from the butter. The dish as a whole was really lacking in flavor. The quail was good, but again, not exceptional. For our entrees, I got the bouillabaisse and my boyfriend got the halibut. Mine was very delicious– rich seafood flavor, a lovely medley of seafood paired with a delicious crostini. The halibut dish was not my favorite– the cucumbers and artichokes did not play well together at all, but the fish was tasty on its own. Our second round of wines were exceptional. I highly recommend the Pinot Noir — it pared very well with my bouillabaisse. My boyfriend got the Sauvignon Blanc to accompany his halibut– very good. We ordered a bourbon cocktail to share and enjoy for dessert– very strong, very tasty.
All in all, I’d recommend this spot if ambience is your main objective and you enjoy privacy while dining. I also think I’d enjoy the lounge for drinks. The food is simply not up to par with other restaurants of that caliber in the area– it honestly doesn’t even come close.

So, I’m torn btw a 3.5 and a 4 star for this restaurant. If my expectations weren’t so high from all the reviews and prices weren’t so high, I’d give it a 4 star. But all considered, it’d have to be a 3.5 star. My husband and I did the 7 course chef’s tasting at $ 90 per person and had couple of cocktails. The portions are extremely cut and small, but in all the tastings, the presentation is beautiful. We’ve had other chef’s tastings before that are much better, but it was overall still a very nice dinner.
Beautiful place, however!

Tried the 7 course tasting menu –so much food and everything was PERFECT, nothing you’ll
Experience anywhere else. We’re foodies and eat all over the city as well as all over the US. This place is on our top 5 meals for sure! Great for a special occasion or just celebrating life in general. Don’t just save this for a special occasion –just do it and appreciate how exquisite life can be. YUM!

I went here last year with a beloved.
The meal was good for Minneapolis, but I’ve had better on the west coast so it was not memorable, although the people that worked here were attentive and kind :)
Drinks were Delish too!

Well after finally going here for a special birthday dinner I agree that this is the best dining experience in the Twin Cities.
Service was just immaculate and the food and wine flights were perfect. After having the chefs flight, there’s wasn’t a bad bite. Trout, ribeye, sweetbreads, beets, artichoke hearts, chocolate, branzino, abalone mushrooms, and the list goes on and on.
Best and most fun dinner in years… and that includes the days when I used to be somebody, before turning into a local horse farmer. Haha, and don’t miss having a dinner here if you want a special experience in the Twin Cities.

Pricey, but worth every penny!
Wonderful mixed drinks & exquisite food with a relaxed-​yet-​sharp ambiance. Loved each dish of the tasting menu, as each delicate flavor shone through in every dish & drink!

We are big fans of French food, but this was
tiny, expensive and not memorable. Just ok.
We were expecting to be wowed.
Our server seemed new. We were expecting a pro at this restaurant level.
We sat in the lounge, maybe that’s why?
We were also accidentally brought a wine the next table over ordered.
This is nit picky I know, but for these prices…
I enjoyed my cocktail «Night of the Hunter.» It was so smooth with amazing flavor.
We also had the prawns off the lounge menu. They were bland.
Husbo had the tasting off the lounge menu for $ 50. He is not a big eater, but was hoping for more than a couple bites… total.
I had the branzino fish that came in little pieces with tiny lobster bits underneath. It was good, but I wouldn’t order it again.
Wouldn’t go again.

I went to La Belle Vie with my boyfriend and two friends. We had a very difficult time here because we all hate food. No. We love food. And la Belle Vie was amazing. The stuff dreams are made out of. I was sad to hear Solera closed down, so we went to La Belle Vie for the Solera specials. They did not disappoint.
–Scallop «a la Plancha» with Serrano Ham and Saffron: perfectly prepared. The scallop melted in my mouth. The crunch from the serrano ham was heavenly. I would have stayed all night to eat scallops.
–Piquillo Pepper Stuffed with Herbed Goat’s Milk Cheese: YES.
–Octopus Ceviche with Hot Pepper and Cumin. Good.
–Chorizo and Hot Green Peppers with Sidra: a lovely flavor and excellent sausages.
–Ham and Cheese Croquetas: This was the only disappointing appetizer.
I can’t wait to go back to try their regular menu. The service was outstanding. The servers were very knowledgeable about the menu and the preparations.

We came with our monthly eater friends as we’ve been anticipating coming here for a long while. We showed up on one of the coldest nights in Minneapolis and got a table in the Lounge which was cozy as can be.
The service was definitely top notch which I wouldn’t expect otherwise for this establishment.
We ordered the tasting menu off the lounge menu and started off with a round of cocktails.
The food was good without a doubt but nothing earth shattering or omgthisisfucking delcious. Other tasting menus in the MPLS area kind of kick this menus ass for half the price. We had an amuse bouche to start, bread and 4 courses. These were generally 2 – 3 bite dishes so at the end of the day it would make a good light dinner but if you’re hungry you might be stopping at mickey d’s on the way home digging through your ashtray for change to get something off the dollar menu.
I just can’t shake the feeling that this is more about dick waving and status whoring and what its like to have a shit ton of disposable money. The air was filled with pretentiousness. Am I jealous much?
For what we paid, for the money we have, it was simply not worth it.

Truly and exceptional restaurant and experience! This may be my favorite birthday dinner of my life. How can I write this without sounding like I’m exaggerating? Hmmm… let’s start with the staff… I was blown away by the attention to detail by everyone we encountered. The nods, the smiles, the «right this way» hand gestures tee’d up the experience. I loved how our table, tucked in the corner, encouraged us to sit side by side and gave us a full view of the delightful architecture of the room. I felt like royalty as I walked across the room in my favorite little black dress. The room is steeped in tradition with high ceilings and gorgeous moldings, giving almost a time warp experience as you enter.
Sitting at the table, we were asked if we wanted something to drink. What happened next is an example of a server who is observant and dialed in to the guest experience. I don’t drink, so my go to answer after drink orders are taken is, «I’ll just have water.» Immediately, our server said, «Would you like to see a list of our handcrafted non-​alcoholic drinks?» Waaa?! Yes!!! I would. How did she anticipate my desire to still hold a beautiful glass with beautiful garnishes without the alcohol and without feeling left out? Amazing list. And an amazing grapefruit frothy fruity non-​alcoholic deliciousness was ordered.
The food. Omg the food. We ordered the tasting menu and each plate was like a flavor explosion. I can’t even put into words the experience of fully tasting every thoughtful bite. Was that passion fruit I tasted? Was that caviar? Wow, what is in that sauce that so decoratively and intentionally surrounded that succulent little piece of steak?
How do you even make room for the last little dessert plate? Those little plates add up and I have to be honest, even finishing a macaroon that looked like it should be in a dollhouse, seemed almost impossible. But, I bravely kept going, loving every bite and stopping only to hold the hand of my sweet companion. It truly was a dining experience I’ll never forget.
Save up a little cash, make a reservation, dress up, and go have a wonderful dinner. Worth every penny.

I was having a bad week and decided the same day to try La Belle Vie. I was able to reserve a table for 5pm on a Friday. Valet parking is available and recommended as it is very hard to find on street parking.
This is a special occasion restaurant but also great for a cheer yourself up day. Service is fantastic and everyone is involved in delivering your tasting plates. I dined alone and they will allow you to order the tasting menu for just 1 person. THANK YOU for that option. Everyone at the table has to order the same tasting menu if you decide to go that route.
I ordered the Grand Tasting Menu for $ 145. The wine flight would have been an extra $ 75. When I told my server that I would like her to pick 1 drink to go with my meal she selected a half glass of sparkling wine and then a half glass of red and charged me $ 10. That was a great idea and just right.
The Grand Tasting Menu has 12 courses listed on it and changes monthly (?). They added 3 extra courses for me. My first extra course was a pork rind, 2 Gougeres and a marshmallow. I love Gougeres and they were great. Pork rinds? Yuck, greasy, dive bar chow, etc… came to mind. But the La Belle Vie pork rind? Fantastic and melted in a pool of flavor on my tongue. The marshmallow was dusted with spice and also terrific.
Now my taste buds were excited and I was looking forward to the rest of the meal. Each plate is 2 – 5 bites of food. You will be full after the Grand Tasting Menu and may kiss the valet parking staff, your server and innocent bystanders as you float out the door with a contented smile on your face.
Some plates:
Egg with Lobster, Osetra Caviar and Brie
Smoked Sea Scallop with Beet Carpaccio, Watercress and Horseradish Cream
King Crab with Charred Avocado, Clementine and Crispy Rice
Crispy Soft Shelled Crab with Ricotta, Spring Peas and Dill
Olive Oil Poached Halibut with Piquillo Pepper, Bacalao, Saffron and Anchovy
Rabbit Loin with Pancetta, Fava Beans and Morel Mushrooms
Pan Roasted Poussin with Ramps, Baby Turnip Confit and Roasted Garlic
Squab with Trumpet Royale Mushrooms, Turnips and Fennel
Grilled Lamb Ribeye with Pine Nut Panisse, Roasted Cauliflower and Za’atar
Tomme de Crayeuse with Pickled Pistachios and Toast
Milk Sorbet
Rhubarb Panna Cotta with Brown Sugar Ice Cream
I enjoyed them all but the Tomme de Crayeuse with Pickled Pistachios and Toast cheese course was the best cheese that I ever had.
When my bill came there was another course with 5 assorted pieces of chocolate candies. I thought about saving a few for my husband but I ate every last morsel.
Would I go back? Definitely! The Grand Tasting Menu is what should be ordered if you can afford it. It was a great splurge and they made me feel very welcome even though I dined on the spur of the moment and was dressed business casual. The 510 had a more haute feel to it.

Wow. This restaurant is a home run from soup to nuts. Fantastic, old-​world service, and perfect French cuisine.
I did the Chef’s tasting menu and don’t eat meat, but that didn’t cause them to bat an eye. As you might imagine, the wine list is to die for, and I went with a delicious Brut since I was doing a lot of fish.
Here’s what I had:
1) Amuse bouche — Scallop with a light vinegar. Very light, nice citrus notes. Great palette cleanser
2) Bread — two types of olive bread and a rosemary, wheat bread. Two types of butter and olive oil. Good, maybe not great bread course. Odd that they had two olives. The wheat-​rosemary was a little strong and the texture was rough
3) Squash with Icelandic yogurt — Oh wow, first course was a vegetable course coupled with a Icelandic yogurt. Perfect mix of textures, and I saw they go the hint that I am a health nut
4) Smoked columbia river sturgeon with gingerbread crumbles and apple slices — very light, sashimi-​like dish but with the sophistication one would expect from a French restaurant. Out of this world
5) Skate wing and poached lobster — served with olives and a French type of cracker. The lobster was outstanding, and the fish perfectly cooked. At this point I was solidly in foodie heaven
6) Ahi tuna and prawn — solid course, the prawn was very flavorful. The ahi tuna was not necessarily standout, but the sauces brought some interesting flavors to the fore
7) Dayboat scallop, spinach crêpe, and Japanese eggplant — the star of the meal. Scallop was succulent, flavorful, and immensely fresh. The spinach crêpe was tiny, but packed such a punch of popeye mixed with French classicism. The Japanese eggplant was a nice, modern touch which added my favorite vegetable :)
8) Cheese course — this was three cheeses whipped and served between two pieces of a baguette-​like toast over an orange marmalade. Yes, as good as it sounds. It basically was a cheese cannoli from Mount Olympus
9) Mango sorbet — palette cleanser, very sweet and refreshing. Served with some apple crumbles
10) Chocolate ganache, chocolate cake with caramel center, and a vanilla frozen yogurt ice cream — Purely rich but not at all heavy, since smallish portion and elegantly presented
Everything was great here. Really outstanding meal, and I can see why people consider it the best haute cuisine in between Chicago and LA. To boot, the music is really cool, French staples with a touch of jazzy rock

***La Belle Vie serves satisfying French cuisine; the front of the house is also very good (personable, polite and professional)***
La Belle Vie is a very well regarded French restaurant. It reminds me a little of Healdsburg’s Madrona Manor where the cuisine is very contemporary despite the mostly traditional and old-​fashioned décor. While La Belle Vie is not as ambitious as Madrona Manor, it does not fall into the trap of delivering overly rich and indulgent cuisine like a lot of French restaurants.
I tried three of their starters and the best was their shellfish tortelli. It was a small but very impactful starter. It was tortelli filled with shellfish bisque and garnished with a very good artichoke broth and nicely butter poached lobster (very good flavor and an almost completely even softness). The tortelli was fun. It was like xiao long bao where you have a burst of soup when you bite into it. The pasta was thick, al dente and flavorful. Given the thickness of the pasta, I did wish the bisque filling was more intense.
Their seared foie gras was also good. It was nicely cut and had a flavorful and creamy center. The foie gras was higher quality than the seared foie gras I’ve had in other cities like Las Vegas, Baltimore and Kansas City, but it lacked the great slightly crispy sear of the foie gras I had at Atlanta’s Restaurant Eugene and Madison’s L’Etoile. The garnishes included several variations of raspberry and crispy brioche (I liked the crispy and buttery exterior, but there was no soft interior so it was really just a good croûton).
The least successful starter was the burrata with marinated tomatoes and oregano. The dish had a great flavor and there was a good balance of flavors (I liked the occasional punch of the sweet sauce dollops on the plate). Unfortunately, the burrata was like a very smooth and creamy ricotta instead of a creamy, gooey mozzarella that I was expecting.
La Belle Vie takes desserts seriously (unlike a lot of restaurants) and their caramelized crêpe cake was great. With the crêpe cake, you get alternating layers of crepes and delicious pastry cream. The cake had a great brûlée top. The only thing that could have made the cake better would be less cream to provide more balance. Garnishes included a sweet and crunchy almond praline as well as very good candied citrus rind, macerated blackberries and blackberry sorbet. The blackberries and sorbet went very well with the caramel flavor of the crepes.
The caramel semifreddo dessert had a great centerpiece. Semifreddo can often be too chilled, which results in an icy and undesirable texture. The semifreddo here was very creamy but still also ice cream-​like. I did not love the garnishes of lemon curd and buttermilk sherbet though.
The chocolate chicory cremeux with coffee cream, chocolate financier, doughnut crumble, and doughnut ice cream was an okay dessert. Despite all the great sounding flavors, only the coffee flavor stood out.
Service was excellent. The host and hostess were very welcoming and my server (Sarah) was very personable, polite and professional. One of the other servers had a great enthusiasm and voice for delivering food presentations that I think many would enjoy.
I did not check out the dining room, but it seems to be pretty traditional based on the photos I’ve seen. The lounge is traditional, but the seating is modern, which keeps the room from being too stuffy.
Prices are high but seem to be within the range of other highly regarded French restaurants I’ve been to around the country. Their lounge 4-​course tasting menu seems like a good value.
While I didn’t explore La Belle Vie’s entrees or tasting menus, I did have enough of their food to know that this restaurant can put out satisfying and contemporary high-​end French cuisine. It lacks the creativity of some of the best French restaurants I’ve been to across the country, but the kitchen utilizes good quality ingredients, has a skill in preparing proteins and shows an attention to detail. This coupled with the strong front of the house makes La Belle Vie a good option for a special occasion dinner in Minneapolis.
Free street parking is available in the nearby residential area.