It’s no question that Minneapolis folks appreciate a good hotdish (aka casserole) and anything made with cream of mushroom soup. However, the City of Lakes is also known for some pretty amazing Italian cuisine. From nationally recognized pizza and sub joints to beloved ristorantes serving family-style meals, Minneapolis is a serious front-runner for delicious Italian fare.
Whether you’ve got an employee pizza party in the works or you’re putting the menu together for an elegant office affair, the list of Italian restaurants in Minneapolis is plentiful. Here are some top picks to help narrow down your options for great Italian spots in the Minnie-apple.
1. Andiamo Italian Ristorante
Friendly service, delicious food, and (best of all) large portions are just a few tidbits from Andiamo Italian Ristorante’s many positive reviews. With an ample menu featuring classic Italian entrees, vegetarian options, and decadent desserts, Andiamo is a great choice for catered corporate events, seasonal office parties, and other large-group gatherings.
Spaghetti and meatballs and fettuccine al Romano are Andiamo’s most ordered pasta options. Each order serves between 10 and 20 people (depending on your preferences), and all pasta dishes come with the restaurant’s signature breadsticks.
Notable: Lasagna Bolognese
2. Sweet Taste of Italy
In the mood for some authentic Italian subs or made-from-scratch pasta? Sweet Taste of Italy can definitely get the job done. Pretty much everything on the menu is homemade, including the whipped butter that tops the restaurant’s melt-in-your mouth garlic bread.
Sandwiches by the tray are the perfect choice for meetings, staff lunches, and casual gatherings. Each tray comes with 15 sandwiches, packed with Italian cheeses, meats, veggies, and more. Some popular options include gondola sandwiches with ham, salami, and cheese, veggie sandwiches with a fresh mix of vegetables and two cheeses, and roast beef with chipotle mayo. You can also order assorted sandwiches for added variety.
Notable: Bread pudding
3. Red Rabbit
If you’ve got an important lunch meeting coming up or you’d like to treat your employees to some Friday sandwiches, Red Rabbit has a boxed lunch for every occasion. Known for serving “Uncomplicated, Authentic Italian” and named as one of America’s Top 50 Restaurants in 2023, the Rabbit has everything you need for a successful event.
The Italian boxed lunch comes with a massive chopped Italian salad, complete with chicken, salami, ham, olives, and provolone cheese. Additional boxed lunch options include Caesar salad, cheesesteak sandwiches, and Italian pork sandwiches. All boxed lunches are packaged individually and include a cookie for dessert.
Notable: Grinder sandwich boxed lunch
4. Brie Cater
In business for over three decades and regularly featured on Minnesota’s KARE11 news, Brie Cater offers a versatile menu with everything from continental breakfast to classic Italian pasta dishes. With happy reviewers exclaiming, “Brie Catering is hands down the absolute best caterer in the Twin Cities!” you know you’re in good hands with this team.
Brie’s appetizer reception and hors d’oeuvres platters are perfect for large parties. The appetizer reception features a wide assortment of flavorful, bite-sized eats like voodoo shrimp, tenderloin crostini, and potstickers, while the hors d’oeuvres platter includes BBQ meatballs, stuffed mushrooms, and Minnesota wings.
The restaurant’s traditional Italian fare includes meatballs with marinara sauce and penne pasta, chicken cavatappi Alfredo pasta, and the Lametti lunch buffet package with house lasagna and vegetarian pasta. All pasta dishes are served with bread and Caesar salad.
Notable: The admin lunch buffet package
5. Frankie’s Chicago Style Pizza
Thinking of hosting a casual office pizza party? Look no further than Frankie’s Chicago Style. Since 1988, Frankie’s has been serving up hand-made, Chicago-style pizza to happy customers who keep coming back for more.
If you’re ordering for a large crew, Frankie’s pizza and pasta party packages serve between 10 and 20 people and come with three to five pizzas, pasta, and salad. Additional party package options include pizza and wings, salad, breadsticks, and gourmet pasta. Choose from classic and unique pizza toppings, such as triple cheese, buffalo chicken, and bacon cheeseburger, or opt for classic Italian pastas like jumbo ravioli and baked rigatoni.
Notable: Stuffed Hawaiian special pizza
6. Fat Lorenzo’s
The team members at Fat Lorenzo’s are fully committed to providing the best pizza, hoagies, and pasta dishes in the whole universe, and they’re doing a great job. Acknowledged for its delicious food by locals and visitors, Fat Lorenzo’s is a true Minneapolis gem.
If pizza’s the plan for your catered event, Lorenzo’s has plenty to choose from. Pizzas are available in small, medium, large, and extra large, and each pizza serves between one and six people, depending on size. In addition to cheese, flavorful toppings include ham, mushrooms, pepperoni, tomatoes, pineapple, and more.
Notable: Shrimp Alfredo pasta
7. Jakeeno’s Pizza and Pasta
Since opening its doors almost 50 years ago, Jakeeno’s Pizza and Pasta has been serving some of the best Italian food in Minneapolis. Pasta dishes include baked rigatoni and chicken Florentine, and each order serves between 10 and 30 people.
To complete the meal, be sure to add a loaf or two of garlic bread to your order. In addition to its signature pasta dishes, the restaurant also serves boxed lunches with hoagie sandwiches, artichoke dip with French bread, and garlic bread topped with melty provolone.
Notable: Baked rigatoni pasta with meat sauce
Find Italian restaurants in Minneapolis for your office event through ezCater
Minneapolis is a melting pot for versatile cuisine, including some of the best Italian food around. If it’s time to get started with the menu planning for your catered event, ezCater can help eliminate the guesswork and streamline the process with online menus, customizable order forms, and an expansive network of top-rated local caterers.
