Umbra TODOTC.com To Do in the Twin Cities Restaurants Umbra Date: Nov 15, 2024 Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District 708 S 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415 Phone: (612) 540-7323 www.umbrampls.com

Umbra
Located in: Canopy by Hilton Minneapolis Mill District
708 S 3rd St, Minneapolis, MN 55415
Phone: (612) 540-7323
 
https://umbrampls.com/
 
Did you ever go to a bar/club and in the first five minutes decide I could spend a night there? Umbra in the Hilton Hotel at 708 S 3rd St, a stones throw from the stadium, is that kind of place. 
Remember a few weeks ago when we were at FireLake Grill at the Mall of America at the Radison Hotel and E called their food Hotel Food. Well Umbra is in the downtown Hilton and doesn't have Hotel Food. What they DO HAVE is huge fireplaces, easy chairs that engulf you and a killer band that played smooth Mo-Town. It's that place when you hear: "LAST CALL" you turn and say, "how LONG have we been here?" It's a nice place. Aplace we may return to after going out to eat for a night cap. That said E, though fine paying for Vallet did not like paying $5 for the ramp across the street.. LOL.
 
I found Umbra last year when we ate at a connected restaurant which since has changed its name. They are both restaurants in the Hilton, but the other restaurant WAS hotel food. Both restaurants shared a restroom, and I thus discovered Umbra a place we agreed we would return to. To give the first restaurant its do it was the family restaurant for the hotel, Umbra is for adults.
 
So, we arrived 20 minutes early after our wine tasting and Richelle promptly seated us. Umbra is an interesting study on interior design. Great art with many dividers turning a big restaurant into a very comfortable place to eat and entertain. There was a business meal going on three tables away and yet the acoustics made it seem like we were on our own islands… with fireplaces. They also have a beautiful party room.
 
They have a nice size wine list with a good number of the most drank favorites. E had a Liberty Cab Sav, and I had a Bava Barbera both were great for $13. They had seven red wines on their menu including: a CA Noir, an Arg Malbec, an Aussie Shiraz, an Italian Barbera that I had, a CA Reserve Cab that E had, an Italian Chianti Classico and a Noir from Oregon, anyone of which I am sure would be great. They have a good selection of Champagne & sparkling in case you are celebrating.
 
So, we started the night with Duck Fat Pomme Frites for $10. One of those terrible foods that we all love before RFK tries to outlaw them, so we are no longer the Fat Americans… LOL.
 
Then we shared a Harvest Salad for $16 with arugula, goat cheese, cranberries, walnuts with paired apple slices and couscous. It was a good, interesting salad and probably healthy too!
 
Finally, we split an order of Gnocchi for $26. It contained Pillowy Gnocchi tossed in a flavorful butternut squash pesto, garnished with crunchy pepitas, sauteed Kale & a fresh persillade. Wow I ate THAT! And it was good. One strange note on the Gnocchi. I am prediabetic. Which means I'm 200 lbs and wanna stay that or under. I wear a Libre 3 blood monitor, which is cool as hell. I have never eaten a food/pasta that kept my blood sugar over the limit all night like the Gnocchi did. Usually when I break my rules it only lasts an hour or so. I just found that interesting. That said I DID have duck fries, bread and that damn couscous. All of which will kill you... LOL. OK I only broke about three of my rules, but hey it was Friday night!
 
E was concerned with our bill before we went. We TRY to keep our bill about $100, tonight it was $91.53. We do so by sharing everything except the wine. We figure most people can go out once a month for $100. And we do so, for YOU, every Friday night. We could go to pricier places, but I don't ever remember not going someplace because of the price. Perhaps exclude the $200 bill at the Murrays butterknife steak place but we were celebrating.
 
The final verdict on Umbra was yes it was a great place to return. Especially for a post meal night cap. 
 

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