Omg this is a must do!!! They have an Italian Giglio feature right now that is just so awesome. We booked a reservation about a month out which you have to do as it books out quick! You do need to pay in advance which I don't love but also makes sense and makes it easier at the end of the night. We were in the upper part of the restaurant and we just had a blast. Not only was the food fabulous, the service is quick, witty and top notch plus they have events and small moments throughout the evening to make it fun. We did trivia during dinner but they also had music playing and interactive food stations. For this feature the mozzarella and cacio e Pepe from the cheese wheels are to die for. I wanted to eat just that for my entire meal! Highly highly recommend.
Sehaj S.
This review is specifically for the Umami experience in the Basement Bar. My husband and I went to the Basement Bar a couple years back for their Simpsons experience and really loved it. The food and cocktails were delicious. We still have our little Buzz cola glass! With that visit in mind, we excitedly booked the Umami tasting experience again in the Basement Bar. We are both big foodies and were excited to see how this kitchen would experiment and explore the concept of "the fifth taste." I have to say, we were just expecting to enjoy a thoughtful meal, but hoo boy was that just part of the show. Throughout the service we had rolling servers/DJs trying to hype up the "crowd." Multiple times were we required to cheer to exclaim how good a time we were having. To hit home how strange and hilarious this was: in the middle of dinner my husband and I were having a serious conversation about the AAP's new guidelines on childhood obesity, when one of the servers insisted we needed to leave our table to go into another room for a sake bomb challenge. I just started laughing at this point because apparently, instead of going to dinner we ended up on some weird cruise ship. At the end of the meal, the host exclaimed we were all going to do karaoke! For.... exactly fifteen minutes. And then we had to leave. I think the servers were very nice and they truly tried to keep the mood up, but the song and dance routine definitely distracted from the meal. (Having said that, my husband definitely got up and rocked some karaoke.) The real reason I'm giving the Umami experience three stars is for what should've been the main event: the food. Honestly, the menu was baffling. I would definitely not call this an Umami tasting menu, it was more a general "Pan-Asian" menu. There were several courses like lamb meatballs and chicken wings which felt vaguely Asian, but I wouldn't say they highlighted umami flavors. Also, the progression of courses was very strange. Our first two dishes were very heavy, somewhere in the middle we had a soup course, and towards the end of the meal we had a piece of hamachi sushi with mushroom. Huh??? Why weren't we going from lighter to heavier? Why weren't we starting with cleaner flavors and then going more pronounced, which would make sense with a menu focusing around umami! Also, the menu was waaaay too heavy on proteins. I was dying for more vegetables, which is really tragic as there are sooo many umami rich veggies! The only one really highlighted over and over again was mushroom. Please, give me a bruleed tomato, roast carrots, smothered cabbage, parmesan potatoes, the list goes on and on. I actually think this meal could have shined if they HADN'T stuck to Asian flavors. If the chefs highlighted how umami touches multiple cuisines, that would've been more interesting. Instead I think they thought "well, it's an Asian word, so we have to make Asian food." There were definitely a few highlights: the dashi broth with squid had a lovely, rich and deep flavor, the hamachi sushi was light and very fresh, and we loved the fermented/pickled veggies that were offered on the table. I hate to add another critique but it must be said: the zero proof cocktails were astoundingly misbalanced. They were as sweet as a Hi-C. I think part of the problem is that they were trying to make zero proof versions of their alcoholic cocktails, and that wasn't working. It would be better to just have a nice variety of non-alcoholic beverages to choose from. I would've been much happier drinking Topo Chicos and jasmine tea all night. I'm still curious to try the main dining room at Travail, but I think we'll take a break from the Basement Bar's shenanigans.
Paige C.
Anyone below a 5-star review is NOT the vibe. This was probably the best dining experience I have ever had, and I want to permanently move to Minneapolis now so that I can go here again. You have to understand, this place is different. This is NOT your typical tasting menu nor bar experience. It is VERY interactive. You walk in to ROCK MUSIC!!?! And immediately, they start serving you appetizers. There are appetizer stations that you can wander around to while you sip your cocktails. THEN you sit down, and the rest of the experience begins This place is a WELL-OILED machine! They are constantly moving and grooving, and you don't even know what's happening! Delicious, perfect creation after each one comes before you. Everything is perfectly timed from the food to the cocktails (definitely get the pairing, by the way). They also have an alcohol-free flight, which I really appreciate. My favorite was this tropical drink where they burned the herbs so you could inhale while you sipped. They had song trivia, crazy awesome music, and the staff was so engaged. Someone should study this place and write a book because this is what a truly happy workplace looks like. I want to quit my job and work here! We were having a lot of fun, and they could tell, so they brought us shots and invited us to the downstairs bar (shoutout to Samantha, btw) where we karaoked! Needless to say, we were so splendidly happy with the entire experience.
Kate M.
I had an amazing time at Travail. My sister and I arrived for our reservation for Californication dinner only to realize the person who had gifted the dinner had missed several notifications that our specific dinner service was cancelled. We tried to check in at the host stand and Lilleth was very apologetic. She offered to get us into a later seating of a different menu- the Giglio tasting menu, with drinks added, with no additional cost. We took her up on this and waited at the bar upstairs. Soon we were tapped by the sommelier who offered to give us a private tasting of all the wines we would have experienced at the Californication dinner. The wines were delicious! We then went downstairs and fully enjoyed the full Giglio menu. The ambiance was festive and we enjoyed the interactive aspect of our meal. The food was great! But major takeaway was the service- while we were disappointed to miss the meal we had planned for, Travail went above and beyond to make up for it and the service and attention we received was simply impeccable. We will definitely be back. Thank you Travail!
Ian M.
Whoa - we just had one of the most delicious, fun and by far the most interactive meal of our lives. I've been thinking about travail ever since they first opened and finally took the opportunity to try their Umami experience. It was amazing. The service, the concept and even the ambiance of the basement bar are all unforgettable. Can't wait to get back here on another special occasion. Places like Travail remind me just how incredible our Minnesota restaurant scene is!
Kaylee Renstrom
What happened to Travail? Our most recent visits have felt overpriced and lack-luster.We used to love coming here and looked forward to an exciting meal paired with entertainment and delicious beverages. The last two times we’ve gone have really changed our views on this restaurant. My review will solely be focused on the Valentine’s Day Cooking Class we attended as that was truly the final nail in the coffin for us regarding the reputation of this restaurant. Though it was a splurge at $422, we thought it would be worth it to attend the cooking class paired with a “5-course feast” and pasta to take home.The night of the event, we arrived and were given our first cocktail. It contained Aperol and was a bit too bitter for me to enjoy. The bartender informed us that we would receive two glasses of wine with dinner and a second cocktail later. As the room filled, small trays of appetizers were brought out to groups and people were invited to visit a gnocchi making station where they received instructions from a staff member. As this appeared to be a “wait to be called forward” system, we stood by the windows for appetizers and instruction while holding our empty cocktail glasses. Eventually, we received one of the two appetizers—a delicious wonton—and resumed waiting. Our second appetizer never came.After four groups had visited the gnocchi station, an announcement was made to the room for everyone to come up and try their hand at piping some dough into the water. At this point, appetizers disappeared and the instructor left to prep things in the other room. This left the remaining individuals to form a line and pass along instructions to those behind them. I cut off four pieces of gnocchi into the water before I felt obligated to pass the piping bag of dough to the next person. My partner, seeing the size of the line, passed the bag along without giving it a try telling me “we’ll be doing plenty of other things, it’s ok if I miss this one”.We were optimistic and entered the dining room to small plates of pasta dough and piping bags of filling. A demonstration was given showing us how to fold different pasta shapes: tortellini, pansotti, and sachetti. Unfortunately, we were each given only five sheets of dough and could not practice making these shapes more than once or twice. What became of our creations was to be our take home meal—ten small pieces of stuffed pasta.There ended our ‘hands on’ portion of the cooking class much to our dismay. Then began what felt like a lecture. We all got a few pages of recipes and sat while the chef read the instructions aloud for us along with real time edits: “Oh sorry, this is way too much salt! Cut it back by half when you make this. Oops, this recipe wasn’t supposed to be included”. It seemed disorganized and unprepared.To add to our disappointment, workers used the door behind us to exit onto the patio, exposing us to cold air as they left and bringing the smell of cigarette smoke with them as they returned.On the bright side, we did receive food intermittently. However, five pieces of ravioli, a single scallop on rice, and a shared slice of prime rib with mashed potatoes wasn’t quite the feast we were expecting. Pairing with our dinner were two glasses that had only been filled with 2 oz of wine. Needless to say, we were still hungry by the time the final cocktail was served.When advertised as five courses, it’s quite an insult to find that the appetizers and take home meal counted in that “feast”. Upon returning home, we ate our ten pasta pieces with some store bought sauce and reflected on how taken advantage of we felt. Going to Travail is considered a very special event to us and the Valentine's Day Cooking Class felt like one big cash grab and a waste of our money.We brought our concerns to Travail in the form of an email the following day. A month later and we have yet to receive a response from the restaurant. Likely we never will.Go to a restaurant that cares about their patrons.
Matthew Smith
5 Stars on all fronts. Food was fantastic, drinks were great. Chef hosting our party was fun, funny and very personable. Truthfully for me, it's all about the food and this place doesn't disappoint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ariel L.
This is certainly for the adventurous! They have a contemporary twist to anything you can think of like foie gras on a lollipop stick, or painting your own flatbread, freeze during your dessert table side! It's both entertainment for the palette and your eyes! Good food, fast service, and great wine! You can interact with the kitchen team and the sommelier as well and they nicely answer your questions. Definitely worth a try and a place worth coming back to!
Jon Deckenbach
Top notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K.J. Kramer
We must have gone on an off night, because it was the unanimous opinion of our 8-person party that this was hands-down the worst dining experience we could remember. We reached out to the restaurant with concerns about the food quality, hygiene, and service. After a few months with no response from the restaurant, I feel it is necessary to leave a review to warn others (especially those with alcohol or allergy concerns). The dishes were excessively salty, the drinks were overly sweet, and there was a gross disregard for hygiene (having customers pass unplated food down the table with their bare hands). They frequently forgot who had the NA drink pairing and were inconsistent with giving the “alternative” dish to those with food allergies.Dietary restrictions: We had two members of our party with gluten allergies. The staff brought alternative dishes for most of the courses, but somehow forgot for one of the later dishes, resulting in a terrible experience for those members of our party.I would not go here if you have food allergies.
Travail is always such an incredible experience! The food, the drinks, the ambiance... All just amazing. Every dish is well-crafted and full of flavor, and the cocktails are all absolutely delicious. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and make every guest feel welcome. Plus, the space is so beautiful: it feels modern but also cozy, and the decor is very aesthetically pleasing.I have been here a handful of times to celebrate special events, all in the basement bar, and each time has been so great. I most recently went to UMAMI. The decorations were beautiful and I loved that they had Spirited Away playing in the background. The food really brought those incredible umami flavors to life.The attention to every detail is incredible and I'm always in awe each time I get to come here. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a unique and delicious food experience! It's a great place to celebrate a special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Juliana Svendsen
Amazing service!!! Superb and delish food. The attention to dietary details makes come back again and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Railyn W.
Very expensive if your going the tasting menu from my opinion..It has been a few years since my husband and I went but sheesh..Definitely a good time and experience!
Anne R.
Travail was a really fun splurge,m. We enjoyed the signature tasting menu over Valentine's Day wkd and had a great time trying everything! Lots of different types of foods. Lots of the assembly and even cooking happened in front of us, so it was fun to have a chef's table without actually having a chef's table. The ambiance is really festive and fun, and so much better than a white tablecloth type resto (at least for us). We decided to reserve the cocktail pairing, but in hindsight that would not have been necessary... all of the cocktails were amazing and we could have ordered a la carte and gotten exactly what we wanted. We'll be back when we have a good excuse!
Ben Ganje
BASEMENT BAR REVIEW - Anyone thinking about doing the Umami tasting menu don't waste time get in there while it lasts! We had a party of 4 with a 545PM reservation on a Tuesday and not only was every seat taken but the service team was in full force to ensure the experience was fantastic! My wife and I have been at Travail 1 & 2 but their third iteration is on another level. Highly recommend it!
Omg this is a must do!!! They have an Italian Giglio feature right now that is just so awesome. We booked a reservation about a month out which you have to do as it books out quick! You do need to pay in advance which I don't love but also makes sense and makes it easier at the end of the night. We were in the upper part of the restaurant and we just had a blast. Not only was the food fabulous, the service is quick, witty and top notch plus they have events and small moments throughout the evening to make it fun. We did trivia during dinner but they also had music playing and interactive food stations. For this feature the mozzarella and cacio e Pepe from the cheese wheels are to die for. I wanted to eat just that for my entire meal! Highly highly recommend.
This review is specifically for the Umami experience in the Basement Bar. My husband and I went to the Basement Bar a couple years back for their Simpsons experience and really loved it. The food and cocktails were delicious. We still have our little Buzz cola glass! With that visit in mind, we excitedly booked the Umami tasting experience again in the Basement Bar. We are both big foodies and were excited to see how this kitchen would experiment and explore the concept of "the fifth taste." I have to say, we were just expecting to enjoy a thoughtful meal, but hoo boy was that just part of the show. Throughout the service we had rolling servers/DJs trying to hype up the "crowd." Multiple times were we required to cheer to exclaim how good a time we were having. To hit home how strange and hilarious this was: in the middle of dinner my husband and I were having a serious conversation about the AAP's new guidelines on childhood obesity, when one of the servers insisted we needed to leave our table to go into another room for a sake bomb challenge. I just started laughing at this point because apparently, instead of going to dinner we ended up on some weird cruise ship. At the end of the meal, the host exclaimed we were all going to do karaoke! For.... exactly fifteen minutes. And then we had to leave. I think the servers were very nice and they truly tried to keep the mood up, but the song and dance routine definitely distracted from the meal. (Having said that, my husband definitely got up and rocked some karaoke.) The real reason I'm giving the Umami experience three stars is for what should've been the main event: the food. Honestly, the menu was baffling. I would definitely not call this an Umami tasting menu, it was more a general "Pan-Asian" menu. There were several courses like lamb meatballs and chicken wings which felt vaguely Asian, but I wouldn't say they highlighted umami flavors. Also, the progression of courses was very strange. Our first two dishes were very heavy, somewhere in the middle we had a soup course, and towards the end of the meal we had a piece of hamachi sushi with mushroom. Huh??? Why weren't we going from lighter to heavier? Why weren't we starting with cleaner flavors and then going more pronounced, which would make sense with a menu focusing around umami! Also, the menu was waaaay too heavy on proteins. I was dying for more vegetables, which is really tragic as there are sooo many umami rich veggies! The only one really highlighted over and over again was mushroom. Please, give me a bruleed tomato, roast carrots, smothered cabbage, parmesan potatoes, the list goes on and on. I actually think this meal could have shined if they HADN'T stuck to Asian flavors. If the chefs highlighted how umami touches multiple cuisines, that would've been more interesting. Instead I think they thought "well, it's an Asian word, so we have to make Asian food." There were definitely a few highlights: the dashi broth with squid had a lovely, rich and deep flavor, the hamachi sushi was light and very fresh, and we loved the fermented/pickled veggies that were offered on the table. I hate to add another critique but it must be said: the zero proof cocktails were astoundingly misbalanced. They were as sweet as a Hi-C. I think part of the problem is that they were trying to make zero proof versions of their alcoholic cocktails, and that wasn't working. It would be better to just have a nice variety of non-alcoholic beverages to choose from. I would've been much happier drinking Topo Chicos and jasmine tea all night. I'm still curious to try the main dining room at Travail, but I think we'll take a break from the Basement Bar's shenanigans.
Anyone below a 5-star review is NOT the vibe. This was probably the best dining experience I have ever had, and I want to permanently move to Minneapolis now so that I can go here again. You have to understand, this place is different. This is NOT your typical tasting menu nor bar experience. It is VERY interactive. You walk in to ROCK MUSIC!!?! And immediately, they start serving you appetizers. There are appetizer stations that you can wander around to while you sip your cocktails. THEN you sit down, and the rest of the experience begins This place is a WELL-OILED machine! They are constantly moving and grooving, and you don't even know what's happening! Delicious, perfect creation after each one comes before you. Everything is perfectly timed from the food to the cocktails (definitely get the pairing, by the way). They also have an alcohol-free flight, which I really appreciate. My favorite was this tropical drink where they burned the herbs so you could inhale while you sipped. They had song trivia, crazy awesome music, and the staff was so engaged. Someone should study this place and write a book because this is what a truly happy workplace looks like. I want to quit my job and work here! We were having a lot of fun, and they could tell, so they brought us shots and invited us to the downstairs bar (shoutout to Samantha, btw) where we karaoked! Needless to say, we were so splendidly happy with the entire experience.
I had an amazing time at Travail. My sister and I arrived for our reservation for Californication dinner only to realize the person who had gifted the dinner had missed several notifications that our specific dinner service was cancelled. We tried to check in at the host stand and Lilleth was very apologetic. She offered to get us into a later seating of a different menu- the Giglio tasting menu, with drinks added, with no additional cost. We took her up on this and waited at the bar upstairs. Soon we were tapped by the sommelier who offered to give us a private tasting of all the wines we would have experienced at the Californication dinner. The wines were delicious! We then went downstairs and fully enjoyed the full Giglio menu. The ambiance was festive and we enjoyed the interactive aspect of our meal. The food was great! But major takeaway was the service- while we were disappointed to miss the meal we had planned for, Travail went above and beyond to make up for it and the service and attention we received was simply impeccable. We will definitely be back. Thank you Travail!
Whoa - we just had one of the most delicious, fun and by far the most interactive meal of our lives. I've been thinking about travail ever since they first opened and finally took the opportunity to try their Umami experience. It was amazing. The service, the concept and even the ambiance of the basement bar are all unforgettable. Can't wait to get back here on another special occasion. Places like Travail remind me just how incredible our Minnesota restaurant scene is!
What happened to Travail? Our most recent visits have felt overpriced and lack-luster.We used to love coming here and looked forward to an exciting meal paired with entertainment and delicious beverages. The last two times we’ve gone have really changed our views on this restaurant. My review will solely be focused on the Valentine’s Day Cooking Class we attended as that was truly the final nail in the coffin for us regarding the reputation of this restaurant. Though it was a splurge at $422, we thought it would be worth it to attend the cooking class paired with a “5-course feast” and pasta to take home.The night of the event, we arrived and were given our first cocktail. It contained Aperol and was a bit too bitter for me to enjoy. The bartender informed us that we would receive two glasses of wine with dinner and a second cocktail later. As the room filled, small trays of appetizers were brought out to groups and people were invited to visit a gnocchi making station where they received instructions from a staff member. As this appeared to be a “wait to be called forward” system, we stood by the windows for appetizers and instruction while holding our empty cocktail glasses. Eventually, we received one of the two appetizers—a delicious wonton—and resumed waiting. Our second appetizer never came.After four groups had visited the gnocchi station, an announcement was made to the room for everyone to come up and try their hand at piping some dough into the water. At this point, appetizers disappeared and the instructor left to prep things in the other room. This left the remaining individuals to form a line and pass along instructions to those behind them. I cut off four pieces of gnocchi into the water before I felt obligated to pass the piping bag of dough to the next person. My partner, seeing the size of the line, passed the bag along without giving it a try telling me “we’ll be doing plenty of other things, it’s ok if I miss this one”.We were optimistic and entered the dining room to small plates of pasta dough and piping bags of filling. A demonstration was given showing us how to fold different pasta shapes: tortellini, pansotti, and sachetti. Unfortunately, we were each given only five sheets of dough and could not practice making these shapes more than once or twice. What became of our creations was to be our take home meal—ten small pieces of stuffed pasta.There ended our ‘hands on’ portion of the cooking class much to our dismay. Then began what felt like a lecture. We all got a few pages of recipes and sat while the chef read the instructions aloud for us along with real time edits: “Oh sorry, this is way too much salt! Cut it back by half when you make this. Oops, this recipe wasn’t supposed to be included”. It seemed disorganized and unprepared.To add to our disappointment, workers used the door behind us to exit onto the patio, exposing us to cold air as they left and bringing the smell of cigarette smoke with them as they returned.On the bright side, we did receive food intermittently. However, five pieces of ravioli, a single scallop on rice, and a shared slice of prime rib with mashed potatoes wasn’t quite the feast we were expecting. Pairing with our dinner were two glasses that had only been filled with 2 oz of wine. Needless to say, we were still hungry by the time the final cocktail was served.When advertised as five courses, it’s quite an insult to find that the appetizers and take home meal counted in that “feast”. Upon returning home, we ate our ten pasta pieces with some store bought sauce and reflected on how taken advantage of we felt. Going to Travail is considered a very special event to us and the Valentine's Day Cooking Class felt like one big cash grab and a waste of our money.We brought our concerns to Travail in the form of an email the following day. A month later and we have yet to receive a response from the restaurant. Likely we never will.Go to a restaurant that cares about their patrons.
5 Stars on all fronts. Food was fantastic, drinks were great. Chef hosting our party was fun, funny and very personable. Truthfully for me, it's all about the food and this place doesn't disappoint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is certainly for the adventurous! They have a contemporary twist to anything you can think of like foie gras on a lollipop stick, or painting your own flatbread, freeze during your dessert table side! It's both entertainment for the palette and your eyes! Good food, fast service, and great wine! You can interact with the kitchen team and the sommelier as well and they nicely answer your questions. Definitely worth a try and a place worth coming back to!
Top notch!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We must have gone on an off night, because it was the unanimous opinion of our 8-person party that this was hands-down the worst dining experience we could remember. We reached out to the restaurant with concerns about the food quality, hygiene, and service. After a few months with no response from the restaurant, I feel it is necessary to leave a review to warn others (especially those with alcohol or allergy concerns). The dishes were excessively salty, the drinks were overly sweet, and there was a gross disregard for hygiene (having customers pass unplated food down the table with their bare hands). They frequently forgot who had the NA drink pairing and were inconsistent with giving the “alternative” dish to those with food allergies.Dietary restrictions: We had two members of our party with gluten allergies. The staff brought alternative dishes for most of the courses, but somehow forgot for one of the later dishes, resulting in a terrible experience for those members of our party.I would not go here if you have food allergies.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Travail is always such an incredible experience! The food, the drinks, the ambiance... All just amazing. Every dish is well-crafted and full of flavor, and the cocktails are all absolutely delicious. The staff are knowledgeable, friendly and make every guest feel welcome. Plus, the space is so beautiful: it feels modern but also cozy, and the decor is very aesthetically pleasing.I have been here a handful of times to celebrate special events, all in the basement bar, and each time has been so great. I most recently went to UMAMI. The decorations were beautiful and I loved that they had Spirited Away playing in the background. The food really brought those incredible umami flavors to life.The attention to every detail is incredible and I'm always in awe each time I get to come here. I highly recommend this place if you are looking for a unique and delicious food experience! It's a great place to celebrate a special night.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing service!!! Superb and delish food. The attention to dietary details makes come back again and
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very expensive if your going the tasting menu from my opinion..It has been a few years since my husband and I went but sheesh..Definitely a good time and experience!
Travail was a really fun splurge,m. We enjoyed the signature tasting menu over Valentine's Day wkd and had a great time trying everything! Lots of different types of foods. Lots of the assembly and even cooking happened in front of us, so it was fun to have a chef's table without actually having a chef's table. The ambiance is really festive and fun, and so much better than a white tablecloth type resto (at least for us). We decided to reserve the cocktail pairing, but in hindsight that would not have been necessary... all of the cocktails were amazing and we could have ordered a la carte and gotten exactly what we wanted. We'll be back when we have a good excuse!
BASEMENT BAR REVIEW - Anyone thinking about doing the Umami tasting menu don't waste time get in there while it lasts! We had a party of 4 with a 545PM reservation on a Tuesday and not only was every seat taken but the service team was in full force to ensure the experience was fantastic! My wife and I have been at Travail 1 & 2 but their third iteration is on another level. Highly recommend it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5