Cafe Lurcat - Minneapolis - (612) 486-5500

I've been a foodie in the Twin Cities for years now, and I opted to give Cafe Lurcat another try (I've visited several times over the years). I honestly don't get it, this restaurant (by the D'Amico company) tries to be an upscale restaurant, but it isn't particularly good at anything. The food is above average for a restaurant of this type (as an experienced local, there are much better in Minneapolis, but you can look them up). The service was lackluster. I've been to various Michelin starred restaurants elsewhere, and you can tell when you have a server that (1) knows the menu well, (2) cares about your experience, and (3) orchestrates the meal well. Our server only showed competence in (1), the other two categories were markedly inferior. Now, perhaps it wouldn't be fair to compare to the best restaurants in the world, but I've seen servers at various restaurants in the Twin Cities that also score well in all three categories. The best word for our server (and her associated help) was plastic: The attitude towards our well-dressed group of professionals was "Would you just order now?" and there was very, very little follow up (and she kept forgetting things). Just unacceptable for a restaurant at this level. The real kicker is their valet, who crashed my car. Yes, you're reading right --that's thousands in damage. I then got hassled by the parking manager who tried to con me into using a different estimate than my own after I did what he asked and got me one. Thank god I know my rights. Normally I wouldn't fault the restaurant too much for this ruining experience, but that changed when the restaurant called me a week later assuming things had been resolved --which it hadn't yet. That's what we call poor homework and a restaurant that is trying to connect the dots without any genuine thought. With the closure of D'Amico Cucina and the so-so brunch they have at their hotel restaurant (D'Amico Kitchen), I thought Cafe Lurcat would the D'Amico companies' jewel. I was wrong. Go elsewhere --there are plenty of good options if you look around on this site or elsewhere.

Overpriced, shmoozy, nothing special. Service was mediocre, food choices Very limited and nothing for vegetarians. I had an issue with my meal and the manager came over, after schmoozing some more-important-then us kind of people, and I'm pretty sure she gave me attitude. Ouch that hurt. I will never return nor will any of my friends,family, or anyone I can possibly stop from making this awful mistake. Ouch that hurt my wallet, stomach and possibly this restra hat hurt.

Nice ambiance, fantastic wine selection, and wonderful food- I would definitely recommend cafe Lurcat and will absolutely go again for these reasons. However, the service was mediocre- the waitress that served us was rather disheveled and actually brought my fiance and I another couple?s appetizer!