Altera

The restaurant is beautiful, very cozy good vibes. We felt welcomed by the host/hostess when we first walked in. Service was good, our waiter was new but he did a good job. The 2 star review is mostly for the food. We had the pok pok wings for appetizers and it felt like we were eating rubber. I had the half grilled chicken and I give it a 6/10. The rice that came with it was amazing. My friend had salmon with cauliflower which was amazing, 10/10 highly recommend it. The drinks were great.

Food was okay and service wasn't the greatest experience for our party of 8. Our server seemed annoyed of our party or something, or maybe she was having a bad day, but she wasn't as attentive to us. Overall, we would most likely not return. I ordered the marinated cucumbers, beef salad, and miso salmon. The cucumbers were refreshing and a great starter. We also liked the beef salad, but the fact that they beef were on skewers were a bit of a hassle to share. I didn't enjoy the miso salmon. Something was off tasting with the salmon and the puree underneath it, so I didn't eat it. It def wasn't my favorite.

I got the Dan Dan Noodles, and I was looking forward to it but was disappointed. What i liked: the sparkling NA drink was good. the texture of the noodles and the food presentation. My server asked if she could get me a replacement dish, which I appreciated, but did turndown because I was already turned off by the meal and wasn't interested in going through the menu again. What i didn't like: the food was too salty. Very salty. Both the noodles, bok choy and the meat. I could not eat past five spoons. I hate wasting food and really tried eating as much, especially since I was very hungry, but I couldn't just get myself to eat that salty of a dish. My friend got the oxtail dish which I tried but it was kind of mehhh. If you just had the dish without seeing the name, you won't know it was an oxtail pasta dish. Again, there was a lack of flavor. --- I really hope there is improvement in the future because it's a nice spot. I won't be going out of my way to visit again though.

I have been here twice for brunch and both times the food and drinks were so good! My drink of choice is matcha and I can say you can't go wrong with hot or iced here! I added some vanilla syrup to my iced one and it was so good. Still earthy but not bitter and definitely not watery. The first time I had the kayanas, Irish chips (breakfast potatoes) and Johnnycake (corn pancake). All 3 were better than expected and the expectation was high for the Johnnycake. The sourdough in the kayanas was thick and sour. All the other ingredients worked so well together and my only critique is that the chili oil wasn't spicy. We accidentally ordered too many Irish potatoes and didn't finish them but they were good and the dipping sauces were varied. The Johnnycake was so good (trying to find a new corn pancake after the downfall of my previous favorite) but we couldn't taste the jalapeno in the maple syrup (this time). For my most recent visit we had the cinnamon roll (new item), Johnnycake and breakfast sandwich. Again, everything was better than expected. The Johnnycake was better (crispier edges) and you could taste the jalapeno in the maple syrup! The cinnamon roll was a nice surprise, the chai spices were there but not overpowering and it all tasted like a gentle apple pie without being too sweet. The breakfast sandwich was good but cinnamon roll and Johnnycake were my favorites! I don't know if it's just the time we go, or if it's a little underrated but it's so chill in there. Both servers that we have had have been very friendly and super accommodating by answering any questions and letting us make small changes or giving options for drinks. Food always comes out at the perfect temperature.

Excellent restaurant in Highland Park. Extensive menu with varied offerings ranging from Chilean Sea Bass to a half chicken. We also had the salmon, asparagus, and johnnycake which were all excellent. We arrived on the earlier side which was nice as first as it wasn’t as crowded as it was when we left. The only qualm was that noise carries with the concrete floors and hard services. Food, drinks, and service were all excellent.

The cocktails and service were excellent. The food was ok, nothing was bad, but nothing was amazing either. Overall I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again but I also wouldn't avoid it, it just wasn't worth the price point. We ordered: - Irish Chips (ok potato with great garlic aoili) - Hamachi Crudo (overpriced for quality) - Dan Dan Noodles (needed seasoning) - Johnny Cake (best thing we ate, def recommend) - Pok Pok Chicken Wings & Marinated Cucumbers (not bad, not great) - Arancini (was gummy and lacked seasoning) - Gyoza (lacked flavor, very little filling) - Crispy Brussels Sprouts (just meh, needed more seasoning) - Altera Cheeseburger (pretty solid burger)

I just visited Altera with a group of friends during their Restaurant Week special, and it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The ambiance felt new and refreshing, creating a welcoming atmosphere that set the stage for a fantastic courses of meals. They offered a three-course menu special, which we took full advantage of by sharing dishes to try as many items as possible. Their regular menu also looked impressive, and I’m already planning to return to explore it further. We began our meal with some cocktails, and I highly recommend the Black Sazerac, Claudel, and Sun Dream—each one was well-balanced and full of unique flavours, however one cocktail called self care felt more like some energy shot medicine rather than a cocktail. One of the highlights of dining at Altera is their commitment to making everything from scratch, which truly enhances the quality and depth of their dishes. For starters, the shrimp and pork mix gyoza were a delightful start, perfectly crispy and packed with flavor. The arancini, was well cooked and maintained the temperature—especially with the romesco sauce, which was so rich and flavorful that I could have eaten an entire bowl of it on its own. For entrées, the Pappardelle’s lamb was well braised in a tomato sauce that allowed it to melt in the mouth with an incredible depth of flavor. However, I felt that it could be more of a separated to side than mixed in the ribbon noodles and the quantity of meat was very less. 2.5/5 The Gemelli Verde was equally impressive, featuring a combination of ingredients that felt completely new and exciting to my palate; it could have been little more temperature hot but it wasn’t like ice cold. 4.5/5 The Lumache Pomodoro e Vodka was another standout, with the perfect balance of sour ricotta, chili oil, garlic, basil, and mint, creating a rich yet vibrant dish. 3.75/5 To finish, we indulged in dessert, and while the chocolate espresso cake was delightful, my favorite was the carrot cake with mango lassi sorbet—a refreshing and unique twist that made for the perfect ending to the meal. Overall, I highly recommend Altera for anyone looking to enjoy a meal that is both thoughtfully crafted and bursting with flavor. I will definitely be returning to explore more of their menu, especially the broiled miso salmon, which sounds like another must-try dish!

Originally came in for Winter Restaurant Week; I had heard some great things about Altera in an Esquire magazine's travel section while I was at the airport. Also this is local to me in my hometown of Saint Paul so I couldn't wait to try it! For RW we had the Hamachi Crudo (fresh but little too sour with the lime), Johnnycake (best thing I've had in a minute), Gemelli Verde (crazy flavorful but shrimp forward), Pappardelle (hearty pasta with tomato braised lamb shoulder), Carrot Cake w/ mango sorbet (it was alright), and finally the Chocolate Espresso Cake (dry dry dry). Initial thoughts were 4/5 stars but came in for dinner a second time tonight and was impressed by just about everything we tried! Tonight my friends and I split a bunch of appetizers. We had another Johnnycake (one of my favorite things on the menu, comes with whipped honey butter, maple syrup, chives and choice of regular maple or jalapeño maple syrup), Arancini (not as flavorful but relied heavily on the romesco to add depth), Crispy Brussel Sprouts (unique with mojo verde, ricotta salata, pepitas), and Pok Pok Chicken Wings (savory and drenched in fish sauce in the best possible way). We also had Hugo Spritz's (Prosecco, St Germaine, and mint). The interior is a little loud but a fabulous well decorated space for happy hour drinks and elevated eats with friends! This is one of my new favorite local spots, 10/10 recommend a try. Probably skip on dessert, it's not their strong suit, however everything else, fantastic!

Went for brunch, can't wait to try dinner! Let me start by saying that I loved the decor. As a plant mom myself, I loved the real plants and the wallpaper complimented the ambiance perfectly. Brunch was busy so service was a bit slow but the food came out quick and hot! I honestly loved everything but I think the Johnny cake was my favorite. The mushroom omelette was very flavorful with the Brussels sprouts and caramelized shallots. The French toast was uniquely different with the cognac whipped cream- more like a dessert! Can't wait to get back to try dinner!

I came back here to celebrate my birthday again, and it was super busy, so definitely make a reservation! We ended up sitting by the entrance. We kicked things off with their chicken wings, which were really tasty, kind of like an Asian fish sauce flavor. Of course, we had to get oysters because that is what the birthday girl wanted! I also tried the crispy Brussels sprouts; they were just okay. For our mains, we got the salmon and their amazing pappardelle with hearty pasta and tomato-braised lamb shoulder, seriously so good! And, of course, I had to have my Old Fashioned. For dessert, I picked the chocolate mousse, which was really nice. Just a bummer they didn't have a candle for the birthday celebration. But everything else was awesome, from the service to the food!

I really enjoy this place. The ambiance is fantastic; decor is gorgeous and it's got a great cozy feel. The service is always pleasant, however the food feels a bit overpriced. I ordered the oxtail pappardelle which was just ok. No fresh Parmesan on top and the presentation was mediocre. There is street parking and a limited space, free garage directly behind the restaurant. I live close by so will definitely return but I wish the food had a bit more attention to detail.

Great cheese burger & cool ambience. Friendly fast service, shared a burger and a couple beers. The only disappointment was that the bun was dry, but we did go on a Sunday afternoon ... so maybe it was Friday's buns.... anyway good flavored beef and hot and cripsy fries

Originally came in for Winter Restaurant Week; I had heard some great things about Altera in an Esquire magazine's travel section while I was at the airport. Also this is local to me in my hometown of Saint Paul so I couldn't wait to try it! For RW we had the Hamachi Crudo (fresh but little too sour with the lime), Johnnycake (best thing I've had in a minute), Gemelli Verde (crazy flavorful but shrimp forward), Pappardelle (hearty pasta with tomato braised lamb shoulder), Carrot Cake w/ mango sorbet (it was alright), and finally the Chocolate Espresso Cake (dry dry dry). Initial thoughts were 4/5 stars but came in for dinner a second time tonight and was impressed by just about everything we tried! Tonight my friends and I split a bunch of appetizers. We had another Johnnycake (one of my favorite things on the menu, comes with whipped honey butter, maple syrup, chives and choice of regular maple or jalapeño maple syrup), Arancini (not as flavorful but relied heavily on the romesco to add depth), Crispy Brussel Sprouts (unique with mojo verde, ricotta salata, pepitas), and Pok Pok Chicken Wings (savory and drenched in fish sauce in the best possible way). We also had Hugo Spritz's (Prosecco, St Germaine, and mint). The interior is a little loud but a fabulous well decorated space for happy hour drinks and elevated eats with friends! This is one of my new favorite local spots, 10/10 recommend a try. Probably skip on dessert, it's not their strong suit, however everything else, fantastic!

Ok, second time here and I NEED to review this place for these reasons: 1. That Johnny Cake is crave worthy and has me telling everyone about it. Get it! 2. I haven't tried anything I didn't love yet... This is the perfect place to go with friends and split a bunch of things. I did this both times and I went and you get a little bit of a lot of dishes. (I try to do this wherever I go) 3. JOHNNY CAKE! It was THAT good! I should have gotten one to go! Ok... the other food was great too! What i tried: Appetizers- - Johnny cake 10/10! For real... get it. It's available during brunch too. - Brussel Sprouts 9/10 really tasty and a different take on them. So good. - Marinated cucumbers 7/10. We make these at home but it was nice to have something bright and fresh. Our server told us a 2/3 portion is served with the wings. - Arancini 5/10. Not my favorite. They rely a lot on the spread on the bottom of the plate. I wish they had something to give them their own flavor, but if you want something not too bold, these are for you. - Chicken Wings! 10/10 These were the perfect amount of salt/ citrus flavor that I wanted, cooked perfectly (aka crispy) and they came some cucumbers. Win win! I want these again! Pasta: Gemelli Verde pasta with shrimp 10/10. So flavorful and had a little kick. These noodles were very unique and makes you think you are eating your greens because the pasta is green. So good! Cocktails: Our groups go to is the St Germain Spritz (Hugo Spritz) but the time before I tried the Stones Throw Martini - really interesting flavor/ unique and also the "Sun Dream". This one went down easy. Overall, I would come back here and share more food. Who else wants to go?? Tip: go on a sunny day and sit by the bar for great pics. This place is gorgeous so it's easy to get some. Thanks Michael and Jai for joining me!

Fantastic dinner! A group of us girls went to for a birthday dinner and we were not disappointed. The ambience was chic and the service was delightful. Two words- Butternut squash!!!!!! My other favorite dish of the night was the gemelli verde. Full of flavor but light. Fabulous meal!

Must Order: 1. Paloma - The Best in Highland Park High speed grapefruit juicer to aerate and have chemical reactions when mixed into drink fluffy grapefruit. It is well balanced meal-like cocktail. I can totally go on liquid diet this way. or be vegan. 2. Butternut Squash a la plancha note to self learn how to make sage brown butter. It really took squash into another level. The plancha caramelized the squash into perfection Ambience: Crate and barrel cross with a jungle theme speak easy with a dash of obsession to house plants Service: Very attentive. Attention to details. For example: we love the hot sauce so much. They packed to go small container of it for us. What a nice surprise. We sat at the bar the wiped down the table in between meals clear our plates. Foods: Hamachi crudo Melt in your mouth fatty fish with fresh lemony after taste and crunchy black sesame. The Serrano is too mild. But don't worry ask for the "hot sauce" it is bomb! If you're wondering it's from company called "Fizzeology" it is a fermented chilli sauce (Thanks for sharing Altera) Le cheeseburger Fresh thick cut potato. That just melt in your mouth with crispy lightly crusty batter. My guess is the boiled the potato before frying. Papardelle House (Hand) made pasta. Definitely stick to your rib kind of dish. And your rib will thank you for how good it taste. Seasoned perfectly. Perfect texture, just really good traditional dish. *note to self - add nuts to pasta dish for nice crunch Carrot cake New generation of carrot cake with an updated flavor profile. Mango Lassi? yeap that apparently goes with carrot cake. Who knew. Cocktails: Altera old fashioned Smell so sweet like vanilla cardamom. But it is not a sweet drink Sun Dream Just like the name taste like the sun. The Bee pollen dust on the glass...yeap I licked that. Delicious. Fun Fact: It is same company as The Agra Culture before this, and event kept some of the staffs. I was told that Sunday to Tuesday slow days. In case you want to walk in without RSVP

I saw this hot new restaurant pop up on my Instagram feed and immediately told my husband to make a reservation! We visited on a Saturday evening and overall, had a good experience. The atmosphere: Altera was simple to find and street parking was easy. Upon walking in, the atmosphere was darker, romantic, and cozy --- perfect for a date night! The food: We ordered the Pok Pok Chicken Wings to start. Do yourself a favor and ORDER THESE! They are the perfect combination of salty, spicy, and delicious. The marinated cucumbers that come on the side are mouthwatering! The wings were more of an Asian-style chicken wing. Delicious! We also ordered the Altera Cheeseburger cooked pink but it didn't come pink. Not a huge deal. The "Chips" side that came with the burger weren't hot, unfortunately, they were barely warm. They had huge potential to be amazing but they weren't very warm. Finally, we ordered the Dan Dan Noodles, which were good but not hot, which was a bummer. The flavors of the dishes were there, but we wished the "Chips" and pasta were hot, or at least warm. I know they've only been open for about 1 week so I totally understand they're still working through things in the kitchen. I'll definitely be back for the Pok Pok Chicken Wings and to order other menu items hoping the food is hot next time.

Visited Altera with a few friends and instantly fell in love with the aesthetic super cute, chic, and thoughtfully designed. The environment was warm and welcoming, perfect for a casual night out or a special dinner. They had a great selection of alcoholic drinks, but I opted for a non-alcoholic frozen sparkling water-style drink that was super refreshing and fun. We were impressed that everything is made from scratch. The spicy gyoza was a standout appetizer crispy on the outside with a flavorful punch of spice on top. For my entrée, I had the Germelli Verde, and you could truly taste the difference in the fresh-made pasta. It was delicious and perfectly balanced. Definitely a place I'd return to great food, friendly vibes, and a menu that feels both elevated and approachable.

Excellent food and service, the staff are kind and offered amazing food suggestions. The restaurant had amazing food and drinks and beautiful ambiance and music.

Great cocktails, tasty food, swanky atmosphere, kind but overwhelmed service. Enjoyed a rare date night with my husband here recently. We made a reservation and arrived right on time, but it took 10 extra minutes to get seated and another 10-15 to be greeted by a server. We were informed they were running short-staffed - it happens. But the experience seemed painfully slow at some times and rushed at others, which wasn't really the mood we'd hoped for at a somewhat upscale place such as this. The cocktails were delicious and the food was quite good too. The johnnycake stole the show - I'd actually recommend getting this as dessert rather than an appetizer, because it was so filling, I barely had room for the meal. I'll probably come back, but I'm not in a rush to.

I've been wanting to try Altera since they opened a couple of months ago, but I hadn't made it a priority yet. Thankfully, my husband made reservations for Restaurant Week, and I'm so glad he did. The space is super cute, with bold wallpaper and an elevated but welcoming vibe. It's intimate, but the tables are really close together, so don't expect a private conversation. Start with the ARANCINI. I cannot stress this enough. The gyoza was good, but the arancini? Out of this world. Four perfectly sized, crispy, flavorful bites that were so good I barely needed the sauce (though I wouldn't have minded a little extra). For my main, I had the pappardelle pasta. Delicious, but I got so full from the arancini that I took most of it home. (It made a fantastic next-day lunch, by the way.) My husband got the salmon, and it was perfection. I never order salmon at restaurants because most places overcook it, but this may have been one of the best I've ever tasted. Next time, I'm getting that for myself. Dessert was solid but not a standout. The chocolate espresso cake was good, but I'm not a huge dessert person, so it didn't leave a lasting impression. Same with the carrot cake--I took a bite of my husband's, but I'm not a carrot cake expert, so I can't really say much about it. Service was great. Our waiter wasn't super chatty, but it was Restaurant Week, and they were slammed, so I completely understand him moving efficiently. He was polite, on top of everything, and left a great impression. I honestly can't wait to go back. This was one of the best meals I've had all year, and I'm already excited to try more from their menu. If you go, ORDER THE ARANCINI.

10s ACROSS THE BOARD!! it took us 20 min to agree on what to get bc everything sounded so good! what we NOMd: Hamachi Crudo / Dan Dan Noodles/ Grilled Pork Chop - crudo was alright I'm not a big sashimi fan tho. - the dan dan noodles were SO good - idk what they be doing to their szechuan but they're doin it! it's very light and not super heavy or packed with msg. I was once considered the only asian to not like sushi, now i'm one that doesn't like msg. the flavor was there. - don't get me started on the sweet potato that came with the pork chop... SLUT for any kind of potato. ginger orange vin topped on... it was healthy lol. i thought it was garlic for some reason at first so I was a little offput and felt nostalgic for garlic so i didn't enjoy it as much. the pork chop was really yummy- had a nice subtle lemongrass smokey flavor. made me miss my aunts bbq drinks: cocktail of the moment: i don't remember what all was in it, but my friend liked it he said it was a bit bitter but grew on him - i didn't like it. it had a strong unpleasant aftertase, but I am a fruity and sweet girl. i got the claudel... dangerous. service, etc.: the hosts were so stylish and Debby (or waitress) was a DELIGHT we will be back just for her! the food came out super fast like less than 10 minutes. the chairs were super comfy but the circle 2 person tables are kind of small especially if you're sharing like we were and like to eat a lot like we do (we held back tonight). we split everything and was surprised when it was only $54 between the two of us. we can't wait to come back to try the rest of the menu!!

Truly amazing presentation of food. My drink came on a gold platter. Positively and friendly service. Hand made pasta - great atmosphere as well.

Beautiful little space with a nice bar and a good brunch menu. Our brunch experience was very enjoyable. All of the dishes that we ordered were delicious. The Eggs Benedict with asparagus and griddled tomato was my favorite. The Altera Cheeseburger was pretty good, definitely a solid cheeseburger. The biggest surprise of our meal was the hash browns. The roasted garlic, chèvre, chives and parsley incorporated into the hash browns put this dish on a higher level. Get the hash browns! One minor point of discontent would be the pricing of some of the items. An example would be the latte. It is quite small and $7 seemed a bit steep for such a small cup. Immediately impressed by the style of this restaurant. Warm, modern, and elegant without over doing it. The service was equally as impressive. This restaurant really knows how to serve a table.

This new St Paul gem just opened a few months ago but I predict this will be a Twin Cities' staple -at least for me. Altera is perfect for delicious small plates and gabbing with an ambiance and waitstaff to make the experience exceptional. Altera was part of the Mpls/St. Paul restaurant week and their menu slapped to say the least - we did have to order an extra app of the brussel sprouts because they looked too good to pass up. The show stopper for me was the gemelli verde. Though it looks like a bowl of green beans and shrimp, I can assure you it was a mouth-watering lemon, shrimp pasta dish. They had an array of cocktails and wines, but the house white had a surprisingly mind-blowing flavor. Cannot wait to return Drink: House white and red wine Food: Brussel sprouts, gyoza, lamb pappadelle, gemelli verde with shrimp, chocolate espresso cake

Had the chance to try Altera on a Friday night. Parking in this area is tricky. Even though we had a reservation, we were surprised to hear there was a bit of a wait with no other customers at the host desk, and empty tables in the restaurant. We were walked back not too long after to a table near the restrooms. The space and ambiance are nice- its dark, cozy, with lots of plants. Started out with the cucumber fresca shaved ice. This was a very unique attention seeking n/a beverage. The Altera old fashioned was a- okay. For starters, tried the hamachi crudo. Nice fatty pieces of fish. Also had the roasted carrots. These were middle eastern inspiried with a sweet, caramelized, nutty flavor. For mains, had the pok pok wings and the dan dan noodles. The wings were good. Nice crispy skin with a spicy, not-too-sweet sauce. The accompanying cucumber salad was good. The dan dan noodles were a huge disappointment. No sichuan pepper at all. The sauce is lacking. Seems like this restaurant was put together quickly, with a hodgepodge of menu items ranging from Mediterranean inspired to Szechuan fusion. The dishes did not pair very well together.

We went to check out a new restaurant and noticed the wallpaper at the entrance. I think I've been to another place that had similar wallpaper? I asked my friend and she also thought the same. Small restaurant yet intimate setting. Our server explained the item's on the menu and also gave us recommendations. They have a mix fusion of entrees. We ordered hamachi crudo which tasted fresh. I love a good ceasar salad, I noticed Cambodian beef salad, which I thought was interesting. Then ordered pasta - gemelli verde. Comes with shrimp and seasoned with garlic. My friend ordered the Chilean sea bass.

Really impressed with this place. Good vibe. Good value. Good food. Good service. I'd definitely go back. The green pasta with shrimp was really really good.

The food was good they had a wide variety of different things that you could order. I really liked that there were live plants on shelves and by the big windows. Our waitress was nice! I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles and they were really good.

I had never heard of Altera before meeting up with a friend for brunch last Saturday. We made a reservation for 1130 but honestly there were plenty of seats. Once inside it's clear they are following the decor crazy of crazy loud wallpaper, velvet seating and a black/gold filled space. I'm here for it, I think it caters to the 30 year old crowd. Their brunch menu isn't huge but offers something for everyone. Our waitress gave several recommendations and was friendly but eventually disappeared, never to be seen again. For that it's no longer a 5 star option. We went with the Johnny cake, pancakes and split the hash-browns. I would order all of it again, you do get more food with the pancakes (3 vs. 1 with the johhnycake) and the lemon vest really kicked it up a notch. The hash-browns are the perfect size for sharing. For me the service was off. We sat there for about 45 minutes after the food was dropped off before anyone came to check on us. Our water had run out, we didn't get more syrup....it was really unfortunate. Eventually someone else came over and asked if we wanted boxes. They need to work a bit on customer service but the food was good.

The service was outstanding despite only 2 servers on a Friday night. Great food and ambiance!

Beautiful ambience, great service, interesting drinks & delicious brunch menu! Would like to see menu indicate GF options. Nice fruit salad w/ the mushroom omelet. Definitely share the hash browns. The spinach & eggs were served over rice and hot sauce is on the side & was definitely a great flavor boost.

We live nearby and have gone to Altera like 5-6 times. Everytime regardless if it's us with our toddler, a girls night out, or brunch with friends we have a 10/10 experience. The ambiance and decor is so fun The service is top notch- so kind and warm and helpful The drinks are amazing The food is quite good- I love the variety so I can always get what I'm craving Must haves include the butternut squash, any of their drinks, and dan dan noodles. I saw a previous reviewer saw parking is tricky in this area and just had to laugh. You can always easily park like a half block to a block away, so I'm guessing their expectation is a parking lot. It's easy to park nearby.

Love this new addition to the neighborhood! Hubs and I decided to celebrate a big career win with a stupidly luxurious meal. We started off with a bottle of rose champagne which was great. Below are all the dishes we tried: Oysters: lovely, although I did get a little shell in a couple Hamachi Crudo: delicious, and buttery; definitely will order again Cambodian Beef Salad: not sure what makes it Cambodian but very tasty Carbonara: honestly, this was rather "meh" for me. The pasta itself was good, but the richness you want from a carbonara wasn't coming through for me Pork Chop: delicious, the sweet potato side was also very good Sea Bass: the side of chips is fantastic, but the sea bass itself was overwhelmed with the remoulade and seasoning. Putting this sauce on the side would be a big help, and perhaps going easy on the rub. Chocolate cake: fabulous, I wanted ten of them Service was attentive and even though the restaurant was packed, it didn't feel overly crowded or noisy. Dishes came out at a good pace and by the end I was full and had a really nice buzz going. I'd definitely recommend getting a reservation for weekends and prime evening times. Really excited to have an upper end restaurant in the neighborhood that can still become a regular spot. I'm definitely coming back to try their burger and no question I'm getting two orders of cake.

Overall, a very nice night. The service was great as we had gone after opening night. Really loved the appetizers we got and the dessert! The meals were good but my pasta could have used more sauce and the sausage was a little too crispy/burnt for my liking. The other entree, was their version of fish and chips. It had great mood lighting and was very cozy. Would go back again to try some other items too.

We made reservations for dinner during the week and were seated upon arrival. We had drinks, appetizers, and entrees. This place is so amazing and I had a hard time deciding what to eat. I am a very picky eater. We had the Brussel sprouts and cucumbers for appetizers and they were very flavorful. Our group had the sea bass and shrimp pasta. The sea bass was seasoned well with a touch of heat. The shrimp pasta was to die for. The noodles, which are made in house, are phenomenal. This dish had the right amount of everything with a little bit of heat. We also had a variety of cocktails including the Paloma, Claudel and Martini. I'm so glad we tried this restaurant and will continue to recommend it to others!

Got to Altera a little early so we sat down for a glass of wine at the bar. Service was friendly with a full bar/lots of options. Seated promptly for our reservation for 3 of us. We had appetizers which were fantastic and plenty to share. Dinners were all great, service was attentive and everything was smooth and enjoyable. Nice place.

Although it's quite spendy, the food was 10x better than I expected it to be, and I already had high hopes. I wish I tried something sweet as well, because I just know it would've been knocked out of the park. The flavors of the omelette were rich and decadent, but simultaneously light and fresh. The hashbrowns had amazing flavor. I would definitely return.

This was our first time at Altera, and honestly I don't see a reason to go back. There's better restaurants for the same if not better price in the Twin Cities. While all the food was good, this menu just seemed confused. It ranged from johnnycake and burgers to pasta to Asian, and my palate didn't know which way was up at the end. Second, the NA drinks are subpar. For a place the fat washes cacao for their old fashioned, I would expect more than one house made NA drink with a bunch of pre-bottled stuff and teas. At least any one of the good NA sparkling wines would have been preferable. Third, the experience is rough if the restaurant is anything but half full. It's incredibly loud, like screaming to be heard. A server yelled in my husbands ear to try to talk to someone across the room. They also seem understaffed when it's busy. I think the person who served us half the time was a food runner or barback, but they gave no explanation of the menu or coursing without us asking, which was a stark comparison to all the tables around us who got the person who was our actual server and picked up our table midway though. Honestly, this place is mid and if I could give 2.5 stars I would.

A lovely addition the the neighborhood. The staff were welcoming and kind. The food was delicious, and the drinks were delightful. We had the Marinated Cucumbers and Lil Jon Toast to start. Both exceeded my expectations. We also enjoyed the Altera Burger and the Carbonara pasta. Very cute and intimate dining experience. U look forward to returning to try the desserts.

Food was fabulous. Very generous portions and very flavorful. Our waitress was excellent and offered great suggestions and advice. Great ambience! You gotta try this place!

Obsessed. That's the one word I would use to describe my two visits to Altera. I first visited for brunch on a Saturday and loved it so much that I came back for dinner the next week. First off, the space is so freakin cute. Even though it's in a newer apartment complex, it feels like the coolest spot in the cities. Ok, so the spot is cute, what about the service? Top notch! And then you get to the food. I don't know if you can go wrong with anything on the menu. For brunch I had the Johnny Cake, bacon, the cinnamon roll and a matcha. The matcha was so good, but I will say the cup was a bit small. I could drink about two of what they gave me. The cinnamon roll wasn't an ooey gooey one, but had chai flavor in it. A decent starter to share. Now the real star of the show as the Johnny Cake with jalapeno maple syrup. Mind blowing. Just get it. I have to go back for the stuffed french toast since they were out. But I would maybe have to get the Johnny cake on the side as well haha. For dinner, I had the sea bass. Loved it. I'm not usually a huge seafood person but wanted something lighter. It wasn't fishy at all. Loved the sauce it was paired with. So soft, almost melted in my mouth. My friend and I are already planning when we can go for brunch again. We can't stop thinking about it! A must try for sure!

We went for their brunch and were all extremely happy with every item we got. The vibes were also very chic. Our favorite items were the breakfast sandwich, banana stuffed French toast, and hashbrowns. I thought every item was packed with flavors and unique. We will definitely be back for their dinner. You have to get the Hugo spritz!

Love this place in Highland Park! Easy to park (for now) and a great busy vibe like Layline. Brunch was so good. Mushroom omlette was overflowing with them and the hash browns are such a great modern twist: super thin and crispy with feta. No need for ketchup here! We went back for dinner on a Thursday. Although it was easy to get a res early in the day I decided not to make one and we got there at 6:30 and by 7 it was packed! Dishes to recommend: roasted carrots and half chicken--so good! Hamachi was too cold and ... icy. Needed to be room temp. Carbonara was way too spicy! The jalapeños overpowered the whole dish. But we will be back and try other things because the menu is so interesting and the vibe so good!!

Four of us shared a wonderful evening at Altera . Ben was a delightful and knowledgeable manager . The food was amazing. The gyozas, and Brussel sprouts were both a hit . One guest had the gemelli verde ~ succulent and delicious. The salmon was silky and flavorful. Another friend had the pappardelle with lamb was quite special ~ especially with a glass of red wine. The wings were plump and moist either a zippy sauce and crunchy cucumber salad to accompany. A fabulous evening for this young restaurant . Beautifully decorated with great ambiance . You won't be disappointed Go enjoy

Great food and service. We loved the vibes! The drinks were amazing and I'm still thinking about the dessert.

Absolutely fantastic.! Came here for a work dinner had the restaurant menu dinner. Everything with super. The food is innovative. We loved the drink menu. Service was great. We will definitely come back here.

We went here for restaurant week. Each of us ordered an appetizer and we shared, each of us ordered an entree and we shared and we had Dessert which we shared. None of us were impressed. One of us had a cocktail that we all agreed was delicious.It tasted a bit like an aperol spritz but with fresh grapefruit. It was the called "cocktail of the moment". Our meals were the salmon, the cheeseburger and the lamb paparadelle. Dessert was a choice between a dry, odd tasting carrot cake and a dry, underwhelming chocolate espresso cake. The appetizer that we enjoyed the most of anything that we tasted was the Johnny cake. The salty and sweet contrast was delightful. 65.00 per person after tip for a so so meal...we wont return.

Food: 4/5. Service: 4/5. Brunch, Jan. 2025. Cool space, deco vibes. Biscuits & butter, chocolate babka. Kayana; eggs benedict. DO NOT SLEEP ON THE BABKA!

Dining experience was warm eclectic and quality cuisine that should be emulated by other restauranteur's. Such a highly regarded experience of fresh ' morsels for the palate.

Loved the general vibe and inventive food options! I also appreciated the artistry and presentation of both the food and cocktails!

Went here for my birthday- had reservations for 8:15 PM, but had to wait an additional 20-30 minutes. We couldn't leave because most kitchens close at 10 PM so we sat and waited. Our server( young blonde women) was absolutely such an angel! Loved her! The food was actually really good I got Carbonara and wings. The drinks were decent? Our seating though was very tight. I am a petite women and I had a hard time going to the bathroom and coming back. We had to move the table multiple times.

Great service, tasty food and a very nice room. Great to have a high quality restaurant in the neighborhood.

I visited Altera last week to celebrate my sister's birthday. I don't leave many reviews, but want to share our experience. The environment was cute, but so loud we found it difficult to talk at our table. Our initial seating host was delightful, service was just so so. The wine selection is minimal (bottle selection poor and overpriced). We initially ordered Gyoza and Hamachi to share (some of our favorites) both were disappointing so we stopped there. They couldn't supply chopsticks (pretty basic ask) and a must for both this type of food in my opinion. MY sister requested a glass of ice because our white wine was served warm, she finally received it halfway through our meal. The menu did not have a theme or focus prompting us to ask what type of food they serve "American was the answer" We were then served an order of brussel sprouts that we hadn't ordered. They couldn't take them away after serving so we decided to indulge, but were again disappointed (mushy). Needless to say we didn't eat them and weren't charged for them either. We then ordered two dessert items that we were not impressed with (some birthday). Neither of us will be back. We were excited about a new restaurant in the neighborhood. I wish them the best and hope they can improve all of the above soon. I wouldn't recommend eating there. Maybe the bar is better? But we checked and the menu items are the same.