Babalu Restaurant

09/01/06

Do not leave your car to their valet!

by oguzcem at Citysearch

Do not leave your car to their valet!

I went to babalu three times and each time I was pulling at least 10 people with me....music was very good, not too crowded, average food....probably premium only for the ambiance...however, service is absolutely horrible....even if they accepted that they lost my car keys, they never apologized nor did something....we spent hours to find our keys myself and my wife in the back of their bar and on the street....until we were able to locate the keys on the street right by our car...my 2 cents: do not go there...there far better places in Twincities you can enjoy without any hassle

07/18/08

Disappointing

by Sunshine208 at Citysearch

I was very disappointed by my experience at Babalu. A coworker had made reservations for a group of 14 of us. We waited at the bar and were shushed away because there was a group trying to give a PowerPoint presentation (in a bar!). We weren't rowdy; just having a conversation. It was happy hour and were being shushed like we were in a library. I hung around the bar for 10-15 minutes to close my tab while others sat down. It then took 40 minutes to get a waiter's attention after sitting down to get a menu. By the time I could order 3/4ths of my group had been served. I hadn't finished eating before some of them were ready to leave. The service was horrible. The waiter was no were to be seen or serving dinners and then ducking into the kitchen. If I hadn't waived my arms at him, he would never have served me. This is not at all what I expected from this restaurant.

06/26/08

Amazing Lunch Buffet

by alklute at Citysearch

We were actually on our way to a nearby sandwich shop when we decided to give Babalu a try. We weren't aware that they had a lunch, much less a lunch buffet. As it was nearing 2pm, they were getting ready to tear the buffet down (understandably so!), but the executive chef offered to make some more of the dishes on the buffet that were gone.

The food had to be some of the most flavorful that we've had in Minnesota. The chef came out again to check on us, and even offered to explain some of his dishes that we were enjoying. He apologized again that the food was not out immediately when we arrived and then suggested we order a dessert on him. We walked out with a bill under $25 between the two of us.

What we took from this was that Babalu has some amazing food, prepared by an executive chef who really cares that his customers are happy and enjoying his food. We'll most certainly be back...and looking forward to Dinner next time!

• Pros: Flavorful food, chef interaction, atmosphere

05/14/08

Just alright...

by kimzzzy at Citysearch

I was just there recently for the first time. I liked the ambience.

Service was great! However, the food was alright. I would never come back for the food.

Maybe just not my taste. But their dessert was the best! And the drinks were well made.

• Pros: Live music
• Cons: Paid too much for alright food.

03/16/08

decent food, great service

by completelyunexpected at Citysearch

Went to Babalu with a date not really knowing what to expect. I'd heard a lot of good things about the ambience, service and food and was looking forward to a romantic night out.

Overall everything went well. The service was attentive and efficient (without being rushed), the waitstaff was knowledgeable and helpful and the ambience was great. The food was adequate, although a bit greasy for my taste.

Left full and pleased. I would definitely go back.

• Pros: good service, ambience
• Cons: a little greasy

01/12/08

best place to have a drink, satisfying meal and dance and listen to good live latin music

by sanjuan46 at Citysearch

Last night I went to Babalu to the "second sip and sample". I have to say that this people made me feel like I did not wanted to leave the place. The first Sip and Sample" event was at R Normans and it was a walk in, eat, drink and leave event. The place was cold, the staff was cold and the food was cold. Outside it was cold as well so... I spent there about an hour and went home! At Babalu I stayed until 9:30, even though the Sip and Sample event went until 7:30. I loved it! and everybody around me did too!!

One of the owners, a woman from Spain told me that this Saturday they have a Puerto Rican band that is great, it will be one of the last times they have Salsa dancing on the weekends, they are too busy with dinner reservations that they need to serve dinner until later! I will be there and so should all of you that want to have a great time and feel like you are in the Caribbean for at least a couple of hours.

• Pros: ambiance, service, authentic, cozy, fun
• Cons: none

12/15/07

ABSOLUTELY...HORRIBLE. I would give it ZERO stars if possible.

by sb888 at Citysearch

This establishment will be no more within the next couple years. A couple friends and I popped in to a nearly empty Babalu on a Friday night (if that tells you anything...) to meet one of my friends sister and husband who were eating there. We sat down at their table with them - one would think the place would be happy to get a few more patrons ready to spend some money on drinks and possibly some appetizers. After the waiter FINALLY came over to take only two of the three of our drink orders, our table was approached by the manager. After I had just ordered a $9 drink, he said that if we wanted to stay there, we would have to order at least $10 in food. Also, he rudely told us that the restaurant would be filling up and when it did, the friend that pulled an empty chair up to our table from the rows of unoccupied tables was to give her chair up immediately. He mentioned that she "should have asked if she could take a chair from one of the other tables." So she stood up right away and said she'd just stand right away. Obviously we were completely mystified at the unprofessional and unexplainable behavior of this awkward man. When we questioned him as to why we were being treated this way and explained to him that what he was doing was completely disrespectful and unjustified, he offered us with the explanation that people were sneaking through to get past the $10 cover for salsa dancing and he "had to make up the money somewhere." Ahhh, the $10 in food minimum is starting to add up.

The restaurant never did fill up, we never did get around to ordering our rounds of drinks, and we'll NEVER be back.

• Pros: ZERO.
• Cons: Management, wait staff, everything.

09/21/07

what happened to babalu?

by hendricks at Citysearch

Babulu was once in my top five places to impress a date. last night it tasted like one of my top five meals that came from a box. im not sure if they changed the menu or what is going on but i was embarrassed that i once used words like impecable.

07/28/07

over looked gem

by weiver at Citysearch

HHuba is very close to home. The honeymoon soup with fresh seafood makes me want to cry. Spicy, refreshing and comes in a bowl with a medley of firm fresh things from the sea. If getting marriied was this perfect everyone would be doing it. Salsa dancing night is hot and the place once inside feels great. Fried plaintain just like Havanna,...

• Pros: once inside- great space and feel
• Cons: sterile neighborhood

04/24/07

Great service, great food...I will be back!

by troby at Citysearch

I was in Babalu last saturday with some friends and I was thoroughly impressed. Not only was our server HOT (the flowers in her hair added to the ambiance), but her knowledge about the menu was well appreciated. We ended up ordering her recommendations and she was right on spot. I had the stuffed sole and it was amazing! The fish was stuffed with crab, shrimp, brie cheese and finished with a white wine butter sauce. The selection of tapas and apps were great! Especially the jumbo sea scallops, stuffed plantains with shrimp and the ceviche. Service was awesome, the place was ambiant, and the food was amazing. I highly reccommend this restaurant and will undoubtably be back soon!

10/24/06

Fun atmosphere

by darluu at Citysearch

Enjoyed the tropical atmosphere in frigid Minnesota. Used the lot across the street. Very good cocktails with exotic selections. Interesting menu was out of the ordinary, ask your server for help and they are more than willing to assist you. Enjoy music at certain times during the evening. Nice spot for a date.