Unearth The Voyage
There is a restaurant in Minneapolis that has people saying something you do not hear very often: that it might be the best meal they have ever had in the city. Not just a good dinner.
Not just a fun night out. The kind of meal that stays with you for days, the kind where you keep thinking about one particular dish long after the check is paid.
This Argentinian spot has built a devoted following by serving food that feels both adventurous and deeply satisfying, with a menu that surprises you at every turn. Brunch here has people rearranging their weekend plans, and dinner has first-timers immediately booking a return visit.
Whether you are a longtime Minneapolis local or just passing through, this is the kind of place that earns its reputation one unforgettable bite at a time. Keep reading to find out why.
The Restaurant That Started the Conversation
Some restaurants get talked about because of a single viral dish. Martina, the acclaimed Argentinian restaurant at 4312 Upton Ave S, Minneapolis, gets talked about because nearly everything on the menu earns its own devoted fan base.
The bold claim food lovers keep making is simple: this is one of the best restaurants in Minneapolis, full stop. That kind of reputation takes years to build and is easy to lose, yet Martina keeps earning it night after night.
The restaurant sits in the Linden Hills neighborhood, a residential corner of the city that feels like a genuine discovery the first time you find it. The setting is chic and airy, with a modern design that feels polished without being stiff.
From the moment you walk in, the energy tells you something special is about to happen at your table.
Argentinian Roots With a Modern Twist
Argentina has one of the most celebrated food cultures in the world, built on quality ingredients, bold seasoning, and a deep respect for the craft of cooking. Martina takes that foundation and pushes it forward with a menu that feels contemporary and creative.
The kitchen does not simply replicate traditional Argentinian dishes. Instead, it uses those flavors as a starting point, layering in unexpected combinations that keep the menu exciting for repeat visitors.
You might find a pasta dish finished with a technique borrowed from Italian tradition, or an appetizer that pairs a classic Argentinian ingredient with something entirely fresh. The result is a menu that rewards curiosity.
First-time guests are often surprised by how cohesive it all feels, given how much ground the kitchen covers. Every dish has a clear point of view, and that confidence in the cooking is exactly what keeps people coming back for more.
The Potato Churros That Changed Everything
If one dish put Martina on the map for casual food lovers and serious foodies alike, it is the potato churros. These are not the sweet, cinnamon-dusted churros you might expect from a dessert cart.
These are savory, crispy, and so addictive that ordering a second batch is not unusual.
Think of them as the most elevated version of a french fry you have ever encountered. The outside shatters with a satisfying crunch, while the inside stays soft and pillowy.
The seasoning is just right, and the overall effect is genuinely surprising the first time you try one.
Tables around you will likely have a plate of them too, and for good reason. They arrive hot, they disappear fast, and they set the tone for everything that follows.
Consider them a non-negotiable starting point for any visit, whether you are there for brunch or dinner.
A Pasta Program That Rivals the Best
Here is something that surprises almost everyone who visits for the first time: Martina makes some of the finest pasta in the entire state of Minnesota. That is not a small claim in a city with a genuinely competitive dining scene.
The mushroom rigatoni has developed a near-legendary status among regulars. It is earthy, rich, and deeply satisfying in a way that makes you slow down and actually pay attention to what you are eating.
The cacio e pepe ravioli is another standout, with a parmesan quality that is sharp, nutty, and perfectly balanced against cracked pepper.
Seafood pastas featuring lobster or shrimp, a sausage orecchiette, and a pappardelle that regulars describe with genuine enthusiasm round out a pasta menu that could anchor an entire restaurant on its own. The house-made gluten-free pasta options are an especially welcome touch for guests with dietary needs.
Empanadas and Appetizers Worth the Trip Alone
Before the pasta arrives and before the main courses steal the spotlight, the appetizer section at Martina deserves serious attention. The empanadas, particularly the gorgonzola leek variety, are a masterclass in balance.
The filling is creamy and bold, wrapped in a pastry that holds its shape without feeling heavy.
Beef tongue bruschetta might sound like an unusual choice, but it has converted skeptics into devoted fans with its layered flavors and unexpected elegance. Oysters are a reliable crowd-pleaser, served simply and letting the quality of the ingredient do the talking.
The ricotta bruschetta is another popular opener, light and fresh with a clean finish that primes your palate for the courses ahead. What makes the appetizer lineup so effective is that each dish feels fully developed, not like an afterthought before the real food arrives.
Starting a meal here with two or three shared starters is genuinely one of the better ways to spend an evening.
Brunch That Has People Rearranging Their Weekends
Weekend brunch at Martina is a whole different kind of experience from dinner, and it has earned its own devoted following. The restaurant opens at 10 AM on Saturdays and Sundays, and reservations are strongly recommended because tables fill up fast.
The French toast is a brunch highlight, rich and indulgent in a way that makes it the clear choice over the house donut for anyone with a sweet tooth. Eggs Benedict comes in several creative variations, with the crab Benedict earning particular praise for its excellent bearnaise sauce.
Almond flour pancakes have a texture that surprises people in the best possible way, fluffy and light with a flavor that feels more refined than a standard short stack. The avocado toast, potato churros, and a Brussels sprouts salad round out a brunch menu that gives you plenty of reasons to linger over your coffee and order just one more thing.
Main Courses That Deliver on the Promise
After the appetizers set such a high bar, the main courses at Martina have the unenviable job of living up to the hype. More often than not, they do exactly that.
The barramundi is a recurring favorite, cooked with precision and finished with a sauce that adds complexity without overwhelming the fish.
Sea bass and seared scallops have drawn consistent praise for the quality of their preparation and the creativity of the flavor pairings. The kitchen clearly puts genuine thought into how each protein is matched with its accompaniments, and that intentionality shows in every bite.
The stuffed chicken breast and pork chop are reliable crowd-pleasers that feel elevated beyond their familiar forms. The wagyu steak is available for guests looking for a premium cut, though expectations around tenderness vary.
Each main course arrives plated with care, making the whole experience feel genuinely special rather than just another restaurant meal.
The Atmosphere Inside the Dining Room
The dining room at Martina strikes a balance between chic and comfortable that is harder to pull off than it looks. The space feels airy and modern, with clean lines and a design sensibility that leans into a sophisticated city-restaurant vibe without feeling cold or intimidating.
Candlelight plays a role in the evening atmosphere, creating an intimate quality that makes it a natural choice for date nights, anniversaries, and birthday celebrations. The bar area is visually striking and adds energy to the room without making the whole space feel like a bar scene.
One thing worth knowing before you go: the restaurant gets genuinely busy, and the noise level rises accordingly. Tables in some sections of the dining room are placed fairly close together, which adds to the lively energy but reduces privacy.
Guests who prefer a quieter setting may want to request a more tucked-away table when making their reservation.
Sweet Endings Worth Saving Room For
Dessert at Martina is the kind of course you should plan for rather than squeeze in as an afterthought. The black velvet cake has developed a reputation among regulars as one of the best desserts in the city.
It is moist and light at the same time, with a creamy quality that makes it feel genuinely special rather than just another chocolate cake.
The berry sorbet offers a refreshing contrast, bright and tart in a way that cleanses the palate and provides a satisfying close to a rich meal. Coconut ice cream rounds out the dessert options with a tropical lightness that works particularly well after the heavier pasta and protein courses.
For brunch guests, the almond flour pancakes can serve almost as a dessert in their own right, sweet and satisfying without being overwhelming. Whatever you choose to finish your meal, leaving without trying at least one dessert feels like a missed opportunity at a restaurant that clearly takes every course seriously.
Planning Your Visit: Hours and Reservations
Getting a table at Martina requires a little planning, and that is not a complaint so much as a sign of how popular the restaurant has become. Dinner service runs Monday through Thursday from 5 PM to 9 PM, Friday from 5 PM to 10 PM, and weekend brunch runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 2 PM.
Making a reservation in advance is strongly recommended, particularly for weekend brunch and Friday evening slots, which tend to fill up the fastest. Walk-ins are possible, but expect a wait of 15 to 20 minutes even with a reservation during peak hours, simply because the restaurant operates at a high volume of guests.
Parking in the Linden Hills neighborhood can be a challenge on busy evenings, so arriving a few minutes early gives you time to find a spot without stress. The restaurant falls in the higher price range for Minneapolis dining, with a typical dinner for two landing well above $100 before dessert.
What Makes Martina Stand Apart in Minneapolis
Minneapolis has a restaurant scene that punches well above its weight for a city its size, with serious competition across every cuisine category. Martina earns its place at the top of that conversation by doing something specific: it makes food that feels both accessible and genuinely ambitious at the same time.
The menu is broad enough that groups with different preferences can all find something they are excited about, but focused enough that nothing feels like filler. The Argentinian identity runs through the whole experience without boxing the kitchen into a narrow set of dishes.
House-made pasta alongside empanadas, brunch alongside refined dinner service, and a cocktail program that draws its own praise all contribute to a restaurant that feels complete. For a city that loves its food culture, Martina represents exactly the kind of place that makes Minneapolis worth visiting for a meal.
That bold claim food lovers keep making starts to feel less like enthusiasm and more like an honest assessment.
A Final Thought Before You Book Your Table
Every great restaurant has a dish that becomes shorthand for the whole experience. At Martina, that dish might be the potato churros, or the mushroom rigatoni, or the black velvet cake, depending on who you ask.
That variety in itself says something meaningful about how consistently the kitchen performs.
The restaurant is not perfect for every occasion. The close table spacing and lively noise level make it a better fit for energetic group dinners and celebrations than for quiet, intimate conversations.
Parking takes patience, and the price point reflects the quality without apology.
What Martina offers in return is a dining experience that holds up to the bold claims being made about it. It is the kind of place that earns loyalty from the people who visit once and then spend the next week telling everyone they know to make a reservation.
That word-of-mouth energy is the most honest review a restaurant can get.
