"Daniel del Prado's Italian-Argentine room in Linden Hills, two-time James Beard Midwest semifinalist. Book it for a first date worth repeating."
About Martina
Martina is the room that built Daniel del Prado's Minneapolis reputation. It sits at 4312 South Upton Avenue in Linden Hills, a residential pocket far from downtown, and it has stayed one of the hardest neighbourhood tables in the city since it opened.
The cooking is Italian-Argentine, a reflection of del Prado's Buenos Aires childhood and his Spanish and southern-Italian parents. He has been a two-time James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest, which is why Martina anchors our Minneapolis dining guide.
The Kitchen
Daniel del Prado cooks where Italy meets Argentina. The empanadas come filled with gorgonzola and creamed leeks, the spaghetti fra diavolo arrives with lobster, roasted fresno and cumin, and on the 29th of each month the kitchen runs its $5 gnocchi, an Argentine ñoqui-day tradition that regulars plan around.
The pasta program is the heart of the menu, so order across it rather than chasing a single main. For the world's best of the genre, see our best Italian restaurants worldwide guide, or read our Bar La Grassa review for another standout Minneapolis pasta room.
The Room
Martina is small, dim and loud in the best way, with a bar that hums and live music some nights that pushes the energy up. Tables are close, the lighting is candle-low, and the dress code is smart-casual. The intimacy is the appeal and the catch: you will hear your neighbours, and they will hear you, so it suits an animated dinner more than a hushed one.
Best for First Date
Book this room for a first date because the energy carries a conversation through any lull. The bar and live music give the night momentum, the shared pasta plates keep things informal, and the $5 gnocchi on the 29th is a built-in reason to come back. Sit at the bar if the dining room is full. More options in Best Restaurants for a First Date 2026.
Not For
Not for a hushed date. Martina is tight, loud and hard to book, with tables close enough that your neighbour hears the whole conversation.
Featured in
Top 10 Restaurants in Minneapolis 2026
Martina earns a place on our Minneapolis top 10. See the full ranking and where it lands.
Top 10 Minneapolis 2026 →
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Martina worth it?
Yes. Martina is the room that made Daniel del Prado's name in Minneapolis, and he has twice been a James Beard Award semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest. The Italian-Argentine cooking, built on a strong pasta program, is consistently good, and the energy of the small Linden Hills room is part of the draw. For a lively neighbourhood dinner it remains one of the city's best bookings.
How hard is it to book Martina?
It is one of the harder neighbourhood tables in Minneapolis. Reservations run on Resy, and prime weekend slots can go quickly, so book as far ahead as the calendar allows. If the dining room is full, the bar takes walk-ins and is a genuinely good seat. The $5 gnocchi on the 29th of the month draws crowds, so plan around that date in particular.
What is the dress code at Martina?
Smart-casual. Martina is an intimate, lively neighbourhood restaurant rather than a formal dining room, so a nice shirt, top or dress is right and jeans are welcome in the evening. The space is dim, close and energetic, often with live music, so dress for an animated night out. There is no jacket requirement and the vibe rewards relaxed style over formality.
What should I order at Martina?
Order across the pasta menu and share. The gorgonzola-and-creamed-leek empanadas are a signature starter, the spaghetti fra diavolo with lobster is a standout main, and if you visit on the 29th of the month the $5 gnocchi is a tradition worth catching. Daniel del Prado's Italian-Argentine cooking is best experienced as a spread rather than a single plate.
Reserve a Table
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Book on Resy · one of the city's harder tables, plan ahead
Affiliate disclosure: RFK may earn a commission on reservations booked through partner links. This never affects our scores, which are earned editorially, never paid.
Practical Information
Address4312 South Upton Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55410
NeighbourhoodLinden Hills
CuisineItalian-Argentine
SignatureGorgonzola-leek empanadas · lobster spaghetti fra diavolo
Tradition$5 gnocchi on the 29th of each month
Dress CodeSmart-casual
ChefDaniel del Prado · 2x James Beard Best Chef: Midwest semifinalist
Phone+1 612-922-9913
