Nolabelle Kitchen + Bar

We had a large group this weekend and they handled us like absolute champs!! The service was wonderful. The Thai Peanut + Pork Belly Salad was really really good (although some of the pork was too dry). Some of the girls thought their sandwiches were too dry (one was the peach + Bacon grilled cheese and the Turkey + Avocado). The drinks were deliciously crafted. I would love to come back and try the Stuffed Lamb Pita and fries, which looked amazing and their Brunch menu. I would definitely come back !!

Farm to Table quality of food. Wish I had an appetite for more things off the menu to try. Avocado toasts - So delicious and not your basic toast. Feels like you’re in Minneapolis.

Update* went back the very next day. Soo good. I will always think of Mankato for the Butter Cake with strawberries and homemade whip cream!

Our dinner at Nolabelle was absolutely wonderful! We sat outside on a perfect fall evening and enjoyed a couple of cocktails followed by their delectable Short Rib Egg Rolls. They were so delicious and filling that we each got a salad. We shared the Apple + Arugula salad with Pulled Chicken and the Thai Peanut + Pork Belly, which was probably the best salad I’ve ever eaten!

Not often do I find the perfect place. Amazing apps. The best Cuban I have ever had and the drinks were delicious. I will be back and you should give it a try and let me know what you think! I highly recommend the charcuterie board! The mustard should be bottled and sold.

Best grilled cheese I’ve ever had! Sweet (peaches), savory (bacon), spicy (jalapeño) and - the most brilliant part - goat cheese! Never had anything like it. So glad I tried it! My husband had shrimp and grits and that was very good too. We were driving through Mankato and almost didn’t go because the description said “fine-casual dining” and I had sweatpants on. We drove by and saw that all the wait staff had jeans so I felt comfortable going in. It was fine. Dress was casual but food is upscale.

We go here for all our special events. Everything on the menu is delicious from the cocktails (both N/A and alcoholic). We can't help but order dessert every time. The vegan tres leches is amazingly good and so is the chocolate torte.

The wait staff is friendly and responsive and the atmosphere is clean, bright, laid-back enough to feel comfortable but nice-enough to dress up for.

I was pleasantly surprised by this restaurant. I was previously unaware of it, even though I was familiar with the larger Mankato area.

It's located in downtown, but it's right next to the parking ramp, so parking should be easy enough.

The food was by far the best part. Relatively inexpensive entrees but the food quality surpasses what they charge.
Compared to other restaurants, I would've expected $40+ per plate with how good it is.

They also have great, unique cocktails and the service is good too.

Stop in, you won't be disappointed.

Wow! My girlfriend found this place and made reservations for a date night for us. We live about an hour away. Somehow had never heard of this establishment.

Definitely make reservations to secure a table as this place has quite a buzz! There wasn't an empty table the entire time we were in.

Food was great. Very fresh and light. We kind of went all out being that we've done a lot of traveling this year and wanted a feel of items across the menu. But even with ordering 2 alcoholic drinks, a starter, 2 dinner items, an extra side, and dessert we were only at $100.

Very impressed and are already talking to friends about bringing a group up to share the experience!

Best restaurant in Mankato by a mile. Food and service is spot on every time. Highly recommend giving it a try! Whether you come for brunch, a cocktail, or for dinner you will be very pleased. Food and service are an 11/10, and the owner of this establishment is a fantastic person. This will always be my go to spot in town!

Loved the appetizers, we had the roasted Brussel sprouts. Each of our party of six loved their main courses. I had the baked walleye over rizzoto and capers. Loved it.

Kind of strange food but on the other hand it was something different and healthy.. That squash steak is amazing.... That :) dark haired waitress we had was just sweet as could be... I would definitely go back...

The held or reservation for extra time for us when our event took longer than expected! We had a great appetizer and ordered all four of the desserts that were on the menu and we each got a sample of each, and they were all great! I think the butter cake with strawberries was my favorite, but I would order any of them again.

We arrived at a very busy time without a reservation. The staff very pleasantly and quickly found us a table. As we enjoyed our meal we watched the staff interact with each other and were impressed with their teamwork. Our server, Charlotte, was so pleasant and helpful. And to top it all off the food was delicious and beautifully presented. We will be back!

The food and herbs were very fresh. I think everything was made from scratch. Not extremely expensive but it was high priced. Not to my taste but my son and daughter-in-law I think would find it perfect.
Take a date for something different.
We had sandwiches, the lamb pita, and the pork belly BBQ.

You could taste the freshness of everything. I really appreciated the fact that there was a very nice mocktail menu (I had to ask for it separately, but many places don't even have one). There is no need to settle for a Shirley Temple or Virgin Mary here. I chose something with a cranberry orange shrub that was so pretty and refreshing, it got me googling shrubs and wondering if I could make one.
The chicken and waffles were fun, with the addition of cheese in the waffle batter. Not so much that it was obviously cheesy, but it was the perfect hint, very well done. I was able to order the spicy honey on the side with no question. The chicken was crispy, juicy, and delicious.
The grits & eggs with sausage and shaved brussels sprouts was fantastic and filling. Heads up, the menu says they're cheddar grits, but they're actually cheddar JALAPEÑO grits. That can be a bonus for some and a sealant to others. Fortunately, it was a bonus for my spouse, but I couldn't have eaten the grits as the jalapeños could not simply be picked out. I would have liked to see the menu labeled more clearly as people with nightshade intolerance/allergies need to avoid them, and for people who just don't like jalapeños.
We had a reservation near the end of brunch, so the place wasn't terribly crowded. However, it was still very noisy with the loud echoing inside. I was thankful we didn't bring a family member with a hearing aid because it would have been taken out immediately. I would love to go back and sit outside if the weather allows.
We need more high-quality, independently-owned local scratch kitchens like this.

One of my favorite Mankato restaurants! Brunch on the weekends is always excellent but great spot for lunch and dinner too. Great trendy vibe with a fresh menu. The pain perdu and eggs Benny are my favorites for brunch. Butter baked walleye has the most creamy risotto with a perfect balance of capers. Steak and frites is delish as well. Also for dessert you need to try the butter cake. Crunchy sugar layer on the outside with gooey butter cake on the inside with fresh strawberries. Flourless chocolate cake is good as well but very dense and very dark chocolate so need to be in the mood! Be sure to make a reservation, especially for brunch!

The round is over. They brought the heat. We have a victor. Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner. And the Nolabelle tolls for its own victory... ;)

Cuz this food was good

Join me on a quick trip down to 'Kato for this modern, minimalist establishment. Here's the lineup:

Spicy Fried Chicken Sandwich with buttermilk fried chicken, sriracha mayo, local pickles, kale + apple slaw, toasted brioche bun

Peach and Bacon Grilled Cheese with house-made peach preserves, goat cheese, thick-cut bacon, thinly sliced jalapeños, grilled multigrain

Pretzel-Battered Goat Cheese Balls with roasted garlic marinara

I had the chicken sandwich, and man that motherclucker was delicious XD An excellent crispy fried coating and the creamy, kickin' mayo were true memory-makers. The tang of a unique slaw and locally made pickles did wonders for this 'wich as well

My buddy had the sweet heat combo of jalapeños on a peach and bacon grilled cheese. He said it was a heavenly handheld, only for those who can handle a little spice, but he holds that the smoothness of the goat cheese slightly tamed the flames

And as for the appetizer--The salty properties of a pretzel batter took this dish up a spectacular step. Appearing as an elevated play on cheese curds, the garlic marinara brings needed savory notes to these spherical specialties. Get these for sure, but the richness makes me recommend they be shared

Nothing negative about Nolabelle! It's got the feel of an Apple Store and the food of a five-star restaurant. Stop by next time you head south of the cities for an affordable yet luxurious bite

This place is awesome! We were impressed with everything (the open and clean space, the food, the servers) and how so much thought was put into this restaurant. I'm particular to a good eggs benny, and theirs was excellent, with pieces of shaved ham roast and lime hollandais. We had beignets, too, but they didn't last long enough for a picture. I cannot wait to visit sometime for dinner!

Hands down the best place to eat in the southern part of MN!! Well worth the drive if you don’t live in Mankato. The best customer service I’ve had that is always consistently good. The food is also very consistent.

I stayed in Mankato for a month and ate here at least twice a week!!! Love everything on the menu!!!

Stop by for a date, a solo date or take out!

Exceptional experience! The food, service and environment was exceptional! (Highly recommend the brussel sprouts as a starter) 😋 The walleye with risotto was also exceptional as the pork ends in blueberry BBQ sauce.