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The End Of An Era: What Happened To Campiello Restaurant Eden Prairie And What’s Open Now

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For nearly three decades, Campiello Ristorante & Bar stood as a pillar of Italian fine dining in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, but the era of its wood-fired pizzas and acclaimed pasta has officially concluded. The beloved establishment, part of the prestigious D'Amico family of restaurants, permanently closed its doors on Sunday, December 31, 2023, marking the end of a 27-year run in the Twin Cities dining scene. This news sent ripples through the suburban culinary community, as Campiello was not just a restaurant but a destination for special occasions and high-end Italian cuisine in the area.

As of late 2024, the prime real estate at 6411 City West Parkway has already undergone a dramatic transformation. The space that once housed elegant Italian dinners is now home to a completely different concept: a pub-style eatery. The new tenant, T.J. Hooligan's Pub & Grub, has taken over the former Campiello location, bringing a casual, independent, and locally-owned American pub experience to Eden Prairie, a significant shift from its fine-dining predecessor.

The End of an Era: Campiello's 27-Year Legacy in Eden Prairie

Campiello Ristorante & Bar first opened in Eden Prairie in late 1996, quickly establishing itself as a premier destination for authentic, upscale Italian food. The restaurant was a key part of the D'Amico family of restaurants, a group known for developing and managing several high-quality dining concepts across Minnesota and Florida, including the original Campiello on Lake Street in Minneapolis (which closed earlier).

The Eden Prairie location, despite being situated in a low-profile strip mall surrounded by corporate headquarters, managed to create an atmosphere of quiet, sophisticated elegance. It became a favorite for both business lunches and romantic dinners, offering a consistent and high-quality experience that earned it a loyal following. Over its nearly three-decade history, Campiello was consistently recognized for its excellence, including being named “Best Italian Restaurant” by OpenTable and receiving "Best Italian" awards from local publications.

Key Milestones and The D'Amico Connection

  • Opening Date: Late 1996, following the success of the Minneapolis location.
  • Parent Company: D'Amico and Partners, a renowned Twin Cities restaurant group.
  • Longevity: Operated for 27 years before its final closure.
  • 20th Anniversary Refresh: The restaurant underwent a refresh of its decor and menu to celebrate its 20th anniversary, showcasing its commitment to staying current.
  • Location: 6411 City West Parkway, Eden Prairie, MN.

The Campiello Experience: Signature Dishes and Fine Italian Cuisine

What truly defined Campiello was its commitment to authentic, rustic Italian cuisine, with a focus on fresh ingredients and traditional cooking methods. The menu was a showcase of Northern Italian influences, but with a refined, contemporary touch. Diners often reminisce about the restaurant's signature elements and dishes, which became local legends.

The restaurant’s kitchen was centered around a wood-burning oven, which was used to prepare specialty-roasted meats and the restaurant’s famous, thin-crust pizzas. This method imparted a distinct smoky flavor that elevated the cuisine beyond standard Italian fare. The fresh pasta was another cornerstone of the menu, with chefs crafting dishes that were both comforting and complex.

Iconic Menu Entities and Culinary Focus

While the menu evolved over the years, certain dishes and culinary styles remained synonymous with the Campiello brand, attracting customers from across the Twin Cities metro area:

  • Butternut Squash Ravioli: A widely celebrated and often-requested signature dish, highlighting the restaurant’s skill with fresh, filled pasta.
  • Wood-Fired Pizza: Thin-crust pizzas cooked in the wood-burning oven, a staple of the Campiello experience.
  • Specialty-Roasted Meats: Including a popular porchetta sandwich and other roasted entrees.
  • Seafood and Appetizers: High-end offerings like grilled prawns with ricotta salata and fried eggplant with bufala mozzarella were featured additions.
  • Wine and Cocktails: An extensive wine list and expertly crafted cocktails complemented the fine-dining atmosphere.

The decision to close was reportedly due to the end of the restaurant's long-term lease, a common factor in the challenging restaurant industry, even for established favorites.

A New Chapter: What Replaced Campiello at City West Parkway

The transition from a lauded Italian fine-dining establishment to a casual pub marks a significant shift in the culinary landscape of the City West Parkway area in Eden Prairie. The new occupant, T.J. Hooligan's Pub & Grub, is an expansion of a long-standing, locally-owned pub from Prior Lake, Minnesota.

T.J. Hooligan's brings a distinct pub-style restaurant concept, focusing on home-cooked American food and a unique Irish Pub atmosphere. This contrasts sharply with Campiello’s more formal, Mediterranean-inspired setting. The new venue caters to a crowd looking for a relaxed, neighborhood feel, a full bar, and hearty, familiar dishes.

T.J. Hooligan's: A Look at the New Establishment

The new restaurant is operational in the former Italian fine-dining space, offering a different kind of dining experience for Eden Prairie residents and corporate employees. The menu is diverse and includes classic pub fare, representing a complete change in cuisine and price point from Campiello.

  • Cuisine Style: American Pub & Grub, with a focus on home-cooked food.
  • Signature Pub Offerings: Menu items include classic appetizers like Fried Pickles and Breaded Mushrooms, as well as entrees such as Almond-Crusted Walleye Dinner and various steaks and shrimp dishes.
  • Atmosphere: A cozy, vibrant, and inviting small-town bar and grill feel.
  • Location: Same address at 6411 City West Parkway, Eden Prairie, MN.

The opening of T.J. Hooligan's provides a much-needed casual dining option in the area, filling a different niche than the one Campiello occupied for so many years. While the loss of Campiello's Butternut Squash Ravioli and wood-fired pizzas is felt by many long-time patrons, the arrival of a new, independent eatery ensures that the location remains a vibrant part of the Eden Prairie dining scene, just with a significantly different culinary identity.

Campiello's Lasting Impact on the Twin Cities Dining Scene

The closure of Campiello Eden Prairie is more than just a restaurant shutting down; it represents the end of a chapter for the D'Amico group's suburban fine-dining presence and highlights the constant evolution of the Twin Cities' culinary landscape. For over a quarter-century, Campiello served as a benchmark for upscale Italian food, demonstrating that high-quality, authentic dining could thrive outside of downtown Minneapolis. Its legacy, built on consistency, quality ingredients, and a sophisticated atmosphere, will long be remembered by those who celebrated countless special moments within its walls. The new beginning with T.J. Hooligan's signifies a shift towards more casual, community-focused establishments in the area, offering a new kind of comfort food to the next generation of Eden Prairie diners.

The End of an Era: What Happened to Campiello Restaurant Eden Prairie and What’s Open Now
campiello restaurant eden prairie
campiello restaurant eden prairie

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