Photo by Lauren Cutshall/Courtesy of Vinai
For the first time in three years, we are in the busy end-of-year restaurant opening cycle. Some of this is because of the way leases are structured. Some of it is the rush of opening in time for holiday parties. Some of it is just the rhythm of when restaurants open. But I was thinking about all the new places opening soon—and thought you might fancy a list of all that coming action, as well.
October
Litt Pinball Bar, opening Oct. 12
The pinball bar is relocating to Lowry Hill in the much larger surrounds of the former Liquor Lyles.
El Sazon Cocina & Tragos, opening Oct. 18
This will be the Tangletown/south Minneapolis location of the extremely popular Eagan gas-station taco shop from chef Cristian De Leon and his wife, Karen.
Public Domain, opening Oct. 18
The former Haute Dish spot on Washington in the downtown/North Loop area finally gets new life as a craft cocktail bar with late-night food and without a written cocktail menu for guests. You describe your flavor-profile desires, and the bartenders get to work.
Pimento on the Lake, opening Oct. 20
Tomme Beevas is opening his Jamaican outpost in the new pavilion at Bde Maka Ska—a restaurant and BIPOC market.
Red Cow Wayzata, opening Oct. 26
Luke Shimp’s burger, beer, and wine destination opens its first suburban location in downtown Wayzata.
November
Kim’s and Bronto Bar
Ann Kim is closing Sooki & Mimi in Uptown on Oct. 21 and relaunching her most personal restaurant to date. Kim’s will be Korean-American food, with the basement bar rebranded and refreshed as Bronto Bar.
801 Fish
The former McCormick & Schmick’s on Nicollet Mall will become 801 Fish, from the 801 Chophouse team right across the street.
Provided
December 2023 / Early 2024
Bûcheron
A team of Gavin Kaysen alums are opening Bûcheron in the original Corner Table/Revival location on Nicollet in south Minneapolis. Chef Adam Ritter was running Demi, and his wife, Jeanie Janas Ritter, was the front-of-house leader at Wayzata’s Bellecour. This will be as refined as Demi but more laid-back.
Bina’s, opening early 2024
The team behind Centro is opening a modern version of a dive bar (or “divey” bar) in northeast Minneapolis
Chilango, opening February 2024
Jorge Guzmán (Petite Leon) will open what he’s calling “a Mex-Tex restaurant” in the Urban Eatery space in Calhoun Beach Club. Picture Mexican foods but also smoked ribs and brisket nachos.
Vinai, opening spring/summer 2024
Chef Yia Vang takes over the Dangerous Man Brewing space in northeast Minneapolis for a sit-down restaurant designed around his style of Hmong cooking.
Parcelle Organics, opening early 2024
Kamal Muhammed’s concept for organic, “clean” eating will be down the block from his fantastic StepCHLD, in the old New Bohemian Space by Surdyk’s.
Unnamed Diane Moua restaurant
We now know where our most awarded pastry chef will open her restaurant – she’s signed a lease at the Food Building in Northeast Minneapolis. She’ll have a restaurant and event space alongside Lowry Hill Meat Company and Alemar Cheese Company. When announced a year ago, the plan was to open a spot that highlighted “Moua’s Hmong heritage, featuring her French-inspired baked goods and her refined techniques with savory foods.”
Unnamed Tim McKee restaurant
While McKee is in residency at Sanjusan, in the North Loop, through December, he waits for construction to wrap up at the West Hotel, also in the North Loop. He’ll run food for the hotel, including his own restaurant focused on the Spanish Basque region. Think: vegetables and proteins cooked over fire.
NOLO Loves Tequila
Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald run Smack Shack, and they’re bringing a tequila-focused restaurant to the old Alliance Française space on First in the North Loop.
