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It’s been a year since our saddest closure of 2015 and now it’s time for new memories to be created inside one of the prettiest locations in all the Twin Cities. Yesterday the Star Tribune broke the news that Don Saunders, chef and owner of The Kenwood will take over operations on the first level of the historic building and open 510 Lounge & Private Dining.
He has plenty of expectation landmines to navigate. The last restaurant tenant was the gold standard for fine dining, which is why his place will be much more like his successful restaurant located just steps away from Lake of the Isles.
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The two dining rooms will be reserved for special events while the bar will be a lounge serving grazing plates and snack-y type foods as only the local-focused chef can do. Expect charcuterie, cheese, maybe even a burger, mussels, and that sort of thing. In the kitchen will be Kenwood chef de cuisine Daniel Keenan and Peter Beard will handle the front of house and beverage program.
Smart Associates have been tapped to buff up the space. The historic room will be largely untouched, with the color scheme getting a refresh.
The restaurant expects to open by summer of 2017.
- La Belle Vie space gets new tenant [STRIB]
- This Is the End: La Belle Vie Closing [EMPLS]
- The Kenwood Coverage [EMPLS]