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Dalton & Wade Whiskey Common
Location: The T3 Building, 323 N. Washington Avenue Minneapolis
Key Players: Paul, John and Corey Abdo: The same family behind the Nicollet Island Inn
Projected Opening: Monday July 17
Cult-movie fans will get the reference right away, but for the uninitiated this new whiskey-centric restaurant in the North Loop is named for the Patrick Swayze staring 80’s cheesefest Roadhouse. It’s not necessary to be able to toss off, “I thought you’d be bigger” type quotes to appreciate the meat and three menu. Scott Pampuch, the original chef/owner of Corner Table, has been brought in to consult on the food and Chris Massy, of Parlour and Bar La Grasa, has amassed over 200 American-made whiskeys and written the drink list. The restaurant will be open for dinner seven days a week with added lunch hours on Saturdays.
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Bardo
Location: 222 E. Hennepin Avenue Minneapolis
Key Players: Remy Pettus
Projected Opening: Early August
Chef and owner Remy Pettus has taken over the former Rachel’s location in Northeast and has given the historic, art deco space a refresh. The food will be light and fresh, Pettus said he wants people to leave feeling energized after a meal at Bardo. Pettus was the opening chef at Eastside in the North Loop. The restaurant is conducting training right now and should open in the next few weeks.
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Hai Hai
Location: 2121 University Avenue N.E. Minneapolis
Key Players: Christina Nguyen and Birk Stefan Grudem, owners of Hola Arepa
Projected Opening: Early September
A one time dive bar/strip club in Northeast is getting a thorough scrub down courtesy of Christina Nguyen and Birk Stefan Grudem. The Eater Young Guns winners own Hola Arepa, the budget-friendly, always buzzing eatery in South Minneapolis. The menu will be inspired by their world travels and made up mostly of Southeast Asian street food dishes. This means all kinds of spicy meats on skewers, banh xeo and likely many fresh juice-based cocktails. (Grudem was a bartender in another life.)
The restaurant is progressing on track, despite a recent robbery. Someone broke in and stole two of the three stripper poles and some vintage posters unearthed in construction.
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Delicata
Location: 1341 Pascal Street St. Paul
Key Players: Matty O’Reilly and chef J.D. Fratzke
Projected Opening: Late Summer
The powerful partnership behind Bar Brigade and Red River Kitchen at City House have turned their attention to a small neighborhood restaurant space in St. Paul’s Como neighborhood. Delicata will serve pizza and gelato in the former Como Grill location. The glorious patio will once again spring to life before the long days of summer are over. A recent tweet suggests that this restaurant will be opening soon.
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Popol Vuh and Centro
Location: 712 15th Avenue N.E. Minneapolis
Key Players: The Lyn 65 Team, chef Jose Alarcon
Projected Opening: September 2017
These are two eateries in one. Centro will be an all day, laid back taco shop. Next door will be the more refined Popol Vuh, lead by chef Alarcon’s passion for the Mayan cuisine of his youth. Fire will be at the heart of Popol Vuh, where Alarcon will utilize an Argentinian wood burning grill. Alacron has been hosting pop ups inside the other kitchen he cooks in, Lyn 65. The restaurants are a collaboration with the kitchen crew and restaurant leadership there, including chef/owner Ben Rients. Popol Vuh will have 56 seats, including a counter where diners can get up close and personal with those flames.
