Daniel del Prado Swoops Into Linden Hills Upton 43 Address

Another dream team assembles to launch two new restaurants, Martina and Diamond BBQ in Linden Hills. Daniel del Prado, former chef de cuisine of Burch’s Steak House, is stepping out of Isaac Becker’s shadow, to launch two new concepts in Linden Hills, reports Mpls./St. Paul Magazine.

Martina will open inside the recently vacated Upton 43 space and is described as a mix of Argentinean and Italian, paying homage to both of his parents’ heritages. The restaurant will be wood-fire fueled cooking, with plenty of seafood and past. All the dishes will be $20 or less with pasta being made by Joe Rolle.

Lucy Hawthorne / Eater Twin Cities

He’s the Italian-American, Iron-Range raised chef who ran the kitchen at Il Foro. The extensive menu will also blowfish tail, which Rolle likens to a cross between chicken and frog’s legs (guests encouraged to eat with their hands).

Joy Summers / Eater Twin Cities

Behind the bar at Martina will be Marco Zappia, a longtime Bittercube collaborator who branched out on his own, lending his mixing expertise to the vermouths being poured at nearby Grand Cafe. Unlike the last restaurant at the address, Martina expects to open with a full liquor license.

The second space, Diamond BBQ at 54th and Penn, the old Marathon gas station location will be a “little different.” Del Prado describes it as a Miami Vice feel with bright colors and an 80/90’s vibe. There will be “two giant smokers…So Miami Vice Tex-Mex invades south Minny.” The menu will include escargot and beef tartare flavored to be loose and fun.

Martina expects to open within a month and Diamond BBQ will start serving before the end of the year.

— by Danielle McFarland

• Former Upton 43 Space to Become Martina [MSPMag]
• Martina [Instagram]
• The Five Most Anticipated Restaurants in the Twin Cities, Fall 2017 [ETC]