Golden’s Deli, Butcher Block Close While Lenny Russo Makes a Comeback

Golden’s Deli in St. Paul has called it quits. What had been a breakfast stop adjacent to the farmers market had expanded into nightly service with local music six years ago. Now, the space will reportedly become a Biergarten Germania, with German beer-hall style and furnishings built by Lowertown residents. The saving grace for Golden’s bagel fans might be that the weekend bagel stand that operates at the St. Paul Farmer’s Market will remain in operation.

—The Butcher Block has vacated a piece of prime real estate on Northeast’s Hennepin Avenue. The Italian restaurant has closed its doors, as first reported by Mpls./St. Paul Magazine. The Italian restaurant operated at 308 East Hennepin Avenue since 2009 and expanded just last year with a large bar area addition.

Katie Cannon

—Surprising no one who knows him, Lenny Russo is getting back in the kitchen after take a brief time off after closing his seminal Heartland Restaurant in St. Paul. The chef is taking over the kitchen at The Commodore, the gorgeous jazz-era restaurant and bar at the base of the condos of the same name. The building is owned by John Rupp, who also operates the nearby St. Paul University Club and W.A. Frost. Frost’s was where Russo first rose to prominence as a Minnesota chef. This makes the move a homecoming of sorts. No changes have been made just yet, but expect to see new menu items later in the fall.

—This news comes on the heels of a few more chef shuffles happening throughout the Twin Cities. Paul Berglund has wrapped up his tenure at The Bachelor Farmer, where his work earned him a James Beard Award for Best Chef Midwest. Despite his departure, the staff in place continues to carry on the Midwestern, Scandinavian boundary-nudging ways he led the kitchen. Owner Eric Dayton confirms the hunt is on for the right candidate for the executive chef position, but stresses the team continues to create in the kitchen.

Photo by Katie Cannon

—Corner Table has a new chef de cuisine. Kyle Bultinck, a longtime collaborator with chef and co-owner Thomas Boemer made the decision to step away and now Karyn Tomlinson has moved into the position. She was the pastry chef at Borough and studied at New York’s Le Cordon Bleu.