Tiny St. Paul Shop Is Becoming a New York Chef’s New Restaurant

Rikki Giambruno plans to convert the original Golden Fig location at 790 Grand Avenue into a small Italian restaurant later this year. The Golden Fig is the gourmet grocery store that just doubled its size by moving two store fronts down Grand Avenue. This left a 1,250 sq. ft. space available.

The Twin Cities native chef who just returned from New York plans to convert into an eatery. Giambruno last worked at Brooklyn’s Franny’s, known for its pizzas and woodfire Italian cooking. Franny’s closed in August. According to The Growler, he immediately returned home and began looking for the opportunity to open his own place.

The restaurant will be called Hyacinth and will serve food inspired by Southern Italy with around just 40 seats. It would also be right next door to Red Rabbit, another Italian-influenced restaurant that is taking over the Wild Onion location later this summer.

The restaurant is right now pending city approval and hopes to carry a beer and wine license. Giambruno’s brother Joe is a co-owner of Bad Weather Brewing and will likely brew something specific to the restaurant when the time comes.

• Former New York chef Rikki Giambruno to open Hyacinth on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue [G]
• Franny’s in Brooklyn to Close This August [ENY]
• Where to Eat on St. Paul’s Grand Avenue [ETC]