Longfellow’s Fresh Pasta Restaurant Will Open in April

The former home of Craftsman at 4300 East Lake Street is getting a makeover and will re-open as The Bungalow some time next month. Chef Andrew Kraft is partnering with his brother-in-law Jeremiah Dittmann and the former owner of Grand Cafe, Sam Rosen for a new pasta-centric restaurant. Dittmann, who has experience working at New York’s famed Gramercy Tavern will act as general manager. The restaurant interior is getting a major overhaul that will double the bar seating with the goal of creating a neighborhood hangout. There will continue to be a full bar menu available as well as beer and wine. According to the Star Tribune, the restaurant will open early April.

• Tori Ramen’s Jason Dorweiler is currently hiring for his second ramen restaurant in the former Victory 44 location. Tori Ramen was named in part for the small restaurant’s location, near Victoria and Selby Avenue’s intersection in St. Paul. The new location is fortitously named, meaning the new shop will be called Tori 44 according to City Pages. The restaurant gained a cult following for it’s ramen broth that is entirely pork-free without sacrificing deep flavor. Before opening the restaurant along with his wife Asiya Persaud, Dorweiler was also a longtime ramen chef at United Noodle’s popular deli.
• The outskirts of downtown Minneapolis is getting another adorable coffee shop with the opening of Parallel at 145 Holden Street North, run by the same folks behind Hennepin Made. There’s a small food menu, beer, wine and a happy hour that starts at 5pm.
• Grand Cafe, Jamie Malone’s jewel in South Minneapolis kicked off a sneaky brunch service yesterday. The new menu includes avocado toast, steak and eggs, French omelet, lobster spaghetti and even a burger.