Armatage Room RIP

A recent visit to Cafe Maude revealed the reason the Armatage Room's website recently went offline: The popular Southwest Minneapolis restaurant's annex/party room is closed. When the Armatage Room debuted nearly two years ago, we loved its comfortable chic: the velvet curtain in the entryway, the long, reclaimed wood tables, and the artsy black-and-white photographs on the walls. And we relished its well-chosen beverage selection and smart, sophisticated small plates, which riffed on the dishes served across the street. It was a quiet, more intimate alternative to the often-packed Maude--but probably too quiet to keep it in business.

The only bright spot in Armatage's demise is that the space won't stay dark for long: Don Saunders, former chef-owner of Fugaise, is planning to open a restaurant called In Season later this fall.