Eat Street Social coming soon--with alcoholic egg creams - UPDATED

By Joy Summers Fri., Jan. 6 2012 at 8:35 AM

Categories: Coming Soon

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Bre McGee

Northeast Social heads south--with a bunch of high-class jerks behind the bar

Partners Sam Bonin and Joe Wagner of Northeast Social are expanding to Nicollet and 26th in Minneapolis. The windows of the former Taco Morelos building are covered with craft paper, but inside is brewing a new hot spot with a cutting edge bar program. Like their Northeast counterpart, Eat Street Social will feature food with a farm- to-table, American bistro-style menu and likely a space for some acoustic music. What sets them apart from any other neighborhood joint is who and what you'll find behind the bar.

Nick Kosevich and Ira Kaplowitz of Bittercube Bitters will be reportedly tending bar in addition to having built the bar program. Kosevich made his name with the spiked milkshakes at the Town Talk Diner. Kaplowitz used to mix drinks at the Violet Hour in Chicago, which was at the forefront of the craft cocktail revolution.

As if that weren't enough, we got word just before the New Year that Jesse Held, member of the North Star Bartenders Guild, was leaving the Marvel Bar (which is apparently so five minutes ago) to work here. These are superstars in the bar biz, and they'll all be acting as alcohol-serving soda jerks.

The bar plan is to serve old-fashioned phosphates, egg creams, and sodas--but with booze! With the way Kosevich and Kaplowitz have reinvented Prohibition-style cocktails and the careful herb, spice, and citrus mixes in their exquisite bitters, along with Held's wizardry with alcoholic flavor profiles, this bar is looking to be the most interesting, exciting, creative, and fun place in town to quaff a drink.

Plans had been to open the restaurant on New Year's Eve, but those got pushed out. Sources say they're now planning on opening January 9. A drive past the location today looked like the space is still a little rough around the edges, but it is coming in the very near and tasty future.

UPDATE: After discussing plans with the Jesse Held, he says they still aren't there. He and Nick guessed that the restaurant would open in the next couple of week. Things look good that they will be running smoothly by early February. What better way to celebrate your Valentine than over a fizzy spiked drink, served with two straws?

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