Rachelle Carlson

Prairie Ale house will re-open with new branding and a new menu

The Hot Dish caught up with Brian Werner, the (now former) sous chef at Prairie Ale House, to find out what happened and what might be up next for the Eden Prairie eatery.More >>

Tony Nelson

Duplex Restaurant closes

​The 2006 and 2007 winner of the Best Restaurant for a First Date and famous peddler of poutine, Duplex Restaurant on Hennepin announced that after six years in business it is  closing its doors for good.

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The kitty is no more

​Il Gatto, the Parasole-owned restaurant anchor in Calhoun Square at the corner of Lake Street and Hennepin Avenue, served its last diner Saturday night.

The restaurant struggled to find its footing after the parent company transformed it about two years ago from its previous incarnation, Figlio, which had operated at the corner since 1984.  

Here are the details on the closing:
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You'll have to go elsewhere for five dollar pizza.

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Turtle Bread is toast downtown

​Downtown Minneapolis office workers will have to find another go-to spot for their sandwiches, soups, artisan breads, and pastries when the skyway Turtle Bread closes on Friday.

Turtle Bread owner Harvey McLain confirmed a report from Stephanie March at Minneapolis/St. Paul magazine that the store is not renewing its 10-year lease. Here's why:

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Filipino cuisine remains hard to find as the lights go out at Pacific Islander

​The lumpia landscape turns bleak again as the Pacific Islander stall at Midtown Global Market darkened recently. A sign at the stall reads, "Closed until further notice."

Lumpia, a sort of spring roll, remains an elusive treat as another Filipino restaurant closes down in Minneapolis.  From Mabuhay to Subo to now Pacific Islander, it seems the Cities just can't warm to the island nation's cuisine. 

We're sad to see them go. While not every dish was an overwhelming hit, it was clear that the restaurant was a labor of love for all those involved.

The long goodbye begins for Cafe Twenty Eight

​Fans were saddened by reports that the Linden Hills Cafe Twenty Eight will likely close at the end of this year. Owner Linda Haug thanked fans through her Twitter feed, explaining that she had hoped to hand over ownership to longtime employee Russ Conlon, but their landlord decided not to renew the lease under Conlon's ownership.  She assured her followers that they would be open through the end of the year and said she is looking for employment opportunities for her staff.

Stop by for a bittersweet goodbye, a bite of their delectable pork adobo, and a Surly while you still can.

www.slpwoodfiregrill.com

Taher closes Wayzata Eatery, but opens St. Louis Park Woodfire Grill.

​Wayzata Eatery, the Taher Corporation's first foray into the restaurant business, has shut its doors, reports Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine.

The Minnetonka-based food service company previously closed its spinoff Alaska Eatery in St. Louis Park, but sister restaurant Nordeast Eatery remains open. Taher also owns Forepaugh's and the Timber Lodge Steakhouse chain.

Most of the Wayzata Eatery staff has moved to Taher's new Woodfire Grill, which replaced a Timber Lodge last week with internationally inspired, locally sourced, fire-cooked dishes. (Before that, the space was Alaska Eatery, but, for those with long memories, it was probably best known as the home of Shelley's Woodroast).

St. Louis Park Woodfire Grill
6501 Wayzata Boulevard, St. Louis Park
952.345.0505; www.slpwoodfiregrill.com
Serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily.

Bill Kelley

Science-kit noshes from NorthCoast's heyday.

​Location, location, location is the real estate agent's mantra, but prime lakefront digs weren't enough to keep Wayzata's NorthCoast in business. When the Star Tribune checked in on the restaurant's tax delinquent liquor posting status, it found NorthCoast's phone was disconnected and its website offline (at least that obnoxious Muzak was finally silenced).

While the place was mostly a boater's watering hole, doing most of its business selling burgers and walleye during the summer months from a roof deck overlooking Wayzata Bay, the cooking got far more interesting during the off season. A few years ago, head chef Ryan Aberle offered intriguing tasting menus in which he played around with molecular gastronomy techniques, including such culinary successes as foie gras pop rocks and hot ice cream. Hopefully the property will be snapped up quickly and back in action by next spring.

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Wayzata's NorthCoast offers delectable, edible science experiments

Cold Stone Block E location took its last licks.

​Block E's restaurant scene has pretty much dwindled to nothing. Following the closure of Applebee's, Hooters, and Panchero's, the Downtown Journal notes that the second floor Cold Stone Creamery franchise has also shuttered. (The Hard Rock Cafe says it, too, will close on September 30.)

We won't miss Cold Stone's super-awkward, employer-mandated singing-for-tips policy, but we will regret having to head for the 'burbs to get a taste of our favorite flavor, Cake Batter.

To locate one of the metro's remaining Cold Stone locations click here.