Charles Carter, owner of Taste of Rondo Bar & Grill, launched his St. Paul restaurant last month under the crushing challenges of a global pandemic. It's been tough, he said. "But so far, the feedback has been fantastic."
While the Twin Cities metro area has been painfully plagued by dozens of restaurant closings since March, a surprising number of newcomers have steadily materialized over the past five months.
Carter's motivating sense of optimism and entrepreneurial spirit are clearly being replicated across the local dining universe, because our list includes 30 newcomers, stretching from Woodbury to Plymouth, Savage to Maplewood.
Bebe Zito
Newlyweds and ice cream fanatics Ben Spangler and Gabriella Grant have created a scoop shop with a Willy Wonka-esque adventure streak. Think lemon-buttermilk-poppyseed ice cream with wild blueberries and toasted cinnamon, or graham cracker ice cream blended with toasted marshmallows and chocolate ganache, or a rhubarb-coconut water sorbet. Takeout.
704 W. 22nd St., Mpls., bebezitomn.com
Bellecour Bakery
Pastry chef Diane Moua and her crew — with an assist from chef/owner Gavin Kaysen — have gathered all the reasons why their recently closed Wayzata bakery was such a destination (pitch-perfect croissants, dreamy macarons, grab-and-go sandwiches and salads, a deliriously delicious crêpe cake), and are serving them at this North Loop pop-up, a collaboration with Cooks of Crocus Hill. Patio, takeout.
208 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-223-8167, cooksofcrocushill.com
Billy Sushi
After founding and then selling Sushi Fix, chef/owner Billy Tserenbat (the talent behind Wayzata's Baja Haus) is back behind the sushi bar at this North Loop newcomer, hurrah. The lengthy selection of rolls emphasizes both the traditional and the playful. The sake-centric bar is also a platform for Tserenbat's obsession with Japanese whiskey. Dine-in, takeout.
