The former Legends building is getting new life, via some love from its neighbor.
Lipstick Pig (825 E. Hennepin Av., Mpls., lipstickpig.com), a barbecue restaurant from the owner of Eli's Food & Cocktails next door, will debut in the northeast Minneapolis space this summer, featuring around-the-country styles.
"The interesting thing about barbecue is the nuances," chef and co-owner Jeff Weber said. "Everyone has their own style. We want to create an amalgamation of that."
So expect several kinds of wood-smoked meats — spare ribs, brisket and prime rib among them — served alongside a host of sauces, including those inspired by eastern Carolina, western Carolina and Memphis 'cue. Oh, and besides a lineup of classic sides (coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, perhaps, and the mac and cheese that has gained a following at Eli's), Weber plans to feature a few other elevated vegetable-based items — think "smoked cauliflower." Patrons can order inside the full-service restaurant or from a takeout counter with a separate entrance.
"Some barbecue lovers say, 'Don't even try to barbecue vegetables,' " Weber said. "But it's a different time. Vegetables are in the forefront of a lot of people's diets right now."
There will be a full bar, as well, with a notable draft system featuring 10 beers, five wines and five cocktails. But despite the new-wave selection, the vibe will be decidedly old-school. Expect to see a pulltab booth on the main dining floor and meat raffles, bingo nights and live music in the basement on weekends.
"For the most part, we want it to be a restaurant but we want to have some fun with it, too," Weber said. "We want to kind of keep the Northeast bar spirit alive."
But before he can do that, there's significant work to be done in the way of renovations and repairs. The cooler systems, the bar and the bathrooms all need to be torn out and redone, Weber said, and he and his team will be redoing the walls with metal paneling. Eventually, the restaurant should hold about 120 seats, include a 22-seat bar.
