Bogart’s Doughnut Company, Bars Bakery Second Location, and More

The Tap by James Norton

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Readers: Win The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food

The Tap loves restaurant tips from readers, so we’re awarding a copy of The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food to the best tipster of November and December. The Tap is the metro area’s comprehensive restaurant buzz roundup, so if you see a new or newly shuttered restaurant, or anything that’s “coming soon,” email Tap editor James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.

Becca Dilley / Heavy Table
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

Bogart’s Doughnut Company (opening March 2014)
910 W 36th St, Minneapolis

We make no apologies for our longstanding affection for Anne Rucker’s Bogart Loves doughnuts — these sophisticated, brioche-based flavor bombs are a perfect compromise between haute cuisine and primal, accessible, beautifully fried comfort food.

Bogart Loves started out three years ago as a bakery stand at the Kingfield Farmers Market, but is now poised to become a full-time “old school doughnut shop” bricks-and-mortar venture helmed by Rucker out of the small, former Amelia’s Flower & Garden Shoppe space in South Minneapolis.

“I had it in my mind that I wanted a very small space, which is hard to find,” says Rucker of her one-year search for a location. “The space I have leased, there’s no seating — there’s just a counter. I really want to start small, because I’m kind of petrified that I’m opening up my own spot.”

The menu follows the theme of the cozy space: “We’re just doing doughnuts and coffee, which to me sounds awesome,” she says.

The spot will offer Rucker’s five most popular doughnuts: nutella-filled, brown butter-glazed, French-style buttercream-filled, lavender cake doughnuts, and chocolate cake doughnuts.

Rucker says she plans to have the place kosher-certified, and will offer a house blend of coffee roasted by Roundtable Coffee Works in St. Paul.

“The idea behind the coffee was old-school diner coffee, but on a higher level,” she says. “It’s a dark roast and nutty, chocolatey — just like a really good basic dark roast coffee. I’m trying to have this high-end / low-end coffee thing going on.”

Buildout begins in January and Rucker hopes to have doors open by late March, 2014.

Bars Bakery (opening second location in St. Paul’s skyway near 6th and Cedar in 2014; raising money through Kickstarter)
2111 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis

St. Paul’s Bars Bakery has made a name for itself with rich, scrumptious renditions of its eponymous snack plus some of the best caramel and cinnamon rolls in the Cities. And now the bakery is set to expand to the former Jerabek’s location in the St. Paul skyway.

“We have a really nice kitchen space in here that can certainly take more baking than we’re doing,” says Bars owner Kara Younkin Viswanathan. “So we’ve been throwing the idea around for a year or so.”

For Viswanathan, the new location is an extension of the family atmosphere she’s cultivated at Bars since its opening in September of 2010. “I like working with my mom, and nobody cares about me like my mom, and she cares about my kids, too,” says Viswanathan. “It’s kind of a different environment than people usually find in their careers.”

The hours at the new spot will be manageable: five days a week from 7am-2pm to take advantage of skyway traffic, plus a bit of an expanded menu (breakfast platters and sandwiches) to appeal to office workers.

The bakery’s Kickstarter drive is already more than halfway to its $5,000 goal with 24 days to go. You get a T-shirt and a half-dozen bars at the $25 pledge level, so kudos to Bars for giving back to its backers.

NOW OPEN

Courtesy of Honey & Rye Bakehouse
Courtesy of Honey & Rye Bakehouse
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

CLOSED / CLOSING:

      • Serlin’s Cafe, 1124 Payne Ave, St. Paul
      • Sahara, 408 Cedar Ave, Minneapolis (now Baarakallah Restaurant, different ownership)
      • Turkey to Go, 56 E 6th St, St. Paul
      • Mediterranean Deli, 523 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis
      • Lift Coffee and Treats, 451 Stinson Blvd, Minneapolis
      • The Bikery, 904 4th St S, Stillwater
      • True Thai, 2627 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis | A re-opening is promised.
      • Sally’s Saloon and Eatery, 712 Washington Ave SE | Closed for remodeling until summer 2014.
      • Buster’s on 28th, 4204 S 28th Ave, Minneapolis | Temporary closure due to fire.

COMING UP:

Minneapolis

      • The Salad Bar, 40 S 7th St (Skyway level), Minneapolis
      • Kyatchi, 3758 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis
      • Little Szechuan Stadium Village, 304 Oak St SE, Minneapolis
      • A Cupcake Social, near 38th St and 28th Ave | November 2013
      • Lyn 65 Kitchen and Bar, Richfield
      • Mango Sushi and Desserts, 233 Cedar Ave | 2013
      • The Triton, 1610 Harmon Pl, Minneapolis
      • Betty Danger’s Country Club, 2519 Marshall St, Minneapolis | Early Spring 2014
      • Hammer & Sickle Vodka Bar, 1300 Lagoon Ave, Minneapolis
      • Coup d’état, Uptown Minneapolis
      • Day Block Brewing Company, 1105 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis | Brewing now, opening soon.
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

St. Paul

      • Saint Dinette, Lowertown, St. Paul | Opens April
Courtesy Urban Growler
Courtesy Urban Growler

Greater Twin Cities Area

      • LTD (Live the Dream) Brewing, 812 Mainstreet, Hopkins, MN | March 2014
      • Patrick’s Bakery Tarte Flambee restaurant, I-94 & Hemlock Ln, Maple Grove, MN | January 2014
      • Castle Danger Brewery, Two Harbors brewery expansion and taproom | 2014
      • Jordan Brewery, Jordan, MN | 2013
      • Cafe Sol, Burnsville | Opening in doubt
      • Tin Whiskers Brewing Co., Roseville | Opens 2013
      • Travail and The Rookery, Robbinsdale | Opens fall 2013
      • Crooked Pint Ale House, Apple Valley; another location possible at 40th St and Lyndale Ave

The Tap is the Heavy Table’s guide to area restaurant openings, closings, and other major events. The Tap is compiled and published biweekly by the Heavy Table. If you have tips for The Tap, please email James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.

Readers: Win The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food

The Tap loves restaurant tips from readers, so we’re awarding a copy of The Secret Atlas of North Coast Food to the best tipster of November and December. The Tap is the metro area’s comprehensive restaurant buzz roundup, so if you see a new or newly shuttered restaurant, or anything that’s “coming soon,” email Tap editor James Norton at editor@heavytable.com.