Win Pint Glasses, Bread & Pickle, Republic, River Chocolate Company, Gather, and more

Readers: Win a pair of Heavy Table pint glasses

The Tap loves restaurant tips from readers, so we’re going to award two Heavy Table pint glasses to the best tipster each month, starting in May. 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 The Tap editor Jason Walker at jason@heavytable.com.

Bread & Pickle (opens this week)

4135 W. Lake Harriet Parkway | breadandpickle.com

The long-discussed, often-contentious transition of the old Lake Harriet concession stand into something bigger and better has finally culminated in Bread & Pickle, which is set to open this week.

Kim Bartmann, the Bryant-Lake Bowl, Barbette and Red Stag restaurateur whose concept beat out 10 other proposals for the spot, will offer a local- and organic-focused menu of sandwiches, salads, breakfast, espress,o and ice cream – a huge upgrade from the old hot dogs-and-nachos concession – and will hit just in time for bandshell concert season.

“We’re going to open at 7 am with egg sandwiches, granola, and fruit until 11, and we’re going to have an espresso machine with coffee,” Bartmann said. “We got a wireless booster so you can come down there with your iPad and hang out under the building and pretend to be working.”

The menu, which will change with the summer harvest, will also offer picnics, where patrons could order a box of sandwiches and potato salad or a mix of charcuterie, cheeses, and a baguette.

“We’re just pretty much responding to what people wanted down there,” Bartmann said. “We’re going to try and do a zero-waste thing around the bandshell and with the concessions. We’re not having bottled water, because there was a big problem with bottles being in the lake all the time. We’re going to be selling local products; we try to have a range of price points. The hot dog is $4, the ‘works burger’ with cheese with everything on it is $8-something, which I think is pretty reasonable for grass-fed, organic local beef.”

Bread & Pickle will be open through Labor Day and possibly later, depending on weather. There won’t be beer and wine this year, but Bartmann did not rule it out for the future.

“If we have a (warm) year like last year, we’ll be open until Halloween,” she said. “That would make up for the crappy spring. Last year, Vita.mn did a music and movie thing on Friday nights after Labor Day in September and that went really well… we’ll be looking for some people who want to do that kind of stuff.”

Look for an update on Pat’s Tap, Bartmann’s brewpub opening in early June, in next week’s edition of The Tap.

Republic (opens this week)

221 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.338.6146 | republicmn.com

Matty O’Reilly, owner of the Aster Cafe and 318 in Excelsior, is behind Republic, a brewpub coming to the former Preston’s space in the Seven Corners district. O’Reilly said his new joint would feature 22 craft, six Belgian, and four German beers and a quality-focused menu.

“It’s a little more thoughtful approach to food,” he said. “Ninety percent of our menu is 10 dollars or under – it’s burgers, it’s sandwiches, it’s French fries, it’s salads, but we’re not just slicing open frozen boxes of food to make that possible. It’s more hands-on, real ingredients; it’s affordable, accessible food.”

O’Reilly hopes Republic can draw a diverse audience to the area near the U of M’s West Bank, which recently has seen Grandma’s Saloon and Bullwinkle’s go out of business.

“We’re not doing anything that should alienate anyone who used to come here,” he said. “We’re a bar. We have 32 tap beers and a full liquor license. But we’re taking away the things like the fishbowls and concentrating on really, really good food.

“I’ve come to the conclusion that kids are smart. These days, the it’s almost like their intelligence was being insulted by what some of these places do. Students are brilliant, and they deserve something treated with respect.”

Like Republic’s commitment to wine, which will have nine whites and nine reds topping out at $8 a glass.

“Our wine program was very intentional, just a global representation of a good batch of varietals,” O’Reilly said. “It’s really, really cool that people will be able to come in here and try a lot of things and not pay over $8. To have glasses of wine in big 6-7-ounce pours for $4 — it’s relatively nonexistent in the neighborhood given that we’re near a college campus. People hear ’32 tap beers’ and they don’t usually start asking questions about your wine program, but I’m pretty proud of that little list.”

Republic will be open 4 pm-1 am initially, with plans for brunch beginning later this summer.

River Chocolate Company (closed)

2822 W 43rd St, Minneapolis

After opening in February (see our story here), Deirdre Davis’ gourmet shop in Linden Hills has oddly and abruptly closed. According to Hennepin County Court records, owners Davis and Allen Whitney were taken to court on April 4 by landlords Schwier & Saphir LLC for failure to pay rent, and they were evicted May 5. A quick check Monday found a bare shop with the sign down and only some shelves remaining in the store. River Chocolate’s Facebook page mentioned plans to appear at opening weekend of the Mill City Farmers Market, so perhaps the retail location was just a colossal dud, but it had barely lasted a month before the rent check went missing.

Gather (opens June 2)

1750 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.253.3410 | walkerart.org/gather

D’Amico’s new mostly-lunch spot at Walker Art Center, Gather, is set to open June 2 in the former 20.21. Chef is Josh Brown, a Masa and Campiello veteran whose menu of “locally sourced, globally inspired modern American cuisine” will be served from 11:30 am-2:30 pm Tues.-Sun. and 5-9 pm Thursdays. Also, on the first Thursday of the month, a guest chef will provide a free small bite menu during a “sampling series.” First up is D’Amico’s Jay Sparks; Alex Roberts of Restaurant Alma and Brasa is scheduled July 7. The new lunch-heavy theme likely makes sense at the Walker; and with D’Amico’s muscle and a great view, Gather will probably fare well.

NOW OPEN

• The Nook, 492 Hamline Ave S, St. Paul (reopen again after fire) | 651.698.4347 | Our take
• The Lowry Cafe, 2207 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis | 612.284.7087 | Find it on Facebook
• Bullfrog Cajun Bar, 1111 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.339.0638 | Find it on Facebook
• Wuollet Bakery, 200 S. 6th St (U.S. Bank Plaza skyway), Minneapolis | www.wuollet.com
• Morgan’s New World Tavern, 14201 Nicollet Ave, Burnsville | 952.435.2100 | Find it on Facebook
• Soul Daddy, Mall of America, Bloomington | 952.854.1900 | souldaddyrestaurant.com

• Burger Jones, 1617 Cty Rd 42, Burnsville | 952.885.2289 | burgerjones.com
• ALM Corner Cafe, 3301 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis | 612.781.3526
• | Find it on Facebook
• Pacific Islander Cuisine, 920 E Lake St #114, Minneapolis (Midtown Global Market) | 612.874.0944 | Find it on Facebook
• Pizza Ranch, 16995 Kenyon Ave, Lakeville | 952.898.3333 | pizzaranch.com
• Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 3090 Courthouse Ln, Suite 100, Eagan; 14165 James Rd, Rogers; 3195 Vicksburg Ln, Plymouth | www.dickeys.com
• Masu Sushi & Robata, 330 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.332.6278 | Our take
• Goda Cafe, 3400 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.823.3535
• Modern Times Cafe, 3200 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.886.3882 | Find it on Facebook
• Current, 3291 St. Croix Trail S, Afton | 651.436.8883 | currentrestaurant.com
• GreenSpoon, 2600 University Ave SE, Minneapolis | 612.208.0529 | Find it on Facebook
• Rachel’s, 222 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.379.3345
• The Nicollet, 1931 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.424.5513 | the-nicollet.com
• Glory Days Bar and Grill, 500 Fifth Ave NW, New Brighton | 651.633.2226
• The Tin Fish, 3000 Calhoun Pkwy E, Minneapolis | 612.823.5840 | thetinfish.net
• Victory 44 Coffee Bar & Provisions, 2201 44th Ave N, Minneapolis | 612.287.8399 | victory-44.com
• Rusty Taco, Lexington Pkwy, St. Paul | 612.916.2244 | rustytacomn.com
• Sea Salt, 4801 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis |  612.721.8990 | www.seasalteatery.wordpress.com
• Bull Run Roasting Co., 3346 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.545.5972 | bullrunroasting.com
• Chilly Billy’s, 314 15th Ave SE, Minneapolis | 612.843.4278 | chillybillysfrozenyogurt.com
• Shanghai Bistro, 324 Main St S, Stillwater | 651.430.9000 | Find it on Facebook
• Patriots Tavern, 145 New England Place, Stillwater | patriotstav.com
• First National Green Room, 215 S Main St, Stillwater | 651.342.0215 | Find it on Facebook
• Sopranos Italian Kitchen, 5331 W. 16th St, St. Louis Park | Our take
• American Burger Bar, 800 LaSalle Place (8th and Hennepin), Minneapolis | americanburgerbar.com
• Pizza Ranch, 1220 Hwy 25 S Suite 104, Monticello | 320.250.8095 | pizzaranch.com
• Sun Street Breads, 4600 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.747.4699 | Our take
• Tilia, 2726 W 43rd St, Minneapolis | 612.354.2806 | Our take
• Indochin, 1702 Grand Ave, St. Paul | 651.690.2728
• Wally’s Roast Beef, 8120 Penn Ave S, Bloomington | 952.884.4349 | Our take
• Black Sheep Pizza, 512 N Robert St, St. Paul | 651.227.4337 | blacksheeppizza.com
• Cowboy Jack’s, 2801 Southtown Drive, Bloomington | 952.955.8137 | theaftermidnightgroup.com

CLOSED / CLOSING:

• River Chocolate Company, 2822 W 43rd St, Minneapolis
• Buon Giorno Express, 335 University Ave E, St. Paul
• North Washington Cafe, 700 N Washington Ave, Minneapolis
• Forum, 40 S 7th St, Minneapolis
• Bread, Coffee and Cake, 385 S. Wabasha St, St. Paul | breadcoffeecake.com
• Stabby’s Cafe, 4159 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis
• Steamworks Coffee & Tea, 2201 44th Ave N, Minneapolis
• Panchero’s Mexican Grill, 600 Hennepin Ave (Block E), Minneapolis | pancheros.com
• Porky’s, 1890 University Ave W, St. Paul
• A&W, 3006 Rice St, Roseville
• Bullwinkles, 1429 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis
• Cars-R-Coffins, 3346 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis
• Kozy’s, 3220 Galleria, Edina
• Tillie’s Bean, 2803 E 38th St, Minneapolis
• Dragonfly Coffee, 5001 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis

COMING UP:

• Republic, 221 Cedar Ave S, Minneapolis (former Preston’s). Opens this week. | 612.338.6146 | republicmn.com
• Bread & Pickle, 4135 W. Lake Harriet Pkwy (at bandshell), Minneapolis. Opens this week. | breadandpickle.com

• Crave, 825 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis (former Palomino). Opens May 19. | craveamerica.com
• Adagio Cafe, 5001 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens this month.
• Wise Acre Eatery, 5401 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis (in former Liberty Frozen Custard). Opens this month. | tangletowngardens.com
• Little Szechuan, 5377 16th St, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park. Opens this month. | littleszechuan.com
• Gather, 1750 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis. Opens June 2. | 612.253.3410 | walkerart.org/gather
• Brasa Viva Brazil, 913 W Lake St, Minneapolis. Opens this spring.
• Turtle Bread, 4205 E 34th St, Minneapolis. Opens this spring. | turtlebread.com
• Pat’s Tap, 3510 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in June. | 612.822.8216 | patstap.com
• Blue Point, 4400 78th St, Bloomington. Opens this spring.
• Las Tortillas Mexican Restaurant, 15051 Crestone Ave, Rosemount. Opens this spring. |  lastortillas.net
• Maeve’s Cafe, 300 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis. Opens Spring 2011. | 612.379.1033 | maeves.com
• Muddy Waters Bar and Eatery, 2933 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens this summer.
• Urban Bean, 2401 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens this summer. | urbanbeancoffee.com
• Blue Ox Coffee Company, 3740 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in June. | 612.220.7253 |  Find it on Facebook
• Mill Valley Kitchen, 3900 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park. Opens in June.
• The Lowry, 2112 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in July. | blueplaterestaurantcompany.com
• Humble Pie, 822 W. 36th St., Minneapolis. Kim Bartmann’s revamp of Gigi’s. Coming this summer. | 612.825.0818
• Rosa Mexicano, 6th and Hennepin, Minneapolis (in City Center next to Fogo de Chao). Opens this summer. | rosamexicano.com
• Chilango Cantina, 212 E Seventh St, St. Paul. Opens this summer.
• Zen Box Izakaya, 225 Portland Ave S, Minneapolis. Opens in August. | zen-box.com
• Pig & Fiddle, 3808 W. 50th St, Minneapolis. Opens this summer.
• Eat Street Social, 26th and Nicollet, Minneapolis. Opens this summer.
• Cranky’s Bicycle Bar, E. Lake St, Minneapolis. | Find it on Facebook
• La Crepe Nanou, Huey’s 24/7 Diner, The Wine Loft, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park. Opening this fall. | lacrepenanou.com | hueys247diner.com | thewineloft.net
• Pittsburgh Blue, 3200 Galleria (former Kozy’s), Edina. Opens this fall. |pittsburghbluesteak.com
• Mi Sinaloa, 3801 Chicago Ave S, Minneapolis
• Blue Door Pub, 26th and Nicollet, Minneapolis | thebdp.com
• Five Guys, 230 7th St, St. Paul | fiveguys.com
• YO!Sushi | Company says five metro locations coming, first in Minneapolis in 2011 | yosushi.com

The Tap is The Heavy Table’s guide to area restaurant openings, closings, and other major events. The Tap is compiled by Heavy Table writer Jason Walker, and will be published biweekly. If you already subscribe to our newsletter, look for an emailed version of The Tap every other week — otherwise, you can find it on the website on alternating Tuesdays.
If you’ve got tips for The Tap, please email Jason Walker at jason@heavytable.com. Follow The Tap on Twitter at @jasonwalkermpls.