The Tap: Liberty Frozen Custard, Sopranos Italian Kitchen and more

The Tap by Jason Walker

Liberty Frozen Custard (closing Jan. 28)
5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis | 612.823.8700 | libertyfrozencustard.com

This will come as a bitter blow to some: Owners Steve and Vicky Uhr are closing their South Minneapolis custard shop. Opening in 2004 as a quaint, retro space housed in a former service station, Liberty was considered one of the best ice cream / custard shops in the Twin Cities. So, Liberty fans, you’ve got about two weeks left to get your fix. “We’re having a big sale,” Uhr said. “Four pints for $9.99 the rest of the month. And if people come in and they want us to make flavors, we can probably make it special for them.” Uhr declined to elaborate on the reason for the store’s closure.

Sopranos Italian Kitchen (opening in March)
5331 W 16th St, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park  | sopranosmn.com

That Ringo space wasn’t going to stay vacant very long, and now we know a well-known Twin Cities chef, J.P. Samuelson, will be helming its new tenant, Sopranos Italian Kitchen. A press release described the menu as “traditional, flavorful dishes such wood-fired steaks, hand-made pasta dishes including risotto and gnocchi, and rotisserie chicken,” which is ho-hum in itself until you consider Samuelson’s mix-it-up reputation from his days at jP American Bistro. “The menu will be a great blend of artisan cooking and simple, flavorful, locally sourced Italian dishes that will change seasonally,” he said. At the very least, his presence is a coup for owner Kam Talebi, creator of the burgeoning Crave franchise, who’s hoping Samuelson’s seasonal changes will work better with the shopping crowd than Ringo’s monthly “destination” menus.

NOW OPEN

  • Heidi’s, 2903 Lyndale Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.354.3512 | heidismpls.com
  • Mazopiya, 27571 Credit Union Dr, Prior Lake | 952.233.9140 | mazopiya.com
  • Himalayan Restaurant II, 765 53rd Ave NE, Fridley | 763.586.9800
  • The Herb Box, 755 Prairie Center Dr, Eden Prairie | 952.829.8484 | theherbbox.com
  • Andiamo Italian Ristorante, 1629 Lena Ct, Eagan | 651.289.2000 | andiamomn.com
  • Le CrazyTaste Bakery, 1316 SE 4th St, Minneapolis | 612.331.4388
  • On’s Thai Kitchen, 1613 University Ave W, St. Paul | 651.644.1444
  • Lucy’s, 3025 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis | 612.344.5829
  • Cocina del Barrio, 5036 France Ave S, Edina | 952-920-1860 | barriotequila.com
  • Naviya’s Thai Brasserie, 2812 W 43rd St, Minneapolis | 612.276.5062
  • Pollo Campero, 1572 S Robert St, St. Paul | campero.com
  • Hazel’s Northeast, 2859 Johnson St NE, Minneapolis | 612.788.4778 | hazelsnortheast.com
Kate NG Sommers / Heavy Table
  • Meritage (open again after brief remodel), 410 St. Peter St, St. Paul | 651.222.5670 | meritage-stpaul.com
  • North Washington Cafe, 700 Washington Ave N, Minneapolis | 612.236.9444 | northwashingtoncafe.com
  • Falafel King, 1851 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis | falafelking.com
  • People’s Organic Coffee & Wine Cafe, 3545 Galleria, Edina (near Crate & Barrel) | 952.426.1856 | peoplesorganiccoffee.com
  • Buffalo Wild Wings, 2001 SE University Ave, Minneapolis | 612.617.9464 | buffalowildwings.com
  • In Season, 5416 Penn Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.926.0105 | inseasonrestaurant.com
  • Blackbird, 3800 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | 612.823.4790 | blackbirdmpls.com
  • Pinstripes, 3849 Gallagher Dr, Edina | 952.835.6437 | pinstripes.com
  • The Inn, 89 S 10th St, Minneapolis | 612.886.2377 | inneats.com
  • Mozza Mia, 3910 W 50th St, Edina | 952.288.2882 | mozzamia.com
  • Pizzeria Lola, 5557 Xerxes Ave S, Minneapolis | 612-424-8338 | pizzerialola.com
  • Psycho Suzi’s, 1900 Marshall St NE | 612.788.9069 | psychosuzis.com
  • BLVD Kitchen and Bar, 11544 W Wayzata Blvd, Minnetonka | 763-398-3200 | blvdkitchen.com
  • Filfilah Restaurant and Grill, 4301 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis
  • Steepery Tea Bar, 783 Radio Dr, Woodbury | 651.788.9759 | teagardeninc.com
Becca Dilley / Heavy Table

CLOSED / CLOSING:

  • Town Talk Diner, 2707 E Lake St, Minneapolis
  • Liberty Frozen Custard, 5401 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis (closing Jan. 28) | libertyfrozencustard.com
  • Om, 401 First Ave N, Minneapolis
  • Volnay Bistro Bar, 331 Broadway, Wayzata (reopening in new location this spring) | volnaybistro.com
  • The View, 2730 W Lake St, Minneapolis (reopening as Urban Eatery)
  • Nordeast Eatery, 2100 Summer St NE, Minneapolis
  • Classic Pizza, 1048 Rice St, St. Paul
  • Chateau Lamothe, 14351 Nicollet Ct, Burnsville
  • The Kitchen, 324 Main St S, Stillwater
  • Da Afghan, 929 W 80th St, Bloomington
  • Kieran’s Old Pub, 330 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis
  • 501 Club, 501 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis
  • St. Martin’s Table, 2001 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis
  • Ringo, 5331 W 16th St, St. Louis Park
  • Zahtar, 755 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie (in Lifetime Fitness)
  • Cafe Bonxai, 1613 University Ave W, St. Paul
  • Palomino, 825 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis

COMING UP:

  • The Lowbrow, 4244 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis. Opening late January. | 612.208.0720 | thelowbrowmpls.com
  • Sopranos Italian Kitchen, 5331 W 16th St, St. Louis Park (former Ringo) | sopranosmn.com
  • American Burger Bar, 800 LaSalle Place (8th and Hennepin), Minneapolis | americanburgerbar.com
  • Patriot’s Tavern, 145 New England Pl, Stillwater. Will be owned by Brent and Brian Pilrain of Roma Market in Willernie. Scheduled to open this month.
  • The Bullfrog, 1111 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis. Opens March 1.
  • Blue Point, 4400 78th St, Bloomington. Opening spring 2011.
  • Las Tortillas Mexican Restaurant, 15051 Crestone Ave, Rosemount
  • Maeve’s Cafe, 300 13th Ave NE, Minneapolis | 612.379.1033 | maeves.com
  • Turtle Bread, 4205 E 34th St, Minneapolis, opening in early 2011 | turtlebread.com
  • Tilia, 2726 W 43rd St, Minneapolis | 612.618.3069 | tiliampls.com
  • Crave, 825 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis (former Palomino) | craveamerica.com
  • Sweets Bakeshop, 4747 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis | sweetsbakeshop.com
  • The Lowry Cafe, 2207 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis
  • Bread & Pickle, Lake Harriet bandshell, Minneapolis. Opening April 1 (weather permitting).
  • Rosa Mexicano, 6th and Hennepin, Minneapolis (in City Center next to Fogo de Chao) | rosamexicano.com
  • Black Sheep Pizza, Rossmor Building, downtown St. Paul | 612.342.COAL | blacksheeppizza.com
  • Masu Sushi & Robata, 330 E Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis. Opening spring 2011.
  • Blue Door Pub, 26th and Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis
  • Pat’s Tap, 3510 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis
  • Sun Street Breads, 4600 Nicollet Ave S, Minneapolis. A brick-and-mortar location for Solveig Tofte, opening March 2011. | sunstreetbreads.com
  • Cranky’s Bicycle Bar, E Lake St, Minneapolis. Opening spring 2011. | crankysbicyclebar.com
  • Wuollet Bakery, 200 S 6th St (U.S. Bank Plaza skyway), Minneapolis | www.wuollet.com
  • Chilango Cantina, Lowertown, St. Paul
  • Betty’s Pies, Mall of America | bettyspies.com
  • Little Szechuan, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park | littleszechuan.com
  • La Crepe Nanou, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park | lacrepenanou.com
  • Huey’s 24/7 Diner, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park | hueys247diner.com
  • The Wine Loft, Shops at West End, St. Louis Park | thewineloft.net
  • Burger Jones, 1617 County Road 42, Burnsville. Opening spring 2011. | burgerjones.com
  • Pizza Ranch, 1220 Highway 25 S Suite 104, Monticello | 320.250.8095 | pizzaranch.com
  • YO!Sushi | Company says five metro locations coming, first in Minneapolis in 2011. | yosushi.com
  • Mill Valley Kitchen, 3900 Excelsior Blvd, St. Louis Park
  • Cowboy Jack’s, 2801 Southtown Drive, Bloomington. Opening mid-February.
  • Shakey’s Pizza, Plymouth

6 Comments

  1. Moe

    As nice as the new Kieran’s is, I still really miss the original, and had hoped that Kieran’s Old Pub would remain open for at least a little while longer.

  2. king michael

    As somebody who doesn’t go out of his way for custard, I am highly disappointed to read that Liberty is closing. When I lived close to it, I went there periodically. Nowadays I only stop by once or twice a year. I am very sad to read that this great location is closing. They put a ton of work into it. I drove by it years ago, when it was just an abandoned service station. What it is now: spectacular. Not sure what else it would be good for besides food service, but that place is always busy in the summer. If a craptastic drive-in chain can survive in Minnesota, surely the American dream can survive on Nicollet, right?

  4. Lindsey

    La Crepe Nanou is a New Orleans bistro (and that is where the website links to). Is this a second location or a new restaurant with the same name?

  5. Jason Walker

    La Crepe Nanou and Hueys 24/7 Diner are both out of New Orleans and probably owned by the same company, which may explain things. I wondered the same thing when I heard about La Crepe Nanou and went to its website. The West End is going to have its share of restaurants, that’s for sure.

Comments are closed.