The August Hit List: 112 Eatery, Josefina, Duke’s on 7, and More

It’s been full speed ahead for Isaac Becker’s trio of restaurants since reopening in early June, and 112 Eatery, the doyenne of the group at age 16, is still a hot reservation. Chicly cozy and intimate, the warm brick and wood dining room fills up with patrons welcoming back missed dishes like the tagliatelle with foie gras meatballs, the sweet burrata toast with walnut pesto, and the imposing burger, caught between two halves of an English muffin, melted brie running down its sides. The wine list is as extensive as ever, with more than five dozen glasses, half bottles, and bottle options ready for toasting.

Chef Daniel del Prado is wooing fans to the western suburbs with his take on Italian cuisine — Roman cuisine, to be exact. Pizza toppings like garlic confit-Calabrian chile-oregano or sausage-red onion-green olive-pepperoncini arrive cradled in a blistered crust, evidence of their quick sojourn in the centerpiece wood-burning oven. But there’s so much else to fall in love with: the bigeye tuna crudo, the suppli (fried rice bites), the seared scallops with corn and bacon. The bar’s cocktail game is strong, too. Looking to impress? Try the shareable martini: a carafe of vodka, gin, and vermouth served on ice, seafood platter-style, and paired with olives and lemon. Oysters are optional, but really, why not indulge?

From the masterminds behind the Herbivorous Butcher comes this take-out venture serving faux fried chicken — and they nail it. Seitan strips so meaty that you might second guess what you’re eating are dipped in batter and fried until golden brown and perfectly crispy-crunchy, the protein inside remaining tender and flavorful. Nestled under the “chicken” in each bucket is a layer of tater tots, and each small, medium, and large serving comes with at least one side, sauce, and biscuit. Brand-new to the menu: a fried chicken sandwich, accented with pickles and served with tots. Dairy-free shakes and malts are also available — and delicious.

No reservations.

Co-owner Justin Ahlstrom’s grandmother, a former restaurateur, was the inspiration for this from-scratch kitchen that’s setting itself apart in Andover. You’ll find homages to her throughout the brunch and dinner menus: Margie’s Classic Breakfast, Margie’s Exceptionale burger, the Grandma’s Jokes pizza (“pretty corny, a little spicy”). But grandma’s cooking this isn’t. Instead, Justin and his wife, Becky, create dishes that fall on the more modern side (elotes, burrata crostini, a Jalapeño Jam burger, the Blackened Salmon Tostada salad). Community Partner Nights celebrate other local small businesses, (like Tattersall Distilling (whose spirits fuel the drink offerings), while Thursday evenings frequently mean live music.

The process is simple here: pick your shellfish, pick your sauce, pick your heat level. Then enjoy sipping on one of the cheekily monikered cocktails while you wait for your seafood boil to arrive. Maybe you’re in the mood for Louisiana crawfish. Perhaps the Dungeness crab is calling your name. Or might you be up for Le Grand Catch, a mix of everything they offer (aside from the aforementioned crab)? Armed with gloves, bibs, and crackers, you’ll be ready for anything that comes your way. And while you may not think you need sides, you need sides — the caramelized brussels sprouts and fried green tomatoes are two crowd favorites.

Surly is back! After closing last fall, one of Minnesota’s most beloved destination breweries is a destination again, serving up glasses, pints, and pitchers of its standout beers. The kitchen is open, too, delivering old favorites like giant pretzels, Hog Frites (smoked pork, a pepper Jack fondue, and a pickled relish atop fries), and the OG Surly Smash Burger, as well as tasty new items. It’s counter service only for now, so place your order and stake out a seat in the beer hall or outside on the sprawling patio.

No reservations.

If you’re looking for a new pup-friendly patio to try out this summer, head down Highway 7 to Duke’s. The latest restaurant from Craft & Crew goes above and beyond the obligatory water bowl, offering menu items geared toward your furry friend: salmon burgers, Boxer Bites (cookies), and free Peanut Butter Nilla Woofers during Yappy Hour. Meanwhile, you can nosh on tamale cakes, Parmesan truffled smashed potatoes, burgers, Korean fried cauliflower, and more while enjoying an adult beverage (the slushies in a rainbow of colors are perfect Instagram bait). Visit during the monthly Pints for Pups events, when $1 from every pint sold goes to a local rescue organization.

For reservations, call 952-767-2320.

Like many Indian restaurants, Raag has a menu big enough to lose yourself in. But that’s where the similarities start to wane. The ingredients may be familiar but the combinations and execution set this place apart. Original MasterChef India host Ajay Chopra developed the menu with an eye to reimagining traditional cuisine. The food is presented Bollywood-style — lots of dramatic flair and flourishes — with cocktails taking on the hues of a Holi celebration: turquoise for the rum and coconut Neel Gagan, dusky pink marking the guava-based Peru Blush. Happy hour means $7-8 drinks and a handful of specially priced appetizers.

At this Japanese-inspired dining room, the crew takes its ingredients — and sustainability — seriously. The supplier list reads like a who’s who of the Midwest: Larry Schultz Organic Farm and The Fish Guys (Minnesota), Peterson Craftsman Meats and Rishi Tea (Wisconsin), Berkwood Farms (Iowa). And the kitchen’s from-the-sea choices are guided by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program. In addition to sushi, skewers, rice dishes, and ramen, the menu holds a delightful surprise: a quartet of gourmet hot dogs, including one bedecked with avocado, chopped egg, and Japanese mayo. Finish with a scoop or two of yuzu ice cream from St. Paul’s Grand Ole Creamery.

While fans wait for the Minneapolis location of Alicia Hinze’s beloved bakery and café to open (expected this fall), the St. Paul original continues to draw crowds, especially on the weekends. Breakfast, brunch and lunch are served daily — expect comfort food favorites such as buttermilk pancakes, huevos rancheros Benedict, grilled cheese, and more. Don’t leave without checking out the pastry case. The Lowertown Twinkeys have a cult following, but there’s really no bad choice among the cinnamon rolls, sweet and savory breads, cupcakes, and the rotating array of seasonal pies, available full-sized, in mini versions, or as hand pies.

No reservations.