The March Hit List: EaTo, Rosalia Pizza, Joan’s in the Park, and More

When the team behind Eastside decided to take the space in a new direction, they went big. Not content with just a restaurant, they added a bar. And a market. And a meat counter. And a bottle shop. And a patio and take-out counter. The result was EaTo, which was brought to life with the help of chef Jamie Malone. Italian dishes reign supreme, items like chicken Parmesan and veal saltimbocca. And while there’s pizza, there are also pizza puffs, rustic-looking pockets of dough filled with goodies like olives and cheese or spreadable pepperoni. There’s also an eye-catching cocktail list, the work of local drinks master Marco Zappia, who shows off his creativity with alcoholic and NA options.

Chef David Fhima and son Eli are banking on downtown coming back to life. Their newest venture, Mother Dough Bakery, has taken up residence in the former street-level Peace Coffee location in Capella Tower — the one adjacent to the comfy lounge with its signature fire pit. Mother Dough is a daytime destination serving bread made from the sourdough starter that’s been nurtured by their family for 130 years. You’ll also find a selection of pastries, salads, sandwiches, and soup, as well as beer and wine (happy hour runs from 2-6 p.m., Wednesday-Friday). Be on the lookout for the opening of the skyway-level sister spot in the same building later this spring.

No reservations.

While this quirky downtown Minneapolis mainstay may still be closed because of the pandemic, they’ve opened a new location just a little bit east, in Stillwater. As with the original, the menu leans Italian, described by the owner as “tracksuit” Italian (i.e., casual and approachable). Appetizers include a giant mozzarella-stuffed meatball, chevre bruschetta, and crispy artichoke hearts, while mains run to handmade pastas, pizzas, and handhelds (aka sandwiches). The sexy bar, bathed in a red glow and decorated with soft steel accents, is sure to be a popular destination. Become a regular and you may want to sign up for the Sinner & Saints Rewards Program, which offers points for dollars spent.

“Intimate” is the first word that comes to mind to describe this fine-dining restaurant nestled in a residential neighborhood of St. Paul. The second would be “wow!” Chef Susan Dunlop is one heck of a matchmaker when it comes to ingredients, coming up with pairings that, after one bite, just seem meant to be. Items change by the season, but recent offerings included pork belly with a pear compote, arugula, and pineapple chips; foie gras with apple chutney and a foie-and-vanilla bean custard; and watermelon radishes with turnips, gorgonzola, shiso, and peanut brittle. Each dish on the four-course prix-fixe menu ($79) — made up of multiple options per course, so you can choose your own adventure — is a visual delight, served on white plates that make the food pop. Add the wine pairing ($38) for a truly robust experience.

Here’s something you don’t run across every day: a sushi restaurant with Japanese and Tibetan influences. And now there are two in the Twin Cities. Chef Sonam Nyorie, an immigrant from Tibet, opened Momo Sushi in Northeast Minneapolis first. Then Rinpo Yak, his brother, came on board to help launch Ama last fall. Sushi runs the spectrum from classic nigiri and rolls to wilder creations like the Crazy Monkey (fried banana, cream cheese, and crab meat) or the Tibet Mountain Roll (steak, avocado, cheese, crunch, and a special sauce). Momos, though, are the signature Tibetan dish. You can order the steamed dumplings on their own or as part of a soup. A load of other non-sushi fare is available, too, including noodle dishes, teriyaki, fried rice, and tempura.

Reservations for 6+ people only.

This little place on Snelling Avenue is biscuit nirvana. There are plain biscuits and biscuits with (vegetarian) gravy, biscuits that cradle bacon and eggs and ones that wrap around slabs of fried chicken. You can even purchase frozen versions to bake at home. If that’s all that were offered, it would be enough, a good stop for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner. But, praise be, there’s more: an irresistible slate of pies. In the mood for something savory? Opt for a chicken or vegetable pot pie. Sweet more your speed? You can’t go wrong with a slice of banana cream, toasted vanilla, or the Cheez-It Pie: a cracker crumb crust, caramelized peanut butter custard filling, with a chocolate-y, Cheez-It-y crumble on top. Oh, and any of those can be blended with ice cream for one of the signature pie shakes if you want to doubly indulge.

When it’s time to take tea, you’ll find a warm welcome at the Mad Hatter, located in a historic house dating back to the mid-1800s. Tiered stands arrive at your table laden with scones and three accompaniments (lemon curd, apple butter, and sweet cream), an assortment of finger sandwiches, and a trio of desserts — all paired with a pot of bottomless hot tea. For your mini-mes, there’s even a mini tea, with bites geared toward the younger set. They also serve a fabulous brunch, where breakfast and lunch are equally represented — French toast and egg dishes sit alongside Swedish meatballs and sandwiches on the large menu. Don’t miss Mimosa Madness: pink bubbles and OJ that can be elevated with a shot of elderflower, ginger-peach, lavender, raspberry, or peach flavoring.

This Uptown restaurant is beloved by night owls, as it’s one of the few spots in the area where you can get food until midnight and drinks until 1 a.m., every night of the week. If you’re just looking for a bite to pair with one of the craft cocktails or a glass of wine, the snacks and small plates sections offer plenty of variety, including cheese or meat plates, skin-on fries served with a malt vinegar aioli, and deviled eggs bedecked with herring roe from Lake Superior. While entrees lean to the meaty side, there’s usually a pasta that’ll satisfy vegetarians, along with a seafood dish or two. Keep an eye on their social channels to stay in the know about specials, like half off all bottles of wine on Mondays or the raved-about fried chicken sandwich on Sundays, plus new food and drink additions.

Wood-fired pizza from the mind of chef Daniel del Prado — how can you go wrong? When he took over the space next to his restaurant Martina, del Prado brought in a brick oven from Naples. The set-up produces a crispy, blistered crust, a blank slate for ingredient combos such as provolone, chimichurri, and prosciutto or mushrooms, Gruyère, and porcini cream. There’s even an homage to fellow chef Isaac Becker (Bar La Grassa), where raw tuna is the star. For those who can’t get enough of being outside, the patio is open Thursday through Saturday; heat lamps and fire pits will keep you warm.

Since opening their bright-red food truck in 2019, Richard Xiong and Mary Vang have bounced between a few locations in the east metro. In December, however, they put down roots in a low-key, red-awninged building in St. Paul, bringing with them the brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork, beef ribs, and more, all smoked over local oak. Plates come with two sides, your choice of sauce (sweet, spicy, or Hmong pepper), and pickled onions, while sandwiches are accompanied by chips and those onions. While official hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, we don’t recommend pushing your luck by arriving too close to closing time — they frequently sell out early. Check their Facebook feed for menus and updates.