The November Hit List: Petite León, St. Paul Grill, Crasqui, and More

It’s always exciting news when one of our star chefs announces plans to open a new restaurant. While the Beach Club Residences across from lake Bde Maka Ska work to welcome Chilango from Jorge Guzmán, expected to launch early next year, take this time to get to know (or rediscover) his first endeavor, this bistro in South Minneapolis.

Here, Guzmán’s creative culinary approach, chef de cuisine Rhett Roberts’ skill, and Travis Serbus’ wizardry at the bar combine to create a dining experience that many have hailed as one of the best in the Twin Cities. The menu pulls from global influences, with an emphasis on the Mexican state of Yucatán and the coasts of Spain and Italy. The beets with whipped feta, the double-decker petite cheeseburger, and the pollo al carbon are popular dishes, and don’t miss the tarta de queso, a Basque-style cheesecake, at the end of the meal. The Mexican influence floats down to the selection of liquors, which includes almost three dozen agave spirits.

If you’re craving some tropical vibes, Crasqui just might sate you until vacation time. The floor alone, a sleek marbleized turquoise expanse, will have you thinking Caribbean Sea — perfect for a restaurant named after a tiny island just north of Caracas. Chef-owner Soleil Ramirez, who also runs Arepa Bar, gives diners a slightly upscale but still casual experience as she celebrates the foods of her home country. It’s hard to imagine a better way to start off your meal than with the tequeños, a classier Venezuelan version of cheese sticks — unless it’s the trio of mini arepas.

There’s plenty of seafood to choose from, as well as a solid array of gluten-free and vegetarian dishes (like the black bean soufflé, which may not win on looks but does on flavor). Whatever you do, don’t leave without trying one of the art-like desserts. The Cocotero might be the most impressive: a halved coconut shell filled with rum cake, coconut flan, and cocada cream, then garnished with coconut chips and flower petals. But the Recuerdos de Tivicari, a passionfruit mousse, definitely gives it a run for the money.

Find more info here.

A big shoutout to this Uptown stalwart, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month! Over the years, a lot has changed in the neighborhood, but the welcoming ambiance of this West Lake Street spot has been a constant. And they’ve created quite a following for plates such as the KFC (Korean fried cauliflower), loco moco (the Hawaiian classic), and the Luxe Burger, which ups the typical handheld game by adding black truffle and a foie gras butter. It’s not just about dinner, though. They’re open for brunch and lunch, too, Friday through Sunday. Stop in for items like chicken and waffles, a brisket sandwich, or one of the four flavors of house-smoked wings.

Heads up: The restaurant will be hosting its fourth annual Bourbon & BBQ Social in early December. It sold out last year, so if you’re interested, keep a keen eye on their website and socials for tickets. (Note that they’re closed through Nov. 3 for renovations.)

This pioneer of organic, farm-to-table cooking continues to bring the goods, whether you stop in for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or for a pastry and coffee (or perhaps something with a little more kick, like a chocolate old fashioned or a glass of malbec?) any time of day. The charm is that French Meadow morphs to fit your needs. Looking for something light? There are plenty of soups and salads to choose among. In the mood for something heartier? Check out the plentiful dinner entrees like braised beef with mashed potatoes, blackened fish tacos, or the plant-based green coconut curry. And just try to resist the bakery case while you’re up at the counter ordering. It’s sure to challenge your self-restraint as goodies like brownies, cookies, muffins, fruit crisps, and slices of cake vie for your attention. The best thing? Many of the items are gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan, just like the rest of the menu.

Two New Yorkers walk into a bar in Northeast. Well, actually a former supper club (Red Stag). And one of those New Yorkers now calls Minneapolis home. If you’re expecting some cheesy punchline, you’re going to be disappointed — because the kicker is that they bought that sopace and turned it into what’s becoming one of the coolest late-night hangs to open in recent years.

And by late night, we don’t mean the 10 p.m. close that’s become normalized in the Twin Cities in post-pandemic times but a wee-hours 2 a.m. (food until 1) every night of the week. There’s a pair of pool tables, a room for live music, lots of booths, a solid drink selection, and a small, upscale-ish food menu — think lamb shepherd’s pie, salmon en papillote, watermelon-arugula salad, a sage scrambled egg sandwich (at brunch on the weekend). There’s a lot to love and a lot of hours to love it.

Find more info here.

To say anticipation for this Korean-French bakery chain to land in Minnesota was high would be an understatement — lines snaked out the doors when it first opened this summer. And while the crowds have subsided, it’s still a good idea to get there early if you have your heart set on something specific. (All the baked goods are made fresh daily, and when they’re out, they’re out.) For many people, that means slices of the cloud cakes, which alternate sheet-cake layers with cream filling and come in a multitude of flavors: peach, mango, mocha, green tea, and more. They also offer a variety of breads (the purple sweet potato loaf is a beaut) and a dozen or so sweet or savory pastries, including a quintet of croissants (plain, chocolate, almond, strawberry, and garlic and cheese). Take your treats to go or sit and savor them along with a beverage from the coffee bar.

Find more info here.

One minute, you’re in a nondescript hallway in an even more nondescript suburban office building. But walk through the door under the “pillage responsibly” sign and you’ll find yourself in a moody, intimate, dimly lit space that’s the epitome of cool. Take a seat at one of the small tables or couches, or slide onto a stool at the centerpiece bar, and you’ll be greeted with a glass of cool water and a warm hand towel, touches that impressed owners Mary and Tyson Schnitker during a trip to Japan (a vacation that was the impetus to add on a cocktail lounge to their existing distillery).

Then sit back and get ready to be wowed by the painstakingly crafted, creative, and colorful concoctions headed your way. Thursday night appears to be *the* night to reserve, whether it’s for the special tiki-themed offerings or for the stylings of resident pianist Loc Tran, who takes over the keys the first Thursday of each month.

Gustavo and Kate Romero made a name for themselves at Nixta for the tender-loving care they shower on heirloom Mexican corn, turning this fundamental ingredient into tortillas that became the talk of the town. Earlier this year, they expanded into the space next door and opened Oro, a counter-service restaurant. Its casual vibe belies the upscale magic that comes out of the kitchen.

It’s no surprise that corn plays a big role here, too, anchoring the fun mix of tacos, the split corn cakes that hug the fillings in gorditas, and the dumplings that grace some of the dishes. You’ll also find bigger plates, such as chicken stew, stuffed chiles, and chicken mole. Mole appears on the dessert menu as well, in a somewhat deconstructed form. This creative take fills a pasilla chile with sweet corn-enhanced chocolate cake, then accompanies it with peanut brittle, banana, and a sprinkling of Nutella powder. It’s genius.

Find more info here.

Perched on the edge of beautifully lit-up Rice Park, this grande dame of St. Paul dining is ready to usher you through the holiday season in style. Although no celebration is needed to enjoy a classic shrimp cocktail and steak dinner or perhaps the lamb chops, crabcakes, or bourbon pork chops with a side of the gigantic onion rings, they do up the fancy well. Waitstaff in crisp whites, a classy dark wood-paneled dining room, and row after row of bottles glinting behind the bar set the scene for an impressive lunch or dinner. This month, they’re pulling out all the stops for an afternoon Thanksgiving meal that covers an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Next month, they’ll be bringing back a holiday tradition: a live performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life” (reimagined as a 1940s radio drama), paired with a three-course lunch or dinner menu.

Some divides just can’t be bridged. Dueling desires for sushi and hot dogs isn’t one of them, fortunately, at least not at Kyatchi. This South Minneapolis fave offers maki, nigiri, sashimi, and specialty rolls galore, plus Japanese noodle soups, rice dishes, and small plates. Then — whoa! — smack-dab in the middle of all that goodness you’ll find the aforementioned hot dogs. This isn’t everyday ketchup and mustard fare, though. These dogs are dressed with attitude: yuzu mayo plus grilled shishito peppers; avocado, chopped egg, and Japanese mayo; sautéed mushrooms with Parmesan; and stir-fried soba noodles, red onion, red ginger, and mayo. (Full disclosure: There is a dog that sports only ketchup, but you’ll have to head over to the kids’ menu to find it.) There’s also quite a range of sake to pair with your meal, including a few flights.