It is a massive end of an era: D’Amico is not renewing its lease for Café & Bar Lurcat on Loring Park this September. 23 years of the miso sea bass, the gorgeous dining room, elegant service, and beautiful views. Maybe more significantly, it closes the menu on 40 years of D’Amico’s full-service restaurants in Minnesota, dating to 1982 at D’Amico Cucina. The last service will be post-State Fair, on Sept. 5.
Photo by Aaron Kessler
“For 23 years, Café & Bar Lurcat has been a beacon of celebration, a space where every meal is a memory, and guests are family,” says co-owner Richard D’Amico in a statement. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our staff, whose dedication, passion, and skill have made every experience extraordinary.”
Richard and Larry D’Amico have launched dozens of culinary careers: Tim McKee came up in their kitchen, as did Jay Sparks (now at Lovechild in LaCrosse), JP Samuelson (Andrew Zimmern’s culinary director), Mike DeCamp (Jester), Jordan Smith (Black Sheep Pizza), and so many more.
“In 1994, I got a job cooking at D’Amico Cucina; it was the premiere fine dining restaurant in Minnesota, and the best,” says Isaac Becker, executive chef and owner of 112 Eatery, Bar La Grassa, and St. Pierre Steak and Seafood. “Over the years, I advanced to run the kitchens at Campiello Uptown and Eden Prairie and opened with Café & Bar Lurcat as Executive Chef. It was life altering, very rewarding, and taught me the guest experience is as vital as the food itself. Nancy and I always say our goal is to own and operate a restaurant that we’d want to work in and dine at—that was Lurcat.”
Courtesy of Café & Bar Lurcat
With the closure of Campiello in 2023, this closes the book on a legendary run. It’s not a tremendous surprise, as D’Amico operates The Continental and Campiello in Naples, Florida, and the family has lived in Naples for some time.
Over the years, Lurcat has hosted several famous guests—including Lady Gaga, Mick Jagger, and Prince. During my last meal there, Sam Gilman was the executive chef—he’s now at Eloise in Wayzata.
If you want to visit one more time, Lurcat will be rolling out some classic menu items. The owners report that Café & Bar Lurcat gift cards will be redeemable at any D’Amico & Partners restaurants, including the three Twin Cities D’Amico & Sons.
