Chloe By Vincent, no more: The news from a busy Twin Cities restaurant group, Restore Restaurant Holdings (RRH), is that Chef Vincent Francoual is no longer a part of the company. “Amicably part company” is how Matt Monroe, CEO of RRH, described it. In a text to me, Francoual stressed that the decision was mutual and he’s leaving “on good terms.”
Photo by Kevin Kramer
As an outsider, it’s easy to see two paths diverging. RRH has had success recalibrating EaTo as a casual Italian restaurant designed to serve the neighborhood in the apartment building upstairs, as well as people headed to the Guthrie Theater. Chloe has struggled to find its footing—a tension between the fine-dining legacy of Francoual from his days at Vincent A Restaurant and the more casual bistro that RRH was trying to establish inside the Canopy by Hilton Hotel. The tension spilled into print with now former Star Tribune food critic Jon Cheng describing Chloe as a place that “pleases and perplexes.”
Was Chloe a special occasion spot? Pre-theater? Or a casual hang for people after work or headed to their nearby apartments? It’s clear RRH wants this to go more in the direction of EaTo. From their statement: “Fans of dishes such as French Onion Soup and Beef Bourguignon will still find them on the menu… but there will also be new offerings sure to become favorites you can enjoy every day, not just on special occasions.”
“[I’m] proud of what we’ve built together and I feel confident that EaTo and Chloe by Vincent are in good hands moving forward,” says Francoual in a text. He’s off to France to visit family, then will be back in the Twin Cities in a few weeks, and it sounds like he has his next gig already set—so stay tuned.
“Chloe still remains a priority with ownership, who will be syncing their service style and menu to their busy neighborhood, much as they have with their first restaurant, EaTo,” said Monroe in a statement.
RRH just announced that it’s taking over the hospitality management at Northstar Center, the newly renovated former office building in downtown Minneapolis with workspaces and event venues, along with a Cafeteria, coffee shop, and the Walkin’ Dog hot dog stand on the street level.
