Coming Soon: New Restaurants to Get Excited About

Lots of action coming to the North Loop

It’s been slow in local restaurants. It just has been. The biggest restaurants of the last six months have included a reboot of a favorite that closed in 2020 (Butcher & the Boar), a food hall (Eat Street Crossing) from the team behind Zen Box Izakaya, and a casual French bistro from Vincent. Not nothing—but in a typical year, you’d see lots opening in November and December, and we didn’t really see that in 2022.

So, what’s in the pipeline? There’s a lot coming soon.

Herbst, St. Paul: Jorg Pierach, one of the owners behind Tilia, is behind a new spot in St. Paul. Few details have been shared, but an Instagram post Sunday said “soon,” and they’ve been hiring. Look for a mid-May opening.

Maison Margaux: Chef David Fhima and his family will be opening in the North Loop in the former Ribnick Furs spot on Friday, May 12. Reservations will be open for booking April 24.

Oro by Nixta: Gustavo Romero announced on Instagram that his stellar tortilleria and meal kit take-out spot, Nixta, will expand next door into a dine-in location in northeast Minneapolis. It’s called Oro, and he said it should open mid-April.

This summer, look for the Argentinian steakhouse by Daniel del Prado and Ryan Burnet in the former Bachelor Farmer space at 50 Second Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Also in the summer, North Loop Tequila Restaurant by Josh Thoma and Kevin Fitzgerald (Smack Shack, The Lexington) will open a spot at 113 N. First St., Minneapolis.

In the fall, look for Diane Moua’s restaurant. No name, no location yet.

Tim McKee’s tapas-style hotel restaurant in the North Loop should also open in the fall at the under-construction West Hotel (125 N. First St.).