If you’ve passed by Midori’s Floating World Cafe in Hi-Lake lately and seen the doors were darkened, don’t fret: the restaurant’s closure is only temporary. I talked to the titular Midori, who told me that a pipe burst in one of the upstairs apartments and—in an irony that could never have been anticiatped when the cafe was named—the floating world was literally so. The sushi bar was flooded, and, unfortunately, the ceilings and floors were significantly damaged, so cleaning and repairs could take several weeks. Fans should check Midori’s Facebook page for updates.
When the cafe dries out, I’m sure it could use local diners’ support. Today’s temps make me feel like one of their soba and udon noodle soups, but Midori’s menu is more extensive than most local Japanese menus—from sushi to tempura to donburi—so I’d encourage you to try some of the cafe’s “deep tracks,” such as the hamachi or sake kama (grilled yellowtail or salmon cheek) or the kanisu (raw crab in vinaigrette).
Midori’s Floating World Cafe
2629 East Lake Street, Mpls.
612-721-3011, floatingworldcafe.com
Tue.-Wed.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; 5-9 p.m.
Thu.-Fri.: 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; 5-10 p.m.
Sat.: 12-2 p.m.; 5-10 p.m.
Sun.: 5-9 p.m.