Welcome to 2025, another year to look forward to the Twin Cities’ ever-changing restaurant scene. Among the new restaurants, bars, and cafes in the works for 2025 are a new iteration of a beloved steakhouse, a lineup of award-winning chefs taking space in a food hall, and an Eden Prairie that combines the beauty of Japanese barbecue and ramen.
Note that any restaurant's opening date is a moving target, so don’t be surprised if it changes. For now, here are a few of the most exciting restaurants expected to open in the next few months.
Project Opening: Friday, February 7
Key players: Thomas Pivec, Joe Berg, Deepak and Sara Nath, Jay Ettinger, Craig Dauffenbach
Not to be confused with the bar that closed in 2018 in the Midtown Global Market, the North Loop will soon welcome the Rabbit Hole, a 15,000-square-foot sports bar and entertainment venue featuring elevated classics and local comfort foods from chef Thomas Pivec, who is the owner and operator of Lord Fletcher’s on Lake Minnetonka. The new spot will be situated in the space that formerly housed Axebridge Wine Co. The Rabbit Hole will feature 42 TV screens with NFL Sunday Ticket and ESPN+, and will also host events, bands, and DJs weekly. 411 N. Washington Avenue.
Project Opening: Early Spring
Key players: Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre
Restaurateurs Isaac Becker and Nancy St. Pierre, owners of Bar La Grassa, 112 Eatery, and Snack Bar, have big news for fans of Burch Steak, which closed in March 2020 due to pandemic restrictions and never reopened. Becker and St. Pierre are rebranding Snack Bar as St. Pierre Steak and Seafood. While the menu will lack pizza, they’ll bring back Burch Steak favorites, mingling with some Snack Bar items and more seafood. 800 N. Washington Avenue in Minneapolis.
Project Opening: Through 2025 — Caja Fried Chicken to open on Monday, February 10, and Spritz Bar to open in mid-February
Key players: Mike Brown, Bob Gerken, James Winberg, Gustavo and Kate Romero, Alex Roberts
Graze Food Hall in the North Loop is getting a revamp, thanks to new ownership from the Travail team. On Monday, February 10, the food hall will welcome Caja Fried Chicken from the creators of Alma and Brasa. Gustavo and Kate Romero of Nixta Tortilleria and Oro by Nixta (a James Beard semifinalist in 2024 and one of Bon Appetit’s Best New Restaurants in America) will open Tixtli by Nixta in early February.
There’s more to come, including Spritz Bar from beverage director Robb Jones of the James Beard-nominated bar Meteor Bar and Stargazer.
Umami by Travail, featuring dumplings from Saturday Dumpling Co., kimchi, and miso-based dishes, opened in late January. It’s a busy year for Travail which will relaunch its beloved south Minneapolis restaurant i.e., which closed in spring 2024. The Italian restaurant will be called i.e. by Travail and open on Monday, February 10; reservations are live on OpenTable. 520 N. 4th Street in Minneapolis.
Project Opening: Spring
Key players: Ken Sherman, Matt Sherman, Joe Berg, Thomas Pivec
Situated just steps away from the Canterbury Park racetrack in Shakopee, Boardwalk Kitchen & Bar features two spaces under one roof: a 6,000-square-foot classic American restaurant and a 7,500-square-foot entertainment venue, informally called “The Stable,” offering live music, sports games and more. The spot will also feature a sprawling, 18,000-square-foot patio with trackside dining, drinking, and games. The Kitchen is open-concept with a wood-fired grill and the menu will include items like steaks and smoked wings. The central patio is adjacent to the racetrack, connecting the restaurant and entertainment venue. 1125-1135 Shenandoah Drive in Shakopee.
Project Opening: Late summer/early fall
Key players: Jon Wipfli
After operating two successful food trucks, Jon Wipfli’s Animales is on the path to opening a permanent restaurant this year in the space formerly occupied by Royal Foundry Craft Spirits. Construction on the 13,000-square-foot space is supposed to begin in the coming weeks. Once it’s complete, visitors will be able to expect Animales’ ribs, Texas hot links, and smoked pork, as well as burgers, full bar service, a stage for musical performances, and a kid-friendly area. 241 Fremont Avenue N. in Minneapolis.
Project Opening: Soon?
Key players: Yo Hasegawa
For months, chef Yo Hasegawa, a 2025 James Beard semifinalist for Best Chef: Midwest — recognizing his work at acclaimed omakase restaurant Kado No Mise — has teased the public with breadcrumbs about Cafe Yoto, a new project with a casual vibe, counter service, and a focus on takeout. The cafe was supposed to open in October, according to North Loop Minneapolis. Last year, Hasegawa, alongside Kado No Mise chef Shigeyuki Furukawa, offered a two-night, walk-in-only pop-up called Yo Monday Cafe. Its menu of sauteed ribeye bowls, assorted sashimi, and soba noodles crowned with fried tofu may offer a hint of what’s to come at Cafe Yoto. The restaurant could open as soon as February, but after construction delays, it’s best to be patient. 548 N. Washington Avenue in Minneapolis, inside the Duffey Building.
2025-02-04T16:46:26Z