Imagine going to a restaurant and being offered the opportunity to pay for your meal by volunteering your time or by making a financial contribution. Sound unbelievable?
Soon, it will be a reality downtown. The Sparrow Café, 450 W. Washington Blvd., is expected to open in September.
When diners arrive at the pay-what-you-can establishment, they will be asked if their meal will be dine-in or take-out and whether they will pay with a financial contribution or by volunteering their time. Suggested donation amounts will be offered for financial contributions. Meals will be served after a 30-minute shift for people who choose to volunteer their time, according to the restaurant’s website.
The full menu is not yet posted on the site, but an overview includes fresh salads, sandwiches, daily soup selections, rotating specials and vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, prepared by Lindi Miller. She has been a regular on the local dining scene for years, including operating several downtown delis.
Hours will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Go to TheSparrowCafe.org for more information or to sign up as a regular volunteer.
Country Heritage wins
Country Heritage Winery, 185 County Road 68, LaOtto, has been named the 2026 Winery of the Year at the International Cold Climate Wine Competition.
The winery also received awards for best in show for rosé and four best-in-class honors as well as four double gold medals and two gold medals for its wine entries.
The annual competition highlights wines made from cold-hardy grapes in cold-climate regions. Some of the award-winning wines submitted by Country Heritage include Frontenac Gris, Frontenac Blanc, Marquette and Briana.
Go to CountryHeritageWinery.com for more information.
The competition is sponsored by the Minnesota Wine & Grape Alliance and the University of Minnesota Enology Research and Breeding Program. More than 400 entries showcasing wines crafted from cold-hardy hybrid grape varieties were blind-judged by 21 wine professionals.
Dana’s roots
Dana’s, 135 W. Columbia St., announced that Saturday was the final day a menu that has been served the past 21/2 years would be available.
According to the restaurant’s website, food and table service gradually took over, resulting in Dana’s becoming more of a restaurant than it was intended to be. The original vision was for it to be a cocktail bar.
“We loved what it became. But the truth is, restaurants are hard – and this space was never quite built to be one,” according to the post.
No other details are listed other than the expressed desire to return to the original intent of the business and this hint, “Dana’s no fuss, just drinks Wednesday, July 29th.”
Go to DrinkAtDanas.com for more information.
Around town
• Logan’s Roadhouse’s 35th birthday is being celebrated through Sunday with 35% off The Logan, for Logan’s Reward members. The Logan is the restaurant’s signature 11-ounce USDA center-cut top sirloin, grilled over mesquite wood and served with two sides. Logan’s has locations at 6617 Lima Road and 1210 Illinois Road. Go to LogansRoadhouse.com for more information.
• National Chicken Wing Day is being celebrated today at Wings Etc. Grill & Pub and Wings Etc. 2Go with double points for Wings Rewards members. Go to WingsEtc.com for more information.
The Dish features restaurant news and food events on Wednesdays. Email thedish@jg.net at least two weeks before event or desired publication.
Dining and Cooking