Not to be melancholic as we step into 2026—but we’re taking one last long look over our shoulder at some of the most notable restaurant closures of 2025. Before you clink glasses tonight, pour one out for the ones we lost.
Zen Box Izakaya
John Ng and Lina Goh are transitioning into a well-deserved next chapter after a 20-year run in downtown Minneapolis. Here’s hoping you had the chance to slip into the cozy corner restaurant for one last bowl of tonkotsu from the “Ramen Architect” ahead of Zen Box’s November 22 closure.
Palmer’s Bar
Last we checked, everyone is still reeling from the (relatively sudden) closure of Palmer’s Bar—a West Bank institution since 1906—in mid-September. Here’s our requiem for an irreplaceable bar.
Saint Dinette
After first announcing its impending closure in early 2024, Saint Dinette officially pulled the curtains closed in March. St. Paul lost a real one. Let’s be thankful that owner Tim Niver gave Saint Dinette’s customers the blessing of a long goodbye—many months to cry into final cheeseburgers and beignets.
Café Cerés
All four locations of Café Cerés (a partnership between restaurateur Daniel del Prado and pastry chef Shawn McKenzie) closed in April. Staff had unionized the summer before. Del Prado said the numbers just weren’t working for the café’s model, and his restaurant group was shifting its focus toward full-service experiences. McKenzie continues her work as executive pastry chef at Rustica Bakery. Here’s the full story.
Petite León
Beard-nominated Petite León announced this fall that it was closing at the end of 2025 to make way for a new concept—a down-to-earth neighborhood bar that owners Travis Serbus and Ben Siers-Rients and their staff (who profit-share in the restaurant) feel will be a better fit for the neighborhood. RIP piquillo peppers and Basque cheesecake, we’ll never forget you. But cocktails $12 and under, we welcome you graciously into 2026.
Guacaya Bistreaux
Chef Pedro Wolcott’s North Loop Latin Caribbean restaurant Guacaya Bistreaux quietly closed its doors in April. HOWEVER, the delectable silver lining of this story is that Wolcott relocated to the Kingfield neighborhood of south Minneapolis, where his new sandwich shop, North Star Deli, has quickly established itself as a mainstay for muffulettas, Cubanos; essentially all the big hefty sandwiches you could dream of.
Revival
Legacy fried chicken restaurant Revival closed suddenly in January of this year after a 10-year run. But like a Poultrygeist resurrected, the restaurant is making a comeback under new owners Jester Concepts. Stay tuned for news of a first new location to come.
Annie’s Parlour
Dinkytown’s Annie’s Parlour—opened by prominent Minneapolis restaurateur John Rimarcik, who died in 2023—did its best to pull through. After a long pandemic hiatus, it reopened in 2024 with its classic burgers-and-fries menu plus (new!) boozy malts. Ultimately, though, the restaurant closed permanently in July of this year after a 50-year run, leaving a simple Facebook farewell.
Young Joni
One of our most-read food stories of the year was the closure of chef Ann Kim’s restaurant Young Joni, which, one could argue, staked the first flag on what has since become Northeast Minneapolis’s hottest culinary corridor, home to Oro by Nixta, Vinai, Diane’s Place, Cafe Marguerite, Stargazer, and others. Kim and landlord Lander Group were unable to come to terms on a new lease after their previous 10-year agreement came to an end.
Stepchld
Chef Kamal Mohamed’s Northeast Minneapolis restaurant Stepchld closed in August to make way for Kizzo, a new sports bar-social club hybrid. I, for one, am still crying over the loss of my favorite-ever lavender nori shrimp, but Kizzo, with its killer salmon smash burger and cinnamon rolls from pastry chef Yon Hailu, is a pretty darn good consolation prize.
Lagniappe and Du Nord Cocktail Room
Du Nord distillery owners Shanelle and Chris Montana’s New Orleans-inspired restaurant and cocktail room, which opened in the newly renovated Lake Street Coliseum building in 2024, closed abruptly in May of this year. We spoke with Chris Montana about what led to the closure, and ultimately, in his eyes, what Lake Street needs to heal.
Fair State Brewing’s Taproom
No, Fair State Brewing itself isn’t closing—production at its St. Paul facility will continue, and you’ll still find its beers on tap and on shelves. But Fair State’s Northeast taproom, a longtime hub for coop members and casual fans alike, permanently closed in December. The brewery filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2024, and its assets were purchased by Ranchers Beverage Co. Ultimately, however, revenues fell short, and outstanding debts loomed.
Café and Bar Lurcat
After a monumental 23-year run on the edge of Loring Park, Café and Bar Lurcat closed permanently in September. The restaurant, founded by the D’Amico family, is best remembered in the words of our editor-in-chief Jayne Haugen Olson, who ate many a sunset meal there over the years.
Handsome Hog
After nearly a decade on St. Paul’s Selby Avenue, Southern-style restaurant the Handsome Hog is closing at the year’s end. Chef Justin Sutherland opened the restaurant in 2016 but departed it in 2024 (prior to his arrest) and the restaurant carried on with its signature brisket and bourbon through the rest of 2025. Here’s a goodbye note from the staff.
Butter Bakery
This fall, Butter Bakery owner Dan Swenson-Klatt was on the hunt for a new leader to take over his Kingfield cafe, which first opened almost 20 years ago. Seems that no one stepped forward, as the bakery announced its closure (and Swenson-Klatt’s retirement) in late December. Sneak in for last treats, hot cider, and one final butter ball drop on New Year’s Eve.
Stonegarden
Stonegarden, it all happened too soon! The all-day brunch spot, which served among other things, a killer Norwegian Benedict, closed quietly in late December after opening in late 2024.
Dining and Cooking