eat + drink

Another restaurant joining theater crowd

With the possible exception of Hubert's (601 Chicago Av. S.), the Metrodome has never done much in the way of attracting food-and-drink neighbors. Not so the nearby Guthrie Theater, which can count Spoonriver (750 S. 2nd St.), Wasabi (903 Washington Av. S.) and Matty B's Urban Bar & Restaurant (501 Washington Av. S.) as new neighbors, not to mention its own Cue (818 S. 2nd St.).

Now another eatery is set to move into the neighborhood: Spill the Wine (1101 Washington Av. S.), a combination restaurant, wine bar and retail store, owned by soon-to-be spouses Katie Milburn and Karl Greeman; she is former general manager at Bar Abilene (1300 Lagoon Av., Minneapolis); he held the same position at sister establishment Tejas (3910 W. 50th St., Edina).

"Our focus is wine, but I know people hear 'wine bar' and they don't think 'restaurant,' " said Milburn. "We're going to have a wine bar with a lounge atmosphere and a separate dining room with an open kitchen and a tasting bar."

Chef George Vatafu, another Tejas vet, is planning a constantly changing menu that emphasizes wine pairings (such as "a Chilean dish to complement a Chilean wine," said Milburn). Wines and beers featured in the restaurant will be sold in the adjacent shop, and that tasting bar (built using wine barrels) will allow diners to sample short thematic pours, focusing on varietals or vineyards or regions. The couple hope to open their new enterprise by mid-month.

Around town

Three new-ish Minneapolis restaurants -- Cue, Town Talk Diner (2707½ E. Lake St.) and Chambers Kitchen (901 Hennepin Av. S.) are in the spotlight in the March issue of Bon Appetit magazine.

Ike's Food & Cocktails (50 S. 6th St., Minneapolis) is the latest local restaurant to open a branch at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport's Lindbergh Terminal, in the footsteps of the French Meadow Bakery & Cafe, D'Amico & Partners, Axel's Bonfire and Dunn Bros.

A Sunday evening Minnesota Opera benefit is being billed as a one-night revival of Levain (4762 Chicago Av. S., Minneapolis), but there's a hitch: former Levain chef Steven Brown isn't cooking (chef Nick Cronin is). The $200 event includes a three-course dinner, cocktails, performances and an auction. For reservations, call 612-342-9569.

RICK NELSON