Chef Mike Rakun of Mill Valley Kitchen and the upcoming Mercy is opening a casual breakfast-and-lunch cafe, and guess where it's landing?
No, not the North Loop. It's going into the Twin Cities' other white-hot restaurant address: downtown Wayzata.
With the days of the Original Pancake House and Sunsets in the rear-view mirror, Rakun (pictured, above, in a Star Tribune file photo) sees an opening in that lakeside city's daytime market.
"My wife has family there, and when we get together, we all start talking about restaurants, because everyone talks about restaurants, because everyone is interested in restaurants," he said. "And the conversation invariably goes to, 'Downtown Wayzata needs a breakfast place.' I like breakfast, so let's do it."
He's noting that the neighborhood doesn't lack for a certain kind of a.m. competition. There's the just-opened Bellecour, which operates a bakery, and the soon-to-open Rustica Bakery & Cafe. Still, Rakun's not worried.
"They're both great morning spots – I hope to buy all of my breads from Rustica -- but they're not full service," he said. "We'll be bringing something different to downtown Wayzata, and I think that there's a demand for that."
The space (designed by Shea Inc. of Minneapolis) will feature an open kitchen and a large bar, a takeoff on the classic diner layout. There's a name, but Rakun's not releasing it just yet. And while he hasn't sat down and formally composed a menu, he's got ideas.
"People want simple and approachable at breakfast," he said. "Pancakes, French toast, a skillet or two, a few eggs Benedict options," he said. "Really good bacon and sausage and hash browns."
