Cafe di Napoli is coming back. The downtown Minneapolis red-sauce landmark closed its Hennepin Avenue doors last year, but it's coming back this fall in a new location: 601 Marquette Av., also known as the Quebec 6 building. The skyway level spot will feature the old di Napoli booths (and recipes) and will offer both table and counter service. "I really missed the old di Napoli," said Quebec 6 owner Larry Abdo. "So I called the Piazzas [the restaurant's owners] and told them that they are too important to downtown Minneapolis, and that they couldn't leave."

A few blocks to the east, Alexander's, a lunch fixture for nearly 20 years, has closed. But its former home in the Accenture Tower won't stay dark for long. Black Bamboo (333 S. 7th St.) should be open by late October. Owner Stanley Won is promising lunch, dinner, takeout and happy hour. Look for dishes that include honey-glazed prawns and shrimp dumplings as well as Vietnamese beef salad, kung pao chicken, pad Thai and other familiar Asian fare, all at a top price of $15.

Back to school

Changes in the Dinkytown dining scene are usually a sign University of Minnesota students are back. One new name in the neighborhood is Mesa (1323 SE. 4th St.). The small storefront specializes in the college student diet: pizza, by the slice, with a dizzying array of toppings, ranging from Buffalo chicken to Philly cheesesteak, as well as standards such as pepperoni. Fancy slices are $3 and basics go for $2. The Purple Onion, a familiar name to university coffeehouse habitués, is returning to Dinkytown, after a six-month absence, in a roomier location at 1301 University Av. SE. Chains are on their way, too. The Purple Onion's former address (326 14th Av. SE.; old-timers will remember its days as a Bridgeman's) is now home to a brand-new Potbelly Sandwich Works. A Qdoba Mexican Grill is under construction next door. And what was a Starbucks is now a Caribou Coffee (1500 SE. 4th St.).

Saying goodbye

The Gold Nugget (14401 Excelsior Blvd., Minnetonka), famous for its burgers, is calling it quits. At least temporarily. As part of a redevelopment project, the restaurant is losing its home of 30 years, but there are plans to relocate across the street in about 18 months. Sept. 20 is the tentative closing date.

RICK NELSON