Faces Mears Park (373 Sibley St., St. Paul, facesmearspark.com, 651-209-7776) in Lowertown will close at the year's end and reopen in 2017 with a new concept, look and name. Chef and restaurateur David Fhima opened it in 2010.
"There are some very big changes ahead, and I'm really excited," Fhima said.
Fhima, who was born in Morocco and raised in Paris, made his name locally with a trio of restaurants — Fhima's, Mpls. Cafe and Louis XIII, all of which have since closed — before opening Faces, an upscale Moroccan, French and Mediterranean foods restaurant.
The eatery will transition to what Fhima is calling "a French bistro with a little bit of an American flair" that will focus on classics and simple dishes when it opens in March or April next year.
"It's going to be fine dining quality and service with informal pricing and attitudes," said Fhima, who is still dreaming up the new place's name. "We live in a city with great restaurants and chefs. So it's not just how do we compete but how do we up our game?
"I think we have a concept that St. Paul is really going to love."
Fhima — who was also recently tapped to create a new menu for the premium suites at the Minnesota Timberwolves' arena, Target Center — said the renovated Faces will have the feel of a Parisian bistro, with plenty of dark wood and contemporary design. The expanded bar will feature 32 beer taps and a 30-foot-long, 15-foot-high wall of Champagne and liqueurs. The entrance, which can be easily missed from the street now, will become more prominent.
The menu will be handled by Faces sous chef Adam Milledge, who is being promoted to chef de cuisine. There are plans for a croque monsieur, terrines, scrambled eggs with bone marrow and brioche, beef bourguignon and chocolate mousse, among other dishes. Meanwhile, the focus on pastries and baked goods will remain, with pastry chef Tammy Seim at the helm.
