Farina Rossa staying open despite Fair State’s taproom closure

After the announcement that Fair State Brewing is closing its taproom, fans of Farina Rossa Kitchen might be wondering about the state of the popular pizza-focused restaurant. We have good news.

Chef-owner JohnMichael Lynch said he’s reaching a deal with the landlord to keep operating in the space — 2506 Central Av. NE. in Minneapolis — at least for the short term.

But carrying on without the taproom is bittersweet, Lynch told the Minnesota Star Tribune in a statement.

“It has been a rewarding partnership and I thank them for the opportunity to showcase our product in their space,” he said.

Farina Rossa will be open for dine-in and takeout, and will add weekend brunch that will feature bagels, sweet treats and breakfast sandwiches.

“We have a lot of great things planned for the future and this is just another challenge to navigate,” Lynch said. “We look forward to continue serving the community.”

Dreamstate Cafe (2558 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls.) opened Dec. 6 with dinner service featuring dishes like Lion’s Mane steak, shredded mock duck burnt end nachos, Delicata squash doughnuts, corned beef sandwiches and more. There’s a full bar with specialty cocktails along with NA options.

The new cafe comes from Kirstin Wiegmann and Jeff Therkelsen, the team behind Powderhorn’s Reverie. Follow them on Instagram @DreamstateCafe for more updates.

There’s a new sandwich shop in town (1118 W. Lake St., Mpls.) with all the good jokes. Cheba Hut specializes in “toasted” subs (their quotes), and a release promises it’s “bringing every ounce of weird, wild, toasted energy the city deserves.”

The menu and concept are filled with wink-and-giggle weed jokes: The beverage station is called “cotton mouth,” the mascot Flip the Bird loves blunt-sized sandwiches, and sub names are plucked from back issues of High Times.

While you don’t have to partake to enjoy the food, the subs and Krispie treat menu is built to satisfy serious munchies.

Inside there are seats and a selection of beer, but Cheba Hut also offers delivery. Plus, the hours go late night from 10 a.m. to midnight or 2 a.m. on the weekends. Righteous.

Beverages and food mingle Latin and Asian flavors. Guerrero is from Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico — the birthplace of tequila. He’s also done a deep dive into understanding Japanese whiskey and its drinking culture. Beverages draw on all of his experience, extensive travels and inspiration for a sophisticated blend in every glass.

In the kitchen, chefs are also finding that throughline with dishes like birria eggrolls and nigiri topped with caviar and avocado.

Mestiizo will be open daily starting at 4 p.m.; reservations are open now.

Flight Club is targeting a spring 2026 opening for its location at 729 N. Washington Av. in Minneapolis with social darts and drinks in a new eat/drink/play venue.

Renderings of the space include dark, swanky vibes with vintage arcade elements all showcasing a space for drinks, snacks and dart games. During summer months, seating will expand to include a ground-floor patio.

The Merchant Room, Gavin Kaysen’s third restaurant opening of the season, is now serving in Naples, Fla. Located at the Naples Beach Club, a Four Seasons Resort, the restaurant is a new American brasserie with in-house dry-aged steaks, seasonal Gulf flavors and a Midwestern approach to seasonality with respect to its ingredients.

All of this inside a luxurious room styled with a nod to Old Naples with vintage touches.

The restaurant follows Kaysen’s recent openings of Bellecour Edina and Bellecour North Loop, which opened for dinner over the weekend.

The South Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette has opened in Roseville, in the former Panera on the lower exterior level of Rosedale Center. Known for its fresh-baked treats that blend Asian and French flavors, the storefront offers ready-made cakes, croissants, fresh bread, mochi doughnuts and more. The new spot joins a Maple Grove outpost with a third in Woodbury coming soon.

The quickly expanding local pizza chain OG Zaza is expected to replace Big E’s sandwich shop next to Grand Ol’ Creamery. The Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal reports that chef-owner Josh Hedquist plans to open the shop by Jan 1. The newest location joins others in St. Paul, Shakopee, Roseville, Minneapolis and the just-opened Mall of America stand.

The event also is gathering items to support the East Side Neighborhood Services food shelf. Attendees are asked to bring items like flour, sugar, cooking oil and pantry staples to donate. Each donor will get a raffle ticket and could win prizes from the market’s vendors.