Heather's, new neighborhood restaurant, opens in south Minneapolis

After nearly a decade as general manager at the former Lucia's in Uptown, Heather Asbury is running her own south Minneapolis restaurant. Heather's (5201 Chicago Av. S., Mpls.) has revived the former home of Mario's, which has been empty and forlorn for 15 years.

"We're really excited to be a part of the neighborhood," said Asbury. "We'll have accessible food that's good for families. I like to say, 'We have to eat three meals a day, seven days a week.' We'll try to meet people in the middle, so they can come for any reason, and bring the kids."

Asbury quietly opened the doors last week, and is slowly phasing in the restaurant's all-day plan, which will eventually include breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

This week, she's cooking from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the goal of eventually offering counter service from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, then switch to table service at night and on weekends.

When she moves into full-tilt mode, Asbury's menu will feature biscuit sandwiches, scrambled eggs, a daily frittata and steel-cut oatmeal at breakfast; eight sandwiches (fried chicken, open-face tuna melt, basil pesto-grilled cheese), salads and soups at lunch; and four appetizers (white wine-steamed mussels, a snack board) and nearly a dozen entrees (roasted cauliflower steaks, chicken paillard, a New York strip steak) at dinner, paired with a handful of inexpensive side dishes. Most daytime prices land in the $7- to $15-range, with dinner prices averaging in the mid-teens. There's also a selection of baked goods, plus espresso drinks, beer and wine.

Asbury trained at the vaunted Culinary Institute of America, and spent the early part of her career opening restaurants in Nordstrom stores all over the country. Her career at the retailer evolved, moving from the kitchen to the front of the house. When she returned home to her native Twin Cities, she continued in the same general manager role at Lucia's, where she was a friendly fixture for nearly a decade. Now she's back in the kitchen.

"At Lucia's, you really got to know the neighborhood, and the people," she said. "You watched kids grow up, you became a part of people's lives. With weddings, it was intense for a short time, and then you never talked to them again. I want to be more involved in a community, I want to have more meaning behind my work."

With only one season in the books so far, St. Paul's Allianz Field is a contender to become as much of a dining destination as the Twin Cities' other pro sports venues.

As the home to Major League Soccer's Minnesota United, the stadium features dishes that reflect the game's international fans.

Chef Justin Sutherland consulted on the menu last year, and he's back for 2020, curating guest chef dinners and offering a new dish of his own (a Swedish Meatball Sub).

"The way people are eating at stadiums is different," Sutherland said. "We're not peanuts, popcorn and brats all the time, and with soccer being an international sport, food makes us feel more connected."

When the Loons' second season at Allianz Field kicks off March 15, an expanded menu will continue to showcase global flavors.

Vegetarians and vegans aren't totally overlooked, though, with BBQ jackfruit sandwiches, salad and sorbet. Gluten-free soccer fans will also find plenty of choices. Restaurants from across the Twin Cities make appearances here, including Brasa, the Freehouse, Grand Ole Creamery, New Bohemia and the Buttered Tin.

Here are five new dishes to try:

• Brasa Burrito: Every month, the Twin Cities restaurant will supply a rotating burrito special. To start, it's Brasa's beloved carnitas, along with rice, pinto beans, Jack cheese and avocado. Handheld heaven.

• Swedish Meatball Sub: Inspired by Sutherland's Minnesota-comfort-food menu at St. Paul's Gray Duck, this sandwich drizzles meatballs with Swedish gravy and lingonberry jam, and sets them atop potato purée.

• Zesty Italian Drip Sandwich: It's like that internet-famous Mississippi roast, but on a roll. Tart pepperoncini cut through the richness of braised beef on a hoagie that's been smothered in Swiss cheese sauce.

• Cookie Monster Ice Cream Sandwich: Grand Ole Creamery is new to Allianz Field, but not to St. Paul. For this concoction, their bright blue Cookie Monster ice cream (a combination of cookie dough and cookies and cream) is sandwiched between two giant chocolate cookies.

Mission American Kitchen and Bar, the self-described "power lunch capital of Downtown Minneapolis," is now closed.

According to a sign on the window of the shuttered IDS Center restaurant, Mission owners were not able to work out new lease terms with the building owner.

"Given the increasingly nonviable cost structure of doing business downtown, we for many months attempted to earnestly negotiate terms of a remodel and sustainable lease for Mission," read the sign, posted outside the restaurant on Monday morning.

"After 17 years of faithful service in the IDS Center, we regrettably report that we were unsuccessful in achieving workable terms and have decided to close the business, effective immediately."

Hannah Sayle contributed to this report.