Popol Vuh, the fine dining counterpart to the casual taqueria Centro in northeast Minneapolis, has closed.
The sister restaurants opened in 2018, and both showcased the skills of their co-owner, chef José Alarcon, who hails from southern Mexico.
Named for a Mayan poem, Popol Vuh's dinner-only tasting menus highlighted hearth cooking, smoky moles, hand-ground masa tortillas, and a rare Mexican wine list. The Star Tribune's 3.5-star review called the restaurant "pulse-quickening."
Centro launched a takeout business during its COVID-19-related closure, and has since returned to indoor and patio dining. It will remain open (1414 NE. Quincy St., Mpls., 612-345-5527, popolvuhmpls.com).
"The Centro model was a much easier transition into COVID world and we are so grateful for our dual-concept restaurant. It gave us time to make the decision about Popol Vuh," said co-owner Jami Olson.
Mark your calendar
Smack Shack's annual Crayfest is getting a new look.
While the block party devoted to the crayfish boil won't take place, the North Loop Minneapolis restaurant still plans to celebrate the crustacean with a weeklong menu of crayfish, hurricane cocktails and other specials from Aug. 1-8 at Smack Shack (603 Washington Av. N., Mpls., smack-shack.com).
E. Hennepin bistro Bardo is changing up the menu, the dining room — and even the name — to adapt to COVID-19. The new ventures are a "back-to-the-drawing-board approach" for chef and co-owner Remy Pettus.
