Soon Francis Plant Based Burgers will be available full time on Central Avenue in Minneapolis as the popular food trailer, currently serving a residency at Sociable Cider Werks, plans a full restaurant. The cruelty-free restaurant will take over the recently shuttered Sen Yai Sen Lek and Dipped & Debris locations at 2422 Central Av. NE. In addition to the burgers, the burger joint is known for crispy fries, "chicken" nuggets and a lot of sauce options. No opening date has been set; meantime, get your fix at Sociable Cider Werks (1500 NE. Fillmore St., Mpls.) from 5-9 p.m. Mon.-Sat.
Ingrams' next restaurant goes back to the '80s
Sarah and Brian Ingram's Purpose Restaurants group has already announced its next restaurant, even as they're building another. Spring Break will be an ode to a more tubular time with nods to '80s movies and music at the new Courtyard by Marriott being built in downtown St. Paul across from Xcel Energy Center.
This will be the second eatery in that area from the Ingrams. Apostle Supper Club and False Eye Doll Lounge are expected to open late summer at 253 Kellogg Blvd. The restaurant group also includes Hope Breakfast Bar, the Gnome Craft Pub and a Duluth outpost of the Apostle Supper Club.
Red Cow is heading to Rochester
Red Cow, the local mini-chain of gourmet burgers, is expanding to Rochester. The newest restaurant is staffing up to open on the ground floor of the Berkman Apartments, at 1406 SE. 2nd St., and is expected to occupy 6,000 square feet with 130 seats inside and 50 more out on its patio. Owned and operated by restaurateur Luke Shimp, the other Red Cow locations are in Edina, St. Paul and Uptown and the North Loop in Minneapolis.
A new drive-in destination open near Island Lake
Lake Ave Restaurant & Bar has expanded outside the Duluth city limits with the new Lake Ave Drivein near Island Lake (7046 Rice Lake Road). The bright red and white building is serving ice cream scoops from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thu.-Mon. during the summer season. Flavors include kid-pleasing classics such as Superman and more sophisticated options such as espresso salted caramel. There also are savory snacks such as burgers, fries, cheese curds and rotating specials; on opening weekend Korean barbecue wings were on the menu.
Lobsterfest date change
Smack Shack has changed the date of its first Lobsterfest to Sept. 25 to coincide with National Lobster Day. Tickets are still $75 in advance and $80 at the door; get them at smack-shack.com. The party goes down from noon-4 p.m. at the Bloomington location, 3801 Minnesota Drive.
MinnesoThai street festival brings fun, flavor
Mark your calendars for a celebration of Southeast Asian food and culture: The third annual MinnesoThai will take place Sept. 17-18 at 5376 Gamble Drive in St. Louis Park. The free event is family- and pup-friendly. Peruse stands, pick up snacks like a saucy cup of papaya salad, bubble waffles or mounds of sticky rice. Festivities kick off each day at 11 a.m. For more information, go to thaiculturemn.us.
St. Paul Food Truck Festival rolls out the tastiness
The St. Paul Food Truck Festival is back at Union Depot Aug. 6 from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. More than 45 food trucks will be serving all kinds of worldly treats from Cornish pasties to paella, doughnuts to cookie dough, egg rolls to empanadas. Admission is free (food is not) but donations will be collected to benefit Feed My Starving Children.
