Find Labubu macarons and more must-have treats at a new St. Paul bakery

St. Paul’s newest bakery just rolled out at the corner of pop-culture fandom and sweet treats in Mac-Groveland.

X2 Pastries is now open at 1830 Saint Clair Av. with a pastry case filled with character-shaped macarons including some that look like Labubus, those sought-after toys of the moment. There are Pokemon, blind boxes filled with surprise flavors and more.

But that’s not all that’s stocked inside. This is a full-service bakery with fresh sourdough, Japanese milk bread, seasonal tarts, scones, sticky buns and more.

X2 is the work of longtime friends and bakers Xiong Xiong and Xiong Thao, who started as a cottage bakery in 2017. The bakery is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

The hot light will switch on at 8 a.m. on Nov. 12 with the opening of Fridley’s new Krispy Kreme. In addition to its star attraction, the Original Glazed doughnuts, this store will also serve special limited-time seasonal offerings. It will be open seven days a week with in-store, drive-thru and mobile app ordering available.

Fans have been anxiously waiting for over a year since the company announced the location at 5696 University Av. inside a former CVS Pharmacy.

The North Carolina-based fried doughnut chain had been absent from the Twin Cities since 2008 after stores in Apple Valley, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie, Maple Grove, New Brighton and at the Mall of America closed.

Little Bird Delicatessen (3749 Nicollet Av.) rolls out this week (Nov. 12) with sandwiches, small-batch gelato, pup treats and more.

Owners Alison and Steve McMullen longed for the sandwiches and walkable neighborhood culture they experienced while living in New York. When this space became available, they decided it was time to take their business from gelato-only to something much more.

“We’re so proud to be working with local and small producers for our ingredients — including Patisserie 46, who’s baking our bread," said Alison. “We worked with them to develop a custom Dutch Crunch (Tiger Bread) sandwich roll, and we’re so excited about how it turned out.”

The new eatery will offer an array of sandwiches, like the Wesley: porcini, garlic confit and a rosemary–crusted tri-tip topped with chimichurri, arugula and horseradish. The beef comes from Angie’s Acres in Aitkin. All the sandwiches are named for kids the McMullens know.

In addition to the sandwiches, gelato — the frozen Italian treat that Little Bird supplies to local restaurants and a few stores — will finally be available in-house with flavors like roasted butternut squash, Meyer lemon and more.

Nokko House (4747 Nicollet Av.), the newest restaurant from chef/owner Hide Tozawa of Okome House, is now serving happy hour through dinner Tuesday to Sunday. On the menu is a mix of tempura, hand rolls, rice bowls and several plant-based options.

There’s also a full bar with specialty cocktails, Japanese whisky, sake, Japanese beers — including a Kirin Ichiban Frozen — which comes with frozen foam on top.

Coffee fans were happy to line up for lattes and thoughtfully sourced beans when Silverbird Coffee Shop (4237 Nicollet Av.) opened last week in the former Kruse Markit space.

The work of Caitlin and Tony Querio, Silverbird offers a chance to buy the beans from the award-winning roastery in person, as well as sip lattes like the Woodsman, sweetened with maple ginger syrup, birch nectar and cinnamon.

Tony’s passion is coffee. He won the U.S. Coffee Roasting Championship before founding Silverbird. Caitlin is overseeing the front of the house and has tapped Viking and Goddess Bakery for pastries. A short menu of savory options will also be available.

Silverbird is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

Bar Oscar is now open where Dutch Bar once stood (2512 Central Av. NE.) Owners Jeff Luten and Mike Hoolihan partnered with Patty Grell for the new cocktail and small plates spot. Hours are from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Parasole has announced it will close its original Salut Bar Americain on France Avenue on Dec. 31. The 20 year-old Edina restaurant was the hospitality company’s first location of the casual French concept, opening in 2006. A second Salut on Grand Avenue in St. Paul opened in 2008 and closed in early 2024.

The announcement comes as the neighborhood undergoes a hospitality changeover. Longtime eateries like Cocina del Barrio and the Edina Grill closed this fall after decades of serving food to the 50th and France area.

Outstanding gift cards can be redeemed at Parasole’s other restaurants: Manny’s, Prohibition at the W in downtown Minneapolis, Good Earth (Edina) and Pittsburgh Blue (Maple Grove).

The owners of Kasama in Chicago are coming to town to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Pizzeria Lola on Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Tim Flores and Genie Kwon are longtime Lola fans — with Tim bringing Genie on an early date to the Minneapolis restaurant before the two married, moved to Chicago and opened the first Filipino restaurant to earn a Michelin star (the coveted global designation for great dining.)