Solidarity in Seattle
The Tap for February 20, 2026
In this week’s edition of The Heavy Table’s Churn newsletter, we talk to Seattle restaurateurs about their solidarity in fundraising for Minnesota in the face of a man-made disaster that threatens the hospitality industry.
The Tap is a newsletter for our $10/month Founding subscribers. If you’re a $5/month subscriber, stay tuned for the noon delivery of our Hearth newsletter, which is focused on recipes and home cooking. Heavy Table exists solely because of the support of subscribers like you - thanks for making it possible for us to tell the stories of food and drink in the Upper Midwest.
THE TAP
The Tap is the Heavy Table’s ongoing biweekly account of noteworthy Minnesota restaurant openings, closings, and future openings. Please send any tips to editor@heavytable.com. All dates are approximate based on best information available; opening dates, in particular, tend to shift around a lot.
NOW OPEN (Up to 3 Months)
Mestiizo Bar, 337 13th Ave. NE, Minneapolis ■ Asia meets Latin America at this cocktail bar plus small-plates spot in Northeast. Opened Dec. 11, 2025.
Dreamstate Cafe, 2558 Lyndale Ave. South, Minneapolis ■ The owners of Reverie have opened an all-day plant-based spot in the former Hi-Flora and Common Roots space on Lyndale Avenue. Opened Dec. 9, 2025.
Cheba Hut, 1118 W. Lake St., Minneapolis ■ After years of delays, the first Minnesota location of the pot-themed “toasted” sandwich chain is now doing business on Hennepin Avenue. Opened Dec. 4, 2025.
Thérèse, 3945 Market St., Edina, Minn. ■ Fine wines, escargot, steak frites, stuffed trotters and other French delicacies dominate the menu at this DDP Restaurant Group brasserie. Opened Nov. 21 2025.
CLOSED AND CLOSING (Up to 3 Months)
Immigrant-owned restaurants are uniquely vulnerable due to the ongoing ICE operation in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metro. Many are temporarily closed; some of these closures may become permanent. See this Star Tribune story on the possible closure of the five restaurants in the El Sazon group.
Mandalay Kitchen (temporary) ■ A car crashed into Mandalay Kitchen (383 University Ave West) on Jan. 15, leading to a temporary closure of the restaurant. The owners have started a GoFundMe campaign to support staff members affected by the closure.