What’s opening in the Midway?

University Avenue has always been a hot spot for enjoying a diverse cuisine. And the restaurant industry is always changing; on one hand we don’t like seeing our favorite places close but there are usually many new places opening. What’s new for dining options on University?
The talk of the town lately has been Herbst Eatery and Farm Stand, a new place in an old building near University and Raymond. The restaurant has had rave reviews and is known for using locally sourced ingredients. They also have a strong belief in community and back it up by supporting nonprofits in their South St. Anthony neighborhood.
A short walk from Herbst can take you to what has been The Naughty Greek. However, owner Angelo Giovanis recently sold his three locations and recipes to a new group. The restaurants are now called Spicy Feta. The turnaround was quick and Spicy Feta is open for business. While new to the neighborhood, the new owners are no strangers to the restaurant world, with connections to Ariana Kabob & Gyro Bistro in St. Louis Park.
A few months ago I wrote about two new coffee shops: Rafiki Coffee and Café and Flava Café. Now both are serving sandwiches and more for lunch. The expanded menu should allow for more afternoon and catering business for both locations.
Flava is getting a new neighbor in the NDC building at University and Dale. Slice Brothers Pizza is opening its first Saint Paul location, with an expected opening date in late July. The pizzeria specializes in New York-style pizza and currently has two locations in Minneapolis – in Northeast and at the Midtown Global Market.
Some familiar faces are opening up a new concept, which focuses on pizza and spirits. The founders of Lake Monster Brewing are opening King Coil Spirits in the old King Coil mattress factory building. There will be cocktails available on-site and bottles to go. The pizza is Roman-style, a style gaining popularity throughout the U.S. but has been around in Italy since the 1960s. The expected opening is late summer.
If you want to try a new pizza place and don’t want to wait for Slice or King Coil to open, you may not have had Doge Pizza yet. Located at 629 Aldine St., Doge is available for takeout or delivery and also offers sandwiches, salads and calzones.
Sadly, news broke recently that longtime favorite Fasika Ethiopian Restaurant is closing. The spot near Snelling and University has been a staple in our community for 22 years and will definitely be missed. But if you want another Ethiopian option in walking distance from Fasika, try Sabina’s Café and Deli. And if you haven’t had a chapati wrap, you have to go there and order it (and if you have had a chapati wrap it may be hard to convince you to order anything else).
When you don’t feel like trying somewhere new, make sure to check out the great patios in the Midway this summer. The State Fair will be here soon, and we all need to soak up the summer. Be sure to do it with a few new places in mind.