Restaurants
Storming the Radisson
… with Emily Rose Olson and Emily Hayes.
Taqueria El Oasis Del Norte open in Superior pub
Eduardo Sandoval – Photo by Lissa Maki
Everyday options for authentic Mexican food in the Twin Ports have vastly improved. Earlier this month, El Oasis Del Norte food truck started serving up items like tacos, burritos and tortas at Average Joe’s Pub in Superior. (more…)
Poll: What Duluth-area restaurant has the best fish fry?
Who is serving up the Perfect Duluth-area fish fry? In our latest poll, we’re counting on our readers to help suss out the answer to this important question. (more…)
T-Icy Roll Ice Cream opens Downtown Duluth location
Duluth’s second T-Icy Roll Ice Cream shop opens today at 202 E. Superior St., the former location of Lake Superior Art Glass.
Owner Daniel Huang and manager Michelle Lin opened the first T-Icy shop on Aug. 10 in the Denfeld Retail Center in West Duluth. The shops specialize in hibachi-style Thai rolled ice cream treats.
Nominees for Perfect Fish Fry Poll
It’s Lent, the official season to dine on fried fish and chips with a side of slaw, which leads us to Perfect Duluth Day’s latest poll. What local eatery has the best fish fry? (more…)
Sammy’s Pizza now open in Hermantown
WDIO-TV Eyewitness News reports a new Sammy’s Pizza restaurant opened today in Hermantown at 4310 Menard Drive.
“It’s been a dream of ours for quite some time to open a full-service Sammy’s Pizza restaurant in this area, and we’re thrilled that the opportunity has finally arrived,” restaurant owner Terry Perrella told WDIO.
Sammy’s had a Hermantown location for 26 years inside a BP gas station, but it closed in 2017 when the building was sold and the restaurant lost its lease.
New Scenic Café celebrates 20 years
Photo by Lissa Maki
New Scenic Café will mark its 20-year anniversary on April 1. Although Chef Scott Graden has carefully refined his approach over the years, the acclaimed destination eatery on Lake Superior’s North Shore continues to emphasize quality and culinary artisanship. (more…)
Perfect New Restaurant: Corktown Deli & Brews
A Lincoln Park sandwich shop emerged as the hero in Perfect Duluth Day’s 2019 poll to discern the area’s best new restaurant. Corktown Deli & Brews won 43 percent of the runoff vote in a pool of three finalists that was narrowed down from a list of 25 nominees. Pak’s Green Corner and Martha’s Daughter were runners up with 33 percent and 24 percent of the votes, respectively.
Corktown Deli & Brews opened in June. Jeff Petcoff, the fast-casual restaurant’s general manager, was thrilled to hear the poll results. “That’s one of the biggest compliments you can get,” he says, “because readers and people vote on it; it’s a vote of confidence from everyone. It’s humbling and will help keep us going.” (more…)
Poll: What is the best new restaurant in the Duluth area?
In 2017 OMC Smokehouse was voted “Perfect New Restaurant” in our Perfect Duluth Day poll. The popular Lincoln Park establishment will soon be two years old. Since then, an array of eateries have opened and it’s time to name a new champ.
With help from our readers, we amassed a list of 25 recently opened eating establishments. It’s a runoff ballot, so options with the fewest votes slowly dropped off the list. The final three were: Corktown Deli & Brews, Martha’s Daughter and Pak’s Green Corner.
What’s the latest restaurant to win over hearts and bellies?
This poll is now closed. The results were:
Corktown Deli & Brews – 43 percent
Pak’s Green Corner – 33 percent
Martha’s Daughter – 24 percent
Postcards and Relics from the Duluth Flame Restaurant
This undated postcard shows off one of Duluth’s best-remembered restaurants, the Flame, which operated off-and-on at multiple locations in various forms from the 1930s to the 1980s. At the time of the postcard above, the Flame was at 353 S. Fifth Ave. W., where the Great Lakes Aquarium is today. (more…)
Nominees for Perfect New Restaurant Poll – 2019
OMC Smokehouse has enjoyed the “Perfect New Restaurant” title since winning Perfect Duluth Day’s poll in July of 2017 with an impressive 82 percent of the vote.
Since a flurry of restaurant activity has happened in the Twin Ports over the past year and a half, it’s time to launch another poll and give new establishments a chance to prove their worth. (more…)
Video Archive: Duluth’s Chinese Lantern Restaurant
It was 25 years ago today — January 16, 1994 — when Duluth’s iconic Chinese Lantern restaurant was destroyed by fire. The video clip above is from the Asian Flavors documentary co-produced by the Minnesota Historical Society Press and Twin Cities Public Television in 2013. The full 28-minute documentary is below. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Restaurants and Bars of Yesteryear
Reminisce about the bygone restaurants and bars of Duluth with this month’s quiz!
The next PDD quiz, reviewing the headlines of 2018, will be published on Dec. 30. Please email question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Dec. 27. (more…)
R.I.P. Sclavi’s Italian Restaurant & Bar
Sclavi’s Italian Restaurant & Bar in Superior has announced it’s closing for the third time. This time seems to have more finality to it. (more…)
Cake Bandit: Duluth’s Vegan Bakery
Melissa Story – Photo by Lissa Maki
Some Twin Ports residents might be surprised to discover Duluth is home to a vegan microbakery. Cake Bandit has been serving up tasty alternatives to traditional baked goods since 2016. (more…)
Wasabi Japanese Cuisine opening Duluth location Nov. 23
Wasabi Japanese Cuisine will open at 132 E. Superior St. in Downtown Duluth on Black Friday, Nov. 23. The restaurant’s Facebook page notes the grand opening will be from 2 to 10 p.m.
For more information, read Perfect Duluth Day’s previous story on the subject: “Wasabi Japanese Cuisine to open in Duluth’s Old City Hall.”
The menu, shown below, features dine-in and take-out items. (more…)
Guide to Duluth-area Restaurants Serving Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving is arguably the best holiday. It’s an opportunity to be grateful for what you have, eat delicious food and spend time with family (either blood or chosen). There’s no need to buy presents, go to church or decorate the house. The most stressful aspect of the day is the cooking. (more…)
PDD Quiz: Northland Bakeries
This edition of the PDD quiz celebrates the season of gluttony with a look at local bakeries. Indulge your sweet tooth and check it out!
The next PDD quiz, on this month’s local headlines, will be published on Nov. 25. Please email question suggestions to Alison Moffat at [email protected] by Nov. 21. (more…)
Perfect Duluth Restaurant: Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar
Though it’s been lauded in Twin Cities publications for years, surprisingly Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar hasn’t won any local accolades for its cuisine. Until now.
In Perfect Duluth Day’s poll to name the Perfect Duluth Restaurant, Lake Avenue emerged as the clear winner with 48.3 percent of the vote among the top three.
Co-owner Derek Snyder says he was “super surprised and flattered” his restaurant won the poll.
“A lot of Duluthians still don’t know about us,” he said. (more…)
Poll: What is the best Duluth-area restaurant?
With help from readers, we compiled a list of 18 nominees for the best Duluth-area restaurant poll. The final three on the ballot: Duluth Grill, Lake Avenue Restaurant & Bar and Va Bene Caffe.
This poll is now closed. The results will be announced soon.
Perfect Duluth Restaurant Nominations – 2018
It’s been five years since we polled PDD readers to determine the perfect Duluth restaurant. Since then, the New Scenic Cafe has been the reigning champ. (more…)
People mag chooses Duluth Grill as Minnesota’s top breakfast
Duluth Grill is highlighted in the October 2018 issue of People magazine as part of a feature on Top Breakfast Restaurants in each state. The grill’s recipe for Smoked Salmon Hash Skillet, featuring salmon smoked at OMC, the Duluth Grill’s sister restaurant, is spotlighted.
Wasabi Japanese Cuisine to open in Duluth’s Old City Hall
The main floor of Duluth’s Old City Hall will soon be transformed into a sushi restaurant. The owners of Superior’s Wasabi Japanese Cuisine signed a lease on Monday for the space. They anticipate opening this second eatery by the same name in November or December.
The building at 132 E. Superior St. is owned by Rod Raymond of the Just Take Action restaurant group. Since 2011, the main level space has housed three restaurants: Tycoons Alehouse, the Blind Pig, and more recently Sound.
Dennis Kempton, who handles media relations for Just Take Action, says the new Wasabi Japanese Cuisine location will be modeled after its sister restaurant in Superior, which opened in March in the former O’Neill’s Pub & Liquor building at 3333 Tower Ave. (more…)
T-Icy rolls across Duluth
This hibachi-style Thai rolled ice cream treat is called “Monkey Family.” It is flavored with Nutella-brand hazelnut spread and banana. The choice of toppings featured here are strawberry slices, cinnamon sticks and mango-flavored boba pearls. (Photo by Suenary Philavanh)
T-Icy Roll Ice Cream is preparing to open a second Duluth location this winter. An awning with the store name is already up at 202 E. Superior St., the former location of Lake Superior Art Glass. (more…)
Dovetail Cafe to open in October
Duluth Folk School Director & Co-Founder Bryan French outside Dovetail Cafe – Photo by Lissa Maki
If all goes as planned, Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace will open in the second week of October. The unique eatery, housed within the Duluth Folk School at 1917 W. Superior St., will serve up meals made from scratch, products from local vendors and a side of education for those inclined to learn. (more…)