Bittersweet weekend for foodies

Twin Cities restaurants are in a constant state of change, opening and closing year round for various reasons.

Springtime is a time of growth and change. This proved true for local restaurants this weekend.

Nye’s Polonaise Room officially closed their doors on Sunday, marking 66 years of business. Nye’s is located in Northeast Minneapolis, or Nordeast as many call it which refers to the large population of European immigrants that once resided there. This neighborhood is now of great interest to many developers who have recently begun projects in the area.

In 2006, Nye’s was voted “Best Bar in America” by Esquire Magazine and even made USA Today’s list for “10 Great Places you won’t Forget.” What made Nye’s unique was a combination of their Polish food, uplifting polka music and authentic 50s ambience. The most notable aspect would be the crowds that flocked to Nye’s, which would range from millennials to senior citizens. The charm of Nye’s was definitely one-of-a-kind, and will not be forgotten. With the closing of Nye’s, condos and retail shops are rumored to be erected in its place. During the negotiations, new developers do plan to keep remnants of Nye’s.

Nye’s isn’t the only staple that has closed its doors recently. La Belle Vie closed its doors late last year for similar reasons. Tim McKee, owner of La Belle Vie, is a James Beard award winner and restaurateur. McKee’s “offspring” have ventured to highly esteemed restaurants such as Spoon and Stable and Saint Dinette. His track record is solid, and the restaurant reviews are outstanding, but even the most esteemed restaurants can’t compete with changing tastes, it seems.

As we depart from two metro classics, we welcome back another: Sea Salt Eatery. Sea Salt Eatery is located in Minnehaha Park near the falls. The seafood is fresh from the coast, and the local beer, Surly, is served on tap. The owner boasts that he is proudest of their fish tacos, but many locals rave that their po’ boys are the best in Minnesota. Sea Salt Eatery is typically packed and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The only downfall is that its lines are long, so be prepared and bring a friend so they can save your spot in line while you buy yourself a couple of Surlys at the bar. Hurry in, though; Sea Salt Eatery is only open seasonally, and they expect to close in late October.

Sea Salt isn’t the only patio that opened its doors this week. Betty Danger’s Country Club also officially opened its patios this weekend. However, Saint Paul’s rooftop patios haven’t quite caught on yet. The Liffey and Ox Cart Ale House both have yet to open their rooftop patios this year. Employees blame the unstable weather but hope to be fully operational in a few weeks.

Restaurants are a competitive business, but the Twin Cities haven’t seen competition like this  before. This weekend perfectly depicted the aggressive competition and hard work that is necessary in making a restaurant function. As we welcomed back a seasonal favorite and said our final goodbyes to a hometown staple, the metro experienced an incredibly bittersweet weekend.