Sure, a few restaurants I loved have closed, but that seems to mostly be due to covid (e.g. Bachelor's Farmer) or poor management (Butcher & the Boar). If anything restaurants have gotten even better in the last 10 years in the Twin Cities. There's of course higher-end places like Spoon and Stable, Kado no Mise, and Owamni, and also quite a few better Chinese options that have opened in Dinkytown (e.g., Lao Sze Chuan). And of course old favorites like Bar La Grassa that's still going strong.
My pet theory on Bachelor Farmer is that being owned by the Daytons affected the closing quite a bit.
It was a hobby of theirs, but nothing they were willing to keep around as a risk (contrast with Spoon and Stable, Gavin’s identity). The other restaurants in the area are booming (Kado no Mise, Belacour, Billys are a few particular post-Covid success stories on the same block)
I just wish somebody would take that wonderful space. I’m sure it commands a hefty rent.
Batchelor Farmer went downhill when the original chef left, years before Covid. Spoon and Stable spelled the end of it what with being a block away and far better. I visit MN a couple times a year from CA, the food scene is strong and getting stronger.
