Hen House Eatery rules the roost
Wednesday, April 30, 2014 by Bridgette Reinsmoen in Food & Drink
It can’t be easy stepping into the shoes vacated by a nearly century-old institution. Peter’s Grill had been operating in downtown Minneapolis for 99 years when it closed last summer, and this March, the new Hen House Eatery opened in its place on Eighth Street between Marquette and Second.The three new owners — restaurant vets Maribel Cuandros Perrault, Barb Gardiner, and Tara Koenig,all formerly of Keys Cafe — aren’t serving anything too far afield from the diner classics that Peter’s customers enjoyed, but they have placed a new emphasis on local ingredients in their menu design (Chicken and eggs, for example, are from Larry Schultz Organic Farm). They’ve also spruced the place up with yellow, orange, and green paint that makes the room cheery and complements the dark wood booths, and added homey touches like chalkboardsand black-and-white photos of old rural scenes. The spacious room has retained the counter seating, perfect for solo diners, and there’s also a pastry case stocked with house-made goodies like the brick-size Mars Bar, with a crumbly graham cracker crust, sweet coconut middle, and thick chocolate topping. There’s a definite emphasis on breakfast at Hen House
— it’s available all day, which is from 7:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays 7:30 to 2 on Saturdays and Sundays.