Peter's Grill Minneapolis Closed

Peter's Grill, a downtown restaurant in Minneapolis since 1914 closed July 1. It was started by Peter Atkas and was sold to his nephews in 1983 and later sold again in 2003. The property owners said it might reopen as Peter's Grill under new ownership.

For what its worth it really hasn't been the same since it was sold in 1983 and moved to its present location. Its only recent saving grace was that President Clinton stopped there in 1993 and the menu carried his comment and signature ever since from that visit.

quote:

Originally posted by Davydd

Its only recent saving grace was that President Clinton stopped there in 1993 and the menu carried his comment and signature ever since from that visit.

Maybe that was it's downfall! (just kidding)

I really love their sign. Hopefully who ever, if anyone, reopens the place, they will keep the sign. And improve the food. And not turn it into still another "Contemporary American Food" place. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I guess, as long as it's not a chain.

Peter's Grill was absolutely fabulous back in the 70s when I frequented it often for lunch. The food was comfort food mashed potatoes, meatloaf, lots of gravy, pie, greasy hamburgers, etc. Basically the restaurant was a center kitchen grill area surrounded by a deep U shaped luncheon counter and then rung with booths with high dark wood partitions along three walls. You waited for a seat to open up. All the waitresses were longtime employees--the mom types.

The recent Peter's was but a shell of the old. Everything was new and glass walls were on two sides. Portions were chintzy. There was nothing distinguishable about the food. Failure was inevitable. It was living off a memory and reputation it could not match.

Dad and I ate at Peter's Grill numerous times on our travels to the Twin Cities. We had no knowledge of its prior incarnation and always thought the current location was a real treasure. Admittedly there was nothing special about the food itself, but we always enjoyed overall experience of eating in the olive drab and dark wood Art Deco dining room. I can only imagine how wonderful the original version must have been. Peter's passing is a sad moment for us; sorry to see it go.

Buddy