Pop!!

Five and a half years ago, an opportunity in Northeast Minneapolis opened up for Clark Knutson (chef/owner of Pop!! restaurant) through an abandoned building a few blocks down from his mother's place. After traveling the United States, cooking with ingredients unknown to the Midwest, he was ready to settle back into Minnesota. This building would become his first restaurant, Pop!, and would later be followed by its St. Paul-sister, Pop!!. (Notice the two exclamation points.) Knutson inquired about the empty building, and it snowballed from there. Knutson's idea found its place.


Photo by Chris Bohnhoff


The restaurant's decor is worth paying the place a visit. “The overall vibe and look of the restaurant makes a difference,” said Knutson. While going to culinary school in the late '80s, he was exposed to the large pop scene and soon became fascinated with all-things pop culture, which is exactly what his restaurant is themed on. There's nothing more rejuvenating than walking into Pop!! on a cold January afternoon, whose bright colors bring life back to any Minnesotan's frozen heart. "People come in and they're happy," he said. Pop art's bright colors lends itself not only to the decor, but also the food.


Photo by Chris Bohnhoff


What's 'pop' about the food is its ability to make accessible the world cuisines Minnesotans may think unusual, at an unusually affordable price. One needs only to glance at Pop!!'s menu before they notice the range of world cuisines represented. And they're represented for the best of reasons - it's the food Knutson knows and a taste of his culinary experience, as his menu is flavored with the Latin and Caribbean food he's cooked. (Think Carne Asada, Cubana, Picadillo Empanadas, and Black Bean Soup.) Having many years of experience cooking at large resorts in Florida and being a chef in Arizona, Knutson has gained a knowledge base of these cuisines, and generously shares it with his fellow Minnesotans.


As the food reaches Pop!!'s restaurant-goers, Knutson hopes it both comforts and challenges them. (You'll find the Swedish meatballs very close to the Israeli couscous on the menu.) Don't want to spend a fortune on something you can't pronounce? Pop!! is your place. Its location in downtown St. Paul also lends itself to be both a good neighborhood bistro and destination restaurant. Overall, Pop!! strikes a balance between familiarity and diversity with a price-point nobody complains about - especially during these times.

If quality food and vibrant decor weren't enough, you'll find a DJ there on Thursdays - adding to what's already an alive environment. Lively. Casual. Fun. A restaurant that makes all three easily accessible - what's more pop than that?

-Melinda Feucht