venue Downtowner Woodfire Grill

In an effort to spiff up the joint, the diner-esque Downtowner Café shut down for a while and rose, phoenix-like, as a grill that boasts fire-roasted meats rather than egg-and-toast selections. The food is primarily American with a Persian touch, but the atmosphere is wood-fired lakeside dining without the lake. It looks like what someone from Edina might consider rustic: exposed brick fireplaces, chunks of dark wood, and muted Oriental rugs. Try to ignore the disappointed looks of people who come looking for the old café’s famous Cajun breakfast.