Restaurateurs of the Year—All Our Past Winners

2007: Modern Café’s Phillip Becht, Zander Café’s Alexander Dixon, Muffuletta’s J.D. Fratzke, W.A. Frost & Company’s Russell Klein, Café Brenda’s Brenda Langton, FireLake’s Paul Lynch, Corner Table’s Scott Pampuch, Craftsman’s Mike Phillips, Restaurant Alma’s Alex Roberts, Cue’s Lenny Russo, Birchwood Café’s Tracy Singleton, Lucia’s Lucia Watson

2006: 112 Eatery

2005: Goodfellow’s Wayne Kostroski and his partners John Dayton and chef Mark Haugen

2004: Turtle Bread’s Harvey McLain

2003: Rick Webb of Ciao Bella, Zelo, and Bacio

2002: partners Jim Dunn, Sam Ernst, Philip Dorwart, and John Schneider from Red Fish Blue in St. Paul and Dish in Minneapolis

2001: Lucia Watson of Lucia’s Restaurant and Wine Bar

2000: Aquavit’s Marcus Samuelsson and Håkan Swahn

1999: Kieran Folliard of Kieran’s Irish Pub, The Local, and Merchants

1998:  Dave Anderson of Famous Dave’s

1997:  Cafe Latté’s Peter and Linda Quinn

1996:  Murray’s, owners Arthur and Marie Murray, executive chef Ron Procenko.  Also D’Amico & Partners Richard and Larry D’Amico. 

1995: Sidney’s Pizza Café, Steve Hayter, John Goodman, Abbe Shapiro, and Dave Bahl

1994: Figlio, Muffaletta and Buca’s owned by Parasole’s Don Hays, Peter Mihajlov and Phil Roberts

1993: Bill Morrisey and Glenn Thompson, St. Paul Grill

1992: Kincaid and Palomino’s chef Tom Miller and senior g.m. Robin O’Neill.  Owned by RUI headed by board chairman Richard Komen and president Ray Lindstrom

1991: John and Beverlie Warling of the Blue Horse

1990: Dakota Bar and Grill’s Lowell Pickett

1989:  Stephan Pyles and John Dayton, owners of Goodfellow’s and Tejas

1988: John Rimarcik from Annie’s Parlour, the Convention Grill, the Monte Carlo, the Stadium Café, Waters, and the Paramount

1987: D’Amico & Partners, Richard and Larry D’Amico and partner Steve Davidson