328 Grill is packing up its griddles in St. Paul Park and heading downriver, taking over the former Me & Julio space at 350 33rd Street W in Hastings. The move pulls Chef Mik German’s scratch kitchen out of the American Legion in St. Paul Park and into its own full-fledged restaurant, complete with a roomy dining area and a sizable patio. German says he is aiming to be cooking in Hastings toward the end of April.
The Hastings upgrade lets 328 Grill keep its name and core menu while finally spreading out a bit. German plans only cosmetic tweaks to the space and expects to bring the current lineup of burgers and bar favorites with him, then expand with more sandwiches, salads, and a few pastas, according to the Pioneer Press. The building already has a full liquor license, and German told the paper the business will offer pull-tabs and e-tabs and lean into old-school bar fun with bingo nights, meat raffles, comedy nights, and a Friday fish fry. The new dining room will seat roughly 125 inside and another 95 or so on the patio, the Pioneer Press reported.
Former Tenant Had Closed
The Hastings address opened up after Me & Julio announced in early February that it was permanently closing its Hastings location, leaving behind that big dining room and prime patio that other restaurant groups had been eyeing. That shutdown was first reported by Bring Me The News.
What It Means For The American Legion And The Local Scene
The move reshapes life back at Post 98 in St. Paul Park. 328 Grill will serve its last meals at the American Legion at the end of April, and Whiskey Creek BBQ will take over the Legion kitchen, according to the Pioneer Press. The handoff lets the Legion zero in on membership and events while freeing up the 328 Grill crew to focus on turning their new Hastings outpost into a go-to neighborhood hangout.
When To Expect It And Where To Check For Updates
German has described the transition as mostly cosmetic, with the target of opening in Hastings toward the end of April still on the board. For official hours, opening dates, and menu details as they come together, patrons can keep tabs at 328grill.com.
