Golden Valley’s Newest Flavor: Kitchen and Rail Opens in Former Mort’s Deli
After sitting empty for nearly four years, there’s new life on the corner of Highway 55 and Winnetka Avenue in Golden Valley.
Feb. 23 marked the grand opening of Kitchen and Rail.
“It’s just a small craft eatery, we serve quality food and some of the classics done well,” said Joe Newhouse, co-owner of Kitchen and Rail, which also has an Eagan location.
Newhouse and his team acquired the Golden Valley space last fall and spent months transforming it into what you see today.
“It’s a great neighborhood,” said Newhouse. “It’s on the west side of town, which we were wanting to get over to this side of town. But it’s just a great location, kind of right between Minneapolis and Lake Minnetonka.”
He describes the menu as “traditional food” inspired by old family recipes. You’ll find things like sliders, “Nana’s” meatballs, various sandwiches from filet mignon to pastrami, and a variety of cocktails for folks looking to imbibe.
The “MORT” consists of house-smoked NY–style pastrami stacked on caraway rye with stone-ground mustard, house pickles, and kettle chips. Named after the old Mort’s Deli in Golden Valley.
Golden Valley’s evolving downtown
You can count Golden Valley Mayor Roslyn Harmon among the people excited for Kitchen and Rail’s arrival.
“Oh it’s very needed, not only for the people who work around here — you know, we have all these fortune 500 companies — but just for our residents, our community,” said Harmon. “If they want a place laid back where they can just be ‘in the cut’ and quiet, this is the perfect place.”
Perfect, not just because it provides folks with another place to hang out, but because it’s yet another sign that change is coming to the area.
“You know, we’re redeveloping Golden Valley with a new civic campus, as well as this area here that has been sold,” said Harmon, referring to the recent acquisition of the Golden Valley Shopping Center by Paster Properties. “And so, we’re looking forward to what’s coming, and this is the first step. And to have a fine dining restaurant — another one in Golden Valley — is amazing.”
For now, the focus is on the food at Kitchen and Rail. Newhouse says opening a restaurant in a tough economy is a challenge, but it’s one they’re ready for.
“When we opened Eagan, we opened it right after COVID,” said Newhouse. “And so, I would say there’s not really an ideal time to be opening a restaurant. We’re just excited for the energy around it and the support of the community and we really care about our staff, and they’ve been behind us and driving this forward.”
Kitchen and Rail is now open for lunch and dinner, employing 60 people from the local area.
Kitchen and Rail is located at 525 Winnetka Ave N in Golden Valley.
