Lucky Cricket

"Andrew Zimmern, chef of Lucky Cricket, will be participating in the Aquaculture Plated dinner, focusing on environmentally responsible aquaculture." - Erin Russell

"After closing for a month under the guise of remodeling, Lucky Cricket inside the Shops at West End complex has re-opened looking largely the same. The restaurant opened with limited hours last week, but is back to serving lunch and dinner this week with a new menu and staff. An employee explained that the closure wasn’t remodeling of the room, but 'more of a reconcepting.' The same person also described the new menu as more pan-Asian than Chinese. A perusal of the new menu, which isn’t yet available online, includes a handful of dishes that were on the original mixed with new dishes like crispy fried pig ears and a selection of noodles that were highly recommended. Behind the bar, the tiki blended drinks are still available, but the options listed also include more traditional cocktails." - Joy Summers

"Andrew Zimmern’s Lucky Cricket restaurant inside the Shops at West End has re-opened its reservations on Open Table. The beleaguered restaurant first opened by Zimmern and restauranteur Michael McDermott in November of 2018 under the shadow of controversial statements made by its celebrity chef co-owner. Critics both local and national were quick to write thought pieces on what the restaurant meant in a larger culinary landscape and return mixed reviews on the dishes served within. Just after the July 4th weekend of 2019, the restaurant abruptly closed for what was supposed to be a two-week remodel. From the design company to Zimmern’s publicity team, no one was willing or able to comment on what the remodel entailed. Now, a little over one month later and social media posts advertising employment opportunities, Lucky Cricket’s reservations page says that reservations are available as soon as Sunday August 25. Meanwhile, the restaurant’s telephone line continues to go unanswered as have multiple email requests for comment." - Joy Summers

"The Chinese restaurant/tiki bar from celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern and restaurateur Michael McDermott, has closed unexpectedly for a remodel at the eight month-old eatery. The restaurant faced challenges with consistency since its opening, and a video of Zimmern's controversial comments about Midwest Chinese food added to the scrutiny. The remodel details are not disclosed, and Shea, Inc., the original design firm, is not involved in the new remodel." - Joy Summers

"When we first walked through the Lucky Cricket space, it was alongside celebrity chef and Minnesota champion Andrew Zimmern... massive media coverage and a dining room full of rubberneckers... the reality of this suburban mall restaurant... Soleil Ho chronicled her dismay with the interview and dining at Lucky Cricket... James Norton issued an early review noting bad food like cigarette ash-flavored rice... It’s the difference between the promise and the plate that might be plaguing the almost month-old establishment the most... Frozen cocktail shrimp, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes, and noodles are a salad, but clearly not what was being sold to diners." - Joy Summers