Flavor, color and texture arrive by way of a Buddha Bowl. Photos: Chris Emeott
Dining spot’s second location settles into Minnetonka neighborhood.
Heather’s, a neighborhood eatery, serving tasty mealtime staples and more, opened its Eden Prairie Road location in the fall, and owner Heather Asbury has received a welcoming nod. “It seems to be well received by the neighborhood, and we’re seeing a lot of repeat customers,” she says. “I love to greet people and tell them who we are.”
Heather describes her restaurant as bright, fresh and approachable. Dishes are freshly made from scratch, and the menu offers a variety of rotating options. “I like to change things up with my menu often,” she says. “It gives people a reason to come back.”
Not all fried chicken sandwiches are created equal. At Heather’s, it stands above the rest.
And diners can return for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a little mid evening nosh. We took a peek at the menu (at the time this article was written) and found plenty of underscore-worthy bites. Heather’s gives breakfast standards a twist with an appearance by Cacio e Pepe, which typically doesn’t arrive to the table until lunch or dinner, but here it comes by way of Spinach Toast (honey wheat bread with chili crunch, an over-easy egg, pecorino cheese, sautéed spinach and black pepper-green salad).
A lunch and dinner burger option gives a nice, friendly wave to the neighborhood with the Glen Lake Burger (local beef, dill pickles, honey mustard, lettuce, maple-pepper bacon, tomato and white cheddar cheese all cozied up in a country white bun). Heather’s prides itself on options, and cooking up a variety of dinnertime proteins is a win for diners (braised beef, chicken, salmon, steak, tofu and walleye). To note: The menu changes, so check it online or be open to other options upon arrival.
This elegant croissant is layered in flavor and, naturally, buttery sheets of goodness.
The success in offering a rotation of menu items was something Heather first started doing at her first Heather’s location on Minneapolis’ Chicago Avenue. That method is partly attributed to timing of that restaurant’s opening—during the peak of COVID-19. With very few restaurants fully operating at the time, Heather’s featured new items to encourage diners to make return visits. It ended up working in her favor, teaching her a new business strategy. “If I would have tried to plan it, it would have never been that way,” she says. “I was so new; I couldn’t make plans … and that helped me become who I am today.”
That initial foray into restaurant ownership was also influenced by Heather’s experience in the restaurant business. While working at Uptown’s beloved Lucia’s Restaurant, she learned early on how to run a successful farm-to-table business from owner, Lucia Watson. “After Lucia’s closed, I didn’t really know what I was going to do with my life and ended up in the catering world,” Heather says. As a chef by trade, Heather often catered for friends and family. “I went to school at [The Culinary Institute of America] in New York and was a chef for many years,” she says. “It felt like a good fit to get into the catering world.”
Frittata with asparagus, Gruyère cheese and leeks is wonderfully paired with fresh greens.
While it was Heather that drew herself into the food world, it was her brother and real estate agent, Andrew Asbury, who discovered an ideal Minneapolis location for her first restaurant. “In my mind, it was going to be a tiny corner restaurant where I knew everyone’s name and cooked what they wanted,” she says. But success had other things in mind.
As Heather’s worked through the pandemic and into today’s new normal, Heather and Andrew were on the lookout for a commercial kitchen, which could support more catering endeavors. The Minnetonka location presented itself as a solution and opportunity. “I am always open to opportunity,” Heather says. “So, if it feels right, I come from a place of saying, ‘Yes.’”
Heather quickly learned the neighborhood needed another restaurant, so she invested in the building, making it more than just a commercial kitchen, and the location grew into its current incarnation as restaurant with bar and take-out services and marketplace-style offerings, including deli salads and specialty food items. “I’ve never worked in a full bar, and that’s been interesting, and I’m still learning a lot,” Heather says. “It’s exciting to watch how it shifts the dynamic.”
Embrace the season with this Spring Salad, welcoming asparagus, candied almonds, dill, goat cheese, peas, raspberries and Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette.
What’s next for spring? With Easter and Mother’s Day sitting on the calendar’s April and May pages, “We’ll do full take-out options or have dine-in reservations,” Heather says, adding catering season is starting to ramp up. “We’ll go to your home. We’ll go to your wedding venue. We’ll do it all,” she says.
Your Order is Ready
While dining out for holidays or special occasions offers its advantages, eating at home with one’s best dining ware and the comforts of home has its benefits. Whether ordering a full meal or just the side dishes, Heather’s offers a lovely takeout menu for Easter meals.
If you want to serve the holiday meal shortly after the egg hunt concludes, consider brunch with Frittatas (asparagus, Gruyère cheese and leeks or Fischer Farms sausage, cheddar cheese and sautéed peppers and onions). Don’t forget to order bacon, fruit salad and croissants.
Feel all the spring feels with a Spring Salad (asparagus, candied almonds, dill, goat cheese, peas and raspberries dressed with a Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette).
Get the entrée covered with a Maple Orange Glazed Fischer Farms Half Ham, Fischer Farms Ham Steak, Lamb Stew and Spring Vegetables, Horseradish Cream and Pappardelle Noodles.
Hit the sides with Glazed Carrots with Fresh Dill, Mashed Potatoes, Cheesy Potatoes, Green Beans with Lemon Butter and Toasted Almonds, and Deviled Eggs with Dill and Capers.
Need sweets? Heather’s is offering Carrot Cake and Easter Bunny Cupcakes (of course!) muffins, pie, roulade and scones.
Order by April 15. Pick up April 19 or 20 (Easter Sunday).
Heather’s
5445 Eden Prairie Road, Minnetonka; 952.254.4800
Facebook: Heather’s Minnetonka
Instagram: @heathersmtka
