Cheo Smith

There are rare chefs who elevate every dish they craft, and display clarity of vision without the hangups of timing and measurement that plague the lesser cook. These rare artists of the kitchen can spin you a familiar story you’ve never heard before, from the same ingredients that others, by comparison, seem to be using for plain, utilitarian purposes.

In the back of Arnellia’s Nightclub is a brightly lit kitchen that seems just big enough for one man to operate out of. On a busy night, the owner of Nardie’s Cafe, Leonard Lowe, will have a crew of five cooking, getting orders ready and running food out to hungry patrons. Nardie’s Cafe was established in 1997 and their initial run in Arnellia’s lasted through 2004. After setting up shop on Nicollet for three years, Lowe returned the restaurant to Arnellia’s. The relationship is a bit like that between a hotel and the restaurant inside. People come for food or for the nightclub and the two bring business to each other.

Soul Food Heaven is a classic soul food establishment, nestled next to a small supermarket in St. Paul’s North End. Having only been open since October of 2012 hasn’t stopped the restaurant from becoming known as the place to get soul food in the Twin Cities.