EZ Press Release  -- October 26, 2023 August 28, 2023 – St. Paul, Minn. – Morrissey Hospitality announced today a number of changes to one of its flagship restaurant, Momento. Opened in April 2022 with new American fare in a casual setting, the team has upgraded the concept to now offer Mediterranean cuisine with an elevated guest experience. Momento will welcome a new chef, new food and drink menus and updates to the restaurant’s design. Following a month-long closure, Momento will reopen on September 6.  

“We’re thrilled to transform the entire dining experience as we welcome guests back to Momento,” says Elizabeth Morrissey Brown, Vice President of Business Development and Marketing at Morrissey Hospitality. “From the service to food and drink, every detail has been re-designed to delight our guests as we transport them to the Mediterranean. This evolution of our concept marks a new moment for our restaurant, and really captures our commitment to providing exceptional hospitality in downtown Saint Paul.”

Newly appointed executive chef, Aaron Uban, has completely overhauled Momento’s menu. Uban has extensive experience throughout the Twin Cities including popular restaurants such as Strip Club Meat & Fish, Heartland, Kieran’s Kitchen and most recently Kincaid’s. His background includes classical Italian training and experience in Middle Eastern cuisine, both of which inspired the new menu. Drawing on influences from North Africa, Spain, Greece, Southern France, Italy and Turkey, the menu leans heavily on herbs, spices and the seasonality of produce and proteins from the region to create lighter dishes. Uban is committed to local sourcing as well, working with vendors including Lowry Hill Provisions, Red Lake Nation Fishery, Northern Foragers, Alemar Cheese and Bakersfield Flour. Highlights from the menu include a selection of crudo, shareable plates, handmade pastas and mains from the ocean and land. Signature dishes include:
    • Foole, a smashed fava bean dip with cumin, garlic, aleppo, lemon, and serrano pepper served with warm flatbread and yogurt
    • Cioppino of mixed seafood, basil, orange zest, fennel tomato broth and grilled bread
    • Wood-Fired Porchetta, made of slow-roasted Berkshire pork belly with ginger, orange, nutmeg and rosemary, sliced thick on Bakersfield rye with garlic chermoula and pickled red onion
    • 378 Maria, a 100% Midwest grass-fed NY strip steak, with duck fat poached carrots, parsnips and grilled lemon, which choice to add chermoula black truffle butter
    • Tortalloni le marche, handmade large tortellini stuffed with short rib, chicken and mortadella, lemon peel, nutmeg and pistachio served with a saffron brodo

Working hand-in-hand with the chef, beverage manager Kevin Tester introduces a menu of Mediterranean-inspired spirit-forward cocktails, wines from the same region, zero-proof mocktails and handcrafted sodas. Each offering has been carefully selected to complement the food. Arancello and Meloncello are made in-house and can be enjoyed straight or as a spritz. A curated selection of wines are available by the glass, bottle and half carafe, reminiscent of restaurants in the Med.
Standout cocktails include:
    • Okey Dokey Artichokey, inspired by Momento’s Olive Oil cake, featuring Cynar 70, saffron honey, Centum Herbis and lime juice
    • Saffronac made with date-infused Buffalo Trace, Knob Creek Rye, saffron honey, absinthe, Angostura, orange and Peychaud’s bitters, garnished with fennel pollen
    • Pazza Mocho, a play on the Spanish Kalimotxo or red wine and cola, with Madre Mezcal, Cihautan Jade Rum, Bigallet China China, black pepper syrup, lemon and sparkling red wine.

Originally designed by Shea, the restaurant's interior will feel familiar but with several updates for a softer mood. This includes new drapery hung from the walls and ceiling for a more intimate feel, handcrafted ceramic sconces and fresh artwork. A palette of softer hues - blues, greens and earth tones - reflective of the Mediterranean landscape have been brought in along with Old World-style decorative pottery. Sprawling, leafy grass plants have been thoughtfully interspersed throughout the restaurant and wine shelving has been introduced to emphasize the new wine program. The original vibrant mural by local artist Adam Turman will remain in place with a refresh by the artist planned for the coming months.

Reservations for dinner service are now available at this link, Tuesday through Saturday from 4-9pm. Momento is located at 360 St. Peter Street in St. Paul, with valet available for ease of parking. For more information visit momento-stp.com.

About Morrissey Hospitality:

Morrissey Hospitality is a second-generation family-owned and privately-held hospitality management company based in St. Paul, Minnesota, specializing in lodging operations, restaurant management, and large venue guest experiences in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest. With over 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Morrissey Hospitality creates independent long-standing restaurant, hotel and event venue brands. Today, Morrissey Hospitality manages over a dozen unique properties and over 1,000 employees. The executive team, led by President Richard Dobransky, a 2023 Notable Leader in Hospitality named by Twin Cities Buisness, aims to build hospitality concepts that are trusted and revered by community members and visitors alike. The portfolio includes: The Saint Paul Hotel, The St. Paul Grill, Saint Paul RiverCentre, Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Headwaters Cafe, Tria Restaurant & Bar, Stockyards Tavern & Chophouse, La Quinta Inn & Suites Woodbury, Momento Restaurant + Bar, Bunker Hills Event Center, Kendall’s Tavern & Chophouse, Tattersall Distilling River Falls, Admiral D's Waterfront Tavern, Freight House Restaurant, New Bohemia Craft Bier Halls and Seventh Street Truck Park, Water Street Inn, Charlie’s Restaurant, and Papa’s Rooftop. For more information, visit www.morrisseyhospitality.com and follow on Facebook and LinkedIn @morrisseyhospitality.


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