Mystery Kasson Restaurant Having Soft Opening This Weekend

A unique new restaurant in Southeast Minnesota is gearing up for its big grand opening this summer, but you can get a sneak peek during a soft opening this weekend.

When one business closes, another business opens

So many people were sad to hear the announcement that the Smiling Moose gift and coffee shop on Main Street in Kasson, MN would be closing at the end of 2023.

Kim and Steve White opened the Smiling Moose in May of 2021 and after two and half years of providing great coffee and adorable gifts, they decided it was time to retire and put the building on the market. It quickly sold and the last day of business for Smiling Moose was December 23, 2023.

At the time, nobody knew what the new owners of the building were going to do with it, but then in March of this year, a mysterious fiery logo popped up on the building. No luck peeking in to see what was being done inside; the windows were all covered up so you could not see in.

At that point, it was obvious it would be a new bar and/or restaurant, but there were still questions. Will it be just a bar or a restaurant, too? What kind of food will they serve? Will they still be using the drive-thru window? When will they be open?

Fast forward a few weeks and we now have more details about the new establishment opening in Kasson.

What is The Kickback in Kasson?

A Facebook page for The Kickback Bar & Grill was created on April 23rd and describes it as "a local Stop & Chillax spot to grab some good drinks, great food, chill atmosphere and hang out with the best of friends, family & loved ones!"

What Kind of Food Will Be On the Menu at The Kickback?

So far the owners are keeping the full menu of The Kickback hush-hush, need-to-know only, but from what I hear around town, it's going to feature your traditional American bar-and-grill food with some fun and unique surprises.

According to their website, the menu of the new Kickback Bar & Grill will feature a wide range of options including seafood, steaks, vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, along with signature cocktails and local brews.

When Is The Kickback in Kasson Opening?

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I chatted with the owner of the restaurant, Tony, and he told me the plan is to open The Kickback for full-service dining in July of this year.

READ MORE: Twin Cities Suburb Names Itself Restaurant Capital of Minnesota

If that's too long to wait, you can get a sneak peek of the restaurant during the soft opening of their drive-thru, carryout, and delivery on the afternoon of Friday, May 3rd from 1 PM to 5 PM.

They will also be offering free samples all weekend in the parking area.

The temporary menu was posted to Facebook Thursday night. Looks like they have some pretty interesting specialty drinks and several breakfast items available this weekend.

The address of The Kickback is is 408 West Main Street, Kasson MN and their phone number is 507-634-5425.