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Boreal Community Media

Food Network names The Fisherman's Daughter "most charming small town restaurant" in Minnesota

Feb 25, 2025 08:54AM ● By Content Editor
Photo: The Fisherman's Daughter Facebook page

By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - February 25, 2025


The owners of The Fisherman's Daughter, Parker and Katie Slanga, can now add a new adjective to describe their restaurant: "charming." Last month, the Food Network released an article on its website titled "The Most Charming Small Town Restaurant in Each State," which, you guessed it, listed 50 favorite food spots around the country. 

The Fisherman's Daughter was selected for Minnesota, which, according to Katie Slanga, the owners had no idea was going to happen. "We had no idea. We received a call at the shop while we were away having our new baby," she told Boreal Community Media. 

The restaurant was first opened in 1998 by Harley and Shele Toftey under the name The Dockside Market. The Tofteys had multiple decades of commercial fishing experience, including in Alaska and Lake Superior. In 2017, the Tofety's made the decision to retire, and the process began to sell and transfer the ownership of the building that housed The Dockside Market to the North House Folk School (the sale and transfer were completed in 2018). In the spring of 2018, Steve and Ellen Frank, owners of Morey's Seafood Markets, stepped up to rent the space and operate The Dockside Market. That partnership ended in late 2019, and in early 2020, the restaurant had a new name, The Fisherman's Daughter, and new management under Sam Hedstrom, Abby Tofte (The Big Lake, Lady Superior Bottle Shop) and Kate and Jeremy Keeble (Hungry Hippie Hostels and Hungry Hippie Tacos). Under the partnership between North House and the four co-managers, Katie managed the restaurant. 

In 2022, Hedstrom, Tofte, and the Keebles moved on from The Fisherman's Daughter, and that's when Katie and Parker stepped up. The couple has operated the restaurant since then. 

"Being awarded the most charming small-town restaurant in Minnesota means a great deal to Parker, myself, and the entire team at The Fisherman’s Daughter, as it represents the hard work, dedication, and love we have all poured into this business," Katie said before adding, "
It’s a recognition of the welcoming atmosphere, delicious food, and personal touch that have made the restaurant a local gem. This honor also validates the connection between the heritage and the town, highlighting how deeply we value both tradition and community."


To learn more about The Fisherman's Daughter, visit the website here.

To see the list of all 50 charming small-town restaurants as named by the Food Network, click here.