Photo right: Joanie Quan, center, was one of Donna Fong’s two children who worked full-time in the restaurant since it opened 42 years ago. They cooked at the venerable Nankin Restaurant (then the only Chinese restaurant in town) from 1969–1977. Owner Donna Fong and her husband Daniel came to Minnesota from China and made Minneapolis their home. It always reminded me of the television show ‘Cheers,’ except without the beer.” Joanie remembered my stepson’s food allergies every time and would go out of her way to make his favorite meal. This place was an integral part of my children’s childhood.”Ĭharles Reimler, seated inches away at the next table, added, “It was the friendliness that kept me coming back.

To tell you the truth, I’d sometimes take a little money from my (now) ex-husband’s change jar if it looked like we might be short.

“When my sons were young,” she said,”we used to come here several times a week. Longtime customer Linda Maloney stopped in with her family. Photo right: Owner Donna Fong with one of the dozens of fresh bouquets brought in by customers. As she has done for 42 years, Fong’s daughter Joanie Quan greeted every customer-seeming to know each one’s name and favorite dish on the menu. Owner Donna Fong was still in the kitchen, supervising four generations of family members. since 1975, the cafe had the feeling of not having changed much in all that time. Even at 2pm on the last day, every table was taken, and customers waited in line at the cash register to get their take-out orders, and to say goodbye.

The Dragon City Cafe closed its doors for the last time on Fri., Sept.

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