Top 10 First Looks of St. Louis restaurants in 2019
From Elmwood and Bait to the new Fitz’s in South County, these were the top 10 places you were most excited about this year. 1. Soda Fountain at St. Louis Union Station 2. Bait in the Central West End 3. Elmwood in Maplewood 4. Fried in downtown St. Louis (Editor’s note: Fried closed in July 2019.) 5.…
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Get to know Cinder House’s new chef de cuisine Josh Adams
There’s a new chef in town. Cinder House, the acclaimed restaurant at the Four Seasons in downtown St. Louis, recently welcomed chef de cuisine Josh Adams, who will work closely with James Beard Award-winning executive chef Gerard Craft to conceptualize new menu items while continuing to push the envelope of fine dining in the Midwest.…
Reign Restaurant will open in downtown St. Louis in February
In mid-February, Reign Restaurant will open at 1122 Washington Ave., in the former Copia Restaurant and Wine Garden space. The concept is spearheaded by Dana Kelly, an owner and financial specialist at The Firm and the executive director for the St. Louis Women’s March. This will be Kelly’s first foray into the restaurant industry. “I’ve…
The Diki-Diki cocktail is perfect for a cozy night by the fire
The Diki-Diki cocktail was first published in the famous Savoy Cocktail Book. It blends 1½ ounces Calvados apple brandy, ¾ ounce Kronan Swedish Punsch liqueur, ½ ounce grapefruit juice and ¼ ounce simple syrup. Shake, then strain into a cocktail glass and garnish with an orange twist. Sip by a fire while enjoying notes of…
Yo! Salsa, Baked Wood Fired Pizza will close by the end of the year
As we near the end of the year, two St. Louis restaurants have announced they will close their doors at the end of 2019. • Owner John Lutgen confirmed Wentzville Mexican restaurant Yo! Salsa at 2 W. Pearce Blvd. will close on Dec. 31. The concept began as a food truck in 2013. “We’re closing…
Retreat, Yellowbelly owners launch Soupboi, a delivery-only concept
Retreat Gastropub and Yellowbelly owners Tim Wiggins and Travis Howard aim to warm up winter lunches with Soupboi, a “ghost kitchen” operating inside Yellowbelly. The delivery-only concept is only available through Doordash. “It’s a cool way for us during the day to take the people we already have there and without increasing staff at all,…
Top 10 most read news articles of 2019
From new spots like Sllyce Republic Pizza and The Cheshire Grin Cat Cafe to the closing of Cork and Barrel and Oaked in Soulard, these were the most read restaurant news stories this year. 1. In May, seafood restaurant The Mad Crab announced it would open a second location at 12490 St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton.…
Larder & Cupboard to close Maplewood shop on Dec. 30
Larder & Cupboard owner Cindy Higgerson will close her specialty shop at 7310 Manchester Road in Maplewood after five years in business. Higgerson made the announcement yesterday, Dec. 27, via social media. “There were a lot of factors involved in the decision. Part of it is increasing overhead costs, and rent has gone up significantly.…
This quality Napa red blend is a rare bargain
2016 Jax Y3 Taureau is a beautiful Napa Valley red blend of 50% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon and 20% syrah featuring ripe berry-plum character and considerable structure. Sumptuously balanced Napa reds at such a bargain are rare, especially with this palate-pleasing style. $22. Available at Robust Wine and Gift Shoppe in Webster Groves Glenn Bardgett…
First Look: Re-Voaked in the Central West End
When Oaked executive chef Stephan Ledbetter left the Soulard restaurant after it closed in October, he didn’t take much time before jumping into a new concept. Two months later, Ledbetter has opened his own sandwich spot, Re-Voaked, which lives at 12½ S. Euclid Ave. From the buoyant, 2000s-era college music playing from the speakers –…
EXO Lounge and EXO Nail Bar are now open in Edwardsville
EXO Lounge and EXO Nail Bar opened doors at No. 2 157 Center in Edwardsville on Friday, Dec. 20. Operations consultant Justin VanMatre said the EXO Lounge is 1,400 square feet with a 1,700-square-foot patio. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday…
First Look: Protagonist Cafe in Soulard
Jim Lettau, Laura Leister and Ameet Raval love a good theme. First, they opened board game bar Pieces in Soulard in 2016; earlier this month, their second concept, Protagonist Cafe, went live at 1700 S. Ninth St. in Soulard. Protagonist is a literature-themed coffee shop whose walls are lined with more than 2,000 books and…
Civil Life’s Rye Pale Ale is a classic with good reason
Showcasing a perfect match of hops and four types of malts, Civil Life Brewing Co.’s 4.5% Rye Pale Ale was one of the brewery’s three original beers and a 2014 Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner. It pours clear with a nice fluffy head, making way for deep amber color that properly laces the…
Re-Voaked sandwich shop opens in Central West End
Doors opened today, Dec. 20, at Re-Voaked, a sandwich shop from former Oaked executive chef Stephan Ledbetter at 12½ S. Euclid Ave. in the heart of the Central West End. When Oaked closed in Soulard earlier this year, Ledbetter said it gave him the latitude to think about another project. “As a chef working in…
First Look: Noto Italian Restaurant in St. Peters
Noto Italian Restaurant, the new eatery from co-owners Wayne and Kendele Sieve, isn’t just a bigger version of the pizza trailer they started three years ago – it’s something different entirely. Officially going live just after New Year’s Day, Noto Italian Restaurant will offer pizza, house-made pasta, starters, a full bar and more. The new…
Tour Vince Valenza’s 6 favorite spots in St. Louis
Vince Valenza is an STL restaurant OG. Now in its 15th year, his Blues City Deli draws formidable crowds every lunch service, while his adjacent Melo’s Pizzeria made best-of lists when it opened in 2016. “I can’t even believe I’m a part of this thing we have going on here,” Valenza said. “It’s an exciting…
Sherry-based cocktails are now trending in St. Louis bars
Sherry is moving from occasional extra in the St. Louis cocktail scene to a supporting actor with significant roles on menus all over town. Before its reputation as a sauce ingredient found in Grandma’s pantry, the Spanish fortified wine was known for spicing up a cocktail. The classic Bamboo, which utilizes dry fino sherry as…
Josh Adams is named as chef de cuisine at Cinder House
Cinder House at the Four Seasons has had a change in the lineup. Two-time James Beard Award semifinalist Josh Adams has taken over as chef de cuisine at chef Gerard Craft’s downtown eatery. The position was previously held by Aaron Martinez, who has returned to the kitchen at Vicia. Adams comes from his lauded Illinois…
First Look: The Tenderloin Room at the Chase Park Plaza
Six weeks after closing for renovations, the new incarnation of The Tenderloin Room at The Chase Park Plaza will debut Monday, Dec. 16. In November, local restaurateur and chef Bob Brazell announced that he, Ben Strake and Rick DeStefane took ownership of the classic St. Louis steakhouse in June. Brazell stressed that former owner Dino…
Six Mile Bridge Beer will expand location, add food concept
A new chapter will soon begin for Six Mile Bridge Beer, as an expansion is in the works for the Maryland Heights brewery. The business announced on Facebook Sunday that the expansion will feature additional seating, more taps, as well as a full kitchen. Six Mile Bridge co-owner Lindsay Sherring said she and co-owner Ryan Sherring…
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Be merry at Weekend Wonderland Dec. 21 and 22
Enjoy a night of merriment followed by a morning cup of holiday cheer as the Mad Art Gallery hosts the Merrymaker Holiday Pop-Up Party from 7 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, and the Blitzen Brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22. During Merrymaker, a 21-and-up event, munch on complimentary…
Review: Koreana Karaoke in Chesterfield
Located in a nondescript strip mall in Chesterfield, Koreana Karaoke doesn’t look like much from the street. Brave the long, dim hallway of closed doors upon entering, however, and you’ll find a strange but charming karaoke bar. The first thing you should notice at Koreana is the owner, June Krohr, who goes by Mama June.…
Switchgrass Spirits will begin distribution in 2020
St. Louis spirit lovers will soon have a new way to imbibe. Switchgrass Spirits plans to start producing and distributing spirits in 2020. Sales and marketing manager Jerry Seelbach said Switchgrass operated on the Wellston-based distillery under the moniker Arcana Distilling since 2016, using that time to update the property, learn to distill and develop…
Maya Cafe in Maplewood will close next week
Maplewood pan-Latin eatery Maya Cafe announced today, Dec. 10, that it will close doors after dinner service on Dec. 21. “It’s been a conversation. [Owner] Jay [Schober] is 73 now and decided that he was ready to retire,” said general manager Dana Merritt, who said she intends to leave the industry, as well. Open for more…
Critic Michael Renner picks his top 3 dishes of 2019
Longtime critic Michael Renner dines out a lot to bring readers his New and Notable review each month. Here are the three best things he ate this year. 1. Mafalda at ElmwoodThe memory of twirling tangled strands of frilly-edged house-made mafalda noodles in a rich and hearty grilled vegetable Bolognese with a touch of cream…
What I Do: Vince di Piazza of Ditalia
Business wasn’t great for Vincenzo di Piazza in the late 1990s. Ditalia, the importer he founded in 1985 to bring artisan Italian foodstuffs to the U.S., was being outpriced and outmaneuvered by larger providers. Things looked bleak until his son, Vince di Piazza, approached him with novel idea: sell their inventory on the internet. The…
Japanese concept Izumi will open inside Takashima Records early next year
Hip Manchester strip The Grove will see yet another new restaurant in 2020. Situated between Chao Baan and an upcoming Seoul Taco in the new Chroma building, one new concept will house another when Japanese eatery Izumi will open inside Takashima Records at 4041 Chouteau Ave. Kurt Bellon, a member of the Global Foods…
Review: Beast Butcher & Block in The Grove
One afternoon at Beast Butcher & Block, my colleague quickly twisted a wingette, sliding out its two thin bones – she’s an expert – before popping the tender, dark meat into her mouth. “Nobody’s making wings like these,” she said with the focus of a connoisseur. Gloriously burnished and flecked with dry rub, the wings…
First Look: High Low in Midtown St. Louis
Books and coffee have always gone together. Continuing that tradition, the literary arts-focused cafe High Low is now open at 3301 Washington Ave. in Midtown. The coffee shop and event space is part of the Kranzberg Arts Foundation and features brews from Blueprint Coffee and food by neighboring restaurant Bulrush. The 150-person space will be…
Why we love the coconut macaroons at Cake House Design
This is how a coconut macaroon is supposed to taste. A perfectly bronzed, crispy toasted coconut shell gives way to a marshmallowy center. Most coconut macaroons feel forgettable, but this is the reason people try to make them – hoping they will have the textural balance, tropical flavor and beautiful look of Cake House Design’s…
Salt + Smoke will open Ballpark Village location in downtown St. Louis
Hungry Cardinals fans and downtown residents will have a lot more than baseball to look forward to next summer. Local barbecue institution Salt + Smoke will open its fifth space in June 2020 in next phase of Ballpark Village, currently under construction at 1 Cardinal Way, as reported by St. Louis Post Dispatch. “I couldn’t…
Guerrilla Street Food closes location at Two Plumbers Brewery
The Guerrilla Street Food location inside Two Plumbers Brewery + Arcade at 2236 1st Capitol Drive in St. Charles has closed. The last day of service was Saturday, Nov. 30. The concept opened in January. GSF co-owner Brian Hardesty said the closure was a simple a matter of economics. “We were hoping to maintain a…
Brennan’s in the CWE will close current space, plans to relocate in 2020
A Central West End favorite has announced it will close doors at its current location early next year. Owner Kevin Brennan announced in a release today, Dec. 2, that Brennan’s at 4659 Maryland Ave., will shutter and look for a new space. “In Spring 2020, after 17 years of business on Maryland Avenue, Brennan’s will…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 1 Indo
Nick Bognar isn’t afraid to tell you what he’s good at. He knows he’s a good cook. As a young chef, he moved across the country to work under the best chefs he could find, learning how to do what they did – or better. The food was the only thing that mattered. “But the…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 2 Elmwood
From its shadowy, obsidian space and open, windowed kitchen to its spirited neon signs and superbly curated plates and glasses, everything at Elmwood feels extremely deliberate. Hip-hop instrumentals flow at a low volume from hidden speakers; concrete floors bolster the industrial feel. The vibe is cool in multiple senses of the word – it’s a…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 3 Bulrush
Creating culinary excellence from humble sources isn’t anything new. The enterprise of reducing waste and finding sustainable ingredients is no longer a radical idea. Bulrush, however, has embarked on a decidedly radical path in this direction. Chef-owner Rob Connoley, sous chef Justin Bell and the rest of the Bulrush crew have taken a deep dive…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 4 Bait
Bait feels like visiting your fancy friend’s house – the excellent cook and immaculate host who always leaves you feeling cared for. “We wanted it to have the comfort of an old home,” said executive chef Ceaira Jackson. “Every night, it’s an ongoing, upscale dinner party.” This party usually has a neo soul playlist going.…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 5 Rockwell Beer Co.
It might be surprising to see Rockwell on this list. Not because of the beer or the food, obviously, but because Rockwell is an institution. Walking into the perpetually bustling space, with its groups of hip young friends, families with little children, older couples, people working, llamas – all regulars – it feels like Rockwell…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 6 Akar
When Bernie Lee is cooking what he loves, you’ll love it too. We learned that by eating the Malaysian dishes at his now-shuttered Hiro Asian Kitchen – and we’re reminded again at Akar. This restaurant is a love letter to Lee’s past. The name means “roots” in Malay, and the menu is inspired by his…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 7 Alta Calle
Sometimes a transcendent dining experience comes from waves of culinary force that span two or three hours; other times, its locus is a single moment, one or two bites that affect you totally. The first bite of South Grand Mexican eatery Alta Calle’s shrimp taco offers a beguiling introduction to its juicy, spicy shrimp with…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 8 Morning Glory Diner
Ask about the pie. That’s what the sign above the register says, and we trust Morning Glory knows what it’s talking about. It’s rare for a restaurant to accomplish everything it attempts. Morning Glory isn’t anything fancy – chef-owner Ari Jo Ellis doesn’t try to “elevate” diner fare or put her chef-y spin on anything. She…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 9 The Last Kitchen
Hotel restaurants often offer serviceable, predictable food at inflated prices to captive hotel guests. Not so at The Last Kitchen. Executive chef Evy Swoboda’s flawless fare attracts local diners and out-of-towners alike to the midcentury modern dream of The Last Hotel. Swoboda has developed menus for the restaurant (which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner), event…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 10 The Midwestern
When a new barbecue spot opens in St. Louis, you think you know what to expect, but you go anyway. Ambling to your seat, you don’t notice much beyond the general vibe. You move through wafting smells of smoked meat, pit beans and melted cheese, sit down and order some food. A beautiful tartine of…
2019 Best New Restaurants // No. 11 Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant
Jenar Mohammed and Akram Saeed’s first restaurant, Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant in The Grove, flawlessly executes classics like hummus, falafel and kebabs, as well as less common offerings like gently steamed mantu (dumplings) and qali (beef stew), earning Sultan a spot on this list. Here are the four dishes you must try on your first visit. Lentil…
St. Louis’ Best New Restaurants of 2019
Indo, the Best New Restaurant of 2019, sources some of the highest quality seafood available in St. Louis, product that can be served barely touched, but it also creates value by taking low-cost ingredients and turning them into magic. From its shadowy, obsidian space and open, windowed kitchen to its spirited neon signs and superbly…
Peppermint-Kissed Sandwich Cookies
About 2 dozen cookies
Italian Wedding Cookies
About 30 cookies
Chocolate-Bourbon Toffee
About 1 pound
Gingerbread-White Chocolate Blondies
About 4 dozen 2-inch squares
Peppermint Frosting
About 3 cups
Chocolate-Apricot Rugelach
About 30 cookies
Hurmasice
About 30 biscuits
