This month we’re recommending a range of experiences, from a cozy comeback steeped in family tradition on South Grand to a prix-fixe tasting menu from a local chef who’s just debuted his first brick-and-mortar in Maplewood. There’s also one spot that’s a little different from our normal recommendations: a high-tech, high-energy golf hangout in Clayton that’s all about games and good vibes with a food and drink component as an added bonus. Scroll through the slideshow below to see our picks for July.

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Buddy’s Premium Pub is a new family-owned bar quickly earning a reputation as Overland’s favorite neighborhood hangout. Located at 9728 Lackland Road, Buddy’s isn’t just a place to grab a drink – it’s a welcoming space where everyone feels like a friend. After all, everyone can be a Buddy here.

Buddy’s delivers not only affordable drinks, good energy and even better company—it offers a full experience. With a packed schedule of weekly events, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Feel the nostalgia as Buddy’s House DJ spins smooth R&B hits from the ’90s on Thursdays at 7 p.m. Whether you’re dancing, grooving at the bar, or enjoying a plate of wings, fries, or crispy fried green beans, Thursdays are all about throwback vibes. 

Fridays are all about flavor and fun, starting with the Fish Fry at 2 p.m. The rotating menu features comforting Southern classics like fried catfish, honey-glazed cornbread, collard greens, sweet potatoes, creamy mac and cheese, and old-school spaghetti. Happy Hour runs from 3 to 6 p.m., and at 8 p.m., the mic is yours for karaoke, followed by a live DJ set at 11 p.m. Smokin’ Saturdays bring a flavorful mix of smoked ribs and live music, featuring a rotating listing of talented St. Louis artists.

Soul Food Sundays at Buddy’s are a perfect time to grab a bite to eat and try their summer cocktails, all just $5 every Sunday. The signature cocktails lineup features the Blueberry Basil Lemon Drop, a refreshing twist on a classic, with muddled blueberries and fresh basil; the Watermelon Lime Margarita, lightly sweetened with agave and finished with a with tajín rom, the bold Strawberry Long Island, and the smooth, crowd-favorite White Peach Sidecar, elegantly garnished with rosemary and fresh peach slices. 

Whether you’re shooting darts, playing pool, enjoying live music, or just kicking back with friends or family, Buddy’s is your home away from home. 

Buddy’s Premium Pub is open Monday through Sunday from 12 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Scroll through the slideshow below for a first look at the new concept.

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We try new restaurants and bars that open in the area so we can make meaningful recommendations on where you should go. Here’s where made the cut in May.

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Partner Content

If you’re getting out and about this weekend, check out some of our partners with excellent beer offerings.

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Llywelyn’s Pub is marking its 50th anniversary with a months-long celebration culminating in a grand Jubilee Bash on May 3. The festivities, supporting local charity Pedal the Cause, will feature weekly events, live music, and the release of a special commemorative beer brewed in collaboration with Schlafly.

Llywelyn’s began as a modest establishment with a Welsh identity, founded by Jack Brangle and Jon Dressel in 1975 at 4747 McPherson Ave. in the Central West End. At the time, the neighborhood was not the thriving district it is today, but Llywelyn’s played a role in shaping its transformation. By the late 1980s, Llywelyn’s expanded, acquiring the adjacent property and adding a dining room while maintaining its original charm. The McPherson Avenue location remained a popular gathering spot for over 40 years before closing in 2018, leaving behind a legacy that lives on through the pub’s other locations across the St. Louis area and Kansas City. In 1997, Webster Groves High School alumni Chris Marshall, Brett Bennett and Scott Kemper took ownership, transforming Llywelyn’s into a full-fledged celebration of all things Celtic while preserving the welcoming spirit that defined its early days.

“Reaching this milestone is a testament to our guests’ loyalty and our team’s dedication,” said Marshall. “We’ve been proud to serve as a gathering place for so many over the past five decades, and we’re looking forward to continuing this tradition in the years ahead.”

Each remaining (the Soulard location closed in 2023) Llywelyn’s location offers a distinct experience while staying true to its historic roots. The Webster Groves pub features soaring ceilings and fireside seating, while the St. Charles location provides picturesque views of the Missouri River from its patio.

The 50th anniversary celebration includes live music, exclusive menu items, giveaways, and a showcase of Llywelyn’s history through photos and stories from the past five decades. April will serve as the highlight of the celebration with a Golden Anniversary Mont” packed with special promotions and events.

Beyond the festivities, Llywelyn’s remains committed to giving back to the community. The pub has supported numerous local charities, schools and events over the years, including the Webster Groves Chilifest. In honor of its anniversary, Llywelyn’s has pledged to raise $50,000 for Pedal the Cause, an organization that funds breakthrough cancer research at the Siteman Cancer Center and Siteman Kids at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The fundraising efforts will run from April through June, with a series of events and promotions contributing to the cause.

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A solid pool game starts with a good table to play on and a friendly bar amply stocked with your beverage of choice. These bars offer everything the pool enthusiast needs for an enjoyable night out.

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Owner Matt McGuire’s initial motivation for Wright’s Tavern was to create a restaurant that served the kind of food he wanted to eat. McGuire built a place to enjoy a great steak and a Caesar salad, but more importantly, the Clayton steakhouse also tapped into a communal longing: for delicious food and drinks, genuine hospitality, and the unbridled enjoyment that a really lovely restaurant can deliver. Wright’s is driven by the conviction that the simple food is the best; its ambition is to cook the best version of that food you’ve ever had. The greatest hits collection at Wright’s already includes the shrimp scampi with its addictive garlic-and-chile sauce, the wedge salad with blue cheese and smoked bacon, the perfectly flaky potato-crusted halibut with lemon beurre blanc, and the salt and cream of the heady dauphinoise potatoes. The baked crab cake made with colossal lump crab is seasoned with salt and pepper, has just enough egg and dairy for binding, and is plated atop a delicious red pepper remoulade. It’s one of the very best dishes in St. Louis and no visit to Wright’s is complete without it. At this restaurant, which was Sauce’s Best New Restaurant of 2023, people dress up, and the servers are sharply attired, but it’s never stuffy: You’re here to feel good. In this cozy dining room, you’re never far from other diners, and conversation between tables comes easily. We love a restaurant where a civilized meal feels like it could imminently spill over into a rambunctious party, and that’s exactly the vibe at Wright’s.

7624 Wydown Blvd., Clayton, 314.390.1466, wrightswydown.com

The Sauce 75 is a photomosaic of the best in St. Louis dining. This list is a celebration of the diverse skills, techniques and culinary traditions that meet across our region. In sum, it tells a story about where St. Louis has been, where it is now and where it’s going next. Many great and good St. Louis restaurants have not made the cut. (Seventy-five is a lot fewer than you think!) Restaurants are constantly growing and evolving and go through ups and downs. Newly opened restaurants can take time to find their feet: There are a few exciting new places we’re cheering for, but which we feel haven’t yet fully hit their stride.

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After two years of pop-ups and private dinners as The Robin Project, chef Alec Schingel is launching his first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Robin Restaurant will open Thursday, March 13, at 7268 Manchester Road in Maplewood, occupying the space that previously housed The Benevolent King.

Robin Restaurant features a small but refined prix-fixe menu that highlights sustainability, seasonality and Midwestern culinary traditions. Sourcing ingredients from local farmers and purveyors, Schingel aims to create an experience he describes as “fine comfort,” a balance of indulgence and approachability in a welcoming environment.

“This is a highly personal endeavor and a vision that has been 18 years in the making,” said Schingel, who will serve as both executive chef and wine/beverage director. “We put a lot of thought and effort into the details of the experience, but we also want it to be in service of hospitality and warmth – to make everyone feel welcome.”

The restaurant’s menu will consist of a four-course prix-fixe priced at $75, offering three options per course. A rotating snack menu will also be available, featuring three to five small bites that reflect Schingel’s take on Midwestern cuisine. All menu items will evolve with the seasons, showcasing local ingredients at their peak. Schingel emphasizes working with the same local farmers as many well-regarded restaurants in the area, ensuring integrity in sourcing and seasonality.

A full beverage program will complement the food, including beer, wine, spirits and cocktails. Wines will be available by the bottle or carafe, encouraging sharing and flexibility for diners. Schingel, who holds a sommelier certification, has a particular passion for American wines, with a focus on California, Oregon and Washington. He also will feature a cider from Revival Cider Co. in Michigan. The rotating cocktail list will highlight classic builds with a unique twist, ensuring a well-balanced selection for guests.

Robin’s atmosphere is designed to be warm and inviting, removing the stress sometimes associated with fine dining. “Too much fine dining can end up feeling challenging or stressful,” Schingel said. “We don’t want that. Our goal is to create an experience that’s a little better than home, where people can feel comfortable regardless of their background or financial situation.” The space will feature an open kitchen, a selection of vinyl records playing throughout the night, and a service style focused on approachability and genuine hospitality.

Located in the heart of downtown Maplewood, the 1,400-square-foot restaurant has nine tables and a six-seat bar, accommodating up to 36 guests. The interior design retained the previous layout while brightening the space for a more natural feel with plenty of earth tones.

“After searching for years for the perfect space, we’ve finally found what we were looking for,” said Schingel. “The size and layout of the restaurant perfectly fit our vision of a place where guests can enjoy a great meal, gathered around a table with friends and family.”

Schingel, a native of Urbana, Illinois, studied economics at SIUC before moving to St. Louis to attend L’École Culinaire. His career includes stints at Chase Park Plaza restaurants and training under award-winning chef Gerard Craft at Niche. He later traveled the world, gaining experience at McCready’s and The MacIntosh in Charleston, In de Wulf in Belgium, and Blue Hill at Stone Barns in New York, where he worked with Michael and Tara Gallina. Upon returning to St. Louis, he joined the opening team at Vicia as chef de cuisine and later served as executive chef at Winslow’s Table before launching The Robin Project.

“The pop-up dinners we have hosted under The Robin Project have given us the opportunity to interact with St. Louis diners and to develop an incredible and loyal following,” said Schingel. “We are looking forward to growing that following and welcoming in a diverse range of customers at Robin Restaurant, from regulars and special occasion diners to travelers and tourists.”

Robin Restaurant will be open from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and reservations can be made online. Follow @robinrestaurant for updates.

Check out the slideshow below for a first look at the new restaurant.

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A popular Main Street St. Charles bakery has expanded to a second location, bringing a stronger focus on savory food items and introducing a brand-new bar program. Lydia’s by Sugar & Slice Bakery, now open at 1735 S. River Road, Suite 190, in St. Charles offers an inviting space for guests to enjoy handcrafted pastries, plated desserts and unique cocktails.

Lydia Allen, owner of Sugar & Slice Bakery, has been ready for expansion for quite some time. “Our original space is less than 1,000 square feet, and we outgrew it about a year after opening,” Allen said of her first business that opened in late 2019. “I had always wanted to do coffee and cocktails with desserts – there was nothing like that in St. Charles.”

After years of searching, the right space finally appeared. “I looked at this location a year ago, and as soon as I walked in, I got goosebumps. I knew immediately this was the one,” she said. The new 5,800-square-foot venue allows for a full bakery, a larger front-of-house area and a more efficient kitchen. “Now we bake for [the] Main Street [location] here too, which makes everything faster and of better quality.”

Lydia’s offers a selection of Sugar & Slice’s popular baked goods, along with an expanded menu of breakfast and savory items. “We have scones, savory brioche, and we’re going to add bar snacks like Buffalo chicken dip, candied bacon and marinated olives in mid-March,” Allen shared. Weekend brunch will also be a highlight, featuring dishes like brioche breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon roll French toast, and biscuits and gravy made with the bakery’s signature scones. Lydia’s will also showcase plated desserts such as cheesecakes, pies and specialty cakes, with an ever-rotating selection posted daily on social media.

The new bar program features coffee, cocktails and mocktails, including a lineup of dessert-inspired martinis. “Our Key Lime Pie Martini tastes just like our key lime pie – we came up with it on a whim,” Allen said. “We’re also launching coffee and martini flights.”

Other standout drinks include boozy coffees, classic cocktails and a small but curated wine selection. “Everything is made in-house, from simple syrups to macarons – no frozen doughs here,” she added.

Designed to be a welcoming and stylish escape, Lydia’s features an open, airy layout with floral wallpaper, colorful decor and will soon have gold bakery cases. “When you’re sitting at the bar, you feel like you’re at a bar, and when you’re at the bakery case, you feel like you’re in a bakery,” Allen explained.

The new location aims to be a comfortable gathering spot for all ages. “We’ve created a late-night space where anyone can come in alone or with friends and feel safe,” she said. “No judgment on whether you’re drinking coffee or a cocktail – just a laid-back, visually appealing space.”

As the bakery settles into its new home, Allen is planning for additional features, including live music in the spring, a patio out front with several tables, and themed events like trivia nights. Monday nights are designated as industry night, offering a 20% discount from 5 p.m. to close.

Lydia’s by Sugar & Slice is open Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., Wednesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The bakery is closed on Tuesdays. For updates on rotating desserts and special events, follow Lydia’s on social media.

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The beloved Pig & Whiskey festival is set to return to St. Louis from May 9-11. Presented by Sauce Magazine and 4 Hands Brewing Co., this free event promises a weekend brimming with delectable barbecue, live music, refreshing beverages, diverse vendors and activities suitable for all ages.

Taking place at 4 Hands’ downtown location at 1220 S. Eighth St., Pig & Whiskey will showcase both local and national barbecue joints, craft cocktails, a variety of local 4 Hands beers, and an extensive selection of whiskey.

The family-friendly festival will feature two stages for live performances by national and local acts, a dedicated kids’ area, cooling zones and a vendor village. Adults can explore Whiskey Row and gain new recipe ideas from local mixology and chef demonstrations.

While general admission is free, VIP tickets are available for purchase online. VIP attendees will enjoy perks such as an open bar, complimentary appetizers throughout the festival, unobstructed stage views, and opportunities to meet the performers.

For those interested in being part of Pig & Whiskey, more details can be found at pigandwhiskey.com. Keep an eye on the website for updates to the lineups.

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