RFT Restaurant Guide 2015 by Riverfront Times

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RESTAURANTS 2015

THE ORIGINAL ST. LOUIS FOOD LOVER’S POLL

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Publisher Michael Wagner Editor in Chief Sarah Fenske E D I T O R I A L Managing Editor Jessica Lussenhop Editorial Operations Manager Kristie McClanahan Arts & Culture Editor Paul Friswold Music Editor Daniel Hill Staff Writer Danny Wicentowski Restaurant Critic Cheryl Baehr A R T Art Director Kelly Glueck Contributing Photographers Micah Usher, Jennifer Silverberg, Mabel Suen P R O D U C T I O N Production Manager Robert Westerholt Production Designer Randy Lutz A D V E R T I S I N G Sales Director Colin Bell Senior Account Executive Cathleen Criswell Multimedia Account Executives Matt Bartosz, Erin Deterding, Erica Kenney, Nicole Starzyk Account Managers Emily Fear, Jennifer Samuel Marketing Director Sarah Cochran Marketing Coordinator Emily Westerholt C I R C U L A T I O N Circulation Manager Kevin G. Powers B U S I N E S S General Manager Jeff Keller E U C L I D M E D I A G RO U P Chief Executive Officer Andrew Zelman Chief Operating Officers Chris Keating, Michael Wagner Chief Financial Officer Brian Painley Human Resources Director Lisa Beilstein www.euclidmediagroup.com

The Riverfront Times is published weekly by Euclid Media Group: Verified Audit Member Riverfront Times 6358 Delmar Boulevard, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63130-4719 www.riverfronttimes.com General information: 314-754-5966 Fax administrative: 314-754-5955 Fax editorial: 314-754-6416 Founded by Ray Hartmann in 1977

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TABLE OF CONTENTS Y

ou’ve done it again, St. Louis: You’ve made your voices heard, voting for your favorite food and drink across the city in our annual readers’ poll. Some restaurants have made splashy entrances (see Favorite New Restaurant), while established ones continue to charm (see Favorite Pancakes). And in this special advertising supplement, an RFT first: One restaurant has nabbed top honors in the same category for the 25th straight time. Want to know who it is? Who’s got the top biscuits & gravy and superlative sushi? (Hint: It’s not the same place.) Then devour this year’s Restaurants 2015.

Favorites - 15

Atmosphere Catering Delivery Décor Diner Fine Dining New Restaurant Overall Restaurant Outdoor/Patio Romantic

Breakfast - 27

24-Hour Breakfast Bagel Biscuits & Gravy Brunch Coffee Doughnuts/Pastry Omelets Pancakes

Lunch - 33

Burger Burrito Business Lunch Chili Delicatessen Fish Tacos Food Truck Fried Chicken Fries Grilled Chicken Mac & Cheese Roast Beef Salad Sandwich Soup Vegetarian

Starters - 47

Appetizer Selection Fresh Guacamole Nachos Toasted Ravioli Wings

15 16 16 18 18 20 20 22 24 24

27 27 28 28 30 30 30 31

33 34 34 34 36 24 36 38 39 40 40 42 42 44 44 44

47 48 48 50 50

Dinner - 53

American Barbecue Cajun/Creole Chinese Eclectic French German Greek Indian Irish/English/Scottish Italian Japanese Lebanese Mexican Pizza Pizza, St. Louis Thin Seafood Steak Sushi Tapas Thai Vietnamese

Desserts - 77

Cupcakes Gooey Butter Cake Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt/ Frozen Custard/Gelato

Libations - 81

After-Dinner Drink Bar/Pub Beer Selection Bloody Mary Happy Hour Local Microbrewery Lounge/Club Margarita Martini Wine List

53 54 54 54 56 56 59 59 60 60 61 62 62 64 64 66 69 70 70 70 72 74

77 78 79

81 81 82 82 83 83 83 84 84 84

On the cover: A steaming bucket of spicy crawfish served with lemon garlic butter at Broadway Oyster Bar. Cover photo by: Rick Gould Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway St. Louis, MO 63102, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com 12 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

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FAVORITES

Venice Cafe Photo by Ferd

Favorite Atmosphere T h r ee K i n g s P ubl ic Hou s e The category “Favorite Atmosphere” has always been a nebulous one, and that Three Kings has walked away with the crown makes it even more so. And that’s not a bad thing in the least: Thanks to a menu that’s stocked with familiar comfort food (burgers, soups, wraps) and appetizers that don’t take themselves too seriously (see Favorite

Creative Appetizers for more on those), Three Kings attracts a wide customer base, from the after-work happy-hour crowd to families with kids. Speaking of atmosphere, the Delmar location in particular boasts what might even be called microclimates: The bar area is a great place to take in the game with like-minded fans; the dining room is typically quieter for the lunch and dinner crowds; the narrow breezeway provides a secluded haven; sidewalk seating is ideal for people-watching. Over at the Des Peres location, look forward to a spacious patio, and a menu that’s even more family-friendly.

To Loop and Des Peres denizens alike, Three Kings proffers a warm and welcoming atmosphere, inside and out.

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Vin de Set Drunken Fish Hodak’s Venice Cafe

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Steve’s Hot Dogs Photo by Mabel Suen

Favorite Catering Ken r ic k ’s Me at s & Cat er i n g Having people over is the best because you’re in control of the show. Boring coworkers and cousins you don’t even like? They’re out. Playlists that are carefully designed to showcase your unique love of Enya and EDM? Totally in. But you’ve got bigger things to worry about, like flipping the couch cushions over to hide those unsightly rips, getting your kids/dogs into adorable, seasonally appropriate attire and letting the compliments flow, like so many rolls of toilet paper you have thoughtfully stocked. But you’ve gotta feed your best-loved crew, and besides, wouldn’t it be nice to serve a meal that doesn’t consist of frozen mini tacos? Kenrick’s makes it simple to host a “catered affair” – look at you, so fancy! – and it won’t break the bank. Whether it’s a brunchtime bridal shower or a backyard pig roast, Kenrick’s got it, even down to the theme: picnic, sausage fest (yes, really), Italian, tailgate, 16 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

wedding and lots more. A smaller to-do? Throw some of Kenrick’s excellent meat in a slow cooker (grab some bread from its small attached grocery), and bask in the satisfaction of a job well done.

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Classic Red Hots Catering Russo’s Catering Hodak’s Pickles Deli

Favorite Delivery S auce on t he Side Even with the best of intentions, making dinner from scratch is rarely a walk in the park, and ordering it to go from the same old chain restaurant rarely excites. So hand it to Sauce on the Side, or as we’re calling it in this instance, “Making Lunch or Dinner on

the Side Is Horribly Inconvenient.” Sauce on the Side turns that take-out pizza inside-out, delivering those fab calzones to your door from its downtown and Clayton locations. (Clayton’s delivery zone is about a ten-minute radius, downtown’s extends to Soulard and Lafayette Square at nighttime.) Nothing is lost in transit: The calzones’ crusts burst with fillings as varied as dates, pepperoni, chorizo and fontina, the insides tantalizingly warm. Even the salads retain their crispness: The “Beets Me!” brings a mix of arugula and spring mix, finished off with crunchy toasted walnuts and a sprinkle of creamy goat cheese. Fittingly enough, when ordered to go, the salad dressing comes…on the side.

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Steve’s Hot Dogs Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium Manee Thai Joanie’s Pizza

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Favorite Décor Ven ice Ca fé

Lunch and Small Plate Bistro Evening menu available daily. Saturday and Sunday Brunch.

MUSIC 5 DAYS A WEEK Tues • Thurs • Fri • Sat • Sun More details on Howards in Soulard Facebook page

2732 S 13th St

St. Louis, MO 63118 314-349-2850

If a hoarder had a restaurant and a flair for the arts, he or she might well open a place like Venice Cafe. Bottle caps, license plates, mosaic tiles and Christmas lights all have a home on Pestalozzi Street, where weird and wonderful meet in perfect harmony – and that includes the live entertainment that takes place every day of the week. Whether it’s an open-mic night, blues-infused rock until 1 a.m. or just a happy hour in the courtyard, the off-kilter wonderfully collides with the alwayson, and there are a million ways to take in the sights. Eat your heart out, Gaudi: The décor is just a hint of the fun that’s to come.

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Blueberry Hill Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co. Three Kings Public House Prasino

Favorite Diner Cit y D i ner

Over the next 500-and-too-many days during the inexorable slog leading up to the 2016 presidential election, diners across America will also be preparing for their close-up. That’s because diners are places candidates flock to, eager to showcase their realness and approachability to the hoi polloi, regardless of political affiliation. They are emblematic of all that is simple, good and honest about America. (Er, diners, not political campaigns.) City Diner is all of those things, and it caters to all walks of life: At the South Grand location, weekend warriors will find City Diner’s doors open from Friday at 7 a.m. till Sunday at 10 p.m., and the location at the Fox Theatre is ideal for ducking into for some pre-show eats. Vegetarians have plenty of options, including a great eggplant parm and Greek omelet, while those nostalgic for classic diner fare will lose themselves in entrées such as liver and onions and City Diner’s signature meatloaf.

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Courtesy Diner Southwest Diner Tiffany’s Original Diner Peacock Loop Diner

APPETIZERS PORTABELLA FRIED MUSHROOMS $8.49 FRIED PICKLES $6.99 TOASTED RAVIOLI $6.99 5 CHEESE PLANKS $6.99 PRETZEL STICKS AND CHEESE $6.99 ONE POUND OF HOT WINGS $7.99 Soups Cup $4.99 Bowl $6.99 LOBSTER BISQUE • FRENCH ONION

SIGNATURE SALADS Fresh Fruit & Chicken Poppy Seed Salad $9.99 Chicken Cobb Salad $9.99 Steak and Blue Cheese Chopped Salad $9.99 Almond Salmon Salad $9.99 Veronica’s Chopped Salad $9.99 Katelyn’s Spinach Salad $7.99

MARCEL’S SIGNATURE BBQ (with your choice of two side items and dinner roll)

BABYBACK RIBS Half or whole rack of fall off the bone babybacks, sure to leave you licking your fingers..... Half $15.99 Whole $23.99 SMOKED CHICKEN WINGS Four of our famous smokey flavored wings brushed with bbq sauce or left dry for you to indulge.....$8.99

PULLED PORK Tender, juicy, slow smoked pulled pork, piled high with a scoop of coleslaw on top.....$11.99 Beef Brisket - authentically slow smoked mouthwatering beef brisket served with a side of gravy.....$11.99 SMOKED TURKEY BREAST Whole smoked tender boneless breast of turkey.....$9.99

MARCEL’S SIGNATURE STEAKS (with your choice of two side items and dinner roll)

T-BONE STEAK Blackened or marinated tender t-bone steak grilled just the way you like it topped with mushrooms and grilled onions.....$15.99 RIBEYE Blackened or marinated juicy ribeye steak grilled to perfection served with sauteed onions 12oz.....$19.99

T ARA’S FAMOUS STUFFED BAKED POTATO Large Baked potato stuffed with your choice of meat and condiments.....$2.99 Meats - Steak, Shrimp $5.00 Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, Smoked Turkey $4.00 Chicken $3.50 Condiments Tomato, cheese, sour cream, chives, bacon, red onions, black olives, bell peppers, grilled onions, sliced jalapenos

SANDWICHES PULLED PORK tender juicy slow smoked pulled pork piled high,topped with fired onion straws, coleslaw and bbq sauce served on an onion roll.....$8.99

View our full menu at marcels-restaurant.com

720 N. 1st St. St. Louis, MO 63102

BBQ BEEF BRISKET Authentically slow smoked beef brisket served with a smokey spread and Gouda cheese served on an Italian roll.....$8.99 SHRIMP PO-BOY Premium shrimp fried topped with a chipolte tartar sauce, lettuce and tomato on an Italian roll.....$7.99 FRIED TILAPIA Golden fried fish with tartar and lettuce served on an Italian roll.....$7.99 CATFISH Golden fried fish with tartar and lettuce served on a Hawaiian roll.....$8.49 GRILLED OR FRIED BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST Hand battered fried or marinated grilled boneless chicken breast topped with lettuce, tomato and swiss cheese on an onion roll.....$6.99 TURKEY CLUB Thin sliced smoked turkey breast, melted swiss and cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo served on toasted wheat bread.....$6.99 PHILLY CHEESESTEAK OR CHEESECHICKEN Special seasoned steak or chicken, swiss cheese, onion and peppers served on an Italian roll.....$6.99 RIBEYE SANDWICH Grilled to perfection, your taste buds have spoken. Enjoy this rib eye topped with our signature sauce, lettuce and tomato on an Italian roll.....$7.99 BLT Bacon, lettuce , red ripe tomato and mayo served on toasted wheat bread-----$5.99

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Old Standard Fried Chicken Photo by Mabel Suen

Favorite Fine Dining Tony ’s For those who’ve never worked in the restaurant industry, it is easy to take for granted the finesse that goes into pulling off a flawless meal. And that’s by design. Unless you’re picking between this perfect entrée or that one, you shouldn’t even have to think all that much – just be content to be taken along from course to course as though by a gentle current. Merely calling Tony’s a welloiled machine (it’s been around for some 40 years) is to gloss over the thoughtfulness that infuses every meal. Gold standards such as duck-liver pâté and sea scallops with black truffles (seared tableside, of course) get things started, then ease your way into the “primi piatti” and “insalata” courses. Mains are superb across the board – think swordfish, veal prepared numerous ways, filet mignon – but Tony’s lobster Albanello with cream sauce is perhaps its best known. The niceties – valet that swoops in at just the right time, the never-obtrusive waitstaff, the wine list that goes on for days – are many, even 20 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

though you might not fully recognize them until you come out of your dreamlike haze brought on by fine-dining excellence.

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Sidney Street Cafe The Tenderloin Room Vin de Set Truffles

Favorite New Restaurant Pe a cem a ker L ob st er & Cr ab Co. Opening a new restaurant is a leap of faith; opening a seafood restaurant in a city as landlocked as this one, perhaps even more so. Like the parable about the young man who throws starfish one by one back into the ocean only to be told that he can’t possibly save them all (“Well, it made a difference to that one”),

Peacemaker has changed the state of seafood in St. Louis in a marvelous way, and we’re all the better because of it. The restaurant’s opening was about as subtle as waves at high tide, owing to the direction of James Beard Awardnominated chef Kevin Nashan, and though the lines are reliably deep (download the NoWait app to better navigate them), so is the menu. Clams, fish, lobster and the rest are responsibly harvested by the guys who’re prominently featured in Peacemaker’s artwork, and the dishes are resplendent with the soul of a seafarer, lots boiled simply in salt water. The lobster rolls – prepared both Connecticut- and Maine-style – deserve every glorious bit of praise, and the shrimp, lobster and blue-crab boils are an exercise in messy perfection.

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Miss Leon’s Old Standard Fried Chicken Seoul Q Lona’s Lil Eats

Pulled Pork, Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, Smoked Chicken Artisan Wood-Fired Pizza

Pizza ovens arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just for pizzas anymore An open, wood-fire kitchen surrounded by a modern atmosphere that embodies local craft breweries

1201 Strassner Dr. Brentwood, MO 63144

(314) 644-2772 twinoakwoodfired.com riverfronttimes.com |

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Favorite Overall Restaurant A nt hon i no’s Taver n a

At once Italian, Greek, laid-back and wellappointed, Anthonino’s manages to wow at every turn. Muted wall colors beautifully accentuate sun-bleached brick and vibrant paintings of vineyards, and beyond accolades from numerous local publications, one more sign of approval: “Guy Fieri Ate Here.” (The Hill spot mightily impressed the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives crew a few years back.) Spoiler alert: This place also nabbed the top spot for Favorite Italian, Pizza and Toasted Ravioli. But don’t let these Italian-leaning awards mislead you; its menu is full of surprises. For one, we’re told that its best-selling pizza is the gyro. For another, cioppino and dolmathes happily share adjacent places on

R U O R O F AMOUS

F E E B T ROAS

S R E G R BU Photo courtesy Prasino

“ Favo r i teef ” Ro a st B e

Open until 3am 4652 Shaw Ave. St. Louis Mo 63110 314-773-6600

Prasino

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the menu. The bar – a nice place to sit, eat and drink if lines are long – has a lengthy lineup, as well as a great set of beers on tap from places near and far. During a recent trip, we considered the beers, picked one, and the busy bartender took time to say, “Want to try it first? Let’s make sure you like it.” We did, and that rings true for Anthonino’s in its entirety.

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Sauce on the Side Prasino Hodak’s Miss Leon’s

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Grove East Provisions Chicken Noodle Soup

“All others pale in comparison” - Cheryl Baehr, Riverfront Times Restaurant Critic

3101 Arsenal St. • St. Louis, MO 63118

314-802-7090

John D. McGurk’s Photo by Jaime Schroeder

Favorite Outdoor/Patio

Favorite Romantic

Joh n D. McG u rk ’s

Baileys’ Chocolate Bar

Drinking a perfectly poured Guinness around McGurk’s spacious, low-lit bar, enjoying the city’s best fish and chips as the live Irish music washes over: That’s a damn good winter’s night in our book. Then spring comes, and the courtyard bursts alive, lush with flowers and greenery that most back yards can only dream of, the burbling koi pond a soothing presence that contrasts with the busy Soulard neighborhood McGurk’s calls home. Summertime welcomes still more revelers. But what really makes the place special is this: When the weather turns cooler in the fall and the season turns to winter, McGurk’s has a large heated tent – complete with a full bar, of course – that’s open year round. It’s a warm reminder that even though most places hibernate, sitting outside is always an option at McGurk’s.

OK, bud. We’ve all been there. There’s a new somebody-maybe-special on the horizon, and you’re not sure if you should stretch the night out with another glass of wine or call it a day over some coffee. Or, if you’re supremely lucky, you’ve found the love of your life (well done, you!), and you can never spend enough time with them. Baileys’ Chocolate Bar is where you need to be. Open until 1 a.m. every night but Sunday when it closes at midnight (!), it suits all manner of romantic possibilities. Nosh on a pizzetta (as varied as smoked-chicken and Missouri mushroom), share some seasonal cheeses, or just go for it with the aptly named “Lovers Plate” for two, with chocolate-centric everything, as well as sorbet, ice cream and fruit. Want to extend the night further? Dip into the indulgent afterdinner chocolate martinis, described in part like this on the menu: milk, dark, very dark, sexual. You can take it from there.

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Milo’s Prasino Steve’s Hot Dogs Vin de Set

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Scape American Bistro Vin de Set Taste Tony’s

BAKERY & CAFE On The Hill

Home of the Amighetti’s Special

OFTEN IMITATED... ...NEVER DUPLICATED

5141 Wilson Avenue • St. Louis, MO 63110

314.776.2855 Catering & Banquet Available

Hours: 7:30AM - 5:00PM • Closed Sundays

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Uncle Billâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pancake & Dinner House

Photo by Rick Gould

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BREAKFAST

Favorite 24-Hour Breakfast Favorite Bagel Unc le Bi l l’s Pa nc a ke & D i n ner Hou s e Last month, a certain to-remain-nameless fast-food chain (hint: billions and billions have been served!) announced that it would begin testing breakfast all day long in select markets. But here in the land of the single Arch, we know that Uncle Bill’s has had the right idea all along with its unbeatable 24-hour breakfast. Perfect waffles, whipped-cream-topped pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage by the boatload await all day, every day, at prices that seem as frozen in time as the charming restaurant’s leaded glass. We concede that you can’t get this food shoved at you in 30 seconds through a window, but for a place that’s as inviting as this one, what’s the rush?

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City Diner Courtesy Diner Tiffany’s Original Diner Benton Park Cafe

T he B a gel Fa c t or y The workhorse of the breakfast crew, bagels can pretty much do it all: They’re a perfect vehicle for cream cheese, sturdy enough to support sandwiches, but they’re also great on their own, unadorned. In fact, that might be the very best way to enjoy them at the Bagel Factory. This Creve Coeur shop has been in the bagel biz for nearly four decades, and aficionados consider its boiled bagels the closest ones to New York-style you can get without hopping on a plane. Though the Bagel Factory typically makes more than 1,000 bagels per day in about twenty varieties, the most popular ones are the simplest – poppy, plain, sesame. No surprise in a place where simplicity reigns supreme.

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Companion Bakery Park Avenue Coffee Stratton’s Cafe The Bagel Factory

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Favorite Biscuits & Gravy S out hwe st D i ner Since 1961

Voted #1 Breakfast for 21 Years and Going!

-RFT RESTAURANTS GUIDE 1993-2014

WE DO MORE THAN PANCAKES! 3427 S. Kingshighway (314) 832-1973

Though much of Southwest Diner’s menu pops with New Mexican flair (think Hatch chiles and longhorn colby cheese), its biscuits & gravy speaks with a decidedly Southern accent. We’re told it is one of the diner’s most popular dishes, and here’s why: The buttermilk biscuits are made from scratch and so is the gravy, which is thick with big chunks of sausage. A half order is plenty filling at $4.50, but we bet our boots you won’t regret going large – that’s two biscuits – for $8. Want to really eat them like a regular? Top the whole thing off with a pair of fried eggs.

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UP 14196 Manchester Rd. (636) 394-1416

2. City Diner 3. Courtesy Diner 4. Uncle Bill’s Pancake & Dinner House 5. Chris’ Pancake & Dining

FREE WIFI

Favorite Brunch Ji l ly ’s C upc a ke B a r We’ll come right out and say it: Brunch is the best meal. Now, a seat at brunch isn’t always the easiest one to nab, offered as it is just once a week, but when you tuck into Jilly’s overstuffed offerings – between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. every Sunday – patience is rewarded in a big, big way. Like in a six-cheese-macaroni way. Or a make-your-own-cupcake way. Brunch traditionalists will find happiness in dishes such as the eggs Benedict and strata; lunch-minded renegades will make a beeline for the sesame noodles and enchiladas. Though its menu is ever in flux, Jilly’s is a sure bet for the week’s least frequent meal, so make it count. Kids’ meals start at $3.99, and those eleven years old and up pay $14.99. Call ahead for a reservation.

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Rooster MoKaBe’s Coffeehouse Three Monkeys Prasino

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Southwest Diner

Favorite Coffee

Favorite Doughnuts/Pastry

Favorite Omelets

Cof fee Ca r t el

St r a n ge Donut s

Now that it seems like everybody’s got their own Keurigs, coffee has become a lot less social. What used to be a time to meet up and chat has been replaced by impersonal machines that take up valuable kitchen-counter real estate. (Not to mention the havoc those wee plastic cups are wreaking on the environment.) The good news is there’s Coffee Cartel, open 24 hours a day, anchoring the heart of the Central West End at Maryland and Euclid avenues. Rejoin civilization with a cup of coffee, from the medium-bodied Colombian, to the robust Ethiopian, or just chill with some decaf. (There’s also a flavored option that varies daily; ask your barista for details.) Check out Coffee Cartel’s webcam: Look! There’s people! Even at 2 a.m.! Actual sentient human beings, laughing, socializing, bonding over cups of coffee – exactly as it should be.

If Austin has dibs on “Keep Austin Weird,” it’d be cool if St. Louis could somehow get in on Strange Donuts’ motto: “Be nice. Stay Strange.” After all, Strange Donuts is one of the area’s greatest success stories. After its much-hyped opening in October 2013, the Maplewood shop has managed to meet – and surpass – high expectations. Since then, stores in Kirkwood and Columbia have gotten in on the fun, Strange Trap Kitchen recently opened in the CWE, and the company continues to make headlines: Nerdist Chris Hardwick stopped by the Maplewood outpost to grab some dones after his set at the Pageant. Classic glazed and long-john doughnuts have their rightful place on the menu, but so do pizza and hog dones, as well as specialty ones that are topped with roast beef and fried chicken. Amid all this delightful craziness, Strange Donuts’ quest to buy the Rams this winter seems downright normal. Can Strange world domination be far behind?

Unc le Bi l l’s Pa nc a ke & D i n ner Hou s e

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Sump Coffee Hartford Coffee Company Park Avenue Coffee The Mud House

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World’s Fair Doughnuts Vincent Van Doughnut Donut Drive-In Piccione Pastry

If you’ve ever tried to make an omelet yourself, you’ll notice a few things right off the bat. First, the recipe likely calls for just a couple of eggs. Second, that trying to fold those suckers is just the worst. Of course, Uncle Bill’s ably takes care of the folding part, but the omelets – pick from among Western, veggie, turkey and cheese, and more – are especially impressive because they’re made with not two, but three eggs. And as if that weren’t generous enough, UB’s serves them with a side of biscuits, toast or three buttermilk pancakes (see Favorite Pancakes for more on those) for about $9. And because Uncle Bill’s is open all day (see Favorite 24-Hour Breakfast), you can get them ‘round the clock.

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Chris’ Pancake & Dining Southwest Diner City Diner The Shack

31 Photo by Micah Usher

Favorite Pancakes Unc le Bi l l’s Pa nc a ke & D i n ner Hou s e You’ve probably noticed that Uncle Bill’s has already been recognized for its omelets and all-day breakfast. But the place isn’t called Uncle Bill’s Omelet & 24-Hour Breakfast Bonanza. (But maybe it should be!) No, “pancake” is literally this south-side stalwart’s middle name. You can’t go wrong with an old-fashioned short stack of golden buttermilk pancakes and warm syrup, but those are just the foundation for the madness that is the “Chocolate Alaska,” served with ice cream and fudge sauce. Toppings such as pecans, blueberries and apples take the cakes from crunchy to sweet and back again, and traditional German pancakes are offered with applesauce. They even pop up in the “California Pancake” sandwich, where they’re the “bread” for a sausage patty and then crowned with an egg. Uncle Bill’s does a lot of things really well, but the pancakes have deservedly earned their front-and-center spot. RUNNERS

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Chris’ Pancake & Dining Southwest Diner Winslow’s Home Prasino

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LUNCH

Baileys’ Range Photo by Jess Dewes

Favorite Burger T uc ker ’s Pl a ce

Though it has proudly been known as “The Place for Steaks” for more than 30 years, Tucker’s has a gem of a burger as well. It’s made with an 80/20 mixture of ground chuck and is cooked to your preference by experts who know their way around a twenty-ounce porterhouse; rest assured your nine-ounce burger will come out perfectly seasoned and juicy, perched atop a sesame-sprinkled Kaiser roll. Such a crowd favorite is the “Tucker Burger” that it’s on special Monday through Friday until 4 p.m., served with soup, salad or fries, and a drink (beer, wine and wells

included!) for less than ten bucks. Tucker’s signature burgers are also available for half price during late-night happy hour on Mondays, so there are plenty of opportunities to tuck into Tucker’s on the cheap. But for a burger as tasty as this one, we’d happily pay full price.

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O’Connell’s The Dam Stacked Burger Bar Baileys’ Range

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34 Photo by Micah Usher

Seoul Taco

Favorite Burrito

Favorite Business Lunch

Favorite Chili

S eou l Ta co

S auce on t he Side

Cou r t e s y D i ner

If you’re going to do something that has already been done, either do it completely differently or do it extraordinarily well. This advice applies to bands who want to cover “Landslide” for the billionth time as well as to restaurant concepts. Korean barbecue has been around for ages, and Seoul Taco wasn’t the first to try fusing Mexican and Korean cuisines. But the “do it extraordinarily well” part? Nailed it. From the meat (such as chicken, tofu, pork and bulgogi beef) and vegetables that are marinated in spices and seasonings to the kimchi-fried rice and that zippy Seoul sauce, it has got this burrito down pat. It might be served in a familiar-looking tortilla (and wrapped in even-more-familiar-looking foil), but Seoul Taco’s interpretation of a burrito is complex, one-of-a-kind and, yes, extraordinary.

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Mission Taco Joint Chava’s Mexican Restaurant Chimichanga’s La Vallesana

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It’s easy to get the “yes” at Sauce on the Side. Maybe it all starts with its straightforward Web address, eatcalzones.com. It’s a sentence, really, and an imperative one at that: “Eat calzones.” “Yes, that’s an excellent idea! And also, you are a genius.” Because if you’ve been to either of its locations (downtown or Clayton) and devoured one of these monster calzones, you’re only too eager to go back. With options such as the mushroom-laden “Magic Carpet Ride” (button, crimini, shiitake, portabello); the springlike “Roasty Toasty,” with pesto-spiked chicken and arugula; the savory “Figgy Piggy” and about a dozen others – not to mention six beautiful salads – everyone in your crew will be on board, and happy tummies make for agreeable colleagues. Sauce on the Side has opened the door. All you’ve got to do is walk through it.

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Tucker’s Place Pickles Deli Anthonino’s Taverna Whitebox Eatery

Everybody knows the Big Three topics to avoid when it comes to polite conversation, but there’s another dangerous one: Talking about chili also opens a whole complicated can of beans. Or no beans. (See?) Maybe, then, the best path to chili civility is a straight-downthe-middle approach. A chili that’s mildly spicy while leaving your taste buds intact; a not-too-thick stew where tender ground beef and red beans take up the same amount of space real estate. Naturally, this chili comes from Courtesy Diner – even the name aspires to pleasantness. Courtesy’s chili has its own section on the menu, where it’s offered standalone, mixed in with long spaghetti strands for chili mac, atop a hot dog, alongside a tamale, burrito and more. A serving of the peacekeeping dish starts at just $2.

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Steve’s Hot Dogs Hammerstones Pickles Deli Blueberry Hill

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Welcome to Your New Addiction!

Favorite Delicatessen P ic k le s Del i Anybody who has taken a semester of German can recognize the word “essen” – that is, “to eat” – at the end of “delicatessen.” (And if you can’t, get your money back schnell.) But the “delicate” in front doesn’t match reality quite as tidily. That’s particularly the case when it comes to the sandwiches at Pickles Deli, where the Philly comes with three cheeses, the pastrami’s piled high and the meatballs are huge. These aren’t dainty finger sandwiches, and there’s not much delicate about them at all. But each sandwich is carefully constructed by folks who’re happy to lend a suggestion. (Why, yes, you should make it a combo so you can add a drink and a side, such as the tangy pasta salad or hummus and pita.) This attention to detail and welcoming atmosphere have made Pickles an indispensable lunch destination for downtown and Clayton alike.

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Blues City Deli Carl’s Deli LeGrand’s Ninth Street Deli

Favorite Fish Tacos M i s s ion Ta co Joi nt 8073 Watson Rd. (314) 968-8226 1288 Old Orchard Center (636) 686-7394 302 West Port Plaza (314) 878-8226 fuzzystacoshop.com

@FuzzysTacosStL

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One of the most-loved businesses to hit Soulard and the Loop in recent years, Mission Taco has added a new burst of energy to already vibrant neighborhoods. It’s Mexican street food by way of California, and though it is worth working your way through the entire menu (the tortas and cocktails are also quite good), go with a buddy, and divide and conquer the tacos. They come à la carte – brisket, tofu, pork, cactus, duck, you name it – and there’s nary a bad one in the bunch.

But the best of the best has got to be the fish. Here, tilapia is either grilled or fried, then it’s served on homemade corn tortillas and topped with kicky Baja sauce, cool cabbage, pico and cheese. Each ingredient expertly balances the one before it, bringing Tex-Mex perfection to every bite.

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Flaco’s Cocina Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen Broadway Oyster Bar Las Palmas

Favorite Food Truck S eou l Ta co It’s almost impossible to predict which trends are flash in the pan and which are here to stay, but we hope the food-truck craze puts it in park for a long time to come. (If the popularity of events such as Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park are any indication, we’re in good shape.) Though the Daily Meal tapped local Korean-Mexican food truck Seoul Taco as one of the top 101 in the country, Riverfront Times’ Restaurant Guide voters call it No. 1. Since 2012, David Choi has hit the streets with his mobile taco (and quesadilla and gogi bowl) truck, perking up lunchtime at dreary industrial stretches and gaining new fans every day. It’s the details – the kiss of lime, the crunch of sesame seeds, the meat and veggies steeped in spices – that elevate this humble taco truck to the culinary equivalent of a hot rod.

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Guerrilla Street Food Classic Red Hots Catering Completely Sauced Vincent Van Doughnut

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38 Photo by Micah Usher

Favorite Fried Chicken Hod a k ’s “Welcome home!” Hodak’s enthuses – on signage, the top of its menu and on the lip of frosty mugs of beer. The Benton Park institution truly does give off the vibe of a high-spirited homecoming: Families pack the tables, old friends catch up over drinks and the Cardinals (St. Louis’ other best-loved bird), and near-constant lines keep the place buzzing with energy. “Good to see you, happy Sunday!” enthuses a server even as he counts out change behind the bar – the lone hub of relative calm within a veritable fried-chicken typhoon. Since 1962, Hodak’s has been St. Louis’ premier purveyor of poultry, and 38 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

all those Restaurant Guide plaques hanging on the wall don’t lie. But this year’s is really something special: 2015 marks the 25th straight year that Hodak’s has walked away with top honors in this category. It’s a Riverfront Times first, a feat that has never been replicated by any other restaurant in town, so it’d be an understatement to say that the place is beloved. Hungry crowds pack the dining room seven days a week, the pleasant hum of conversation halted only by bites of Hodak’s glorious food. Impossibly juicy chicken is hugged by a skin that’s lightly breaded and fried to a succulent golden brown. Your best bet might be the half golden fried chicken, a filling, greatest-hits of a meal which brings four pieces of perfect bird, fries and cole slaw. (Should you get it for takeout,

Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar

your to-go box won’t be able to close all the way.) The breaded chicken breast dinner’s another good one, complete with mashed potatoes, vegetables and slaw. So congratulations, Hodak’s! We coul very well fête you in this guide for another 25 years, making it 50 consecutive wins, a golden anniversary, which is just too perfect.

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Porter’s Fried Chicken Miss Leon’s King Edward’s Old Standard Fried Chicken

Favorite Fries Hod a k ’s The fries at Hodak’s play a supporting role, and being next to an established superstar is a tough spot to be in: Everybody wants to know who’s going to win Best Actor at the Oscars, but nobody’s paying attention to Best Supporting. But it turns out that the crinkle-cut fries that cozy up to Hodak’s award-winning chicken do have something in common with the bird. Both are expertly fried, and both have crispy outsides that give

way to tender insides. These fries prove that there are no small parts, only small potatoes, and these are anything but.

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The Dam Layla Baileys’ Range Blueberry Hill

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Favorite Grilled Cheese Blueber r y H i l l

As far as sandwiches go, it doesn’t get much simpler than the grilled cheese. Unless, of course, you’re at Blueberry Hill, where the options are only as limited as your imagination. Here, you can slap on cheeses – up to four different kinds – like an artist piles paint upon canvas, an inspired mix of color, taste and texture. Only at Blue Hill, your canvas can be sourdough, marble rye or cracked wheat, and your media as varied as bleu, Swiss, Provel, American, pepper jack and cheddar cheeses. Even if this particular sandwich-as-art metaphor has fallen apart, your sandwich will not: It’s gently pressed on the grill, satisfyingly golden and crispy.

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The Royale Dressel’s Public House Llywelyn’s Pub The Fountain on Locust

Favorite Mac & Cheese St eve’s Hot Do g s

Authentic Indian Cuisine

Spicing St. Louisan’s Taste Buds for 20 Years! Carry Out! We Cater!

Thank You St. Louis!

It’s All About Spices! Lunch Buffet Mon-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm 8501 Delmar @ I-70

•

Fine Dining: Mon-Thurs 5-9:45pm Fri & Sat 5-10pm, Sun 5-9pm 314-567-6850 • www.hoistl.com

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If there’s a breakout star at Steve’s Hot Dogs, it has got to be the noodles that top the “Gorilla Mac & Cheese” dog. They were so popular that the crew began seeing what else they could do. This winter Steve’s rolled out a half-dozen variations of everyone’s favorite childhood comfort food, but for decidedly grownup appetites. The “Mind Trick” bowl comes out blazing, complete with habanero sauce, jalapeño slices and chipotle onion. Bacon takes a leading role in both the “Silverback Gorilla” bowl and the “Kevin Bacon Jamaican” bowl – the latter is sweetened up with honey-chipotle sauce. Though you could argue it’s presumptuous to declare something the “bowl of champions” on a brand-new menu, it turns out the “MacGyver” was perfectly named: Constructed like a bonkers lasagna, it brings rotini noodles layered with alfredo sauce, Parmesan and cheddar cheeses, bacon and fried onion. Jump right in.

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Sweetie Pie’s Miss Leon’s Southtown Pub Square One Brewery and Distillery

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Favorite Roast Beef O ’Con nel l’s P ub

FRESH EXPRESS

CLEAN. HEALTHY. CHINESE. Real Chinese food is healthy, delicious, and balanced. Our meals are Gluten Free, Dairy Free, 400 Calories or Less and...full of Love! INSIDE DIERBERGS WEST OAK (CREVE COEUR) 11481 OLIVE BOULEVARD CREVE COEUR , MO 63141 WWW.LULUFRESHEXPRESS.COM

$1.75

20 lbs/ice

$2.75

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Pickles Deli Blues City Deli Gioia’s Deli Ruma’s Deli

Favorite Salad

Only purified water and ice vending machine in St Louis

5 gallons/water

Aristotle was a champion of the “golden mean.” That is, one should shoot for the middle between two opposing virtues, being neither excessively brute nor weak, quiet nor brash. With all due respect to one of mankind’s greatest thinkers, we posit this theory simply does not apply to beef. Namely, the roast beef at O’Connell’s Pub. Yes, the merits of its opposite – whisper-thin cuts of carpaccio – are many, but give us those thick slabs of meat any day. The roast-beef sandwich has long been O’Connell’s signature dish: It is made to order (go as rare as you dare), served on a hoagie roll, large enough to take up about two place settings. Though moderation is a noble goal in many things, this roast beef isn’t one of them. We bet Ari himself would agree.

S auce on t he Side

Serving the hot dog with dignity since 1977

F 1919 WOODSON ROAD, OVERLAND MO.

Salads have fallen in and out of favor over the years: The wedge salad was trendy for a while, and panzanella comes around every summer only to retreat into hibernation with the sun. So the fact that Sauce on the Side has again nabbed the title of Favorite Salad suggests that these guys are onto something perennial: The popular “Strawberry Fields” salad is springtime on a plate, complete with fresh mint, sage, candied walnuts and a white balsamic dressing, while the “Zen Garden” lends an Asian note with green onions, Mandarin oranges, sesame seeds and a soy-based dressing. Sauce on the Side’s six salads are not content to be some forgettable first course before the main event – even if it is those rockstar calzones. They shine plenty bright on their own. High praise indeed.

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Anthonino’s Taverna Crushed Red Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium Joey B’s

Best Fast-Casual Dining

Voted

Favorite New Restaurant, Favorite Salad, Favorite Overall Restaurant

and

Favorite Business

Lunch

903 Pine St. Downtown 314.241.5667 7810 Forsyth Clayton 314.833.5426 riverfronttimes.com |

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Favorite Sandwich P ic k le s Del i Pickles’ sandwiches are its true bread and butter. Or, rather, bread and every-meatand-topping-you-can-think-of: Ham, salami, turkey, pastrami, brisket are all accounted for, sliced fresh and in full view; breads run the gamut from wheatberry to marble rye to sourdough; and the number of condiments and cheeses are downright dizzying. If the options make your lunch-starved head spin, turn instead to the section labeled “Classics,” and here you’ll find a dozen or so options including the club sandwich, BLT, cheesesteak and veggie. It’ll take the guesswork out of your midday repast. But then, you’ve already chosen Pickles, so there aren’t any wrong answers.

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Blues City Deli Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium Steve’s Hot Dogs Nora’s

Favorite Soup P ic k le s Del i Throw away your juicers, everyone: Souping is the Next Big Thing in diets. (Trend Watch 2016: saucing. Like baby food, but fancier!) Fortunately there are places such as Pickles Deli, where soup exists just to be delicious and satiating, not the answer to all maladies. That’s not to say that there aren’t healthy options on the menu: The garden vegetable and tomato bisque are both good for what ails you. Meanwhile, beef and cheddar chili, corned beef and cabbage, and French onion are sure-fire cures for winter blues. The New England clam chowder, Creole gumbo and lobster bisque are counted among resident customer favorites. Cups and bowls of the 44 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

good stuff run at $4 and $5, respectively, and are far better than juice (so 2013!) by leaps and bounds.

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Grove East Provisions The Fountain on Locust Three Kings Public House Culpeppers

Favorite Vegetarian Lu lu’s L oc a l E at er y Talk about growing organically. Lulu’s started out as a food truck, but buoyed by enthusiastic patrons – dedicated vegans and meat-eaters alike – husband-and-wife team Robert Tucker and Lauren Loomis expanded into a South Grand storefront last May. Like the living wall inside and the ever-blooming patio out front, business continues to flourish. Everything, down to the sauces, is homemade, and the menu relies heavily on local producers and organic goods. Even tater tots are given new life with Cajun spices and an addictive chipotle sauce (that’s made from scratch, of course), and the spring roll is elevated from appetizer to entrée in the spring-roll burrito. Here the “meat” is cauliflower that’s played up with carrots, peanuts, cucumber and onion, and it’s finished with an orange-peanut sauce. Black-bean burgers, wraps and an abundance of salads and sides round out the menu – along with beers and desserts, all from St. Louis…naturally.

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Frida’s Deli The Vine Tree House Restaurant PuraVegan Cafe & Yoga

Downtown

Serving Breakfast 701 Olive St. St. Louis, MO 63101 (314) 241-2255 Hours: Mon-Fri 7am-3pm Closed Saturday & Sunday

PICKLESDELISTL.COM

An Original and Authentic Deli... Voted By RFT Readers: #1 Delicatessen 6 years in a row 2009-2014 Also Voted: #1 Sandwiches and #1 Soups RFT Editor’s Choice: Best Roast Beef

“In The Beautiful Central West End” 22 N. Euclid • Suite 105 St. Louis, MO 63108 314.361.DELI (3354) Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm Sat 10am-3pm Closed Sunday

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Three Kings Public House Photo by Micah Usher

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STARTERS

Appetizer Selection T h r ee K i n g s P ubl ic Hou s e Three Kings Public House staked its claim in University City back in 2011; last fall, a second outpost opened in Des Peres. But Three Kings’ dominion stretches much further than that, particularly when it comes to the appetizers. The “Middle Eastern Sampler” is a quick hit of that region’s quintessential foods, including roasted garlic, hummus, tzatziki and dolmas; the mussels are from Prince Edward Island; the Cap’n Crunch that encrusts the jumbo shrimp is from… Quaker Oats. The shrimp are then served

with (why not?) an Asian-inspired slaw and Thai dipping sauce. Even the quesadillas are anything but predictable, stuffed with sirloin steak, portobellos, mozzarella and goat cheeses, then topped with a balsamicreduction drizzle. Approachable fare with surprising innovations – talk about walking with kings while keeping the common touch.

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Anthonino’s Taverna Prasino Tucker’s Place Ferguson Brewing Company

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OPENING MAY 2015! 2001 Menard Street, St. Louis MO 63104 At Menard & Allen in Soulard

Favorite Fresh Guacamole L a r edo on L a fayet t e S qu a r e While lots of Mexican restaurants regard their guacamole recipe a closely held secret, Laredo on Lafayette Square’s Pat Shelton is only too happy to spill the beans. The ingredients are exactly what you would expect, the usual suspects of avocado, onion, cilantro, tomato, a squeeze of lime and a dash of salt. So what makes this dish so good? For starters, it’s a family recipe that’s been perfected over generations, so it’s a little more nuanced than its everyday ingredients suggest. The avocados that go into the mix are ideal specimens, neither rock hard nor bruised and mushy. And if the recipe has to be tweaked because something isn’t in season, then so be it: Maybe there’ll be a little more of this and a little less of that, but Laredo on Lafayette Square’s guacamole will always be verdant, flavorful and, yes, homemade.

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Las Palmas Rosalita’s Cantina Pueblo Solis Mission Taco Joint

Favorite Nachos E l M a g uey You’ll have to be specific when ordering the nachos at El Maguey. For a seemingly straightforward appetizer, there are endless interpretations of the chip-and-cheese classic. You can keep it simple with the addition of beef or beans, or, in the case of the “Nachos Fajita Mix,” you can make a meal out of it: Chicken and beef pair well with vegetables such as bell peppers, onions and tomatoes, while the “Nachos Supreme” swaps the vegetables for beans, sour cream and guacamole. Be forewarned, though, if you want the nachos for your entrée: They’re eminently sharable, but when they’re this tasty, that’s more of a liability than an asset. Be a pal, and order the large.

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2. 3. 4. 5.

Mi Ranchito Nachomama’s Three Monkeys Syberg’s

A St. Louis Tradition.

Central West End • O’Fallon, MO • St. Charles

www.culpeppers.com CULP_RFT_RestaurantGuide2015.indd 1

4/3/15 9:50 AM

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Anthonino’s Taverna

Photo by Micah Usher

Favorite Toasted Ravioli A nt hon i no’s Taver n a If you’ve ever wondered how to tell whether a restaurant’s toasted ravioli are indeed made in-house, looking at their shape is a good place to start. We’d classify the ones at Anthonino’s as square-ish. Rather than coming to four sharp corners, here, the fried pasta’s edges gently curl, and no two of them look the same – unlike many places where each t-rav looks suspiciously like the one before it. They’re big, too, coming six to a plate, sprinkled with parsley flakes and Parmesan cheese, and the filling is nothing short of spectacular: Ground beef is combined with ricotta and pecorino-Romano cheese, resulting in a light – delicate, even – mix that resembles pâté, of all things. Homemade, too, is the robust marinara sauce, with distinguishable pieces of tomato. It’s so thick that 50 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

if you were to eat it straight from the bowl with a fork, it won’t seep through the tines. Er, not that we’d know such a thing firsthand.

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Lombardo’s Three Kings Public House The Haven Tratorria Marcella

the time. Culpeppers does chicken wings messily, deliciously right, with plenty of crispy meat that pulls enticingly away from the bone, and each of the sauces dramatically change the flavor profile, from the smoky chipotle barbecue sauce to the sweet honey mustard. But don’t leave without grabbing an order slathered with Culpeppers’ signature hot sauce, which leaves lips tingling and fingers eagerly grabbing for more. Wings come in a boneless variety as well, in quantities up to 50.

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Favorite Wings C u lpepper s Done right, chicken wings are a party on a plate. Done wrong, they’re a pile of bones so scarce on the meat that they’re hardly worth

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Hodak’s Syberg’s Southtown Pub Tucker’s Place

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INCREDIBLE

SERVED DAILY™

INCREDIBLE

TURNS YOUR TASTE BUDS INTO YOUR BEST BUDS

STARTING AT

Introducing the new IN + ON Bar Bites Menu. Mix and match all kinds of small plates and specialty cocktails, like our Ahi Tuna Street Tacos, Moscow Mules, and more. 8780 Eager Road, Brentwood, MO, 63144, 314-918-1649 FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT BONEFISHGRILL.COM 52 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

DINNER

Blueberry Hill Photo by Hope Edwards

Favorite American Blueber r y H i l l Encompassing the whole of the USA – the food, music, culture, trends and innate, hard-to-pinpoint American-ness of some 318 million people – is no easy task. And yet, Blueberry Hill has pulled it off with aplomb for more than 40 years. A quick sweep of its menu reveals what makes us, well, us: There’s Southern-tinged (but vegan!) red beans and rice; the Cajun-influenced Buffalo fries (for real, a must-order); the beef hot dog; the decidedly St. Louis t-ravs and that life-changing, all-American burger. Whether

it’s your first time to Blue Hill or your threehundredth-and-something, being surrounded by quirky toy collections, jovial dart games, long-forgotten album covers tacked here and there, plinks of pinball machines and friendly service, everyone feels at home.

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Tucker’s Place Steve’s Hot Dogs Classic Red Hots Catering Joey B’s

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Thank You Holly Hills! Holly Hills!

Favorite Barbecue 4258 Schiller Place 314-808-2050 4258 Schiller Place

314-808-2050

Tastes like your

Grandma’s cooking daily specials Featuring Enjoy your SATURDAY NIGHTS out with dinner and then The Pin Up Girls @ 9pm SUNDAY AYCE Fried Chicken $10 2pm-9pm

Mon - Thurs 4pm - 10pm Fri & Sat 4pm - 1am Sun 2pm - 9pm 3960 Chouteau Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 314•652•0011

like us on Facebook

BOMBERSTL.COM 54 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

Pappy ’s Smokehou s e Trust: We aren’t ones to look a gift horse in the mouth, particularly if that horse happens to be a pig. The proliferation of barbecue joints in this town is an absolute delight, each one bringing its own flair to the game, with different techniques when it comes to smoking, opinions on which type of wood yields the best flavor, the sides and sauces that provide even more character. Pappy’s, when it opened in 2008, solidly put St. Louis barbecue on the map. Ribs are the signature dish, and for good reason: They’re dryrubbed, smoked for a half-day, and have the right amount of give off the bone. If ribs aren’t your thing, there’s lots more, including savory brisket, chicken, pork and sausage. Lines can be long at this midtown mecca, but don’t let that discourage you: There are always like-minded barbecue fans to chat with, and besides, Pappy’s doesn’t believe in leftovers. Seize the day.

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Bogart’s Smokehouse Sugarfire Smoke House Bully’s Smokehouse The Shaved Duck

Favorite Cajun/Creole Br oa dw ay O y st er B a r

It’s impossible to think about eating boiled crawfish or gumbo without also dreaming of uptempo music. Fortunately at Broadway Oyster Bar, you don’t have to: There’s live entertainment out on the patio nearly every night of the week. It sets the perfect mood for splitting an appetizer of fried alligator tail, then moving on to one of the po’boy sandwiches, grinders or the famous muffuletta – order a whole one, and it can feed up to four people! Seafood is the order of the day: The mac & cheese is thick and studded with crawfish, and even the cheesecake is packed with alligator sausage and shrimp. Oyster

Bar gets its namesake bivalves from the Gulf and New England, and they’re prepared a dozen different ways, from a simple saltwater wash (the Blue Point oysters) to slathered with crawfish cream sauce (Cardinale, a house favorite).

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Evangeline’s Riverbend Restaurant & Bar Gulf Shores Restaurant The Kitchen Sink

Favorite Chinese Wei Hon g S e a food R e st au r a nt

Lots of restaurants used to be something else in a past life: Elia, Olio and Leonardo’s Kitchen are all housed in former gas stations; Nathalie’s, an opulent mansion with roots in the 1800s. University City’s Wei Hong was once known as the Fine Arts theater, but these days, it’s the Chen family’s superior Chinese food that earns standing ovations. Here, new life is breathed into old favorites: Careful touches elevate the pot stickers and orange chicken, and the seafood is a treat as well, showcasing shrimp and squid as well as harder-to-find sea cucumber, conch and abalone. We’d be remiss not to mention the duck: Order it braised, roasted, with vegetables, the crispy Peking-style or (live a little!) the duck tongue. That it’s a standout among hundreds of standouts should be intriguing enough to yank you right out of your comfort zone.

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Lu Lu Seafood Mai Lee House of Wong Bo Fung Chinese Kitchen

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The Best St. Louis LIVE Music 365 Days A Year! Come play in our awesome Game Room & dine on delicious seafood or one of our Cajun specialties at the Hardshell Cafe

Friend us on Facebook • Follow us on Twitter • Check in on Four Square

www.1860saloon.com

(314) 231-1860

Favorite Eclectic P r a s i no

Sure, St. Charles’ Prasino serves tacos, a BLT and burgers. But tacos [record scratch] – made with egg whites and cotija cheese – also reside on the breakfast menu, the Prasino burger comes with tomato jam and gouda, and the BLT? That’s got the tomato and greens, but it is made with pork belly, guacamole and a jalapeño gastrique. Prasino has figured out that the secret to being a good eclectic restaurant isn’t to be “out there” just for the sake of being different. Rather, it’s to surprise with culinary sleights of hand, changing the tried-and-true just enough to make diners rethink old favorites in new ways while remaining wholly accessible. Not only that, the breadth of Prasino’s menu is epic, spanning from omelets and crêpes to flatbreads and mussels, pasta and sushi.

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Sanctuaria Panorama HandleBar Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium

Favorite French Br a s s er ie

It’s been ten years since the publication of French Women Don’t Get Fat, a title that brought with it more than a soupçon of judgment. The idea was simple enough: Dive right into those wheels of brie and profiteroles, and don’t be shy about that second glass of wine. Savor it. Celebrate it. But do it slowly. Stylish Brasserie by Niche is the perfect place to do just that. By turns delicate (the steak tartare hors d’oeuvre) and robust (like the braised beef entrée), each and every bite counts. The menu changes seasonally; this spring, enjoy a beautiful filet of sole. But don’t mistake perfection for pretension: When the weather’s nice, the patio is a flurry of activity – casual conversations over shared bottles of wine and pommes frites – the warm surroundings mercifully judgment free.

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Franco Vin de Set Cafe Provencal La Bonne Bouche

NOW OPEN!

Mention this ad for a FREE appetizer! 2812 Cherokee St. â&#x20AC;˘ 314-240-5990

www.chaparritosstl.com

Voted #1 Steakhouse 1999 thru 2011 - RFT Readers Poll

Why Eat Steak Anywhere Else?

Historic Soulard 2117 South 12th 314-772-5977

West County South County 14282 Manchester 3939 Union Rd 636-227-8062 314-845-2584 www.tuckersplacestl.com

Voted #1 Steakhouse 1999 thru 2014 - RFT Readers Poll riverfronttimes.com |

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Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

Favorite German S c h neit hor st ’s From the street, Schneithorst’s handsome half-timbering stands out amid Ladue’s stretch of Lindbergh Boulevard that’s populated with stores like Pottery Barn Kids and Saks Fifth Avenue. Inside, lose yourself in an upscale but cozy Bavarian retreat, complete with low lighting, couches and fireside seating. The menu is thick with schnitzels, sauerbraten and sausages – try the “German Sausage Platter” entrée for a run of G&W bratwurst, knockwurst, spaetzle and red cabbage, or you can tilt American with an array of burgers and club sandwiches. The apple strudel – complete with rich caramel sauce – sweetens the deal further, as does Schneithorst’s extensive beer menu and happy hour, which takes place weekdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. – certainly one of Ladue’s best.

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UP 2. Feasting Fox 3. St. Louis Gasthaus 4. Urban Chestnut Brewing Company

Favorite Greek

highlights of Greek comfort food: savory dolmades, filling pastitsio, shish kebobs with lamb, chicken or pork. Even the rib eye goes Greek with a tangy side of feta cheese, cucumbers, tomato and warm, pliable pita bread. Though it’ll take a Herculean effort to get through Olympia’s large portions, by all means save room for the baklava. No way yia-yia would let you go without some.

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Oly mpi a Kebob Hou s e & Taver n a

Family-run Olympia is like a trip to yiayia’s. Inside, welcomes come quick and genuine. The walls are filled with paintings and plates from the old country. It’s always tidy, but you don’t feel guilty when feta tumbles out of your overstuffed deluxe gyro and onto the floor. The menu hits all the

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Anthonino’s Taverna Momo’s Greek Restaurant Apollonia Restaurant Spiro’s

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Favorite Indian H avel i Haveli Indian Restaurant is a beautiful exercise in contradiction, beginning with its name. “Haveli,” the word, translates to “mansion”; Haveli, the restaurant, is a modest space in Overland. Here, the naan looks so delicate, yet it has been beautifully blistered in a scorching, 500-degree tandoor oven. The korma appears to be the simplest comfort food, but at Haveli, almonds, cashews and raisins are suspended just so on the surface. Indian food is notoriously spicy, but the heat’s applied with a gentle hand. And though it is known for having goat and lamb on its menu (biriyani, palak, saag, vindaloo dishes and more), vegetables can admirably take their place. Chef specials are divided into “nonvegetarian” (think lamb rogan josh), “vegetarian” (sahi paneer) and “vegan” (aloo gobi), accommodating a full range of diets.

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India Palace House of India Everest Cafe & Bar Rasoi

Favorite Irish/English/ Scottish S cot t i s h A r m s We suppose the Scottish Arms lets in the light every now and again – like during its excellent Sunday brunch – but once you’re inside, it feels like the clock is perpetually stuck around 10:45 p.m. That’s because it’s dark. Invitingly so. The large, warm Central West End space is a consummate UK pub, and the menu’s deep with favorites (“favourites”?) from across the pond: shepherd’s pasty, Scotch eggs, fish and chips, haggis, curry sauces. The whiskies – constantly changing and too numerous to list – are a master class. Everyone who works here is a pro when it comes to helping even novices pick something to enjoy: Don’t know your Glenfiddich from Glenfarclas? The 12 from the 21 year? This is the place to learn. Eager 60 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

t l a

S e t a T G F o i c G c b f b n o m e o P F c a t G a p

AUTHENTIC

teachers, outstanding pub food and – if you’re lucky and the weather’s right – a roaring fire awaits outside.

MEXICAN

FAMILY

BEST MARGARITA

OWENED & OPERATED

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John D. McGurk’s Llywelyn’s Pub Molly Darcys Dressel’s Public House

LAS PALMAS 4030 Woodson Rd. St. Louis, MO 63134 314.427.7177

LAS PALMAS MAPLEWOOD 7356 Manchester Blvd. Maplewood, MO 63143 314.645.3364

LAS PALMAS DOWNTOWN 1901 Washington Ave. St. Louis, MO 63103 314.241.1557

Favorite Italian A nt hon i no’s Taver n a St. Louis is blessed with an abundance of eateries, and many are so proudly Italian, they wouldn’t dream of sharing the bill with another cuisine. And yet here’s Anthonino’s Taverna – not Ristorante – the quirky ItalianGreek hybrid taking home the prize for Favorite Italian: Mio Dio! Anthonino’s is at once casual and contemporary: Edison bulbs in Mason jars play off the intricate silvery ceiling, but there’s also a hilarious nod to Goodfellas behind the bar. This starry-eyed couple looks to be on their make-it-orbreak-it third date, seated right next to a family decked out in Blues jerseys. Up at the bar, UCBC nuzzles up to Stella’s Cidre beer, next to a good one from Mirror Pond. Some of Anthonino’s fresh pastas are thick with meatballs or tossed with squid ink, while others, like the primavera, are light and bright on the plate. Entrées are indebted to Genoa, Palermo, Sicily, and even St. Louis and San Francisco (the cioppino is replete with crab claws, clams and other fruits de mer). Pizzas are likewise dynamite, perfectly showcasing the interplay of Mediterranean influences: Greek tzatziki pairs well with capocolla – and pepper cheese and jalapeños (!) – in the popular “Fire” pie. Whodathunk?

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Zia’s Cunetto House of Pasta Trattoria Marcella Favazza’s

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Favorite Japanese Kobe

When we look at a mound of rice, raw vegetables, slices of uncooked meat and a stovetop, they’re merely means to an end, parts of a yetto-be-constructed whole. But the chefs at Kobe Steak House see them as elements that are to be fêted, not scuttled away behind closed doors, proof that half of the enjoyment of a meal is knowing how it’s prepared. The razzle-dazzle of all that preparation, however, would be for naught were it to disappoint, but the chefs’ skills don’t stop with a flip of the shrimp. The highestquality meat – only the best steak, lobster, chicken and more – remains the star of the show. The “Kobe Favorite,” lobster tail and filet mignon, brings a Japanese twist to an indulgent classic; likewise, the ahi tuna is not to be missed.

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Drunken Fish Blue Ocean Sushi Cafe Mochi Tani Sushi Bistro

Favorite Lebanese T he Vi ne

Positioned as we are in the country, it’s easy to grow weary of the state’s middle-ness: Missouri isn’t quite Southern, but you wouldn’t call it north, nor east nor west. So perhaps Lebanon is a kindred spirt of sorts: It, too, resides at the crossroads of the Mediterranean (which itself roughly translates to “middle land”) and the Middle East, but this slip of a country celebrates its surroundings throughout its cuisine. So, too, does the Vine. The savory spice blend zatar makes the chicken wings an unexpectedly exotic treat, and tahini lends a rich nuttiness to the beef shawarma and the fava-bean appetizer called foule mudamas. Kibbeh is widely considered to be the national dish of Lebanon, and the Vine treats the gorgeously stuffed shells with reverence – a must-try. Being stuck in the middle has never been more appealing.

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Layla Al-Tarboush Deli Aya Sofia Cafe Natasha

Food, Authentic MexicAn As! Beer, And MArgArit

™

Meet your friends for: Famous Burgers

Soups & Salads

Sandwiches

Photo Booth

Vegetarian Specials

Video Games & Darts

Appetizers

Memorabilia

6504 Delmar • (314) 727-4444 BlueberryHill.com

2817 cherokee herokee st. st. • s st. t. Louis, M Mo o 63118 314.762.0691 • www.tAqueriAeLBronco.coM

AWARD-WINNING BBQ

BBQ

VOTED BEST WINGS AWARD WINNING ALABAMA WHITE CHICKEN SANDWICH

Our very own Alabama white bbq sauce tossed with our slow smoke and pulled chicken served with house made bacon

AWARD WINNING WINGS

Served dry rubbed or glazed with our famous BBQ sauce

HOOSIER NACHO’S

Homeade potato chips topped with your choice of pulled pork or chicken, bbq baked beans, sour cream, banana peppers, and melted pepper jack cheese

TURDS

Japenoes stuffed with cream cheese and smoked chorizo

3707 KINGSHIGHWAY ST. LOUIS, MO 63109 314 832-9009 riverfronttimes.com |

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Photo courtesy of Katie’s Pizza & Pasta

Katie’s Pizza & Pasta

Favorite Mexican C h av a’s Another good reason to always read the fine print? The menu at Chava’s Mexican Restaurant. A cursory glance reveals South of the Border power players: nachos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, fajitas, chimis. But the masses wouldn’t keep flocking to this Soulard hot spot if Chava’s didn’t bring a little something extra to the table. The housemade salsa is downright addictive – along with the chips, it is also gratis – but that’s just getting things started. The white-corn tortillas that house the enchiladas are first seared in pleasantly spicy salsa guajillo and then baked in Monterey jack and cheddar cheeses. Bored with the de rigueur greenpepper-and-onion-fajita lineup? Chava’s also adds zucchini, baby carrots and green beans to the mix, as well as red and yellow peppers. And be warned that the next time you sit down to potato skins, you’ll instead be dreaming of jenas: halved jalapeños that come stuffed with sausage and white cheese. During the workweek, enjoy $2 off Chava’s 64 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

excellent margs and $1 off beers, from 4 to 6 p.m.

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La Vallesana Mi Ranchito Las Palmas Chimichanga’s

Favorite Pizza A nt hon i no’s Taver n a The only time that pizza was exclusively the domain of the Italians was when it was invented about 1,000 years ago. Ever since, it has been adapted across myriad cuisines in ways wonderful (gyro!) and not-so (is anybody really clamoring for cinnamon pizza?). Anthony and Rosario Scarato found inspiration in their parents’ Italian and Greek heritage when they established Anthonino’s Taverna in 2003, and the fourteen-inch

hand-tossed pizzas are where the merger shines brightest. The gyro pizza is Anthonino’s top seller: Typically cool tzatziki sauce takes a trip through the oven, topped with gyro meat, onion, tomatoes and feta cheese. Meanwhile, the caprese pie is a study in less is more: A sweep of olive oil leaves room for the basil, mozzarella, tomatoes and balsamic reduction to shine. The capocolla rightly stars in several of the pizzas – not just a fleck here and there, but rather it comes in large, luscious pieces. Though the crust is thick – to the tune of about an inch – it’s also pliant. The dough is so good that, were it served on its own as breadsticks, we’d eat them two by two.

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Black Thorn Pub & Pizza PW Pizza Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Racanelli’s

Photo courtesy of Katieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pizza & Pasta

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Favorite Pizza, St. Louis Thin P i z z a -A- G o - G o We would call Pizza-A-Go-Go a charming Lindenwood Park neighborhood secret, but it’s impossible to keep a lid on a pizza place that’s been doing it right for nearly 50 years. The humble building at Scanlan and Ivanhoe avenues doesn’t seek to wow with an ostentatious exterior or of-the-moment ingredients – anchovies and Canadian bacon are about as exotic as it gets. But Pizza-A-Go-Go has hit upon a thin-crust formula that even skeptics can’t quibble with, so why bother? The crust is more chewy than cracker-crisp, and it acts as an ideal ballast to the toppings, even on the protein-heavy “Meat Special,” with bacon, Canadian bacon, sausage and pepperoni. And how’s this for old-school: It’s BYOB (there’s a cooler you’re free to use in the dining room), and only cash or checks are accepted.

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Joey B’s Tucker’s Place Stefanina’s Pizzeria Pirrone’s Pizzeria

Las Palmas

Photo by Mabel Suen

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Come See Our Newly Remodeled Dining Room!

5046 Shaw Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110 314-771-4900 | www.guidosstl.com

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK

PRIME STEAKS. LEGENDARY SERVICE. PRIME STEAK • PRIVATE DINING • EXCEPTIONAL MENU

Come See Our Newly ! Remodeled Dining Room

Homemade Authentic Lebanese Food 2010 & 2012 Best of St. Louis Winner Best Middle Eastern Restaurant 2013 Best French Fry

2013 Favorite Lebanese RFT Restaurants

Clayton | 7822 Bonhomme Ave | (314) 725 -4008 | mortons.com/stlouis

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3171 South Grand

thevinestl.com •(314) 776-0991

Photo courtesy of Océano Bistro

Océano Bistro

Favorite Seafood Pe a cem a ker L ob st er & Cr ab Co.

Dar Williams introduces her song “The Ocean” thusly: “This is a sea-shanty gone awry.” The same might be said of Kevin Nashan’s journey to open Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co., a labor of love and product of his time spent in New Orleans and on the East Coast. The James Beard Awardnominated chef probably didn’t set out to open last year’s most anxiously awaited restaurant, and yet through twists and turns, he has pulled it off anyway. Lines of landlocked Midwesterners coil around the place like a mermaid tail, hoping for a table or even a spot at the bar. No matter: The rich

lobster rolls (both the cold Maine-style and hot Connecticut one); the seafood boil bursting with either shrimp, lobster or crab and potatoes, corn on the cob and Andouille; or myriad other Southern and seaside delights (think collard greens, po’boys, fried green tomatoes, raw-bar selections) make the wait infinitely worthwhile. “You are the welcoming back from the ocean,” Williams sings. And for saltwater-starved St. Louis, so is Peacemaker.

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Broadway Oyster Bar Océano Bistro Gulf Shores Restaurant Lu Lu’s Seafood

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Favorite Steak T uc ker ’s Pl a ce

HAPPY HOUR FROM 4-7PM BETWEEN $4-$7 Enjoy craft beers, inventive cocktails a host of Italian wines and small plates

Convivial, humble and affordable aren’t typically the words one thinks of when it comes to a steak house (at least, when it comes to the ones that don’t feature a dinnertime buffet and just happen to have “steak” in the name). Which is unfortunate: A lot is riding on that lone piece of meat, and if it comes out prepared on the wrong side of medium rare, well, that’s a luxury that your budget probably won’t allow for again anytime soon. Tucker’s Place strips away the pretension, and what’s left is the most important part of a steak dinner anyway. The meat is topnotch – all Omaha-bred Hereford and Angus cows – and even the New York strip steak (all sixteen ounces of it!) will only set you back about $20. Like all entrées at Tucker’s (porterhouse, filet, pork chop and salmon among them), it is served with a side salad, baked potato and a roll. Bottles of wine are all in the $30 range – and all pronounceable! – and there’s no side-eye if you feel like pairing a white wine with red meat. Whether in south county, west county or Soulard, Tucker’s aims to please and always pulls it off.

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Citizen Kane’s Steak House Sam’s Steakhouse Kreis’ Prime 1000

Favorite Sushi D r u n ken F i s h

7036 CLAYTON AVE., ST. LOUIS, MO 63117 314.932.7820 | BASSO-STL.COM   70 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

At sexy, lounge-y Drunken Fish, it will go unnoticed if your chopstick prowess isn’t quite up to snuff. This place is all about the fun – particularly if you happen to be there on karaoke night at one of its four St. Louis locations. That’s not to say that Drunken Fish takes its sushi lightly: Note the sprinkling of roe, jalapeños that are shaved just so atop the rolls, the striking sashimi that’s art on a plate. Get your meal started with some edamame or a warming bowl of miso, and take your time perusing the menu. The namesake “Drunken Fish Roll” impresses with shrimp tempura, tuna and Japanese mayo; the “Fried Cheese Steak” roll, with

steak, mushroom, onion and cream cheese will certainly win over the stick-in-the-mud bud who would ordinarily turn up his nose at any place where raw food is the star. If that doesn’t win him over – and how could it not? – the carafes and premium bottles of sake ought to do the trick.

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Tani Sushi Bistro Blue Ocean Sushi Kampai Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Favorite Tapas Mode st o If you have been lucky enough to wander the Albayzín in Granada, Spain, you’ve no doubt been charmed by the zig-zaggy backroads that don’t even qualify as streets, the restaurants, shops and cafes that keep nonsensical hours, while the beautiful, imposing Alhambra stands guard over the city. Tapas, like those labyrinthine streets, takes its time getting where you need to go, and getting off track is half the fun. Surely you’ve been to Modesto, the Hill’s most beloved Spanish outpost, lulled by its fantastic happy hour (workdays 5 to 7 p.m., all night Tuesdays and Thursdays), when tapa and pintxo are discounted – some as cheap as a fifty cents. And if you’ve gotten that far, you’ve delved even deeper into the menu that ranges from bite-size Manchego cheese and albondigas to the empanadillas and pork belly with pineapple. Sure, you might stay a little longer, get adventurous with whatever the seasonal favorite happens to be (this spring, try the grilled lamb chops), grab one more glass of sangria. But that’s the simple, languid beauty of tapas – it’s enchanting at every turn, and at Modesto, time stands thrillingly still.

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BARcelona Guido’s Pizza and Tapas Sanctuaria Momo’s Greek Restauant

e bt

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You Deserve A Vacation

(314) 725-3700 casadelmarrestaurant.com

From the culinary sensations who brought you

HOMEMADE AUTHENTIC GREEK CUISINE

#1 Greek Cuisine

1999 - 2014 Rft restaurant Readers polls

patio open!

PARTY ROOM • CaTERING open 7 days • to-go orders welcome 1543 McCausland • (314) 781-1299 olympiakebobandtaverna.com 72 | RESTAURANTS 2015 | riverfronttimes.com

Photo by Micah Usher

Visit us at the Galleria Mall next to Dillard’s

Pearl Cafe

Favorite Thai Pe a rl Ca fe Fried, raw, spicy, cool: Like every plate of food that leaves its kitchen, the interplay at work within Pearl Cafe is gorgeous. Kick off your meal with the first-rate shrimp rolls; plump and crispy, they’re served with sweet and sour sauce (again, opposites attract) for dipping, then take your time with the menu. Eh, better order a drink while you’re at it. Pearl Cafe’s list is extensive, with a couple hundred beers and scotches to pick from. On to the main event: The rice and noodle dishes are dressed with your choice of pork, chicken, seafood, beef, duck, tofu or vegetables, an explosion of texture and flavor, all. The spicy “Drunken Noodles” is a best-seller, bright with basil and white and green onions; meantime, the coconut noodles soothe with tofu, bean sprouts, basil and bell peppers. If you’d like to give the spice challenge a try, you have our best wishes/condolences. But we’d suggest getting up-close and personal with that drink menu first.

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King and I Basil Spice Sen Thai Asian Bistro Thai Kitchen

Fun Food, Happy People, Great Drinks! 106 main st. edwardsville, il 618.307.4830

www.clevelandheath.com

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Favorite Vietnamese M a i L ee

26 N. Meramac, St. Louis, MO 63105 314.863.8400

m o l l yd a rcy s p u b .co m

/mollydarcyspub

Transit and movement are recurring themes in Mai Lee’s story. When Lee Tran left Vietnam in 1980, she settled in St. Louis, then waitressed in, and founded, a Chinese restaurant, where she slowly began incorporating Vietnamese cuisine. It was the first time anyone had brought Vietnamese food to the city, and throughout moves from University City to Brentwood (the restaurant’s now located beneath a MetroLink parking garage – how’s that for symbolism?), Lee has also brought ever-expanding legions of fans along for the ride. Mai Lee’s extensive menu is a road map of sorts, tracing her journey: Chinese dishes continue to be represented here, and there’s even a shout-out to St. Louis with the St. Paul sandwiches. Her son Qui now has the reins, but all roads lead back to the Vietnamese ones Lee has endeared to the area: The beefand meatball-studded pho tai bo vien is a warm welcome, and the banh mi sandwiches are straight-up comfort food, no matter where you call home.

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Photo by Micah Usher

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Pho Grand Bahn Mi So #1 Phi Long Little Saigon

Drunken Fish

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The Mud House

Photo by Micah Usher

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DESSERTS

Favorite Cupcakes Ji l ly ’s C upc a ke B a r & Ca fé

When you were a kid, the greatest thing in the world was Play-Doh. Those attachments that would press out strands of joy? Heaven. Making, playing, creating: The good stuff doesn’t really change all that much when you’re a grownup, and it certainly isn’t lost at Jilly’s, a celebration of everything that’s sweet and fun. It’s present in each cupcake, from the everyday goodies (how else do you explain a cupcake that’s also a hot-fudge sundae?) to the ones that rotate monthly – like the “#Nutella,” complete with a ga-

nache drizzle and chocolate-hazelnut candy topping. Cupcakes are no longer exclusively the domain of the young, but they do keep everyone young at heart. The store’s bright, cheerful surroundings is the whimsical cherry on top – as is Jilly’s brunch (see Favorite Brunch for the delicious details).

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The Cup The Sweet Divine Honeydip Cupcakes Lubeley’s Bakery

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The Cup

Photo by Micah Usher

Favorite Gooey Butter Cake Pa rk Avenue Cof fee Were the mad geniuses at Park Avenue Coffee to offer just one flavor of gooey butter cake each week, it would take a year and a half to get through them all. But sticking to just one is way too easy. No, this Lafayette Square shop offers a dozen kinds every day, eventually cycling through each of its 76 flavors. As complex as that sounds, the key lies in the simplicity of the crust (powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter) and the base of the gooey-butter mix itself – each of the flavors start with fresh eggs, cream cheese, powdered sugar and, yes, real butter. (It’s not gooey butter-substitute cake, for crying out loud.) But then things go off the rails: the “Funky Monkey” employs Ghirardelli chocolate and bananas; the piña colada is made with fresh coconut and pineapple; and there’s even a maple-bacon variety. But the top seller? It’s traditional, of course.

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2256 South 39th Street, Saint Louis • Mo • 63110 314 . 6 01. 3 6 0 4 • icesplainandfancy.com CATERING FOR L ARGE & SMALL EVENTS AVAIL ABLE! @IcesPlainAndFancy

@IcesPlainAndFancy

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@IcesStl

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Gooey Louie McArthur’s Bakery Missouri Bakery Lubeley’s Bakery

Favorite Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt/Custard/Gelato Ted D r ewe s There comes a time every year – usually around late February – when you’re so sick of winter and scraping the ice off your windshield and being cold that the only thing left to do is grab some frozen custard from Ted Drewes…even if it’s barely above freezing outside. Pulling into the parking lot you realize: You’re not the only person who had this idea. Fact is, the place is busy all year because, as St. Louisans, we can only go so long without our beloved concretes, shakes and classics, like the “Cardinal Sin,” made with cherries and hot fudge, or the raspberry-and-macadamia-nut “Fox Treat” sundaes. Be forewarned: The Chippewa location does close for a couple of weeks out of the winter for a much-deserved vacation (someplace warm, we hope!), and the South Grand outpost operates in the summertime only.

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Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Café Serendipity Ices Plain & Fancy I Scream Cakes

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LIBATIONS

Photo by Micah Usher

Scottish Arms

Favorite After-Dinner Drink Baileys’ Chocolate Bar For most, what comes after dinner is dessert and bed. So maybe that’s why going to Baileys’ Chocolate Bar for an after-dinner drink seems somehow mischievous. Located in Lafayette Square, the place is at once playful and seductive: Its façade is a comehither red, and the menu’s often cheeky: Both a “Lovers’ Plate” and a “Lovers’ Quarrel” are offered, and martinis include “Sexual” and “Adult Cappuccino.” Of course, Chocolate Bar isn’t just for couples stealing away to smooch over cheese plates (though it did nab the top spot for Favorite Romantic). Open until 1 a.m. almost every day, it’s also ideal for quelling a late-night sweet tooth (a sizeable selection of “Liquid Dessert” martinis) or just staving off the workweek as long as possible – it’s open till midnight on Sundays.

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Three Sixty The Restaurant at the Cheshire Drunken Fish Robust Wine Bar

Favorite Bar/Pub Tick Tock Tavern

At Tick Tock Tavern, there are owls. There is macramé. There are macramé owls. Carpet hits your knees when you belly up; there’s a large “Vince Schoemehl for Mayor” yard sign, bowling trophies, wood paneling and a Cards pennant…from 1985. And that’s about when time seems to have stood still at

this quirky, low-lit corner bar. There’s a lot of beer in cans (Stag, Strongbow, Schlitz), about ten on tap, a ton of brown liquor. The wine is red; it comes from a box. There is Pucker; it comes in a spectrum of flavors. There’s isn’t food, but Steve’s Hot Dogs is adjacent – you don’t even have to go outside. But if you do, you’ll find picnic tables stocked with ashtrays. Though this Tick Tock hasn’t yet been open a year, it has again endeared itself to the neighborhood – the frequent happy hours don’t hurt, either.

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Nick’s Pub O’Connell’s Pub Blueberry Hill Broadway Oyster Bar

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Favorite Beer Selection iTap The bartenders at iTap are kind of like modern-day versions of telephone switchboard operators, but rather than plugging into various jacks to help connect one party to another, they pull tap handles to connect us to far-flung corners of the world through beer (and help us to party). There are around 40 kinds of draft beer – which is a plenty respectable number – but one that pales in comparison to the 500 of them in the cooler. You’ll find a bunch from heavy hitters such as Belgium, England and Germany, but there’s also the odd selection from, say, Thailand or Nicaragua. Closer to home, look for expansive selections from California and Colorado, and really, really close to home are great ones from Urban Chestnut, Schlafly, 2nd Shift and more. iTap’s offerings vary by season and even by day, but at iTap, your options won’t ever run dry.

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Cugino’s Cicero’s Three Kings Public House Nick’s Pub

Favorite Bloody Mary S out hwe st D i ner Booze gets a bad rap for being empty calories and an enemy of good decision-making. Bloody marys get a pass, though: They’re perfectly acceptable to drink in the morning (unlike, say, taking hard pulls of Rumple Minze), and the ones at Southwest Diner are very nearly a meal unto themselves – and a healthy one at that! Crowd-favorite Zing Zang is spiked with Pinnacle vodka, and the heat is taken up a couple of notches, thanks to horseradish and Sriracha. The margs are finished off with veggies (asparagus and jalapeño), fruit (a lemon wedge) and protein (locally sourced bacon that doubles as a swizzle stick/snack). Surely, a drink that’d be enthusiastically approved by MyPlate.

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Rooster Bombers Hideaway Hodak’s Benton Park Café

Favorite Happy Hour D r u n ken F i s h

It’s been a long day at work, your next paycheck is still a ways off, and so you settle in for happy hour…only to find that the discounts are minimal, and they only apply to stuff you wouldn’t want to eat or drink anyway. (Fifty cents off a bouche that isn’t remotely amusing? Thanks for nothing.) Drunken Fish takes the opposite approach, putting on special some of its best-loved dishes and drinks. Lots of cocktails and martinis are a bargain at $5, imported beers are $4 (the monster 22-ounce Sapporo silver is $6), domestics, a buck less than that. Rolls start at $5 – the “Drunken Fish” and shrimp tempura among them – and more elaborate ones range from $7 to $9 (hello, BLT) while nigiri are $3. Deals vary a bit at the four St. Louis-area locations, but neither you nor your wallet will walk away empty.

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Modesto Cugino’s Rehab Syberg’s

Favorite Local Microbrewery Urba n C he st nut Br ew i n g Compa ny Sprawling over a block in the Grove neighborhood, Urban Chestnut is imposing; so too is its extensive beer list, especially for a first-timer. But those might be the customers UCBC delights in most. After confirming that it was our first time there, the bartender gamely added, “We’ve been waiting for you for the last year and two months!” (The Washington Avenue location opened a cou-

ple years prior.) And just like that, we were utterly charmed with the place, eyeballing the tables long enough to hold everyone we know, dreaming up reasons to throw a party. The Grove’s is a true bierhall, complete with an excellent, German-influenced food menu (sandwiches, charcuterie boards, appetizers). UCBC’s beers are divided into the Revolution (singularly modern, American-style) and Reverence (the classic, European-style) series, and the experts behind the bar are happy to impart their knowledge. We were pointed toward the Barbe Rouge and never looked back. If you’ve not yet made it to UCBC, fix that. They’ve been waiting for you.

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4 Hands Brewing Co. Schlafly Perennial Artisan Ales O’Fallon Brewery

R U O R O F S FAMOU

F E E B T ROAS

S R E G R & BU e t i r o v a F “ ” f e e B t s a Ro

Favorite Lounge/Club M a nd a r i n Every chic detail has been attended to at this Central West End hot spot. The slip of an entrance leading to the second floor of Maryland Plaza opens to St. Louis’ best nightclub, reliably packed with the city’s in-the-know tastemakers. Inside the dimly lit venue, revelers drink and dance to live DJs who lay down everything from rock and pop to hip-hop and retro. Outside, a swank and spacious rooftop lounge has the optimum view of the heart of the CWE. Cocktails take a cue from the Asian-inspired décor, with options including the green-tea-liqueur “Geisha Blossom” and the fruit-forward “Buddha Bliss.” Drink specials run on Wednesday and Thursday nights; bottle service lends an elegant touch; and extras exist for VIPs – but the bathrooms are decidedly egalitarian. You’ll see.

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Open until 3am 4652 Shaw Ave. St. Louis Mo 63110 314-773-6600

Rehab Mile 277 Siam Three Sixty

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RESTAURANTS 2015 | 83

Photo by Micah Usher

Welcome to Your New Addiction!

Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Favorite Margarita M i s s ion Ta co

Pre-made margarita mix is probably the worst thing to ever happen to cocktails, Sex and the City notwithstanding. In the name of convenience, the lovely summertime staple has been reduced to a pale, over-sour, watery concoction that tries to pass itself off as “authentic” but never is. Made with blanco tequila and agave nectar, margs are given their proper due at Mission Taco, finished off with dry orange curaçao and a fresh squeeze of lime. They don’t come in 35 different flavors or in some wacky glass or rimmed with artisanal Himalayan pink salt: The white stuff will do just fine, thanks, on the rocks and in a pint glass. And it is simply exquisite.

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Rosalita’s Cantina Hacienda Chava’s Espino’s Mexican Bar & Grill

Favorite Martini Sub Z er o Vod k a B a r 8073 Watson Rd. (314) 968-8226 1288 Old Orchard Center (636) 686-7394 302 West Port Plaza (314) 878-8226 fuzzystacoshop.com

@FuzzysTacosStL

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Fancy a wheat-grain vodka from Russia? Or an absinthe-laced one from France? The diversity among the 700 types of vodka that are offered at Sub Zero is astonishing. In fact, you can’t find a larger selection anywhere else in the country: Just last year USA Today recognized it as the nation’s top vodka bar. Order a drink straight-up or peruse its staggering cocktail list. Speaking of staggering, these pack a punch, so do your best to pace yourself and fully appreciate the distinct qualities that come across, depending how and where a vodka is made.

(Or throw back as many infused vodkas as you can when they’re half off during happy hour.) The bartenders love talking liquor, so ask some questions. Try something new. Like not carving your name in the ice bar for a change.

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Absolutli Goosed Planter’s House The Purple Martin Sasha’s

Favorite Wine List S a s h a’s The old, weathered Trapper Keeper-size wine lists at Sasha’s have since been replaced with tablets, but don’t worry: The descriptions are insightful as ever, and you still have to order from the bartender – not just tap out your drinks on the pad – so knowledge continues to flow like so many glasses of red, white and sparkling wines. That personal touch is important when it comes to maneuvering the menu: It’s constantly changing, and there’s always a new staff favorite. This spring, it’s the Lucy rosé and the Red Car pinot noir. You’ve got to dip into Sasha’s excellent menu of pizzas, crêpes, cheeses, charcuterie and more. Look no further than your snazzy tablet for pairing recommendations.

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Robust Wine Bar Prasino 1111 Mississippi Cork Wine Bar

Not a single drop of alcohol: keep your baby safe. NO amount of ALCOHOL is safe during pregnancy.

For confidential information about keeping your baby safe, log on: www.thewhole9.org or call toll free 1.877.Whole Nine

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The Best St. Louis LIVE Music 365 Days A Year! Come play in our awesome Game Room & dine on delicious seafood or one of our Cajun specialties at the Hardshell Cafe

Friend us on Facebook • Follow us on Twitter • Check in on Four Square

www.1860saloon.com

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(314) 231-1860

ADV ER TISING INDEX D OW N TOW N

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DOWNTOWN Big Daddy’s Landing 118 Morgan St, 314-621-6700 American/ Pub Budweiser Brew House 601 Clark Ave, Unit #101, 1st Floor, 314-241-5575 American Cardinal Nation 601 Clark Ave, Unit 102, 314-345-9880 American

Bonefish Grill 8780 Eager Rd, 314-918-1649 American

Gramophone 4243 Manchester Ave, 314-531-5700 Deli/Gastropub

Mi Ranchito 887 Kingsland Ave, 314-863-1880 Mexican

Boogaloo 7344 Manchester Rd, 314-645-4803 Cuban Restaurant

The HotPot 11215 Manchester Rd, 314-315-4421 Local Eatery

Milagro Modern Mexican 20 Allen Ave, #130, 314-962-4300 Mexican

House of India 8501 Delmar Blvd, 314-567-6850 Indian

Miss Leon’s 3960 Chouteau, 314-652-0011 Southern Restaurant

The Kitchen Sink 255 Union Blvd, 314-454-1551 American-Creole

Mission Taco Joint 6235 Delmar Blvd, 314-932-5430 Mexican

Casa del Mar 1137 St. Louis Galleria, 314-725-3700 Mexican Chinese Noodle Cafe 6138 Delmar Blvd, 314-725-9889 Chinese

Drunken Fish 312 N 2nd St, 314-241-9595 601 Clark St, #104, 314-899-0500 Sushi

Citizen Kane’s 133 W Clinton Place, 314-965-9005 Fine Dining

Fox Sports Midwest 601 Clark St, #103, 314-241-5588 Entertainment

Culpeppers 300 N Euclid Ave, 314-361-2828 American

The Fudgery 601 Clark St, 314-942-6383 Desserts

DePalm Tree 8631 Olive Blvd, 314-432-5171 Jamaican

Howl at the Moon 601 Clark Ave, #201, 314-736-4695 Venue

Double D Lounge 1740 S Brentwood Blvd, 314-961-5646 American

Las Palmas 1901 Washington Ave, 314-241-1557 Mexican

Drunken Fish 1 Maryland Plaza, 314-367-4222 639 Westport Plaza Dr, 314-275-8300 Sushi

Marcel’s Bar and Grill 720 N 1st Street, 314-241-1576 BBQ PBR St. Louis 601 Clark Ave, #202, 314-241-5570 Bar Pickles Deli 701 Olive St, 314-241-2255 Deli St. Louis Ballpark Village 601 Clark Ave, 314-345-9481 Entertainment/ Restaurants

CENTRAL Avenue 12 N Meramec Ave, 314-727-4141 Cafe, Wine Bar

Element 1419 Carroll St, 314-241-1674 New American Evangeline’s Bistro 512 N Euclid Ave, 314-367-3644 Cajun/Creole Failoni’s 6715 Manchester Ave, 314-781-5221 Italian Fallon’s Bar and Grill 9200 Olive St Rd, 314-991-0008 Pub Fork & Stix 549 Rosedale Ave. 314-863-5572 Thai Fuzzy’s Taco 302 West Port Plaza Dr, 314-878-8226 Mexican

Basso 7036 Clayton Ave, 314-932-7820 Italian 88 2 2 ||| RESTAURANTS RESTAURANTS RESTAURANTS2015 2015 2015|||riverfronttimes.com riverfronttimes.com riverfronttimes.com

Kobe Steakhouse 111 Westport Plaza, Suite 1200 314-469-3900 Japanese Laredo on Lafayette Square 2001 Park Ave, 314-231-9200 Mexican Las Palmas 4030 Woodson Rd, 314-427-7177 7356 Manchester Rd, 314-645-3364 Mexican Layla 4317 Manchester Ave, 314-553-9252 American Fusion Lucky Buddha 3701 S Jefferson Ave, 314-833-4568 Asian Fusion LuLu Seafood 8224 Olive Blvd, 314-997-3108 Chinese LuLu Fresh Express 11482 Olive Blvd. (Dierbergs) Chinese Maggiano’s Little Italy 2 The Blvd, 314-824-2402 Italian Mai Lee 8396 Musick Memorial Dr, 314-645-2835 Vietnamese Metro Lighting 929 Hanley Industrial Ct, 314-963-8330 6801 Arsenal St, 314-645-9100

Molly Darcy’s 26 N Meramec, 314-863-8400 Irish/American Morton’s Steakhouse 7822 Bonhomme Ave, 314-725-4008 Fine Dining Nick’s Pub 6001 Manchester Ave, 314-781-7806 Irish Pub Nobu’s Japanese Restaurant 8643 Olive Blvd, 314-997-2303 Japanese Oceano Bistro 44 N Brentwood Blvd, 314-721-9400 Seafood Olympia 1543 McCausland Ave, 314-781-1299 Greek Pat Connely’s Tavern 6400 Oakland Ave, 314-647-PATS Irish Pub Peshwa 10633 Page Ave, #8, 314-428-8888 Indian Pickles Deli 22 N Euclid, 314-361-DELI Deli Pizzino Pizza 7600 Wydown Blvd, 314-240-5134 Pizzeria/Italian Porter’s Chicken 3628 S Big Bend, 314-781-2097 American

89 Renewal by Andersen 149 Weldon Pkwy, 314-983-9977 Professional Services

Yo My Goodness Multiple Locations, 314-963-3590 Frozen Yogurt

Rib City 1181 Colonnade Center, 314-965-7427 BBQ

EAST

Rocket Fizz 6303 Delmar Blvd, 314-833-4614 Soda & Candy Shop Sanctuaria 4198 Manchester Rd, 314-535-9700 Tapas Seoul Taco 6665 Delmar Blvd, 314-863-1148 Korean/Mexican St. Louis Independent Bookstore Alliance Multiple Locations Bookstores St. Louis Italian Restaurant & Pizza Co. 310 Debaliviere Ave, 314-367-7788 Italian/Catering Strange Donuts 2709 Sutton Blvd, 314-932-5851 107 E Argonne Dr Donuts Taqueria Durango 10238 Page Ave, 314-429-1113 Mexican Three Kings Pub 6307 Delmar Blvd, 314-721-3355 American

Cleveland-Heath 106 N Main St, 618-307-4830 Gourmet Comfort

SOUTH 1860 Saloon 1860 S 9th St, 314-231-1860 American Amighetti’s 5141 Wilson Ave, 314-776-2855 Italian Anthonino’s Taverna 2225 Macklind Ave, 314-773-4455 Italian/Mediterranean Apollonia Restaurant 6836 Gravois Ave, 314-353-1488 Greek Bogart’s Smokehouse 1627 S 9th St, 314-621-3107 Barbeque Carondelet Diner 8129 Reilly Ave, 314-833-3470 Diner Chaparritos Mexican Restaurant 2812 Cherokee St, 314-240-5990 Mexican

TwinOak Wood-Fired 1201 Strassner Dr, 314-644-2772 Eclectic

Chauvin Coffee Company 4160 Meramec St, 314-772-0700 Coffee

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company 4465 Manchester Ave Microbrewery

Chris’ Pancake & Dining 5980 Southwest Ave, 314-645-2088 American

Whitebox Eatery 176 Carondelet Plaza, 314-862-2802 Brunch/Catering Woofie’s Hot Dogs 1919 Woodson Rd, 314-426-6291 American

City Diner 3139 S. Grand, 314-772-6100 Diner

D’s Place 900 Barton St, 314-773-1019 Bar & Grill

Dine Around: A Taste of South Grand South Grand, 314-772-5750 Events Earthbound Brewing 2710 Cherokee St, 314-769-9576 Brewery Firehouse Bar & Grill 3500 Lemay Ferry Rd, 314-892-6903 American Fortels Pizza Den 7932 Mackenzie Rd, 314-353-2360 7 Area locations Pizza Fritanga 2208 S Jefferson Ave, 314-664-7777 Nicaraguan Fuzzy’s Taco 8073 Watson Rd, 314-968-8226 Mexican Grove East Provisions 3101 Arsenal St, 314-802-7090 Grocery Store & Café Guido’s Pizzeria & Tapas 5046 Shaw Ave, 314-771-4900 Mediterranean Hodak’s Restaurant 2100 Gravois Ave, 314-776-7292 American Howard’s in Soulard 2732 S 13th St, 314-349-2850 Bar & Grill Ices Plain & Fancy 2256 S 39th St, 314-601-3604 Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt Jax Cafe 2901 Salena St, 314-449-1995 Café La Vallesana 2801 Cherokee St, 314-776-4223 Mexican Restaurant Mama Campisi’s 2132 Edwards St, 314-776-3100 Italian Metro Lighting #3 Grandview Park Dr, 636-464-7070

Mission Taco Joint 908 Lafayette Ave, 314-858-8226 Mexican Molly’s in Soulard 816 Geyer Ave, 314-241-6200 Southern Creole/Cajun Ninth Street Deli 900 Shenandoah Ave, 314-664-3354 Deli Norton’s Cajun Corner 730 Carroll St, 314-546-8382 Cajun O’Connell’s Pub 4652 Shaw Ave, 314-773-6600 Irish Pizzeoli 1928 S 12th St, 314-449-1111 Neapolitan Pizza Salume Beddu 3467 Hampton Ave, 314-353-3100 Delicatessen Shaved Duck 2900 Virginia Ave, 314-776-1407 Barbeque/Southern Shelly’s in Soulard 2001 Menard St, 314-484-3593 Sports Bar Sidney Street Cafe 2000 Sidney St, 314-771-5777 Fine Dining Sister Cities Cajun & Barbecue 4144 South Grand, 314-875-9653 Cajun/Barbecue Soulard’s Restaurant 1731 7th Blvd, 314-241-7956 American Restaurant Southtown Pub and Grill 3707 S Kingshighway Blvd, 314-832-9009 BBQ Taco Circus 4258 Schiller Pl, 314-808-2050 Mexican Taqueria El Bronco 2817 Cherokee St, 314-762-0691 Mexican

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90 Ted Drewes Frozen Custard 6726 Chippewa, 314- 481-2652 4224 S Grand, 314-352-7376 (open summer only) Frozen Custard Three Flags Tavern 4940 Southwest Ave, 314-669-9222 Eclectic Tortillaria Mexican Kitchen 8 S Euclid Ave, 314-361-4443 Mexican Tower Taco 3147 Cherokee St, 314-256-1141 Mexican Tucker’s Place 2117 S 12th St, 314-772-5977 3939 Union Rd, 314-845-2584 American Uncle Bill’s Pancake House 3427 S Kingshighway Blvd, 314-832-1973 Breakfast and Brunch The Vine Mediterranean Cafe 3171 S Grand Blvd, 314-776-0991 Mediterranean Vinnie’s Italian Beef and Gyros 3208 Ivanhoe Ave, 314-644-7007 Deli

MIDTOWN Cafe Ventana 3919 W Pine, 314-535-9700 Café City Diner At The Fox 541 N Grand, 314-533-7500 Diner Dance St. Louis 3547 Olive St, #301, 314-534-6622 Events Diablitos Cantina 3761 Laclede Ave, 314-644-4430 Mexican Flying Cow 3331 Locust St, 314-533-0941 Dessert Jazz at the Bistro 3536 Washington Ave, 314-571-6000 Jazz Club

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Pappy’s Smokehouse 3106 Olive St, 314-535-4340 Barbeque

Tucker’s Place 14282 Manchester Rd, 636-227-8062 American

Pickleman’s 3722 Laclede Ave, 314-802-7410 Multiple Locations Cafe/Sandwich Shop

Veritas Fountain Plaza Dr, 636-227-6800 American

Scottish Arms 8 S Sarah St, 314-535-0551 Gastropub

NORTH

Urban Chestnut Brewing Company 3229 Washington Ave, 314-222-0143 Microbrewery

Blimpie 8455 University Place Dr, 314-283-5924 Sandwich Shop Boenker Hill Vineyard and Winery 12855 Boenker Ln, 314-736-6428 Winery

WEST Bombshell Bar & Grill 221 N Main St, 636-757-3026 Bar & Grill The Diamond Family 473 Lafayette Center, 636-391-6622 Diamond Dealer Fuzzy’s Taco 1288 Old Orchard Center, 636-686-7394 Mexican Henricks BBQ 1200 South Main St, 636-724-8600 Barbeque La Salsa 12536 Olive Blvd, 314-275-7257 Mexican/Catering Metro Lighting 17485 N Outer 40 Rd, 636-449-1900 15004 Manchester Rd, 636-256-3600 1029 E Terra Lane, 636-379-0032

Montelle Winery 201 Montelle Dr, 888-595-9463 Winery Prasino 1520 S 5th St, #110, 636-277-0202 American Redbird’s Sports Cafe 4223 N St Peters Pkwy, 636-922-7548 Sportsbar/American Three Kings Pub 11925 Manchester, 314-815-3455 American

Ford Hotel Supply Co. 2204 N Broadway, 314-231-8400 Commercial Kitchen & Restaurant Supply Pearl Café 8416 N Lindbergh, 314-831-3701 Thai Redbird’s Sports Cafe 9085 Dunn Rd, 314-731-1234 Sportsbar/American

FREE

RESTAURANTS 2015

THE ORIGINAL ST. LOUIS FOOD LOVER’S POLL

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