Hit List: April 2016

Slider House This Rock Hill spot is more chic than your average burger bar with slick marble tabletops, patterned wallpaper and exposed brick. Go for the eponymous sliders: The Texican has a spicy chorizo-spiced beef patty topped with melted pepper jack, slices of jalapeno and avocado and a smoked tomato remoulade. Or try the Bay of Pigs, a nod to a Cuban with smoked pork, shaved ham, Swiss, pickles and a Guinness-based dijonnaise on a sturdy pretzel bun. Make it a winning trio with The Southern Comfort, featuring a crisp hand-breaded fried chicken breast that’s tossed in a sweet, spicy Sriracha-honey glaze and topped with lettuce and tomato. 9528 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.942.6445, thesliderhouse.com Gaslight Lounge Gaslight Lounge offers guests a new take on live music. The speakeasy-style bar features a large window peeking into Gaslight’s working recording studio. While you enjoy the impromptu concerts piping through the speakers, sip inventive cocktails like the Pepe a Go Go, a sweeter take on the mojito with rum, agave, lime, basil, mint and a touch of jasmine liqueur for a floral note. Try the Smokey Joe: a mix of Buffalo Trace bourbon, aromatic mezcal, habenero syrup and a slice of baked peach for a subtly spicy sipper. Turn heads with The Beetnik, featuring local Pinckney Bend gin, house-made beet syrup, hibiscus-based Hum liqueur, Cynar artichoke liqueur, lemon juice and celery bitters. Fill your belly next door at newly opened Cha Cha on Shaw, the food truck’s new brick and mortar. Keep an eye out for the addictive Walking Taco on special. Grab your grub and return to Gaslight’s communal tables while you listen to new tracks as they’re being recorded. 4916 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314.496.0628, gaslightstl.com Local Chef Kitchen A farm-fresh option is ripe for picking in Ballwin. Local Chef Kitchen offers dine-in and carryout for lunch and dinner focused on locally sourced produce and proteins. While the menu changes constantly, the vendors are area mainstays, including Todd Geisert Farms, Buttonwood Farm, Ozark Mountain Creamery and Thies Farm and Greenhouses. If you can catch these items, you should: cornmeal-dusted catfish, fried potatoes, squash mac and cheese, sauteed greens, Missouri beef pastrami and mushroom and spinach soup. Short on groceries? Pick up local meat, eggs and dairy while you’re there. 15270 Manchester Road, Ballwin, 636.220.3212, Facebook: Local Chef STL