Hit List: September 2016

Nathaniel Reid Bakery Pastry chef Nathaniel Reid has won international accolades for his sweet treats, but it wasn’t until August that he opened his own shop serving sweet and savory breakfast pastries, sandwiches, colorful tarts and cakes. Start your day off right with a sweet almond croissant, or grab a sandwich for lunch, like the roasted turkey with havarti cheese on a flaky plain croissant. For dessert, treat yourself to The Jarmo, pistachio cake topped with dollops of house-made pistachio cream and fresh berries, or The Amber, a dome of buttery mousse draped in caramel and ringed with pecans. 11243 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, 314.858.1019, Facebook: Nathaniel Reid Bakery Twisted Tree Steakhouse Starters are standouts at Twisted Tree. Try the onion rings, which have a crackling crust that clings to the onions with each bite. Crab rangoon seems out of place on a steakhouse menu, but was piping hot, oozing with cream cheese filling and served with two dipping sauces: apricot sweet-and-sour and zingy mustard. Salads are served family-style with sides of crumbled feta, freshly fried croutons and a trio of dressings (the onion-y, slightly sweet house vinaigrette was the winner). Don’t miss the luscious, tender prime rib; get it with a side of mac and cheese, where al dente noodles are swathed in a sharp white cheddar sauce and topped with crispy breadcrumbs. Don’t skip the house-made desserts. A giant slice of almond-y white wedding cake slathered with white buttercream came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Get the cheesecake (which has a sugar cookie crust) with the fresh, bright strawberry sauce. 10701 Watson Road, Sunset Hills, 314.394.3366, twistedtreesteakhouse.com Coma Coffee Roasters Coma Coffee Roasters is waking up Richmond Heights. Espresso-based classics are available, but its lightly roasted drip option will please palates with no sugar or milk required. Iced coffee fans will dig the 18-hour cold brew, a deep, rich sipper perfect for tackling the 3 p.m. slump. Enjoy the last days of summer with the Coma affogato – espresso poured over Serendipity bourbon ice cream – or go tart with Lyfe, where a shot of bitter espresso mingles with pomegranate juice over ice in this earthy, balanced treat. 1034 S. Brentwood Blvd., Richmond Heights, 314.250.1042, comacoffee.com