Readers' Choice

2008 Results:

DINE

Favorite new restaurant
1st: Araka
131 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton 314.725.6777
2nd: Off the Vine
3rd: Sage Urban American Grill
Honorable mention: Robust Wine Bar, Shoppe and Cafe

Favorite overall restaurant
1st: Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi
3rd: Sidney Street Cafe
Honorable mention: Harvest Seasonal Market Cuisine

Favorite restaurant that's withstood the test of time
1st: Sidney Street Cafe
2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777
2nd: Tony's
3rd: Harvest Seasonal Market Cuisine
Honorable mention: Duff's Restaurant and Cunetto House of Pasta (tie)

Chef of the year
1st: Gerard Craft at Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Lou Rook III at Annie Gunn's
3rd: Ivy Magruder at Vin de Set
Honorable mention: Grace Dinsmoor at Modesto

Best-kept secret
1st: Atlas Restaurant
5513 Pershing Ave., St. Louis, 314.367.6800
2nd: La Dolce Via Café and Restaurant
3rd: Erato on Main
Honorable mention: Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant

Best-lookin' restaurant
1st: Araka
131 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, 314.725.6777
2nd: Vin de Set
3rd: Monarch Restaurant and Wine Bar
Honorable mention: Franco

Favorite brunch
1st: Duff's
392 N. Euclid Ave.,
St. Louis, 314.361.0522
2nd: The Restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton
3rd: Rooster Crepe Sandwich Cafe
Honorable mention: Nadoz Euro Bakery and Cafe and MoKaBe's Coffeehouse (tie)
Chain: First Watch

Favorite dessert menu
1st: Cyrano's
603 E. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.963.3232
2nd: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
3rd: Niche Restaurant
Honorable mention: Cravings Gourmet Desserts and The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery (tie)
Chain: Cheesecake Factory

Favorite place for a power lunch
1st: Eleven Eleven Mississippi
1111 Mississippi Ave.,
St. Louis, 314.241.9999
2nd: Cardwell's
in Clayton
3rd: Cardwell's
at the Plaza
Honorable mention: Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood
Chain: St. Louis Bread Co.

Favorite place for late-night dining
1st: City Diner
3139 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis · 314.772.6100
2nd: Uncle Bill's Pancake and Dinner House
3rd: Courtesy Diner
Honorable mention: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Chain: Steak 'n' Shake

Favorite place to dine on someone else's dime
1st:Tony's
410 Market St., St. Louis, 314.231.7007
2nd: Sidney Street Cafe
3rd: Annie Gunn's
Honorable mention: An American Place Restaurant

Favorite place to recommend to friends
1st: Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.727.4444
2nd: Modesto
3rd: Niche Restaurant
Honorable mention: Trattoria Marcella

Favorite service - casual
1st: Sage
1031 Lynch St., St. Louis, 314.256.1203
2nd: Iron Barley
3rd: Pappy's Smokehouse
Honorable mention: Pho Grand

Favorite service - fine dining
1st: Tony's
410 Market St., St. Louis, 314.231.7007
2nd: Sidney Street Cafe
3rd: Niche Restaurant
Honorable mention: Monarch Restaurant and Wine Bar and Harvest Seasonal Market Cuisine (tie)

Favorite tasting menu
1st: Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St.,
St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: An American Place Restaurant
3rd: The Crossing
Honorable mention: Erato on Main

Favorite small plates
1st: Modesto
5257 Shaw Ave.,
St. Louis
314.772.8272
2nd: Barcelona Tapas Restaurant
3rd: Mosaic Modern Fusion
Honorable mention: Momos

Favorite vegetarian-friendly
1st: Terrene
33 N. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.535.5100
2nd: Shangri-La Diner
3rd: MoKaBe's Coffeehouse
Honorable mention: Everest Café and Bar

Most artfully presented plates
1st: Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Mosaic Modern Fusion
3rd: Araka
Honorable mention: Monarch Restaurant and Wine Bar

DRINK

Favorite bartender
1st: Kelly Ryan, Peppertini's Piano Bar and Grill, 79 Forum Center,
Chesterfield, 314.469.2210
2nd: Ted Kilgore at Monarch Restaurant and Wine Bar
3rd: Nhat Nyugen at
Urban Cocktail Lounge
Honorable mention: Rob Mueller at Anthonino's Taverna

Favorite beer selection
1st: Growlers Pub
763 Old Ballas Road,
Creve Coeur, 314.432.3110
3811 S. Lindbergh Blvd.,
Sunset Hills, 314.984.9009
2nd: The Schlafly Tap Room
3rd: Cicero's
Honorable mention: Blueberry Hill

Favorite cocktail menu
1st: Absolutli Goosed
3196 S. Grand Blvd., St Louis, 314.772.0400
2nd: The Royale
3rd: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Honorable mention: Sub Zero Vodka Bar and Van Goghz (tie)

Favorite local brewery
1st: St. Louis Brewery, home of Schlafly Beer
The Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., St. Louis Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood, 314.241.2337
2nd: Anheuser-Busch
3rd: O'Fallon Brewery
Honorable mention: Square One Brewery

Favorite local winery
1st: Mount Pleasant Winery
5634 High St., Augusta, 800.467.9463
2nd: Chaumette Vineyards and Winery
3rd: Augusta Winery
and Montelle Winery (tie)
Honorable mention: Stone Hill Winery

Favorite wine bar
1st: 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar, 1913 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.231.9463
2nd: Robust Wine Bar, Shoppe and Cafe
3rd: Erato Wine and Martini Bar
Honorable mention: Sasha's Wine Bar

Favorite wine list
1st: Riddle's Penultimate Café & Wine Bar
6307 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.725.6985
2nd: Robust Wine Bar, Shoppe & Cafe
3rd: Annie Gunn's
Honorable mention: 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar

Favorite espresso drinks
1st: Shaw's Coffee Ltd.
5147 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.6920
2nd: Meshuggah Café
3rd: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
Honorable mention: MoKaBe's Coffeehouse
Chain: Kaldi's Coffee House

Favorite place for a girls' night out
1st: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100
2nd: The Drunken Fish
3rd: Absolutli Goosed
Honorable mention: The Jive & Wail Dueling Pianos

Favorite place for a nightcap
1st: Baileys' Chocolate Bar
1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100
2nd: Cyrano's
3rd: 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar
Honorable mention: The Lobby Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton

LIVE WELL

Favorite farmers' market
1st: Soulard Farmers' Market, 730 Carroll St., St. Louis, 314.622.4180
2nd: Tower Grove Farmers' Market
3rd: Kirkwood Farmers' Market
Honorable mention: Clayton Farmers' Market and Maplewood Farmers' Market (tie)

Favorite gourmet market
1st: Local Harvest Grocery, 148 Morganford Road, St. Louis, 314.865.5260
2nd: Provisions Gourmet Market
3rd: The Smokehouse Market
Honorable mention: DiGregorio's Market
Chain: Straub's Markets

Favorite international market
1st: Jay International Foods
3172 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.772.2552
2nd: Global Foods Market
3rd: DiGregorio's Market
Honorable mention: La Tropicana Market and Viviano's Festa Italiano (tie)

Favorite chain grocery store
1st: Whole Foods Market, 1601 S. Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, 314.968.7744, 1160 Town and Country Crossing, Town and Country, 636.527.1160
2nd: Schnucks Markets
3rd: Dierbergs
Honorable mention: Trader Joe's

Favorite coffeehouse
1st: Hartford Coffee Co.
3974 Hartford Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.5282, 2nd: Coffee Cartel
3rd: Meshuggah Café
Honorable mention: MoKaBe's Coffeehouse
Chain: Starbucks Coffee Co.

Favorite coffee roaster
1st: Kaldi's Coffee Roasting Co.
Various locations 888.892.6333
2nd: Chauvin Coffee
3rd: Northwest Coffee Roasting
Honorable mention: Goshen Coffee Co.

Favorite butcher shop
1st: Kenrick's Meat Market
4324 Weber Road, St. Louis
314.631.2440
2nd: LeGrand's Market and Catering
3rd: Baumann's Fine Meats
Honorable mention: Hanlen's Meat Shoppe and Catering
Chain: Straub's Markets

Favorite local bread
1st: Companion
8143 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.352.4770
4651 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, 9781 Clayton Road, Ladue, 314.555.6655
2nd: Black Bear Bakery
3rd: 222 Artisan Bakery
Honorable mention: Great Harvest Bread Co.

Favorite cakes and pastries
1st: McArthur's Bakery
3055 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, 314.894.0900
113 N. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood
1912 S. Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood
2nd: The Cupcakery
3rd: Veruca Bakeshop and Cafe
Honorable mention: Lubely's Bakery and Deli

Favorite candy shop
1st: Crown Candy Kitchen
1401 St. Louis Ave,
St. Louis, 314.621.9650
2nd: Bissinger's, A Chocolate Experience
3rd: Lake Forest Confections
Honorable mention: Sweet Be's Candy and Gifts

Favorite doughnut shop
1st: World's Fair Donuts
1904 S. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis 314.776.9975
2nd: LaMar's Doughnuts
3rd: Doughnut Drive-In
Honorable mention: Donut House and Eddie's Southtown Donuts (tie)
Chain: Krispy Kreme

Favorite place to buy cheese
1st: The Wine and Cheese Place
7435 Forsyth Blvd.,
Clayton, 314.727.8788
9755 Manchester Road,
Rock Hill, 314.962.8150
14748 Clayton Road,
Ballwin, 636.227.9001
2nd: Whole Foods Market
3rd: The Wine Merchant Ltd.
Honorable mention: Trader Joe's

Favorite place to buy prepared foods
1st: Provisions Gourmet Marketplace
11615 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, 314.989.0020
2nd: The Pitted Olive
3rd: Gourmet to Go
Honorable mention: City Grocers and The Art of Entertaining (tie)
Chain: Whole Foods Market

Favorite place to take a cooking class
1st: Kitchen Conservatory
8021 Clayton Road, Clayton, 314.862.2665
2nd: Dierbergs School of Cooking
3rd: The Viking Store
Honorable mention: Whole Foods Market

Favorite kitchenware store
1st: Sur la Table
295 Plaza Frontenac, Frontenac, 314.993.0566
2nd: Williams-Sonoma
3rd: Kitchen Conservatory
Honorable mention: The Viking Store and Cornucopia (tie)

Favorite liquor store
1st: Randall's Wine & Spirits
1910 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314.865.0199
2nd: Lukas Liquor Superstore
3rd: The Wine and Cheese Place
Honorable mention: The Wine Merchant Ltd.

Favorite wine shop
1st: The Wine Merchant Ltd.
20 S. Hanley Road, Clayton
314.863.6282
12669 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur
314.469.4500
2nd: The Wine and Cheese Place
3rd: 33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar
Honorable mention: Saint Louis Cellars
and Grapevine Wines and Cheese (tie)

Favorite caterer
1st: Patty Long Catering
1804 S. Ninth St.,
St. Louis, 314.621.9598
2nd: Bryan Young Catering Plus
3rd: Butler's Pantry
Honorable mention: The Art of Entertaining

Favorite place for a private event
1st: Flamingo Bowl
1117 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.436.6666
2nd: Moulin Events and Meetings
3rd: Lumen Private Event Space
Honorable mention: Windows on Washington

Favorite patio
1st: Vin De Set
2017 Chouteau Ave.,
St. Louis 314.241.8989
2nd: John D.
McGurk's Irish Pub
3rd: Bar Italia Ristorante-Caffé
Honorable mention: Hacienda Mexican Restaurant

Favorite place for date night
1st: The Jive & Wail Dueling Pianos
7376 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.781.7000
2nd: Aya Sofia Restaurant
3rd: The Melting Pot
Honorable mention: Sidney Street Cafe

Favorite place to see and be seen
1st: Araka
131 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, 314.725.6777
2nd: Lucas Park Grille
3rd: Tony's
Honorable mention: Fifteen

Favorite place to watch the game
1st: Lester's Sports Bar & Grill
9906 Clayton Road, Ladue, 314.994.0055
2nd: St. Louis Sports Zone
3rd: Sky Box Sports Bar and Grill
Honorable mention:
Ozzie's Restaurant and Sports Bar
Chain: Buffalo Wild Wings

CUISINE CATEGORIES

Favorite African
1st: Meskerem
Ethiopian Restaurant
3210 S. Grand Blvd.,
St. Louis, 314.772.4442
2nd: Selam Ethiopian Restaurant
3rd: Tam Tam African Restaurant

Favorite barbecue
1st:Pappy's Smokehouse
3106 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.535.4340
2nd: Smokin Al's BBQ
3rd: Phil's B-B-Q
Honorable mention: 17th Street Bar and Grill
Chain: Bandana's Bar-B-Q

Favorite burger joint
1st: O'Connell's Pub
4652 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.6600
2nd: Blueberry Hill
3rd: Carl's Drive In
Honorable mention: Sub Zero New American Burger Restaurant and The Fatted Calf (tie)
Chain: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Favorite Cajun/Creole
1st: Broadway Oyster Bar
736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811
2nd: Boogaloo
3rd: The Gumbo Shop and Norton's Café (tie)
Honorable mention: Highway 61
Roadhouse and Kitchen

Favorite Chinese
1st: House of Wong
46 N. Central Ave., Clayton, 314.726.6291
12366 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, 314.576.6291
2nd: Chinese Noodle Café
3rd: Yen Ching
Honorable mention: Lu Lu Seafood Restaurant and
Sesame Chinese Restaurant (tie)
Chain: P.F. Chang's China Bistro

Favorite comfort food
1st: City Diner
3139 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.772.6100
2nd: Iron Barley
3rd: Hodak's and The Blue Owl Restaurant
and Bakery (tie)
Honorable mention: Tin Can Tavern and Grille
Chain: Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Favorite contemporary American
1st: An American Place Restaurant
822 Washington Ave., St. Louis 314.418.5800
2nd: Niche Restaurant
3rd: Harvest Seasonal Market Cuisine
Honorable mention: Eleven Eleven Mississippi

Favorite deli/sandwiches
1st: Blues City Deli
2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225
2nd: Mom's Deli
3rd: Amighetti's
Honorable mention: McLozzi Deli and
Marketplace and Sam &
Jake's Pumpernickle Deli (tie)

Favorite Eastern European/Bosnian
1st: Grbic Restaurant
4071 Keokuk St., St. Louis
314.772.3100
2nd: Bosna Gold
3rd: Berix Coffeehouse and Deli
Honorable mention: Stari Grad

Favorite English/Irish/Scottish
1st: The Scottish Arms
6 S. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.535.0551
2nd: Llywelyn's Pub
3rd: John D. McGurk's Irish Pub
Honorable mention: The Schlafly Tap Room
and Dressel's Pub (tie)

Favorite French
1st:Chez Leon
4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis
314.361.1589
2nd: Franco and Café Provencal (tie)
3rd: Atlas Restaurant
Honorable mention: Pomme Restaurant

Favorite frozen desserts
1st: Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
4224 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.352.7376
6726 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.481.2652
2nd: Serendipity
3rd: The Gelateria
Honorable mention: Crown Candy Kitchen and Fritz's Frozen Custard (tie)

Favorite German
1st: Bevo Mill Restaurant
4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis
314.481.2626
2nd: Feasting Fox Restaurant
3rd: St. Louis Gast Haus
Honorable mention: Dreamland Palace
German Restaurant

Favorite Greek
1st: Olympia Kebob House and Taverna
1543 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 314.781.1299
2nd: Momos
3rd: Michael's Restaurant and
Spiro's Restaurant (tie)
Honorable mention:
Apollonia-Mediterranean House

Favorite Indian
1st: House of India
8501 Delmar Blvd., University City 314.567.6850
2nd: India's Rasoi
3rd: India Palace
Honorable mention: Taste of India and
Everest Café and Bar (tie)

Favorite Italian
1st: Trattoria Marcella
3600 Watson Road, St. Louis, 314.352.7706
2nd: Cunetto House of Pasta
3rd: Zia's Restaurant
Honorable mention: LoRusso's Cucina and Lorenzo's Trattoria (tie)
Chain: The Pasta House Co.

Favorite Japanese/Sushi
1st: Wasabi Sushi Bar
1228 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.421.3500
16 S. Central Ave., Clayton, 314.721.9970
2nd: Miso on Meremac
3rd: Sekisui
Honorable mention: Nobu's Japanese Restaurant

Favorite Korean
1st: U-City Grill
6696 Kingsland Ave., University City, 314.721.3073
2nd: KoBa
3rd: Everest Café and Bar
Honorable mention: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant

Favorite Mexican
1st: Pueblo Solis
5127 Hampton Ave., St. Louis, 314.351.9000
2nd: Chimichanga's and Mi Ranchito (tie)
3rd: Arcelia's Mexicana Restaurant
Honorable mention: Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
Chain: El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

Favorite Middle Eastern
1st: Aya Sofia Restaurant
6671 Chippewa St., St. Louis 314.645.9919
2nd: Café Natasha's Kabob International
3rd: Saleem's Lebanese Cuisine
Honorable mention: Al-Tarboush Deli

Favorite pizza - St. Louis-style
1st: Joanie's Pizzeria
2101 Menard St., St. Louis, 314.865.1994
2nd: Farotto's
3rd: JJ Twig's Pizza
Honorable mention: Black Thorn Pub
Chain: Imo's Pizza

Favorite pizza - non-St. Louis-style
1st: Black Thorn Pub
3735 Wyoming St., St. Louis, 314.776.0534
2nd: A'mis
3rd: Vito's
Honorable mention: JJ Twig's Pizza
Chain: Dewey's Pizza

Favorite soul food
1st: Sweetie Pie's
4270 Manchester Road, St. Louis, 314.371.0304
9841 W. Florissant Ave., St. Louis, 314.521.9915
2nd: Del Monico Diner
3rd: Diner's Delight
Honorable mention: Brown Suga's

Favorite South American/Pan-Latin
1st: Yemanja Brasil
2900 Missouri Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.7457
2nd: Wapango
3rd: Mango Peruvian Cuisine
Honorable mention: Boogaloo
and Maya Café (tie)

Favorite Spanish
1st: Modesto
5727 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.8272
2nd: Barcelona Tapas Restaurant
3rd: Guido's Pizzeria and Tapas

Favorite steak
1st: Citizen Kane's Steak House
133 W. Clinton Place, Kirkwood, 314.965.9005
2nd: Tucker's Place
3rd: Annie Gunn's
Honorable mention: Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood
and Sam's Steakhouse (tie)
Chain: Outback Steakhouse

Favorite Thai
1st: King and I
3157 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.1777
2nd: Sen Thai Asian Bistro
3rd: Thai Country Café
Honorable mention: Blue Elephant Royal Thai Cuisine

Favorite Vietnamese
1st: Pho Grand Restaurant
3195 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.664.7435
2nd: LemonGrass
3rd: Miss Saigon
Honorable mention: Mai Lee Restaurant