Readers' Choice

2009 Results:

Dine

Favorite new restaurant
Fond
106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.656.9001
2nd: Triumph Grill
3rd: Eclipse Restaurant and Onesto Pizza & Trattoria (tie)
honorable mention: Tani Sushi Bistro and The Stable (tie)

Favorite overall restaurant
Niche
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi and Sidney Street Cafe (tie)
3rd: Onesto Pizza & Trattoria
honorable mention: Fond and Mosaic Modern Fusion (tie)

Favorite pastry chef
Mathew Rice at Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Sally Sciaroni at Onesto Pizza & Trattoria
3rd: Carolyn Downs at Cyrano’s and Tim Brennan at Cravings (tie)
honorable mention: Christy Augustin at Sidney Street Cafe

Best-lookin’ restaurant
Araka
131 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton, 314.725.6777
2nd: Monarch Restaurant
3rd: Vin de Set
honorable mention: Franco

Favorite brunch
Rooster Crepe Sandwich Cafe
1104 Locust St., St. Louis, 314.241.8118
2nd: The Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton
3rd: Duff’s and Boathouse in Forest Park (tie)
honorable mention: Nadoz Café

Favorite cheap eats
Fast Eddie’s Bon Air
1530 E. Fourth St., Alton, 618.462.5532
2nd: City Diner
3rd: Carl’s Drive In
honorable mention: Pho Grand

Chef of the year
Gerard Craft at Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Amy Zupanci at Fond
3rd: Vito Racanelli at Onesto Pizza & Trattoria
honorable mention: Josh Galliano at Monarch Restaurant

Favorite place for late supper
City Diner
3139 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.772.6100
2nd: Atomic Cowboy and Courtesy Diner (tie)
3rd: Bar Louie
honorable mention: Uncle Bill’s

Favorite place to dine on someone else’s dime
Tony’s
410 Market St., St. Louis, 314.231.7007
2nd: Niche Restaurant
3rd: Monarch Restaurant
honorable mention: Sidney Street Cafe

Favorite place to impress visiting foodies
Niche Restaurant
1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.773.7755
2nd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi
3rd: Sidney Street Cafe
honorable mention: Fond

Favorite place to see and be seen
Vin de Set
2017 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8989
2nd: Araka
3rd: Tony’s and Herbie’s Vintage 72 (tie)
honorable mention: Niche Restaurant and Mosaic Modern Fusion (tie)

Favorite place for a date night
Baileys’ Chocolate Bar
1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100
2nd: Boathouse in Forest Park
3rd: Sidney Street Cafe and Vin de Set (tie)
honorable mention: Blueberry Hill

Favorite power lunch
Eleven Eleven Mississippi
1111 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.9999
2nd: Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood
3rd: Cardwell’s in Clayton
honorable mention: Herbie’s Vintage 72

Favorite restaurant that’s withstood the test of time
Sidney Street Cafe
2nd: Tony’s
3rd: Blueberry Hill
honorable mention: Annie Gunn’s

Favorite vegetarian-friendly
Terrene
33 N. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.535.5100
2nd: Local Harvest Cafe and Catering
3rd: Shangri-La Diner
honorable mention: Everest Café and Bar

Drink

Favorite bartender
Ted Kilgore at Monarch Restaurant
7401 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.644.3995
2nd: Tommy Schock at Blueberry Hill
3rd: Mario Mazzola at The Famous Bar
honorable mention: Eric Schilling at Mosaic Modern Fusion

Favorite brewpub
Schlafly Bottleworks
7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood, 314.241.2337
2nd: The Schlafly Tap Room
3rd: Square One Brewery and Distillery
honorable mention: The Stable

Favorite beer list
Growlers Pub
3811 S. Lindbergh Blvd., Sunset Hills, 314.984.9009
763 Old Ballas Road, Creve Coeur, 314.432.3110
2nd: The Schlafly Tap Room
3rd: The Stable and Cicero’s (tie)
honorable mention: Blueberry Hill

Favorite cocktails
Baileys’ Chocolate Bar
1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100
2nd: Absolutli Goosed
3rd: Monarch Restaurant and The Royale Food & Spirits (tie)
honorable mention: Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Favorite coffee drinks
Park Avenue Coffee
1919 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.4020
2nd: 222 Artisan Bakery
3rd: MoKaBe’s
honorable mention: Coffee Cartel
chain: Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.

Favorite local brewery
St. Louis Brewery
The Schlafly Tap Room, 2100 Locust St., St. Louis
Schlafly Bottleworks, 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood
314.241.2237
2nd: Square One Brewery
3rd: Anheuser-Busch
honorable mention: Mattingly Brewing Co. and Highland Restaurant & Brewery (tie)

Favorite local winery
Chaumette Vineyards & Winery
24345 State Route WW, Ste. Genevieve, 573.747.1000
2nd: Mount Pleasant Winery
3rd: Chandler Hills Vineyards
honorable mention: Montelle Winery

Favorite place for nightcap
Baileys’ Chocolate Bar
1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100
2nd: The Pin-Up Bowl
3rd: The Royale Food & Spirits and Monarch Restaurant (tie)
honorable mention: Cielo Restaurant

Favorite wine bar
33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar
1913 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.231.9463
2nd: Sasha’s Wine Bar
3rd: Robust Wine Bar, Shoppe and Cafe
honorable mention: Riddle’s Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar

Favorite wine list
33 Wine Shop & Tasting Bar
1913 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.231.9463
2nd: Riddle’s Penultimate Cafe & Wine Bar
3rd: Robust Wine Bar, Shoppe and Cafe
honorable mention: Eleven Eleven Mississippi

Live Well

Favorite butcher shop
Kenrick’s Meat Market and Catering
4324 Weber Road, St. Louis, 314.631.2440
2nd: Baumann’s Fine Meats
3rd: LeGrand’s Market & Catering
honorable mention: G&W Bavarian Style Sausage Co.
chain: Straub’s Markets

Favorite cakes and pastries
McArthur’s Bakery
3055 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis, 314.894.0900
113 N. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, 314.894.0900
13700 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, 314.894.0900
2nd: Missouri Baking Co.
3rd: 222 Artisan Bakery and Lubeley’s Bakery and Deli (tie)
honorable mention: Sugaree Baking Co. and Cravings Gourmet Desserts (tie)

Favorite caterer
Hollyberry Catering
284 East Ave., Webster Groves, 314.368.9239
2nd: Patty Long Catering Co. and Butler’s Pantry (tie)
3rd: Catering St. Louis
honorable mention: Steven Becker Fine Dining

Favorite chocolatier
Bissinger’s
32 Maryland Plaza, St. Louis, 314.367.7750
2053 Saint Louis Galleria, Richmond Heights, 314.367.9750
97 Plaza Frontenac, Frontenac, 314.367.9750
2nd: Crown Candy Kitchen
3rd: Merb’s Candies
honorable mention: Lake Forest Confections

Favorite coffee roaster
Northwest Coffee Roasting Co.
8401 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.725.8055
50 Gay Ave., Clayton
4251 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.371.4600
2nd: Chauvin Coffee Co.
3rd: Shaw’s Coffee Ltd.
honorable mention: Mississippi Mud Coffee
chain: Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.

Favorite doughnut shop
World’s Fair Donuts
1904 S. Vandeventer Ave., St. Louis, 314.776.9975
2nd: Donut Drive-in
3rd: LaMar’s Donuts & Coffee
honorable mention: The Donut Palace
chain: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts

Kitchenware store
Williams-Sonoma
260 Plaza Frontenac, Frontenac, 314.567.9211
227 Chesterfield Mall, Chesterfield, 636.536.4370
2nd: Sur La Table
3rd: Kitchen Conservatory
honorable mention: The Viking Store

Favorite farmers’ market
Soulard Farmers’ Market
730 Carroll St., St. Louis, 314.622.4180
2nd: Tower Grove Farmers’ Market & Bazaar
3rd: Kirkwood Farmers’ Market
honorable mention: Maplewood Farmers’ Market

Favorite gourmet market
Local Harvest Grocery
3148 Morganford Road, St. Louis, 314.865.5260
2nd: Provisions Gourmet Market
3rd: DiGregorio’s Market
honorable mention: The Smokehouse Market
chain: Straub’s Markets

Favorite chain grocery store
Schnucks
2nd: Dierbergs
3rd: Straub’s Markets
honorable mention: Whole Foods Market

Favorite international market
Jay International Foods
3172 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.772.2552
2nd: Global Foods Market
3rd: DiGregorio’s Market
honorable mention: Viviano’s Festa Italiano
chain: Whole Foods Market

Favorite liquor store
Randall’s Wine and Spirits
1910 S. Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, 314.865.0199
2nd: Lukas Liquor Superstore
3rd: The Wine and Cheese Place
honorable mention: Starrs

Favorite local bread
Companion
8143 Maryland Ave., Clayton, 314.352.4770
4651 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, 314.352.4770
9781 Clayton Road, Ladue, 314.352.4770
2nd: 222 Artisan Bakery and Black Bear Bakery (tie)
3rd: Breadsmith
honorable mention: Great Harvest Bread Co.

Favorite patio
McGurk’s Irish Pub & Garden
1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309
2nd: Vin de Set
3rd: Boathouse in Forest Park
honorable mention: Bar Italia

Favorite place to buy cheese
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
Provisions Gourmet Market
11615 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, 314.989.0020
2nd: Gourmet to Go
3rd: City Grocer
honorable mention: The Market at Busch’s Grove
chain: Whole Foods Market

Favorite place to take a cooking class
Kitchen Conservatory
8021 Clayton Road, Clayton, 314.862.2665
2nd: Dierbergs
3rd: Viking Cooking School
honorable mention: Whole Foods Market

Favorite place to watch the game
Lester’s Sports Bar & Grill
9906 Clayton Road, Ladue, 314.994.0055
2nd: St. Louis SportsZone
3rd: Al Hrabosky’s Ballpark Saloon and Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood (tie)
honorable mention: Llywelyn’s Pub

Favorite wine shop
The Wine and Cheese Place
2nd: The Wine Merchant Ltd.
3rd: Randall’s Wine and Spirits
honorable mention: Saint Louis Cellars

Cuisine Categories

Favorite African
Selam Ethiopian Restaurant
549 Rosedale Ave., St. Louis, 314.726.7996
2nd: Nubia Cafe
3rd: Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant
honorable mention: Tam Tam African Restaurant

Favorite barbecue
Pappy’s Smokehouse
3106 Olive Street, St. Louis, 314.535.4340
2nd: Smoking Joe’s Bar-Be-Que Restaurant and Bar
3rd: 17th Street Bar & Grill
honorable mention: Phil’s BBQ
chain: Bandana’s

Favorite burger joint
O’Connell’s Pub
4652 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.663.6600
2nd: Blueberry Hill
3rd: Seamus McDaniel’s
honorable mention: Fast Eddie’s Bon Air
chain: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Favorite Cajun/Creole
Broadway Oyster Bar
736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811
2nd: Boogaloo
3rd: Gumbo Shop
honorable mention: Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen

Favorite Chinese
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 Restaurant
honorable mention: Lulu’s
chain: P.F. Chang’s China Bistro

Favorite comfort food
Iron Barley
5510 Virginia Ave., St. Louis, 314.351.4500
2nd: City Diner
3rd: Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar
honorable mention: The Blue Owl Restaurant and Bakery

Favorite contemporary American
Eleven Eleven Mississippi
1111 Mississippi Ave. St. Louis, 314.241.9999
2nd: Niche
3rd: Frazer’s Restaurant and Lounge
honorable mention: Sidney Street Cafe
chain: The Cheesecake Factory

Favorite deli/sandwiches
Blues City Deli
2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225
2nd: Mom’s Deli
3rd: Amighetti’s Bakery & Cafe
honorable mention: Pickles Deli
chain: St. Louis Bread Co.

Favorite Eastern European/Bosnian
Grbić Restaurant & Banquet Center
4071 Keokuk St., St. Louis, 314.772.3100
2nd: Berix Coffeehouse and Deli
3rd: Bosna Gold Restaurant
honorable mention: Stari Grad

Favorite English/Irish/Scottish
Scottish Arms
8 S. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.535.0551
2nd: Llywelyn’s Pub
3rd: McGurk’s Irish Pub & Garden
honorable mention: Dressel’s Pub

Favorite French
Vin de Set
2017 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8989
2nd: Chez Léon
3rd: Franco
honorable mention: Café Provencal

Favorite frozen desserts
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
4224 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.352.7376
6726 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.481.2652
2nd: Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream
3rd: Gelateria Del Leone
honorable mention: Fritz’s Frozen Custard and Crown Candy Kitchen (tie)

Favorite German
Saint Louis Gast Haus
1740 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.4567
2nd: Feasting Fox Restaurant & Pub
3rd: Dreamland Palace German Restaurant
honorable mention: Schneithorst’s

Favorite Greek
Olympia Kebob House & Taverna
1543 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 314.781.1299
2nd: Spiro’s
3rd: Momos Ouzaria Taverna
honorable mention: Michael’s Bar & Grill

Favorite Indian
House of India Restaurant
8501 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.567.6850
2nd: India’s Rasoi
3rd: India Palace
honorable mention: Taste of India

Favorite Italian
Trattoria Marcella
3600 Watson Road, St. Louis, 314.352.7706
2nd: Cunetto House of Pasta
3rd: Zia’s on the Hill
honorable mention: Mangia Italiano
chain: The Pasta House Co.

Favorite Japanese/sushi
Wasabi Sushi Bar
1228 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.421.3500
16 S. Central Ave., Clayton, 314.721.9970
2nd: The Drunken Fish
3rd: Sekisui
honorable mention: Tani Sushi Bistro

Favorite Korean
Everest Café & Bar
4145 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.531.4800
2nd: U-City Grill
3rd: KoBa
honorable mention: Seoul Garden Restaurant

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

Favorite Middle Eastern/Persian
Aya Sofia Restaurant
6671 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.645.9919
2nd: Café Natasha’s Kabob International
3rd: Saleem’s West
honorable mention: Al-Tarboush Deli

Favorite pizza – Non-St. Louis style
Pi
6144 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314.727.6633
2nd: Black Thorn Pub
3rd: Onesto Pizza & Trattoria
honorable mention: Vito’s
chain: Dewey’s Pizza

Favorite pizza – St. Louis style
Pi
6144 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314.727.6633
2nd: Joanie’s Pizzeria
3rd: JJ Twig’s Pizza & Pub
honorable mention: Joe Boccardi’s Ristorante
chain: Imo’s Pizza

Favorite seafood
Océano Bistro
44 N. Brentwood Blvd., Clayton, 314.721.9400
2nd: Bristol Seafood Grill
3rd: Broadway Oyster Bar
honorable mention: Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood
chain: Landry’s Seafood House

Favorite soul food
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: Brown Suga’s
honorable mention: Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar

Favorite South American/Pan-Latin
Yemanja Brasil
2900 Missouri Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.7457
2nd: Boogaloo
3rd: Mango Peruvian Cuisine
honorable mention: Maya Café

Favorite Spanish
Modesto
5727 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.8272
2nd: Barcelona Tapas Restaurant
3rd: Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas
honorable mention: La Tropicana Market & Cafe

Favorite steakhouse
Citizen Kane’s Steakhouse
2nd: Annie Gunn’s and Tucker’s Place (tie)
3rd: Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood
honorable mention: Sam’s Steakhouse
chain: Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Favorite Thai
King and I
3157 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 341.771.1777
2nd: Sen Thai Asian Bistro
3rd: Basil Spice Thai Cuisine
honorable mention: Thai Country Café

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