Walnut Grill, an upscale casual restaurant with three locations in its native Pittsburgh, is making the 600-mile trek along Intestate 70 to fill the space in Ellisville at 1386 Clarkson Clayton Center Drive, the former home of a Chevys Fresh Mex. As first reported by the St. Louis Business Journal, Walnut Grill is expected to open in late October or early November, with three or four other area locations to follow in the next four years.
Walnut Grill Holdings president Kirk Vogel said that since 2005, Walnut Grill has made it a goal to expand from Steel City to the places along the I-70 corridor. “There are multiple towns along the way that have very similar demographics to what we have here in Pittsburgh,” he said, adding that St. Louis was a natural bookend for the project since the growing suburbs and a Midwestern culture can appreciate the family-friendly concept.
On the menu, Walnut Grill offers a long list of small plates ranging from lobster-laced mac-n-cheese to sweet chili chicken lettuce wraps. Entrees cover all culinary bases with seafood, steaks, chops, chicken and pasta options. Sandwiches, soups and salads round out the rest of the contemporary American menu. Both gluten-free and kid-friendly menus are available upon request.
A serious sweet tooth will be satisfied with desserts like a caramelized walnut ball – a scoop of French vanilla ice cream rolled in caramelized walnuts and topped with chocolate, caramel and whipped cream. Walnut Grill also offers wines by the glass and bottle, a large selection of draft and bottled beers and specialty cocktails.
Renovations are slated to kick off July 1. When finished, Walnut Grill will have a redesigned entrance, an expanded patio space with fire pits and a vibrant dining room and bar area.
This article appears in June 2014.