7 beer-related events to check out in St. Louis in March
To coincide with our annual Guide to Beer issue each March, we’ve compiled a list of beer-related events happening throughout the area in the next month. Slipping into Darkness 4 Hands Brewing Co. celebrates stout with a Slipping into Darkness festival. Sample 25 4 Hands stouts, including Chocolate Milk Stout and Madagascar, plus some options…
8 St. Louis restaurants offering fish fries
Fish fry season is well underway, and we can’t stop uncovering delicious-sounding fried fish specials around town. Bring yourself up to speed with our first roundup of 10 restaurants offering Lent specials, but here are another eight fish fry options – not all are limited to Fridays – to give you even more to choose…
The secret St. Louis wine room you need to know about
About 15 years ago, Dave Birkenmeier, then store manager at Schnucks’ Lindbergh location, and Scott Schnuck, then CEO of Schnucks, recognized the need to expand the store’s wine range beyond its core selection. One of their goals was to venture into rare and highly sought-after bottlings. Birkenmeier’s innovation was the creation of the store’s wine…
First Look: Chuck’s Hot Chicken in former Courtesy Diner space in south St. Louis
After two recent fried chicken joint closures – Chicken Out and Sunday Best – the arrival of a new place to get our fix is more welcome than ever. The fourth St. Louis-area location of Chuck’s Hot Chicken opened Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 3155 S. Kingshighway Blvd. in South City in the former home of…
Layali Halab in Creve Coeur offers a taste of Mediterranean and Syrian cuisines
Creve Coeur has a new spot offering Mediterranean cuisine. Layali Halab opened in January at 10477 Old Olive Street Road in Creve Coeur. With the opening of the restaurant, co-owners Shiran Aosou and Mustafa Mustafa, aim to introduce Syrian food and culture at the eatery. Aosou worked as a chef in Syria for 10 years…
This week on the Sauce podcast: The Benevolent King’s rebrand, Motor Town Pizza and Black-owned restaurants
This week on the Sauce podcast, Meera and Michelle discuss the menu revamp at The Benevolent King in Maplewood, which now has more of a focus on seafood. Michelle also talks about a recent visit to the newly opened Motor Town Pizza in Richmond Heights, which is the concept from co-owners Simon and Angelica Lusky, who also…
Eat this chicken sandwich from Salt + Smoke
When the pulled chicken sandwich from a barbecue joint is so good it doesn’t even need barbecue sauce, that’s when you know you’ve hit the jackpot. I always enjoy at least a few bites of this beauty from Salt + Smoke sans sauce before adding just a slight drizzle of my two favorites: My Sweet…
Balkan Treat Box owners’ Telva at the Ridge is a welcome addition to Webster Groves
The new counter-service restaurant from the Balkan Treat Box team is housed in the same building as Rolling Ridge Nursery with its own suitably plant-filled space. Start with the wood-fired Bosnian coffee, an intensely flavored brew resulting from boiling coffee grounds in small copper pots. Espresso drinks are also available, including the chocolate- and coconut-accented…
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Plan the perfect wedding at these St. Louis-area venues
When planning a wedding, you want to avoid any unnecessary stress. Let these St. Louis-area venues take some of the work off your plate to make the big day as seamless as possible. The Canopy At the DoubleTree by Hilton Chesterfield, wedding planners will find a new indoor-outdoor space called The Canopy, created as a…
Chicken Out in Kirkwood has closed permanently
Just months after closing its Delmar Boulevard location, Chicken Out has also closed its remaining storefront at 10463 Manchester Road, Suite A, in Kirkwood. The closure was announced on social media. “Our dream hatched in June of 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, and our mission was to bring St. Louis a craveable chicken…
5 St. Louis patios where you can enjoy the beautiful weather
There’s not much we love more than an unseasonably warm day in mid-winter, so naturally we need to soak up some sunshine and fresh air on a patio. Here are five spots around St. Louis to check out ASAP. Three Sixty Westport This rooftop stunner exudes opulence atop the gold tower at Westport Plaza. Grab…
Sunday Best, formerly Juniper, has closed in the Central West End of St. Louis
The attempted pivot of a longtime Central West End restaurant has ended in defeat — for now. Chef-owner John Perkins announced by email that Sunday Best at 4101 Laclede Ave. has closed, effective immediately. “Friends, sunday best at 4101 laclede is no more,” he wrote. “We are closed. for good.” However, Perkins suggested that the…
Kenny’s Upstairs brings new life to former Upstairs Lounge space on South Grand
The old Upstairs Lounge on South Grand was a place of legendarily wild tales, but its fresh new life as Kenny’s Upstairs is a net positive for all. The rehabbed space is an ideal neighborhood hangout, lined with cozy vinyl booths bathed in glowy red light. The concise cocktail menu belies the expertise of veteran…
8 Black-owned bars to visit in St. Louis this weekend
St. Louis has seen a boom of exciting new nightlife options over the past few years, from a new generation of wine bars to speakeasies to cozy neighborhood dives. Wrap up this Black History Month by throwing one back at one of these great spots. Saturn Lounge Saturn Lounge is a unique new entry on…
Pizza Via will open in Central West End in early April
Pizza Via will open at 4501 Maryland Ave. in the Central West End in early April. The pizzeria is the latest restaurant from Scott Sandler, who previously founded Pizzeoli in Soulard and Pizza Head in Tower Grove East, both of which he later sold to separate buyers. Located on the corner of Maryland and Taylor…
Oats & Honey Cafe in Creve Coeur will soon bring Latin fusion cuisine to the St. Louis brunch scene
Add a little spice to brunch plans as St. Louis’ newest Latin fusion brunch spot gears up to open to the public in March at 624 New Ballas Road in Creve Coeur. Oats & Honey Cafe is the newest venture from Ericka L. Vega, Jorge Maya and Jerry Flores, who currently own and manage Las Fuentes…
5 happy hours to check out in St. Louis right now
We’re always looking out for new happy hours to add into our rotation. Here are five local spots offering food and drink specials we’re stoked about right now. Kenny’s Upstairs South Grand’s newest hangout spot for well-made cocktails and chill, unpretentious vibes has added a solid happy hour to their list of offerings. Old-Fashioneds, daiquiris…
First Look: Stews Food & Liquor in Soulard
There’s a new spot to get Asian cuisine in St. Louis. Stews Food & Liquor opened in mid-January at 1862 S. 10th St. in the space that previously housed The Wood Shack in Soulard and has been well received by the community thus far. “We’ve been blown away by all the love and support we’ve received since…
This week on the Sauce podcast: Tiger Soup Dumplings, Hidden Gem and Union Loafers
This week on the Sauce podcast, Michelle and Meera discuss a classic egg salad sandwich at Union Loafers Cafe & Bread Bakery in Botanical Heights. Also in the mix is a fun discussion about drinking out of a disco ball-shaped punch bowl at Hidden Gem, a new bar in Midtown St. Louis. They also talk about a…
Five Aces Bar-B-Que team opens Smokestaq Lightning on Laclede’s Landing in downtown St. Louis
Laclede’s Landing just got a little more delicious. A new barbecue joint, Smokestaq Lightning, from Shaw’s now-departed Five Aces Bar-B-Que, is in its soft launch at 724 N. First St. Co-owner Latoshia Ellis told the RFT that Smokestaq Lightning first opened its doors in late December 2023 and is serving lunch 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday…
First Look: Motor Town Pizza in Brentwood
When Covid restrictions forced Revel Kitchen owners Simon and Angelica Lusky to close their doors to foot traffic, it quickly became an issue of survival: How would they keep their health-conscious business afloat? The solution came with a ghost kitchen pizza biz … and some rectangular tin pans. “By using a pan, we could bake pizza…
Vicia is transforming its patio into Vicia Wine Garden, adding a la carte items back to menu
If you’re looking for a casual place to nosh this summer, you might want to check out the new wine garden being opened by one of the most acclaimed restaurants in town. Vicia at 4260 Forest Park Ave. announced today that it will be opening Vicia Wine Garden during the summer months. The counter-service spot will…
6 new St. Louis restaurants and bars you need to try now
Every month, we make it our mission to try all the new restaurants and bars that open in the area so we can make meaningful recommendations on where you should go. Here’s where made the cut in February. Hidden Gem in Midtown This Midtown “disco dive bar” from local lifestyle brand Golden Gems brings their ethos vividly…
Dressel’s in the Central West End is a St. Louis landmark
It’s tempting to think of a long-running restaurant’s or bar’s story as a linear tale of success, cheered on by generations of adoring regulars. The truth is usually a decades-long rollercoaster ride of blind corners, gut-wrenching lows and white-knuckle moments of existential jeopardy. The places that survive are often those capable of adapting and reinventing…
The Shaved Duck in South City has reopened after year-long closure
A bit over a year ago, catastrophe struck one of St. Louis’ most loved barbecue restaurants. Since opening in 2008, the Shaved Duck at 2900 Virginia Ave. had been a favorite of both its Tower Grove East neighbors and food writers across the U.S. Guy Fieri even named it Missouri’s best barbecue. But the terrible…
12 great St. Louis restaurants that are definitely open on Monday, Vol. 4
Mondays are the bane of our existence as restaurant diners. Hardworking food industry staff deserve the day off, but what are we supposed to do? Feed ourselves? Never fear – here’s another list of great places that are open on Mondays. Deli Divine Restaurateur Ben Poremba’s ode to the authentic Jewish deli is open from 8 a.m. to…
Noto Italian Restaurant owners to open Venetian-inspired cicchetti bar Bacaro in St. Peters in early March
The team behind Noto Italian Restaurant will open Bacaro, a Venetian cicchetti bar, in early March. Bacaro will be located in the same building as Noto at 5105 Westwood Drive in St. Peters. The restaurant borrows its name from the Venetian taverns where patrons sip on wine or aperitifs accompanied by cicchetti, which are essentially…
Tiger Soup Dumplings is opening a location in Des Peres in spring 2024
Tiger Soup Dumplings opened its Fenton location at 98D Gravois Bluffs Circle Drive in June 2022, offering Shanghai-style soup dumplings that were so good Sauce named it a Best New Restaurant that year. Now, the restaurant is slated to open a second location at 13311 Manchester Road in Des Peres this spring, likely in April.…
First Look: Amaizing Arepa Bar in downtown St. Louis
Amaizing Arepa Bar is bringing a taste of Venezuela to downtown St. Louis. The business began at Tower Grove Farmers’ Market in 2019 as Amaizing Cakes Latin Food and opened its first brick-and-mortar at 500 N. 14th St. on Monday, Feb. 12. The menu features an expanded selection of what was offered at the farmers market, including empanadas,…
10 St. Louis restaurants taking care of your Fish Fry Friday needs during Lent
Lent is upon us once again, and restaurants around St. Louis are adding new seafood options to their menus. From cod sandwiches to fish tacos, customers can enjoy several Lent specials for a limited time beginning Friday, Feb. 16, and continuing through March 29. Brasserie by Niche Brasserie by Niche will feature the Brass Burger…
Fine dining Indian restaurant Amrut Fusion is now open in Chesterfield
Nestled between Syberg’s Chesterfield and the Old Spaghetti Factory at 17392 Chesterfield Airport Road is Chesterfield’s newest Indian fusion restaurant, Amrut Fusion. The restaurant is the brainchild of Karunakar Mandadi and Anis Hyderabad House owner Anil Jukanti. Amrut Fusion opened in January 7, serving dishes like chatpata nachos, peri peri chicken wings, dosa quesadilla and…
Good Company announces pop-ups at The Vandy to preview spring opening in the Grove
Cocktail bar Good Company has announced two pop-ups at The Vandy at 1301 S. Vandeventer Ave. to preview its forthcoming spring launch. Good Company is aiming for an early April opening in the former Layla space at 4317 Manchester Ave. in the Grove. The first Good Company pop-up will take place this Sunday, Feb. 18,…
First Look: Mississippi Bistro at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis
Mississippi Bistro is the Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis’ pop-up restaurant, filling the gap between the closure of Cinder House in January and the launch of a new concept, which is currently tipped to open in spring 2024. With the former Cinder House space already closed off for renovation, the hotel has repurposed an eighth…
La Patisserie Chouquette’s Simone Faure shares 5 of her favorite Black-owned St. Louis restaurants
Simone Faure knows good food when she tastes it. Faure grew up in Louisiana knowing and loving Creole food, and her culinary talents led to making pastries for The Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans, then later at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. In 2013, Faure opened her own bakery, La Patisserie Chouquette, and the French-inspired pastry shop…
First Look: Big Belly Deli in Florissant
Big Belly Deli wants you to “eat good, feel good.” The restaurant opened in late December 2023 at 392 St. Ferdinand St. in Florissant, next door to Helfer’s Pastries, which supplies the bread for all of the sandwiches. Big Belly Deli operates in the space that used to be Helfer’s Deli and is co-owned by…
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The Chase Park Plaza wedding venue brims with elegance and sophistication in the Central West End
Located in the vibrant Central West End at 212 N. Kingshighway Blvd., the historic Royal Sonesta Chase Park Plaza St. Louis is an ideal location for an event of a lifetime, brimming with timeless elegance and sophistication. More than just a traditional wedding venue, the expert Chase team is dedicated to designing an event that…
Steve’s Hot Dogs is opening grilled cheese spot Steve’s Meltdown at City Foundry STL in March
The City Foundry STL food hall at 3730 Foundry Way will soon have a spot to get gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches when Steve’s Meltdown opens in March. Conceptualized by the team behind Steve’s Hot Dogs, the restaurant began as a ghost kitchen operating out of Steve’s Hot Dogs on South Grand in January 2023 and…
Eat this broth-less tantanmen at Menya Rui in St. Louis
Very few ramen shops in the United States make their noodles in-house, and restaurants offering broth-less styles like tsukemen and mazemen are comparably rare. Local jewel Menya Rui does both, but it’s the broth-less tantanmen that really has us hooked. The fresh, chewy noodles take center stage in this Japanese take on Sichuan dan-dan noodles…
Gerard Craft’s Brass Burger announces four-month residency at Urban Chestnut in Midtown St. Louis
Gerard Craft’s Niche Food Group has announced a four-month spring residency for Brass Burger at Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.’s Midtown location at 3229 Washington Ave. The residency will run from Mar. 1 through June, with a menu featuring the Brass Burger itself alongside a fried chicken sandwich, chili, shoestring fries and more. The BrassBurger has…
5 new St. Louis restaurants and bars with gorgeous interiors
The way a place looks and feels can make all the difference to your experience at a restaurant or bar. These five recently opened St. Louis venues and bars take care of the details in very different ways, but they’re all stunning places to spend a few hours over a meal or a few drinks. …
South Grand’s nightlife scene is thriving
The late-night scene has returned to South Grand, says Danni Eickenhorst. And she would know. Eickenhorst is the CEO of HUSTL Hospitality Group and co-owner of Steve’s Hot Dogs (3145 S. Grand Blvd.), which moved to the destination dining strip from Tower Grove East in 2021. It was a hard time for the street: South…
St. Louis City SC names Olive + Oak, Olio and Sunday Best among seven new restaurants coming to CityPark for 2024 MLS season
St. Louis City SC today unveiled the lineup of CityPark restaurant partners for the 2024 MLS season, with new additions including Olive + Oak, Olio, Sunday Best, Seoul Taco, Medina Mediterranean Grill, Saucy Porka and Donut Drive-In. Other new offerings at CityPark will include expanded mobile order-ahead options, a concession dedicated to allergen-free dishes, an…
Smoke & Kettle will open in Fairview Heights from the team behind Beast Craft BBQ Co.
Acclaimed pitmaster David Sandusky earned national recognition for Beast Craft BBQ Co. at 20 S. Belt W, Belleville, but the new concept he plans to open this coming month is something quite different: an operation embedded within a Knights of Columbus Hall at 5420 Old Collinsville Road in Fairview Heights, Illinois. Smoke & Kettle will offer a fish- and…
3 appetizer platters from St. Louis restaurants you need to try ASAP
You’re scanning a menu and overwhelmed by choice, yet keen to avoid appearing indecisive. Order the appetizer platter. This is shorthand for, “I know exactly what I want: a little bit of everything.” These starter selections give you a sampler of what a restaurant has to offer and can serve either as the warmup act…
This week on the Sauce podcast: some of our favorite spots on the Hill, Stews Food & Liquor in Soulard and more
This week on the Sauce podcast, Meera and Michelle discuss a few spots on the Hill, including Adriana’s, where the Sunny’s vegetarian sandwich is a delicious salad in sandwich form. They also talk about John Viviano & Sons Grocers, which offers a wide selection of Italian staples to stock your pantry. The duo also delves into…
Uhuru Food & Pies is opening in north St. Louis in summer 2024
St. Louis’ College Hill neighborhood will soon have a new source for sweet treats. Uhuru Food & Pies is set to open this summer at 3719 W. Florissant Ave. in north St. Louis in the former home of Kay’s Kitchen. The Oakland, California, business has an unusual model. It’s part of Black Star Industries, the…
5 spots in St. Louis to soak up the Mardi Gras vibes without the chaos of Soulard
This year’s Mardi Gras Grand Parade will be held on Saturday, Feb. 10, and as much as we love the second biggest Mardi Gras celebration in the country, sometimes it can be a bit much. So, if the Soulard frenzy isn’t really your thing, but you still want to get some New Orleans vibes going…
The Benevolent King in Maplewood is rebranding as a Japanese restaurant
The Benevolent King, which has featured Moroccan-inspired dishes since it opened in 2018, has reimagined itself and plans to open as a Japanese restaurant on Valentine’s Day, Wednesday, Feb. 14. This new concept is brought to you by Ben Poremba, chef-owner of Bengelina Hospitality Group. This group has an impressive roster of St. Louis restaurants,…
Chimera Teas in Tower Grove East sells baked goods, small plates and plenty of beverages
When Brianna Velarde decided to open a tea shop, one big thing she was hoping to create was a little extra community in Tower Grove East. That seemed especially important because when she’d moved in about two and a half years ago, two juggernauts in nearby Tower Grove South — VP Square and the London…
222 Artisan Bakery & Cafe in Edwardsville is closing
222 Artisan Bakery & Cafe at 222 N. Main St. in Edwardsville has announced via Instagram that it will be closing its storefront at the end of February. “We signed our new lease as written by our landlord, but unfortunately they decided to go with a different business,” the post said. “With rent prices rising…
Nick Bognar will open omakase concept, Pavilion, at Sado on the Hill in spring 2024
Nick Bognar’s award-winning restaurant Sado, which was Sauce Magazine’s No. 3 Best New Restaurant of 2023 and a James Beard Award semifinalist, will open a new omakase concept called Pavilion this spring in the courtyard of Sado at 5201 Shaw Ave. on the Hill in St. Louis. The custom-built, glass-enclosed Pavilion will evoke Japanese garden…
First Look: Three Sixty at Westport Plaza in Maryland Heights
The brand new Three Sixty Westport at 111 West Port Plaza Drive in Maryland Heights is truly an elevated experience from its location perched high above the Westport Plaza in the “gold tower” to its satisfying food and drink menu that includes interesting cocktails curated by mixology consultancy Bangers Only. Inside, the moody elegance of the…
None of the Above’s Fionna Gemzon is a bar manager with vision
Age: 30 Job title: Bar manager, None of the Above Why watch her: She’s got vision “Fionna has a vision for putting things together,” said Jennifer Masur, director of service for Niche Food Group. “In her cocktails she shows how certain components go together that you wouldn’t imagine.” “As much as I hate to use…
Brew Tulum in the Central West End sues landlord after closing due to lead contamination
The owners of the now-shuttered Central West End restaurant Brew Tulum at 5090 Delmar Blvd., Unit B, have sued their landlords and the site’s property manager over the lead contamination they found on site, saying their landlord’s negligence caused them to sustain “serious injury and damages.” The RFT first broke the news last year that Laura McNamara…
Sip Mobile Bar Co. offers craft cocktails and luxury at events around St. Louis
A woman-owned, St. Louis-based mobile cocktail company has just launched. Sip Mobile Bar Co. aims to offer expertly crafted cocktails and a personalized experience with a luxurious vibe at upscale events throughout the area. Though it’ll initially be primarily focused on private events like weddings and corporate gatherings, in the future, you’ll likely be able…
Bissinger’s, Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate opening a cafe on the Hill in fall 2024 as part of major expansion
Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate acquired iconic St. Louis brand Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier in 2019, and now the company owned by the Abel family has planned a major expansion for 2024. After purchasing the Ford Tool & Steel building adjacent to their main production facility on the Hill at 5025 Pattison Ave., the business will renovate its…
