December calls for warmth and a little sparkle. This month’s Hit List includes a tucked-away speakeasy with fun cocktails and an Asian-inspired menu, along with a Mexican restaurant that may have you opting for it over your neighborhood standby, plus a cozy new noodle spot perfect for cold nights. Each one feels right for the season, leaving us very content as the year winds down.
Oak Street Speakeasy
The upstairs restaurant and rooftop at Oak Street Inn & Lounge opened last summer, but the real surprise is downstairs: a new speakeasy dishing out Asian-inspired plates in a luxe, purple-lit lounge. On our visit, a ’90s-theme DJ night added to the throwback fun, and the cocktails were just as entertaining. The Delores is a fun riff on an Old-Fashioned with a toasted marshmallow garnish. The Blushing Oak – essentially a lychee-blood orange cosmo – is sweet, delicious and cleverly presented, made with house-infused lychee vodka. The Honeysuckle Harvest is another standout with its sugared rim and not-too-floral profile, while the Parcel 75 leans fully into its Champagne-forward, floral vibes.
Snack-wise, the gyoza are perfectly crisp with a savory dipping sauce, and the bao buns deliver: pillowy soft with nicely charred pork belly, plus cabbage and cucumber for freshness and crunch. Sushi fans (and sushi skeptics) both have options: the Fear and Loathing Roll is cream cheese–heavy, tempura-fried, and not too fishy, while the Rainbow Roll brings the heat with spicy crab and more fish-forward flavor.
5521 Oak St., Cottleville, oakstreetinnandlounge.com
Tonas Margarita Bar Mexican Restaurant
As the name hints, Tonas Margarita Bar goes big on margaritas, and the dragon fruit version is the move: super fruity, not too tequila-forward, and served in a glam glass with an equally cute garnish. The menu is stacked with options, but start with the trio dip: bright, citrusy guacamole paired with queso and street corn, plus there’s a solid table salsa to round things out.
For mains, the Chimichanga Supreme was the standout, basically fajitas wrapped and fried with well-cooked steak and a pop of fresh guac on top for vegetal freshness. The mole enchiladas lean a little more traditional, offering a deeper, richer option than the usual Mexican-American fare, while the birria tacos deliver tender meat and a flavorful, balanced consommé.
Overall, it’s the kind of Mexican spot that might have you straying from your neighborhood go-to; the flavors are just a little brighter, with higher-quality ingredients and a must-try margarita list.
1221 Strassner Drive, Brentwood, tonasmargaritabar.com
Zen Me Noodles and Crepes
Zen Me, the new fast-casual Crestwood spot from the family behind Zen Thai & Japanese, is all about cozy bowls and crispy Thai-style crepes. The beef noodle soup is the move on a chilly day with fragrant, flavorful broth loaded with tender meat, fresh green onions, and fried garlic oil. You can choose egg or rice noodles; just know the portion is big and the broth can run a little fatty. The fried chicken wontons are a perfect appetizer: little fried pockets with a crab-rangoon-adjacent vibe (but less creamy) served with a punchy chile sauce. And don’t skip dessert. The crepes are the sleeper hit, especially the Pistachio Delight, which comes stuffed with pistachio butter, crunchy bits, and crisped rice, plus your choice of strawberry or banana. With all that texture and just-right sweetness, it’s surprisingly hard to stop eating.
9250 Watson Road, Crestwood, Instagram: @zenmestl
This article appears in December 2025.