Hendel’s Restaurant is a piece of Old Town Florissant history. The building dates back to 1873, when it opened as a grocery and general store. The business was purchased by the Hendel family in 1915 and operated as a specialty grocery store and butcher shop until August 1993 when Henry and Marge Hendel retired. The establishment was purchased by Florissant resident Ed Bennett who opened Hendel’s Restaurant in November 1994.
The business is now owned and operated by Ed’s son Nathan Bennett, and his wife Christina. Given the place it has in Florissant’s history, and that the establishment is a family-owned and -operated restaurant, the vibe at Hendel’s can be described as welcoming and homey.
“I always say our tagline is there’s no place like home, and a lot of people feel like they’re having dinner at our home,” Christina Bennett said of the restaurant.
That homey atmosphere is attributed to the cozy, warm and inviting details found throughout the space. A few of those elements include artwork on the walls, a fireplace in the bar room and original details in the building that have retained their antiquated beauty, such as the hardwood flooring and windows. Keeping the history of the space has always been important to the Bennett family, and even though they’ve added on to the structure over the years, the additions have remained in line with the age of the building so that they add to the structure’s charm.
Those additions include the expansion of the front porch space in 2003. The porch is covered and features heaters to keep guests extra cozy in the space, since it is used as a sunroom-style dining area from October through May. Six years after the porch expansion, the establishment gained its bar room, which features the wood bar counter and shelving, exposed brick and a collection of high-top tables.
Guests can also sit in the main dining area of the establishment, as well as the outdoor patio. Keeping with the theme of making guests feel as though they’re visiting a friend’s house, with its plants and pond feature, the outdoor patio offers an inviting, homey atmosphere when dining al fresco at the restaurant.
In addition to the inviting aesthetic, Hendel’s is known for its selection of comfort food and stellar cocktails. Bennett said some of the most popular dishes include the Cajun carbonara, which features shrimp, Andouille sausage, tomatoes and scallions in a Cajun cream sauce served over linguine. Another favorite is the salmon with a teriyaki glaze, served with a rice pilaf and vegetables, along with the 8-ounce filet mignon, which comes with a guest’s choice of starch, such as mashed potatoes and a vegetable selection.
More casual fare on the menu includes salads, such as the Parmesan-encrusted chicken Caesar salad, burgers, like the Jameson that comes with blue cheese, bacon, a Jameson whiskey glaze, and crispy onions on a brioche bun and chicken salad served on a croissant. In addition to its regular menu, the eatery also offers special, reservation-only, five-course dinners to celebrate Valentine’s Day and New Year’s Eve.
The drink menu is developed by bartender Mike Powers, who has been a part of the Hendel’s team for 17 years. “Everybody that comes in regularly knows that Mike’s going to make them a fancy, great cocktail,” Bennett said.
With a cocktail program that focuses on newer takes on classics, while also embracing seasonal offerings, guests can find everything from fruit-based to botanical-infused drinks. Some of the house specialties include Hendel’s Sangria, made with Deep Eddy Peach Vodka, elderflower liqueur, Moscato, Sprite, club soda and fruit.
Other selections include the Perfect Maple Manhattan, which combines 1792 Small Batch Bourbon, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth and Angostura bitters with maple syrup and dark cherries to give the drink a sweet balance. There’s also a selection of wines, bottled and canned beers and a rotating draft offering, plus non-alcoholic choices such as ginger beer and kombucha, as well as several soft drinks.
599 St. Denis St., Florissant, 314.837.2304, hendelsrestaurant.com
