Favorite New Restaurant of 2018
Yellowbelly
4659 Lindell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.499.1509, yellowbellystl.comÂ
2nd: Billie-JeanÂ
3rd: The Chocolate Pig, The Clover and the Bee (tie)
Honorable Mentions: Carnivore, Cinder House
Favorite Restaurant
Sugarfire Smoke House
Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com
2nd: Peacemaker Lobster & CrabÂ
3rd: Olive + OakÂ
Honorable Mention: Eleven Eleven Mississippi, Grace Meat + ThreeÂ
Chef of the Year
Matt Glickert, Sugarfire 44
932 Meramec Station Road, Valley Park, 636.825.1400, sugarfiresmokehouse.com
2nd: Michael Gallina, Vicia
3rd: Rick Lewis, Grace Meat + ThreeÂ
Honorable Mentions: Jesse Mendica, Olive + Oak; Nick Bognar, Nippon Tei
Favorite Fine Dining
Olive + Oak
102 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.736.1370, oliveandoakstl.com
2nd: Sidney Street CafeÂ
3rd: Louie, Tony’s (tie)
Honorable Mentions: Polite Society, ViciaÂ
Favorite Diner
Southwest Diner
6803 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, 314.260.7244, southwestdinerstl.comÂ
2nd: Uncle Bill’s Pancake and Dinner HouseÂ
3rd: City DinerÂ
Honorable Mentions: Chris’ Pancake & Dining, Courtesy DinerÂ
Favorite Food Truck
Seoul Taco Food Truck
Twitter: @seoultaco
2nd: Mission Taco TruckÂ
3rd: Guerrilla Street Food
Honorable Mentions: Balkan Treat Box, Sarah’s Cake StopÂ
Favorite Deli/Sandwich Shop
Blues City Deli
2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225, bluescitydeli.com
2nd: Gioia’s DeliÂ
3rd: Mom’s DeliÂ
Honorable Mentions: Adriana’s on The Hill, The GramophoneÂ
Favorite Barbecue
Sugarfire Smoke House
Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com
2nd: Pappy’s SmokehouseÂ
3rd: Salt + SmokeÂ
Honorable Mentions: Beast Craft BBQ Co., Bogart’s SmokehouseÂ
Favorite Sushi
Nippon Tei
14025 Manchester Road, Ballwin, 636.386.8999, nippon.teistl.com
2nd: Drunken Fish
3rd: Wasabi Sushi BarÂ
Honorable Mentions: BLK MKT Eats, Sushi AiÂ
Favorite Steakhouse
Annie Gunn’s
16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield, 636.532.7684, anniegunns.com
2nd: Tucker’s Place
3rd: Twisted Tree SteakhouseÂ
Honorable Mentions: 1818 Chophouse, Citizen Kane’s Steak HouseÂ

Favorite Romantic Spot
Sidney Street Cafe
2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafestl.com
2nd: Bar Les Frères
3rd:Â Louie, Cinder House (tie)
Honorable Mentions:Â Olive + Oak, Tony’sÂ
Favorite Pizza Place
Peel Wood Fired Pizza
Various locations, peelpizza.comÂ
2nd: Imo’s Pizza
3rd: Katie’s Pizza & Pasta OsteriaÂ
Honorable Pizza: Pi Pizzeria, Pirrone’s PizzeriaÂ
Favorite Brunch
Shack Breakfast & Lunch
Various locations, eatatshack.com
2nd: Hendel’s Restaurant, Rooster (tie)
3rd: Half & HalfÂ
Honorable Mentions: Brasserie By Niche, Egg
Favorite Italian
Charlie Gitto’s on The Hill, Cunetto House Of Pasta (tie)
5226 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.8898, charliegittos.com; 5453 Magnolia Ave., St. Louis, 314.781.1135, cunetto.com
2nd: Pastaria
3rd: Zia’s on The HillÂ
Honorable Mentions: Anthonino’s Taverna, Trattoria MarcellaÂ
Favorite Chinese
Mai Lee
8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood, 314.645.2835, maileestl.com
2nd: Lona’s Lil EatsÂ
3rd: China King
Honorable Mentions: Lu Lu Seafood & Dim Sum, Wang Gang Asian EatsÂ
Favorite Fried Chicken
Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar
2100 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314.776.7292, hodaks.com
2nd: SouthernÂ
3rd: Grace Meat + ThreeÂ
Honorable Mentions: Byrd & Barrel, King Edward’s Chicken & FishÂ
Favorite Chicken Wings
Syberg’s
Various locations, sybergs.com
2nd: Sugarfire Smoke HouseÂ
3rd: Peel Wood Fired PizzaÂ
Honorable Mentions: Grace Meat + Three, Southtown PubÂ
Favorite Burger
Hi-Pointe Drive-In
1033 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 314.349.2720; 634 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.405.8274, hipointedrivein.com
2nd: Mac’s Local Eats, Stacked STLÂ
3rd: O’Connell’s PubÂ
Honorable Mentions: Carl’s Drive-In, The Dam
Favorite Frozen Dessert
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
6726 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.481.2652; 4224 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.352.7376, teddrewes.com
2nd: Clementine’s Naughty and Nice CreameryÂ
3rd: Fritz’s Frozen CustardÂ
Honorable Mentions: The Fountain on Locust, Ices Plain & FancyÂ
Favorite Tacos
Mission Taco Joint
Various locations, missiontacojoint.comÂ
2nd: Seoul TacoÂ
3rd: Taco CircusÂ
Honorable Mentions: Chava’s Mexican Restaurant, Las Fuentes Mexican Restaurant
Favorite Mexican
El Maguey
Various locations, elmagueystl.com
2nd: Hacienda Mexican RestaurantÂ
3rd: El Burro Loco
Honorable Mentions: Mi Ranchito, Rosalita’s CantinaÂ
Favorite African
The Benevolent King
7268 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.899.0440, thebenevolentking.com
2nd: Meskerem Ethiopian RestaurantÂ
3rd: African Palace Bar & GrillÂ
Honorable Mentions: Simba Ugandan Restaurant, Ye Ethiopian RestaurantÂ
Favorite Cajun/Creole
Broadway Oyster Bar
736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com
2nd: Gulf Shores Restaurant & GrillÂ
3rd: BoogalooÂ
Honorable Mentions: Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House, Sister Cities CajunÂ
Favorite Indian
Himalayan Yeti
3515 S. Kingshighway Blvd., St. Louis, 314.354.8338, himalayanyetistlouis.com
2nd: House of India
3rd: Everest Café & BarÂ
Honorable Mentions: India Palace, RasoiÂ
Favorite Korean
Seoul Taco
6665 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.863.1148; 46 Four Seasons Shopping Center, Chesterfield, 314.548.6868, seoultaco.com
2nd: Kimchi GuysÂ
3rd: Seoul Garden
Honorable Mentions: K-Bop Food Truck, Oriental SpoonÂ
Favorite Greek
Olympia Kebob House and Taverna
1543 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 314.781.1299, olympiakebobandtavern.com
2nd: Spiro’s RestaurantÂ
3rd: Michael’s Bar & GrillÂ
Honorable Mentions: Anthonino’s Taverna, My Big Fat Greek Truck
Favorite Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
Balkan Treat Box
8103 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, 314.733.5700, balkantreatbox.com
2nd: Aya Sofia Turkish/Mediterranean Cuisine
3rd: LaylaÂ
Honorable Mentions: The Vine Lebanese Cuisine & Juice Bar, Café Natasha’s
Favorite Soul Food/Southern
Grace Meat + Three
4270 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.533.2700, stlgrace.com
2nd: Sweetie Pie’s Upper CrustÂ
3rd: SouthernÂ
Honorable Mentions: Juniper, Mom’s Soul Food KitchenÂ
Favorite Thai
King and IÂ Thai
3157 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.1777, kingandistl.com
2nd: Fork & StixÂ
3rd: Pearl CaféÂ
Honorable Mentions: Pad Thai St. Louis, Thai HouseÂ
Favorite Vietnamese
Mai Lee
8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood, 314.645.2835, maileestl.com
2nd: Pho GrandÂ
3rd: Lemon Grass Restaurant
Honorable Mentions: Banh Mi So No. 1, Little Saigon CafeÂ
Favorite Ramen
Nudo House
11423 Olive Blvd., Creve Coeur, 314.274.8046, nudohousestl.com
2nd: Robata
3rd: The Blue OceanÂ
Honorable Mentions: Nami Ramen, Ramen TeiÂ
Favorite Vegetarian/Vegan
Lulu’s Local Eatery
3201 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.300.8215, luluslocaleatery.com
2nd: Lona’s Lil EatsÂ
3rd: Small Batch Whiskey & Fare, Tree HouseÂ
Honorable Mentions: Pizza Head, Urban Eats Cafe
Favorite Patio
John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub and Garden
1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309, mcgurks.com
2nd: The Boathouse at Forest Park
3rd: Billy G’s Kirkwood
Honorable Mentions: Broadway Oyster Bar, Vin de SetÂ
Bartender of the Year
Ted Kilgore, Planter’s House
1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershouse.com
2nd: Morgaine Segura, Olive + OakÂ
3rd: Terry Oliver, Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge
Honorable Mentions: Tim Wiggins, Yellowbelly; Tony Saputo, The Midwestern Meat & Drink
Favorite Cocktails
Planter’s House
1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com
2nd: Olive + OakÂ
3rd: Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge, Taste (tie)
Honorable Mentions: Blood & Sand, Narwhal’s CraftedÂ
Favorite Brewery
4 Hands Brewing Co.
1220 S. Eighth St., St. Louis, 314.436.1559, 4handsbrewery.com
2nd: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.Â
3rd: SchlaflyÂ
Honorable Mentions: 2nd Shift Brewing, Civil Life Brewing Co.Â
Favorite Local Winery
Grafton Winery & Brewhaus
300 W. Main St., Grafton, 618.786.3001, thegraftonwinery.com
2nd: Chandler Hill VineyardsÂ
3rd: Cedar Lake CellarsÂ
Honorable Mentions: Montelle Winery, St. James WineryÂ
Favorite Beer Bar
Three Kings Public House
Various locations, threekingspub.comÂ
2nd: International Tap HouseÂ
3rd: The Side Project CellarÂ
Honorable Mentions: Gezellig, Global Brew Tap HouseÂ
Favorite Wine Bar
Sasha’s Wine Bars
706 Demun Ave., St. Louis, 314.863.7274, 4069 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.7274, sashaswinebar.comÂ
2nd: Cork Wine BarÂ
3rd: Robust Wine Bar and Cafe
Honorable Mentions: 33 Wine Shop & Bar, Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar
Favorite Games Bar
Westport Social
910 Westport Plaza Drive, Maryland Heights, 314.548.2876, westportsocial-stl.com
2nd: Blueberry HillÂ
3rd: ParlorÂ
Honorable Mentions: Pieces, Start BarÂ

Favorite Pub
John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub and Garden
1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309, mcgurks.com
2nd: The Scottish Arms Public House
3rd: Llywelyn’s PubÂ
Honorable Mentions: O’Connell’s Pub, Seamus McDaniel’sÂ
Favorite Sports Bar
Syberg’s
Various locations, sybergs.com
2nd: Amsterdam TavernÂ
3rd: The Post Sports Bar & GrillÂ
Honorable Mentions: Billy G’s Kirkwood, Mattingly’sÂ
Favorite Coffee Shop
Kaldi’s Coffee Roasting Co.
Various locations, kaldiscoffee.com
2nd: The Mud HouseÂ
3rd: Park Avenue CoffeeÂ
Honorable Mentions: Blueprint Coffee, Sump CoffeeÂ
Favorite Happy Hour
Mission Taco Joint
Various locations, missiontacojoint.com
2nd: Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge
3rd: Helen Fitzgerald’s Irish Grill & Pub
Honorable Mentions: Basso, Three Kings Public HouseÂ
Favorite Butcher Shop
Kenrick’s Meats & Catering
4324 Weber Road, St. Louis, 314.631.2440, kenricks.com
2nd: Bolyard’s Meat & ProvisionsÂ
3rd: G & W Meat & Bavarian Style Sausage Co..
Honorable Mentions: LeGrand’s Market, Mannino’s MarketÂ
Favorite Bread
Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery
1629 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314.833.6111, unionloafers.com
2nd: Companion
3rd: Amighetti’s Bakery & Cafe
Honorable Mentions: Missouri Baking Co., Vitale’s BakeryÂ
Favorite Cakes/Pastries
Nathaniel Reid Bakery
11243 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, 314.858.1019, nrbakery.com
2nd: Jilly’s Cupcake BarÂ
3rd: La Patisserie ChouquetteÂ
Honorable Mentions: Missouri Baking Co., Russell’s on MacklindÂ
Favorite Doughnut Shop
Old Town Donuts
508 N. New Florissant Road, Florissant, 314.831.0907, oldtowndonuts.com
2nd: Strange DonutsÂ
3rd: Donut Drive-InÂ
Honorable Mentions: Vincent Van Doughnut, World’s Fair DonutsÂ
Favorite Farmers Market
Soulard Farmers Market
730 Carroll St., St. Louis, 314.622.4180, soulardmarket.com
2nd: Tower Grove Farmers’ MarketÂ
3rd: Ferguson Farmers MarketÂ
Honorable Mentions: Kirkwood Farmers Market, Land of Goshen Community MarketÂ
Favorite Local Grocery
Dierbergs
Various locations, dierbergs.com
2nd: SchnucksÂ
3rd: Straub’sÂ
Honorable Mentions: DiGregorio’s Italian Market, Global Foods MarketÂ
Favorite Specialty Shop
Crown Candy Kitchen
1401 Saint Louis Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9650, crowncandykitchen.net
2nd: Bob’s SeafoodÂ
3rd: Volpi FoodsÂ
Honorable Mentions: Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier, Kakao Chocolate
Favorite Bottle Shop
Randall’s Wines & Spirits
Various locations, shoprandalls.com
2nd: The Wine & Cheese PlaceÂ
3rd: Lukas Wine & Spirits, Saint Louis Hop Shop (tie)
Honorable Mentions: Intoxicology, The Wine Merchant
This article appears in June 2019.
