Fire Chicken serves unique spin on Korean cuisine in Overland
When husband-and-wife duo Michelle and Min Baik moved from Korea to St. Louis (she in 1993 and he in 1998), they were eager to share the taste of their homeland with the U.S. Fire Chicken, now open for carryout and delivery at 10200 Page Ave. in Overland, is their opportunity to do so, as reported…
Cusanelli’s Restaurant has permanently closed its doors
Cusanelli’s Restaurant announced in a Facebook post on Friday, Aug. 28, that it would be closing its doors over the weekend. The restaurant had been open at 705 Lemay Ferry Road since 1954. “Due to covid and unforeseen circumstances, we will be closing permanently on Sunday the 30th,” the message said. “We thank all our…
Guerrilla Street Food shutters locations on Delmar and the Hill
Today, Monday, Aug. 31, Guerrilla Street Food announced via Facebook it has permanently closed its Delmar Loop brick-and-mortar, as well as its satellite location at 2nd Shift Brewing on the Hill. “It’s hard enough in the Delmar Loop to have a steady stream of business, but definitely COVID and the repeated restrictions and how that has…
A 2nd Pappy’s Smokehouse will open in St. Peters in October
Pappy’s Smokehouse is bringing the St. Louis barbecue scene up a notch with a second location slated to open this fall in St. Peters. The new spot will be in the former home of Blaze Pizza at 5246 N. Service Road, near Mid Rivers Mall Drive and I-70, one of the busiest intersections in St.…
First Look: Doggie Mac’s in Carondelet
Bryan Scott – also known as Chef B – only went live with his food truck in late 2018, but this weekend, he’ll see it into its next phase as he opens a brick-and-mortar Doggie Mac’s at 5624 S. Grand Blvd. “It was always the plan,” he said. “I didn’t know how or when.” But…
McArthur’s Bakery’s former Kirkwood location will reopen as a mission-driven cafe
McArthur’s Bakery’s former Kirkwood location at 210 N. Kirkwood Road, which shuttered in early 2019, is transforming into The Pioneer Bakery Cafe. Developed in collaboration with nonprofit organization Lafayette Industries, the new enterprise will focus on training and employing workers with intellectual disabilities. Owners Scott and Sheila Rinaberger are currently finalizing renovations to the space and expect to…
First Look: Chillax Tap & Co. in Wentzville
“Passion project” is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but it doesn’t always stick. In the case of Ashley and Archie Harmon, it does. A lifelong beer lover and brewer, Archie decided earlier this year to leave his career as a speech pathologist – he has a PhD in the field – to…
Cafe la Vie to open inside forthcoming Le Meridien hotel in Clayton this fall
When Marriott Hotels offshoot Le Meridien opens at 7730 Bonhomme Ave. in Clayton this fall, locals will have just as much of a reason to travel there as visitors: Cafe la Vie, a restaurant offering “European classics,” will be one of the hotel’s central attractions. Overseen by executive chef Michael Frank, Cafe la Vie will offer…
Tenderloin Room and Byrd & Barrel will close indefinitely, new Byrd & Barrel coming to Hampton
Yesterday, Wednesday, Aug. 26, restaurateur Bob Brazell announced via Instagram that two of his projects, The Tenderloin Room and Byrd & Barrel, will close until further notice on Aug. 31. “Building Byrd & Barrel into what it is has been a lifelong dream come true for me, and I am so thankful for the outpouring…
Revel Kitchen debuts to-go concept Motor Town Pizza
Local healthy eats mainstay Revel Kitchen has launched a new ghost kitchen concept: Motor Town Pizza, now available for takeout and delivery within 10 miles of 8388 Musick Memorial Drive in Brentwood. “I want to pay homage to Motortown – it makes you think of Detroit-style pizza,” said Revel Kitchen owner Simon Lusky. “We had…
Balaban’s opens for carryout in its new Central West End location
Balaban’s has returned to the Central West End, offering carryout at 412 N. Euclid Ave., across the street from its original location. Karen Halper bought the restaurant last year and decided to move it back from Chesterfield, where it had been since 2009. But delays in construction due to the pandemic forced her to get creative about reopening. Longtime…
Eat this Shroomed Out ramen from Nudo House
Nudo House is an undisputed champ in the ramen game, which is why it reigns as the No. 1 Readers’ Choice pick in the category. The Shroomed Out is its dark horse masterpiece. With profound, earthy depth and waves of mushroom bliss that come from both its broth and the king oyster ’shrooms that float…
New takeout concept Love at First Bite will open in St. Ann in September
New “food for every mood” carryout-only restaurant Love at First Bite is slated to open by the first week of September at 10479 St. Charles Rock Road in St. Ann. “We have something for everyone’s palate,” said executive chef-owner Jason Lamont, who has over 25 years experience in the St. Louis food scene at places like…
Lulu’s Local Eatery will reopen this fall under new ownership
St. Louis’ vegetarian and vegan communities were devastated earlier this summer when the owners of beloved vegan restaurant Lulu’s Local Eatery announced they would remain closed and were looking to sell the business. “For personal health reasons, we have decided we need to move onto the next chapter in our lives,” said an Instagram message…
Chirco’s Kitchen now open inside Public School House venue in Cottleville
A new concept from longtime St. Louis restaurateur Vito Chirco is now open in downtown Cottleville. Located inside the quaint Public School House event venue, Chirco’s Kitchen & Catering offers pop-ups and catering at the venue, along with recurring takeout Tuesdays. Chirco – known for Krieger’s and Chirco’s Italian Restaurant, which were popular from the…
St. Louis breweries join Black is Beautiful campaign to support racial justice
This is probably the only time that you will be able to enjoy the same beer made by four different 2020 Readers’ Choice winners. Your No. 1 favorite brewery, 4 Hands Brewing Co., along with 2nd Shift Brewing (honorable mention), Schlafly (honorable mention), Side Project Brewing (No. 3 favorite beer bar) and other local favorites like…
Words of wisdom from House of India’s Satish Kumar
House of India is this year’s Readers’ Choice Favorite Indian. The local institution’s many regulars might be surprised to hear that owner Satish Kumar never wanted to open a restaurant. Both his father and grandfather ran restaurants in India, but when Kumar left everything and moved alone to the U.S. at age 24, he wanted…
First Look: Juanita’s Creole Soul Cafe in Dutchtown
Chef Curtis McCann was not thinking about opening a restaurant. Building a name on a catering company called Catered by Curtis, he was too busy throwing tasting menu events and hosting an immensely successful Sunday soul food series. But when his friends insisted his food was good enough for him to open his own spot,…
Beets & Bones will open health-focused brick-and-mortar in Clayton this fall
Clayton’s roster of health-focused eateries will soon expand. Beets & Bones, which has been operating out of its sister company Upshot Coffee and at Tower Grove Farmers’ Market for about a year, aims to open its first brick-and-mortar at 8401 Maryland Ave. in Clayton by mid-December. The café, which will be in the former home of Northwest…
Longtime South Grand restaurant and catering company Giuseppe’s reopens in Fenton
Giuseppe’s, a beloved Italian restaurant that made its name on South Grand in the 1970s, has reopened at 972 S. Highway Drive in Fenton. “The food is exactly the same, just in more of a fast-casual kind of setup,” said owner Eric Stockmann. “Everything’s quick, freshly made and healthy. We’ve taken all of the old…
CWE’s Golden Grocer will expand offerings with move to Forest Park Southeast in October
Golden Grocer has announced it will move from its longtime location on Euclid Avenue in the Central West End to a larger spot at 4501 Chouteau Ave. in Forest Park Southeast in mid-October. The move offers the natural health food store increased retail space and more accessible parking options for customers. It will also…
First Look: Dogwood Social House in Ellisville
West County just got a lot more fun. A second location of Dogwood Social House (the first opened in Cape Girardeau about a year ago) is now open at 15682 Manchester Road in Ellisville. The menu aims to please any palate with its plethora of options, from wings, tacos and pretzels to burgers, steaks,…
Taste of St. Louis cancels 2020 festival
With its vendors, competitions and events, Taste of St. Louis has long been a staple in the region’s late-summer culinary lineup. According to a press release from today, Tuesday, Aug. 18, this year’s festival has been canceled. It had returned to its original home in downtown St. Louis in 2019 after several years in Chesterfield.…
First Look: Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream opens new location in Maplewood
A Maplewood staple has moved to much larger digs down the street. The newest incarnation of Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream opened Saturday, Aug. 15, at 7376 Manchester Road. The new 2,200-square-foot space is significantly more spacious than the original 350-square-foot spot located just a stone’s throw away at 7326B Manchester Road, which was open…
Polite Society and Bellwether owners launch Sub Division Sandwich Co.
In the midst of preparing a concept for the upcoming City Foundry STL complex and seeing their restaurants Polite Society and The Bellwether through social distancing and COVID-19, co-owners Brian Schmitz and Jonathan Schoen have been busy. But that hasn’t stopped them from jumping on another new project. Last week, they opened their newest concept,…
First Look: Aubergine Cafe in downtown St. Louis
With its popular takes on dishes like khao soi, pad thai and tum yum soup, downtown staple Kiin Essentially Thai at 550 N. Seventh St. was considered a city benchmark for Thai food. But when owner Phatcharin Wanna’s business partner left, she saw an opportunity to evolve, so she decided to close down in March to…
Landmark: Crown Candy Kitchen
For more than 100 years, Crown Candy Kitchen has held down the corner of North 14th Street and St. Louis Avenue. Though the city has evolved around it, not much has changed at the historic soda fountain and diner. Structurally, the restaurant is nearly the same as it was when it opened, the only major…
10 St. Louis patios to enjoy some socially distanced summer fun
It’s been a tough year for everyone, and we know you just want to go out and enjoy a great meal and some drinks with your friends. So do we. Since outdoors is one of the safest places to be during this pandemic, dining al fresco is hotter than ever. From expansive decks and giant…
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How to build a home bar
Creating the bar of your dreams may seem like a tediously expensive task, especially if you’re not sure how to most efficiently spend your money. With an oversaturation of options, both booze- and tool-wise, you could easily spend some big bucks, but blowing your budget isn’t necessary. By picking up a few key products, you’ll…
Cathy’s Kitchen moves to sell retail items at Schnucks, contributes recipes to governor’s cookbook
In a time where most restaurants are looking for ways to scale back service, Cathy Jenkins of Cathy’s Kitchen is not only maintaining, but taking advantage of new endeavors. After partnering with Schnucks, she’s started selling two of her most popular sauces at five of the grocery store’s locations. “We started off with 5,…
First Look: Coffeestamp Microroasters & Coffee Bar in Fox Park
A Soulard Farmers Market vendor is movin’ on up to a brick-and-mortar. Coffeestamp Microroasters & Coffee Bar opens tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 14, at 2511 S. Jefferson Ave. in Fox Park. The new spot will feature an array of coffee beverages, from cold brew to lattes, all with beans roasted in small batches in-house, along with…
The St. Louis food scene needs the Restaurants Act
Editor’s note: This article is an opinion piece from Tara Gallina, co-owner at Vicia and Winslow’s Table. As the owner and operator of two restaurants in St. Louis, I have experienced firsthand the reality of running a restaurant during this crazy time. In March, everything came to a screeching halt. We had to shut down…
St. Louis city issues new safety guidelines and restrictions to start Thursday, Aug. 13
Today, Wednesday, Aug. 12, St. Louis city mayor Lyda Krewson took to Twitter to announce a new health order containing updated safety guidelines and restrictions for St. Louis businesses and residents. It goes into effect at midnight. The order states that bars, restaurants and nightclubs must limit their capacity to 50% from 75% and close by…
St. Louis restaurants preemptively close dining rooms to keep out COVID surge
Between fluctuating safety guidelines from city and county governments and rising COVID numbers in Missouri, there’s never been a more precarious time to own or work in a restaurant. Though some local institutions have searched for new ways to entertain guests in-house, others have opted for the long game by keeping their dining rooms closed.…
Wheelhouse and StartBar filed injunction against the city of St. Louis over temporary closure
Editor’s note: On Aug. 25, Start Bar announced it would close “until further notice” because of restrictions from the city. Last week, reports came out that Spruce Street bars Wheelhouse and StartBar had filed a lawsuit against the city. The bars are two of the four businesses shut down by St. Louis city mayor Lyda…
Michelin-starred restaurateur Mario Iaccarino will open new restaurant in the Ritz-Carlton this fall
The Ritz-Carlton in Clayton will soon become the home of a new concept from Mario Iaccarino, an owner of two-Michelin-starred restaurant Don Alfonso 1890, located on the Sorrento peninsula in Southern Italy. Casa Don Alfonso, which is projected to open in the luxury hotel at 100 Carondelet Plaza in November, will be his first venture…
The Beast BBQ empire expands with Wing Runner delivery and takeout service
Beast Craft BBQ Co. and Beast Butcher & Block co-owners David and Meggan Sandusky are introducing Wing Runner to St. Louis starting today, Tuesday, Aug. 11. The new concept offers wings via delivery, as well as at the Beast Butcher & Block pickup window at 4156 Manchester Ave. in the Grove, where the wings will be prepared.…
Chef Loryn Nalic’s 3 favorite dishes from Balkan Treat Box
When chef Loryn Nalic recreated her and her husband Edo Nalic’s favorite dishes from the Balkan Peninsula in Southeast Europe for Balkan Treat Box, she found the perfect nexus of nostalgia and technique. “I had to figure out what made [the street food] so special,” she said. “A lot of it was the hustle and…
LGBTQ landmark Attitudes Nightclub will close Aug. 15
Since its opening 32 years ago, Attitudes Nightclub in the Grove has long reigned as one of the most beloved nightclubs in the city. According to a Facebook post on Wednesday, Aug. 5, its tenure will come to a close on Aug. 15. “Attitudes opened in August 1988 and Bonnie and I had some of the…
A grand tour of South Grand
South Grand is a wonderful place to eat. The boulevard’s carryout options are ideal for a socially distanced picnic at neighboring Tower Grove Park, and from sushi and Thai to pizza, hummus and crepes, it truly has something for everyone. Nowhere in the greater St. Louis area can one find a more concentrated grouping of…
Paul Mineo’s in Westport Plaza has permanently closed
After serving upscale Italian food to West County for almost 13 years at 333 W. Port Plaza Drive in Maryland Heights, Paul Mineo’s Trattoria permanently closed on Saturday, Aug. 1. The last day of service was March 17, and the business simply could not recover from the effects of the pandemic. “It would’ve been…
Kitchen Kulture rebrands as Field to Fire, offering prepared items at farmers markets and stores
What started as a low-key, beloved farmers market stand offering one of the best breakfast sandwiches in town has transitioned into something much bigger, as reported by Feast. Kitchen Kulture is now Field to Fire, a new brand devoted to market items and prepared foods. Kounter Kulture, the company’s Lindenwood Park brick-and-mortar location, will continue with its regularly…
4 new places to try in August
1. Chicken Out6197 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314.384.1010, chickenoutchicken.com The masterminds behind Sugarfire Smoke House and Hi-Pointe Drive-In have created another winner with Chicken Out. The extremely punny menu is full of chicken dishes done right. Go for the Spicy Chicken Out sandwich, which layers a juicy, Nashville-style fillet with flavorful pickles and creamy Crystal hot…
