What I Do: St. Louis pastry chef Sharon Harter
Lauded St. Louis pastry chef Sharon Harter didn’t start baking until well into her 20s. In fact, she didn’t do much cooking at all until she got married at 24. “I got super domesticated when I got married, and I realized that I really loved cooking and baking,” she said. Without any formal training or…
3 meals that changed St. Louis chef Matt Daughaday?’s life
We initially met Matt Daughaday while he was working for Niche Food Group, first as a sous chef at Niche Restaurant and then as executive chef at Taste Bar. From there, Reeds American Table in Maplewood was his first solo venture, where he recruited some of the brightest stars the St. Louis food scene had…
Eat these pupusas from El Guanaco Taqueria y Pupuseria in North County
After trying the pupusas (stuffed griddle cakes) at El Guanaco Taqueria y Pupuseria in North County, we understand why El Salvador has a national holiday celebrating the dish. The queso con loroco option was our favorite – the small, juicy buds of the loroco vine (found in Central America and Mexico) are a perfect textural…
Sauce critic Michael Renner’s top 4 dishes of 2020
This year’s Top Dishes column is like no other. It is “unprecedented,” as we say about everything now. I’ve chosen my favorite pre-pandemic dishes from the restaurants I reviewed between December 2019 and March 2020. All of them make me long for the full reopening and survival of St. Louis’ dining scene. Turmeric’s Chargrilled Masala HalibutRoasted…
3 new St. Louis restaurants to try this month
Khanna’s Desi VibesKhanna’s Desi Vibes opened quietly this October in a warm and inviting space designed by owner Pravin Khanna and his cousin Bobby Jaggi. Familiar favorites like lamb rogan josh and butter chicken are offered alongside fusion dishes like paneer tikka quesadilla, a flour tortilla stuffed with mozzarella cheese, paneer and grilled vegetables. Start…
St. Louis County executive Sam Page announces return to indoor dining Mon., Jan. 4
St. Louis County executive Sam Page announced today, Dec. 30, that the county’s restaurants will be able to resume indoor dining on Mon., Jan. 4. County restaurants have been restricted to outdoor dining, carryout and delivery since Page’s Nov. 17 executive order shutting down indoor dining for all St. Louis County restaurants. “The pandemic has been harder…
New proposed legislation, council resolutions follow St. Louis County ban on indoor dining
Update: St. Louis County released a statement regarding the lawsuit that included the following: “The Circuit Court in Clayton ruled for the County, leaving the protocols in place. [On Friday, Dec. 11,] the Missouri Court of Appeals agreed and allowed the County to continue enforcing its indoor dining protocols moving forward.” State and local legislators…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 10 Love at First Bite?
The St. Paul sandwich is a St. Louis food tradition that Love at First Bite has made completely its own. Here, the sandwich, which typically features an egg foo young patty tucked between two pieces of white bread slathered with mayo and topped with pickles, tomato and lettuce, is vegan. The flavor is remarkable –…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 9 Original J’s
When Mike and Liz Randolph opened Original J’s last November, diners found many of the flavors Mike first explored at his high-concept, pan-Latin restaurant Publico applied to fit a Tex-Mex-meets-barbecue theme. Meats like his fantastic smoked brisket and the sweet carnitas-style pork are fabulous on their own or as tacos. Fresh flour tortillas are the…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 8 Tempus
A char siu lamb belly bun sits next to a McChicken clone. Polenta Bolognese is followed by black cod with kombu clam broth, potato and trout roe. A gin cocktail with oleo-saccharum, milk-washed Earl Grey and dehydrated lemon is listed alongside one with bourbon, vermouth and bitters. Tempus’ menu is all about combining the familiar…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 7 Lazy Tiger
Lazy Tiger may be small in stature – the space seats just 22 while the food menu features about a dozen items – but everything about it, from decor to flavor, is styled for maximal effect. The bar’s interior feels like the inside of a jewel box: The walls are a dark, lush green; the…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 6 Winslow’s Table
When Tara and Michael Gallina took over cherished University City brunch mecca Winslow’s Home last November, relaunching it as Winslow’s Table, they infused the beloved spot’s old vibes with the vegetable-forward, farm-to-table style they’ve found so successful at their first restaurant, Vicia. “Winslow’s Home was a place, for Michael and me, that we always loved…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 5 Nomad
Before trying Tommy Andrew’s pastrami at Nomad, we thought we knew pastrami. We’ve always been in love with the giant wads of peppery beef served between slices of rye bread served at delis here in St. Louis and in other cities across the country. But after eating at Nomad, all our assumptions about what pastrami…
11 ways to ring in the New Year in St. Louis
Though New Year’s Eve celebrations may look different this year, these local restaurants are bringing the party home with some tasty food and drinks. As we look forward to 2021 and leave this crazy year behind us, these curated New Year’s Eve packages are guaranteed to start the new year off right. (And below the…
Streets of St. Charles continues to flourish, rolling out new concepts into the spring
St. Charles food and entertainment hub Streets of St. Charles, which features everything from Bar Louie and Prasino to Mission Taco Joint and P.F. Chang’s, is continuing its ascension to mall paradise into 2021, when it will see multiple new additions to the complex. Most recently announced is the seventh location of popular St.…
Eat-Rite Diner, Bloom Cafe and Sacred Grounds announce permanent closures
This past Saturday, Dec. 19, legendary late-night spot Eat-Rite Diner announced it would be closing permanently at 622 Chouteau Ave. in downtown St. Louis. The diner was opened in 1935 and was most recently owned by Joel and Shawna Holtman, who bought it from longtime owner L.B. Powers in 2018. The owners cited the pandemic…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 3 Perennial on Lockwood
If you ever wondered what would happen if a far-flung South City craft brewery and an upscale American restaurant in the suburbs joined forces, Perennial on Lockwood is your answer. By partnering with the team behind Olive + Oak and building out a beautiful new space in the old Auto Beauty Specialists complex in downtown…
Honey Bee’s Biscuits + Good Eats will launch food truck in January
What started as a leap of faith has turned into a successful business and upcoming food truck for married couple Meredith and Mike Shadwick. Honey Bee’s Biscuits + Good Eats sells biscuits and gravy among many other variations of the traditional dish. Sold at the Kirkwood Farmers’ Market from June until last weekend when the…
Old Bridgeview Brewing slated to open in Washington, Missouri, in the coming weeks
The St. Louis area’s newest brewery, Old Bridgeview Brewing, is hoping to change the beer game with its community focus when it opens in a few weeks at 16 East Front St. in Washington, Missouri. “The historic downtown Washington group wanted to help us find a location, and we ended up meeting Ed and Linda…
Ghost kitchen B.A.B.S. A Go-Go opens at Sanctuaria in the Grove
The year 2020 will likely be remembered as (among other things) the year of the ghost kitchen. The newest concept in this trend is B.A.B.S. (Bad-Ass Burgers and Stuff) A Go-Go, which has opened inside Sanctuaria at 4198 Manchester Ave. in the Grove. Serving up burgers, wings, fries and more, the kitchen aims to show…
Wasabi will open a new location tomorrow in the Central West End
Wasabi Sushi Bar is opening its seventh location this Thursday, Dec. 17, located at 4239 Duncan Ave. in the Central West End. The new location in partnership with Midas Hospitality is part of the Cortex tech district and sits next to the Aloft Hotel owned by Midas, a hotel development, management and investment firm. Wasabi…
Mangia Italiano on South Grand will close permanently on Sunday
Mangia Italiano, famous for its inviting menu of Italian classics and infamous for its rowdy late nights, has announced via Facebook that this Sunday, Dec. 20, will be its final day of service. The restaurant at 3145 S. Grand Blvd. was originally opened in 1983 by Richard “Doc” Parmley and his wife, Micci. “While we have…
15 Christmas takeout options in St. Louis to make your holidays merry and bright
Local restaurants are taking the hassle out of Christmas dinner this year and have curated holiday meals that are available for preorder now. From Belgian waffles to barbecue to festive cocktails, these restaurants have you covered. Bogart’s Smokehouse has prepared a holiday menu for patrons with main dishes like turkey breast and bacon-wrapped ham, ranging from $26…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 4 Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai pays homage in name and spirit to chef-owner Su Hill’s hometown in northern Thailand and shares with us a rare taste of the region’s food. The friendly staff aren’t there to judge your lack of familiarity with the cuisine; rather, they’re excited to teach you just when to take tiny bites of fresh…
Two huge Rec Hall games bars are slated to open in the St. Louis area in the coming months
Rec Hall, a massive, games-centered bar formerly known as the Recess pop-up in the Grove, is slated to open its first location later this month at 800 S. Duchesne Drive in St. Charles. And an even larger location will open in summer 2021 as the main tenant in the historic Armory District building in St. Louis’…
SymBowl has closed its doors in Kirkwood permanently
Fast-casual restaurant SymBowl, known for its stir-fries and smoothies, announced this past Tuesday, Dec. 8, that it had closed the previous day. The restaurant was opened as HotPot Smoothie Shop in 2011 by co-owners Becky Schoenig and Gregory Owens. “SymBowl leaves behind its faithful parents, a handful of employees, and several local purveyors,” a Facebook…
Niche Food Group debuts La Verita Distilleria with bottled liqueurs, cordials and more
Niche Food Group co-owner Gerard Craft and former Taste Bar manager Meredith Barry have teamed together to create a tasteful addition to the already renowned Niche Food Group, La Verita Distilleria. Available at Pastaria Deli & Wine in Clayton, the new line offers artisan liqueurs, non-alcoholic cordials and more. An idea Craft has had for…
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Safely celebrate the holidays at Union Station
The holidays may be quite a change of pace from years past, but Union Station in downtown St. Louis still has a slew of holiday attractions, events and other family-friendly fun lined up to make your holidays as merry and bright as possible while adhering to all recommended safety precautions. The halls are decked throughout…
Ices Plain & Fancy partners with Rolling Lawns Farm and now offers pints of ice cream
Ices Plain & Fancy solidified a partnership with Rolling Lawns Farm this year and has created new classic-churned ice cream pints for customers to take home. Ices, which has been open since 2014, is proud to use only this single-source dairy from Rolling Lawns to make their ice cream. The shop has been offering its…
The Wagamama dog-friendly cafe is now open in south St. Louis
When The Wagamama first opened in 2014 in the Shaw neighborhood, it was a pet-centric boutique offering a variety of items, from pet-themed jewelry to home decor. Now, it has moved and expanded to include a cafe offering coffee and tea in a dog-friendly environment. Food options will be offered in January 2021. Moving into…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 2 Noto Italian Restaurant
In St. Peters, on the side of what feels like a highway, lies Noto Italian Restaurant, the hidden gem of the 2020 Best New Restaurants list. “It’s pretty much a bunch of fast food or chains, and I could tell people are starving for something different out here,” said co-owner Kendele Sieve. Sieve and husband…
St. Louis city will allow restaurants to repurpose metered parking for carryout service
St. Louis city restaurants without free parking have faced an additional challenge for providing convenient carryout service. The issue is particularly problematic for those located in dense neighborhoods such as the Central West End where many parking spaces are metered. To combat this problem, St. Louis mayor Lyda Krewson’s office has worked with the Streets…
St. Louis restaurants turn to air purity upgrades as a supplemental indoor dining safety measure
For the better part of the last year, St. Louis restaurants and diners have been looking outdoors for a safer approach to dining during the pandemic. With winter – and the end of patio season – looming, restaurants are turning their attention back indoors and looking to upgrade the effectiveness of their heating and cooling…
5 St. Louis shops offering special Hanukkah treats to light up your holiday table
Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, begins at sundown this Thursday, Dec 10. The Jewish holiday celebrates the ancient Jewish people’s rebuilding of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, during which a small amount of oil is believed to have miraculously burned for eight days. Classic Hanukkah treats like potato latkes (a fritter-like pancake) and…
2020 Best New Restaurants // No. 1 The Lucky Accomplice
There’s an old platitude that defines luck as what happens when preparation meets opportunity. The Lucky Accomplice pushes a similar line on its website, where an ultra-stylish purple and black banner reads “make your own luck.” The curious irony here is that, in light of the pandemic, the circumstances around the opening of chef Logan…
First Look: Songbird in Forest Park Southeast
Songbird, the latest restaurant from co-owners Chris Meyer and executive chef Mike Miller opened on Saturday, Nov. 28, in Forest Park Southeast at 4476 Chouteau Ave. At the moment, it’s a breakfast spot, an idea that stemmed from the popularity of the Kitchen Kulture breakfast sandwich at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market. “We started thinking…
12 heated patios in St. Louis to keep you warm in the great outdoors
With Covid cases on the rise and indoor dining currently prohibited in St. Louis County and at reduced capacity in the city, you may still be clinging onto patio season. Luckily, bars and restaurants throughout the area are working hard to meet the growing demand for heated outdoor dining space. Here are 12 options to…
Beast Southern Kitchen & BBQ will open this Sunday in Columbia, Illinois
Hot off the heels of being named one of the best butcher shops in the country by Food & Wine, the Beast Craft BBQ Co. group will open its third spot, Beast Southern Kitchen & BBQ, this Sunday, Dec. 6, at 1280 Columbia Center in Columbia, Illinois. Husband-and-wife duo and co-owners David and Meggan Sundusky –…
Brennan’s in the Central West End suffers devastating fire on reopening day
Brennan’s, which was due to reopen tonight, Thursday, Dec. 3, in its new home at 316 N. Euclid Ave. in the Central West End, has suffered extensive damage from a fire that happened early this morning. The bar had previously closed its doors at 4695 Maryland Ave. location late last year, where it had spent…
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Affordable air purification system helps keep restaurants, homes and more safe through pandemic and beyond
With the coronavirus circulating around us at breakneck speed and winter closing in, people are seeking solutions to remain indoors while staying as safe as possible. Luckily, there’s an air purification product that can be installed in your existing HVAC system that can reduce virus transmission at a very reasonable cost of about $750 to…
The Golden Hoosier aims to open in old Southtown Pub space in spring 2021
The quirky aesthetic of a hunting lodge watering hole meets the style of a South City bar in a new concept slated to open this spring, The Golden Hoosier. Located at 3707 S. Kingshighway Blvd., the bar and restaurant has completely transformed what was once Southtown Pub. The Golden Hoosier is the brainchild of brothers…
Sauce seeks editorial interns for spring 2021
Attention journalism, communications and English students: Sauce Magazine is seeking remote editorial interns for spring 2021. We need students with a passion for the St. Louis food scene who want to translate that love to print and online media. As a Sauce editorial intern, you will: • Assist Sauce editorial team with the production of the monthly…
New Day Gluten Free Bakery and Cafe will close after service today
New Day Gluten Free Bakery and Cafe, which has been operating at 7807 Clayton Road in Clayton since January of 2017, has announced via Facebook and its website that it will be closing its doors permanently. The last day of service will be Wednesday, Dec. 2. “We have loved being a part of your lives…
Mango Peruvian Cuisine will shutter for good on Dec. 19
Mango Peruvian Cuisine has announced that it will close its doors at 1001 Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis after service on Saturday, Dec. 19. The restaurant has been open for 16 years. “To the people of St. Louis and surrounding areas who kept an open mind and let us share our love of food,…
Edgewild has permanently closed of 2 of its 3 restaurants
Last week, on Friday, Nov. 27, EdgeWild Bistro & Tap announced via Facebook that it would be permanently closing its Creve Coeur and Edwardsville locations. Its Chesterfield location, Edgewild Restaurant & Winery, at 550 Chesterfield Center will remain open. “This has been an extremely difficult decision,” the owners wrote in the Facebook post. “We love…
St. Louis’ Best New Restaurants of 2020
The Best New Restaurants list is traditionally the subject of months of impassioned argument at Sauce Magazine. Each of us enters the process with our own sense of which restaurants are best, but after spending countless weeks sharing meals and debating feverishly, we compile a ranked list we all agree on. As per usual, our…
