Stella Blues bar in south St. Louis plans comeback after fire damages building
When a kitchen fire broke out and shuttered the doors at beloved Tower Grove South bar Stella Blues at 3269 Morgan Ford Road in early April, the owner and staff vowed the closure would be temporary. But if we know anything from the rash of kitchen fires that have closed local restaurants in the last few years, there’s…
Russell’s Cafe & Bakery products can now be found in all Dierbergs locations around St. Louis
Fans of Russell’s Cafe & Bakery can now buy some of their baked goods, including their famous gooey butter cake with salted shortbread crust, at all 27 Dierbergs locations. Four Russell’s products are now available at Dierbergs: original gooey butter cake; chocolate chip gooey butter cake; Grammy’s carrot cake; and fudge brownies. “We’re thrilled to…
Chef Ben Welch is opening 2 new restaurants in the Grove later this year
Chef Ben Welch, a 2022 James Beard semifinalist nominee for Best Chef Midwest who was formerly involved in local concepts including Big Baby Q, The Midwestern and Botanica, is about to have both hands extremely full: Come September – if all goes to plan – he’ll be swinging wide the doors to two new restaurants.…
Ichiro Ramen now open in Oakville offering array of Asian cuisine
Ichiro Ramen opened its doors on Wednesday, May 29, at 5638 Telegraph Road in Oakville. This family-owned and -operated business is the second venture of the Ye family, who formerly owned Yummy House in St. Charles. “The customers seemed happy; it got really, really busy,” said manager Ray Sun, the son of chef-owner Amy Ye,…
Your guide to Mexican markets around St. Louis
You can’t easily replicate the vibrancy of a bustling Mexican restaurant, but with a well-stocked pantry, you can create bright salsas, fresh, warm tortillas and much more in your own kitchen. There are plenty of Mexican grocery stores around St. Louis where you can plug the gaps in your own pantry, but first you’ll need…
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Central West End Cocktail Party returns to St. Louis on June 8
One of our favorite parties of the year returns to the charming streets of the Central West End on Saturday, June 8. In commemoration of what was reportedly the first cocktail party on record, held by Mrs. Julius S. Walsh Jr. at her Lindell Boulevard home in 1917, the seventh annual Central West End Cocktail…
Damn Fine Hand Pies is opening in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis this weekend
The brick-and-mortar version of Damn Fine Hand Pies at 4000 Shaw Blvd. in St. Louis seems set for opening soon. Here are the clues: The old Five Aces Bar-B-Que sign has been rudimentarily covered in (apparently rainproof!) butcher paper bearing the bakery’s name, and there are two mint picnic tables out front. A peep inside…
This week on the Sauce podcast: The Crow’s Nest, Olive + Oak, Madrina and more
This week’s episode is brought to you by YES.TEA, a new line of hard teas from the team behind 4 Hands Brewing Co. This week on the Sauce podcast, Meera and Michelle discuss a recent trip to Madrina in Webster Groves followed by a quick jaunt to Olive + Oak for a post-dinner drink. Also in the…
St. Louis-based Dad’s Cookie Co. in Dutchtown has new owners
The iconic Dad’s Cookie Co. at 3854 Louisiana Ave. in the Dutchtown neighborhood of St. Louis has been selling cookies to St. Louisans since 1927, and a change in ownership was just announced. The Hastey brothers have sold the business to the Huber brothers, who plan to keep the secret recipe for the famous scotch…
Dao Tien in downtown St. Louis has closed permanently, but Dao Tien Express is now open in Florissant
There were some tasty smells on Olive Street in downtown St. Louis at lunchtime today, but sadly none of them were coming from Dao Tien. That popular Vietnamese restaurant at 820 Olive St. closed its doors last Friday, having occupied that spot since 2018. Fortunately, there’s a second location Dao Tien Express at 728 S. New…
Prioritized Pastries is opening in the former home of Pie Oh My in Maplewood
A St. Louis bakery known for its gluten-free, vegan and allergy-friendly offerings will open the doors to its new and expanded location in Maplewood on June 1. Prioritized Pastries chef-owner Alex McDonnell told Sauce Magazine she was closing the bakery’s five-year-old home on Devonshire Avenue in south city in February, saying she’d simply outgrown the 200-square-foot space. Now…
Good Day Farm’s THCV gummies don’t give you the munchies
As cannabis becomes increasingly commonplace in Missouri, and the companies peddling it work hard to set themselves apart from the pack, a growing number of more obscure cannabinoids are popping up in their products. When I saw Good Day Farm’s High Dose Daydream THCV-infused gummies at Codes Dispensary marketed as a sativa-like product — my…
Three Sixty Westport has killer cocktails and a luxurious ambiance in Maryland Heights
The massive new Three Sixty Westport exudes luxury, from the velvet-covered furniture and lavish floor-to-ceiling window treatments to the dim mood lighting, fire features throughout, plus a stunning bar and rooftop patio. The cocktail list was conceptualized by local bar consulting company Bangers Only, led by Kyle Mathis and Tim Wiggins. Try the tropical Stone Cathedral,…
First Look: Bud’s Pizza & Beer in the Northampton neighborhood of St. Louis
Bud’s Pizza & Beer, the new pizza restaurant and bar from the team behind The Golden Hoosier, will open on June 12 at 3805 S. Kingshighway Blvd. in Northampton. For co-owners Ivan and Berto Garcia, also of real estate agency Garcia Properties, Bud’s is the next frontier in revitalizing the neighborhood they’re calling the Crown…
9 Mile Garden in Affton will soon debut a permanent coffee truck
9 Mile Garden at 9375 Gravois Road in Affton is getting a new addition that’s a bit unusual for a food truck destination: a permanent fixture. The food truck garden announced it would be opening 9 Mile Garden Cafe, a drive-thru and walk-up coffee truck that will be parked on the grounds in perpetuity. The cafe,…
4 new St. Louis-area restaurants you need to try this month
Every month, we aim to try all the new restaurants and bars that open in the area so we can make meaningful recommendations on where you should go. Here’s where made the cut in May 2024. Pink Willow Cafe in Cottleville Cottleville has gained an adorable new spot for breakfast, brunch and lunch with Pink Willow…
Constantino’s Italian restaurant opening in former home of The Feasting Fox on South Grand in St. Louis in June
There’s new pizza coming to the party. Constantino’s, which zooms in on the cuisine of southern Italy, will open at 4200 S. Grand Blvd. at 5 p.m. on June 8 in the spot formerly occupied by The Feasting Fox, a German restaurant. According to its moniker, it will be “pizza you can’t refuse.” Add to…
This week on the Sauce podcast: Sauce 75, your guide to the essential St. Louis restaurants right now
This week’s episode is brought to you by YES.TEA, a new line of hard teas from the team behind 4 Hands Brewing Co. This week Meera and Michelle discuss a recent trip to Dressel’s where the pretzel is still playing a starring role on the menu. From saucemagazine.com, they delve into forthcoming No Ordinary Rabbit in…
10 patios in St. Louis where you can avoid the cicadas while enjoying the great outdoors
We’re abuzz over here, and we’re also freaking out: The cicadas have arrived and will be with us for the next several weeks, but we’ve got some ideas for ways to escape them; places to go where you may not be ogled by quite so many extremely large, blood-red eyes. We’re banking, frankly, on this…
Pretzel Boy’s is opening its fourth St. Louis-area location in O’Fallon, Missouri, this spring
We’re in a twist, but a good one. In a couple of weeks, there’ll be another place to get Pretzel Boy’s pretzels when a fourth location opens at 2699 Highway K in O’Fallon, Missouri. While this store will be owned and operated by Beth and James Tesson, Tim Garvey – the business’ original founder –…
Vanchovy is a secondhand cookbook store on wheels rolling around St. Louis
Stephanie McKinney loves cookbooks and wants to share that passion with like-minded people in St. Louis with Vanchovy, the mobile cookbook store she operates out of a 1992 Honda Acty Kei van. Vanchovy debuted with pop-ups at May’s Night Market and Clements Lock & Security in early May, and McKinney will be appearing at more…
Manileño off South Grand spotlights homestyle Filipino cooking
The menu at this Tower Grove South restaurant spotlights homestyle Filipino cooking, with dinner portions designed for sharing. Three or four diners can comfortably split the pork adobo, although those chunks of braised pork, marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, peppercorns, bay leaves and various herbs and spices, are addictive. Be alert to co-eaters who may…
Vegan Deli and Butcher serves excellent takes on classics in south St. Louis
Chris Bertke has a tendency to look frazzled, but if you watch him at work in his new open kitchen on the high-trafficked crook of Morgan Ford Road and Gravois Avenue, there’s a grace and calm about him. He’s delicate with his herbs, he slices his subs and breads gently. He moves about behind the…
Eat these Turkish eggs at Telva at the Ridge in Webster Groves
The cilbir (Turkish eggs) at Telva at the Ridge is a silky, sumptuous breakfast. Warm garlic yogurt and gently cooked eggs make for a rich base, while a tomato-chile brown butter sauce adds a little acid for balance and a flurry of herbs provides a fresh finish. Telva’s signature somun flatbread is served toasted on…
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Your guide to drinking wine in and around St. Louis this summer
The weather is finally warming and it’s time to wine and dine. From gorgeous wineries and tasting rooms in the heart of Midwest wine country to wine-centric restaurants and bars closer to the city, here are some great spots to sip some wine this year. Augusta Winery and Sisters Located in the Augusta American Viticulture…
Black Lab Coffee now open in University City inside Washington University’s Lewis Collaborative building
Black Lab Coffee opened at 725 Kingsland Ave. in University City earlier this year and, in a way, we’re ruining the surprise. Embedded in Washington University’s Lewis Collaborative building – a 3.75-acre hub for the arts – it’s a little hard to find, but more than worth the trip. Surrounded on all sides by graveled,…
5 trucks to visit at Sauce Food Truck Friday on May 17 at Tower Grove Park
The first Sauce Food Truck Friday of the summer takes place this Friday, May 17, in Tower Grove Park. The event, which will run from 4 to 8 p.m., will be the first of six monthly Food Truck Fridays which will conclude on Oct. 4 (the rain makeup date from the postponed April 26 date).…
Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton launches additional day for Au Soleil summer pool parties in 2024
Au Soleil at the Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton hotel at 7730 Bonhomme Ave. has been a popular event series the past few years, so they’re adding an extra day each week for 2024. Last year, the event took place only on Thursday evenings, but soon you’ll be able to go on Fridays as well.…
Ramsay’s Kitchen has officially opened to the public at Four Seasons St. Louis
After a highly exclusive soft opening phase in April that left the public eagerly anticipating the grand opening, Ramsay’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay has finally opened at the Four Seasons St. Louis at 999 N. Second St. in downtown St. Louis and is now accepting reservations from the general public. “St. Louis is an incredible…
Neon Greens is serving super fresh salads in the Grove
One of the most anticipated restaurants of the year has finally opened in the Grove offering salads as delicious as we’d hoped, with super-fresh lettuce grown on-site in a hydroponic farm and an impressive variety of interesting cooked and pickled veggies, grains and more. Start with the delicious chewy cheese bread, inspired by Brazilian pão…
Lafayette Local cafe opening in former Rue Lafayette space this fall
More than 10 years have passed since Rue Lafayette closed, but people in Lafayette Square never stopped talking about it. The cafe at 2026 Lafayette Ave. was reportedly a victim of the divorce of its proprietor Araceli Kopiloff and her husband Richard Zimmer when it shuttered in 2013, and yet no one seemed certain the closure was…
5 dessert shops to try around St. Louis this spring
We’re always on the lookout for something sweet, and St. Louis never fails to deliver on that front. If you’re looking to get your sweet fix somewhere new this season, here are four relatively new places you can check out today, along with an ice cream shop that is set to open in the near…
This week on the Sauce podcast: Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box and Telva at the Ridge in Webster Groves
This week’s episode is brought to you by YES.TEA, a new line of hard teas from the team behind 4 Hands Brewing Co. This week on the Sauce podcast, we debut our second guest. After years of working for other restaurateurs, Loryn Nalic, together with her husband Edo Nalic, opened Balkan Treat Box in 2016 as…
Drink this frozen Thai Collins cocktail from Narwhal’s Crafted
There are certain seasonal markers we just depend on in St. Louis. Fall means orchard adventures at Eckert’s Farm, winter has the brewery lights at Anheuser-Busch, and spring is brought to the plate on Cardinals opening day. At Sauce, we know summer is just over the horizon when we sip a Thai Collins at the…
Dirty 20 Nerd Bar now open in Ballwin with a focus on Dungeons & Dragons
If you were opening a bar designed to be a hub for tabletop games and nerd culture, you might decide that there could be no better day to open for business than May 4. “May the Fourth be with you” puns have been an important play on Star Wars dialogue going all the back to 1979 and…
Honey’s sells delicious baked goods and savory comfort food in north St. Louis
When Honey’s first launched in North City in 2016, it was a home-based bakery business. But in 2022, on Valentine’s Day, the bakery moved into a storefront at 5051 Riverview Blvd. in Walnut Park. Since then, it has evolved further: Now, it’s a takeout restaurant open for pre-orders only, and as a result has expanded…
No Ordinary Rabbit opening in former Nixta space in Botanical Heights in late summer 2024
No Ordinary Rabbit, a restaurant and wine and cocktail bar, is set to open at 1621 Tower Grove Ave. in Botanical Heights by Sept. 1 in the former home of Ben Poremba’s Nixta, a distinct and whimsical “tiled” building a few paces from Union Loafers Cafe & Bread Bakery. Steve Gontram, owner of 5 Star…
Eatwell Market by Schnucks is permanently closing in Chesterfield
Eatwell Market, a health- and wellness-focused grocery store launched by Schnucks first in Columbia in 2020, then in Chesterfield in 2023, has announced it will soon be closing. “After careful consideration, we have decided to discontinue our Eatwell Market by Schnucks banner, which operated stores in Columbia and Chesterfield, Missouri,” a social media post from…
The Fattened Caf is opening a brick-and-mortar just off Cherokee Street later this year
The Fattened Caf, one of St. Louis’ favorite Filipino barbecue fusion restaurants, is set to become even more of a permanent fixture in town. The concept, run by husband and wife Charlene Lopez-Young and Darren Young, is working on opening a brick-and-mortar storefront at 3405 S. Jefferson Ave. “It feels really good but really scary…
First Look: Well Met Cafe in the Shaw neighborhood of St. Louis
The team behind Polite Society and The Bellwether have opened a new cafe just north of Tower Grove Park at 4100 Shenandoah Ave. Brian Schmitz and Jonathan Schoen, along with beverage director Travis Hebrank (co-owners of Be Polite Hospitality), have picked a good spot to deliver another warm and comfortable gathering space – their signature…
Clementine’s Ice Cream is reopening its Lafayette Square location after 6-month closure
After a pipe burst at Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Ice Cream in Lafayette Square six months ago, the storefront at 1637 S. 18th St. is finally set to reopen on Wednesday, May 15. “This is my flagship shop and we have been working around the clock to reopen as quickly as possible,” owner Tamara Keefe…
9 foodie events you can’t miss in St. Louis this spring and summer
The weather is finally warm and we cannot wait to start getting out and about to all the great events the St. Louis area has to offer. From our own Sauce Food Truck Friday in Tower Grove Park to Taste of St. Louis at Ballpark Village and the Festival of the Little Hills in St.…
Benton Park’s Yemanja Brasil Restaurante reopens after 2-month closure and shift in business model
Yemanja Brasil Restaurante, the once-fine-dining Brazilian restaurant at 2900 Missouri Ave. in Benton Park, didn’t know if it was going to make it. In January and February of this year, owners Lemya Sidki and chef Raul Uribe (Sidki’s husband) took drastic measures and, for the first time in 29 years, closed their doors unsure when,…
The Original Crusoe’s has closed in Dutchtown, will reopen with new name in Bevo Mill this summer
The Original Crusoe’s finally closed its doors at 3152 Osceola St. in Dutchtown a few weeks ago, eight months after owner Stevie Limmer LaChance first announced it would be shuttering. LaChance had been buoyed by the outpouring of support for the South City mainstay, which her father founded in 1979. She grew up in the restaurant before taking over…
Revel Kitchen has opened a location in Maplewood with a drive-thru
Out with the old, and in with the deliciously (and nutritiously) new. Revel Kitchen, the health-conscious, fast-casual restaurant offering locally sourced, organic foods, has snuck into the spot formerly occupied by Jack in the Box at 7520 Manchester Road in Maplewood, and is fueling both drivers and walk-in customers in its own unique way. This…
Celebrate Mother’s Day at these restaurants and event spaces around St. Louis
With Mother’s Day quickly approaching, it’s the perfect time to lift the load off your mom’s shoulders and show just how much you appreciate her. What better way to show love than with delicious food? St. Louis has myriad Mother’s Day offerings and, while many have sold out, there are still plenty of available options…
The Haven in south St. Louis has closed due to death of the owner
Landmark South City bar and grill The Haven at 6625 Morgan Ford Road has closed its doors, possibly temporarily, following the death of owner John Gasperi early last month. The restaurant announced Gasperi’s April 9 passing on its various social media platforms, writing on Google that “John loved the Haven, and its employees, and customers more…
This week on the Sauce podcast: Good Company in the Grove, Southwest Diner and more
This week’s episode is brought to you by YES.TEA, a new line of hard teas from the team behind 4 Hands Brewing Co. This week on the Sauce podcast, Michelle and Meera discuss the newly opened Good Company in the Grove, where they are making delicious cocktails with their premium ice. They also discuss the star of…
Tee Rak sells delicious Thai food at farmers markets and events around St. Louis
In Thai, “tee rak” means “my love” or “my dear,” said Tee Rak chef and founder Alada Poodtajan. “I call my family ‘tee rak,’ I call my husband ‘tee rak,’” she added. The name reflects her affection for Thai cuisine, but it’s also a call to customers to come and enjoy her food. Poodtajan, who…
Bike shop Pedal’N Pi serves great pizza and more in Crystal City south of St. Louis
A little ways south of St. Louis, close to where the countryside rolls, Pedal’N Pi is fueling customers for the road. If you’re a trail biker – and, actually, if you’re not – this is the place to come. It feels like a good business model, especially when the weather is fine (and it’s a…
Blueprint Coffee opens new roasting facility and headquarters near Shaw neighborhood in St. Louis
St. Louis is about to get a lot more caffeinated. Local specialty roaster Blueprint Coffee has opened a new headquarters and roastery in the Tiffany neighborhood just north of Shaw. The new facility at 1600 S. 39th St. is large at 11,000 square feet. It will encompass the roastery, offices and an education hub and,…
Baked & Boiled’s New York-style bagels are a great addition to Soulard
There are only so many words for chewy. I looked them up. Coriaceous was one, leathery was another, so was rubbery and so was tough; I liked dry as old boots. “Chewy,” my thesaurus seems to suggest, is not a good thing to be. It’s not true. It is true, however, that bagels can be…
The Wood Shack will close permanently in Soulard on May 4
Less than a year after The Wood Shack relocated to a bigger location at 1731 S. 7th St., the Soulard smokehouse is closing. The restaurant’s last day of service will be May 4. The restaurant announced its forthcoming closure on Instagram on May 2, writing, “Thank you so much dining with us. Now it’s our dinner time.…
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7 food trucks worth following around St. Louis this season
Bougie Bites Bougie Bites is changing the narrative of what nourishing food accessibility looks like in St. Louis – one plant-based meal at a time. Can’t wait for their brick-and-mortar grand opening? Neither can we. In the meantime, they’re slingin’ late-night favorites with a side of flavor and fun from our food truck. Sign up…
8 creative takes on the spicy margarita at St. Louis bars right now
There’s not much a bartender can do to improve upon the simple perfection of a margarita. When properly mixed, it’s an unpretentious classic and an ideal entry-level cocktail that strikes a perfect balance between sweet and sour. National beverage trends have been flirting with adventurous savory flavors for the last few years, so it tracks…
First Look: Good Company in the Grove
After a soft opening this past weekend, Good Company officially opened for business on April 30 at the former Layla space at 4317 Manchester Ave. in the Grove. The cocktail bar and restaurant is co-owned by Jordan Goodman and Kyle Gillespie, who also own Good Ice, a local company that specializes in boutique custom ice cubes and sculptures. So,…
St. Louis landmark Nachomama’s has been serving Tex-Mex for 30 years in Rock Hill
The realization that Nachomama’s turns 30 this year is a bit like being told you’re three decades older than you thought you were. Because part of me is still back there in the mid-1990s, waiting in some old banger in the drive-thru line for cheese quesadillas and a margarita for the road. But it’s true:…
This week on the Sauce podcast: Casa Don Alfonso, Fordo’s Killer Pizza and more
This week on the Sauce podcast, Meera and Michelle discuss dining at Casa Don Alfonso inside The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, where they tried a pasta tossed with deep-fried zucchini and for dessert their dazzling pistachio profiteroles with pistachio cream. Also in the conversation was an epic office lunch with spring salads from Knead Bakehouse + Provisions…
