11 reasons we love Pink Galleon Billiards and Games in Creve Coeur
What if Pirates of the Caribbean was a Miami Vice nightclub? What if you took a hit of acid and went to a beachside dive bar in Cocoa Beach, Florida? What if an airbrushed T-shirt was a physical place? The possible analogies are endless and still, you cannot possibly overstate just how wild it is…
Taste has closed in the Central West End and will be replaced by new Niche concept Brass Bar
On Tuesday of this week, award-winning cocktail bar Taste, at 4584 Laclede Ave. in the Central West End, closed its doors for the last time, as announced on social media by owner Gerard Craft. “While we were hopeful to usher in a new era of Taste when we reopened in June, bouncing back was harder…
Review: Taste of Persia on South Grand
From educated professional to dishwasher to successful restaurateur: It’s a familiar story for many emigres who have fled their countries of origin due to war, oppressive regimes, dangerous political situations, or just to start over in new a country. And it never ceases to amaze. Mohammad and Sofiya Abdolrezagh opened Taste of Persia in 2019…
Yen Ching in Brentwood is a St. Louis landmark
Americans like to think they know Chinese food. We have our favorite dishes and restaurants; sometimes we have our entire orders dialed in before we even see a menu. And while the best American-Chinese restaurants offer a wide range of excellent dishes, many of those are often adapted from traditional recipes in order to fit…
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Follow all your senses to choose the perfect medical marijuana strain
When selecting the best strain of medical marijuana flower to meet your needs, there are several factors at play. THC content has long been considered of paramount importance; however, the terpene profile should perhaps be of even more significant consideration. “A lot of people base their decisions on THC potency, but this is a flawed…
What I Do: Dr. Harley Hammerman of Lost Tables? and Lost Dishes?
Dr. Harley Hammerman is the researcher and writer behind websites Lost Tables and Lost Dishes. The twin sites document St. Louis’ shuttered-but-still-beloved restaurants and their signature dishes. A radiologist by training, Hammerman initially honed his archival skills collecting materials related to playwright Eugene O’Neill, which he documented on a website he built himself. After deciding…
Barcelona Tapas Restaurant in Clayton has closed and plans to reopen in a new location
Clayton mainstay Barcelona Tapas Restaurant, previously of 34 N. Central Ave., served its last sangria late last month, ahead of a move to a new location that has not yet been determined. Owners Frank and Eloise Schmitz are overseeing the process, with hopes to sustain the success first found in 2002. As the name of the…
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Cinder House chef de cuisine Peter Slay’s secret to happiness in the kitchen
Ask anyone: Chef Peter Slay is the happiest man in his kitchen. Actually, he just might be the happiest guy in all of Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis. You might say, “Sure, he just got a huge promotion, moving from his role as sous chef at Cinder House to chef de cuisine.” But no; Peter…
First Look: Rockwell Beer Garden in Francis Park
“It’s just weird to transform a garage into a taproom,” Rockwell Beer Garden general manager Nancy Etzkorn said, laughing. And when, earlier in the year, it was just a shed in the middle of Francis Park, the idea did indeed seem weird. But the Rockwell Beer Co. team has done it, and now the much-anticipated…
7 ways to celebrate Halloween in St. Louis
Spooky season is here and it’s time to celebrate. Here are some events that will get you in the Halloween spirit. Lemp Brewery is hosting a Halloween pop-up Dinner Party from Hell. With a four-course dinner, live music and ballroom dancing, this event is sure to add “excitement and romance” to your Halloween festivities this year. Tickets available online. The Dinner Party from…
First Look: Sureste at City Foundry in St. Louis
Regional Mexican cuisine has been seeing a renaissance lately in St. Louis, and chef Alex Henry’s new City Foundry STL (3730 Foundry Way) restaurant, Sureste, is an exciting addition. Henry previously served as head chef at Cleveland-Heath and Nixta and has cooked at restaurants like Vicia and Brasserie, but this is his first solo spot. …
Caleco’s Bar & Grill and Balducci’s Restaurant have closed
Two long-running local establishments have closed recently as Balducci’s Restaurant (12527 Bennington Place) shut its doors in St. Louis County and Caleco’s Bar & Grill (101 N. Broadway) has apparently closed in downtown St. Louis. On Sunday, Oct. 17, Balducci’s posted a message on its Facebook account explaining the closing. “For 46 years we did our…
Eat these veggie dumplings at Thai 202 in St. Louis
The steamed veggie dumplings at Thai 202 are like little gifts. Minced cabbage, mushroom, carrot and herbs are folded inside chewy dough and steamed. The results are pillowy, doughnut-shaped dumplings dressed with a little sesame oil, crispy fried garlic and chopped scallions. The final flourish is a rich and savory black soy sauce vinaigrette spiked…
Westchester, spearheaded by former Sugarfire executive chef Matthew Glickert, will open in Chesterfield this fall
A new seasonal, upscale concept will come to Chesterfield when Westchester opens this fall at 127 Chesterfield Towne Center. Matthew Glickert, formerly of Sugarfire Smoke House, Cardwell’s and BC’s Kitchen, will act as executive chef, partnering with Bryan Herr, former owner of Naked Vine, which closed during the pandemic. “Westchester’s something that we’ve been working…
First Look: Chicken Scratch at City Foundry in St. Louis
When former Niche executive chef Nate Hereford left St. Louis for San Francisco in 2016, it seemed like he was probably gone for good. But two years later, he returned to St. Louis and began developing a rotisserie concept. “Why not do rotisserie?” Hereford thought. “It seemed like a super unique idea for St. Louis.”…
First Look: Wild Crush Wine Bar(n) in Town & Country
Wild Crush Wine Bar(n) is bringing a rural winery feel a little closer to the city when it officially opens Friday, Oct. 22, at 13360 Clayton Road in Town & Country. The space is the brainchild of co-owners Jay Delsing and Karen Paslawski, who had the idea that people should come, drink great wine and…
Sabroso Cocina Mexicana serves authentic Mexican cuisine in St. Ann
Sabroso Cocina Mexicana opened earlier this month at 11146 Old St. Charles Road in St. Ann, as reported by St. Louis Magazine. Featuring industry veteran and former Mission Taco Joint culinary director Miguel Pintor as the restaurant’s co-owner and chef, Sabroso aims to serve the food that Pintor knows and loves – authentic Mexican dishes. “In Mexico, I…
6 St. Louis restaurants with reliably excellent salads
While researching our first Dope Salads list in 2019, we learned that restaurants’ salad selections can be unpredictable. Whether it’s because of the availability of transient produce like gorgeous tomatoes or ultra-fresh asparagus or because of the whimsicality of a chef who loves to change it up, sometimes menus change unexpectedly. Here are six places…
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N’Bliss celebrates 1 year of medical marijuana in Missouri
A bill legalizing medical marijuana passed in Missouri in late 2018, but it took nearly two years for the medicine to become available locally. N’Bliss Dispensary is proud to claim the title of having been the first dispensary open that served the very first medical marijuana patient in the state on Oct. 17, 2020. “The…
4 piquettes to try now
Made from the skins and other material left over from pressing grapes for wine, piquette is usually lighter and more tart than wine with lower alcohol content and a bit of fizz. Though not technically wine, piquettes are often found in wine shops and even on some restaurants’ wine lists. They’re a bit controversial: Some…
Chef Andrew Cisneros will open Peruvian restaurant Jalea in St. Charles later this year
Last we heard from Andrew Cisneros, he was well on his way to starting Brasas with Ben Poremba at AO&Co. But with the company making their trailer operating months behind schedule, Cisneros found himself with some free time on his hands. “My parents always wanted to open a Peruvian restaurant,” he explained. “After Covid, it…
Three Monkeys owners back in business with Black Sheep Whiskey & Wine and pizza concept Three Little Monkeys
When most restaurants closed during the pandemic, their owners were just excited to reopen the spaces as they were. Not Mary and Zach Rice, who closed their popular Morgan Ford restaurant Three Monkeys early in the pandemic; now, 19 months later, they’ve plotted a transformation that will see two completely new concepts. Black Sheep Whiskey…
Grafted Wine Bar & Lounge now open in historic building in Belleville
There’s a new wine bar in Belleville. Grafted Wine Bar & Lounge, now open at 310 E. Washington St., offers a unique selection of wines not often found around the area and was born from owner and sommelier Magda Gilpin’s desire to integrate a more diverse wine list into the community. “With smaller towns, when you don’t…
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10 comfort food dishes to try in St. Louis this fall
When the temperatures begin to drop and the holidays start to loom, our cravings for rich, delicious comforts go through the roof. Here are 10 tasty treats perfect for this – or any – season. Caramel Brioche Bread Pudding with Cherry Bourbon SauceWith a gooey, chewy middle and crispy, browned edges, this dessert gives you…
AJ’s Smashed and Smoked, from the owner of Jack Nolen’s, will open in Belleville this fall
This fall, Jim Grindstaff, proprietor of beloved smash burger spot Jack Nolen’s, will open AJ’s Smashed and Smoked at 6980 W. Main St. in Belleville. “I think things are going to go pretty smoothly and quickly,” Grindstaff said, pointing toward an early November open as his current goal. The restaurant will open in the…
An autumn tour of Illinois’ Calhoun and Jersey counties
With fall’s arrival comes a yen for gourds, the rustle of dried corn stalks, and bucolic spots to admire the changing foliage and soak in the sun’s shortened rays. Illinois’ Calhoun and Jersey counties, located just an hour from downtown St. Louis, make for ideal autumn day trip destinations. From the moment you pull onto…
9 mezcal cocktails to try at St. Louis bars
Tequila’s beloved sister spirit, mezcal, has been slowly entering the chat at local restaurants and bars to great success over the past decade or so. While tequila is made from agave steamed in ovens, mezcal is roasted in pits, giving it a smokier, earthier flavor. Because of its complexity, mezcal can be super versatile, adding…
4 Hands Brewing Co. is launching aged spirits line Withered Oak
4 Hands Brewing Co. continues to diversify with the announcement of Withered Oak, a line of aged spirits that will launch this Friday, Oct. 8, with the release of two bottles: a 5-year straight bourbon and a 5-year rye whiskey. “We have been working with MGP to build this brand over the last four years,”…
First Look: Commonwealth inside the Angad Arts Hotel in Grand Center Arts District
“We’re trying to have as much fun as possible,” said executive chef Scottie Corrigan about his new menu at Commonwealth (634 N. Grand Blvd.), which opened today, Wednesday, Oct. 6. “There will be some classic dishes, but we have full culinary freedom.” When asked about the concept, which reads complex on paper, Corrigan has a…
New owners look to preserve The Fountain on Locust, which now includes an event space
Since Joy Grdnic opened The Fountain on Locust (3037 Locust St.) in 2008, the retro restaurant has built up a significant and loyal following. Now, on (hopefully) the other side of the pandemic, Grdnic has decided to move on from the concept. “Joy was looking to retire before the pandemic happened, and that totally threw…
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Brew in the Lou returns to Francis Park on Saturday, Oct. 9
After being put on hold in 2020 due to the pandemic, Brew in the Lou is returning to Francis Park (corner of Donovan Avenue and Eichelberger Street) for its ninth annual fundraiser from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9. The event features over 100 tasting stations from some of St. Louis’ top breweries, wineries and distilleries,…
Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream will open a location in the Grove next year
Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream is opening a new location nearly two decades after its doors first opened in Webster Groves, as reported by St Louis Magazine. Owner Beckie Jacobs plans to open the new location in early 2022 on the ground level of the Gateway Lofts at 4400 Manchester Ave. in the Grove. Jacobs originally opened…
6 food- and beer-centric events to check out in St. Louis in October
Sauce Magazine’s Harvest FestivalSunday, Oct. 10 – 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tower Grove Park, 4501 Southwest Drive, St. Louis, 314.772.8004, harvestfeststl.com Celebrate the bounty of the season at this year’s Harvest Fest taking place in Tower Grove Park. Grab a bite from one of many restaurants including The Dam, Sister Cities Cajun and Bogart’s…
Mac’s Local Eats will move into former Brew Hub Taproom space in November as Brew Hub looks to relocate west
This past July, Bluewood Brewing announced that Mac’s Local Eats, who was sharing their space, would “no longer be operating” there as of Aug. 3. But Mac’s disagreed. In a confusing turn of events, the beloved burger joint stayed in the space and kept things running as usual. This November, the split will finally happen…
