Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

This month we’re recommending a range of experiences, from a cozy comeback steeped in family tradition on South Grand to a prix-fixe tasting menu from a local chef who’s just debuted his first brick-and-mortar in Maplewood. There’s also one spot that’s a little different from our normal recommendations: a high-tech, high-energy golf hangout in Clayton that’s all about games and good vibes with a food and drink component as an added bonus. Scroll through the slideshow below to see our picks for July.

Grand Bistro After nearly two years, the beloved space at 3195 S. Grand Blvd. has reopened its doors. Grand Bistro, the reincarnation of longtime Vietnamese favorite Pho Grand, quietly debuted this spring – no fanfare, just the familiar aroma of simmering broth drifting into the South Grand air. Pho Grand’s 2022 closure after 33 years left a deep void in the community. “It was like the neighborhood losing a child,” Rachel Witt, executive director of the South Grand CID, told Sauce previously. Now, under the direction of Andrew Trinh – son of original owners Michael and Tami Trinh – Grand Bistro honors that legacy while offering a fresh chapter. The menu is expansive and familiar, and while we already know the pho delivers, we ventured into new territory. The Vietnamese chicken lettuce wraps are a great starter, light and savory with perfect crunch. The pan-fried noodles impress with crispy edges and tender vegetables, and the rice dishes are equally satisfying. On the cocktail side, the mezcal-based Passion Project is a creamy, sour flavor bomb with fruity passion fruit. The Grand Bistro Old-Fashioned was also nice with a hint of pho notes mixed in. With Vietnamese-inspired cocktails and the same family recipes behind the food, Grand Bistro feels both new and nostalgic. 3195 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Grand Bistro’s Vietnamese chicken lettuce wraps Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Grand Bistro’s Old-Fashioned and Passion Project Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Grand Bistro’s com dac biet Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Robin Restaurant After two years of pop-ups as The Robin Project, chef Alec Schingel has opened his first brick-and-mortar, Robin Restaurant, now open in the former home of The Benevolent King in Maplewood. The 36-seat space offers a $75 four-course prix-fixe menu rooted in Midwestern seasonality, presented with fine-dining polish but grounded in warmth and approachability. Dishes are thoughtfully portioned and beautifully plated – you’re paying as much for the experience as the food. During our visit, highlights included a light, verdant green garlic soup over creamed spinach, smoky asparagus on savory farm cheese with cured egg yolk, and ultra-creamy mushrooms in a rich broth that even won over the mushroom-averse diner in our party. The pork featured a crispy exterior with sweet apple accents, while the chicken was juicy and tender, and desserts like the Baked Alaska and a heartier, less-sweet riff on gooey butter cake rounded things out. The portions are smaller than what you’ll find at most places around town — a welcome change. We left feeling fully satisfied but not overly stuffed, a rare and refreshing shift from the typically excessive portions in America. Note: the menu changes seasonally, so these specific dishes may not be available when you go, but they reflect the kitchen’s creativity and balance. Expect fresh silverware with each course, attentive service and a space designed to feel just a bit better than home. 7268 Manchester Road, Maplewood, robinrestaurant.com Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Robin Restaurant’s spring chicken Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Robin Restaurant’s farm cheese with cured egg yolk Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Robin Restaurant’s pork schnitzel Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Robin Restaurant’s Baked Alaska Credit: photo by Lauren Healey
Five Iron Golf Five Iron Golf has opened its first St. Louis-area location in downtown Clayton, bringing a high-energy, all-skill-levels-welcome vibe to the ground floor of Emerson Tower. Spanning 8,300 square feet, the space is filled with cutting-edge golf simulators, lounge seating, and a full bar and kitchen – but don’t let the sleek design or golf tech intimidate you. This spot was built just as much for casual hangouts, birthday parties and happy hour crews as it was for serious golfers. Five Iron is built to meet you where you are, whether you’re a pro or just in it for the vibes. Yes, there’s instruction, leagues, and Callaway fittings, but the real fun comes from games like putt putt-style challenges and dodgeball-style competitions. It’s approachable, social and flexible: Mornings are mellow with solo practice and complimentary breakfast for members, while afternoons and late nights buzz with groups, cocktails and music. The menu highlight? The hot honey whipped ricotta with warm pita triangles, which we’d go back for alone. There’s also a solid cocktail list featuring crowd-pleasers like the Spread Love (of golf) Spritz, a sweeter riff on an Aperol spritz, alongside beer, wine and zero-proof options. 8027 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, fiveirongolf.com Credit: rendering courtesy of Five Iron Golf

Subscribe!

Sign up. We hope you like us, but if you don’t, you can unsubscribe by following the links in the email, or by dropping us a note at pr@saucemagazine.com.

Lauren is a longtime journalist who has honed her writing, reporting, editing and photography skills in various roles at newspapers, magazines and websites in the Midwest. Her time spent with Sauce since...