Danni Eickenhorst is CEO of HuSTL Hospitality and co-owner of some of St. Louis’ most beloved restaurants, including Steve’s Hot Dogs, Steve’s Meltdown at City Foundry STL, and iconic The Fountain on Locust. She recently joined us on The Sauce podcast, and now she shares her top five St. Louis restaurants.
“All of my favorite spots are for gluten-free people in St. Louis,” she said. “I think that St. Louis has been slow to catch on that the gluten free population is continuing to grow – and that we need delicious bready, doughy options – not just salads. These folks take care to give you a great experience.”
“Katie’s Pizza & Pasta is one of my favorite spots. As a gluten free person, I love nothing more than the rare opportunities I get to enjoy something doughy and bready. Katie’s makes a few different dips that come with a gluten free pizza crust warm and cut up for dipping, coated with honey and light sea salt – it’s just PERFECTION. If you still have room for food after that, they offer incredible gluten-free pizza and pasta options.”
“Frisco Barroom is super friendly for gluten-free folks like myself – and they are known for doing fish right. I love their salted fish (an occasional special) and my day-to-day go-to- is their Rainbow Trout (sans breadcrumbs!) with arugula and wild rice. Most of their weekly specials can be modified to be gluten free as well.”
“Levels Nigerian is a family favorite. Chicken Suya, Jollof Rice and Goat Meat Peppers Soup are a few of our go-to’s. It’s total comfort food in a laidback environment. This isn’t a quick meal – it’s an experience.”
“The Barn in Crestwood: On a day off, or on any special occasion, you’ll usually find us here for breakfast. It’s located in the barn on the Sappington House property in Crestwood – and they serve the BEST classic breakfast. My husband will usually go for one of their 5 different eggs Benedicts.”
“Umami Seasons Hotpot in the Loop is a go-to for family nights. It’s a slow-paced meal where you gather around a yin-yang pot of two broths and you slowly cook your meat and vegetables fondue-style. My go-to is their spicy broth paired with their healthy broth – and I always order a plum soju to drink. When you have a teenager (as we do) who doesn’t give you much time, this slows things down and gives you time for conversation and quality time.”
