Tucked into a University City neighborhood, PerJax Americana Kitchen opened at 7401 Pershing Ave., in late May. Chef-owner Steve Cupp owned the Columbia, Missouri institution Glenn’s Café for decades before returning to his native St. Louis.
PerJax seats about 90 diners in the dining room and at the bar, and Cupp hopes to have room for an additional 30 on the outside patio pending permits. The eight beer taps are split evenly between local brews from Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., Ferguson Brewing Co., O’Fallon Brewery, Schlafly and Columbia, Missouri brewing company Logboat and national players like Goose Island, Elysian Brewing and their parent company, Anheuser-Busch.
Local wineries Chaumette and Augusta are included on the wine list from which guests can choose from nine white wines – three by the glass – or 12 reds, two of which are by the glass.
PerJax’s Cajun- and Creole-inspired menu offers starters, salads, entrees and sandwiches with nods to both the surf and the turf. Shrimp makes an appearance in the gumbo, Pastalaya (a pasta tossedw ith the flavors of jambalaya), shrimp Creole and atop the Blue Bayou steak. Grilled, marinated chicken joins a pork chop and a burger on the menu.
Currently serving lunch and dinner, PerJax hopes to expand its offerings in the coming months to include a ray oyster bar and Sunday brunch. Here’s a first look at one of U. City’s newest eateries:
This article appears in Readers’ Choice 2016.