Swankiness, thy name is Miso on Meramec. It wasn’t exactly surprising to learn that the Clayton sushi spot and place-to-be-seen played host to one George Clooney when the heartthrob was in town filming last year’s Up in the Air. After all, with its cozy, dimly lit, Manhattan-lounge vibe; relentlessly modern DJ’ed music; and Pan-Asian menu, Miso has perfected a certain chicness that could never be confused with the atmosphere at, say, Old Country Buffet.
Now Miso (and Araka) owner Brad Beracha has announced the expansion of a street-level dining room “that focuses on the cuisine, and not the scene.” On March 11 at 7 p.m., Miso reveals its new 800-square-foot upstairs space featuring a six-seat sushi bar, a 34-seat dining room and a four-seat bar. For the expansion, Miso will feature Kindai bluefin tuna flown here from Japan, as well as $5 Belvedere cocktails. When spring finally arrives, watch for alfresco seating for 40 people on the patio, too.
And starting March 15, Miso will be open on Mondays and for lunch.
– Byron Kerman
This article appears in Mar 1-31, 2010.