New smokehouse WildSmoke is coming to Creve Coeur at 12316 Olive Blvd. In the Westgate Centre space formerly occupied by a Culpepper’s Grill and Bar, WildSmoke is the latest venture by the team behind EdgeWild Restaurant & Winery and is slated to open Jan. 28.
“After seeing the success of ‘Smokin’ Sundays’ at EdgeWild, where we serve house-smoked ribs and maple-infused turkey breasts all day on Sundays, we knew we had to expand and enhance the experience. The result is WildSmoke,” said co-owner Andy Kohn, who operates both WildSmoke and EdgeWild with wife Dee Dee Kohn.
The 150-seat fast-casual smokehouse will offer a wide range of smoked meats. Among the nine options are: baby back ribs, beef brisket, hot links, pulled pork, turkey, chicken, prime rib, salmon and burnt ends. Look for twists on familiar sides and starters like fried potato salad, door knob onion rings (large onion rings served on toasted sweet Hawaiian rolls) and root beer baked beans.
WildSmoke’s pitmaster is Anthony Collida, a St. Louis native who has worked professionally with local chefs Marc Del Pietro (The Block), Chris Lee (River City Casino) and Andy White (The Schlafly Tap Room). Collida developed the WildSmoke menu in collaboration with the restaurant’s executive chef Aaron Baggett, also executive chef at EdgeWild.
The beverage menu features nine beers on tap, including local brews from Schlafly, 4 Hands, The Civil Life, Urban Chestnut and Perennial, and 11 wines by sister restaurant EdgeWild. WildSmoke also offers house-made root beer.
Wildsmoke will offer lunch and dinner, with doors opening daily at 11 a.m. The restaurant’s website is currently a placeholder; more details are available on its Facebook page.
This article appears in January 2014.