Rejoice, devotees of that most American salad dressing: Twisted Ranch, a new eatery enshrining ranch dressing, is coming to Soulard in June, as reported by St. Louis Magazine’s George Mahe.
Located at 1730 S. Eighth St., Twisted Ranch promises a “secret homemade ranch recipe” that is incorporated in various ways into every dish on the menu. The kitchen will also offer around 18 different ranch flavors, such as smoked paprika, chipotle, buttermilk basil, durkee and teriyaki.
“I’m the type of person who puts ranch on everything,” said co-owner Chad Allen, who signed a lease this week with business partner Jim Hayden. “I told everybody, ‘If I ever start a restaurant, it’s going to have to be ranch-themed.'” This is the first restaurant venture for Hayden and Allen, though both have experience in the St. Louis catering industry. The peculiar rendering of the restaurant’s name on the logo (twisted RAnCh) capitalizes the first initials of Hayden’s three children.
The initial menu offers a lineup of 11 appetizers, two soups, 13 sandwiches and five entrees. Four flatbread dishes, like horseradish-ranch brisket and hickory-smoked pulled pork, will also be available, the bread and meat both prepared in-house. A drink menu with signature cocktails, wine and locally focused beer is in the works also.
Allen and Hayden are now in the process of hiring a chef and a bar manager. Allen said the 1,500-square-foot space will hold about 50 diners, whom he hoped would be drawn from the large crowds who frequent the Soulard Farmers Market.
“We like the historic aspect of (Soulard), and it is an area we’re hoping will have a bit more foot traffic – and more of a neighborhood-y feel,” Allen said.
This article appears in Guide to Beer 2015.