MEDIAnoche, the Mexican-in-the-evening restaurant at 8135 Maryland Ave. in Clayton that operates by day as Half & Half, is on the way out. As owner Mike Randolph announced on a Stewed STL podcast, he is bringing the Mexican concept to a close, replacing it with another: Midwestern cuisine. The new restaurant-in-a-restaurant will be called Little Country Gentleman.
Randolph explained that the change has “been in motion for some time,” a result of diners “consistently ordering tacos and guacamole. Meanwhile, we just butchered this beautiful lamb from Jones Heritage Farm. It’s a matter of getting people to eat the food we are selling.”
Once MEDIAnoche shutters after service on August 18, the space will reopen in the latter part of the following week in the evening as Little Country Gentleman, complete with gentlemen and lady servers donning genteel bowties. The name, said Randolph, refers to an heirloom varietal of Midwestern corn, just one of many regional products that will adorn diners’ plates. “All of our product is going to come from the Midwest, including all fresh-water fish,” Randolph said.
Little Country Gentleman will offer the bounty of the Midwest via tasting menus that include a three-course menu with options, a six-course set menu and a grand tasting menu. Prices will range from approximately $36 to $80 for the grand menu. On the beverage side, there will be about 5 to 7 wines by the glass, with another 10 to 15 reserve bottles; the 15- to 20-long beer list will have Midwestern representation as well and will include a few cellar-aged brews. Randolph noted that he and his culinary crew will be showcasing a few Little Country Gentleman dishes at 33 Wine Shop and Tasting Bar’s monthly Dorm Room Dinner series on July 30.
This article appears in July 2012.