122485 Sat Feb 21 23:51:27 -0800 2004 13 8 Midwest 0 666132 Okay, I'm curious. I know the places everybody LIKES the best...the same ten or fifteen names tend to recur. What I want to know is where do you GO the most? The places that just answer your I-forgot-to-bring-lunch or why-don't-we-just-grab-some-dinner-out needs. Your regular spots. Where do you go for brunch on Sunday? For lunch with your friends? You don't have to justify or explain your choices, although you can if you want to. To do our part...we tend to lunch a lot at Tanner B's or Iron Barley or St. Louis Bread Company (and I know, it's a chain, but it is kid-friendly for when we have the kids, and they love the soup). For dinner we favor Duff's or Pho Grand or Chuy Arzolo's or the Tap Room. For brunch I like World Cafe, my husband prefers City Diner on Grand. Sat Feb 21 23:51:27 -0800 2004 0 tonifi 1 666134 I lived in St. Louis for eight years in the Tower Grove area from 1988-95. I go back their periodically now and then on business and to meet up with old friends. For Italian, we would go to Favazza's on Southwest. The last couple of times it has been disappointing but mabe that is maturing of tastes. We would do Pho Grand all the time. I remembered when it opened. First complaint was that the prices were too low. Mekong Delta down the street has a fuller menu and was a favorite. Sandwiches - Amighettis were pretty good. However, we usually went to Southwest Market on Southwest Ave. Those sandwiches were great. St. Louis Bread Co. for a quick bite. For fast food, A&W in Edwardsville - I know an odd choice. A real nice "mom & pop" operation with great service. We would do Chuy's but after Chicago and SoCal, it is just OK. Preferred Chevy's (gasp!!) on Olive St. Would take all out-of-towners to Ozzie's. Good food and the guy is a real class act who would do anything to please a customer. I sent a couple of guests there from the hotel I worked at. Their son, a toddler, tripped and cut open his head. Ozzie Smith took the kid to the hospital and picked up the tab for dinner. Hatfield and McCoys Catfish up on St. Charles Rock Rd. has always been a favorite. Much better than the spin-off that has since bit the dust. Better menu these days. For brunch, we would do Bevo Mill. Not bad, but nothing real special. A better place was The Shrine Restaurant at Our Lady of the Snows over in Illinois. The food there was always very good - maybe not "chowhound" level but we never had any complaints. Crown Candy on St. Louis Ave was very good - but you almost need to be armed to go into that neighborhood - it is worse than anything I saw across the river. I could add 10-12 more restaurants most of which have closed that were also very good. Sun Feb 22 02:02:37 -0800 2004 666132 0 jlawrence01 1 666142 We go regularly to: Atlas- elegant and friendly in a comfy way O'Connel's- best burger, great garlicy salad dressing- and real flatwear now. Blueberry Hill- great grilled onions with a good burger and enough to keep the kids busy. Cravings- my Mom's fav lunch spot. Can't beat the desserts. Mai Lee- easy to enjoy Vietnamese Almonds- My friends love this place. It is fine for me but not what I crave. Very friendly Woman's Exchange- for THE salad. at least once a month to go. Culpepper's- Wings and salad. Reliable, convenient. Hunan Wok- for delivery Chinese food. La Pizza- great chewy pizza. Steak and Shake- yeh, not impressive but honestly where we go. Majestic- brunch chow. Cafe Eau- always love the elegance and great service at the Chase. Good for a meal around a matinee. Can't beat the free valet. Sun Feb 22 11:26:24 -0800 2004 666132 0 SarahT 1 666150 I guess I am one of those people who really does go to those "ten or fifteen names" over and over. However there may be a few new ideas for out-of-towners among our favorites. Favorite restaurants: (ones I return to again & again) Sidney Street Café http://www.sidneystreetcafe.com Trattoria Marcella (3600 Watson, at Pernod) http://www.saucecafe.com/critique5.html Crossing (7823 Forsyth, at Central) http://saucecafe.com/liluma_crossing/theCrossing/index.html Dominic’s (5101 Wilson, at Hereford) http://www.dominicsrestaurant.com Zinnia http://www.zinniarestaurant.com Giovanni’s (5201 Shaw, at Marconi) http://www.giovannisonthehill.com Café de France (7515 Forsyth, at N. Jackson) http://www.whatscooking.nu Malmaison http://www.fivestarfrench.com Harvest http://www.harveststlouis.com Gian-Tony’s (5356 Daggett) Chez Leon (4580 Laclede, at Euclid) http://www.saucecafe.com/chezleon/ Café Provencal http://www.cafeprovencal.com Lorenzo’s (1933 Edwards, at Shaw) http://www.saucecafe.com/lorenzos/ Portabella (15 N. Central) http://portabellarestaurant.com/ Liluma (236 N. Euclid) http://saucecafe.com/liluma_crossing/liluma/ Frazer’s www.frazergoodeats.com Brazie’s (3453 Hampton Avenue) I Fratellini (7624 Wydown) http://www.saucecafe.com/gourmetguru/critiquepast/critique54.html Riddle’s Penultimate http://www.riddlescafe.com Bar Italia http://www.baritaliastl.com/ Sun Feb 22 21:26:13 -0800 2004 666132 0 skepticalchemyst 1 666151 I guess I am one of those people who really does go to those "ten or fifteen names" over and over. However there may be a few new ideas for out-of-towners among our favorites. Favorite restaurants: (ones I return to again & again) Sidney Street Café http://www.sidneystreetcafe.com Trattoria Marcella (3600 Watson, at Pernod) http://www.saucecafe.com/critique5.html Crossing (7823 Forsyth, at Central) http://saucecafe.com/liluma_crossing/theCrossing/index.html Dominic’s (5101 Wilson, at Hereford) http://www.dominicsrestaurant.com Zinnia http://www.zinniarestaurant.com Giovanni’s (5201 Shaw, at Marconi) http://www.giovannisonthehill.com Café de France (7515 Forsyth, at N. Jackson) http://www.whatscooking.nu Malmaison http://www.fivestarfrench.com Harvest http://www.harveststlouis.com Gian-Tony’s (5356 Daggett) Chez Leon (4580 Laclede, at Euclid) http://www.saucecafe.com/chezleon/ Café Provencal http://www.cafeprovencal.com Lorenzo’s (1933 Edwards, at Shaw) http://www.saucecafe.com/lorenzos/ Portabella (15 N. Central) http://portabellarestaurant.com/ Liluma (236 N. Euclid) http://saucecafe.com/liluma_crossing/liluma/ Frazer’s www.frazergoodeats.com Brazie’s (3453 Hampton Avenue) I Fratellini (7624 Wydown) http://www.saucecafe.com/gourmetguru/critiquepast/critique54.html Riddle’s Penultimate http://www.riddlescafe.com Bar Italia http://www.baritaliastl.com/ Sun Feb 22 21:27:13 -0800 2004 666132 0 skepticalchemyst 1 666158 Balabans tops our list. It's been reliable for many years. When we don't have reservations (particularly with kid(s) in tow), we often find ourselves at the Tap Room, although now we'll be adding Schlafly's Bottleworks, which was very impressive (other than iffy service) on first impression. Other standards include Cardwell's (both locations) and Canyon Cafe after a movie at Plaza Frontenac. We like Bastante and Barcelona (although the latter is quite noisy). Recently returned to Sidney Street, which was first-rate in every category, including a remarkably able waiter. And, of course, about once a year we get to Tony's, which is in a category by itself. Mon Feb 23 09:07:10 -0800 2004 666132 0 Alan Freed 2 666159 I loved Balaban's when I first came to St. Louis, they have fallen down a bit since. The seafood wasn't fresh when I went last time and the service was terrible. Most of the food was OK, but I don't pay that price for OK food. Mon Feb 23 09:37:16 -0800 2004 666158 0 Phaedrus 2 666533 Dined recently at Schlafly Taproom. Like so many mid-priced places in St. Louis, it's a nice place to have a drink (the beer is great), but I wouldn't want to eat there again. Everything fried (most of the menu) came out mahogany dark, even the fries. Time to change the shortening, folks! Wed Mar 10 14:10:11 -0800 2004 666158 0 Septane 1 666161 My favorites: Michael's on Manchester and McCausland. Great tavern. Greek owned so you get great greek food. Grilled octopus, rack of lamb, lamb shanks, and the usual greek fare, PLus one of the best burgers I have ever had. The wings are the best in St. Louis, IMHO. Majestic: In CWE. My favorite breakfast place. Interesting array of runners back from Forest Park, old greek guys discussing politics, neighborhood types, I met Dick Vermeil here, he was a regular until he left St. Louis. Sansui: On West Pine, East of Forest Park. Awesome sushi place. I think the best in St. Louis. It doesn't have the nouvoeau appeal of some of the other places now that sushi is chic. Just good fresh fish. Shu Feng: On Olive, east of the inner belt. My favorite chinese noodels place. My own comfort food. Jade Garden: In Olivette. Best Chinese banquest type of place. The cook is awesome, the dishes are all good. Pueblo Nuevo: Economy mexican. Very very authentic. They have great chicharoones and real salsa verde etc. I go to this place everytime I have to go to Casa Gallardo with my co-workers because they don't appreciate real mexican food. Pueblo Solis: More upscale mexican food. On Hampton East of Francis Park. Best guacamole in town. Does a mean chicken mole and carne asada. Delmonico's Diner: Best fried chicken and soul food. On Olive, just north of CWE. Great collards too. Racanelli's Pizza: Best New York Style pizza, of course I haven't gone to La Pizza just yet. Bar Italia: Great italian food without the kitsch of the Hill. In CWE. India's Rasoi: In Clayton. Very good indian buffet. Discreet service and very comfortable. Priyaa's: On Dorsett, west of 270. Outstanding southern Indian food. Never had it before but fell in love with the food. ODed on it and had to wean myself from it for awhile. Saleem's: The only middle eastern place in town. Fortunately, they are very good. I had a lamb dish here that gave me goose bumps. Charcoal House: On Manchester just a mile west of McKnight. Tremendous steaks. Old timey, somewhat formal but excellent steaks. Cafe Brazil: On McKnight, by Manchester. One of two Brazilian places in town. Very very good. Used to be tiny but has expanded. The food is good and the atmosphere is fun. The Gumbo Shop: Just across the parking lot from Cafe Brazil, on Manchester. great Louisiana take out place. Fantastic jambolaya, gumbo and the oyster po' boys are for real. Mon Feb 23 10:02:21 -0800 2004 666132 0 Phaedrus 2 666177 The Gumbo Shop and Cafe Brazil just jumped to the top of my to go list! Mon Feb 23 14:42:48 -0800 2004 666161 0 SarahT 2 666532 Gumbo Shop: The Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice, and other hot food is okay. If you've been almost anywhere in NOLA you've had better. The Po-Boys are another story: they're AWFUL. The bread isn't good, the shrimp are frozen, the oysters aren't fresh, the breading is heavy and lacks flavor. Septane Wed Mar 10 14:06:40 -0800 2004 666161 0 Septane 2 667892 "Tonifi's" picks are right on. Adding a couple more: Wei Hong Chinese Bakery on Grand - Carry out Trattoria Marcella- Consistently excellent Dominic's - Service is slow sometimes but the gnocci is great! Peace, love and no provel. Mon May 24 22:32:14 -0700 2004 666161 0 Ang 1 666219 I travel to St. Louis once a month. I always stay @ Westport Plaza and get my fix @ Ozzie's. Why, Decent food, cold beer, always a game on the tube, and good people. Tue Feb 24 10:19:22 -0800 2004 666132 0 KB 1 668563 Way late, but I'll include mine for posterity's sake. Most often I wind up with carry-out from Sen Thai. It's a shame I don't eat in more often because their new digs are fantastic. Good if not great thai food very reasonably priced and great ambiance. If I forget lunch, I'm likely to wind up at Webhe's Safari Cafe downtown. Good wraps. Other favorite drive-to lunch spots are Crown Candy, Cafe Natasha, Everest Cafe, Burrito Loco, Wei Hung, Tap Room, O'Connels, Arcelia's. Late night fare is usually courtesy of the Courtesy on Hampton. More for the austere diner-ness than the food (which is fine). Also, you can't beat a beautiful early summer evening in the garden at Norton's in Soulard. Wed Jun 30 19:49:34 -0700 2004 666132 0 bab