St. Louis

[natalie.warner]

I am traveling to the region from seattle with family for a family wedding... we are not invited to the rehersal dinner so we thought it would be great to go out for a wonderful dinner on our own... my father and I are foodies who appreciate everything- especially regional specialties... we like all price points- what are your suggestions?? what are must trys in st. louis?? what must I eat or eat at? I really would love suggestions! Thanks*

[2chef4u]

Pennie's BBQ in south county has great food at a reasonable price too..no desserts but for that the best place after BBQ is Ted Drewes.. yep it's open. Zinnia's on south Big Bend is great. Their pecan crusted trout is a favorite of mine.

[lemons]

Toasted ravioli is novelty food, rather than serious stuff. Gooey butter cake is an only-in-St.-Louis dessert not often found on restaurant menus. However, Eleven Eleven has it and even serves it with a glass of cold milk.

[Suzie]

Just about any bakery in St. Louis will have gooey butter cake.

[Aaron Deacon]

Don't know about how often it's on St. Louis area menus, but it also shows up on Vie's menu in the Chicago suburb of Western Springs.

http://www.vierestaurant.com/menu_des...

[k_d]

Bob: Is Ted Drewe's open now? I know they close during the wintertime.

[sheriffblalock]

I heard an ad for them on Valentine's Day, so I would presume they are.

[shannoninstlouis]

I think it's only the one on Grand that closes during winter.

[Phaedrus]

The Ted Drewe's on Jamison is open at the end of January. Crown Candy is a must.

[bobzemuda]

Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard is definitely a St. Louis thing.

[Doug]

Having lived in Seattle for a number of years, I am going to suggest some St. Louis places that do not have equivalents in Seattle:

1. AN AMERICAN PLACE: The grand lobby of the first air-conditioned hotel in the country makes for a wonderful location for an upscale restaurant. The menu emphasizes how local the ingredients are. Architecturally, I do not know of any dining room in Seattle that can match An American Place. On Washington Avenue.

2. CROWN CANDY KITCHEN: Malts and egg salad sandwiches turned out just the way they used to turn them out when the place opened in 1919. I do not know of any dining room with such an authentic air in Seattle.

3. IRON BARLEY: I have not eaten here, but the reviews are good; and I doubt if Seattle has a restaurant that features items cooked in cast iron with barley as an accompaniment.

4. VENICE CAFE: Stop by for a drink, you will spend hours looking at all the details of the decor.

[rexmo]

Iron Barley is high on my list of musts.

Toasted Ravioli is probably the prime regional specialty. St. Louis pizza with provel cheese is favored by some folks.