Portland Hound in St. Louis next week - Need Recommendations

[mcattrone]

Hey,

I'm going to be traveling out to St. Louis for a convention next week. I'll be staying at the Hilton on Olive Street (downtown, I think). I'm looking for some good reccomendations for lunch and dinner. Any ethnicity food is fine however I'd like to have one dinner that is quintiessential to St. Louis. Thanks in advance.
Regards,

mcattrone

[Doug]

My favorite downtown restaurant is right in your hotel lobby: 400 Olive. Great service, nice food, and at night you can choose from the lunch menu as well as the dinner menu.

[stealth]

2nd An American Place - close to your Hotel

Also taxi's can be an issue when returning from the reataurant,.

For Italian try the Hill, Giovanni's, Zia's, Gian-Tony's. Personally I don't care for Cunnetto's, long wait, soso food, but a lot of it! Need to try thr Toasted Ravioli.

Also recommend Siney Street Cafe or 111 Mississippi. Then head to the Chocolate Bar mentioned above. Or Vin de Set.

Also Tony's, Kemoll's are downtown, as is Dierdorf and Harts, Mike Shannon's, 15 (Jim Edmonds place).

I would not recommend Crown Candy after dark, not the best neighborhood, but is is quintiessential St. Louis.

Go to http://www.saucemagazine.com/ search by location, Downtown, Lafayette Square, Soulard, Benton Park ...

[sheriffblalock]

Washington Ave is a very good place to eat. In the vicinity, I'd recommend 10th Street Italian and Rooster the highest.

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "quintessentially" St. Louis. If you want a very good meal that you can't get anywhere else, I'd recommend Iron Barley in south city. You can find out more by searching this board.

[FriendOfTheDevil]

Do you have a car? Does distance matter?

FOTD

[mcattrone]

I will not have a car but have no problem taking a Taxi to good food. I will be expensing my taxi fares if that helps.

[FriendOfTheDevil]

Some "quintessentially St. Louis " places are
Crown Candy Kitchen- Early 1900's soda shop/Malts/Sandwiches/Ice Cream and Candy
Cunnettos or Lou Bacardi's on "The Hill" for Italian food
Ted Drewes for frozen Custard
Iron Barley is very good and unique
The Rooster I have heard good things about for Breakfast. Dave's other place "Bailey's Chocolate Bar" in Lafeyette Square is a great place to hang out.
There is a very good Vietnamese and Thai area on South Grand if you want that type of food.
Very good burgers and roast beef sandwiches at O'Connels pub at 44 and Shaw near the Hill.

Most all of these places are reasonable/moderate in price. I am sure you may get some other suggestions that are more high end.

FOTD

[mcattrone]

FOTD - Thanks for the info.

Some higher end dinner spots would be great too!

[FriendOfTheDevil]

No problem. Here are the higher end places people are talking about. I must admit I have nto been to any of them EXCEPT Sidney Street Cafe-

An American Place- Considered EXCELLENT
Niche - Newer and I believe perhaps a bit trendier
Sidney Steet Cafe- A long time fav
Franco- Newer and hipper

Sauce magazine is a good resource for St. Louis info and of course googling any of these will get you info

FOTD