What's hot in St. Louis?
We are heading back to St. Louis to visit the freshman son at Wash U and we are going to be needed a few great meals (now and over the next few years!). We are staying on Delmar, but location doesn't matter. We have already had a great meal at Niche and of course Pi is right across from our hotel. We tried Riddles Penultimate last time which was an okay meal. Don't need to go back to Blueberry Hill again but loved Crowns Candy Kitchen.
I have a few suggestions from friends including The Crossing, Farm Haus, Vin de Set, Sydney Street Cafe, 1111 Mississippi, Monarch. What is the quintessential St. Louis place? Should we do Italian? What's hot?
All suggestions welcome
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Blueberry Hill Restaurant
6504 Delmar Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63130
Vin de Set
2017 Chouteau Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103
Candy Kitchen
310 Cedar St, Wilton, IA 52778
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Gian-Tony's on The Hill is the best of the old-style Italian restaurants. They're the only St. Louis restaurant that ever made the cover of Saveur. (Get the osso bucco if it's available.) Lorenzo's Trattoria is a good new-Italian spot.
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Lorenzo's Trattoria
1933 Edwards St, Saint Louis, MO 63110 -
I'll second FOTD's recommendations of Farmhaus and Monarch. They're two of the best in the city and both relatively new (if you want to count Monarch's renovations and addition of the Southern Bistro). I really can't recommend one over the other as they're two of my favorites, but I state that I go to Farmhaus much more often as I tend to save Monarch for special occasions. These are two places you really shouldn't miss.
Farmhaus, Monarch and Sidney Street are much better choices than either 1111 or Vin de Set who don't have the same commitment to quality. 1111 and Vin de Set are more about ambience than really good food, but I'll acknowledge they do have a great atmosphere.
For Italian, I'd recommend Acero which is run by the same owner as The Crossing (which is also a good choice as they balance both French and Italian influences).
Other places worth checking into are Five, Franco (another good FOTD rec), Araka (they just brought on a new chef that has made this place worthwhile), and Harvest.
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Sidney Street Cafe
2000 Sidney St, Saint Louis, MO 63104Vin de Set
2017 Chouteau Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103Araka Restaurant
131 Carondelet Plz, Saint Louis, MO 63105›2 Replies-
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re: mkfoodie
In my opinion (and I know many native St. Louisans will disagree), I don't think the restaurants on the hill are worth visiting and I never recommend them. If you want to experience something unique to St. Louis, then they're a visit to the Hill could be worthwhile. However, in terms of quality of food and restaurants, I find most of the Hill restaurants to be lacking (I'm thinking more of the many Italian restaurants, not places like Five or Modesto). The "St. Louis Italian" that is prevalent on the Hill is generally low quality over-sauced pasta that is impressive only for its portion size.
It's really up to what you're looking for. You won't find a restaurant that operates on the same technical and quality level as places like Niche,Monarch, etc., but you will find a neighborhood that is special to people in St. Louis.
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I will stay away from the quintessential and give you some places I think you need to try for sure that you have not been.
Farmhaus and Monarch would be my two top picks.
Sidney Street is a bit more upscale. Also great. Franco is very good. Iron Barley is a must try for lunch or dinner. Seen on I believe both DDD and Man vs Food.
For BBQ that is out of this world, Pappys. Be ready for a long line.If you want Italian, the only place I would send you it Trattoria Marcella. Very good but not "St. Louis" Italian.FOTD
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Iron Barley
5510 Virginia Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63111Sidney Street Cafe
2000 Sidney St, Saint Louis, MO 63104Trattoria Marcella
3600 Watson Rd, Saint Louis, MO 63109›1 Reply-
re: FriendOfTheDevil
I happened to be looking at going to Monarch myself to check out their new SOuthern Menu so...
Southern Bistro Menu
Soups and Salads
Gumbo
Chef’s favorite gumbos served with Missouri long grain rice $6
Today’s Soup
Prepared daily from fresh, seasonal ingredients $5
Cornbread & Bibb Lettuce Salad
Chive & buttermilk dressing, shaved radishes, cucumbers, spiced nuts $6
Cornfried Oyster Salad
Baby spinach, boiled farm egg, warm bacon dressing $8
Shrimp Remoulade
Boiled shrimp tossed with a spicy Louisiana mayonnaise, julienned peppers, tobacco onions $8
Snacks
Lima Bean Hummus
A Middle Eastern dip made with lima beans, garlic, and tahini served with warmed pita $3
Praline Bacon
Housemade bacon coated with nuts and brown sugar $4
Boudin Balls
Cajun pork & rice sausage coated with Japanese bread crumbs and served with a Southern tartar sauce $5
Hush Puppies
Cornmeal and jalapeno fritters, bacalao, burnt lemon sauce $4
Sharing Plates
Charbroiled Oysters
Oysters on the half shell, herb vinaigrette, grated parmesan $2.25 each, minimum of 3
Popcorn Shrimp
Semolina breaded bite size shrimp served with ravigote sauce $8
Crawfish Bread
Rich bread filled with a cheesy crawfish etouffee $7
Miniature Natchitoches Meat Pies
Spicy beef turnovers serve with special sauce $9
Signature Po’ Boys
6 inch po’ boy served with potato chips and pickles
Fried Shrimp
Semolina dusted shrimp served with lettuce, tomato, and special sauce $9
Gumbo Dog
Grilled Andouille and our daily gumbo served with pepperjack cheese and coleslaw $10
Roast Beef
Homestyle hot roast beef with gravy served with lettuce, tomato, and horseradish ketchup $8
Surf n’ Turf
Fried shrimp and hot roast beef served with lettuce, tomato, horseradish ketchup, and special sauce $10
The Peacemaker
Our crispy bacon and cornfried oysters served with lettuce, tomato, and ravigote sauce $11
Supper
Roasted Mushrooms and Gnocchi
Scallion & ricotta gnocchi, pan roasted oyster mushrooms, tender celery, herb veloute $14, add guanciale $3
Shrimp and Grits
Sautéed jumbo white shrimp and cheddar cheese grits topped with a bourbon and leek sauce $18
Smothered Chicken
Amich chicken braised with onions, served with a rich gravy and “dirty rice” risotto $15
Shellfish Maque Choux
saute of seafood with grilled corn, okra, peppers and rich bisque, served with crispy boudin balls $19
Sweet Potato Wrapped Catfish
Served with roasted mushrooms, braised red cabbage, smoked salt, sage beurre blanc $16
Creole Spiced Butcher Steak
Caramelized onions, mashed potatoes, tasso marchand de vin $20
Daily Specials
Monday
Red Beans and Rice
Red kidney beans slowly cooked with tasso and served with local hamhocks and Missouri long grain rice $12
Tuesday
Stuffed Peppers
Missouri grass fed beef filled red bell peppers, housemade chitarra pasta, and red gravy $12
Wednesday
Tasso Smoked Pork Chop
8 oz. local pork chop smoked and coated with tasso spices, served with smothered collard greens $15
Thursday
Skillet Fried Chicken
Traditional Southern fried chicken cooked in cast iron skillets, served with mashed potatoes, sweet & sour green beans, and gravy $17
Friday
Blackened Fish
Fresh fish fillet coated in our Creole spices and served with a crowder pea and okra fricassee $18
Saturday
Trout Menuiere
Cast iron seared Troutdale Farm rainbow trout served with a spicy lemon butter sauce and molasses mashed sweet potatoes $16
Sweets
Pecan & Bourbon Pie
Old-style pie crust with a traditional pecan filling spiked with Kentucky bourbon $5
Bread Pudding
Cinnamon and clove laced bread pudding served with a rum – raisin sauce $5
Seasonal Fruit Dessert
An always changing selection of American fruit desserts $5
Crème Brulee
Rich cream custard browned with turbinado sugar, served with a cookie and seasonal fruit $6
Rootbeer Float
Homemade rootbeer, homemade vanilla bean ice cream-----
Homestyle Cafe
211 S Main St, Aberdeen, SD 57401
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