Pan D'Olive

This restaurant at 1603 McCausland is a true gem. It replaced a really nice steak restaurant that was a bit overpriced for the neighborhood. Pan D'Olive has a very beautiful dining room that has a modern European look but it also has a beautiful side balcony for outside seating. With grape vines, a modern water feature, it is also nouveau inspired.

They have amazing happy hour prices. I recommend the Phyllo cigar and the arancini. The flatbreads are all very good and as well. The main menu looks amazing but I haven't gotten past the appetizers and flatbreads to be able to say. They are now open for lunch so I am anxious to give that a go.

We were there to check into options for a retirement party and they showed us the downstairs event room. I found the same modern European decor with really nice bench seating around the room as well as a good number of tables set. They do an appetizer deal as well as several drink packages. I think it may be a winner.

Restaurants I really love

I cannot say enough good things about Big Sky in Webster Groves. The service is absolutely stellar. The menu and wine list is excellent. I love their kale chips. I recently had the wine flight and loved it. They have an amazing happy hour on Wednesdays and beautiful outdoor seating. The restaurant indoor decor is also top notch. It is definitely my favorite overall place right now.

Big Sky Cafe

Another great place is Katie's Pizza that recently moved from Clayton Road to Rock Hill. There is another version of Katie's left on Clayton. In a recent visit, I had an amazing appetizer, the short rib and a great pizza as well. The new space is much large and has nice outdoor seating.

Katie's Pizza

Three Flags Tavern occupies the space once held by Harry's Bar and Grill at the intersection of Southwest and Kingshighway. It is a vastly different place with an upscale cocktail list including a gin drink called the Joan Collins and a rum drink named Don Carlos. The appetizer menu is amazing. I had the mini Monte Cristo with root chips and it was excellent. My wife enjoyed the shrimp and scallops with grits.

Three Flags Tavern

I usually love Tapas and Sanctuaria, at 4198 Manchester in the Grove, does them well. For a first visit, we sampled the cabrales cigars and plantains with mozzarella. Both were extremely well done. The decor is awesome as is the drink menu. I had a mocktail called Irum's Syrum and my wife had the Vieux Carre, a 9 week aged cocktail with rye whiskey as its base. I didn't go completely alcohol free as I ordered the Espolon Reposado tequila for a chaser. Wow, was it smooth!

Sanctuaria

Nathalie's Overlook Farm Restaurant on Lindell

We went to Nathalie's because we knew they had a locavore focus and because they happened to be open early on a Friday for dinner. I was completely impressed. The menu was amazing and I chose the rockbridge trout that came with a beautiful vegetable medley. My wife had the moussaka.

The wine list had some really nice options but the one I chose happened to be very affordable and really nice. It was the Hahn. The place is much more beautiful than any of its former incarnations. But the best part was the staff. They were all clearly proud to be there and it showed in how they presented the menu and the offer to give us a tour of the other parts of the house. I think this is going to be my new favorite place.

Three new discoveries

We had dinner with friends recently at the Purple Martin Restaurant located at 2800 Shenandoah. First, the intersection of Shenandoah and California is one filled with LGBT history in St. Louis. Some years back, there were three gay establishments on this corner. So while the Purple Martin is not exclusively gay, it can certainly bring in a lot of folks who appreciate the history and the food.
The Middle Eastern inspired menu is very unique and interesting. We had their unusual but tasty twist on hummus and some really great classic cocktails. We were able to sit outside on the patio and it was quite a treat. I hope to return.

Another great find is Las Palmas on Manchester in Maplewood. They have really awesome margaritas and really good guacamole. The entrees were exceptional, some of the best Mexican food I have had outside of the places on Cherokee Street. The mole sauce was just outstanding and I highly recommend giving this place a try.

And finally, I was searching Opentable for reservations downtown on a Saturday night and found the most options for the Lucas Park Grille. For some reason, the place was not packed and it should be. We started with chorizo and blue cheese stuffed dates which were amazing. We had a scallop small plate that was as good as anything anywhere. The drink menu was outstanding and the wine list as well. I am not sure why they are not packing them in but I want to go back.

Where I have eaten lately

I tried Ciao, at 4534 Gravois recently. This space had once been another restaurant and there are only minor changes. There are really funky, cool long tables that would be great for appetizers and drinks but less than ideal for eating dinner. I had the Ciao signature cocktail which was a little time citrusy for my taste and a little light on the booze. We started with a cheese platter which was nice but not spectacular. The pasta however was quite excellent, the linguini primavera is cooked with whipped cream and it is very special. I enjoyed it a lot.The tramisu dessert was also top notch.

On the way to a show at the Fox, we found very limited options if you want to get down there early and park. So we settled on Dooley's Beef N Brew House. I will give them kudos for the home made chips. I had the ribeye sandwich and it was pretty decent. The wine by the glass was not bad for a brewhouse but they were out of nearly early whisky I tried to order. I ended up with a shot of Jameson for dessert but I really wanted Scotch.

On the Mexican front, we tried Mariachis II at the recommendation of many who said they have the best margaritas. I disagree as again I found them to heavy on the citrus and too light on the tequila. It was suppose to be a "Cadillac" version but I couldn't detect any Cointreau or Grand Marnier. The food was ok but nothing special. It is located at 4536 Gravois.

And finally, I continue to be a big fan of the Mediterranean House Apollonia which is at 6836 Gravois. I love their saganaki and they routinely have really nice lamb dishes.

Pastaria in Clayton (by Niche)

A couple years back, I had lunch at Pastaria. with a few co-workers. We had winnings from Fantasy Football to spend and spend we did. It is decorated like an Italian farmhouse and the pasta construction is part of the entertainment. The dark rich bread is home-made and you can make your own dipping oil with salt, pepper, quality olive oil and hot oil all laid out for your personal touch. There is a small interesting pasta menu along with pizza available at lunch. I had the pistachio ravioli and it was outstanding.
We went back with more football winnings and this time I had a classic pasta lunch special. It reminded me of how much I truly love this place.

So when I had a recent opportunity to be in Clayton at dinner time, Pastaria came to mind. I went back to the pistachio ravioli as it is truly outstanding. My wife had the wood oven roasted lasagna and loved it.
We had a really nice Italian wine, Scarpetta Barbera (in honor of the Patricia Cornwall book series) and completely enjoyed the evening. The place was packed and from the conversations I could overhear, it sounded like lots of "foodies" are regulars.

Guido's on the Hill

Guidos is a long time favorite of mine. It is unlike any other restaurant on the Hill. First, it brings together Italian and Spanish traditions. It attracts many locals and if you listen, you will hear the languages and flavors that makes it such a unique place.

So I was disappointed in a recent visit. We were there very early on a Friday evening and asked if we could have the table in front of the fireplace. Temperatures had been in the single digits and with snow on the ground, that table was very appealing. It was early and there were just a handful of diners in the place.

Our waitress was very friendly and started us with a bottle of our favorite, the Luzon Tempranillo. It is great wine and a very nice price $24. We also jumped in to the tapas menu with an order of Queso Barracho (breaded fried goat cheese) and Mejillones a la Espanola (mussels from New Zealand topped with Manchego cheese). Ah, what wonderful flavors! We were enjoying our order when we noticed the owner pointing at our table and speaking Italian. From what we could understand, someone had reserved our table for 6 PM and it seemed like our waitress was being chastised for seating us there. All I can say is how rude and uncomfortable for us.

We were there and hungry so we went ahead with an order of the lamb skewers and bacon wrapped dates. All the food was good. The dates were actually done much more nicely than the last time there. Will I go back? Yes, but not as often. I will never feel the same about Guidos and it has solidified Modesto as the best place for Tapas. It is always an open and friendly environment and is right down the street.


So a quick update from March. We had another deal so we went back to Guidos for pizza. I will say that the pizza was quite good. It had a crunchy thin crust, just the right amount of tomato sauce and would move on to my top 10 list for pizza. But I also want to add that our server, Kenneth completely made up for the last experience there. He provided top notch service and recommended a really great wine that was selling for $28 for a limited time. It was the 2012 Arindo from Verdejo Spain.  The wine was fruit forward with a robust finish.

Frazers

On our way to see the lights at Anheuser Busch Brewery, we stopped in for an early dinner at Frazer's Good Eats. It had been a favorite back when it went by the interesting moniker, Frazer's Traveling Brown Bag. 
Frazers Good Eats

The first thing we realized is that you want to go with the daily specials. As the waiter listed the mouth watering soups, salads, appetizers, and entrees, I knew making a choice would be difficult. We decided to start with a reasonably priced wine "Shebang" a Zin/Syrah blend from California. Since it was a house poor, we were able to taste before committing to the bottle. 

We started with a puff pastry full of mushroom goodness. It was light, flaky, and creamy on the inside. It was truly special. I ordered the lamb chops that came with a mint glaze, served on a bed of mashed potatoes and topped with perfectly one asparagus spears. I love lamb and it had been too long since I had found chops served this well.  My wife had the duck which was done French country style with a touch of orange, lavender and thyme. I had  taste and it was succulent. 

We loved the experience. The decor is absolutely beautiful with a stone washed look on the walls, elegant maroon plush curtains softening up the corners. The tables and chairs were soft shades of maroon and green and the whole thing was soft, welcoming and a lovely haven on a chilly rainy evening. We will be back so stay tuned for more. 

Tripel in the Lafayette Square Neighborhood

Friday evening, we met some friends at Tripel, the relatively new Belgian inspired restaurant located at 1801 Park Ave.  Since we were early, we decided to try one of their classic cocktails after first perusing their extensive Belgian beer list.  The list can be long as there are around 450 breweries in the small country that is about the size of Rhode Island. But instead of beer, we went for two of their signature drinks. I had something called the Smoke Wagon which is bourbon, Amaro, maple, and bitters. It is poured into a glass containing molded ice and the smoke is from a Chai plum tea. I was able to remove the top glass when I had it smoked to taste and really enjoyed the drink as a lover of smoky whiskies. But it was a bit of a short pour considering the price. My wife had a Clouds Over Manhattan, which is made with white whisky, blanc vermouth, orange bitters and a topping of Cointreau-Cognac foam.

Once our friends arrived, we were seated in the very impressive dining room. It is very old school and traditional with wood and classic architectural touches throughout.  Our friends ordered the terrine as a starter which was chicken liver and was very nice. We all had the French onion soup which was very classic, thick but not overly cheesy. My wife and I split an order of mussels (Moules Specialite Maison) which were cooked in a blue cheese and calvados broth. They were tasty, rich and really nicely done. I am now anxious to go back and try the other mussel variations on the menu. We had a nice and decently priced French wine, a 2012 Mas Des Bressaudes. I was quite impressed and expect we will be back soon so that I continue this review. I will skip the cocktails then and maybe try to taste a chocolate dessert as it is Belgian after all.

Eleven Eleven

I have always enjoyed Eleven Eleven because their menu in the past has included wild game which I like. They consider themselves a blend of rustic Italian/Tuscan with a modern California sensibility.  So we made Open Table reservations and decided to stop in for dinner on our way to see Pink perform at the Scottrade Center. Our first pleasant surprise was the realization that the date was 11-11 and so it was the final day of the restaurant celebrating their 10 year anniversary. Upon being seated, we started with complimentary champagne (a really nice dry rose) that came in fantastic wine glasses that we were able to keep. 

The next piece of good news was that they had an old favorite back on the menu. One of the few places that has ever done rabbit, they serve the hindquarters braised in a marsala sauce and served with a goat cheese polenta. It was quite tasty and not gamey at all. The rabbit was truly so mild that I might have thought it was chicken. But there is a texture difference and it is a little drier. Another bonus was that they were offering two options, a red or a white bottle of wine for $10. I was skeptical and almost went with a more expensive bottle but am I ever glad we didn't. It was a Nero D’Avola from Sicily and it was the best Sicilian wine I have ever had. It was smooth with nice tannins and it really balanced the rabbit. My wife had the fennel crusted pork tenderloin and gave it rave reviews as well. It was served with sweet potato gnocchi, pancetta, kale, corn, and a bourbon apple glaze. The pork tenderloin is  a regular menu item. http://www.1111-m.com/

Eleven Eleven is part of a chain of restaurants now offering a dining card  called St. Louis Originals. It is a network of locally owned restaurants. 

El Tapatio Review

I recently had dinner at El Tapatio, located at 3279 Hampton in South City. It is near Bayer's Garden Supplies. The location is a former Indian Restaurant and before that may have been a Pizza Hut. The sign bills it as authentic Mexican and certainly the neighborhood as become prolific with all sort of variations of "authentic Mexican". I usually assume that means the owners/cooks are indeed from Mexico but they almost always adapt the food of their home to American tastes.

To start, the menu was quite impressive and didn't feature some well know items but either with different ingredients or a slightly varied presentation. The prices ran from $7.99 on up but there were plenty of options for less than $10. I did notice that a side of  sour cream was 99 cents but it was a generous proportion.

The real deal of the night were the $1.99 margaritas which were billed as lime margaritas and I was expecting an overly sweet, light on tequila drink but instead it was quite tasty and actually much better than a similarly billed margarita I once had in Tijuana Mexico.

I ordered the El Tapatio special, which is a chicken burrito and chicken enchilada topped with lettuce, pico de gallo, sour cream and real slices of avocado.  It was very good, though it was hard to tell which was the burrito. The only complaint was that the lettuce was just a tad watery.

My wife ordered the burrito California, which was served stuffed with either chicken or beef and topped with a white cheese sauce. It came with rice. She really enjoyed it and finished every bite.

As I said earlier, the menu was intriguing and I will be back so look for more updates.

3500 Winehaus and Robust

Stopped by the 3500 Winehaus on Watson for a Friday patio casual meal. Definitely get there before 7 PM and take advantage of the Happy Hour prices. It is an opportunity to try some amazing wines for a great price. Service was a bit slow but who cares when you are enjoying wine outside. The cheese tray was substantial and very good. The Italian meats platter took a little extra time as it was cut fresh for us, but it was worth it. I took home the prosciutto we didn't finish and cooked it like bacon the next morning and it was really good. It is a thick cut so easier to eat after a few minutes in a frying pan.

To contrast this with Robust in Webster Groves, I would say that the price will keep me going back to the Winehaus. Though I have always loved Robust, the last visit was quite pricey and not something you can do on a regular basis. We enjoyed some great wines and the food was very good as well. But even with a gift card, it was a big $$ bill.

Basso Gastro Pub

We went to Basso Gastro Pub Basso Gastro Pub at the newly remodeled Cheshire. The pasta is quite good and quite interesting and unique. We shared a half bowl of gnocchi and a pasta stuffed with duck sausage accompanied by broccoli rabe. The wine, from Sardinia, Argiolas Perdera was really good and really affordable. The grape varietal is the Monica grape.I was not happy with the Valet parking, which is mandatory unless you want to park on the street. When we picked up the car, it smelled like smoke. I will be back and next time I will park across the street.

Dvin

We finally made it to Dvin in Webster Groves, the quaint little Russian restaurant without a liquor license. The homemade chicken Kiev came with yellow basmanti rice and it seemed authentic though I cannot say for certain. It was very good, very tender and I would go back for more. The price is right when you can bring your own wine.

Favorite Restaurants for 2012

Modesto continues to be on the top 10 list. The same goes for Tivoli Pizza, Onesto's and Pueblo Solis.  Milagro Mexican is also still serving stellar food and the drinks are even better.

We do like Matthew's Kitchen. The fish and chips are my favorite.

A new Mexican place is open where LaSala used to be and it is promising. I still think Lily's is a great place.

I enjoyed a recent visit to the Home Wine Kitchen on Manchester in Maplewood. The burger was awesome and the wine was good, but a little pricey at $8 per glass.

Mojito Tapas was fabulous. The food was good, nice variety and the the wine list was impressive and affordable.
http://www.mojorestaurantstl.com/#!__home

Eleven Eleven has always been a favorite and I want to go there on Thursday when they have "wild game" on the menu.

Vin De Set's fish market night was a big hit. I tried Langostinos from Scotland and they were like mini-lobsters.

And finally, this local gem is on my list. Check out my friend Warren's recent review
https://plus.google.com/115156284835843341397/about?gl=US&hl=en-US

We went to Salt for my birthday and I loved it. Definitely lots of other menu items to try in the future.

A friend gave him a gift certificate for Ivory Coast Bistro and we liked it plus the whole vibe of this area in the Patch neighborhood that is up and coming.

Still loving the Farmhaus on Ivanhoe.

Another fantastic place that even has gluten free entrees and salad is the Big Sky Cafe in Webster.

We also truly loved a very authentic feeling Italian experience at Bar Italia in the CWE.

Holiday shopping and Lunch at McCormick and Schmitz-West County Shopping. We had really good Steelhead trout.

Still loving Tokyo Sushi on S. Lindbergh.

We had a wonderful pre-Christmas dinner with two of our dearest friends at a wonderful restaurant on the Hill-Lorenzo's Trattoria. It is located at 1933 Edwards.

Grant's Cabin Restaurant

My friend Angie had her 51st BD dinner at Grant’s Cabin on Hoffmeister. The place is a rustic B&B and dining location right off of 55 at Union. It is actually catered by Orlando's which is just down the road. It is decorated with stuffed bears and deer heads and is an actual log cabin. The B&B rooms are right off the dining room. We had a family style early dinner at 4 PM. They first brought chicken and dumplings. That was followed with heaping trays of fried chicken. It was actually fried in a batter more typical of fish than chicken. But it was good with a big crunch and slightly sweet hint to it. There were bowls of mashed potatoes made from red potatoes. They served wonderful warm buns with honey butter on the side. Black Forest cake was dessert. It was a good, very filling meal that came to about $19 per person including gratuity.

Roadhouse 61 in Webster Groves

When you can't spare the time for a road trip to New Orleans, an evening at the Roadhouse can help ease the blues. You will find some great classic southern entrees. The traditional catfish plate is quite good as is the jack salmon. I have never been completely clear as to what fish constitues a jack salmon because it is nothing like a King or a Coho. The brisket is flavorful but tends to be a bit too crispy and overdone.
But you really go to the Roadhouse for the sides. The corn casserole is sweet, creamy, and very southern. It does remind me a little bit of the corn side that you find in some Mexican restaurants but this is an entire small casserole brought to you steaming hot. The sweet potato pie is dessert that you can eat with your main course. The best part is that it is not overly sweet but just right.
The outside dining is very nice but if you go in the winter as I did recently, dress warm as it tends to be a bit chilly. The service is excellent and there is a decent short wine list by the glass. I was on a wine fast last visit but I tasted by wife's cabernet and would say it was a bargain for the price. We recently went there with a big group to see off 4 of our friends heading for a Hawaiian vacation. Our servers went out of their way for us and helped make the evening very special.

Modesto Again

I reviewed Modesto a few years back and I still have to say that it is one of my favorite all time restaurants and defininitely the best for Tapas. Right now, they have a great happy hour deal if you sit in the bar. You can order off the dollar menu. Most small bites range between 25 cents for a cheese or sausage ball to a dollar for a few of the more elaborate ones, anchovy on bread as an example. Recently, we decided to order two of everything and the bill came to only $17 and yet they brought it on a huge tray and we were completely stuffed at the end of the meal. They have drink specials too and you just cannot beat the deal.

Brunch at Bevo Mill

We were able to make brunch affordable at the Bevo with a Groupon. But it is normally $21 per person. It is an amzing spread however and one that is worth the cost. On the breakfast side, there are the usuals, bacon, sausage, grits, and waffles. They will custom make an omelette from the display of ingredients. It seems a number of the employees are graduates from Ecole Culinaire. But since it is being done by a catering service called Food Works, that makes sense.
There is salmon and shrimp, roast beef and ham. The lunch side had some German classics, brats and sauerkraut for one. The dessert trey was excellent, cannolis, chocolate cake covered with chocolate chips, pecan pie, cheese cake and a fruit tree where you can pull strawberries, melon, and pineapple.
They also serve bottomless mimosas or you can make your own bottomless blood mary. There is a table set up with all the ingredients you could ever want.
The building is still full of the same beauty and elgance that it always held. They have some outside seating set up and for a Sunday in mid-May, the place was hopping with graduation and christening parties. Make reservations unless you go early and only have a party of 2-4.

Review of Robust

Robust is one of our favorite lunch locations. We usually have a very late lunch or early dinner that leaves us feeling like we just took a vacation to Europe. There are a variety of cheese and meat plates that come with dried fruit and these garlicky bread sticks that are very special. But of course, it is a wine bar and the tastings are always excellent. Here are some of the great tastings we have enjoyed:

Cellar Arts tasting
D'Aragon Garnacha-deep cherry with hints of violet, followed by intense blackberry and tangerine.
Volante Merlot-supple layers of blackcherry and berry fruits, spicy vanilla oak.
Four Vines Zin-layers of berries and anise with hints of spice, blackberry, plum fruit, leading to a toasted oak.

Worldly Chardonnay tasting
2008 Domaine Talmard-Burgandy France-lemon oil, green nuts, hint of chalky salinity.
2007 Northfield Frog Rock Vineyard-Waipara Valley New Zealand-apple, nectarine with a hint of pineapple, toasted hazelnuts and spice with a creamy finish.
2007 Errazuriz Wild Ferment-Casablanca Valley Chile-citrus, pear and a nutty layer on the nose.

Appetizers
Clarissa from Sardinia Italy-goat cheese with natural rind, semi-firm moist with flavors of citrus and fruity notes.
Nieske's smoked duck-succulent rich duck, slow smoked over applewood ambers, producing a melt in your mouth tender sweet smoky flavor.
Amablue Minnesota cheese-rose cows milk blue cheese aged in natural cases, rich and full.

Review of Five

It was two weeks after the actual date before we were able to have dinner at Five and celebrate Carol's birthday. While the restaurant is located on the Hill, it is not particularly Italian but a celebration of the five senses with a focus on local sustainable foods.
We chose to go with the four course prix-fixe menu. We ordered a nice Cabernet Franc from the Chinon winery in France. It was very affordable. I started wtih beef carpaccio from Fruitland Farm. It was so tender and succulent, topped with local black radish, sottocenere al tartufo and black truffle oil. Olives and fleur de sel garnished the dish. Carol had the housemade gnocchi, that was made from braised Benne Farm pork head ragout and Baetje Farm goat cheese.
The next course included a carrot soup with toasted walnuts and creme fraiche and a salade topped with toasted housemade brioche, almonds, roasted red onion, stilton blue cheese, olves and balsalmic vinaigrette. And while each item was quite tasty, it was the gnochi that really nailed the meal's first courses.
As we heard that they had butchered a lamb earlier in the day and the meat was quite fresh, we both went with the lamb shank. The lamb was raised at the Praire Grass Farm. It was fall of the bone tender and came with a rich creamy polenta with Ozark Forest oyster mushrooms, quark cheese, oregano, butter and white truffle oil. It was too much to finish so we came home with enought meat for a second meal.
We finished off with a chocolate sampling and the decadent bread pudding. They brought us two complimentary glasses of champagne and we toasted to a wonderful birthday for Carol and a great new restauarant that supports our ideal of trying to eat more local foods.

St. Louis Food Memories

My first St. Louis food experience was a healthy one. The Central West End neighborhood in the heart of the city promoted a Greenwich Village ambience during the eighties and was the place to be if you happened to be gay. On one end of the historic brick main street, known as Euclid Boulevard was the Sunshine Inn. The Inn was founded by Robert Nissenbaum, a St. Louis organic foods pioneer who founded Morning Dew Organic Food Market in 1971. The Morning Dew Organic Food Market is often considered among the earliest modern natural/organic food stores in the United States. He opened the Sunshine Inn just three years later so by the time I arrived in the big city, it was an established anchor of the neighborhood. The Inn was one the earliest and longest-lasting natural foods restaurants, serving customers for nearly 25 years before it closed. At the Sunshine Inn, Nissenbaum began experimenting with creating nondairy foods, many of which would eventually form the basis of his Imagine Foods' product line. Aside from enjoying numerous vegetarian dishes, I first experiences the vegan sakes made with combinations of nuts and fruits. I also tried the carrot juice smoothie and sprouts for the first time. Looking back, I believe this experience formed the foundation of my later interest and comfort with organic, natural foods.


When we moved into the south Hampton neighborhood in 1999, we quickly realized that we were surrounded by great locally owned restaurants. The evolution toward becoming so dedicated to patronizing these types of places was a gradual one. The day that we made the decision to buy our house, we had lunch at Tumo’s which at the time was the only restaurant in walking distance from the house. Later on, we began to feel as though we were in the center of something really amazing. The higher we watch gas prices rise, the more we appreciate the neighborhood.

Just north of Tumo’s on Hampton is the Pitted Olive. Dave Holmes, a DuBourg HS graduate and his wife opened the place in 2006. Originally planning to sell fresh fish, they bowed to health codes and provide an extensive take-out menu of prepared foods made fresh each day. They also sell wine, beer, and tea. There is limited seating indoors to serve their restaurant patrons but the most appealing feature is the creative patio they built behind the store. There is a fascinaring view overlooking the Bishop DuBourg football field. The patio is covered with a big tent, complete with ceiling fans for the summer and portable radiator heat for the winter. The wine list is nice; the pizza appetizers are excellent as are all the small plates. The entrees are on the heavy side though so come hungry. Between Tumo’s and the Pitted Olive, on the east side of Hampton is Plato’s Café. A few blocks east on Loughboro, at Macklind is the Callbox Grill. Continue north on Macklind and you will find Murdoch Perk.

Monarch

The elegance begins with valet parking since we arrived during a full blown thunderstorm and having the valet with an umbrella in hand was a nice touch. Once inside, the fine dining ambiance continued. The brown cloth draped ceiling is very classic and serves as a stark contrast to the previous incarnations of the building. The service is now impeccable and done with a sense of humor. We found the dining room exceptionally crowded for a rainy Thursday evening. Expecting high prices, the wine list was a pleasant surprise with many affordable vintages of quality.
Quickly, we received a complementary appetizer plate that included three small bites, each with intriguing flavors, though there was no description as to exactly what they were. The bread that arrived was warm and very unique as well. As the waiter went over the menu, variations were included in his description. For example, he offered me an orange marlin (described as a kind of a mix between blue marlin and orange roughy) done in the same way as another seafood entrée from the menu. My dining companion had the seafood ravioli which was rich and filling. For dessert, the cheesecake was adequate but the chocolate cream dessert was over the top, rich creamy, chocolate at its best. I will not overdo the blandishments but Monarch is definitely top of the line and a welcome addition to Maplewood.

We made a second visit to Monarch for our fourth wedding anniversary. I made the reservation on Open Table and explicitly stated that we were married in Canada to avoid any skepticism. The service is absolutely first rate and at the same time there is this subtle sense of snobbery. I find it an interesting combination.
As before we started with the chef’s special treat of the day which was an interesting flavor combination of a tiny piece of cheesecake topped with finely chopped peppers that had a slight vinegar kick. I am not sure I really liked it. The bread arrived around the same time as the very nice red wine we ordered. It is labeled for them as Monarch and is from the Napa Valley. It was an awesome 2004 merlot with hints of chocolate and smooth tannins.
Carol was very tempted to order an appetizer spread and I believe if it had not been a Monday night with such a busy work week ahead of us both, we might have gone for the chef’s tasting menu. We settled on just one, the pan seared scallops which were heavenly. We then decided to order an entrée off the menu. I started with a salad of baby greens, fried apples, red Windsor cheese, pistachios, warm pancetta topped with red wine vinaigrette. As an entrée, I had the pistachio encrusted lamb chops with a bing cherry sauce and shiitake beurre blanc and yes, it was an evening all about pistachios. On the side were brie whipped potatoes and green beans. Carol ordered the grilled walleye that was topped with a dill yogurt cream, caramelized onions, toasted almonds and on the side wild rice and asparagus. For dessert, they treated us to a rich chocolate tort topped with one candle and thanked us for sharing our special day with them.

Mango's

St. Louis has a depth of new and established eateries that will keep any confirmed “foodie” happy through the year. Since my partner and I are celebrating 10 years together this year and food is such an integral part our day to day lives and relationship, we are on a quest to re-visit the best of the best.

On a cold January day, visiting Mango’s on Watson Road in Shrewsbury is sure to bring a touch of warmth. Mango’s is the only Peruvian restaurant in St. Louis. The colors are reflective of South American images and the menu is unique. The restaurant opened in 2004.

In addition to pisco, there is a simple but excellent wine list. Pisco is the classic Peruvian drink that is made from the liquor pisco, sugar, lemon juice, egg white and Amargo Angostura. The food menu is interesting as well. There are standard seafood specials and a Peruvian specialty that involves tilapia, onions, tomatoes, Peruvian black olives, sliced egg, fried toast served on a bed of rice and potatoes. I have had that twice and it is excellent. There are a number of tapas style starters, both cold and hot. I love the food, the ambience, and unique menu.

http://www.mangoperu.com/

Italian on Hampton

Brazies and Ginos Restaurant form two of our pre-vacation, post vacation anchors. At both restaurants, we enjoyed a very nice Hess wine. At Brazie's, it was a 2005 Cabernet, very oaky, with a rich berry finish. The Brazie's house salad is the best with a nice sweet tang that keeps you coming back for more. They, like Gino's also do a nice olive oil herb mix for the pre-dinner bread.
The talapia at Brazie's was nice, very tender, done with pine nuts and spinach but a little heavy on the olive oil. The veal spedini was also nicely done, artichoke and lemon flavors were a perfect balance. At Gino's, Carol had the best veal chop ever, it was nice and smokey with a textured grill flavor. I had the pasta with a Italian sausage, the typical anise flavored variety, and shrimp which made for an interesting merge of taste and texture. I am not a big fan of Gino's salad as the vinegar packs too strong of a punch.
Both restaurants are staples in the south Hampton neighborhood and we feel lucky to have them both so close to home.

DeMun Neighborhood

The best coffee is St. Louis comes from the locally owned Kaldi’s Coffee, in the DeMun neighborhood. I was at Murdoch Perk when I realized that any coffee shop serving Kaldi’s is going to be on my top ten list. I can even make a fairly decent cup at home when I use Kaldi’s. And so, I thought I should sample some food there as well. On a recent gorgeous Friday afternoon, I made a lunch run and grabbed a very nice eggplant panini. The eggplant was not chewy but instead melted with each succulent bite. Kaldi’s also serves quiche, soup, and lots of delectable desserts. There is the expected offering of coffee drinks and lots of interesting and expensive smoothies. I opted for a standard ninety cent coffee and with three varieties to choose from, I played it safe with a flavorful decaf. I was able to eat outside and enjoy lunch overlooking a park that is adjacent to the campus of Concordia Seminary; I was struck by the beauty of the DeMun neighborhood. The street is tree lined with a well maintained median. The houses and apartments feel cozy and historic.
There are two other excellent foodie spots in the area, Jimmy’s On the Park and Sasha’s Wine Bar. Jimmy’s offers the famous pasta crunchers and a classy atmosphere. You will see a well-dressed older crowd for Sunday brunch. Sasha’s is the place to go for lunch when you want to play hooky from the world. With a great wine list and lots of great appetizer selections as well as cheese plates, you can sit on their comfortable patio, look at the park and people watch.

Pueblo Solis

All Mexican food is not created equal so when you find a place that is owned and operated by true Mexican immigrants, there is always hope it will be good. Pueblo Solis is my favorite place in St. Louis and I still like it after returning from a recent vacation to San Diego where the quality is beyond outstanding. The menu offers several classic Mexican seafood dishes utilizing tilapia and salmon as well as mole sauce. The standard offerings of combo platters feature tostadas, tacos, sopes, flauta, enchiladas, and tamales.
Instead of the somewhat soggy offerings of many low end Mexican restaurants, Pueblo Solis offers flautas with a crisp and crunch that almost reminded me of San Diego. The refried beans and rice are typical but good.
Before ordering the main course though, it is worth trying the guacamole, though it will hit you for a $6.95 charge. The free chips and salsa may be a better deal since the salsa is home made. You will get three different types, two red and a green. Depending on the hotness of the jalapenos, you may get a surprise of find all three to be relatively mild. The margarita’s are usually good but if you are there on the regular bartender’s night off, they can be weak and lacking the usual punch. An upgrade to the Grand Marnier margarita will rarely disappoint.

South Hampton Neighborhood Restaurants

Murdoch Perk has filled a much needed niche in the South Hampton/Kingshighway neighborhood as a very popular hangout. The place is busy as soon as they open which is 7 AM, Tuesday through Friday and 8 AM on the weekends. It is a great stop for breakfast, lunch, or dinner and you can always have breakfast for dinner and lunch for breakfast. The seating inside is cozy and the walls are covered with a rotating display of local artist. Step out the side door and onto the beautiful patio to enjoy eating outdoors and even share a meal with your dog. They regularly feature a quiche special made with bacon, and tomato or cheese and spinach. The quiche is always fluffy and the crust is flaky and filling. It comes with your choice of potatoes or fresh fruit. The fruit medley consists of grapes, cantaloupe, honey dew and a few strawberries. The potatoes are not fried, so they are very healthy but not crisp enough to suit my taste. Another breakfast regular is the banana walnut waffle, which is everything a waffle should be.
The menu also contains a nice selection of wraps and crepes, all which fill the serving plate and leave you feeling healthy. Murdock Perk is completely smoke free and in addition to great food, you can enjoy a great selection of smoothies and coffee drinks. My favorite is the berry smoothie but there is an excellent peach variety as well as many others.

The Pitted Olive pulls in diners from all over St. Louis and since it is just blocks from my house; I have been there many times. I probably wouldn’t drive in from West County myself but as a neighborhood resource, I can’t complain. Originally planning to sell fresh fish, they bowed to health codes and provide an extensive take-out menu, prepared fresh each day. They also sell wine, beer, and tea. There is limited seating indoors to serve their restaurant patrons but the most appealing feature is the creative patio they built behind the store, overlooking the Bishop DuBourg football field. The patio is covered with a big tent, complete with ceiling fans for the summer and portable radiator heat for the winter. I have experienced the patio on a snowy day in February and a summer rainstorm. Always, it is a cozy and unique experience. The owners make the place as well. Mike is actually a DuBourg graduate and always dreamed of his own place right in his childhood stomping grounds. His wife is not from St. Louis but has the most delicious British accent. The wine list is nice; the pizza appetizers are excellent as are all the small plates. The entrees are on the heavy side to suit me. I have ordered the ribs which have just a little too much sauce and the duck was a bit over done. But others may love it. All in all, the patio makes a visit worthwhile.

Tumos’ is not on the Hill but instead in the South Hampton neighborhood, nestled in the corner of St. Louis Hills. There is nothing fancy about Tumos but it is good basic Italian and not terribly expensive. The affordable carafes of wine are decent, the classic iceberg lettuce side salads, covered with layers of provel cheese are always appealing. The bread always tempts me to over do it on the carbs, though again, it is just sliced Italian bread. It is a place to enjoy the most basic of south St. Louis Italian, toasted ravioli, cannelloni, pasta con broccoli, and spaghetti with meatballs. Save your need for more exotic dishes for another time. The indoor seating area is quaint with elevated booths running down one side and a sports bar theme on the opposite side. The best time for Tumos' is summer when you can enjoy the front patio seating and watch the world go by on Hampton Ave.

Callbox Grill

I eat less and less meat, not that I am trying to become a vegetarian but I have learned to really love the color and flavor of what is healthier. But when a new neighborhood restaurant opened, I had to check it out, even it had all the signs of a meat-eaters paradise. The Callbox Grill décor is French country and the menu is concise, only offering what they do well. There is a small bar area with a saloon ambience. The bar's golden wood has been beautifully done and at least one neighborhood regular can be spotted with a beer and a view of the very modern flat screen TV. If the Cardinals are playing, the game is on and restaurant chatter makes it clear that everyone is watching.

The restaurant is on the corner of Loughboro and Macklind. The simple straightforward menu will hook anyone but an avowed vegetarian. I have briefly tasted the pulled pork and ribs while sharing several meals with my partner but I cannot stop ordering the beef brisket. After three times, I am addicted to the tender savory taste. Each cut spent just the perfect time in the smoker and while all cuts are not created equal, the meat was never tough. The sides are amazing. If you like mayonnaise based potato salad, they serve one of the best. The baked beans are tangy and complement the meat. They serve a Goose Island Pale Ale that works well with the menu. Ordering wine can be a little tricky because an open bottle may have set too long. But point it out and they will graciously open a new bottle and provide a fresh glass. All in all, I feel it is a great addition to the tradition of small friendly corner neighborhood hang outs.

Guido’s

This place has become my favorite affordable tapas restaurant. The service and quality are not quite to the level of Modesto or Mosaic but the price is right. The restaurant is located on Shaw Ave in the Hill neighborhood and they do serve Italian cuisine. But they also have a unique list of Spanish tapas and very affordable Spanish temperonilla wines. The atmosphere is homey and hearing the Italian music in the background lends a nice touch.
They have a great plate of Spanish cheeses, such as Manchego. There are homemade Spanish meatballs with onions, garlic and a white wine sauce. I loved the baked brie and tomato basil compote that is zingy and flavorful. The Empananadillas pastries are just right, stuffed full with chicken or tuna. The variety is unique and affordable. This is the place to go when you can't make a decision.

Sushi

Over the last few years, my partner and I set out to sample a variety of St. Louis sushi in hopes of discovering new gems and reaffirming why we love our old favorites such as Sekisui on Grand. Other than Sekisui, my primary sushi experience has been SanSai Japanese Grill in Webster Groves. Because my chiropractor has an office nearby, it has become a convenient fast food way of eating sushi. I usually stop by and order the sushi and sashimi platters to go. With the platters comes a pretty decent variety of salads, one with slaw and almonds, another with mixed greens and mandarin oranges. The sushi is good, not always melt in your mouth good but adequate for the price. They serve a classic California roll and a vegetable tempura this is crispy enough to hold up for the ride home. You can also buy a small bottle of sake to take home and complete the experience.
In another review, I covered our experience with Sekisui Pacific Rim in Clayton. As a follow-up, we went there for Tuesday night; all you can eat sushi which is $25. We went with two friends who are experienced with sushi rolls but never had nigiri or sashimi. We ended up ordering a nice array, trying the tempura, spicy crab rolls, Philly rolls, and more.
But for me the classic sushi, particularly the salmon was the highlight of the evening as it absolutely melted in your mouth. The smoked eel was very good. We tried the conch which was a tad chewy but pretty good as well. We also enjoyed a sake flight which was a much better choice than wine from our last visit. You receive four substantial portions of sake which include a very nice dry one, a cloudy one with the flavor of anise, a sweet sake, and a plum dessert wine.
The original order of tempura is huge and they probably are trying to fill you up on something less expensive. But we persevered and kept on eating. Ordering sashimi is not an option and you are instructed to not order more than you can eat. All in all, for the price, it is an excellent way to sample a variety of sushi or possible just gorge yourself on salmon all night.
A recent visit to Wasabi on Washington revealed that there is no limit to the variety of sushi rolls that an inventive chef can create. We found a great variety that didn't even include rice but instead were wrapped in a thin rice paper. This place demands many follow-up visits to sample even more rolls.

A first time experience was the Drunken Fish in the Central West End. The primary pull here was the outdoor dining and recent city ordinance that allows you to bring your dog. The sushi was very good, the drink menu offered a nice selection of martinis and you just can’t beat the ambience. Another West End experience was Sub Zero. This place is all about the vodka, with the frozen bar and perfect temperature vodkas; it is an awesome experience on a hot summers day. We have made a couple visits to a third area place on Lindell and it ranks as average. Back to Clayton, we tried Miso and found it good but over priced. Tokyo Sushi on Lindbergh is a pleasant surprise in south county. I thought it was good after a first visit but upon returning, I enjoyed tuna that was so buttery it literally melted in my mouth. I will be back for more. Tachiabana on Olive was very good but not convenient for us city dwellers. We went on a gift certificate and were pleasantly surprised.

Sekisui Pacific Rim in Clayton

I love making five PM reservations at trendy places because no one else does. Saturday evening, we did just that and headed out to Clayton to enjoy some sushi and Pacific Rim inspired food. We had our choice of seating and picked one of the two tables between the huge water feature and a nice window view of Forsyth. I continue to see this particular water feature in sushi joints. There is a hug piece of textured glass and water runs down one or both sides into a trough below, a simple but elegant addition to each restaurant.
We took a look at the menu and saw the usual good stuff as well as a few interesting items such as conch salad.
My eyes always search for sashimi as I really feel that rice just gets in the way of good sushi. The rolls are fine as an appetizer or dessert but give me fish. Luckily, we found the perfect fit on the small paper menu, a 16 piece sashimi combo, chef’s choice. As an appetizer, we chose a nice mix of vegetable tempura and the dumplings in a sweet fruit sauce. Both were served with teriyaki sauce and were very tasty. The wine list was average and we mistakenly chose a pinot noir rather than sake. Most of the sakes were really pricey but nothing goes as well with sushi and the pinot was nothing special. The sashimi however, was very tender and flavorful. Even the octopus, which is often chewy, was nearly melt in your mouth good. For dessert, we opted for an order of Philly rolls and finally indulged ourselves in a little rice. All in all, this place has a great menu, great ambience, and we will be back.

Pho Grand and Lemongrass

My partner and I have sort of an odd tradition. We always eat Vietnamese food after we have our taxes done by a professional. If there is link, besides the location, it is the idea of eating such a tremendous meal for so little money. Pho Grand is the place that fills that bill. It is an immensely popular place and if you go there any time other than a cold night in February, there is usually a wait. She always gets the same thing, which I always must sample and that is a dish of scallops in a spicy coconut/curry sauce. It is not painfully spicy and fills you up with the warmth. I am more interested in trying a variety off their very extensive menu. This last visit, I had vegetables, noodles and a seafood mix. This dish was not spicy but I had several condiments available to add that extra zing. My favorite condiment is the fish hosein sauce. The seafood in this bowl was very tender, even the calamari was wonderful. There is so much more at Pho Grand to experience, the spring roll appetizers, the green tea dessert, and the seafood pancakes. I will update this review as I expand my experiences there.

Lemongrass used to be a very inexpensive hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant on South Grand. Now it has moved to a much nicer location, just down the street. The food is as good as it always was and the prices didn’t skyrocket. It provides an interesting neighbor to Pho Grand, less than a block away. The primary difference is that there are a multitude of menu offerings that are enhanced with the flavor of lemongrass. Other than that, I find the two restaurants comparable and each has its devoted fans.

Sekisui

Sekisui was the location of my first sushi experience and as with love, there is nothing like the first time. I had been resistant to the concept of raw fish, especially after ordering a rare tuna once that I could barely stomach. But some friends talked me into trying sushi and they served as expert guides. I left that first dinner with what can be only termed a brain buzz. I felt more alert, more alive, more awake, even after a couple cups of sake. I never equaled that experience again but there was something very powerful there. What was even more amazing was that I loved it and had become an absolute sushi addict. Since then, I have tried sushi in some wonderful places like Berlin, Germany and some adequate places like sushi fast food in Webster Groves but nothing is any better than Seksui.
When I say sushi, I mean the real deal, not just he rolls. Though I do like a number of the rolls that they offer at Sekisui including the St. Louis roll with crab and eel, the Philly roll with crab and avocado, and their Cardinal roll which i ncludes smoked salmon and roe. But my favorite is the sushi sampler platter. I also learned how much I like to order sushimi, which is sushi without the rice. Really the rice is just there to help you fill up since sushi is so expensive. If I were fabulously rich, I would skip the rice entirely. The tuna is often the best you will find anywhere, as is the salmon. My favorite is the smoked eel which is sometimes so melt in your mouth good that you think you have just eaten chocolate.

As a side, the best thing is the variety of vegetable tempura. The tempura has just the right crispiness and sweet potato is the best. I have enjoyed nearly everything I have tried off the menu but at the end of the day, I am there for one thing, sushi. So what are you waiting for, falling in love with sushi is almost like falling in love.

Destination Dining

http://www.destinationdiningstl.com/default.asp

I had heard about the concept behind Destination Dining last year but I was skeptical. The restaurant was taking over a space in south county that had been home to a very excellent Italian restaurant and another French Mediterranean place that never got off the ground. I had been to both restaurants and knew what a great space Destination would have to occupy. But how could a chef feature a new regional cuisine each month and do each one justice? And not having a good answer, I put off this destination. Finally, I decided to check it out and found that in January they were featuring their best of 2005 in a World tour dining experience. Deciding that this would be the ultimate test of the concept, it was time to give it a try. The ambience was as good as ever and I loved the place settings with beautiful china that featured a world map pattern.
The menu offered several "passages", with the full passage including an appetizer, soup, salad, two main courses, and dessert. Since it was a world tour and a chance to taste a wide variety, this was the obvious choice. Even before the appetizer, the chef sent out an excellent fried cheese ball as a pre-appetizer. There was no wine list but ordering a Merlot brought us a good quality, reasonably priced bottle. Adding a wine list would be an improvement however. The soup, billed as Scandinavian, was a creamy rich mushroom that arrived in a small cup. Throughout the meal, portions were always just right. The salad was a pear lettuce salad that was excellent. The main dish offering of lamb from Morocco was out of this world, one of the best lamb cuts that I have ever tasted with a subtle spice that added to the flavor. The other main dish was chicken that was flavored just right and very tender. It was billed as Japanese. In the middle of the main course, three small tastings of sorbet arrived and provided a nice touch. The dessert was beautifully presented and the service was perfect, attentive, knowledgeable, and the waiter had perfect timing on when to bring the next course. All in all, it was an excellent experience and one that I want to repeat. The price is prohibitive however of making this an regular destination.

It was another year before I managed to return to Destination Dining. It turns out that they have changed their approach from monthly destinations to a much more varied rotation of ideas. January 2007 saw four different themes including Egypt, the South Pacific, the White House and my chosen destination, the Titanic. Yes, the menu reflected a slightly pared down 9 course version of the meal served to the Titanic passengers the night the ship sank. Somehow the menu survived and was available on the internet to any restauranteur looking for a unique dining concept. Not to long ago, I had been to the St. Louis Science Center for a Titanic exhibit that included getting a boarding pass upon entry. After viewing this amazing travelling collection, each of us found out in the end whether the passenger on our boarding pass lived or died. It was this experience that led me to choose this dining experience and it did not disappoint. The place was decorated but the best part was the owner dressed as the captain of the Titanic and his willingness to camp it up and play the part.
The meal began with a canape, followed by a consumme that was adequate. The poached salmon with mousseline sauce was very nicely done as was the chicken Lyonnaise that followed. The chicken was paired with an interesting minted green pea timbale that was actually very tasty though not as appetizing to see. At this point in the meal, we had a nice break with a punch sorbet. The remove roast course wa roast sirloin of beef and was a little overdone. The asparagus sald had a nice champange-saffron sauce. There were two desserts, a French vanilla creme eclair and a fruit and cheese plate. As with my first experience, the pacing of the food was nice but this time, I was uncomfortably full at the end, but hey with 9 courses, no wonder the Titanic sunk. All in all, it was another fabulous experience and if my pocketbook and waist line could handle it, I would be there for every destination this year.

A third visit highlighted Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. This was only 4 courses with an optional dessert. I had the hearty vegetable soup followed by a new lettuce salad with sour cream dressing. The intermezzo was a fruit sorbet. All of this was good but not overly impressive. The main course that followed was the best pan-sauteed Northern Lakes perch. It was fluffy and flavorful and made a great second day leftover as well.
Dessert was equally awesome, a caramel apple crisp. The ambience and service did not equal the Titanic experience but all in all, it made for a pleasant, less expensive evening.

Millenium Top of the Riverfront

The Top of the Riverfront at the Millennium Hotel is St. Louis institution. The restaurant is twenty-eight stories above the city and includes views of the new stadium as well as the Arch and barges traveling the river. Generally, the restaurant takes about 90 minutes to make the 360 degrees circle but on a recent visit, we found it rotating quite a bit faster, completing a full turn in a little over an hour.
The last two visits, I have ordered the North Atlantic Pecan salmon pineapple which comes with a pineapple risotto and is topped with a pineapple beurre blanc. On a recent visit, I started off with the soup of the day, lobster bisque which was wonderfully flavorful, rich, and creamy. Another time, I had the iceberg salad wedge which was also a nice touch. The restaurant can be pricey; they were offering a lobster special for $75 on a recent visit and the steak and lobster special was $99. But there are reasonably priced entrees and a decent wine list that can be affordable as well. The food is very good and when you factor in the view, it is St. Louis destination that you do not want to miss.

The Lava Lounge

I recently had the pleasure of experiencing a fantastic new St. Louis night spot. In the heart of the Bosnian dominated stretch of Gravois, in south St. Louis, there is an unusual place called the Lava Lounge. At first glance, it is surprising that this place is not in the trendy loft district because it has that feel. It is a beautifully renovated space with an exquisitely done wood bar and an incredible drink selection. The bar stools are super cool as they are adjustable and red. The wall color is also an invigorating shade of red with gorgeous avante garde art on the walls. The DJ is top notch with a great dance selection. The dance floor is a small hardwood floor space that can be turned into a seating area as needed. I was there for a private party so we had a catered dinner that was very good and unique. All in all, it is a must see for the trendy crowd and a great chance to be a pioneer in this Southside neighborhood.
http://www.lavaloungecafe.com/

Tapas Trifecta

As a slow food enthusiast, I love tapas bars. I love them because I can order one or two small plates at a time and keep the pace slow. The portions are never overwhelming, leftovers don’t happen and it is always a treat to try so many varieties from what is often a very inviting menu. Recently, I found another St. Louis location that will join my other two favorites, Modesto and Mirasol to make a perfect threesome. That tapas bar would be Mosaic in downtown St. Louis. The only negative tapas experience in St. Louis so far has been the Clayton location of Barcelona, where the service was horrible and the food mediocre.
After ordering a moderately priced, very nice bottle of Spanish Tempronilla, it was time to focus on the food. We started with a soup flight that included a slightly sweet vanilla enhanced butternut squash soup, a carrot ginger soups as well as a black bean soup. All three were an interesting twist of flavor and a great way to start the meal. We followed the soup with carpaccio of beef topped with argula salad and toasted hazelnuts. Stupendous is the only way to describe the taste sensation. The tangy arugula was perfect with the beef and it did leave me wanting more, a definite order for next time. Next up was an herb gnocchi with asparagus tips covered in truffled asparagus sauce followed by the pulled Korean BBQ pork inside a baked Fuji apple with goat cheese, crème fraiche and five spice pistachios which was another outstanding merger of taste.
The service was completely top-notch and when I explained that this was a very delayed birthday dinner, our server promptly offered a free dessert and recommended a special pumpkin flan with a small dollop of ice cream topped with a caramel pumpkin seed brittle. This truly finished off a wonderful meal and I hope to return many times. Free parking right across the street is just one more bonus.

Modesto Review

Walking into Modesto brings Spanish color and light to any day with colors that are earth tones of orange and brown. On Monday nights, the places is filled with dancing, Spanish style and will truly leave you feeling as though you hopped the Atlantic for an evening in Spain.
I have been to Modesto many times and consider it to be one of the best dining spots in St. Louis. Though the menu offers some full course meals, the point of Modesto is in ordering the tapas. A tapas meal is great for a group of friends that want to share and enjoy the small plates. But it is equally appealing as a romantic dinner to share with the one you love.

The menu changes often with all the standard favorites, like Dátiles Relleno, which consists of bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with cabrales cheese. The sweetness of the dates and the pungent cheese will leave you wanting more, but then that is the idea of small plates. You want to try them all while at the same time discovering that one favorite that wish was the entire meal. Another on of my favorites is the Pinchos de Cordero which consist of Moroccan-style grilled lamb kebabs with mint-yogurt sauce and tomato-onion salsa. My partner chose one of her favorites, the steamed mussels in a tangy sauce made of hard cider, chorizo and peppers. On the new side, we tried a roasted quail stuffed with Majon cheese and bacon covered with red wine and fig sauce. Thought it was good, the flavor was a little weak in comparison to the Dátiles Relleno flavor which packs such a punch. But the quail were very tender and tasty as they were.
We enjoyed a great temporanillo wine, Vina Sandasol 2004, that complimented each of the plates. It was clean, balanced and silky and made for a wonderful dining experience. The chef
is Grace Dinsmoor

LoRusso's, Zoe's, and Felix's Restaurants-Favorites

These are three of my favorite restaurants. As a confirmed foodie, it can be difficult to become a regular anywhere. But each of these restaurnts have warranted repeat visits and for good reason.
First, LoRusso's Cucinis is billed as Italian on the Hill. It is not really on the Hill in my mind but close enough at Watson and Arsenal. It is however, very authentic Italian and holds its own uniqueness. The decor is warm, the staff is always attentitive and will remember you if you come often enough. The wine list is very approachable with some great chiantis. My favorite entre is the squash ravioli with dried cherries in a creamy white sauce. The flavors of sweetness and tartness marry together so well and it keeps me coming back.
Felix's, in the Dogtown neighborhood, is the place to go for a quick happy hour bite on Friday afternoons. They have great drink specials( the mango martini is outstanding) to go with your pizza. The four cheese and sun dried tomato pizza is very good, featuring a thin crust and lots of great cheese. The lobster, pesto and cream cheese is a must try and it will keep you coming back for more. The food is great, the price is perfect and the service is always friendly. On the last visit, we chatted with our young waiter who was headed toward a culinary career.
Finally, Zoe's has a lot to offer. It is on the pricey side compared to the other two. But it offers outside dining in the great people watching area of the Central West End. The first time there was in our pre-sushi days and it was the very rare tuna that convince my partner and I to try sushi which has become an obsession, but that is for another review. On my last visit, I had the grilled Asian Bar-B-Que salmon with a ginger vinaigrette over mixed greens and Chinese mustard. It was outstanding with a nice crisp white wine. I even saved room for dessert in the form of Tahitian vanilla ice cream with fresh mango puree and cashews. It was a refreshing, wonderful meal.

Three St. Louis Area Entertainment Experiences

Over the course of several weekends, I had the chance to experience a variety of dining/entertainment spots in the St. Louis area. The first was Jazz at the Bistro where we went to see a favorite jazz artist, Patricia Barber. She has an incrediby unique style and tours primarily in Europe. She and her band provided a first class show with drum solos that were out of this world. She was fun to watch as she played with "Schroder" like intensity, giving lots of credit and solo spots to her band. I spent every minute of the show, hoping it would go on and on. Because the second show was not sold out, we were at least able to stay and otherwise, I would have felt like it just wasn't enough. We began the evening with dinner at our assigned table that came with the ticket. The food was surprisingly good. I had the bistro chicken, it was chicken topped with a pecan cream sauce and finished with Brie cheese. The meat was moist, the topping unique and well done. The wine list was good and we had no trouble finding a suitable match to our dinner. Later, I made the evening complete by enjoying the concert while sipping a bit of Grand Marnier. The dining crowd was eclectic, with many same sex couples as a result of Barber's varied fan base that includes many lesbians.
Finale is a totally upscale restaurant in Clayton that also gives you the whole experience if you plan it right, a first class dinner followed by a show right next door. The entrees are a bit pricier but reflect a different dining style. The service was impeccable beginning with a chef's treat in the form of a tiny crab appetizer. The wine list was top notch and we chose a fabulous Oregon Cabernet. The next course included a fairly typicle Gorgonzola cheese, walnut salad that we were able to split. For an entree, I chose Duck Three Ways and it was fabulous as well as unique, serving the standard sliced duck breast, duck sausage, and duck wrapped in a cabbage roll that was along the lines of an egg roll. I passed on dessert, thinking I would have it during the concert. Once we were seated in the next room, it became apparent that table two, though sounding like a good thing, had its drawbacks. First, it was a small table for four and we were seated with strangers who had already picked the better of the four seats. They were a mother/daughter pair and both dressed right out of a Clayton style book, with the younger one dressed in evening wear.They were hardly friendly but I didn't take it personally. The real problem was that we were just too close to the stage and not in any position to order dessert. But the Frank Sinatra tribute was awesome anyway. The band was quite good and the singer defintely be spoke a middle aged Sinatra. He chose a nice variety of tunes and finished with "Chicago, Chicago" only to come back for an encore of "New York, New York". He was able to give lots of historic tidbits with the songs and it made for a most enjoyable evening.
The third event of this trifecta included a night at the races, horse racing at Fairmont Park, Illinois. We arrived and opted for valet parking as we were running late for a chance to see an appearance of the Budweiser Clydesdales. We then paid the $10 Party at the Park admission price that included an all-you-can-eat buffet and $1 long neck beers. We found our way upstaris to the smokiest room I had seen in years, it was like a typical Bingo room, with everyone marking on their racing sheets. We went through the buffet line and sat in the only open spot, right up by the Honky Tonk band that was playig. They were very good, though they looked a little rough around the edges, the music was perfect for the moment. The buffet had fried chicken, catfish, french fries, various potato salads and slaw. It was very good, particularly the catfish.After eating our first round and drinking our first round, we went off in search of betting windows. As we figured out how to place our bets, we discovered there was a non-smoking section downstairs. So we took refuge in cleaner air and found a table with a small TV that kept you aprised of the minutes before the next race and showed each of the 10 races. We placed $2 bets on each race and at the end of the evening, one of us won about 10 bucks and the other two had minimal losses. We wanted to go outside and actually watch the horses firsthand but the weather had turned and the wind was just too much. Inside, things got a little wild as the evening went on and longnecks flowed but it was probably much calmer than the upstairs smoking section. All in all, it was a great, very inexpensive way to spend an evening.

Red Moon Restaurant Review

I chose Red Moon as my birthday destination because of the intriguing reviews that I had read as well as its location in the loft district.
The downtown loft district has not yet arived but it is well on its way and the addition of eateries such as Red Moon can only enhance
the locale. A must have in this area is valet parking and though they went no further than the parking lot across the street, it was still worthwhile.
Upon entering, the name Red Moon is laid out in a decor that is bright and of course red. Each table was beautifully set and the Asian feel
gives the diner a preview of what to expect on the menu. The wine list was nice but a sake flight seemed to be more appropriate and it was a great experience. A tray feautring 5 different sake varietieswas presented. The waiter was knowledgeable and gave an overview of each. The labeling on the tray was a nice touch as well, in the eventyou were not paying attention during the presentation.
The appetizer menu was irrresistable and our table chose a variety that included the ahi tuna tartare with pickled cucumber and Wasabi and an order of the aromatic braised baby back ribs which were spicy and aromatic. Had it not been the hottest day of the summer, the royal hot and sour soup with shrimp and scallions would have been quite tempting as well.
My entree choice was the sweet and sour mango duck breast after being discouraged in regards to the Peking duck. The meat was tender and of good quality. It came with sugar snap peas, carrots, and onions. The onions could have been just a bit more tender to make a better match to the duck but all in all, it was very good. Two of my dining partners had the Grilled Teriyaki Rib Eye withSweet Potato Orange-Ginger Aioli. Considering the taste of our group varied from those in love with Asian cuisine to more traditional meat and potatoes dining, that Red Moon was able to satisfy everyone is impressive. The food presentation is top notch
and that helped the entire group to appreciate the overall experience.
The conclusion was nice array of dessert offerings with a birthday dessert on the house. I chose the fruit mixture, raspberries, mango, papaya, and blueberries in a Grand Marnier sauce. It seemed to finish off an excellent meal with a guiltless ending.

Red Moon on Valentines Day 2007

A second visit was in order after a fabulous dinner there on my birthday. This time, we chose to order from the special menu which provided four courses. We started with a bottle of very nice wine for a decent price. That the wine was not overly expensive was good since the dinner price wasn’t cheap. For the first course, I had the risotto cakes covered with a miso honey vinaigrette that were quite nice. My partner had the electrified scallop which was topped with a lemongrass bell pepper sambal and Thai chili aioli. This was very nice with a good level of spice on a very decen scallop. For the next course, I had the Ozark forest mushroom soup and she had the blue crab ginger bisque. The mushroom soup was ok, nothing special considering I love mushrooms. But the base overpowered the delicate shrooms and it just didn’t work. Her soup was fabulous with a nice ginger kick. So far, she was two for two and I was glad that she was sharing. For the main course, we decided to evenly split the pan seared Atlantic salmon and the sweet, sour duck. I had eaten the duck at my last visit and this was even better, very tender and flavorful. The salmon was nice but again, nothing spectacular. The dessert menu gave us a choice of only one so we had to split that and we went with the healthier, lighter choice, an orange scented cheesecake which went quite well with a snifter of Grand Marnier.
All in all, it was a nice evening but when it started with the valet parking attendent running late, I knew that the attention to detail might just be lacking. For the price, well let's say I miss our old stand by French restaurant on Grand and we will keep trying next year until we find the Perfect place for Valentine's Day because this wasn't it.

Mike Shannon's

On the way to a baseball game, a stop at Mike Shannon's is something everyone should do at least once. The baseball memorabilia is worth viewing for all Cardinal fans as well as any baseball fan visiting St. Louis for the first time. The service is very good which lends to an upscale hotel like experience. It might have been the Red Sox fans that added the out of town feel to our recent dinner. To exemplify the top notch service, when one of the table bussers dropped a tray just as we were being seated, every employee swooped in to handle the situation and we received a complementary drink for our trouble. The steak is a must try and will melt in your mouth. If you think even the 8 ounce filet is too much, split the steak and try some appetizers and side dishes. The creamed spinach had a nice smooth texture and an even better flavor. The spinach salad was equally enticing as were the crab cakes with just a touch of Cajun spiciness.

Juniper

Juniper Grill, a bistro and wine bar, is a new addition to Soulard and provides a casually elegant atmosphere that is perfect for a relaxing dinner with friends. We arrived on a Saturday evening without reservations after our original destination turned out to be closed. We were graciously seated with the caveat that we needed to finish dinner within an hour and a half. As it turned out, we did run over a few minutes. As you enter through the bar, you will see a beautiful piece of art that hangs as the centerpiece of the main dining room.
The drink offerings provided a nice variety. The mojito was excellent as was the sangria and each was enjoyed by my dinner companions. Three wine flights were offered with the waiter suggesting two and I settled on the Missouri Ste. Genevieve offering which provided a nice variety. All three were served together and it was up to me to pair each with my meal. The salad selection was quite nice and everyone was happy with their selection, particularly the blue cheese salad which included fresh romaine and chicory lettuce as well as bacon, blue cheese, tomatoes and a creamy avocado dressing. The appetizer list provided additional temptations and the blackened flank steak was quite flavorful. Three of us ordered the snapper dish which provided a touch of spice on a most succulent fish. The risotto had a great flavor and texture. The duck was also a hit with the right degree of moistness and was done as requested. All in all, it was a nice experience. I might suggest a little more structure to the wine flights as pairing them with the meal ended up being trial and error. But the price was reasonable even though every item is priced individually and I will definitely return. Next time, I might put together a collection of small appetizer plates as the list included some unique offerings that are seldom offered.

Robert E. Lee Restaurant

The romance evoked by the Mississippi River gives the Robert. E. Lee restaurant an atmosphere leg-up. The riverboat is not too difficult to find, though certainly not walking distance from the shopping area in Kimmswick. The area is so much more scenic than what you see upriver as there is no industry in the immediate area. There is a helicopter landing pad and you will often see parasailing over the river.
There was a short wait upon boarding the boat as there were no employees at the front. We were given an option of sitting by the window with an inspiring river view. The wine list was small and only included Missouri wines, a nice selection though. However, after ordering an Augusta Cynthiana followed by Chambourcin, we learned that the only red they had in stock was a Crown Valley Norton. The service was quick and polite and our server was quick to apologize for not having the first two wines that we ordered. The bread arrived and provided a very aromatic touch but there was no butter. We had to ask for water but once we did, it came quickly and so did the subsequent refills. The salad was crisp and their Caesar dressing was worthy. Again, we had to ask for more bread and the second round was less aromatic than the first.
I had the tenderloin with cognac mushroom sauce and it was done very well. The meat was done to my requested temperature and was tender and of good quality. The sauce was delicate and the cognac flavor was very complementary. The waiter recommended the garlic mashed potatoes and they did not disappoint. The Crown Valley Norton was a good accompaniment.
Although you feel like you are in a Victorian era steamboat, the boat was actually built in the late 1960s by the James B. Eads Corp. using an old U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat. She came to the St. Louis riverfront in February 1970 and opened as a restaurant two months later. She spent the early part of her career at the downtown St. Louis landing but was ultimately severely damaged during the flood of 1993 and remained closed for a while. In 1997 four local businessmen bought and renovated her. Most of her wooden structure has been replaced by steel and she got a new paddlewheel. A new owner later moved the boat to Kimmswick and opened her back up as a restaurant.

Holiday Cooking

Nothing says holiday like overeating and in 2006, we did a wonderful job of fixing a fantastic array of dinners that helped us do just that. We began the holiday season with a dinner of smoked gouda and prosciutto stuffed chicken breast accompanied by mock mashed potatoes made with cauliflower. That and the dessert of a carob cream pie was all done to do the right thing with some diabetic family members. But after that, healthy was something to dream about after welcoming in 2007. On Christmas Eve, we served the classic Duck with a port cherry sauce. Christmas dinner was sauteed quail with shiitake port sauce.
And we finalized the fine dining experience with a New Year's eve meal of beef medallions with brandy cream sauce. The wine was a 2002 bottle of Oberon cabernet sauvignon from Napa and the champagne was from Missouri, a wonderful bottle of 200 Stone Hill Brut.