Edition: Dining in St. Louis
Concierges Know Best
Author: Amy Debrecht
Who better than a professional concierge to give you the lowdown on the best restaurants in town? We polled hundreds of St. Louis area concierges, and came up with this list of their favorite dining destinations.
New on the Scene
At Tigìn (333 Washington Ave., 314-241-8666), which means "small cottage" in Gaelic, you'll find an Irish menu inspired by tradition and updated for the modern palate. Patrons can order items such as "bangers and mash" (sausages and mashed potatoes) alongside a pear and bleu cheese salad. European sports are televised and Wednesdays are trivia nights. Araka (131 Carondelet Plaza, 314-725-6777) offers a Southern European menu influenced by cuisine form France, Italy, Spain, and Greece in the stunning new Crescent building in Clayton. Dishes are created with detail and distinction in mind, and ingredients are both grown locally and imported. Dishes at ~scape (48 Maryland Plaza, 314-361-7227) feature a unique blend of American tradition with European traces served in a sophisticated and fashionable atmosphere. The menu offers a great variety of seafood, beef, chicken, pasta, salads, sandwiches, and desserts for brunch, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are recommended.
Sushi/Japanese
Drunken Fish has three locations conveniently situated in St. Louis city and county - one on Laclede's Landing (314-241-9595), one at Maryland Plaza (314-267-4222), and another at West Port Plaza (314-275-8300). It offers original drinks and makimonos as well as karaoke and live music. At Oishi Sushi (721 New Ballas Rd., 314-567-4478) patrons will delight in a cozy restaurant offering lunch and dinner (oishi means delicious in Japanese). The menu is extensive; you'll find pad thai among authentic Japanese dishes, too. Wasabi (1228 Washington Ave., 314-421-3500) has earned many awards in St. Louis for its extensive menu featuring authentic non-sushi Japanese dishes in addition to sushi items. Open for lunch and dinner at their downtown and Clayton locations.
Italian
Many of these restaurants are located in St. Louis City's "the Hill" neighborhood, once an Italian enclave that still holds much of this tradition. Since 1975 Giovanni's on the Hill (5201 Shaw, 314-772-5958) has been a fixture for fine Italian dining. Menu items include dishes created for Presidents Reagan and Bush, and Oprah Winfrey! (The recipe for Oprah's dish is even online). Zia's (5256 Wilson, 314-776-0020) is named in honor of the owners' aunts ("zia" is aunt in Italian), Hill natives who were inspirational cooks for their progeny. Zia's offers casual dining for lunch and dinner, including fish, steak, chicken, veal, sandwiches, and salad, in addition to pasta, of course. Dominic's (5101 Wilson, 314-771-1631 and 200 S. Brentwood, 314-863-4567) has two locations, both owned by various members of the Galati family: Mom and Dad Galati operate the Hill location which is fine dining and serves dinner only; the Daughters Galati operate the Clayton location, which serves lunch and dinner. Cunetto House of Pasta (5453 Magnolia, 314-781-1135) has been a staple on the Hill for natives and tourists alike since 1974. In addition to pasta, an extensive lunch and dinner menu is offered, including steak, fish, chicken, veal, and lots of vegetarian and low cholesterol dishes, too. Angelo Lombardo, Sr. opened his first restaurant in St. Louis is 1934. Today, Lombardo's Trattoria (201 S. 20th, 314-621-0666) is one of 3 restaurants owned by the Lombardo family, who are also generally credited for the invention of toasted ravioli. The Trattoria serves a variety of dishes, including several original family recipes.
Burgers
Fitz's (6605 Delmar, 314-726-9555), a root beer bottling plant/restaurant, opened in 1947 as a burger drive-in. Today there are 14 different "gourmet burgers" on the menu. Observe the bottling process while you eat! Blueberry Hill (6504 Delmar, 314-727-0880) features a pop culture museum and live music venue in addition to serving up great burgers. Try the spreadable cheddar cheese on your burger. Burger Bar (999 2nd St., 314-621-9593) at Lumière Place offers the ultimate burger experience. Selections range from the American Classic, with cheese, bacon, and tomato, to the Rossini, an upscale burger made from Kobe beef, foie gras, shaved truffles, and Madeira sauce.
Distinctive
Whether you dine inside or out on the rooftop patio, you will have a great view of the city at Vin de Set (2017 Chouteau Ave., 314-241-8989), offering an "American twist on a French bistro." The atmosphere is warm and lively; the menu consists of French-influenced dishes, both exotic and eveyday. Trailhead Brewing Co. (921 S. Riverside Dr., 636-946-BREW) fills a delicious niche on Historic Main Street in St. Charles, serving five established microbrews and a rotating seasonal selection. Trailhead serves lunch and dinner in a casual atmosphere. Patrons at Franco (1535 S. 8th, 314-436-2500) will find a true mixture of old world and contemporary in the menu and decor. French fare is served using local produce and meats, and diners are encouraged to learn about French cuisine in the restaurant's relaxed environment.
Steak
Football stars Dan Dierdorf and Jim Hart opened Dierdorf & Hart's (323 West Port Plaza, 314-878-1801) in 1983. You'll find seafood, chicken, lamb, and a variety of vegetarian dishes on the menu, in addition to the steak staple. Tucker's Place (2117 S. 12th St., 314-772-5977) is well known for its high quality, reasonably-priced steaks, but also serves chicken, seafood, pork chops, pizzas, sandwiches, and salads. Be sure to try their famed lemon pepper salad dressing while you're there. Set in a Victorian home, Citizen Kane's (133 W. Clinton, 314-965-9005) offers a charming, casual atmosphere for dinner Tuesday through Saturday. You'll want to pair the signature "rose Bud" salad with your steak, seafood, pork chop, or chicken entree. At Tony's on Main (132 N. Main, 636-940-1960) in Historic St. Charles, you'll find an assortment of seafood, chicken, pasta, pizza, and sandwiches on the extensive dinner menu, in addition to their famous steak cuts. Tony's also offers a lunch buffet plus daily specials. Look for a few of their house recipes online, too. Carmine's Steakhouse (20 S. 4th St., 314-241-1631) is the most recent restaurant venture of the Lombardo family, situated in the Drury Plaza Hotel downtown. In addition to a hearty steak menu, you'll find the family's original toasted ravioli, plenty of seafood, chidken, and veal and pork chops to choose from.
Drunken Fish
612 N. Second St, St. Louis, MO 63102
Drunken Fish is a popular sushi restaurant and club that offers signature culinary creations and chic atmosphere.
Drunken Fish
639 West Port Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63146
Drunken Fish combines some of the best sushi in St. Louis with one of the hottest nightclubs. Come in for some a nice meal, some Sake bombs, and then hit the dance floor.
Drunken Fish
#1 Maryland Plaza, St. Louis, MO 63108
St. Louis's premier hotspot for Sake bombs and sushi.
Trailhead Brewing Company
921 S. Riverside Drive, St. Charles, MO 63301
St. Louis may be a Budweiser town, but historic St. Charles is all for Trailhead Brewing Company, maker of such fine microbrews as “Old Courthouse Stout” and “Riverboat Raspberry Fruit Beer.” Even the kids are sure to enjoy watching the brewing process while enjoying a diverse menu that includes wood-fired pizzas, tasty sandwiches, and eclectic entrees.
Fitz's
6605 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63108
Fitz's serves up classic American food as a traditional St. Louis eatery on the Loop, brewing its own root-beer and offering a great family experience.
Blueberry Hill
6504 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63130
This St. Louis restaurant landmark serves up award-winning burgers from the grill and great live music.
Lumiere Place Casino
999 N. 2nd Street, St. Louis, MO 63102
New casino and luxury resort located on Laclede's Landing reflects a hip, urban ambiance.
Zia's
5256 Wilson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
Established in 1985- Zias has been offering wonderful Italian cusine at reasonable prices for over twenty years.
Dominic's Trattoria
200 S. Brentwood Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63105
Taste the award-winning cuisine at this beloved Italian restaurant.
Cunetto's House of Pasta
5453 Magnolia Avenue , St. Louis, MO 63139
Cunetto House of Pasta has been bringing rich Italian food to the St. Louis area since 1972, and doesn't show any sign of stopping. Still family run and moderately priced, any Italian foodie would be amiss not stopping in for a bite.
Cunetto House of Pasta
5453 Magnolia Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
Taste the richness of family recipes at this restaurant on the Hill.
Lombardo's Trattoria
201 S. 20th St., St. Louis, MO 63103
Since 1934, Lombardo's diners can enjoy a tradition of fine food from the Lombardo Family.
Dierdorf & Hart's Steak House
323 West Port Plaza, Maryland Heights, MO 63146
A well-respected restaurant that will ignite your passion for steak and the finer things in life.
Citizen Kane's Steak House
133 West Clinton Place , St. Louis, MO 63122
Pardon the cliché, but this steakhouse is a rosebud of fine dining, widely known for serving the most filling, flavorful, mouth-watering steaks in the midwest. Located in a historic Kirkwood house that was formerly an Irish pub, the restaurant boasts self-cut beef and homemade sauces. The rib eye will leave you speechless, and attentive servers will welcome you like family, keeping your glasses full and your order moving. Reservations are recommended, as tables are usually full, and it may be best to drop the kids off at the hotel first.
Carmine's Steak House
20 S. 4th Street, St. Louis, MO 63101
Enjoy steak, chicken, seafood and more at this family owned steakhouse located inside the Drury Plaza Hotel.
