Edition: Music of St. Louis
Dining: High-End St. Louis Dining
Author: Thomas Crone
Many St. Louis eateries prove that inviting ambience and decor--coupled with innovative cuisine--can take the dining experience to the next level.
St. Louis’s dining renaissance is an accepted notion these days. In the past five years, highly regarded eateries have emerged in both popular business districts and out-of-theway neighborhoods. New restaurateurs are opening innovative restaurants and serving superbly creative cuisine.
We were feeling a little romantic and thought we should spread the word on some of these divine eateries that just ooze warmth, romance and sheer yumminess.
With a changing menu featuring organic and locally-produced foods in the warmly decorated interior, Harvest has been a hit in the Mid-County area for more than a decade. Chef Stephen Gontram decided his menu “was to be rustic American food, and would change often depending on our ability to get certain foods.” While “new American” might be an overly used expression these days, Gontram pulls from a wide variety of influences to shape their nightly offerings, which also include a “spa menu” of light, healthy fare.
With an innovative drinks menu and a refined interior Baileys’ Chocolate Bar is one of the highlights of Historic Lafayette Square. Baileys’ combines a host of disparate elements into a hip, appealing whole. Along with chocolate indulgences, Baileys’ offers trays of cheeses, delicious pizzetas and other light entrees, like their mixed greens salad with white chocolate and Framboise vinaigrette. Be sure to sample something decadent from Baileys’ bar—it’s as beautiful as a bar can be and serves up some truly delectable concoctions.
Clayton’s pocket-sized I Fratellini is a wonderful example of how a small restaurant can make use of every inch. Everything in this well-appointed brasserie delights the senses, from the seductive lighting to the Italian-inspired menu to the pistachio-studded butter that accompanies the bread. You get the sense that you and your fellow diners are in on some scrumptiously intimate secret. Once you leave I Fratellini, you’ll wish you could go back in time and experience your meal all over again.
When you’re exploring dining options in St. Louis, the first place many locals recommend is The Hill, a concentrated enclave of authentic Italian eateries. Of all the many, many dining options on the Hill, LoRusso’s Cucina is one of the finest. Like most of the restaurants in the neighborhood, it’s cozy and welcoming, but LoRusso’s food truly stands out. The passion they put into their cooking is infectious and their extensive wine list is perfect for a romantic meal.
Ultra-chic Monarch Restaurant & Wine Bar is known for its presentation on both the plate and in the dining room. Their website professes, “Sharing food with another human being is the most intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly.” Mixing European, Asian and American styles of cooking, Monarch’s dining room offers entrees in the $20-plus range, while their bistro and wine bar offers smaller, playfully delicious plates, like lobster mac and cheese.
Combining a hip city lounge with a fun dining room, Frazer’s Restaurant & Lounge produces some of the best food in St. Louis. With classic favorites, like a chocked-full Cioppino and silky key lime pie, no-nonsense deliciousness is their focus, and they deliver every time. After dining at Frazer’s, stroll down the block for a cocktail at the Venice Café. The remarkable vintage wackiness of this St. Louis landmark is not to be missed.
