St. Louis Restaurants

  • Just One Bite: The Restaurant at The Cheshire

    Every once in a while I come across a single dish that's so delectable that it warrants a heads-up to readers. That's the case with a new item on the small-plate menu at the Restaurant at the Cheshire. It's called Ahi Tuna, Thin and Raw, and it's closer to sashimi than a carpaccio. Beautifully fresh,

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  • Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill

    Jake and Elwood, the Blues Brothers, sprawl on chairs outside the entrance to Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill. Cultural icons for an entire generation, their faces slightly battered (although come to think of it, that's probably the way they'd really look anyway), they're the welcoming committee. It's a laid-back touch in this polite, bustling part

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  • Mike Shannon’s Steaks and Seafood

    It's not surprising that Red October reminds us of Mike Shannon, of course. The fact that Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood is by the ballpark is more than coincidence, but it's also a reminder that it had been some time since a visit there. With a visitor in town for baseball playoffs, it was a

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  • Kim Cheese

    That music you hear? It's the food bandwagon, and I'm just about to get on it. There's a nice seat for you, too, and I think you'll enjoy the ride. And you'll particularly enjoy the destination. At least you will if you're into very casual dining that's rather different. Kim Cheese, at the intersection of

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  • Big Sky Cafe Brunch

    Big Sky Cafe, tucked away off big Bend in Webster Groves, has long been a staple for pre-theater dining. The cozy-feeling former residence, now expanded, with its amiably wacky decor, a hallmark of Tim Mallett's Great Restaurants group, now gives us Sunday brunch, a nice stop before a Sunday matinee, or any other activity that's

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  • Mi Linh

    One sign of increasing culinary sophistication is the appearance of a once-uncommon cuisine in neighborhoods – well, in St. Louis, let's just say suburbs – where it's never been found. And now Mi Linh brings Vietnamese to Rock Hill – maybe not so far out, but certainly a pho-free neighborhood. The interior is pleasant and

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  • Famous Szechuan Pavilion, Chapter 2

    When I first wrote about Famous Szechuan Pavilion,  I said it would possibly be a review in chapters, so intrigued was I by the menu.  And so it has come to pass that I've returned.   It's not that this is a long menu, by Chinese restaurant standards. The food and the dishes are so different that it

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  • Eclipse: Brunch

    Eclipse has moved its brunch to the rooftop, probably a good idea, but this past weekend their elevators died so the assembled motorcyclists and Washington University dropping-off parents made do with the space-y dining room of the restaurant, no great hardship. A fairly simple and reasonably priced ($15 for adults, including non-alcoholic beverages) brunch, but

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  • Wolf Public House

    Looking for something casual out west?  Try The Wolf:   http://www.stlmag.com/St-Louis-Magazine/June-2013/The-Well-Seasoned-Life-The-Wolf-Public-House/

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  • A Fast Bite at 5 Star Burgers

    Sometimes I come across a dish that's worth passing on, as regular readers may have noted. In this case, it's a remarkable burger that's vegetarian. At least it's a sort of burger. Steve Gontram at Five Star Burgers is offering a portobello mushroom burger that's an absolute winner. He's topping it with strips of roasted

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