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St
Louis Guide
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7 Most Popular Places to Enjoy Food |
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Tangerine
ph:
(314) 621-7335
1405
Washington Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63103-1920
American
- Moderately Priced
The Scene
Though the shiny newness has worn off this particular denizen of
Washington Avenue, it's still packed on the weekends. Few bristle
at the cover charge (for what, we have no idea) or the difficulty
of finding a space to call your own. If you're lucky enough to
score a coveted seat at the bar, order one of the martinis. The
bartenders pour some of the best in town.
The Food
When you think of vegetarian food, do you picture granola, tofu
and iceberg lettuce? Twenty years ago, you might have been right.
But this (mostly) vegetarian restaurant proves that this
much-maligned cuisine has come of age. Tangerine's menu, which
changes weekly, highlights seasonal produce and eclectic
international flavors. Some of the dishes are playful takes on
traditional meat entrees, such as a chicken-fried portobello
mushroom with mashed potatoes and herbed gravy. The bold flavors
at Tangerine will delight even the most dogmatic carnivore.
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Bistro
Europa
ph:
(314)
534-3663
3536
Washington Ave
St Louis, MO 63103
American - Affordable
The Scene
A low stage stands at the end of the room, backed with a purple
wall. The jazz musicians nod to one another, take the beat, then
close their eyes to play their solos. During the breaks, they
gather at the bar to talk music.
The Food
The simple mixed green salad is topped with an astringent
dressing, while bruschetta with herbs and blue cheese comes off
like a bruschetta pretender--but it's tasty. Main courses like
chicken or pork chops are served with seasoned mashed potatoes,
carrot soufflé and plain broccoli. This unassuming menu works,
because the chef doesn't ask it to do too much. The carrot
soufflé is the star of the meal, with a flavor that explodes in
the mouth like a piece of sweet potato pie. You'll find yourself
parceling out each bite to make sure you have some left for the
very end of the meal. Desserts get their own page on the menu.
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Majestic
Cafe
ph:
(314)
361-2011
4900
Laclede Ave
Saint Louis, MO 63108-1404
Cafe-Desserts
The Scene
For decades, the Majestic Cafe has been an anchor of good, cheap
eats and smoke-smoggered, elbow-to-elbow ambiance in the Central
West End (where fly-by-night, too-chic eateries have often been
the rule). The front is a cafe often packed full of students,
Greek regulars and solo locals lingering over a coffee and the
paper. The back half has more tables but also a bar and a
big-screen TV, so you can get your beer and your game on along
with your gyro.
The Food
You can't go wrong with this mix of American diner grub and Greek
fare. For breakfast, there's a multitude of omelets, hot cakes and
egg dishes (including a brains-and-eggs dish). Later-in-the-day
food includes burgers, a universe of gyro varieties, and pastas,
sandwiches and salads. There are pies and ice cream for dessert
(including, of course, baklava). The chicken gyro comes with juicy
chicken breast strips on a warm, cushiony pita with tangy feta.
The chopped sirloin sandwich, however, is best eaten quickly and
without remorse.
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RL
Steamers
ph:
(314)
439-8066
14156
Olive Blvd
St Louis, MO 63017
Northwestern American
- Moderately Priced
The Scene
After its move from a tiny storefront spot in the city's Dogtown
neighborhood to West County, R.L. Steamers got a bit more uptown
and polished. But several qualities remained: the servers are
genuinely friendly, the dishes are skillfully prepared, and the
fresh seafood would do even a Bostonian proud.
The Food
You can troll through a deep bowl of well-seasoned bouillabaisse
brimming with oysters, mussels, scallops, shrimp, fish and
generous portion of lobster tail. You'll also find mahi mahi from
the Pacific, halibut from Alaska, salmon from the Northwest and
green-lipped mussels from New Zealand.
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Cafe
de France
ph: (314) 231-2204
410
Olive St
Saint Louis, MO 63102-2718
French - Affordable
The Scene
No glitz. As a matter of fact, the dining room is a bit worn, like
an elderly aunt's formal dining room--softened with use and age
but nevertheless proper. Chandeliers illuminate pale blue walls
and gilt-framed paintings. Polish up your manners before booking a
table--sit up straight and keep your elbows off the table, please.
Your evening here deserves such niceties.
The Food
Proprietor and chef Marcel Keravel is a Frenchman, born and
raised. Whether it's goose liver pâté or a feuilleté of wild
mushrooms in champagne cream sauce, the food is rich and
satisfying. Order a la carte or prix fixe (three to five courses).
The menu changes seasonally, so you may find shrimp en croute on
one visit, quail Escolier or pan-seared yellowfin tuna loin with a
trio of infused oils on another. Desserts are sugarplum visions
served on brightly ornate china.
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Imo's
Pizza
ph: (314) 535-4667
4479
Forest Park Ave
St Louis, MO 63108-2211
Italian
The Scene
Imo's was founded more than 30 years ago by George Imo and has
remained a fixture on the St. Louis pizza scene ever since. While
most people enjoy Imo's pizza in their own environs, the Central
West End location is comfortable enough. Plenty of St. Louis
memorabilia adorns the red and green walls, but the most
persuasive reason to dine in is that you can enjoy your pie fresh
from the oven.
The Food
St. Louis-style pizza, perfected by Imo's, is extra-thin and
crispy and comes cut into squares. Frankly, it seems to have more
in common with a tostada than with most pizza, but St. Louisans
love it. On the deluxe pizza, green peppers, mushrooms, onions and
a liberal amount of cheese keep the bacon and sausage from
overpowering that wafer-thin crust. If meat's not your thing, try
the tasty vegetarian pizza, which has more than enough broccoli,
onions, mushrooms and green peppers to keep you busy.
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Trattoria
Marcella
ph: (314) 352-7706
3600
Watson Rd
St Louis, MO 63109-1232
Italian - Moderately Priced
The Scene
Even most Italian food enthusiasts can't tell an osteria from an
enoteca or a ristorante from a trattoria. The lingo may be
confusing, but delicious food speaks for itself in any language.
Trattoria Marcella recalls a small, family-run restaurant with a
simple menu and a modest decor. From the day it opened its doors
on unfashionable Watson Road, Trattoria Marcella has drawn a hip
crowd of local glitterati. They press together into the smartly
appointed, high-decibel dining area, creating a pulsating, dynamic
space whose energy is infectious.
The Food
Try the nobby goat cheese gnocchi, dressed in an alfredo sauce
gently tinged pink with tomato. The carpaccio di crostini is a
first course of rare beef tenderloin sliced thin and layered with
arugula, tart artichoke-onion relish and shaved Asiago cheese,
served on slices of toasted bread.
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