Any special restaurants? Any very old high quality ones? Anything new and very cool?

Gourmet Mag�s (Oct 04) �Big Deal / Good Deal� restaurants in St Louis

Big Deal = Gourmet, Elegant food
Good Deal = �cheap� local�s spots

Big Deal Restaurants:

Monarch
7401 Manchester Road
314.644.3995

Harvest
1059 South Big Bend
314.645.3522

Good Deal Restaurants:

Iron Barley
5510 Virginia Ave
314.351.4500

Farotto's
9525 Manchester Road
314.962.0048

Bleh, I'm not sure what they're smokin' at 'Gourmet' magazine, but none of those restaurants would even make any list I know of. Harvest is way past its prime. Monarch is supposedly up and coming. Farottos! Are they kidding?? Skip that joint. No idea about Iron Barley, haven't heard about it at all.

If you're looking for new and hip, go downtown to Washington Blvd. Kitchen K is running the show down there.

If you're looking for elegant, gourmet food, you have to go to Giovanni's on the hill. Without a doubt the best in the city.

tfjim mentioned "The Hill". This is the Italian section of town that has several outstanding Italian restaurants. Charlie Gitto's is also a good choice on the Hill. No trip to St. Louis is complete unless you go to the Hill.

The "best" restaurant in the city is Tony's. Always well rated and great service. Not sure I'd go there on my nickel -- went once with work and another time with a friend's parents.

Other places my wife and I like include Barcelona (Tappas place in Clayton), Nobu (yes, they have good sushi in St. Louis), House of India (good Indian food on Delmar), Fortell's (Best Pizza I've ever had), Protzels (best corned beef around, hands down -- corner of Wydown and Hanley). A few newer places that are good are Sqwires and Space.

And make sure you go to Ted Drewes for desert afterwards for a concrete! My favorite is the Cardinal Sin.

As a lifelong STL resident, dinner on The Hill followed by Ted Drewes is the way to go! Gitto's, Favazza's, LoRusso's and Cunetto are my favorites. Most restaurants on The Hill are reasonably priced. The Hill is located near Interstate 44 and Kingshighway.

And Ted Drewes is only a little further out than the Hill--about 3 miles further out on Chippewa.

Proper way to do it is a 6:30 reservation at your choice of the noted restaurants. Get to the hill about at 6 (can be tough to park) stroll around, admire the painted fireplugs (!), then dinner, back to the car, drive on over to Ted's, and head back.


JL

they know what they're talking about... go to Ted Drewes ^

No. If you want new and cool, go to LA or NY.

Actually, if it's still open, 12 North in Clayton was pretty cutting edge for STL.
And the recommendations above are all pretty solid. If you have only one dinner in STL in your lifetime it has to be on The Hill. Also consider Al's Restaurant - a high end steak joint downtown. Far from cutting edge, but excellent food.

Yep, I dunno' what Gormet mag is talking about, and totally concur with previous poster's thoughts on thier "suggestions"---don't bother. Hands down, "The Hill." My personal "Hill" favorite: Cunetto's. Not all the Hill restaurants take ressie's, 'tho. I'd say get there before 6 if you can. I've gotten to Cunetto's at 5 and haven't had to wait long at all. Most of the resto's in the Hill serve HUGE portions--you could/should almost "plan" on boxing up what you couldn't quite conquer that night and enjoying an encore Italian lunch the next day. The great thing about doing dinner in "The Hill" is if the restaurant you first stopped in at is already slammed, most are within walking distance. Recently entertained out of town guests who couldn't get done with meetings until after 6---stopped by Cunetto's: 90 min. wait, swung over to Favazza's: 45 min. wait.

And, YES, you MUST do Ted Drewes!!!

Now, your post didn't say for which meal you were thinking...."The HIll" is pretty much a dinner place. If you're looking for lunch, several great "mom & pop" deli's in "The Hill" are to be found as well, but I'm sure other STL'ers can make any number of lunch and/or breakfast reccomendations.

Kitchen K is indeed up & coming, as is that whole Washington St. Loft District, as are other places like the Boathouse at Forest Park. (more casual). Lots of great choices in the Central West End, Soulard, Dogtown, Clayton, Webster Groves (Big Sky Cafe!!!), etc.

Now that search is up & running, there's been several threads of posted STL meetups, where people have chimed in on advice for this.

Good call on Big Sky Cafe -- that's my old stoming ground

Big Skye has some sister restaurants that are also wonderful. Right across the street, in the old Streetside Records building, Ellie Forcelli's. Less expensive than Big Skye, kind of a casual Italian place.

Blue Water Grill in Kirkwood, famous for seafood, but anything I've had there has been good.

Remy's in Clayton, fantastic wine list, good for business lunches.

I second the vote for Sqwire's, which actually serves three meals a day. Breakfast is inexpensive and good, lunch has been voted best St Louis business lunch many times.

In the same neighborhood almost is King Louie's, great restaurant which I think is serving lunch now as well as great dinners. I have repeat out of town clients who insist on going to King Louie's every trip.

Clayton has some very good iDine places, believe it or not, including The Crossing (French, we follow the seasonal tasting menu) and Cafe de France.

Near Clayton in U City is the Greek tapas place Momo's.

Tony's is wonderful, but is saved for a Big Deal for me. My parental units go there often enough that Vince makes them off menu stuff all the time-not in my budget yet!

Is Chuy's still around in dogtown?

Chuy's is still alive and kicking, very popular. We like Felix's too, an idine restaurant on the next block.

A few of my favorites that haven't been mentioned:

J. Bucks
Cafe Napoli
Zinnia
India's Rasoi
Mai Lee
SuperSmokers
Trattoria Marcella

Cardwell's at the Plaza in Frontenac Plaza is good for lunch. It is busy so make a reservation or get there early.