Del Taco Inc.

Flying Saucer Chipotle Mexican Grill Lands in Midtown

Late last week a Gut Check tipster sent us a note that the Chipotle Mexican Grill (212 South Grand Boulevard; 314-342-9919) inside the iconic Mid-Century Modern "flying saucer" on South Grand Boulevard near Saint Louis University was days away from opening. According to our burrito-loving informant, ... More >>

Flying Saucer Starbucks Lifts Off in Midtown [Photos]

When the Del Taco at 212 South Grand Boulevard in Midtown closed in the summer of 2011, a grassroots coalition of urban preservationists and locals who just like cool things, damn it, banded together to save the iconic midcentury-modern "flying saucer" building from demolition. The result of their e ... More >>

The Role Mexican Food Plays in the Immigration Debate

St. Louis' AAA Building and Lyon School Make List of Missouri's Endangered Places

The AAA Building on Lindell Boulevard joined a ten other structures yesterday named on a new list of "Missouri's Most Endangered Historic Places." Last summer a developer proposed raising the the mid-century building -- known for its oval design and glass walls -- around the same time that preservat ... More >>

Tidbits from Del Taco, Tsevis' Pub & Grill

- Alderwoman Marlene Davis revealed a few weeks ago that Chipotle and Starbucks would be the new tenants of the shuttered Del Taco at 212 South Grand Boulevard -- a.k.a. the "Flying Saucer," which preservationists rallied around last year after developer Rick Yackey revealed his initial plans to de ... More >>

Del Taco Spaceship Will Now Serve Coffee & Burritos

​Last summer's architectural cause celebre, the midtown Del Taco building that looks Parliament's Mothership, was saved from the wrecking ball thanks to public outcry and the efforts of the Housing, Urban Development and Zoning Aldermanic Committee. At the time, building owner Rick Yackey was push ... More >>

Point and Clique: The 2012 RFT St. Louis Web Awards

The RFT Web Awards Food Winners

Last night, in a star-studded ceremony that the Academy Awards can only dream of matching, the RFT handed out its 2012 Web Awards. Read the complete list of winners here (or pick up the issue on newsstands today), and join us after the jump for the list of food-related champs and the worthy runners- ... More >>

Introducing the 2012 RFT Web Awards Finalists

​The good news? The St. Louis online community is alive and well. The bad news? There's so much great content out there, it's extremely difficult to come up with a list of the best of the best. But, hey, this is the Internet. People love them some lists. We'd hate to disappoint. So, then, the ... More >>

The RFT Web Awards' Food Finalists

Today the RFT revealed the finalists for our 2012 Web Awards, a.k.a. Point Clique. The winners, as selected by a panel of esteemed judges, will be announced at an awards ceremony at the Old Rock House next Tuesday, January 24, and will be published in next week's issue. Several of the categories ... More >>

Openings & Closings 2011: The Final Reckoning

At last, Gut Check closes the books on 2011 with our annual roundup of all the year's openings and closings and relocations. Of course, we say "at last" knowing that, in spite of our best efforts, we likely missed more than a few restaurant debuts and departures. Please let us know in the comments!

Rally Planned to Save the Pevely Dairy

​Earlier this month Saint Louis University angered and alarmed local preservationists when the school asked the city for permits to demolish the Pevely Dairy complex (above) at the southwest corner of Grand and Chouteau. Now the St. Louis architecture buffs are fighting back. Tomorrow at 3 ... More >>

Rendering of Renovated Saucer Unveiled; Future Tenant Still Unknown

Albert SamahaThe first image of St. Louis' hot new [to be announced]!​For the second time in as many months, developer Rick Yackey and 19th Ward Alderwoman Marlene Davis convened an informal press conference in front of the building formerly known as Del Taco. It was wet and windy and cold, but a ... More >>

Flying Saucer Remodel Unveiled, Tenant(s) Still a Mystery

​Developer Rick Yackey yesterday unveiled an architect's rendering of a remodel of the Flying Saucer, the former Del Taco and Phillips 66 building at 212 South Grand Boulevard. The design by St. Louis firm Klitzing Welsch Associates features a new brick and glass facade but retains the basic desig ... More >>

Del Taco Saucer May Stay in Grand Center: "It Looks Promising."

Albert SamahaNews of the World scandal... Women's World Cup... debt ceiling debate... despotism in Syria... NFL lockout... The Saucer on South Grand Saga -- the stories that have defined the summer of 2011​About two dozen people packed the round red metal tables in front of the building for ... More >>

Rick Yackey Vows To Do His Best To Not Demolish Saucer on South Grand

Albert SamahaThe saga continues...​On Sunday, developer Rick Yackey sent the St. Louis Post-Dispatch a statement declaring that he will explore every possibility before demolishing the Saucer on South Grand. According to the P-D, Yackey pledged "to hire an architect, talk with potential tenan ... More >>

City Hall Insult of the Week: You Tweet Like a Teenage Girl

Will Debt Toast Quiznos?

​St. Louis has already said farewell to one fast-food chain restaurant this year when the area's only two Del Taco locations closed at the end of June. Now, the Wall Street Journal has word that the sandwich chain Quiznos is in deep debt trouble: Sandwich chain Quiznos made its name selling hot su ... More >>

Kaldi's, Pi in Mix for the Del Taco Flying Saucer?

​The saga of the (now former) Del Taco building, a.k.a. the flying saucer, at 212 South Grand Boulevard has taken yet another intriguing turn, with two of the city's most powerful politicians tweeting competing ideas for saving the iconic structure from possible demolition.On Saturday, Mayor Franc ... More >>

Del Taco Says Adios to St. Louis: But what about that flying saucer?

"Save Our Saucer!": Rally to Celebrate Beloved Del Taco Building

Albert SamahaDemocracy in action!​The wheelchair contingent from the Grand View Tower apartments rolls deep at the "Save Our Saucer" rally in front of the South Grand building formerly known as Del Taco. There's John Clay and Mike Buford and Eddy West and five or six of their friends, most of ... More >>

Rick Yackey and the Del Taco Tax Credits: We've Got the Backstory

Albert SamahaIs Ricky Yackey manipulating the historical preservation process?​ Updated 3:45 p.m. to show perspective of Alderman Scott Ogilvie. At a committee meeting last week, Alderman Scott Ogilvie pointed out Rick Yackey and his group of developers saved as much as $27 million in taxes ... More >>

Del Taco Leaves St. Louis

​The fate of the "flying saucer" Phillips 66/Del Taco building at 212 South Grand Boulevard remains undecided, following Wednesday's contentious aldermanic committee meeting on developer Rick Yackey's plans for the site.The fate of Del Taco, the fast-food chain, is clear-cut: Both St. Louis-ar ... More >>

June 2011 Openings & Closings

​June continued a run of busy months for openings in the St. Louis area, but several big-name closings dominated the news: Terrene and Delmar Loop mainstay Brandt's Café. (Del Taco has also closed, though that was big news for other reasons.)Openings included Home Wine Kitchen from chef Cassy ... More >>

South Grand Del Taco: Scenes From the Closing

Albert SamahaAnother vacant building in St. Louis. At least this one looks cool.​The lease wasn't up until midnight, but the Del Taco on South Grand was pretty much cleared out by 9 p.m. yesterday. It was naked inside. No pictures and prices above the counter. No cardboard cutouts promoting 89 ... More >>

Five Places We Wish Earl Sweatshirt Was

Image via ​At this point, the story of Odd Future rapper Earl Sweatshirt's disappearance seems to have lasted almost as long as his early career. The 17-year-old is known almost as much for his brash, aggressive and strictly NSFW lyrics as he is for the fact that almost no one knows exactly wh ... More >>

Del Taco to Close Tomorrow; But Board Bill May Actually Save Building

Laura MillerDoes Board Bill #118 actually help save this building?​Alderwoman Marlene Davis wanted people to know that Board Bill #118 has nothing to do with any proposed demolition of the Del Taco building at South Grant and Forest Park. She repeated several times at today's Housing and Urban De ... More >>

Mayor Slay Has Del Taco Building's Back

​Tomorrow the Housing and Urban Development Aldermanic Committee will consider a bill that would deem the Del Taco at South Grand and Forest Park a "blighted area," consequently opening the door for its demolition. The proposal has drawn much scorn from the public. So yesterday, Mayor Francis ... More >>

Demolished: Five St. Louis Restaurants That Are No More

Laura Ann MillerDel Taco: Set to join Noah's Ark and the Parkmoor?​We're all abuzz about the possible demolition of the Googie-style Del Taco on Grand, enough to merit Facebook pages and news stories about how outraged -- outraged! -- we are as a city. Were we equally outraged when these othe ... More >>

[Update] South Grand Del Taco Gets Facebook Love -- But Could Get Demolished Anyway

photo by Laura Miller​Update: By attending the meeting of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen, Daily RFT's Albert Samaha called the bluff of more than 9,000 enraged citizens who like the "Save St. Louis Del Taco" Facebook page. Would they show their opposition to the bill that would create a commu ... More >>

Win One of Three $10 Gift Certificates to Gioia's!

Laura Miller Do you really want to hurt me? ​Today's contest is especially easy. It involves no guessing and absolutely no correctness (political or any other kind). To win one of three $10 Gift Certificates to Gioia's (1934 Macklind Avenue, The Hill; 314-776-9410), all you have to do is 1) ... More >>

Top Five Fast Food Joints Besides Del Taco to Enjoy While Drunk

Laura MillerSo long, after-bar hangout.​A community of St. Louis drinkers was surely surprised when news broke that plans might be in the works to demolish an after-bar staple, the midtown Del Taco (212 South Grand Boulevard; 314-534-1424). Gut Check reported yesterday that developer Rick Yack ... More >>

Mob of Angry Del Taco Lovers Noticeably Absent from City Hall

Laura Miller​More than 9,000 enraged citizens have shown their support of the Del Taco on South Grand by clicking the "Like" button on the "Save St. Louis Del Taco" Facebook page. Democracy in action! The people are speaking! As the Arab Spring has taught us, social media can topple power stru ... More >>

This Week in Gut Check, Regurgitated

Jennifer Silverberg​It was a delicious week here at Gut Check International HQ. We were busy eating the grilled cheese at Half & Half, the beef spedini at Ricardo's Italian Cafe and enjoying some vino during Copia Urban Winery's Happy Hour. What else did we do this week? Ian reviewed the Mud ... More >>

Del Taco Demolition on Aldermanic Agenda Tomorrow

photo by Laura Miller​The flying saucer where so many drunken late-night tacos were scarfed, the Del Taco on Grand Boulevard, may be getting demolished, despite being on the National Register of Historic Places and causing an outpouring of love on Facebook.At tomorrow's meeting of the board of ald ... More >>

"Inception Burrito" Is a 2,410-Calorie Dream

Image via FoodbeastA churro wrapped inside a burrito wrapped inside a nightmare.​Foodbeast has posted pictures and descriptions of something it calls the "Inception Burrito." Of course, the film Inception features a dream within a dream within a dream within a dream, etc. The "Inception Burrito" i ... More >>

More Del Taco Violence: Man Stabbed in Drive-Thru

Last summer it was masked bandits robbing the Del Taco on McCausland Avenue, just south of Clayton Road. Today it's a stabbing at the Del Taco on South Grand (below). ​According to St. Louis police, two men were in the drive-thru of the Mexican fast-food joint just after midnight today when they g ... More >>

Gut Check's Week in Tweets

​Don't you know? Gut Check has a Twitter account. You can follow us @gutcheckstl.Here's some of what you missed on the Twitter feed this week: There are Del Taco breakfast sandwiches (?) in the break room. Does Gut Check dare? India's Wheat Surplus Rots While Country Continues to Suffer Malnut ... More >>

The Silver Ballroom's Justin Deming: Featured Bartender of the Week

Welcome to Girl Walks into a Bar, a weekly Gut Check feature that spotlights local bars and bartenders. This week Alissa Nelson profiles Silver Ballroom bartender Justin Deming. Below is a Q&A with Deming, followed by a video of him mixing his Slutbucket cocktail. Alissa Nelson​If you're goin ... More >>

Area Clown Blamed for Del Taco Holdup

​A trio of bandits -- including one man described as wearing a rubber clown mask -- held up a Del Taco on McCausland Avenue just south of Forest Park early this morning.But no need to eye your neighborhood clowns with suspicion: St. Louis Police say they have all three dudes in custody, thanks in ... More >>

Frozen Food Section

Saturday, December 31; Blueberry Hill's Duck Room (6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City)

Best Place to Pretend You're in a Big City at 3 a.m.

Coffee Cartel

Best French Fries

Del Taco

When Times Are Financially Tough, What's the First Personal Sacrifice You'll Make?

Week of January 29, 2003

Best $1.19 Sandwich

QuikTrip

Fast Food

Taco Bell

Late-Night Food

White Castle

Best-Looking Fast-Food Joint

Del Taco

Best Fast-Food Mexican (and More)

Del Taco

Do You Have a Theme Song Running Through Your Life?