Ethnic and Regional Cuisines

Wendy's Adds Poutine to Canadian Menus Nationwide, Argues It's Canada's National Dish

America has a tendency to ignore Canada, our neglected neighbors to the north, only paying enough attention to mock their accents. Canada, however, has a history as rich as our own -- minus a civil war, of course. They vote for an elected government, put their pants on one leg at a time and even dri ... More >>

The Veggielante Meets MoKaBe's Coffeehouse

The Veggielante has had it up to here with people bitching that St. Louis restaurants are vegetarian unfriendly. Sure, we'd like to see more restaurants offering more meatless dishes, but there are excellent choices out there if you take the trouble to look for them. We're not here to proselytize ab ... More >>

The Ten Best Vegetarian Restaurants in St. Louis

Selecting Riverfront Times' Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we are chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists a ... More >>

Raw Yellowfin Tuna Linked to Salmonella, Recalled

A California company has voluntarily recalled 58,828 pounds of frozen raw yellowfin tuna associated with an outbreak of salmonella. According to the FDA, as of Friday, April 13, this oubtreak has sickened more than 100 people across twenty states and Washington, D.C., including Illinois (ten cases) ... More >>

At last, a Korean taco truck. And you're maki me hungry!

Review Preview: Seoul Taco and Chop Shop

This week, I take a look at two of the more interesting food trucks rolling through our streets: the Korean-Mexican mashup Seoul Taco (@SeoulTaco; 314-517-9816) and the sushi truck Chop Shop (@chopshopstl). A sneak preview of my review after the jump.

The Ten Best Places to Grab Tacos in St. Louis

In this week's RFT cover story "One Nation, Under Tacos," writer Gustavo Arellano shares the evolution of Mexican food in the U.S., chartering its history from the American Southwest and the California coast to the Midwest and everywhere in between. With temperatures cresting 80 degrees in St. Louis ... More >>

The Five Best Sushi Restaurants in St. Louis

Selecting Riverfront Times' Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we are chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists a ... More >>

Great Moments in Mexican-American Restaurant History: Casa Gallardo

Ask a Mexican: Are there different kinds of Mexican food?

Too Good to Be Stew: Haunted by the memory of a Pakistani delicacy

Fish Fry Frenzy: Week 4, St. Cecilia Parish

St. Cecilia Parish (906 Eichelberger Street, 314-351-1318) is the unofficial church for Mexican-American Catholics in St. Louis. Families come together for its fish fry events and cook up incredible, authentic Mexican cuisine. Its most famous dish is the Chile Relleno, or stuffed pepper, a giant pe ... More >>

Seven Heaven: Siete Luminarias burns bright — even amid the many Mexican marvels of Cherokee Street

Ten Best Irish Dishes in St. Louis: Irish Soda Bread at The Daily Bread

To many, Irish food is synonymous with potato soup, bangers and mash, and prototypical pub fare. But with St. Patrick's Day just days away, other Irish classics are making an appearance in local restaurants and bakeries. Irish soda bread is one such delicacy. For a taste of this festive bread we lo ... More >>

Review Preview: Siete Luminarias

This week, I visit the new Mexican restaurant Siete Luminarias (2818 Cherokee Street; 314-932-1333). While the menu includes tacos and other taqueria staples, there are also some less familiar dishes. To the catalogue of essential sandwiches we must now add the pambazo. This is essentially the clas ... More >>

Ten Best Irish Dishes in St. Louis: Corned Beef and Cabbage at Helen Fitzgerald's

Corned beef and cabbage is far from native fare in Ireland, and largely appears on menus to satisfy the tastes of tourists. On this side of the pond, though, the legend persists that corned beef and cabbage is authentic Irish cuisine, and, as a result, no other dish is as heralded as quintessentiall ... More >>

Ten Best Irish Dishes in St. Louis: Irish Stew at Llywelyn's Pub

There's no question that the Irish enjoy sneaking their national spirits, whiskey and Guinness into everything from coffee to cheesecake. Such is also the case with Llywelyn's Pub's (4747 McPherson Avenue; 314-361-3003) take on an Irish stew, which features a smooth Guinness-Jameson stock. This Iri ... More >>

Fish Fry Frenzy: Week 1, First Unitarian Church of St. Louis

Vegan felafel, pita bread, veggie chili and dolmas aren't traditional fish fry fare, but then, little about the menu at the First Unitarian Church of St. Louis (5007 Waterman Boulevard, 314-361-0595) UnFish Fry could be described as traditional. This annual vegetarian dinner not only takes meat off ... More >>

Devils in the Details: Diablitos Cantina aims to stand out in a very crowded culinary field

The Veggielante Rises at the Vine

Endless apologies, O loyal readers, for the extended hiatus that this column took. But now we're back with a new Veggielante, a new format and a new list of restaurants to sate your vegetarian appetites. The Veggielante has had it up to here with people bitching that St. Louis restaurants are vege ... More >>

Nuoc Charm: Dao Tien is a peach of a Vietnamese bistro, and a slice of home-style heaven

The Nine Best Tapas/Small Plates Restaurants in St. Louis

Selecting Riverfront Times' Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we are chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists a ... More >>

The Five Best Vietnamese Restaurants in St. Louis

Selecting Riverfront Times' Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we are chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists a ... More >>

Chop Shop Food Truck Launches Today

via Facebook​You know, I was just thinking it's been too long -- 24 hours, at least, maybe 48 -- since a new food truck hit the streets of St. Louis. Today, Chop Shop will make its maiden voyage, arriving at Purina headquarters (Chouteau Avenue between South Tucker Boulevard and South Seventh Stre ... More >>

Indian and Pakistani "Fast Food" Restaurant Coming to U. City

New life for Indian Food?​Signs in the windows of 6800F Olive Boulevard, the westernmost storefront of the small strip mall at the intersection of Olive and Ferguson Avenue in University City, tout the imminent arrival of an Indian and Pakistani "fast food" restaurant. There is no official signage ... More >>

The Five Best Thai Restaurants in St. Louis

Selecting the Riverfront Times Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. This year, Gut Check is celebrating five contenders in several categories.Jennifer SilverbergA dish at this year's Best Thai Restaurant​One t ... More >>

Bowled Flavors: Can Bocci Bar separate itself from the Italian-restaurant pack?

Hiro's Welcome: The Loop's newest sushi joint has something extra to offer

Ya-Hala Restaurant Now Open in Bridgeton

Ian FroebYa-Hala in Bridgeton​Ya-Hala Restaurant is now open at 12434 St. Charles Rock Road in Bridgeton. Ya-Hala serves Middle Eastern cuisine: appetizers such as hummus, tabouleh and kibbeh; beef and chicken shawarma; and beef and lamb kabobs.(For whatever it's worth, one of Gut Check's most tru ... More >>

The Five Best Taquerias in St. Louis

Selecting Riverfront Times' Best of St. Louis 2011 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we are chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists a ... More >>

Steve Komorek of Trattoria Marcella: Recipe for Meatballs With Creamy Polenta

This is part three of Emily Wasserman's Chef's Choice profile of Steve Komorek of Trattoria Marcella. Part one can be found here. Part two, a Q&A with Komorek, is published here. Courtesy of Trattoria Marcella​After spending 12 weeks in Tuscany, it's safe to say that Trattoria Marcella's (360 ... More >>

Cafe Natasha's Falafel-Eating Contest: Gut Check Investigates

Lee HarrisFriends enjoying the falafel contest at Cafe Natasha's Kabob International​ Cafe Natasha's Kabob International (3200 South Grand Boulevard; 314-771-3411) recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its $10 all-you-can-eat hummus bar the only way it knew how: a falafel-eating con ... More >>

Battle Chicken Korma: India Palace Vs. Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Cuisine

​Gut Check receives a lot of press releases for new products. Many are useless, but occasionally one passes through that piques our interest. In this case, Sukhi's Gourmet Indian Cuisine made us do a double-take with their promise of all-natural, authentic, complete Indian meals that can be pr ... More >>

Riverbend Restaurant & Bar brings New Orleans' cuisine to St. Louis

Café Pintxos Drops the Tapas (Including the Pintxos)

Jennifer SilverbergCafé Pintxos​When I reviewed Café Pintxos (3407 Olive Street, 314-338-2500) this July, I noted how I was unable to order the restaurant's namesake dish, a Basque variation on Spanish tapas. For no clear reason, the pintxos weren't available during my visits.Now the pintxos -- ... More >>

The Sushi Roll Lunch Special at Thai Nivas

Deborah HylandThe Spicy Salmon Roll with Chef's Choice Nigiri at Thai Nivas.​The Place: Thai Nivas (11054 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur; 314-567-8989), a Thai/Japanese restaurant in the same Creve Coeur strip mall that also houses Pumpernickles. The Lunch: The Nivas Combo Deluxe (a choice from ... More >>

Adobe Reds brings a taste of New Mexico to Midtown

Elie Harir of The Mediterranean Grill

This is part one of Emily Wasserman's Chef's Choice profile of chef Elie Harir of the Mediterranean Grill. Part two, a Q&A, will be posted tomorrow, and part three, a recipe from Harir, will be published on Thursday. Kelly HoganElie Harir with his staff​On a typical 118 degree St. Louis summe ... More >>

#71: The Vegetarian Platter at Ranoush

Emily Wasserman​Entering Ranoush (200 North Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-726-6874) is like stepping into a scene out of Arabian Nights. Sequined tapestries line the walls, brass lamps hang from the ceiling and intricately carved metal rings hold the napkins and silverware. Gut Check uncovered ... More >>

Dear Chuy Arzola's: Please Don't Change Lunch.

Welcome to Lunch Bucket List, a recurring feature in which Gut Check checks out the many lunch specials available at restaurants around town. Know a lunch special we should check out? Drop us a line.Robin WheelerThe Austin from Chuy Arzola's​The Place: Chuy Arzola's (3701 Lindell Boulevard; 31 ... More >>

Hiro Prepares to Open in the Delmar Loop

Ian FroebHiro in the Delmar Loop​Hiro, a sushi and izakaya restaurant from 609 Lounge owner Bernie Lee, looks just about ready to debut at 609 Eastgate Avenue. It might have opened already, but calls this morning just before its posted lunch hours went unanswered.The address was previously the hom ... More >>

Cafe Pintxos: The Case of the Transient Tapas

Review Slideshow: Café Pintxos

Jennifer SilverbergRoasted garlic, with accompaniments, at Cafe Pintxos​I present to you one of the stranger experiences from my five years of reviewing restaurants: the futile quest for the namesake dish at Café Pintxos (3407 Olive Street; 314-338-2500). My review of Café Pintxos, the tapas bar ... More >>

Review Preview: Café Pintxos

Jennifer SilverbergThe ensalda de pulpo (octopus salad) at Café Pintxos​This week, I visit Café Pintxos (3407 Olive Street; 314-338-2500), the restaurant inside the new Hotel Ignacio in midtown.The Basque term pintxos is roughly synonymous with tapas, and if you think of Café Pintxos as a tapas ... More >>

Spicing Things Up with House of India

Welcome to Lunch Bucket List, a recurring feature in which Gut Check checks out the many lunch specials available at restaurants around town. Know a lunch special we should check out? Drop us a line.Emily WassermanA plate from House of India's all-you-can-eat buffet​ The Place: House of India ... More >>

Family Food: A brother and sister team up to open Water Street Café in Maplewood

Lynne Truong of Banh Mi So #1 Saigon Gourmet: Recipe for Bun Ga Xao

This is part three of Antonio Pacheco's Chef's Choice profile of chef Lynne Truong of Banh Mi So #1. Part one can be found here. Part two, a Q&A with Truong, is published here. Antonio Pacheco​While chef Lynne Truong prepares myriad Vietnamese dishes, a highlight of Banh Mi So #1 -- Saigon Go ... More >>

Lunching with Gut Check Jr. at Remy's Kitchen and Wine Bar

Robin WheelerMediterranean grazing at Remy's​ The Place: Remy's Kitchen and Wine Bar (222 South Bemiston Avenue, Clayton), Tim Mallett's venerable Clayton restaurant that reflects Executive Chef Lisa Slay's Mediterranean and Lebanese heritage. It's not a place where moms typically haul their 7 ... More >>

The Gumbo Shop and Its Family Recipes Passed On To New Owners

Ettie BernekingThe couple makes everything fresh to order. The giant pots of gumbo and jambalaya start cooking every day around 7 a.m. Even the oysters are flown in fresh every few days. ​After ten months of studying, practicing, tasting and refining, Holli and Jon Rercher have finally taken o ... More >>

The Veggielante Puts Bobo Noodle House to the Test

​The Veggielante has had it up to here with people bitching that St. Louis restaurants are vegetarian unfriendly. Sure, we'd like to see more restaurants offering more meatless dishes, but there are excellent choices out there if you take the trouble to look for them. We're not here to prosely ... More >>