Joe Bonwich

New Restaurant Tidbits: Premierz, the Purple Martin, Annie Moons

Some quick-hit opening news from around town. - Driving South Grand Boulevard the other day, I spotted activity at the former Mikey Moes location at 5535 South Grand, near the intersection with Bates Street. A sign in the front window advertised a new restaurant called Premierz, featuring "American ... More >>

Tidbits: Sage Now Open for Lunch Only; Bici Cafe Closing Next Month

- A reader tipped Gut Check off that the Soulard restaurant Sage Urban American Grill (1031 Lynch Street; 314-256-1203) was no longer open for dinner -- or perhaps no longer open, period. At any rate, our tipster said he and other diners who arrived at Sage around the time he did, intending to eat d ... More >>

Joe Bonwich Files Final Restaurant Review for Post-Dispatch

Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Joe Bonwich published his final review today, reaffirming downtown institution Tony's (410 Market Street; 314-231-7007) as a "perfect" dining experience and awarding it four stars out of a possible four. Bonwich will continue to work on the Post-Dispatch's "Let's Eat ... More >>

Tidbits: Galliano to Pop Up Again, KimCheese Opens

Catching up on some news from last week while I was out of town... - Today is the day for Josh Galliano's pop-up restaurant, All Star Fried Chicken & Fish. Service begins at 5 p.m. at Half & Half (8135 Maryland Avenue, Clayton; 314-725-0719) and continues until 10 p.m. or the food runs out. (Bet on ... More >>

Tidbits from Pint Size Bakery & Coffee, Oceano Bistro

- Pint Size Bakery & Coffee opened this morning at 3825 Watson Road in south city. Pint Size features baked goods from Christy Augustin, whose career includes time as the pastry chef at Sidney Street Cafe (2000 Sidney Street; 314-771-5777) and the late, great King Louie's. Pint Size is open from 7 ... More >>

Tidbits from Old Town Donuts, the Sweet Divine

- Old Town Donuts (510 New Florissant Road, Florissant; 314-831-0907) has opened a second location at 3941 MidRivers Mall Drive in Cottleville. The new location is open from 5 a.m.-10 p.m. Page through for news about the Sweet Divine food truck and (possibly) more Korean tacos.

Brinco's Mexican Grill & Cantina Opens in Midtown

Well, hello there, Brinco's Mexican Grill & Cantina! A tip o' the sombrero to Joe Bonwich of the Post-Dispatch for the news that you are now open at 3108 Olive Street, in the same Midtown development that is also home to Buffalo Brewing Co. and Pappy's Smokehouse, in the space that was previously th ... More >>

Tidbits from Five Guys, Goshen Coffee Company

Well, it certainly hasn't been a dull week for restaurant news in St. Louis. Here are a couple of additional items from the past day or so: - Joe Bonwich of the Post-Dispatch, who has a pretty impeccable source when it comes to matters involving Five Guys Burgers and Fries, reports that the chain's ... More >>

Tidbits from Neruda, Desserts on the Boulevard

​- Joe Bonwich of the Post-Dispatch reports that east-side mainstay Neruda (4 Club Centre Court, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-659-9866) will close after service on Valentine's Day. Owner Madt Mallinckrodt is retiring from the restaurant business, according to a note on the restaurant's website.- Gu ... More >>

Tidbits from the Stable, Midtown, Hazelwood

​- Sauce reports that The Stable (1821 Cherokee Street; 314-771-8500) has changed its name to American Craft Standard Brewing & Distilling Co. Gut Check has a call in to Chris Hines, who took over the Stable from Amalgamated Brewing last month, to learn more about the changes to the restaurant ... More >>

Trouble Already for Crostini Restaurant & Lounge? [Updated]

Ian Froeb​Has the end already arrived for Crostini Restaurant & Lounge (4501 Manchester Road; 314-932-5025)? Update: (Wedesday, October 26, 8:52 a.m.) Indeed, the end has arrived.Gut Check didn't have any luck getting in touch with Crostini owner Eric Winbigler, but Ligaya Figueras of Sau ... More >>

Gladstone's Closed, Tortilla Grille Opening

​A couple of tidbits from the past week... Soulard restaurant and bar Gladstone's (1800 South Tenth Street; 314-231-6339) has closed. The Messenger reports that Gladstone's final day of business was Saturday, June 25. According to the Messenger report, damage to the building from the recent r ... More >>

Restaurant Tidbits: Farmhaus, Provisions Gourmet Market

​Farmhaus (3257 Ivanhoe Avenue; 314-647-3800), home of recently named Food & Wine magazine Best New Chef Kevin Willmann, has gone fishin'. The restaurant will be closed until the evening of Friday, April 22, for a staff fishing trip. That means no "Blue Plate" lunch special this week.Joe Bonwi ... More >>

The U Closes

​The U (3108 Olive Street; 314-371-1718) announced on its Facebook page overnight that it has closed:From us here at The U., we are sorry to announce we are closed for business. Thanks to everyone for the last three years!The Midtown restaurant's final service was Saturday night. It opened in Apr ... More >>

Stella Blues Reopens in South City

Image via​As mentioned in the January 2011 Openings and Closings post -- and first reported, I believe, by Joe Bonwich at the Post-Dispatch -- Stella Blues has reopened at 3269 Morgan Ford Road. The previous incarnation of the south city restaurant and bar opened in 2006 and closed in 2009. T ... More >>

FoodWire: Central West End Companion Closes

Robin WheelerCompanion founder Josh Allen​I believe Joe Bonwich of the Post-Dispatch scored the news first: Companion has closed its Central West End location at 4651 Maryland Avenue. The bakeries two other locations in Clayton and Ladue remain open.Companion's Twitter feed posted the following ea ... More >>

FoodWire: Restaurant Tidbits from Kevin Willmann, Grand Center

My Christmas gift to you, dear readers? (Besides, of course, the unending cavalcade of joy that is the Year-End Bonanza.) Restaurant news! Yes, our friends around town have reported several tidbits in recent days.George Mahe scores the big scoop at Feast: RFT Best Local Chef 2008 Kevin Willmann is l ... More >>

FoodWire: Tidbits on A'mis, Chris' Pancakes, Firemen

Ian FroebTumo's, soon to be come A'mis​A few restaurant tidbits that my colleagues around town have posted: Joe Bonwich of the Post-Dispatch notes that Italian restaurant A'mis will open its third location at 6419 Hampton Avenue, the former location of Tumo's. Bonwich also reports on Phelim O'Tool ... More >>

FoodWire: Ferguson Maid-Rite For Sale

Ian Froeb​At Off the Menu, Joe Bonwich reports that the only St. Louis Maid-Rite (250 South Florissant Road) is for sale and possibly closed. Read Bonwich's story for more.I visited this Maid-Rite late last year. The photo at left is of the chain's famous (or infamous, depending on your point of v ... More >>

FoodWire: Notes from Our Friends on Chouteau's, the Wedge

A couple of interesting news items from my counterparts here in the St. Louis foodosphere:First up, George Mahe reports at Feast that Chouteau's at 39th, which took over the fabled space at 3800 Chouteau Avenue formerly occupied by King Louie's and Revival, is closing after lunch today.I ate at Chou ... More >>

FoodWire: Sapphire Pan-Asian Closed

Sapphire Pan-Asian (4753 McPherson Avenue) has closed. As Joe Bonwich was the first to report, the restaurant served its final meal this weekend. Sapphire opened in November 2007, replacing Zoë Pan-Asian Café.The space will become the third location of Pi (website), after the original at 6144 Delm ... More >>

FoodWire: Various Restaurant Tidbits

News from a few of our friends around town:- The St. Louis Business Journal reports that a new operator has been chosen for Bevo Mill (4749 Gravois Avenue). L&M Catering will use the historic space as a restaurant, catering and special-events facility.- At Off the Menu, Joe Bonwich passes along ... More >>

FoodWire: Jim Fiala Opening Citygarden Restaurant

From the Press Releases We Apparently Weren't Sent Dep't.: George Mahe of St. Louis Magazine and Joe Bonwich of the Post-Dispatch both report that restaurateur Jim Fiala (The Crossing, Liluma and Acero) will be running the Terrace View, the indoor/outdoor restaurant opening in Citygarden, the new sc ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 6.6-6.12

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.STL Hops: Didn't attend this year's Brewers Heritage Festival? Mike has pictures.STL Bites: Bill resurfaces from Twitterland with news of a wine tasting featuring Riedel glasses.A Veggie Venture: Alanna has a recipe for fire-charred tomatoes.Of ... More >>

FoodWire: Various Restaurant Tidbits

Lots of news items the past few days...- The Post-Dispatch reports that an employee of Downtown West pub Maggie O'Brien's (2000 Market Street) was shot and killed during a robbery last night. No arrests, as of yet.UPDATE: As I was writing this, my colleague Chad Garrison posted an item about the kil ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 5.9-5.15

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.Welcome a new blog to our merry band, Becky and the Beanstock. Go check it out.Sauce: An interview with Michael Pollan.Sounding My Barbaric Gulp: Kelly roasts her haul of farmers' market radishes.STL Hops: Mike has news of the new weekly cask a ... More >>

FoodWire: Joo Joo Now Open

Last month I noted a sign for Joo Joo, a new Korean restaurant and karaoke bar, at 12937 Olive Boulevard in Creve Coeur. At Off the Menu, Joe Bonwich reports that Joo Joo is now open.

FoodWire: Bistro Alexander Closed?

My Post-Dispatch counterpart, Joe Bonwich, broke the possible news on his Off the Menu blog yesterday: Clayton's Bistro Alexander (7927 Forsyth Boulevard) seems to have closed. I swung by this morning for a look, and while the tables remain set, artwork and a flat-screen TV have been removed from th ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 3.14-3.20

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.A new food blog for the digest this week: Mostly Soup, which, as its title suggests, is about mostly soup. Check it out.STL Bites: Bill is not impressed with Alice Waters' 60 Minutes interview.Sounding My Barbaric Gulp: Kelly tempts us with Ore ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 2.28-3.6

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.STL Hops: Mike has photos from the Stable's Hopslam cask party.Adventures in Eating Locally: Kimberly ponders the true cost of tomatoes.Off the Menu: Joe Bonwich has news of a new farmers' market in Ellisville.Iron Stef: Stef makes ginger chick ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 2.21-2.27

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.STL Bites: Earlier this week Gut Check's Brooke Foster bemoaned a new policy asking solo coffeeshop patrons to sit only at two-top tables. Bill argues the other side.Sauce: Sauce posts a picture of a mama and baby pig to illustrate a story on K ... More >>

St. Louis Food Blog Digest: 2.14-2.20

Gut Check dishes on our favorite St. Louis food blogs.The Cupcake Project: Stef has a recipe for pickle and ice-cream cupcakes -- and some great news!St. Louis Eats & Drinks: The Pollacks visit the new Delmar Loop restaurant Racanelli's Cucina.Feast: A great story of messing with a restaurant ... More >>

FoodWire: Fire Destroys Home of Annie Gunn's Owners

Joe Bonwich has the unfortunate news at Off the Menu: Annie Gunn's and Smokehouse Market owners Thom and Jane Sehnert lost their house to a fire on Tuesday. Thankfully, there were no injuries.

FoodWire: Market at Busch's Grove Now Open

The transformation from iconic St. Louis restaurant to upscale grocery store is complete: The Market at Busch's Grove opened Saturday at 9160 Clayton Road. The market is open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mon.-Sat. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Call 314-567-7770 for more info. Joe Bonwich, my counterpart at the Post-Dispatc ... More >>

Joe Bonwich Still on the Menu

Your Weekly St. Louis Food Blog Digest

In This Week's Issue: West End Pub & Grill and Blue Machine

Now Open: Cafe Ventana

Your Weekly St. Louis Food Blog Digest

Now Open: Sir-B-Que

Various Restaurant Tidbits

Your Weekly St. Louis Food Blog Digest

Your Weekly St. Louis Food Blog Digest

A New Food Blog...from a Familiar Name

Even More on Balaban's Closing

Today's Restaurant Tidbits

Eat Drink Man Woman

Taking some time to let 1999's dinners digest

Hot Dish

The new Hot Locust Cafe makes the pleasing transition from punk-rock hallway to real restaurant

Letters to the Editor

'Cue Tips