North-American Food and Cooking

University City: Delmar Boulevard, from Big Bend to 170

St. Louis' neighborhoods are gems in their own right: full of history, great people and, as far as Gut Check is concerned, fantastic food. Each week we'll take you into a specific neighborhood and point you in the direction of the best places to grab some bites. View West Delmar in a larger map The ... More >>

Is It Mission Accomplished at Mission Taco Joint?: Review Preview

Have you been to Mission Taco Joint (6235 Delmar Boulevard; 314-932-5430) yet? No? Really? Because every time I've been there it's seemed like half of St. Louis had packed into the latest restaurant from brothers Adam and Jason Tilford (Tortillaria, Milagro Modern Mexican). This week I recount my ... More >>

The Ten Best Food Events in St. Louis This Weekend: April 19 to 21

See also: -Bike to Work Tomorrow, Get Free Coffee and Breakfast On the Way! -Saturday is Webster Groves Herb Society's Annual Herb Sale -Broadway Oyster Bar Invites You to Suck It at Crawfish Fest This Weekend -Celebrate The Sweet Divine's Grand Opening in Soulard Saturday Friday (Apr. 19): Bike ... More >>

Mad Decent's Lunice Talks Miles Davis, Why He Finds St. Louis "Inspirational"

Lunice Fermine Pierre II, known worldwide by his first name, is blazing his way towards the top of the electronic music scene. His first two EP's, 2010's Stacker Upper and 2011's One Hunned, garnered attention for the young Montreal native; 2012's collaboration with friend and fellow LuckyMe labelma ... More >>

First Look: Mission Taco Joint Preps Fresh Tortillas and West Coast Inspired Mexican Food in the Delmar Loop [Photos]

Delmar gained a new late-night option with Mission Taco Joint (6235 Delmar Boulevard; 314-932-5430) thanks to Jason and Adam Tilford, the sibling super-force behind Milagro Modern Mexican, Tortillaria and Barrister's. According to the brothers, whose inspirations stem from frequent excursions to nor ... More >>

We Started the Fire: A Thorough Investigation Of The Chipotle Quesarito Urban Legend

It was during a regular lunch break in January when Gut Check first heard tell of Chipotle's "secret menu." While waiting in the restaurant's service assembly line we overheard a customer ahead of us order an "adult" quesadilla. Our ears immediately perked up. When our turn to order arrived, we aske ... More >>

10 St. Louis Mardi Gras Food & Drink Specials Worth Their Weight in Beads

It's that time again folks, that time when it's perfectly acceptable to get day drunk in public while getting as undressed as the 51-degree forecast will allow us. That's right, Mardi Gras is this Saturday, February 9, in Soulard. If the only thing on your Mardi Gras to-do list so far is "party," th ... More >>

Home for Diner: Belly up to the Kitchen Sink for a burger or something a little more Louisiana-fied

Slideshow: Photos from Inside The Kitchen Sink

Chipotle "Hidden Menu" Is an Urban Legend

For a while now, word has been circulating about a "hidden menu" at Chipotle Mexican Grill. According to a few (dubious) (online) sources, if there's a dish you want and Chipotle has the ingredients, they'll make it for ya. Gut Check is here to tell you that this is simply not true (in St. Louis, a ... More >>

Openings & Closings 2012: The Final Reckoning

Yes, 2012 has been over for a few weeks now. No, we're not done looking back at it just yet. Don't worry. This isn't another Top Ten list. No, what we have here is Gut Check's annual omnibus listing of every restaurant that opened, closed, both opened and closed, relocated or changed its name in 2 ... More >>

Top Ten Dishes 2012 #9: The Pambazo at Siete Luminarias

I'm counting down the top ten dishes from the new restaurants that I reviewed in 2012. Read the complete series to date. #9. The pambazo at Siete Luminarias (2818 Cherokee Street; 314-932-1333)

Chili Reception: Is Joe's Chili Bowl upstaged by Citygarden's excellence?

Slideshow: Inside Joe's Chili Bowl

Korea Opportunity: West county's fast-food options just got a little more interesting

The Ten Best New Restaurants in St. Louis 2012

Selecting the Riverfront Times Best of St. Louis 2012 was no picnic. Choosing the winner meant several worthy candidates would go unmentioned -- until now. In this Gut Check series, we're chewing our way through notable runners up in a number of categories. To see hundreds more winners and finalists ... More >>

Fiesta! Modern Mexican Cuisine: Review Slideshow

At Fiesta! Modern Mexican Cuisine (185 Hilltown Village Center, Chesterfield; 636-536-0002), the "modern" is as much about the flatware -- yes, the flatware -- as it is the food. My review of Fiesta! Modern Mexican Cuisine is now available online.

Taos Hunters: The Southwest slings diner grub with a side of New Mexican

Milagro Modern Mexican Team to Open Restaurant and Bodega in Delmar Loop

Ligaya Figueras of Sauce broke the news yesterday that brothers Adam and Jason Tilford of Milagro Modern Mexican (20 Allen Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-962-4300) plan to open a new venture called Mission at 6235 Delmar Boulevard in the Delmar Loop, the address vacated just last week by the Delmar Res ... More >>

Guess Where I'm Eating this Chimichanga and Win $10 to La Tejana Taqueria!

You can win $10 to La Tejana Taqueria (3149 North Lindbergh Boulevard, Bridgeton; 314-344-3003), and all you have to do is guess where we ate this plate of chimichangas. Hint: We dined at a restaurant in University City. Rules: To be eligible, you must leave a valid e-mail address (or Twitter handl ... More >>

Fire Strikes Yummies Soul Food Cafe

A fire early Wednesday morning gutted Yummies Soul Food Cafe (2800 Olive Street; 314-226-9800). The restaurant relocated to this address, on the first floor of the Heritage House apartment building, only last month from its original space at 3149 Shenandoah Avenue in the Compton Heights neighborhood ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Can illegals enjoy a pleasure cruise in the U.S.?

First Look: Fiesta! Modern Mexican

Fiesta! Modern Mexican (185 Hilltown Village Center, Chesterfield; 636-536-0002) opened at the beginning of May. Gut Check stopped by the restaurant recently to chat with Roger Aguirre, one of Fiesta's three owners. "I've always wanted to do something different than other Mexican restaurants, some ... More >>

Review Preview: BrickTop's Restaurant

This week, I visit BrickTop's Restaurant (1701 South Lindbergh Boulevard; Frontenac; 314-567-6300), the small, upscale chain that opened its first area location at Plaza Frontenac late last year. Page through for a sneak preview of my review.

Tidbits from Louisiana Cafe, J. Gumbo's

- Louisiana Cafe reopened last week at its new location: 1350 Triad Center Drive in St. Peters. The restaurant's phone number is now 636-922-7249. Louisiana Cafe is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Salsa Con Salsa: Dancing and Dips at Dante's Night Club

Friday, May 11, Dante's (3221 Olive Street; 314-652-2369) will play host to the third annual Salsa Con Salsa event to promote the San Luis Potosi Mexico-St. Louis Friendship Committee. The night is a dance and dip celebration that invites participants to learn how to salsa while sampling delicious ... More >>

Taco Takeover

The Veggielante Surveys Schlafly Bottleworks

Destination: Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue; 314-241-2337) Neighborhood: Maplewood Cuisine: American, Contemporary Overview: The name Schlafly is likely to spark a craving for some quality microbrews, but beer isn't the only thing it has to offer St. Louis vegetarians.

Tidbits from Farmhaus, The Island Frozen Yogurt

- Farmhaus (3257 Ivanhoe Avenue; 314-647-3800) might be one of the toughest tables to score in St. Louis, but this Sunday, March 25, all you need is $30 to gain access to the acclaimed restaurant's special "Sunday Funday" event. This is an all-you-can-eat-and-drink affair featuring a crawfish boil, ... More >>

Eat Me in St. Louis: Ten Cheap Eats for March Madness Visitors

Hello, fans of North Carolina, North Carolina State, Kansas and Ohio, and welcome to St. Louis for the -- deep breath -- 2012 NCAA Division One Men's Basketball Championship Midwest Regionals! Whether you're a broke college student, a devoted alumnus or alumna or just a fan, after shelling out the ... More >>

Soup Countdown #8: Broadway Oyster Bar's Crawfish Bisque

January is National Soup Month, which makes sense, considering the first month of the year is typically marked with below-freezing temperatures, snow and slush. What's better than a delicious, hot bowl of soup on a chilly day? A delicious, hot bowl of soup that you don't have to make -- that's what. ... More >>

Jason Tilford of Milagro Modern Mexican, Part 2

This is part two of Stacy Anderson's Chef's Choice profile of Jason Tilford of Milagro Modern Mexican. Part one can be found here. Part three, a recipe from Johnson, is published here. Did your family cook when you were a child? My mother cooked every night. She was a great cook and still is. Eve ... More >>

Jason Tilford of Milagro Modern Mexican

This is part one of Stacy Anderson's Chef's Choice profile of Jason Tilford of Milagro Modern Mexican. Part two, a Q&A, will be published tomorrow, and part three, a recipe from Tilford, will be available on Thursday. Upon first meeting, chef Jason Tilford is a man of few words. He answers question ... More >>

Top Ten Dishes 2011 #8: Red Beans and Rice at Riverbend Restaurant & Bar

I'm counting down my ten favorite dishes from the restaurants that I reviewed in 2011. The top dish will be revealed on Tuesday, December 27, and look for a slideshow featuring most of the winners on Wednesday, December 28.Ian FroebThe red beans and rice at Riverbend Restaurant & Bar​As is tra ... More >>

Señoritas Pique in Sunset Hills Closed

​Señoritas Pique inside the Quality Inn at 3730 South Lindbergh Boulevard in Sunset Hills has closed. The Mexican restaurant, a spinoff of Señor Pique in Ballwin, opened in late 2010.Señor Pique manager Jennifer Jimenez confirms the news to Gut Check. "The restaurant was doing good," she says, ... More >>

#48: Lengua Tacos at La Vallesana

Evan C. Jones​There are many tempting options available at La Vallesana (2801 Cherokee Street; 314-776-4223), but whether you're getting quesadillas, burritos or tortas, there's something on the menu that leaps out to most people as something to avoid: tongue. Offal is something that most Am ... More >>

Tidbits from Dao Tien Vietnamese Bistro, Fast Burrito

Ian FroebDao Tien Vietnamese Restaurant, coming soon to University City​- Gut Check reported late last month that Dao Tien Vietnamese Bistro looked ready to open its doors at 8600 Olive Boulevard in University City. We even heard that it might debut as soon as the first weekend in October.Did it? ... More >>

Best and Worst Halloween Candy Countdown: No. 17

It wasn't all that long ago that Gut Check was donning our finest Disney princess Star Wars character drag outfit and joining the swarms of greedy American children on the hallowed Halloween quest for candy. So we remember well the post-trick-or-treat ritual of sorting the bounty into two piles, i.e ... More >>

Review Preview: Riverbend Restaurant & Bar

Ian Froeb The red beans and rice at Riverbend Restaurant & Bar​This week I visit Riverbend Restaurant & Bar (701 Utah Street; 314-664-8443), which serves authentic Creole and Cajun cuisine at the southernmost tip of Soulard. If you need confirmation that Riverbend Restaurant & B ... More >>

Drowned (But Not Yet Burned) at El Mexiquense

Ian FroebThe torta ahogada at Overland's El Mexiquense​The torta ahogada is a traditional Mexican sandwich that is "drowned" (ahogada) in red chile sauce. Since the torta ahogada at Taqueria Durango was one of my 100 Favorite St. Louis Dishes, when a reader informed me that Overland's El Mexiquens ... More >>

Review Preview: Adobe Reds

Jennifer SilverbergThe stacked enchiladas at Adobe Reds​This week I visit Adobe Reds (3108 Olive Street; 314-678-7999), a new restaurant that features the cuisine of New Mexico.If you're unfamiliar with the cuisine of New Mexico state -- and, based on the dearth of New Mexican restaurants in St. L ... More >>

Try Red Beans and Rice at Riverbend Restaurant & Bar

Ian Froeb​Riverbend Restaurant & Bar (701 Utah Street; 314-664-8443) is a corner restaurant and bar serving Creole cuisine just outside the Anheuser-Busch campus in Soulard. The red beans and rice are available only on Mondays, according to the menu, but on the not-Monday when I dined there, m ... More >>

[UPDATED] Starbucks Introduces Bistro Boxes. USDA Says Not So Fast.

StarbucksA Starbucks bistro box, recalled.​Last week 5,400 Starbucks stores took another baby step into the food market, introducing Bistro Boxes: savory meals like chicken and hummus, chipotle chicken wraps and sesame noodles with fewer than 500 calories. Great news, right? Well, except for ... More >>

#81: Catfish Platter at the Gumbo Shop

Ettie BernekingThe catfish platter comes with a side of gumbo or jambalaya so prepare to be stuffed.​While our arteries might disagree, here at Gut Check we say there's no such thing as too much fried food. Which is why the catfish platter at the Gumbo Shop (9501 Manchester Road, Webster Grove ... More >>

SSM DePaul Health Center Throws a Soul Food Festival

Who says hospital food has to suck? Thursday at SSM DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, the cafe's gonna have some soul for its twentieth annual Soul Food Festival. Chef Arvy Dumbrys prepping oxtail soup, fried chicken, smothered pork chops, barbecue beef ribs, fried jack salmon, sweet potatoes, gree ... More >>

Going South: Monarch reinvents itself, yet again

Two Thousand and Ate: Ian chowed his way across St. Louis in 2008. Here's the best of what he found.

Drink of the Week: Horchata

Lily's
4601 S Kingshighway
314-352-1894

Viva Honduras

Los Catrachos is a happy, happy mess

Raspberry Margarita

Tejas, 44 North Brentwood Boulevard, Clayton, 314-862-1414

Hey There, Hot Stuff

Mexican eateries are heating up the St. Louis culinary scene

Summer Better than Others

The pleasures of warm-weather eating and drinking