Shellfish

Built to Suit: BrickTop's is based in Nashville, but it hits home at Plaza Frontenac

Q: What do you call a restaurant-winery combo in Chesterfield? A: Tame old tame old.

Sunday Funday

Ten Best Food Events This Weekend March 9-11

Friday (Mar. 9): Mexican Fish Fry @ St. Cecilia Catholic Church Choose two entrees including jack salmon, shrimp, chili relleno and bean tostado, and pair it with a couple of sides and a drink any Friday during Lent. $10. 4:30 to 8 p.m. Stout and Oyster Festival @ Schlafly Tap Room Check out Schl ... More >>

The Five Best Seafood 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 >>

Hooked is a seafood shack anchored in Jeffrey Plaza — who'da sunk it?

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 >>

Review Preview: Hooked Seafood Bar

This week, I visit Hooked Seafood Bar (8613 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314997-8886), a restaurant that reminds us that "seafood shack" isn't a pejorative term. A sneak preview of my review is after the jump.

Ten Best Food Events This Weekend: January 27-January 29

Friday (Jan. 27): Oyster and Crab Leg Festival @ Broadway Oyster Bar Enjoy Gulf oysters at the peak of their sweet goodness in addition to crab legs from Alaska in special dishes such as barbecue adobo oysters, thai sesame oysters, fried crab stuffed oysters and dungeness crab. Friday, January 27 ... More >>

Crab Cake and Heartbreak at BrickTop's

Ian Froeb"The Crab Cake" at Bricktop's​When I went to bed last night, several hours after my hometown Baltimore Ravens' agonizing loss in the AFC Championship Game, I didn't feel too bad. Wine, Tater Tots (my comfort-food guilty pleasure) and a couple of episodes of Archer had helped to dull t ... More >>

Lana Del Rey's SNL Debacle: Maybe She Should Just Hire Clams Casino to Produce Everything

The question you have to ask yourself is exactly how many people have Googled "lana del rey topless" today. Or maybe you're lucky enough to not be asking questions.​We have categorically avoided the subject of Lana Del Ray in this space, mostly because we are generally of the opinion that no m ... More >>

Coastal Bistro and Bar Features Southern-inspired Land and Sea Cuisine

Mabel SuenChefs in the kitchen at Coastal Bistro and Bar.​This past September the Schmitz family welcomed a new kid on their cozy, close-knit Clayton block -- Coastal Bistro and Bar (14 North Central Avenue; 314-932-7377). The Southern-inspired seafood bar and restaurant, featuring a combinati ... More >>

A First Look at Hooked

Evan C. Jones​Since stopping by in August, Gut Check has been anticipating the opening of Hooked (8613 Olive Boulevard; 314-997-8886) in the old Pho Long space. There have been several bureaucratic hiccups causing delays (most recent issue: the restaurant was sent the wrong liquor license), bu ... More >>

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

Evan C. Jones​Since stopping by in August, Gut Check has been anticipating the opening of Hooked (8613 Olive Boulevard; 314-997-8886) in the old Pho Long space. There have been several bureaucratic hiccups causing delays (most recent issue: the restaurant was sent the wrong liquor license), bu ... More >>

Hooked to Open in Old Pho Long Space

Ian FroebPho from Pho Long​Hooked, a new seafood restaurant from the owners of Pho Long (8629 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-997-1218), is scheduled to open this fall on Olive Boulevard, just west of 170 in University City. Hooked will occupy the space left behind by Pho Long after the ... More >>

Bite at the Museum: The Missouri History Museum exhibits a trove of lunches and brunches

Ian FroebPho from Pho Long​Hooked, a new seafood restaurant from the owners of Pho Long (8629 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-997-1218), is scheduled to open this fall on Olive Boulevard, just west of 170 in University City. Hooked will occupy the space left behind by Pho Long after the ... More >>

Review Slideshow: Bixby's

Jennifer SilverbergA soft-shell crab dish at Bixby's​Bixby's (Lindell Boulevard & DeBaliviere Avenue; 314-361-7313) is no run-of-the-mill museum restaurant. My review of Bixby's is now online; also see Jennifer Silverberg's slideshow of Bixby's.

Soft-Shell Crabs at Napoli 2

Deborah HylandThe "Peelers" at Napoli 2​Traditionally, soft-shell crab season begins on the first full moon in May, when blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay molt, leaving them with paper-thin shells. Theoretically, soft-shells are available until September, but good luck finding them in St. Louis ... More >>

A Shellfish Man: Ian goes overboard at DeMun Oyster Bar

Deborah HylandThe "Peelers" at Napoli 2​Traditionally, soft-shell crab season begins on the first full moon in May, when blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay molt, leaving them with paper-thin shells. Theoretically, soft-shells are available until September, but good luck finding them in St. Louis ... More >>

Beer on the Half Shell

Deborah HylandThe "Peelers" at Napoli 2​Traditionally, soft-shell crab season begins on the first full moon in May, when blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay molt, leaving them with paper-thin shells. Theoretically, soft-shells are available until September, but good luck finding them in St. Louis ... More >>

A Pig Flies in Soulard: Will Market Grill and its pork "wings" soar or sink?

Deborah HylandThe "Peelers" at Napoli 2​Traditionally, soft-shell crab season begins on the first full moon in May, when blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay molt, leaving them with paper-thin shells. Theoretically, soft-shells are available until September, but good luck finding them in St. Louis ... More >>

2nd Annual South City Crawfish Boil, Saturday, July 10

this year's Crawfish Boil flyer, complete with crawfish fleur-de-lis​This Saturday the 2nd Annual South City Crawfish Boil brings a bit of New Orleans to Off Broadway. Dinner's served at 7 p.m. Feast on gumbo and all-you-can-eat crawfish for just $10 ($13 if you're under 21). Then stick aro ... More >>

Photos: 34,500 Oysters, 9,000 Pints of Beer at Schlafly Tap Room Over the Weekend

The numbers are in: Schlafly Tap Room hosted its annual Stout & Oyster Festival on Friday and Saturday, which attracted large crowds both days, says Susan M. Haberer of Schlafly. Here are the numbers from Haberer: - 5,000 people - 26,000 raw oysters - 8,500 fried oysters - 9,000 pints of beer& ... More >>

For Balaban's Wine Cellar & Tapas Bar, the legendary name is a lot to live up to

The numbers are in: Schlafly Tap Room hosted its annual Stout & Oyster Festival on Friday and Saturday, which attracted large crowds both days, says Susan M. Haberer of Schlafly. Here are the numbers from Haberer: - 5,000 people - 26,000 raw oysters - 8,500 fried oysters - 9,000 pints of beer& ... More >>

Chef's Choice Recipe: Frazer Cameron's King Crab Boil

A staple on the Frazer's Restaurant and Lounge menu, this classic crab boil highlights owner Frazer Cameron's dedication to fresh ingredients, prepared simply to maintain their integrity. It also connects him to his childhood in San Francisco. ​Frazer Cameron​"When I was a kid, my mothe ... More >>

Table Three: Where the Wildwood elite eat meat?

A staple on the Frazer's Restaurant and Lounge menu, this classic crab boil highlights owner Frazer Cameron's dedication to fresh ingredients, prepared simply to maintain their integrity. It also connects him to his childhood in San Francisco. ​Frazer Cameron​"When I was a kid, my mothe ... More >>

Review Preview: Fond

Jennifer Silverberg​This week, after a break for the Best of St. Louis 2009, I visit Fond in Edwardsville, Illinois.I don't eat scallops. Even though I've convinced myself that my allergy is psychosomatic, the collateral damage of a childhood afternoon spent at the swimming pool with a box of Keeb ... More >>

Sole Proprietors: At long last, St. Louis gets a McCormick & Schmick's. Was it worth the wait?

Jennifer Silverberg​This week, after a break for the Best of St. Louis 2009, I visit Fond in Edwardsville, Illinois.I don't eat scallops. Even though I've convinced myself that my allergy is psychosomatic, the collateral damage of a childhood afternoon spent at the swimming pool with a box of Keeb ... More >>

Power Steering: Long a fixture across the river, Andria's Steakhouse opts for westward expansion

Jennifer Silverberg​This week, after a break for the Best of St. Louis 2009, I visit Fond in Edwardsville, Illinois.I don't eat scallops. Even though I've convinced myself that my allergy is psychosomatic, the collateral damage of a childhood afternoon spent at the swimming pool with a box of Keeb ... More >>

Bi-Valve Curious?

Jennifer Silverberg​This week, after a break for the Best of St. Louis 2009, I visit Fond in Edwardsville, Illinois.I don't eat scallops. Even though I've convinced myself that my allergy is psychosomatic, the collateral damage of a childhood afternoon spent at the swimming pool with a box of Keeb ... More >>

Boiling Over

Brandt's fills you up

Crowded Waters

Is Oceano Bistro just another fish in the sea?

The Beach Is...Right Here

Is Oceano Bistro just another fish in the sea?

Hearth of Gold

Are you ready for the entrée? Ian reassesses Harvest.

Medium Well

Ian has a Legendary™ beef with Stoney River.

Git Up, Baby!

Mike Shannon’s redone his namesake steak house -- and it’s a real humdinger

Ragin' Cajun

Looking for cold beer and down-home Cajun classics? Head to Graham's.

Cut to the Chase

Eau Bistro is better -- and edgier -- than ever

American Beauty

Cardwell's in Clayton delights diners with whimsical presentations

Gone Fishin'

The St. Louis Fish Market is sure to hook diners