Sichuan Province

Taste's "Barbacoa": One of the 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Green Bean's "Pueblito" Salad: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Taste's Grilled Asparagus with Crisp Poached Egg: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Guerrilla Street Food's Filipino Fried Chicken: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Spice-n-Grill's Beef Nihari: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Kim Cheese's "Kim Cheese Burger": One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

The Shack Pubgrub's "Shack-Which": One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Sameem Afghan Restaurant's Muntoo: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Local Harvest Cafe & Catering's "Organic Banh Mi": One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Sugarfire Smoke House's Beef Brisket: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Mad Tomato's Cavatelli with Spring Lamb Ragù: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

A Good Man Is Hard to Find's "Pork-n-Beans": One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now (Seriously, Only Three Weeks Left)

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

The Kitchen Sink's Corn Fritters: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Chop Shop's "El Camino" Roll: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Home Wine Kitchen's Fried Chicken: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Riverbend Restaurant & Bar's Red Beans and Rice: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Gobble Stop Smokehouse's Turkey Tips: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Five Star Burgers' Green Chile Cheeseburger: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Olio's Octopus Salad: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Cleveland-Heath's Seared Beef Tongue: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Try Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Cleveland-Heath's Cauliflower Soup: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Try Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Pi Pizzeria's "Grove" Pizza: One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Famous Szechuan Pavilion's Spicy Wonton Soup (Novice) or Yu Shan Pork (Advanced): One of 100 St. Louis Dishes You Must Eat Right Now

The Gut Check One Hundred is our accounting of the 100 dishes in St. Louis that you must eat right now. These are the best dishes at the newest restaurants and the newest dishes at the best restaurants. These are the 100 dishes that define St. Louis dining in 2013. Our list culminates this fall when ... More >>

Top Ten Dishes 2012 #6: "Spicy Wonton Soup" at Famous Szechuan Pavilion

I'm counting down the top ten dishes from the new restaurants that I reviewed in 2012. Read the complete series to date. #6: "Spicy Wonton Soup" at Famous Szechuan Pavilion (8615 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-685-0888)

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 >>

On a stretch of road famous for fine international cuisine, Famous Szechuan Pavilion is a hidden gem

Review Preview: Famous Szechuan Pavilion

This week, I visit Famous Szechuan Pavilion (8615 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-685-0888), the one-of-a-kind restaurant that relocated earlier this year from its original drive-thru spot in Brentwood to St. Louis' strip mall without culinary equal, Jeffrey Plaza.

Ten Best Food Events This Weekend: August 17-19

Friday (Aug. 17): Third Friday @ Third Degree Glass Factory This month's theme is "vroom-vroom." Enjoy samples from Frostbite Gourmet Ice Cream, sip on watermelon martinis, and snack on small plates such as orzo pasta salad, spedini skewered chicken and hummus with pita over the usual live enterta ... More >>

Ten Best Food Events This Weekend: June 15-17

Friday (June 15): Third Friday Party @ Third Degree Glass Factory Sip mojitos, eat south-of-the-border themed small plates such as loaded nachos with green chili chicken, meet Aladdin and Jasmine from the Muny's Production of Aladdin, enjoy live entertainment and glass blowing, and more. Admission ... More >>

Oops!...He Did It Again: RFT's insatiable food scribe chowed his way through another year — what a pig!

Top Ten Dishes 2011 #7: Chengu Spicy Beef at Joy Luck Buffet

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.Jennifer Silverberg​Joy Luck Buffet isn't a new restaurant, but getting tip ... More >>

Running Hot and Cold at Famous Szechuan Pavilion

Ian FroebThe "House Spicy Noodles" at Famous Szechuan Pavilion​The Place: Famous Szechuan Pavilion (8950 Manchester Road, Brentwood; 314-685-0888), a drive-thru-only noodle hut that opened earlier this year west of the intersection of Manchester and Brentwood Roads.The Lunch: The "House Spicy Nood ... More >>

The Head and the Heart at the Duck Room, 6/13/11

Photo at a previous concert by Sup3r_Fudg3.​The Head and the Heart Blueberry Hill's Duck Room Monday, June 13, 2011 The Head and the Heart is generous to its doters and detractors alike, as it must be on its ascent to the top of the neo-folk heap. The young Seattle sextet played in St. Louis ... More >>

Green Tamale at Nachomama's

​Summer in Texas must be hotter, steamier, sunnier and all around more disgusting than around here. And yet Texans continue to consume vast quantities of sour cream and cheese and fried tortillas. Clearly they are people of greater fortitude than we Midwesterners. Because when Gut Check droppe ... More >>

Duck a l'Orange at Chez Leon

Canard a l'Orange at Clayton's Chez Leon -- worth a second bite.​ We recently found ourselves supping at Chez Leon, the posh Clayton temple to all things Frenchified. And that, of course, meant chowing down on some duck -- because if there's anything the Frogs know how to cook, it's a nice fat can ... More >>

At Joy Luck Buffet, bypass the buffet and focus on joy and luck

Joy Luck Buffet: Review Slideshow

Jennifer SilverbergKung pao chicken is probably the best-known dish on Joy Luck Buffet's "authentic" menu.​Skip the buffet, and proceed directly to the Szechuan peppercorns. My review of Joy Luck Buffet is now available online, as is Jennifer Silverberg's slideshow of the Brentwood restaurant.

Review Preview: Joy Luck Buffet

Jennifer Silverberg​This week, inspired by a couple of reader comments on this review, I ventured to Joy Luck Buffet to try the "authentic menu." Follow me after the jump for a sneak preview of what I found.

Cold Spell: Ice Kitchen deserves a chilly reception for its concept and its food

Grill Marks: Ian turns to the West End Grill to pull us all out of the restaurant-scene doldrums

Review Preview: West End Grill & Pub

St. Louie Chop Suey

You are what you eat: The story of a culture, told through its cuisine.

Moveable Feast

At the Emperor's Palace, you could dip chicken feet in a chocolate fountain.

Chinese Takeout

Washington University's theater department serves up a bland Good Person of Szechwan

Fuse Company

609 comes close to the ideal balance of substance and style

Something's Fishy

Welcome to Aqua Vin, the seafood restaurant for people who aren't all that thrilled about the stuff

Best Vegetarian Restaurant

Hungry Buddha

Kong King

Wonton King deluges diners with an almost limitless selection of Hong Kong-style dishes

Take It with a Grain of Salt

Giving the food world's latest rage a fair shake

The Good Woman of Setzuan

By Bertolt Brecht (University Theatre at SIU-Edwardsville)