When the service catches up to the food, Fuji Sushi will be on the road to delivering a good meal
By Joe Bonwich,
September 19, 2001
Just as we walked through the door of Fuji, a new Japanese restaurant on Clarkson Road in West County, another party was leaving, and they were... More >>
St. Louis adds to its trove of Indian-restaurant riches
By Joe Bonwich,
September 05, 2001
I'm not sure exactly when it happened, but sometime in the recent past, Indian food made the leap from rare to almost commonplace in the St.... More >>
Once the eager-beaver waitstaff learns to back off, that will be a nearly perfect dining venue," my friend concluded in an e-mail message after... More >>
One taste of Modesto's offerings, and you'll be the Spanish prisoner
By Joe Bonwich,
August 22, 2001
As they say about dining out in Spain, better late than never.The tapas craze swept the rest of the country more than a decade ago, with places... More >>
Tim Mallett's Big Sky Cafe offers a spread of great food
By Joe Bonwich,
August 15, 2001
It's almost invariably fun to visit one of Tim Mallett's restaurants because, as much as any restaurateur in town, Tim Mallett "gets it." He gets... More >>
In the mood for something a bit out of the ordinary in West County? Taqueria Chihuahua offers authentic Mexican fare in generous and inexpensive servings.
By Joe Bonwich,
August 08, 2001
The food stall or diner-like Mexican restaurant called a taqueria is relatively rare in these parts. The main concentration recently has been... More >>
Diners who value consistency and approachability over novelty and depth of flavor will enjoy the Seven Gables Inn
By Melissa Martin,
August 01, 2001
It's a reviewer's job to help readers decide how to spend their leisure time and money. A classical-music critic might recommend attending a... More >>
You're in no danger of getting a bad meal at The Crossing, one of the Midwest's finest restaurants
By Joe Bonwich,
July 25, 2001
Ever since an astonishing initial visit some three years ago, one of my constant recommendations for people in search of new, fabulous restaurant... More >>
At St. Raymond's Wednesday lunches, you can satisfy your jones for Middle Eastern fare and see everyone who's anyone
By Joe Bonwich,
July 11, 2001
At my first glimpse of the parking lot, I knew we might be in trouble.Here it was, just 11:20 a.m. We'd left our downtown office jobs early on... More >>
Cardwell's in Clayton delights diners with whimsical presentations
By Melissa Martin,
July 04, 2001
The entrées at Cardwell's in Clayton remind us of Thanksgiving plates laden with tidbits from eight different platters, crocks and casserole... More >>
Though it bites off a bit more than it can chew, the Goody Goody Diner serves up a mean breakfast
By Melissa Martin,
June 20, 2001
As my foodcentric comrade and I shambled out of the Goody Goody Diner after having packed away an embarrassingly large breakfast, I asked him... More >>
Matt McGuire and Kirk Warner serve up meals fit for a king
By Joe Bonwich,
June 13, 2001
If you build it, they will come.Perhaps this little fantasy should be titled "Brownfield of Dreams." The names of the principal characters -- M.... More >>
The numbers may be a little higher than you'd expect for Vietnamese food in St. Louis, but Little Saigon Café's offerings add up to an enjoyable meal
By Joe Bonwich,
June 06, 2001
The key to enjoying Little Saigon Café is walking in with the proper set of expectations.After years of conditioning that 8 bucks is a pretty... More >>
New Haven's Front Street Grille attracts a clientele ranging from bikers to locals but manages to make them all happy
By Melissa Martin,
May 30, 2001
Welcome Kirkwood HOG," announced a Budweiser banner flapping above the door of Connolly's Front Street Grille. An unbroken line of Harleys snaked... More >>
With her new restaurant, Nippon Tei, Ann Bognar outdoes herself
By Joe Bonwich,
May 23, 2001
I used to think Ann Bognar simply had a knack for serving good food in very pleasant surroundings. With her newest restaurant, Nippon Tei, I'm... More >>
Despite its glorious setting in the Westin St. Louis at Cupples Station, the new Clark Street Grill needs help
By Melissa Martin,
May 16, 2001
This place has an identity crisis," my friend concluded as we finished our $28 entrées at the elegant Clark Street Grill. "With its name and its... More >>
Have faith -- the Mustard Seed is on track to being a safe bet for a good meal
By Joe Bonwich,
May 09, 2001
Harry "Doug" Douglas must have had, at very least, faith as small as a mustard seed when trying to move his mountain of a restaurant into the... More >>
Corky's Restaurant lifts classic American comfort food to new heights
By Melissa Martin,
May 02, 2001
The standard by which an eatery should be appraised is how well it succeeds at whatever it aspires to be, be it a drugstore soda fountain or a... More >>
Here's a real whopper for you: a brand-new, high-end seafood restaurant, seating upwards of 150 people, with something like 30 fish and shellfish... More >>
The fledgling restaurateurs of La Piazza strike gold
By Joe Bonwich,
April 11, 2001
No prior experience necessary.It's not very often that a rookie breaks into the majors and is instantly competitive, but that seems to be the... More >>
Cody Carlson had no way of preparing for this moment. He was a Manhattan kid, days removed from working as an analyst for a business-intelligence firm, where he scrutinized corporations… More >>