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 Webster Groves "Old Webster" Neighborhood Restaurants in a larger map
Over the past half-decade, the Old Webster district of Webster Groves has undergone something of a renaissance, culinarily speaking. It's now fair to say the district has come into its own as a restaurant neighborhood and even, in some instances, a restaurant destination. In this post we highlight some of Gut Check's go-to dining spots in Old Webster.
See also: - South Grand: An Updated Guide to Restaurants on South Grand Boulevard in St. Louis - Benton Park: An Updated Guide to Restaurants in the Benton Park Neighborhood of St. Louis - The Hill: An Updated Guide to Restaurants in St. Louis' Iconic Italian Neighborhood - Olive Boulevard Asian Eateries & Much More: An Updated Guide to Restaurants Along Olive, Westward From University City
Robust (227 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-963-0033) When Robust opened in mid-2007 on the western fringe of Webster's Lockwood business district, it was an immediate hit. In part, this was due to the fact that Webster isn't exactly brimming with wine bars (or bars of any kind, for that matter). More to the point, owner Stanley Browne had invested his venture with every ounce of his wine passion and knowledge, and it showed. A half-dozen years later, Robust remains a Webster favorite, and a destination for wine lovers across the metro area. Browne's wine list is wide and deep, and imaginatively organized by flavor profile rather than geographical region. The kitchen's small-plate offerings are multifarious, tasty and well matched to the wine list. Prices are very reasonable -- extraordinarily so, in the context of St. Louis restaurateur's penchant for wine markups -- and if you like what you drink, you can buy a bottle (or three, or four) to take home with you.
See also: - The Nine Best Wine Bars in St. Louis - 2012 Best of St. Louis: "Best Wine List in a Restaurant (Value)" - Ample Vegetarian Options at Robust's New Downtown St. Louis Location - March 2013 issue of Wine Enthusiast Features Four St. Louis Wine Bars
Provalo Deli (229 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-962-5500) Provalo is an unpretentious sandwich shop at the western terminus of the Old Webster shopping district. It's several steps up from your run-of-the-mill national sammy chain, in that it's locally owned and operated -- by the same folks who own Yo My Goodness, the frozen-yogurt dispensary next door. The resulting synergy, coupled with the fact that there's no branch of any run-of-the-mill national sammy chain in the immediate vicinity, make it (and YoMy, as it's known among locals) a popular hangout for Webster's teen and tween set. Which is to say it's all good, from the sandwiches to the salads to the wraps, soup of the day and personal-size pizzas. The name's Italian for "try it." So what are you waiting for?
