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 2012. It's a lengthy list and complete to the best of our knowledge -- but almost certainly not totally complete.
If you know of a restaurant that opened, closed, etc., in 2012 that isn't listed here -- if it's your restaurant, especially! -- please, please, please let us know in the comments. We'll be ever so grateful.
Openings
2 Girls, 4 Wheels (@2Girls4Wheels; 618-363-8154) [food truck] 2865 Brewhouse (2865 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles; 636-724-2025)
Affton Breakfast and Dinner (9416 Gravois Road, south St. Louis County; 314-361-1375) Andrew's Bayou Ribs (314-575-7976) [food truck] Annabelle's Bar-B-Que (6900 Noonan Avenue; 314-781-1144) Arcelia's Mexicana Restaurant (1928 South 12th Street; 314-241-1378)
Bar Les Freres (7637 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton; 314-725-8880) Basso (7036 Clayton Road; 314-932-7818) BlackFinn American Grille (South Brentwood Boulevard & Clayton Road, Richmond Heights; 314-726-5300) Brazikat Brazilian Steak & Seafood House (172 Carondelet Plaza, Clayton; 708-259-1539) Brinco's Mexican Grill & Cantina (3108 Olive Street; 314-533-1409) Buchanan's Restaurant (4909 Delmar Boulevard; 314-367-3333) Burger INK. (@BurgerInk; 636-290-6635) [food truck]
Capitalist Pig (2727 South 12th Street; 314-772-1180) Castaway's Bar & Grill (220 West Main Street, Grafton, Illinois; 618-786-3888) The Cheese Shack (@cheeseshack_stl; 636-209-2775) [food truck] Choice (7807 Clayton Road, Clayton; 314-932-1230) Ciao Restaurant Bar & Grill (4534 Gravois Road; 314-481-1419) Circle 7 Ranch Taphouse & Grill (14412 Clayton Road, Ballwin; 636-220-9797) Chronicle Coffee (1235 Blumeyer Avenue; 314-534-0524) City Bistro (2718 Gravois Avenue; 314-773-4994) Classic Dogs & More (6106 Delmar Boulevard; 314-862-2200) Comet Coffee (5708 Oakland Avenue; 314-645-7158) Completely Sauced (@saucedonwheels; 314-221-9310) [food truck] Craft Chophouse (210 South Buchanan Street, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-307-9300) Curbside Cookery (@CurbsideCookery; 314-303-6521) [food truck]
Daddy Ray Burgers (8814 Veterans Memorial Parkway, O'Fallon; 636-294-4885) Darby O'Toole's (2731 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles; 636-724-5750) DeLeo's Deli & Cafe (2782 North Highway 67, Florissant; 314-839-3880) Dewey's Pizza (112 East Vandalia Street, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-656-2200) [additional location] Dog Town (2182 North Highway 67, Florissant; 314-830-1457)
The Egg & I (11692 Manchester Road, Des Peres; 314-821-3447) Elaia (1634 Tower Grove Road; 314-932-1088) El Toro Mexican Restaurant (3710 South Kingshighway Boulevard; 314-772-2888) Ex-Cop Donut Shop (4854 Telegraph Road, south St. Louis County; 314-894-2677)
Fiesta! Modern Mexican Cuisine (185 Hilltown Village Center, Chesterfield; 636-536-0002) Fifth Wheel (1220 South Eighth Street; 314-436-1559) Firehouse Subs (104 Laura K Drive, O'Fallon; 636-272-5877) [additional location] Five Star Burgers (8125 Maryland Avenue, Clayton; 314-720-4250) Flip Flops Cantina Grille (13645 Big Bend Road, Valley Park; 636-529-1076) Fork & Stix (549 Rosedale Avenue; 314-863-5572) Fortel's Pizza Den (7359 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-863-3333) [additional location] The Fortune Teller Bar (2635 Cherokee Street; 314-776-2337) Franklin's Pub (728 Lafayette Street) Frida's Deli (622 North and South Road, University City; 314-727-6500) Fuzzy's Taco Shop (8073 Watson Road, Webster Groves; 314-968-8226)
The Gobble Stop Smokehouse (1227 Castillons Arcade Plaza, west St. Louis County; 314-878-5586)
Hamburger Mary's (3037 Olive Street; 314-533-6279) Hendrick's BBQ (1200 South Main Street, St. Charles; 636-724-8600) Hibachi Grill Supreme Buffet (8925 Watson Road, Webster Groves; 314-968-8883) Hot Aztec (@HotAztec; 314-540-2949) [food truck] HotPot Smoothie Shop (11215 Manchester Road, Kirkwood; 314-315-4421) House of Thai (12967 Olive Boulevard, west St. Louis County; 314-434-3455)
The Island Frozen Yogurt (1009A Russell Boulevard; 314-664-6678)
J. Spain's Waffles & Wings (1901 Washington Avenue; 314-621-9464) Jilly's Cupcake Bar-a-Go-Go (1131 Collonade Center, Des Peres; 314-821-5455) [additional location] Joe's Chili Bowl (808 Chestnut Avenue; 314-241-7070) Joyia Tapas (4501 Manchester Avenue; 314-531-5300) JR Crickets Wings & Things (3737 South Grand Boulevard; 314-875-9848)
Kim Cheese (13435 Olive Boulevard, Chesterfield; 314-485-1408) The Kitchen Sink (280 DeBaliviere Avenue; 314-261-4455)
La Cantina (35 North Gore Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-968-3256) Laredo on Lafayette Square (2001 Park Avenue; 314-231-9200) Layla Lebanese Restaurant (4317 Manchester Avenue; 314-535-5500) Le Food Truck (@LeFoodTruck; 314-264-1626) [food truck] Legghorn and Shakes (@Legghorns; 314-562-1599) [food truck] Little Country Gentleman (8135 Maryland Avenue, Clayton; 314-725-0719) The Livery Company (3211 Cherokee Street) Local Harvest Cafe & Catering (815 Olive Street, Suite 150; 314-241-3196) [additional location] Local Harvest Grocery (12309 Old Big Bend Road, Kirkwood; 314-996-6566) [additional location]
The openings continue on the next page.
Mama Carlie's BBQ (742 South Fourth Street; 314-621-4227) Mami's Tamales (3971 Bayless Avenue; 314-772-4800) Manila Bistro (343 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-966-5288) Marcella's Mia Sorella (14426 Clayton Road, Ballwin; 636-333-1015) Mariachi's II (4625 Gravois Avenue; 314-353-1571) Massa's Italian Restaurant & Lounge (3761 New Town Boulevard, St Charles; 636-925-2961) [additional location] Melt (7000 Ivory Avenue; 314-638-6358) Mister Lunch (11658 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights; 314-291-0303) My Big Fat Greek Truck (@GreekTruckSTL) [food truck]
Nasiib Restaurant (3445 South Grand Boulevard; 314-664-4143) Nico (6525 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-727-0200) Noodle House (3924 South Grand Boulevard; 314-771-5197) Norah's Crafted Food & Spirits (9801 Natural Bridge Road, Berkeley; 314-429-1100)
Oceano Bistro (16125 Chesterfield Parkway West; 636-536-9404) [additional location] The Office (5917 Delmar Boulevard; 314-761-7834) O'Keefe's Pub (4050 Bamberger Avenue; 314-875-9164) O'Kellys at the Ballpark (758 South Fourth Street; 314-621-1200) Old Town Donuts (3941 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters; 636-447-0907) [additional location] Olio (1634 Tower Grove Road; 314-932-1088) The Organic Cave (3323-1 Domain Street, St. Charles; 636-541-7321) Orkeed Restaurant (3191 South Grand Boulevard; 314-664-3940) O'Shay's Pub (4353 Manchester Avenue; 314-932-5232)
Pan d'Olive (1603 McCausland Avenue; 314-647-8000) Pastaria (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-862-6603) Pi Pizzeria (610 Washington Avenue; 314-588-7600) [additional location] Piccolino's Italian Grocer, Wine Merchant and Deli (10 Church Street, Ferguson; 314-942-2255) Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe (130 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-984-9494) [additional location] Pickleman's Gourmet Cafe (20 North Central Avenue, Clayton; 314-862-3300) [additional location] Pie Oh My (2719 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-704-4416) Pint Size Bakery & Coffee (3825 Watson Road; 314-645-7142) Plush (3224 Locust Avenue; 314-535-2686) Potbelly Sandwich Shop (11615 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur; 314-991-6800) The Pump House Bar & Grill (1523 East Edwardsville Road, Wood River, Illinois; 618-216-2404) Puricelli's Deli (9600 Watson Road, Crestwood; 314-843-0343)
Red Sea Cafe & Bar (8613 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-991-1720) The Restaurant at the Cheshire (6300 Clayton Road; 314-647-7300) Robust (635 Washington Avenue; 314-287-6300) [additional location] The Rustic Goat Eatery & Lounge (2617 Washington Avenue; 314-371-4031)
St. Louis Cupcake (39 South Old Orchard, Webster Groves; 314-961-1111) St. Louis Deli & Grill (8544 Watson Road, south St. Louis County; 314-843-3354) Sameem Afghan Restaurant (4131 Manchester Avenue; 314-374-5270) Samplings by Ms Deb (5124 Natural Bridge Avenue; 314-381-0649) Sassy JAC's (1730 South Eighth Street; 314-932-1280) Sauce on the Side (903 Pine Street; 314-241-5667) Schoemehl's Southside Grill (7529 Michigan Avenue; 314-932-7774) Seoul Taco (571 Melville Avenue, University City; 314-517-8916) The Shack Pubgrub (3818 Laclede Avenue; 314-533-7000) Shamrocks Pub & Grill (4177 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles; 636-939-2000) Siete Luminarias (2818 Cherokee Street; 314-932-1333) Snarf's (614 Washington Avenue; 314-241-0100) [additional location] SOHA Bar & Grill (2605 Hampton Avenune; 314-802-7787) SoHo Restaurant and Lounge (4229 Manchester Avenue; 314-932-5554) Sombrero Mexican Food (1491 Mexico Loop Road E, O'Fallon; 636-281-1242) Southwest Diner (6803 Southwest Avenue; 314-260-7244) Steamroller (@steamrollerstl; 314-458-2546) [food truck] Stone Cellar Fondue & Wine (524 South Main Street, St. Charles; 636-493-6111) Sugarfire Smoke House (9200 Olive Boulevard, Olivette; 314-997-2301) Sugo's Spaghetteria (243 Harvard Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-659-4640) [additional location] Sultan Palace Bakery & Cafe (5144 South Grand Boulevard; 314-875-9652) The Summer Truck (@SummerTruck) [food truck] Sushi Sake (4418 Lemay Ferry Road, south St. Louis County; 314-892-8188) The Sweet Divine (4521 South Kingshighway Boulevard; 636-942-2900) Sweet Katie Bee's Cupcake and Coffee Bar (212 East State Street, O'Fallon, Illinois; 618-622-9930) Sweetie Pie's The Upper Crust (3643 Delmar Boulevard; 314-371-0304)
Tacomovil (@TacoTruckSTL; 314-518-3352) [food truck] Taj Indian Cuisine (138 North Main Street, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-655-0586) Taste-D-Burger (@TasteDBurger; 636-236-1479) [food truck] Tavolo V (6118 Delmar Boulevard; 314-721-4333) Taylor's Place (4064 South Grand Boulevard; 314-457-0130) Teaspoons Cafe (2125 South Route 157, Edwardsville, Illinois; 618-655-9595) Teppanyaki Grill & Buffet (7289 Watson Road, Shrewsbury; 314-353-7888) Thai 202 (235 North Euclid Avenue; 314-367-2002) Tokyo Seafood Buffet (8004 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-991-1188) Tomo Japanese Steak House (6101 Mid Rivers Mall Drive; 636-922-7080) Tropical Escape Tiki Bar & Grill (#4 Club Center, Suite A, Edwardsville, Illinlis; 618-659-9997) Tsevis' Pub & Grill (8025 MacKenzie Road, south St. Louis County; 314-352-1326) To Go Sushi (8950 Manchester Road, Brentwood; 314-968-3944)
VanBuskirk Artisanal Chocolate Bar (5326 Highway N, St. Peters; 636-352-1139) Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina (South Brentwood Boulevard & Clayton Road, Richmond Heights; 314-863-1150) Vernon's BBQ & Catering (6707 Vernon Avenue, University City; 314-726-1227)
Whisk: A Sustainable Bakeshop (2201 Cherokee Street; 314-932-5166)
Zoup! (I-270 & Manchester Road; 314-800-0414) [West County Center]
On the next page, restaurants that closed -- and restaurants that both opened and closed.
Closings
Al Waha Restaurant & Hookah Lounge (3191 South Grand Boulevard) American Craft Standard Brewing & Distilling Co. (1821 Cherokee Street) Andria's Steakhouse (16125 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield) [this location only] Audi-K's (235 North Euclid Avenue)
Bacana Brasil (16123 Chesterfield Parkway West, Chesterfield) Boodles BBQ (10024 Gravois Road, south St. Louis County) Burger Bar (999 North Second Street)
Casa Gallardo (four locations: Bridgeton; Fairview Heights, Illinois; Maryland Heights; and south St. Louis County) Chevy's Fresh Mex (2911 Veterans Memorial Parkway, St. Charles) Chevy's Fresh Mex (1382 Santa Fe Trail Drive, Ellisville) Chez Leon (7927 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton) Chuy Arzola's (3701 Lindell Boulevard) Cristo's Restaurant (8901 Riverview Drive)
Da Baldo's Trattoria (3518 Hampton Avenue) Delmar Restaurant & Lounge (6235 Delmar Boulevard) Donut House (8500 Morgan Ford Road)
Five Guys Burgers and Fries (1070 Town & Country Crossing, Town & Country) [this location only] Foxy's Red Hots (11658 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights) Free Range Cookies (425 South Florissant Road, Ferguson) Frankie and Johnny's Italian Restaurant (11686 Gravois Road, south St. Louis County)
Grace Manor (1801 North Main Street, Edwardsville, Illinois) Gyros in the Loop (571 Melville Avenue, University City)
Halls Ferry Inn Jazz Cafe (3425 North Highway 67, Florissant) Hooked Seafood Bar (8613 Olive Boulevard, University City)
Iggy's Mexican Cantina (13645 Big Bend Road, Valley Park)
JackSons' (6655 Manchester Avenue)
Kilkenny's Irish Pub (20 North Central Avenue, Clayton) Korea House, a.k.a. Han Gook Kwan (1261 Castillons Arcade Plaza, west St. Louis County)
La Dolce Via (4470 Arco Avenue) Land of Smile (9641 Olive Boulevard, Olivette) Lenny's Sub Shop (11349 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur) Liluma (236 North Euclid Avenue)
Mammer Jammer (5124 Natural Bridge Road) The Map Room (1901 Withnell Avenue) Market Grill (728 Lafayette Avenue) Martello's Italian Restaurant (8025 Mackenzie Road, south St. Louis County) Massa's (131 West Argonne Street, Kirkwood) [this location only] Monarch (7401 Manchester Road, Maplewood) Murdoch Perk (5400 Murdoch Street)
Park West Grille (2917 South Jefferson Avenue) Pi on the Spot [food truck; now special events only] Pierre Laclede's (3818 Laclede Street) Pratzel's Eastgate Bakery (9265 Dielman Industrial Drive, Olivette)
Rue 13 (1311 Washington Avenue)
Sabu's Coffee (5708 Oakland Avenue) Sausage Syndicate [food truck] Selam Ethiopian Restaurant (549 Rosedale Avenue) Sir's Bar-B-Que (6714 Olive Boulevard, University City) Spaghetteria Mamma Mia (904 South Vandeventer Avenue) Spanky's Frozen Custard (11616 Concord Village Avenue, south St. Louis County) Sports Attic (8212 Manchester Road, Brentwood) [destroyed by fire]
Tachibana (12967 Olive Boulevard, Creve Coeur) Taqueria la Pasadita (2336 Woodson Road, Overland) [this location only] Tee's Golf Grill (103 Chesterfield Valley Drive, Chesterfield) Tin Can Tavern & Grille (1909 Locust Street) Tin Can Tavern & Grille (3157 Morgan Ford Road) Trattoria Branica (451 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood) [this location only] Tucci & Fresta's Trattoria and Bar (15 North Central Avenue, Clayton)
Walkers Restaurant and Bar (6425 Gravois Avenue) Whiz-Tech Technology Cafe (1629 Locust Street)
Yagu Asian Fusion Cuisine (17265 Chesterfield Airport Road, Chesterfield)
Opened and Closed
Abby's Shell Corner Cafe (1221 Locust Street) Braswell's 30 West Cafe (11686 Gravois Road, south St. Louis County) Carondelet Diner (321 East Davis Street) Coyotes Ranch Grill & Saloon (4 Club Center Court, Edwardsville, Illinois) Feed Me Banh Mi [food truck] Fox Park Grille (2855 Shenandoah Avenue) Iguanas Mexican Cuisine (5641 South Kingshighway Boulevard) MEDIAnoche (8135 Maryland Avenue, Clayton) The Pasta House Co. (15 North Central Avenue, Clayton) [this location only] Root (1135 South Big Bend Boulevard, Richmond Heights) Smash Bar (1405 Washington Avenue) Victor's American Cuisine, a.k.a. Vic's on the Plaza (411 North Eighth Street)
On the next (final) page, relocations and a couple of other special categories.
Closed Because of Fire, Relocation/Reopening Uncertain
Desserts on the Boulevard (3949 Lindell Boulevard) J. Gumbo's (3949 Lindell Boulevard) Yummies Soul Food Cafe (2800 Olive Street)
Relocated
(new address follows)
Bono's Pizzeria (4500 Hampton Avenue; 314-664-6666) Crazy Sushi (3350 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters; 636-397-2414) Famous Szechuan Pavilion (8615 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-685-0888) Hiro (1405 Washington Avenue) * Lafayette Fire Company No. 1 (3518 Hampton Avenue) ** Niche (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-773-7755) Louisiana Cafe (1350 Triad Center Drive, St. Peters; 636-922-7429) PM BBQ (161 Long Road, Chesterfield; 636-536-1966) Sapore Italian Cafe (451 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-909-7575) Trattoria Toscana (11686 Gravois Road, south St. Louis County; 314-849-1499)
* - Relocation in progress. ** - Relocation supposedly in progress. Stay tuned.
Name Changes
Cafe Nura became Cafe Adobe (117 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-918-0611) Pujols 5 Westport Grill became St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Bar & Grill, and then became Patrick's Restaurant & Sports Bar (342 Westport Plaza, Maryland Heights; 314-439-0505) Talayna's became St. Louis Italian Restaurant & Pizza Co. (310 DeBaliviere Avenue; 314-367-7788)
