PHOTO BY SARAH FENSKE
Baiku Sushi reopened last week in Midtown's Hotel Ignacio.
St. Louis native T.S. Eliot may have dubbed April the cruelest month, but that was hardly the case in 2016 — with both glorious spring weather and nothing but blue skies on the restaurant front. The only closures had either been previously announced (Revel Kitchen) or really more a case of a transition than a business leaving the city (Mama Josephine's). And the openings were many and delicious.
See also: Mama Josephine's Is Now Five Aces BBQ, As Mary Samuelson Takes a Buyout
Not only did Baiku Sushi reopen its doors last week after a construction-related closure, once again providing top-notch sushi in the city's center, but beloved Pint Size Bakery completed its move to a bigger, better space right in its same neighborhood. Talk about a win-win! For vegetarians, Fred & Ricky's opened its first grab-n-go shop, and for hot salami lovers, Gioia's is now open downtown. Even the construction-plagued Loop saw a net gain — losing not a single business and opening McArthur's Bakery & Cafe in the old Bread Co. spot. Cinnamon rolls for breakfast? Yes, please!
See also: McArthur's Bakery & Cafe Is Now Open in the Loop
Closings
Mama Josephine's (4000 Shaw Blvd., Shaw)
Revel Kitchen (4837 Cherokee Street, Cherokee District)
Openings
A2 the GFCF (1300 Washington Street, Downtown)
Baiku Sushi (3407 Olive, Midtown)
Big Baby Q and Smokehouse (11658 Dorsett Road, Maryland Heights)
Five Aces BBQ (4000 Shaw Blvd., Shaw)
Fred & Ricky's (64 Weldon Parkway, Maryland Heights)
Gioia's Deli (903 Pine Street, Downtown)
McArthur's Bakery & Cafe (6630 Delmar Blvd., the Loop)
Mexcla (2818 Cherokee Street, Cherokee District)
Missouri Bar & Grill (701 N. Tucker Blvd., Downtown)
MOD Pizza (338 S. Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood)
Pint Size Bakery (3133 Watson, Lindenwood Park)
Soulard Supper Club (706 Lafayette, Soulard)
See also: A Sneak Peek at Fred & Ricky's, A Vegetarian Grab-and-Go with Big Plans
See also: Soulard Supper Club Opens Tomorrow, with Burlesque, Drag and Good Food on Tap
See also: Pint Size Bakery Opens Its Grown-Up Digs in Lindenwood Park Tomorrow
