The Crossing at New Town

The Crossing at New Town is an attempt at a restaurant for the once-hyped planned community on the St. Charles floodplain. But just as the community is more like a soundstage than real life, so the restaurant is a shell of an actual eatery. It’s pretty and has a nice cobblestone patio, but the Crossing at New Town is not a dining destination; it's more like a clubhouse for the locals. If one happens to be in New Town and needs a bite to eat, stick with the “Spicy Hen,” a barbecue pulled-chicken sandwich with candied bacon and cheddar cheese. The “summer citrus salad” is also fair: Citrus cured prawns crown a bed of field greens, sliced strawberries and mandarin oranges. Flatbreads and other sandwiches aren’t offensive, but they do lack oomph. As a gathering place to drink beer and listen to live music, the Crossing at New Town is adequate. On the culinary side, it has a long way to go.