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Food & Drink

10 St. Louis Bars with Food as Good as the Drinks

Bars aren’t just places to drink. Some of our favorites also boast food good enough to lure the most committed teetotaler. For…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Mac's Local Eats inside Bluewood Brewing Newly located inside Bluewood Brewing (1821 Cherokee Street, 314-376-4166), Mac's Local Eats is more than just bar food. The beloved burger spot was previously located inside Tamm Avenue Bar (1225 Tamm Avenue, 314-261-4902), but it's now set up inside the building that once housed the Lemp family's stables. Fans of chef-owner Chris McKenzie's smashed burgers and #RipFries — flecked with Red Hot Riplets seasoning — can expect the same menu items from the original location, although the chef says he'd like to expand options in the future. Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen
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Food & Drink

10 Best Spots in St. Louis for Day Drinking

Whether you’re a third-shifter stumbling blearily into the sunlight or a committed drinker just looking to escape your day with a little…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Trophy Room Southwest Garden watering hole the Trophy Room (5099 Arsenal Street, 314-664-4810) is the stuff of legend, and no small part of its mythology is the fact that it’s open for 21 hours nearly every day. The storefront bar starts serving suds at 6 a.m. and also offers a pool table and Keno and Golden Tee and everything else that makes a dive bar great. Best of all, it’s a judgment-free zone: Whether you’re a third-shifter looking to unwind after a hard night’s work or just a dedicated alcoholic getting started early, the Trophy Room’s colorful regulars are more than happy to raise a pint with you. The Trophy Room is open Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Photo courtesy of Daniel Hill
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Food & Drink

The Best Bars in St. Louis, According to RFT Readers

We asked Riverfront Times readers to give their picks for the best bars in 36 categories, and you didn't let us down.…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Best Bar for Live Music Broadway Oyster Bar736 S. Broadway314-621-8811 Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen
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Food & Drink

29 Must-Visit LGBTQ-Friendly Bars and Businesses in St. Louis

Do you want to hit up the hottest gay bar? Are you a man wanting to buy your husband a bouquet without…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Hamburger Mary's 400 Washington AvenueSt. Louis, MO 63102(314) 833-4000 A whole bar full of drag queen servers? Yep. When this chain finally came to St. Louis it made waves! Check it out for the most entertaining brunch imaginable. Get a mimosa, kick back and enjoy. Photo courtesy of Hamburger Mary's St. Louis
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Food & Drink

Taste of Black St. Louis Filled Tower Grove Park This Weekend

St. Louisans flocked to Tower Grove Park over the weekend in support of Taste of Black St. Louis — a festival celebrating…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Taste of Black St. Louis Filled Tower Grove Park This Weekend
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Food & Drink

Where to Get Drunk in St. Louis if You're Broke AF

Want to wet your whistle but have more thirst than money? Here are our ten go-to spots for when we're getting blasted…

By Riverfront Times Staff

The Cat’s Meow The Cat’s Meow (2600 South 11th Street, 314-776-8617) is unlike any other bar in Soulard. In fact, while tipping back a few at this weirdly well-lit dive, you could completely forget what neighborhood you were in if not for the display of Mardi Gras beads behind the bar. It can still get loud (especially when the jukebox is blaring), but it doesn’t attract the rowdy see-and-be-seen weekend crowd you’ll find down the street at places like Big Daddy’s. Nope, the Cat’s Meow is for people who want to drink cheap and drink hard, with none of that college party vibe that invades the rest of the neighborhood. Cocktails are insanely strong and dirt cheap, though, so make sure there’s enough money in your coffers to catch an Uber home. Photo courtesy of Jaime Lees
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Food & Drink

10 St. Louis Restaurants With Fabulous Food at Great Prices

We have the scoop on how to eat more for less when you want to fill up but don't have a ton…

By Riverfront Times Staff

House of India As soon as you walk into House of India (8501 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-567-6850) you are immediately gripped by the smell of coriander. By the time your nasal system has adjusted to the spice in the air, your (free!) papadum has arrived at the table. Papadum is a very thin, fried dough, basically a frisbee you can eat. As is the unspoken rule in many family-run Indian places, the spice levels available include mild, medium and hot, along with the option not listed on the menu: Indian hot. The waiter may look around and lower his voice before offering this. You must accept the proposition. As soon as the food arrives, you can feel the heat coming from the kitchen. The best possible order is as follows: chicken tikka masala, garlic naan on the side, with gulab jamun, or fried milk balls, for dessert. While this could end up costing around $14 a person, the volume of food is just so immense that it feels like quite a bargain. It isn’t uncommon to leave here with a few boxes of leftovers. If your stomach can handle the additional heat, you'll have paid for your meals for the next few days. Photo courtesy of RFT archives
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Food & Drink

The Definitive List of St. Louis Dive Bars

Let other cities have their flashy clubs and mixology meccas. Here in St. Louis, we're happy with a bar stool, good company…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Pop's Blue Moon (5249 Pattison Avenue, 314-776-4200) Pop's Blue Moon is about as hard to describe as it is to find. Open since 1908 and largely unchanged since the 1940s, the family-owned gin mill sits in a forgotten north sliver of the Hill, severed from the rest of the neighborhood by Highway 44. That hasn't stopped an endless parade of musicians from finding their way to its doorstep. Inside, the main barroom is lit by pink neons and a collection of lava lamps. It feels a little like a New Orleans blues bar and a little like the inside of curio cabinet, with knick knacks in every corner. A Christmas tree and glowing snowman centaur light up one end of the bar, and you'll pass a quarter-ton bombshell on the way to the bathroom. Pop's is all wonderfully weird and well-worth the effort to find it. Pro tip: Use Pop's location to your advantage during the next big Forest Park event. Leave your car here and walk about fifteen minutes each way. You'll make it back in time to sip a beer while everyone else is stuck in traffic hell. Photo courtesy of Riverfront Times
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Food & Drink

St. Louis Burger Week Is Here... And It's Delicious

Did you ever want to find out just how many scrumptious burgers you could fit into your face in a week? We…

By Riverfront Times Staff

BLUEBERRY HILL Grass-Fed Breakfast Burger 8 oz. Midwestern grass-fed beef patty topped with Canadian bacon, American cheese and a fried egg with tater tots. http://blueberryhill.com
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Food & Drink

The Best Upcoming Food and Drink Festivals in St. Louis

From beer to burgers to peaches to wings, there is a St. Louis area food or drink festival for everyone. We've gathered…

By Riverfront Times Staff

St. Louis Brewers Picnic July 27, 2018 St. Louis, MO Today brings the St. Louis Brewers Picnic, the official opening ceremony for the 2018 St. Louis Craft Beer Week. This evening you can enjoy a family-friendly picnic in the city and check out a selection of beers from local breweries. This party gets poppin’ at 5 p.m. on Locust Street between 10th and 11th Streets. Dig on sounds from DJ MAKossa while snacking on food from Baileys' Range and enjoying the scenery. Just $35 gets you unlimited tastings, a commemorative glass and more. Photo courtesy of kateheartscake / Instagram Find more information about the event here.
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Food & Drink

Hot New St. Louis Restaurants You Probably Haven't Tried Yet

2018 is only about half-done, but St. Louis has already enjoyed a remarkable roster of new restaurant openings. The RFT's food team…

By Riverfront Times Staff

The Benevolent King (7268 Manchester Road; 314-899-0440) Chef and prolific restaurateur Ben Poremba thrilled St. Louis diners this Spring with the announcement that he was poised to open a brand-new restaurant and bar. The latest concept from the James Beard-nominated chef, the Benevolent King opened in April in Maplewood. It's inspired by something near and dear to his heart — namely the food of his childhood. "The food that I am going to do here is the food that is right in front of me," Poremba explains. "It's the food I have cooked all my life. Instead of trying to do something new or come up with a totally new concept, I realized I should do what I've always done." He also said this about his new endeavor: "As much as I love traditional Moroccan food, this is not that. The idea is to be inspired by, and have a foundation in, Moroccan cuisine with elements like interesting spice mixes, harissa, chermoula and slow-braised meats, but this will look like a contemporary restaurant that just relies heavily on a Moroccan influence." Read about it here. Photo courtesy of Greg Rannells
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Food & Drink

10 Things You Didn't Know About Ted Drewes Frozen Custard

Ted Drewes (6726 Chippewa Street, 314-481-2652 and 4224 S Grand Blvd, 314-352-7376) is a St. Louis institution, but you already knew that.…

By Riverfront Times Staff

6. Ted Sr.'s wife, Mildred, was the stand's first car hop and took orders without writing them down. Photo courtesy of Hawthorn Mineart / Flickr
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Food & Drink

12 St. Louis Tap Rooms You Should Be Drinking at This Weekend

Craft brewing has taken off in a big way in St. Louis, to the point that new breweries (and their accompanying tap…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Side Project Brewing 7458 Manchester Rd.; 314-224-5211 At this point, it’s safe to say that there is no longer anything “side” about Corey King’s Side Project Brewing. What started as a way to stoke his internal creative fire while working as head brewer at Perennial Artisan Ales has turned into one of the city’s most renowned breweries, revered for barrel-aged brews that harken back to King’s passion for wine. Side Project is not just well-known in St. Louis; King has garnered a national reputation for his exceptional beer and special releases, which draw throngs of devotees to the Maplewood brewery. Not that it takes a special release to prompt a visit. The large, light-filled room, staffed by beer nerds who will politely hold your hand through even the most esoteric of tastings, seems less a brewpub and more like beer church. Head to the back, where you can crack open a bottle of Saison du Fermier while overlooking the fermentation tanks, and it’s like sitting at the altar. Just don’t come hungry. There is no food served at the brewery and no outside food or drink allowed inside — not that you would want for anything else at this must-visit spot. Photo courtesy of bighearttea / Instagram
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Food & Drink

10 Things You Didn't Know About Imo's Pizza

You know how an Imo's pie should be cut, and you know the three delicious ingredients that make up Provel. But we've…

By Riverfront Times Staff

He also worked as a tile setter during the day and served up pizzas with his wife, Margie, at night. That explains the squares. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
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Food & Drink

30 St. Louis Mexican Restaurants that Keep Us Coming Back For More

Some days, only Mexican food will do. It doesn’t matter if you’re craving spicy, sweet or salty, Tex-Mex or authentic specialities from…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Sol Azteca 4232 South Broadway, 314-449-1505 A cheerful strip mall outlet in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood, Sol Azteca is serving the food of owner Jesus Rojas’ hometown, Mexico City. That means two-foot-long quesadillas with a thick corn base, as well as pambazos and huaraches. Less adventurous eaters will also find plenty to like here, with a solid repertoire of fajitas, burritos and tacos. Beer and wine only. Photo courtesy of Sarah Fenske
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Food & Drink

RFT's Iron Fork Unplugged 2018 Brought the Party to the City Museum

A huge crowd gathered at the City Museum Wednesday night for the RFT's signature food event, Iron Fork Unplugged. The soiree included…

By Riverfront Times Staff

RFT's Iron Fork Unplugged 2018 Brought the Party to the City Museum
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Food & Drink

St. Louis' Best Food and Drink in 2018, as Chosen by RFT Readers

Where are the best places to eat in St. Louis? Readers filled out ballots to let us know their thoughts, choosing winners…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Favorite Italian: Anthonino’s Taverna 2225 Macklind Avenue, 314-773-4455 You have to wonder what it was like growing up the in Scarato household. The sons of an Italian father and Greek mother, surely brothers Anthony and Rosario had to listen to significant discussion on whose storied cuisine is better. But though it must have made for interesting dinner conversations, that pedigree also makes for an excellent restaurant. For fifteen years, Anthonino’s Taverna has been serving St. Louis diners a taste of the brothers’ Greek and Italian heritage on the Hill, in a setting that is as warm and family-friendly as if you were in Mamma and Papa Scarato’s home. Dolmades and pizza, chicken Parmesan and gyros all beg you to play favorites, but at this delightful spot, it’s impossible — just like it was when Anthony and Rosario were kids. Runner-Up: Charlie Gitto’s Photo by Eric Frazier
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Food & Drink

35 Family-Owned Restaurants in St. Louis That Stand the Test of Time

Restaurants come and go, but not these classics. These family-owned restaurants were built to last and they survive still because of the…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Crown Candy Kitchen 1401 St. Louis Ave. The beloved candy shop and soda fountain was founded in 1913 and has stayed in the same family and in the same building ever since. This St. Louis institution is famous for its candies, its malts and its "Heart Stoping BLT"s. Photo courtesy of Keith Yahl
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Food & Drink

25 St. Louis Drive-Throughs That Will Supply Your Every Need

Sometimes you want something but getting out of the car is not an option. Maybe you're hungover. Maybe you're inappropriately dressed. Maybe…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Robata 7260 Manchester Rd Call ahead and then pick up the goods in this Maplewood spot's driving lane. If you want a taste of real Japanese food, not just the rolls and teriyakis the Midwest has long passed off as such, this place is about as close as you can get. -- text by Cheryl Baehr Photo courtesy of Mabel Suen
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Food & Drink

Downtown St. Louis Bars You Have to Try

Whether you're partying before the Cardinals game or decompressing after work, downtown St. Louis has a surprisingly vast number of terrific nightlife…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Tigin Irish Pub 333 Washington Ave Saint Louis, MO 63102 On the ground floor of the Hampton Inn downtown lies Irish pub Tigín. Decked in wood, the eatery includes several small, separate rooms for diners and football fans. The modest beer selection includes the usual suspects at Irish pubs (Harp, Guinness), while the whiskey menu offers standards and a few higher-end choices (Middleton Very Rare). The menu highlights Irish fare, from the Irish breakfast (served all day) to corned beef and cabbage. RFT File Photo
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Food & Drink

The Mac and Cheese Throwdown at the Moto Museum Was a Damn Good Time

This weekend St. Louis gathered together to celebrate the greatest couple of all time -- carbohydrates and cheese --  at the Moto…

By Riverfront Times Staff

The Mac and Cheese Throwdown at the Moto Museum Was a Damn Good Time
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Food & Drink

St. Louis Restaurants That Are Closed But Never Forgotten

From fine dining establishments to little-known wonders. From world-class entrees to greasy burgers on the grill. From beautiful interiors to roadside novelty…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Rossino's 206 N. Sarah St. In the basement of this apartment building lived the best little Italian joint: Rossino's. The ceilings were low, the decor was kitchy and the food was great. Rossino's was rumored to be the first pizza place in all of St. Louis. Photo courtesy of Toby Weiss / B.E.L.T. (photo has been cropped )
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Food & Drink

Here Are 13 Places to Find Great Seafood in St. Louis

These great restaurants that will satisfy your seafood needs. By Hayley AbshearThese great restaurants that will satisfy your seafood needs. By Hayley…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co. 1831 Sidney Street St Louis, MO 63104 Chef Kevin Nashan’s second restaurant in Benton Park (after the elegant Sidney Street Cafe, also on this list) is more casual, but no less impressive. Peacemaker is a riff on East Coast-style seafood shacks, although there’s nothing shack-like about the stylish digs or the terrific food on offer here. Get your lobster roll Connecticut style (hot butter) or Maine style (cold mayo) and remind yourself that just because it’s seafood doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing a thing. Photo courtesy of Instagram / chicagotastetribe.
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Food & Drink

Where to Find the Best Chicken Wings in St. Louis

A sporting event without wings is like St. Louis without toasted ravioli: it just isn't right. Here we've rounded up some of…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Where to Find the Best Chicken Wings in St. Louis
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Food & Drink

20 of the Best Burgers in St. Louis

Sometimes, there's nothing like a burger to suit your cravings -- and St. Louis has a number of great places to indulge…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Midwestern Meat & Drink 900 Spruce St. St. Louis, MO 63102 (314) 696-2573 You don't even need to bite into the Midwestern's double cheeseburger to know how good it is. That fact hits you over the head the second this glorious, messy beast is placed in front of you — a realization informed not by what's between the pillow-soft egg bun, but what sits alongside it. Made from aged brisket, the meat is coarsely ground and loosely formed into a crumbly, impossibly juicy burger that's more like a composite of beef than a tightly bound patty. As a result, charred bits of seasoned, well-marbled beef crumble off the bun, acting like bite-sized meat crunchies. These tiny nuggets are so gilded with fat, they glisten as the light hits. Seeing them is all you need to know that this is no ordinary burger. Photo by Mabel Suen.
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Food & Drink

20 Delicious Breakfast Spots in St. Louis

By Cheryl Baehr Breakfast is bigger than ever in St. Louis, as Cheryl Baehr explores in this week's cover story. No longer…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Café Osage Since 2006, Bowood Farms has been an oasis on the gritty edge of the Central West End, providing a revitalizing touch of green in the midst of the urban environment. Its companion restaurant, Café Osage (4605 Olive Street, 314-454-6868), draws upon the farm, quite literally, using produce grown in-house whenever possible, allowing diners to feast on vegetables mere feet away from where they've grown. Rising star chef Scott Davis (Elaia, Three Flags Tavern) took over the café operations last year and has created a menu of elegant daytime offerings that hint at his background in upscale evening dining. Davis focuses on the little details: The strawberries on the French toast are roasted, classic breakfast sausage comes from bison and pancakes are made with tart sourdough. The result? Breakfast and lunch offerings that are familiar, yet have a touch of refinement that sets Café Osage apart from basic daytime dining. The setting doesn't hurt either. Photo courtesy of Instagram / thegabhour.
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Food & Drink

Here Are the Best Diners in St. Louis

Don't get us wrong, we love St. Louis' upscale restaurants -- but there's nothing quite like a meal spent in one of…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Goody Goody Diner 5900 Natural Bridge Avenue St. Louis, MO 63120 (314) 383-3333 Craving chicken and waffles? Goody Goody Diner is the place to go. This diner is truly a beloved spot -- so much so that RFT dining critic Cheryl Baehr included it on her roundup of St. Louis' classic restaurants. It even draws celebrities and politicians visiting town. Photo courtesy of Flickr / Paul Sableman.
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Food & Drink

St. Louis County Restaurants Worth Leaving the City For [PHOTOS]

Yeah, yeah, we know your neighborhood already has great restaurants and you have your favorite hot spots all around the city. But…

By Riverfront Times Staff

O+O Pizza 102 West Lockwood Avenue Webster Groves, MO 63119 (314) 721-5422 O+O Pizza doesn’t focus exclusively on pies, but that doesn’t mean they skimped on them. Described as a hybrid of New Haven- and Roman-style pizza, O+O’s version is thinner and crispier than Neapolitan around the edges, but has a similar wood-fired speckle. Photo by Mabel Suen
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Food & Drink

26 Women Chefs Who Lead Beloved St. Louis Restaurants and Shops

By Melissa Buelt and Elizabeth Semko St. Louis is fortunate to have so many great restaurants keeping us fed and happy --…

By Riverfront Times Staff

Cathy Jenkins Cathy's Kitchen 250 S. Florissant Rd. Ferguson, MO 63135 (314) 524-9200 Cathy Jenkins opened Cathy's Kitchen after taking a trip based on places she'd seen on the Food Network. Her restaurant's menu categorizes dishes based on their region of origin, giving diners the opportunity to try meals from states and cities across the country. Today Cathy's Kitchen attracts locals and celebrity visitors alike. Photo by Kelly Glueck.
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Food & Drink

Black-Owned St. Louis Restaurants You Should Have Tried By Now

By Elizabeth Semko and Melissa Buelt St. Louis' restaurant scene is popping, serving up cuisines from around the world and gathering praise…

By Riverfront Times Staff

The River Lillie 1435 Salisbury Street St. Louis, MO 63107 314-833-4335 Maggie Hourd-Bryant is fiercely protective of her recipe for smothered potatoes. It's not that she won't spill the tea to customers — she doesn't even let those helping her out in the kitchen know the details, insisting that she prepare them herself. It's this kind of attention to detail and commitment to greatness that makes The River Lillie so special. Hourd-Bryant's Southern-inflected breakfast and lunch foods are the epitome of daytime comfort.
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