Sauce Magazine // Reader's Choice 2016

rick lewis' southern is your favorite new restaurant of 2016

READERS' CHOICE

BY

PHOTO

ASHLEY GIESEKING

clockwise from bottom: readers' choice favorite restaurateurs gerard craft, dave bailey, kevin nashan and nick luedde

st. louis' favorite restaurateurs

The menus have been printed, revised, reprinted, revised … and reprinted again. The staff has been trained forward and backward. The silverware has been polished until it’s too shiny to behold. Friends and family have flown in for the soft opening with compliments fit for the pope/Shakespeare/Beyoncé of restaurant owners. But when doors finally open to the public, what’s going through a restaurateur’s mind? – Julie Cohen

winner

GERARD CRAFT

Owner, Niche Food Group (Brasserie by Niche, Pastaria, Porano Pasta, Sardella, Taste)

“I think my opening of Niche was way different from any opening you will see today. In 2005, social media wasn’t really a thing. People finding out about new things were not overnight happenings. Now you open a restaurant and a million people line up out your door — definitely not with Niche. No one knew who we were. It

was me, one other cook and my pastry chef who I basically kidnapped. We opened to 12 customers, and I think six of those were from the bar across the street, who I think I convinced to come over if I would feed them for free. …

“I was 25. My wife was pregnant. I was doing something a little bit different, which certainly didn’t make it easier. I would work from 8 a.m. until 2:30 a.m. every day. It was intense – a lot of anxiety, a lot of stress. … It was this dream, but also so much reality. And I physically remember when we finally got reviewed — (former St. Louis PostDispatch critic) Joe Bonwich just gave us this love letter. After, I looked up and … there were so many people, we didn’t know what to do. I almost threw up. I was like, ‘Oh shit, I have to cook for all these people!’”

2nd

NICK LUEDDE

Co-owner, The Libertine

“We had been in the press and had such a highly anticipated opening. … Ten minutes prior to opening — the staff looks great, and we had 200 people on the books — but I’m looking at my wife (Audra Luedde), afraid no one was going to show up. We had so much money invested. This was everything. … It all comes down to whom you’ve hired. If those people are people you actually want to have a drink with, the rest takes care of itself.”

3rd

KEVIN NASHAN

Chef-owner, Peacemaker Lobster & Crab and Sidney Street Cafe

“Obviously you want to throw up in your mouth. It’s such a big rollercoaster. You just hope people come and are so grateful when they do. It takes a village — everyone contributes to your success. … There are so many variables on opening day. The system you have sometimes completely changes during service, after service.”

honorable mention

DAVE BAILEY

Owner, Baileys’ Restaurants (Baileys’ Chocolate Bar; Baileys’ Range; Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar; Rooster; Shift, Test Kitchen & Takeout; Small Batch; The Fifth Wheel)

“My seven stages of opening a restaurant for the first time:

Electric shock: Woke up early that sunny morning with no alarm clock with a surge through my body and the immediate thought, ‘I am opening a restaurant today! You’ve been working on this day and night, sleeping two hours at a time on top of the bar. It’s actually real now. Go go go!’

A burning sensation in the back of the head and neck: Is there enough time to get everything done? … What did I forget? Will anyone come? Will too many people come? Why am I doing this on a Friday? Why didn’t I do a soft opening?

Accelerated breathing and hypersensitivity to sound and touch: Almost there; we’re looking pretty good; it’s all about to happen; this is going to be amazing!

Calmness and solidarity of purpose: Ready. Everything looks right; everything feels right; everyone is in position.

Panic and self doubt: Why wasn’t there a line at the door? Is anyone going to come? Was this a terrible idea in the first place? I can’t afford for this not to work.

Total absorption in work and an extremely narrowed focus: Wow, it’s really busy. Everyone seems happy. We are almost keeping up; we need to go faster; we need to go much faster. Touch more tables. ... Make them happy no matter what.

Complete relief and a feeling of having learned and grown more in hours than in the past several years: It worked. We built it, and they came. We are going to do an even better job tomorrow.”

Restaurateurs Gerard Craft and Dave Bailey join Sauce art director Meera Nagarajan this month on Sound Bites. Tune in to 90.7 KWMU as they discuss what they have learned and what's next for their restaurant groups.

BY

PHOTO

GREG RANNELLS

Bone-In Fried Chicken

“It’s the star of the show. I like it with medium heat. I prefer dark meat, but the bone-in breasts are delicious. The way we handle the chicken, it just stays so moist and flavorful.”

Collard Greens

“It’s the quality of the things we use that makes them really good. We steal (neighbor) Pappy’s smoked chicken drippings and pour some in.”

favorite new restaurant SOUTHERN

Since it opened in 2015, St. Louisans have flocked to Southern for fried chicken. “People who were in here two days ago can’t believe they’re back,” said chef-owner Rick Lewis. “People literally get hooked.” And hooked you are. Offering more than a tasty bird, Southern took home this year’s Readers’ Choice Favorite New Restaurant award. Here, Lewis dished on his favorite dishes. – Kristin Schultz

3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com

Biscuits

“It’s a real buttery biscuit that has a golden brown crunch outside and is light and fluffy inside. We whip butter with good honey and make jams – so simple but so good.”

Fried Pickles

“I took them off the menu but had to start doing them again because people kept asking for them. … We use dill seed that gives them a tasty, dilly flavor. I have to say, in the world of fried pickles, they’re up there.”

Fried Bologna Sandwich

“It’s an in-house favorite. We smoke the bologna over apple wood and cherry and put pimento cheese on it. Some of our guys put it on a biscuit.”

BEST BEST THE OF

BY ANDREW BARRETT AND KRISTIN SCHULTZ

the decadent aporkalypse pretzelwich at your favorite sandwich shop, blues city deli

your favorite restaurant, cleveland-heath

FRIDAY NIGHT

Cleveland-Heath

It’s Friday night, and you just got paid. Time to start your tour of the best St. Louis has to offer with a trip out to Readers’ Choice Favorite Restaurant ClevelandHeath. (Yes, it’s in Edwardsville, and, yes, it’s worth the drive.) Fridays are busy, which means you should get in line with the Nowait app before leaving, but also that the restaurant is alive with energy. When you arrive, step up to the bar and

ask bartender Andrew Dolinky to choose your first whiskey of the night, or select a well-thought-out cocktail like the Meadow Lane with gin, elderflower and ginger liqueurs, dry vermouth and oloroso sherry.

Once seated, the Favorite Wait Staff delivers specials in its signature unpretentious, attentive style. Ask any question and you can expect knowledgeable answers. Browse the menu of Cleveland-Heath’s Favorite American Traditional dishes. The thick and hearty pork porterhouse tastes like

a giant slice of Canadian bacon – maybe the best piece of pig you can remember. Mexican- and Asian-inspired dishes (like the savory pozole soup or okonomiyaki seafood-barbecue Japanese pancake) are just as good as the American offerings. Calling them better would suggest there is something on the menu that isn’t worth your time.

With Chef of the Year Ed Heath and coowner Jenny Cleveland in the kitchen, you know what to order: the special. It doesn’t matter what it is. Get the special.

Trust that the attention to texture and flavor interplay will astonish, with each bite precise on every axis. With dishes like melt-in-your-mouth tuna poke and a foiesmeared toast dolloped with a strawberryblueberry compote, you’re sure to find a flavor, crunch or aroma that you’ll be dreaming about well into the weekend.

As the evening comes to a close and you finish off the last perfectly puffy beignet, congratulate your servers, bussers and bartenders for their well-deserved accolades. – A.B.

CROQUE MADAME

BRASSERIE BY NICHE

SATURDAY MORNING

La Patisserie Chouquette

Ease into Saturday with a treat from La Patisserie Chouquette, winner of Favorite Cakes and Pastries. Step into the bright, Botanical Heights patisserie and order The Darkness, an over-the-top chocolatechocolate-chocolate croissant, or go savory with the tarte Provençal with roasted tomato, fig, fontina cheese, bacon and onion. Sip a cup of The London Tea Room’s Cream Earl Grey while you nibble and discuss your weekend plan of attack.

Soulard

Farmers Market

One of the oldest and largest west of the Mississippi, Soulard Farmers Market boasts a riverboat-load of vendors hawking everything from turnips to T-shirts. Wander the four wings and be sure to grab produce from Millstadt, Illinois’ Scharf Farm and some goat cheese from Baetje Farms. With as many as 100 vendors, there’s no shortage of meat, produce, spices and baked goods, which may be why its your Favorite Farmers Market

SATURDAY AFTERNOON

Blues City Deli

Just over the highway and a bit south from Soulard Farmers Market is sandwich paradise. Always generous with the meat and fixings, Blues City Deli makes your Favorite Sandwiches. There’s something for everyone at this Benton Park institution. Order the Prez Reuben, a bag of Kettle Kurls and a can of 4 Hands City Wide, or go off menu and ask for the never-disappointing Aporkalypse Pretzelwich crammed with garlic-pepper pork roast, provolone, pickles and bacon covered in zingy Boom Boom sauce on a Companion pretzel bun.

Planter’s House

After napping off lunch, head to Lafayette Square for your Favorite Craft Cocktails at Planter’s House. Co-owner Ted Kilgore and crew stir can’t-miss classics and shake up in-yourface-fun originals that capture trends and seasonal spirits. Linger inside the lush interior of the Bullock Room while you marvel at the back bar’s selections or pull up a seat on the patio and sip a Take Me With U, a fruit-forward mix of blanc vermouth, bitters, lemon, a rosemary tincture and a happy splash of bubbles.

SATURDAY EVENING

Reeds American Table Dinner is served at Reeds American Table in Maplewood, where chef-owner Matt Daughaday’s creatively refined classic flavors have won your heart. Less than 1 year old, Reeds is your Favorite American Nouveau. Order

one of Daughaday’s favorites: the fried lamb – a braised lamb neck breaded in chickpea flour and fried, served with a grilled little gem salad and a yogurtcreamed feta. Check out the impressive drinks menu, then let advanced sommelier Andrey Ivanov choose your wine pairing.

Strange Donuts

After dinner, leave the car parked and hoof it a block west to Strange Donuts for dessert. From classics like the vanillafrosted, rainbow-sprinkled Rainbow Pony to collaborative

specials featuring savory meat combinations, Strange Donuts is full of surprises. Order the gooey butter for a masterful take on the classic dessert from among your Favorite Doughnuts

SUNDAY MORNING

Kaldi’s Coffee

Rise and shine – it’s time to get back out there. For a proper java jolt, hit a Kaldi’s Coffee, your Favorite Coffee Shop. A St. Louis staple for 22 years, the local shops feature fairtrade or single-origin options and flavored varieties roasted right in Midtown. Get a handbrewed pour over or a sidecar (cappuccino with a shot of espresso on the side) and prepare to take on the day.

Brasserie by Niche Be prepared to brunch hard at Brasserie by Niche in the Central West End. Maybe it’s the eggs en cocotte –eggs poached in cream with spinach and bacon served in a little cast-iron skillet – or the Mornay sauce blanketing the ham and cheese croque madame with an egg on top. Whatever your Frenchinspired siren song, Brasserie

delivers a taste of Paris on a lazy Sunday morning. Perhaps that’s why you voted it your Favorite Brunch

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

International Tap House

Just around the corner from Brasserie, take the afternoon to digest and relax at iTap in the CWE by people-watching on the patio or watching a game inside. Pull up a seat on any of the three floors and order a pint from the Readers’ Choice Favorite Beer List With just about every St. Louis area brewery represented, you can drink local all day, or opt for a regional craft beer like the crisp, tart Bell’s Oarsman Ale. The beer world is yours.

SUNDAY EVENING

Barbecue Battle

from left, a tray of canelés at la patisserie chouquette, planter's house punch, bartender matt sorrell shaking drinks at planter's house, sugarfire smoke house

For your weekend’s final dinner, two barbecue heavyweights go toe-to-toe. Sugarfire Smoke House and Pappy’s Smokehouse tied for Favorite Barbecue, so you be the judge. Stop in at Pappy’s and order the Big Ben to go: a hefty combination of ribs, a brisket sandwich, a pulled pork sandwich, a chicken quarter and four sides (opt for the baked beans, fried corn on the cob, sweet potato fries and potato salad). Then swing downtown to the Sugarfire location on Washington Avenue and get the Meat Daddy combination plate with ribs, a smoked sausage link, brisket, pulled pork and turkey. Spread a picnic blanket under the Arch and argue the meaty merits of St. Louis’ favorite barbecue. May the best rib win.

Broadway Oyster Bar

To end this whirlwind tour of St. Louis’ best, grab a seat at the iconic Broadway Oyster Bar. Chill N’awlins-style with a frosty bottle of Abita beer or a boozy Sazerac, the iconic New Orleans cocktail. Dance the night away to live music, then snack on some your Favorite Creole and Cajun food like the Shrimp Voodoo once you’ve worked up an appetite. End the weekend by raising a glass to this year’s class of St. Louis favorites. – K.S.

I'LL HAVE WHAT THEY'RE HAVING

Sure, you have your favorites. That’s why you voted these restaurants among St. Louis’ finest. Ever wonder, though, what servers order for themselves? Here’s the insider intel on what to eat at the restaurants you can’t get enough of. – Compiled by Sara Graham

THE BOURBON STREET STEAK IS A CAJUN-RUBBED SHOULDER TENDERLOIN SLICED OVER A HOUSEMADE POTATO CAKE, FINISHED WITH AN INTENSELY RICH CRAWFISH ASIAGO CREAM SAUCE.

– Tim Benz, Grapevine Grill at Chaumette Vineyards & Winery

THE STRAMMER MAX: AN OPEN-FACED SANDWICH ON RYE TOAST WITH SWEET ONION JAM, COMTÉ AND CITY HAM TOPPED WITH A FRIED EGG. IT GOES GREAT WITH OUR BOCKBIERS OR OUR DUNKEL.

– Jimmy Dolan, Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.

The Omnivurger is a blend of grass-fed beef, roasted mushrooms, garlic puree, caramelized onions, smoked paprika and a bit of salt. It's simple but delicious. Melt some good cheese on top, get a nice bun, grab a beer and you're set.

– Jon Todd, Bolyard’s Meat & Provisions

The Fa La La La La is like the holidays in a sandwich. Turkey joins house-made cranberry sauce, Swiss cheese, lettuce and creamy tarragon mayo. It comes on our ciabatta, which is the best bread ever!

– Matthew Schorr, Companion

MY FAVORITE BOWL BEGINS WITH ORGANIC SEMOLINA PASTA TOPPED WITH SUNDAY SMOKY SUGO, MEATBALLS AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS, FINISHED OFF WITH FRESH HERBS, GRANA PADANO CHEESE AND TOASTED BREADCRUMBS.

– Malcom Xavier, Porano Pasta

My favorite thing is our Playgirl roll. It has spicy tuna mix and tempura shrimp rolled into rice and topped with ahi tuna, avocado, spicy mayo, wasabi mayo and eel sauce. A lot of flavor is packed into this roll.

– Conor Mortka, Wasabi Sushi Bar

MY FAVORITE BURGER IS THE PB&J. THIS SLIGHTLY SWEET BURGER HAS OUR ARUGULA PESTO, HOMEMADE TOMATO JAM AND GOAT CHEESE ALL ON A BISON PATTY.

– Alex Gromacki, Baileys’ Range

IN THE SUMMER, MY FAVORITE DISH IS THE CAPRESE SALAD. THE TOMATOES AND FRESH MOZZARELLA ARE DELICIOUS, AND I LOVE THE BALSAMIC DRESSING. YEAR-ROUND, I LOVE THE CHEESESTEAK WITH WHITE AMERICAN CHEESE.

– Karley Monroe, The Post Sports Bar & Grill

The lobster roll, Mainestyle. I like the contrast of the warm, fresh brioche roll combined with the cold lobster paired with hot, crispy french fries.

– Ronnie Walters, Peacemaker Lobster & Crab

MY FAVORITE DISH IS THE BEET "RAVIOLI": THIN BEET SLICES FASHIONED INTO RICOTTA- AND ASPARAGUS-FILLED RAVIOLI SITTING ATOP A GOLDEN BEET PUREE. IT’S REFRESHING, COLORFUL AND BEAUTIFUL.

– Lucy Swan, Taste Bar

I love the shrimp rolls. They are very flavorful and fresh, the texture is incredible, and they’re always steaming hot.

– Adam Eubanks, Lulu Seafood & Dim Sum

The pinchos morunos - lamb skewers served with a ginger crema and salsa fresco - is my favorite plate off our spring menu. (It’s) the perfect tapa this time of year .– Andrew Holt, Modesto Tapas Bar and Restaurant

YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT

chef of the year

ED HEATH

Cleveland-Heath, 106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.307.4830, clevelandheath.com

2nd: Gerard Craft, Niche Food Group

3rd: Kevin Nashan, Peacemaker Lobster & Crab and Sidney Street Cafe

Honorable Mention: Mike Randolph, Público, Randolfi’s and Half & Half and Nate Hereford, Niche (closed) (tie)

bartender of the year

TIM WIGGINS

Retreat Gastropub, 6 N. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.261.4497, retreatgastropub.com

2nd: Ted Kilgore, Planter’s House

3rd: Ben Bauer, The Libertine

Honorable Mention: Seth Wahlman, Eclipse

favorite restaurateur GERARD CRAFT

Niche Food Group, various locations, nichestlgroup.com

2nd: Nick Luedde, The Libertine

3rd: Kevin Nashan, Peacemaker

Lobster & Crab and Sidney Street Cafe

Honorable Mention: Dave Bailey, Baileys’ Restaurants

favorite wait staff

CLEVELAND-HEATH

106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.307.4830, clevelandheath.com

2nd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi

3rd: Planter’s House

Honorable Mention: Sidney Street Cafe

favorite new restaurant SOUTHERN

3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com

2nd: Olive & Oak

bibimbap from oriental spoon, your favorite korean restaurant

3rd: Reeds American Table and Retreat Gastropub (tie)

Honorable Mention: Porano Pasta

favorite restaurant

CLEVELAND-HEATH

106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.307.4830, clevelandheath.com

2nd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi and Broadway Oyster Bar (tie)

3rd: Pastaria

Honorable Mention: Mai Lee

favorite restaurant to take visitors

BLUEBERRY HILL

6504 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.727.4444, blueberryhill.com

2nd: Broadway Oyster Bar

3rd: The Shaved Duck

Honorable Mention: Taste

favorite fast-casual restaurant

PORANO PASTA

634 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.833.6414, poranopasta.com

2nd: Pappy’s Smokehouse and Lona’s Lil Eats (tie)

3rd: Seoul Taco and Southern (tie)

Honorable Mention: Crushed Red Urban Bake & Chop Shop

favorite date-night spot TASTE

4584 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.360.1200, tastebarstl.com

2nd: Vin de Set

3rd: Cleveland-Heath

Honorable Mention: Brasserie by Niche and Element (tie)

favorite outdoor patio VIN DE SET

2017 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8989, vindeset.com

2nd: John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub & Garden

3rd: Boathouse Forest Park

Honorable Mention: Billy G’s Kirkwood

favorite late-night eats MISSION TACO JOINT

Various locations, missiontacojoint.com and PEACOCK LOOP DINER (tie)

6261 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.721.5555, peacockloopdiner.com

2nd: Uncle Bill’s Pancake and Dinner House

3rd: Courtesy Diner

Honorable Mention: City Diner

favorite food truck SEOUL TACO

314.863.1148, seoultaco.com

2nd: Guerrilla Street Food

3rd: Completely Sauced on Wheels and Mission Taco Truck (tie)

Honorable Mention: Cha Cha Chow Food Truck

favorite barbecue PAPPY’S SMOKEHOUSE

3106 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.535.4340, pappyssmokehouse.com and SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE (tie)

Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com

2nd: Bogart’s Smokehouse

3rd: Salt & Smoke

Honorable Mention: The Shaved Duck

favorite brunch

BRASSERIE BY NICHE

4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.454.0600, brasseriebyniche.com

2nd: Half & Half

3rd: Cleveland-Heath

Honorable Mention: Nathalie’s

favorite burger

BAILEYS’ RANGE

920 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.241.8121, baileysrange.com

2nd: O’Connell’s Pub and Five Star Burgers (tie)

3rd: Blueberry Hill

Honorable Mention: Stacked Burger Bar and The Dam (tie)

favorite chicken wings

SYBERG’S RESTAURANT & BAR

Various locations, sybergs.com

2nd: Culpeppers Grill and Bar and The Shaved Duck (tie)

3rd: Three Kings Public House

Honorable Mention: Michael’s Bar & Grill

favorite doughnuts

STRANGE DONUTS

2709 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.932.5851; 107 E. Argonne St., Kirkwood, 314.394.2323, strangedonuts.com

2nd: Vincent Van Doughnut

3rd: World’s Fair Donuts

Honorable Mention: Donut Drive-In

favorite sandwiches BLUES CITY DELI

2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225, bluescitydeli.com

2nd: Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium

3rd: Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery

Honorable Mention: Adriana’s on The Hill and Mom’s Deli (tie)

favorite fried chicken SOUTHERN

3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com

2nd: Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken

3rd: Hodak’s Restaurant

Honorable Mention: Porter’s Fried Chicken and Byrd & Barrel (tie)

favorite frozen desserts TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD

6726 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.481.2652; 4224 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.352.7376, teddrewes.com

2nd: Ices Plain & Fancy

3rd: Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream

Honorable Mention: Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery

favorite pizza

PI PIZZERIA

Various locations, pi-pizza.com

2nd: Dewey’s Pizza

3rd: Peel Wood Fired Pizza and PW Pizza (tie)

Honorable Mention: Pastaria and Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria (tie)

favorite seafood

PEACEMAKER LOBSTER & CRAB

1831 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.772.8858, peacemakerstl.com

2nd: Broadway Oyster Bar

3rd: DeMun Oyster Bar and Oceano Bistro (tie)

Honorable Mention: 801 Fish and Farmhaus (tie)

BY

PHOTO

YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT

favorite steak TUCKER’S PLACE

Various locations, tuckersplacestl.com

2nd: Citizen Kane’s Steak House

3rd: 801 Chophouse

Honorable Mention: Annie Gunn’s

favorite vegetarian/vegan LULU’S LOCAL EATERY

3201 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, 314.300.8215, luluslocaleatery.com

2nd: Tree House Vegetarian Restaurant

3rd: Small Batch

Honorable Mention: Frida’s and Gokul Indian Restaurant (tie)

favorite american nouveau

REEDS AMERICAN TABLE

7322 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.899.9821, reedsamericantable.com

2nd: Niche (closed)

3rd: Sidney Street Cafe

Honorable Mention: Boundary and The Libertine (tie)

favorite american traditional CLEVELAND-HEATH

106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.307.4830, clevelandheath.com

2nd: Annie Gunn’s

3rd: J McArthur’s An American Kitchen

Honorable Mention: One 19 North Tapas Wine Bar

favorite cajun/creole BROADWAY OYSTER BAR

736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com

2nd: Riverbend Restaurant & Bar

3rd: Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House and The Kitchen Sink (tie)

Honorable Mention: Molly’s in Soulard and Sister Cities Cajun & BBQ (tie)

favorite chinese

LULU SEAFOOD & DIM SUM

8224 Olive Blvd., University City, 314.997.3108, luluseafood.com

2nd: Chinese Noodle Cafe

3rd: Royal Chinese BBQ and Sesame Chinese Restaurant (tie)

Honorable Mention: House of Wong and Wang Gang Asian Eats (tie)

favorite eastern european/ bosnian HANDLEBAR

4127 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.652.2212, handlebarstl.com

2nd: Bosna Gold (closed)

3rd: Stari Grad

Honorable Mention: Taft Street Restaurant & Bar

favorite english/irish/scottish THE SCOTTISH ARMS

8 S. Sarah St., St. Louis, 314.776.1407, thescottisharms.com

2nd: John D. McGurk’s Irish Pub & Garden

3rd: Dressel’s Public House

Honorable Mention: Seamus McDaniel’s

favorite french BRASSERIE BY NICHE

4580 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.454.0600, brasseriebyniche.com

2nd: Vin de Set

3rd: Bar Les Frères

Honorable Mention: Café Provencal

favorite german SCHNEITHORST’S RESTAURANT & BAR

1600 S. Lindbergh Blvd., St. Louis, 314.993.4100, schneithorst.com

2nd: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co.

3rd: Dreamland Palace German Restaurant

Honorable Mention: The Feasting Fox

favorite greek OLYMPIA KEBOB HOUSE AND TAVERNA

1543 McCausland Ave., St. Louis, 314.781.1299, olympiakebobandtaverna.com

2nd: Spiro’s

3rd: Michael’s Bar & Grill

Honorable Mention: Momo’s Ouzaria Taverna

favorite indian HOUSE OF INDIA

8501 Delmar Blvd., University

City, 314.567.6850, hoistl.com

2nd: India Rasoi

3rd: Haveli Indian Restaurant and India Palace (tie)

Honorable Mention: Taj Indian Cuisine

favorite italian PASTARIA

7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com

2nd: Trattoria Marcella

3rd: Cunnetto House of Pasta and Zia’s on The Hill (tie)

Honorable Mention: Acero

favorite sushi/japanese WASABI SUSHI BAR

Various locations, wasabisushibars.com

2nd: Nobu’s Japanese Restaurant

3rd: Tani Sushi Bistro and Robata of Maplewood (tie)

Honorable Mention: Café Mochi

favorite korean ORIENTAL SPOON

229 Harvard Drive, Edwardsville, 618.655.9633, orientalspoon.net

2nd: Seoul Taco

3rd: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant and Asian Kitchen

Korean Cuisine (tie)

Honorable Mention: Kim Cheese Asian Fusion

favorite mexican MISSION TACO JOINT

Various locations, missiontacojoint.com

2nd: Chava’s Mexican Restaurant

3rd: Pueblo Solis

Honorable Mention: Milagro Modern Mexican and Taqueria El Bronco (tie)

favorite middle eastern RANOUSH

6501 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.726.6874, ranoush.com

2nd: Cafe Natasha’s and Aya

Sofia (tie)

3rd: The Vine Mediterranean Café & Market and Sameem Afghan Restaurant (tie)

Honorable Mention: Everest Café & Bar

from top, the gim rolls and spicy pork bulgogi from oriental spoon

favorite soul food/southern SWEETIE PIE’S

Various locations, sweetiepieskitchen.com

2nd: Southern

3rd: Juniper

Honorable Mention: Old Standard

favorite south american/pan latin MANGO PERUVIAN CUISINE

1001 Washington Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9993, mangoperu.com

2nd: Público

3rd: Fritanga Nicaraguan Cuisine

Honorable Mention: Yemanja Brasil Restaurante

favorite spanish MODESTO TAPAS BAR AND RESTAURANT

5257 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.8272, modestotapas.com

2nd: Barcelona Tapas Restaurant

3rd: Guido’s Pizzeria & Tapas

Honorable Mention: Público

favorite thai FORK & STIX

549 Rosedale Ave., St. Louis, 314.863.5572, forknstix.com and KING AND I RESTAURANT (tie)

3155 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.1777, kingandistl.com

2nd: Sen Thai Asian Bistro

3rd: Thai Kitchen and Pearl Café (tie) Honorable Mention: Basil Spice Thai Cuisine

favorite vietnamese MAI LEE

8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood, 314.645.2835, maileestl.com

2nd: Pho Grand Restaurant

3rd: Banh Mi So # 1

Honorable Mention: LemonGrass Restaurant

winner TIM WIGGINS

Retreat Gastropub

“I was talking to a boss of a company at the bar. I’m trying to remember the exact quote. It was basically, ‘I’m excited for our new hires because I’ve already slept with everyone in the office.’”

2nd

TED KILGORE

Planter’s House

“All of the worst things people have confessed are unfit for print. I have worked at mostly classy places and have served Nebraska farmers, exotic dancers and movie stars. The one connection is people sometimes get really weird after a few drinks. … It’s like improv sometimes.”

3rd

BEN BAUER

The Libertine

“It’s mainly the things you see more than confessions. Most recently I had a couple sitting at the bar, and they seemed really happy when they came, but at some point during the meal they got super quiet. Then she just left, and he started slamming cocktails and talking to everyone about how she had just broken up with him.”

st. louis' bartenders of the year

honorable mention SETH WAHLMAN

Eclipse

“A robotics engineer once told me he felt bad about wiping out factory jobs and that his wife was a replacement for his first love. Other than that, it’s mostly affairs.”

– Compiled by Heather Hughes

from left, tim wiggins, ben bauer, seth wahlman and ted kilgore at retreat gastropub

WITH SEVEN READERS’ CHOICE WINNERS ON ONE STREET, THE DELMAR LOOP IS THE TASTIEST STROLL IN ST. LOUIS. – MATT BERKLEY

favorite food truck

SEOUL TACO

Stuffed to the breaking point with kimchi fried rice, lettuce, cheese, carrots, green onions, sour cream and Seoul sauce, the spicy pork burrito is reason enough for a pilgrimage to the brick and mortar of this Korean barbecue mecca. Throw in a couple pan-fried pot stickers for good measure.

favorite restaurant to take visitors

BLUEBERRY HILL

This Loop staple serves a ridiculously good, flawlessly charred 7-ounce, 100-percent ground chuck burger. It’s worth the long wait. Stave off hunger pangs with a basket of fried cheddar cheese balls alongside salsa for proper dunking. Order your out-of-towners the fluffy toasted ravioli – some of the best in the city.

favorite middle eastern

RANOUSH

Standouts at this traditional Middle Eastern kitchen include the fried kibbe balls and cheese-stuffed grilled pita kalaj starters, along with the succulent grilled beef shawarma wrapped in a warm pita with creamy garlic sauce.

favorite pizza

PI PIZZERIA

Take on Chicago deep-dish pizza at its cornmeal-crusted best in the South Side Classico, a supreme feast of gooey mozzarella, thick mushrooms, savory hunks of Berkshire sausage and crisp green peppers and onion.

favorite late-night eats (tie)

PEACOCK DINER

Order the Loop Fling from the breakfast-all-day menu – a sinfully good slinger covered with chorizo gravy. With booze-fueled, Serendipity ice cream-laced milkshakes available well past midnight, it’s little surprise that the Peacock Diner is an afterhours favorite.

favorite thai (tie)

FORK & STIX

Delve into an overwhelming bowl of khao soi , a rich and satisfying curry noodle soup swimming with soft wonton noodles, crispy yellow noodles and chunks of beef, chicken or tofu. And be sure to make use of the nam prik num , a fiery Thai hot sauce.

favorite mexican and favorite late-night eats (tie)

MISSION TACO JOINT

Mission gives Mexico’s (and Baja California’s) darling finger food serious thought. Get the killer Mango-HopAnero Shrimp Taco, with 4 Hands Incarnation IPA-battered shrimp and fresh mango in hand-pressed corn tortillas. It begs for a cold sip of cerveza

your favorite bloody mary at cafe osage

YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO DRINK

favorite bar TASTE

4584 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, 314.361.1200, tastebarstl.com

2nd: Planter’s House

3rd: The Side Project Cellar and 21st Street Brewer’s Bar (tie)

Honorable Mention: Three Sixty

favorite beer list INTERNATIONAL TAP HOUSE

Various locations, internationaltaphouse.com

2nd: The Side Project Cellar

3rd: Global Brew Tap House & Lounge

Honorable Mention: 21st Street Brewer’s Bar

favorite local beer ZWICKEL

Urban Chestnut Brewing Co., 3229 Washington Ave.; 4465 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.222.0143, urbanchestnut.com

2nd: American Brown, The Civil Life Brewing Co.

3rd: Citrapolis, The Modern Brewery

Honorable Mention: Abraxas, Perennial Artisan Ales and Send Help, 4 Hands Brewing Co. (tie)

favorite local brewery SCHLAFLY BEER

2100 Locust St., St. Louis; 7260 Southwest Ave., Maplewood, 314.241.2337, schlafly.com

2nd: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. and 4 Hands Brewing Co. (tie)

3rd: The Civil Life Brewing Co.

Honorable Mention: Perennial Artisan Ales

favorite craft cocktails PLANTER’S HOUSE

1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com

2nd: Taste

3rd: Eclipse

Honorable Mention: The Libertine and Sanctuaria (tie)

favorite coffee shop

KALDI’S COFFEE

Various locations, kaldiscoffee.com

2nd: Sump Coffee

3rd: Blueprint Coffee

Honorable Mention: Park Avenue

Coffee and Comet Coffee & Microbrewery (tie)

favorite bloody mary CAFE OSAGE

4605 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.454.6868, bowoodfarms.com

2nd: Hiro Asian Kitchen

3rd: Sub Zero Vodka Bar

Honorable Mention: Rooster

favorite sports bar

THE POST SPORTS BAR & GRILL

7372 Manchester Road, Maplewood, 314.645.1109; 763 Old Ballas Road, Creve Coeur, 314.736.1205, thepostsportsbar.com

2nd: Friendly’s Sports Bar & Grill

3rd: Sportsman’s Park and Lester’s Sports Bar & Grill (tie)

Honorable Mention: Amsterdam Tavern

favorite day-drinking spot

URBAN CHESTNUT BREWING CO.

3229 Washington Ave.; 4465 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, 314.222.0143, urbanchestnut.com

2nd: The Civil Life Brewing Co. and Blueberry Hill (tie)

3rd: Sasha’s on Shaw

Honorable Mention: The Royale Food and Spirits

favorite wine bar SASHA’S ON SHAW

4069 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.7274, sashaswinebar.com

2nd: Robust Wine Bar

3rd: 33 Wine Shop & Bar

Honorable Mention: Ernesto’s Wine Bar and Olio (tie)

favorite local winery

CHAUMETTE VINEYARDS & WINERY

24345 State Route WW, Ste. Genevieve, 573.747.1000,

chaumette.com

2nd: Montelle Winery

3rd: Cedar Lake Cellars

Honorable Mention: Chandler Hill Vineyards

YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP

favorite bread bakery COMPANION

Various locations, companionbaking.com

2nd: Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery

3rd: 222 Artisan Bakery

Honorable Mention: Great Harvest Bread Co.

favorite butcher shop BOLYARD’S MEAT & PROVISIONS

2810 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.647.2567, bolyardsmeat.com

2nd: Kenrick’s Meats and Catering

3rd: Baumann’s Fine Meats and The Block Restaurant, Butcher and Bar (tie)

Honorable Mention: Manninos Market and Truffles Butchery (tie)

favorite cakes/pastries LA PATISSERIE CHOUQUETTE

1626 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314.932.7935, simonefaure.com

2nd: Pint Size Bakery & Coffee

3rd: La Bonne Bouchée

Honorable Mention: Sarah’s Cake Shop

favorite candy/chocolate shop

CROWN CANDY KITCHEN

1401 St. Louis Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9650, crowncandykitchen.com

2nd: Kakao Chocolate

3rd: Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier

Honorable Mention: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Co.

favorite caterer HOLLYBERRY CATERING

10037 Manchester Road, Kirkwood, 314.835.9977, hollyberrycatering.com

2nd: Butler’s Pantry

3rd: Catering St. Louis

Honorable Mention: Moulin Events and Meetings

favorite cooking classes DIERBERGS MARKETS

Various locations, dierbergs.com

2nd: Kitchen Conservatory

3rd: Schnucks

Honorable Mention: Eckert’s Country Store and Farms

favorite farmers market SOULARD FARMERS MARKET

730 Carroll St., St. Louis, 314.622.4180, soulardmarket.com

2nd: Tower Grove Farmers’ Market

3rd: Kirkwood Farmers’ Market

Honorable Mention: Schlafly Farmers Market

favorite grocery store DIERBERGS MARKETS

Various locations, dierbergs.com

2nd: Trader Joe’s

3rd: Schnucks and Whole Foods (tie)

Honorable Mention: Straub’s

favorite liquor store RANDALL’S WINES & SPIRITS

Various locations, shoprandalls.com

2nd: Friar Tuck Beverage and Lukas Wine & Spirits

Superstore (tie)

3rd: Total Wine & More

Honorable Mention: Parker’s Table

favorite wine shop THE WINE AND CHEESE PLACE

Various locations, thewineandcheeseplace.com

2nd: The Wine Merchant Ltd.

3rd: Parker’s Table

Honorable Mention: Bin 51 Wine & Spirits