SHORT ORDERS

Station, the bar and eatery from Lodging Hospitality Management bills itself as “a bit of soccer heaven in St. Louis,” according to a statement. It opened up to the public on Monday, February 27, but it held soft openings the previous week to test out its gears.

Crowds of eager St. Louisans took advantage of the preview opportunity, filling the 200-seat soccer bar’s dining room, bar and private rooms. A cheerful staff greeted attendees, and despite this being a test run, service was fast and smooth throughout the night (aside from a few tiny hiccups with figuring out who ordered what in our private room).

Open seven days a week, the Pitch has a lunch and dinner menu. It will also serve breakfast, though the menu is not quite ready; it will include classics such as biscuits and gravy, a breakfast sandwich, pancakes and an Irish slinger.

The lunch and dinner menu is launched and is filled with the sort of well-executed crowd pleasers that you’d expect from an upscale sports bar: starters such as chicken wings and loaded smashed potatoes, sandwiches such as a classic Italian, Philly cheesesteak, burger and so on. Prices range from $8 for chicken noodle soup to $16 for a fish-and-chips entree.

But throughout, there are unexpected touches that add creative interest. For example, one of the starters is biltong, a traditional South African-style beef jerky, but this one is made in St. Louis.

There are New York-style Carnegie deli sandwiches. There’s a salad (Elaine’s) that has to be a Seinfeld call out.

The Pitch’s drinks include a smaller wine list that hits the required notes and can be purchased by the glass ($11 to $13) or bottle ($44 to $48). That’s paired with an extensive beer list that’s broken down by style. Offerings

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Don’t Go

King & I eyes April for the moving date from its longtime South Grand home

Written by RYAN KRULL

The King & I is planning to make its move from South Grand to Richmond Heights this April.

The restaurant announced in October that the move would be happening this spring, but now south-city fans of the legendary Thai spot have a better sense of begin at $5 for a domestic beer and range to $11 for an Ommegang Three Philosophers. There’s plenty of local brews represented, including a nonalcoholic: Wellbeing’s Match Day Light. just how long they have to get in another visit (or two) to the iconic South Grand space for some Pad Thai, curry or spring rolls.

The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those early weekend hours are so fans of international matches can come in and catch the game.

“As of now, April-ish is what we’re aiming for, so we should be operating on South Grand for a little bit longer,” Shayn Prapaisilp told the RFT. Prapaisilp, along with his family, owns King & I and Chao Baan.

On a recent Sunday night patrons were packed into the Thai SELECT awardwinning restaurant’s dining area. It remains open for takeout as well.

Prapaisilp told the RFT in October that the move to Richmond Heights stemmed from the pandemic as well as the success of Chao Baan in the Grove.

“To be open as long as we have is just incredible,” Prapaisilp said. “We have been thinking through our business model to make sense for how people dine in 2022.”

[FOOD NEWS]