Readers' choice 2017

r e a d e r s' choice katie collier, of katie's pizza & pasta osteria, is your chef of the year

S T. L O U I S ’ I N D E P E N D E N T C U L I N A R Y A U T H O R I T Y

Readers’ Choice 2017

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FREE, READERS’ CHOICE 2017

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PHOTO BY GREG RANNELLS

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Readers’ Choice 2017

Mixed Green Salad “It’s over grilled, awesome potato bread – that’s a sleeper hit. To call it a potato bread is a shame because its half mashed potatoes-half bread, so it’s dense and thick and gooey.”

Cuban Sweet Potatoes “When you make people happy with vegetables, that’s a real feat. Steak is easy, a fatty burger is easy – vegetables take a little more effort and risk. When people dig on the vegetables, I’m so excited.”

fa vorite ne w restaurant

OLIVE & OAK Blue Crab Gratin “It’s total comfort food. It’s just a cheesy crab dip – spicy and warm and sharable.”

If you could actually snag a standing reservation at the wildly popular Olive & Oak in Webster Groves, you’d find a different menu each time. Executive chef Jesse Mendica tweaks vegetable preparations or swaps a protein in her playful twists on classics nearly every day. “Just trust us,” she said. “I won’t lead you into something you don’t want.”

Here, Mendica shared her go-to salad, staff obsessions and the handful of constants on the flexible menu of your Favorite New Restaurant. – Catherine Klene

PHOTO BY CARMEN TROESSER

102 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.736.1370, olivenadoakstl.com

Readers’ Choice 2017

The Dip “It’s roasted leg of lamb with drunken goat cheese and lamb jus. Don’t miss it. We did a veggie dip and a ham dip and a pork dip, but nothing compares to this. I’m head over heels for it.”

O & O Burger “We have to plead with [employees] to eat something other than a burger. We’re worried about you. You’re going to become a burger.”

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Readers’ Choice 2017

y o u r fa v o r i t e spe ci alty food store

BOB'S SEAFOOD

ILLUSTRATION BY VIDHYA NAGARAJAN

Four decades after Bob Mepham got into the fish business, Bob’s Seafood is St. Louis’ preeminent seafood purveyor, and our reader’s Favorite Specialty Food Store. Here’s what it takes to make it to the top of the fish biz, by the numbers. – Matt Sorrell

1 TO 5 daily trips to the airport to pick up fresh fish

20,000 lobsters sold a year Readers’ Choice 2017

156,000 complimentary lemons sent home with your fish in the past 30 years

up to 100 types of seafood sold

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oceans of seafood represented fish is stored at

10 minutes cook time suggested per inch of fillet thickness

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fingers lost from scaling, boning and butchering fish

34 degrees around 25,000 fish heads sold annually

up to 30,000 customers per year

300

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PHOTO BY ASHLEY GIESEKING

Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, 9568 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.942.6555, katiespizzaandpasta. com; Vero Pizza & Pasta, veropizzaandpasta.com

Readers’ Choice 2017

st. louis’ chef of the year KATIE COLLIER The readers have spoken.

Chef of the Year Katie Collier’s restaurant, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, is one of the hottest spots in to wn. She and her husband/business partner, Ted Collier, are poised to open a second location in To wn & Countr y this summer and their meal kit company, Vero Pizza & Pasta, debuts this month. Here, Collier shared her unconventional childhood, love for Italian and plans for the future.

– Matt Sorrell

WHY FOCUS ON ITALIAN FOOD? “When I was 18, my mom worked as a professor at Washington University in the fine arts department. They put her in charge of the study abroad program in Florence, Italy, so she moved there.

I dropped out of high school when I was 14 years old. At 18, all of my friends were going to college and doing other

Readers’ Choice 2017

things. I was working at Zoe’s PanAsian Cafe, so I saved up all of my money for a plane ticket to Florence and I flew there to live with my mom.

I went every spring. Obviously, food is the epicenter of Italian culture – I became super passionate about Italian culture and cuisine.”

WHAT DID YOUR FOLKS THINK ABOUT YOU DROPPING OUT? “My parents are both eccentrics, and we were kind of raised wild, so no one noticed!”

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL? “We use travel to discover and explore.

We go places and try to get with nature and chill out and calm the brain.

Usually I come back with great ideas and inspirations from that silence. Ted is an amazing fisherman, so we go to places that are fishing destinations and we fly-fish for hours and hours and days and days. That’s where I came up with Vero Pasto – walking down a river.

We also love to go to cities and eat.

We go to California a lot and travel the coast and eat at great restaurants like Osteria Mozza, Juniper & Ivy, République and In-N-Out Burger.

WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE FOOD? “Chinese food, and I’m into

Vietnamese food, too. I have to have it at least once a week.”

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANTS? “We just went to Reeds American Table for the first time and loved it. We also love Olive & Oak. It’s close to the restaurant, so we can go by and get an early dinner.

We go to Mai Lee often. Ted’s obsessed with barbecue, and we’re friends with Mike Emerson, so we like Pappy’s. We also like Sugarfire Smoke House.”

IF YOU WEREN’T A CHEF, WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING? “When I was growing up, my dad worked in North St. Louis, buying fireplace mantles and doors and terra cotta from abandoned buildings. We opened a ‘junk store’ together, next to the original Katie’s Pizza before it opened. No name or phone number, just a big open room filled with architectural antiques and furniture. We’d travel to auctions and find stuff. I was pretty good at that.

Whatever it would be, it would have to be something creative.”

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO NEXT? “We really love the brick-and-mortar concept we have. People often ask if we get bored doing the same thing, but if you really focus on Italian food, it can go

in so many great directions. … Our goal – it’s delusional and crazy – but we’d like to have Katie’s Pizza & Pastas and Veros all over the country.”

HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS? “Definitely not monetarily. Growing up, my family wasn’t wealthy. There were many times when no one had a car and we all slept on the floor. I can live with very little. Now that I have enough, I’m totally satisfied in that realm. I definitely feel successful right now because I get to work with my family and my husband every day and we’re good at what we do.

My definition of success is when you can innovate something and change it and make it better.”

Sound Bites returns this month when Chef of the Year Katie Collier and Favorite New Restaurant owner Mark Hinkle join art director Meera Nagarajan to discuss what it takes to win Readers' Choice. Tune in to St. louis Public Radio KWMU 90.7 to learn more.

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patio at baileys' chocolate bar

BE ST N IGHT E VER!

You work hard. At the office. At home. At that freaking spin class.

It’s about time you indulged at some of St. Louis’ most extravagant favorites. Are you ready to carb load like a marathoner? We’ve got just the place. Want the priciest bottle on the menu? Go ahead, you deserve it. Wish your meat was wrapped in more meat? Of course you do. Don’t apologize and don’t hold back. Today, calories don’t count and money ain’t a thing. That spin class will still be there tomorrow.

B Y S TA C Y S C HULT Z // P H O T O S B Y J O N AT H A N G AY M A N 10 I SAUCE MAGAZINE I saucemagazine.com

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When you get the big promotion.

Nothing says “massive bump in income” like a big, juicy steak. Filet is the only cut worthy of this decadent achievement, and at Tucker’s Place, you’ve gotta get it wrapped in bacon. Because you can.

We’re talking 16 ounces of charredon-the-outside, ruby-red-on-the-inside American dream. Better add the baked potato with the works, piled high with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped chives and, yes, more bacon. Go ahead and finish the whole thing. You’re kind of a big deal now.

$30. Tucker’s Place, various locations, tuckersplacestl.com

When the babysitter can stay late.

You’re out! You did it! Now make it count. Put your evening in the incredibly capable hands of James Beard Award-winning chef Kevin Nashan and order the chef ’s tasting menu at Sidney Street Cafe. Course after course will blow your mind with bold flavors, beautiful plating and ingredients you’ve never heard of. Whatever you do, save some of those house-made beignets to sop up the insanely good sauces accompanying almost every course. Fair warning: You may want to wear the stretchy pants.

$75. Sidney Street Cafe, 2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafestl.com Readers’ Choice 2017

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When the temp dips below 90.

Sweat-free summer nights are basically the universe telling you to drop all responsibilities and just do you. Better listen. There’s no finer way to waste a few hours than on the patio at Sasha’s on Shaw. With its wobbly sidewalk tables and wine-all-day attitude, you’re just a pack of cigs and a bad beret away from ol’ Pah-rhee. Go full on Frenchie with the triple crėme crepe, an uberrich combo of melted brie, crisp green apples and mango chutney. Wash it down with a bottle of Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé, a perfect summer sipper straight from Champagne, France. Sure, it’ll set you back. But if you can’t spend it on bubbly pink wine, what’s the point of having it at all?

Crepe: $13.50. Wine: $70 per half bottle.

Sasha’s on Shaw, 4069 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.7274, sashaswinebar.com

When nothing goes right.

When we’re in a mood, we crave noodles. Something about slurping endless strands of carby deliciousness can flip the switch from pulling our hair out to giving zero F’s. If you pray to the pasta gods, there’s only one cure for what’s ailing you: a big-ass bowl at Vista Ramen. Squeeze into this tiny Cherokee Street hotspot and sidle up at the bar for the flight of three Japanese whiskeys. And before you forget your middle name, order a bowl of the Vista Ramen, replete with a thick slab of unctuous pork, a tangle of hand-cut noodles and a perfect jammy egg just waiting to ooze into that steamy broth. Slice it, mix it up and slurp your problems away.

Vista Ramen: $13. Whiskey Flight: $25 to $27. Vista Ramen, 2609 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.797.8250, vistaramen.com Readers’ Choice 2017

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When the husbands watch the kids.

Bring on the sushi boat. Sushi is the ultimate shareable food, and the Supreme Sashimi at Drunken Fish is the best way to fuel the flurry of any good girls’ night. Catch 18 pieces of sashimi featuring pretty much every creature under the sea: tuna, salmon, yellowtail, red snapper, octopus and shrimp.

Dunk in that wasabi-laden soy sauce with abandon – no judgment here. Just don’t leave without the fried green tea ice cream. Can you say deepfried happiness?

Supreme Sashimi: $33. Fried green tea ice cream: $6.50.

Drunken Fish, various locations, drunkenfish.com

When it’s n o t Fr i d a y yet.

We’re still gathering signatures for the four-day work week. Until then, you can find us getting a muchneeded break at Planter’s House. Ask for a spot in the Bullock Room upstairs, complete with red leather couches and wallpaper that will make you feel like you’re doing something suitably shady in a downtown speakeasy. Speaking of – order the Planter’s House Manhattan, and get it in a bottle. Why? Because it’s bigger and better than a

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measly old glass. Plus, it will give you a chance to spend some quality time with the Planter’s House fries. Get them jalapeno-style and ask for the house-made ketchup and aioli. Dip, baby dip.

Bottled Manhattan: $30 to $60. Planter’s House fries: $7.

Planter’s House, 1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com

When that sweet tooth won’ t quit.

We could live off coffee and ice cream at Baileys’ Chocolate Bar. The menu is jam-packed with sweet treats that make it impossible to choose just one … or five. So don’t. Order The Lovers’ Plate and choose every. damn. thing. Take a break from staring into each other’s Snapchat lenses to nibble mini brownie and blondie bites, the Chocolate Inebriation, some Bailey’s Irish Cream and chocolate cheesecake and a slice of German chocolate cake.

Did I mention it’s served with salted caramel ice cream, chocolate-dipped bacon brittle, raspberry sorbet, caramelized banana, strawberries, cocoa-dusted pepitas and candied citrus?

Can’t stop. Won’t stop.

$22. Baileys’ Chocolate Bar, 1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100, baileyschocolatebar.com

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I'LL HAVE WHAT THEY'RE HAVING Ever wonder what servers order for themselves? Here’s the insider intel on what to get at your favorite bars and restaurants right now. – complied by Kevin Korinek

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“The pompano special. It usually takes 25 minutes to prepare, so most people don’t order it, but it’s a light, bonein grilled fish just stuffed with herbs – it’s huge. It’s the first fish I ever ate that I got excited just eating the skin off it. It’s just so delicious, I can’t even describe it. We only make a handful of them a day, but it’s one of the more expensive things on the menu. When customers see this dish, their eyes pop out.

Even when we just bring it out, people are stopping me to asking what it is.”

“The top of my list is the Reuben sandwich. Corned beef sliced here with Swiss, Thousand Island dressing and sauerkraut piled on this thick-sliced rye bread from Fazio’s on The Hill.

The Reuben is something I can’t do at home, and when I go out, I want a sandwich that’s dressed up and that comes with a little bit of pop and flavor. This thing is big on flavor.”

“My favorite item hands down is the Brie BLT – sourdough bread with melted brie, so you don’t need any sauce. The brie is so creamy, and it has a ton of bacon and becomes this hybrid between a BLT and a grilled cheese. It comes with our house-made creamy potato salad.

This thing is my jam.”

– Joe Eisenbraun,

“WE’VE STARTED USING FUSIONS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF BEERS. IT’S TABOO TO MIX TOGETHER, BUT SOME ARE REALLY GOOD – LIKE OUR CHOCOLATE-COVERED RASPBERRY STOUT. WE MIX 4 HANDS CHOCOLATE MILK STOUT WITH A BIT OF ST. LOUIS FRAMBOISE, WHICH GIVES IT A NICE FRUITY KICK. IT’S A REALLY NICE, DESSERT-STYLE BEER. I LIKE TO FINISH OFF AN EVENING WITH ONE.”

– Ryan Graham, Lona’s Lil Eats

Crown Candy Kitchen

– Tommy Manson, iTap

Sasha’s on Shaw

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– Manny Hinkson,

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YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT favorite new restaurant*

OLIVE & OAK 102 W. Lockwood Ave., Webster Groves, 314.736.1370, oliveandoakstl.com 2nd: Vista Ramen 3rd: The Muddled Pig Gastropub Honorable mentions: Foundry Public House, Kounter Kulture and Grafton Oyster Bar *opened in 2016 favorite restaurant

SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE meet owner mike johnson on p. 39 of the main issue Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com 2nd: ClevelandHeath 3rd: Mission Taco Joint Honorable mentions: Beast Craft BBQ, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria and Sidney Street Cafe chef of the year

KATIE COLLIER, KATIE’S PIZZA & PASTA OSTERIA 9568 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.942.6555, katiespizzaandpasta.com 2nd: Mike Johnson, Sugarfire

Smoke House 3rd: Ed Heath, ClevelandHeath Honorable mentions: David Sandusky, Beast Craft BBQ; Gerard Craft, Sardella; and Kevin Nashan, Sidney Street Cafe favorite barbecue

SUGARFIRE SMOKE HOUSE Various locations, sugarfiresmokehouse.com 2nd: Pappy’s Smokehouse 3rd: Beast Craft BBQ Honorable mentions: Salt & Smoke, Bogart’s Smokehouse and The Shaved Duck

2nd: Hi-Pointe Drive-In 3rd: O’Connell’s Pub Honorable mentions: 5 Star Burgers, Stacked STL and Carl’s Drive-In

2nd: Wang Gang 3rd: China King Honorable mentions: House of Wong, Lu Lu Seafood Restaurant and Joy Luck Buffet

favorite cajun/creole

favorite deli/sandwich shop

BROADWAY OYSTER BAR

BLUES CITY DELI

736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314.621.8811, broadwayoysterbar.com 2nd: Boogaloo 3rd: Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill Honorable mentions: Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House, The Kitchen Sink and Hwy 61 Roadhouse & Kitchen

2438 McNair Ave., St. Louis, 314.773.8225, bluescitydeli.com 2nd: Gioia’s Deli 3rd: Mom’s Deli Honorable mentions: Fozzie’s Sandwich Emporium, Union Loafers Café and Bread Bakery and The Gramophone favorite diner

favorite brunch

ROOSTER

favorite chicken wings

1104 Locust St., St. Louis, 314.241.8118; 3150 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.772.3447; roosterstl.com 2nd: Half & Half 3rd: Brasserie by Niche Honorable mentions: ClevelandHeath, Cafe Osage and Prasino

SYBERG’S AN EATING & DRINKING CO. Various locations, sybergs.com 2nd: Byrd & Barrel 3rd: Three Kings Public House Honorable mentions: Sugarfire Smoke House, Peel Wood Fired Pizza and Culpepper’s Bar & Grill

favorite burger

favorite chinese

BAILEYS’ RANGE

LONA’S LIL EATS

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

2199 California Ave., St. Louis, 314.925.8938, lonaslileats.com

buttermilk cornmeal pancakes at southwest diner, your favorite diner

SOUTHWEST DINER 6803 Southwest Ave., St. Louis, 314.260.7244, southwestdinerstl.com 2nd: Uncle Bill’s Pancake and Dinner House 3rd: Benton Park Café Honorable mentions: Courtesy Diner, Chris’ Pancake & Dining and South City Diner favorite doughnut

STRANGE DONUTS 2709 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.932.5851; 107 E. Argonne St., Kirkwood, 314.394.2323; strangedonuts.com 2nd: World’s Fair Doughnuts 3rd: Vincent Van Doughnut Honorable mentions: Donut Drive-In, Old Town Donuts and The Donut Stop

favorite fine dining

SIDNEY STREET CAFE 2000 Sidney St., St. Louis, 314.771.5777, sidneystreetcafestl.com 2nd: Charlie Gitto’s 3rd: Farmhaus Honorable mentions: Annie Gunn’s, Tony’s and Elaia favorite food truck

SEOUL TACO Seoultaco.com, Twitter: @seoultaco 2nd: Guerrilla Street Food 3rd: Mission Taco Joint Honorable mentions: Farmtruk, Sarah’s Cake Stop and Vincent Van Doughnut Food Truck favorite fried chicken

SOUTHERN 3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com 2nd: Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar 3rd: Byrd & Barrel Honorable mentions: Gallagher’s, Sweetie Pie’s The Upper Crust and King Edwards Chicken & Fish favorite frozen dessert

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: Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery Honorable mentions: The Fountain on Locust, Fritz’s Frozen Custard and Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream favorite indian 8501 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.567.6850, hoistl.com 2nd: Everest Cafe & Bar 3rd: India’s Rasoi Honorable mentions: Himalayan Yeti, India Palace and Mr. Currys India Restaurant

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Readers’ Choice 2017

PHOTO BY IZAIAH JOHNSON

HOUSE OF INDIA

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YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO EAT favorite italian

PASTARIA 7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com 2nd: Cunetto House of Pasta 3rd: Zia’s Restaurant & Catering Co. Honorable mentions: Charlie Gitto’s, Trattoria Marcella and Anthonino’s Taverna favorite korean

SEOUL TACO 6665 Delmar Blvd., University City, 314.863.1148, seoultaco.com 2nd: Oriental Spoon 3rd: Kimcheese Honorable mentions: Seoul Garden Korean Restaurant, U-City Grill and K-Bop Food Truck favorite mexican

HACIENDA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 9748 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, 314.962.7100, haciendastl.com 2nd: Chava’s Mexican Restaurant 3rd: Mi Ranchito Honorable mentions: Rosalita’s Cantina, Milagro Modern Mexican and Taqueria El Bronco favorite mediterranean/ middle eastern

AYA SOFIA 6671 Chippewa St., St. Louis, 314.645.9919, ayasofiacuisine.com 2nd: Cafe Natasha’s 3rd: Olio Honorable mentions: Layla, The Vine Cafe and Ranoush Middle Eastern Cuisine favorite patio

PHOTO BY JONATHAN GAYMAN

JOHN D. MCGURK’S IRISH PUB & GARDEN 1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309, mcgurks.com 2nd: Vin de Set 3rd: Broadway Oyster Bar Honorable mentions: Billy G’s Kirkwood, Molly’s in Soulard and Sasha’s on Shaw favorite pizza

PI PIZZERIA Various locations, pi-pizza.com Readers’ Choice 2017

2nd: Imo’s Pizza 3rd: Peel Wood Fired Pizza Honorable mentions: Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, Black Thorn Pub and Sauce on the Side favorite pub

JOHN D. MCGURK’S IRISH PUB & GARDEN 1200 Russell Blvd., St. Louis, 314.776.8309, mcgurks.com 2nd: The Scottish Arms 3rd: Llywelyn’s Pub Honorable mentions: Dressel’s Public House, O’Connell’s Pub and Seamus McDaniel’s favorite ramen

VISTA RAMEN 2609 Cherokee St., St. Louis, 314.797.8250, vistaramen.com 2nd: Robata 3rd: Oriental Spoon Honorable mentions: Nami Ramen, Hiro Asian Kitchen and Midtown Sushi & Ramen favorite romantic spot

BAILEYS’ CHOCOLATE BAR 1915 Park Ave., St. Louis, 314.241.8100, baileyschocolatebar.com 2nd: Sidney Street Cafe 3rd: Eleven Eleven Mississippi Honorable mentions: Charlie Gitto’s on The Hill, Bar Les Frères and Tony’s

ramen from vista ramen, your favorite ramen

favorite soul food/southern

SOUTHERN 3108 Olive St., St. Louis, 314.531.4668, stlsouthern.com 2nd: Sweetie Pie’s The Upper Crust 3rd: Juniper Honorable mentions: Mom’s Soul Food Kitchen & Catering, Diner’s Delight and Mother’s Fish

favorite sushi

DRUNKEN FISH

favorite steakhouse

Various locations, drunkenfish.com 2nd: Wasabi Sushi Bars 3rd: Café Mochi Honorable mentions: Sushi Ai, Tani Sushi Bistro and Sub Zero Vodka Bar

TUCKER’S PLACE

favorite tacos

Various locations, tuckersplacestl.com 2nd: Annie Gunn’s 3rd: Citizen Kane’s Steak House Honorable mentions: 1818 Chophouse, Gamlin Whiskey House and Sam’s Steakhouse

MISSION TACO JOINT Various locations, missiontacojoint.com 2nd: Seoul Taco 3rd: Taco Circus Honorable mentions: Hacienda

Mexican Restaurant, Chava’s Mexican Restaurant and Público

favorite thai

KING & I THAI RESTAURANT 3155 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.771.1777, kingandistl.com 2nd: Fork & Stix 3rd: Thai Kitchen Honorable mentions: Basil Spice Thai Cuisine, Pad Thai Kitchen and Pearl Café favorite vegetarian/vegan

LULU’S LOCAL EATERY 3201 S. Grand Ave., St. Louis, 314.300.8215, luluslocaleatery.com

2nd: Lona’s Lil Eats 3rd: Small Batch Whiskey & Fare Honorable mentions: Confluence Kombucha, Tree House Vegetarian Restaurant and Sacred Grounds Cafe favorite vietnamese

MAI LEE RESTAURANT 8396 Musick Memorial Drive, Brentwood, 314.645.2835, maileestl.com 2nd: Pho Grand Restaurant 3rd: Lemon Grass Restaurant Honorable mentions: Banh Mi So No. 1, Little Saigon Café and Bamboo Bistro

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Readers’ Choice 2017

st. louis' bartenders of the year WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR MOST AWKWARD MOMENT ON THE JOB? Winner

2nd

3rd

ELIJAH BARNES

TONY SAPUTO

TERRY OLIVER

ClevelandHeath

Atomic Cowboy

Frazer’s

“I had to cut off two guys who I’ve known for a long time as regulars [on different nights]. One I coaxed into drinking some coffee and eating something, but the other guy didn’t take it well at all. He stood up and got huffy.

They decided they were never coming back. I felt bad, but at the end of the day you’re just trying to look out for them. They did eventually come back, though they didn’t mention what happened. Everyone’s on good terms.”

“One of the regulars at a bar I worked at was a call girl, and she met all of her johns at the bar. She’d come and go several times a night. I think she knew that I knew. Making small talk was really hard. You couldn’t really ask her, ‘How’s tricks?’”

“We had a group that came in for a few hours and had a good time. One woman went to the bathroom and came back out, and their server came up to me and said, ‘That woman isn’t wearing any pants.’ I told him she was probably just wearing flesh-colored tights or something.

He came back and said, ‘Nope, she’s not wearing any pants.’ Sure enough, she was buck-naked from the waist down. I went to the one woman in the group I knew and told her about it. She pulled her friend aside, and her friend said, ‘Oh my God, who took my pants?’ Thankfully all of the other guests were gone.”

PHOTO BY JONATHAN GAYMAN; COMPILED BY MATT SORRELL

from left, elijah barnes, terry oliver and tony saputo at frazer’s

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the scorpion bowl at mission taco joint, your favorite happy hour

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Readers’ Choice 2017

YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO DRINK bartender of the year

ELIJAH BARNES, CLEVELANDHEATH 106 N. Main St., Edwardsville, 618.307.4830, clevelandheath.com 2nd: Tony Saputo, Atomic Cowboy 3rd: Terry Oliver, Frazer’s Honorable mentions: Pamela Moore, The Muddled Pig Gastropub; Ted Kilgore, Planter’s House; Brandon Talbert, The Sliced Pint

favorite beer bar

INTERNATIONAL TAP HOUSE (ITAP) Various locations, internationaltaphouse.com 2nd: Three Kings Public House 3rd: The Side Project Cellar Honorable mentions: Global Brew Tap House, Cicero’s, SOHA Bar & Grill and Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar favorite brewery

4 HANDS BREWING CO. 1220 S. Eighth St., St. Louis, 314.436.1559, 4handsbrewery.com 2nd: Urban Chestnut Brewing Co. 3rd: Schlafly Beer Honorable mentions: Civil Life Brewing Co., Side Project Brewing and Perennial Artisan Ales favorite cocktails

PHOTO BY IZAIAH JOHNSON

PLANTER’S HOUSE 1000 Mississippi Ave., St. Louis, 314.696.2603, plantershousestl.com 2nd: Taste 3rd: ClevelandHeath Honorable mentions: Frazer’s, Retreat Gastropub and The Libertine

Readers’ Choice 2017

favorite happy hour

MISSION TACO JOINT Various locations, missiontacojoint.com 2nd: Three Kings Public House 3rd: 5 Star Burgers Honorable mentions: Basso, ClevelandHeath and The Muddled Pig Gastropub favorite sports bar

SYBERG’S AN EATING & DRINKING CO. Various locations, sybergs.com 2nd: Amsterdam Tavern 3rd: The Post Sports Bar & Grill Honorable mentions: Blueberry Hill, Billy G’s Kirkwood and Friendly’s Sports Bar and Grill favorite wine bar

SASHA’S WINE BARS 706 DeMun Ave., Clayton, 314.863.7274; 4069 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314.771.7274; sashaswinebar.com 2nd: Robust Wine Bar 3rd: 33 Wine Shop & Bar Honorable mentions: Bridge Tap House & Wine Bar, Olio and One 19 North Tapas. Wine. Bar. favorite local winery

CHAUMETTE VINEYARDS & WINERY 24345 State Route WW, Ste. Genevieve, 573.747.1000, chaumette.com 2nd: Montelle Winery (tie) 2nd: St. James Winery (tie) 3rd: Augusta Winery Honorable mentions: Cedar Lake Cellars, Wild Sun Winery and Charleville Vineyard & Microbrewery

YOUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP favorite bottle shop

RANDALL’S WINES & SPIRITS Various locations, shoprandalls.com 2nd: The Wine & Cheese Place 3rd: Saint Louis Hop Shop Honorable mentions: Bin 51 Wine & Spirits, Intoxicology and Robust Wine Bar favorite bread

UNION LOAFERS CAFÉ AND BREAD BAKERY 1629 Tower Grove Ave., St. Louis, 314.833.6111, unionloafers.com 2nd: Companion 3rd: 222 Artisan Bakery & Cafe Honorable mentions: Amighetti’s Bakery & Cafe, Missouri Baking Co. and Vitale’s Bakery favorite butcher shop

BOLYARD’S MEAT & PROVISIONS 2810 Sutton Blvd., Maplewood, 314.647.2567, bolyardsmeat.com 2nd: Kenrick’s Meat & Catering 3rd: G & W Bavarian Style Sausage Honorable mentions: Mannino’s Market, LeGrand’s Market & Catering and Baumann’s Fine Meats favorite cakes/pastries

MCARTHUR’S BAKERY CAFE Various locations, mcarthurs.com 2nd: Jilly’s Cupcake Bar & Cafe 3rd: Pint Size Bakery & Coffee Honorable mentions: La Patisserie Chouquette, Nathaniel Reid Bakery and Missouri Baking Co. favorite chocolate shop

CROWN CANDY KITCHEN 1401 St. Louis Ave., St. Louis, 314.621.9650, crowncandykitchen.net

2nd: Kakao Chocolate 3rd: Bissinger’s Handcrafted Chocolatier Honorable mentions: Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Co., The Fountain on Locust and Merb’s Candies favorite coffee shop

KALDI’S COFFEE ROASTING CO. Various locations, kaldiscoffee.com 2nd: Sump Coffee 3rd: The Mud House Coffee & Kitchen Honorable mentions: Park Avenue Coffee, Rise Coffee, Coffee Cartel and Blueprint Coffee 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 mentions: Land of Goshen Community Market, Schlafly Farmers’ Market and Ferguson Farmers’ Market favorite local grocery

DIERBERGS Various locations, dierbergs.com 2nd: Schnucks 3rd: Straub’s Honorable mentions: DiGregorio’s Italian Market, Fields Foods and Jay International Food Co. favorite specialty food store

BOB’S SEAFOOD 8660 Olive Blvd., University City, 314.993.4844, bobsseafoodstlouis.com 2nd: The Smokehouse Market 3rd: Larder & Cupboard Honorable mentions: LeGrand’s Market & Catering, Seafood City Supermarket and Olde Town Spice Shoppe

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Readers’ Choice 2017

Readers’ Choice 2017

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