Wright's Tavern is Clayton's neighborhood upscale seafood and steakhouse: a small dining room, an…read moreintimate bar, good luck trying to get a reservation before 10pm. For those of us who eat at 5 and are in bed by 8, that's a non-starter. So for a birthday dinner we did the thing you're not supposed to do, showed up on a whim at 5 p.m. on a Thursday with no reservation, fully prepared to be turned away. All four bar seats were open. We took two. Sometimes the shot goes in. The room is modern chic with an old-school soul, green-and-white striped plates, the footprint is small, the kitchen is open, and the staff are polished and professional without being stiff. Jose, the bartender, has been behind that bar for most of the time the restaurant's been open, and he was the best kind of host, warm, unhurried, and honest. Yes, walk-ins are possible. No, don't count on it; some nights there's a line out the door of people hoping to squeeze in. Get there early and pray, or plan on a late supper. The Old Fashioned was solid, served over a mound of crushed ice with a fat orange wedge, which is not how I usually take one, but it went down easy. The crab cake, though, won the night, among the best I've ever had, on par with our favorite Chicago steakhouse...Bavette's. Thick, honest pieces of crab (not filler pretending to be crab), a perfectly crisp golden crust, a scatter of chives, sitting in a buttery sauce you'll want to chase with bread. Order it. Share it only if you must, even though I'm about to tell you to share everything else. Confession, I don't like spending money on pricey salads. Moreover, I don't like blue cheese. And yet the wedge, which they graciously split into two plates for us, turned me into a living contradiction. I'd order it with enthusiasm. Don't look for me to bring that spirit to any other restaurant, this is an exception, not a new rule for me. Crisp iceberg, blue cheese crumbles, a crunchy crumb topping, and a pool of herby vinaigrette underneath. Then there's the bacon: not bits, a full thick-cut slab draped over the top like a trophy. Bacon GOLD. It deserves its own line on the menu...Wright's Tavern, follow Bavette's lead and put the bacon on the menu, we'll all thank you for it. Now the steak. We went with the 22 oz. New York strip, and for what you're paying at a place like this, I expected the main event to be the main event. It arrives pre-sliced, showered in chives, sitting in its own jus. Beautiful plate. The flavor was spot on, no complaints there. The problem was the cutting. I don't know whether it was the cut itself, whether it got pre-sliced with the grain instead of against it, whether it didn't rest long enough, or whether the steak knife just wasn't up to the job, but I was sawing our medium-rare steak. More pressure than I'm used to, the knife catching on the fat, and by the end I'd left a small graveyard of partial segments and rubbery fat on the plate. Maybe it was just a bad cut on a good night. It happens. But at a steakhouse, the steak is the franchise player, and the franchise player had an off game. The side, though, quietly stole some of the steak's minutes. I'd never had dauphinoise potatoes, so I had to try them: paper-thin sliced potatoes baked au gratin until the top goes golden and the middle turns creamy. Excellent. And here's my free consulting for the kitchen: crumble some of that wedge-salad bacon over the top as bits and you've got a stellar side. You already have the bacon. Just walk it across the kitchen. Dessert brought it back. The apple cinnamon cheesecake is really light, none of that giant, dense brick that's the calling card of many cheesecakes, topped with soft spiced apple slices and a streusel crumble, and it was excellent. The scorecard: crab cake and cheesecake were the spotlight, the salad and the potatoes were the surprise, and the entrée was, oddly, the letdown. If Wright's Tavern were a TV character: it's Don Draper. Stay with me. Handsome, clearly talented, a real man's man and a ladies' man, magnetic in a small dark room with a drink in hand and flawed in a few key places. Everything Don touches at the office is brilliant; it's the thing that should matter most in his life (being a father, husband, good business partner) that he can't quite get right. That was our steak. I'm giving Wright's Tavern some grace here, because everything else was so well delivered and this little nook of a restaurant has "future regular" written all over it. I'm coming back for another steak, and I'm expecting redemption. Until then: 4.5 out of 5. The only thing keeping this from a perfect score is the one dish that's supposed to carry the team.

After hearing about it for ages, finally made it to Wright's Tavern! Yes, reservations are…read moreannoying, but if you stay up until midnight before the first of the month and have multiple days and times in mind, it should be doable. The restaurant felt very upscale - service was extremely attentive and fantastic. We ordered the following and did a lot of sharing: shrimp cocktail, crab cake, Caesar salad, halibut, French dip, and steak frites. Everything was fantastic. My personal favorite was the crab cake - I've never gotten so much crab meat in one before and the sauce was incredible! Caesar salad was good too. The steak to fry ratio on the steak frites was a bit off (steak was fairly small) but I appreciated that they don't skimp on sides at all! The French dip was the most meat I've ever had in one. Sadly, we were not able to save room for dessert, but I cannot wait to go back! Worth every penny, absolutely.

Cute little restaurant with a small outdoor patio. I was looking at their menu online but come to…read morefind out that it has been outdated for many years. They still have a happy hour menu daily from 3p-6p, all day on Monday, but the options have changed. Double Cream Brie Burger $23 - Australian wagyu beef, crispy prosciutto, fig coulis, arugula, and fries. The burger was juicy and tasty and the fries were thin and crispy. From the Happy Hour Menu Moscow Mule $7 - Refreshing and not strong. They ran out of ginger beer pretty early in the evening. Banh Mi Pork Belly Tacos (3) $10 - Overall tasty tacos, pork belly was fatty and tender. They are on Opentable for make online reservations. .|\---/| | @_@ | ..\_^_/..2026

There's something about a place in Clayton insisting: don't call me a wine bar, I'm a wine dive…read more Okay. We see you. You're a wine bar. Nothing divey about a hip cocktail or hip deviled eggs -- these are sophisticated modern twists, the exact move wine bars make and dives don't. A chalkboard of specials and weathered seating gesture at the aesthetic; the rest of the room knows. Kendall Roy of restaurants -- comes from privilege, wants badly to be of the people. It's a bit, and mostly the kitchen and bar back it up. Nevertheless, we arrived to a full room, hour wait for a table, but we fortunately arrived to snag the last first come patio table. The bar was also full, by the way, which felt neighborhood like, people clearly like this place during happy hour. The old fashioned makes the case: Old Grand-Dad Bonded, pickled rye, cognac, butterscotch bitters. Two whiskeys and a bitter you won't find at an actual dive. Rich, a little sweet. The harissa deviled eggs keep going -- fried shallots, roasted red peppers, cilantro, marinated tomato jam. You know, just like the old dive with the $1 PBR.Deviled eggs for people that don't like deviled eggs. However, we love deviled eggs...foreshadowing. The short ribs are the headline -- fall-apart tender over whipped potatoes substantial enough to stand up to the meat, gravy spot on. Eats like a perfectly executed roast dinner. The brie burger is the sneaky second hit, genuinely decadent, bacon with the cheese melting into the beef. The service was good and pleasant and that felt more like dive-friendly, where you might expect a wine "bar" to be snooty or full of themselves. 4.4 Stars Picking Nits: hip deviled eggs that reach past what they can hold. Tomato jelly on top is a lot going on, in the wrong way, and the egg disappears under it. These are trying to be hip deviled eggs more than they're trying to be good deviled eggs. Every ambitious kitchen has one plate that tries too hard; this appears to be one. A 5 needs those eggs landing, in the same way the entrees excelled. Regardless, we'll be back.

This is a French restaurant that consistently has fresh flavorful and beautifully presented dishes…read more I've come here many times and the service has always been friendly, attentive and welcoming. The atmosphere is warm inviting. It's a great place for a special occasion, a business meal, or just looking for some good food. Oh yeah, their pasta is House made!

This was the second stop of my "progressive birthday dinner" (three stops; one for apps, one for…read moreentree, one for dessert). After a whole lot of research, knowing I wanted scallops for a main, I chose The Crossing. Our meal started with a complimentary offering of their bleu cheese soufflé with crisps and bread service--both delicious. I enjoyed a glass of their current "by the glass" Chardonnay, and my boyfriend got a Yeungling (poured table-side). I got my scallops, as planned, which certainly did not disappoint. Cooked perfectly, fresh and delicious. The wilted romaine seemed odd at first but totally rounded out the potato mash at the base, with the absolute flavor-bomb of the shiitakes. Highly recommend this dish any day! My boyfriend opted for the NY Strip; we both agreed it was one of the best steaks we'd ever had; seasoned perfectly and cooked masterfully. There was a slight mishap whereby a food runner gave him a tasting portion of the strip (likely meant for another table); we first didn't realize and were very disappointed with the size. However, without a word from us, the chef came out and personally explained, apologized, and corrected--I didn't snap a photo of the full portion when it came out, but it was perfect and much more what we expected. That brings me to the service, which was spectacular. Several staff members gave us a personal touch and they all seemed to be genuinely happy to be there. The space is beautiful and intimate. It was moderately busy and still quiet. The atmosphere feels upscale, but not pretentious or unapproachable. This place was on my radar for a long time, and I sure wish I'd gone long ago. If you're thinking about it, just go!! I can't wait to come back and try the chefs tasting menu--thank you for a wonderful dinner!

We came here after going to an art fair down the street. We sat at the bar and we're greeted…read morecomply. It's your typical old style/school Steak House lots of wood, full whiskey bar and extensive wine list. Oyster Rockefeller is probably the best I've ever had 10 out of 10 Caesar salad with the Parmesan crisps or more Parmesan chewy as they tasted stale, we asked for anchovies on it. Once I removed the Parmesan crisp, the rest of the salad was very good. The mushroom pan was literally amazing The 12 ounce fillet was cooked perfect and delicious Everything was very good with the exception of the Parme

I had an amazing time at 801 Chophouse. It is a very classy place. It's upscale and worth every…read moredollar. The table was very elegant. The service was exceptional. My server did an awesome job. John kept our drinks full. He made the experience much more enjoyable. There's a full bar. I utilized the valet parking.

Order first, then get a table. Not a big deal, I just want…read moreyou, the reader to know before you go. Unfortunately we were here on one of those ridiculously hot September days and could not partake of the adorable patio. Lucky for us, we were late for the brunch crew, 2 pm. Our orders went in pretty quick and the food came out at reasonable pace. I was here for girls brunch. Between the 3 of if we ordered a breakfast burrito and 2 avocado toasts. I don't usually order an avacado toast because I don't want to get burned by fake avacado/previously frozen, any of the above. I had a hunch it would be good here and I was not disappointed. If I had a complaint, the bread was a tiny bit too thick for the knife to cut it. The flavor of the avacado mixed with radish and a flavorful topping was really good. I also ordered a hibiscus tea, it was refreshingon this miserable day. This spot will be perfect in the future when the man wants only coffee and a pastry, and I need a real meal.

Carter is the man. Who is Winslow, it should be called Carter's table. My beautiful wife and I came…read morehere as newbies and carter made us feel like regulars. He even asked me if I wanted a bakery item piece with crust or no crust, which is something I would have never thought to even ask myself. The prices are excellent and they have a classic coffee house vibe with gracious seating and a large round window table with lots of table space. Parking is easier to access when traveling westward on Delmar blvd.

A little hidden gem of a place in Clayton. Hadn't heard of it before, but had a gift certificate,…read moreso had to give it a try. Menu is on the smaller side, but that means "what they do; they do well". We both started with a glass of wine (one red and one white). Again, limited options but both were enjoyable. Ambiance was cozy and inviting. Server was knowledgeable and efficient. Clearly several regulars were in that night as both the servers and chefs/cooks interacted in a friendly manner. We both started with Spinach Salads, which were basic, but good. I had the Peppercorn Filet and my wife had the Cajun Shrimp. My steak was great and came with mashed potatoes and green beans. Shrimp dish was not spicy, but had good flavor. It also came with mashed potatoes. No dessert. Finally, pretty reasonable prices for a nice weekday dinner in Clayton.

Almonds I love you and I've missed you. I forgot about you but now I'm back. The menus on a…read morechalkboard are it because paper menus are for quitters. I got a tuna-crawfish situation! My appetizer was the crawfish in a rich and decadent sauce served over bread. Wow! Then I moved onto the tuna steak that I inhaled because it was simple and perfect and I couldn't stop enjoying. She's #stlouispescatarianapproved for sure. Such an underrated and unknown spot.

The Best Dining Experience We've Had in St. Louis - Hands Down…read moreMy husband and I wanted to give our dear friends who are leaving St. Louis one last unforgettable meal from their bucket list, so I immediately recommended Peno. I used to be a regular at Rosé with the same talented Chef Pepe, and his food is truly to die for. We walked in on a beautiful day and were lucky to snag a spot in their small parking lot (parking in the area isn't the easiest, but it's worth it). Our server, Harry, made the evening even better right from the start. He had such a warm, calm, professional presence--the kind that's rare these days. We instantly remembered his name thanks to a fun Harry Potter / Harry and the Hendersons reference, and he handled everything with effortless skill. When our friends had parking trouble, Harry quickly offered helpful suggestions. Then, when it was time to order, he elevated our meal in the best way possible. My husband and I got our longtime favorite--the Roberto pizza from Rosé days--and Harry suggested adding sausage and peppers. That small tweak took something we already loved and made it 1000% better. Absolute perfection. Our friend ordered the spaghetti (her all-time favorite comfort meal), and after taking Harry's thoughtful recommendation, she declared it the best spaghetti she's ever had in her life. We finished with the cheesecake. I'm extremely picky about cheesecake, but this one did not disappoint--it was creamy, rich, and flawless. This was one of those legendary meals you remember forever. The kind where you leave thinking you could die happy. Chef Pepe's food, paired with Harry's outstanding service, made it a perfect night. If you're in St. Louis, do yourself a favor and go to Peno. You won't regret it. Thank you, Harry and team--you helped create a truly special send-off for our friends!

With time running out on this year's Pizza Passport, we returned to Peno. I remembered loving the…read moresmoked mozzarella cheese bites and wanted to get them again. Parking was at a premium and we parked a bit away but it was such a nice night it was a great walk. When we arrived, we were offered inside or outside seating and opted to continue enjoying the mild weather by sitting on the covered patio. Lots of other diners chose that option as well. It is super pretty out there with fairy lights strung up and nice tables. Our waiter was Harry B, he was quite pleasant and attentive. I didn't read the description properly for the drink I ordered, the Lemon cello Spritz, I didn't see it was a cream drink. It was still tasty, my husband described it as a lemon creamsicle! I finished it, very fresh even if it was creamy. I ordered the Toasted Smoked Mozzarella, the Kim Tucci Italian salad, and the Pizza Giuseppe. I loved the Italian Salad! Just the right amount of dressing for the ingredients; mixed greens, onion, mozzarella, roasted red pepper, Sicilian olive, and house vinaigrette. So very good! The toasted smoked mozzarella bites were smoky and crunchy, with a red sauce and a basil oil, also very good. Pizza Guiseppe was hand tossed crust with sausage, red pepper, raisin, pine nut, mozzarella, and basil oil. I love pine nuts and they were flavorful on the pizza. I wasn't sure about the raisins but they were good. Nice setting and service, friendly staff!

The Bobs special was delicious! Great flavor, fresh ingredients, and definitely a fun twist on…read morepizza. The restaurant had a really good vibe, it's gives old school diner vibes. The service was also excellent--friendly, attentive, and welcoming without being overbearing. Overall, great food, great service, and a great atmosphere. Definitely enjoyed my experience!

My husband and I wanted to grab a quick bite and landed at Cafe Manhattan for a late dinner…read more My cheeseburger was very good. The hamburger patty was large and topped with a generous amount of melted cheese. The toppings on the side were fresh and crisp. The real standout of the combo, though, was the French fries. They arrived piping hot, perfectly crispy, and seasoned just right. I added a fountain Diet Coke to my order, and it was great alongside a classic burger-and-fries meal. Also, I always enjoy Cafe Manhattan's vintage diner vibe.

This place is much more of a hole in the wall than you'd imagine. I parked right out front, and I…read morestill had a hard time finding it. A guy from my running group asked me which way it was, and I was like, "Uh, I think it's that way." A few places on this strip all have similar awnings. I thought I was lucky finding such a good spot. By the time I was done with my run, maybe an hour later, all of Clayton was an absolute ghost town. It makes me wonder what they'd have to put here to get people to visit Clayton during the evening, a 7 Brew? Inside is more along the lines of a bar, with a number of beers on tap and decor that may have been purchased from a Kohl's. I appreciated the way they had the beers on tap written on the wall in ginormous fonts, and I'm sure the elderly are similarly appreciative. Sometimes you ask these waiters what beers they have on tap and they act like they're doing you a favor by listing them. I asked this hillbilly they've got waiting tables at the Syberg's over on Dorsett what beers they have on tap, and he just said they have 30 of them. Uh, thanks? I wonder if he counted them. I went with the 4 Hands Incarnation, which I have at least once a week, because I get it for free. It seemed less "high gravity" than it does when you get it in the tall cans.Hmm... Usually, my move at these burger places is to order a bacon cheeseburger or a specialty burger that has bacon on it. 5 Star had such a burger listed first on their menu, making my choice easy enough. I toyed with the idea of ordering the Green Chile Cheeseburger, but not seriously. I wasn't sure what the green chiles would taste like, and what if they turned out to be gross? The Blue Ribbon Burger comes with bacon, port-braised onions and Gorgonzola cheese, along with LTOP. No, that's not a typo. You get thinly sliced red onions in addition to the port-braised onions. It feels weirdly generous of them, even though they're just onions, and all the fresh toppings are of a seemingly high quality. I was more ambivalent about the toppings specific to the Blue Ribbon Burger. I didn't dislike them, but I was less impressed by them than I would have expected. The bacon was good, but it was in crumbles and I think I would have liked it more if it were in thick, crispy strips. No Diddy. The cheese was either not flavorful enough or in not abundant enough quantity to be much of a factor. The onions, on the other hand, provided a nice flavor kick--less tart than I expected, more along the lines of the onions in a french onion soup. The fries were kinda whatever. They were good, being french fries and all, but not as gourmet as the menu would have you think. And they don't give you very many of them, if you get the regular serving. Weirdly, the regular serving doesn't cost much money, by Brandon-era standards, but the serving-size is decidedly skimpy. Why not just charge a normal amount and give you a normal quantity? Even the large won't exactly break the bank. I went with the small because I just wanted to see what they were like, for the sake of citizen food journalism. You're welcome.

After raining earlier in day, Lynne and I were able to find a patio table on a Saturday night. We…read morelove eating al fresco, so bonus on getting a table and being to watch the fancy cars driving by! However, we soon discovered the restaurant was short staffed and servers were in the deep weeds. It took a very long time to order water and drinks and an equally long time to receive them. In fact, we were very close to leaving, which is saying a lot since I've worked in restaurants for years. But this is not a negative review. As those who know, know....5 Star's kitchen crew saved the day by jumping right on our food order and getting us served quickly. Lynne enjoyed the always delicious Blue Ribbon burger...think gorganzola, bacon and port braised onions (aaahhh, sorry, I may have drooled a bit there). I tried the Burger-Of-The-Month, which was not actually a burger, but a sandwich And not just any sandwich, a classic Rueben. I love a good Rueben and this 5-Star version did not disappoint....loads of moist corned beef (yes, I said moist), sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing on marbled Rye! We also split the wonderful 5-Star Salad and a basket of Mixed Fries (combo of seasoned fries and sweet potato fries). This would have been a 3-Star review based on service but the food and drink saved the night!

Let's start by saying this was my birthday celebration with my husband. I made the reservations…read more(only because I could not decide on where to go) and we were able to get in same day! We started with a cocktail. I had the dirty goose and my husband had an espresso martini. Now, here is where I get a bit particular...these martinis were perfect. Perfect ratios, taste and thank you God, COLD!! Someone please tell me why it is so hard to get a good martini and COLD???!! These cocktails were lovely We then ordered dinner. I had the chopped salad, and my husband had the lobster bisque. Both were fabulous! For our main dish I had the 10 oz filet off the menu, my husband had the filet special with the bone. Mine was with gorgonzola cheese and cabernet reduction my husbands was Oscar style. Both were perfect. We ordered the lobster mac n cheese and the asparagus - both perfect sides! We each had a glass of wine with dinner I had the prisoner and I cannot remember what my husband had - sorry - it was a cabernet - both accented the main dishes perfectly For the birthday dessert was a small chocolate espresso cake with small cheesecake. At first I was like, meh, cheesecake, but here I am surprised again. They brulee'd the top of the cheesecake - that took it to the next level and the chocolate espresso cake was fantastic with my red wine. The ambiance is pleasant. It was a busy night in the restaurant, and it has a certain buzz about it. There were times it was hard to hear the person sitting next to you (and yes, I have had my hearing checked and it is just fine). Mark our server obviously had been there for a while and knew his menu and drinks like the back of his hand. It was a wonderful dinner, but it was pricey - fair warning. $$$$

I had never been here before. We're not really steak house people because my husband makes them…read morebetter than any restaurant I've been in! We do occasionally go to one and the food is usually very good - we just never get steak. A friend took us here for lunch. It's really a very nice place. It was obviously upscale and looked great. We were greeted and seated right away. Our server came over and took drink orders. When she came back she went over a special or two and gave us time to make our choices. She was attentive without being too much. Our food was delicious! We enjoyed our meal and the time spent with a friend. Would I go back? Maybe! As I mentioned, we're not really steak house people, but I do highly recommend it fo