"Really Good Food, Really Good Price."…read more Me and a friend stopped in here for Taste of Maplewood for a quick late evening dinner. When we walked in, we saw the traditional Japanese artwork with their logo. The floors were very clean and mopped as well. The staff were very quick on making our order, as well as being very attentive and quick taking our order. The owner was quick on making my friend's matcha ice cream. I ordered a Taiyaki and Katsu Bowl. The Katsu Bowl's serving size was very plentiful, and the Taiyaki was very good with the red bean paste, even it sounded disgusting to me since I do not like baked beans. What an amazing experience I had at Sando Shack.

I feel compelled to write this at the chance someone who cares will see it. This place had all the…read moremakings of a good restaurant, but, like so many, it's neglected. The ingredients seemed good but my chicken thigh was cheap, the chicken was burned, the sauce was too salty, and the sandwich was half heartedly put together. The fries and sauce were very good -- and obviously required the least effort. That's what gives me hope. The restaurant itself has sticky floors (which I've tried to avoid after I turned 30) and is a bit of a mess. There's a towel sitting under the big jug of water. It's just not clean or easy to be in. I saw the pics when you guys were a food truck. I know you were making incredible stuff. The gal at the front was friendly enough, but all in all this was a bull*hit experience considering the potential. The restaurants that are consistently good have the owners/head chef watching, caring, and making sure their workers deliver the experience that was intended. I have no doubt if someone who really cared showed up this place would be all I was hoping.

You walk in, they tell you to order at the counter, hand you a number, and for a split second you…read morethink "oh, this is gonna be a glorified Chipotle situation." Reader. It is not. It is a Trojan horse for one of the best burgers in St. Louis (my wife says I'm being dramatic for calling it THE best; I say I am not NOT going back for another). We enjoyed everything we order: the pork belly burnt ends and cashew chicken wings, and a coffee & cardamom old fashioned that sounds like a personality disorder but tastes like a vibe, smoky, a touch sweet, and very drinkable year-round. The Sam Elliott burger, BBQ sauce, bacon, crunchy onions, brioche, is named for a man who has never disappointed anyone, and neither does the sandwich. And the meatloaf is NOT your grandma's brick: tender, charred at the edges, laid over silky mashed potatoes with broccolini, perhaps closer to a chop steak than a loaf in the best possible way. Vibe is farm-chic: old church pews, repurposed interior doors, a proper bar up front, plus a patio and rooftop for when the weather cooperates. Fun fact -- it's named after the blue duck Billy Madison paints in elementary school, which is a fantastic piece of trivia and tells you absolutely nothing accurate about the actual restaurant. 4.7 Stars. Picking Nits: the counter-order setup is efficient, but it sets expectations in the wrong direction for the first 90 seconds, you brace for fast-casual and instead get something considerably more ambitious. Food comes out fast once you've ordered, which is great if you're hungry and slightly jarring if you wanted a slow, lingering dinner. And the Billy Madison naming is charming trivia but entirely misleading as a vibe preview, no complaints about the actual restaurant, just the branding expectations it sets. If The Blue Duck were a character: Ron Swanson. Hear me out. If Ron ate here, he'd be suspicious of the entire experience until his first bite of protein -- the counter ordering, the repurposed doors, a burger named after a fellow mustachioed American, all of it registering as potentially too clever. Then the Sam Elliott hits his plate, he takes one bite, and the skepticism dissolves into the quiet respect of a man who has found his people. Looks rustic. Has strong feelings about meat. Secretly sophisticated -- plays saxophone in a jazz club under a fake name, builds his own furniture, would 100% approve of the farm-chic decor once the protein has spoken. Presents as simple. Isn't.

Excellent cocktails - both interesting and reasonable priced (IMO). Food was also tasty…read more Wandered in here for lunch after moving a friend on a Saturday, seating at the bar readily available. Parking lot in rear.

If you're looking for an elevated take on classic comfort food, Bolyards Meat & Provisions is an…read moreabsolute must-visit. From the moment you walk in, the warm, welcoming vibe makes you feel right at home. Every bite showcases incredible attention to quality--whether it's their perfectly smoked meats, juicy burgers, or decadent sides. Service was friendly and attentive, making the experience feel personal and unhurried. Portions are generous, so you leave completely satisfied but still dreaming about your next visit. Pair your meal with a cider or one of their fountain drinks, and it becomes an event rather than just dinner. Honestly, Bolyards balances casual comfort with chef-level execution--10/10 would recommend to anyone who loves bold, hearty flavors.

Just go by direct from the farmers, the markup isn't worth it here anymore. As others have…read morementioned, they do over salt their prepared food fairly often but that's just the chef's palate. Everything's high-quality and poor value after accounting for the price. I stopped in to pick up a pork loin because I was around the corner, looking for ~3-4lbs of meat. They only had a 1 1/2 pound in the case (order taker weighed it to confirm before going to the back, which should've been my first warning) so I asked if they had any larger ones. They were nice enough to check and offer to cut one. That's where things went downhill. After waiting 5 or 10 minutes, my order taker came back out to ask how I wanted it prepped (bone or boneless, skin on or off). I said skin off and ambivalent on the bones. This was my mistake, leaving my fate to the hands of someone profit motivated. I walked out with just about a 3 pound bone in roast, which is maybe half a pound more meat than the one and a half pound I turned down - not enough for my guests and I. Had I gotten a roast closer to 4lbs, I would've been unhappy with the price but not enough to write a review. Additionally, they only charged a dollar less for bone in. At $15/lb, I effectively paid the price of their beef for the meat after accounting for the bone. I felt tricked. In hindsight, I should've just turned it down when I saw the price, but I was a bit too shocked to say anything. So I paid my bill and swore that I wouldn't be coming back for anything but (maybe) sausage or a snack again.

It's been 24 hours since having this sandwich experience and I've told my spouse, my sister, my…read moreneighbors, my coworkers. I swear I had a religious experience it was so amazing. My mouth is literally watering as I type this. I had the American Wagyu Cheesesteak Sandwich with hot peppers and I will be dreaming of this sandwich until I can return for more. I have been ruined for other Cheesesteak sandwiches.

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop was located right next to my eye doctor, so my Mom and I decided to have…read morelunch here. The staff were friendly and the owner was front and center, in front of the register. I chose the BLT and my Mom got the Homemade Turkey. I liked my BLT and my Mom enjoyed her Homemade Turkey, but she noted that the turkey was a bit too dry for her tasting. The bread was super good but almost a bit too filling since it's a soft white bread. We would come back though because it was somewhat affordable and very clean inside.

I got the Italian. Bread was soft and fresh. Ingredients were well portioned and flavorful. I call…read morethis sandwich a proper Italian. I'll be ordering again!

Went with a group of coworkers and it was an overall crowd pleaser. The Cuban was a huge hit and…read moreeveryone that had it said the mustard really set it apart from other Cubans. They said there was a kick to it that made it. I had the Italian. It was a solid sandwich! I feel like the Italian was missing one extra flavor to add a little kick to it, but that might be a personal preference. The staff was very friendly and they greeted the regulars very warmly. Only downside is there are cookies or anything sweet to round off the meal. But the music in there was top tier!

Coming to St. Louis for work, the first day I was in the office my team went out to lunch and…read moretouted Pastaria Deli & Wine. This was so good; we came here the whole week we were in St. Louis for lunch! The office I was working in was on the same block as Pastaria Deli & Wine, so a less than five-minute walk from the office, so no driving or need to hail an Uber was awesome. Inside there are wine bottles all over the walls and it just has this cozy, Italian café/deli vibe. Depending on when you get there, the line to the cash register can snake out the door, but it moves pretty fast. There's a surprising number of tables inside and since the weather was nice, there were several tables out in front. Each day, we had the same cashier, Carly (I believe that's her name). Carly was incredibly bubbly, cute, fun! Once we placed our order, we received a metal tag with a number on it and found a table. I didn't order any sort of specialty drink; I took advantage of the free water located near the back of the restaurant. The time from when we placed our order to getting our lunch was pretty quick, even when the place was packed for lunch. So for the three days I was in St. Louis, I ordered these three sandwiches: 1. Il Capo Italiano: Lemon ricotta, mortadella, soppressata, mozzarella, giardiniera, salted potato chips (Miss Vickie's most likely), arugula, red wine vinegar, & extra virgin olive oil on a 6.5" Union Loafers Hoagie - A jam-packed sandwich! The lemon ricotta was amazing and the crunch from the salted potato chips was excellent. Beware that this sandwich is heavy on the oils, so be prepared to "wear" this sandwich the rest of the day unless you brought your toothbrush. haha This sandwich was plenty thick, the slices of mozzarella really helped to make this sandwich thick and filling. 2. Volpi Heritage Prosciutto: Volpi Heritage prosciutto, butter, lemon olive oil, & house-made giardiniera on a 6.5" Union Loafers Hoagie - The lemon olive oil was a very pleasant flavor, not too strong. Of the three sandwiches I ordered, this was the smallest in terms of fillings but it was still plenty filling for lunch with a bag of Miss Vicky's Spicy Dill Pickle chips! 3. Chicken Bacon Ranch: Thin sliced chicken breast, bacon, smoked cheddar cheese, tomato, arugula, banana peppers, & jalapeno-ricotta ranch on a 6.5" Union Loafers Hoagie - The sliced chicken breast was piled on thick and the bacon was a welcome addition. There was plenty arugula and banana peppers inside but the jalapeno-ricotta ranch elevated this! Creamy with a slight spicy kick to it. I didn't have one bad meal here and for the quality and quantity, I felt the prices were pretty reasonable, especially in the year 2026. Pastaria Deli & Wine is an awesome lunch spot! The friendly staff, cool, authentic Italian-vibes, fast service, and the quality food, it comes together here! I can't wait to come back through St. Louis for work and stop in here again for lunch, maybe I'll even treat myself to some of their gelato!

If you're a fan of pastaria but want it during lunch when they're closed, pastaria deli is a great…read morealternative! The ambiance is a little more relaxed and cafe vibes. You order at the counter and choose your own seat. I ordered the delicious kale caeser wrap with chicken & Mrs. Vickie's sea salt chips. They have an assortment of sandwiches, salads & desserts, including gelato. There's a cute little grocery section too with some specialty items, like boxed sugar cookies. Our food was ready fast. Even the coke from the can was fresh & delish. Would def come back!

I've been wanting to get to this coffee shop for a long time, and was not disappointed. Was not…read moredifficult to get to, parking was easy on the street right in front, great atmosphere, friendly help. My favorite thing was the pass it forward where you could purchase a coffee for someone else leaving a note on the board. Staff were very friendly and knowledgeable. I did not eat any food but my latte was delicious! Will definitely be back.

This spot has been on my "to visit" list for so long and I'm grateful the Coffee Pass helped me…read morecheck it off my list. It's a cute coffee shop in the core of Maplewood. They have a great menu to choose from and amazing service - they're literally so kind. Drinks were delicious and I loved the muffin I got! Definitely a great spot to swing by if you're in the area :) Also I love that they show what they support. It's so important in this day and age to do so.

Central State Sandwiches is a great addition to the 2nd Shift Brewery. A nice variety of sandwiches…read moreon great chewy hogie bread The ChopCheese features a great combo of short rib, brisket and tri-tip Tender and full of flavor. The Pesto Chicken Club is also very good. The Jalapeño cheese adds a little heat. The wings are marinated in buttermilk. Both buffalo and bourbon sauces are house made as is the Ranch dressing. The owner / chef is personable and helpful. Housed in the family friendly 2nd Shift Brew Pub.

This spot is located inside 2nd shift brewing. The chopped cheese was pretty good. They use union…read moreloafers bread. Fast service. Order online and pick up at inside window.

My coffee was really good, it came out really quick, perfect temperature and there was some good…read moreseasonal things on the menu. The staff was super nice and friendly and I appreciate the good customer service. It was pretty clutch how it was within a mile from my hotel and I will return. Thanks for the delicious coffee and pick me up before my work event. They have food, a kids menu they have pastries. They have desserts and sweets. They have a lot of good options and got a good table space here.

My wife and I have been coming to the living room since we started dating over a decade ago. Over…read moretime the restaurant has expanded but kept the same great service. The new (ish) expansion was a great move. The restaurant space is open and bright with ample room to spread out. The menu has a good mixture. My favorite is the wingspan breakfast. It is a medium boiled egg, bacon, and a peppery biscuit. I get it every time. They also make good drinks and I'm partial to their chais. Overall it is a great neighborhood coffee shop. .

Biscuits and gravy on Sunday! Southern comfort food, savory w a hint of heat. Next time I'll ask…read morefor gravy on the breakfast bowl! Very satisfying and a little different than most. yum.

Finally got around to visiting and Kentzo Coffee and it was such an enjoyable experience. They have…read morereally made the space their own and offering lots of seating options. The service was great. You walk up to the counter to order. We ordered the BLT and Basil Pesto Club. They do not skimp on the meat here! My Basil Pesto Club was loaded with turkey, bacon and pesto! The break was great and the chips and pickle were a nice addition to the meal. My partner got the BLT and it also did not disappoint. A very filling and flavorful sandwiches. We were not able to sample their coffee but will be back to try them