Polite Society Polite Society set the tone for my entire St…read more Louis trip. If you know me, you know -- if I see octopus on the menu, I'm ordering it. And this one did not disappoint. It was perfectly cooked, flavorful, and honestly one of my favorite dishes from the trip. I also had a scallop dish that was just as good -- rich, well-seasoned, and beautifully prepared. On top of the food, they have a really strong wine selection, which made the experience even better. The overall vibe is polished and elevated without feeling too formal. Service was great, food came out on time, and everything felt intentional. Highly recommend if you're looking for a nice dinner spot in St. Louis.

Food: quite good, for each person in our party…read more Auto-gratuity: not good; actually, quite bad.

I literally live a 4 minute walk from here and have no idea why it took me this long to check it…read moreout. I took my boyfriend here last night for his 24th birthday celebration, and boy did it exceed every expectation. When we first arrived, we were taken aback by the waterfall feature at the front door. We genuinely thought we were at the wrong entrance. Turns out it was entirely intentional, and in the excitement of the evening, we forgot to ask about the story behind it. A fun little mystery to solve on our next visit. We arrived about 30 minutes early and were welcomed warmly from the moment we walked in. The staff gave us a lovely intimate table with a great view of the restaurant's eclectic decor and designs. The ambiance struck the perfect balance, lively and engaging without being so loud that we could not have a real conversation, which for my partner and me is genuinely one of the most important aspects of a dining experience. Since we both work incredibly busy schedules, this was not only a birthday celebration but our first proper date night in quite a while, and the atmosphere made it feel truly special. The staff even surprised us with a complimentary prosecco for the birthday, something we were absolutely not expecting and deeply appreciated. On the drinks side, although I am not personally a big drinker, my boyfriend loves exploring new spirits and cocktail combinations. The bartenders were fantastic: knowledgeable, approachable, and genuinely enthusiastic about their recommendations across both wines and spirits. They made the whole experience feel curated rather than transactional. Now, let me tell you about Jelly. Our server Jelly was, without question, the highlight of the entire evening, and that is saying a lot given how spectacular everything else was. I have a severe pineapple allergy, and if you dine out with food allergies, you know the usual routine. The server writes it down, maybe glances at it when the food arrives, and you spend the whole meal quietly hoping for the best. Jelly was on an entirely different level. She went completely above and beyond, meticulously checking every food option and wine pairing to ensure nothing contained pineapple and that there was zero risk of cross contamination. When a wine bottle did not clearly list its ingredients, she did not guess or assume. She looked it up on the internet right then and there to confirm it was safe for me. That gesture might sound simple, but for someone with a severe allergy, it is everything. It communicates that she genuinely cared about my wellbeing, not just about getting through her tables for the night. I felt completely taken care of, safe, and able to relax and enjoy myself without the anxiety that usually accompanies dining out with an allergy. Jelly, if you ever read this: thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are exceptional at what you do and an absolute asset to Blood & Sand. And now, the food, which was nothing short of breathtaking. From the presentation, to the pacing and timing, to the extraordinary depth of flavor on every plate, the food at Blood & Sand is spectacular and amazing in the truest sense of both words. My boyfriend and I had the 5 course tasting menu with wine pairings. We had originally hoped for the 10 course, but it was not being offered that evening. No matter, because the 5 course delivered more than enough to leave us completely floored. The evening opened with a palate initiator of carrots, goat cheese, and walnuts. I will be honest, I was not excited. Carrots and goat cheese are genuinely two of my least favorite foods on the planet. But I gave it a try and it was absolutely heavenly. A perfect encapsulation of what this kitchen does: it takes ingredients you think you know and transforms them into something you cannot stop thinking about. My absolute favorites of the evening were the tuna carpaccio, the wagyu flank steak, and the pierogis. Each one was cooked and composed to perfection. Everything melted in my mouth and left me wishing the courses would never end. My one constructive note is on the oyster course. I love oysters and eat them often, so I was genuinely looking forward to this one. The portion, two very small oysters with modest accompaniments of horseradish, a small salsa, and lemon, felt a little light even by tasting menu standards. I would love to see either four oysters at that size or two larger ones. It was gone so quickly and felt slightly out of step with the generosity of every other course. That small note aside, Blood & Sand delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I have had in a long time. Every single person on that floor, from the bartenders to the host to the incredible Jelly, went above and beyond to make the night comfortable, fun, intimate, and genuinely special. We will absolutely be back, and next time I will not wait so long given that I practically live next door.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

30. The place was pretty empty/ maybe 3 other tables while we were there. (that's a bad sign)…read moreWe originally had reservations for 8 but one person couldn't attend so we arrived with 7. The menu had printed that the 5 course tasting menu was only for parties of 6 or less. We inquired knowing it may not be able to happen since we had 7, but it was worth a try since it was just one more person. The waitress said she would have to ask the chef to see if he could do 7 instead of 6..... she came back to inform us that the chef was not able to accommodate this request. Ok, fine. A rule is a rule, but there were only 3 other tables in there the entire time we dined. I love music and a good vibe but the music was so loud over our table we could hardly hear each other speak. (90s Cranberries at that).... The cocktails and apps were the only good part of the meal, but $25 for one cocktail is a stretch unless I'm in Vegas or St. Barths. All of our main entrees were overly salted- like so salty we all commented how salty each of ours was. I had the pasta. Good flavor and creamy but too salty. No decaf coffee. I've never been to a fine dining restaurant that doesn't have decaf for an after dinner drink. Strange. Then it was time to pay. There was a noted 3% credit card fee. We paid with cash. The waitress attempted to say she didn't think she would have change because "there was no one working that had to cash to break our bills." Really? No one has cash at a restaurant? Must be next door with the decaf coffee and dinner music. The cherry on top that leads me to write a negative review (I am in my 40s and can never recall leaving a negative ereciew) The friend that made the reservation just found a $200 charge to her credit card from this joke of a restaurant. Ends up they charge the card you make your reservation with $25 per person and supposedly take this amount off the bill when you pay... we paid with cash and then they still charge the card. I'm well aware hardly anyone pays with cash anymore, but people still do. Be ready. Everything about this place screams closing in 18 months, poor quality control in the kitchen and no owner/management oversight.

good service and taco salad was outstanding. pickle soup very good. Cheese sandwich was very good…read more Adult rootbeer float with bourbon was great.

Every time I come here, I always wonder to myself why I don't come more often. As a gluten free…read morefoodie, I can appreciate the care they put into making sure every meal is filling, tasty and an absolute knockout. Tucked away in Locust, I love that they are open early enough for a nice lunch or late enough for an after-event nosh. If you're curious about this place, I definitely encourage you to give it a try!

The wife and I went here for our Anniversary and my birthday. The ambiance of this place is…read moreamazing the service also matches the ambiance. Kimberly sure knows how to make her guest feel special and welcomed. Vibe was great and food was good. We will return.

I saw they completed some renovations and knew I had to go see for myself. I love the changes they…read moremade. It was not warm enough to sit on the patio but I plan to go back to do so. I was looking forward to hearing music while I ate brunch. It took awhile for the DJ to get it going but once it did everything felt right. Last I remembered they had good food and thankfully they still do! I ordered the southern entree that came with catfish filet sliced, toasts, 2 eggs, and grits. I was able to substitute shrimp and grits for the grits for a $4.99 up charge. Our server was amazing and did not rush us to order. She was very pleasant and I wish I remembered her name.

1111 Mississippi was the perfect way to wrap up my St. Louis food lineup…read more I love stuffed mushrooms, so of course I had to try theirs -- and they were a 10 out of 10. Flavorful, rich, and cooked exactly how they should be. The menu leans Italian, with a lot of classic, comforting dishes that make you want to sit, relax, and really enjoy your meal. The vibe is cozy with a slightly upscale feel, making it a great option for a sit-down dinner. Service was smooth, the food was consistent, and overall it was just a really solid dining experience. Definitely recommend if you're in the mood for Italian or just want something reliable and good

After 68 minutes we still had not received our entrées. Just one salad and a drink. What was…read moreespecially frustrating was that another table was seated after us and were already served and finished with their dinners while we were still waiting. We expect reasonable pacing and consistency in service, and that simply wasn't our experience that evening. Guests should be served in a timely and equitable manner.

This place was SO nice! Very much a surprise as we walked over from the Aquarium to watch the…read moreOlympics. It was decorated all out for the Olympics and they have several comfy couch areas which were perfect for us with our toddler who does not want to sit still... We spent a few hours here and had some appetizers and drinks. We had the pub pretzel, pickle chips, fried cheese and soup. All were out quickly and very good. The pretzel was SO good! Served with mustard and warm cheese for dipping and it's huge. Service was friendly and fast. Bathrooms are spacious and new and clean with a nice large stall for baby changing. It wasn't crowded in the middle of a day on Friday so, pleasant to watch the game with a small group. I'm sure it can get really busy and rowdy during sports events downtown. All in all, new and comfy and a place I can see us coming often.

It doesn't make sense to eat a heavy meal mere minutes before running a 5K downtown, but I didn't…read morelet that stop me from doing just that yesterday evening. My coworkers, who also ran, insisted on meeting up here. They didn't really run, they walked. I can't walk a 5K, because pull your head out of your ass. I could have ordered something light, but I figured I'd go in, since I won't be returning. I don't have the means or the interest to catch a soccer game at the nearby stadium, and even if I did, I heard they've got good food vendors. What do I need with this place? Depending on how much they want for beer across the street, it might make sense to pregame here, especially if they're pulling the same BS they pull at Riverport where the police roam the parking lot and try to prevent you from drinking in your car, as one does. My little brother's running group had a function here after a marathon I ran a few weeks ago. Free food and drinks. I'm not even a member of that group, but I was dressed in running attire and wearing a medal. You best believe I got my drink on. Did it aid in my recovery? No. No, it did not. I got the sense that they had busboys and randos from off the street running orders and that this place might not be fully staffed except for on game day. That was also the case yesterday evening. The guy waiting our table obviously didn't know what he was doing, but he seemed chill and ultimately got the job done. Hopefully my boss left him a tip. The menu consists of standard sports bar fare, including two sandwiches that purport to feature meat from the Carnegie Deli. I found this highly improbable, but I couldn't pass up the opportunity to join the ranks of Bowzer from Sha Na Na and Arthur Fonzarelli. This may have been my one opportunity in life. You can get either a basic pastrami on rye, for purists, or people with certain dietary restrictions, or the Reuben. I of course went with the latter. I found it surprisingly neat, without too much sauerkraut, thousand island dressing and what have you, to where it gets all sloppy. The slices of meat were uniform to the point where I was concerned, but damn it if it wasn't moist and flavorful. Nullus. It's pastrami, so it's supposed to be processed anyway. It comes with your choice of fries, chips or some sort of salad. For chips, you can get Red Hot Riplets, which is nice for tourists. It'll save them from having to go to a Schnucks. We should all be lucky. I went with the fries, for the sake of citizen food journalism. Surprisingly, these were shoestring fries, not unlike at a Steak 'n Shake. You don't see that as often these days. Were they great? No. But it was still kinda neat that they had them. Really, you're just going here because it's either across the street from the soccer stadium or (I think) built into Union Station. In that sense, it's almost like they're doing you a favor by offering food that's not half bad. What else are you going to do, try to go drink in your car?

Was in town on vacation and wanted to hit a unique breakfast spot, it was just that passionate…read moreworkers and authentic diner food if your around skip the overpriced gentrified spots and give them a go.

Always greeted by terrific service and smiling faces. The food is delicious and always fresh!read more

Great breakfast and great service on my visit to Chris @ The Docket. I just looked at my photos and…read moreI guess I didn't take any pics. I was early to the baseball game and I asked two policemen where is the best breakfast that is within walking distance. Both answered that the Docket was the place. They were right, it is. I had the Chicken Fried Steak, hash browns, eggs and sour dough toast. All were so good. Nikiya was my server and she was perfect...so friendly, engaging and extremely friendly.

The food here was really good. Mimosas were available! They have all kinds of coffee with liquors…read moreand without. It is on a corner and you park at a 45 degree angle by backing in which was new to us! New to some other folks too as they didn't do so hot! My husband enjoyed his croissant sandwich. Bacon was well done how he likes it. I had the French toast with cheese eggs and sausage. All was very good. They also have turkey meat options. Prices and portions were not too bad for what we got. It is a large place not over crowded. They have room for more tables so they may have some when parties get large.