Urban Chestnut has lived in my memory as one of the greats. I first visited eight years ago and fell in love--the beer was excellent, the food outstanding, and the atmosphere felt like something truly special. I stopped in frequently over the next couple years and always left impressed.
After a six-year absence, I found myself passing through St. Louis and thought I'd revisit a place that had once meant a lot to me. Unfortunately, this return visit fell far short of the legacy I remembered.
I ordered the salmon, which was extremely dry and overpriced. Easily one of the most disappointing plates I've had in recent memory. Thankfully, the dunkle I ordered next redeemed things somewhat--it was every bit as good as I remembered. Smooth, rich, and well-crafted.
Wanting to finish on a high note, I tried a half pour of the West Coast IPA. From the first sip, I knew something was off--it tasted soapy and off-balance. As a brewer, I've had many West Coast IPAs. This wasn't a bad interpretation--it was a bad beer. I asked the bartender to confirm, and after smelling it, he simply said, "That's it." No offer to replace it, no acknowledgment of the issue. When I mentioned it again to the person who checked me out, I got a flat, "Okay." That was it.
I ordered three things: two were frankly awful, one was fantastic. But what stung the most wasn't the beer or the food--it was the service. It was the warmth and care of the staff that had always made this place feel like more than just a brewery. Sadly, that part seems to be gone.
I truly hope this was just an off day. But for a place I used to hold in such high regard, this visit was deeply disappointing.
As a brewer I know better - if someone isn't satisfied with my beer, I make it right, I don't stick them with it read more