St. Louis’ Midsemester Report
So, I’ve lived in St. Louis for over two months now. I’ve lived in MISSOURI for over two months!!! It feels weird to say that, and if I’m being honest, I was a bit scared about it. Coming from the giant metropolis of Chicago and heading south to the gateway of the midwest seemed unappealing. I remember sitting in the backseat while on the I-90 snuggling next to the stack of suitcases and duffle bags around me. I looked out of the window onto the skyline of Chicago and thought how am I going to St. Louis right now. Well, I am here, and I can attest as a city girl, it’s not bad. In fact, I enjoy it here.
If I’m being even more honest, I was most scared about the food here. I was going to miss the comfort of knowing that a good meal existed just a block from me at Crosby’s Kitchen or a few miles away downtown. Yet, as it should have been expected, I’ve found some amazing gems in St. Louis that I love. While I just took my midterms and am awaiting my grades now, here is my report card on the food scene in St. Louis.
1. Little Fox
After one and a half days of moving all of my stuff into my dorm, my parents and I were ready for a meal. We headed to Little Fox, a neighborhood restaurant in Fox Park. They consider themselves based on Brooklyn bistros. The place was lively, bright, and felt like the perfect spot for a mid-day break. Their menu is quite interesting, with foods based on St. Louis traditions but with a fresh and modern twist. I was drawn to the Baked Eggs, with peperonata, fontina, beurre monte, grilled bread, and a side of arugula salad. I wasn’t sure what all of these ingredients were, but the eggs were delicious. They were cheesy and flavorful, and the housemade bread was spectacular. I remember thinking I’m going to be ok here.
2. Brasserie
That night, the last night that my parents would be with me, we didn’t know where we would end up for dinner. We tried multiple restaurants near campus, yet all were full on that Saturday night. Somehow, we managed to walk into the bar at Brasserie. I was in awe. Located in the Central West End, Brasserie is a french-american bistro with a classic and warm vibe. My mom and I split the burger, a bibb lettuce salad, and a side of carrots – all of which were delicious. The burger, however, was my favorite. I am sad to say that I do not have a photo of this burger, but when I go back to Brasserie for the third time, I will get one for you.
At dinner, my parents and I had been talking about the aggressive nature of St. Louis drivers on the highway. They don’t let you in the lane, some drive like putt putts, and others just scare you. When our server/bartender came over to check in on us, my dad asked about the driving. Our concerns were confirmed. I will not be driving in St. Louis! I can barely handle the highway in Chicago! Well, she asked us what brought us into St. Louis, and my dad explained that I was moving in as a freshman to WashU. She was so excited for me, and I felt so welcomed by a stranger. A few moments later, she came back with a scoop of corn icecream (yes you read that right) with “congrats” written in chocolate. First, it was so sweet, and second, I was intrigued about corn ice cream.
Seems like corn isn’t just an infatuation in Illinois! Woops, that was corny. Woops. Ok. Back to the ice cream. Was it bad? No. Would I choose to eat it voluntarily? Probably not. But, it served as a fun welcome to this place I will call home for the next four years. We also ordered some profiteroles with hot fudge which were obviously delicious.
We went back to Brasserie again with my roommate Samantha and her family, marking our successful first month and a half at college. Brasserie is a great spot for celebratory moments or just a great meal. Definitely my favorite in St. Louis right now.
3. Bowood
Bowood is a part of the same restaurant group as Brasserie, and I am certainly a fan! I first went to Bowood with a few friends after our first week doing orientation. It was our last Saturday before classes began, and we wanted to make it count. The restaurant is located in a garden with a joint garden store. It is genuinely one of the cutest restaurants, and the food simply adds to the greatness of it. The restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch, and it is the perfect spot for a daytime gathering with friends or family. Walking in, I didn’t feel like I was in St. Louis anymore. The flowers everywhere and the sun shining in through the large windows transported me out of the midwest and to somewhere better.
I ordered the Cacio e Pepe Eggs, which were amazing. I had no idea eggs could taste so much like cacio e pepe, but they did it, and it worked. I would say that Bowood and Little Fox are similar in quality and the food they offer. The setting of Bowood just makes it so special.
Similar to Brasserie, I’ve also been to Bowood twice. I came back a few weekends ago when my parents visited for parents weekend to show them one of my favorite spots in St. Louis so far. My mom, a flower enthusiast, loved it too. It is definitely my favorite daytime restaurant spot, even beating restaurants in Chicago. It’s perfect!
4. Corner 17
I could talk about how much I love the coffee from Corner 17 in Olin Library for a long time, but I’m talking about the real Corner 17 in the Loop. Just a 10 minute walk from the main quad, the Delmar loop has a mile worth of shops and restaurants to explore. One Friday night, after watching the WashU football team beat some local Illinois college, my friends and I headed to the loop in hopes for a restaurant that would seat all 10 of us. Lucky for us, Corner 17 had a 10 person round table with a lazy susan ready for us. If you’ve read my article Little Frankies and a Big Table, you know how much I love a large round table. It’s just the best to be able to be with so many people and to see their faces! And of course, to eat good food with them too. We ordered a ton of Chinese food, sending the lazy susan back and forth the entire time. From dumplings, to cucumber salad, to noodles, to three types of chicken, Corner 17 is the perfect spot for some standard Chinese food.
5. White Castle
If it wasn’t obvious, do not get it.
6. Union Loafers
I first tried this restaurant for lunch with my parents over the weekend. A bread shop x restaurant, during the day Union Loafers serves up sandwiches and salads and for dinner they switch to the pizza oven. The menu isn’t too large; they only had a few sandwiches on the menu. I got the lunch menu, splitting half a sandwich and a salad. My combo was the Turkey and Swiss sandwich and the little gem salad. Other options included cauliflower chowder, chicken and rice, and a variety of sandwiches. I loved the Turkey sandwich. It was served on a thick slice of sourdough and had their “famous sauce” which tasted like deviled eggs. The salad was packed with fresh herbs and a creamy dressing that I also really enjoyed. I thought it was a cute and casual lunch spot.
One Friday evening, I decided to bring my friends back to try their pizza. We started off with some appetizers, including an Italian salad, Caesar salad, and meatballs, all of which were great. For pizzas, we kept it classy with classic pizzas and a pepperoni pizza. They were very yummy, and had a great Friday night dinner with a decently sized group. What made the dinner not great was the Cubs losing to the Brewers in the 5th game of the series, but the pizza made up for it.
7. Bistro La Floraison
On the last night of parents weekend, my parents and I ate at Bistro La Floraison. You can tell my family has an obsession with french food. However, it was different from Brasserie in food and setting. Floraison was definitely fancier and more upscale french food. We sat at a wooden table next to a cupboard, giving the restaurant a homy feel. There was art on the walls, a dark mood, and no music, making it feel like you were inside someone's home. For dinner, I had the Parisian Gnocchi with squash, pears, and brown butter. It was delicious! But, the real show stopper was the dessert. We went all out, ordering both the Dark Chocolate Mousse and the Pan Perdu topped with Clementines Ice cream. Seriously, I would go back just for the Pan Perdu. It’s definitely a restaurant that should be reserved for a special occasion, but it was amazing.
So, St. Louis does have a promising yet somewhat hidden food scene. Their midterm grade isn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I’d give St. Louis a solid B+. I’ve found some great spots that have made St. Louis not just a temporary place for me but my home – crazy as it is to say – for the next four years. And, sharing these places with my friends and family has been such a joy. And now, getting to reflect on this whole new array of spots with my friends and family at home is so exciting. I cannot wait to find the next spot and share it with you!
