Dine Out at These 8 St. Louis Restaurants

St. Louis is a delightful Midwest destination famed for sports and delicious food. When you visit St. Louis, you’ll want to sample some of its excellent eateries, which serve cuisines created in the city and iconic dishes from the native countries of people who have settled here. Whether you’re a native of St. Louis or a visitor, eating at some of these local restaurants will have you falling in love with the place one meal at a time.

Broadway Oyster Bar

“Oysters” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by cwasteson

The Broadway Oyster Bar is unlike anywhere else in St. Louis, with live music seven nights a week. Broadway is a Cajun-Creole eatery that also serves as a bar and a concert venue. It has been named one of the best live music venues and best places for day drinking in 2021, among other numerous awards. This restaurant is famed for fresh seafood and authentic Creole cuisine. You can try delicacies such as fried alligator, crawfish appetizers, and oysters.

Broadway Oyster Bar conjures the look and feel of a dive bar, is charmingly rustic, and exudes much-loved New Orleans flavor. With a packed music schedule from some of the best local and national touring acts, Broadway Oyster Bar is the place to be if you’re a music and food enthusiast.

Chiang Mai

Although Thai cuisine has a rich history in St. Louis, most local Thai establishments specialize in cuisine from central Thailand. At Chiang Mai, Chef Su Hill reveals the culinary traditions and techniques unique to Northern Thailand, particularly the city of Chiang Mai, which is famed for treats like khao munn gai. Top servings you can try at Chiang Mai include green papaya salad and delectable pig sausages. One thing you can be certain of at Chiang Mai is the culinary mastery of its three chefs, which has made this eatery a local favorite.

Hendel’s

This charming, family-run establishment located in Old Town Florissant opened its doors in 2004 and has made its mark as a welcoming and popular restaurant for St. Louis residents and visitors. Hendel’s Restaurant has a custom-built oak lounge where you can enjoy a glass of wine from its extensive wine list, craft beers, and cocktails.

Stop by for one of their sumptuous burgers over your lunch hour. If you are visiting for dinner, you can try the stuffed mushrooms, Bavarian pretzel, or the delicious toasted ravioli. Alternatively, you can indulge in an array of other sandwiches such as a chicken Philly, turkey club, or ale-battered cod. Hendel’s offers live music every Friday and Saturday evening to keep you entertained.

Bogart’s Smokehouse

Bogart’s Smokehouse is home to the sweetest, smokiest meats, taking barbecued foods to a whole new level. Bogart’s has the cuisine for you, whether it’s delicious pulled pork, a smoky beef brisket, or aromatic apricot bruléed ribs. Pit-baked beans, egg potato salad, BBQ pork skins, and applesauce, as well as sweet and smokey sauces, are offered with all the meats. Bogart’s also offers takeout and a variety of meats by the pound, which is ideal for a family picnic.

The Fountain on Locust

The Fountain on Locust is a must-see in St. Louis. Fountain on Locust serves a variety of handcrafted café-style dishes, but it’s the nostalgic sweets and drinks that bring the crowds. Their ice cream martinis are the most luscious cocktails you’ll ever have, and the exquisite desserts will remind you that desserts aren’t just for kids.

You can also enjoy a cocktail and a platter of pita and hummus at the bar, or relax in a cubicle as you take in the restaurant’s in-house entertainment. If you’re a fan of sodas, you’ll love the Fountain on Locust’s handcrafted phosphate soft drinks.

Mai Lee

Mai Lee is located in the Brentwood neighborhood of Greater St. Louis. Its founder, Lee Tran, is originally from Vietnam and after working as a waitress at Chinese restaurants in America, she founded Mai Lee to honor her heritage.

At Mai Lee, you can sink your teeth into their signature sandwich made up of an egg foo young patty, crunchy iceberg lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and pickles sandwiched between two slices of white bread. You can also enjoy their delectable Vietnamese noodle soup, steamed pork, and hearty noodle bowls. If you’re in a party of eight or more, you can make reservations at this bespoke Vietnamese restaurant. If weather permits, you can request outdoor seating.

The Crossing

The Crossing is an exquisite restaurant that heavily borrows culinary elements from Italy and France while incorporating the best of local vegetables, meats, and seafood into its eclectic delicacies. With every visit here, take time to sample the unique tasting menus and savor every bite. The dinner menu features dishes such as tagliatelle and octopus. You can also spoil yourself with tuna parsnips, spiced lamb chops, and beef tenderloin. Dessert consists of fried apple pie, warm chocolate torte, blueberry cheesecake, and lemon ginger crème brûlée.

Clementine’s

A scoop of ice cream is the perfect way to end a day of adventure in St. Louis. Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery will satisfy your taste buds while also serving as a nightcap in one fabulously tidy scoop. On the naughty side of the menu, a boozy scoop pairs sweet ice cream with rum, bourbon, cabernet, and other adult beverages to create flavors like Boozy Banana Rum and Chocolate Cabernet.

Unique and tasty alcohol-free flavors like carrot cake, banoffee, Love Handles, and Gooey Butter Cake can be found on the nice side of the menu. Hot Toddy, Lady Marmalade, Coconut Chai, and Reishi and Chaga are just a few of the delicious vegan ice cream flavors served at Clementine’s.

The team at VW of Marion has provided you with several fine restaurants to visit in St. Louis. Did we include your favorite eatery? Or, did we overlook a notable St. Louis restaurant? In any case, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Get in touch, and let’s keep the conversation going.