Restaurant of the Month: U

Kelly did not have a lot of options to select from this month.  Apparently there are not many restaurants in St. Louis that begin with the letter U.  Luckily, she was able to find one that sounded good and we had never been to before:  Uptown Cafe.  Uptown Cafe is located in downtown Clayton  next to a bar that Kelly and I used to go to often before it closed a couple of years ago.  Neither of us realized this little cafe was even there!  The cafe is small and there were not a lot of people there, but it was obvious that it's a popular place for people who live/work nearby to pick up dinner on their way home.  I got the feeling that there are a lot of  "regulars".

Our server was friendly and the menu had a bigger selection that I anticipated of salads, sandwiches, pasta and pizza.  Kelly I selected the Manhattan Bruschetta to start with: A blend of artichokes, aged cheddar cheeses, fresh parmesan and minced garlic on a toasted baguette.  Although it was a little different than what we expected, more like a loaded garlic bread than bruschetta, it was delicious and we had no problem polishing it off!  For dinner we chose to share The Bronx pizza: barbecue chicken, red onion and roasted sweet red peppers topped with aged cheddar cheeses.  They offer hand tossed or thin crust and we tried the hand tossed.  The pizza was very good.  The crust was soft and chewy and tasted homemade.  The toppings were good and it wasn't too heavy on the cheese.  After our carb heavy dinner we were both stuffed!  We enjoyed Uptown Cafe and I told Jason we will have to go there for lunch sometime.  Now that I know it's there, we might even become one of those "regulars". 

Restaurant of the Month: T

Last week Kelly and I had dinner at Taste in the Central West End.  Taste is one of 3 restaurants owned by the same people (Niche and Brasserie) and I have heard good things about all 3 but never been to any of them.  If the other two are anything like Taste then they are a must try on my growing list of restaurants to go to in St. Louis. 

Taste is a small restaurant with a small menu that focuses on hand crafted cocktails (I'll have to go back to try these after the baby comes!) and small plates for sharing.  The food menu changes monthly and focuses on locally sourced ingredients.  Kelly and I chose a selection of small plates to share: Seared Scallops with roasted watermelon, arugula, balsamic vinegar, Roasted Squash Bruschetta with tomatoes, garlic, Carolina Gold Risotto with corn, tomatoes, cilantro, chile, and Pork Meatballs with pine nuts, spicy tomato sauce, reggiano.  All four were excellent.  We started with the seared scallops which were served on top of roasted watermelon.  The scallops were cooked perfectly and while I'm not usually a fan of watermelon, I devoured this warm, roasted version.  Next, we had the bruschetta which was topped with a mound of roasted yellow and green squash and red and yellow cherry tomatoes.  We moved on to the risotto which was both mine and Kelly's favorite dish of the four.  It was creamy with a little spice from the chile and large pieces of tomatoes and corn mixed in.  It was heavenly.  We topped off our meal with the pork meatballs which were also very good and had a bit of kick to them from jalapenos.  Four plates was just the right amount of food and we were both satisfied but not stuffed.  The prices at Taste were a little high with each plate ranging between $9-15 but well worth it. 

We had great service and our server was very knowledgeable about the menu. We attempted to dine out on the sidewalk patio but it was starting to rain so we ate inside where the atmosphere is cozy and even a little romantic with low lighting.  It would be a great place for date night!  I will definitely be back to Taste and look forward to trying Niche and Brasserie soon!

Restaurant of the Month: S

Last week Kelly and I went to Squires for dinner.  Squires is located in Lafayette Square and like many of the restaurants there has a great urban decor with exposed brick walls. I have been to Squires a couple of times, but it's been a while.  I was anxious to go back.  We got there around 5 and sat in the bar area where we  were able to take advantage of happy hour.  Kelly and I have found that this is the way to go during the week.  It's amazing how cheap our meals have been lately thanks to some great happy hour specials. There was also a live band playing - I think they are there every Thursday evening that was very good and drew quite a crowd.  We started with the goat cheese broiled with ozark forest wild mushrooms and served with warm herb flat bread.  It was so delicious!  I love goat cheese and have tried many varieties of dips made with it, but never one that included mushrooms which I also love.  It was served hot and bubbly with warm, soft flat bread.  I could have made a meal of that alone!  Kelly and I learned our lesson on ordering too much food last month so we opted to split the veggie burger topped with roasted sweet red bell peppers & cilantro cream cheese.  It had great flavor from black beans and the roasted red peppers.  But I think I was more interested in dipping the chips that came on the side in the remaining goat cheese dip :)  It was the perfect amount of food and we left satisfied but not stuffed. 

Restaurant of the Month: R

With so much baby excitement around here, I completely forgot to post my monthly restaurant review.  My July pick was Roxane's in Clayton.  Kelly and I had both been here for drinks before but never tried the food.  The menu had a wide variety of small plates so we opted to order several things and share.  We started with the Spinach Dip served with tortilla chips and warm bread.  Spin dip is always favorite of mine and is a little different everywhere you go.  I wouldn't say it was the best spinach dip I've ever had but it was good.  It was hot, bubbly and thick with lots of spinach and some chopped tomatoes.  For the main course we ordered Cheese ravioli with spinach and prosciutto and Buffalo chicken pizza with mozzarella, celery and bleu cheese.  Kelly also ordered the Jerk wings with island spices to take home for later.  So by the time all this food was on our table we looked like a couple of really hungry girls :)  It was way more food than we needed and all of them were much more than I anticipated from a "small" plate.  I think our favorite was the cheese ravioli which was stuffed with spinach and had prosciutto on top with some type of cream sauce.  It was delicious and the one plate that we managed to finish off.  The pizza was big enough to share for a meal in itself.  The crust was thin but not cracker-y and the chicken had just enough buffalo sauce to pack some punch without being messy!  The celery and bleu cheese complimented it nicely.  Needless to say we had leftovers but surprisingly our bill was very reasonable due to some of the small plates being half price during happy hour.  We got all of that food for $20!  While I didn't get to sample any cocktails, I would definitely recommend Roxane's as a great place for happy hour and appetizers/dinner.  It's a popular place with the twenty something crowd and was definitely buzzing by the time we left. 

Restaurant of the Month: Q

Last Sunday Kelly and I ventured out to Historic St. Charles and had lunch at Quintessential.   The weather was perfect.  We finally had a break from the heat and it was a beautiful 78 degrees and sunny so we opted to have lunch on the rooftop.  We got there a little after 11 and had the entire place to ourselves.  The restaurant is also a popular nightlife spot so I guess all the other patrons were home nursing hangovers :)  The  rooftop is huge!  With plenty of tables, outdoor lounge seating and two bars it would be the perfect spot to spend a summer evening enjoying a few drinks.    They offer a large menu with just about anything you could want: lots of appetizers, salads, burgers & sandwiches, pizza, pasta and even steaks.  These days I usually let this little baby growing inside of me dictate what sounds good and that particular day it was the Buffalo Chicken Sandwich (grilled chicken, hot sauce, bacon and cheddar cheese) which I got as a wrap with sweet potato fries on the side.  Kelly got the Crab Cake Sandwich (jumbo lump crab cake, tomato ginger chutney, and chipotle aioli on a wheat bun) with the sweet potato fries as well.  My wrap was good, but severely lacked on the hot sauce so it didn't quite satisfy my craving for buffalo chicken.  It was more like just a grilled chicken wrap with some bacon and cheese.  The fries were tasty though!  Kelly said her crab cake sandwich was good and while I didn't taste it, it looked good from where I sat :)  After lunch we continued to take advantage of the good weather and walked around historic Main Street and browsed through the boutiques. Of course after walking for a while we had to stop for an ice cream cone at an old fashioned ice cream parlor.

If you are ever looking for something to do on a Saturday or Sunday, I highly recommend going to Main Street and walking around.  There is a lot of history there (I learned all about Lewis & Clark when I went there for a field trip in 4th grade!) and if history isn't your thing there are tons of shops and restaurants to keep you busy. We found several cute children's boutiques that I know I am going to want to go back to once we find out the sex of the baby! There are also often festivals or concerts going on in Frontier Park.  Jason and I stumbled upon a Scottish Festival there one time and ended up having a lot of fun! 

Restaurant of the Month: P

Last night Kelly and I enjoyed the warm weather and had dinner on the patio at Pomme Cafe & Wine Bar. Pomme is a little sidewalk cafe located in the heart of Clayton.  I have walked past it many times and always thought I should give it try sometime so it was the perfect choice for the month!  Being 5:00 on a Tuesday evening the restaurant was empty when I arrived but by the time we left a couple of hours later it was beginning to fill up.  I decided to take advantage of the dry weather and sit outside.  The patio is small but shaded and is the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of wine on a summer evening.  While I wasn't inside long, the atmosphere was nice and cozy with brick walls and a chalkboard menu.

I had checked out the menu ahead of time and my mouth was watering at the thought of several options!  I decided to keep it light and go with the Veggie Sandwich which consisted of roasted red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce on whole grain bread spread with hummus.  It was served with roasted potatoes and the veggie of the day which happened to broccoli and cauliflower.  The sandwich was very good.   The hummus added a lot of flavor and I wasn't stuffed even after polishing off the whole thing!  Kelly had the Smoked Salmon BLT: smoked salmon, with bacon, lettuce & tomato on grilled white bread with whole grain mustard.  It looked amazing and according to Kelly it tasted just as good! 

Overall we had a great experience at Pomme Cafe.  It's someplace that I look forward to going back to and trying some of the other dishes that sounded tasty!  I'd also like to venture a couple of doors down and try out Pomme Restaurant, their more upscale sister restaurant.

Restaurant of the Month: O

Dinner club this month turned into a fun double date night with Kelly and Jason.  Kelly's choice for O: Oceano.  I don't think there was really any doubt where we would go.  Oceano is known for their fresh seafood and fish selections.  Jason and I have been there once but we realized it was 2 1/2 years ago and we were anxious to go back!  The atmosphere is nice - perfect place for a date night and the service is great.  Our server just happened to be our good friend Daniel so I wouldn't expect anything less :) 

The four of us shared an appetizer: Amber Glazed Salmon Flatbread with caper cream cheese and aged parmesan, wild greens, and fennel.   The flatbread was cut into pieces so it was perfect for sharing.  The salmon was cooked perfectly and the amber glaze was sweet and delicious!  Between the four of us we ended up only trying to entree's.  Two of us had the lobster risotto and two had the sea bass.  Both were excellent choices!  Kelly's Jason (this gets confusing!) and I had the lobster risotto.  It was rich and creamy topped with fresh lobster meat, melted leek, roasted garlic and parmesan cheese. I'm sure it was super unhealthy by the amounts of butter that were described as going into it, but I enjoyed every bite!  The portion was not overwhelming so I didn't feel too bad when I cleaned my plate.  Jason and Kelly both had the Sea Bass over sweet corn and asparagus risotto with a smoked tomato butter which was Daniel's top recommendation.  I can see why.  It was very good and part of me was wishing I had ordered it. So I just kept sneaking bites from Jason's plate.  Unfortunately, once again I did not take any pictures of our dinner and can't find any on the restaurant's website.

We had a wonderful meal and great time catching up with Kelly and Jason.  I highly recommend Oceano the next time you are in the mood for seafood and a nice night out!

Restaurant of the Month: N

Tuesday evening Kelly and I had dinner at Nosh in Maplewood.  I'd heard good things and have been wanting to try it for a while.  Nosh is a quaint little neighborhood cafe that serves up a full lunch and dinner seasonal menu that is committed to using local, seasonal organic and free range products as much as possible.  The atmosphere was cozy and Kelly and I both really liked the dark brown walls accented with colorful paintings and bright yellow tablecloths. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera to dinner so I have no pictures of the decor or the food.

When I walked into Nosh at 5:00 it was completely empty.  I was greeted by the friendly waiter who also acted as bartender and host as more people filled the restaurant.  A large party came in for a happy hour and while I imagine he was a bit overwhelmed being the only server he never neglected us.  He brought a carafe of water infused with orange slices and mint while I waited.  Very refreshing!  When Kelly arrived we ordered a glass of wine and the hummus: House made fresh hummus & balela salad platter with feta, kalamata olives, grilled veggies and toasted lavosh for dipping.  Kelly and I had both read rave reviews about the hummus and they were dead on.  It was probably the best hummus I've had.  It was very fresh, not too garlicy.  Just right.  I liked that it was served with a variety of vegetables as well like broccoli, cucumbers, and artichokes in addition to the lavosh for dipping.  We easily polished off the plate!

Kelly ordered the Mediterranean Chicken: Roasted bone in breast of chicken, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, fresh spinach, roasted red pepper, onion and feta cheese served over a bed of orzo.  She loved it.  I had the Polenta Cakes with Mediterranean Vegetables.  I enjoyed the polenta cakes, but wished they were a bit thicker.  I also thought it was a little heavy on the seasoning but overall it was very good.  Again, I enjoyed the fresh vegetables and did not leave feeling guilty for eating too much like I usually do when I go out! 

Nosh fits right in to the eclectic Maplewood neighborhood amongst the other locally owned shops and restaurants.  I'm glad I finally got to check it out!  I plan on going back and checking out the lunch menu soon!

Restaurant of the Month: M

Since we missed January, Kelly and I doubled up this month and tried two new restaurants. Last weekend we had dinner at Mango. Mango specializes in Peruvian cuisine which neither of us had tried before. We went to the original location in Shrewsberry which is actually closing at the end of the month. Despite being in a strip mall, the restaurant was cute and cozy - even a little romantic for my date with Kelly ;) We started our meal with a glass of wine and the complimentary fried plantains and a delicious green spicy sauce. Now, I hate bananas with a passion so I was a little hesitant to try these crispy little chips, but I am happy to say that they did not taste anything like bananas and were quite addicting! Kelly and I polished off two dishes of them before our meal!

Mango offers small plates for sharing as well as entrees. We decided to go the small plate route so we could try a variety of dishes. We chose: Empanada (baked pastries with beef, raisins, spanish olives & sweet peppers), Pascualina (spinach, onion, mushroom, egg & a blend of cheeses baked in a pie crust), Anticucho de Pollo (chicken skewers), and sauteed shrimp.

The empanada was different than those I've had at spanish style tapas restaurants. The pastry was crispy and golden on the outside and the filling was a nice blend of savory and sweet. The Pascualina was similar to Greek spanakopita and very good. The chicken and shrimp were both cooked just right and the sauce that came with the chicken, a itrus-aji amarillo sauce, was different than anything I have ever tasted.


For dessert we had Pionono, sponge cake rolled in rich dulce de leche. It was a little heavier than an angel food cake with caramel sauce drizzled over top. Delicious!

I thoroughly enjoyed my first taste of Peruvian cuisine and look forward to going to the downtown location to try other things on the menu and get more of those tasty plantain chips!

Restaurant of the Month: L

Kelly and I switched it up this month and met at Lola for brunch instead of our usual dinner. The brunch menu at Lola isn't big but offers a variety of crepes, waffles, egg benedicts and a few unique offers like Savory Creole Breakfast Bread Pudding. Kelly and I were eying several things so we decided to order two and share. We ended up with an Omelet Stuffed Crepe (spinach, mushrooms, gruyere, topped with a white sauce) and the Smoked Salmon Benedict. Both were delicious! The crepe was light and stuffed to the brim with spinach and mushrooms (that makes it healthy right?) and the sauce that topped it off added a nice creaminess without being overpowering. The benedict was a great take on the classic with an english muffin topped with smoked salmon, a poached egg and holandaise sauce. Paired with coffee and mimosas it was the perfect brunch!

Restaurant of the Month: K

Kelly and I had a lunch date this month at Katies Pizzeria. Jason and I went to Katie's a couple of years ago and we did not have a good experience. In fact, it was the worst service I have ever experienced at at restuarant complete with a bratty hostess who rolled her eyes at Jason and stomped off, a table that was so small Jason couldn't fit his knees under it, and an overcrowded (small) dining room with oblivious patrons sipping cocktails while leaning on the back of Jason's chair. Needless to say, we did not go back. But when Kelly mentioned it, I was willing to give it another try because the pizza was good and I hoped that they had worked out some glitches in the service.

This experience was much better. During the lunch hour, the restaurant was no where near as crowded and I was happy to see that the little table we had sat at was no where to be found and neither was the obnoxious hostess. Our waitress was pleasant, although she did almost spill a dish of olive oil all over me, and the atmosphere was homey with big tables and reminded me of being in someone's dining room. The pizza at Katie's is not your standard pan tossed or St. Louis style thin crust, but somewhere in between. It's more traditional Naples style with a unique offering of toppings.

Kelly and I both took advantage of the lunch special: a salad and mini pizza. Kelly had the Roasted Beet Salad (field greens, apples, walnuts, gorgonzola, roasted beets with honey mustard vinagrette) and the Roasted Chicken Pizza (chicken, cipolini onions, garlic, goat cheese, and escarole). She raved about both. I tried a piece of her pizza and agreed that it was delicious. Tons of flavor without being too heavy. I had the Katie's Caprese Salad (heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pepperoncini's and balsamic vinagrette) and the Asaparagus and Procuitto and Fontina Pizza. I enjoyed both. The salad was fresh with yellow and red tomatoes and plenty of yummy mozzarella. I would never have put asaparagus on pizza, but it worked well with the procuitto. The lunch special was a great deal and provided just the right amount of food.

I'm glad I gave Katie's a second chance. The food is really worth it and it appears that the service has improved greatly.

Restaurant of the Month: J

Dinner club this month was a double date night. Kelly and I invited our boys, both named Jason ironically, to join us at Jade. Jade is a relatively new sushi restaurant located downtown. I had read mixed reviews ranging from don't waste your time to best sushi in St. Louis. So I wasn't too sure what to expect. Our experience lands somewhere in the middle. Since it was a Friday night, I made reservations but found out when we arrived that it was completely unnecessary. The place was practically empty at 7:00. I was a little surprised because all of the other sushi places we go to often are packed on Friday night. The atmosphere itself was nice but nothing special. Kind of a big open urban space. It was very dark though and I actually had a hard time reading the menu.

The menu itself was a combination of sushi and classic Asian stir-fry entrées. The four of us opted for two appetizers: edamame and potstickers. Both were good. For dinner each couple ordered a variety of sushi rolls. Jason and I ordered the Philadelphia (always a classic), the DJE Roll (shrimp tempura, crab salad, cream cheese, cucumber, avocado, rolled in crunch w sesame sauce), the Dynamite (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, spicy veggie, topped w crunch, tobiko & spicy mayo) and the Samurai (California roll w cream cheese topped w salmon & spicy mayo then torched to perfection). We had to wait an exceptionally long time for our sushi especially considering there weren't a lot of other people there. The waitress actually brought us free sake because of the wait. Of course as soon as she did our dinner showed up.

The rolls were fresh and tasty and we enjoyed all of them. I wouldn't say it's the best sushi in St. Louis but it's up there. As happy as I was with the food though the overall service and experience wasn't all that great. I don't think we will be in a hurry to go back to Jade and will stick to our old favorites for sushi night in the future. Despite the so-so dining experience we had a great time with Kelly and Jason and enjoyed going to watch a friend's band play after dinner!

Restaurant of the Month: I

Kelly and I decided to try Indian cuisine for "I" month and headed to India's Rasoi this month. Located in the Central West End, this is a new location for the restaurant, it's colorfully decorated and serves North Indian cuisine, South Indian cuisine, and Indian fusion items. It's been a while since I've had Indian food so I was excited to try something new and have some Naan (leavened bread baked in tandoor)!

Kelly and I loved the decor.

We opted for garlic naan - so good!

We started our meal with vegetable samosas: a delicately spiced stuffed pastry consisting of a fried or baked triangular pastry shell with a savory filling, which included spiced potatoes, onions, peas, coriander, and lentils. Although they weren't actually brought to our table until after our entrees, they were hot and delicious.

Kelly and I were originally going to order the same entree, but our waiter talked us out of it and I'm glad he did! We shared two delicious vegetarian meals: Navartan Korma (mixed vegetables sauteed in cream, herbs, and spices) and Palak Paneer (creamed spinach cooked delicately with homemade cheese cubes).

The Narartan Korma is Kelly's favorite dish and I can see why. Navratan means nine gems, and it is common for the recipe to include nine different vegetables and also includes nuts. Can you tell I'm doing a lot of googling for this post ;) Ours was topped with slivered almonds. It added a nice crunch and there was a slight sweetness to the sauce.

Our server recommended the Palak Paneer which is a North Indian dish prepared with spinach and Indian cheese. It was rich, smooth, and creamy. The paneer cubes are cooked in a onion-tomato-spinach based gravy which is spiced with Indian spices. The curry sauce was a nice contrast to the creamy sauce of the other dish and the paneer cheese was delicious!

Both dishes were served in bowls along with basmati rice on the side. Kelly and I thoroughly enjoyed our Indian feast and both left completely stuffed! We agreed that we need to take our boys there sometime since neither of them have ever had Indian food. Rasoi has a warm, inviting atmosphere and our server was very helpful and knowledgeable - although he told Kelly that he rarely eats the food he serves ;) We will be back!

Restaurant of the Month: H

As soon as I knew H was my pick, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Harvest. This was my 3rd time dining at Harvest and Kelly's first. I love this place! It has become one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis. It has a cozy atmosphere in the main dining room with a big fire place and the side room has very romantic feel with vines and lights strung across the ceiling. Harvest specializes in seasonal market cuisine. Their menu changes with the seasons and they strive to use sustainable agricultural products and fresh organic produce. The quality of the ingredients comes through in the food. I have loved everything I've ever eaten here.

Kelly and I each ordered a glass of wine: Savignon Blanc for her and Pinot Grigio for me. We ordered a Mixed Organic Field Greens Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Herbed Cheese Toast to split and while we waited for it enjoyed the bread basket. I love the bread at Harvest. It always tastes like it's fresh out of the oven and they serve it with different flavored butters - this time a honey butter and a black bean paste both of which were very good! The salad was also very good. It was simple and fresh.

On to dinner. Kelly chose a chicken dish from the Spa Menu which is Harvest's answer to today’s demand to eat healthy. No butter or cream are used with these menu items and they are extremely low in fat and cholesterol. The chicken was served with mashed sweet potatoes and spinach. I ordered Gnudi Ricotta which is ricotta-parmesan gnocchi - just ricotta and Parmesan: no flour, no potato, no egg - yes please! Kelly and I shared our meals since we wanted to try a bit of everything. Both dishes were delicious! Despite being very healthy, the chicken dish was full of flavor and didn't taste low fat at all. I had never had Gnudi before and I'm glad I decided to try it. It was amazing! Not low fat I'm sure as it's basically a ball of cheese, but so delicious! The gnudi was served over a bed of spaghetti squash that was the best I've ever had. We ate every last bite of both meals! Unfortunately, we didn't leave room for dessert, but if you go to Harvest you have to get the bread pudding. I've had it on a previous visit and it is to die for!

This isn't the Gnudi I had, but gives you and idea. Tell me that doesn't look delicious.

Another successful dinner club outing. I highly recommend Harvest!

Restaurant of the Month: G

This month dinner club coincided with St. Louis Downtown Restaurant Week. This is a great event where patrons simply attend the participating restaurant of their choice and select from a special 3-course dinner menu for $25 per person. Luckily, there was a "G" restaurant participating so it made the choice pretty easy this month!

Gio's Ristorante and Bar is located in the heart of downtown on Market and 7th. Neither Kelly or I had actually ever heard of it so we were anxious to try it out. It's a relatively new restauarnt (it's been open for about a year and a half) and we were a little surpirsed at how empty it was on a Friday night. At one point we were the only table on the patio and there didn't appear to be too many more people in the dining room. Regardless we enjoyed the view of the Arch and the Old Courthouse from our table on the patio.

Happy Hour was from 4-8pm so we were able to enjoy some inexpensive drinks throughout dinner which was nice. The restaurant week menu consisted of 3 courses: Starter, Entree and Dessert. Kelly and I both chose the Insalata Caprese (sliced tomatoes, fresh Mozzarella, extra virgin olive oil, balsamic syrup, topped with fried basil leaves) for our starter. The tomatoes were fresh and sliced thick and the dressing was not overwhelming. The fried basil leaves added a nice crunch.

Kelly had Pollo Con Melenzane for her entree. This chicken dish was lightly breaded, charbroiled, topped with grilled eggplant, tomato, and Mozzarella cheese. It also came topped with a birds nest of fried spaghetti. It looked cool but Kelly opted not to eat it. I chose the Braciole Napoletana - Thin slices of beef stuffed with prosciutto, pine nuts, raisins, Mozzarella and bread crumbs, braised in red wine and tomato sauce. Both came with a side of veggies and potatoes. Kelly's chicken dish was very good from the bite that I had. My beef dish was good and different from anything I'd had before. I liked the sauce and the raisins added a slight sweetness. I thought the beef was slightly overcooked for my taste, but I still cleaned my plate!

Next came dessert! We chose two and shared - Strawberry Bruschetta and Tiramisu. Both were delicious! The triamisu was light and creamy and gone within a few bites! The Strawberry Bruchetta was a completely different taste. A slice of grilled bruchetta was topped with straberries and ice cream. The grill flavor really came through and was so unexpected in a dessert.

We definitely got our money's worth this month! 3 courses for $25 is pretty much unbeatable as was the view from the patio. Gio's would also be a great place to go before or after a Cardinals game to grab a drink and an appetizer. They are within walking distance of the stadium and they validate parking. Again you can't beat that!

Restaurant of the Month: F

After narrowing down several restaurants, this month I chose Flaco's Cocina for dinner club. Flaco's is located at 170 and Delmar and features Caribbean and Latin cuisine with a South Beach flair. Or in simpler terms, Mexican food. I will say though that Flaco's is different than your traditional Mexican restaurants in St. Louis like Hacienda or El Maguey. The food was very fresh and light - not greasy at all. There are a lot of fish and seafood options on the menu in addition to the standard chicken or beef which I liked. The restaurant itself is not very big but is colorfully decorated with local artwork and has a good sized covered deck on the front which is where Kelly and I sat.

We started off the evening with drinks and their home made guacamole. Kelly had a margarita and said it was very tasty while I enjoyed a glass of the sangria which was also very good, although a little sweet to drink very many. The guacamole is made to order with big chunks of fresh avocado and tomato. I love guacamole and really enjoyed this chunky version. We also enjoyed a complimentary basket of chips and salsa. The salsa was also good. Not the best I've had, but good.

For dinner, Kelly had the Lobster Empanadas, flaky empanada ravioli stuffed with lobster, shrimp, and scallops, drizzled with a saffron coconut cream sauce. I tried a bite and they were delicious! I opted for the special that night: an organic zucchini stuffed with shrimp, scallops and lobster (I think) with a romesco sauce. It was served with saffron rice and black beans. It was similar to a Chili Relleno, only made with a zucchini instead of a green pepper. It was awesome! It was fresh and light. The seafood inside was cooked just right and the sauce was not overpowering.

The service was great. Our waitress was really nice but not annoying. The owner came around to the tables on the deck checking to make sure everyone was enjoying their meals. I will definitely go back to Flaco's the next time I am craving Mexican. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a new Mexican spot in St. Louis!

Restaurant of the Month: E

Kelly and I both agreed that this month was the best dinner we've had yet. Last weekend we went to yet another great part of St. Louis, Lafayette Square, for dinner at Eleven Eleven Mississippi. Known as a “Wine Country Bistro”, Eleven Eleven Mississippi is situated in a restored historic brick warehouse and serves Tuscan and Northern California influenced cuisines.

Despite the hot and sticky weather, Kelly and I decided to dine outside on the covered patio. We ordered a couple of glasses of wine and started looking over the menu.

Everything looked so good it was hard to decide on something. That is until the waitress went over the 3 nightly specials. Kelly and I both decided on the pork chop entree - A 12oz french cut pork chop over mashed sweet potatoes and sauteed green beans with roasted corn and shrimp relish. (Kelly made the waitress repeat this several times so she could write it down and I would be able to describe it just right!). It was huge!

I don't think I have ever ordered a pork chop in my whole life, but this was so delicious it might become a regular meal for me. Not to mention the sides. I was never a big fan of sweet potatoes until a few months ago and now I can not get enough of them!
Kelly and me after our delicious dinner!

After boxing up our leftovers, Kelly and I decided to walk around Lafayette square and work off a bit of that giant pork chop! We found an adorable boutique, Looking Glass Designs, and couldn't resist going in. We both ended up making several purchases! The owner was a very nice woman and we were happy to spend our money at a local business. We ended our night sitting by the fountain in the square and watching a couple of ladies go diving for quarters (I'm not kidding)! It was a relaxing evening with fantastic food, fun shopping and as always good company.

Restaurant of the Month: D

Dinner club was my choice this month and I chose a spot that Kelly and I have been to before, but not for several years, Duff's in the Central West End.

I love going to the Central West End. It's such a neat neighborhood with lots of cute boutiques and restaurants. Duff's has a big outdoor patio and we were lucky that after a long rainy week, the sky cleared and we had a perfect evening to sit outside. I got there a little early and enjoyed people watching until Kelly arrived. Kelly and I ordered some wine and opted to share a couple of small plates: Smoked Salmon Quesadilla - served with edamame guacamole and topped with sesame seeds and Mushroom Ravioli with asparagus and peas served in mushroom consomme with extra virgin olive oil and shaved parmesan cheese. Both were delicious and along with a side salad made for just the right amount of food. After a leisurly dinner we decided to head down to Coffee Cartel, another great spot to sit outside and people watch, for some coffee and dessert. All in all it was the perfect evening of great food, great atmosphere and as always great company!

Restaurant of the Month: C

Last weekend Kelly and I ventured to Webster Groves for dinner club to a little cafe called Cyrano's. Cyrano's is a kind of funky, artsy cafe in the heart of Webster that offers small plates as well as a few entrees and delicious desserts and drinks. The walls are painted bright colors and covered in artwork. They also have a really cool room for private events with umbrellas and brightly colored lights hanging from the ceiling and mosaic walls - I'm dying to find a reason to have a party there!

Kelly and I shared a few small plates for dinner: crab cakes, mushroom pizza, and spinach and artichoke dip. Although they are "small" plates it was way more than enough food for us to share. All of it was delicious as was the featured wine we tried - a white blend. We were too full to try one of their famous desserts. I have however tried the bread pudding and it was yummy! The food and wine are great, but the atmosphere is definitely what makes Cyrano's worth coming back to again and again. It's cozy and colorful and the perfect place to have a relaxing meal with friends. Note: I keep meaning to bring my camera to dinner club to take my own pictures of the places and food, but I keep forgetting!

Restaurant of the Month: B

This month Kelly and I took dinner club to a hole in the wall pizza joint, Blackthorn Pub. I'd heard great things about their deep dish pizza and had to give it a try myself. Blackthorn is located in the Tower Grove area and popular with locals. It's literally a hole in the wall bar complete with graffiti walls, paper plates and only a handful of tables. The menu is on the table and consists of two things: pizza and salad. That's it. The pizza is so good that they don't even need to sell anything else - well except beer of course - and they have plenty of that! Kelly and I settled on a green pepper and onion deep dish pizza and headed to the bar to place our order. We got a pitcher of beer and settled into our booth. They said it would take about 45 minutes for the pizza, but I think it ended up only being about 30. Although I've heard the wait on Friday and Saturday nights can be up to 2 hours! The wait was worth it! The pizza was delicious! The sauce is not your traditional tomato sauce and has more of a kick to it which I liked. The toppings were actually embedded between layers of cheese as well as on top. It was super cheesy and pretty heavy even with the light toppings but that is to be expected with deep dish. Kelly and I each had 2 pieces and could not eat anymore. Jason was happy to devour the leftovers within 10 minutes of me bringing them home ;)

This isn't our pizza but is a Blackthorn pizza. Mmmm.

A total dive bar, but with great pizza!