FoodWire: Four Forbes Stars for Tony's Restaurant

By Ian Froeb Tue., Nov. 10 2009 at 3:15 PM

Categories: Restaurant News & Reviews

Forbes Travel Guide -- formerly known as Mobil Travel Guide -- is out with its annual star ratings of restaurants nationwide, and Downtown institution Tony's (410 Market Street; website) is the highest-rated St. Louis restaurant, scoring four out of a maximum five stars. The only other four- star restaurant in Missouri is the American Restaurant in Kansas City.

No Missouri restaurants joined the rather select company of five-star winners. According to the Forbes website, a four-star restaurant "provides professional service, distinctive presentations and superb food," while a five-star "is one of few flawless dining experiences in the country. They consistently provide their guests with exceptional food, superlative service, elegant decor and exquisite presentations of each detail surrounding the meal."

Not to take anything away from Tony's, but you do have to wonder how up-to-date the Forbes/Mobil listings for St. Louis are, in general: The relatively brief list includes a restaurant closed for quite some time now (Joseph's), while the surely star-worthy Niche is nowhere to be found.