#100: Spinach Artichoke Dip at Cafe Eau

Spinach Artichoke Dip at Cafe Eau -- a rainy day delight.

This version isn't the goopy, creamy melange of tiny bits of veggie, overwhelmed by melted cheese, that you get at mall restaurants. It is, instead, almost like a mac-and-cheese -- except instead of pasta, it's wonderfully large chunks of artichokes and real whole spinach leaves, baked in a three-cheese sauce. Adding to the mac-and-cheese vibe, toasted breadcrumbs on top add a bit of crunch.

But the best part of this piping hot dish isn't the dip -- it's the bread. Lightly charred on the outside, soft on the inside, these slices have had the perfect texture every single time we've ordered them here. Forget the heavily seasoned buttery bread coated with garlic you get at lesser restaurants; here, the bread is simple and flavorful, the perfect way to convey a baked artichoke/spinach/cheese/breadcrumb blend to your mouth and down the hatch.

Beginning last year, RFT restaurant critic Ian Froeb counted down -- in no particular order -- 100 of his favorite dishes in St. Louis. Now Gut Check has taken up where he left off. Check back frequently as we detail our 100 favorites, and don't hesitate to send us yours, too, either via the comments thread or at tips@riverfronttimes.com.