First Look

First Look: Sushi Bistro Rolls Sushi and Hibachi Into a Single Concept in Downtown Kirkwood [Photos]

By Mabel Suen Fri., May 17 2013 at 12:00 PM
Categories: First Look

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Mabel Suen
Sashimi martini ($8.95).
In late February, Kirkwood welcomed a new seafood-centric restaurant to town: Sushi Bistro (343 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood; 314-966-5545). The sushi bar and hibachi grill is run by owners Jimmy Li and Zhenkun Lin with chef Andy Chi, whose experience comes from rolling sushi on the East Coast for ten years.

See also:
- First Look: Manila Bistro's Filipino Cuisine in Kirkwood
- First Look: Gringo's Tacos in the Central West End
- First Look: New Moon Room at the Moonrise Hotel


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Andy Chi, downtown Kirkwood, Jimmy Li, Sushi Bistro
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First Look

First Look: Gringo Offers Taco Options Like Al Pastor, Octopus and Grasshopper in the Central West End [Photos]

By Mabel Suen Thu., May 9 2013 at 1:16 PM
Categories: First Look

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Mabel Suen
El Jibarito, a fried plantain "sandwich" with pork belly, tomato-chipotle jam, avocado and pickled red onion.
From the formidable forces behind the successful pizza empire that is St. Louis chain Pi Pizzeria comes a new concept called Gringo (398 North Euclid; 314-449-1212), which opened its doors in the Central West End last week with a full menu of tacos, margaritas and more.

See also:
- Pi Pizzeria Team Opening Gringo
- First Look: New Moon Room at the Moonrise Hotel
- First Look: Central Table Food Hall


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Chris Sommers, Gringo, Pi Pizzeria
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First Look

First Look: New Moon Room at the Moonrise Hotel

By Kaitlin Steinberg Tue., May 7 2013 at 10:35 AM
Categories: First Look

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The ceiling and the iconic Moonrise Hotel moon | Kaitlin Steinberg
The Moonrise Hotel (6177 Delmar Boulevard; 314-721-1111) opened its brand-new rooftop bar last week for a special media preview of the space called the New Moon Room. Gut Check was there to scope it out and to chat with the duke of U. City and the man behind the New Moon Room, Joe Edwards.

"I never wanted to close the rooftop terrace bar in the evening because I wanted visitors to St. Louis to be able to enjoy it, as well as St. Louisans," Edwards says. "We also wanted to create something that is really green and responsible. This is the first hotel restaurant in the country where the roof is made of solar panels. It generates enough power to power everything on this whole rooftop as well as most of the next floor below us."

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First Look

First Look: Central Table Food Hall Offers Artisan Eats in the Central West End [Photos]

By Mabel Suen Thu., May 2 2013 at 1:39 PM
Categories: First Look

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Mabel Suen
Spicy diavolo pizza with heritage Berkshire sausage, spicy marinated tomatoes, housemade mozzarella, chile oil and fresh Parmesan.
The highly anticipated Central Table Food Hall (23 South Euclid Avenue; 314-932-5595) takes up an entire city block. So you can imagine how silly we felt when we unknowingly drove past the 10,000-square-foot space during our first visit before doors opened on May 1. To the unassuming eye, nothing more than a couple of discreet high-flying signs flank either side of the building. Before pulling back the handle of those big glass doors, we suggest you take a few deep breaths and prepare for a bit of sensory overload.

See also:
- Q&A With Central Table Food Hall Developer Walter McClure
- First Look: Prasino Brings "Eco-Chic" American Cuisine to St. Charles

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Central Table Food Hall, food hall, Matt McGuire, Nick Martinkovic
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Gut Check Tags Along on First Dishcrawl Down Wash. Ave.

By Kaitlin Steinberg Mon., Apr. 29 2013 at 10:00 AM
Categories: First Look, Gut Check Guides

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The charcuterie plate from The Dubliner. | David Merritt
We're not sure where it started or when exactly it became a thing, but lately restaurant crawls seem to be all the rage in St. Louis. Pub crawls we understand. But restaurant crawls? Aren't those just glorified progressive dinners? We've been over progressive dinners for a few years now, so what's the appeal of a restaurant crawl?

On April 24, Gut Check tagged along on Dishcrawl's first St. Louis gastronomic adventure on Wash. Ave. to find out.


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First Look

Sneak Preview: The Libertine Aims to Reclaim Cool in Clayton

By Ian Froeb Mon., Apr. 29 2013 at 6:00 AM
Categories: First Look, Restaurant News

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A Nashville craftsman built the Libertine sign overlooking the dining room. | Ian Froeb
Opening day draws near for The Libertine (7927 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton). The married team of Audra and Nick Luedde, who moved last year from Chicago to Nick's native St. Louis with their young son, plan to debut their 60-seat restaurant, with acclaimed chef Josh Galliano leading the kitchen, on May 14.

Gut Check stopped by the Libertine last Friday to scope out the Lueddes' renovation of the space, which previously housed the old-school French restaurant Chez Leon.

The Libertine, it will not shock you to learn, looks nothing like Chez Leon.

See Also:
- Owner Nick Luedde Discusses the Libertine
- Josh Galliano, Acclaimed Chicago Sommeliers to Open New Restaurant, the Libertine

Gut Check is always hungry for more restaurant news. Feed us your tips.


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First Look: Prasino Brings Self-Proclaimed "Eco-Chic" Contemporary American Cuisine to St. Charles [Photos]

By Mabel Suen Fri., Apr. 26 2013 at 10:00 AM
Categories: First Look

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Mabel Suen
Prasino's polar bear roll with crab, white tuna, avocado, wasabi mayo, cucumber, unagi sauce and wasabi tobiko.
What exactly is "eco chic?" Walk into the newly opened Prasino (1520 South Fifth Street, St. Charles; 636-277-0202), an upscale, Chicago-based chain of restaurants that just opened its first location outside of Illinois in St. Charles, and your well-informed wait staff will begin to tell you all about it.

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Charles Leon, Jared Case, Prasino, Ted Maglaris, Todd Ekis, Tony Marchetto
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First Look: Piccione Pastry Serves Cannoli, Cookies and Italian Coffee in the Delmar Loop [Photos]

By Mabel Suen Fri., Apr. 19 2013 at 6:00 AM
Categories: First Look

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Mabel Suen
Espresso hazelnut, pistachio and strawberry cannolis.
Cannoli, bomboloni, sfogliatella riccia, rum baba, cassata, spritz, giugiuleni. Fortunately, for those of us not fluent in the language of Italian pastry, all it takes to get one of the fresh-baked goods at Piccione Pastry (6197 Delmar Boulevard; 314-932-1355) out of the case and onto a plate is a simple gesture toward the dessert of choice. The 2,000-square-foot late-night bakery quietly opened its doors at the busy intersection of Delmar and Skinker boulevards this week with a grand opening slated for April 22.

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Butler's Pantry, cannoli, Chef Martin Lopez, Piccione Pastry, Richard L. Nix Jr., sfogliatella
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First Look

First Look: Alpha Brewing Company Opens on Washington Avenue

By Caillin Murray Wed., Apr. 17 2013 at 6:00 AM
Categories: First Look

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Caillin Murray
The Belgian Pale Ale at Alpha.
Just when you thought you've tried every beer there is in St. Louis, Alpha Brewing Company (1409 Washington Avenue; 314-651-093) opened its doors on Wednesday, April 10, and gave you ten additional craft brews to add to your tick list. Tucked away just off bustling Washington Avenue, the brewery and tasting room is a quiet refuge for those who just love beer. Come during the idle hours of the day, and owner/head brewer Derrick Langeneckert is happy to talk beer with you for as long as you let him.

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First Look: Empire Deli & Pizza Serves East Coast Style Slices and Sandwiches Downtown [Photos]

By Mabel Suen Fri., Apr. 12 2013 at 8:00 AM
Categories: First Look

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Mabel Suen
A Supreme-style slice of pizza with the works.
It's pizza. What more do ya need? How's about a freshly baked New York-style pie with crisp yet delicate crust, buckling under the weight of premium toppings and oozing with hot cheese? We realize we're angering the grammar gods in saying this, but don't nobody not like pizza. For those who want even more substantial bites, recently opened Empire Deli & Pizza (1131 Washington Avenue; 314-553-9999) offers a deli that has plenty of options to appease lunch-time to late-night appetites.

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Dave Rook, Empire Pizza & Deli, King Louie's, Michael Rook, Monte Cristo
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