The “restaurants you hate” thread reminded me that, last year while doing the St. Louis Ren faire, I spent four weekends alternating my dinners between an Applebee’s and a Chinese buffet. The Applebee’s was OK but really, one or two meals there are plenty, and friends I was with got ill at the Chinese buffet (bad shrimp!) A local pal took me one night to a little hole-in-the-wall that had really yummy empanadas, but I’m not sure I can find that again on my own.
I’ll be there again this year, again for four weekends (so including Memorial Day, that’s 13 dinners) and I’d like some better suggestions this time. I will technically be in Wentzville, outside St. Louis proper, and as I don’t know the area very well, I’d prefer places that are reasonably easy to locate. And, just to make things more challenging, I don’t eat meat.
Anyone familiar enough with the area to recommend some decent dining?
Fuddruckers
Then stop by Ted Drewes for a concrete.
Well thanks, silenus, but you may have missed the part where I said I don’t eat meat. not too many veggie-friendly selections there, I’m afraid.
A few off the top of my head:
This is a fair bit east of where you’re going to be, but there are two wonderful Mexican restaurants in the Rock Hill area: El Indio on the corner of Manchester and Berry, and Hacienda just little bit further east down Manchester. Hacienda is my favorite restaurant in the city, but it’s gotten a lot trendier over the past several years and kind of morphed from a low-key family atmoshere to a party/singles bar atmosphere, especially on weekends. I’d recommend going at lunchtime or on weekday nights when it’s not as crowded. El Indio is much smaller and more personal. Both have excellent food.
For Italian, look for a Rich & Charlie’s (there are a couple locations). The house salad is phenomenal, and make sure to get some toasted ravioli if you’re not a St. Louis native!
If you’re looking to go deeper into the city, I really like the Royale. Great burgers and soups and the atmosphere is cool without being too hipster-y.
Imo’s Pizza! Wow, do I love that stuff.