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St. Louis neighborhoods and
eateries
Part
3
By
Penny Zimmerman-Wills
[OCT.
26, 2000]
St.
Louis is a city of many faces. From the Hill’s rich Italian
heritage to the Victorian splendor of Lafayette Square, this city
offers a variety of distinct neighborhoods to explore and enjoy.
|
[click here for Part
1, featuring the Hill and a calendar of upcoming St. Louis events]
[click here for
Part 2, featuring the Soulard and Benton Park area and the Central
West End]
Grand,
South Grand and
Tower Grove Park
(From
downtown St. Louis, take I-64 west to the Grand exit and continue
south on Grand.)
This
ethnically diverse neighborhood which continues on six blocks of
South Grand is the best place to go for authentic Vietnamese, Thai
and Chinese food. There are many small, quaint restaurants, grocery
stores, boutiques and vintage clothing stores, plus a large corner
antique store that’s like a blast back to the land of Donna Reed,
selling just about everything you can remember from the 1950s.
Annual
events include a Chinese New Year celebration in February, a house
tour in April and Grand Festival of Nations in August. The Tower
Grove Park, with ornate bandstands and whimsical gazebos, is a
Victorian walking park and one of only four urban parks in the
country designated as a national historic landmark.
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For
outstanding Vietnamese food, try Pho Grand. Until recently, this
restaurant was housed in a tiny, nondescript building but developed
a loyal following for its calamari red curry with coconut milk and
rice flour crepes. Its new home, next door at 3195 S. Grand, is much
larger and features an understated, elegant decor with softly glazed
beige walls sporting framed Vietnamese art. The only problem you
will have is deciding what to order from the extensive menu. There
are more than 30 soups alone, but if you’re feeling adventuresome,
try the udon noodle soup with pig’s feet or the special egg noodle
soup with roasted duck leg, shitake mushrooms and vegetables. The
fresh, steamed rice-paper spring rolls shouldn’t be missed, and
the fresh French-roast chicory coffee served with sweetened milk
over ice is a divine way to soothe your tongue after indulging in
tofu with hot chilies and lemon grass.
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Lafayette
Square
(From
downtown St. Louis, take Market Street west to Jefferson Avenue
south and turn east on Park.)
The
first time I visited this section of the city was to attend the
annual house and garden tour in June and was enchanted by the lovely
Victorian homes and intricately designed small garden spaces. Known
as the "Victorian Heart of St. Louis," its center feature
is Lafayette Park, established in 1836 as the first public park west
of the Mississippi River. The neighborhood’s "painted
ladies" surround the park and became the city’s first
historic district in 1972. Enjoy a leisurely walk around the park to
get the best view of the French Second Empire town houses, sandstone
row houses and beautifully decorated Victorian homes.
[to top of second
column in this section]
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Webster
Groves
(Fifteen
minutes from downtown St. Louis; take I-44 west to Elm north.)
This
historic community features the 1857 Hawken House, once owned by
inventors of the rifle that mountain men and explorers took to the
western frontier. The community’s massive oak, maple and elm trees
have earned it Tree City USA awards, and more than 300 houses are
listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Those
facts alone are impressive enough, but wait until you dive into a
piece of blueberry butter cake at Cravings, a bakery and restaurant
worth making the trip for. Located at 8149 Big Bend, the tiny eatery
serves a tantalizing array of lunch and dinner menu items, including
oven-dried tomato and goat cheese tart, zucchini umbria, and fresh
salmon with mango chutney, but it’s the end of the meal that’s
special here. Cravings, which also offers custom-made desserts and
wedding cakes, can’t be beat for lime-blueberry tart, chocolate
mousse cake or caramel ganache tart — just a few of the
mouth-watering concoctions served to local residents and tourists
lucky enough to discover it. If you love pumpkin pie during the
holidays, Cravings’ version of a layered pumpkin mousse pie in a
walnut crust (available in November only) will make you rethink that
traditional specimen made from pumpkin and spice from a can. The
restaurant’s decor is like eye candy, with its purple ceiling,
yellow striped walls and bold modern art on the walls — not to
mention the scrumptious desserts lining the glass case in the front
of the store.
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If
you are really hungry, try the Big Sky Cafe, at 47 S. Old Orchard,
where big bowls of mashed potatoes are served constantly. There are
weekly saucer nights, when portions are downsized, allowing you to
try more items. Not only is the food good, but the eclectic
atmosphere is entertaining. Where else can you eat dinner while
gazing at a wall-sized mosaic featuring barnyard animals one step
away from being impaled on a giant fork? It may change your order
from red meat to salad.
Last
but not least, it’s impossible to mention food and St. Louis in
the same sentence without making note of the granddaddy of them all
— Tony’s. Located at 410 Market St., the most famous restaurant
in town has earned its reputation as a five-star AAA restaurant
because of its food and amazing attention to service. Lobster
Albanello, a portion of lobster tail sautéed and served in a
mushroom sauce, may be a signature dish, but the veal chop topped
with truffle sauce comes in at a close second. It’s expensive, but
you will feel pampered and won’t be hungry for quite a while. But
for my money, if it’s simply good food you’re after, there are
too many other options to try in town.
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
|
Lincoln
Ag Center
1441 State
Route 10 East
Lincoln, IL
217-732-7948 We
support Lincolndailynews.com! Click
here to visit our website!!! |
Blue
Dog Inn
111 S. Sangamon
217-735-1743
Open
for Lunch Mon.-Sat.
Open for Dinner Tues.-Sat.
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here to view our
menu and gift items |
25
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St. Louis neighborhoods and
eateries
Part
2
By
Penny Zimmerman-Wills
[OCT.
25, 2000]
St.
Louis is a city of many faces. From the Hill’s rich Italian
heritage to the Victorian splendor of Lafayette Square, this city
offers a variety of distinct neighborhoods to explore and enjoy.
|
[click here for Part
1, featuring the Hill and a calendar of upcoming St. Louis events]
Soulard
and Benton Park
(From
downtown St. Louis, take Broadway south and continue south on
Seventh Street to Lafayette.)
Though
probably most known for the loud blues resonating from its brick
buildings, the lively Soulard neighborhood was named for Antoine
Soulard, a Frenchmen who surveyed colonial St. Louis for the King of
Spain. Soulard was the original owner of the land just minutes south
of the Arch. This is a more gritty part of the city, with music
clubs, pubs and open patio dining. An annual Bastille Day
celebration in July, a week-long Mardi Gras party in February and
holiday parlor tours of historic homes in December are among the
area’s most popular annual events. The Soulard Market, since
opening in 1778, has been the centerpiece of the neighborhood.
![](../images/ads/lincoln_college/Pancake.gif)
My
choice for lunch is Norton’s Cafe, located at 808 Geyer Ave. The
large, shaded patio is the best place to dine in fair-weather
months. There are no menus here; you just choose items, such as
burgers and Creole gumbo or pecan-crusted catfish and blackened
chicken, from the massive chalkboard propped on the wall. All meals
are served with the house specialty, new potatoes with parsley
butter. You’ll forget all about french fries. Another plus: It’s
open until midnight, seven days a week.
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If
you’re in the mood for something different, try Yemanja Brasil, at
2900 Missouri. The city’s only Brazilian restaurant, named for a
goddess of the sea, is a welcomed change of pace. Seafood is offered
in many ways, and many dishes feature coconut, which is a personal
favorite. The quaint restaurant is housed in a turn-of-the-century
storefront in Benton Park.
[to top of second
column in this section]
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Central
West End
(From
downtown, take I-64 west of Kingshighway north, or take Metrolink
light rail to the Central West End station.)
With
its massive stone buildings and beautiful turn-of-the century homes
on tree-lined trees, this stately and eclectic neighborhood should
definitely be on any list of areas to visit. The Cathedral Basilica
of St. Louis, which claims the world’s largest collection of
mosaic art, anchors the district. Conveniently located near Forest
Park, many cultural attractions surround the area, including St.
Louis Art Museum, the Science Center, History Museum, Zoo and Fox
Theater. You might see luxury sports cars tooling the streets as
well as college students on bicycles.
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There
are more than 50 restaurants in this area, serving everything from
hamburgers to upscale Asian food. Cafe Balaban, located at 405 N.
Euclid, is one of the most popular destinations in this trendy
neighborhood and offers something for everyone: A noisy bar is the
place to be seen and meet people, while the enclosed sidewalk cafe
offers a place to people-watch, and a formal dining room is the best
bet for a romantic dinner for two. The chilled cucumber bisque,
smoked Missouri trout, duck with raspberry sauce and herb-encrusted,
free-range chicken are highly recommended.
Zoe
Pan-Asia Cafe, at 4753 McPherson, is an upscale Asian restaurant
decorated with a minimalist frame of mind. It’s famous for grilled
meat and fish with unusual sauces, peanut-dusted green beans, and
mango sorbet. Try one of the specialty cocktails, because the names
are as enticing as the ingredients: Red or Green Dragon, Suzy Wong
and Bronze Buddha. Appetizers include chicken harvest rolls with
lime cilantro dipping sauce and sushi, while entrees worth noting
are wok-seared salt shrimp with mango yogurt sauce and
shitake-dusted grouper with carrot-ginger sauce.
(To
be continued)
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
[click
here for Part 3]
|
ILLINI
BANK
2201
Woodlawn Rd. in Lincoln
1-888-455-4641 or 735-5400
Ask for Terry Lock or Sharon Awe Ask
about our 7% APY CD
7 mo. - $5,000 minimum |
Our
staff offers more than 25 years of experience in the
automotive industry.
Greyhound
Lube At
the corner of Woodlawn and Business 55 No
Appointments Necessary |
Meador
Investigations
– michael@pi-pro.com –
217-376-3255
IL
License # 115-001499
Click
here to visit your local Private Investigator
www.pi-pro.com
|
|
|
|
This part
of a continuing series explores the different neighborhoods of St.
Louis
and the restaurants there.
St. Louis neighborhoods and
eateries
By
Penny Zimmerman-Wills
[OCT.
24, 2000]
St.
Louis is a city of many faces. From the Hill’s rich Italian
heritage to the Victorian splendor of Lafayette Square, this city
offers a variety of distinct neighborhoods to explore and enjoy.
|
And
tucked away in each historical neighborhood are enough restaurants,
outdoor cafes and bakeries to tempt the willpower of many dedicated
dieters. St. Louis’ love affair with food was evident when
merchants made headlines during the 1904 World’s Fair by inventing
iced tea and ice cream cones and making hot dogs and hamburgers so
popular. As local residents and tourists have discovered, the city
now offers an abundance of ways to tempt your taste buds.
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The
Hill
(From
downtown St. Louis, take I-64 west to Kingshighway south and turn
west on Shaw.)
There’s
no better place to begin a tour of St. Louis neighborhoods than the
Hill, where small bakeries, groceries and restaurants serving up
equal portions of Old World charm and homemade spaghetti mingle with
rows of tiny brick bungalows on narrow streets. The 15-block area
looks similar to when it was settled in the early 1900s by Italian
immigrants.
![](../images/ads/lincoln_college/Pancake.gif)
Fireplugs
are painted in traditional green, white and red colors of Italy, and
colorful banners waving in the breeze set a boundary for the
neighborhood. A statute symbolizing Italian immigrants stands at a
busy street corner. Signs advertising bocce ball are painted on the
sides of corner brick watering holes, where elderly women feel just
as welcome as their grandsons. These symbols aren’t for the
benefits of tourists; they signify the history and traditions of the
people who live and work there. If there’s any doubt, just step
inside one of the locally operated grocery stores, where fresh
pepperoni, cheeses and olives fill food cases, and pizzelle cookies,
fresh spices and homemade pasta sit on the shelves next to religious
symbols and candles. I love shopping at the tiny Italian markets and
make an effort to stock up on olive oil, pine nuts, organic tomato
sauce and other Italian staples during my visits there.
[to top of second
column in this section]
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You
really can’t go wrong in choosing a place for a good Italian
dinner in this section of town, but there are a few places that
stand out from the pack. Favazza’s is a favorite among local
residents, and the decor is as authentic and homespun as the food.
Located at 5201 Southwest Ave. at Marconi, the restaurant’s brick
walls, dark wood paneling and stained glass windows all add to the
homey atmosphere, and the pasta, veal and steak entrees are all
excellent.
Giovanni’s,
located at 5201 Shaw, another favorite among families and senior
citizens, offers old-fashioned, classic Italian dishes, but be
prepared for a long wait for a table. Repeat customers can often
expect a two-hour wait even at 5:30 p.m., but you’ll forget all
about the inconvenience after the first bite of bow-tie pasta with
smoked salmon in a alfredo sauce and garlic-encrusted broiled
tomatoes.
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Trattoria
Marcella, at 3600 Watson, serves rustic Italian cuisine and pleases
the palate with its lobster risoto and ever-changing selection of
fresh ravioli. Be sure to call ahead for reservations.
(To
be continued)
[Penny
Zimmerman-Wills]
[click
here for Part 2]
|
St. Louis
calendar of events for November and December 2000
Nov.
19: Holiday Champagne Stroll, Clayton Row Antiques, 11 a.m. to 5
p.m. (314) 725-2622
Nov.
20-26: Annual Festival of Trees, The Scottish Rite Cathedral.
Unique display of over more than 200 decorated Christmas trees,
wreaths and centerpieces, arts and crafts area for children, holiday
boutique, gingerbread village, live entertainment, Victorian teas and
more. (314) 432-6200.Nov. 23: Mid-America Holiday Parade,
downtown. Floats, bands, carriages, equestrian units and Santa Claus
kick off the holiday season. (314) 286-4086.
Nov.
24-Dec. 23: Christmas Traditions, historic Main Street, St.
Charles, Mo. Holiday festivities include yule log burning, caroling
and Santas on weekends. Shopping and dining Wednesdays and Fridays
until 9 p.m. (636) 946-7776 or (800) 366-2427.
Nov.
24-26: Annual Polka Festival, Regal Riverfront Hotel Grand
Ballroom. Three days of polka music. (314) 846-8906.
Dec.
7-8: Tower Grove House candlelight tours, Missouri Botanical
Garden, Tower Grove House. The elegance and romance of a 19th century
English Christmas in Henry Shaw's country home, decorated for the
holidays in traditional Victorian splendor. Advance reservations
required. (314) 577-5150.
Dec.
30: Kwanzaa: Festival of the First Fruits, at Missouri Botanical
Garden, Ridgway Center. A celebration of the African American culture.
Kwanzaa is a Swahili term meaning "first fruits," and a
Kwanzaa ceremony highlights a day of storytelling, craft and jewelry
workshops, and authentic African drumming and choral performances.
Time to be announced. (314) 577-5141
|
ILLINI
BANK
2201
Woodlawn Rd. in Lincoln
1-888-455-4641 or 735-5400
Ask for Terry Lock or Sharon Awe Ask
about our 7% APY CD
7 mo. - $5,000 minimum |
Our
staff offers more than 25 years of experience in the
automotive industry.
Greyhound
Lube At
the corner of Woodlawn and Business 55 No
Appointments Necessary |
Meador
Investigations
– michael@pi-pro.com –
217-376-3255
IL
License # 115-001499
Click
here to visit your local Private Investigator
www.pi-pro.com
|
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