Outside
The Rotten Apple in Grafton has a new owner. Tim Nesbit, former owner of KoKo at 3257 Ivanhoe (more on that address later) has purchased the name and the business from the Amalgamated Brewing Co., the group who also owns The Stable and Jake's Steaks (aka "the best strip joint in town").
Nesbit reports The Apple is currently open on weekends (eagle watching, anyone?) and will resume its normal Wed-Sun hours when the weather breaks. He will maintain the Apple's "edginess" as well as the menu's Cajun focus, albeit with less of an emphasis on fried items. (I just hope he makes room for KoKo's famous fried chicken.) Consulting on the menu rehash is his long-time friend and collaborator Dana Holland (who incidentally won't be reopening Babalu's Snack Shack at the Kirkwood Farmer's Market.) There will be a outdoor grill at The Apple, however, so don't be surprised if Holland resurrects Babalu's outrageously-tasty pork gordita or the Three Little Pigs sandwich (read about that here). The overriding focus, though, will be to decrease ticket times, which had been known to drift to the high side of "ridiculous."
Meanwhile, back at 3257 Ivanhoe, Chef Kevin Willmann is putting the finishing touches on Farmhaus, his remake of the KoKo space. Look for announcement of his Blue Plate Special lunch (one item per day, choice of several sides, $10) in the next few weeks, followed by the commencement of dinner service a few weeks after that. His cult of local foodies didn't balk at making the drive to Edwardsville to visit Erato on Main...now Willmann's perfect-sear scallops will be as close as the Lindenwood neighborhood, just a stone's throw from Farty-Fahr and Jamieson. -- George Mahe
