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The Nest December 2
All cities need more kid-friendly restaurants, and Christina McHugh just came up with a doozie for ours. This new-fangled community center is a place for a quick breakfast, a yoga class, day care and cafe fare (much of it gluten-free), a birthday party or even a kiddie high tea. Versatility, thy name is The Nest. 10440 German, 314-942-3521, theneststl.com
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Planter's House December 4
Ted Kilgore, for years the undisputed leader of St. Louis' craft cocktail movement, now has a place to call his own. He and his wife Jamie, along with chef Bradley Hoffman, have assembled a unique roster of drinks and eats, and provided two separate rooms (and vibes) in which to experience them. 1000 Mississippi, 314-696,2603 plantershousestl.com
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Evangeline's Bistro & Music House December 4
We've long maintained our French-founded city should have more Cajun/Creole options and voila: Evangeline's combines proven New Orleans fare with live music and a half-price happy hour. Let the award-winning gumbo--with crawfish, shrimp, chicken, and Andouille--be the first reason to ask this Cajun belle for a first dance. 512 N. Euclid, 314-367-3644, evangelinesstl.com
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Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant December 12
The folks at Cooper's Hawk devoted a large chunk of first-impression real estate to a snazzy, Napa-style tasting room for good reason: the Chicago-based restaurant group is proud of the wines it makes, so proud that's all Cooper's Hawk sells--45 varietals strong--award-winning wines, all priced in the under-$40 sweet spot. The menu shoots wide and will appeal to a large audience; the restaurant proper seats 300, but is so well-designed it doesn't feel that big. 1146 Town & Country Crossing, 636-489-0059, coopershawkwinery.com.
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Image: Kevin A. Roberts
Nathalie's December 13
Nathalie Pettus (of Clarksville's Overlook Farm) and chef Jimmy Voss (formerly of Duff’s) have combined forces to to bring Overlook's produce and proteins to the CWE, the most aggressive--and true to concept--farm-to-table restaurant in the city. Pettus' impeccable design taste becomes evident evident the moment you enter the parlor-esque front room. Explore all three floors, and prepare to be wowed. 4356 Lindell, 314-535-1580, nathaliesstl.com
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Final Cut Steakhouse December 13
A restaurant brand unique to Hollywood Casinos, this location is the ninth Final Cut Steak House, many of them in the Midwest, all of them successful. An on-site dry-aging room (too expensive an amenity for most restaurants) may be one reason why. 777 Casino Drive, 314-770-8248, hollywoodcasinostlouis.com/Dining
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801 Chophouse December 20
The fifth outpost of the Des Moines-based steakhouse, this chophouse takes the diner back to when servers donned green coats and pushed gueridons through busy, well-appointed dining rooms. The oval bar is spectacular, the TV placement within brilliant, and the progression of Picasso prints along two walls, a propos and impressive. 137 Carondelet Plz, 314-875-9900, 801restaurantgroup.com/st-louis/
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Five Star Burgers-Kirkwood December 20
On the heels of the rock 'em/sock 'em location in Clayton, Steve Gontram brings gourmet burgers to the 'burbs, in this case to the former Culpepper's location in DTK (downtown Kirkwood). A larger building means shorter waits as well as the option of booking a burger bash for up to 70 people downstairs. 312 S. Kirkwood, 314-394-2250, 5starburgersstl.com
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Bar Les Freres' The Salon December 23
Bar Les Freres' The Salon
Although the original Bar opened a year ago, two criticisms were its small size and the no reservations policy. With the addition of the Salon, space has doubled, and now reservations are accepted for either room. BLF exudes both charm and grace; by all accounts, it's one of the city's restaurant treasures. 7637 Wydown, 314-725-8880, barlesfreres.com
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Small Batch December 27
Dave Bailey (of Bailey's Chocolate Bar, Rooster, Bridge, Bailey's Range, and The Fifth Wheel at Four Hands Brewery) has never let us down, so when we heard his next endeavor would be a vegetarian restaurant paired with dark spirits, we said, why not? Sixty-plus whiskies are served neat or mixed with house-made bitters, tonics, and tinctures. Don't miss the oversize, black and white photos of Bailey's ancestors on the walls, many of them depicted in old cars, a propos since that Small batch is located in a in a former Ford Model T showroom. 3001 Locust, 314-380-2040, smallbatchstl.com.
