Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Head baker Ted Wilson chose unbleached, un-enriched roller-milled, hard red wheat flour to bake the light and mild bread used in Union Loafers' turkey and swiss sandwiches.
Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Who has the best fried chicken in St. Louis? Don’t look now, but this Memphis-based chain, ranked numero uno on several national best-of lists, recently landed in Maplewood. Let the chicken debate ensue. gusfriedchicken.com.
Union Loafers We can certainly vouch for the sandwiches, but the bread itself is so good that devotees make a meal of it and a crock of creamy house-made butter. Nobody’s loafing at Union Loafers; this Botanical Heights newbie goes the extra mile. unionloafers.com.
Robata The former owner of the acclaimed Sekisui on South Grand has gone one better in Maplewood, offering yakitori, sushi, and ramen. The dine-in space is teeny-tiny. Fortunately, there’s both a patio and a drive-thru. robatamaplewood.com.
Main & Mill Brewing Drink enthusiasts have given the thumbs-up to this Festus-based brewpub, which took three years to complete. Kudos to father-and-son owners Barry and Denny Foster, who’ve resurrected a 130-year-old building. mainandmillbrewingco.com.
Copper Pig A copper-top bar, bentwood chandeliers, and whimsical porcine art are the focal points of this gastro-fusion restaurant in SoHa, where the fare bounces from elevated pub grub to Korean-influenced dishes such as bulgogi cheesesteak. copperpigstl.com.
