“The best part is, I’m having fun,” says Eric Brenner, executive chef of the 50-seat Lascelles Granite City (1324 Niedringhaus, Granite City, 618-709-7375), located in the wedge-shaped former Guardian Bank building in the city for which the restaurant is named. When the chef is having fun, this is usually manifested on the table. A contender for the Cutest Appetizer Ever award, Bacon + Eggs means a quartet of deviled eggs with rings of Peppadew peppers and upright shards of maple-glazed bacon. The Chicken + Dumplings moniker is a deliberate tease, disguising a beautifully plated smoked half-chicken with potato gnocchi, mushrooms, and peas. A small bar resides where a row of tellers once stood; the bank vault is now the walk-in. Natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows validates the decision to allow the 98-year-old multicolored granite floor to remain for another generation to appreciate. Summer merriment plays out in the beer garden in back, the perfect perch from which to consider a grilled cheese BLT and one of a dozen local craft brews. Located at what’s called “Six Mile” (the distance from the Mississippi River), Lascelles is an easy jaunt from St. Louis and a fun experience. Just ask Brenner.
Where to eat before every Broadway show at the Fox this season
From ‘Clue’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’ to ‘Mamma Mia!’ and ‘Wicked,’ these themed restaurant pairings set the stage for the theatre’s 2026–27 Broadway season.
