Fresh & Chill (4621 Beck) opened its doors in South City on November 15. Inclusivity and representation drive the narrative, from the owners and staff to the menu, interiors, and events. Owners Julieta and Jhoneury (John) Feliz, Rodolfo (Rudy) Martinez, and general manager Dan Martinez created a place that honors their Latin and American heritages.
“We’re a multi-cultural team, so our vision was to bring our different backgrounds to the table in a comfortable, family friendly environment,” Julieta Feliz says. “I came to St. Louis from California in 2016. My mom is from El Salvador, and my dad’s from Guatemala. My husband is from the Dominican Republic, and Rudy’s family is from Mexico City. Our menu is an homage to the people in our lives, our experiences, our stories, and where we come from.”
Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
Breakfast and brunch dishes dominate the extensive menu. A selection of shareable plates, sandwiches, and sides rounds out the fare, along with a kids menu. Some of the dishes are new to the St. Louis market, such as the Dominican-inspired Los Tres Golpes, which translates to ‘the three hits’ or ‘the three strikes.’ Three distinct elements make up this breakfast platter: eggs, fried salami, and mangu, the Dominican version of fried green plantains, which comes with sliced avocado, house-made queso fresco and house-made garlic toast.
Hearty brunch/lunch choices include Hey Cuba, a big sandwich with shredded pork, ham, pickles, Swiss cheese, aioli, and house-made sauces packed in a bolillo. The Mollette, an open-face sandwich from northern Mexico, consists of a bolillo loaded with layers of refried beans, bacon, ham, queso fresco, chorizo, pico de gallo, and avocado topped with crema sauce. Burgers and burritos will soon be on the menu as well.
Sides include charro beans; pintos with ham, bacon, and chorizo; crispy garlic Parmesan fries; black beans with queso fresco and pico de gallo; steamed mix veggies; and roasted potatoes with red peppers and onions. For a $1 upcharge, add a side of fresh seasonal fruits; mac and cheese with bacon and crispy bread crumb topping; or a side salad with arugula, spinach, and goat cheese with a lemon vinaigrette dressing.
Arepas appear in several variations. The classic corn dough pockets are available as a single item or as a shareable plate, filled with melted mozzarella cheese and served with an avocado crema dipping sauce. Try the savory grilled stuffed arepas, which come three to a plate. They’re filled with a choice of steak, shredded beef, a vegan patty, chicken, or shrimp and topped with cabbage slaw, queso fresco, and pico de gallo, served with two eggs or a regular side. For a sweet bite, check out the sweet corn and coconut dough arepas with melted mozzarella and a drizzle of piña colada sauce.
The chefs collaborated with the owners to integrate dishes from the Latin diaspora into a menu with clever nods to American favorites, such as pairing waffles and lollipop lamb chops with a signature rosemary-chipotle syrup, a riff on chicken and waffles. There’s even a little Elvis in the mix, with the PB&J bacon sandwich: peanut butter, jelly, bacon, and mozzarella on a buttery croissant toast.
On the sweet side, look for tres leches buttermilk pancakes topped with house-made tres leches sauce, caramel, and chocolate and served with two eggs. French toast comes with creamy mascarpone, fresh berries, maple syrup, whipped cream, and mint garnish, served with two eggs and bacon. Shareable plates include potato and ham croquettes, with ham, mozzarella, avocado dipping sauce, and the aforementioned mini arepas.
As of this writing, the restaurant is waiting for its liquor license, which has been approved but not yet received. Currently, the drink menu of coffees and juice drinks that reflect the cultures of the Latin countries, including such seasonal juices as tamarind, passion fruit, and pineapple juice.
The Atmosphere
The restaurant is situated near South Kingshighway, a short block north of Chippewa. A large parking lot is located directly across from the building, in addition to nearby on-street parking.
The interior has a midcentury modern aesthetic, with lighting, furnishings and décor, with some from the owners’ personal collections. The team chose artwork around a theme of nature, botanicals, and florals, with a handsome display wall in the main dining room. The artwork came from family, friends, and customers. One woman donated a large painting of trees, for instance. “She told me her mother had Alzheimer’s and would stare at the trees every day,” Julieta says. “Her mother enjoyed the painting so much, she wanted to give it to us, where many people would see it, as a way to honor her mother.”
On December 21 from 4–9 p.m., Fresh & Chill will host a holiday party with a special menu, wintry drinks, movies, and music from Grupo Sazon Jazz, which combines salsa and Afro-Carribbean music styles with elements of American jazz. (Julieta and Jhoneury Feliz first met at a salsa dancing party, so there’s a good chance some dancing may break out.)
Fresh & Chill
📍 4621 Beck
📞 557-217-3117
⏰ 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Mon–Wed and Sun, 8 a.m.–6 p.m. Thu–Sat
Find the best food in St. Louis
Subscribe to the St. Louis Dining In and Dining Out newsletters to stay up-to-date on the local restaurant and culinary scene.
