St. Louis restaurant openings, closings, and coming soons

The following information is accurate as of an early-December press date

This month, only two closings came as surprises: Known for its homestyle menu and generous portions, Fairview Heights-based Lotawata Creek Southern Grill closed after a 29-year run. (The fast-casual spinoff, Lotawata Creek’s Chk’n Shack in Florissant, remains open and will incorporate some of the flagship’s most popular menu items.) And Session Taco in the Central West End closed yesterday to prepare for the December 5 debut of Lapez Mod Mex, a reimagining of Adam and Jason Tilford’s former Webster Groves favorite, Milagro Modern Mexican. The move mirrors the brothers’ successful Session-to-Lapez transition in the Kansas City area. Openings included DD Mau in Webster Groves relocating to the former Weber’s Front Row space; Nettie’s Pizza Den in Clayton, the expected blockbuster from pizza whiz Mike Randolph; and Scout’s in Midtown, launched by two accomplished chefs and a veteran general manager, which will surely land on every “Best Restaurant” list for 2025.

Changes and additions are in full boldface

CLOSINGS

• The Buttery Restaurant: 3659 S. Grand, November 1
• Prime 55: 6100 Delmar, November 2
• STL Toasted: 3730 Foundry Way (food hall inside City Foundry STL), November 2
• Friday’s: 2000 S. First Capitol, November 12 (last Missouri location to close)
• Smash ‘Ems Burger Bar: 3169 Morganford, November 16 (temporarily closed)
• Mezcaleria Las Chupacabras: 25 The Boulevard, November 23

Courtesy of Steven Roach

Courtesy of Steven Roach

• Lotawata Creek Southern Grill: 311 Salem Pl, November 25
• Session Taco: 398 N. Euclid, November 30 (reopening as Lapez Mod Mex on December 10)
• Burger 809: 808 Chestnut, December 8 (announced)
• Ferguson Brewing: 418 S. Florissant, December 20 (announced)
• New Society: 3194 S. Grand, late December
• Steampunk Brew Works: 231 Lamp & Lantern Village, December (announced, date TBD)
• Rock Star Tacos: 4916 Shaw, December 31 (announced)
• Veritas Gateway to Food & Wine: 15860 Fountain Plaza, December 31 (announced)

OPENINGS

• Saddles Social House (Yellow Farmhouse Winery):100 Defiance Road, Defiance, November 1
• The Posh Nosh Deli & Grill: 7359 Forsyth, November 3 (moved)
• O/B Slices (Comfort Cuisine): 4 East Broadway, Alton, Il, November 5 
• Cellar Bar: 706 DeMun (upstairs hideaway inside Sasha’s on DeMun), November 6
• The Passport Craft Cocktail and Wine Bar: 6275 Delmar, November 6 (moved)
• Zen Me (Zen Thai): 9250 Watson, November 6 (announced)
• Dave’s Hot Chicken (Five Guys):1052 N. Ballas, November 7 (second metro location)
• Ozzy’s Market (Bootleggin’ Bob’s): 1933 Washington, November 10
• Comet Coffee: 4474 Shaw, November 13 (second location)
• Whisk: 2201 Cherokee, November 13 (reopened)
• Schatze’s Bar & Grill: 2301 E. Main, Belleville, November 14
• Fresh & Chill (Bomber O’Brien’s): 4621 Beck, November 15
• KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot (TGI Friday’s): 14007 Manchester, November 17
• Nettie’s Pizza Den (LemonShark Poke): 33 N. Central, November 19

Photography by Kevin A. Roberts

Photography by Kevin A. Roberts

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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts

Photography by Kevin A. Roberts

Photography by Mabel Suen

Photography by Mabel Suen

• DD Mau: 8169 Big Bend (Weber’s Front Row), November 20 (relocated)
• Scout’s (Nexus): 2704 Locust, November 20
• Dirty Pop: 2917 Highway K, O’Fallon, Missouri, November 21
• Germania Brew Haus: 211 Ridge, Alton, November 22 (additional location)

• Mortar & Pestle (The Copper Pig): 4611 Macklind, November 21
• Tee Rak Thai (SweetArt): 2203 S. 39th, November 21
• Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant: 4200 Manchester, November 28 (reopened)
• Robata: 7219 Manchester, November 30 (merged with Han Lao)

COMING SOON

• Songbird: 3153 Morganford (Black Sheep Whiskey and Wine), December 5 (moving, announced)
• The London Tea Room: 255 Union, December 6 (announced)
• Sakatanoya Revolving Sushi & Ramen Bar (The Melting Pot): 6683 Delmar, December 8 (announced)
• Crushed Red: 147 Beale, St. Charles, December 9 (announced, additional location)
• Lapez Mod Mex (Session Taco): 398 N. Euclid, December 10 (announced)
• Little’s Loft Play Café: 117 Argonne, early December
• Southern Classic Daiquiri Factory (The Wood Shack): 1731 S. 7th, early December
• Takozz (Olga’s Kitchen): 134 St. Clair Square, Fairview Heights, early December
• Narwhal’s Crafted: 400 N. Main, Edwardsville, mid-December
• Bella’s Coffee Café (Bella’s): 1021 Washington, December (rebranding)
• Cupio’s Barbecue (Steak ‘n Shake): 4320 W. Main, Belleville, December
• Humble Pie Pizza Tavern (Del Pietro’s): 1059 S. Big Bend, December
• Ices Plain & Fancy: 824 N. Second, St. Charles, December (second location)
• Plant Italia: 12955 Olive (ghost kitchen inside Bombay Food Junkies), December
• Sarpino’s Pizza (OR Smoothie): 6654 Clayton, December (first metro area location)
• Takeiros Mex-Food (Steak ’n Shake): 5828 S. Lindbergh, December
• The Scottish Arms: 8 S. Sarah, December (reopening)
• Salt + Smoke (Bar Louie): 110 S. Kirkwood, late December (additional location)
• Taco Buddha (Olio/Elaia): 1634 Tower Grove, late December (additional location)
• Three Kings Public House (Salty’s Bistro): 5045 State Highway N, Cottleville, early January
• The Fizz Factory: 1560 Veterans Memorial, January (first metro area brick-and-mortar for dirty sodas)
• Katie’s: 9635 Watson, January (fourth location)
• Patisserie Svoi (Mainlander): 8 S. Euclid, January
• Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas (Little Nashville): 142 N. Main, St. Charles, early 2026 (second location)
• Casa Boutique: 100 Carondelet Plz (inside Casa Don Alfonso), early 2026
• Elevation (Bulrush): 3307 Washington, early 2026
• Good News Brewing Ferguson (Ferguson Brewing Co.): 418 S. Florissant, early 2026 (additional location)
• Johnny Angel: 3120 Lafayette, early 2026
• Kishimoto Mendo (Get Jerked): 6394 Delmar, early 2026
• Oaxaca: 17084 N. Outer Road, Ste. 197, early 2026 (second location)
• Paris Baguette: Olive Crossing, early 2026 (first Missouri location)
• Skáld Bakery (Kounter Kulture): 3825 Watson, early 2026
• The Brass Tap: Lot 3, Olive Crossing, early 2026 (first Missouri location)
• The Sports Bra (Boogaloo): 7344 Manchester, early 2026
• Kitchen Hub STL: 333 Sante (shared kitchen, commissary, and incubator), February
• Salt + Smoke: 410 N. Main, Edwardsville, February
• Byte Café: 8680 Delmar, spring
• Cibo: 7489 Delmar, spring
• Chris’ Pancake & Dining (TGI Fridays): 5262 S. Lindbergh, spring  (third location)
• Lona’s Lil Eats (612 Kitchen & Cocktails): 612 W. Woodbine, spring (second location)
• Rosalita’s Cantina: 1421 Mexico Loop Road East, O’Fallon, Mo, spring (third metro location)
• Tiger Soup Dumplings: 1900 First Capitol, St. Charles, spring (third location)
• Washington Avenue Food Hall (Reign): 1220 Washington, spring
• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill (California Pizza Kitchen): 10590 Old Olive, summer (second metro location)
• Bootleggin’ BBQ: 203 E. Ferguson, Wood River, 2026
• Clandestino’s Speakeasy: Inside Jefferson Arms at 415 N. Tucker, 2026
• The Corner Vinyl Café: Inside Jefferson Arms at 415 N. Tucker, 2026
• Little Lager (Fortune Teller Bar): 2635 Cherokee, 2026 (second location)
• Nico’s Bakery: Inside Jefferson Arms at 415 N. Tucker, 2026
• Salonika: Inside Jefferson Arms at 415 N. Tucker, 2026
• The Taco Turko Bar: Inside Jefferson Arms at 415 N. Tucker, 2026

MOVING

• Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill: From 215 Harvard in Edwardsville to 6900 N. Illinois (TGI Friday’s), mid-January
• Pedal’n Pi: From 514 Bailey in Crystal City to 319 W. Main, early 2026
• Katie’s: From 9568 Manchester to 9500 Manchester (Momo), summer 2026

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