
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
At Wright's Tavern, baked blue crab cake on a bed of rémoulade sauce
The following list is accurate as of a late-December press date.
It's unprecedented to have four bakeries close in the same month in the metro area, especially when two of them are as notable as Sugaree Baking Co. in Dogtown and The Bagel Factory in Creve Coeur, which has been turning out authentic, New York City–style water bagels in Creve Coeur for the past 48 years. Sal Y Limon (sister restaurant to Padrino's) opened softly in Brentwood on December 22, the coldest, windiest day of the year. Three large-footprint food-and-entertainment venues opened in the city this month: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, The Commons at Armory STL, and Puttshack (with chef Bobby Tessler in charge of the culinary operation). And Wright's Tavern opened in the former I Fratellini space in Clayton, where all available tables (through January) were snapped up almost instantly. (Insider tip: February tables will be made available on Resy on January 1 precisely at 12 a.m. Pop a cork, plant a kiss, then book a table at one of the hottest restaurants in town.)
CLOSINGS
- Snō: 3611 Juniata, December 2
- Star Café & Bakery: 5547 S. Grand, December 15
- The Bagel Factory: 11256 Olive, December 23
- Burger 809: 1821 Cherokee (inside Bluewood Brewing), December 23
- Tompkins Riverside: 500 S. Main, December 23
- Artistry on Cakes: 507 Sherman, Belleville, December 30
- Sugaree Baking Co.: 1242 Tamm, December 30
- Sugarfire 618: 2323 Plum, Edwardsville. Il, December 31
OPENINGS
- 1929 Pizza and Wine: 7 N. Wood River, Wood River, Illinois, December 2
- Bijoux Handcrafted Chocolates: 7930 Big Bend, December 2 (additional location)
- Wright’s Tavern (I Fratellini): 7624 Wydown, December 5
- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema: 3765 Foundry Way, #275, December 12
- La Finca Coffee: 4440 Manchester, December 12 (second metro location)
- The Commons at Armory STL: 3660 Market, December 16
- Canna Brunch: 5249 Pattison (monthly cannabis brunch collaboration between Pop’s Blue Moon and Yonder Eats), December 17
- Mellow Mushroom (Charlie Gitto’s): 11525 Olive, December 19 (second location)
- Puttshack: 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 100, December 19
- LongStory Coffee: (732 S. Illinois), December 21
- Shoehorn Brewing: 225 E. Main, Belleville, Ill., December 21
- Sal y Limón (Houlihan's): 1221 Strassner, December 22
- Mozay (The Note Bar): 200 N. 13th, December 27
- The Vandy: 1301 S. Vandeventer, December 28
COMING SOON
- Clara B’s Kitchen Table: 732 S. Illinois, Belleville (inside LongStory Coffee), mid-January (moved)
- Kain Tayo: 2700 Locust, mid-January
- Lola Jean’s Pizza (Lola Jean’s Giveback Coffee); 5400 Nottingham, mid-January
- Anita Café & Bar: 2700 Locust, late January
- Amighetti’s: 5390 Southwest, January (second location)
- Bagel Union: 8705 Big Bend, January
- Hank’s Cheesecakes: 5390 Southwest (inside Amighetti’s), January (second location)
- Benton Park Cafe: 2901 Salena, January (reopening under new ownership)
- Bonito Bar: 622 North & South (inside Frida’s): January
- C and B Boiled Bagels: 62. E. Ferguson, Wood River, Illinois, January
- El Milagro Azteca/GastroPit (Taco Circus): 4940 Southwest, January
- Hi-Pointe Drive-In: 6083 Mid Rivers Mall (Cottleville Landing), Cottleville, January (additional location)
- Honey Bee Tea: 2039 Zumbehl, St. Charles, January (additional location)
- Maryland House by Brennan’s (Mandarin Lounge): 44 Maryland Plaza, January
- Momo (Bandana’s BBQ): 9500 Manchester, January
- Sado (Giovanni's on the Hill): 5201 Shaw, January
- Sugarfire Smoke House: 2204 Michigan, Arnold, January (additional location)
- Napoli Sea: 1450 Beale, #115, early February
- The Pitch Athletic Club & Tavern (Señior Julio’s): 1830 Market, mid-February
- Billy G’s Finer Diner (Balaban’s): 1772 Clarkson, late February
- Lefty’s Bagels: 13359 Olive, late February
- Clementine’s (Sub Zero Vodka): 306 Euclid, February (additional location)
- Golden Oak Pancake House: 6149 Mid Rivers Mall, St. Peters, February
- Taco Love: 5655 Pershing (inside The Hudson), February
- Chicken Scratch (Pi Pizzeria & ¡Rico! Mexican): 9900 Manchester, early 2023
- Berry Box Superfood Bar: 3730 Foundry Way (City Foundry STL), early 2023
- BLK MKT Eats (Las Palmas): 7356 Manchester, early 2023
- Honey Bee Tea: 8558 Eager, early 2023 (additional location)
- Looking Meadow Coffee Co. (Stone Spiral Coffee & Curios): 2500 Sutton, early 2023
- Nexus Cultural Cuisine & Craft Cocktails: 2704 Locust, early 2023
- Taco Buddha (Hardee’s): 11111 Manchester, early 2023 (additional location)
- Videira Wine Shop & Bar: 2700 Locust, early 2023
- Deli Divine: 5501 Delmar, early March
- Clementine’s: 6185 Bennett, Edwardsville, March (additional location)
- Kingside Diner: Terminal 1–St. Louis Lambert International Airport, March (additional location)
- Locoz Tacoz: 7374 Manchester, March
- 4 Hands Brewing Co. + The Peacemaker Lobster & Crab: 150 W. Argonne, spring
- B Juiced: 605 S. Florissant, spring
- Blue Jay Brewing Co.: 2710 Locust, spring
- Brick + Bramble (Sugarfire 618): 2323 Plum, Edwardsville, Il, spring
- City Winery: 3730 Foundry Way, #158, spring
- Condado Tacos (Drunken Fish): 601 Clark, spring (first Missouri location)
- Drunken Fish: 6151 Trace Parkway, Edwardsville, spring (additional location)
- Eatwell Market by Schnucks: 220 THF Boulevard, spring
- Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria: 751 Clark (Ballpark Village), spring (additional location)
- Kenny’s Upstairs (Upstairs Lounge): 3131 S. Grand, spring
- Kimchi Guys: 6151 Trace Parkway, Edwardsville, spring (additional location)
- Kingside Diner: Terminal 1–St. Louis Lambert International Airport, spring
- Koibito Poké: 601 Clark, Ballpark Village, spring (additional location)
- Rick’s and Rick’s Rooftop: 2639 Locust, spring
- Salsa Rosada (Hornet’s Nest): 3135 Olive, spring
- Telva at The Ridge: 60 N. Gore (at Rolling Ridge Nursery), spring
- Union Loafers: 1532 Tower Grove (bread retail shop inside Union Studio), spring 2023
- Soda Fountain Express (Saint Louis Bread Co.): 147 Westport Plaza, summer
- Alpha Brewing Company Distillery (ABCD): 5232 Delmar, early fall
MOVING
- Super Smokers: From 601 Stockell in Eureka (location now closed) to 1657 W. Fifth in Eureka (Steak ‘n Shake), mid-January
- Más Tequila: From 708 N. Second (location now closed) to 2101 Menard, (Joanie’s Pizza), February
- Twisted Ranch: From 1731 S. 8th to 14 Maryland Plaza (Bar Louie), March
- The Wood Shack: From S. 10th to 1730 S. 8th (Twisted Ranch), March
- King & I Thai Cuisine: from 3155 S. Grand (to 8039 Dale, spring
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