
Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
Pork Shoyu ramen, as served at Menya Rui, with aromatic rendered fatback, topped with pork shoulder chasyu, menma, scallion, and nori
The following list is accurate as of late April 2022.
April was a soft month for restaurant openings, relatively speaking. Steven Pursley, who spent three years in Japan studying ramen, opened a 26-seat ramen shop (Menya Rui) in Lindenwood park. Two local faves—Gioia's Deli and Hi-Pointe Drive-In—added new locations. The area's second food truck park (Soulcial Kitchen) opened in Metro East (a third, Frankie Martin’s Garden, is slated to open in Cottleville in June). Restaurant veteran Nadine Soaib, who closed Nadine's Gin Joint last August, opened a new concept (Nadine's Hash House) near Soulard. Eddie Arzola, another seasoned vet, is opening Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas next week. On the other hand, Café Natasha closed after nearly four decades in business. There's a silver lining, though: A new concept will open in its place, and Café Natasha matriarch Hamishe Bahrami will be the boniface.
CLOSINGS
- Pangea: 3245 Rue Royale, St. Charles, April 16
- Oliver's Coffee + Flower Bar: 7401 Hazel, Maplewood, April 28
- Café Natasha: 3200 S. Grand, Tower Grove East, April 30

Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
The interior at Menya Rui
OPENINGS
- The Wine Café: 703 S. Main, St. Charles, April 7
- Bridgeway (Sevens, Prime Cafe, and Players Club): 200 S. Front (DraftKings at Casino Queen), East St. Louis, April 16
- Goshen Coffee Cafe (Soulard Coffee Garden): 910 Geyer, Soulard, April 20
- Menya Rui (F&B’s Eatery): 3453 Hampton, Lindenwood Park, April 21
- Soulcial Kitchen (food truck park): 127 N. Belt East, Swansea, Illinois April 22
- Nadine’s Hash House (Billie’s Fine Foods): 1802 S. Broadway, Kosciusko, April 23
- Gioia’s Deli: 11855 Adie, Maryland Heights, April 25 (additional location, pickup and delivery only)
- Hi-Pointe Drive-In: 531 W. Highway 50, O’Fallon, Illinois, April 28 (additional location)
Courtesy Hi-Pointe Drive-In
COMING SOON:
- Arzola’s Fajitas & Margaritas (Ernesto’s Wine Bar): 2739 McNair, early May
- Blue Violet: 6112 Shoger, Ste. D, Edwardsville, Ill., May 3 (announced)
- Chirco’s Pizza (Pi 2 Go): 14870 Clayton, early May
- Fordo’s Killer Pizza: 3730 Foundry Way (City Foundry STL), early May
- Cleaver & Cocktail: 13360 Clayton, #104, mid-May
- Flock (food truck park): 210 Ridge, Alton, mid-May
- Hello Juice & Smoothie: 10463 Manchester, mid-May (second location)
- Station No. 3 (Utah Station): 1956 Utah, mid-May
- Sushi Ai (Phil’s BBQ): 115 W. 5th, Eureka, mid-May (additional location)
- Vangel’s Restaurant & Bar (J. Greene's Irish Pub): 10017 Manchester, mid-May
- Exit 11 Coffee: 5230 Highway 94, late May
- Casa de Tres Reyes (Rib City): 1181 Colonnade Center, late May
- Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream: 4400 Manchester, late May
- Taqueria Morita: 4260 Forest Park (at Vicia): May 26 (announced)
- Baileys’ Range: 4175 Shaw, May (second location)
- Hatch’d (Quincy Street Bistro): 6931 Gravois, May
- Spirit Wine & Craft (Craft Beer Cellar): 5760 Chippewa, May
- Boardwalk Waffles & Ice Cream (additional location in former Miss M's Candy Boutique): 500 N. Grand, early June
- Frankie Martin’s Garden (food truck park): 5372 St. Charles, Cottleville, early June
- Honey Bee’s Biscuits + Good Eats (Club Taco): 200 N. Kirkwood, early June
- Uptown Scoops: 115 E. Clay St., Collinsville, early June
- YES, Heaven’s Real: 127 N. Belt East (Soulcial Kitchen), Swansea, Ill., early June
- Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants: 5300 N. Service, St. Peters, late June
- Kingside Express (Thai Café): 6170 Delmar, late June
- Shake Shack (Steak ‘n Shake): 17312 Chesterfield Airport, late spring (additional location)
- 18Rails (event venue): 4730 Foundry Way (City Foundry STL), June
- Anita Café & Bar: 2700 Locust, June
- Bar Les Freres: 7637 Wydown, June (reopening)
- Hi-Pointe Drive-In: Cottleville Landing Shopping Center, Cottleville, June (additional location)
- Main Squeeze Juice Co.: 310 N. Euclid, early June (first St. Louis location)
- Press: 2505 S. Jefferson, June
- Winnie’s Wine Bar (Charleville Brewing Company): 2101 Chouteau, June
- Bonito Bar: 622 North & South (inside Frida’s): Summer
- El Sitio (Llywelyn’s Pub): 4747 McPherson, summer
- Maaji’s Street Kitchen (food truck): Summer
- Nexus Cultural Cuisine & Craft Cocktails: 2704 Locust, summer
- The Crow Bar (Nadine’s Gin Joint): 1931 S. 12th, early July
- The Reverie (event venue): 17057 N. Outer 40 (The District), early July
- Han Lao: 7219 Manchester, July (moving)
- Koibito Poké: 13275 Manchester # 103, July
- Koibito Poké: 9959 Manchester, July
- Vicini: 1916 Park, July
- Scooter’s Coffee (Jefferson’s Restaurant): 1300 W. Main, Mascoutah, Il., August
- Snō (VP Square): 3611 Juniata, late summer
- 4 Hands Brewing Co. + The Peacemaker Lobster & Crab: 150 W. Argonne, September
- 1929 Pizza and Wine: 7 N. Wood River, Wood River, fall
- Sado (Giovanni's on the Hill): 5201 Shaw, fall
- The Hawthorn (event venue): 2225 Washington, fall
- Taco Buddha (Hardee’s): 11111 Manchester, late fall (additional location)
- Shake Shack (Hunan Star): 13239 Manchester, late 2022 (additional location)
MOVING
- Bootleggin’ Tavern: From 1933 Washington to 4501 Chouteau (Golden Grocer), May
- Nobu’s: From 8643 Olive to 6253 Delmar, June
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