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At the soon-to-open Al Forno in the U City Loop, the claim of pizza "like nothing else in St. Louis” has us intrigued.
Sometimes local restaurant openings and closings come at us so fast we scribes have to drop everything and jot some some notes. Here’s what's gone down just in the last week:
The fast-casual burrito joint Itacate (3324 N. Lindbergh, 314-736-4516) announced via Facebook last Saturday that they were calling it quits after only a 3 month run. We had announced its arrival in May, and although Itacate (Spanish for “provisions”) was on our long list, we’d not gotten around to stopping by (a common lament among local diners). In a recent article, the P-D’s Ian Froeb seemed satisfied but not bowled over. Itacate’s FB announcement did mention that catering was still available.
Froeb also reported this week that Richard’s Ribs (10727 Big Bend) in Kirkwood closed last month. Richard’s was, in our opinion, old school St. Louis barbecue—i.e., ribs that were fall-off-the-bone-tender and heavily sauced, as was another signature item, a two-pound pork steak. We liked the place—and Richard—but were concerned about the lack of to-go menus and a website that was frequently down.
It was 40 South News that reported that the Blind Tiger (7376 Manchester) in Maplewood would be closing after less than a year in business. A later report nailed down a closing date of September 19. The Blind Tiger occupied the southeast corner of Sutton and Manchester, the previous home to two cabaret-style bars—Jive & Wail and The Jumpin’ Jupiter. The pizza at Blind Tiger was great, but the space was big, open, and unwelcoming.
Sauce reports that El Tropical (5001 Lindenwood, 314-833-3513) has opened in the space vacated by La Tropicana Market last October, offering similar fare--both Mexican and Cuban cuisine, which only makes sense, as one of the owners has ties to the state of Zacatecas and the other is a native of Cuba. El Tropical opened in late August, the website is still under construction, and we're on our way to see if their Cuban sandwich measures up to Tropicana's version. SLM critic Dave Lowry said it "may be the best thing between bread in St. Louis" version.
Cookies are in the news this week—specifically the hot, freshly baked ones delivered to your door until the wee hours. This concept arose on college campuses in the last decade and seems to be taking hold here. Dough to Door, a locally-owned iteration that recently moved from the Loop proper to a space twice as large at 6016 Delmar, was the first player in the local cookie delivery game. DtD now has some company…
Feast reports that Insomnia Cookies (226 N. Euclid) is planning to open its first Missouri store in the CWE the first week of October. According to its website, the company was founded in 2003 student in a University of Pennsylvania dorm room by a U Penn student. To date, there are more than 50 stores, concentrated on the East Coast and northeastern U.S.
SLM has learned that another cookie delivery company is also seriously considering a move into the StL market.
Meanwhile back in the Loop, SLM has learned that Al Forno (567-A Melville) a new pizza/pasta joint (located in the former Dough to Door space) is slated to open in the next few weeks. Details are sketchy, but an unnamed representative did tell us the pizza “will be like nothing else in St. Louis.” And with that kind of swagger, it’s got our attention.
And lastly the “Closed for Remodeling” sign in the door of Ginger Bistro (6665 Delmar) is a half-truth. The sign should have read “Closed and Remodeling.” The restaurant has been closed for several weeks, a demo crew has dismantled the place, and sources will only confirm that the space is being renovated "but it won't be Ginger Bistro." More as we sniff it out.
