COURTESY OF YELLOWBELLY
From the restaurateurs behind Retreat Gastropub, Yellowbelly promises to be another lively addition to the Central West End.
At first glance, the following restaurant roundup might seem a bit random. A few clearly have "Best of 2018" potential. Others (like Good Fortune) are a bit kitschy. And one (Hofbräuhaus) has been on this list for two years in a row.
Why We’re Intrigued: 1. The city’s first cidery is located in a three-story, 12,000-square-foot former firehouse at 2000 Washington. 2. Accomplished brewmaster/winemaker Evan Hiatt (Six Row Brewing Co., PaPPos Pizzeria & Brew Co., Le Bourgeois Vineyards, River Ridge Winery) is in charge of cider production (a hybrid of beer and wine making). 3. Chef Chris Lee (Chef’s Table STL, Mad Tomato, River City Casino, In Good Company restaurants) is the menu consultant. 4. Owner/longtime cider maker Russ John says Brick River will be the only place in the region making Midwestern cider from fresh-pressed fruit.
Contact Info: 2000 Washington, brickrivercider.com
Projected Opening: Late January
2. Del Pietro’s
Why We’re Intrigued: Mike Del Pietro has built a restaurant empire (Sugo’s, Babbo’s, Via Vino, Tavolo V) by providing better-quality Italian food at reasonable prices (such as a brick-sized portion of lasagna for $12), just like his parents did at their eponymous restaurant, which closed in 2011. The new Del Pietro’s, located in the former Harvest/Riverbend space in Richmond Heights, will cast a wide net, revitalizing such old favorites as Spaghetti a la Angela and Beef Sotto while creating new items that dovetail with the family classics. “Let’s face it,” Del Pietro adds. “There has to be meatballs and lasagna in some form or another.”
Contact Info: 1059 S. Big Bend, mdprestaurants.com
Projected Opening: Late January
Artist's rendering of Hofbräuhaus St. Louis-Belleville. Photo provided.
3. Hofbräuhaus St. Louis–Belleville
Why We’re Intrigued: The massive 30,000-square-foot, 1000-seat facility was originally slated to open in summer 2016 and has missed several targeted opening dates since that time; according to the developers and website, Hofbräuhaus will now open in late January 2018. Based on the centuries-old Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany, the Belleville location will be the largest of eight U.S. franchises. The beverage-distribution system, one of only three in the United States, distributes beer, liquor, and soda throughout the facility. The developers promise authenticity, from German food and beer to lederhosen and oompah bands.
Contact Info: 123 St. Eugene, Belleville, Illinois
Projected Opening: Late January
COURTESY OF DAVID DRESNER
4. Crispy Edge
Why We’re Intrigued: Owner David Dresner’s main trade at the moment is manufacturing— he’s behind custom coffee-sleeve company Sleeve A Message—but he’s not jumping into the restaurant business lightly. His extensive research and dedication to doing it right might have procured a long wait time for Crispy Edge, what could be St. Louis’ first potsticker-focused restaurant. But Dresner’s attention to detail and an ambitious potsticker selection—everything from the traditional (pork) to the bizarre (pumpkin pie)—promises to be worth the wait.
Contact Info: 4168 Juniata, crispyedge.com
Projected Opening: March 2018
Architectural rendering of the 35-seat space by Gabe McKee of V Three Studios, LLC
5. Good Fortune
Why We’re Intrigued: Since Corey Smale departed Strange Donuts two years ago, many St. Louisans have been patiently awaiting his latest project, which he’s working on with Byrd & Barrel co-owner Bob Brazell and chefs Ryan McDonald and Hana Chung. A location switch earlier this year brings the “Chinese-Americanese” restaurant, Good Fortune, to the Botanical Heights neighborhood, an area already rife with culinary excellence (Union Loafers, Nixta, Elaia, Olio, etc.). If Good Fortune’s stellar social-media teases are any indication, then this team’s creative juices should pull it off supremely.
Contact Info: 1641 Tower Grove, goodfortunestl.com, @goodfortunestl (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)
Projected Opening: Early spring
Why We’re Intrigued: First off, it will be The Grove’s only dedicated pizzeria (besides The U.R.B., which also serves pizza but emphasizes the brews). Second, it’s owned by Chip Schloss of Atomic Cowboy, who knows the neighborhood. Plus, there will be 60 draft beers on tap and creative signature pies, such as the No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn, topped with house-made turkey pastrami. Oh, and an unforgettable mural.
Contact Info: 4130 Manchester, facebook.com/FirecrackerPizzaBeer/
Projected opening: Early 2018
7. Elmwood
Why We’re Intrigued: Two hip credentialed restaurateurs (chef Adam Altnether and Chris Kelling) turned heads earlier this month when they announced their modern American restaurant would be located at Sutton and Manchester, a prime corner in perpetually hot Maplewood. Expect elevated food, beverage, and service—and, according to Kelling, “an environment that looks like nothing else.”
Contact Info: 2704 Sutton, elmwoodstl.com
Projected Opening: Mid-2018
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KEVIN A. ROBERTS
8. Peel Wood-Fired Pizza–Clayton
Why We’re Intrigued: Owners Patrick Thirion and Brandon Case hit a home run at their flagship location in Edwardsville. Then they did it again by adding a microbrewery to Peel's second location, in O’Fallon, Illinois. Recently, they secured an 8,800-square-foot space at Two Twelve Clayton, the 26-story multi-use building at Meramec and Bonhomme in Clayton. The restaurant will feature three pizza ovens, a corner patio, and seating for approximately 225 people. The partners also hope to sell Peel's beer there.
Contact Info: 212 S. Meramec, peelpizza.com
Projected Opening: Mid-2018
COURTESY OF YELLOWBELLY
9. Yellowbelly
Why We’re Intrigued: Travis Howard and Tim Wiggins opened Retreat Gastropub two years ago in the Central West End to great applause. So it’s no surprise that they’ve announced a new, exciting venture: Yellowbelly, opening inside luxury apartment complex Citizen Park. It will offer California-style seafood and a rum-focused bar program. Howard is planning such raw seafood dishes as ceviche and crudo, as well as tropically flavored cocktails in “cheeky” glassware. A fun neighborhood eatery? In the CWE, it'll fit right in.
Contact Info: 4659 Lindell, yellowbellystl.com
Projected Opening: Late 2018
10. Bulrush
Why We’re Intrigued: When news broke of Bridgeton native and James Beard Award–nominated chef Rob Connoley returning home to open Bulrush (another term for the cattail), foodies everywhere were intrigued—especially considering its promise of being St. Louis' first-of-its-kind restaurant to serve foraged foods. While waiting for Bulrush to materialize, Connoley opened Squatter’s Café in Grand Center. The chef says he’s currently “firing both barrels” at Bulrush, and if he was a betting man, he’d wager the restaurant “will absolutely happen in 2018.”
Contact Info: Location TBA, bulrushstl.com
Projected Opening: 2018
