For devotees of the legendary Parkmoor Drive-In who’ve had a hankering the last two decades for a Kingburger and an order of onion rings, the wait is over.
Frank Romano’s reimagined version of the iconic restaurant opens tonight in the former Half & Half space at 220 W. Lockwood in Webster Groves. The menu and hours are limited to start, but rest assured, the Kingburger and those rings are on the opening menu and any that follow.
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The inaugural menu contains eight items, but will be expanded as the weeks progress. “We sold 500 cheeseburgers in five hours at the Parkmoor pop-up on the 4th of July,” he says, experiencing what he called a “space shuttle start…a little shaky at first.
“Obviously, the interest is there,” he continues, “so there’s no reason not to start off slowly.” This week, the restaurant will be open Wednesday-Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. for curbside carryout and first come, first served sidewalk dining. Orders can be placed online or by phone (314-938-5554) and are picked up in front of the restaurant.
On July 15, hours will be expanded to include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the week and until 10 p.m. on Fri-Sat. Romano says the 90-seat dining room will open “when it makes sense,” but in the meantime, just like at the new Olive + Oak next door, service will be restricted to outside dining and carryout.
Also available now (from a separate window inside the vestibule) are New Orleans-style SnoBalls, a snow cone offshoot made with very finely shaved ice that resembles snow, all the better absorb the SnoWizard brand flavor concentrates, a premium cane sugar line sourced from NOLA.
Ever since news broke that Romano would be bringing back The Parkmoor, the flood of well-wishers and reminiscers has been nonstop. He said, “My favorite story is when I heard that a couple who met at The Parkmoor was planning to celebrate their 50th anniversary here.”
