On Pershing Avenue, in the space once occupied by Atlas (and more recently Pig & Pickle), West End Bistro quietly opened its doors in May of this year. It’s already proving to be a popular addition to the DeBaliviere neighborhood, drawing visitors from the nearby Tribeca apartments.
The restaurant is owned by husband-and-wife team Kevin and Marion Green and partner Gina McCurry. The Greens are veterans of the St. Louis dining establishment, having both done stints at the Saint Louis Club, where they met 11 years ago. Kevin more recently led the kitchen at a senior living establishment, but he’s served as executive chef at Kreis’ Steakhouse in Frontenac and worked for a time at Guido’s on the Hill and Charlie Gitto’s.
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The couple’s vision for the new bistro is to create a friendly neighborhood restaurant that serves quality American food “with a global twist.”
“We want to meet everyone’s needs,” Kevin says. On the menu, French onion soup comfortably sits beside seafood gumbo, and calamari fritti keeps easy company with sesame seared ahi tuna. There’s bouillabaisse among the entrées, as well as shrimp and grits with Bayou gravy, and a scallop and crabmeat risotto with brown butter sauce. There’s a strong French influence in the filet mignon, which comes with a wild mushroom sauce. Marion says the house specialty is The West End, two pork ribeyes with a caramelized apple demi-glaze.
“I’ve tried to pull from the best of St. Louis’ leading clubs and restaurants,” says Kevin, who attended Sullivan University’s culinary school and then attended the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
Though West End Bistro is the first restaurant that Kevin has owned, you couldn’t tell: The atmosphere is inviting and the staff pristine. Marion and bartender Mack Hill are both sharp in black vests, starched white shirts and aprons, and gold ties.
The restaurant also marks a first for Hill, who was previously a pharmaceutical rep but seems a natural, with his personable demeanor. He expects to serve Urban Chestnut and Schlafly, among others. “I’m going to choose products I believe in,” Hill says. “It’s about honesty, things I can stand behind.” West End Bistro received its liquor license late last week, so the bar is officially open.
