This was my second time coming to this place…read more The staff is so inviting and friendly and are willing to answer any and every question you have. They made a fresh pot of coffee and even went the extra mile to go get ice as we came in later in the evening and they had run out. I did tell them they didn't need to, but he insisted which I thought was outstanding. This quaint little café is so charming inside. It allows people to gather eat a sweet treat and have general conversation conversations where you can actually hear one another. They do have outside seating too. The chocolate cake was soft and as a non-cake lover I found this very delicious. Definitely worthy of sharing. I ordered a quiche to go. I had mentioned they didn't have the spinach feta pastry that I had before. The gentleman stated we have some in the back, I'm happy to get you one. So I ordered that too. And although this was only our second time coming, the fact that they'll make a fresh pot of coffee in my opinion is key to a great café. I will keep this in my rotation of places to go.

I hate to leave a bad review, but it was the weirdest interaction.. or lack there of, I guess??…read more The website and the hours on the door say it closes at 10pm. I got there around 8:45pm. As I was walking to the door, I see a man cleaning the tables. He walks toward the door as I'm walking up to it. We're literally standing face to face with the door in between us. I smile, he is stone faced. I go to open the door as he walks away. The door is locked. I try a few more times, thinking maybe it's me. I look around at the hours again, but next to it is a "we're open" sign. I try maybe 3-4 times more before I give up. I walk to the window and he's sitting at a table toward the back, looking at me. We just look at each other, then he looks at his computer. I turn toward my car, then turn back around and he's still looking at me! I sat in my car, confused. He never looked back up from his computer, so I left. Highly disappointed.

Seriously, Five Stars is not enough for Nathaniel Reid Bakery. I'd give them a 10 Star rating if I…read morecould. The shop is pristine. The display cases are filled with works of art, that taste delicious. The staff is cheerful, friendly and all of them dressed in uniforms gives a feeling of professionalism. I enjoyed a Smoked Ham and Gruyere Croissant and a black coffee in house. I was to have a seat at the counter in their front window and relax while my dogs were at the doggie spa up the street. The croissant was super-super flakey and the smoked ham paired beautifully with the gruyere cheese. I couldn't come to NRB and not take home a couple of sweet treats. My favorite treat was the Raspberry Lemon Financier. It was so good the next morning with my home brewed coffee. Then that evening I enjoyed a Lemon Cake whose name I cannot recall. It exceeded moistness and the strong lemon flavor was just what I like. In addition to my treats, I got a Chocolate Chip Pecan Cookie for my fur-babies pet stylist as part of her tip. My only dislike and it's minor, is that they serve Kaldi's Coffee. I'm glad they are supporting another local small business, but I am not a fan of their product. Typically when I know a cafe serves Kaldi's, I pass on the coffee, but I made an exception here.

I'd heard great things about this bakery for its authentic French flavors and long lines, so I…read moretried the Roast Beef Sandwich, Smoked Pork Sandwich, Four Cheese Honey Focaccia, and Chocolate Almond Croissant. I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful everything was. The sandwich bread was expertly crafted, soft without being tough, making it easy to chew. The pastries stood out as well, with a rich cheesiness and chocolatey sweetness that felt unique. Service was efficient with multiple staff members assisting customers. The place also has limited window seating available for dining.

Came here needing to bring something sweet to a friends house - what a place…read more Genuinely would be here weekly if i lived in town Service was equally as good as the food looked and tasted!!! Thank you again for being apart of our day!

This bakery is sooo cute! I came to pick up my King Cake. I strolled around to see what's sold and…read moretake in the look of the royal decor! It's a cozy, classy feel. The employees are so kind. I'll have to try a dessert and tea one of these days.

You walk in, they tell you to order at the counter, hand you a number, and for a split second you…read morethink "oh, this is gonna be a glorified Chipotle situation." Reader. It is not. It is a Trojan horse for one of the best burgers in St. Louis (my wife says I'm being dramatic for calling it THE best; I say I am not NOT going back for another). We enjoyed everything we order: the pork belly burnt ends and cashew chicken wings, and a coffee & cardamom old fashioned that sounds like a personality disorder but tastes like a vibe, smoky, a touch sweet, and very drinkable year-round. The Sam Elliott burger, BBQ sauce, bacon, crunchy onions, brioche, is named for a man who has never disappointed anyone, and neither does the sandwich. And the meatloaf is NOT your grandma's brick: tender, charred at the edges, laid over silky mashed potatoes with broccolini, perhaps closer to a chop steak than a loaf in the best possible way. Vibe is farm-chic: old church pews, repurposed interior doors, a proper bar up front, plus a patio and rooftop for when the weather cooperates. Fun fact -- it's named after the blue duck Billy Madison paints in elementary school, which is a fantastic piece of trivia and tells you absolutely nothing accurate about the actual restaurant. 4.7 Stars. Picking Nits: the counter-order setup is efficient, but it sets expectations in the wrong direction for the first 90 seconds, you brace for fast-casual and instead get something considerably more ambitious. Food comes out fast once you've ordered, which is great if you're hungry and slightly jarring if you wanted a slow, lingering dinner. And the Billy Madison naming is charming trivia but entirely misleading as a vibe preview, no complaints about the actual restaurant, just the branding expectations it sets. If The Blue Duck were a character: Ron Swanson. Hear me out. If Ron ate here, he'd be suspicious of the entire experience until his first bite of protein -- the counter ordering, the repurposed doors, a burger named after a fellow mustachioed American, all of it registering as potentially too clever. Then the Sam Elliott hits his plate, he takes one bite, and the skepticism dissolves into the quiet respect of a man who has found his people. Looks rustic. Has strong feelings about meat. Secretly sophisticated -- plays saxophone in a jazz club under a fake name, builds his own furniture, would 100% approve of the farm-chic decor once the protein has spoken. Presents as simple. Isn't.

I've been here many times and sadly I can say twice I had decent food and service…read more Saturday, March 14th we had awful food and the service wasn't any better.

A long standing "Hill" favorite! From cannolis to Italian bread to the most amazing cheese danish,…read morethis place has it all. When really busy, they have a number system. This particular Saturday was not horrifically busy and I was greeted by one of the servers. She was very helpful in suggesting items. The ambiance is that of a true bakery- from the smell of yeast in the air to the sugar scented pastries. A "must visit" place on the Hill.

Since 1924, the Missouri Baking Co. has been making this rich messy almond flavored rich cake with…read morea chewy crust of over a hundred years. Gooey butter cake was first dreamed up in St Louis. We shared a chocolate chip cannoli and a gooey butter danish. Both were fresh, creamy & amazing! They take credit, even though our pastries came out to $7. All they need is a few tables and chairs to sit and enjoy our purchases

Great place for breakfast. My friend is currently obsessed with their scones which did look good…read more No scone for me, I got the soft scramble. Still not sure why it is called soft but it was delicious. 2 eggs on bed of arugula with avocado and toast on the side. I also got golden milk latte which was good. Loved my food and drink but prefer if portions were slightly larger. FYI- order at counter then they bring food to table.

First time visiting Colleen's Cafe and it definitely exceeded expectations. My wife and I walked…read moreover since it's within walking distance, and it turned out to be a great breakfast spot. They offer both breakfast and lunch, but we stuck with breakfast for our first visit. The wait for food was about 30 minutes, but the music and cozy ambiance made it an easy wait. Seating is a bit limited, with a mix of high-top and standard tables, but the atmosphere feels relaxed and welcoming. We started with a delicious caramel latte and orange juice. For the mains we ordered the breakfast burrito and the "Farmer Brown," and everything was flavorful and satisfying. The service was friendly and really complemented the overall experience. We skipped dessert this time, but they had plenty of tempting options for next visit. Definitely a spot we'd come back to.

No trip to the hill is complete without a visit to Vitale's for something sweet! I have visited a…read morefew times in the past and always ask for a cannoli since they have a delicious recipe for theirs. I have ordered some of the Italian cookies in the past and I have also tried some of their other pastries which are always divine! The other day, I picked up a cannoli and a slice of tiramisu with plans to bring them home to share with the hubby. I was feeling tempted to get a cream horn and a few other items, but knew that I could pick up those items the next time I visit. During a busy time, they move quick and take orders fast. It can seem a bit rushed at times, but that's only to keep the line moving. Just make sure you know what you want when it is your turn.

I haven't been here in years and my first experience was not a good one. This one however was…read moredifferent. I was told by a nearby restaurant that the bread came from Vitales and it was that good that when I saw it, I decided to stop for a loaf. Staff were busy but not unfriendly and attentive to ensure they grabbed all that I had asked for from the dessert cases. I got a few cookies and I expected a heavy shortbread type cookie from my first but it was light and airy and delicious. I asked about a piece of cake and the staff described what was in it and stated that it was a good choice... I have yet to try it, but I love pistachios so I am looking forward to it :) Overall this was a pleasant experience and again what I have eaten of what we bought was absolutely delicious so I can't imagine that I won't go back. I was very happy to see improvement from my first visit, but even the best places and people can have off days so perhaps that particular day was one for them or me or both lol

My husband and I love Comet! We love the staff here and they are so helpful. There is seating…read moreinside, but it is limited. On nicer days, there is seating outside. I got their matcha latte, and my husband got an espresso that was served with sparkling or tonic water. I would definitely get it again and pick up a bag of their coffee!

I'd never heard of this place. It was recommended by a member of my running group as a place we…read moremight visit to celebrate a successful training block, however that's determined. The name calls to mind a kind of soap that existed when I was younger and might still to this day. I questioned whether this was a place that exists, and I think that annoyed my training partner, because I question roughly every third thing that she says, in part for my own personal amusement, and she tends to be right about these things at least on occasion. Come to find out, there is a place called Comet Coffee, on Oakland across the street from Forest Park, next to the community college, in a building that might also house a hotel. I'm not sure. There was a sign for a hotel near where you need to turn if you need to park in the rear. No Diddy. Otherwise, there's no indication that there's parking available in the rear, that I'm aware of. There's parking out front, but it's limited in quantity, and you have to park on a diagonal. A few people couldn't get this quite right and took up more than one space, and that even further limited the amount of parking available out front. I found a space that I thought might work, but a driver in, wouldn't you know, a Nissan Altima pulled up and blocked it so that I couldn't back in. I'd tempted fate and had coffee before I ran, so it wasn't even worth having to get out of the car and teach someone a valuable lesson. What is the deal with this strip anyway? As was the case with Modern Brewery, which I visited a couple of weeks ago, I wonder what community college attendee has $15 to blow on a coffee and a croissant. Wouldn't they just attend a real college? I even know a few people who teach community college. They might be worse off than the students. Does this place cater to people in nearby office buildings? I don't get a communal, trustafarian vibe from this place. You wouldn't want to work on your screenplay here, and you might not be allowed to. The inside is cramped, and the overall vibe is not altogether different from a Panera. It's set up like a Jersey Mike's, with a row of tables along the wall and barely enough room between there and the counter for a line that forms in the rear of the restaurant, near where you enter if you're forced to park out back. (There's also a few tables out front, if weather permits.) It gets loud, and there's always someone standing over you. Obviously, that's only an issue if you "dine" in. If this place is convenient for you, and you have the means, you might honestly want to stop by on occasion and just grab takeout. I'm no expert when it comes to coffee or baked goods, but this place has to be up there in both regards. I went with a caramel latte and a plain croissant. I had my eye on some sort of pistachio croissant, but it was late when I got there and some lady ahead of me in line snagged it. They were down to just a few items left, but you probably can't go wrong with anything they sell. The plain croissant was a revelation. Even the croissants they use for the breakfast sandwiches at Burger King are delicious, but this was transcendent. It somehow managed to taste more like butter than biting into a stick of actual butter. The exterior looked dry, which it kinda was, but in a good way, but the interior was, uh, warm and inviting. The latte was served in a mug that felt premium, with impressive (because I can't do it) latte art. The head, if that's what you call it, was thick like a milkshake, and I may have gotten some on my trash 'stache. Is that because I opted for whole milk instead of skim or, God forbid, soy? It was only right, with this being America and all. I probably won't be back, unless I'm dragged back in by the same girl whose idea it was today. If I am, I'm going hog wild.

A very cute spot for dinner! Nice street parking offered outside that typically is not too busy…read more The restaurant is small smaller but they pack a lot of people in so it can be a little noisy, but it really has a nice vibe in plenty of space if you want us to sit at their bar area as well. The staff was very friendly and walked through the menu and all of the specials of the night. I liked their structure of ordering in courses. This is definitely a place to share your meal items and try a lot of things with your party. They also have a great drink menu and their espresso martini was especially tasty! I also loved their focaccia bread! We tried the brussels sprouts as an advertiser, which were very tasty.

Louie is still a hot number in St. Louis. It's the spot people name drop like they personally…read moretaught the chef how to salt water. If you can actually land a reservation, congratulations, you've won the Resy Olympics. A friend pulled some strings and got us in, which felt less like dinner and more like a heist. I went for the halibut special. It was a pesto vibe, flaky, and sitting pretty on a bed of couscous. It was giving coastal vacation energy in the middle of the Midwest. #stlouispescatarianapproved without hesitation. That said, is this all worth the reservation stress? For me, debatable. St. Louis is quietly stacked with spots that don't require a minor miracle to get a table. Now the pizzas were great. I took a few home and suddenly became the most popular person in the room. Certified crowd pleasers.

McArthur's Bakery has now become an online bakery. You place your order online, pick-up your cake…read moreor have it delivered to you. The Lemay Ferry location is closed for foot traffic and you can no longer come inside to pick up a sweet treat. Luckily the cake I wanted was one of the hundreds of cakes offered. You can no longer order a custom cake. Ordering online was simple. I was able to get my questions answered via email. The cake pick-up process was not a problem. My cake was beautiful and delicious. Yellow cake with strawberry filing and lots of buttercream icing! The price was very reasonable.

I was absolutely elated with the dessert trays ordered for my Son's wedding rehearsal dinner. The…read morelarge assorted dessert trays were gorgeous and filled with so many delicious options. And the gooey butter cake and brownie trays were just as amazing. There were guests starting with the desserts before dinner and I received so many compliments on them so I will pass that on to McArthur's here! This was my first experience with McArthur's but it will not be my last. The bakery was clean, bright, smelled amazing and had some beautiful desserts. I'm not even a sweets person but I was eyeing the display case when picking up my trays. Online ordering was a breeze and super convenient. Thank you, McArthur's!! I will be back.