Went to Robin for my fiancé's birthday and the food and service were top notch! (I believe I recognized some Bulrush chefs, if that tells you anything:) I like to mention when a menu is vegetarian friendly, and this was! No need to notify in advance. The veggie options were thoughtful and delicious. My favorite was the "hot dish"- a wonderful mushroom medley. His favorite dish was the duck breast- he was salivating over it! Cocktails were excellent, service was great. This is definitely a nice treat if you need a dinner for a special occasion. read more

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Went in for our anniversary to celebrate. They have a small space & the tables are very close to each other. Its small & intimate. The service was astounding! They took our allergies very seriously & offered suggestions & alternatives. We ordered a wine pairing with our dinner. Every course was brought out & explained & the wine was brought with the dishes or even prior. The food was good. For all the hype around this restaurant I was expecting a little more. Portions are small but it's multiple courses so its plenty of food. Pricepoint is good for the service & attention paid to detail. read more

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Robin offers a unique, elevated dining experience with a rotating, seasonal menu featuring fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Our meal there was lovely overall. The porridge bread is a must-try -- simple but delicious. My favorite dish of the night was the duck gnocchi soup; the broth was incredibly flavorful. The rest of the food was delicious too, though a few dishes leaned a bit too whimsical, which ended up diminishing the flavor. Service was top notch -- the servers were kind and clearly knew the menu well. read more

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I FINALLY got to try Robin! This has been on my list since they opened in Maplewood and we finally snagged a reservation. The ambiance is intimate and every table has a great view of the kitchen where the magic happens. There are also a few bar seats available to pull up for drinks. The menu is seasonal to keep it fresh and interesting. I enjoyed the duck entree and a beautiful dessert with fresh blueberry. One of my favorite tastes was actually the potato appetizer! I will definitely keep returning as the menus change to experience it all over again. read more

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This was a good dinner, don't get me wrong, but I think I was awaiting a bit more. The service was lovely though and the atmosphere of the small restaurant was perfect for conversational dining. The menu is prix fix and the flavors / options are fairly wide ranging. I do think that the portions could have been a tad bit larger for the amount of courses it was. A few of our favorite dishes were the mushroom "hot dish," the braised beef (so tender), and the desserts. Specifically the desserts I loved because they really had me trying flavors and textures I wouldn't normally have picked out from a dessert menu. The rest of the dishes were good, but not anything crazy. read more

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I was very excited to be able to grab a reservation at Robin. I have heard many great things about this restaurant on the news and it's probably amongst the highest regarded restaurants in St. Louis. If you want to dine here make sure to book at least 1 month or 2 in advance. This is a tasting menu style so you will pay $75 for 4 courses, which is not bad in my opinion. There are snacks options for a small additional fare. I highly recommend ordering the snacks since the courses are in small portions. I got the 4-way appetizers and my favorites were the Onion Jam and Fava Goat Cheese and the Liver Corn cookie. They were definitely the stars of the night. I tried almost all the options for the courses. My recommendation would be White Asparagus Soup, Lamb and Garlic, Fresh Cheese Dumplings, Roast Chicken and Lemon Semifreddo. The vibe here is nice. Perfect for date nights. I knocked off a star because I wasn't blown away by some of the dishes. read more

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What a disappointment. The most anticipated restaurant reservation of our year. Presentation ISN'T everything. Four courses of the most bland food we had ever eaten. Nothing was extraordinary, other than the bill. read more

Finally got a reservation to this amazing restaurant and it definitely did not disappoint. Went here with a friend on Friday night. Got there a little early and I was seated quickly. Waiter suggested getting the bread and snacks so we could decided to try it. Bread and butter were tasty and fresh. The snacks were good too! I also really enjoyed my non alcoholic drink (can't remember what it was called). This is a 4 course meal, including dessert so we had to pick one item from each category. I chose the carrots to start and they were yummy and flavorful! For my second course, I had the rabbit, it was good too, but my friend had the trout and I really enjoyed it. For the 3rd course, I had the spare ribs and they were amazing! I ended my meal with a rubarb dessert, which was tasty too! Overall great meal, and just the right amount of food! Tables were a little tight together, but the atmosphere here is good. Not too loud. The light behind my friend was flickering a bit, which was a little annoying, but def not enough to take away from the yumminess of my meal! Def plan to go back! read more

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We visited Robin to celebrate my best friend's birthday and left feeling a bit disappointed. Based on our experience, I'd give it an overall 3.5/5. Ambiance (4/5): The restaurant has a intimate atmosphere for a special occasion. Street parking, however, was a bit challenging. Food (3/5): Given all the praise--including being recognized by the New York Times--our expectations were high, but the meal didn't quite live up to the hype. - Snacks (2.5/5): A bit underwhelming and not particularly memorable. - Venison Tartare (5/5): The standout dish of the evening. Beautifully balanced, flavorful, and easily our favorite course. - Trout (4/5): Perfectly cooked, though the vegetable pairing didn't complement the fish as well as it could have. - Pork (3/5): Decent, but it lacked the textural contrast we were expecting, and the pork belly was slightly too salty. - Desserts (4/5): We tried the almond cake and the cheese course. Both were enjoyable, though we preferred the cheese. - Gooey Butter Cake (5/5): Absolutely phenomenal and a wonderful way to end the meal. Service (4/5): The staff was attentive and clearly aimed to provide a high-end dining experience. However, there were a few small missteps. Most notably, our bill was presented before we had finished our final course, which felt out of place for a fine dining restaurant. Overall, Robin has several excellent dishes, particularly the venison tartare and gooey butter cake, but the overall experience didn't quite meet the expectations set by its reputation. read more

Tough getting a reservation but it's worth the effort. Well staffed with impeccable service. Dining room is somewhat cramped and a little noisy. Four course meal with optional extras and an exceptional wine selection. Definitely recommend adding on the optional "snacks" hors d'oeuvre starter. I felt that every course was exceptional except the chicken option in course 3. Recommend the carrots, smoked whitefish soup, hot dish, pan seared trout, braised short rib, sundae, and butterscotch pudding wholeheartedly. I feel the meal was very reasonably priced for what they are delivering. If you're a foodie, you don't want to miss this read more

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We had a nice evening at Robin in St. Louis. The meal had some real highlights: The ginger cake was excellent -- warmly spiced, moist, and perfectly balanced without being overly sweet. The white fish foam soup, although they described it was heavy, it was not for me. It was light, flavorful, and comforting. The Prairie Schooner cocktail was fantastic -- well-balanced, sweet but not too sweet and beautifully crafted with "R" ice cube. There were a couple of dishes that didn't quite hit the mark for me. I love mushrooms but I was not a fan of the creamed mushroom and wild rice course. The crunchy wild rice mixed into cream and mushrooms was not a good texture combination for me. I also did not enjoy the texture of the roasted chicken course either. There was nothing wrong with the flavors of either courses. The staff was attentive and we did not feel rushed out. read more

Robin Restaurant - Prairie Schooner -excellent cocktail - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

I love a good pre-fixe menu! I know how the reservations work! As of our visit, mid December, they were 2 months out, then releasing daily (around midnight). Hopefully this helps someone out. We had 4 courses and ordered opposite each other. My partner feels like I got all the "good" ones haha. I enjoyed the chicken the most, portions were more than bite size, definitely not normal size, but we definitely did but leave hungry. Ambiance was dark and date-y, I liked it, but the man is always asking for more light available for the menu, ha! read more

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I took my mom to Robin as a late birthday gift and it is absolutely phenomenal. You may need to make reservations weeks or months in advance, as the restaurant is very small and only has a few tables. It felt very upscale while also being down to earth, which I loved. We split all of the courses - first course, we did the venison tartare and the whitefish soup, second course the cheese dumplings and the trout, and then the pork steak and chicken for third course. Everything was incredible, but I think the venison tartare, cheese dumplings, and pork steak were the best! The pork was so tender it felt like pulled pork, I've never had any pork steak like that before! Desserts were all insane - can't remember the exact names but the cake was ginger something I think and then the pot de creme I think? It was like a smooth chocolate mousse. Both were absolutely delicious. We also got a bonus dessert from the chef, his take on gooey butter cake which was incredible. Cocktails were also great, and service was incredible - everyone was so friendly, helpful, and attentive! Portion sizes maybe a bit small but we left satisfied and for the price, I think potion sizes made sense! Make the reservation and experience Robin as soon as you get a chance!! read more

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Robin is the real deal -- a small, quietly confident restaurant tucked into a long stretch of shops along Manchester in Maplewood. It's recently been recognized by The New York Times as one of the best restaurants in the country, and after visiting, I can see why. Reservations aren't easy to land, but it's worth the effort. The vibe: warm, unpretentious, and distinctly Midwestern with elevated flair. The host and wait staff were genuinely friendly -- not the "trying too hard" kind. The bartender even came over to chat about the custom cocktail list. You can tell the team here actually likes what they're doing. Drinks: * Prairie Schooner cocktail (4.75/5) - Incredibly flavorful and balanced. A perfect start. * Wine pairing (4.75/5) - Let our server choose the wines through dinner: a crisp Pinot Gris to start, an Italian red with the main, and a lovely Madeira to finish. Excellent instincts. Food: * Snacks (4.25/5) - Hot smoked bacon, corn cookies with duck liver and jam, and house-made giardiniera. Creative, fun, and delicious. * Bread service (4.75/5) - Warm, chewy sourdough with a dreamy sweet butter. * Smoked whitefish soup (4.75/5) - Like a warm hug. Creamy, gently smoky, leeks adding just the right lift. * Roasted beets (4/5) - Fresh and solid, though not as memorable as the others. * Pan-seared trout (5/5) - The star of the show. Crisp skin, buttery sauce, perfect execution. * Spring chicken (4/5) - Flavorful and well-sauced, though a touch of crispy skin would've made it sing. * Pork steak (4.5/5) - Definitely not your grandpa's version. Rich, juicy, and beautifully sauced. * Apple cake (4.75/5) - Essentially a French gâteau invisible aux pommes, and a fantastic one at that. Elegant, lightly sweet, and the perfect finish. Overall: Robin nails its mission -- elevated, Midwestern-inspired cooking with creativity, skill, and heart. Every plate felt intentional. It's refined but still approachable, and the staff makes you feel like a guest, not a reservation number. I'd love to come back next season to see how the menu evolves. read more

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Omfg wild you can have such an epic tasting right in the heart of maplewood!!! Every dish was prepared creatively with perfect execution and balance. Crazy good value for a perfect tasting! read more

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Robin Restaurant on a Saturday night made it clear why reservations are hard to get. Every table was full, yet the room never felt cramped, with intentional spacing and calm pacing. Service was good: attentive, well timed, and flexible, especially with wine. The carafe format works well and makes sharing easy. The wine list is thoughtful, and the Chardonnay we had stood out for being lighter and crisper than the classic style I usually prefer, while still flavorful and balanced. The cocktail menu is small but strong. The space feels intimate without being stuffy. The food is best described as an elevated take on Midwestern inspired cuisine, familiar dishes executed with creativity. The roasted chicken and pork steak were the clearest examples of that approach, both comforting and well done. The venison tartare was something I would gladly order again. Dessert, a ginger cake, was delicious and a true highlight. My main critique was consistency and temperature on a couple of dishes. The add on bread was served cool and felt heavy, and a carrot dish arrived fridge cold, muting flavors that otherwise showed promise. From a food standpoint, this feels like a strong four star experience today. That said, for the overall execution and for bringing something new to the local dining scene and doing it well, this is a five star restaurant. I am very interested to see how the menus evolve. read more

This new restaurant is located in downtown Maplewood, with easy-to-find street parking. It's a cozy spot with seating for about 20 people, so highly recommend making a reservation through Resy. I believe there are a few bar seats available for walk-ins. The prix fixe menu offers three options for each of the four courses. My favorite dish was the mushroom cream with crispy wild rice, perfect texture and flavor! I do wish the main entrée (spring chicken) had been a bit larger in portion. The baked Alaska was also amazing, a perfect finish to the meal, sweet outside and tart inside. Overall, I'd give the food 5 stars, the service 5 stars for being friendly and very attentive, and the ambiance 4 stars, clean but slightly sparse. read more

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Absolutely worth the hype. Four course tasting menu where you can choose between 3 options for each course. There are vegetarian options for each course. Service was impeccable and great attention to detail is paid to each dish. The flavors are truly an elevated midwestern with many reminders of family meals and holidays but on refined food steroids. Outside the tasting menu there were a couple add ons, snacks and bread service, we opted for both and were not disappointed. Ambiance was refined and we appreciated the spaciousness, made our meal more relaxed (recently Wrights Taverns lack of space made me appreciate this even more). We enjoyed declined cocktails and wine with our meal, not a bad drink that we tried. read more

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I'm so happy to learn about this new restaurant in Maplewood! The menu is small but what they do, they do very well. I made a 5:30 reservations as it was one of the only available ones unless I wanted to wait until later in the evening. We were immediately seated by a kind host and given the menus. It's a prefixe menu, with 3 choices for each course. Outside of that, they also have a bread service (porridge bread with cultured butter for $4 a person) and a snacks board. We started with the snacks which included some delicious unique treats such as their liver mousse cookie. It tasted excellent and definitely something I have never had before. What we chose during our dinner: 1st course: Mushroom cured trout for me and winter salad for my husband. I love my first course. The dish was bright with a hint of horseradish. I'm generally not a fan of foam atop my food so we won't speak about that. 2nd course: Hot dish for me (oyster Mushroom, wild rice and cream), and sunchokes (brown butter, sunflower shoots) for my husband. We both loved our selection. The flavors were wonderful. I especially liked the crunch wild rice on my dish. So good! 3rd course: aged duck breast for me and pork schnitzel for my husband. I loved the crisp skin on my duck and the flavor was great but I was getting full at this point so I ate a few bites and opted to bring the remaining uneaten piece. My husband gave me a bite of his schnitzel and I kind of wish I got that one instead but maybe next time! Then of course, dessert! I had the Vacherin (lemon verbana, merengue) and husband had the caramelized tart with black walnut and persimmon. He gave me a bite, I also wanted his dessert. Not to say that mine wasn't good but maybe I just wanted both! Towards the end of our meal, we were surprised with their special dessert. It was their take on the classic St. Louis gooey butter cake except it wasn't sickeningly sweet so I actually loved it! Wow, what a wonderful dining experience! If you haven't checked Robin out yet, you MUST. read more

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Food and service were both excellent and the ambiance was a nice departure from high-end restaurants. Very low key but comfortable clean and with a nice woodsy feel. read more

Tucked into the intimate space that once housed the beloved Benevolent King, the Robin Restaurant is the latest chapter in Maplewood's culinary story and it's a creative one. Congrats Chef Alec Schingel, the deep culinary vision shows in every bite! The Robin Restaurant is a prix fixe experience that feels less like dining out and more like being welcomed into someone's curated world. The $75 prix fixe menu shifts regularly, driven by seasonality and intuition. It's not about showmanship here; it's about quiet excellence. Alec, who's cooked in serious kitchens across the country, brings a level of precision and polish, but the experience is intimate, almost like a secret dinner party. This spot is so well-deserved. Just make sure to check the menu before you go! It changes and that's part of the magic. read more

Robin Restaurant - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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Firstly the space is underwhelming, cramped and noisy. Although we were early and the place was half empty they ask us to sit in front of the entry door, though they did accommodate a request to move. My wife and I ordered different dishes to be able to try a variety. The dishes were beautifully plated but all at room temp, creative but from all the hype we expected more. Service was pleasant but as the place filled it was hard to talk and discuss what was being served. Creative. read more

We managed to get a reservation at Robin just before this place got nominated best new restaurant in MO by New York Times! We came here on a Friday evening, the service was impeccable, staff worked seamlessly together, and were knowledgeable about ingredients/options etc. It is a prix fixe menu, and sometimes you don't want to make a lot of decisions...quiet quaint atmosphere, chill vibes! We would love the opportunity to come back. Succotash read more

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Lovely dinner. Small, quiet, chill, cozy atmosphere. The puffed wild rice with mushrooms was a star but every bit was delicious. The pace and quality of the of service was perfect. Can't wait to see the fall menu!! read more

Missing the WOW factor. Good service, good food, good ambience, but nothing wow'ed me and I got to try almost every dish on the menu. I think for the price point and how hyped up this place is, I should be feeling the WOW in almost every single dish. Not inspired to go back or recommend. read more

I wasn't sure what to expect after reading some reviews, but wow, Robin did not disappoint! We were greeted and seated promptly. Our server Courtney was amazing; she explained the menu, answered all our questions and we always had everything we needed (silverware, water etc) Since the menu is prix fixe with options, we decided to try different things so we could get a taste of more things on the menu. Check out the photos for our entire dinner, but suffice it to say everything we had was delicious!! The space...others have found it lacking in ambience, but honestly it's got this mid century modern vibe going on. The music you hear is from records that the staff have chosen for the evening. I love that the kitchen is open to the restaurant! Their gooey butter cake was a special add on at the end from the chef - really nice touch! We are looking forward to a return visit with friends!! read more

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One of the best restaurants in STL right now-- hands down!!! My husband and I just moved back to town after being gone for a decade and this has been our very best meal here in the past couple of months. We were blown away from start to finish! They hit the mark on everything-- food, vibe, service, and value! From the tasting menu, I ordered the following: First Course- Cucumber & Melon Second Course- Cheese Dumplings Third Course- Succotash Fourth Course- Sno-Ball Cocktail- No Name #2 Every bite was insanely flavorful, fresh, inspiring, and left me wanting more. The staff was so attentive and seemed to truly enjoy being here which is just another reason the dining experience stands out. Robin Restaurant is doing something extraordinary and I hope they're a mainstay. I cannot wait to go back for another date night soon! read more

Robin Restaurant - Cucumber & Melon - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Before I start, I wanna say the dessert was fantastic. The cheesecake with a bruleed top was something I've never had before. It was so rich and delicious and not overly sweet which I loved. I'm not even a dessert person so that's why I'm surprised and incredibly impressed. Also had the cheese plate for the dessert and the house made crackers were dank and would eat so many of those if I could. I don't remember the white cheese that came with it but it was creamy and had the best tang. Food was nice and flavorful despite the small plates. But, that's the vibe of the place so it's all good. I had their chicken for one of the courses and wished that the crust was a bit more crusty...perhaps a piece of chicken skin that was crispy (or maybe thicker?). The breast was juicy and so was the thigh. I wasn't into the foam white fish soup, I think I wanted a bit more of a texture. The skills to make it were obvious. Also had what was called the Hot Dish which was oyster mushrooms, wild rice and cream. This was so flavorful and I'm so happy the flavors of the mushroom came through. Big Plump was happy to see (and taste) how the mushroom was prepared and cooked. So much respect there. If I remember, the wild rice was puffed which was unexpected. It had a nice char flavor to it but not too much where it took over the mushroom or the cream. The cream really tied it all together and was very tasty. There was a carrot course that had this umami rich white sauce and tarragon. Love a white sauce, carrot and tarragon so I knew I'd like it for sure. The sauce hit all the taste buds and I wish I could eat it again. It was like a labnah but not, idk, try it! It also had fermented honey which was new for me. It had a nice tang to it and went well with the sweetness of the carrot and the richness of the sauce. There was a white fish (walleye?) that came with swiss chards. I love chards and I thought it was prepared really well. There was this vinegary flavor that came with it which I really liked because it broke through the richness of the dish. I ended up taking a piece of that chard and had it with the rice cream and it was fantastic. The drinks were great and the service was excellent. Everyone was nice and attentive. Looking into the kitchen was interesting. I think because everyone was so quiet and I didn't really hear a lot of sizzle or anything. But, they looked organized and clean. Kind of saw only one female-presenting person on staff except the hostess. That was a bit disappointing. But, it doesn't take away from the experience. Cool place, would go again. read more

This restaurant is new and in the space of Benevolent King. I went with a few girlfriends on a weeknight- it wasn't busy which was nice because we had a lot of attention from the staff. The service is prix fixe which was good- maybe a little on the pricier side than one would expect. The plates were all delicious, but small-ish portions. We sat by the window which was really nice. The desserts were great! read more

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What can I even say? It's excellent. Wonderful service. Good 10/10. Best meal I've had in At. Louis.

Was lucky enough to go right after they were featured in the NYTimes and let me tell you, yes it is that good, so make a reservation and just go. They handled my dietary restrictions perfectly, the cocktails were epic, portion sizes and quality were dead on too. Finally, the service is epic. Go for the cozy escape. Make it a date night or just a fun time with friends. Just go. read more

I suppose my palate isn't sophisticated enough for Robin. The food was eclectic, and not all was good. The carrots for the first course were excellent. The mushroom & puffed wild rice was not - it was like crunchy mushroom glue. The chicken seemed pre-fabricated and I'm not even sure it was real chicken. The pavlova dessert was good, but the rhubarb was too tart - it changed the profile of the dessert. Service was excellent. It was very loud and hard to have a conversation. read more

I was excited to try Robin since their opening earlier this year. After reading about them in the NYT piece, it reminded me to push for a reservation. When one popped up, I jumped on it, excited. However, my experience here was mediocre and left me wanting more in more ways than one. I love that you're able to choose options on their prix-fixed. Their four course prix-fixe menu was $75 a person. Not bad at first glance; however, when you add on bread and snacks it accumulates to $88 a person, a bit steep for what you actually get. The bread comes out first, a delicious sourdough and a nice butter, that has a unique funk to it that complements the sourness of the bread delectably. However, for $5 a person, they only served a 1/2 slice of bread per person and didn't offer more. They also didn't care to share the type of bread or anything about the dish with us, and I had to over hear more about the dish by eavesdropping on other tables. The snack board came out next, chicken liver mousse crackers, buckboard bacon, and cured veggies. All fine and nothing stood out to me overall on this rustic charcuterie board. Then the first course came out. My partner chose the venison tartare, and I chose the roasted beets. The roasted beets had a great texture with a nice dill punch following. Overall a great dish. The venison tartare was a bit lacking, which I think the beets won in this category. The second course, we had chosen the cheese dumplings, which had a house made rustic cheese stuffing, though I felt like it was lacking a lot of stuffing and it had more a texture and similar size of a gnocchi, and the "hot dish" which was mushrooms covered with popped wild rice. The flavors of the cheese dumplings won. Warm, succulent and everything you want in a fall dish. The hot dish were all the textures you would want in a warm dish but I wish there were stronger flavors with maybe some brown butter. Finally, the third dish/mains came out. My partner ordered the confit mushrooms. This dish was extremely small, maybe half of a trumpet mushroom was served. My pork steak was delicious but maybe 1/8 of a traditional sized pork steak. The potato sticks topping this pork steak were the perfect topping to add another texture and the pork steak itself had a great smoke flavor. I wish I had more. Lastly, the desserts came. The apple cake was underwhelming. The apples were a bit too firm and the warm spices consumed the cake. Yet, the pot de crème was phenomenal. The best thing served that night. I would return for this singular dish. They also served slices of gooey butter cake at the end as well, which was fine. I wish it was warm, and it was not gooey like others I have had and enjoyed more. Overall, I left feeling like I was missing something after reading the raving reviews and reading the NYT articles. Maybe it was an off night, but I've experienced better more filling meals in both STL and other cities at similar and lower price points. I felt like the service was lacking, and no one was kind and inviting. The food was fine, but I left feeling like I could still eat more, unlike most tasting menus. read more

This place is highly recommended and up for awards, but after our first and only visit, we don't understand why. We arrived early to have a drink....25 minutes later we got the drinks but they weren't served with an apology. Our waiter was flippant and was there only to take our order...never once were we asked how we liked the food or if we enjoyed the wine pairings he selected. We left hungry and annoyed, especially after we had to ask for the check and then he literally hovered over me to see what an underwhelming tip I left, which was reflective of our experience. read more

Service was great and friendly. We got an extra dessert at the end for our anniversary! The ambiance is quiet, intimate and romantic. Great selection of different courses - the Caramel maple dessert was literally mouthwatering it was so amazing. The venison tartare, pork steak and cheese dumplings were the standouts for us. read more

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Perfect for a date night/ special meal- the food and service are incredible! The friendly servers are very on top of changing out the courses without it feeling stuffy or awkward. Each course was delicious and had interesting/ surprising elements- think beautifully cooked carrots with hot honey and a yogurt like sauce to compliment them! Tbh, I was a little nervous we'd still be hungry after seeing some lackluster pictures (on Yelp) but we left feeling more than satisfied. Their menu changes seasonally, and we're looking forward to coming back! read more

An interesting new place in Maplewood, small, only like 8-10 tables, its an all prix fixe four course meal, very new American cuisine and the flavors are quite different from what you might expect, emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and we had a very tasty meal here. The service here is top notch too. My only real issue which may keep me from returning is that its very loud here when its a full house, so much so I had difficulty having a conversation across the table and in the end, we didn't hang around too long, it was just too unpleasant noise wise which for the price of the meal made the whole experience less enjoyable. read more

I had the snacks, porridge bread, whitefish soup, duck and dumplings, confit mushrooms, cheese course, and was generously given a piece of their gooey butter cake to finish off. To drink I tried two of their signature cocktails, the Orchard ## (I forget the numbers, please forgive me), Our Martini, and then finished off with a glass of port. Everything was a hit. No misses whatsoever in food or drink. The martini will punch you in the face and you will ask kindly for more--a word of warning, this drink was more of an experience than an accompaniment to the food, for me. The intensity of the giardiniera shines through like you're drinking a garden at a Bloody Mary bar, except it's--infinitely better and correct--gin instead of vodka and the spicy veggie flavors linger long after you swallow. The bites on the snack board were all very different and special--silky and savory chicken liver pate in a crumbly and sweet corn biscuit/cookie sandwich, a very sharp and perfectly-piped goat cheese tartlet cut with a sweet fruit topping (cranberry? if memory serves) and served in a shatteringly crisp shell, two slices of tender sausage, and the same vinegary and mildly spicy giardiniera they wash their signature martini with. I saved the porridge bread for the main courses (but it was difficult). I never imagined a bowl of potato foam (on top of the whitefish and fennel in the whitefish soup) could taste just as full and luxurious as any non-foamed option, and yet. Plus it's a delightful, different take on a soup, and as a first impression it set the tone very nicely. Then the duck and dumplings made me giggle they were so delicious--little sweet dumpling pillows, savory duck fat and salty broth, the lovely textures of delicata squash and duck meat, and crispy sage accent. It was their first night serving the dish, and it needs to stay. This is where the porridge bread came in clutch along with their cultured butter: dip that in your leftover broth and you might see God. The mushrooms made me stop and think because they were tender but firm and infused throughout with this carefully balanced acidic and savory combination that was absolutely mouthwatering. They were served on top of tender blue/purple corn grits and whole kernel corn that took me back to my birthplace of Alabama. Then the cheeses with their house-made apple butter and honey selection were a delightful cleanser to finish the evening along with a glass of lovely port (apparently Chef is also a sommelier, so you will drink well if you choose off the wine list). I was generously offered a piece of their gooey butter cake, which I of course accepted eagerly, and it too was a sweet, buttery, cakey yet fudgy home run for me (though admittedly I'm not a St. Louisan, just a very lucky contract worker passing through, so my experience with gooey butter cake is limited.) Since there are no more reservations available from what I can see, you will likely find me with my face pressed against the windows to be let in to sit at the bar for dinner service. As far as price, all of the above came to $148 before tip, which I find exceedingly reasonable for the outstanding quality of the food. Portion sizes were also perfect and I left feeling content and happy (if not slightly tipsy) but not stuffed. You must eat here. Run, don't walk. read more

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i legitimately have not stopped thinking about the smoked whitefish soup since it graced my lips last evening. the depth, the texture, the fun, velvety frothiness. order it (or else) moving on everything else (dumplings, carrots, desserts, vibe) were exceptional, but the cocktails were simply divine, and even this devout gooey butter cake hater delighted in chef's not-sickly-sweet take. thank you for everything. robin is goat read more

Wow -after working hard to get a reservation for this restaurant I could not have been more disappointed in the food. The restaurant decor and seating were fine, the service was superior and the 8 oz wine pour was much appreciated but the food, with the exception of the roasted carrots with tarragon, was mediocre to distasteful. My partner had the mushrooms with charred wild rice and could not eat it. I had the asparagus with dumplings -it was edible, but not enjoyable. We both had the chicken and neither of us finished it. I felt like I was eating processed fake food - it had bits of chicken thighs on the bottom and an emulsified chicken and cream on the top. The problem was that it was tasteless. The Pavlova was okay, but I would not rate it as equal or better than others, I understand an off night and might try again since others' experience has been so different - but it will be awhile. Staff was friendly and outstanding. read more