Vicia was suggested as one of "the" new places for fine dining in St. Louis. Forget it - what a disappointment! Not a good value. High prices for very little food and drink, and you end up walking away dissatisfied. While trendy, with a contemporary ambiance, and "cheeky" - all of these things make Vicia "sexy and cool" - those attributes, while nice, don't come close to meeting the basic reasons for going to a fine restaurant, namely, great food, served in sufficient portions, great service, good wines, and a slow-paced relaxing atmosphere. Starting with a dismal and overpriced wine list ($13 for a 5 oz. pour of mediocre wine - only 4 reds to chose from - is a bit much), followed by miniscule servings of food from a VERY limited menu, and sitting through a fast-paced dinner (in-and-out in less than 45 minutes) pretty well sums up our dining experience at Vicia. Will we go back? No. read more

It's easy to see why Vicia has gained national attention. Vegetables take center stage in all of the courses. Every dish is thoughtfully planned and executed. Although vegetables are the star, there are a few meat and seafood dishes from pork to scallops. The pork tacos were excellent - the shells ingenious. The scallops were cooked just right. Service was attentive, the restaurant is nicely decorated and the Cortex area is the perfect locale. Although a little pricey, Vicia is definitely worth the value of the meal and service you receive. read more

This place was hands-down amazing. I was not sure what to expect since I'm from New York City but my friend said that I got some really great reviews and I love that the menu was vegetable focused but not exactly vegetarian. It's a very high-end place but they seem to be OK with the fact that we were dressed pretty casual, or maybe didn't notice! The server was educated, informative and helpful. At first I got a cocktail with basil but I wound up not loving that so afterwards I ordered some wine. The wine was delicious. I enjoyed it with a cheese plate of three different cheeses which were really tasty and in all honesty I was kind of full after that but we had several plates coming. She had mentioned that we should order 5 to 6 but I think we would've been OK with 3 to 4. I have a special note where the radish tacos which had some delicious zucchini purée and sauces and toppings to go with it. I love that it was build your own so you could put only the ingredients that you like. I didn't particularly like the eggplant but that's because I don't like anchovies. I really enjoyed the peaches with the balsamic and prosciutto all of the prosciutto wound up getting cooked on top of the grilled peach and I wasn't too sure about that. It was not expensive to me at all by New York standards but either way I feel like it would be worth it. It is kind of in the middle of nowhere though, so keep that in mind. read more

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We just enjoyed a delicious dinner at Vicia! My fiancé and I just recently relocated from Chicago to STL, and have been looking for a great restaurant that is comparable to the amazing food we had in Chicago. Vicia hit the spot! From the cocktails, the goose egg, the Missouri rice and the dessert - really excellent food, great atmosphere and service! So happy that Michael and Tara made the move from NY to open this restaurant here in St Louis. We will DEF be back! read more

Vicia - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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I was so excited to try this place once it opened and was lucky enough to get in not terribly after opening (I ate there a long time ago, just now getting to a review). The decor is really beautiful, light and airy. The staff is friendly and it's a nice little romantic spot. That's where the compliments end unfortunately. We sat on the patio area which was nice but seriously I don't understand the hype. The food was ok, not particularly good but edible. It was oddly loud and although they can't change the volume at which someone speaks, it was strange. Overall I think my expectations were just a tad too high. I thought I would be blown away and sadly I just wasn't impressed. read more

Vicia is unrivaled as far as restaurants in St. Louis. First, the food is fresh, delicious and creatively prepared. Second, the setting is amazing, very cool indoor outdoor space, comfortable and pretty, location is up and coming and getting hotter and hotter. Third, the service is impeccable, it seems like these people went to graduate school on customer service, it was like i noticed the servers but only when i needed them!! how do they do that?? Fourth..................Steven!!! Best bartender and drink preparations ever, love Steven. Steven, Steven, Steven, Steven............... read more

I finally made it to this restaurant last night and it was amazing. Rachelle #DrewBarrymore was our server. She was went above and beyond superior service. Actually from the time we walked in the front door till the time we left the service was outstanding. This is a must go to restaurants in St. Louis. Thank you Vicia for a very memorable evening. Keith , Kelly , Sandy & Jim read more

I tried Vicia's tasting menu and it was absolutely wonderful. I loved that they used fresh local ingredients. The flavors of each course were splendid. However, I didn't give it a five star because I felt that the flavors were a bit repetitive. I would've loved a wider range of flavors in the tasting menu. However, I think it might have had to do with the ingredients the chefs were working with that limited the flavors they can explore. Overall, the restaurant is really fantastic. The ambience is nice, and I definitely recommend trying the tasting menu. read more

Everything here is so delightful and like no other food you will have elsewhere in St. Louis. The farmer's tasting menu is amazing and totally worth the cost. We come here for any special occasion! read more

I'm sorry to leave a bad review, but this was thoroughly unimpressive. Maybe we just came on an off week, but the food was just meh. The mushroom dish was poorly balanced and had a unfortunate, homogenous texture. And I love mushrooms! It must have just been an off night, but we won't be returning. read more

Loved the food. Loved the wine. Chef's tasting menu is the way to go. Everything was awesome. Except how hot it was in the restaurant. I was literally mopping my face with my napkin, as were several other guests. I'll be back but will wait until the winter. read more

With one of my friends back in town, it was the perfect excuse to give this hyped restaurant a try. He had seen the article about their fried rice in the Wall Street Journal and was equally as excited. When we walked across the street in the beautiful Cortex district, we were struck by how pretty the building itself was. The inside is equally as aesthetic and was very well done. The staff was all nice and friendly and quickly showed us to our seats. We both ordered cocktails, the cucumber cocktail from the menu and a "Bartenders Choice" with the only direction being that we liked whiskey sours. Both drinks were delicious, with the cucumber cocktail being light and refreshing and a great balance of flavors and the bartender's choice truly being an elevated whiskey sour. For a starter we shared the "Watermelon Bites." The dish was simple, yet packed with flavors. The orange watermelon was beautiful to look at and equally as flavorful. I was surprised at how well the tomato sofrito worked with the watermelon. It was an excellent choice for a warm summer evening. Our main dishes were the "Farm Egg" and the aforementioned "Crispy Fried Rice." The restaurant is very accommodating for vegetarians and happily made the fried rice without ham hock. The Crispy Fried Rice was a great mix of flavors with the mixture of vegetables and crispy rice working well together. I enjoy most of my meals with a heavy helping of spice, so I was a bit apprehensive that such a simple dish would not hit the spot for me. I'm very happy to report that I had no need to be skeptical. The dish hit the perfect balance between showcasing the flavors of the rice and vegetables without being anywhere near bland. My favorite dish of the night has to go to the "Farm Egg" however. This dish is perhaps not the most beautiful of dishes, but it was packed with flavor. It was rich, yet had an impressive balance of flavors. There was the creaminess of the cheddar foam, the spice of what appeared to be some chili flakes, along with the crispy egg and wheat berries that all came together in a seemingly poetic fashion. I know that we both were very sad when the bowl was finally empty. We finished the night with the "Blueberries" dessert. While it was tasty with the nice pairing of citrus cake, ice cream, chocolate, and blueberries, it was perhaps the most ordinary of the dishes we had. It was certainly good, but I was not blown away as I was with the other items. Overall, Vicia provides a bright spot in the ever growing and thriving food scene in St. Louis. Having eaten more expensive meals, both in this city and others, I was blown away by the value of this restaurant. This is genuine surprise when their prices aren't the most budget friendly. We came in with high expectations and are happy to report that we left saying "wow." I'll certainly be back and maybe next time I'll try the Chef's tasting menu. read more

Do the tasting menu. Just trust, it's somehow multitudes better than the a la carte experience, which is already phenomenal. I live in NYC and DC, and still I think this relatively inexpensive (as tasting menus go) St. Louis experience may have been the best meal I've ever had. There was more than enough food, and everything was so inventive and delicious. They make a great performance out of it too- multiple servers descend at once to deliver each course, and they take you over to the wood fire where the meat is grilled to enjoy one course there. We took two very anti-vegetable men with us and even they were delighted with the food. Can't recommend highly enough. read more

Absolutely delicious and unique meal! We visited for dinner with our 2.5 year old and parents who were visiting town. The menu was one of the most interesting I have ever seen and every dish was superb. We were very impressed. Our toddler enjoyed nibbling on bread, prosciutto wrapped peaches, pork and potatoes. Although there is not official kids menu there are things for kids to eat. Our waiter was very well versed and gave us lots of insights for each dish. Definitely recommend if you're looking for something different, delicious and unique. The whole atmosphere was very chic! Thank you! read more

Vicia - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

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My husband and I made were both really excited as we pride ourselves on trying new restaurants in St. Louis as soon as possible. With this restaurant within walking distance from our home and anchoring another Cortex building, we were elated to get a reservation within a month of it opening. The space is very nice, modern but cozy. The service was good, too. That's about where my compliments will end. Needless to say, we were extremely disappointed in our experience and will not be back. I had told several people about our reservation and intend to advise them to stay away. We started off with the turnip tacos with pork. When the waiter described the pork as a "dusting," he wasn't kidding. The flavors were decent but nothing exciting. The "taco shell" was a thin slice of turnip. Even with four in an order, it wasn't much to eat. Our second course were the goose eggs. They were served in a little basket with fake hay. The idea is cute, but it came off as kitschy. I liked mine. It was kind of like a scramble served within a hollowed out egg in a cheese broth. My husband thought it was incredibly salty. Next, we tried the rutabaga carbonara. I've made carbonara at home, and the last time that I checked, the egg on top of the noodles is supposed to be over easy, not cooked. The portion again was very small (think a side salad bowl filled halfway) and overly salty. At $14, it too was unexciting. Finally, we finished with the chicken dish. We had asked our server specifically about this and the portion size. When the plate arrived, it was two tiny, thin strips of chicken breast and two sugar cube size pieces of chicken thigh. When we had asked, the server made it sound as though it was a quarter chicken. I doubt that there was any more than 2 oz of meat on the plate. It was accompanied with a tablespoon or so of puréed veggies and about two tablespoons of wheat berries (which is more or less groats.) For $24, yes $24, this was a HUGE disappointment. We didn't even bother with dessert after feeling so mislead by our server on the main course. All in all, this place is a rip off. I truly doubt that they will have many repeat customers. I've spoken to several friends who have eaten here, and they have no interest in returning. It would be one thing if the food was exceptional and tiny portions, but in this case it was horribly expensive, salty, and mediocre at best. There are so many wonderful restaurants in St. Louis (Brasserie right down the street, Olive + Oak, Publico, Acero...) I have literally no reason to return to Vicia. I hope they figure out what they're doing, or they'll end up closing within a year or two. read more

Cocktails: 4/5 Appetizer 5/5 Ambience 5/5 Service 4/5 Our meal (small plates) 1/5 **This is what brings down the rating Well....it's a beautiful place it really is. But I really couldn't believe what most of our food consisted of and I can't really in good conscience give it a great review because the price was outrageous for the greater portion of our meal, a combination of small plates that were very basic and simple and not very flavorful. My advice: If you have a ton of money to drop get whatever and make your own decision. If you want to be more conservative then treat yourself to the cocktails and appetizers and call it a day.... To start we got the vegetable based taco plate and that was great. It's very innovative and well worth the price! But now watch as my enthusiasm wanes: We ordered two vegetables and a meat. The veggies come in small bowls to be shared by the table...Ok... Potatoes and beets. The description looked oh so fancy. However it was three small boiled potatoes which had been sitting around so as to accumulate the gummy starch flavor funk and who were swimming in a sauce which was way too salty devoid of any interesting component whatsoever. The beets where the same way....boiled and plopped in a mediocre sauce.....oookaay... And what really made me give this restaurant 2 stars instead of the 3 it arguably *really* deserves was the meat dish. Oh my goodness. I can't tell you how bland it was. I think the menu item said "grass fed beef"....well.... It was some kind of beef boiled down to a stringy mess and infused with an overly salty sauce. Think crockpot shredded beef sandwich filling with absolutely not an ounce of interesting flavor...a gloop...just basic bland boring food. The meal (not the appetizer) was so bland and boring we were flabbergasted. "How are they justifying the price on this?" was my and my companion's thought. Should we have taken it back....I don't think you could take it back....it's not like they are preparing it for you like a steak. It was all make ahead food and nothing could be done. What was I going to say?..."boil these vegetables again!" So, OK.... You *could* make the argument that we simply just ordered the 'wrong thing'. We probably should have ordered the tasting menu. I could see the other tables with delightful morsels who did get the tasting menu and it felt like we were being punished with boiled vegetables and crockpot beef for not having done that.... We were angry at our extremely expensive boiled vegetables and crockpot shredded beef.... so angry in fact we will probably not go back even though I probably would really like the tasting menu. But, hey we got sucked into the hype, they got our $150 and I'm kind of done. read more

Amazing. My friend that was visiting from out of town met me at another restaurant in the Grove that I go about once every three months. After having to wait to even order a drink for over 20 minutes while sitting at the bar, we decided to head to the CWE. On the way, we saw this amazing gem in the Cortex. We decided to turn right around and check it out. This was the best decision I have made in a long time! The food and service was spectacular! We started with the Turkey Wheat bread, Farm Egg, and New Potatoes. The farm egg was so unexpected and delicious. We then moved on to the turnip tacos. I am a pescatarian and my friend is a meat eater, so they let us do half mushroom and half pork. I never would have expected to love turnip shell tacos. The meal was inspiring, filling, and refreshing. Our server was great with suggestions and never rushed us while we caught up. If you are anywhere near the Cortex, I highly recommend Vicia. The ambiance and atmosphere are both modern and comfortable. I will definitely be back to enjoy a drink and some bites on their beautiful patio in the near future. read more

Loved the ambiance, excellent service, and unique food pairings. Small menu, very fresh, local. Bartender made up a concoction for me and it was very good. This is going to be one of my favorite spots. Checks come on a cute little wooden pig. Entire place very Feng Shui. Lots of wood, natural stone, windows, candle lanterns. Some of the best restaurant decor I have seen in STL. Staff had superior knowledge of menu and offerings. Would be 5 stars except quite expensive though. read more

I visited Vicia when they first opened. I made a reservation for two at 8pm. Upon arrival I was asked if we would sit at the bar because they were an hour and a half behind in seating the dining room. I agreed to sit at the bar vs go somewhere else. My friend and I ordered 3 appetizers and 2 entrees, then ordered a fourth appetizer because we were still hungry. We left hungry and $100/person lighter. I will say, their take on carbonara was exceptional (it was the fourth appetizer we ordered) but the rest of the meal was simply too pretentious for its own good. I think the most egregious thing was the scallop entrée where they serve your scallops on a little side plate cut in half? I have never had my scallops sliced. It was as if they were checking them for temperature. The chicken dish was the most pretentious thing I have ever seen with three tiny slices of chicken. I am going to give the restaurant one more try, but after the recent op-ed in the Post, I am guessing I will leave hungry again. read more

The food is good, but nothing to brag about and the menu is limited. Nice decor, very minimalist, but it's also self service and seating. Probably will only come here the one time. read more

Nothing short of amazing! Ambience, service, food - all exceeded expectations. We will be back and often!

While the variety and preparations of unusual foods is very appealing, and fun to try, the noise level at a weekday dinner was so unbearably loud that we four just gave up on socializing. We couldn't hear the server's explanations about our menu questions over the din, despite two or three attempts. The size of cocktail pours was too small for the pricing. read more

Wow! What a treat! While the menu only offers minimal choices (about 5), each one is packed with unique flavors. Using local ingredients, they prepare "vegetable forward" dishes that are the creative and delicious. The soup and quiche are masterfully crafted. They also have a diverse selection of beers on tap. The cherry on top is the space. Ambient and and serene. Perfectly balanced just like the food. read more

Good addition to Cortex. We tried this restaurant a few weeks ago and like it. We were a little surprised about how vegetable forward everything was but we loved the food. Definitely different but I'd give it a try if you haven't yet. read more

I am not a guy that usually writes reviews (actually this is my first) but I always enjoy checking them out before I make my eating decisions. I am not even sure how to classify Vicia, but I do know it brings a wonderful type of dining to St Louis. If you want your normal neat and potatoes go elsewhere. This place redefines "an amazing over the top date night". Let's get to the meal....but I can't guarantee this will be your meal as they have a constantly changing menu. First course, starters I think. We had something called rolled speck (I think) which had an amazing tarragon sauce; also had turnip tacos with black beans and kale. As strange as it sounds these are beyond amazing. Next course. I had creamy Missouri rice with chorizo (not any normal rice here) and my wife had beet tartare with goose egg. I am not a beet guy but she thought it was the best ever. Main course - pork for me and polenta with trumpet mushrooms for her. WOW. Of course a cheese plate to finish. Service - over the top. Food - amazing We are spoiled in St Louis with so many awesome chefs/restaurants. We really need to add Michael Gallina and Vicia to that list. read more

Food was amazing!! Service was very entertaining and prompt. I would recommend this as a new place where the food is fresh and very delicious! read more

We had an amazing meal at Vicia last night. We did the tasting menu and it was perfect. Highlights were the cabbage, the fireside baked bread course and the lovely dessert. We had heard it was pretentious, but I disagree. The cocktails were also perfectly balanced and the meal was well paced. Great work Vicia. read more

Very cool space with an urban chic vibe. Botanical cocktails were very good. Enjoyed turnip tacos and rutabaga carbonara for starters. Mains are more like small plates than family style as described. Missouri rice and oyster mushrooms were tasty. read more

Vicia - Mulberry tart...almost too pretty to eat. Not too sweet and yummy buttery crust. - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Vicia is ranked as the best restaurant in St. Louis for good reason. They focus on local, seasonal food, so the menu is always changing and is always creative. I have been to Vicia for lunch and dinner and they were both excellent experiences. Lunch at Vicia offers a convenient combo in which you can try two or three items at a reasonable price. Dinner at VIcia is outstanding and reservations are encouraged. We ordered the prosciutto rollups- which included prosciutto wrapped around around fresh greens and then you can dip them in a tangy balsamic sauce, turnip tacos- a build-it-yourself taco kit with turnip shells, pickled onions, beans, and different salsas, and the potato pizza- a thick purple potato crust with creamy topping and an assortment of edible flowers and fresh herbs. The overall vibe at Vicia is very sleek and modern with a touch of cozy farmhouse with their wooden tables and plants. Vicia is a versatile restaurant and can be a fancy, special occasion restaurant as well as an easy, any-night-of-the-week kind of place. read more

I've been to Vicia twice and it's really pretty bad. The space is fabulous and we so wanted to love it - but the food is ridiculous.The two of us are skinny people - we ordered 2 appetizers, 2 main courses and 2 desserts and the portions are so miniscule that we walked away hungry. of course it didn't help that one of the desserts was inedible. It would have been laughable if it didn't cost so much. $5 for a The food is just too precious us. Come on - $5 for a small plate bread... really? The much lauded chicken came cold and was simply two small pieces. i applaud their energy, just wish the food was edible. read more

Last night we went to Vicia. They had a huge firepit / stove where they cooked some of the food. The restaurant ambiance was fresh, crisp and modern. Since it was raining we thought it would be so nice to sit on the patio and hear the rain fall on the roof. Since it was chilly last night we were happy to sit by one of their heaters. It was also very windy, which blew one of the patio windbreak panels down. At that point it was too cool to be outside, even with the heater. We asked our waiter if he could replace the panel. He had someone do that, but it blew down again. Somehow they managed to secure the panel after the third time and we were warm again. The food presentation was beautiful. We asked for bread, which was $5.00, but they provided 4 dipping sauces, so thus the charge. We ordered the cucumber appetizer, which was 2 thick slices of cucumber divided into 6 pieces with a sauce. I would skip this dish if I had it to do over again. For the Mains, we ordered the chicken and the pork and tried a sampling of each. The chicken was 2 small slices of cold breast. The other piece was so small, I'm not sure if it came from a chicken. The pork was also a small portion. So be prepared and know that everything is tapas-like / small portions. read more

Went for dinner on a Tuesday evening. Incredible service experience. Gorgeous interior. Every menu item my table ordered was delicious and presented beautifully. There is something for everyone on the menu. Personal favorites were the Juice Pulp Falafel, Beef Fat Beets, and the Shelling Beans. The Grapefruit Tart was a nice, refreshing finish. Will be back. read more

Terrific, reasonably priced lunch and the nicest host/owners. Nice going on a beautiful place!

Great food and wonderful staff! We would highly recommend Vicia! Save room for the ice cream sandwich!

Stunning space. Amazing service. Beautifully plated. If you're a fan of creative dining, with farm fresh ingredients - Vicia will not disappoint. Plan ahead though, getting a reservation for this hot spot can take some time. Overall, a fantastic experience located where you'd least expect to find an award-winning restaurant! read more

top notch meal of little dishes. the flavor combinations were amazing. we had a total of 6 dishes, each were prepared to really highlight the ingredients in an exciting way. here's how it went: lemongrass and pineapple cocktails bread with tomato butter - straight up delish fried egg, missouri rice, cheddar, crispy pork - this was creamy and savory. the cheese was a foam, full of flavor with a nice fluffy texture in contrast with the rice. fried egg on top mushroom/turnip shell tacos - i'd eat these until i burst. mole and 2 other sauces, pickled onions, red peppers, black beans. well thought out flavor combo wow swiss chard tamale - we agreed, our least favorite. still very good, it wasn't the dish for me. polenta and tomato inside wheat berries with summer squash, chickpeas, horseradish - the contents of the "sauce" were impossible for me to identify. i really don't care what was in this, it was crazy good. light and fresh yet at the same time it was comfort food summer beans - FAVORITE. beans, tomatoes, potatoes, green goddess heaven in a bowl we are not vegetarian, we were just more attracted to the dishes that happened to be meatless in most cases. never missed the meat. a real treat of a meal and experience read more

Vicia - clockwise from top left: cocktails, summer beans, swiss chard tamale, fried egg, wheat berries, mushroom tacos - New American Near Me - St. Louis, Missouri

Vicia is great! We came here for our anniversary dinner, and they made us feel like it was a special day right from the start. It was our waitress' first day working, but you wouldn't have known it. We got these dishes: - Swisschard tamales - very good, light and filling at the same time - Lunchbox peppers - these were my favorite. small little peppers with a delicious filling (I'm not refined and don't remember what it was filled with!) - Bread and tomato butter - the bread was really soft and awesome - Chicken - probably my least favorite, but it was still really good And after dinner, they even brought us a free dessert to celebrate. The price wasn't as much as I thought it would be, and I would definitely recommend this. read more

This is one of the best meals I ever had. Vegetables are highlighted and celebrated and there's some major magic happening in the kitchen. Simple things like tahini are elevated - imagine tahini with a mousse-like consistency. Schnitzel with pickled tomatoes, and sauce that tastes like a honeysuckle - in the best way. Wonderful cocktails and non alcoholic options. An incredible restaurant that feels casual and welcoming, but has elevated service and impeccable food. read more

It's nice to have a vegetable forward restaurant in St Louis. Not a whole lot those around here. The ambience of the place is beautiful. Definitely get a table on their covered patio. The food itself could use some work. Being a vegetarian I had some options but not many. The turnip tacos with mushrooms were excellent! Then there was creamed corn and roasted eggplant. all of these are tapas sized portions. Would like to see more vegetarian dishes on the menu. read more

Overly-mannered food presentations (read: pricey) featuring small servings. Food flavorings were mostly pleasant with few disappointments. Decent wine selections (again, pricey) as well as offering a $25 corkage fee. All-in-all a restaurant curiosity but not a restaurant one would choose for that "special" meal given other St. Louis restaurant options. read more