Akar is easily one of my top three favorite restaurants. The atmosphere is calming, cool, and…read moreperfect for a relaxed date night out. Every bite of the food was delicious. I ordered the Thai drunken noodles, and they were spicy, well-balanced, and full of flavor. The service was also very nice and made the experience even better. Parking can be a little tricky, but it's absolutely worth it. I came here for a date night, and it was the perfect spot. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to and keep recommending.

Akar was one of the best fine-dining experiences I've had in St. Louis. With a small, intimate…read moredining room, Akar feels both cozy and elevated and is a great spot for celebrating a special occasion. With such a small dining room, service is very attentive and it doesn't get too loud. All of the food is delicious and beautifully plated: truly a delight for the senses.

Food is undoubtedly a 5/5. The takoyaki, fried squid and volcano rice were amazing…read more Very cute vibe inside. Service was not the best but not bad. Would definitely go back.

Ran the table here. Very mixed reviews with several recent negative reviews by serious local…read moreexperts. As you can read, I'm love Japanese food. The fried squid was well-breaded, light and crispy, but they were a touch tough. Still excellent and the oil was clean. Their burnt ends were fusion perfect! Lots of clean garlic cloves, mild and slightly sweet sauce on a hot stone. Most importantly very tender ends. Finally the house tonkatsu ramen. Wow. This is not the 5 year old mother base, but a mild and delicate creamy beef broth. Balanced rather than deep. The pork is not the danish sheets, but seared silver dollar sized chunks. The noodles were the right texture and firmness. The eggs were shockingly correct, firm all the way to a perfectly runny 2cm cup. Very rare for that kind of attention. Finally service, could not ask for anything better. Attentive but not overwhelming. Polite and thoughtful. And, didn't push the round 2 alcohol like some places.

The Bao is a modern Asian restaurant and cocktail bar in the heart of Clayton, MO…read more Dimly-lit, this small restaurant space delivers on big flavor. The menu consists of asian-fusion steamed buns, rice bowls, and udon noodles. Our favorite bao buns are the Fried Chicken, Wagyu, and especially the Bangkok Chicken. Their bar encompasses a significant amount of the space offering craft cocktails and a wide selection of premium spirits including soju and sake. We stopped in after running an errand in Clayton and found out it's Clayton Restaurant week. Their Restaurant Week menu was a great deal of 4 courses at $39 including your selection of 3 bao buns to try. Unfortunately we did not have big enough of an appetite to order the Restaurant Week menu but did partake in their happy hour when a selection of cocktails are $10. Their happy hour is Sun-Thurs 4-6 with specials on wine, sake, beer, and select bao buns and snacks. Service is always polite and brief here to allow for a relaxing, and possibly romantic, dining experience. Although a smaller restaurant, they are able to accommodate larger reservations by pushing tables together. Can't wait to go back and try the rest of their menu!

ome girlfriends and I went out to eat here because it was new to us. We were quickly seated, but…read morethen had to wait a while before we were addressed. That was a bummer. However, I will tell you that Eddie turned it around. He was incredible. Sure, normally wait staff will tell you "oh yes great choice" so I asked if he would actually tell us if things were bad. Now, he didnt say anything was bad, but he did say he felt this other dish was better than what a person ordered because it had more flavor and yada yada. A honest man. Love to see that. Japanese Curry = Little spicy, but great flavor. Yum. Wagyu and bacon bao = amazing. Get it. Pork belly boa = a little dry, bummer. Fried shrimp boa = good. Fries = 100/10. Perfectly crispy. Amazing. Also a little thing, but the light on table had three different settings and I just really appreciated that. Treat yourself to this small restaurant tucked away in Clayton and go visit by boy Eddie.

I mean.. SO flavorful. Every single dish…read more If I had all the money in the world, I would be here every night. End of story.

Ambiance: Very nice, dark, cozy -- date night vibes…read more Service: Great! Polite, smiles, answered all our questions. We started with the Isaan hamachi. It was okay, but compared to Sado's version it just didn't hold up. The biggest issue was the aroma--it had a sour, almost "rotten milk" smell. I'm not sure if that was from the coconut milk reacting with the acidity of the dish and was intentional, but it really affected the overall experience. The flavor itself was decent, but smell plays such a big role in taste. Next was a white fish sashimi (I can't remember the name) served over a thin orange slice and topped with jalapeño. The flavor combination was really nice and refreshing, but the slices of fish were paper thin. At around $20, I expected a more substantial portion. The gyoza was solid. Nothing groundbreaking, but well-executed with great flavor, a beautiful crispy lace, and honestly one of the best-smelling dishes we ordered. The palm sugar ribs came highly recommended, so I was excited for them. Texture-wise they were excellent--crispy outside, juicy inside--but the sauce had an overpowering aroma that reminded both of us of wet dog. My guess is the fish sauce was a little heavy-handed. I've had plenty of dishes with fish sauce before and love the depth it adds, so I don't know if this was intentional or just an off night. The flavor itself was good, but the smell made it difficult to fully enjoy. (It was pungent in the worst way) The standout of the night was the Japanese eggplant. Absolutely incredible. Perfectly cooked, packed with flavor, and the chili crisp brought everything together. Easily a 10/10. For dessert, we had the mango custard coconut cake, which was also delicious. Favorite cocktail: the Re-Animator. Refreshing, citrus-forward, with just enough wasabi to give it a subtle kick. I've never had anything quite like it and would absolutely order it again. Overall, it wasn't the strongest first impression. There were definitely some highlights--the eggplant, dessert, and cocktail were all excellent--but if I'm spending this much on dinner, I'd probably choose Sado, where every visit has been consistently outstanding. That said, I'd still come back for that eggplant alone. This reads more like an honest dining journal than a takedown. It gives credit where it's due, clearly explains why certain dishes didn't work for you, and ends on a fair note rather than a harsh one.

So glad to have Grand Bistro back in my life! The food is just as good as I remember from when it…read morewas Pho Grand, and honestly, the service when I went with friends last week was incredible. I knew they don't take reservations and won't seat an incomplete party, but I still got there a little early just to see if we could grab a table for five. I was surprised (in a good way) when they seated me before everyone else arrived. I even told the hostess I didn't mind waiting, but she encouraged me to go ahead and sit, which was really nice. Our server was super friendly and made sure I was taken care of while I waited. As my friends started arriving, he was quick to get them settled in too. We started with some non-alcoholic drinks and spent some time chatting before diving into the menu. It was honestly hard to pick just one thing, so I went with both the chicken pho and fried rice. I knew I wouldn't finish it all, but I really wanted both. Once we ordered, everything moved smoothly--our server checked in, made sure drinks were filled, and kept things organized. When the food came out, everything looked amazing and tasted just as good. Of course, with all the catching up we were doing, it took us a while to finish, but there was no rush at all. When we were ready, he brought the checks and was more than happy to split them out (always appreciate that!). Before leaving, I ordered a to-go meal for my husband and asked for a box for my leftovers. Our server actually took my plate and packed everything up in the back, which I wasn't expecting but really appreciated. He also brought out the to-go order right when it was ready. Honestly, everything, from the space to the service to the food, was just great. I'm already looking forward to going back again soon.

How happy am I to learn this place reopened with a new name? We were here within the hour of…read morelearning it had reopened (was Pho Grand). And it lived up to our expectations. Love the new cocktail bar they added. It take away some seating however people can eat at bar too. We ordered cocktails while waiting for our table which took only a few minutes. My husband tried their version of an old-fashioned which used both bourbon and rum!!! It was good but he said definitely a "sipper". They have a full bar and much better wine selection now too. Starters for us were a bowl of wonton soup and the spring rolls. Both were good but rolls a little rubbery to me. The highlight of our meals was charbroiled pork. We are not capable of ordering anything else. Ha. I get 15.04 and he got 15.03 which includes an egg roll. Divine food!! The people who own this place are so friendly. Our waiter was also very nice. We can't wait to return

Tucked away on a side street off Delmar, we decided to try Fork and Stix before catching a show at…read moreThe Pageant. Unlike the atmosphere in the Thai restaurants in West County, the place is almost austere. That is not a bad thing, because it has outdoor seating available with shade from old neighborhood trees. The service was attentive and friendly. I needed a phone charge at the staff was kind enough to plug my phone at the counter and keep an eye on it. The food was a different twist on what we expected. We sampled their Thai Stix, which relate to a crab Rangoon, but the nicely melted cream cheese is flavored with kankimama and scallions. They are a bit messy, but worth it. Their Hoy Jaw are deep fried dumplings of shrimp, crab and mixed pork, deep fried with a crunchy texture. Both of these small plates come with a bright sweet chili sauce. The chicken satay were tender, moist and came with a peanut sauce that was the perfect blend between almost peanut butter and being too runny. For me, the best part of the meal was the Hung Lay Curry. The dish combines pork belly and pork shoulder, perfect cooked and tender in a curry that includes palm sugar, turmeric, peanuts, and fresh ginger. The curry is not dominated by curry powder, and has a rich, satisfying flavor that can be compared to a rich ramen broth. Spoon the sauce over the rice to let the flavors soak in. For those who think curry is spicy, this dish is not. Instead, it has the comfort food vibe that is a unique for me in eating Thai food. A nice place with delicious food and friendly, attentive staff. Great to go to before a show at the Pageant.

I want to start by giving a heads up that they add an automatic 20% gratuity to your bill without…read morenotice or warning. I don't have any qualms with tipping, but I don't think it's fair to have it automatic, especially since the food is already on the pricey side. The interior is very calm and moody. The candles on the table are a nice touch. The service was okay, but for the size of the restaurant it felt a little weird. I usually try to get something that can easily be compared to other restaurants and determined if I will come back. I opted for the pad Thai. While not the worst pad Thai I've had, it was one of the more expensive. My noodles were dry and clumpy. It was hard to eat and required water. There was an unremarkable amount of chicken for the price. The flavor was also quite underwhelming. The quantity was also questionable. Overall, I probably wouldn't come back here. It was convenient because we were going to the Pageant, but other than that it was subpar.

Nudo House in Creve Coeur absolutely lives up to the hype, especially if you are hunting for a…read morestellar vegetarian bowl. I dropped in on a Saturday evening and ordered the **Shroomed Up** ramen, and it was a ramen masterclass in a bowl. The broth managed to be incredibly rich and deeply savory-sweet all at once, without ever feeling heavy. It was loaded with thick, substantial slabs of mushrooms, tender-cooked bok choy, and the noodles were the star of the show--thick and perfectly cooked to that ideal sweet spot where they aren't too chewy but have zero mushiness. Even with a line stretching out the door when we arrived, the wait wasn't tedious, and we reached the counter reasonably fast. The ordering process is standard counter service, but the staff member who took our order was incredibly nice, polite, and helpful, practically predicting my questions as I was looking over the menu. The same employee even brought our bowls out to us. The space was definitely crowded for a weekend night, but the seat-yourself setup worked out perfectly for the two of us; we still had three tables to choose from. The interior has a great energy with fun, East-Asian and Japanese-themed decor lining the walls. The Breakdown Food Quality: 5+/5 + Service: 4/5 Cleanliness: 5/5 Vibe: 4/5 Quality/Value: 4/5 **Pro Tip:** Don't let a Saturday evening line out the door scare you off! The counter service team moves people through the queue efficiently, and if you are dining in a small group of two, the table turnover is quick enough that you'll still easily find a spot to sit down.

I have been craving 3-1-Pho Chicken with Shredded Chicken Breast for a while…read more If you do not like spicy, TELL them and they'll take the kick out. The service was clean, fast and efficient. I received my order quickly. The ambiance at lunch was calm and welcoming. 100/100 no notes. So crazy good. Now I'll be craving this forever.

A Great Hole-in-the-Wall Korean Spot…read more I was really in the mood for Korean food, and as Korean culture has become more mainstream, I've noticed that some Korean restaurants have started to feel a bit commercialized. As someone who cooks Korean food myself and spent time living in Korea, sometimes you just want a simple, authentic, no-frills spot that focuses on the food. Thankfully, Asian Kitchen Korean Cuisine, located at 8423 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO, delivered exactly that. I knew I was probably in the right place as soon as I walked in and was greeted by one of the owners, whose direct and no-nonsense personality reminded me of many family-run restaurants I've visited over the years. It gave the place a lot of character. I kept my order simple and went with the beef bulgogi, while my sister ordered the chicken bulgogi. Both came with rice and kimchi. We also shared an order of vegetable potstickers, which were fried perfectly. Everything was delicious. The food had a homemade quality that felt comforting and authentic. The bulgogi was flavorful, the kimchi was satisfying, and the potstickers were easily one of the highlights of the meal. We ordered everything to go, so unfortunately I didn't get any photos, but the food definitely spoke for itself. One thing to keep in mind is that there may be a bit of a wait, but that's because the food is prepared fresh. If you're willing to be patient, it's well worth it. Overall, if you're looking for solid Korean food in the St. Louis area and don't mind a straightforward, family-run atmosphere, Asian Kitchen is a great choice. 4 out of 5 stars.

I remember going to this restaurant over 10 yrs ago back when I was still in middle school. But…read moreunfortunately things are not the same anymore since they seem to give less banchan than they used to, and the menu appears to be smaller than back then, and they appeared to do some renovations since then. Despite that, the seafood pancake was crispy and yummy. The fried rice was alright, but it could use a little more seasoning. I was going to get omurice, but it's no longer on the menu so they need to either put it back on the menu or take the photo of that dish down near the entrance. Also, it was very warm and a little humid inside.