CUISINE made mine . Check them out . Just remember - wherever you decide to explore and dine , bring a hearty appetite and a cooler for leftovers .
Moonrise Hotel
Grazing on Grand : Grand Center ’ s entertainment district redefines the “ dinner and a show ” concept , thanks in part to its dining options and theatrical venues , such as The Fabulous Fox and its Curtain Call Lounge , hailed as St . Louis ’ first Champagne bar . Tucked off the Fox ’ s lobby , Curtain Call ’ s art deco-Byzantine décor transports diners to the Kasbah where small plates , pizzettes and bubbly are the showstoppers . LoRusso ’ s on Grand has become the ultimate pop-up eatery ; open only on show and event nights . Jazz fans with set tickets at Jazz at the Bistro can count on hot plates and cool jazz , while The Best Steak House cooks continue to sing out , “ Next ” to the hungry that are lined up out the door .
This page : Middle photo by Lisa Kuntx / Cedar Lake Cellars Opposite page : Photo courtesy of Ballpark Village
Eating up The Loop : The University City Loop , the unofficial home of the late Chuck Berry , calls the food-centric to devour their way up Delmar Boulevard . The obligatory first stop is Blueberry Hill , a blast from the past where throwback burgers and fries are served with sides of nostalgia . Stretching east , scattered along the area ’ s blocks , are The Loop ’ s boho collection of international tables . Craving Thai , Syrian , Korean , Mexican , barbecue or a root beer float ? They ’ re all there , including The Loop ’ s Eclipse Festival ( Aug . 21 ), with the ultimate duo - the Solar Eclipse Cocktail and a Moon Pie , the specialty at The Moonrise Hotel ’ s Eclipse Restaurant .
Ballpark Village : Step up to the plate at Ballpark Village ’ s Budweiser Brew House and Cardinals Nation , dining venues where there ’ s more to game grub than hot dogs and nachos . While burgers , barbecue and the upscale Meeting on the Mound Nachos made the 2017 roster , chefs are pitching edgier game fare , like Deconstructed California Crab Roll Stacks and the Jerk Chicken and Spicy Lobster Street Tacos . Plan on spending the day , or at least a couple of extra innings , to take in both eateries . Look inside the Cardinals Hall of Fame Museum , included in Cardinals Nation home game ticket prices for rooftop seats , where the all-you-can-eat buffet comes with a Fredbird ’ s-eye view inside Busch Stadium .
Sips and Spas : Rest , renew and indulge . That ’ s the winning trifecta at ARA , the spa at Ameristar St . Charles , where spa services are underscored with gourmet cuisine . Book and begin the day with chocolate-covered strawberries and Champagne , then order the ultimate spa indulgence - decadently delectable healthy plates , like Smoked Salmon Lettuce Wraps or the ARA Spa Bento , the chef ’ s signature spin on the classic bento box .
Creative cuisine and cellars stocked with international and domestic wines are reasons enough to hop down Interstate 70 to Wright City , Missouri , and drive the back roads to Cedar Lake Cellars . Just 40 minutes from Clayton , wine-loving foodies gather lakeside to experience refined country charm and diverse dining options . The menu and events drive this culinary outpost . Expect to relish fanciful chef plates and al fresco grab-and-go grill fare , along with the occasional hog roast throwdown , paired with wine and fireworks .
Suzanne Corbett is a food historian and author of the award-winning cookbooks , “ The Gilded Table ” and “ Pushcarts & Stalls : The Soulard Market History Cookbooks .” She can be contacted at suzannecorbett @ me . com .
Cedar Lake Cellars
ARA Spa Bento
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