Brasserie
French cuisine, romantic string lights, outdoor café-style seating just like what you’d see in Paris…. Brasserie is a pretty perfect restaurant. If the weather allows, request a table outside under the string lights, and enjoy some people-watching along with beautifully cooked French dishes and maybe even a bottle of champagne.With acclaimed chef Gerard Craft at the helm, you know you can’t go wrong. The roast chicken is famous for a reason, but you really can’t go wrong here.
- 4580 Laclede Ave
- Saint Louis, MO 63108
Taste
Can you really go to Brasserie without at least popping into Taste? We don’t think so. One of the top date spots in town, we can’t overstate how good both the food and cocktails are. A combination of inventive small plates in a sexy atmosphere with a list of craft cocktails that’s a mile long. In Taste’s own words, they are “an experience in atmosphere, flavor and service,” and we couldn’t agree more. Another Gerard Craft gem, Taste is great for just about any occasion. There is limited seating, so be prepared for a wait on busier nights.
- 4584 Laclede Ave
- Saint Louis, MO 63108
Yellowbelly
The hottest bar opening in 2018 award goes to...Yellowbelly! Like its sister restaurant, Retreat Gastropub, Yellowbelly focuses about 60% of its attention on having a bangin’ cocktail program and 40% on a tasty food menu. We prefer coming here for drinks and bites rather than a full meal, but you can certainly do that, as well. Top Chef Richard Blais helped develop the funky food menu, and mixologist Tim Wiggins created the drink menu. Our recommendation: get the snap pea daiquiri and be happy.
- 4659 Lindell Boulevard
- St. Louis, MO 63108
Retreat Gastropub
You can really just look at what we wrote above and most of it still pertains to Retreat. Great cocktails, solid food. The main difference is that Retreat feels much more casual and comfortable, like an elevated neighborhood bar. Luv u, Retreat.
- 6 N Sarah St
- St. Louis, MO 63108
Juniper
If the restaurant’s cutesy name brings to mind a quirky backwoods protagonist in a modern Southern gothic, well, you’re not far off. This classy country-style restaurant is known for putting a creative, contemporary spin on traditional Southern dishes and cocktails. We’ve heard it called “upscale country-hipster”. They recently moved to a stunning new space, perfect for a date. Can’t decide what to get? The answer is always their fried chicken.
- 360 N Boyle Ave
- Saint Louis, MO 63108
Vicia
We'd have always eaten our vegetables as kids if chef Michael Gallina had been there to cook them for us. Who knew that a vegetable-forward restaurant could be so mind blowing? If you don't believe us, pop in for their fantastic lunch, which lets you pick up to three different mains to try. Once you're convinced, head in for dinner, but make sure to do the tasting menu—at $85, you're getting the deal of a lifetime.
- 4260 Forest Park Ave
- St. Louis, MO 63108
Mission Taco Joint
A night at Mission is always a fiesta, especially if you partake in the $2 tacos-and-tequila-shots special that begins at 10 p.m. every night. The flavorful food is unpretentious and satisfies any Mexican craving you might have, from the salsa that’s made in house daily (accompanying chips are free and unlimited!) to the dripping Chihuahua cheese liberally applied. On summer nights a margarita and a fried Baja fish taco on the patio is paradise. The margaritas are the best in town. You should go.
- 398 N Euclid Ave
- Saint Louis, MO 63108
Scarlett’s
Run by the owners of Sasha’s and Sasha’s on Shaw, this laid-back wine bar is one of our favorite date spots in the Central West End. We think you’d be crazy not to get a bottle of wine, but those who prefer beer or a cocktail are sure not to be disappointed either. In addition to the great drinks, Scarlett’s serves up food options, including Neapolitan pizza pies prepared in their in-house wood-fired oven.
- 4253 Laclede Ave
- Saint Louis, MO 63108
Narwhal’s Crafted Urban Ice
Boozy slushy concoctions with almost every liquor you can image as a base. Regardless of your palette, you can find a ‘frozie’ to satisfy. Brain freeze aside, this is the perfect spot to mix it up from the traditional cocktail bar.
- 3906 Laclede Ave
- Saint Louis, MO 63108
