Frisco Barroom

All of a sudden, I am starting to feel like Webster Groves is the latest hotspot. Olive + Oak and Clover and the Bee took off and then I just stopped by Firenza Pizza last week to try it out.

With all the times I've been to Serendipity Ice Cream, I couldn't believe I didn't notice a new restaurant opening up two doors down! As I was walking up, I saw the new brick and mortar Balkan Treat Box across the street!

Anyway, there was a lot of hype around Frisco Barroom when it first opened, and my friends who dared to try it early on reported back about long waits. So I decided to wait until the hype had calmed down a little bit. It turned out to be the perfect spot for an early Sunday dinner after all.

It really reminds me of an Irish pub and was thrilled there was also an upstairs area and a patio, because I can see the place being really busy come summer time. (Will there be enough parking for all these new restaurants?)

I had fairly low expectations since it just felt like a pub, but the bar food is definitely a little more upscale.

I was impressed with the wide range of items on the menu, but I'm not going to complain since Patience and I wanted to try one of everything. Luckily, our friends were willing to help in our quest and split some of the starters with us.

In the small plates section, the poutine caught my eye right away and it's very traditional! This was amazing!!

Poutine

Under the "Snacks" section were Deviled Eggs and these were more mustard-y than mayo-y, which gave it a lot more of a zing than I was used to. Soft creamy goodness!

Deviled Eggs

Another "small plate" that I really wanted to try was their Grilled Chicken Wings, but I looked a little further down the menu and they have a couple of Pierogi options!! I went traditional with the Potato Pierogi, but I definitely want to order the Farmers Cheese Pierogi next time!!

Potato Pierogi

Our friends helped us by ordering the Crispy Cauliflower, which were grilled in a buffalo sauce. Not too spicy, but it definitely jazzed up the veggie! You could easily make a meal out of just the small plates, snacks, and Pierogi.

Crispy Cauliflower

Good thing we were all hungry and were ready to take on our main entrees!

I actually ordered the smash burger (of course a double) instead of anything healthy.

Double Smashburger

Well, I did order a side salad, as my side dish, and it was in Italian dressing St. Louis style! Delicious!

House Salad

Patience ordered her favorite, french dip, which came with au jus AND horseradish on the side! Oh yeah...her side was her FAVORITE soup: Italian Wedding Soup. I don't know how they knew!

French Dip

They even let her put a slice of gouda on her french dip too!!

Italian Wedding Soup

Speaking of "on the side", even better than the movie was the "Potato & Cheese Casserole", which is a healthy portion "side dish" that you can get with any sandwich. (Entrees come with two sides but none of us made it that far down the menu.)

Patience calls them "funeral potatoes" since that's often where you see them served, or at other family functions. I really should learn how to make them since I know they'd be a big hit.

Potato and Cheese Casserole

Now I know why it was so crowded for so long! What a perfect "neighborhood joint"! I certainly hope to go back  a lot and I hope it survives for quite a while, especially since there is a lot of competition right there.

Resources:

Frisco Barroom = https://www.thefriscostl.com

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Cork & Rind Irish Cheese Class 2019

I was so happy to get the chance to visit Cork & Rind again for another cheese class and to see my former coach and current cheesemonger.

He got into the spirit by wearing a Leprechaun outfit!

Cheesemonger Kevin Kinney

Two of the cheeses were paired with beer and two paired with whiskey!

Cheese Pairing Menu

Starting at the top of the plate, my favorites were the first two Irish cheddars: Truly Grass Fed from Dublin, Ireland and Cahill's from Westmeath, Ireland. (I purchased the former to take home!)

The Cahill's Irish Porter Cheddar  was of course a perfect pairing with a Guinness Extra Stout. The marbling throughout the cheese is just beautiful.

On the left, a blue cheese, Cashel Blue was soft and fairly sweet. Definitely a good dessert cheese, without being overpowering. (I still noticed a few pieces of blue cheese left on plates. hehe)

There was also provided a little chutney, but I just spread it on the homemade bread as a snack.

Cheese Plate

You know I made faces trying to taste the whiskey, Kilbeggan Small Batch Irish Rye Whiskey and Teeling Single Grain Irish Whiskey, so the Smithwick's Irish Red Ale was the winner for me!

I find ryes to be a lot smoother for me, so that was my preference between the two whiskeys.

I love the classes here and I just wish we weren't so far away.

Resources:

Cork & Rind = https://www.corkandrind.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

58hundred

My "first to try a new restaurant" friends found a winner with 58hundred, which is also its address.  Another bonus is that it's a neighborhood restaurant that's only ten minutes away!

I hope this means we'll go back soon...especially since Patience was sick and I'm not even sure she'll get to enjoy the leftovers I brought her.

I loved the concise menu, focused on locally sourced ingredients.

Something different to start with - Pimento Cheese Toast, which my southern friends say I need to eat more of as the "cheese girl". The toast was thick and hearty and you should probably get some help with this as it could fill you up and not leave you room for anything else.

Nashville's Pimento Cheese Toast

My friends and the servers all said the Braised Beef is their best dish, and I thoroughly enjoyed it on a cold and rainy day. It came with brown butter gnocchi, squash, carrots, sage, in a red wine reduction.

Braised Beef

My friends ordered all appetizers for their meal, and split everything. So wise. Without my photography assistant, I missed capturing the nachos, but managed to get the shrimp.

Spicy Buffalo Fried Shrimp

I finished up the night with a large lemon bar, while my friends opted for a piece of banana cream pie. Of course the lemon bar couldn't stand up to my stepmom's, but I had to try it for myself.

Lemon Bar

I can't wait to go back and bring more friends here!

This place does not take a reservation, but there are several tables in the bar half of the building along with seating at the bar.

Resources:

58hundred = https://www.58hundred.com/

Grand Tavern

I can remember sitting in the original Dark Room looking up at the building that is now the Angad Arts Hotel and hoping that it could be put to good use someday.

Well, the building is finally finished and on the main floor is the Grand Tavern by David Burke - a fancy NY chef. I knew I had to try it and the Sorrells were kind enough to take me there for my birthday.

I was excited about the high-end restaurant, but with it comes high-end expecations and I'm not quite sure all the kinks are worked out just yet. Since the restaurant is in the arts district, theater timing is very important. Another issue I found is the high ceilings in the main room, which leads to a loud dining experience. And in our situation... a large and obnoxious birthday party sitting next to us caused our server to have to apologize. Even the table behind us requested to move to "the red room", which seems to be a far more intimate area.

Other than not being able to talk to each other, our courses were pretty amazing. And I do mean "courses" because the food just kept coming.

There was a small cocktail list, but the prices were a little higher than we prefer.  I did enjoy the garnishes for the cocktails...my Bee's Kneeds is so pretty!

Grand-hattan

Bee's Knees

We got to start with an amuse bouche...I believe there is lobster on top there.

Amuse bouche

Even the bread service was "big", since we each got a popover the size of our heads!

Popovers

Patience and I were very curious about the Emotional Lobster Dumplings. athough I'm not sure which emotion we were supposed to be feeling.

Lobster Dumplings

Of course we HAD to get David Burke's "famous" Clothesline Bacon, where they torched it by hand at the table. Entertaining if nothing else!

Clothesline Bacon

Finally on to the main courses...I played it safe with the branzino (white fish) on the menu, but Patience ordered the steak special.  We both added on a vegetable on the side since they are all a la carte. I ordered the Angry Brocoli...angry because they were spicy!

Branzino

Steak Special with Pasta

Angry Brocolli

And Pai got to load up on Brussels sprouts. Both are shareable for probably two people.

Brussels Sprouts

Beth went all out with the Saturday special: Surf and Turf on a bed of polenta

Surf and Turf

I believe Matt chose a clams and linguine dish.

Clams and Linguine

Special thanks again to the Sorrells, since the desserts never stopped coming!

Dessert Tray

We each got our own "dessert tray": Strawberries, small cake, a David Burke Cheesecake Lollipop, cotten candy, and a gooey butter donut!!! All of these were amazing!!

Although it couldn't top my personal "birthday dessert"!!!!!!!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse

On the menu for anyone, birthday or not, I was very blown away by the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse - "radio city rockette style" with raspberries. Isn't she sexy??

Then we got to have a complimentary macaroon along with our bill. SO! STUFFED!

Coffee Macaroons

This is definitely a special occasion type of place, but probably not before a theater show unless you go very early. Check out the menus before you go...

Dinner Menu

Drink Menu

Dessert Menu

Resources:

Grand Tavern = https://grandtavernstl.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

PW Pizza Left Hand Brewing Beer Dinner 2019

I looked back in my notes and the last time Left Hand Brewing visited was 2016, so I was happy to see them back again!

We kicked off the night with a Caribeean Caesar salad which had a spicy dressing, but that paired really well with the super light and easy to drink "Travelin' Light". I gotta remember this beer when I'm out! Perfect for summer drinking...

Caribbean Caesar

The first pizza was my favorite of the night since I tasted mostly sweet flavors with cheese totally covering the pizza. The Juicy Goodness, a New England style IPA, was big on the citrus and Patience and I could actually handle these hops.

Sweet Chili Chicken Pizza

The Pot Roast Pizza was a little funky in taste, but it was a great pairing for the heavier Death Before Disco Porter. It was soooooo easy to drink for a porter!

Death Before Disco Porter

The Raspberry Milk Stout had a big raspberry finish so it's definitely a dessert beer. Of course it was paired with an Almond Lemon-Raspberry Fool. (I had to look up what a fool was...an English custard dessert with fruit folded in.)

Almond Lemon-Raspberry Fool

It just needed a magic chocolate shell on top or chocolate syrup!

All winning pairings and a great way to start off the new year of beer dinners!

Left Hand Brewing Menu

Resources:

Left Hand Brewing = http://lefthandbrewing.com/

PW Pizza = https://pwpizza.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon