Marconi Mercato

I just love trying new restaurants! Even if it's another Italian restaurant on the Hill!

Why YES! It IS a market on Marconi street! How did you know? The store in the front of the restaurant is small and cute, and allows plenty of room to hang out while you wait for the rest of your party.

My friends and I ordered a couple of appetizers to share. Arancini rice balls are my favorite...

Arancini rice balls

We exchanged a couple of them for some Carciofi Fritti, or fried artichokes. Anything fried is delicious!

Carciofi Fritti

The specials all sounded amazing, but I was feeling pasta. All the dishes were winners.

I finally chose Maine Lobster Gnocchi...two of my favorite things together. The gnocchi melted in my mouth, and then I dipped the lobster and bread in the leftover sauce!

Maine Lobster Gnocchi

My friends ordered the Tagliatelle Bolognese and Wild Boar Pappardelle used such fresh pasta and were so rich and creamy.

Tagliatelle Bolognese

Wild Boar Pappadelle

And dessert? Of course we did, as I couldn't turn down the cannoli. Luckily, they were on the smaller side (four to an order), so we were able to put them away. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a picture. 

If you love Italian restaurants on the Hill and are willing to try something new...be sure to add this to your list!

Resources:

Marconi Mercato = https://www.marconimercato.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Hangar Kitchen + Bar

While my birthday season is over with, I luckily still have friends that want to meet up for dinner, which is good since my list of "new restaurants to try" keeps getting longer.

I was able to cross another one off this month as my friends and I met up at Hangar Kitchen and Bar. I have been to Momo's several times for brunch, right next door, and my brunch friends recommended it.

The weird thing about Hangar is the eclectic menu, which made it hard to narrow down my choices. So I just went ahead and picked from two different categories. The best part about it, is that there is something for everyone this way. 

I don't normally choose the "spicy" sushi roll, but I wanted more than just the vegetarian version, so when I got my Spicy Ahi Roll, I kicked off the jalapeños.

Spicy Ahi Roll

My Tempura Cod Tacos were also a winner, and were quite filling even though they looked small.

Tempura Cod Tacos

There were a lot of small plates and appetizers to share, which you could definitely make a meal out of, so we shared Da Goat for the table. Goat cheese with lots of crostini.

Da Goat

My friend chose the Caesar salad and Seared Scallops for her dinner. I thought it was interesting that they paired scallops with shiitake mushrooms on top, but it was still delicious.

Seared Scallops and Caesar Salad

Patience went all out and ordered one of the few large dishes - a Braised Short Rib on top of goat cheese mashed potatoes and vegetables. Probably the best dish of the evening.

Braised Short Rib

I definitely want to go back to try more things!

Resources:

Hangar Kitchen + Bar = https://www.hangarkitchenandbarstl.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Esca

Since I love the major restaurateurs here in St. Louis, it has been my goal to visit all their restaurants, so Esca was high on my list. I had been planning to go for my birthday for MONTHS. 

The whole first page of the menu was dedicated to beverages and I knew I wanted a cocktail. They all were so pretty and made me feel fancy. I ordered a Vesper and my friend ordered the Gibson just to name a couple. There were multiple rounds of cocktails honestly.

Vesper

Gibson

This is definitely a place where you want to study the menu in advance and have some friends to help as well. There are quite a few "Appetizers", but really, they are small plates to be shared and can easily be a meal.

There were two I wanted for sure and my friends were willing to help order a few other items.

The shrimp oreganata and the gnocchi were high on my list. 

Shrimp Oreganata

Gnocchi

My friends ordered the lamb meatballs and fire baked polenta with a Ragu Bolognese on top. Both of those really stood out...

Lamb Meatballs

Fire Baked Polenta

We did order some vegetables as well...the fire roasted broccolini.

Fire Roasted Broccolini

There are only a handful of main dishes, if you prefer to go that route, and Patience succumbed to the special of the day: lamb shank over barley

Lamb Shank with barley

Regardless of my desire to try as many appetizers as possible, you really need to save room for dessert. We ordered four of them and they were amazing.

Of course I chose the chocolate truffles, but I did share.

Chocolate Truffles

We also shared cannoli, which were quite creamy.

Cannoli

They served the highly popular vanilla gelato drenched in olive oil with a touch of salt. The olive oil definitely makes it creamier, but without any chocolate in it, I was good with one bite.

Vanilla Gelato with olive oil and sea salt

Patience loved her lemoncello tiramisu. SO dense and lemony. 

Lemoncello Tiramisu

And you can always drink your dessert as well. Beth's expresso martini was so pretty.

Espresso Martini

Just a heads up that the tables are pretty crammed together and it was very warm in the restaurant. We all had trouble reading the menu with the low light and small font. Hopefully, those are details that can be easily resolved.

Beverage menu

Dinner Menu

Resources:

Esca = https://bengelina.com/esca

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Jovick Brothers Burgers

As part of my birthday celebration, I met a friend at a hole in the wall, neighborhood corner joint, Jovick Brothers Burgers. I rarely go out for burgers and was really wanting to treat myself. 

My friend was willing to split a smash double cheeseburger with cheese and a chicken sandwich.

They pile on the toppings and give you plenty of crispy tater tots if that's the side you choose...

Double cheeseburger with tater tots

The chicken sandwich had honey mustard sauce dripping off, so it was tasty, but not near as good as the burgers. I ordered cheese curds and got a bunch! You could even have them added to your sandwich too! (I think they'd roll right off, but who am I to keep anyone from putting cheese curds where they want!)

Chicken Sandwich with cheese curds

There was no beer for sale, but saw lots of families come through.

Resources:

Jovick Brothers Burgers = https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095096595906

Chez Panisse

I know I previously stated that I didn't like to make blog posts about restaurants in other cities, but this was another full circle moment that I wanted to remember.

Ten years ago, I visited my cousin for the very first time in Berkeley, CA, and she pointed out Chez Panisse to me as we walked around. The trip was a 40th birthday present to myself, so I took a lot of pictures.

From 2014

I wanted to redo the trip for my 50th because I enjoyed California so much, but THIS time, I wanted to actually eat inside of Chez Panisse. We didn't go overboard and just ate upstairs in the café.

Me in 2024

But it was still a meal worth reporting!

I ordered the Northern Halibut...it was so soft and melted in my mouth.

Northern Halibut

Patience got the pasta with wild mushrooms.

Pasta with wild mushrooms

My cousin ordered one of the two pizzas on the menu and it was perfect for one person.

Pizza with bacon, capers, and hot peppers

Her husband ordered the chicken, and he cleared his plate as well.

Grilled Chicken al Mattone

Menu

Hopefully I'll make it back in another ten years and actually eat in the main dining room!

Resources:

Chez Panisse = https://www.chezpanisse.com

Photos by Patience Scanlon