In art, the phrase horror vacui means to fill the entire surface of an artwork with detail. In the case of this restaurant, it was to fill every inch of empty space with random knick-knacks, signs, dolls, and license plates, just to name a few. Locals love this place not just for its eclecticism, but also its lush patio and cheap PBRs. The menu features American dishes with a Caribbean twist, and is priced appropriately for St. Louis (pretty much everything on the menu is at or under $10).
Eating & Drinking
Hip spots in St. Louis usually don't remain secrets for too long, and this Euro wine bar is no exception. Getting a seat at this patio, which sits along a quiet, tree-lined street in Clayton, can be pretty tough. But perusing the vast wine menu shouldn't be. The food here is decent, but the plates are pretty small. This place is loaded with regulars, which is why sometimes the service lags.
The menu at this blues themed sandwich shop is quite massive. And of course, like any blues restaurant, it features lots of Cajun menu items (po-boy's, Muffuletta) as well as standards such as BLTs, Italian beef and chili dogs. And it's all super cheap. Only one menu item over $7, a behemoth of a sandwich called the Daddy-O Combo-O, which has Italian beef and 1/3 of a pound of Italian sausage. Also has live music on Thursdays and Saturdays.
Sure, it's a bit tacky and touristy, and the food quality has gone down over the years, but this iconic St. Louis establishment is a must-visit if for no other reason than the history and local memorabilia on the walls. It also doesn't hurt that rock legend Chuck Berry plays here once a month. This venue was also instrumental in revitalizing the Loop neighborhood near Washington University.
Some people love this place, some hate it. It probably depends on how often you come here. That's probably intentional; the staff of hipsters could be trying to scare the tourists away. The menu is diverse and features quite a few vegetarian dishes, which can be hard to find in this town. There's also an extensive list of specialty cocktails, which are priced fairly reasonably (around $7 each).
