WEBVTT - The Love Connection 0:00:00.810 --> 0:00:03.650 Hello and welcome to Arch Eats with me. As always 0:00:03.660 --> 0:00:06.260 is my co-host and cohort Cheryl beer. 0:00:07.179 --> 0:00:10.898 This episode of Arch Eat is sponsored by Saint Louis 0:00:10.909 --> 0:00:12.039 symphony orchestra. 0:00:12.770 --> 0:00:16.610 In this episode that we've dubbed the Love Connection Cheryl 0:00:16.620 --> 0:00:18.569 and I are going to discuss our picks for the 0:00:18.579 --> 0:00:21.669 most romantic restaurants in town as well as where we 0:00:21.680 --> 0:00:24.899 spend a romantic breakfast, lunch and dinner. Then we'll end 0:00:24.909 --> 0:00:27.049 up as we always do with a rant. This one 0:00:27.059 --> 0:00:29.629 on to go boxes. There's a right way and a 0:00:29.639 --> 0:00:32.389 wrong way to do it in our opinion. But first, 0:00:32.400 --> 0:00:35.169 we always start off with what I can't stop thinking 0:00:35.180 --> 0:00:37.519 about and I'm gonna butt right in line as I 0:00:37.529 --> 0:00:39.330 usually do here and go. First, 0:00:41.709 --> 0:00:45.000 I had a caprese salad uh not long ago just 0:00:45.009 --> 0:00:47.939 to see how the wintertime tomatoes tasted because I'm not 0:00:47.950 --> 0:00:50.069 a big fan. You broke the rules. I know, but 0:00:50.080 --> 0:00:53.689 these were really good, not, you know, summertime, mid July 0:00:53.700 --> 0:00:56.159 good but really good. And I found out that they 0:00:56.169 --> 0:01:01.520 came from Tony White A K A Tony Tomato. Tony's 0:01:01.529 --> 0:01:05.449 family farms who he's, he's all around town. He sources 0:01:05.809 --> 0:01:09.099 in the off season. He sources hydroponic tomatoes from a 0:01:09.110 --> 0:01:12.599 nearby grower until his gardens get going and growing in 0:01:12.610 --> 0:01:16.879 the springtime. But those of you that have eaten wintertime 0:01:16.889 --> 0:01:19.370 tomatoes around town at some of the better restaurants have 0:01:19.379 --> 0:01:24.029 had Tony's tomatoes. Uh, the crossing Westchester, an guns twisted tree. 0:01:24.040 --> 0:01:27.400 Tony supplies all these and you see a big fat red, 0:01:27.410 --> 0:01:27.619 ripe 0:01:27.733 --> 0:01:32.093 tomato in the wintertime we have Tony tomato to thank. Ok. 0:01:32.102 --> 0:01:34.672 How is that for alliteration? Tony tomato? Well, I 0:01:34.682 --> 0:01:37.453 was wondering about that because I have been seeing them 0:01:37.492 --> 0:01:40.672 on a lot of menus around town and that's, I mean, 0:01:40.943 --> 0:01:43.563 it just goes against everything you're told about eating in 0:01:43.572 --> 0:01:46.672 season and all of that. But basically because they're just 0:01:46.742 --> 0:01:48.443 typically not good this 0:01:48.932 --> 0:01:48.962 year. 0:01:49.736 --> 0:01:54.255 Yes. But I saw a flat of Tony's cherry tomatoes 0:01:54.265 --> 0:01:56.875 in the winter time on the vine and it smelled 0:01:56.886 --> 0:02:00.154 like summertime. It smelled like that tomato smell and it 0:02:00.166 --> 0:02:01.916 was amazing. I mean, it took me right back to 0:02:01.926 --> 0:02:04.716 the middle of summer, you know, thank you, Tony tomato. 0:02:04.725 --> 0:02:07.255 And uh I did talk to him the other day 0:02:07.265 --> 0:02:09.466 and I found out this is kind of interesting. He's 0:02:09.475 --> 0:02:12.525 building a series of hoop houses, you know, that's a 0:02:12.535 --> 0:02:15.785 fabric covered kind of quonset hut looking structure 0:02:16.139 --> 0:02:20.839 that, that speeds growing and ripening in the springtime. And 0:02:20.850 --> 0:02:22.859 the bottom line of that is Saint Louis will soon 0:02:22.869 --> 0:02:26.198 be seeing heirloom tomatoes in May instead of in mid 0:02:26.210 --> 0:02:27.229 July that's 0:02:27.649 --> 0:02:28.089 he's doing 0:02:28.100 --> 0:02:29.839 the Lord's work. I know, I mean, anything you can 0:02:29.850 --> 0:02:32.380 do to extend the tomato season in Saint Louis is 0:02:32.389 --> 0:02:33.799 a great thing because we're stuck in the middle of 0:02:33.809 --> 0:02:34.309 the country. 0:02:35.160 --> 0:02:36.169 No, this is great. 0:02:36.179 --> 0:02:36.839 What's on your plate? 0:02:38.095 --> 0:02:42.185 Somewhat related. If we're talking about tomatoes, I'm going into 0:02:42.195 --> 0:02:47.195 something with tomato sauce. So I hadn't been to Trotter Marcella, 0:02:47.205 --> 0:02:51.145 which is the, um, it's just an iconic ST Louis 0:02:51.156 --> 0:02:55.886 Italian Institution been around forever. Gosh, how long now it's 0:02:55.895 --> 0:02:57.626 got to be 30 years. It's the flag 0:02:58.011 --> 0:03:01.311 of the Krick Brothers. They've got another restaurant, but this 0:03:01.322 --> 0:03:02.772 is their main game. Yeah, 0:03:02.781 --> 0:03:06.022 just a titan of the Saint Louis Italian scene. And it, 0:03:06.031 --> 0:03:08.061 you know, honestly, it had been a while since I've 0:03:08.072 --> 0:03:11.082 been there and uh you know, you just, you find 0:03:11.091 --> 0:03:13.671 yourself going to other places here and there. Um But 0:03:13.861 --> 0:03:17.621 I was there for dinner this past week and I 0:03:17.632 --> 0:03:18.391 had 0:03:18.970 --> 0:03:22.678 lasagna there that it blew, it blew my mind. Have 0:03:22.690 --> 0:03:23.989 you ever had their lasagna? 0:03:24.080 --> 0:03:26.419 No, but there's a lot of good lasagnas in town. Now, 0:03:26.429 --> 0:03:27.869 I have another one for the list. 0:03:27.970 --> 0:03:30.779 Well, this, it was just outrageous. First of all, it 0:03:30.788 --> 0:03:34.190 could feed about four people, which I've been told they've 0:03:34.199 --> 0:03:37.009 actually cut their portion. So, so 0:03:37.020 --> 0:03:38.710 is it the size of a brick or is it 0:03:38.970 --> 0:03:39.710 give me some rough, 0:03:40.039 --> 0:03:41.389 bigger than the size of a brick? Maybe like the 0:03:41.399 --> 0:03:45.550 size of a football cobblestone. It's so luscious. It's so rich. 0:03:45.559 --> 0:03:46.630 It almost kind of 0:03:46.727 --> 0:03:51.457 um, it's the cousin of the, um, the Roman Yoko 0:03:51.466 --> 0:03:54.936 at lo it kind of give me that same feeling because, well, 0:03:54.947 --> 0:03:57.537 it has Italian sausage and ground beef. So you get 0:03:57.546 --> 0:04:00.606 this kind of sweetness and rich flavor from both of 0:04:00.617 --> 0:04:03.856 those ground meats and then they do the tomato sauce, 0:04:03.867 --> 0:04:06.436 they do the, an Italian bechamel. So it just has 0:04:06.447 --> 0:04:10.567 that richness to it. Cheese. Of course, I thought I 0:04:10.576 --> 0:04:13.457 had died and gone to heaven. So I, I can't 0:04:13.466 --> 0:04:14.347 stop thinking about it. 0:04:14.483 --> 0:04:16.704 And when I go there, one of the things that 0:04:16.713 --> 0:04:19.984 I always have is their toasted ravioli. One of the 0:04:19.993 --> 0:04:24.023 best in clearly handmade. They're all kind of different shapes 0:04:24.033 --> 0:04:26.743 and you can tell that someone has crafted these things 0:04:26.753 --> 0:04:28.813 and they didn't get punched out of a machine. That's 0:04:28.824 --> 0:04:30.944 how I start every meal at Rey Marsala. That it's 0:04:30.954 --> 0:04:33.773 just a great place. It's wonderful and always has been, 0:04:33.783 --> 0:04:37.223 always will be. And uh they've had staffers there that 0:04:37.234 --> 0:04:40.303 have been there like since the inception, I think there's 0:04:40.313 --> 0:04:42.134 two or three or four of them, I think 0:04:42.240 --> 0:04:44.549 between them they've got over 100 years of service at 0:04:44.561 --> 0:04:45.251 that one 0:04:45.260 --> 0:04:48.130 restaurant. Yes. I mean, I, we had, that was another 0:04:48.140 --> 0:04:49.940 thing I commented on and I'm so sad that I 0:04:49.950 --> 0:04:53.150 forgot her name. But our server, it was some of 0:04:53.161 --> 0:04:57.300 the best service I've had. Gosh, in, in memory she 0:04:57.311 --> 0:05:00.680 was on it and everyone from the server assistants to 0:05:00.690 --> 0:05:03.979 the server to the host. It was just top notch 0:05:04.001 --> 0:05:04.429 across 0:05:04.440 --> 0:05:07.351 the place. It's a, it's a destination restaurant and a 0:05:07.360 --> 0:05:09.841 neighborhood restaurant all in one. Absolutely. 0:05:10.609 --> 0:05:11.630 We'll be right back. 0:05:14.339 --> 0:05:17.799 Join your Saint Louis symphony orchestra and the in unison 0:05:17.809 --> 0:05:20.479 chorus for a one of a kind celebration of Black 0:05:20.488 --> 0:05:25.440 History Month featuring Grammy and NAACP Image award winning vocalist 0:05:25.450 --> 0:05:30.390 BB Winans. Don't miss this joyful celebration of unity, freedom 0:05:30.399 --> 0:05:34.719 and black musical expression on February 23rd at Steel Theater. 0:05:34.730 --> 0:05:38.479 Get your tickets today at slso.org 0:05:39.630 --> 0:05:41.159 and now back to the show. 0:05:41.910 --> 0:05:45.690 So today, the idea for the Love Connection show was 0:05:45.700 --> 0:05:49.549 that Cheryl and I would both pick our five top 0:05:49.559 --> 0:05:51.209 romantic places in town 0:05:51.579 --> 0:05:54.399 and we'll go through them one at a time and 0:05:54.428 --> 0:05:57.019 it wasn't an easy choice. We had a little bit 0:05:57.029 --> 0:05:59.200 of a list that we had to whittle down from. 0:05:59.209 --> 0:05:59.480 We 0:05:59.488 --> 0:06:02.480 did well. And before we begin, I must acknowledge that 0:06:02.488 --> 0:06:05.178 you are wearing red today for the occasion. And I 0:06:05.190 --> 0:06:08.070 do feel like I missed an opportunity here. So I do. 0:06:08.079 --> 0:06:11.269 You are especially festive and I certainly appreciate it after 0:06:11.279 --> 0:06:11.519 you were 0:06:11.529 --> 0:06:13.820 dressed up for that Christmas show. I thought I better, 0:06:13.829 --> 0:06:15.440 I better style up myself. 0:06:15.600 --> 0:06:19.160 Yeah. Come is Cupid the next time we do this. 0:06:19.320 --> 0:06:19.669 But no. 0:06:19.765 --> 0:06:22.424 Oh, you're right. We did. I mean, I think it's 0:06:22.434 --> 0:06:24.784 very interesting that Saint Louis does when you think about 0:06:24.795 --> 0:06:29.024 it has a lot of really cozy intimate spots that 0:06:29.035 --> 0:06:29.984 would be perfect. 0:06:29.994 --> 0:06:32.265 And, and, and we kind of started off with this 0:06:32.274 --> 0:06:35.975 master list and I started like checking them off and 0:06:35.984 --> 0:06:39.024 I noticed a pattern. So I'll, I'll go ahead and 0:06:39.035 --> 0:06:41.464 kick this off and some of mine are a little 0:06:41.475 --> 0:06:43.964 bit more old school and I'm not exactly sure why 0:06:43.975 --> 0:06:46.945 that is, except some of these places are darker cozier, 0:06:46.954 --> 0:06:47.855 candle lit, 0:06:48.390 --> 0:06:52.599 um, rick walls. Uh I think the quintessential place is 0:06:52.609 --> 0:06:56.369 Sydney Street Cafe. If you ask, you know, 10 people 0:06:56.380 --> 0:06:59.040 in Saint Louis, the most romantic place. Three or four 0:06:59.049 --> 0:07:01.260 of them I think will see Sydney Street. It just 0:07:01.269 --> 0:07:03.459 feels wonderful in there again. It's the, it's the brick 0:07:03.470 --> 0:07:06.609 walls and that, that kind of Benton Park vibe to 0:07:06.619 --> 0:07:11.739 it and great food all the time. High quality consistent. 0:07:11.989 --> 0:07:15.500 Kevin Nash is very creative. He changes that menu a lot, 0:07:15.809 --> 0:07:18.929 but he will do and he's kept, you know, for 0:07:18.940 --> 0:07:23.250 the traditionalists, the, you know, the lobster turnovers and that 0:07:23.260 --> 0:07:27.450 peppercorn tenderloin and the, what is the steak tartare? 0:07:27.809 --> 0:07:31.750 Anyway? Uh a great place. And uh there's my, I 0:07:31.760 --> 0:07:33.910 even have a favorite table there. It's a deuce on 0:07:33.920 --> 0:07:36.929 the elevated area that they call the balcony. It's table 0:07:36.940 --> 0:07:40.019 number 30. And as we go through these, I'll probably 0:07:40.029 --> 0:07:42.350 just put these in the show notes, but I have 0:07:42.359 --> 0:07:45.890 table numbers. That's how geeky I am and romantic. I am. 0:07:45.970 --> 0:07:48.350 I have table numbers at each one of my places. 0:07:48.359 --> 0:07:48.750 I love 0:07:48.760 --> 0:07:51.250 it. Well, I couldn't agree with you more. His food 0:07:51.260 --> 0:07:53.049 had just has such an elegance to it. And I 0:07:53.059 --> 0:07:54.549 think that adds to it 0:07:54.739 --> 0:07:57.510 also the way the server comes out and actually explains 0:07:57.519 --> 0:07:59.839 the menu to you, that kind of adds to this 0:07:59.850 --> 0:08:01.739 intimacy there. So, no, 0:08:01.750 --> 0:08:03.760 I couldn't. And it's one of these places that's been 0:08:03.769 --> 0:08:06.109 around so long that people forget about it and, and 0:08:06.119 --> 0:08:08.989 writers like us tend not to write about it because 0:08:09.000 --> 0:08:11.299 everybody wants to know the newest buzz you chasing the 0:08:11.519 --> 0:08:13.149 shiny new thing you are. And it's, and it's a 0:08:13.160 --> 0:08:16.850 shame because places like this have been around will be around, 0:08:16.859 --> 0:08:19.239 but it's still, it remains one of the most romantic 0:08:19.250 --> 0:08:21.549 places in town along the same lines 0:08:21.980 --> 0:08:24.230 is for me, pal monos, 0:08:24.899 --> 0:08:27.200 they're lamb chops on 0:08:27.209 --> 0:08:30.880 my list, you know, old school class, you know, table 0:08:30.890 --> 0:08:36.270 side finishing everywhere. Even Paul Mono himself is, he's always there. 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:38.770 He'll either be wheeling out these carts and I've seen 0:08:38.780 --> 0:08:41.719 him actually wait on tables just to kind of take 0:08:41.729 --> 0:08:43.799 the pulse and stay in touch with the, 0:08:44.140 --> 0:08:46.280 you know, with the diners. It's fun to see the 0:08:46.289 --> 0:08:49.260 owner working a table. So uh he's 0:08:49.270 --> 0:08:53.640 just one of those people who hospitality just radiates from it. 0:08:53.650 --> 0:08:57.098 It was like he was born to do this job. Absolutely. 0:08:57.109 --> 0:08:59.340 He's, he's so good at what he does. And, and 0:08:59.349 --> 0:09:01.210 that's a, again, that's kind of a, 0:09:01.780 --> 0:09:03.640 I won't call it a neighborhood place, but you see 0:09:03.650 --> 0:09:06.840 a lot of regulars there, you know, including Frank Sinatra 0:09:06.849 --> 0:09:09.520 who's on the walls and in your ears. Right. He's 0:09:09.530 --> 0:09:12.789 ever present. But, uh, you know, you mentioned the rack 0:09:12.799 --> 0:09:17.500 of lamb legendary their lasagna. I'll vouch for that really 0:09:17.510 --> 0:09:21.840 good lobster ravioli sea bass. There's so many things there 0:09:21.849 --> 0:09:23.640 that are, that are so great and they're all finished 0:09:23.650 --> 0:09:25.559 table side with a side of pasta that's 0:09:25.940 --> 0:09:28.960 set on a hot plate and it's rip roaring hot 0:09:28.969 --> 0:09:31.559 and it's hot to the last bite. That's the best 0:09:31.570 --> 0:09:35.848 part about places that have that kind of table side 0:09:35.859 --> 0:09:38.650 finishing. And here's a pro tip for there. You can 0:09:38.659 --> 0:09:41.799 actually get the special pasta of the day as your 0:09:41.809 --> 0:09:42.799 side dish. I think there might be 0:09:42.900 --> 0:09:46.020 like a minimal upcharge for it. But a lot of 0:09:46.030 --> 0:09:47.890 people think, oh gosh, I don't know what I want 0:09:47.900 --> 0:09:50.239 to do if I want this special pasta or that. 0:09:50.250 --> 0:09:52.000 So you get the rack of lamb with the side 0:09:52.010 --> 0:09:53.020 of pasta and the 0:09:53.030 --> 0:09:55.880 other, I guess it's a pro tip. But it's a suggestion. 0:09:55.890 --> 0:09:57.780 I remember the first time I went in there and 0:09:57.789 --> 0:09:59.699 it was so I was so excited and I, I 0:10:00.010 --> 0:10:03.080 really agonized over what I wanted to have. I decided 0:10:03.090 --> 0:10:06.530 on exactly the item it was. And then the server 0:10:06.539 --> 0:10:10.359 comes up and rattles off about 10 specials. Every one 0:10:10.369 --> 0:10:13.090 of them delicious. And I would have eaten it. And II, 0:10:13.099 --> 0:10:17.390 I literally remember like fake throwing the menu over my shoulder, 0:10:17.400 --> 0:10:21.510 like I don't need this anyway. Paul Manno's out in Chesterfield. 0:10:21.630 --> 0:10:24.489 Wonderful place. Well, let's, let's hear a couple of years. Yes. 0:10:24.500 --> 0:10:27.270 So, um, kind of along those lines of like a, 0:10:27.280 --> 0:10:30.179 a quintessential classic Saint Louis restaurant. And it's funny we're 0:10:30.190 --> 0:10:32.780 thinking of, of this is such a classic right now, 0:10:32.789 --> 0:10:38.250 but it's Brasserie Gerard Crafts, lovely French restaurant in the 0:10:38.260 --> 0:10:41.609 central west end that been there for a long time. Now, 0:10:41.619 --> 0:10:43.130 I would say it's kind of, um, 0:10:43.479 --> 0:10:46.309 in a way it's almost like this flagship of, of 0:10:46.320 --> 0:10:49.140 what he's doing at this point. And I don't know 0:10:49.150 --> 0:10:51.659 if it's just because it's French and it just leans 0:10:51.669 --> 0:10:56.099 into that quintessential, you know, Parisian Brasserie, 0:10:56.530 --> 0:10:59.210 it's a flagship French bistro, probably the best 0:10:59.640 --> 0:11:00.359 we have in this time. 0:11:00.729 --> 0:11:03.700 And there, you know, you talk about legendary dishes, their 0:11:03.710 --> 0:11:05.989 roast chicken. I mean, he's told me in the past 0:11:06.309 --> 0:11:08.960 that if he were to take that off the menu, 0:11:08.969 --> 0:11:10.429 he would have riots in the street. And I 0:11:10.440 --> 0:11:12.789 think that's a pressed, I think they press that. It's 0:11:12.799 --> 0:11:15.309 like a brick pressed chicken. So there's some 0:11:15.900 --> 0:11:20.140 additional char that gets imparted by whatever he, whatever weight 0:11:20.150 --> 0:11:22.710 he sets upon it. But it's really, really good. You 0:11:22.719 --> 0:11:22.880 get the 0:11:22.890 --> 0:11:27.179 crispiness on the outside. The meat is so juicy it is. 0:11:27.409 --> 0:11:30.239 You know, you, you always feel like you're, um, it's 0:11:30.250 --> 0:11:33.000 a cop out to order the chicken at places. Sometimes 0:11:33.010 --> 0:11:33.710 this is not that 0:11:33.940 --> 0:11:36.080 good people never order chicken. Accepted. 0:11:36.719 --> 0:11:37.820 Brasserie. Exactly. 0:11:37.830 --> 0:11:41.119 And this time of year they, they have cale on 0:11:41.130 --> 0:11:43.619 the menu. One of the bistro favorites, 0:11:44.109 --> 0:11:45.679 maybe the best winter time 0:11:45.729 --> 0:11:50.090 is short of a, maybe a lamb shank. But anyway, 0:11:50.099 --> 0:11:52.179 the thing I like about brasserie too, it's in true 0:11:52.190 --> 0:11:55.369 brasserie fashion. They've got a Croque Monsieur on the menu. 0:11:55.380 --> 0:11:57.140 They've got a burger on the menu. 0:11:57.539 --> 0:12:00.750 Really, really good burger. So, you think you should go 0:12:00.760 --> 0:12:03.919 and have, you know, Cote de Boeuf or something? But no, 0:12:03.929 --> 0:12:06.469 have a brasserie burger because it's really good. 0:12:06.489 --> 0:12:08.539 And a glass of French wine with it. You can't 0:12:08.549 --> 0:12:12.349 think of a, with that. Exactly. Exactly. While we're on 0:12:12.359 --> 0:12:16.729 the French kick your mindset here. Bistro la Floris on 0:12:16.739 --> 0:12:19.520 the Galena place. You know, I know a lot of 0:12:19.530 --> 0:12:25.549 people were really, um they mourned the loss of Zoe Robinson, 0:12:26.130 --> 0:12:30.099 you know, a esteemed Saint Louis restaurants who are veteran 0:12:30.340 --> 0:12:33.380 of the business when she closed bar Le Frere on 0:12:33.390 --> 0:12:36.189 Y down. I think a lot of people thought my gosh, 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:39.080 how are we ever going to capture what she did 0:12:39.090 --> 0:12:42.309 there in another place? And the Galena have done such 0:12:42.320 --> 0:12:45.340 a good job. They've put their own identity on it, 0:12:45.419 --> 0:12:48.390 but they've definitely stayed true. I think to the ethos 0:12:48.400 --> 0:12:50.069 of this immersive 0:12:50.619 --> 0:12:54.419 French dining salon sort of experience, I would say, rather 0:12:54.429 --> 0:12:59.989 than being super sultry like Zoe's Place, it's more pretty 0:13:00.119 --> 0:13:00.679 but 0:13:00.690 --> 0:13:04.358 it is, it's prettier, but it is, it's wonderful. It's, 0:13:04.369 --> 0:13:07.190 it's Barley Frere. I used to call it BLF. And 0:13:07.200 --> 0:13:10.640 this is another Blff on is another BLF. So it's 0:13:10.650 --> 0:13:13.500 not entirely different. But, and what I like to do 0:13:13.510 --> 0:13:15.840 there is go to the bar that 0:13:16.299 --> 0:13:19.689 doesn't seat. Very many people have a French 75 who 0:13:19.700 --> 0:13:23.159 flew to champagne and, you know, start off with those 0:13:23.169 --> 0:13:26.099 gouge or those, those financier that they have there. 0:13:26.200 --> 0:13:28.130 It's, it's just life 0:13:28.140 --> 0:13:30.849 changing. It isn't that a wonderful thing? It's a wonderful 0:13:30.859 --> 0:13:33.080 way to start. They've got things like that at their 0:13:33.090 --> 0:13:35.709 spritz hour I think, which goes from, I want to 0:13:35.719 --> 0:13:39.719 say 5 to 6. But anyway, great place. Very romantic. 0:13:40.020 --> 0:13:41.260 Perfect for this time of year. 0:13:41.880 --> 0:13:44.369 Romance knows no season. So go there at any time 0:13:44.380 --> 0:13:46.280 of the year and that, that, that the terrace, the 0:13:46.289 --> 0:13:48.419 terraced patio they have is like the best in town. 0:13:48.429 --> 0:13:51.330 Just hang out on the different levels there. That's one 0:13:51.340 --> 0:13:51.760 of my favorite 0:13:51.770 --> 0:13:53.900 patios. And I'll also tell you and I think we 0:13:53.909 --> 0:13:56.909 need to be clear on this. I don't think what 0:13:56.919 --> 0:13:59.270 we're talking about as far as romance and things of 0:13:59.280 --> 0:14:02.729 that sort are limited to, um, you know, 0:14:03.210 --> 0:14:07.630 to romantic relationships. I had one of the best meals 0:14:07.640 --> 0:14:10.270 of my life at Bier La Flore on with two 0:14:10.280 --> 0:14:14.030 of my dear girlfriends and we are still talking about 0:14:14.039 --> 0:14:16.090 that and it's just, you know, we went on our 0:14:16.099 --> 0:14:19.330 nice lady date and we had an excellent time there. Yeah, 0:14:19.340 --> 0:14:20.349 it was great 0:14:20.359 --> 0:14:23.479 and it's tough over there because that's like restaurant row. 0:14:23.489 --> 0:14:26.590 There's like five good restaurants, really good restaurants within a 0:14:26.599 --> 0:14:28.409 stone's throw of one another at that. 0:14:28.539 --> 0:14:30.859 What is it White Down? And Hanley and another one 0:14:30.869 --> 0:14:32.580 is on your list. Yes. 0:14:32.599 --> 0:14:38.619 A car. Love it. Bernie Lee's delightful. It's so intimate. 0:14:38.630 --> 0:14:41.599 This is the restaurant Bernie Lee was supposed to open 0:14:41.609 --> 0:14:44.599 because he is just this. Um 0:14:45.049 --> 0:14:47.809 I would say it's not, I mean hospitality, of course 0:14:47.820 --> 0:14:50.210 he nails that, but it's less about, you know, this 0:14:50.219 --> 0:14:54.789 kind of restaurant level hospitality. And again, this intimacy of 0:14:54.799 --> 0:14:56.869 him throwing a dinner party for you. 0:14:56.880 --> 0:15:00.109 Exactly. And his place, if you remember the initial, the 0:15:00.119 --> 0:15:04.150 original was 12 seats in that patio. Absolutely. And he 0:15:04.159 --> 0:15:06.390 went through the pandemic with that. How he survived the 0:15:06.400 --> 0:15:08.669 pandemic on 12 seats on a patio. I'll never know. 0:15:08.679 --> 0:15:09.630 But he did. 0:15:10.119 --> 0:15:14.270 And about a year ago he acquired that space next door, right? 0:15:14.729 --> 0:15:18.690 Uh the hair salon and you've been there, I assume it's, 0:15:19.340 --> 0:15:21.330 it's magical. It's a magical 0:15:21.409 --> 0:15:24.340 room. It's magical. I mean, that's the thing, Bernie. Uh 0:15:24.599 --> 0:15:26.489 You know, we have a couple, we have, I would 0:15:26.500 --> 0:15:28.750 say we have a handful and this might be something 0:15:28.760 --> 0:15:32.580 to explore at some point of these very stylish restaurateurs. 0:15:32.590 --> 0:15:33.549 I would put Kevin Brown 0:15:33.659 --> 0:15:37.020 in there. I would put Ben Pemba, Bernie Lee. Zoe 0:15:37.049 --> 0:15:41.140 Robinson was definitely one of them where they, um they 0:15:41.150 --> 0:15:46.039 take as much care in putting together an experience as 0:15:46.049 --> 0:15:48.400 far as like the decor and the feel of the 0:15:48.409 --> 0:15:50.119 place as they do in the food. 0:15:50.559 --> 0:15:53.580 And I think that's what Bernie just nails so well. 0:15:53.590 --> 0:15:56.020 But also I'm not saying that's take away from his food. 0:15:56.030 --> 0:15:58.330 His food is delicious. I feel like he's been an 0:15:58.340 --> 0:16:00.969 under kind of the radar chef here in ST Louis 0:16:00.979 --> 0:16:03.200 for a while and we just need to be singing 0:16:03.210 --> 0:16:03.340 his 0:16:03.349 --> 0:16:05.950 praises. Not a big menu but a really good menu. 0:16:05.960 --> 0:16:09.510 It's all, uh, some of Malaysian dishes and dishes from 0:16:09.520 --> 0:16:11.619 his travels across the world. And 0:16:12.119 --> 0:16:15.750 for those of you that remember the former spot, you know, 0:16:15.760 --> 0:16:17.630 that you can't get in because it's too small or 0:16:17.640 --> 0:16:20.400 it's too busy. Nobody goes there. The new space is, 0:16:20.409 --> 0:16:23.690 I think, triple the size and that one banquet, all 0:16:23.700 --> 0:16:26.830 those tables are great. It's really, it's a really cozy 0:16:26.840 --> 0:16:30.270 space and there's also a four top I think in 0:16:30.280 --> 0:16:32.299 the window that do you know about this? He does 0:16:32.309 --> 0:16:34.619 not reserve that. He said that that's his table of 0:16:34.630 --> 0:16:34.909 the mall. 0:16:35.684 --> 0:16:37.994 And it's one of those things that if you feel like, 0:16:38.005 --> 0:16:40.275 you know, kind of on a random thing, I've got 0:16:40.284 --> 0:16:43.315 three people is that table. It's the C NBC table 0:16:43.325 --> 0:16:45.674 and I wish I knew the table number, but I don't. 0:16:45.835 --> 0:16:49.195 But anyway, that's another thing that Bernie has going over there. 0:16:49.205 --> 0:16:52.354 Just one of the, he's just one of the city's 0:16:52.364 --> 0:16:54.005 just loveliest people for 0:16:54.015 --> 0:16:56.994 sure he is. And what's funny about this is as 0:16:57.005 --> 0:16:57.914 we're talking, 0:16:58.260 --> 0:17:02.140 uh, should we dub that stretch of why? Down Romance Row? 0:17:02.150 --> 0:17:04.400 I mean, you have a couple of places on your 0:17:04.410 --> 0:17:05.339 list too. Yeah, you 0:17:05.349 --> 0:17:09.469 probably could for sure. And, uh, this is one Cheryl 0:17:09.479 --> 0:17:13.198 that might surprise you. Ok. Most people talk about Bailey's 0:17:13.209 --> 0:17:17.149 Chocolate Bar when they talk about romantic restaurants, Bailey's Chocolate Bar. 0:17:17.290 --> 0:17:20.119 You know, it's, it's legendary for its desserts and its 0:17:20.130 --> 0:17:22.760 chocolate martinis and all these fun things. 0:17:23.239 --> 0:17:25.880 But if you remember a couple years ago, it moved 0:17:25.890 --> 0:17:30.819 upstairs when the first floor became a restaurant called Pop, 0:17:30.829 --> 0:17:32.879 a Champagne bar slash restaurant. 0:17:33.290 --> 0:17:37.619 So that's one of my picks is go to pop 0:17:37.630 --> 0:17:41.609 start off in the bar along that banquette. You know, 0:17:41.619 --> 0:17:43.189 you know, the one I'm talking about with the little 0:17:43.199 --> 0:17:46.469 round pillows and the tufted leather upholstery. It's just the 0:17:46.479 --> 0:17:50.619 Coziest little bar in town, have some champagne, have a 0:17:50.640 --> 0:17:54.300 little light dinner and then head upstairs and have a 0:17:54.310 --> 0:17:58.310 chocolate martini and some. So you can basically have, you know, 0:17:59.030 --> 0:18:02.400 uh appetizers, dinner and dessert all in the same building. 0:18:02.410 --> 0:18:02.650 And 0:18:02.920 --> 0:18:05.649 I just thought it was a great idea. Everybody loves champagne. 0:18:05.660 --> 0:18:07.819 The Bailey's, that's one of the things they said they 0:18:07.829 --> 0:18:10.310 have in common. And that's something that they've always wanted 0:18:10.319 --> 0:18:13.829 to do was do a, a champagne restaurant. I 0:18:13.869 --> 0:18:16.540 also put the Bailey's on that list of, you know, 0:18:16.550 --> 0:18:22.329 restaurateurs who really get kind of creating this stylish vibe there. 0:18:22.339 --> 0:18:24.099 And I think that's kind of a common theme we're 0:18:24.109 --> 0:18:27.660 seeing here in our discussions is the food is definitely 0:18:27.670 --> 0:18:30.879 an essential component. But it's, it's that feeling when you 0:18:30.890 --> 0:18:31.660 walk into a place, 0:18:31.849 --> 0:18:33.239 feel something by the, 0:18:33.689 --> 0:18:37.000 it was very intentional by, by those guys. I remember when, 0:18:37.010 --> 0:18:39.390 when Dave opened the place, he said, this will be 0:18:39.400 --> 0:18:43.170 a place to have a first date or a 5/100. And, 0:18:43.180 --> 0:18:45.479 you know, I think he's right there. It's, it's a, 0:18:45.489 --> 0:18:48.199 it's a place. He said, what did he say to 0:18:48.209 --> 0:18:52.069 pair bubbles with food or more bubbles? You gotta like 0:18:52.079 --> 0:18:58.629 that attitude. So that's, you know, slash Bailey's chocolate bar. I'll, I'll, 0:18:58.640 --> 0:19:00.459 we'll throw those both in as one. 0:19:00.969 --> 0:19:03.819 I love it. Well, I think we all know my 0:19:03.829 --> 0:19:06.790