26 Women Chefs Who Lead Beloved St. Louis Restaurants and Shops

Senada Grbic
Lemmons by Grbic
5800 Gravois Ave.
St. Louis, MO
(314) 899-9898

St. Louis has long been in love with Grbic Restaurant, which serves traditional Balkan dishes. But in 2017, the Grbic family brought St. Louis another restaurant to love: Lemmons by Grbic, which merges Bosnian and American tastes. The restaurant is a family affair, with Senada Grbic heading the kitchen. Try it for yourself and see why we call it a new south city classic. Photo by Mabel Suen.

Clemence and Christine Pereur
Like Home
3855 Lindell Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 319-0099

Mother-daughter team Clemence and Christine Pereur are originally from a small town in France. Clemence Pereur fell in love with St. Louis while working as the assistant pastry chef at the Saint Louis Club, and she recruited her mother when she decided to move to the U.S. to open Like Home. Their charming cafe, bakery and chocolate shop is a treat for everyone, whether you're looking for a great sandwich, a sweet treat or just want to pretend you live in France for an afternoon. Photo by Mabel Suen.

Sue Wong-Shackelford
Kalbi Taco Shack
2301 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO
(314) 240-5544

Kalbi Taco Shack is the definition of family-owned and -operated. You’ll see Olivia Shackelford taking your order at the counter, as her mother and restaurant owner, Sue Wong-Shackelford, mans the flattop grill. The restaurant has that hip food truck feel, painted bold red and yellow with graffiti-style artwork advertising its specialties. Offerings include the teriyaki chicken burrito, pork bánh mì, kimchi cucumbers, tacos, a quesadilla, a short rib rice bowl and bubble tea. The bubble tea is available in a variety of flavors, too -- taro, pineapple, watermelon and honeydew. Photo of Sue Wong-Shackelford by Sara Bannoura.

Fedaa Alsadeq
The Palm Trees
2837 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 226-9243

The Palm Trees brings something all together new to St. Louis: the cuisine of Saudi Arabia. Chef Fedaa Alsadeq fills this void in the St. Louis restaurant scene with her Cherokee Street restaurant, which offers traditional Saudi delicacies in the space previously held by Revel Kitchen. The Palm Trees takes up three floors: the main level is set for traditional American dining with tables and chairs, while the lower level is designed for traditional Saudi-style dining with carpet and low couches. The third level, up a stairwell from the main floor, holds the kitchen. Photo of chef/owner Fedaa Alsadeq by Mabel Suen.

Natasha Kwan
Frida's
622 N. and South Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 727-6500

Chef Natasha Kwan's restaurant, Frida's, is a must-visit for any vegetarian (or anyone who just loves good food, really). This vegetarian restaurant, which Kwan co-owns with Rick Roloff, focuses on comfort food that is also healthy -- so you can indulge without guilt. Expect salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and more, all made with the freshest ingredients and without butter, sugar or frying. Frida's is also friendly for those with food sensitivities. Photo by Eric Frazier.

Jesse Mendica
Olive + Oak
102 W Lockwood Ave.
Webster Groves, MO
(314) 736-1370


Olive + Oak has been a source of buzz every since it opened in 2016. With a kitchen headed by Jesse Mendica, previously of Annie Gunn's, Olive + Oak serves American classics for every occasion. The menu also features a number of gluten-free options and items that can be prepared gluten-free upon request. Photo by Holly Ravazzolo.

Heidi Hamamura
Guerrilla Street Food
3559 Arsenal St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 529-1328

This favorite food truck-turned-brick-and-mortar offers top-notch Filipino cuisine. Guerrilla Street Food currently has locations on the Hill and on South Grand, and owners Brian Hardesty and Joel Crespo recently tapped Heidi Hamamura to be executive chef at the restaurant's next location on Delmar. With sauces made from scratch and local ingredients, the menu items at Guerrilla Street Food are a must-try -- and you'll quickly understand why the restaurant often sells out of various dishes. Photo by Virginia Harold.

Jessie Gilroy
Pangea World Fusion
3245 Rue Royale
St. Charles, MO
636-757-3579

Chef Jessie Gilroy wasn’t planning on opening a restaurant, but when she got word from her father that her name had floated to an open restaurant in New Town St. Charles, everything fell into place. When choosing what to have on the menu, Gilroy chose an eclectic comfort food concept which she describes as a "casual fine-dining restaurant focused on using fresh ingredients and international flavors." Gilroy’s signature dish is “Duck Grilled Cheese," a haute version of the diner classic that features duck, raclette cheese, arugula and tomato jam. Pangea World Fusion also offer a gluten free menu. Photo by Cheryl Baehr.

Lona Luo
Lona’s Lil Eats
2199 California Ave.
St. Louis, MO
(314) 925-8938

Chef Lona Luo works her magic in the kitchen at Lona’s Lil Eats. She and her husband Pierce Powers started their business out of Soulard Farmers Market, and it eventually turned into a full-blown restaurant. Lona’s Lil Eats serves up fresh Asian soul food with lots of flavor. To ensure the food both tastes great and makes customers feel great, they use fresh ingredients and no MSG. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Loryn Nalic
Balkan Treat Box
St. Louis, MO
(314) 667-9926


Loryn Nalic's red and turquoise food truck, the Balkan Treat Box, has been rolling around town since December 2016. She originally fell in love with Bosnian food through her husband and then visited the country to perfect her technique. She now makes old world, traditional dishes seem contemporary, relevant and accessible. If you love bread (and who doesn't?), you'll be particularly happy to know that she makes two kinds of bread each day in the truck's wood oven, serving it fresh. Photo by Sara Bannoura.

Marie-Anne Velasco
Nudo House STL
11423 Olive Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 274-8046

Chef Marie-Anne Velasco co-owns Nudo House STL with Qui Tran, whose family is behind St. Louis restaurant favorite Mai Lee. Their restaurant has been packed ever since it opened this year, and for good reason -- their ramen will blow your mind (or, more specifically, your taste buds). In addition to the ramen varieties, which include the "Shroomed Out" and the "Hebrew Hammer," you'll also enjoy the "Nudo salad," appetizers such as spring rolls and crab Rangoon, and Nudo House STL's own soft-serve ice cream. Photo by Mabel Suen.

Tamara Keefe
Clementine's Naughty & Nice Creamery
Two locations, including 1637 S. 18th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104

California transplant Tamara Keefe left her job in corporate America to launch a line of "naughty and nice" ice creams -- and storefronts in Lafayette Square and the De Mun neighborhood of Clayton quickly followed. St. Louis can't get enough of Keefe's concoctions, which include boozy flavors like maple bourbon and manhattan as well as non-alcoholic, supremely rich flavors including gooey butter cake and chocolate coconut fudge. Keefe calls herself not just the company's CEO but also its "flavor temptress" -- and yes, we'll admit this is a temptation we're all too wiling to give into. Photo by Sarah Fenske.

Katie Lee-Collier
Katie's Pizza and Pasta Osteria
Locations in Rock Hill and Town & Country

If you need a really good reason to leave the city for the 'burbs, Katie's Pizza and Pasta Osteria should be one of those reasons. Katie Lee-Collier's popular restaurant has become one of St. Louis' best spots for Italian dining, serving delicious appetizers ("Katie's Famous Fried Artichokes," anyone?) and salads in addition to the excellent pizza and pasta. Co-owned by Lee-Collier and husband Ted, Katie's Pizza and Pasta Osteria opened its Town & Country location this year -- giving you the perfect excuse to pay a visit and treat yourself. Photo credit: TK.

Cathy Jenkins
Cathy's Kitchen
250 S. Florissant Rd.
Ferguson, MO 63135
(314) 524-9200

Cathy Jenkins opened Cathy's Kitchen after taking a trip based on places she'd seen on the Food Network. Her restaurant's menu categorizes dishes based on their region of origin, giving diners the opportunity to try meals from states and cities across the country. Today Cathy's Kitchen attracts locals and celebrity visitors alike. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

Hamishe Bahrami
Cafe Natasha
3200 S Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO
(314) 771-3411

Cafe Natasha has been bringing amazing Persian-inspired cuisine to St. Louis for more than 30 years -- an accomplishment almost unheard of in the restaurant business. You'll understand its longevity with one taste of the food, made with housemade marinades and fresh ingredients. Hamishe Bahrami leads the kitchen that produces those wonderful dishes -- and her daughter, Natasha, now runs both the restaurant and the bar up front, known as The Gin Room. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Simone Faure
La Patisserie Chouquette
1626 Tower Grove Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314) 932-7935

Simone Faure gave St. Louis a true gem when she opened La Patisserie Chouquette in 2013. This French-inspired shop offers afternoon tea in addition to treats like cakes and French macarons. Take one taste, and you'll know you'll be back for more. To get an idea of Faure's talents, also check out this jaw-dropping wedding cake she made. Photo by Mabel Suen.

Ashley Shelton
Sardella
7734 Forsyth Blvd.
Clayton, MO
(314) 773-7755

Sardella uses styles and flavors from Old World Italy and brings them to 21st century St. Louis. The kitchen is run by executive chef Ashley Shelton. This Italian-inspired cafe, which previously held Niche, serves dishes made from local ingredients in Mediterranean-style digs. The restaurant aims to use the best ingredients possible and the menu changes daily, so you always have a reason to come back for more. Photo of Ashley Shelton by Greg Rannels.

Nancy Boehm and Christy Augustin
Pint Size Bakery
3133 Watson Road
St. Louis, MO 63139
(314) 645-7142

At Christy Augustin and Nancy Boehm's Pint Size Bakery, the motto is “Small Batch-From-Scratch-Fresh Daily” -- and the bakery lives up to it by baking its goods fresh each morning. On Saturdays, it’s best to get there early to line up for the salted-caramel croissants, the bakery’s most sought-after item. But no matter the day you visit, there is always something delicious to try, including scones, cupcakes, cookies and more. Pint Size is also a peanut-free bakery, so go ahead and indulge in your favorites even if you have an allergy. Photo of co-owners Nancy Boehm and Christy Augustin by Cheryl Baehr.

Robbie Montgomery
Sweetie Pie’s
3643 Delmar Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 932-5364

A favorite soul food restaurant and star of its own reality show, Sweetie Pie's restaurants have become a must-visit destination for anyone looking for delicious comfort food and great service. Robbie Montgomery opened Sweetie Pie's Restaurant with her son, Tim Norman. The concept now has four locations — one in Texas, two in California and one in St. Louis -- where delicious soul food is on offer, just like Montgomery's mother taught her to make. Photo by Sarah Rusnak.

Katina Mims
SweetFixx
4420 Manchester Avenue
St. Louis, MO
314-224-5611

SweetFixx owner Katina Mims dreamed of making desserts like the ones she saw on Ace of Cakes and Cupcake Wars. Four years ago that dream came true when her dipped Oreos were noticed by a “promoter” on Instagram. The phones haven’t stopped ringing since. SweetFixx is a family operation — her mother helps work the front of the house while her sister assists with the baking. They serve cupcakes, cake pops, candy apples and gorgeously dipped Oreos. Photo by Sarah Fenske.