The 22 Best New Restaurants in St. Louis in 2019

The Midwestern Meat & Drink

(900 Spruce Street, 314-696-2573)

Chef Ben Welch first gained national attention at his own counter-service barbecue joint, Big Baby Q. Now Welch is supervising a kitchen staff of twenty at the Midwestern, with Tello Carreon (who himself earned national plaudits for his work at Nixta) serving as butcher and Mary Bogacki of Yolklore doing the baking.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Sarah Fenske

Indo

(1641D Tower Grove Avenue, 314-899-9333)

Indo, opened in June, occupies the Botanical Heights storefront that previously housed Good Fortune. It feels autobiographical in that it combines chef Nick Bognar's stunning command of sushi with the Thai cuisine that is his heritage.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Bulrush

(3307 Washington Avenue, 314-449-1208)

The menu draws from the food of the Ozarks for dishes such as this updated version of pork and beans features braised bacon, Missouri pinto beans in foraged spicebush broth, peach miso, shiso and pickled peaches.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Elmwood

(704 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-261-4708)

Elmwood is positively glorious — unquestionably one of the best restaurants in the city — and it nails that hard-to-hit tone of a restaurant that is simultaneously perfect for special occasions and somewhere to grab a burger and a beer after work on a Wednesday.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Sultan Mediterranean Restaurant

(84200 Manchester Avenue, 314-390-2020)

Chef-owner Jenar Mohammed has been a home cook for years and she adheres to traditional notions of Middle Eastern cuisine while elevating them with her flawless execution and eye for thoughtful additions.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Bait

(4239 Lindell Boulevard, 314-405-2797)

This "boutique restaurant" offers fresh, quality fish, dramatic presentation, an upscale, lounge-like atmosphere and great music. Less a seafood restaurant than a temple to the ocean's bounty, Bait dazzles with presentations that come up to the line of over-the-top without ever crossing them.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

The Bellwether

(1419 Carroll Street, 314-380-3086)

In place of the former cool, industrial vibe in the space that was formerly Element, the Bellwether is warm and downright sexy. The luxe velvet and tapestry-appointed room feels like a Venetian café; Moroccan-inspired lanterns give a distinct North African touch.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Han Lao

(1250 Strassner Drive, Brentwood; 314-932-1354)

The space looks nothing like its chain restaurant neighbors. To find Han Lao, you'll have to drive past a Buffalo Wild Wings, trying your best to hold back tears for the spice-seekers who stopped one storefront too soon. Even the hottest wing sauce being doled out at the neighboring wing spot pales in comparison to the Laotian restaurant's fiery flavors.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

BEAST Butcher & Block

(4156 Manchester Avenue, 314-944-6003)

Husband-and-wife team David and Meggan Sandusky launched their sophomore effort, BEAST Butcher & Block, in the Grove in June. For the new place, they brought with them all of their greatest hits: their fork-tender Wagyu brisket, succulent Compart Farm pulled pork, beer cheesesteak, mac 'n' cheese and that mind-blowing pork steak.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

The Last Kitchen

(1501 Washington Avenue, 314-390-2500)

Located inside the Last Hotel, the Last Kitchen gives chef Evy Swoboda a platform to create dishes that serve as an exploration of the many different food cultures along the Mississippi River. The Last Kitchen is an outstanding restaurant, one that not only transcends the "hotel restaurant" norm but stands as one of the city's most exciting new places to dine, period.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Mayo Ketchup

(2001 Park Avenue, 314-696-2699)

Chef Mandy Estrella, the "Plantain Girl" who won raves for her Latin cooking during a one-year run at Alphateria, opened her first stand-alone concept in Lafayette Square — a restaurant called Mayo Ketchup.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Monica Mileur

Party Bear Pizza and Tiny Chef

(4701 Morganford Road)

This small, counter-service operation inside south-city pinball dive the Silver Ballroom serves some of the best bar food in town. Stop in for some pizza or a selection of Korean street food.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Akar

(7641 Wydown Blvd, Clayton; 314-553-9914)

After years of working in the restaurant business, Bernie Lee says his newest restaurant, Akar, is something different. Much of Akar’s menu is inspired by his travels through Asia, Europe and many other countries. Current dishes represent such varied traditions as bibimbap, coconut curry, short ribs and a Rangoon ravioli.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Katie Counts

Chao Baan

(4087 Chouteau Avenue, 314-925-8250)

Chao Baan should not exist — at least no more than a combination south Florida/Cuban lunch counter meets New England clam chowder shack should exist. But the chef's parents happened to fall in love in Chicago many decades ago.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Esther’s Persian Café

(12466 St. Charles Rock Road, Bridgeton; 314-755-1882)

Located in a strip mall just east of Interstate 270, the chef here is a home cook who was asked to cook so often and for so many people that he could no longer do so from his home kitchen. He prepares everything from scratch, including the tahdig, or crispy rice.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Cheryl Baehr

Cocina Latina

(508 North Euclid Avenue, 314-696-2294)

Cocina Latina serves classic Peruvian dishes including lomo saltado, alfajores, aji de gallina, ceviche and empanadas. Though Cocina Latina is mostly a Peruvian restaurant, chef Maritza Rios also includes both Colombian and Caribbean specialties, representing her husband's heritage and her kids' favorite foods, respectively.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Morning Glory Diner

(2609 Cherokee Street)

For her Cherokee Street breakfast spot, chef-owner Ari Jo Ellis was determined to bring to life a place that could evoke the nostalgia and easy comfort of the quintessential diner experience without the grit. But Morning Glory is not a nod to a classic diner; it is a classic diner, only cleaner and with better-quality food.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Pie Guy Pizza

(4189 Manchester Avenue, 314-899-0444)

Every order at Pie Guy Pizza comes with a trophy. It makes a fun substitute for a boring table flag or pager. However, the moment you bite into a slice of Pie Guy's gob-smackingly superb pizza, you can't help but wonder if the trophy is something more. Perhaps it signifies that you've won the pizza lottery, a prize that comes with not just a trophy but also a crust that manages to be both crisp and soft at the same time, as if suspended between two states of texture.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Kimchi Guys

(612 North Second Street, 314-766-4456)

Restaurateur Munsok So is determined to help people rethink what the Landing could be. At his new place, Kimchi Guys, much of the menu is dedicated to well-executed versions of Korean-Mexican fusion, like the Korrito, which stuffs a burrito with earthy kimchi-fried rice and creamy street corn along with the protein of your choice.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

Winslow's Table

(7213 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-725-7559)

Just in time for the holiday season, a beloved local restaurant and market has been revived with a refreshed concept in a redesigned space. Located in the former Winslow's Home space, the renamed and reimagined concept Winslow's Table comes from Michael and Tara Gallina, the husband-and-wife team behind acclaimed restaurant Vicia.

Find out more here.

Photo credit: Liz Miller