New St. Louis-Area Restaurants That Opened in 2021 [PHOTOS]

By Riverfront Times Staff on Wed, Sep 22, 2021 at 6:19 pm

RFT food editor Cheryl Baehr has consistently updated us on the restaurants we've lost and gained this year. While we rounded up the restaurants that we've lost earlier, we thought we could take a look at all we've gained in 2021.

From City Foundry's food hall to vegan hot spots, St. Louis is serving up some serious deliciousness despite all we've gone through this past year. This list doesn't include restaurants that have moved or additional locations, so make sure you check out Baehr's posts for those. Here are the new restaurants that have opened up in 2021.

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Botanica

(2490 Taylor Road, Wildwood; 636-821-1233)

Food editor Cheryl Baehr writes that “Botanica's menu is pizza-forward,” but not limited to the dish.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Phuong Bui

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City Foundry Food Hall

(3730 Foundry Way, 314-944-3953)

The long-awaited Food Hall at the City Foundry served 15,000 people in its first days of opening in August. It features several St. Louis-area restaurants.

Photo credit: Holden Hindes

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Bowood by Niche

(4605 Olive Street, 314-545-6868)

Bowood by Niche sits amongst the Bowood Farms nursery, serving delicious daytime fare.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Phuong Bui

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Padrino's Mexican Restaurant

(3143 South Grand Boulevard, 314-282-0357)

According to food editor Cheryl Baehr, “if food is how restaurants show affection, a Padrino's burrito is a long, tight bear hug from a doting Mexican grandma.”

Read more here.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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The Golden Hoosier

(3707 S Kingshighway Boulevard, 314-354-8044)

Opened in April, The Golden Hoosier offers smash burgers, sandwiches, appetizers and plenty of drinks.

Photo credit: Cheryl Baehr

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Commonwealth (inside the Angad Arts Hotel)

(entrance at 634 N. Grand Boulevard; 314-405-3399)

The new spot has a well-rounded menu, from cheese plates to salads to a rack of lamb.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Courtesy Angad Arts Hotel / Commonwealth

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Tai Ke Shabu Shabu

(9626 Olive Boulevard, 314-801-8411)

A new take on the original Tai Ke restaurant, food critic Cheryl Baehr wrote that “fans of Tai Ke 1.0 will be pleased to know that the menu has been enhanced, not replaced.”

The restaurant opened in January.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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Loaded Elevated Nachos

(1450 Beale Street #130, St. Charles; 636-202-0841)

In some ways, what started as a “culinary thought experiment,” Baehr writes, turned into the new nacho spot. Situated next to Narwhal’s, an adult frozen drink spot, the business offers a range of nachos from buffalo chicken to toasted ravioli. The spot opened in February.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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Sabroso

(11146 Old St. Charles Road, St. Ann; 314-918-5037)

One of the owners says Sabroso’s mission is to educate people that Mexican food goes beyond beans, rice and fajitas.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Courtesy Sabroso

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Tres Equis

(3169 Morgan Ford Road, 314-571-9549)

A new Mexican bar and restaurant, the place opened in Tower Grove South in February.

Photo credit: Phuong Bui

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Casa Don Alfonso

(100 Carondelet Plaza, 314-719-1496)

With Baehr’s description of the food at this restaurant that opened in March, you’d be seriously missing out if you didn’t try this place. Baehr describes the Casa Don Alfonso as a “a monumental culinary moment for St. Louis.”

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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Gather Café

(1854 Russell Boulevard, 314-376-4235)

A calm café that opened in May, the business serves quiches, BLTs, and more. The menu rotates seasonally.

Photo credit: Holden Hindes

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Cat Heaven

(5233 Gravois Avenue, 314-899-9600)

Formerly known as Shot Heaven, Cat Heaven operates as both a cafe and safe haven for the felines that come from the Center for Animal Rescue & Enrichment of St. Louis.

Photo credit: Google Maps

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Terror Tacos

(3191 South Grand Boulevard, 314-260-9996)

A vegan hot spot, Baehr describes the place as “not your typical vegan restaurant.” The food is frighteningly good, and the place has only been open since March.

Photo credit: Mabel Suen

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The Drawing Board

(4123 Chippewa Street, 314-899-9343)

What once was Ryder’s Tavern is now The Drawing Board. Opened in June, the restaurant “promises to build upon its success its former occupant with a creative and approachable menu, expanded beverage list, bar games, trivia and more.”

Photo credit: Alexa Camp

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Sugarwitch

(1634 Tower Grove Avenue, 573-234-0042)

Sugarwitch is “a proudly queer-owned business that aims to marry the whimsy of ice cream sandwiches with their passion and background in sustainable food systems and ethical agriculture.” It opened in July.

Photo credit: Sophie Mendelson

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Black Sheep Whiskey & Wine and Mama 2's Biscuits

(3153 Morganford Road, 314-772-9800)

Biscuits, brunch, cocktails and elevated bar fare were brought to the Morganford business district in November.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Mary Mangan

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Amy’s Cake Pop Shop & Boozy Bites

(7961-A Big Bend Boulevard, 314-954-3157)

Nestled in Webster Groves, Amy’s Cake Pop Shop opened in May. The custom made cake pops and cups, hot chocolate bombs, boozy bites and more are sure to fulfill any sweet tooth.

Photo credit: Courtesy Amy’s Cake Pop Shop and Boozy Bites

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Sureste Méxican

(3730 Foundry Way)

A restaurant dedicated to vibrant Yucatán eats, Sureste opened in October.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Cheryl Baehr

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Tempus

(4730 Manchester Road, 314-349-2878)

Although this spot opened in the pandemic and has been open for carryout, Tempus graced us with a dine-in option in November.

Read more here.

Photo credit: Greg Rannels

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