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Sofia Bistro
The Top List of Romantic Restaurants - St. Louis, MO
Nothing sets the scene for romance like a good meal.
by Brooke Foster & Tina Farmer
You stare across the table and into the eyes of your companion, the conversation flows freely and the enticing odor from the kitchen heightens your sensual awareness. Admit it, nothing sets the scene for romance like a good meal, excellently prepared and expertly served, in an elegant setting that encourages intimate conversation and lingering over the last bite of dessert. When you're in love in St. Louis, you'll find an amazing variety of tastes to tempt the palate of passion without venturing beyond the city limits; I suggest you try them all.
SOFIA BISTRO
7401 Pershing Ave. University City, MO 63130
(314) 862-5224
Hours: (Mon.-Fri.) 11 am-2 pm and 4:30-9:30 pm; (Sat.) 4:30-10:30 pm
While Sofia Bistro is charming any time of year, it’s during the summer that this neighborhood café becomes a true romantic destination. The patio – with its leafy shade, twinkly lights and view of a picture-perfect residential street – is one of St. Louis’ best outdoor date spots. Tucked away from the bustle of the city’s larger thoroughfares, the European-style Sofia Bistro holds all the allure of a romantic getaway…without the hefty price tag. And the lovely environment is matched by delicious food that’s perfect for sharing. Begin with Chef Teddy Ivanov’s baked feta cheese, a luscious wedge served with warm pita. The handmade pastas (pillow-soft wild-mushroom gnocchi, a risotto pescatora packed with the freshest seafood) are also a treat, and Ivanov draws on his Bulgarian roots to create decadent dishes with a Mediterranean flair. Wine lovers will swoon over the extensive wine list, and the by-the-glass selection is also excellent. Service is friendly but never overbearing, so you and your date will feel completely comfortable lingering over a glass of port, a cup of coffee or a rich dessert. And while Sofia Bistro is nestled beautifully one of the city’s toniest neighborhoods, the prices are refreshingly affordable. This is one romantic getaway you can afford to make again and again.
Estimated cost per person = $20 - $30
Cuisine Type: Mediterranean/Greek/Italian
Holiday Schedule: Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve and Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed
MOXY
4584 Laclede Ave. St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 361-4848
Hours: (Mon.-Fri.) 11 am-1 am; (Sat.) 5 pm-1 am
Some restaurants exude romance in a decidedly old-fashioned way. Not Moxy: This contemporary bistro is sultry, sexy and absolutely perfect for people who want to wow their date with amazing food in an electric atmosphere. Set in a beautiful, modern space in the trendy Central West End, Moxy has a wine list and menu that can’t help but impress. The seasonally changing dishes include perfect lobster potstickers, succulent duck breast and one of the best ahi tuna steaks in town. Ratchet up the romance factor by sharing one of chef/owner Eric Brenner’s mouthwatering desserts – like a hazelnut torte with Nutella and coffee ice cream, or a dish of sweet-tart cherry crème brûlée. Seating at Moxy is limited, so you’ll want to make a reservation, but you’ll never be rushed through a meal. It’s impossible not to feel romantic when seated at one of Moxy’s sleek tables, watching the flames leap up from the open kitchen. Despite the restaurant’s deserved popularity, the excellent servers will make you feel as if you’re the only (or, at least, the most important) people in the room. And the date doesn’t have to end once dinner is over – just take a seat at the blue-lit bar and enjoy one of Moxy’s signature cocktails (the amazing espresso martini is a personal favorite). You don’t have to leave till 1 a.m. – a relative rarity at St. Louis restaurants. Craving another romantic meal at Moxy? Brenner changes his menu with each season, so you have the perfect excuse to return.
Estimated cost per person = $30 - $40
Cuisine Type: Contemporary/New American
Holiday Schedule: Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve and Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed
KOKO
3257 Ivanhoe Ave. St. Louis, MO 63139
(314) 647-3322
Hours: (Tue.-Thu. and Sun.) 5-9:30 pm; (Fri.-Sat) 5-10:30 pm
From the moment I stepped foot in KoKo, a wonderful new restaurant in south St. Louis, I knew I’d want to return again and again. Apparently, I’m not the only one who feels this way; the restaurant does a great business even on weeknights. But no matter how popular KoKo becomes, what makes it so utterly romantic is that it feels like your place – like you discovered it. The restaurant is situated on a very quiet stretch of Ivanhoe, in a neighborhood known more for its working-man taverns and small, well-kept homes than for intimate dining experiences. Until KoKo came along, that is: With its warm lighting, table-top flowers and sultry chill-out music, this pan-Latin/Creole fusion restaurant is one of the most romantic spots in town. Walk through the dark damask curtains into the main dining room, and you’ll see couples sharing inventive cuisine. Food at KoKo is meant to be shared – from the excellent guacamole (with equally delicious plantain chips) to the more-than-enough-for-two asapao (a thick, savory Puerto Rican stew brimming with veggies, chicken and sausage). The goat cheese salad, with its generous disc of locally sourced chevre, is the perfect starter; the small-but-thoughtful wine list the perfect accompaniment. Whether you’re on a first date or celebrating an anniversary, the spicy cuisine and sultry atmosphere is sure to heat things up quite nicely. And before long, you’ll come to think of KoKo as “your place,” too.
Estimated cost per person = $20 - $30
Cuisine Type: Cajun/Creole/Pan-Latin
Holiday Schedule: Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve and Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed
BAILEYS’ CHOCOLATE BAR
1915 Park Ave. St. Louis 63104
(314) 241-8100
Hours: (Mon.-Sat.) 4 pm-1 am; (Sun.) 4-10 pm
The atmosphere of Baileys’ Chocolate Bar is so decadent, so thoroughly romantic, that they could serve Fritos in plastic bowls and it’d still be worth bringing a date. This romantic Lafayette Square spot does everything exactly right, from the red roses on each table to the sinfully delicious desserts (fudgy chocolate truffle cake, anyone?). Since savvy St. Louis entrepreneur David Bailey took the space over in 2004, Baileys’ has become the first-date destination. You might have to wait for a table (particularly on weekends), but once you’re seated and your server brings a complementary dish of warm chocolate-chip cookies, you’ll understand why a night at Baileys’ is worth the wait. While you and your date nibble the tiny gratis cookies, you can look over the menu of pizzetas, cheese plates and desserts. While other places in town relegate the cheese plate to starter status, Baileys’ lets you make a meal of it, with such options as Antique Gruyere, maple-smoked white Cheddar and St. Andre triple-cream brie. The martini list is unlike any other in town, with fourteen chocolate martinis (we’re partial to the Thin Mint, which is just as delicious as its namesake Girl Scout cookie). Or you can warm up the evening with a selection from the extensive Scotch, tequila, wine or port list. During the sultry summer months, you and your date can wander outside to the sprawling patio, where your whims are met just as easily as they are inside the restaurant.
Estimated cost per person = $15 - $25
Cuisine Type: Desserts
Holiday Schedule: Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve and Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed
MODESTO
5257 Shaw Ave. St. Louis 63110
(314) 772-8272
Hours: (Mon.-Thu.) 5-10 pm; (Fri.-Sat.) 5-11 pm
Tapas are romantic by definition. Small plates of delicious food, delivered at a leisurely pace, with plenty of time for conversation and sangria – it’s difficult not to feel romantic when enjoying this Spanish-style meal. Fortunately, tapas restaurants have become quite popular in the past decade, which means you don’t have to hop a jet to Barcelona to get in on the fun. Modesto is St. Louis’ most romantic tapas restaurant (and one of the most date-worthy places in town, period). Located on The Hill, the city’s historic Italian-American neighborhood, Modesto is a definite change of pace from the red-sauce/white-tablecloth restaurants around it. The gorgeous front room (where you can sit either at high tables or at the gleaming wood bar) looks out onto the street, while the main dining room offers a view of the open kitchen. But while there’s much to admire about Modesto’s chic interior, you’ll probably be more focused on romantic conversation and amazing food. Chef Grace Dinsmoor turns each plate into a culinary work of art, with selections like endivias con queso de cabra (endive stuffed with goat cheese, almonds and oranges, drizzled with sherry syrup), dátiles rellenos (bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with warm Cabrales cheese) and pinchos de cordero (grilled lamb skewers served with a sweet-pepper relish). Fittingly, Modesto offers a thrilling selection of hard-to-find Spanish wines, and their excellent housemade sangria is available by the glass ($5) or the pitcher ($20). Be sure to make a reservation if you’d like to dine at Modesto on a Saturday evening – this is one of the city’s hottest spots.
Estimated cost per person = $15 - $30
Cuisine Type: Spanish/Tapas
Holiday Schedule: Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve and Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed
NICHE
1831 Sidney St. St. Louis 63104
(314) 773-7755
Hours: (Tue.-Thu.) 5:30-9 pm; (Fri.-Sat.) 5:30-10 pm; (Sun.) 5:30-9 pm
Dessert & Wine Bar (Fri.-Sat.) 11 pm-1:30 am
Chef Gerard Craft opened Niche in late 2005 – and people still can’t stop talking about it. And with good reason: The attention to detail, from exquisitely plated food to locally sourced ingredients to first-rate service, is virtually unmatched by any other St. Louis restaurant. Niche is located in Benton Park, an up-and-coming city neighborhood with a lovely old-world feel. But the restaurant’s interior reminds me of nothing so much as a chic, intimate Manhattan bistro. The narrow dining room absolutely glows, and once you and your date snag a seat at one of the sleek tables, you won’t want to leave. The menu at Niche changes often – Craft uses only the best, freshest ingredients – but the outstanding quality remains the same. Diver scallops, buttery and almost impossibly plump, are served with a light-as-air apple-cider reduction. Butternut-squash soup tastes like autumn in a bowl. And the bacon ice cream (yes, seriously) that accompanies the pork bellies is one of the best things you’ll ever taste. Any meal at Niche is perfect for enjoying with a date, but of particular note is the tasting menu: seven courses, chosen by Chef Craft (your server will inquire about allergies, but otherwise each dish is a surprise) and paired with wines from Niche’s excellent cellar. At around $90 per person, the seven-course tasting menu is definitely for special occasions only – but we can’t think of a more memorable way to spend a romantic evening. And if you want to make Niche a regular date spot (trust us, you’ll want to), the restaurant offers an astoundingly affordable prix-fixe menu – three generous courses for $30.
Estimated cost per person = $35 - $45
Cuisine Type: Contemporary/New American
Holiday Schedule: Thanksgiving-Closed, Christmas Eve and Day-Closed, New Year’s Eve-Open, New Year’s Day-Closed
SEN THAI CUISINE
224 N. 7th Street
St. Louis, MO 63101
314-436-3456
Hours: Lunch - Mon-Fri: 11 am - 2:30pm; Dinner - Mon-Thu: 5pm - 9pm; Fri-Sat: 5pm - 10pm
Located in the heart of downtown, Sen is a small basement café that features outstanding Thai cuisine and a subdued atmosphere tastefully complimented by a smattering of Thai artifacts. The mint walls and numerous tables for two, the quiet and efficient staff, the delicious mix of curry and coconut milk all convey a calm intensity which only enhances the romantic tension between you and your companion. Every dish is prepared fresh and the attention to detail is evident in the subtle differences. The Red Curry Pad Thai is a bit richer than the Green Curry Pad Thai, the curry flavor more equally balanced; both are excellent choices and can be ordered with or without meat. Sen's standout dish is definitely the clay pot Hor Mok, a traditional blend of fresh vegetables, cabbage, coconut milk and curry that is baked to perfection and served with a choice of salmon, seafood or catfish; for romance I recommend the surprisingly delicate catfish, it perfectly balances the flavorful dish. To complement any meal, ask for their deliciously sweet Thai iced coffee, although I must warn you, it's addictively good.
Estimated cost per person: $20 or less
Holiday Hours: New Years Eve - open, New Years Day - closed, Valentines Day - open, Easter - closed, Christmas Eve - closed, Christmas Day - closed
Credit: American Express, Master Card, Visa
SIDNEY STREET CAFÉ
2000 Sidney Street
St. Louis, MO 63104
314-771-5577
Hours: Tues-Thu: 5pm - 9:30pm; Fri-Sat: 5pm - 10:30pm
reservations encouraged
A dark and romantic venue, complete with polished maple floors and candle-lit wall sconces, Sidney Street is the ideal setting for seduction. The service is so efficient it can only be described as discrete and the overall ambience of the place is as hushed and fine as velvet. Chef Sue Dill creates a sophisticated blend of flavors with a definite French touch; the rolls here are beignet, a sweet French bread that's typically served with powdered sugar, but melts in your mouth when accompanied with butter. Various cultures are represented on the menu, in addition to the French there's frequently southwestern and Asian influenced dishes. The menu changes daily and is posted on a blackboard, but the beauty lies in allowing your server to recite the day's offerings. The attention to detail in the kitchen is apparent as each dish is described, the passion for food obvious in the selection and variety of ingredients. There are always several tempting fish and seafood dishes to choose from, a fine steak selection and sinful desserts you will definitely want to try.
Estimated cost per person: $30 - $45
Holiday Hours: New Years Eve - open, New Years Day - closed, Valentines Day - open, Easter - closed, Christmas Eve - open, Christmas Day - closed
Credit: American Express, Discover, Master Card, Visa
TRATTORIA MARCELLA
3600 Watson Road
St. Louis, MO 63109
314-352-7706
Hours: Tues-Thu: 5pm - 10pm; Fri-Sat: 5pm - 11pm
reservations encouraged
St. Louis boasts a plethora of fine Italian restaurants, and it can be difficult for aficionados to choose a favorite, but when it comes to pasta and romance, there's no match for this little spot located in an unpretentious south St. Louis neighborhood. Recently expanded, it has lost some of its sense of intimacy, but the traditional country mural along the wall still takes you straight to the heart of Italian romance. From appetizers to dessert, the unmistakable touch of sophisticated flavors perfectly enhances the simplicity of the menu. The baked ricotta cheese is a mouthwatering appetizer, lasagna is expertly baked with freshly made pasta, an assortment of earthy mushrooms is transformed by a sweet Marsala wine sauce, an apple tart captures the flavors of fall with a combination of baked and raw apple slices. For the adventurous, try anything your server recommends from the off-the-menu list, there's always a delightful surprise making the best use of in-season produce; for those who prefer time-honored favorites, the lobster risotto is a permanent off-menu entrée that's guaranteed to please. And do save room for coffee and dessert, if only to enjoy the deliciously rich, strong coffee.
Estimated cost per person: $20 - $30
Holiday Hours: New Years Eve - open, New Years Day - open, Valentines Day - open, Easter - closed, Christmas Eve - open, Christmas Day - closed
Credit: American Express, Discover, Master Card, Visa
CHEZ LEON
4580 Laclede
St. Louis, MO 63108
314-361-1589
Hours: Tues-Thu: 5:30pm - 10pm; Fri-Sat: 5:30pm - 11pm; Sun: 5:30 - 9pm
reservations encouraged
The French have a knack for fine foods and romance paralleled only by the Italians. St. Louis is a French city that's largely known for its Italian restaurants. Chez Leon, a relative newcomer in the popular Central West End, could change that. From its bright colored orange and yellow exterior to its properly elegant white linen dining room, Chez Leon transports you from St. Louis to the heart of Paris. The chef dares to feature traditional French fare such as frog legs and wild boar, and the sauces - from simple hollandaise and béchamel to an intricate wine based, fresh herb house recipe - offer a sensory experience not often found this side of the Atlantic. The restaurant has also introduced the lovely French tradition of offering an "amuse-bouche," a complimentary tidbit prepared by the chef, to enthusiastic response. But, to be honest, it's the soups that will whet your appetite for love. These are French soups in the best tradition, full of fresh ingredients and fresh herbs and spices, complemented with crusty bread and full of aromas so sensual you could almost wear them. When available, I recommend sticking with the prix-fixe selections as it is the most enjoyable way to sample this stunning cuisine.
Estimated cost per person: $20 - $30
Holiday Hours: New Years Eve - open, New Years Day - closed, Valentines Day - open, Easter - open, Christmas Eve - open, Christmas Day - closed
Credit: American Express, Master Card, Visa
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