favorite food haunts - st louis

St Louis has a restaurant rep. The Hill is famous for great Italian food. Not a fan of the pasta and gravy, I managed to avoid making that scene in my two years in residence. Instead, I give you the best of the rest:

Blueberry Hill
THE BEST BURGERS, or so they say, but I found my thrill - their Veggie sandwich. The best ever, I dream of it to this day. Lots of other veggie and vegan offerings, too, befitting their University City locale. Plenty of plain old fried stuff, too. Blueberry Hill is just an all around great spot. On any occasion it might be hip, happening, family friendly, or neighborhood hang. Rad rock memorabilia collection. Killer Jukebox, great live music. Check them out on the web, then get your ass in there. Once you go, Blueberry Hill will be on your list too. Tell 'em Elvis sent you.

Broadway Oyster Bar
Their slogan is "Leave your attitude at home", but this quirky little spot sports more Creole 'tude than anyplace north of Mississippi. Broadway Oyster Bar is THE place to hang before, during, or after a Cards game. Enjoy Jazz, Blues, Cajun and Zydeco liive on the party patio, the funkitude of which eclipses even the kitchy interior of this local fave. Serving up some of the best Jambalaya and fresh oysters you'll ever taste this far inland. Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Crazy Bowls and Wraps
Every city should have one! Yummy spot for a fast, nutritious, delicious lunch. Bowls, wraps, smoothies, etc.

Fast Eddie's Bon-Air
Ten years later, and we still tell everybody who will listen about Fast Eddie's Bon-Air. Actually over the river in Alton, IL, from the street, Fast Eddie's looks a lot like a quiet old storefront. Step inside and discover what is allegedly the largest volume bar in the world. But don't think for a minute that its all about the beer. Bulging burgers, bombastic brats, french fries, piles of boiled shrimp, my personal favorite, "Big Elwood on a Stick" tenderloin kabobs, all this and more tempt you at Fast Eddie's. And here's the deal, kids. You could fill up on ALL the above and still come out spending less than $20 on food! Load up on cold brew, then send the guys to stand in line at the "food bar" while you work your magic to find a table - a hot commodity here. Fast Eddie's is another great live music venue, too. Take my word for it, you lust have to experience Fast Eddie's.

Hacienda
A rambling big, comfortable place - a great spot to take friends and family. The fare at Hacienda trancends the normal Americanizing of Mexican dishes, but you can find that too if that's what satisfies you.

Harvest
Seasonal Market Cuisine. Warm and welcoming upscale eatery featuring the best seasonal ingredients available. Executive Chef Stephen Gontram has crafted an ambience of warmth and comfort to showcase what he refers to as "rustic American food". It all works together beautifully. Think Valentines Day, or just any time you want to feed your soul. For an extra dash of romance, go for one of the bar tables - its quieter in there. Save room for creme brulee.

Pastries of Denmark
Best kept secret in Creve Couer. WOW! This little shop has the BEST sandwiches EVER. GREAT authentic danish pastries, outstanding cakes, breads, bite size cheesecakes, I could go on and on. I miss this place every day.

Provisions Gourmet Market
Grab gourmet goods or complete meals on the go. Ultimate gourmet one stop shopping.

St Louis Bread Co.
Locations all around town. Bought by Panera, which is basically the same great menu with frilly post-modern decor. I'm here to tell ya, SLBC is (was?) da real 'ting.

Wild Oats Natural Marketplace
Another natural foods and specialty grocer that serves food on site. Great place to spend a few hours, shopping then noshing. Take a sandwich to go if you'd rather get back to your desk. It's all good.

I'm sure there are more places to explore here, but I was just there for two years. Not goin' back any time soon, either, so lucky for me my good friends Alison, Dan and Lorna come to Florida to visit once in a while, and we share some of my favorite places in the next stop on our culinary tour - Jacksonville Fl.