Try Sam's We are hesitant to review the newest feature of our own Danny and Lisa Long's SAM's Steakhouse because it is one of those things that, if it gets too popular we might not be able to get in. So, this info is just for you. Please don't share it with - "them".
Everybody in three states knows that Sam's has the best steak around. No, really. It's true. Yes, we have been to Kansas City and Dallas and we know. Over the years we have tried every steakhouse in the St. Louis area and therefore, we are qualified to say - it's the best. Always top quality beef, always prepared to perfection and always served by professional waiters.
But, in these economic times, we are not able to afford a $30 steak every night. Fortunately, Sam's now includes at "Burger Bar" which consists of service at the regular bar and a few tables nearby where the special burger menu is offered.
Whether your tastes run to bleu cheese, teriyaki or just good old beef, Sam's offers a burger to suit your taste. The burgers are usually served with a fresh vegetable, fries or a salad - all of which are excellent. And, while you're waiting for that quarter pound of perfection, enjoy an order of fried artichokes delicately prepared and served on a bed of lettuce. If you want a martini with that, The Other Lisa (the bartender) will be happy to oblige. But, don't forget. There are only a few tables, so, don't tell anyone.
Roadside Produce Offers Fresh Seafood, Produce and More
When they first openedwe had ourdoubts whether Roadside Produce & Seafood at 9300 Gravois Rd, would be able to survive in Affton. After all, others have come and gone in a matter of months.
But, now in it's second year, RSP looks like it is here to stay. And why not? The year 'round "stand" includes an all weather building, large tent, and ample parking lot. It offers a fresh array of fruits, vegetables, seafood, some meats, seasonal items and two guys who might have stepped out of a 1950's neighborhood Affton market for all of their knowledge and big smiles.
The products are large, high quality, well screened for freshness and available at reasonable prices. One of our favorite surprises was a recent, albeit limited, supply of beautiful garlic.
Good garlic is a treasure sought by cooks and chefs everywhere. Don't tell anyone, but Jack, at Roadside Produce, knows where to find it
Since a free trade agreement between China and Thailand flooded the market with cheaper, lower quality garlic, cooks at all levels have been on the search for a better quality product. Voila!! Roadside Produce recently sold us the best garlic we have seen in three years. And, don't worry that all the Gulf shrimp is covered in petroleum. Prior to the spill reaching shore, the owners of RSP managed to purchase a thousand pounds of beautiful shrimp and has negotiated with other markets for high quality seafood to serve its customers. Recenty, the stand offered sweet, luscious honeydew melon to rival any we have ever tasted. We can't wait until the local tomatoes start coming in, but we can bet that Roadside Produce will have plenty of them and they will be the best they can find. The only problem is, you have to buy a new refrigerator after visiting the stand because, before you know it, you will have filled your car with plump, ripe fruits and vegetables, fresh and frozen seafood and maybe a fillet or two. Oh well, there are worse problems. ________________________________________
ZEN Celebrates 3rd Year
WithSushi Bar, Beer, Wine & Sake'
Just when you thought the food couldn’t get any better the popular
ZEN Thai & Japanese Restaurant
located in the small plaza across from Crestwood Plaza (Westfield) has added a sushi menu along with beer and sake'. As a celebration of its third anniversary PaulPisutewongse, husband of Paky has joined the successful family business and added an extensive Sushi menu.
No, sushi isnot just raw fish.
There are a number of cooked items on the menu as well as many popular raw and vegetarian items. SO, if you have a yen for sushi, ZEN can fill the bill. From the responses we have heard the sushi menu is a great hit. We've heard, "It's the best in St. Louis" and"It's the best I've ever had" among other compliments. And why not; Paul spent several years working at The Drunken Fish and has learned a few tricks on his own. So, if you even think you like sushi, give ZEN a try.
Paky prepares the ever popular Pad Thai
Sue Ehrhardt and friends discovered this out of the way restaurant and invited us one evening. We were not impressed with the simple, fast food appearance of the strip mall location in Crestview Plaza , so quite honestly, we did not expect much. Boy! Were we surprised!
ZEN does not have red tablecloths and sullen waiters, but the food could easily be served in a much higher priced setting. We start with an order of spring roll and we wondered if that would be enough for the four of us. Duh! The "Thai Fresh Spring Roll" is about 10 inches long and an order consists of two rolls. The delicate wraps are stuffed with fresh vegetables and tofu prepared in a way that even tofu haters will love. The rolls are garnished with carrot slivers and nestled in a sweet, brown sauce with a hauntingly delicious taste that reminded us of our trip to Thailand a few years ago. For Paky Pisutewongse (Pi suut wong) her sister Tanom and daughter, Kanita, cooking is nothing new. Before coming to the United States in 2000, Paky and her husband owned a restaurant in Bangkok. Kanita has literally grown up in the restaurant business. She was ten years old when the family came to the U.S., so both her English and her Thai are perfect. Paky and Paul's son, Pen, works in the restaurant while he attends Webster University and manages the ZENstl.com website. As for Paky, she says that learning a new language was the hardest part of adjusting to her new country, but she is doing a good job and can welcome guests in either language. From the growing clientele, it is obvious they are all learning rather quickly. There are 72 items on the menu, not to mention dessert. Choices range from tantalizing appetizers that are generous and inexpensive to exquisite entrees that scream for red tablecloths and candlelight. Then again, not providing all that has helps ZEN keep prices very low. ZEN is, without a doubt, the most flexible restaurant we have seen. Don't want beef in your beef broccoli - try chicken.
Edamame is a popular appetizer at ZEN
Less tofu, more vegetables - done! Any dish will joyfully be altered to meet your specific taste. The secret to this flexibility is that all dishes are prepared in the traditional Thai manner, using fresh meats, vegetables, rice and sauces. Nothing is cooked until you place your order and if you are curious, you can watch because the kitchen is fully visible.
Food has not been sitting and simmering on an open flame. "That is important," says Paky. "It is fresh. All very fresh. That makes it good." We agree. But what about the cost? It is not only possible, but typical, to enjoy an appetizer for two, a generous bowl of steaming hot soup, salad, a wonderful entree, dessert, AND a beverage, and spend only $26; but, if you order all that, you will be satiated and still have enough leftovers for another satisfying meal or two. Having become regular Zenners since that initial introduction, we usually spend less than $15 per person, tax and tip included. Now that ZEN has sake' that may change a little, but it's still a GREAT deal. One Sunday morning recently we met Steve Lotz and his wife, Janice at ZEN. The Lotes own the popular Tower Tee and have become frequent diners at ZEN. "We love it!“ They both agreed. "We come here often." Sauce Magazine website readers have already rated ZEN's food at 9.5 (nobody gets a 10). ZEN is easy to find. For Grantwood Village residents, head west on Watson Road. It's barely five minutes away at 9250 Watson Road in the same plaza as Aldi‘s, across from Crestwood Mall. Perhaps in the future Kanita, who now attends Webster University, will be able to give the restaurant the publicity it deserves. In the meantime, try it for yourself and say “Sa wat dee ka” for us.
Maybe it’s the location, 8715 Gravois Road, somewhere in the heart of what we all call, Affton. Maybe it’s the 30 t.v. screens flashing sports events and comments from every corner; or the sound of people talking, laughing and sometimes, singing. Perhaps it is the fact that the sandwiches and many of the other comfort food items are named after the school’s familiar to our families and our history.
Or maybe it’s just that fact that from the moment you enter the door until you feel welcome, comfortable and, well….comfortable. Then again, it could be the food.
Whatever it is, Café’ AfftonSports Grill & Bar, which was, for a brief time, located in Grasso Plaza, has become the place to go for good food and plenty of it. Whether your taste tends toward the Affton Cheddar Bacon Burger or the Notre Dame Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwich, there is something at the Cafe’ to satisfy your appetite.
Even hungry vegetarians can order a serving of potato skins large enough to be a meal, crispy mushrooms, mozzarella cheese sticks, St. Gabriel Southwest Nachos, baked spinach artichoke dip and, a St. Simon’s Veggie Burger(we have it on good authority that Saint Simon was a vegetarian); pasta con broccoli, a veggie pizza or a delightful strawberry and poppy seed salad. Let us not forget the St. Louis Beer Battered Onion Ring Tower which is more than enough to serve four people.
As for the carnivores… well, the list of items on the menu is exceeded only by the size of the servings. By last count, there were 21 burgers and sandwiches, not to mention the sliders menu which features BBQ pulled pork mini sandwiches, served on freshly baked hamburger buns, and others.
Even the simplest burger, the Bishop Dubourg, is made from ground sirloin and promises to be “cooked to perfection”. If you care for something a little more exotic, there is the Ursuline Academy Beer Battered White Fish or the Vianney Griffin Triple Decker made from three layers of oven roasted turkey, Bavarian ham and hickory smoked bacon. Whew! Is that what keeps those Griffins going?!
On the other hand, if you are in the mood for a more sophisticated meal, but do not want to get dressed up, Café’ Affton’s menu includes chicken modiga, an Italian seasoned chicken breast in a white wine and lemon garlic butter sauce; beef or chicken Spedini, a favorite from The Hill; steak Modiga; baked lemon pepper cod, pollo Alfredo and several other entrees that you would expect to find in a fine restaurant.
The popular happy hour is offered weekdays from 3-6 p.m. and from 10 p.m. until 12 midnight, both feature two dollar sandwiches and appetizers. Add daily specials, healthy choices, a children’s menu and a full blown catering service to all that and it’s no wonder that owners Craig Smelik and Bill Cieslinskiare adding 3000 square feet of additional dining space.
“We get a lot of support from the community,” says Smelik. In turn, the two owners give support back to the community by sponsoring athletic teams and churches.
On weekends, the Café’ is the place to be for breakfast. Sure, they serve bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, but they also serve omelet’s, pecan waffles, a breakfast burrito or pizza, and hot tea. The meal is served while you enjoy Saturday morning cartoons and a free copy of the Post Dispatch. If that is not comforting, what is? CafeAffton.com
Trattoria Toscana
Uptown Italian in Downtown Affton
No other city the size of St. Louis that has as many fine Italian restaurants as we have.
Chef/co-owner, Kostandin "Tika" Ceko
If you Google “Italian restaurants in St. Louis” you will get 209 results. There are Tony’s, Dominics, LaRusso’s, Bartolino’s and many more. If you Google “Italian restaurants in Affton” you will get a handful, including Olive Garden and Pasta House. Both of them are among our favorites and we eat there often.
During the past two years, we passed Trattoria Toscana setting there on the south side of Gravois between Ten Mile House and Title Loans. Once or twice we talked about stopping in, when it was called Roberto's, but got swept away in the traffic. When we did make a concerted effort to stop for lunch, we were more than pleasantly surprised. It is a real plus to find, right here in downtown Affton, one of the finest Italian Restaurants in the entire St. Louis metropolitan area.
For those who do not know, there really is no downtown Affton – or uptown Affton, for that matter. The area known as Affton and designated by the U.S. Census Bureau as a Census Designated Place consists of a couple of miles of unincorporated St. Louis County and five small municipalities including Grantwood Village.
Anyway, if there was a City of Affton we would encourage the mayor to present the Key to the City to Alban Ziu, owner of Trattoria Toscana and his cousin, chef/owner, Kostandin "Tika" Ceko. The restaurant is truly outstanding in its preparation and presentation of Tuscan Italian cuisine complete with all of your St. Louis favorites.
The ala carte menu offers a delightful list of appetizers including Salmone Affumicato, salmon prepared in extra virgin olive oil, capers and chopped red onion; Cozze Al Vino, mussels in white wine sauce with fresh tomatoes and Shrimp & Artichokes prepared with spinach in a cream sauce. If that doesn’t whet your appetite, there’s always toasted ravioli. Have a crisp, light salad and get ready for an amazing entrée.
In the mood for veal? There are five veal dishes including Veal Alla Crema, veal with artichokes, wild mushrooms in a cream sauce with a touch of lemon.
Of course, they serve Beef Tenderloin but, have you had it Sicilian style? Then there’s Chicken Marsala and three other chicken dishes; Shrimp Scampi; Cannelloni, Tuttomare, Risotto and several other pastas as well as Lobster Ravioli and Tilapia Florentina.
The lunch menu, served from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday-Friday, is extensive and includes, among other treats, Linguini with Clams; Cavetelli con Broccoli and Chicken Spedini.
We recently used a coupon mailed to this address and enjoyed a free bottle of wine with dinner. Being a little discriminating about our wine, we did not expect much from a free bottle, but were pleasantly surprised by a Tunnel Elms merlot/cab blend.
As with any great Italian restaurant, you can top your meal with tiramisu, spumoni or a glass of Remy, if you prefer.
So, don’t let the location fool you. This restaurant is every bit as good as any downtown or Clayton establishment and a whole lot closer to home.
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Clip the coupon from the left side of this page and
save $10 off a $50 bill
uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu Spiro’s Local Family Part of Generations of Excellence
Coffee Alexander at Spiro's South
If you have been in the St. Louis area for very long there is no doubt that you have heard of the Karagiannis family. Maybe you did not know that was who you were hearing about, but if you have visited one of the four Spiro’s Restaurants, or the Surf and Sirloin, or ever gone to Constantine’s, you have had contact with them. All the Spiro's in the St. Louis area, as well as Constantine's, (now closed), evolved out of the original Spiro’s on Natural Bridge which was started in 1975, but our favorite is Spiro’s South at 3122 Watson Road. It was the second Spiro's. For many years it was owned and operated by Bill and Bessie Santos and is now in the capable hands of their children, Nick and Nikki and their children. Nikki (Farris) lives in Crestwood and her children attend Lindbergh Schools. Bessie owns an apartment house just a few blocks from our Village. The story of the family is truly the American dream. It started with Greek brothers who immigrated to the United States and spent many years working in the Tenderloin Room of the classic Chase Park Plaza Hotel. Eventually the brothers earned enough money to open their own restaurant and from that humble beginning a St. Louis legacy has grown that includes three generations of Greek restaurateurs. Joe Pollack rated Spiro's South 4.5 on a scale of 1-5, and the Riverfront Times and Sauce magazine have recognized it for many years as an outstanding restaurant. The extensive menu centers on authentic Greek dishes that are consistently excellent and served with attention to every detail. Many are prepared tableside as is the specialty after dinner drink, the Alexander, named after Alex, the classic Greek waiter who has graced the restaurant for three decades. He is easily recognized with his black tux, starched white shirt, easy manner and a bright white towel draped over his arm. Now, about the food. It’s great. Spiro’s restaurants all share the same fresh salad recipe that will awaken your taste buds and leave you ready to enjoy the steak, chicken and seafood dishes or the lamb that everyone raves about. Add a serving of traditional mousaka, gyros, flaky spanakopita, taropita, dolmas with that special lemony Greek sauce, or a mouth watering twice baked potato with special flavoring and you are in for a treat. Even those who do not care for traditional Greek food will find plenty to eat as will vegetarians. These days Spiro’s South offers a host of brand new dishes being introduced by Chef Teddy. But, save a little room because the Spiro’s South dessert menu is outstanding. Of course, there is the traditional Baklava that melts in your mouth, a dark chocolate cake similar to Black Forest and, surprisingly enough, the best crème bruele in town. Or, try the Alexander. It is an original hot dessert drink prepared tableside. You won’t soon forget it. And, say hello to Gus and Maria Aventakis, who live in Sunset Hills. For many years they owned and operated Constantine’s Restaurant in Concord Village. Now they help provide added hospitality for all the restaurants. So, print our coupon, order the Saganaki and shout OOOPPPAHHH!! as the flaming cheese sprinkled with freshly squeezed lemon juice sizzles its way to your table. You will have excellent service from Lou, Crystal and Alex.
Hours: Lunch: Mon-Fri, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Dinner: Mon-Sat, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Closed Sunday except for private parties OPEN MONDAY Reservations recommended for evenings, walk-ins welcome Dress is Casual to Dressy; Average Price: $10-$20 Smoking Allowed in one room; Street parking; Full bar; handicap accessible.
Our good friends Bill and Maritza Stock and their family, who were the victims of website priracy earlier this year, are happy to announce they have gotten their web address back. The domain name, stlouisgasthaus.com had virtually been stolen. Or, that is, stolen virtually. The site is now up and running and includes photos of the restaurant and announcements of special events. The site is kept current by grandson entrepeneur, Ed Stock. Anyway, we reviewed the restaurant last year but think that, in light of this incident and its consequential disappearance from the web, the St. Louis Gast Haus deserves to be mentioned once more. First of all, the restaurant is now in its sixth year and is still very much in business, serving an extensive menu of authentic German food and a host of good German beer. Maritza, Bill, and Anne who is Maritza's sister, are all Holocaust survivors. As children, the sisters enjoyed an idyllic life among a typical German village setting. The family operated a brewery and distillery in a small European town and was happy in their center of society. Their lives were shattered when the business and home were seized by the government and their father was taken off to war. Since that time, they dreamed of recreating that setting. Three years ago, in their seventh decade, the sisters and Bill, a former meat cutter, decided to make the dream a reality. The first time we saw the "dream" location, we truly wondered whether they had taken leave of their senses. The building, on the north edge of Lafayette Square, was in deplorable condition. It had recently been inhabited by homeless people and gang graffiti covered the exposed brick wall. We had to walk across a 2 x 10 stretched over open floor joists to reach the "dining room" where Maritza excitedly talked about the huge murals she intended to have painted on the east walls. Bill, meantime, was planning a menu and overseeing the contractors and Anne was dealing with the account and the city fathers. That was in the spring of 2003. Since that time, the St. Louis Gast Haus has honored by St. Louis Magazine, Sauce Magazine, and the Riverfront Times as the Best German Restaurant and Best New Restaurant. That cold, dark hull of a building has been transformed into a showplace. com plete with two wonderful murals. The bright, welcoming meeting place that Ann and Maritza knew as a child has been recreated and is now the restaurant of choice for members of the German American Society, St. Louis politicians and office holders, and Congressmen Russ Carnahan and his friends.
If you haven't been to the Gast Haus you are missing a warm experience. The food is authentically German and the atmosphere is warm and friendly. Bill still frequents the restaurant, despite a massive coronary last summer; Ann still keeps a keen eye on the books, and Maritza can be found, almost any evening, mingling with guests and planning parties. That cute little girl, in the Dirndl dress, is Magdalena Missouri Stock, Bill and Maritza’s granddaughter. She is likely to greet you at the door and show you to a table even though she is just four. Her big brother, Nat, may bus your table and bring water and their parents, Ed and Elisha will make sure that you and your guests enjoy a truly German dining experience. Visit the website stlgasthaus.com
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Mango Challenges HoHum Menus with Spice & Flavor
When we first were introduced to Mango we were a little leery. Peruvian?
While we perused the unusual menu, our server, Gina, delivered a tureen of fried plantain chips, a small bowl of what we recognized as ceviche, and a smaller bowl of some odd green paste that was actually dip . "Hhmmm. Interesting. What is that spice? Well, maybe we need some more to decide." Our friend, Dave, ordered the Seco de Carne, a cilantro infused flank steak cut into strips and prepared with garlic, onions, and Peruvian hot peppers and simmered in its own juice then served with rice and beans. He suggested Saltado de Langostinos for the meat eater and proudly pointed to the six vegetarian items for our resident vegetarian who chose Tallarin Huanciana, spaghetti tossed in creamy Huanciana sauce (whatever that is). The next few minutes were pretty quiet except for the "umhhhmmmms" and "umhuhs" as we savored the flavorful and exotic tastes. Without exception, each dish was outstanding! Peruvian food is some of the most flavorful in the world even though it is derived from relatively simple sources. It has a fresh, spicy yet delicate taste and each serving at Mango is created only from fresh, carefully chosen ingredients, rich, delicate sauces and prepared with loving care. Jorge and Nori Calvo partnered with Paul and Sherry Sawchak to open Mango Restaurant in 2004.The Calvo family is originally from Chiclayo, Peru, a town north of Lima on the Pacific coast. Nori and Jorge owned and operated four restaurants before coming to the US in 1989. They began their catering company, El Inca in 1991 and quickly became a popular name in traditional cuisine among St. Louis Peruvians. Jorge and Nori run the kitchen together. Daughters Cinthia and Sandra Calvo serve as service managers and their siblings The menu includes a light salad spritzed with lime juice, tender steaks, a variety of interesting tapas, seafood that is steaming and delicious, pasta like you’ve never tasted, chicken and beef kabobs to die for, and sweet potatoes that are so delicious we cannot explain the flavor. Don’t worry, if spicy is not your favorite thing. They have several delicately flavored dishes to delight your taste buds. A full bar includes exotic concoctions like Mango Passion Fruit martinis, their own Sangria recipe, and a wide complement of affordable but outstanding wines. Best of all - Mango is located less than 10 minutes in Dierberg's Mackenzie Point.
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This site generously donated by the publisher L. L. Blackburn. This website is not the official site of the Town of Grantwood Village. You may visit the town's official site at: Grantwoodvillage.us . Opinions expressed on The Forum or Comments Page are those of the author and not necessarily those of www.grantwoodvillage.info DESIGN by AlexisInk
