Posts Tagged ‘ St. Charles ’

JJ’s Burgers Live Up to Their Reputation

July 2, 2011
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This burger was even better than it looked. Om nom.

Let’s talk about the good stuff – and yes, it was very, very good. With a better bun, this burger could have been a perfect specimen by which all other burgers are judged. If I seem a little excessive in my praise, I was recently very disappointed by the offering at Pujols 5 at Westport. In fact, until JJ’s, the last dazzlingly good burger I had was in Louisville. The two beef patties inside were grilled to crispy perfection on the edges while the interior was incredibly, wonderfully juicy. This is the kind of burger your grandfather enjoyed before meat…

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St. Jean Baptiste Day Brings Historic Fun to St. Charles

June 27, 2011
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St. Jean Baptiste Day in St. Charles, MO

I am a well known sucker for any excuse to dress up in costume. This small festival tucked behind Main Street in St. Charles had a comfy, laid back atmosphere with just a hint of bloodletting paraphanalia, home grown hops, and gunpowder. I had a great time. The festival organizer explained he was tired of Bastille Day celebrations where everyone celebrates the worst part of their French heritage, so he decided to introduce something a little more positive that happened to tie into the good old pagan summer solstice. Yes, they lit a bonfire in the middle of the summer…

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Sushi Ai Brings Fast, Affordable Sushi to St. Charles

June 18, 2011
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The small portion of tempura was appreciated

When he saw me coming up the parking lot, a man tucked his cellphone in his pocket and told his son to get away from the giant inflatable panda. Sushi Ai opened a second location in St. Charles, and any kid who likes Japanese animation is going to fall in love with inflatable bear on the sidewalk. I gave Dad a wink and offered to take a photo of them both. Inside, the adorable larger-than-life animations give way to a tastefully decorated sushi bar. The open interior is functionally divided into three more intimate dining areas by rows of leafy…

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Failed Geek Trivia Night Spawns Successful Game Day

June 16, 2011
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Some boardgames are deadly

It’s odd to see a strip mall parking lot overflowing with cars on a beautiful Saturday. Step inside the Fantasy Shop in St. Charles and the serene summer weather gives way to a loud hum of enthusiastic voices. At one table, people ask if anyone has wood for sheep. At another, half a dozen calm people suddenly point foam-gun silhouettes at one another’s heads then break into giggles. Everyone is hopped up on the seemingly limitless variety of sugary snacks. “This is amazing,” said Jennifer Keith, a visitor from Missoula, MT. Keith and her husband play board games at home…

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Ham’s Deli Barely Qualifies as a Restaurant

March 27, 2011
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There was nothing worthwhile about Ham's Deli.

I really wanted to like Ham’s Deli. You see, I’m a sucker for a good sandwich.  I stopped in because I heard they had sandwiches named after local celebrities such as “The Skipper” named for coach Tony La Russa of the St. Louis Cardinals or the “Tim Ezell” from the reporter on KTVI FOX-2. That seemed like a fun twist on a boring lunch. What I found was a place with sandwiches twice the price of Subway with about the same level of quality. Read more here.

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Try Llywellyn’s Pub for a Lenten Fish Fry

March 13, 2011
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Llywellyn's Pub

First, I tried stopping by Timothy’s Irish Pub. At noon, there were only two cars in the parking lot. One was occupied by a chain-smoker sitting alone in his car with the windows up. The other had a man with a lap full of paperwork who kept opening the door to yell at birds, and, when he noticed me going in, to throw a random shout my way as well. The only people inside were three angry looking men playing pool who glared me back out of the building. Well, so much for that. Read more here.

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Take the Girls to Magpie Cafe

February 26, 2011
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Magpie Cafe specializes in quiche and salads.

This tiny, quaint restaurant on the far edge of South Main Street is unashamedly targeted at female retirees. Considering the sheer volume of sports bars in St. Charles, it’s refreshing to find a successful restaurant targeted at the opposite demographic. You’ll find Magpie Café in a quaint, narrow converted house at the far edge of South Main Street. Soft listening hits of the 1970s play in a small front room decorated with a sign reading “The Witch Is In,” handblown glass bowls, and heart-shaped candle boxes on the tables. When I stopped in, the dining room was bustling with women…

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Mario’s Donuts and Cafe Makes Ecclectic Look Easy

January 15, 2011
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You get a lot more than donuts at Mario's.

How can you resist a restaurant that offers both freshly made donuts and freshly made hummus? Mario’s Donuts is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in a generic strip mall. This setting usually means the restaurant will be one of two things: an under appreciated gem or a bland, anonymous horror. I’m pleased to say Mario’s was the former. Read more here.

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Quintessential Nightlife Tries Too Hard

December 26, 2010
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Quintessential likes to offer trios, such as this set of creme brulee's.

I had mixed feelings walking into Quintessential Nightlife on Main Street. Opinions drift to the extremes – people either absolutely love it or hate it. Read more here.

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Something’s Fishy at Beatnik’s

December 11, 2010
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Beatnik's entrees are well intentioned

The New Town planned development on the fringes of St. Charles seems like the right kind of place for a restaurant named Beatniks. The holistically planned neighborhood is carefully sculpted to feel like an idealized small town in miniature. Mixed use houses and apartments are all a quick walk from a city core which hosts a surprisingly diverse and useful selection of businesses including a dentist, veterinarian, beauty salon, fair trade market, title office, insurance office, and, of course, an assortment of restaurants and bars. For people who work in North County but crave the walkable lifestyle of Clayton, this…

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