There’s a new restaurant in University City, off of the Loop and on North and South Road, a few doors down from Momo’s Ouzario Taverna. I stopped in at Frida’s Deli (622 North and South Rd) when it was less than a week old. The restaurant itself is tiny—if you come with a party more than two, don’t expect to find a table. With only five tabletops and a small counter, there’s little room for anything more than ordering. Even the bathroom requires a walk behind the counter and through the kitchen. The space is more about grabbing and going—perfect for the lunch crowd in and around U City. The …

It’s been a few years since Ginger Bistro (6665 Delmar Blvd) was a Blockbuster and not a restaurant, and management has done a good job of transforming the space. When my husband and I stopped in for dinner on a recent Monday evening, we felt it spoke “restaurant,” not “retail.” What Ginger Bistro could not mask, unfortunately, was the fact that they are located directly underneath a Club Fitness gym. Much as I tried to ignore the treadmill vibrations and the frequent dropping of dumbbells, it did not make for the most peaceful eating environment.  Its unfortunate location doesn’t seem to …

Right in the heart of The Delmar Loop sits Nico, 6525 Delmar Blvd, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that took over the space where Brandt’s Café formerly resided. Those of you familiar with Franco, a French bistro in St. Louis, might have heard of Nico, which is considered Franco’s younger brother. Having never dined at Franco, I didn’t know what to expect when I stopped in for brunch on a recent Sunday and found myself pleasantly blown away by every aspect of my meal. First, it should be noted that any establishment offering brunch in University City is a win in my book. There’s Booster’s…

In the realm of different food cuisines, I find that Indian food tends to be more feared than others. You can convince your friends to order Chinese takeout or grab some sushi, but I’ve noticed when I mention Indian people suddenly wrinkle their noses. I can certainly understand where they’re coming from; Indian food is less common and it uses less familiar ingredients. Trying Indian food is a bit of an adventure, but I’m convinced that once people give it a chance, they’ll realize they actually do like Indian cuisine. My most recent Eating My Way Through University City adventure was to …

Whenever we head to the Loop in search of food, I always overlook Fitz’s (6605 Delmar Blvd). It’s not that I had heard negative things or that I have an aversion to root beer. Rather, I think of Fitz’s as a tourist stop and have always had the option of buying their premium sodas in the grocery story. That all changed last week, when I found myself in the Loop with my brother, who was craving a hamburger, and my husband, who wanted to sit outside. With a large patio and a menu featuring nearly a dozen different burgers, I could make two of my favorite men happy. Win and win. As enjoyable as …

I haven’t come across a whole lot of Jamaican restaurants in the St. Louis area, but leave it to University City to be home to one. Located in the same strip mall as Hooked Seafood Bar and Pho Long, De Palm Tree doesn’t look like much. Step inside, however, and enter another world. The restaurant is small and dark. Tables crowd the place but it manages to feel cozy, not cramped. The scent of jerk spices easily passes through the large Bob Marley flag that is serving as a divider between the dining area and the kitchen. After almost heading there on a Monday afternoon and discovering it was …

Although the Chinese Noodle Café, located at 6138 Delmar Blvd., is easy to miss, with just a tiny storefront one block east of Skinker Blvd., its award status with the Riverfront Times proves it’s anything but forgotten: Best Chinese Restaurant 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011! After seeing it win a few years in a row, my husband and I finally headed there for a quick dinner one weeknight. It’s apparent that owner Peggy Hou and her employees are deeply committed to ensuring their customers have a positive experience. They were very attentive - making multiple menu suggestions, re-…

Momo’s Ouzaria Taverna (located at 630 North and South) won my husband and I over on a recent Saturday night visit. Our experience exceeded our expectations, and given how busy it was, we don’t seem to be the only locals taking advantage of this great restaurant. The space is fairly large, but manages to feel cozy with its dim lighting, roaring fireplace, and closely situated tables. Upon entering, I immediately noticed the chalkboard near the bar boasting of their various Happy Hour specials, including half-priced spreads and $2 sangria. After making a mental note to myself to return between…

The Christmas season is upon us. The Loop is decorated with tinsel and lights. Christmas music blares in stores and restaurants. Your calendar is filled with parties on the weekends and school concerts and holiday happy hours during the week. Then there’s the shopping and the wrapping and the exchanging of gifts! This year, one side of our family has elected to give completely homemade gifts. While the details of my gifts are still a secret, I highly recommend you consider homemade gifts this year. Rather than spending money on little trinkets or stocking stuffers that will be appreciated but…

You can order pizza, Chinese, even sushi for delivery. But what about dessert? It’s then that you’re left to your own devices…whether that’s running out for ice cream or raiding the bag of chocolate chips in your pantry. That is, until Dough to Door came to town! Located in the Loop (567 A Melville Ave), this cookie shop not only serves up freshly baked cookies, it also delivers them straight to your home! After trying to order once before and opting not to wait almost an hour for the cookies (on a weeknight, around 8:00 pm), I made a second attempt on a recent Saturday evening. Dough to Door…

Walk into Winslow’s Home at 7213 Delmar Blvd. and prepare to be dazzled. The setting is not familiar to 2011 America. Most people’s “general store” experience stops at the Cracker Barrel alongside the highway. Winslow’s Home, however, is a true gem in University City. Part general store, part grocery store and part restaurant, Winslow’s Home is not just a place to stop in for a quick bite to eat, it’s a place to experience. Based on the booming success it has had since opening a few years ago, it seems the  University City residents fully support the Winslow’s Home experience. The uniqueness …

When we heard that the owners of Pho Long, one of our favorite University City restaurants to date, were opening a new restaurant in the same strip on Olive Boulevard, we were thrilled. The restaurant, Hooked Seafood Bar, opened last month, and my husband Ryan and I headed there on a recent Thursday for an early dinner. The restaurant was empty, which came as no surprise between the early dinner hour and their recent opening. The dining room is set up similarly to Pho Long, there is a counter and barstools facing the street, a handful of tables (artfully decoupaged with magazine and newspaper…

I try to plan my cooking around our crazy schedule. With my husband in class twice a week and several other evening commitments, we often find ourselves short on time for dinner. Thankfully, we both like leftovers and I have recently become the queen of quick and easy meals. Though University City has a variety of fast food restaurants, I try to avoid McDonalds and the like, unless it’s for an ice cream cone (one of my favorite treats!). Some evenings, however, there just simply isn’t time to make it all the way home for food before running off to whatever we have next. Last week, when I …

Before I began cooking regularly, everything in the kitchen intimidated me. I remember the first time I tackled yeast bread, something I'd long been afraid of. Then, there was my first layer cake. Despite a few lumps in the frosting, I put the cake together beautifully. Those were the successes! Then there are the things I have yet to tackle...my first attempt at homemade pudding was a disaster. I can't pipe frosting onto cupcakes for the life of me. Macarons were another one of those feared baking experiments. I've often seen the French cookie sandwiches in bakeries and cookbooks, but I've …

While Kayak's Coffee, at the corner of Skinker and Forest Park Parkway is not in University City, it's still a go-to for many residents and a major hot-spot for Washington University students. Step inside Kayak’s Coffee (270 N. Skinker) and you might think you’ve stepped inside a lodge in the mountains of Colorado. With homey decorating and a dark wood interior, you almost forget that you’re inside a building located on a crowded corner. Having stopped in several times early in the day for breakfast, my husband Ryan and I were eager to try out their lunch and dinner menu. Kayak’s offers quite…

If given the choice, I will always dine out somewhere where I can enjoy foreign cuisine as opposed to your standard American fare. Thankfully, University City has a plethora of diverse options, everything from Ethiopian to Vietnamese. One of my all-time favorites thus far, however, is Syrian food, found at the Loop restaurant Ranoush. After two visits to this wonderful restaurant, it was high time I shared the experience with my Patch readers. Though the restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining, both times my husband and I have taken advantage of the nice weather and found ourselves …

September is a lot of things…the start of school, the kickoff of NFL football, and that beloved Labor Day holiday. Did you know that September has also been declared Better Breakfast Month? Though many school districts use this unofficial holiday period to stress the importance of breakfast for students, it’s something that everyone should consider this September! Tons of studies have been conducted on the importance of breakfast. A Georgia Centenarian Study found that regular breakfast eaters have lower rates of Type 2 diabetes, are less likely to develop heart failure, and have a longer …

On a recent suggestion from Patch Editor Myra Lopez, my husband Ryan and I made a stop at Sir B Que, a St. Louis bbq joint that recently located to University City (6714 Olive). I was completely surprised to step inside and find a rather beautiful restaurant. To be honest, I hadn’t expected much more than a few old tables and a counter to order. Instead, we were met with a dark wood, well-kept interior and an ornate bar. We were immediately greeted like friends by who I presume is the owner of the place, who was clearly proud of his restaurant, spouting off a few facts about the [new] place. …

Having visited both the East and the West coast in the past year, my husband and I have been spoiled with good, fresh seafood. Though we like to go out for sushi occasionally while here in St. Louis, we don’t frequently make seafood at home. When we do, it’s typically frozen shrimp or tilapia. I’d heard of Bob’s Seafood in University City and passed it regularly on (8660) Olive Blvd., but have never stepped inside. With a major travel itch lately, I’m craving not only the sights, but also the eats of places far away from St. Louis. With no vacation to either coast on the agenda right now, I …

The word pesto typically conjures up images of a bright green paste, known for its perfect marriage of basil, Parmesan, and nuts. The popular condiment is used as a pizza sauce, a sandwich spread, and much more. Today, I want to introduce you to another kind of pesto. This pesto is pink, not green, and a little sweet instead of cheesy. Basil is still a primary ingredient in this combination, but it’s the strawberries that steal the show!  Unless you’re growing your own basil, it’s much cheaper to purchase it at U-City’s Long Acres farmer’s market as opposed to the grocery store. While you’re …