why dry | Sans Bar STL offers the chance to get ‘shaken not slurred.’ The popup bar is powered by PreventEd, a local nonprofit focused on reducing the harms of alcohol through education, intervention and advocacy. Sans Bar STL has been hosting ticked, alcohol-free events since 2019, and you can check out their schedule at sansbarstl.com.
in the garden
The Balkan Treat Box team is launching a new concept, Telva at The Ridge and the Ridge Room. Located at Rolling Ridge Nursery, the café and coffee shop will focus on salads, soups, pastries, open-faced sandwiches and more, along with wood-fired roasted coffee. “We’ve always talked about opening a café that serves coffee in the style that you would find in the Balkan region from Bosnia, Turkey and Greece,” says chef-owner Loryn Nalic. The Ridge Room event space can host both daytime and evening events for up to 60 people with
family-style menus available.
national recognition
Congrats to the local restaurateurs and chefs who have been named semifinalists by the James Beard Foundation! Michael and Tara Gallina and Aaron Martinez of Take Root Hospitality are nominated in the Outstanding Restaurateur category; La Patisserie Chouquette is a semifinalist in the Outstanding Bakery category, and The Gin Room received recognition in the Outstanding Bar category. Three St. Louis chefs are in the running for Best Chef: Midwest: Nick Bognar of indo, Rob Connoley of Bulrush and Loryn Nalic of Balkan Treat Box.
cheesy goodness
Steve’s Hot Dog is getting cheesy. It launched a new ghost kitchen with a focus on grilled cheese. Steve’s Meltdown offers a rotating menu of five creative grilled cheese options available for pickup or delivery at stevesmeltdown.com.
opens + closes
Looking for a slice of ’za? Head to Southampton where the Russell’s group of restaurants has opened Lola Jean Pizza at 5400 Nottingham Ave. … Sal y Limón Mexican Grille has taken over the former Houlihan’s space at 1221 Strassner Drive in Brentwood. It is the second concept from the team behind Padrinos Mexican Restaurant in Tower Grove South. … Get your morning bagel from Bagel Union at 8705 Big Bend Blvd. in Brentwood. The long-awaited shop is from the team behind Union Loafers Cafe and Bread Bakery. … Lousies on the Loop is serving up sandwiches at 567A Melville Ave. in University City.
