pasta pros
Niche Food Group is unstoppable. Owner and executive chef Gerard Craft continues his success with Pastaria Nashville, now open in the city’s West End neighborhood. The opening of the Italian joint’s second location coincided with the local Pastaria celebrating five years. To continue the good news, Pastaria and Sardella executive chef Ahley Shelton was recognized as one of Zagat’s 30 under 30 culinary professionals. It’s the first year the national survey has included all American cities, and the 28-year-old was in the top 25. Congratulazioni!
barbecue in private
Sugarfire Smokehouse is gettin’ fancy! It just opened Sugarfire Reserve, a private dining space next door to Sugarfire 44 in Valley Park. It will be available by reservation only for up to 60 guests, who can order from the extensive catering menu. New-hire chef Matt Glickert will lead the team.
two is better than one
Retreat Gastropub, a neighborhood treasure in the CWE, is celebrating two years on Sarah Street and wants to party in style. From Oct. 4 through 8, it will commemorate with cocktails themed around its anniversary. The restaurant and bar will offer two specialty beers inspired by its most popular drinks and will bring back two of its well-loved barrel-aged cocktails.
end of an era
Countless St. Louisans are looking for a new place to get their cakes, doughnuts, stollens and themed cookies. The family-owned Lubeley’s Bakery & Deli on Watson Road closed its doors Sept. 30 after 80 years in business. Ed and Helen Lubeley founded the bakery in 1937 near Kingshighway and Christy boulevards. It moved to its current spot in 1980 when their kids, Bob Lubeley and Helen Lubeley-Murray, took over.
check it out
Old North Provisions, owned by James Forbes, who operates urban farm Good Life Growing, won the Fantasy Food Fare Competition, conceptualized to attract a new culinary business to the Old North area. Its space at 2720 N. 14th St. will sell locally sourced food and also offer comfort food and a rotating menu of items from local chefs. … Mike and Liz Randolph’s second location of Half&Half is now open in Webster Groves (the original is in Clayton) … The Capital Grille has replaced J. Buck’s in downtown Clayton. The upscale steakhouse chain offers dry-aged steaks, fresh seafood and housemade desserts. … Grapeseed on Nottingham Avenue is being replaced with a pizza restaurant, LOLA JEAN, from RUSSELL PING, owner of Russell’s on Macklind and Russell’s Cafe & Bakery. Ping is also in the process of opening a second cafe in Chesterfield, slated for early October.
