open & shut
The Shack has opened its fifth area restaurant at 12521 Olive Blvd. in Creve Coeur. Its other popular locations are in Valley Park, Chesterfield, Frontenac and O’Fallon. … Bernie Lee, chef and owner of Hiro Asian Kitchen, has opened Hiro Poke Co., which specializes in the Hawaiian fish specialty, in The Eatery at One Metropolitan Square. … Maypop Coffee & Garden Shop in Webster Groves, which recently opened as a garden center in May, now has a cafe that serves locally made food and beverages. Its indoor and outdoor spaces at 803 Marshall Ave. seat around 30 guests. … The Dark Room at the Grandel Theatre has added a 35-seat patio overlooking the renovated Arts Academy Plaza, and the restaurant now serves a full menu seven days a week.
toast of the nation
Wine Enthusiast magazine has named Sardella to its list of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants of 2018. It also recognized chef Ashley Shelton and general manager Bess Kretsinger Heffernan as top industry professionals. To see the full list or learn more, visit winemag.com.
double digits
The Gramophone at 4243 Manchester Ave. is celebrating 10 years! It opened in 2008 as an intimate concert venue in The Grove and after 1,500 shows, switched its focus to a sandwich pub in 2015. Guests can find sandwiches, soups and 20 beers on tap. And not to worry—music from live bands and DJs are still very much part of the scene.
vino at large
Copia co-owners Amer Hawatmeh and Eyad ‘ET’ Tammas are expanding in a big way. They recently opened a new location of the downtown hot spot in Clayton, taking over Morton’s location on Bonhomme Avenue. The restaurant also serves as a retail wine venue, with bottles displayed throughout the space (more than 900 varieties!). In the fall, the pair will open its third locale in the former space of The Elephant Bar at West County Center. Cheers!
we’ll drink to that
Schlafly Beer has released a special can of white craft lager in honor of the annual LouFest in Forest Park. The purple, pink and gold design is a nod to the city’s music scene and features the Apotheosis of St. Louis statue that stands tall outside the art museum. The one-of-a-kind cans will be available only during the festival Sept. 8 and 9.
