opens & closes
Grab a slice at Charred Crust, a new brick oven pizzeria at 105 S. Meramec Ave. in Clayton. Co-owners Andrew Simon and James Flemming are serving up sourdough-crust pizzas, house-made pastas, salads, sandwiches and soups. … Hometowner Nick Bognar, a 2019 James Beard semifinalist for Rising Star Chef of the Year, has opened his highly anticipated restaurant, indo, in Botanical Heights. Bognar’s restaurateur parents are behind Nippon Tei and Ramen Tei, and indo’s menu reflects his Thai heritage and experience with modern Japanese cuisine. … Edwardsville has gotten a little stranger. Popular doughnut shop Strange Donuts has expanded across the river. … Poke enthusiasts will want to head to Clayton. California-based chain LemonShark Poke is now open at 33 N. Central Ave. … The Tavern closed the doors on its CWE location at the end of 2018, but another local favorite will fill the vacant space. Salt + Smoke will open its fourth location at 392 N. Euclid Ave.

aww, shucks
Broadway Oyster Bar has a new owner. Steven Sullivan, a former senior vice president and general counsel for Ameren  Corp., purchased the restaurant from husband-and-wife duo John and Victoria Johnson. Devotees of the downtown staple don’t need to worry about changes. Sullivan plans on keeping the iconic seafood spot the way it is.

master of his craft
Gerard Craft has brought a new, innovative dining experience to the Four Seasons Hotel. Dia’s Room (named after Craft’s childhood nanny) offers 10 guests an intimate 13-course dinner of modern cuisine with a Brazilian twist. Reservations are available Thursday and Friday evenings at 7 p.m. In other Four Seasons news, Craft’s Cinder House has welcomed a new executive chef, Aaron Martinez, formerly the top chef at Elaia and Olio. His globetrotting culinary career has taken him across Europe and into leading positions at three Michelin-starred restaurants.

bottoms up!
Cherokee Street will welcome a new watering hole, but this one comes with a bit of a twist. At Open Concept, patrons buy time instead of purchasing drinks. For $10 an hour, you can access an open bar stocked with large-batch cocktails, wine and local beers. Located at 2712 Cherokee St., the bar should open within the month.

go wild
Animal lovers and beer aficionados can come together over a cold one. Grizzly Ridge Kölsch Ale, a new brew from Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, is the Saint Louis Zoo’s first official beer, and fittingly, its sales help support animal welfare. For every case sold, Urban Chestnut is donating $3 to support animal care and conservation work. The Kölsch made its debut earlier this summer at the annual Zoofari fundraiser and is available in grocery stores and at the zoo.