Best Places To Eat Local Food In St. Louis
Amid the plethora of dining options, St. Louis boasts an ever-expanding number of restaurants featuring locally sourced products from the region. Here are a few of the popular restaurants committed to local foods:
Bailey's Range
Located in downtown St. Louis, Bailey's Range is not just any burger and shake joint. They use only Missouri-raised grass-fed beef for the burgers, and making from-scratch shakes using only natural ingredients, and the taste difference is noticeable. Rooster and Bridge, sister restaurants of Bailey's Range, are also devoted to using local and sustainable ingredients. Dish Not to Miss: the Ozark Burger (locally grown crimini mushrooms, caramelized onions, black peppered goat cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion).
Big Sky Café
Long before eating local and sustainable was in vogue, Big Sky Café was dedicated to making the world a better place to eat and live. Ingredients are locally sourced and naturally raised, but this restaurant takes the sustainable commitment a step further: organic waste is composted, and items are recycled including wine corks and used vegetable oil. Big Sky Café also educates customers on the importance of water conservation by offering water only to those patrons that request it and donating proceeds to charitywater.org. Dish Not to Miss (when in season): Brûléed Hazelnut Dipped Goat Cheese served on a small spinach salad with dried cranberries and local sprouts.
Café Osage at Bowood Farms
Located in the "Central West End" of St. Louis city, this unique breakfast and lunch café grows much of its vegetables in the urban garden across the street and fresh herbs on the rooftop. Many other ingredients used in the dishes are sourced from local purveyors from the surrounding metro area. Dish Not to Miss: BrieLT (Nueske bacon, tomato marmalade, Brie, and arugula on five-grain wheat).
Farmhaus
A quaint restaurant located in southwest St. Louis city, Farmhaus is a perfect place for the adventurous eater. The menu changes daily depending on the chef's inspiration and what is in season, resulting in delicious and fresh seasonal offerings. The "Blue Plate Lunch" is a rotating menu of only one entrée selection, a seasonal salad, and iced tea; priced at $10, it's a bargain. Dish Not to Miss: Parisienne Gnocchi (gnocchi made with YellowTree Farm sweet potato cream, house ricotta cheese, local black kale, and house guanciale).
Five Bistro
Located in St. Louis' historic "Hill" neighborhood, Five Bistro is "a new American bistro creating seasonal cuisine with local products." The chef believes that in order to fully appreciate good food, one must use all five senses. Five Bistro hopes to bring diners back to a time when the origin of our food and the person that grew it was known. The menu changes daily and reflects what is seasonal and available from local farms. They feature nose-to-tail cooking and are proud of the many made-from-scratch items they prepare in-house. Dish Not to Miss: Troutdale Farm trout with local baby spinach and arugula, French horn mushrooms, roasted local sweet potato, and lemon caper vinaigrette.
Harvest
Harvest restaurant has offered farm-to-table cooking and featured fresh, local, seasonal ingredients long before most. The ambiance at Harvest is cozy, casual, and relaxed, making diners feel welcome and at home. Dish Not to Miss: Tempura-fried local "mofu" with brown rice, shiitakes, radishes, green beans, and yuzu ponzu.
Local Harvest Grocery and Café and Catering
The owners of Local Harvest are deeply committed to the local and sustainable food movement. What started as a tiny grocery market in south St. Louis city has now expanded to two groceries and three cafés, all dedicated to "transparent and honest food production." At both its café and grocery, Local Harvest strives to offer at least half of its locally sourced items within a 150-mile radius of its locations. Dish Not to Miss: Morganford Mediterranean Sandwich (locally made lentil dip, feta, onion, roasted red peppers, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, field greens, and balsamic dressing on focaccia).
Schlafly Bottleworks
Home to one of the most popular beers in St. Louis, Schlafly Bottleworks is much more than a local microbrewery. This is a fun, casual dining spot to meet friends, grab a pint, and enjoy a grass-fed burger. Evidence of Schlafly's commitment to local foods expands to their parking lot and surrounding area: Adjacent to the brewery and restaurant, there is a small but mighty urban garden called Gardenworks where Schlafly grows large amounts of produce each year that is used at both restaurant locations. During the growing season, Schlafly Farmers' Market is one of St. Louis' most popular farmers' markets. Dish Not to Miss: Pretzel-Encrusted Chicken Breast topped with honey mustard, served with sautéed vegetables and mashed potatoes with a stout demi-glaze.
Winslow's Home
Part café, part corner market, and part gift shop, Winslow's Home is a one-of-a-kind little place to dine and relax. Both the owner and well-respected chef believe in the farm-to-table concept using fresh-from-the-farm ingredients in their warm and cozy dishes. Dish Not to Miss: Geisert Farm pork loin served with lentils, fennel, herbs, and a lemon vinaigrette.
By Elizabeth Cowie, registered and licensed dietitian and food blogger for Eating Local in the Lou.