Mac's Local Eats - Carte

Bulrush Stl

➤ 3305 Washington Boulevard, Saint Louis, 63103, United States Of America

Carte • Full • Fusion • American • Contemporary

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"My boyfriend and I came to this place during our visit to St. Louis after reading rave reviews about it online. We went in well-dressed and excited with high expectations, but unfortunately were left feeling extremely disappointed and underwhelmed. Dining at the restaurant definitely taught us a lot about the ozark history. I have a lot of respect for the time and enthusiasm the owner put into researching the history, arranging youtube videos, and conveying this information to the guests. His concerns about the environment and zero-waste efforts are also very laudable. His direct interactions with all of the guests and attempts to answer questions were refreshing. The food, however, was very lacking and mediocre. The concept of watching your food being made is fun and exciting. Understandably, they can’t make everything and plenty is prepared in advance. Except they really didn’t seem to make much of anything at all. A few grilled mushrooms here, and a delicate but also pompous plating there and that’s it. I know there’s probably a kitchen in the back and they work throughout the day as most kitchens do, but this gaudy element of pseudo showmanship missed a serious mark. Again, that’s fine. It’s an aesthetic and part of the bulrush experience. What annoys me is the price tag and the faint whiff of haughtiness that comes with it. The kitchen hands also looked apathetic, disinterested, and lacked focus. They didn’t look like professional chefs, just professional food assemblers. I did not trust that they knew to prepare food properly and that was evident in what was eventually served. The food was either too plain, too sour, too salty, or overall a very big disappointment. The steak had so many big chunks of fat in it that I was only able to eat about half of it. The poissants were cute but definitely not something I would pay that much money for, especially given that there were only about two small pieces of it on our plates. The beets, brussel sprouts, asparagus, fried onions that we were served, I can find and reproduce in my own kitchen. For the amount of money we paid, I expected a lot more flavor, unique ingredients, and creativity. I asked the owner why Ozark and he admitted it was an entrepreneurial strategy to stand out. He loved to repeat to our audience that night that “no one else” is doing it! Well when you taste the food you can kinda see why? I can’t deny though that the chefs know how to make something look appetizing in pictures. That’s what initially attracted us to the restaurant. The pretty platings and colorfully spectacular arrangements were what got us in the door. The experience has been worth it in the sense that for all that we paid for, we got a good lesson to not eat with our eyes, and a funny story to tell our friends back at home."

Hamilton's Urban Steakhouse Bourbon

➤ 2101 Chouteau Ave, St. Louis, USA, United States

Carte • Sushi • Steak • Mexican • Seafood

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"As my last night in St. Louis, I decided to search for the best steak in the city, possibly even at a Top 10 Steakhouse. Hamilton's Urban Steakhouse lived up to its reputation. The service was excellent, the food was very good, and I had a great time with my colleagues. The atmosphere was enjoyable and comfortable. Our waiter was friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive. The fresh bread was light and delicious. We started with a charcuterie board, which was perfect for sharing. The bacon fat candle was a creative touch. The Caesar salad was good, but not outstanding. I ordered the 12oz KC strip, which was cooked well but lacked seasoning on one side. The steak was sourced from Midwest farms and was overall very good. The loaded baked potato was decent but slightly burnt on the bottom. The macaroni and cheese was mediocre, tasting like velveta with melted cheddar. The bread pudding for dessert was tasty, though the bourbon flavor in the sauce was overpowering. Overall, Hamilton's Urban Steakhouse is a good restaurant with a solid steak near downtown St. Louis. I would recommend it to others, but it falls short of being a Top 10 Steakhouse."

Tony's

➤ 410 Market St. St. Louis, MO 63102, 63102-2735, Saint Albans, United States

Carte • Tea • Meat • Pizza • Drinks

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"Always one of the top restaurants in St. Louis. Quality has not declined since the passing of Vince Bommarito, but we did miss Vince's presence and gift of hospitality. His son James did not greet us or stop by our table, something that Vince would never miss."

Sushi Ai

➤ 910 Olive St, St. Louis, MO 63101, USA, United States

Carte • Sushi • Asian • Asiatic • Japanese

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"Wonderful little place tucked into Olive St. downtown. The Japanese offerings are a little sparse, but they are GOOD. The atmosphere is lively, the service is excellent, the food is great. The sashimi is very good, and all the dishes we tried are fantastic. They have upstairs and downstairs seating, too it’s a great atmosphere."

The Scottish Arms

➤ 6-8 S. Sarah St. St. Louis, MO 63108, 63108-2852, Saint Albans, United States

Carte • Fish • Coffee • Scottish • European

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"I have been to a great many restaurants in the St. Louis area and I can safely say that The Scottish Arms is one of the very best you can find. Each and every time that I visit I come away more impressed than the last. I The atmosphere is always relaxed, the staff are always delightful, but by far the best feature is the food. Their food stands heads and shoulders above the majority of restaurants in the area. Both in flavor and presentation, their food exceeds what ever you're like to imagine the first time you visit. 5/5 Drinks 5/5 Service 5/5 Food 5/5 Atmosphere The only possible flaw I can imagine is that I always want more of their food, and I can't have it every meal."