PM BBQ, Chesterfield, MO – Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by admin

It’s been a while since my last BBQ post, so I am overdue for one of my favorite foods. When I think of BBQ, my mind conjures up images of “fall off the bone” ribs or juicy beef brisket. When I think of PM BBQ, I can only think of one thing… chicken.

Your first thought could be that I have lost my mind. While I’m sure there are arguments to be made that could support that stance, this is not one of them. Every time I visit PM BBQ, I order the half chicken meal.

It looks like a small fryer that is smoked with a dry rub applied. The skin turns is gorgeous golden brown color and has a slight peppery flavor. The meat itself stays juicy all the way through and has a hint of smoke. This is a meal where you just tear into it in with your hands. Don’t worry there are plenty of paper towels on each table.

They have a wide variety of sides. I always order the sweet corn spoonbread. Trust me on this one. The other sides are good, but this is head-and-shoulders above the rest.

Now that my son is older, the trick has become finding places where he will eat restaurant food. This has been hit-or-miss so far and unsuccessful attempts can result in having to feed him something more when I get home. In that respect, PM BBQ has vaulted itself to the top of my son’s list. I ordered him the kid’s turkey meal with mac n’ cheese.

He loved it! He finished all the mac n’ cheese and most of the turkey. The ease of finding a meal that he enjoys is definitely worth mentioning. The fact that it is served on a Frisbee with paper on top was a nice touch.

PM BBQ is yet another great BBQ place in the St. Louis metro area. If you are in the Chesterfield valley, I would highly recommend it. PM BBQ provides an alternate answer for the classic riddle, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” Clearly any chicken whose fate lands it in PM BBQ is honored in this fantastic dish.

Dive 2 Five Scale: 3. Great kid friendly place in Chesterfield. Like most BBQ places in STL, you order at a counter and the food is brought out to you. They have some beer to help wash down their tasty BBQ.

Carl’s Drive In,St. Louis, MO – Burgers with an Edge

Posted on May 1, 2013 by admin

Recently I read a list of the top 10 burger places in the US and it inspired me to pay homage to the one closest to where I call home, Carl’s Drive In.

Carl’s is a tiny place with only 16 bar stools. They serve burgers smashed on the grill so they have delightfully crispy edges. For good reason, the terms “burger” and “crispy” typically don’t end up in a sentence together. This burger is the exception to that rule. I’m instantly whisked away to burger nirvana at the first crispy bite. They are pretty small patties, I typically order a triple cheese. Anything less a double should be considered a kid’s meal.

When you go, you must pair their burger with Carl’s homemade root beer. They serve it in an ice-cold frosty mug. The root beer alone will have you coming back. They serve standard “out-of-the-bag” fries that are on the thick side. The fries are still an adequate side and do not detract the focus from the burger.

Carl’s Drive In is a place that I get a craving for every month or two. There isn’t another place like it. This place is on my must do list for anyone that visits. I agree that it deserves a spot in any top 10 burger lists due to its’ uniqueness and their ability to crank out top-notch burgers.

Dive 2 Five Scale: 2. The typical complaints for this place are:

It’s too small and I have to stand.
The wait staff can be a little “gruff” or “direct”.
It’s cash only.

Personally I think those are very petty reasons to miss out on a St. Louis institution. I have never had to stand to eat. They are extremely efficient in rotating people through the 16 bar stools. Most people that go there have been several times so they do expect that most people know what they want when they are asked. Do your homework, arrive ready, and enjoy the one-of-a-kind experience.

Olivette Diner – St. Louis, MO – Don’t Forget to Bring Cash

Posted on April 17, 2013 by admin

If you stumbled across this post while searching for a recommendation of a healthy breakfast dish, go ahead and hit the back button. This post is about the bananas foster waffles at the Olivette Diner. This is as close to eating dessert for breakfast as I have tried.

So what is the bananas foster waffle breakfast? It’s hot waffles topped with bananas, vanilla ice cream, and Olivette Diner’s homemade banana, brown sugar, and cinnamon sauce.

Wow. The first bite was intense. It’s sweet and extremely decadent. If you can resist the urge to tear through it quickly, let that ice cream melt some. I must say it was big enough that I almost couldn’t finish it…almost

I will definitely be back to try this meal again. The booth I sat in faced pictures of the backside of people sitting on the diner stools. There were some big butts and I cannot lie. With an calorie packed breakfast like these waffles, I could see how you could end up like that.

Dive 2 Five Scale: 2. This is your typical greasy spoon awesome American diner. They were efficient and the food was quick. Make sure you bring cash or a check, they don’t take anything else.

Friendly’s Sports Bar & Grill – St. Louis, MO – For that Fried Chicken Craving

Posted on March 28, 2013 by admin

Ever have one of those cravings that you just can’t shake? That was fried chicken for me recently. I decided to see if there was something on my restaurant “to do” list that could help satisfy that hankering. I noticed the positive reviews of the fried chicken at Friendly’s Sports Bar & Grill.

I don’t know if it’s just me, but 2013 has been a little hectic. Crazy weather, crazy work…crazy everything. This was one of those nights that beer alone would not take the edge off. I was pleasantly surprised by the vodka selection at Friendly’s and decided to try something new. I have been hearing about a new vodka called, Salute American, and decided to give it a try. After all, they donate $1 from each bottle purchase to the veterans charity, Project Blueberry. That way I can lift my spirits while honoring those that have proudly served our country.

Even though I’m normally a martini guy, this was not really a martini bar. I decided to keep it simple and ordered a vodka cranberry.

Since I was asking about the vodka, the bartender also provided a small sample to try it straight. It was relatively smooth and had a surprising sweet aftertaste. It’s a vodka that would go well with lots of juices. I now have a bottle at home to use for a limencello martini like the “former spy” I had at 715.

On to the main event…dinner. I started with fried pickles. Friendly’s serves the more common pickle chip variety. They were fresh out of the fryer but not as crispy as you would expect but still had good flavor.

Now for their famous fried chicken.

Sorry for the blurry picture, it doesn’t do the chicken justice. I had to let the chicken cool because it was brought to the table smokin’ hot. The batter was perfectly crispy. I love dark meat because white meat can be dry. This was not an issue at Friendly’s. I can now see why all the reviews say that you must order the chicken. Clearly they do not skimp on the chicken, so make sure you bring an appetite!

Friendly’s is a neighborhood bar that serves great fried chicken. For me it’s a bit of a drive, but it was worth it to say I have sampled it. So leave the attitude at home and join some locals when you get that craving.

Dive 2 Five Scale: This was a 1 for all the right reasons. It’s a sports bar that has expanded to take over other portions of the building. It has a unique history that you should check out on their website. You can catch one of the games on their many TV’s or maybe on some horses while playing video poker. The waitresses are very helpful and willing to provide recommendations if it’s your first time there. Just make sure you bring cash or you will need to use their ATM.

The Burger Stand at the Casbah, Lawrence, KS – Duck Fat Fries or Truffle Fries?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by admin

If you follow this blog, you will notice I have a few posts of restaurants in Lawrence, KS. I spend a bit of time there when I can. One of the places I frequent on almost every visit is the The Burger Stand at the Casbah.

So what is so special about The Burger Stand? Clearly I am a burger addict. The Kobe burger and variety of fries are fantastic. Typically I order either duck fat fries or the truffle fries. This time I tried both! Here’s the Kobe burger and duck fat fries:

They cook all burgers to medium but confirm that is how you want it. When I cut into it, it was perfect with some pink. It’s still very juicy with good texture. I heard another person order one well done. AHHHHH! That cow did not deserve to sacrifice its life and to be overcooked.

The burger is topped with pickled red onion, arugula, and truffle butter. I normally don’t like pickles on my burger but the pickled onions are the perfect complement to the fatty Kobe. I have not been able to bring myself to order a different burger yet.

As for the fries…I love the duck fat fries and the truffle fries. All their fries are fluffy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Over my many visits, I have always preferred the duck fat fries. This time the truffle fries barely edged them out. Do yourself a favor and don’t look at the bottom of the basket. They do leave behind some excess vitamin G (grease). They have a variety of unique sauces for your burger or fries but I find I don’t need it.

The Burger Stand is one of the things I look forward to on my trips to Lawrence. They have a great Kobe burger and the fries are some of my favorite. It should have a bright future in downtown Lawrence for years to come.

Dive 2 Five Scale – 3. This place has a very lively college atmosphere. If it’s a game day, go early if you are trying to get lunch. INSIDER TIP: If the line to order when you walk in is long, look to see if the gate to the lower level is open. You can order at the downstairs bar as well. They make a great spicy bloody Mary to help you recover from the previous night’s events. Those also come with bacon!

Katie’s Pizzeria, St. Louis, MO – Kickstart My Heart

Posted on February 12, 2013 by admin

Recently I heard about a Kickstarter effort to open a new restaurant, Katie’s Pizza and Pasta. This new restaurant is based on the existing restaurant, Katie’s Pizzeria in Richmond Heights. I loved the idea of a restaurant reaching out to the community help fund their future dreams. I made a trip by the existing location to see what pizza Katie had to offer.

A quick glance at the menu revealed that this is not your typical pizza place. They had pizza choices with potatoes and parsnips on a pizza. Who does that? It was like a mad scientist creating some extremely unique combinations. In order to get a feel for the place I ordered two regular size pizza’s and a small kids pizza for my son.

While waiting for the pizza to arrive, they brought out some fresh bread. The server sat it down and you could see it was still steaming out. It reminded me of fresh rolls. It was soft, salty, and dense. It was a great. My son agreed. He was stuffing two to three pieces of torn up bread in his mouth at a time.

First the kid’s cheese pizza. How cute is this?

First grown up pizza, the spicy coppa.

The keyword for this pizza is spicy. It brought back memories of pizzas I would eat in New Mexico with green chili’s. If you like heat, this is your pizza. The crust was a good base. A little crispy but still have some chew to it.

Next was the pizza I enjoyed the most, the egg pizza.

It was a little burnt on the edge. I love eggs on everything, so why not pizza? I should have known that I would enjoy this. The surprise for me was how well the egg, rosemary, and onion went together. I’m sure I will order this again.

Katie’s Pizza is not your typical pizza place with standard offerings. Katie’s Pizza pushes the envelope with fantastic topping combinations. I’m now a backer of Katie’s Kickstarter campaign. How about you? Click here to contribute!

Dive 2 Five Scale: 3. When I pulled up, it was plain on the outside. I was surprised when I walked in how much I liked what they had done with the space. I loved the character that the mismatched tables and chairs added. The wooden bar was really nice. There were fresh flowers on each of the tables. The attention to detail made this a great experience. The prices are on the high side for pizza, but the ingredients are fresh and well paired.

Sugarfire Part 2 – Twice in One Week

Posted on January 28, 2013 by admin

Back in September, Sugarfire Smoke House opened in Olivette. With an event like that taking place so close to my house I had to check it out. You can read about my first experience here. Last week I went back to see how they were doing. This is the first time I am doing a 2nd review on a restaurant. It’s even more surprising because I also went there twice in one week. That should give you a big hint how I feel about this place.

So why review the same place again? My first visit was on opening night. I wanted to see how things have changed since they have been open for several months. The first visit this week I went with a half slab of ribs, baked beans, and fries.

If you remember my original review, the fries are made when you order them. By the time you ordered them your BBQ had already been plated. The order of events was the same, but this time they brought the fries out to the table when they were ready.

The ribs and beans were excellent. Even my 1-year-old son was enjoying the baked beans. I will raise him to love BBQ for certain. The ribs are not the “fall off the bone: kind. They still have a good chew and they had the signature smoke ring. Out of 12 sauce choices, I went with the sweet. It’s personal preference for me with pork.

As I mentioned before I never go to the same restaurant twice in one week. What made me go back so quickly? Each time I went there, I stared at the burger option. I also was greeted at the counter by the day’s specials written on brown paper. They have been extremely tempting. I went back after having my BBQ fix to make sure I tried something else. This may have been a little overboard:

Here’s the break down:

Top left – pasta salad with artichoke hearts and spinach leaves
Bottom left – sweet potato salad
Middle – pastrami sandwich
Right – double burger

Let’s start with the double burger. You can order it with an array of toppings. I choose balsamic onions, Portobello mushroom, a farm fresh egg, and American cheese. Here’s a closer look.

When I ordered it, I was surprised there wasn’t an option to choose how it would be cooked. They were served medium well. The patties are smashed on the grill, however they are not thin and crispy like at Carl’s Drive in. All of the toppings were great and I loved that they left the yolk soft on the egg. I would get this again.

However, the pastrami and the sweet potato salad stole the show. This pastrami sandwich was one of the best that I have ever eaten. It was piled with thick, fatty, juicy pastrami. The toasted marbled rye was the perfect choice of bread. I also liked adding in some of the Carolina mustard sauce. The sweet potato salad was really unique. I loved the flavor added by the sweet potatoes and it finished with just a bit of tang. It’s a simple idea that I can’t wait to try and replicate.

Overall Sugarfire is a great BBQ place for those of us that don’t have quick access to Pappy’s or Bogart’s. Each time I have been there I have never had to deal with much of a line. Not only do they make great BBQ, but the burgers and specials were a surprise. This restaurant will be in my normal rotation for sure!

Hendricks BBQ, St. Charles, MO – EAT BBQ!

Posted on January 15, 2013 by admin

Since I moved back to the Midwest, I have started eating a lot of BBQ. The southwest didn’t have much to offer but St. Louis has a ton of great options. My most recent BBQ joint was Hendrick’s BBQ in St. Charles.

Parking can be a little confusing the first time you go. However, if you just follow the signs, you won’t have an issue. You sneak up behind the building and can enter by climbing a flight of stairs or taking an elevator. I took the elevator. When the doors open I was greeted by that old familiar smell. If you weren’t already hungry, you are now.

I love the decor of this place. Wooden tables with chairs that look like old window shutters. The paper on the tables reminds you that you are going to eat BBQ and it’s OK to be messy. Also there is this awesome neon sign by the kitchen:

The menu is intense. There were too many things that I wanted to try. I decided to start with 2 appetizers.

First up, deviled eggs. Deviled eggs are a staple at most of my family gatherings. These were nice and tangy.

Wait a minute, things were about to get even better. For the 2nd appetizer, I had the pork cracklin’. They were salty and addictive. I loved the ones that had the crispy outside and a nice creamy fatty inside.

As you have read by now, I love pork. I order it any chance I get. So of course for my meal I ordered… the brisket sandwich. Why the change of heart? I typically have a rule to try what is recommended by the staff when I am having a tough time deciding. This was one of those times.

I ordered mine with the melted pepperjack cheese. You can choose two sides with the meal. I ordered the corn casserole (see above) and the mac n cheese (pictured below).

The brisket was tender and served on a very soft bread. They had multiple BBQ sauce choices on the table, I stuck with the sweet for my sandwich. This was a very enjoyable brisket sandwich. The corn casserole was like a soft cornbread. It had creamed corn, onions, and whole sweet corn kernels. I definitely recommend it.

The mac n cheese was not the typical style your mom made. This was made with penne pasta, white cheese, and topped with bread crumbs. Another winner.

Hendrick’s BBQ was a pleasant surprise in St. Charles. I can see why their chef won the Chef Battle Royale at the 2012 Taste of St. Louis. Tasting is believing, so get some for yourself.

Dive 2 Five Scale – 3. Hendrick’s BBQ is family friendly but is also a great place to go grab a cold one. If you follow some of the food review sites, some people complain about the prices. For BBQ it is on the pricey side, but they do serve quality dishes. They have a great selection of local beers on tap. You will hear lots of blues while you are there. I loved all the small touches. Sweet tea from mason jars… nuff said.

Epic Pizza and Subs, St. Louis, MO – Vampires Beware!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by admin

“We’ve got a wood-burning pizza oven in the garden – a luxury, I know, but it’s one of the best investments I’ve ever made.” ~ Gwyneth Paltrow

Maybe not all of us have that luxury, but knowing where to get a good pizza cooked in a wood burning oven is a necessity. This weekend, I went back to a favorite pizza place of mine in the Soulard area, Epic Pizza and Subs.

I love to walk around Soulard Market and find fresh ingredients for cooking. One of my tricks for not over-buying is to shop Soulard while snacking on Epic Pizza’s garlic knots. Pair them with a nice cold beer and you have a great way to spend part of your Saturday.

You can get them served with marinara or butter. They have a nice crisp outside and a soft doughy center. You definitely enjoy the garlic but it isn’t overpowering.

During my last visit, I also ordered a white pizza:

Their white pizza is extra virgin olive oil, diced garlic, grande Mozzarella, and ricotta cheese. They do not skimp on the cheese, check this out:

The hand tossed crust is thin but has a little crunch to it from the wood burning oven. As you can see it’s no match for the toppings that cause it to collapse. It’s a cheese lovers dream! Between the garlic in the knots and the garlic on this pizza, I’m pretty sure that I won’t have any issues with vampires in my near future. This is not a first date place if you are hoping for that first kiss

Typically I do not eat pizza bones. If you are unfamiliar with the term. pizza bones are the extreme outer crust that is usually rock hard. When I have pizza delivered, my dogs get to enjoy this leftover “treat”. However when it comes to Epic’s pizza, my dogs would end up very sad. I eat the whole slice. Although crispy, the crust still has great flavor and a nice chew.

Epic Pizza and Subs continues to crank out great pizzas and appetizers. I have not tried a burger or sandwich yet, but may have to on a future visit. I have a hard time straying from my two favorites, the garlic knots and the white pizza.

Dive 2 Five Scale: Another 3. Great interior and family friendly. The staff was very helpful and attentive. There were 3 different people coming by to check on the table. It’s in a great location right next to iTap. It is Soulard, so street parking can be challenging.

5 Star Burgers, Clayton, MO – More Green Chili in St. Louis

Posted on December 25, 2012 by admin

With all the talk of the Mayan apocalypse, most people probably missed that December 21st was also National Hamburger Day. With burgers being one my favorite foods, of course I would use that excuse to try another burger place in St. Louis. This time I tried 5 Star Burgers in Clayton.

What makes this place special? They use all-natural, hormone free beef that is ground in house. They also have some unique topping combinations as well as bringing in green chili’s from New Mexico. In a city with a variety of burger choices, it’s the small details that will elevate a place above the rest.

I ordered the Dad’s green chili cheeseburger. This is not my first green chili cheeseburger. Ten years in New Mexico and I have tried a few. This was cooked a perfect medium as ordered. However, this rendition was unique with the addition of fried green chili’s and green chili mayo. The fried green chili’s offered some crunch. You get a nice slow burn from the green chili’s. Dare I say better than many of the great green chili cheeseburgers of the Southwest? Yes I do!

The burgers do not come with fries but there are options for sides. I tried two of them: cheese curds and sweet potato fries. First up, the cheese curds. WOW. You can’t go wrong with melted cheese. The batter was light and and they were served nice and hot. I could see myself sitting at their bar enjoying some local craft beers snacking on these. Sorry fries, this is my new favorite burger side. The sweet potato fries were also very good but were overshadowed by the cheese curds. I love the little fryer baskets they are served in as well. Nice touch!

5 star burgers lives up to its’ name. It has a bright future in Clayton. I look forward to ordering some of their other burgers on future visits. Maybe they can make a burger with the cheese curds on them…hint hint.

Dive 2 Five Scale: 3. Very nice modern interior. It’s a family friendly atmosphere but you can also enjoy some fine adult beverages. Although I did not sit at the bar, it was a very popular place. With the selection of craft beers I noticed on tap, I could understand why. Much nicer than your typical burger place.

Dive Bars 2 Five Stars

Category Archives: Lunch

PM BBQ, Chesterfield, MO – Why Did The Chicken Cross the Road?

Carl’s Drive In,St. Louis, MO – Burgers with an Edge

Olivette Diner – St. Louis, MO – Don’t Forget to Bring Cash

Friendly’s Sports Bar & Grill – St. Louis, MO – For that Fried Chicken Craving

The Burger Stand at the Casbah, Lawrence, KS – Duck Fat Fries or Truffle Fries?

Katie’s Pizzeria, St. Louis, MO – Kickstart My Heart

Sugarfire Part 2 – Twice in One Week

Hendricks BBQ, St. Charles, MO – EAT BBQ!

Epic Pizza and Subs, St. Louis, MO – Vampires Beware!

5 Star Burgers, Clayton, MO – More Green Chili in St. Louis

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