Thai Sawadee might not be radically different from the St. Louis area's many other Thai restaurants, but its menu features more focus than most. For example, only four curries are available, and you can't mix and match curry sauces and meats. No worries: The beef panang curry is outstanding, rich and spicy. The house specialties are worth a look, including pineapple fried rice served dramatically in the hollowed-out cavity of half a pineapple. Nam tok beef features the tasty combination thinly sliced grilled steak tossed with lime juice, chiles and scallions. The friendly staff and peaceful ambiance make this a winning spot.
Jorge Carvalho has relocated his restaurant Café Brasil from Rock Hill to the Central West End. The name has changed, but much of the fare remains the same, from the open-flame Brazilian barbecue known as churrasco to the bracing caipirinha cocktails. Barbecue is a safe bet, with hunks of steak, chicken, shrimp, lamb or sausage served tableside from a metal skewer. Seafood is well represented, with the cod stew peixada a lively example. Feijoada, the black-bean stew that is Brazil's national dish, is very good. Beware the teapot your server offers: It contains cachaça, a powerful sugarcane liquor.
You won't find many decorations inside this narrow storefront: a few bundles of chiles on the wall, two TVs playing telenovelas. Taqueria el Bronco is all about the food. The menu features standard taqueria fare, though a few larger entrées are available. Tacos are very good, especially with a dash of red or green salsa. (The red is always hot; the green seems to vary by the day.) Burritos, tortas and quesadillas are satisfying. A bowl of chunky guacamole is the perfect match for your basket of complimentary tortilla chips.
A clean, well-lighted homage to Ernest Hemingway. The great author is represented by numerous photographs throughout the cozy, beautifully appointed bar. The menu features small plates, with a few dishes - chorizo among the charcuterie, for example - nodding to the author's beloved Spain. The shrimp rouille, plump specimens in a garlic and roasted red pepper sauce, is excellent. The wine selection is organized by "body" type, which is ideal for the casual fan. The bottles can be pricey, but most are in the $30-to-$50 range.
The original Original Pancake House opened in Portland, Oregon, in 1953. It is now a national chain, with more than 100 locations in 28 states. Like the name says, pancakes are the main attraction here, from simple buttermilk pancakes with rich whipped butter and warm maple syrup to the restaurant's two signature specials: The apple pancake, with cinnamon-glazed apples in a thick batter, is like having an entire cake for breakfast. More subtle is the "Dutch Baby," a thin, bowl-shaped pancake served with butter, powdered sugar and lemon wedges. Pancakes are available with various fruits and nuts; potato, wheat germ and buckwheat pancakes are also on the menu.