Coastal Bistro and Bar is a restaurant located in Clayton. It specializes in coastal-inspired cuisine from Cajun and Creole to New England and West Coast favorites.
The Marquee Restaurant & Lounge downtown comes from the same husband-and-wife duo that brings you the Loft nightclub. The restaurant features American fusion including everything from chicken wings to seafood pasta, with a bar specializing in vodka and tequila cocktails. Come for dinner and stay for an evening of drinks in comfortable, private booths.
St. Louis' version of the popular tourist and music-fan destination Hard Rock Café sits in downtown's Union Station. The restaurant's décor stays true to its brethren - memorabilia covers the walls, with information posted for each item. Highlights include one of Diana Ross' dresses and a Bo Diddley guitar. After guests take some time to peruse the many rock artifacts, they can digest the extensive menu. Hard Rock Café's selections include typical American fare - nachos, wings and quesadillas for appetizers, and sandwiches, steaks and a hefty burger menu for the main course.
From the muffalettas and po' boys on the menu to the concert posters, album covers and photos that cover the walls (look for the shot of owner Vince Valenza from his club-gigging days with music buddy Pennsylvania Slim), Blues City Deli screams New Orleans. Thursday evenings and Saturday afternoons in this Benton Park deli feature free live concerts from blues artists and more. On these days, a line goes out the door and often around the corner. Even if the wait was long, it'd still be worth it for that sweet (or spicy - you choose) "Memphix Stax" pulled pork piled high with slaw, but with an expeditious sandwich assembly line, visitors never have to go hungry for long. Aside from a "soup of the day" and a couple of salads, we're talking all sandwiches, all the time. Grab a quick bite, kick back with a cold beer and soak up some quality local music.
This small town bar located on the north side of Highway 94 in St. Charles just before Boschertown serves mostly the north-end St. Charles crowd, which makes for fantastic people watching and a good alternative to the preppier old-town scene. The soundtrack here is Shania Twain, the TV sets always seem to be broadcasting NASCAR and the patrons are usually up for a game of pool. Shirley's has happy hour every day from 3 to 6 p.m. with $5 mixed drinks and cheap food like peel-and-eat shrimp for just 35 cents each. Its signature dish, however, is the "trash wings," which are fried chicken wings, bathed in sauce and then fried again so they are both spicy and crunchy. Yum!