Downtown Restaurant Week, Aug. 11-16

debaliviere · PostJul 21, 2008#12008-07-21T19:58+00:00

Downtown Restaurant Week is back, August 11-16. This is the fourth year for the event.

A good lineup of restaurants this year - Simply Fondue is on the list; might be a good way to help them out at a reasonable price:

http://www.downtownrestaurantweek.net/2008/index.html#

frankiefaun · PostJul 23, 2008#22008-07-23T03:48+00:00

I heard KMOX talking about The Crossing/Liluma/Acero's tasting menus (one price) tonight so i did a search for other restaurants in STL that might also be offering something like this and came across the www.downtownrestaurantweek.net website.

I heard about this last year and it seems like a pretty good deal. Does anyone out there have any thoughts about what's good, what's bad, where to go, experiences from last year, etc.

Thanks

Frank

kadc1001 · PostJul 23, 2008#32008-07-23T04:21+00:00

Downtown Restaurant week is a really great deal. Its a great way to experience Downtown St.Louis and get to try some of the best restaurants STL has to offer! I totally recommend it!!

krykel · PostJul 24, 2008#42008-07-24T15:51+00:00

This is a good time to get your suburban friends down to show them what their missing

bprop · PostJul 24, 2008#52008-07-24T17:43+00:00

^ I live in the suburbs and eat at restaurants in the City all the time. What am I missing?

krykel · PostJul 24, 2008#62008-07-24T23:03+00:00

bprop wrote:^ I live in the suburbs and eat at restaurants in the City all the time. What am I missing?

Okay let me correct myself, suburban people that refuse to come to the city to eat because its dead/dangerous. This would be a good time to try and get them out to see whats been going on downtown.

the central scrutinizer · PostJul 25, 2008#72008-07-25T00:01+00:00

krykel wrote:
bprop wrote:^ I live in the suburbs and eat at restaurants in the City all the time. What am I missing?

Okay let me correct myself, suburban people that refuse to come to the city to eat because its dead/dangerous. This would be a good time to try and get them out to see whats been going on downtown.

Is it less dangerous during restaurant week?

krykel · PostJul 25, 2008#82008-07-25T00:36+00:00

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:
krykel wrote:
bprop wrote:^ I live in the suburbs and eat at restaurants in the City all the time. What am I missing?

Okay let me correct myself, suburban people that refuse to come to the city to eat because its dead/dangerous. This would be a good time to try and get them out to see whats been going on downtown.

Is it less dangerous during restaurant week?

You can use this as a reason to arrange a "get together" for your friends. I am sure all of us know people that refuse to leave their bubble. This is a good time to invite them out to our neck of the woods.

contractorkitchens · PostJul 25, 2008#92008-07-25T00:50+00:00

Going to give something new a try, maybe simply fondue. We did american place last time. If i'm being honest tho, i'm not super excited about it. From a culinary standpoint, there are not a lot of restaurants downtown blowing my mind. A lot of good places, nothing great.

ben1040 · PostJul 25, 2008#102008-07-25T01:32+00:00

ContractorKitchens wrote:Going to give something new a try, maybe simply fondue. We did american place last time. If i'm being honest tho, i'm not super excited about it. From a culinary standpoint, there are not a lot of restaurants downtown blowing my mind. A lot of good places, nothing great.

Agreed. I went to An American Place for Restaurant Week 2 years ago and was underwhelmed. I remember going to Terrene a week or so later and realizing I found the food to be better, the service just as personal, and a much smaller tab at the end of the night.

If I weren't already dumping lots of money into the downtown economy by having my wedding that same week, I might still have checked one of these out, though.

frankiefaun · PostJul 25, 2008#112008-07-25T01:51+00:00

Funny, maybe Downtown is safer during restaurant week:)

I have heard good things about 15, except later in the night when it turns into a club. I went there last year for a private party and loved the patio.

Might also try SkyBox just out of curoiousity...probably won't be blown away from culinary perspective, but heard the inside is pretty cool for sports watching. I am curious about the Etoufee' from a Nelly restaurant menu.

Very curious about Simply Fondue...is this the same folks who have that place on Delmar or different company? The menu looks pretty solid for a fondue place.

Mosaic is going the bold route with a 5 course menu for $25, not sure if that's a better deal than others, but maybe worth a try.

framer · PostJul 25, 2008#122008-07-25T04:58+00:00

^Simply Fondue and the Melting Pot have completely differant ownership.

debaliviere · PostJul 25, 2008#132008-07-25T13:51+00:00

We ate at Fifteen a few months ago, and I was impressed. I'd recommend checking it out on restaurant week.

I think An American Place offers the $25 menu all the time now, not just during restaurant week.

We did Mosaic for restaurant week two years ago - might want to go and check out their new digs. I'm leaning toward going to Simply Fondue though.

chrisindowntown · PostJul 25, 2008#142008-07-25T14:07+00:00

Over the years have done Simply Fondue, American Place, Shannons, and Pepper Lounge. Was thinking 15, but not overwhelmed by their menu. Did Fondue with a group of 10 and it was a blast. Kitchen Ks menu looks awesome as he's added some new items since I've been in there last. Not sure about this year...

u2acro · PostJul 25, 2008#152008-07-25T18:38+00:00

I love the downtown restaurant week almost as much as I love Taste of St. Louis! Almost, but not quite. It's hard for vegetarians to take part because the majority of the participating restaurants don't offer vegetarian entrees. Quite a few of the places offer at least one vegetarian starter, which is awesome. And Yes, there are some, like Simply Fondue and 400 Olive, that offer at least one veggie entree. But really, would it be difficult to include a really good pasta dish (NOT pasta con broccoli. Ugh.) or a mega mountain of tasty veggies dressed up in an awesome sauce? I totally get that the fixed menus are planned that way for a reason, but I don't think us vegetarians are all THAT weird and unexpected in this day and age. We like dining out, too!

frankiefaun · PostJul 26, 2008#162008-07-26T18:33+00:00

I heard this and tried calling there...does anyone have any info?

I heard they might be closed for good.

the central scrutinizer · PostJul 26, 2008#172008-07-26T18:56+00:00

frankiefaun wrote:I heard this and tried calling there...does anyone have any info?

I heard they might be closed for good.

Would you mind using a proper noun or two?

downtown2007 · PostJul 26, 2008#182008-07-26T22:37+00:00

What resturant are you referring to?

the central scrutinizer · PostJul 26, 2008#192008-07-26T23:46+00:00

Downtown2007 wrote:What resturant are you referring to?

One poster fails to use proper nouns. The next ends a sentence with a preposition.

slinn78 · PostJul 26, 2008#202008-07-26T23:46+00:00

Sorry to be the messenger of bad news but Simply Fondue officially closed as of Wednesday night and will not be reopening.

the central scrutinizer · PostJul 26, 2008#212008-07-26T23:50+00:00

06/09/2006:

The Central Scrutinizer wrote:Fondue?!?! People have such short memories. We went through that fad in the 70's. I give them 2 years, 3 tops.

07/26/2008:

slinn78 wrote:Sorry to be the messenger of bad news but Simply Fondue officially closed as of Wednesday night and will not be reopening.

Damn, I'm good.

slinn78 · PostJul 26, 2008#222008-07-26T23:53+00:00

Are you proud of the fact that you are right? Thats sad, because many people put a lot of hard work into that restaurant and to see the doors close is very sad. It is also upsetting to see the downtown area lose another business.

downtown2007 · PostJul 27, 2008#232008-07-27T00:01+00:00

Yep, their answering machine states they are closed for good. Big bummer!!! Scrut you werent really that acurate with your comment. They only made it a year.

the central scrutinizer · PostJul 27, 2008#242008-07-27T00:43+00:00

Downtown2007 wrote:Yep, their answering machine states they are closed for good. Big bummer!!! Scrut you werent really that acurate with your comment. They only made it a year.

Yeah, I know. So I was being generous!

PostJul 27, 2008#252008-07-27T00:45+00:00

slinn78 wrote:Are you proud of the fact that you are right?

Yes I am.

slinn78 wrote:Thats sad, because many people put a lot of hard work into that restaurant and to see the doors close is very sad. It is also upsetting to see the downtown area lose another business.

Even had I not made the prediction, the restaurant would still be closed.