November Good Dinner: Alumni, 11/25

November's dinner took place at Alumni, a downtown restaurant celebrating all things St. Louis. Errin was the host that chose this spot, but I missed this dinner myself. I'm sorry to have missed this one. Diner reviews seem all over the board, so I wish I could report a personal opinion.
On atmosphere, Alumni got mostly "fair" and "good" ratings, with one excellent. Some folks had parking woes, not realizing there was a parking garage available. Yet another diner mentioned that Alumni puts St. Louis trivia on the table, and called it "a fun place."
As far as service went, these answers were really skewed. One diner said service was "excellent," while another, "disappointing." It seems the server was nice but not very attentive. And - she broke a cardinal server rule - she didn't offer dessert, and instead just brought checks to the table. Some diners had hoped to try the Blueberry Gooey Butter Cake (apropos for the St. Louis-themed restaurant I might add), but decided against it since the waitress finalized tabs prematurely.
Food. It thankfully got mostly good and excellent scores. One diner said, "my duck pasta in a sherry sauce was absolutely excellent! I wasn't that excited about the old Famous Barr french onion soup but I think it really did taste like the old Famous Barr french onion soup." Well done, chef.
Overall, Alumni got mostly "good" scores, and seems a welcome addition to the downtown restaurant scene. I'll give it a solid 3.5 spoons based on diner feedback, and hope to try it out for myself soon.

October Good Dinner: Modesto, 10/18

The Diva is back!!

October's dinner locale was selected by host Tamee: Modesto. Located in St. Louis' favorite Italian neighborhood, the Hill,  Modesto is more modern than its neighboring stereotypical "Hill" restaurants (which I love too). It is in fact a Spanish restaurant most known for it's tapas menu.
We all met first in the bar area, and initially they didn't want to seat us at our table in the dining room until our entire party had arrived, which is always a little annoying. I understand the reason why restaurants do this, but I'd say if you have a party of 10 and are only missing 1 or 2 people, don't make everyone else wait just because of that. Be accommodating to people that are bringing you business. That's all I have to say about that, so restaurants take note! Moving on, our waitress in the bar area was Dana, and she was very nice and kept up well getting every one's orders correct and keeping track in lieu of people coming and going from our group. In the bar they were featuring happy hour, which offered tapa samples for I think 50 cents and $1 - a neat way to try a bunch out to see what you like. They also had specials on Sangria, and my red Sangria was great. A lot of us got Sangria and I think all enjoyed it.
When we moved onto dinner in the main room, we were given a new waitress Laura, who was also very nice and kept account of orders, etc. with accuracy. GDC diners rated the service at Modesto with mostly 4 and 5 spoons, on a scale of 1-5.
For dinner, the hubby and I shared some plates: the Arroz Con Pollo entree - a rice-based dish with chicken, bacon and roasted peppers; Pinchos Morunos - lamb skewers with yogurt and piquillo-caper relish; and Datiles Rellenos - bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with Cabrales cheese. The lamb skewers were the other half's choice and not really up my alley so I'm not fit to comment on those. The entree was pretty good but my favorite was the dates - delish! I don't think I'd trouble myself to re-order the entree or skewers again, but would definitely stick with the dates and then try out some other menu items, as there is a lot to choose from. GDR's had mixed reactions to the food. One diner said "Drink and dishes recommended by the server were NOT good." I'm not sure what drink was suggested, but I've already stated that the Sangria special was a hit. And some other diners seemed to like some of the special food items. Overall, Modesto got mostly 4 spoons on food.
In addition, Modesto got mostly 5 spoons for atmosphere. "Very nice decor, and we were well accommodated," said one diner, and I'd agree with that.
The Overall score for Modesto was two 3-spoons, four 4-spoons and two 5-spoons.
Personally, I give Modesto 4 spoons. I don't know if I'd select it myself as a first choice among dinner options, but if something brought me back there, I'd look forward to trying out more of its many dishes.

What do you think of Modesto?
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September Good Dinner: Scape American Bistro, 9/20

From the President:

Our September host, Sheena, chose Scape American Bistro. I have to admit that I wasn't too excited about this one, having dined there previously to find the food fairly bland. However, Sheena got repeated recommendations from friends about Scape and I had some disappointed invitees respond that they had to decline but that Scape was one of their favorite restaurants.

Parking is always tricky in the CWE but Scape offers valet service at a charge at the door. That is always a plus for me although the charge always irritates me. Scape is decorated fairly formally but well done. My memory is that it is sleek with lots of shiny black counters and other accoutrements.  Had the weather been better, the outside dining space looks great. There are options in the rear of the restaurant which look quite peaceful and in the front, where you get more of a city feel. The group gave Scape 4 1/2 stars for its ambiance, I would give it 4 stars.

Our excellent service started before dinner. I called to expand the reservation and was denied the night before our dinner, the restaurant explained they had a busy Friday scheduled. But Friday I received a call advising that they had some cancellations and could now accommodate us. I was really impressed that they would have made a note of my call and followed up with me. We had a large party and the service was almost perfect. Our food came out quickly and well timed even though we had some guests that were very late (including me) due to the traffic from the Balloon Glow). Our server was very pleasant and accommodating. The group gave Scape 4 1/2 stars for service but I would give them 5 stars.

The food was well-prepared and tasty but frankly, nothing that left me anxious to return right away. I ordered the short ribs which came with spaetzle.  I thought that was a unique choice and I was excited to have it. The spaetzle was great, the meat was flavorful but the sauce left a little to be desired. It had an interesting flavor but just not tangy enough for my taste.  Our diners also made comments on both the chopped salad and the salmon. I took dessert to go and it was really good. The peach cobbler is interesting, the crust is almost a cake. I enjoyed it very much. I give the food a solid 4 stars, while our diners gave it 4 1/2 stars.

Overall, our diners gave the restaurant 5 stars,  but I would give it 4 stars. It seems that this restaurant is one you have to try for yourself. It might be your new favorite, depending on your taste.

What do you think of Scape?
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August Good Dinner: Pan D'Olive, 8/26

From the President:

Our host for August was Seema. She chose the Mediterranean restaurant Pan D'Olive. The space has been a couple of different restaurants so I was anxious to see the latest transformation.

We were set up in the basement where they could accommodate the large group we expected. The basement is a nice space for large groups. Although it is a basement space, it is really cosy and simply decorated. It could work really well as an event space for a group of the right size. The group gave the atmosphere 4 1/2 stars, but I would give it a solid 4 stars.

A sweet waitress was dedicated to our group. I got the impression that English was not her first language but I believe she got every order exactly right. The dinner moved efficiently with no long waits. The group gave the service 4 stars but I would give them 5.

The food was really good. I cannot say enough about how delicious the arancini was. The flavor of the gorgonzola was just strong enough to make it a winner. I think almost everyone ordered the lobster ravioli in sherry cream sauce. It was also delicious as expected. Any restaurant that doesn't have something in a sherry cream sauce is missing out on a winning entree. There was nothing on the dessert menu that I had to have and cannot remember anyone else ordering dessert. Overall, the group gave the restaurant 4 1/2 stars and I agree.

What do you think of Pan D'Olive?
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July Good Dinner: Demun Oyster Bar, 7/22

From the President:

Our July host, Nicole, maintained our summer seafood theme by choosing Demun Oyster Bar. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I wasn't terribly excited, not having found great seafood thus far in St. Louis. However, I like the Demun neighborhood and was interested in giving the restaurant a try.

I always expect parking to be a problem in this area but there always seems to be enough parking. Walking into Demun Oyster bar was like walking into a great little restaurant in the French Quarter. True to its character, the door was propped open and the restaurant was a little hot. That didn't stop us from having a great time! The group gave the atmosphere 4 stars and I would agree.

In general, this was the most welcoming, accommodating restaurant that we have been to in the history of the existence of Good dinner Club (more than 4 years). The staff was just fantastic! The restaurant was really too small for a group our size so we were split into 2 tables. They explained that the kitchen was small and we would have to order in waves for things to run as efficiently as possible. Things did not go perfectly but the attitude of our waitress and the rest of the staff more than made up for any hiccups in the service. The group gave the service 4 stars; I would give them 5.

I had plans to explore their wonderful drink menu since I arrived a little early but I ordered a drink so delicious (I wish I could remember the name, it had lavender) that I just kept getting that one. The rest of our group who ordered various drinks each seemed to feel the same way. I was disappointed that they did not offer a New England style clam chowder so I skipped the soup. The fried shrimp that I ordered was the biggest freshest most delicious fried shrimp I have ever eaten. This comes from someone who lived on a coast for 4 years. My pasta was delicious, although I would have preferred a creamier sauce over the delicious broth that came with it. I had taken a peak at the dessert menu in advance and had my heart set on one thing until Sreenu ordered the beignets and offered my end of the table a taste. It was so delicious with the raspberry sauce that I took one to go. It was delicious at the table, at my house at room temperature and cold out of the refrigerator. Our group as a whole gave the food 4 1/2 starts, I give it 5.

We had a really good dinner at Demun Oyster Bar. The group overall gave the restaurant 4 stars, I have to give it 5. I cannot imagine it will be long before it outgrows this charming location. What a fantastic find!

What do you think of Demun Oyster Bar?
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June Good Dinner: Coastal Bistro, 6/25

From the President:

Our host for June was Jerina. She chose a restaurant that I have been meaning to try, Coastal Bistro. It is affiliated with one of my absolute favorite restaurants, Bocci Bar, so I was planning on a tasty meal.

Parking is at a bit of a premium in Clayton, although valet is available at the restaurant for $4 or $5. The restaurant is fairly small with outside seating available. The decor was pretty eclectic. The inside is painted red but there are elements reflecting the fact that Coastal Bistro is a seafood restaurant. There was a little too much going on for my taste but it was bright and lively.

Even though the restaurant was not very busy, our service was very slow. Our waiter seemed a little frazzled, even though he couldn't have had many tables.

The real star at Coastal Bistro is the food. It is so good I have been back twice since June. I must disclose, however, that some of our diners were not so impressed. My food was delicious and everything that I saw come out looked scrumptious. The lobster macaroni and cheese is absolutely delicious. The clam chowder is loaded with clams more so than any other chowder I have ever had. The Cajun fried clams were fantastic with a really tasty dipping sauce. The most delicious thing that I had was the blackberry bread pudding. It came with a lovely sauce and was an absolute winner. While I couldn't get many of our diners to give it a try because it was non-traditional, I cannot say enough about it.

The President gives this restaurant 3 stars/spoons. I really wanted to give it 4 stars but I defer to the overall experience of our diners which was not as delicious as mine was.



What do you think of Coastal Bistro?
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May Good Dinner: Citizen Kane's Steakhouse, 5/24

Hello all - President Shelby here, subbing for the Good Dinner Diva. Our favorite diva has lots to tend to as her little one grows so I thought I would jump in and help out. Our host for May was the Diva's husband, Fibbens, fondly known to us as Fiifi. He chose what I would consider to be a St. Louis classic, Citizen Kane's Steakhouse.

Parking is a bit of an issue at Citizen Kane's which is located near Kirkwood Station Plaza, although diners are allowed to use a neighboring lot. Regardless, your trip across the street is easily avoided by making use of their valet service at no charge. Citizen Kane's is located in a large turn of the century Victorian home. It remains true to its heritage as little if anything appears to remodeled. We were led upstairs to our table which was located in one of the various rooms on the second floor. Although I would have preferred some modern upgrades, our diners overall found the atmosphere to be charming.

While our waiter was pleasant, diners commented that service was a little slow and that some of the orders were not placed timely. However, the restaurant was accommodating to my special requests which is always a plus with me.

I had dined at Citizen Kane's years before and was not impressed. However, this time, both myself and our Vice President could not stop eating our delicious ribeyes. I can't remember when I have had a better steak (except the Char rubbed ribeye at 1111 Mississippi of course). In my opinion, the sides and the salad left much to be desired but the ribeye more than made up for it. For many of us here in the midwest, there is not much better than a well-prepared flavorful steak. Overall, our diners felt the food was really good, I think many of us will return.

The President gives this restaurant 4 stars/spoons.


What do you think of Citizen Kane 's?
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April Good Dinner: The Restaurant at The Cheshire, 4/30

April's Good Dinner had Julia hosting, and we got to try out The Restaurant at the Cheshire, which opened in November of last year. Name? No - that is it's name: The Restaurant. I guess it's a way of trying to say, "we are it - after you come here you won't even consider any other dining establishment." So did it deliver? I've gotta say, from the start, the atmosphere is gorgeous. However, now I'm trying to remember if they had any outdoor seating, which of course would've been a bonus, but then again at the intersection of Clayton and Skinker, you'd just be staring at the famous gigantic Amoco sign. But I digress - The Restaurant is gorgeous, with no detail overlooked - it's got a big wow factor but still feels warm and inviting. Five GDC'ers rated atmosphere with the excellent rating of 5 spoons - but I'm scratching my head as to why one diner rated it just "fair" - wish I knew who that was and why - please tell me where you've been eating that makes this establishment look just "fair"!
Service also got good ratings - with four diners giving it 5 spoons, and 3 giving 4 spoons. Our server was very knowledgeable, personable and willing to meet our every need. The Restaurant got the same for food - four giving 5 spoons and three giving 4 spoons. I apologize profusely because I can't remember what I ordered (probably the filet)! I need to start taking notes. But I do know that it was very good. At this time it is appropriate to mention one thing: price. This place is no IHOP, ok? It is EXPENSIVE. You do get what you pay for - great ambiance, service and food, but this is just good to note.
Overall, it's no surprise that once again all diners gave The Restaurant 4 and 5 spoon ratings. One diner said "Everything was great - the food was good but I think the ambiance and wait staff made the experience. There weren't any surprises and everything met my expectations." Another said "Will go back in a heartbeat," and I'd concur...on someone else's dime (or many, many dollars). :)

I think I'll go out on a limb and give The Restaurant a rare 5 spoon rating.
What do you think of the restaurant called The Restaurant?
Please rate & review below!

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February Good Dinner: Harvest, 2/19

February's Good Dinner was hosted by Erin and took place at Harvest in Clayton. Self-described as taking American cuisine to a new level, and featuring fresh local and seasonal ingredients, I had heard rave reviews of Harvest and was excited to get to try it out. Diners rated Harvest in four categories: service, food, atmosphere and overall. When it came to service, most diners gave Harvest only 2 spoons out of 5... this wasn't so much because we had a lousy server, but because dinner from start to finish took over 2 hours - on a Tuesday!! So needless to say, things moved quite slow.
Harvest got decent results on food, receiving mostly four spoons, however, I wasn't too impressed. Maybe my hopes were too high because of the good reviews I had heard ... my food was ok, but nothing to write home about. One GDC'er said "My entree (special for the evening - spear fish) was fantastic. My oysters were disappointing. Raw fish should never have an odor, but the oysters had a faint fishy smell. It also looked like the shucker intentionally drained the liquid from inside the oyster. That's the best part! The salt-watery, briny taste that comes with that liquid is what makes oysters so good (for me at least). And the bread pudding could have been warmer. We've had it warmer and it was much better."
As far as atmosphere goes, I thought the restaurant was very warm and inviting, and most GDC'ers gave it four spoons. However one diner had a different, and probably more observant take (given that I had my toddler with me, I probably didn't look at anything other than what she was about to get into next!) - that diner said, "It is VERY apparent that Harvest is running out of space. Chairs lined up along the hallway to the restroom and wine boxes stacked near the server station detract from the otherwise pleasant atmosphere. And get rid of the fake grape vines dangling from the front dining room. Please." We may be blunt but we're honest. Overall, Harvest got mostly 3 spoons out of 5. It seems Harvest had good momentum and received great accolades early on, but is loosing it's je ne sais quoi. I hope it finds a way to revive that.

I give Harvest 3 out of 5 spoons. What do you think? Please rate & review below!

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January Special Dinner: Spiro's South

January was a busy month for the Good Dinner Club! Not only did we have our regular Good Dinner, but we also had Clubs Council Dinner and this special occasion: a dinner invitation to Spiro's South. Once upon a time, our GDC president tweeted about a disappointing experience GDC encountered at one of our restaurant selections, and Spiro's took note, inviting us to check them out sometime, so we took them up on that! Spiro's South specializes in classic Italian, Mediterranean, and Greek cuisine. As far as service goes, Spiro's averaged a "Good" rating, with one diner noting that the owner was very friendly and personable. For food, all diners gave "Fair" ratings. For atmosphere, Spiro's got a mixture of "Fair" and "Good" marks. One attendee mentioned having to park across a busy street from the restaurant. Overall, Spiro's was given a unanimous "Fair" rating. It seems Spiro's has good customer service, and aim to please, but the food and ambiance, although not bad, wasn't wowing GDC'ers. I'll give Spiro's 3 spoons out of 5, and if we had a rating for customer relations alone, they'd certainly get all 5 spoons, as we are impressed with their willingness to reach out to us. Thank you Spiro's!

What do you think of Spiro's South? Please rate & review below!

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January Good Dinner: Vino Nadoz Wine Bar, 1/22

January's dinner took place at Vino Nadoz Wine Bar, located in The Boulevard in Brentwood, with GDC President Shelby hosting. I had to miss this dinner unfortunately, so I'll relinquish control to the GDC surveys. When it came to service, diners said it was mostly good, with one person giving a "fair" rating. Apparently, the main downside was that service, although amicable, was slow. The food seemed to not disappoint however, receiving mostly excellent ratings. One diner said "The food was just amazing! If they have the pork chop on the menu, then you should get it. It was just damn good!" which makes me wish I didn't miss out on this eating experience! Atmosphere also got mostly excellent marks, and I must say, from the website, it looks very hip (and forgive me if it's no longer hip to say "hip"). Overall, GDC'ers gave Vino Nadoz mostly excellent marks with one giving a solid "good." With that, I'll give Vino four spoons out of five - after all, service was probably slow because the joint was hoppin (and hip)!

What do you think of Vino Nadoz? Please rate & review below!

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January Council Meeting: SoHO, 1/5

January's Council meeting dinner took place at Soho Restaurant & Lounge in The Grove. I'll firstly say that this is not a family establishment. Not that that is a bad thing - not everyone wants to be a family establishment and I certainly don't think that SoHo is going for that. With it being a restaurant on one side and a lounge/bar/club on the other, this is definitely meant to cater to those out to enjoy the nightlife. Not knowing this and not able to find a sitter, hubby and I went with toddler in tow, and that was not fun. She actually did pretty well, but they have no high chairs and no changing tables. I don't really blame them though - just again, putting it out there so you don't find yourself in my position. I actually felt kind of dumb having my daughter there in the first place - like we were going clubbin together. It was a smaller group being that New Years had just come and gone - I believe there were 5 of us. On a scale of 5, SoHo's score among council diners averaged out to a 3. Yeah..not so great. I actually really enjoyed my entree - BBQ Shrimp & Grits. But those surveyed rated food with 3s & 4s - no 5s. Service and "Overall" was also rated all 3s and 4s. Atmosphere actually fared worse with a 2 and the rest 3s. I would venture to say that was due to the table we were at being crammed into a corner and, although had a window view, was a little claustrophobic. In addition, it was kind of a loud environment. Not as easy to hear those at your own table. All in all, I'd say this might be a decent happy hour locale, but nothing is causing me to rush back any time soon. I'll give SoHo 3 out of 5 spoons. What do you think of SoHo? Rate & reply below!

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