Long(ish) time readers will remember that I from time to time
extol the value of “lunch”. I am not
talking about grab and go, drive through, rush back to work lunch, but time stolen from an
otherwise busy day providing a little oasis from daily reality where good conversation
and food can be enjoyed leisurely. I’ve
had three lunches in STL, with two falling into that category. And the third was a "grab and go" variety, but it
was a planned one, a must do for any trip to STL.
After our great dinner at Brasserie by Niche with FOJTE and W, the next day we
had an appointment with our “financial” guy and it always somehow works out
that lunch is part of the deal. Pleased
with our Gerard Craft experience at Brasserie, we decided to give him more
business and try a lunch at the Clayton venue, “Pastaria”, where none of us had been. Our friend had another meeting scheduled after
ours, so we agreed to meet at the restaurant.
Finding a parking meter in busy Clayton and stuffing it with quarters
(one per 15 minutes!) we headed out to find the place. Which we did, just a few doors from Café Napoli. Turns out that Pastaria is very informal, with (many) plain wooden
tables, kind of stuffed in so that an adjoining table could be part of your
dining experience. Besides that, it was loud (was
middle of lunch service in busy Clayton on the Friday before Christmas). They would (understandably) not seat a incomplete
party so we sat on the benches along with others awaiting a table. They did have kind of a cute sign at the
stand:
The more we sat (and
listened), the more we thought that this wasn’t quite the experience we were hoping
for (good conversation and quiet, leisurely lunching), so decided to abandon Mr. Craft
this time and trade possible food quality for ambiance. So, we
celled our friend who was running late anyway, and went down to Napoli. Sure enough we could be seated as a party of
two waiting for a third, and were given a table right away. We were approached by our server (I think
with no speeches) and when he was told we were waiting for dash three, he said
"how about a glass of something while you wait? Tea,
water, coffee?" How about wine? "Sure, I’ll get you the wine list". He returned in a little bit with a……. wait
for it…… iPad!! They had recently
changed over their wine list to this media.
He briefly showed us how to page between wines by the glass, bottle, red, white,
domestic, imported, and so forth..
Despite the bit of incongruity between the kind of classic (although not
“old”) Italian Restaurant, this modern device was easy to navigate. Other than the initial weirdness, it was
sort of fun. I can see the advantage of
it, it could be kept up to date more easily, and perhaps avoid the “we seem to be out
of that” syndrome, it saves paper, and eliminates another tome on the table. I suppose it gets to be a personal
choice.. It enables you to “select” your choice
and when the server comes back he can look at (or take the list) with all the “selections”
and fill it. Interesting concept. And, if wine list today, are menu’s next?? I think I have read something about
that.
Anyway, MFO selected an Italian
white whose name escapes me (carry the book, Feeder!!) but it wasn’t a common
variety and I think had a Nebbiolo. Both
were quite pleasant. About halfway
through the glass, our friend arrived and caught up with us on the wine. Won’t do a “dish by dish” but all were very
good. I had a daily special of a filet
of trout in a nice sauce. I had spied it
going to another table (always keep your eyes open before ordering) and noticed it came with a
side of broccoli. I asked our server
about it and he said yes, it was served that way. I divulged that I really didn’t like it much,
and he said, “neither do I, how about some Pasta instead?”. Yes, please. Now that is good service… So while we didn’t get to try the second
Gerard Craft place, we did have a very civilized lunch. I don’t think you would ever go wrong with Café
Napoli, a nit here or there, but overall a good choice. Plus it’s fun to see the clientele..
"Lunch two" was on Wednesday, athe day after the hubbub of Christmas by
Marriott was over. We scheduled another
business meeting with the “Tax” side of our affairs, and had arranged to meet
some long time friends for a lunch after that.. Turns out they had a “bug” and had to
regret, which left us on our own. Although
our tax bunch is down near “the Hill”, MFO had been looking for an opportunity
to do the “other” Dominic’s, the Trattoria in Clayton. Being the day after Christmas, I was unsure
if they were open for lunch (at all, and on the day after Christmas), but a
quick (well, not so much) check on the Droid, the website said open for lunch,
and turned down the thought to call offered by MFO.. Great.
Off we went, and found a parking spot nearby and after again stuffing the
parking meter like a slot machine, we started walking. The nearer we got, the less cars there were,
and in fact their (unbeknownst) own parking lot was empty. Uh Oh, and sure enough there was the dreaded
white sheet taped to the door announcing they would be open at 5:00 the day
after Christmas. Kindly enough, MFO
didn’t give me the (well deserved) I told you to call! So sadly we had to leave the donation to the
City of Clayton in the parking meter and then, “now what?” Ever alert MFO suggested “how about Cardwell’s?”. Good choice I thought, and this time a cautionary
drive by confirmed lights on and heads inside.
We also noted that Oceana Bistro across the street was obviously busy,
so a backup was available. So another
parking meter benefitted from MFO’s bottomless change purse and we trooped over
to Cardwell’s. As those of you St.
Louisites know there is also a version in Plaza Frontenac. While the Plaza version is bustling and
noisy, the Clayton one is more um, refined (?), formal (?), with tables isolated
by partitions and lighting, just the kind of situation we were looking for
after all our driving and thrashing around.
We were on the down side of lunch service so the place was fairly empty
which suited us just fine. Although we
got started with a speech, the rest of the service was kindly. And because it was (well) after noon and our
last day in STL, I thought what the hell and started with a cocktail
Which is NOT as you will notice, dear readers, my normal
DMOTRWAT, but my second, more refined choice, a Gray Goose Dirty Martini, “up”. It did help.. For food I had a daily special of angel hair
pasta with shrimp and asparagus (pushed aside), and MFO had a “fresh” spinach
salad with “crispy fried shrimp”. It was
kind of funny: both dishes included
shrimp (which always sound good), but oddly enough the actuality was that they
were just slightly larger than “popcorn” size.
In a respectable restaurant they should be a feature of the dish, not
kind of an afterthought. We also had a
third party at our table, a little fruit fly that kept trying to join us. Rather bothersome. Eventually the hundredth lightning quick hand
of the Bottom Feeder caught the little bugger.
The server apologized, but not much he could do. I suppose that might be a product of an “open”
kitchen, but I don’t know. Anyway it
was a most enjoyable little time stolen from the day.
And come to think of it, maybe “lunch” is more about the
experience than the food, while at dinner the food takes the spotlight. I would drive for dinner food, but most
likely I would (pretty much) pick lunch by the atmosphere..
And lastly (for the food side), the mention of the “grab and
go”, no question that any trip to STL is incomplete with grabbing this (yes, $11/Lb, and worth every freaking penny)
Side Dishes…
Sports:
1st down:
As college bowl season builds toward the crescendo of the mythical “national
championship” game which will take place sometime in the third quarter of 2013,
I managed to stay awake (mostly) last night in an attempt to give the MSU
Spartans another chance to break my heart.
But, this year I employed my secret weapon..
Which resulted in a Spartan Win! (at something like 1:45 am)
by a “foot” (get it?); and as the commercial says: "It's only wierd if it doesn't work".... it did
2nd down:
I got a great idea, let’s have a holiday bowl game in…. Yankee
Stadium!!!!
Special Days
You know, the more I live, the more I appreciate the “eve”
day of special “eve” days. Like today is
the “eve” of New Year’s Eve. All you
have to do is think about what you are going to do, you don’t actually have to
do it.. Ahhhhh
Sietsema – New Years
If you get the Sunday Washington Post Magazine, check out
today's Tom Sietsema Dining column. It contains “new
years resolutions” for restaurateurs, and diners. Worth a read..Just a couple.. Restaurants:
Drop the eggs (don’t put them on everything);
Accept Reservations (people like to plan ahead); Audition Everything (like actually sit in the chairs you expect your guests
to spend a couple of hours in); Diners: Show
up on Time; ...and my personal favorite: Dress for the Occasion (…”dressing up a
little isn’t showing off. It’s showing
respect for the restaurant and for others around you”). Thanks Tom..
in other words:
DFD!!