10. MO Liquor Laws – PA liquor laws aren’t as bad as their terrible beer laws, which are the worst thing ever, but you Missourians don’t know how good you have it. When liquor had its own aisle in the grocery store, I was always making impulse purchases – picking up bottles that were particularly shiny or a pretty color or whatever and it was just part of my normal grocery shopping routine. And I went to the grocery store on a pretty regular basis so I had a pretty impressive collection going on. No extra stops at the liquor store or possibly another stop at the “fancier” liquor store (PA actually has two types of liquor stores, it is weird). Plus, I could hide how much money I actually spent on alcohol because it was incorporated into the grocery bill. Easy win for MO.

9. Slingers - I asked my friend if there was some sort of official Philly drunk/hangover food and he answered “Cheesteaks” (the answer to everything in Philly is apparently cheesesteaks) and not even some cool XXtreme Cheesesteak (a la STL’s own Mammer Jammer). Just a normal cheesesteak, which to me is regular, sober food, like a cheeseburger. I mean, it’s greasy and satisfying and I’d eat one while drunk but it’s no match for the Slinger, which serves no other purpose in life other than to be eaten while drunk at 2 am or hungover. I like the ones at Courtesy… two eggs over easy, hash browns, hamburger patties, chili, cheese and onions, please… maybe a side of toast. STL +1.

8. Fast Food Chains – When I first came to St. Louis, I thought it was fast food hell. You guys had no Dunkin’ Donuts and no Wendy’s – and this was in the pre-Chick-Fil-A spicy chicken sandwich days so that was rough. I was forced to branch out and discovered you guys not only have some crucial staples (Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Qdoba/Chipotle), but you also have a burger chain devoted to butter burgers (Culver’s), a burger chain devoted to steakburgers (Steak ‘N Shake), White Castle (which I had never actually had pre-STL), and even a chain devoted to roast beef au jus sandwiches that isn’t gross like Arby’s (Lion’s Choice). I never went to McDonalds once in the year and a half I was there because why would I? And someone finally brought back Wendy’s and Dunkin Donuts before I left, making it a pretty perfect fast food world. Philly’s got the basics but it doesn’t have the extras.

7. Ted Drewes – Philly has Rita’s Water Ice while St. Louis has Ted Drewes’ concretes. Water ice is pretty refreshing when it’s hot out so I’m not anti-Rita’s, but summertime means ice cream to me, and concretes (which are essentially super thick Dairy Queen Blizzards with whatever add-ins you want) are pretty cool – You can turn the cup of frozen custard upside down and it’s so thick, it will stay in the cup. It’s a neat party trick. Rita’s actually has something similar and I’ll give it a try, but Shake Shack in NYC, which serves up pretty much my favorite burgers ever, sells the real deal (he pays respect to Ted Drewes and everything) so hopefully I’ll make it there sometime soon. This is more of a tie but I’ll miss them once the warm weather hits.

6. Beer Festivals - I haven’t experienced Philly in the summer yet, but they have a lot to live up to. STL is a beer city and has the Heritage Festival, Microfest, Schlafly’s Hop in the City, Augusta Bottoms Beer Festival… there’s pretty much always some big day drinking event going on which I love, and MO has plenty of solid craft breweries (all that unpopulated land IS good for something other than meth labs and puppy mills, who knew?). What really puts STL ahead, in my opinion, is that even the zoo gets in on the action. Ottertoberfest? Could beer events get any cuter? Or Jammin’ at the Zoo, an all you can drink event with wine and beer stations lined up throughout? This should really catch on at every city zoo because Zoo + Alcohol is a great (and I’m sure perfectly safe) combo. This one is TBD but I have a pretty good idea of who the winner will be.

Stay tuned for the top 5!

Living halfway across the country from my own Dad, I don’t have the opportunity that many of you do to spend some quality time over a nice steak dinner or even a glass of cold beer but for those of you who do, take advantage of the opportunity and show your Dad just how much you love him!

After the jump, check out some Father’s Day Freebies, plus brunch, beer and steak deals that many restaurants in the St. Louis area are offering in honor of Dads everywhere!

Highway 61 Roadhouse & Kitchen (Webster Groves) – Dad’s meal is on the restaurant! (Up to a max. value of $12.95)

Novak’s Bar & Grill (Tower Grove) – Dad’s eat FREE from 12 – 6 pm

Sam’s Steakhouse (Affton) – All Father’s that come to get wined and dined at Sam’s Steakhouse on Father’s Day this year will receive a FREE 8oz. Prime Rib Dinner compliments of Sam’s.

Fleming’s Steakhouse (Ladue) – Treat Dad to Brunch and Fleming’s will treat your father to a $25 Dining Card (Valid 6/21/10-7/18/10). Come in anytime between 11:30 am and 3 pm on Sunday and enjoy a three course brunch menu for $29.95 per Adult and $14.95 for Children 12 and under.

Hendel’s Market Cafe (Florrissant) – Treat dad to a Father’s Day Brunch this Sunday from 9 am – 2 pm. Cost is $15.95 for Adults and $5.95 for Children.

McCormick & Schmick’s (Des Peres) – Treat your Dad to a Father’s Day steak dinner this weekend at McCormick & Schmick’s. From Friday – Sunday, the restaurant will be offering a special 3 course dinner for $29.95, including your choice of soup or salad, prime rib entree and creme brulee dessert.

The Melting Pot (University City) – From1 – 4 pm on Sunday, The Delmar Loop Melting Pot is offering a special four course menu for only $29.00 per person (usually $42) – the regular menu and pricing returns at four so be sure to stop in early!

Oceano Bistro (Clayton) – Enjoy a Father’s Day Brunch at Oceano Bistro this Sunday from 10 am – 2:30 pm, complete with traditional breakfast foods, fresh seafood, mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and more. Cost is $24.95 for Adults and $12.95 for Children ages 4 – 11.

Oliver’s on the Runway (Cahokia, IL) – Oliver’s will be serving a 12oz Strip Steak dinner with two sides on Saturday, June19th, for only $5.99 for Dad from 4pm til 9pm. You must purchase any meal at regular price to receive this fantastic special. Dine-in only. Not valid with any other special offers or discounts. No coupons necessary.

Original Crusoe’s (South City) – Bring your dad to The Original Crusoe’s on Saturday, June 19th, or Sunday, June 20th, purchase one meal at regular price and Dad can get a BBQ Rib dinner (Saturday) or a 12oz Strip Steak dinner (Sunday) for only $5.99. Dinners are served with two side dishes. Dinner begins at 2pm every day. Must look like a father to receive this special offer.

Pujol’s 5 (Maryland Heights) – Enjoy Father’s Day Brunch or a Prime Rib Dinner this Sunday at Pujol’s 5. From 9 am – 3 pm, Pujol’s 5 will be serving made to order omelets, eggs benedict, hash browns, french toast, salads, Dominican spiced chicken, pastas, carved roast top sirloin, fried chicken, assorted desserts and more. Cost is $24.95 for Adults and $9.95 for children 10 and under (Kids under three eat free). OR if your Dad prefers a good steak, stop in after 4 pm for their Prime Rib Dinner Special. Includes soup or salad, potato, vegetable and dessert for $19.95.

The Stable (Benton Park) – The Stable is offering Dad’s a Beer Brunch this Sunday from 9:30 am – 3 pm. Enjoy a great Father’s Day Brunch Menu, BBQ served all day, and beer specials — PLUS ½ price growlers to go.

Image Source: Brungrrl Photostream, Flickr

On the one hand, I appreciate the fact that the restaurant did not want to downgrade their ingredients or dishes to push out a cheaper product, and if you’re the type to turn up your nose at boxed up leftovers, smaller portions for less is probably a good deal considering the large portion sizes here — but if you’re me and take home half of your meal for the next day, it’s pretty break even.

LoRusso’s has now introduced a new early dining deal that definitely makes the cut for this website, however. When you dine between 5 and 6 pm and purchase an entree, you will receive a second entree of equal or lesser value at half price.

In order to get in on this discount, you must mention the early dining special while ordering. Sadly, this discount can’t be combined with any other offers, but after or before your meal, be sure to hit up the lounge area for their happy hour which runs Tuesday – Friday from 5 – 6:30 pm (perfect timing!) and features 1/2 price appetizers, $2 Budweiser Products, $2.25 Michelob Products and Well Drinks, $3 Micro Drafts, $3.25 Imported Beers and Premium Drinks, $4.25 Super Premium Drinks, and $4.50 – $6.50 Martinis.

LoRusso’s Cucina
3121 Watson Road
St Louis, MO 63139-2412
(314) 647-6222
www.lorussos.com

For those not in the loop, this Smart Phone application allows you to share your location in real time and can be posted to Facebook and Twitter accounts – letting your whole network of friends know where you dine and where they can meet up with you. While a little narcissistic all on its own (Do your friends really care where you are 24/7?), when the simple act of checking in to a location nets you free food or drinks, this application takes on a much greater significance and becomes a Must Have App (in my frugal food loving opinion).

The owners of Robust Wine Bar, located in Webster Groves, are some of the social media front runners in the restaurant world, so it’s no surprise that they are among the first to jump in and host a very generous Foursquare deal.

Throughout the month of June, when you check in to Robust on Foursquare, the restaurant will treat you to a complimentary 3-ounce glass of wine – your choice of their selection of one red or white. The deal is limited to only one check in per day but feel free to make repeat visits throughout the month and get in on multiple glasses of free wine — and be sure to check out Robust’s other great offers like Flight Night & Cinco de Vino, sample some small plates and try their irresistible soon to be named dessert while you cozy up to the bar.





At the end of the month, the person with the most check-ins will be awarded the title of “Mayor” and will receive a $50 gift card PLUS a magnum of Champagne. All this for the simple act of pushing a few buttons on your phone!

To kick off the deal, Robust will be hosting a Foursquare Tweetup Wednesday, June 9th at 6 pm – So download the app if you haven’t already, stop by, check in and enjoy your free glass of wine while you meet other wine lovers!



Robust Wine Bar
227 West Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 963-0033
www.robustwines.com/

Tuesday, June 1 – Friday, June 4 – Scotti’s Deli in Maryland Heights is offering a bag lunch special this month. Enjoy ANY bagged lunch for only $5 (typically $5.95) when you mention the June Special Bag Lunch (MUST mention special for deal). The bagged lunch contains your choice of sandwich, side, pickle spear and cookie.

Wednesday, June 2 – Taste of South Grand will take place on June 2nd from 5 – 10 pm. Participating restaurants include Absolutli Goosed, Al Waha, Basil Spice, Cafe Mochi, Cafe Natasha, City Diner, King & I, Gelateria Del Leone, Lemmon Grass, Mangia Italiano, Mekong, Mojo’s Tapas, Mokabes, Meskerem, Petra Cafe, St. Louis National Pizza Company, Sekisui, The Vine Cafe, Urban and Wei Hong BBQ & Bakery. Taste Menu can be viewed here. Cost is $25 in advance and $27 on the day of the Event.

Friday, June 4 – Novak’s Bar & Grill and Bar 5, sister restaurants located next door to one another, will both be offering free buffets to celebrate the first Friday of the month. Stop in to Novak’s for a free taco buffet beginning at 5 pm and then head over to Bar 5 for some free pizza beginning at 6 pm.

Friday, June 4 – The first Friday in June is National Doughnut Day! To celebrate Krispy Kreme will be giving away one FREE doughnut of any variety to their loyal customers! Participating St. Louis locations include the Fenton Location at 1871 Bowles Avenue, the St. Louis location on 10880 West Florissant Avenue and the St. Louis Krispy Kreme on 6935 South Lindbergh. For a complete list of participating locations click here .

Saturday, June 5 – It may not be time for Mardi Gras but that doesn’t stop Soulard from partying! On Saturday, June 5th, Soulard will debut Hula Gras – what is essentially a Hula themed pub crawl (or as they call it – a neighborhood stroll). Stop by 1860′s, Chavas, Great Grizzly Bear, Joanie’s Pizza, Johnny’s, Hardshell Cafe, Nadine’s Gin Joint, Soulard Coffee Garden, The Shanti, The Porch, Bar 101 and more for food and drink specials or head to Paste where tropical craft projects will be going on all day.

Sunday, June 6 – Join Pomme Restaurant for an open house at Atlas Restaurant on Sunday, June 6th. You’re invited to give your thanks and say goodbye to Michael Roberts and Jean Donnelly of Atlas, who are moving on to California, as well as meet the new management of the restaurant, Marguerite Burkham and Chef Daniel Dreher.Appetizers, wine, beer and beverages will be served from noon to five. A twenty-five dollar donation to benefit Forest Park Forever is requested. Space is limited so be sure to call Atlas at (314) 367-6800 to reserve your spot (either from 12 – 2 or 2 – 4 arrival time).

Until recently, the restaurant’s website has been permanently under construction, leaving even those in the know wondering the details like When are they open? And most importantly, What are they serving? The restaurant’s website has recently launched but it can still be a bit tricky to find their menus, which are posted daily under their Twitter Account.

For those who can’t be bothered with Twitter, the standout deal here is their rotating blue plate lunch special, available Monday – Friday from 11 am – 2 pm. The entrees are definitely comfort food and are served with a salad of spinach, quick pickled vegetables, & sweet mustard onion seed vin plus a complimentary glass of tea — all for only $10. Having tried the bacon wrapped meatloaf, all I can say is that it’s definitely worth the price tag:

If you can’t make it in for their daily lunch plate, Farmhaus also serves dinner Wednesday – Saturday beginning at 5:30 pm. While many menu selections change daily based on the fresh seafood available (Kevin himself used to be a commercial fisherman so often what you see is what he has personally caught), there are quite a few staples, like their nachos, meatloaf, filet, and “Breakfast” dish that are usually on the menu (You can check out a sample menu below).

Farmhaus serves its dishes small plate style (except the filet) so they suggest 4 – 5 dishes for every 2 diners. We ordered the nachos first – a large mound of sweet potato chips, all perfectly crisp, topped with roasted red pepper catsup, blue cheese crumbles and bacon – definitely not your everyday greasy, heavy nachos. I hate ketchup, so I was happy to find the sauce more akin to BBQ and the bacon lardoons (strips of pork fat) were absolutely addictive, and I definitely wished there had been more on the plate.

The real stars, however, were the entrees. We chose the Escolar, Breakfast Dish and Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf. All three dishes came out at once, which I enjoyed since we could pick at our respective favorites. DJGel was partial to the buttery, flaky escolar (I stole all the perfectly cooked prawns), while I seriously could not stop eating the bacon wrapped meatloaf. Maybe meatloaf is a Midwestern thing, but it never made my dinner rotation as a child , and I’ve never warmed up to it – until now. Bacon makes everything better, but the meatloaf itself was moist and the BBQ demi glace was delicious. The breakfast dish was a bit standard, aside from the pork belly, but I love breakfast for dinner, and it was perfectly portioned and presented – plus the egg was cooked just how I like it.

We also had two desserts – a strawberry rhubarb empanada with a flaky golden crust and a peanut butter cup dessert. The peanut butter cup was a bit rich for me, and I wished we had ordered the grilled cobia steak, a freshly caught menu selection, rather than splurging on two desserts, but both were still very good.

The total came to $96.57 before tip, but $23 of that was our 4 pricier beers (Schlafly APA & Bells Two Hearted – They have a great hand selected beer list here) and a glass of wine. Our server, Eric, was awesome and informative, letting us know not only about the dishes but the restaurant and chef as well.

All in all, we really enjoyed our dinner here and loved the fact that we could get such high quality food in such a cozy and casual atmosphere.

Farmhaus Restaurant
3257 Ivanhoe Avenue
Saint Louis, MO 63139-2245
(314) 647-3800
www.farmhausrestaurant.com

Monday, May 24 – Farmhaus will be offering a Prix Fixe Dinner menu this Monday. Enjoy 3 courses for $35 or 5 Courses for $75 — including alcohol pairings. Menu has not been posted yet, but teasers have been shared and a strawberry bone marrow course appears likely. This event has 25 seats only so reservations are a must. Call (314) 647-3800 if interested.

Monday, May 24 – On Monday, from 4 pm – 9:30 pm, Remy’s Wine Bar & Kitchen will be offering a special 3 Course Menu with Wine Pairings to help raise money and awareness for Huntington’s Disease and the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, a non-profit health organization dedicated to finding a cure for Huntington’s Disease while providing support and services for those living with Huntington’s and their families. Cost of the three course dinner is $30, and Remy’s will donate 25% for each dinner sold. Full Menu and Pairings are available on our Events Page.

Monday May 24 – Balaban’s Wine Cellar and Bissinger’s are teaming up to bring you a wine and chocolate pairing on Monday. The tasting begins at 7 pm and will feature 6 wines from Balaban’s line up, each paired with one of Bissinger’s chocolates. Wine and chocolate pairings can be viewed in full here. Cost is $25 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (636)449-6700.

Tuesday, May 25 – Old Rock House is hosting a Movie Night this Tuesday – doors open at 8 pm and the movies will begin at 9. This week it’s all about the neighborhood record shop: With High Fidelity and Empire Records playing on screen. Admission to the event is free and domestic drafts will be available for only $1.

Tuesday, May 25 – Friday, May 28 – Make reservations at The Boathouse in Forest Park for their Moonlight Paddleboat Picnic and save 10% on your reservation by mentioning you heard about this event through Facebook or Twitter! Perfect for a date night. Discount is valid through this Friday, May 28th.

Wednesday, May 26 – On Wednesday, Brian Duncan of Chicago’s Bin 36 will be hosting a tasting of Bin 36 wines at Veritas in Chesterfield. Each wine will be paired with a variety of cheeses focusing on perfect flavor combinations. Cost is $20 per guest and a menu of foods will be available a la carte at an additional cost for those who want something a bit heavier. Reservations are recommended though not required.

Wednesday, May 26 – LoRusso’s Cucina will be hosting a Five Course Wine Dinner highlighting the wines of Napa Valley, California. The event begins at 6:30 for an appetizer and wine reception and dinner features dishes such as Alaskan Halibut, Seared Duck Breast and Peppered Beef Tenderloin. Full Menu and Pairings can be viewed here. Cost is $75 per person. Reservations can be made by calling (314) 647-6222 x 102.

Thursday, May 27 – Come out this Thursday, May 27th for El Borracho’s El Mayor dinner! $25 gets you a full meal and 5 drink samples. Also, the ribbon cutting for El Borracho’s first Mayor will be taking place. Event starts at 7pm. Call (314) 588-0055 for reservations.

Thursday, May 27 – Join Luciano’s Trattoria in Clayton on May 27 at 6:30 pm for a Five Course Beer Dinner featuring the beers of Six Row Brewery, each paired with a decadent Italian dish. Full menu and pairings are available on our Events Page. These folks will prove to you that a good beer can complement an Italian Dinner just as much as some fine wine. Cost is $40 per person. Reservations can be made by calling (314) 863-9969.

Friday, May 28 – Monday, May 31 – Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Town & Country will be hosting Greekfest 2010 this Memorial Day Weekend. The event is free to attend and takes place from 11 am – 9 pm daily. Enjoy live Greek music, church tours, traditional Greek dancing, a traditional Greek market with plenty of authentic Greek treasures – including groceries and jewelery, and plenty of authentic Greek cuisine available for purchase like lamb shank, roast chicken, gyro plates, souvlaki, moussaka, pastitsio, dolmathes, spanakopita, baklava or the more decadent baklava sundae.

Friday, May 28 – Sunday, May 30 – Highway 61 Roadhouse and Kitchen will be offering their take on a new dining trend: The Coin Flip Dinner Deal. Come in Memorial Day Weekend from Friday Night through Sunday Night, flip a coin, make a call and your meal could be on them! Coin toss is for each individual and their meal only and can not be combined with other offers.

Sunday, May 30 – Bar Louie’s Central West End Location will be hosting a Summertime Bash to celebrate the end of school this Sunday, May 30th. Enjoy $3 Dos Equis Lager Cans, $5 Three Olives Vodka Bombs, $5 Bacardi Mojitos, and $5 Crown Royale, Jeremiah Weed, and Captain Morgan drinks while you sit back, relax and enjoy summer.

Sunday, May 30 – Ernesto’s Wine Bar, will be holding their Sunday Supper Club this Sunday. Enjoy a family style dinner plus wines for only $35 per person (excluding tax & gratuity). Menu can be found here. Reservations are required so call (314) 664-4511 if interested.

While they may carry a well-deserved reputation as one of St. Louis’ top dessert destinations, don’t count this restaurant out for the main affair.

The best night to stop in to Cyrano’s is definitely Monday Nights when the Cafe offers half priced glasses of wine, as well as bottles of wine offered by the glass, all night long in both the bar and dining area of the restaurant.

Cyrano’s also offers a few extra dishes on Monday night apart from their regular menu (which features affordable sandwiches and specialty plates in the $7 – $12 range), giving diners a few extra options to choose from.

While their Monday night specialty plate changes each week, the dish is always priced at a reasonable $9. Past specials have included a Burger Flight with fries (A trio of mini burgers: Cuban style burger with ham, swiss, mustard & pickle, Coffee rubbed burger with bleu cheese & bacon, and a Burger topped with mushroom, cheddar and thyme), Sesame Maki Tuna Roll with tempura fried vegetables, Pan Seared Tilapia & cheddar grits with lemon beurre blanc sauce, and a Mixed Grill plate with grilled chicken kabob, grilled anduille sausage, and grilled shrimp served with saffron rice and a roasted red pepper couli, among others.

For all you Burger Lovers out there, the Cafe also typically features a specialty open-faced hamburger & fries combo every Monday as well (available for $8.50). This may sound a little plain but don’t expect just a burger patty and half bun – Past specialty burgers have included burgers like the Rodeo, served open-faced with barbecue sauce, mozzarella cheese, and onion rings.

With entree selections under $10, squeezing in a dessert or two should be doable without breaking the bank (And DO splurge on dessert – it’s 100% worth it) – Add in the half priced wine and you have yourself a winning combination for an affordable date night.

Cyrano’s also offers a Prix Fixe Menu option available every Sunday – Thursday from 4 pm – 7 pm for only $14.

(Note: This coincides perfectly with their Happy Hour which runs from 4 – 7 pm Monday – Fridays and features 1/2 price wine and beer plus $5 Martinis so definitely stop by the bar before dinner!).

Check out the Prix Fixe Menu after the jump!

The restaurant, located in the heart of Clayton, operates on a Pay What You Can Basis – cash registers are available only to make change, signs advertise only suggested prices (identical to normal Bread Co. prices), day old bread is available for the taking (with a sign asking politely that you take only one), and all money is placed in a donation box at your discretion rather than handed over to a cashier. If you can’t afford to pay anything at all, the restaurant suggests that you donate an hour of your time working at the cafe.

While this may seem like a great way for those working in Clayton to score a virtually free lunch every day, the location was obviously chosen with the purpose of making money (to then be donated) rather than with the intent of becoming a soup kitchen. The hope is that with prices like $5.35 or $6.15, most people will round up rather than down, and perhaps throw in a few extra bucks.

The awesome thing about the restaurant operating as a non-profit is that there is no sales tax so prices are, in fact, cheaper here. You can pay the suggested price, round up, and still pay approximately the same amount as you would at your usual Bread Co., all while helping out the community.

If you can’t pay full price, consider paying what you can now and giving a larger donation later, or forget Bread Co. altogether and head next door to Clayton Diner, a little dive that serves up burgers and hot dogs for only $1.

I stopped in to St. Louis Bread Co Cares the other day, check out my opinions after the jump!

I have been to Panera plenty of times while living on the east coast, but until yesterday had never been through the doors of an official Saint Louis Bread Co. Honestly, I’ve never understood what made the chain so popular, and I hate the general aura of make-believe healthiness that seems to surround this place. If you like their sandwiches, go for it, just don’t shake your head in disgust at my Spicy Chicken Sandwich from Wendy’s (because unless you’re customizing your order to the fullest, my meal has less calories, carbs and fat, and it’s ridiculously delicious).

Upon entering the store I was greeted with loaves of day old bread and a sign that said to take what I needed and leave my fair share. This was my favorite part of the store because while I can’t see myself eating here often, I can see myself picking up a loaf of bread for a few bucks (guilt-free since most Bread Cos give away their old bread at the end of the day anyway). I also liked the fact that there were no cashiers around the bread and no suggested prices so payment truly did seem to be at my discretion.

I passed on the bread this time and headed up to the counter to order a Chicken Caesar Salad to go. The cashier took my order, indicated I could pay the suggested price on the board or whatever I felt my meal was worth, made change for my $20 and then motioned to the donation box.

Although I’m sure she didn’t care what I paid, I did feel some internal pressure to pay the full price – the donation box was in full view of the cashier and she’d just made change for my $20 so it wasn’t like I didn’t have the money. I ending up paying $7, one penny more than I had to, and I felt guilty that I wasn’t giving more. As far as deals go, this isn’t one my conscience can handle and the idea of paying less than asking price made me feel like I was robbing some poor child of a warm meal.

On the way out I asked what charities the restaurant would be supporting, and was given the run around – the store had just opened and no charities had been selected yet, though a charity supporting at risk teenagers was a front runner. I think this was poor planning on their part and that the charities should have been picked from start to gain more support and give customers an idea of where their money will be going.

As for my salad? It tasted like a salad from Panera. Do I actually think it was worth their $7 suggested price? Not at all, but I’ll never pay less so their concept works on me.


St. Louis Bread Co.
10 South Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 725-9666 – Phone
www.panerabread.com

To help you navigate through all the restaurants in St. Louis and decide which newsletters are worth signing up for, I decided to compile my own list of birthday freebies.

As you can probably imagine, I am signed up for a ton of newsletters, so I was pretty excited to see what kind of haul I would bring in for my birthday. Well, yesterday I turned the big 2-8, and along with great gifts from my family, DJGel, DJGel’s family and the dog, I also received a ton of birthday offers from restaurants around St. Louis.

Which birthday offer do I consider the most generous? For me, it was a pretty clear cut win with the prize going to Harvest Restaurant. Hard to turn down a free no strings attached entree from one of my favorite restaurants in St. Louis — easily valued at $20+ and all you have to do is signup for their Mailing List and present your Birthday Email to your server. In fact, we’ve already used one of our Harvest birthday coupons (DJGel’s birthday is also in May) and will probably use up the other one before the month is over.

After the jump check out and compare all the birthday offers I received - from my favorite local restaurants to some of my least favorite chains – they’re all on the list. And if you see any that interest you be sure to sign up for their newsletter!

Absolutli Goosed (South Grand) – Receive a free dessert with purchase of cocktail during your birthday month (with valid ID – no newsletter sign up required)

Applebee’s (Multiple Locations) – Receive a free dessert shooter for your birthday when you sign up to receive their emails

Binford’s Bar & Grill (St Peters) – Buy one entree, receive a second of equal or lesser value free when you join Binford’s VIP Club

Brio Tuscan Grille (Ladue/Frontenac) – Enjoy $10 off your birthday meal when you sign up for Posta Toscana, their newsletter

Cheeburger Cheeburger (Chesterfield) – Receive a free half shake with purchase of adult entree when you sign up for their fan mail club

Chevy’s Fresh Mex (Multiple Locations) – Receive a Free Entree in honor of your big day when you sign up for Chevy’s Compadre Club

Coldstone Creamery (Multiple Locations) – Receive a free Coldstone Creation (valid one week from birthday) when you sign up for Coldstone’s Birthday Club

The Cupcakery (Central West End) – One free cupcake of your choice during your birthday month (offer comes via mail so fill in the address portion) when you sign up for their Mailing List

Dairy Queen (Multiple Locations) – Free 16 oz. Blizzard (with purchase of a second Blizzard) when you subscribe to the Blizzard Fan Club

Fazoli’s (Multiple Locations) – Enjoy a free birthday dessert courtesy of Fazoli’s when you join their E-Family

First Watch (Multiple Locations) – Receive a free entree for your birthday from First Watch when you join the SunE-Club

Fortel’s Pizza Den (Multiple Locations) – Receive $5 off any $25 purchase (valid during Birthday Month) when you sign up for their Birthday Club

Franco (Soulard/Benton Park) – Receive a free creme brulee dessert for your birthday when you become a Franco Friend

Harvest Restaurant (Richmond Heights) – Receive a complimentary entree during your birthday month with email printout when you sign up for their Email List

The Haven (Boulevard Heights) – Enjoy $10 off any entree during your birthday month when you sign up for their Email List

Hendel’s Market Cafe (Florissant) – Enjoy $8 off when you purchase two dinner entrees (or $4 off the purchase of two lunch entrees and two beverages) when you sign up for their Email Club

Hooter’s (South County Location) – Receive 10 free wings when you sign up for their Email List and bring in your email coupon on your birthday (Expires 7 days from Birthday)

Houlihan’s Restaurant & Bar (Multiple Locations) – Receive a complimentary birthday entree at Houlihan’s when you join their Email Club

HuHot Mongolian Grill (Creve Coeur) – Receive a free birthday dessert with purchase of a full priced dinner when you join the HuHot Hot Club

Kreis’ Restaurant (West County) – Receive $10 off the purchase of 2 entrees priced $20 or above (Valid for 2 months). Kreis’ Birthday Gift comes via mail so be sure to fill in the address portion (sign up available in restaurant)

Landry’s Seafood House (Downtown) – Enjoy a free birthday appetizer with purchase of any entree when you join Landry’s Harbor Club

Lorenzo’s Trattoria (The Hill) – Receive $15 off any Birthday entree purchase when you join Lorenzo’s VIP Club

LoRusso’s Cucina (The Hill) – Enjoy a glass of wine and dessert of your choice ($15 value) plus a picture to capture the occasion OR $12 off the bill (valid during Birthday Month) when you join LoRusso’s Email List

Macklind Avenue Deli (South Hampton) – Enjoy a free dessert in honor of your birthday with any sandwich purchase when you sign up for the Email List

Maggiano’s Little Italy (Richmond Heights) – Enjoy $10 off your next meal in honor of your birthday when you join their Email List

McCormick & Schmick’s (Des Peres) – Enjoy a complimentary signature dessert for your birthday when you join their Email List

Melting Pot (University City, Town & Country) – Enjoy a free chocolate fondue for two with purchase of any two entrees and cheese fondue or Big Night Out when you join Club Fondue

Mimi’s Cafe (Chesterfield) – For your birthday, enjoy $10 off your next purchase of $20 or more when you join Mimi’s E-Club

Modesto Tapas Bar (The Hill) – Enjoy a free bottle of Modesto’s house wine with purchase of $30 or more (valid Monday – Thursday only) when you become a Modesto Amigo

O’Charley’s (Multiple Locations) – When you sign up for their E-club, you will receive $5 off in honor of your birthday (when you spend more than $20)

Moe’s Southwest Grill (Creve Coeur) – Receive a complimentary entree (excluding fajitas) for your birthday when you join Moe’s E-World

Oceano Bistro (Clayton) – Enjoy a complimentary entrée from Oceano’s extensive menu on or before your birthday when you sign up for their Newsletter

O’Leary’s Restaurant & Bar (Sappington) – Buy one entree and receive a 2nd entree free (Valid for Birthday Month). O’Leary’s gift card comes by mail so be sure to fill in the address area of the signup box when you enroll in O’Leary’s Rewards Program.

Pat’s Bar & Grill (Dogtown) – Receive a free piece of cake when you sign up for Pat’s Email Club and bring in your birthday email (or $50 off the rental fee if you’d like to hold a birthday party here)

Plaza Grill (Clayton) – Receive a Free Birthday Appetizer with the Purchase of Any Two Entrees when you join their Frequent Diner Club

Pujols 5 (Maryland Heights) – Enjoy a free appetizer with purchase of two entrees when you sign up for their Loyalty Club

Senor Pique (Manchester/Ballwin) – Receive a free entree plus your choice of fried ice cream or sopapilla when you sign up for their Email Newsletter

Serendipity Ice Cream (Webster Groves) – Receive a free single, regular scoop in honor of your birthday (good for 60 days) when you sign up for their Birthday Club

Starbucks – Receive a free drink (Valid for a two month time period) when you create a Starbucks Account. Comes via mail so be sure to fill in the address area.

Stellina Pasta cafe (Lindenwood Park) – Enjoy a free birthday dessert when you sign up for their Mailing List.

Sunset 44 Bistro (Kirkwood) – Enjoy a complimentary appetizer and specially made birthday dessert when you join their Mailing List

Texas Roadhouse (Kirkwood) – Enjoy a free appetizer or sidekick of rib with entree purchase when you become a Texas Roadhouse VIP Member

Tony Roma’s (Hazelwood) – Receive a free entree (up to a $15.99 value) for your birthday when you become a Roma Rib Expert

Vito’s Sicilian Pizzeria (Midtown) – Enjoy 50% off your entree (with purchase of a second entree) in honor of your birthday with mailing list sign-up

Wingstop (Tower Grove South) – Enjoy 5 Free Wings with any soft drink purchase when you join Wingstop’s Email Club

Yummie’s Soul Food (Compton Heights) – Receive a free meal on Yummies when you sign up to become a member of Yummie’s Family and let them know it’s your birthday

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