The 32 Essential St. Louis Restaurants

"In 2015, Gerard Craft received the James Beard Best Chef Midwest award in recognition of his debut St. Louis restaurant, Niche. Food and Wine named him “Best New Chef” as well as “Innovator of the Year,” recognizing the tidal change that Niche brought to the local restaurant scene. Though Niche has since closed (you could hear the sound of hearts breaking across St. Louis that day), Craft has opened a handful of diverse new restaurants, all forward-thinking, all reflective of the quality staff that his establishments attract and employ. His third restaurant, Brasserie by Niche, a French bistro in the Central West End, has maintained its shine and devotion from diners since it first opened in 2009. It is always buzzing with hungry guests enjoying flawless, pillowy gougères, garlicky wild Burgundy escargot, a deeply satisfying, slow-cooked cassoulet, or duck confit with tender green lentils. It continues to be one of the city’s most highly regarded restaurants, capturing an elusive and seemingly immutable appeal." - Holly Fann