Favorites

Welcome to St. Louis, a BBQ mecca! First off, we have the best ribs you will ever dream of, found at the one and only Pappy’s BBQ. Don’t just take my word for it; Food Network listed them as the #1 ribs in America. They often sell out, so go for lunch or call ahead. Pro tip: Eat them upside down to get all that seasoned goodness all over your tongue! I also highly recommend the wings and brisket at Salt + Smoke. Other fantastic spots include: Sugarfire, Bogart’s, and Adam’s Smokehouse.

After growing up in California and then going to school in the Northeast, I knew St. Louis would be alright when I found not one, but two Brazilian restaurants in the general region! Brazilians are not really known to immigrate to the Midwest, but apparently some of them got tired of hot and humid weather and decided to brave the frigid winters of the region and open some restaurants. Brasilia is located on South Grand (along with many other international cuisines) and serves some of my favorite appetizers. They also have a Sunday buffet where you can eat Brazilian-styled barbecue, which features some unique cuts of steak that you can’t find elsewhere. Yemanja Brasil is a bit pricier, and I haven’t actually eaten there yet, but they do have a food truck that frequents the medical campus at least once a month, and the feijoada (think: black bean stew with meat) is good. I wouldn’t say they’re the best I’ve ever had, but when I’m missing home and craving Brazilian-style rice and beans, fried foods, and other favorites, these places hit the spot.

During my Second Look weekend, I remember walking about the streets of the Central West End when I came across a sign that read, “Brunch without mimosas is just a sad lunch!” I would not be exaggerating when I say that this sign (and the millennial brunch culture it represents) was one of the key reasons why I chose WashU and St. Louis. Now, even though I’m an international student, one of the American traditions I’ve embraced wholeheartedly is the weekend brunch, be it a bottomless-mimosa Saturday hangover cure or a Sunday Hail (Bloody) Mary. Half a year after I saw that delightful sign, at what I now know is the Brasserie, I have to say St. Louis has not disappointed.

Brasserie by Niche

The Brasserie is one of St. Louis’s most notable brunch spots, and it resides in our very own Central West End, a couple of minutes away from campus. Their cocktail menu is innovative, their French breakfast very European, and their tartines heavenly. The clientele ranges from fellow med students that you likely ran into the night prior at Tin Roof, to attendings and their partners who are also unabashedly partaking in the morning prosecco consumption. If you’re looking for a dependently lovely brunch, the Brasserie is the choice for you.

The Pat Connolly Tavern

If you’re a true believer in the bottomless mimosa but are also a fan of the old-school bar atmosphere, the Pat Connolly Tavern is the place for you. Though the Irish pub is not your usual mimosa environment (or at least not mine), Pat’s is an absolutely charming, historic neighborhood tavern in Dogtown with a smashing brunch menu. The fried chicken is their specialty and is absolutely delicious, but all of their sandwiches are just as indulgent. To top it all, they have four innovative flavors of mimosas, apart from the traditional, and the bartender will be willing to make each one to sample (and more to enjoy, if you’re quick on the uptake!).

Sardella

A bit farther away, Sardella in Clayton is a favorite of St. Louis townies and county-dwellers alike. More of an upscale locale, Sardella is also a beloved dinner spot, but I would say their brunch is where they truly excel, which is made obvious by how packed it is each weekend (so make sure to make your reservation ahead of time!). The restaurant blends together old Italy with 21^st century St. Louis, with a continually changing and innovative menu. If you’re a coffee lover, they offer a long list of coffees from the classic espresso to more decadent lattes. Perhaps the best thing about Sardella, however, is that each and every part of the meal is aesthetically perfect and totally Instagram-worthy!

Panorama at the St. Louis Art Museum

If brunch is as much about the environment and aesthetic experience for you as it is for me, Panorama at the St. Louis Art Museum is the place to go. Though the prices reflect the upscale location, Panorama offers truly delectable food and the perfect cocktails to compliment your meal. When I tried their apricot-almond brie, I briefly considered changing my sandwich to another order of the appetizer, so I had another entire cheesy baguette to myself. The restaurant has floor-to-ceiling windows that offer an unparalleled view of the park (particularly gorgeous in the changing colors of the fall), and a perfect amount of sunlight to illuminate you and your meal (if you’re looking for that golden glow social media shot). Finally, after your meal, you can walk around and peruse the art on display at the museum, making for a perfect Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

Everyone loves food, but when it’s free, it suddenly becomes a thousand times more delicious. Perhaps it is the luxury of expending little more energy than the lifting of a fork to fall into that deep ambrosial food coma. Perhaps it is because free food placates your inner penny-pinching ego, and the fullness of your wallet fills you with a sense of pride. Whichever way free food touches your soul and lifts your spirits, WashU has got you covered. In the past four months, I have purchased groceries only twice. With a keen eye and honed scavenging skills, it is entirely possible to eat three meals a day, five days a week, without spending a dime. During application season, the applicant breakfasts overflow with leftovers aplenty. If you tire of the applicant fare, each hospital department also hosts grand rounds once a week which offer, beyond engaging lectures, Einsteins Bagels and Coffee. Lunch is catered by various organizations hosting lunch talks at least four times a week; Addie’s Thai is served on at least two days. During application season, pizza is served every night in the Core, but if pizza isn’t your thing, between interprofessional events, galas, guest speakers, and leftovers from catered evening selective courses, there is plenty of food to go ’round. Bottom line, you will not go hungry.

Coming from a smaller city in Texas, my options for Korean food were limited to my house. I’ve been happy to find a range of options in St. Louis. Whenever family comes to visit and when I’ve stored enough acorns for the winter, I’ll pay a visit to Seoul Garden, located somewhat near the St. Louis airport, for real cook-in-front-of-you Korean BBQ. Otherwise, my favorite place is the small kitchen of U-City Grill, where I can warm up with a bowl of yook gae jang for an affordable price. There are also several fusion places like Seoul Taco and the traveling K-Bop food truck that makes it easy to find familiar tastes and smells around the city.

If you’d like to play with some cats and don’t have the time or space to care for one yourself, Mauhaus is a cat café located a short drive away from campus. Some of the cats are residents, while others are just here for a stop on the way to adoption. You can either pay an entrance fee or buy a scone or coffee in order to spend time with the cats. While the food itself is not something to rave about, you’ll definitely leave feeling much less stressed and ready to hop over to the library or another café to hit the books.

I always have a pho craving when it’s cold/rainy outside! For authentic pho, I recommend grabbing a group of students and driving to Pho Grand. They have plenty of other delicious Vietnamese soup options too, like bun bo hue and bun mang vit. Another option is Mai Lee near Brentwood Target. I was pretty surprised to find a lot of Vietnamese restaurants sprinkled throughout St. Louis, so just take your pick!

On a cold, Midwestern winter day, there’s nothing better than a warm bowl of spicy ramen. Good ramen is not far from campus — grab a friend with a car and drive over to Clayton and check out Nami Ramen. They have a good lunch deal, and their tonkatsu ramen is delicious. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even ask for it to be made spicy, but it’s not for the faint of heart! Midtown Sushi and Ramen is another great spot right next to IKEA, and both restaurants also have great appetizers.

As you’ll learn in the student financial responsibility talk during orientation, it’s important to be frugal in medical school. Fortunately, local CWE businesses understand our predicament, and no one gets it better than Mission Taco Joint. After 10 p.m. every night of the week, tacos and tequila shots are $2 each. If you’re feeling Asian fusion, Seoul Taco on the Delmar Loop has great tacos. And if you just want a good, authentic taco, Taqueria El Bronco and other spots on Cherokee Street are guaranteed to please.