Occasions

Rachel B., M1

St. Louis has some great spots for hungry night owls. There are the usual staples like McDonald’s and Domino’s, but there are also plenty of more exciting options. A few of our favorites are in the list below!

Allie L., M1

St. Louis has many great places for brunch. Rooster is a restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating, a great selection of brunch items and different types of mimosas. The City Coffeehouse and Creperie  has coffee drinks and sweet crepes and savory crepes. BBQ Saloon features a southern take on brunch and also has a bottomless mimosa special. There are plenty of brunch restaurants to satisfy any weekend morning craving!

Jack B., M1

St. Louis has so many interesting and scrumptious restaurants, the hardest part about planning your birthday dinner is deciding which one to pick! Here is a list of a few of my personal favorite places to eat at for your special day.

Garrett C., M1

Lucky you, your parents are visiting, which means you finally have someone to bankroll your eating habits. There are plenty of places within walking distance from the medical school in the CWE for you to go, like Brasserie, a Parisian-style bistro complete with sidewalk tables that makes a perfect summer night dinner. A more expensive option is one of the most ambitious restaurants in town, Vicia, an experimental farm-to-table place that was a James Beard semifinalist and will definitely make the most of your parent’s time in town.

Comfort food with $15 bottomless mimosas from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in case you need some hair of the dog.

Stylish atmosphere with upscale Southeast Asian and American-inspired dishes by restaurateur Zoe Robinson.

French bistro with a great brunch.

This restaurant is getting tons of national acclaim right now for its inventive concept of Ozark-inspired, foraged food.

Adjacent to a beautiful nursery, if you want to buy some greenery after you eat.

Another restaurant by James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft. South American-inspired dishes and cocktails in the beautiful Four Seasons Hotel.

This 24/7 diner will grill up pretty much anything you could want, from burgers to omelets to their famous chili slinger.

A St. Louis classic for Italian fine dining, served on beautiful china dishes in a quiet and refined carpeted room.

A Central West End pub with a low-key atmosphere, great mixed drinks, and a phenomenal grilled cheese. It was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, too!

Close to campus and popular with WUSM students. Lively Tex-Mex with huge, affordable margaritas, and room for large groups. Plus, they’ll give you a free tequila shot and let you wear one of the sombreros on your birthday!

On the edge of the Shaw neighborhood, you’ll find Elaia in the upstairs of a remodeled home (downstairs is a converted filling station, which houses Elaia’s fantastic sister restaurant, Olio). Tasting menus by James Beard semifinalist Ben Poremba are available at this AAA, four-diamond restaurant.

Farm-to-table New American in a relaxed environment.

Vegan and vegetarian friendly, stylish and airy hipster cafe.

Amazing pancakes and french toast, plus they put a tempura fried pickle spear on their bloody marys, soooo….

This fun bar in The Grove offers great pizza and bar snacks until 2 a.m. every night.

Late night hot cookies, delivered to your door.

Upscale American in a relaxed environment, with a focus on farm-to-table, local, organic and small suppliers. Make a reservation on their small patio during finer weather.

John’s is a St. Louis institution, open from 11 p.m. through noon each day, so that John can feed the late night and early morning donut crowds. Get an apple fritter!

Good brunch, right in the heart of CWE’s Maryland Plaza.

The best steak and prime rib in the city. A non-pretentious setting, but don’t be fooled — Kreis’ serves the who’s who of St. Louis, including weekly visits by Cardinals baseball legend and beloved hometown hero Stan Musial until his death in 2013.

Grapefruit, cranberry, or orange mimosas available (are you noticing a theme here?), plus some waistline-conscious food options (egg white avocado omelette FTW).

Mango in downtown is another wonderful option for diners with allergies. The restaurant serves Peruvian food, with classics like lomo saltado and ceviche. Even if you have a seafood allergy, there are several other protein options available.

Street tacos and excellent margs, popular with WUSM students. Late night happy hour specials include $2 tacos and $2 tequila shots after 10 p.m.

Upscale American fare with great cocktails.

Get in line via Yelp, and enjoy an expansive list of pancakes from this cozy Portland, Oregon chain.

The freshest seafood in town, featuring lobster boils, steamed crab, lobster rolls, poboys, and fresh oysters in a chic but casual environment.

Retro diner full of memorabilia, including an indoor carousel.

Folksy, upscale American in a stylish setting.

If you’re semi-addicted to Sunday brunches, check out Rooster. Try the seasonal Apple Pie French Toast, which features caramelized cinnamon apples, crème fraiche, and a toasty pie crumble. While some of their menu items do feature nuts, they are very accommodating of allergies, and you should have no problem eliminating or substituting any allergens in your meal.

James Beard Award-winning chef Gerard Craft offers up new takes on Old World Italian, right next door to its more affordable sister restaurant, Pastaria.

Scottish pub with fantastic lox, French toast, and traditional Scottish breakfast, amongst other options. Bottomless mimosas for $15.

Incredible breakfast burritos, huevos rancheros, and sopapillas. Just what the (future) doctor ordered.

Instead of donuts, stop by St. Louis Kolache and pick up a few of these incredible Czech pastries for breakfast. Fillings include options like: St. Louis Pizza, Pappy’s BBQ, Sausage/Egg/Cheese, Meatball, Apple Pie, Cherry/Toasted Almond, and Ann & Allen Gooey Butter Cake.

Famous for steakburgers, this Midwestern chain is a go-to late night food option for many St. Louisans. The Frisco melt, chocolate shakes, chili (best with with oyster crackers and vinegar hot sauce), steak burgers, and cheese fries all hit the spot; drive thru or dine-in.

A popular special occasion restaurant in St. Louis serving New American cuisine and a bomb bread service of savory beignets.

Contemporary seafood and steak, right by the Ritz in downtown Clayton.

If you’re looking for a slightly more upscale place to celebrate, you’ve found it. The Bridge is a cheese/charcuterie place with a massive wine/beer/cocktail list and seasonal entrees. It’s quality food that doesn’t break the budget for students.

A well-known, upscale steak chain.

Delicious sweet and savory crepes. Coffee is so-so.

The breakfast menu is massive at this popular, wacky write-on-the walls restaurant; tons of drink options if you’re in the mood for a boozy brunch. Expect a wait.

Historically the go-to special occasion restaurant in St. Louis, long before our bustling foodie scene blossomed. At Tony’s they’ll treat you right.

Just off The Hill, try this “Italian Soul Food” restaurant, with incredible, massive t-rav and a comfortable ambiance.

Fun arcade bar with skee-ball, every arcade game you can think of, foosball, giant jenga, Mario Kart, and the ever popular Killer Queen. Up-Down also serves pizza until closing time, so you can refuel while playing your 80s arcade game of choice.