Ask GRB

[G. Keenan]

Imo's
Toasted ravioli
Ted Drews

Pretty sure that's the exhaustive list of foodie venues unique to StL

#bluefont

[thrill]

Prefers fancy, unique takes on dishes, or wants to enjoy dishes that are associated with the local culture?

The latter mostly, although she's down for anything when it comes to food.

[GeddyWrox]

It's not the immediate downtown area but on the south side, east of Tower Grove park a bit, I have had great experiences with The Shaved Duck. Good combination of comfort food, slightly upscale, not pretentious.

https://www.theshavedduck.com/

[GeddyWrox]

I really love the atmosphere in The Scottish Arms, too. That's more midtown than downtown.

http://www.thescottisharms.com/

[thrill]

Geddy knows the vibe. Thank you.

[GeddyWrox]

A little closer to downtown, in the Lafayette Square area, is Square One Brewery. They brew craft beers, are a craft distillery, and have a really good menu to go with it.

https://squareonebrewery.com/

[CardsofSTL]

It's not the immediate downtown area but on the south side, east of Tower Grove park a bit, I have had great experiences with The Shaved Dick

Stopped reading.

[Popeye_Card]

Prefers fancy, unique takes on dishes, or wants to enjoy dishes that are associated with the local culture?

The latter mostly, although she's down for anything when it comes to food.

I’ve not lived in StL in a decade now so I am sure there have been good options spring up in the meantime, but my recommendations in the near-vicinity of downtown are:

Lunch - Blues City Deli (Benton Park), Bogart’s Smokehouse (Soulard)

Dinner - Pappy’s Smokehouse (Midtown), Pi Pizzeria (downtown / Washington Ave.)

[GeddyWrox]

Also, in dogtown, you can't go wrong with Seamus McDaniels.

https://seamusmcdaniels.com/

[GeddyWrox]

It's not the immediate downtown area but on the south side, east of Tower Grove park a bit, I have had great experiences with The Shaved Dick

Stopped reading.

Make me.

EDIT: LOL, I tooootally misread all of that. I did not see you changed a letter in my quote, AND i thought you told me to stop reading.