By Candice Coleman
With Valentine’s Day here before you know it, love is in the air … and if you’re looking for a roarin’ good time, you’re going to flip — or perhaps, flap — over this!
The 1920s are roaring back at historic St. Louis Union Station with the new pop-up cocktail experience, Opulence in the Grand Hall. The swinging speakeasy, which is open now through March 6, will feature a menu of ‘20s jazz-inspired cocktails, including: Sazarec (rye, sugar, Bitters, Absinthe, Lemon Oil), French 75 (cognac, sugar, lemon, Champagne), Aviation (gin, maraschino, lemon, creme de violette), Whiskey Sour (bourbon, sugar, lemon, egg white), Clover Club (gin, raspberry, lemon, egg white), Jack Rose (apple brandy, grenadine, lemon) and Pimm’s Cup (Pimm’s #1, ginger ale, lemon, cucumber).
Food also will be available on Fridays and Saturdays. And the best part – Opulence is oozing with ambiance! Union Station and the Grand Hall are restored to their original glory with decorative elements such as architect Theodore Link’s lighted torch-bearing Art Nouveau ladies, stained glass windows and a gilded 65-foot-tall barrel-vaulted ceiling. Union Station’s award-winning light shows will play hourly on the Grand Hall ceiling during Opulence.
Opulence is open for seating from 4 to 11 p.m. daily on a first-come, first-served basis with no reservations needed. Click here for more information.
Those who celebrate Galentine’s Day will love this! Le Meridien St. Louis Clayton, the new 268-room hotel which opened in October 2020, will host a themed pop-up brunch experience on Saturday, Feb. 13, at the hotel’s French-inspired restaurant, Café la Vie.
The holiday, which originated on the NBC sitcom, “Parks and Recreation,” celebrates female friendship. Café la Vie will offer an indulgent brunch menu, mimosa bottle service, large format specialty cocktails, DJ, decorative photo wall and more.
Reservations for the socially distanced celebration are live now on OpenTable with seatings available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for up to six guests.
If you’re all about puttin’ on the Ritz this Valentine’s day, why not grab your gal and treat her to the Special Occasions Package at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis. Deluxe rooms are available at a discounted rate of $399 plus tax per night, and include breakfast for two to at The Lobby Lounge (or via in-room dining), a bottle of Ritz-Carlton Champagne, five decadent chocolate-covered strawberries and complimentary parking.
And if you just want to do dinner, the Pre-Fixe 3-course love-themed menu in the lounge sounds luscious! Selections include: Velvety Lobster Bisque or Malpaque Oyster Flight (first course); Love Bird’s Duo of Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Herb Roasted Halibut or Pan-Seared Sea Bass (second course); Turtle Dove Chocolate Tart or White Chocolate Crème Brûlée (third course). Cost is $80 per person (plus tax and gratuity). Call (314) 863-6300 to make a reservation.
Want to stay home, sweet home, for Valentine’s Day? Destination Café is introducing “Carryout for a Cause!” Enjoy Valentine’s at home with “take and bake” meals for two or the whole family available for pick up in both St. Louis city and county on Saturday, Feb. 13. All proceeds benefit the Center for Head Injury Services. All pre-orders must be made by Tuesday, Feb. 9, by clicking here .
If you want to spice up your Valentine’s Day, then holy moly, you’ll love Holy Mole, a new delivery ghost kitchen concept by the folks at Mission Taco Joint! The menu features three variations of the rich, complex mole sauce with paired proteins, as well as starters such as Tuna Ceviche Roasted Poblano Salsa and house-made chips. Holy Mole will be available for delivery on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m. The chef-prepared dishes will come with easy instructions to assemble or reheat at home. Delivery is available within a 5-mile radius of Mission Taco Joint’s central kitchen at 286 Elm Ave. in Webster Groves.
As an aside, the menu items may look familiar to fans of the former Webster Groves restaurant, Milagro Modern Mexican, which closed in 2018. Chef Jason Tilford said public outcry for the dishes on social media sparked the idea for the ghost kitchen concept. For a full menu and a link to order, click here.
Do you roar for your amor? St. Louis-based Lion’s Choice is celebrating Valentine’s day with the chance to win a “Roaring with Love” private dining experience for two on Sunday, Feb. 14.
Five participating Lion’s Choice restaurants will be decked out in romantic decor with music, white tablecloths, and a special prix-fixe, multi-course menu for the evening. There will be one winner selected for each location, and the winning couples will have the restaurant completely to themselves for the 6 p.m. Valentine’s Day reservation. Participating locations include locations in Brentwood, Sunset Hills, Chesterfield, O’Fallon and one restaurant in Kansas City.
Guests can enter for their chance on the restaurant’s Instagram page now through Thursday, Feb. 11.
Talk about one sweet honor! Nathaniel Reid Bakery in Kirkwood has been declared one of the top dessert spots in the U.S. and Canada by Yelp, which named the Kirkwood baker as the top pick for the state of Missouri. The recognition from Yelp is a result of positive reviews from guests, which is an honor for chef/owner Nathaniel Reid.
“We are thankful to the community that continues to support us and share their love of Nathaniel Reid Bakery on platforms like Yelp,” Reid said.
Reid was recognized as a 2019 and 2020 James Beard Foundation semifinalist for Outstanding Baker. His chocolate-almond croissant was also featured on Food Network for “Best Cheap Eats in St. Louis.”
