Death In The Afternoon

Food was ok. Drinks were pretty good. I liked the service as well but definitely nothing out of the extraordinary. I ordered the Chicken Ramen and it was pretty decent but for the price I feel was not that superb.

A great environment for lunch. Service was good. The food was prepared with a vast array of ingredients and spices that went well together. One of the best places for lunch downtown.

Neither the best nor the worst brunch I’ve had. The food was pretty good (I got the biscuits with a fried egg), and the greens were unexpectedly spiced which I enjoyed. That said, for the price I expected a little more than I got, taste wise. I could have split my meal portion with someone else.
The space itself is adorable, with windows on all sides and lots of natural light. Good for a post-​bachelorette party brunch with mimosas and bloody mary’s.
One odd one-​off, the entire restaurant was smoky when we were there, causing some of our party’s eyes to water a bit.

I stopped by for lunch yesterday to check out the Hot Pastrami sandwich. Ian Froeb said it was a «must order» on his STL 100 list. As i waited for my food at the bar, my favorite place to be seated when dining alone. I checked out my previous review on Unilocal.To my surprise, I hadn’t done a review on my previous visit. So after I tell you how fabulous this lunch was, I’ll highlight my previous meal.
Being seated at the bar, I felt obligated to order an alcoholic drink. Okay, I used it as an excuse to enjoy a Crispin Cider. Ashley my sever, was fantastic and she agreed with me that a Cider would be the perfect accompaniment to a pastrami sandwich. The Hot Pastrami here at DITA, definitely is the gold standard for pastrami. Everything for this sandwich is made in house. So it, can’t get any fresher then that. They take a pretzel bun, smear it with mustard mayo and then stuff it sauerkraut and pastrami.
For an additional $ 2.50 I was able to add a side dish, I choose a side salad. Oh, how I wanted fries, but I had them before and wanted something new and healthier. I was shocked to see that their salad was made with Boston Bibb lettuce and a dressing that was so good, I wanted to lick the bowl clean. The side salad along with the pastrami and ciderI — made a perfect lunch.
Highlights from my previous visit —
Bloody Mary — a salted rim, spicy and only available at brunch. Worthy of my BM List.
Fried Pickles — Crisp pickle chips with a buttermilk ranch for dipping. Worthy of my FP List.
American Stuffed Grass Fed Cheeseburger — Single patty with house fries. 5 Stars
Breakfast Sandwich — House made English Muffin with fried egg, white cheddar & house made sausage. Served with fried potatoes. This is what a breakfast sandwich was meant to be.
Death In The Afternoon is a great restaurant with a relaxing atmosphere. It has limited hours of operation being only open 11 AM till 3 PM. I highly recommend them for lunch, the staff is friendly and professional. They also hustle, making it easy for those who work downtown to dine and get back to work within a reasonable amount of time.
When: June 13, 2016 & previous date
Why: Lunch & Brunch

If you are looking for a chic and sleek affordable, upscale restaurant for lunch, I would highly recommend that you put Death in the Afternoon on your short list. This restaurant is in a fantastic location right on the northeast corner of City Garden in downtown St. Louis. The restaurant is beautifully designed in its urban art gallery-​like space, with wall-​to-​wall windows on all sides of the restaurant, with grey, black, cobalt blue, and yellow motif.
The only thing that took away from the upscale atmosphere of the restaurant was the logo printed on the soda/​water glasses. This in turn made the restaurant seem less «uppity» and a little more casual, which is not a bad thing.
In terms of the food, the menu is relatively small with not the cheapest prices, but not outrageous either. This restaurant is only open for lunch and brunch. I debated between the burger and the Cuban sandwich and ultimately went with the burger with fries. Please note that the sandwiches don’t come with a side, and the side can be added for $ 2.50 extra. The burger, which is a grass-​fed ¼ lb burger with 2 ounces of cheese stuffed inside. I ordered the single patty burger. It seemed really small to be a quarter pound burger, however I do consider the fact that add the cheese on the inside so it may be that size in actuality, but it didn’t seem that large. You can get the burger as a double or triple, and I suggest the double being about the smallest you want to go if you are hungry.
That being said, the burger was excellent. It had great taste and flavor. I had 2 people tell me 3 times between the both of them not to try eating the burger in its entirety because the piping hot cheese would squirt all over me and possibly burn me if I tried. I heeded the warning and cut the burger in half as advised. It was extremely messy but very good. The fries were fantastic! While I felt that my burger was undersized for the price, I definitely felt like DITA redeemed itself with the fries. I got a heaping pile of freshly made fries and they tasted like homemade fries straight from my childhood! I loved them! They were served with a flavorful sauce, that was not your average ketchup.
The service was also good, considering that there were only 2 waitresses in the entire restaurant for lunch on a Friday afternoon. The restaurant is small so there only being 2 servers was sufficient. I wish that this restaurant was open for dinner as well in that it would make the perfect place for a nice evening date.
I definitely hope to return here again, but the lunch-​time only schedule has prevented me from coming until now and will probably prevent me from returning soon.

I came here while I was in town for a wedding, and my sick boyfriend needed some soup.
What’s better than ramen?! Not much.
We were able to sit on the patio with a great view of City Garden. Our server was super nice, and the ramen was packed full of good stuff!
We each got a bowl of different ramen and both really enjoyed it. I got the Chicken one, he got the Miso one. Our server let us know that they were very filling, and she was spot on. The huge bowl was overflowing with yummy stuff and just the right amount of broth (and pork belly!).
The cocktails looked refreshing, but we didn’t get any during this visit.
I’d definitely recommend this place to friends

Must go here! It’s hard for me to get here BC of their limited hours. I hope that they will have dinner hours with their full menu one day. The ramen rocks my world here! Also the pork belly bun was amazing. I’m not sure you could order something that you didn’t love here.

We went to Death in the Afternoon for a business lunch. Needless to say, the hostess who met us was as friendly as a cornered animal. Very unfriendly, no smile, very serious at all aspects. No mid-​west hospitality here.
Our waiter was much better, however, I wish I could say the same about the food. The appetizers were soooooooo salty. The Chicken appetizers are the smallest of small pieces of chicken. It looked like crumbs at the bottom of a bag of potato chips.
The salad was OK, however, the Pastrami Sandwich was a bit on the small side and the bread was incredibly salty!!! It must have been made fresh with a cup of salt per portion. Truly almost unedible. It is to bad as the Pastrami itself was very good in quality and taste. The price was also way over-​charged. $ 13 for a small sandwich with no fries. It was $ 2.50 to add them but I did not as the salt overload would have put me into a coma. Now I know why it called ‘Death in The Afternoon’, all the salt you get during lunch will put you into cardiac arrest.
The speed of service is also on the slow side. The view is good, the location is good, so if you have time to kill and love a lot of salt, then you would be a client. For all of us and others, it was our last visit.

Aw, veggie sandwich, yeaah. Tastes real good, get that egg on there, it makes it way messier, but, it is so friggin good.
Fries were way salty.
I’m kind of a mess of a person and the ambience made me feel like I was walking into art college, was a little nervous. It was cool, though. Nice to check out the park while dining.

Death in the Afternoon is a unique and enticing restaurant concept. Located within City Garden, this place is a lovely site to behold. The menu items are equally as interesting as the restaurant itself. From fried pickles to kimchee for an appetizer to a bowl of ramen and some grass-​fed, cheese stuffed burgers and all the way to their interesting dessert, this place was something!
This restaurant has been on my bookmark list for quite some time now. While perusing the many, wonderful reviews, I decided that I needed to try the ramen when I finally make it in. So I did just that. But before we discuss the ramen, let’s discuss the popcorn chicken appetizer which came with 2 dipping sauces: ranch and hot sauce. Naturally, I prefered the hot sauce since I am a fan of spicy things and it was perfect! Next up: a bowl of chicken ramen. I have had many other ramens outside of STL and at one local place. Death in the Afternoon’s ramen was fairly acceptable. I wouldn’t say it’s the best one I have had but it had some good flavors and the portion was generous. I was disappointed about 3 things mainly: 1) the broth was lukewarm when I got my ramen (no, I didn’t have a very long wait either so it couldn’t have been sitting out for too long before it was brought to my table), 2) lack of ramen options and 3) big chunks of noodles were stuck to each other. It was almost as if they didn’t let the noodles cook in the broth.
I had the dessert the server recommended. I don’t remember what it was called but it was served with 2 pieces of biscotti (supposedly homemade). All I know is that it was such a delicious treat. Well-​worth the extra calories! I then went home and stayed on the elliptical until I felt like I’ve hit my own death this afternoon.
Next time I come in, I will highly be considering their other options instead for my entrée. Their salads sounded quite appetizing.
Service was nice. There was no wait and the view was fantastic! And now the conundrum of this review. I really want to love this place, however, it fell slightly short of being impressive. Perhaps next time I’ll be blown away. For now, a 3-​star will suffice.

With floor to ceiling windows that overlook City Garden, it’s easy to be enchanted with the open and airy feel of Death In The Afternoon. We came here for lunch and found that even though the menu was small (seriously small, like probably only about 10 entrees), there was plenty of variety. My boyfriend got the cheese stuffed hamburger which comes with a knife for you to cut it in half and let the cheese bubble out before biting into it. He ordered fries on the side which I mooched about half of, and they were well-​seasoned and cooked perfectly.
I debated between the chicken ramen and the grilled fish sandwich with the lemon dill aioli. I settled on the fish sandwich, and I would rate it as good, but not mind blowing. I’m guessing this was likely more of a case of what I ordered, (and the fact that the lady at the table next to me got the chicken ramen and I suffered serious food envy as I watched her eat it), rather than a reflection on the food here. The drink I ordered called «I Want To Dance With Somebody» was mind blowing, though. This drink is the DITA twist on a margarita with the inclusion of vanilla and juniper, it really didn’t disappoint. Truly heavenly.
The great ambiance, music and service along with the tasty food means that this is a place we will likely stop at again, if we find ourselves in St. Louis.

Overlooking the City Garden with full pane glass windows on all sides, Death In The Afternoon is a beautiful spot for lunch.
The ramen is what drew me and my partner here, and we’ve been meaning to come for over a year but the 11 – 3 schedule the restaurant has made that difficult. We found time for a visit after showing a friend around the Arch and the surrounding area.
I ordered the chicken ramen and my friend ordered the turnip miso ramen. I was surprised that I liked the whole wheat noodles in the turnip ramen, considering I don’t like whole wheat bread. The soft boiled eggs were cooked perfectly, just runny enough and I liked the addition of long stalked mushrooms. Those were fun to try.
I’ve had ramen when I went to Japan a few years ago and I can say that this ramen is very close to authentic. My only qualm –and this is why this review is three stars– is that it was a little too salty.
There wasn’t much else I saw on the menu that interested me and with the elusive hours the restaurant keeps I’m not sure I’ll have another opportunity to visit again. If I were able to come again, it would be more for the atmosphere.

Needed somewhere to stop for food on the trek to the Arch, and we found this spot in a nice little park filled with statues. We had a group of 4 all with different cravings, but this place managed to satisfy all of them. After a quick glance around, we bellied up to the bar and ordered a round of local (albeit expensive) brews.
From ramen to cheese-​stuffed burger patties, this place had everything we wanted. The burger was smaller than expected, but the huge pile of fries accompanying it made up for it. The salad was huge and the breakfast potatoes were perfect.
The staff was amazing too. The lady taking our order at the bar was more than happy telling us stories about her travels across the US, and everyone running around the kitchen & dining area wasn’t shy about the activities and bars hey wanted us to try (and stay away from) during our one-​day stay in St Louis.

Very good food. Very good service. Very good cocktails. The staff takes a lot of pride in what they do here. Hours are a bit odd, so you only have a small window to go here, but it’s worth it. Great brunch spot. Ask about the off the menu items, the chef is an artist for sure! Ingredients feel very farm to table and delicious.

Finally found a time to make it to death in the afternoon. With their unusual hours it’s been difficult to find the right time to get here. Man the wait was worth it. Brunch is a must here! The menu is limited but meets everything.
Today we split the cornmeal pancakes with pig tails. Yes pig tails. It was just like having bacon right, I may even argue a little bit better. My girlfriend ordered the stuffed burger (in other words a «juicy lucy») with fries. The burger was one of the best burgers we have ever had. The cocktails are amazing as well. A top notch Bloody Mary and an amazing hotty toddy.
The atmosphere in this place was awesome. They had a sliding glass door that opened up on a nice day. The restaurant over looked city park and a nice fountain along with all the wonderful art work. Our waitress/​bartender Ashley was amazing. She was constantly checking on us and was very prompt with food and drinks, it made for a great experience. Amazing brunch spot!

This place was a breath of fresh air after a long weekend of attending a conference. The open feel with the windows and park made for a great experience. It’s at a really convenient location only about 2 blocks from the old courthouse and I would have like to have taken the art walk through the park after lunch if we had time. However, the food was delicious and made for such an enjoyable experience.
Lemonade: So refreshing!
Hummus: Delicious, so good and the pita was a warm and salted. It was so good I could have just eaten this.
Falafel Sandwich: Three members of my party had the falafel and it comes mildly deconstructed which is a fun way to present it. The falafel was creamier on the inside than one would typically expect but this kept it from being dry. The tzaziki sauce was also perfectly garlic-​y.
Fish Sandwich — Hands down amazing. Not sure if it was worth the $ 13 with no sides but it was so good I didn’t dwell on that too long. The sauce and pickles complemented the very well cooked fish.
Fries: Heavenly goodness. If you are not into salt, I would maybe ask them to lightly salt them, but they came out hot and stayed delicious until we finally finished them off 45 minutes later. (There were a lot of fries!)
Notes: seemed to have ample street parking nearby. Accessible, all one level. Small menu but something for everyone. Strongly recommend.

I told Majordomo that I wanted to go somewhere that served noodles. He took me to Death In The Afternoon. He said it had the highest rating for ramen noodles on Unilocal.If it does, I don’t see why. I think we had a miscommunication about the word noodles.
They do have TWO types of ramen soup. The chicken and a turnip ramen. We each got one. I had the chicken and mushroom. It came with greens, seaweed, soft boiled egg, and a few various mushrooms in the bowl with broth and ramen. Majordomo had the turnip that came with whole wheat noodles. I tasted the broth and did not care for it. Majordomo said it was edible. My soup was tasty but I didn’t feel like getting up and doing a dance around it.
Death In The Afternoon had a lot of diners in it, mostly business men. It is downtown so you have to find a place in the street to park.
Would I come back here? If it was my only option, I guess so. I’m going to have to have a talk with Majordomo about what I mean when I say noodles.

Great little restaurant located in the heart of St. Louis, 808 Chestnut. The service was quick and the food was just delicious. The chicken ramen was very flavorful and fresh, ($ 16).
I would highly recommend this restaurant. If you’re in the area, you should stop by for lunch. Just remember they’re only open for lunch, seven days a week from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Enjoy.

This place was so awesome I really don’t have the words… and I’m rarely lost for words.
The location couldn’t be better; seated just above the City Garden which offers a beautiful scenic view of downtown St. Louis.
The interior is spacious with a simple yet chic décor. The restroom was perfectly equipped with a full-​length door mirror (ladies love these). The hostess was welcoming and pleasantly led me outside to the patio table of my choice (I preferred a seat close to the water for a tranquil feel)
McKenzie was my adorably sweet server. Told her it was my first visit and she handled me with TLC. I had been eyeing the place for a while so I knew I defintiely wanted to try the Ramen. I ordered the Chicken Ramen minus the Porkbelly. Three words sums it up:
BEST RAMEN EVER!
I MEAN PERFECT! (That’s a total of 6 words I know)
McKenzie also suggested the steamed bun; I went for the mushroom which was also ahhhhhhmazzzzzzzing! The bun was super soft, the mushroom seasoned and sautéed to perfection. Garnished with a relish and some other side I can’t remember or pronounce (Sue me). Nonetheless is was mouthwatering delicious.
In a nutshell… GO! Get the Ramen. Enjoy the view. Thank me later.

Started with a NY state unoaked Chardonnay. Nice and bright flavor– glad I picked it. It reminded me of a French Chablis, which I very much prefer over heavily oaked wines.
I then moved on to Hummus and cold Vietnamese beef salad for lunch. The hummus was good but my favorite part honestly was the housemade pita that came with it. Pillowy and light with just a dusting of salt on top. I had to stop myself from gobbling it all down. The hubs is lucky he got any of the pita.
The salad was also very good. I like to make this salad at home with lots of cilantro and a tangy spicy dressing but said hubs doesn’t like it so I seldom do. Thus, I was vey happy to see it on the menu. It could have used a few more strips of beef, and I didn’t care for the fried wonton strips on top, but the salad was perfectly dressed and just the right size.
We had to have dessert which was a riff on Nutterbutter cookies. Two huge chunky peanuty cookies with filling. I wish they wouldn’t have been cold, but we still loved them. And you get two so one came home with us.
Service was really great and it’s hard to beat how pretty this place is. We sat outside in a nice shady spot as inside can get a tad noisy. All in all a vey nice experience. Not the cheapest place around for lunch but really tasty and fun food in a gorgeous setting.