The Tavern Kitchen And Bar

We had an OUTSTANDING lunch here. High quality food, great service and unique drinks. I really like this location and there is a lot around it in the Central West End. Very good casual restaurant food and bar. Very good overall. Not your typical bar/​restaurant food. My Eggs Benedict featured steak and lobster. Burger was very good too. Good beer and cocktail selection.

New to this Unilocal thing. Let me start by saying that I used to LOVE this place. Started coming to the first one in West County in early 2012. It was run by a very talented chef that is no longer around. Brunch this time was truly meh. My wife’s $ 20 frittata was dry and over cooked. Brown on the bottom. She took 2 bites of it and I ate one. Ugh.
My chicken and waffles had good flavor. The chicken was cooked perfectly. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The waffle was super soft. Would have been better with a bit of crunch. Texture on par with a toaster waffle.
My daughter had a steak and arugula eggs Benedict. Not sure why it didn’t come with hollandaise sauce. That’s kind of what makes it. When the sauce was finally brought out later, it was lacking salt.
Donuts were fire. Lemon curd and blueberry jam very tasty.
Bloody mary was decent. Would have liked more heat in the drink itself, not just the rim of fire. The glass was rimmed with what seemed to be primarily cayenne pepper. Beer was cold.
Truly disappointed and don’t plan on revisiting either location.

I had such a great dinner at The Tavern last weekend!
I’m a huge fan of the other location, and this Central West End spot doesn’t fall short. Make sure to make a reservation… it seems to always be a packed house.
We had a table reserved for 7:15, and were seated right away. Our server was absolutely wonderful during the entire meal — she was incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. The cocktails we started with were awesome, and I was a bad Unilocaler and forgot to make note of what mine was called. That just means I’ll have to go back to try it again, right? Cocktails were a huge hit with our group. We later moved on to a great bottle of wine and it made for a happy and fun evening.
Try to resist the house-​made bread they present to you at the beginning of the meal. I dare you. Just embrace the carbs this time, because it’s worth it.
I love going the tasting board route (especially the filet trio — pure heaven), but I decided to switch it up and get the Surf and Turf sushi roll. It’s tuna, tenderloin, tempura, asparagus, avocado, and truffle microgreens. …Yeah. It’s in the appetizer category, but is definitely filling enough to be the main course. We also ordered a bunch of sides — I highly recommend the tater tot casserole and the truffle mac and cheese.
This place is buzzing with great energy and great food. Next up: brunch!

We decided to go the the Tavern for cocktails and ended up staying for a bottle of wine and appetizers. You are using a different door to come into that has a curtain up to keep the cold air out. They have valet parking but we walked so no problem parking. They have also changed up their menu a little bit and I love when restaurants take a chance and do this.
Since I’ve seen poutine on several different menus, I thought I would try my first at the Tavern. Poutine is a Canadian dish with French fries, cheese curds, and various gravies. In the mix for the Tavern’s poutine was duck confit with a rich duck gravy. It’s large enough for two people to share. I am so glad I tried it because poutine might have become my favorite appetizer. Although, you could put gravy on a piece of Wonder bread and it would be a masterpiece.
Next were the shrimp and grits and the ahi tuna. Grits, sausage and blackened shrimp (I prefer my shrimp the southern way (breaded). It was quite tasty and seasoned just right. The ahi tuna was a hit with me. Served on a bed of jasmine rice the tuna was outstanding. I’m not sure what else was on it, but it was a crunchy delight with a little bit of bite. (Sorry, no pictures of the shrimp or the tuna-​my phone died.)
Would I come back? The Tavern has been a favorite place of mine since they opened so of course I’m coming back.

Nothing bad to say, all good. They have everything, and methods to be able to try everything (samplers). And the sides are unique and good: lobster gnocchi?! Mmmmm…

We were highly anticipating trying this new addition to Central West End but unfortunately it didn’t live up to the hype and is rather disappointing for a foodie.
The atmosphere is abuzz as it’s new and is hopping on a Saturday night. It has a great vibe and I love the décor, upscale rustic contemporary with a unpretentious feel.
To start we ordered the server-​recommended Lobster Potstickers. There was hardly any lobster taste to it. The potstickers were fried, and they were sitting in a pool of hoisin-​based sauce which took away any hint of lobster there may have been. At $ 15, this was a big let down. For entrees, we got the Chicken Saltimbocca and the other dish highly recommended by our server, the Barramundi fish prepared as «Blackened». First, the chicken was pretty good, it was breaded, rolled up and sliced, served on risotto. The barramundi was a major disappointment. At $ 38 for a fish, it should wow me. I got the «blackened» preparation which was seasoned with paprika and salt. It was served on a bed of homemade «blackened» linguine in a red pepper cream sauce. The fish was fresh, but other than that, the seasoning and preparation was nothing to write home about. The pasta was housemade with a good texture and bite, but again, other than that, the sauce was average. Certainly not worth the price tag.
The service was a little lacking, may be because it’s Saturday night, but shouldn’t that just mean that everyone tries a little harder. Our server came across somewhat pushy, she promoted only the most expensive items on the menu. The only positive was that the drink she highly recommended tasted awful and she readily took it back to switch for a wine. Unfortunately it still showed up on the bill and I had to ask to have it removed.
I have no qualms when it comes to paying a higher price for good food. The prices are certainly in the expensive range for STL. It’s pricier than Elaia or Blood and Sand, but the quality of the food is only worth half the price. More like cheesecake factory. I guess I’ll be popping Tums all tonight…

Came here for my birthday meal and they delivered a great experience. I do recommend getting the trio sampler plate, best decision of the night. Someone in the kitchen knows how to cook apparently. Such a nice enjoyable, busy, vibrant atmosphere! Why oh why does it have to be located right across the street from Jeni’s, does anyone understand what torture that is?

Great food! I was really surprised by the quality of the food. I had heard good things, but it blew away what i was thinking. The short ribs were flavorful, juicy and really hit the spot! The side dishes were amazing. You cant go wrong with any of them.
The atmosphere was good. Not too loud, but had a vibe. Great place to do dinner with friends. Our waitress was highly knowledgeable about the menu. The only slight issue was that she was a bit pushy. However, she was good.
This is a great place, and i highly recommend it! Ill be checking out their west county location soon.

This place is nice but overpriced which is why I gave it 3 instead of 4 stars. The bourbon cocktails were good but slightly on the sweeter side (we had 2). Short ribs were decadent but wasn’t a $ 30 dish in my opinion. The atmosphere is nothing remarkable. I thought the half baked chocolate chip cookie would be better. I like them more from my house. The bacon salad was good. Everything was above average just not very exciting. Excellent service though

This is a nice addition to the CWE’s restaurant lineup. I’ve been a handful of times, THE GOOD: trendy vibe, younger crowd, cool bar, extensive wines, fun cocktails (I always feel like an alchy leaving reviews), very interesting (albeit small) menu. THE OK: can get loud, menu never changes, can be busy. THE BAD: not much but it’ll cost ya and I feel everything is just a bit overpriced. Great date spot though or just worth a try.

St. Louis has always had a nice handful of restaurants but this place is a nice addition to the CWE, and definitely a place to which I shall return on my next visit to The Lou.
The appetizers were very nice, simple, and flavorful. The lobster risotto was incredible. I can’t express enough how difficult it is to make an authentic risotto, it is time consuming and can be easily overdone. This was perfect, with nice chunks of lobster in it. The garlic edamame were very nice. Nothing exceptional, but nicely done and a good appetizer.
The meatballs were another appetizer that seemed a bit cliché, but honestly they were unique and incredibly delicious.
For entrees we all shared the tagliatelle which was incredibly delicious, a marvelous combination of flavors and like the risotto, perfectly cooked and not overdone. We had their shrimp which were honestly the most exceptional thing I had aside from the risotto. They know how to season and cook shellfish.
The desserts were absolutely fantastic. They had small donut holes with dipping sauces that were served warm and fresh. They reminded me of beignets from my favorite french pastry shop. The half-​baked cookie, though cliché (let’s face it, everyone does it. It’s like the twice baked potato menu item of the nineties) was very good and made with excellent ingredients.
They have a nice, unpretentious atmosphere, and same goes for the wine list. No need to be intimidated here, they have excellent affordable wines paired nicely with the menu. They make an excellent old fashioned… no skimping on the booze here. The service was brilliant. Good service is a lost art. Our server was fun, entertaining, attentive without being overbearing.
It’s a great place for a night out. Above average for originality, and while it won’t «wow» you, it will have you walking away very satisfied. They do everything right, but not exceptional… but there’s a virtue in that. Overall experience is a 4 out of 5, the food as noted above, is a 3 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a lively restaurant with cool ambiance and awesome dessert this is a great place to go.
We came with a group and the staff was kind enough to let us hang at the bar for a drink before we sat for our reservation. The bartender allowed my husband and I to try a few wines before we made our selection. We didn’t really care for the choices but made a selection anyway. The wine was pretty pricey at $ 15 a glass when it was just okay tasting.
Then we sat at our table and we had a great time with our friends talking and enjoying the scene. Our waiter was nice but a little pushy with recommendations. The bus boys were all very kind and friendly which we appreciated. We tried some appetizers we had the shrimp, tuna tartar and meatballs. The shrimp was salty, tuna tartar lacked flavor and the meatballs were bland too. We then got entrees. I had the sea bass which was a special and it was cooked perfectly. It was butterywith a melt in your mouth texture. The pistachio topping didn’t really do anything for it, nor did the potatoes that accompanied the fish. My husband had the salmon and had the opposite experience. His Salmon was dry and the vegetables that accompanied it were very tasty. I can’t recall what his topping choice was for the fish but it had an Asian flavor. We aslo tried the brussel sprouts which were tasty, the tater tots which we’re just super creamy and the Mac and cheese which was again, like any other cheesy mac and cheese, nothing great.
We had a few desserts for the table to share. The cookie was my personal favorite with the warm undercooked soft texture of the cookie and the cold ice cream. I’m not sure what the ice cream flavor was but it was vanilla with some chocolate chips in it and it was pretty amazing. We also had the carrot cake which was also very tasty with good bold flavor. The donuts were my least favorite but they had some bacon pieces on top to give it a little creativity. The donuts tasted like your average cinnamon sugar donut so I’d go for the other desserts over this one.
I loved the layout of this location and the open kitchen. I’m not sure if I’ll be back to try it again but I had a great time here either way.

The fish selection is nice, seafood risotto had a good flavor and the chocolate cookie and ice cream desert was yummy. This is definitely a foodie Resturant. I liked it, didn’t love it. Prices are a little over board for what you get, plan on around $ 40/​person. Atmosphere inside and out was pleasant and service good. Nonsmoking patio.

First, let me say that I couldn’t be happier to have the «the Tavern’s» second location only a couple blocks away from my house, it is truly an excellent addition to the cWe’s ever growing restaurant scene.
Now a little about the restaurant itself (feel free to check out my review of their first location as well). There is simply not a thing this place does poorly. The service/​wait staff is excellent and accommodating. The manager, Andy, is regularly walking around assuring that business is running smoothly. The food? Spectacular. You can not go wrong here. Fish is their speciality, and deservedly so, but their chicken, steak, and appetizer dishes are all phenomenal. Personally I would recommend going with one of their tasting boards to get a true sampling of everything the restaurant has to offer.
The drinks and deserts also warrant high praise. Personally I would recommend the skillet cookie (though I’ve yet to have a bad desert here).
Again, couldn’t be happier to have this spot in the cWe. I strongly recommend this spot for any occasion, gathering, or celebration.

Cannot say enough positive things about this place. The good the service everything was 5 stars! It is rare that you come across such great service and good. Andy made the dinner extra special by presenting my mom and husband with a signed birthday card by the staff! Such a great night would recommend to anyone

After several dinners with dessert and one brunch, I feel I can give a discerning review. The Tavern Kitchen And Bar is the second of its name, yet located in the swanky tree-​lined Central West End area of the city. The theme of these restaurants is «exquisite comfort food, artfully reinvented.» When I think of «comfort food» childhood favorites resonate immediately. Overall, the menu doesn’t follow the characteristics of the theme but the food is very delightful.
On every visit, I was warmly greeted by the floor Manager, Andy and a lovely associate affectionately called G2 (how cool is that). The waitress service has varied from nice & attentive to overzealous & hurried. The décor is recycled and reclaimed woods with vibrant lime green pops of color. The space is warm with an ambient noise that is of jovial conversation, light music and the sizzle of loving cast iron.
While perusing the menu I was immediately greeted with fresh Parmesan Pull Apart Bread complements of the Chef. Now this read comfort — the only way it could’ve been better would’ve been with maple syrup. As far as cocktails go, I’ve had several of the Lord N Taylor’s (get this) and the Sangria (I wouldn’t order it again). Two of my entrées came from the fish market section of the menu. There you choose your fish, and then choose one of the preparations. I went with: Blackened Grouper (orzo pasta, roasted red peppers, spinach & romesco); and Pistachio Encrusted Salmon (garlic broccolini, red bliss potatoes & spicy lobster sauce).
The standout entrée I’ve had was under the handmade pasta section, Tagliatelle con Funghi (mushrooms conserva, sun dried tomatoes, melted leeks & slow cooked egg) — well executed and divine! The egg yolk was nestled atop the pasta; I stirred the yolk into the pasta, which created a creamy yet not overly thick sauce. The pasta was perfectly al dente, the leeks were cooked down but sweet and the sun-​dried tomatoes gave the perfect pop.
The daily desserts are posted all around the restaurant on cute chalkboards (no official paper dessert menu). So far I’ve indulged in:
*Half Baked Cookie — push your momma down the stairs good (okay but don’t do that); it tastes like they added peanut butter but nevertheless I enjoyed it.
*Berry Financier — Lemon cake with ice cream and fresh berries. This actually brought tears to my eye thinking about a dish my Grandmother would make.
Bottom line — get a dang dessert!!!
The difference between this location and West County is that brunch is available here. For my brunch experience I went with the chicken and waffles (buttermilk fried chicken breast, herb-​infused waffle w/​a maple espresso glaze). My mimosa came out right away and was average; and after what seemed like mere moments my entrée was presented to me. The chicken was moist, fresh and piping hot. The waffle on the other hand was dry, very dense and to be honest it taste frozen — that was not comforting.
My only quibbles: (1) One waitress picked up my food, put it on her tray and then asked me «are you done with that» — probably should’ve asked me that before hand but hey lesson learned — hopefully; and (2) the water for the table is placed in the middle of the table. So when the attendant goes to refill your water they have to reach in front of you. That is rather off-​putting when you’re conversing with someone and there is no heads up. I will also add they need to work on their scheduling. My first two times here it was all but impossible to get a reservation yet when I finally arrived there were more than enough seats so they’re actually under booking and not realizing the full capacity of revenue and customers they can have.
There isn’t a similarly situated restaurant like this in the neighborhood. Considering this has been three different places by the same Owner (s) this is a welcomed change. If the initial buzz doesn’t diminish and consistency stays above par, The Tavern will be a main stay and repeat destination for those in and out of the area. If you try nothing else — come for the dang desserts.

the food here is average at best. I really want to give them more stars but i really can’t. the service and personnel there was great but the food, albeit pretty to look at, was subpar for my taste buds. I did appreciate the ambiance outdoors and them getting my pup a bowl of water!
ahi poke: per their menu, it’s a Hawaiian style tuna tartare. not sure what Hawaiian style means but their tuna wasn’t chopped finely, rather large chunks. it’s also sitting on a large, large bed of rice. way too much. too much rice, not enough tuna, decent amount of guac.
surf&turf sushi roll: it was recommended by our server, it’s her fave. it was also average. nothing really special. but rice to fish ratio again… too much rice!
duck gravy poutine: takes me back to jersey and their disco fries! flavorful. probably the best thing we had here.
brussel sprouts: he first thing I noticed was the smell. it smelled really, really good. I love brussel sprouts. outside flavorful. inside not so much. t didn’t have a lot of texture.
seafood trio: the sesame seared ahi was alright… it was on a bed of excessive rice. pistachio crusted salmon was a little dry and overcooked for my liking… the broccoli raab was really good. the basil mahi mahi was cooked really well… moist and juicy but super bland!
I want to give it a two star for food but will give three for service and kindness!
I’d be willing to come here again and give it another go. they’ve rebranded and reopened this place less than two months ago so I’m curious as to what the be like in a few months…

I regret to inform you that The Tavern Kitchen And Bar is NOT what it once was (and that’s a pretty short turnaround time; as they’ve only been operating at this location for less than 2 months).
Before I go into depth on this horrific experience I must say that there were several hidden gems within these walls:
1. The gentlemen bussing tables were superb; pleasant and kept water filled without request.
2. Andy and Wayne are the type of guys you want running your establishment (results driven service providers)
3. Jeffrey very personable and knows the business of hospitality.
Now, what you do not want is a server like Elaina. Cute as a button with a disposition so unkind it’s frightening. I believe the hired help is a true reflection of company standard and although Andy threw Elaina a life line after the first tiff Elaina just never quite grasped on. I promise not to make this a bashing dissertation; I’ll state a few facts and leave well enough alone.
1. Elaina is not a genuinely hospitable server (she tried to demonstrate but her mannerisms were totally obvious. When I wasn’t happy with my drink she basically through a temper tantrum, snatched up the remaining cocktail menus knowing I still had 3 guests arriving.
2. My reservation indicated I was celebrating my birthday and she never acknowledged it. When one of my guest asked about desserts she snapped back with, «Well I never really got to do my spiel because you didn’t order entrée’s»
3. As she attempted to pick up menus; one of my guest had her cell phone on-​top; Elaina sharply stated, «You wanna pick up your phone»
4. I advised Elaina upon arrival I did not eat pork. While eating my Seafood Trio entrée I could taste pork in the Mahi Mahi dish. I asked Elaina if there was pork in my entrée and she replied, «The Mahi has a bacon jam» I almost flipped but kept my cool because I never wanna be the angry bird in a dining establishment. The birthday dessert she had brought over after my guest demanded it also had bacon bites sprinkled over the top. At the point I really felt like Ashton Kutcher was gonna jump out and scream «PUNKED!»
5. Lastly, she never even apologized.
The food was ok; I’d recommend the Truffle Mac & Cheese but that’s about it. Everything else I tried at dinner was mediocre. Nice presentations just lacked flavor and seemed overpriced. The portions made me feel like I was at a tapas bar.
My 2 stars are solely because Andy and Wayne both made great efforts at trying to make this situation right. They apologized and although we had already settled our bill Wayne offered to adjust it but we declined. He still gave each of us gift cards to use toward a future visit. I appreciated their kindness but this was a birthday dinner from hell and back. I had raved to my friends about how good this place would be for our night out. With all of St. Louis’ opinions, I thought enough of The Tavern to plan a special evening at their restaurant and was sorely disappointed.

I was looking for a new place to grab a bit to eat and I found it! I was really intrigued by the brunch menu as I can eat breakfast for dinner but they don’t serve breakfast all day so I decided to try their other menu items. I’m happy that I gave it a go. Usually on business trips I just order room service and call it a night but I walked down from my hotel and grabbed a table. The patio was full as it was pretty nice the evening I ventured out. It seems like this is a new location in the Central West End. The staff is pretty nice and willing to explain the menu for first timers like myself. If you are going to enjoy dessert you may not want to devour the entire entrée and the complimentary Parmesan pull apart yummy goodness bread they serve — you may not have room for it all. I had the pistachio crusted salmon with lobster sauce. The salmon was delicious though I wasn’t a fan of the sauce.
Ordering dessert is something you need to do in advance which my server warned me about. She was kind enough to box up my leftovers while I waited for my chocolate chip cookie… delish! Warning: it’s enough for two. I’m happy that I walked over because I felt like a little pig after eating all that. I should’ve paced myself better. But hey I have one life to live and I enjoy great food.

Came for their soft opening and we would not have been able to tell if we weren’t from the neighborhood. The service was excellent and all the food items were done to perfection.
Be sure to save room for their creative desserts, they are creative and delicious.