Chef Carl McConnell$295Book 3 to 4 weeks ahead
The former Stone Soup Cottage in Cottleville reopened as Le Champ De Fleurs, a tiny destination serving a fixed monthly tasting menu by reservation only.
Tip: Seatings are limited and book a month ahead; the menu is a set monthly tasting, so there are no a la carte options.
Chef House kitchen$35-70Book 1 week ahead
Eclipse plates modern American cooking inside the boutique Moonrise Hotel in the Delmar Loop, with a rooftop bar above. A polished pre-show Loop dinner.
Tip: Pair dinner with a rooftop drink at the Twilight Room upstairs. Reserve on OpenTable; the Loop fills on event nights.
Chef Gerard Craft$50-90Book 1 to 2 weeks ahead
Gerard Craft's flagship Italian room in Clayton plates hand-rolled pastas and wood-fired pizzas across a long, ingredient-driven menu in a lively dining room.
Tip: The pasta-and-pizza tasting is the way to eat here; reserve on OpenTable. Pastaria Deli and Wine next door is the lighter, walk-in alternative.
Chef Gerard Craft$35-70Book Few days ahead
Gerard Craft's Central West End brasserie has poured wine and plated steak frites for over a decade, the city's most dependable French room. Warm and unfussy.
Tip: Walk-ins fare well at the zinc bar; the patio fills first on warm nights. Reserve the dining room on Resy.
Chef House kitchen$40-80Book Few days ahead
Edera plates modern Italian and house-made pasta on Maryland Plaza, a polished contemporary counterpoint to the red-sauce rooms of The Hill. A grown-up room.
Tip: Sit on the Maryland Plaza patio in warm months and ask which pasta was made that day. Reserve ahead at weekends.
Chef House kitchen$35-75Book Few days ahead
From an Annie Gunn's alum, Olive + Oak grew into a polished Webster Groves restaurant with a smart American menu and a strong bar. A reliable suburban table.
Tip: The bar serves the full menu and is the best bet without a booking. The burger has a cult following at lunch.