Josh Goldman | Student Life

Located at 4658 Maryland Ave. in Maryland Plaza, Boutique/83 sells labels such as Byron Lars, Megan Fabulous, Howe, Ben Sherman and Nicole Miller. The boutique is owned and operated by Chad Roundtree and Perchelle O’Boyle.

A hot new boutique just came to town. Once located downtown at the intersection of Washington Avenue and Tucker Boulevard, Boutique/83 has moved to the trendy Central West End, with new merchandise already featured in Saint Louis Fashion Week this fall. Recently I got a chance to sit down with the ever-calm, cool and collected co-owner, Chad Roundtree, to learn more about what it’s like to run a boutique and what this shop has to offer.

Student Life: What was your first job in the fashion industry?

Chad Roundtree: Actually, opening up the boutique downtown was my first fashion-related job.

SL: How did you become interested in the fashion industry, and how did you know you wanted to open up a boutique in St. Louis?

CR: I have been in real estate ever since I was 19. As the market turned, I looked for new business ventures. One day, my business partner, Perchelle O’Boyle [who also happens to be a menswear designer] and I had the idea of opening up a clothing store. However, we were stuck between being based in St. Louis or relocating to Los Angeles. Since we determined the LA market to be too saturated, we decided to open up here.

SL: Who would you say is your favorite clothing designer?

CR: Perchelle O’Boyle, and her clothing line is Perchelle.

SL: What is your opinion on St. Louis fashion?

CR: St. Louis fashion is starting to catch up with New York and LA. A lot of people are becoming more fashion forward, and because of that we’re starting to see a lot more boutiques.

SL: Since there are more and more boutiques opening every day, what makes your boutique unique?

CR: Our creativity. We have the inspiration to do something new. When customers enter our store, we want them to feel like they’re no longer in St. Louis. We try to create a certain ambiance.

SL: How do you decide what to sell in your shop?

CR: I spend a lot of time traveling to New York or LA, and I go to numerous trade shows in Las Vegas, Dallas and Chicago. Perchelle is in LA 80 percent of the time and has connections with the fashion industry there. Because of her relationships and access, we know what’s new and trendy first.

SL: Which brands are most popular with your customers?

CR: Byron Lars has been really popular, as well as Megan Fabulous (a designer based in Los Angeles), Howe, Ben Sherman and Nicole Miller.

SL: Who is your target customer?

CR: We try to reach everyone, from the student at Saint Louis University or Washington University to the doctor or nurse to the retiree with the $2 million house. With the broad demographic this area has to offer, we’re trying to accommodate and provide something for everyone. Our prices for men range from $32 to $390 while our prices for women range from $30 to $450.

SL: What is the typical workday like for you?

CR: I usually arrive at work by 10:30 a.m. during weekdays and spend my time checking in inventory, building business and personal relationships with our customers, organizing the displays and bookkeeping.

SL: What are some things aspiring boutique owners should consider before opening up shop?

CR: Definitely think about marketing and advertising. Consider your target market and how much capital you have. Make sure that your books are in order and that the products you offer are in demand.

SL: Where do you see your business going in the next five years?

CR: Though I can’t disclose where, we’re looking to expand to two more locations.

The boutique also plans to open a bar in the near future.

Now that I’m 21, I can finally legally review a restaurant with a name like “The Drunken Fish.” I’d feel a little silly only discussing the fish. The Drunken Fish is a classy sushi restaurant and lounge with two locations near campus: one in the Central West End and another at Laclede’s Landing. I visited the one in the Central West End, which was lively on a weekend evening.

Red- and black-colored walls and dim lighting provided by small candles on the hardwood tables added to the sleek and stylish feel, while the friendly waitstaff accentuated the restaurant’s pleasant vibe. The Drunken Fish has an extensive, almost overwhelming menu, with plenty of sushi options, as well as dinner dishes, desserts and cocktails.

I first tried two appetizers: gyoza and seaweed salad. The gyoza, essentially the Japanese version of Chinese potstickers, consisted of several small, soft, fried dumplings stuffed with pork and vegetables, with soy sauce served on the side. They were not out-of-this-world delicious but were flavorful and filling.

Meanwhile, I was quite uncertain about the seaweed salad, but one of my friends urged me to try it. As I placed the thin green strands of seaweed in my mouth, I expected to taste a fishy string of slime. Instead, I swallowed delicious soy-flavored, salty and sweet (though admittedly slimy) threads of goodness.

The sushi, like the gyoza, was tasty but not amazing. It arrived on long white plates with wasabi and ginger. I sampled the shrimp tempura roll, which consisted of five pieces of sushi with fried pieces of shrimp, asparagus, masago (a bright orange variety of fish roe) and Japanese mayo. I also tried the spider roll, which consisted of eight pieces of sushi, including fried soft-shell crab, asparagus, masago and Japanese mayo. Both rolls were good, but I felt they skimped a bit on the actual shrimp and crab, and the sauce could have had more of a kick. I would recommend the spider roll over the shrimp tempura roll—you get more sushi, and the crab offers a sweeter, more exciting flavor than the shrimp.

The Drunken Fish also offers plenty of alternatives for those not too keen on sushi, including chicken teriyaki, pan-seared scallops and vegetable tempura, as well as various noodle and soup dishes. For those willing to pay extra, the restaurant prepares such intriguing entrées as tempura-fried lobster and filet mignon teriyaki.

Moving to the “drunken” side of the menu, the restaurant’s cocktail list boasts plenty of exciting options, from the Sake Waterfall (sake, vodka, watermelon Schnapps and lime served chilled) to the Blue Eyed Asian (Blue Curacao, coconut, melon and a splash of orange juice) to the Key Lime Pie Martini (Stoli Vanil, coconut rum, melon and a splash of sour orange juice, cream, lime and syrup). The Drunken Fish also serves an array of beers, wines and house sakes.

I had to try what was perhaps the most intriguing option: The Drunken Fishbowl. This enormous glass bowl, like a wine glass on steroids, was filled with a reddish, purplish mix of rum, vodka, melon and amaretto flavors with cranberry juice. Wedges of fresh orange and pineapple decorated the rim, while ice cubes, maraschino cherries and more pieces of orange and pineapple floated within. Once it was confirmed that no one in the party had swine flu, the hefty bowl was passed around. Three people in our group proclaimed that the Fishbowl was gross and tasted like cough syrup. Another friend said she thought it was great. Finally, it was my turn. I took the thin black straw to my lips and felt the alcohol-infused liquid rush through my mouth. I actually agreed with everyone: While it did vaguely taste like cough syrup, it was also delicious, providing a sweet and fruity flavor with strong alcoholic undertones.

Obviously, though, the goodness of this drink depends on personal preference. The only problem was that this gigantic glass full of alcohol was initially ordered for six people, and now only two were attempting to consume it. I was going to say, “Don’t try this at home,” but we weren’t at home—we were at The Drunken Fish, and what better place is there to drink a Drunken Fishbowl? My only recommendation is that if you do decide to take the plunge into the Fishbowl with a friend, consider just ordering the regular size ($8) rather than the large ($18). This will save you a little time, money and maybe some self-respect.

So whether you’re ordering a glass of floating fruit and rum or simply a glass of water, fun times are sure to be had by all at this chic sushi establishment. Be sure to check out their new extended happy hour with half-price non-signature rolls and half-price signature martinis from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 p.m. to midnight on Sundays. Just watch out before you decide to dive into any deep “drunken” fishbowls!

Duff’s is tucked safely into the Central West End, right across from a small bookstore, with a comfortable patio along the sidewalk and stained-glass windows looking inside. Upon entering, soft jazz and gentle lighting fill the room, which contains a few booths and a few more tables. There is a handsome bar with seating for nine and a stock that has nothing truly unusual, but certainly nothing missing. The walls are covered on one side with mirrors, on another with wall tapestries or paintings. After passing through a large, brick archway, one is greeted by a number of small wooden tables that keep a family meal intimate. The restaurant exudes the aura of a familial dining room or kitchen, with everyone sitting comfortably and enjoying the company.

The menu continues the theme of simple, family meals, ranging from $4.95 for a salad up to $19.95 for a pepper steak. The restaurant offers a number of time-dependent deals to complement their menu: The Red-Bird Special allows any of five selected entrŽes to be only $10 between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Also prior to 6:30 p.m., any three-course meal is only $25, regardless of which items are chosen. After noting these deals, I proceeded to menu. The small plate and salad section has a number of dishes offered, from typical salads such as a Caesar and a Greek salad, to more unusual smoked trout or steak salad. Some of the small plates that particularly stuck out included the creole crab and crawfish cakes and the beef carpaccio, of which I settled on the latter. The main courses were quite varied, ranging from blue quiche, which is a blue cheese quiche served with a cranberry, pear and walnut salad, to vegetable pot pie to spinach feta strudel. After hard deliberation and a suggestion from the server, I decided to try the cranberry chicken.

During the wait in between ordering and eating, I was greeted by a number of the staff, from the host to the head chef, all of whom were more than happy to share a story or two. I was even coerced into taking a look at a picture hanging on the wall of the 10th birthday of Duff’s from more than 20 years ago. I took great pleasure in watching the host point out to me all of the people in the picture who still worked at the restaurant.

Right as I finished the fourth slice of my appetizer, my server, dressed in a grey Polo and khakis, brought over the cranberry chicken. The chicken itself had a visually pleasant char to it that deducted nothing from the taste of the meat. Served on the side was a medley of steamed vegetables and a ball of  what Duff’s calls sweet potato corn bread pudding. Placed randomly over the meal was the occasional cranberry. The chicken breast itself acquired a wonderful sweetness from the savory sauce in which it rested, allowing for a wonderful complement from the cranberries.

In my opinion, however, the star of the meal was the sweet potato corn bread pudding. The corn bread was subtle and not easily detected aside from noticing that there was more to the flavor than just sweet potatoes; regardless, the flavor was excellent and a wonderful addition to the chicken itself. Perhaps it was the combination of the sweet potatoes, corn bread and cranberries that reminded me so much of Thanksgiving at home, or perhaps it was just the meal itself, but I found the entire experience to be incredible.

Duff’s truly does feel like home in atmosphere, presentation and taste. Perhaps Jim Voss’ experience traveling with The Grateful Dead helped to create that; after all, a band who travels all over the world never minds a home-style meal now and again.

Rating: 4.5/5