Walk into Gioia’s, a little deli on the Hill, and you’ll find a place that is indisputably Italian. Just look around to see not one, not two, but upwards of three full-sized Italian flags posted inside and outside the one-room restaurant. The place is quaint but not trite, with wooden floors, a fancy chalkboard menu and a company consisting of many regulars.

Their specialty is hot salami. I have actually been a vegetarian for almost five days now, so I was looking forward to showing some willpower in the face of strong temptation. When one of the sandwich artists handed me a sample-sized hot salami sandwich, afforded to every first-timer, I started to consider the unnaturally black-and-white nature of the view of morality implied by vegetarianism. In one swift protein-deficient spasm, I devoured the sample. I do not regret that choice: The salami was tender and moist, a nearly quarter-inch thick slice of meat bitten through as easily as cake.

The sandwiches come in regular (9 inch) and medium (6 inch) sizes, though the medium was a rather generous six inches, leaving me stuffed and in a dazed meditative state.

The method at Gioia’s is simple: Select the base sandwich from about a dozen options, pick white or wheat bread, and add your choice of cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, mayonnaise and mustard. Final step: enjoy!

Netta Sadovsky | Student Life

Gioia’s Deli, located in the Hill, is known for its hot salami sandwich.

I also had the pleasure of trying the New York Philly Beef sandwich. Though the blend of cream cheese and ground meat was intriguing and satiating, the texture of the meat was somewhat coarse, and I think I would stick to hot salami on future visits.

The deli focuses on its sandwiches, but salad, soup, lasagna and desserts, like brownies and Italian ices, are also offered. Had I regained some semblance of my previous vegetarian resolution, I would also not have had to struggle to find vegetarian options in the veggie sandwich, salads and a “build your own” sandwich option.

Located a mere 10-minute drive from Washington University, Gioia’s deli is worth stepping out of your routine to visit, and perhaps even worth temporarily dropping your vegetarianism. The multitude of sandwiches is excellent; the atmosphere is picturesque, and the place has a certain informal ambiance. It is certainly worth your time—and money.

Located in South City, Mojo Tapas Restaurant & Bar offers creative cuisine and a cool neighborhood vibe, making it worth the hassle of getting there.

I started my dinner with the soup special—roasted butternut squash with a spicy red-wine reduction. The soup was hearty, and I appreciated the skillfully done, smoothly pureed texture. While this starter was certainly a delight, it could have been improved by more of the delicious red-wine reduction.

The menu predominantly consists of small tapas plates that average around $8-9 each—and at a self-proclaimed tapas restaurant, these dishes are probably the best way to go. I chose the roasted veggie cakes with smoked tomato aioli, the sesame chicken satay with jasmine rice and spicy almond sauce, the house maple-smoked trout with fried red onions and crostini and the roasted pork empanadas with orange-oregano “mojo.” The four small plates were enough to feed two people.

The veggie cakes consisted of firm squash and zucchini; the chicken satay was perfectly cooked and very tender, and the roasted pork empanadas consisted of billows of golden-fried dough filled with tender shredded pork. The trout was not much to speak of, but it did provide a simpler, locally-inspired alternative to its more exotic counterparts.

The plates should have been served warmer, and some were drowning in sauce. But despite each dish’s shortcomings, I left with the general impression that there are likely a few standout dishes at this restaurant—it just takes some experience to know what to order. Unfortunately, I didn’t happen to order that golden assortment.

The Mexican chocolate Kahlua crème caramel dessert made up for what I imagined to be a heavy-handed saucier. This sweet flan-like chocolate custard consisted of a rich chocolate outside and creamier inside. What made this dessert unique was not the Kahlua-caramel sauce, but rather the dashes of cayenne pepper and cinnamon in the chocolate. At first, the cayenne didn’t seem to pronounce itself, suffocating under the flavor the cinnamon. But eventually, as the flavors built upon each other, I began to detect the spicy subtleties of the cayenne on the tip of my tongue. Moments like these were what made Mojo worth the trek.

While some changes in technique and service could have improved the overall dining experience, the creativity and originality made this forgivable. Since Mojo’s bar stays open until 1:30 a.m., it’s a great place for a group of friends to take a break from going out and have an enjoyable, low-key night filled with friends and food. With an extensive food and drink menu, everyone in your group should be able to have a wonderful experience—that is, if you’re open to sharing whatever you order.

Netta Sadovsky | Student Life

Tres leches cake with cream, milk, icing, and sprinkles.

Imagine biting into a lightly fried enchilada with layers of golden brown dough and a juicy pulled-chicken filling. If you’re already hungry, head over to Fritanga, a cozy, one-room restaurant that provides authentic Nicaraguan food at decent prices. The word “fritanga” actually designates restaurants that make authentic, homemade Nicaraguan food.

For those of you not familiar with Nicaraguan food, it revolves around staples such as fried plantains, rice and beans and cabbage salad. The food is comparable to Mexican and other Central American varieties but has its own distinct flavor. If you’re on a diet though, beware: Many Nicaraguan dishes are fried.

Fritanga is one of the few restaurants in St. Louis that serves up authentic Nicaraguan food. With a bright outer décor and colorful paintings on the walls, Fritanga offers a lively and unique atmosphere. It is uncompromisingly authentic and refreshingly unaffected by American cuisine—there is no bread and butter served or optional mac-and-cheese sides for kids.

It is hard to find a dish without plantains at Fritanga. Entrees come with a choice of them, sweet or savory, as well as gallo pinto, a typical Nicaraguan dish with rice and red beans, or white rice and Cuban black beans. Main courses also come with repollo salad, a coleslaw-like side dish. The rice and beans are hearty but not overpowering and provide a nice, palette-cleansing break from the main course. The repollo salad is light with no mayo and just a bit of vinegar over chopped cabbage and carrots. The salad adds a tanginess that complements the fried dishes. I had the savory fried plantains, which reminded me of potato latkes with a dash of banana.

For my main dish, I tried the “canoa de maduro,” a whole ripe sweet plantain with shredded beef and a generous portion of melted mozzarella cheese on top. The different consistencies of the firm plantain, fibrous beef and fleshy cheese truly made for a unique eating experience.

I also tried the “pollo al achiote,” a charbroiled chicken breast in “achiote base sauce,” a sauce made of several spices including cumin, oregano and cinnamon. The spices lend a curry-like undertone to the chicken breast, which was cooked only until tender.

For dessert, I had the classic tres leches, a cake which literally means “three milks” and is made with cream, condensed milk and regular milk. The moist, rich tres leches cake was topped with icing and sprinkles, which added a little reminder of childhood. I also tried the banana flan, which sat in a very sweet caramel liquid. The gelatin-like substance itself had a bitter aftertaste, which was mitigated by generously dipping it into the caramel. While the banana flan was good, I would probably opt for the tres leches next time.

With entrees for less than $10, Fritanga is definitely an affordable, cultural escape for Wash. U. students. Once you visit, you’ll be wondering how you ever survived without plantains.

2208 S Jefferson Ave
St, Louis MO, 63118
http://www.fritangastl.net

Rating: 4.5/5

Recently, I had the option of spending 15 bucks either on gaining entrance to a club to meet Jersey Shore’s “the Situation” or on going to Pat’s Bar & Grill to try out their supposedly excellent food. I chose the latter, and although I was initially hitting myself for making such a heinous decision, I felt better as it became apparent that Pat’s is one of the best-kept secrets in St. Louis.

For what appears to be a subdued and depressing establishment from the outside, Pat’s, in fact, has a cute interior environment that is brimming with energy at dinnertime. Dim lighting, several small televisions and the smell of intoxication greet the entering customer. Pat’s was filled almost to capacity by a very diverse crowd of people, none of whom appeared to be in their 20s. Few things are better to pass the time than being able to watch a toddler try to eat a crayon at one table and then turning to the nearby bar to see two women battling for rights to the same bandana-wearing man. I found it all endearing.

Everyone working at Pat’s is so friendly, and they appear to genuinely care that you have come by. I think they were surprised to see college-aged kids, and even more surprised that we weren’t preying on the older women. But Pat’s staff made it feel like a beer-scented version of home for all of us. The waitress, Judy, made an extra effort to ensure our Cokes were always full, and, while the food did take its time to come out, I never got the sense that she wasn’t trying her best. A-plus for Judy.

Before our entrees, most of us had the house salad. In general I’m a big proponent of salad, but please don’t go to Pat’s for salad. The salad wasn’t horrible, just kind of dull. The lettuce leaves were lifelessly thrown on the plate, and you could tell just how limp the lettuce was with every bite.

The salad debacle was easily forgiven as soon as I took my first bite of their Reuben sandwich. The first thing I noticed about Pat’s version was the meat. Thick pieces of corned beef lined the sandwich. It had a wonderful hint of salt and a nice sear from the grill. Oftentimes, this sandwich is cooked in its component parts, yet Pat’s appeared to cook the meat, sauerkraut and cheese together, giving the sandwich a unified temperature.

The melted Swiss was great to look at and, of course, to eat. The slightly nutty taste of the cheese was cut by the surprisingly effective presence of the fermented sauerkraut. The only flavor I thought was drowned out in this plate was the dressing, but the sandwich tasted so good that I had no problem with this small sacrifice. The sandwich came with french fries, which also exceeded expectations. Along with their crunchy texture and salty disposition, I found them very addicting. Ask Judy for Pat’s tangy barbecue sauce on the side of the fries, and you won’t be sorry.

I have reviewed fried chicken from a different venue for this very newspaper before. I wrote that it was the best in St. Louis. I lied. Why some little Irish drinking shack would have fantastic fried chicken, I do not know. All I can say is this: Pat’s has the best fried chicken I have ever had anywhere (you can trust me!).

This place knows how good its chicken is, and every time an order comes from the kitchen, it’s a semi-spectacle. A single order comes with a plate covered by golden-brown poultry that seems like a massive quantity even from across the room. There’s definitely a “holy cow” moment when the plate is placed in front of you. The thick batter on the chicken resulted in an uneven terrain of flaky crust that provided an unbelievable coarse and crispy texture. When a piece of the chicken is torn off, juice from the bird starts to run and steam pours out, revealing just how succulent the meat is.

Furthermore, the chicken is so tender that you can feel it falling apart inside your mouth. Unlike the versions you might find at Church’s or Lee’s, Pat’s fried chicken tastes clean and very fresh. Pat’s doesn’t shy away from salt with their chicken, which for me was a positive since it complimented rather than overshadowed the rest of the flavors. Pat’s offers original and “spicy” versions of their fried chicken. I highly recommend the latter, as it provides a nice kick to the palate without being overbearing. For a dish that is incredibly filling, even bites past my satiation point were incredibly satisfying. I opted to have my plate come with macaroni and cheese, but I hate to put it in the same paragraph as the chicken. It lacked much flavor except for a beer flavor I must have cognitively placed on it due to the alcoholic surroundings. Go with the french fries instead.

Almost every meal at Pat’s is $9 or under, making it a great value for the large amount of food they provide. If you’re looking for mouth-watering food and a great people-watching experience, look past Pat’s flaws and see the bigger picture: They offer a tremendous product at a reduced price. I’ll definitely be going back there, and I recommend you try it yourself.

On one particular Friday, my friends and I were in the mood for some good Vietnamese food. We decided to try Pho Grand, which, as you may guess, is located on Grand and (surprise!) serves pho.

When we arrived at this quaint restaurant with our group of 10 people, we were given a buzzer and told to wait upstairs on the deserted second level of the restaurant. The wait was only 20 minutes, which wasn’t bad for a group of our size on a Friday night.

While the dining area was on the smaller side, the menu was not. Pho Grand offers an assortment of noodle soups, vegetarian meals, rice dishes, seafood and meat. On a recommendation, several of my friends decided to try the Bo Luc Lac, otherwise known as shaking beef. Instead, I opted for the Com Chien Ga, chicken fried rice. Within minutes of placing our orders, our dishes came straight to the table.

Although chicken fried rice may seem like a simple dish, it was uniquely prepared at Pho Grand. The rice was crisp and not burnt like it is at many other restaurants. The chicken had a bit of a sweet taste to it, which blended well with the spiced rice.

Looking around the table, I noticed the happy faces of my friends enjoying their shaking beef. Prepared with garlic and onions, the beef had a unique and tangy taste. The portions for all of our meals were also very generous for the prices.

To my right, I saw that one of my friends had ordered an interesting soup—Pho Dac Biet. Inside this rice noodle soup was round beef, beef brisket, meatballs and tripe. While the soup was already overflowing, it also came with a side plate of bean sprouts and mint, which my friend proceeded to add to the soup. The result was a meal full of unique, robust flavor, and I’ll have to trust his word that it was delicious.

By the time we finished our dinner, we were too full to even think about indulging in dessert. But one of my dining mates was adventurous enough to try Vietnamese coffee. The coffee came out in an intricate silver pot. The drink was incredibly hot, so the server told my friend to wait five minutes before he returned to prepare it. After the coffee had cooled off, the waiter pulled up the cup and added some sweetened condensed milk to it. My friend loved the strong-yet-sweet coffee, and the interesting process of making it made it an unique experience.

If you’re looking for unique and authentic Vietnamese food in the area, I would definitely recommend Pho Grand. There is a nearly limitless number of menu options, including food for the conservative and daring diners. Plus, there’s enough strong coffee to keep you awake during the start of the semester.

Rating: 5/5

3195 S Grand Blvd
St Louis, MO 63118
(314) 664-7435

8440 Delmar Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63124
314-993-3754

Go to Mai Lee. Right now. Seriously, go. I honestly would not be offended if you stopped reading my review to go eat there.

I’ve recently been trying to figure out which eateries in the local area are best for college students. In my mind, there are several criteria to consider: quality, variety and affordability are the most important. Mai Lee fits all of these and more.

Located on Delmar, right near Interstate 170, this restaurant was the first to introduce Vietnamese cuisine to the St. Louis area, but it certainly hasn’t rested on its laurels since. The visual appearance of the restaurant is simple and comforting: There isn’t any stereotypical Asian music playing; the servers don’t wear over-the-top attire, and the decoration, obviously of an Asian theme, is very tasteful.

The first shining quality of Mai Lee is its menu, which presents a good variety of dishes at an affordable price. The menu has two primary parts: Vietnamese and Chinese. That’s right, though Mai Lee is a Vietnamese restaurant, it acknowledges that some people are simply unfamiliar with different varieties of Asian cuisine and are more comfortable with classic Chinese food. The Chinese section is much smaller than the Vietnamese, as would be expected, though it still lists more than 40 dishes.

If you want some real variety, stick to the Vietnamese side of the menu, which boasts more than 170 choices. Admittedly, some are pretty similar to each other, but 170 choices—from seafood, vegetarian and meat entrees to 26 different soups—is still pretty remarkable. Mai Lee also has a good selection of Vietnamese beverages, including (my favorite) iced coffee with condensed milk.

I eventually settled on one of the Vietnamese soups, No. 11 (the servers know all of the dishes by number as well as by name), and sweet rice for dessert.

Here is where the quality and affordability come in—I paid $5.95 for my soup, and the bowl was enormous. Not only was the soup itself enough to feed a hungry rugby player, but it came with an additional plate overflowing with mix-ins: fresh bean sprouts, peppers, lettuce, lemons and herbs.

Before my additions, my soup consisted of clear noodles and sliced pork in a fragrant broth. After I customized it a little with some of the extra ingredients, it was a legitimate bastion of Vietnamese flavors. The soup itself was wonderful: It had a very full flavor and texture. The herbs played a starring role when I was eating the vegetables in the dish, but then they took a complementary role when the pork came into the game. I honestly had trouble finishing the bowl, not because it wasn’t delicious but because I got so much.

After packing the rest up to save for later, I was served my sweet rice: a yellowish log of rice that, unless you are a frequent rice eater, doesn’t taste terribly sweet. After the intense flavor of the soup, however, it was just right, allowing me to appreciate my meal for all its grandiosity and subtlety.

At Mai Lee, I received an incredibly satisfying and delicious meal for just $10. This is the perfect stop for anyone who needs a break from the monotony of burgers and pizza but doesn’t want to break the bank.

O'Connell's (Netta Sadovsky | Student Life)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

4652 Shaw Ave.
St Louis, MO 63110
314-773-6600

O’Connell’s Pub was not what my fellow foodie friend and I were hoping for. Usually when I insist on going to a restaurant together, it’s ethnic; it’s extravagant; it’s chic. This time we drove around for 40 minutes and got lost, all for a small Irish pub with dark walls and a gruff sensibility. When we entered the restaurant, an assortment of animal heads gazed down at us from above, and a yellow chandelier twinkled dimly over tables of beer-swigging patrons.

As we waited to be seated, my friend spotted something on the wall and asked me if it was the menu. But then she decided it couldn’t be—it was way too short. “Yeah, that can’t be the—wait, actually, I think it is…” I muttered, realizing midway that it was indeed a very sparse menu. Listed on the wall were burgers, franks, chicken breast, grilled cheese, and a few other options along the same vein. On this particular Friday night, the pub was packed, and it took us half an hour to be seated. Once we were seated, an additional 30 minutes passed before we were able to order. Both of us ordered Swiss cheeseburgers and shared orders of onion rings and fries.

Another half hour later, a very flustered-looking waitress delivered two heart-wrenchingly thick burgers to the table. The hunks of meat rested on toasted white buns with slices of molten cheese slipping down their sides. A nice bit of lettuce and a big helping of sliced onions were available to top the mouth-watering burgers.

Though we were frustrated by the wait, I would gladly wait again for that burger, which easily rivals Blueberry Hill’s and costs a mere $5.75. My jaw cracked as I opened it wide enough to take my first bite. First came the puffy bread, then came the crunchy onions and lettuce, then a zesty ketchup/mustard mix, and, finally, the burger itself. My teeth sank into a hefty meat patty, breaking through the slightly tangy Swiss to the juicy meat itself. A dribble of juice fell down unnoticed to the plate below. I’m sure a big swig of beer would have been the perfect beverage to wash it down.

The french fries and the onion rings were similarly delicious. The fries were a bit thinner than I typically like them, though not nearly as thin as the McDonald’s variety. They were still warm when they came to the table and had a nice grease shimmer to them as though they had only just been fried. I was particularly thrilled with the onion rings. Onions that slip out of their fried shell—a far too common phenomenon—always frustrate me. Having resigned myself to the fact that, by and large, this is just what happens with onion rings, I was delighted when I took a bite of both crispy dough and onion together.

I recommend O’Connell’s to anyone going out on a weekday night, because the wait on a Friday or Saturday night may be too long for some. At the end of a two-hour dinner, we waved goodbye to our new moose-head friends and paid the check, eager to return as soon as possible.

Bobo Noodle House offers delicious food in a trendy place reminiscent of New York City restaurants. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Rating: 3.5/5 stars
278 N. Skinker Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130

Bobo Noodle House is the perfect solution for the hungry Washington University student who is in the mood for a special meal but not willing to brave the cold for too long. The 1-year-old restaurant is located about as close to campus as you can get—right next to Kayak’s Coffee. Bobo is small but has a hip atmosphere and serves up some tasty Southeast Asian fare. The menu includes appetizers, salads, pho (a noodle soup), sides and, of course, noodles! In addition, Bobo offers desserts and a full selection of beer, wine and sake.

Upon entering the noodle house, I felt for a moment like I’d been transported to New York City. I found myself admiring the tiny, trendy space, with its dim lighting and paper chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and an eclectic mix of edgy music playing in the background.

At Bobo, food is ordered as soon as you walk in. Appetizers at Bobo include spring rolls (both vegetarian and pork are available), Asian barbecued spare ribs, and a shrimp summer roll. My friend and I decided to try the summer roll. In addition, we ordered the vegetable dumpling, pho, and the “ginger pork with gailon and egg noodles.”

The shrimp summer roll was perfect for sharing because we were served two large rolls. They came out promptly after we were seated, which surprised and impressed me. The rolls were presented on a clean white rectangular plate. A thin, translucent casing covered a filling of thin vermicelli noodles, basil, shrimp and lemongrass. The roll was garnished with slices of carrot. While the roll was attractive and fresh, my two main complaints were that it was impossible to eat with chopsticks and tasted bland. Luckily, both of these issues were easily resolved. I set the chopsticks aside and ate the roll by simply tearing it apart with my hands. The blandness was quickly fixed by dousing the roll in the spicy chili sauce that accompanied it.

For my main dish, I tried the ginger pork with gailon and egg noodles. The generous serving consisted of tender pieces of pork and a wide variety of colorful vegetables: red and green peppers, sliced carrots, onions and leeks topped with basil. I debated with my friend about the broccoli-like vegetable that was in my dish: Was it bok choy or brocollini? It turns out it was gailon. (Hence the name “ginger pork with gailon.”) Apparently gailon means Chinese broccoli. The sauce in this dish initially seemed mild, but progressive mouthfuls indicated that it had a substantial kick accentuated by chili flavors. While I found the dish quite delicious, I needed to take frequent gulps of my water to turn down the heat, so I wouldn’t recommend this entrée to those who can’t tolerate spicy foods.

For those who would be less inclined to try my pork dish, whether due to vegetarianism or spice intolerance, I’d recommend the other dish we sampled that evening—the vegetable dumpling pho. This dish was served in a wide bowl and consisted of a light broth with firm, vegetable-filled dumplings. The pho also included tofu and scallions. My friend said the tofu was some of the best tofu she has ever had. It was not too soggy or soft but instead had a nice, firm consistency around the outside. While I found the pho a bit bland for my tastes, a dish of chili sauce was offered on the side to compensate.

To finish, my friend and I ordered the chocolate coconut ice cream sandwich, and I must say that this was the highlight of the evening. Creamy coconut ice cream with a sweet and subtle flavor was sandwiched between two moist double chocolate chip cookies. To die for.

I left Bobo Noodle House with a full stomach (the portions are huge) and a smile on my face. I must admit, though, that I also left feeling a bit perplexed. The idea of ordering at a counter seemed odd to me at a restaurant with such a fancy, hip feel. While the service was excellent, I left wondering if I was meant to leave a tip. As I walked out the door, I handed the girl at the counter a couple of bucks. The neutral expression on her face left the mystery unsolved.

Rasoi offers traditional cuisine from northern India. Dishes like chicken tikka masala are flavorful and aesthetically pleasing. (Matt Mitgang | Student Life)

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
25 N. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO, 63108
www.rasoi.com

Last week, I drove with two friends to the nearby Central West End for dinner. As the cold bit at our ears after we parked the car, our huddled group entered a wave of warmth named Rasoi. The air in this sanctuary-esque restaurant was filled with the alluring smells of Indian spices. We took a minute to observe the colorful room and the crowds of guests devouring mounds of curries before the hostess led our thawing party to a table in the back of the restaurant.

The menu at Rasoi offers a fairly inexpensive dinner (or brunch) with many vegetarian options. In fact, there are more vegetarian options than meat dishes! Appetizers range from $4-$12 and entrées from $12-$18, including a great sampling of courses for $25 (or $16 for vegetarians).

If you’ve been to House of India or Flavor of India (two other popular St. Louis Indian locales), you’ll find that Rasoi is very similar to both. Each restaurant offers the same staples of Indian cuisine, including malai kofta, lamb korma, vegetable korma and palak paneer. Despite their similarities, each restaurant has its upsides and downsides. Rasoi distinguishes itself consistently for its fresh ingredients and lamb korma; these reasons alone are enough to keep me a loyal customer.

On this particular evening, I decided on an order of vegetable samosas and lamb shank korma, served with complimentary white rice. After placing my order, I attempted to enter my friends’ conversation, but I was quickly carried into a dream-like state by the overwhelming scents permeating the air in the dining room. As I began to salivate, the waiter brought my order of samosas to the table, along with several different chutneys, a popular condiment for Indian cuisine. I picked up one of the two puffed pastries and cut it into two parts to release a cloud of flavorful steam. I crunched through several layers of satisfying crust, until I reached the delicately spiced potato mixture inside.

I could go on about how delicious the samosas were, but then I wouldn’t have space to explain the lamb shank korma. More than anything else, this dish motivates me to pick myself up and get back to Rasoi. Though it is one of the more expensive items on the menu, the flavors and textures of this dish easily justify its $18 price tag. Also, it can be split into a half-size portion for a reasonable $9, if you feel you can’t eat the whole dish. Although nothing on the menu has been a disappointment, after trying this dish, I could not imagine ordering anything else.

The waiter brought out the dish: an oversized plate precariously holding a large hunk of juicy lamb, just slipping off its bone, alongside a generous portion of basmati rice, and an assortment of grilled vegetables. My fork slid effortlessly into the lamb meat, and I lifted the first piece into my mouth. I realized, incredulously, that I had never tasted lamb flavored so agreeably.  A couple of times during my meal, I distracted one of my friends and stole a fresh piece of her warm, fluffly naan (an Indian leavened bread), creating a miniature sandwich of naan, rice, grilled carrot and luscious tender warm lamb.

My only complaint about the evening would be the nonchalant attitude of the waiting staff. I got the general feeling that our presence at the restaurant was more of a burden than a pleasure. When we asked if the restaurant split checks, the waiter recommended that we sit at separate tables if we wanted separate bills. Nevertheless, the food (especially the lamb) nullified any desire for hospitality, and I would highly recommend Rasoi to any Indian food enthusiast.

The Soulard Market offers fresh produce at a fraction of the price of both Schnucks and Bear Mart. (Netta Sadovsky | Student Life)

Rating: 5/5
730 Carroll Street, St. Louis, MO 63104

If you live in the Village or on the South 40, the thought of regularly paying 75 cents for an apple and almost $9 for a box of cereal is no longer absurd. While the apple is probably bruised and not of your favorite variety, you’ve learned to take what you can get. And as you bite into it, it smooshes a little under your teeth, and you have to tell yourself, “Keep eating the apple. Just don’t think about it,” trying to ignore the cognitive dissonance emanating from the price-to-quality ratio.

What if you could go to a place nearby where you could buy apples of your favorite sort, picked fresh that week from a local farm and offered at a fraction of the price of Washington University’s mediocre selection? But wait, you can! In fact you can get there yourself, by car or via a friendly companion-with-a-car. It’s Soulard Farmers Market, and it’s only a 15-minute drive from Brookings. I had never been to the Soulard Farmers Market before I went this past weekend, on a warm early autumn day, with the wind in my hair and a skip in my step. I was already salivating in the car for the inexpensive produce I’d heard so much about. Truth be told, I didn’t believe it could be anything extraordinary; after all, shouldn’t the market economy work itself out to disallow radically good deals? God knows free-market principles don’t rule at Wash. U. Dining Services, but I had a hunch that Soulard prices could not stray too far from the local Schnucks.

Boy, was I wrong. The first thing I saw when I walked through one of the aisles was a man selling my favorite kind of apples: Gala. I picked the four best, and the vendor asked for a dollar. I fished out some coins as I closed my jaw, which had apparently dropped.

My friend Alex told me as I left the vendor’s station that I should try to resist the temptation to buy things at the first few booths. After all, there were about a hundred more waiting to be discovered, with even better products and prices.

There were items galore, from herbed Amish goat cheese to cranberry date bread and, oddly, a live rooster. I ended up with three bananas, four apples, four plums, a loaf of bread, a bunch of strawberries and three ears of corn, all for under $10. The sun looked brighter and the ground more fertile as Alex and I walked back to the car, groceries in hand.

The next day when I woke up, I heard that familiar grumble in my belly and considered my options for breakfast. “Ah yes!” I soon recalled. “I have an abundance of Soulard produce!” and happily fetched an apple and a plum. The apple was a shiny reddish orange, and when I bit into it, there was no give, only crunch (i.e., no smooshing). The flavor was mild yet tangy as a morning fruit should be. The plum was rather firm, with just a bit of give to it. It was a deep eggplant purple and had a rather strong, sharp flavor. Needless to say, both of the fruits surpassed their Bear’s Den equivalents by a large margin.

I highly recommend the Soulard Farmers Market for its amazing selection and reasonable prices. You can get to the market by taking Highway 40 to downtown St. Louis and getting off at the exit marked “Last Exit in Missouri.” Soulard is open year-round, Wednesdays through Saturdays. The prices are best on Saturday, and they get lower over the course of the day, as vendors try to sell off all of their remaining produce.

Find out more about the Soulard Farmer’s Market.