Brooke SchachnerSidney Street Café
Rating: 4.5
2000 Sidney Street
St. Louis, MO 63104
Price Range: $20-30
For the Commencement issue, we decided to try a restaurant we had never been to before that would be a good choice for eating with parents. The well-reviewed Sidney Street Café seemed like the perfect place for a graduation dinner. With a large menu that changes sporadically, and truly delicious food, Sidney Street Café did not disappoint. Though the loud atmosphere and décor made it seem at times more like a lively pub than an elegant restaurant, this did not take much away from the overall experience.
Sidney Street Café is located in the Benton Park neighborhood near the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Though we had detailed directions, we still got lost trying to find the restaurant. When we finally arrived, the décor caught us by surprise. The exposed brick walls and street lamp style light fixtures looked like they belonged in a different environment. Additionally, there were several large groups in the main dining room creating a great deal of noise. Needless to say, we were not off to a great start.
This situation did not improve much after being seated at a very small table against the wall. However, once we saw the menu, our sprits were raised. As there was only one hand-written menu due to occasional changes made to the courses, our very attentive waitress explained every dish in detail. She also explained that it is possible to choose several appetizers to make a sampler plate.
The menu consists of a wide array of choices, including lobster, steak, lamb, duck and chicken. Several of the first courses are more traditional, such as the crab corn cake, while others, like bacon-wrapped honey mustard shrimp, are less common and very interesting. Perhaps the most enticing dish on the menu was the pasta of the day, which was duck ravioli. The list of entrees has several fish choices, as well as a variety of meats and a vegetarian option. In addition, the main course comes with either the soup of the day or one of several salads. Finally, Sidney Street Café also has an extensive wine list and drink menu.
To start, we decided on veal dumplings and duck ravioli. The veal dumplings are pot stickers filled with veal, spinach, corn and ginger and served with a Chinese salsa. The veal was tender and delicious, while the Asian flavors were spicy but not too overpowering. The duck ravioli was particularly excellent, with very well-cooked pasta and flavorful meat.
The soup of the day was a house beef tenderloin soup, which was tasty but couldn’t compare to the first course. Though the taste was good, the consistency was less than appetizing. While there were several salad choices, we picked the house salad. This dish was simple but delightful thanks to the freshness of the greens.
Finally, our main courses of Tuscan sea bass and buttermilk chicken arrived. The sea bass was lightly breaded and topped with asiago cheese. It was very light and cooked perfectly. The asparagus and string beans served with the fish added a refreshing aspect to the dish. The buttermilk chicken was also delicious. It was extremely tender and aesthetically pleasing, as it was served in a small pot. This dish also came with vegetables, which were good, but the best part of the entrée was the side of fingerling potatoes. They were slightly crunchy and truly delectable with the light gravy from the chicken.
Though at first we weren’t sure about Sidney Street Café, it proved itself through delicious, well-cooked food and an interesting menu. We would recommend it for a date, special occasion or, of course, dinner with visiting parents.