Restaurants in Saint Louis

The short-order cooks at Clayton Diner deliver a slice of Americana with a menu of comfort-food and soul-food classics. No fan of breakfast could ignore the fruits of their labors: towering stacks of hotcakes, buttermilk biscuits, plump sausage patties, and chopped-pork-sausage gravy. Their culinary efforts also spark lunches of breaded-codfish sandwiches, cheese-oozing chopped-steak phillies, burgers made from freshly ground beef, and Chicago-style dogs draped in yellow mustard and pickles. Daily specials, such as the juicy rotisserie chicken, round out the diner's tried-and-true American dishes more effectively than a slice of the Constitution.

After earning his stripes as chef and manager of House of India, Suresh Khurana is kicking up new turf with Flavor of India, serving North Indian dishes in an elegant dining room with warm accents the colors of peaches and pomegranates. Fruity touches also pop up throughout the menu, with dried fruits enhancing portions of steaming rice biryani and citrus notes brightening the smoky flavors of tandoori chicken and shrimp. String lights around the fully stocked bar bring out the sparkles in everyone's eyes, making the restaurant a suitable place for shooting charismatic business headshots.

The native chefs at India Palace use traditional cooking methods to sizzle up a tasty array of Indian cuisine, drawing from a pantry of fresh ingredients and spices. The 11th-story dining room regales patrons with scenic views of the landscape typically reserved for window washers or wealthy passengers on low-flying UFOs. Open seven days a week, India Palace stocks a buffet for lunch before populating dinner plates at 5:30 p.m.

Chef and owner Raj left his native Punjab in 1994 to earn his culinary stripes working as a cook in New York City. After a year of training and practice, he relocated to St. Louis, where his expertise in the art of Indian cooking quickly won praise in the Riverfront Times, which dubbed his eatery the city’s best vegetarian restaurant.

Laden with meat-free options, the menu entices taste buds with spiced and nutritious ingredients such as saag paneer’s spinach and fresh cheese, aloo gobi’s cauliflower and potatoes, and chana masala’s tender garbanzo beans. Chefs also throw dairy to the wayside in many dishes, including the vegan mirchi bhajia—deep-fried anaheim peppers stuffed with potatoes and spices hot enough to peel the wallpaper off a doll’s house. A catering menu provides spreads for large groups and flash mobs that rent the on-premises banquet hall.

Named purveyor of Best Nostalgic Treats and the most photographed restaurant in St. Louis by Alive magazine in 2010, The Fountain on Locust showcases a menu of from-scratch savory and sweet treats topped with handmade sauces and dressings. Amidst the eatery’s hand-painted art deco interior, patrons enjoy signature ice-cream martinis such as the Strawberry Blonde, which overflows with vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, and strawberry ice cream ($8), or the Standing Banana Split, featuring brûléed bananas, three scoops of handmade ice cream, and hot fudge as sweet as a love letter from a honey pot ($6.99). For a heartier treat, spoons dip into cups ($3.79) of 1 of 47 rotating soups, including Cajun corn chowder and polish dill pickle, made from scratch every morning. Tongues can also feast on the roasted Angus beef, white cheddar, rosemary-grilled onions, and house-made horseradish sauce of the hot roast beef melt ($9.79). Vegetarian, vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free choices are also available on request.

The Deacon serves up dishes that give comfort food a comforting kick of Creole infusions, balancing traditional American fare with new American boldness. More than 60 beers pair up with the grub, and delicious vegetarian and vegan options ensure that there’s more than just a little something for everyone in your party.