by Ethan Johnson
Summer 2004

The week was getting closer to the end than to the beginning, so I had to make my shots count:

Eau Bistro and Cafe
232 North Kingshighway
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314) 454-9000

We begin with the crab cake appetizer:

I am not sure what kind of sauce in lieu of a remoulade they used with this, but it didn't really do anything for the flavor. The rice bed tasted weird and I pushed it away. The crab cake itself was sizable but needed something. Maybe a better remoulade would help, plus as noted, the rice needs work or should plain go away.

I will also note here that the water tasted funky. It's possible it was mineral water, or the water on Eau's side of town is plain nasty. I got some lemon slices to perk up and/or mask the taste and it didn't help.

On to the main course:

I ordered the 4-cheese pizza. Oh baby, did that hit the spot. I was hot and gooey, and because of the hoity-ness of the place, I opted for a knife and fork.

On the upside, my appetizer was half price because I ordered my dinner before 7pm. I was more forgiving about the crab cake after that.

There are lots of great looking things on the menu, so again, given the opportunity I would go back. But I am keeping an eye on that water glass.

Kaldi's Coffee House
700 De Mun Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63105
(314) 727-9955

Sauce Magazine readers voted this place as the "best place to go by yourself", if for no other reason that seating constraints force patrons to share tables. I got to sit with a college student that reminded me of my sister, who had her nose buried in some college-y paperback and surrepetitiously sending text messages with her cell phone. I didn't want to bother her reading, and was irked to see that she left right after I did. Well, hell. It would have been nice to talk to someone who wasn't part of my company for a change, after 4 long days of conference room.

I ordered a cup of Rooibos tea for a whole $1.50. Not bad.

The whole place was filled with tortured souls, agonizing over textbooks and scattered papers, or energetic co-eds who all knew each other. Great way to feel twice your age, especially if you are over 30. The tea was OK, it was "Numi" bag stuff but the price was right.

Not sure if I'd go back, however the prices were low and the cookies and tea were good. I'd probably be wearing their t-shirt if I was 18. And agonizing over my BIO 101 homework.

Not a bad night out, could be better, but not bad. <EM>