Historical Summer 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Over the last few months, new restaurants have been popping up all over the Skinker DeBaliviere area.
Following are descriptions of five new arrivals, accompanied by photos showing the new establishments and their owners.
The cats are back. So reads the cards and menus of Two Black Cats which has relocated to 5501 Pershing from its former home downtown.
The cats–Thomas McIntosh and Earl Harris–say they chose DeBaliviere Place as their new home because it is a bigger location and a better neighborhood.
They are open for dinner 7 nights a week, lunch Monday-Saturday, and they also serve a Sunday brunch.
There is musical accompaniment at the brunch and for dinners.
The dinner menu includes fresh fish, pasta, steak, and baby back ribs. Their famous Whiskey Bread Pudding is still readily available. Just down the street is WildFlour Pizza, reviewed in our last issue by Kim Koenig. People are crowding to try the whole wheat or regular crust with either gourmet or traditional topping. Tim Hirsch is the owner here.
He grew up in the St. Louis area and went to California where he auditioned at the original WildFlours there. Our WildFlour on Pershing is open 7 days a week.
The southern intersection of Delmar and Rosedale is now home to two residents. Into the first home of the Sunshine Academy has moved Ruff’s. Ruff’s has tables and carryout service and is owned by a famous St. Louis chef, Al Ruff.
He and his daughter, Alice Stokes, are on hand to serve food Monday-Saturday to a growing clientele. Ruff said that his biggest seller so far is his cheeseburger. But, he also offers buffalo fish, catfish, perch, mostaccioli, barb b’que, and wingettes. Ruff and Stokes also will operate a catering business out of this locale. Just south of Ruff’s on Rosedale is the Saigon Inn. Kim provides a variety of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes.
She is closed on Sundays and holidays but open for carryout and table dining the remainder of the time. Traditional favorites like egg foo young grace the menu and are joined by Vietnamese noodle dishes and soups. Just as we were about to embark on this photo-essay tour of restaurants, we learned of one about to open the next day!
We were able to steal a few minutes of the owner’s time as he hastened to prepare for the big moment.
The restaurant is Painted Plates and is at the corner of Delmar and Eastgate.
This is the first sole venture of Greg Perez who formerly was at the Bluewater Grill, the Big Sky Cafe, and Tapas. Perez has completely redecorated the space.
There will be a progressive mural being painted on the back wall.
The walls are filled with Jerry Garcia’s original artwork.
The dinner menu contains a number of enticing entrees: apple smoked baby back ribs, mustard and herb encrusted leg of lamb, and tagaletti with lamb meat balls. One can also dive into peach blueberry walnut pie or two very rich chocolate desserts.
In addition, Redel’s is open again and the ParcFront still beckons. Bon appetit, Skinker DeBaliviere.
Original photograph caption
Greg Perez at the new Painted Plates. Photo by King Schoenfeld.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, Summer 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_06.pdf, printed page(s) 4, 5; PDF page(s) 4, 5.
