Historical September–October 2008 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Atlas Restaurant, the quiet bistro tucked away at 5513 Pershing near Belt, has garnered quite a bit of attention lately. Michael Roberts, chef and co-owner of the neighborhood eatery, was among a prestigious group of culinary professionals to be named a 2008 James Beard Foundation Award semifinalist in the “Best ChefMidwest” category.
The restaurant was also recently voted “Best-Kept Secret” in Sauce magazine’s 2008 Reader’s Choice Poll.
In past years, Roberts and his staff earned top marks from The Riverfront Times for “Best Desserts” and “Best Chef.” Atlas was also named “Best New Restaurant” by St. Louis Magazine when it opened its doors in 2003.
The Italian-French bistro has earned its reputation by serving fresh, thoughtfully prepared food. “Our focus is on using fresh ingredients at a price point where people can afford it,” said Roberts, who manages the kitchen while his wife and co-owner, Jean Connelly, handles the front of the house. Popular menu items are the fish of the day and the grilled New York strip served with fries.
The restaurant is notably vegetarianfriendly: there are always two veggie appetizers (not including the salads), as well as two vegetarian entrees.
In addition, soups are always vegetarian. “Keeping soups vegetarian makes them lighter. That leaves more room for dessert,” smiles Roberts who admits to having a bit of a sweet tooth. “We’ve got nine desserts on the menu and we occasionally do special desserts on top of that.” Roberts buys locally grown food whenever possible and makes weekly visits to the farmers’ market in Maplewood and Tower Grove. Roberts and Connelly are longtime culinary professionals.
He graduated from cooking school in 1979 and spent 20 years in San Francisco-area restaurants). Connelly is originally from St. Louis and the couple relocated here to be nearer to her family. Roberts and Connelly purchased a house on 57XX DeGiverville about three years ago.
The location along Pershing Avenue in the space vacated by Sunflower Pizza is the result of happenstance. “It was pure luck,” explained Roberts. “We needed infrastructure. You can’t go to an empty box and put in a kitchen.
We were lucky because it was a restaurant and the previous owner waited for us to get the financing in place.” Even though Atlas is relatively small and tucked away, the restaurant has developed a loyal customer base among West End residents and sees steady business for Grand theatre district events. Atlas Restaurant, 5513 Pershing, 314.367.6800 www.atlasrestaurantstl.com. Hours: Dinner – Tue. to Sat. 5:30 to 10 p.m. Desserts – Fri and Sat. 10:00 p.m. to midnight.
Original photograph caption
Atlas Restaurant on Pershing. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, September–October 2008.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2008_09.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
