St. Louis’ Top 10 French Restaurants

St. Louis, MO/November 21, 2017 (STL.News) – French cuisine is among the most celebrated on earth.  With a wealth of regional variations and a myriad of dishes that span from hearty stews and savory cheeses to delicate pastries and desserts, the list of popular French foods is nearly endless.  Whether dining in someone’s home or in a restaurant, French culinary traditions are deeply rooted in the simple pleasure of gathering around the table to share a carefully prepared meal made with the best ingredients available.  In 2010, UNESCO, the cultural arm of the United Nations, declared French culinary culture to be an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, recognizing it as “a social custom aimed at celebrating the most important moments in the lives of individuals and groups.”  No wonder we love it so much.

St. Louis has dozens of restaurants offering variations of French cuisine.  But who does it best?  We checked the customer reviews to find St. Louis diners’ favorite French restaurants.  We found the ten best is a nice mix of casual cafés, delightful patisseries, and some of the best fine dining establishments in town.

The best French restaurant in town, according to St. Louis diners, is a sophisticated farmhouse in Cottleville called Stone Soup Cottage.  This elegant restaurant serves a prix fixe, six-course tasting menu and wine flights to one sitting of about 40 people each Thursday – Saturday evening.  Owners, Chef Carl McConnell and his wife, St. Louis area native Nancy McConnell, opened their French eatery in 2009 with a focus on serving expertly prepared, farm-fresh fare in a warm, hospitable environment.  Their seasonal, French-inspired cuisine was very well received by local diners and in 2013, they moved from their original Cottleville location to a slightly larger space at the Weiss Farm, where much of the produce they use is grown.  Besides an elegant menu that changes every month, Stone Soup Cottage is also known for their exceptional service, even earning a 2016 James Beard Award Nomination for Best Service.  Dining at Stone Soup Cottage is an unforgettable experience, but it is also a bit of a splurge at $100 per person, with the optional wine flight adding another $65 per person.  Still, making reservations for this inventive, intimate dining experience takes planning and patience—they generally must be booked several weeks in advance.

Whether it’s an elegant fine dining experience you seek, a perfect croque madam, or just authentic croissants, there’s a terrific French restaurant, café, or bistro in St. Louis for you.  According to customer reviews, these are the 10 best French restaurants in the metro area:

1. Stone Soup Cottage (4.68 stars/120 reviews) St. Charles County, 5809 Hwy N, Cottleville, MO 63304, (636) 244-2233.
2. The Crossing (4.52 stars/324 reviews) Downtown Clayton, 7823 Forsyth Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63105, (314) 721-7375.
3. Brasserie by Niche (4.32 stars/673 reviews) Central West End, 4580 Laclede Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63108, (314) 454-0600.
4. La Patisserie Chouquette (4.30 stars/175 reviews) Botanical Heights/McRee Town, 1626 Tower Grove Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63110, (314) 932-7935.
5. Truffles (4.23 stars/146 reviews) Ladue, 9202 Clayton Road, Saint Louis, MO 63124, (314) 567-9100.
6. Café Provencal (4.2105 stars/190 reviews) Kirkwood, 427 South Kirkwood Road, Saint Louis, MO 63122, (314) 822-5440.
7. Bar Les Frères (4.2095 stars/210 reviews) Clayton, 7637 Wydown Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63105, (314) 725-8880.
8. The Boom Boom Room (4.18 stars/72 reviews) Downtown, 500 North 14th Street, Saint Louis, MO 63103, (314) 436-7000.
9. Petit Paree Restaurant & Lounge (4.09 stars/78 reviews) Jefferson County, 228 East Main Street, Festus, MO 63028, (636) 937-8400.
10. Vin de Set (3.96 stars/611 reviews) Lafayette Square/Downtown South, 2017 Chouteau Ave, Saint Louis, MO 63103, (314) 241-8989.

There are so many local restaurants offering great French fare, we just couldn’t stop with 10.  So, here are some of our other favorite places to get some of our favorite classic French dishes.  To these restaurants we offer Honorable Mentions:

Nathaniel Reid Bakery (4.83 stars/173 reviews) Kirkwood, 11243 Manchester Road, Saint Louis, MO 63122, (314) 858-1019.  This classic patisserie just took top honors on our list of the best pie makers in St. Louis, but they are actually even better known for their French pastries and their classic French macarons.  They offer these delicate, sweet confections in more than a dozen flavors every day.  You’ll find classic macaron flavors with Reid’s special twists, like salted caramel, almond orange, and passionfruit milk chocolate.  There’s also lemon buttercream, hazelnut praline, Earl Grey ganache, poppy flower, and more.  Each is a dreamy, silky taste of French culinary inspiration.

City Coffee House & Crêperie (4.19 stars/479 reviews) Clayton, 36 North Brentwood Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63105, (314) 862-2489.  This European style coffeehouse serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch items.  As the name implies, they are especially known for their expertly prepared crêpes.  They offer dozens of sweet and savory variations on this Northwestern French classic.  They also do Belgian waffles, scones, and other lovely baked goodies.

La Bonne Bouchée (3.89 stars/385 reviews) Creve Coeur, 12344 Olive Blvd, Saint Louis, MO 63141, (314) 576-6606.  This cozy spot is part patisserie and part café.  This chef led, classic Parisian-style café has been the go-to spot in Creve Coeur for artful confections, traditional French entrees, and a select wine list since 1981.  Customers especially love their salade niçoise, many quiches, and heavenly tortes.

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By Susan Smith-Harmon – published on STL.News by St. Louis Media, LLC

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