Yellowbelly Will Be Sea-Inspired Restaurant & Bar

The name of the new Restaurant is inspired by the “yellow bellies” of fish and birds found in tropical waters, according to a release announcing the new venture.  It’s also a nod to the idea of cowardice—the bar decor will include reminders to be brave, bold, and adventurous.

The bar program at Yellowbelly will offer craft beer and wines by the glass, as well as standard mixed drinks, but the focus will be on classic and nautically themed cocktails, especially those made with rum.  In a prepared statement, Wiggins said rum is one of his passions, and an untapped market.  “No one in St. Louis is focusing so intently on the spirit,” he said.  “It allows me to not only challenge myself, but also have an open, fun conversation with our guests,” he added.

Customers will find hand-crafted cocktails served in playfully kitschy custom glasses.  Like the restaurant itself, the drink names are inspired by tropical fish and birds.  Some of the bold drinks on the menu will include the “Cherry Barb Punch,” the “Green Terror,” and the “Rummy Nose Torpedo” according to the release.  The Yellowbelly Facebook page advises customers to “expect bold island flavors, cocktail classics, and seafood-focused fare.”  Although the signature rum cocktails will be decidedly tropical, Wiggins and Howard say Yellowbelly won’t be a tiki bar.  Instead, they’re imagining something more “California coastal.”

That vibe will be evident in the food too.  The menu at Yellowbelly will focus on fresh seafood and seasonal produce.  The dishes will be lighter, with more vegetables and fruit than East Coast or Cajun seafood.  Look for raw options like crudo and ceviche, as well as classic seafood entrees—including whole fish.  There will also be an ample small plates menu and entrées offering more familiar American bar fare, like burgers.

Architect Nick Adams will design the decor for the 3,000-square foot space at Lindell and Euclid.  When it’s finished, the tropical bar will have a bright, clean design, and an open, airy feel, with 16-foot ceilings and an all-glass exterior.  Two main walls will showcase custom artwork and bamboo-inspired wood finishes.  The quartz bar will seat 15 and be adorned by a glass tile backsplash and an overhead geometric installation.  Yellowbelly will seat about 90 guests indoors, and another 40 on the outdoor patio.

Yellowbelly’s location in the Citizen Park building has influenced the way Howard and Wiggins envision the restaurant and bar.  Initially, the pair had considered building a full-on tiki bar, but given the location in a residential building, the concept didn’t quite fit.  Howard has said having people living on the floors above the restaurant meant Yellowbelly needs to be a real neighborhood establishment.  He said he envisions “an everyday hangout where anyone can come relax and enjoy a new experience.”  Yellowbelly is another exciting development underway in a Central West End neighborhood that is already undergoing a lot of growth.

Contact Information:

Yellowbelly Sea & Spirits
Owners: Tim Wiggins and Travis Howard
4659 Lindell Boulevard
Citizen Park building, Central West End
Saint Louis, MO 63108
Opening: Mid- to Late-2018

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

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