For fantastic fresh food and service with a smile, meet me in St Louis
It’s the 1940s feelgood musical starring Judy Garland that even got a mention in TV’s Sex And The City.
Meet Me In St Louis may conju re up memories of Ame r i c a’s first s c r een sweetheart but the city in the Deep South is just as famous for its food and drink.
With Pub Spy dreaming of bourbon-based cocktails, pork sandwiches and gooey butter cake, we headed for St Louis in Glasgow. But our dreams of any kind of slice of Missouri in Partick were way off the mark.
St Louis is the type of small continental-style cafe bar that you would normally expect to see on the streets of Europe. So hardly very American.
The “shabby chic” look is emphasised by the casual furniture, which includes church-style pews and armchairs. At night, there’s live music and a weekly pub qu i z . A nd t here a re also poetry r e ad ing s once a month. They have board games and newspapers at the bar.
But the food really is a mixed bag. Not in taste – it’s all pretty delicious. The owners boast that all produce is freshly made and locally sourced. And it is. Even their homemade chips are delicious.
But Deep South it ain’t. The menu goes from all- day Scots breakfast to Mexican burritos, with a bit of chilli and gumbo thrown in.
When Pub Spy visited, there was a good mix of customers, with young women enjoying the white wine and gin cocktails, families dining out and young men sampling the selection of craft and bottled beers.
And maybe that’s the issue. St Louis is trying to appeal to everyone, none more so than with their food. But then it’s clearly working. The bar is busy, the service is super and, on a dry day, the tables outside are all full. Customers are happy.
I’ll give up my dream of the Deep South in Glasgow and remember the joy of the musical. And I’ll be seeing you in St Louis.