Maid-Rite, another Talayna’s, Cafe Osage and more
Wow! Look at all this restaurant news!
Loose Meat, anyone? I saw the new Maid-Rite location (first in town) at 250 S. Florissant on my way to the Ferguson Farmers Market over the weekend. That would be the prior home of the revived, only licensed location of O.T. Hodge. Maid-Rite’s website cites a September opening. Props to TheOriginalGeorgeW for originally reporting this on my forum while I was on vacation.
And none other than Mike “Talayna” Faille has the liquor license for the space that long ago was Coco’s at 731 S. Lindbergh in Frontenac. The chatter on my Eat at Joe’s forum is that it’s going to be Frank Sinatra-themed and dinner only.
Another interesting tidbit from Frontenac public records: Michael Del Pietro (Luciano’s, etc.) plans to open a “small pizza and spaghetti restaurant” called Sugoz at 10417 Clayton in the Le Chateau complex. I’ve got a call in to Michael to ask him about it.
In the Central West End, Café Osage opened Saturday at the Bowood Farms garden center complex at 4605 Olive Street. It has an all-star cast in the kitchen: David Kirkland, formerly of Frazer’s, and David Guempel, who closed Zinnia a few months ago.
In the aptly named South Hampton neighborhood, Santorini’s Bar & Grill is now open seven days a week at 4500 Hampton Avenue, with a Greek bent to much of its menu. Call 314-351-9077 for more information.
(7 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
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Joe Bonwich has been the restaurant critic for the Post-Dispatch since 2002 and has covered the local food scene for various publications for more than 25 years. He does his best to maintain his anonymity so that he isn't recognized in restaurants (which is why his picture looks like it does). 
I grew up with Maid-Rite’s in Iowa. Love them!
Maid-rite is great! I lived in Iowa for many years where they are in abundance and have missed them ever since returning to the Lou. Good, cheap and fast!!
There is a Maid Rite in the mall in Columbia, MO. I noticed that many of their value meals are over $7.00. For fast food that seems expensive.
I love Maid-Rite. Lived in Iowa for five years and am so looking forward to this opening in neighborhood as I live in Ferguson.
Thanks for the Heads Up on the new Maid Rite. After living in Iowa for 20 years, I was used to all towns having Maid Rite restaurants. Can’t wait to visit one down here. Hope it lives up to my memories. If so, it could be the start of something big in St. Louis.
I am from good ole Muscatine, Iowa and there was once 3 or 4 Maid-Rite locations. Now there is only 1 or 2. So I am very familiar with Maid-Rite. I don’t care for meat much, but I sure do love a “dry” cheese rite and cheese balls from there when I am back in Iowa. And their root beer is wonderful. I will agree it is a bit pricey, but I don’t go often enough to care.
WOO-HOO!!!!! Bacon Cheese-Rites Baby!!!! I’m another former Iowan that can’t wait. It’s a bit bitter sweet though, as I just told my wife a couple months ago we needed a Maid-Rite in STL. I think they’re gonna make a mint…better have tenderloins too!
RC
I hope another Maid-Rite location or two pops up in mid-county or south county. There is also a Maid-Rite in Rolla in addition to the mall location in Columbia. I bring a sack of 10 home to STL every time. Yes, they’re a little pricey compared to a regular burger of the same weight, but Maid-Rites are a treat worth spending a little extra on since you can’t get them around here. (The Mark Twain Diner in Hannibal may still serve Maid-Rites too.)
We all must be from Iowa and Maid-Rite fans. Everytime I go back, that is always one of my lunch stops. Maid-Rite rule: Do not put catsup on it.
Try to ONION RINGS…hand-battered while you watch. We need one in south county.
Maid-Rite is AWESOME!! I’m old (48), and my mother grew up in Iowa (Grandview, south of Muscatine) and there were Maid-Rites all over the places nearby. We used to go see grandma there several times a year. I live In St. Peters, but I might just have to head to Ferguson for one of these!! I loved them as a kid!