I’ve been searching high and low for a homey, inviting, and artisanal restaurant; I found this at Winslow’s Home located at 7213 Delmar Blvd near the Delmar Loop.

My first impressions were extremely positive. They have a patio, opening May 1, that accents the old stone facade. Besides having gold plated ceilings, the inside is open and sophisticated with marble top tables and built-in bookshelves. Winslow’s Home is an all-in-one restaurant, coffee shop, bakery, market, and winery; despite the many functions of this establishment, the interior didn’t feel cluttered.

When I arrived at 7 p.m., they were scheduled to close in one hour. However, the restaurant was still packed, and there was a 20 minute wait. Once we were seated by a friendly host and our order was taken by our waiter, my friend Mercedes and I were able to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and coffee shop music.

Winslow’s Home has a seasonal, rotating menu. Even though the list of core food items is short, daily specials are unique everyday. My friend and I began with dessert; I ordered a lemon bar ($2) and a cappuccino ($3.50) and she ordered a large chocolate chip cookie ($2). Mine was delicious; the bar was tart and thick with a crumbly crust, and the cappuccino was robust with a large layer of foam.

Following dessert, we ordered entrees. I ordered the brisket sandwich costing $14. Served with thin, crispy kettle chips, the brisket came on a brioche bun with brie cheese and a horseradish mayo. The meat was well cooked and went great with the fresh bread. My only critique would be that the sandwich was dry and needed some more mayo or an additional sauce like barbeque sauce. Mercedes ordered chicken pot pie with a side of steak fries. The pot pie was served in a handled soup bowl and the top was covered with flaky crust. The inside was like a thick chicken noodle soup with juicy chicken and crisp carrots and celery. Both were piping hot when they arrived at the table.

Starting May 1, Winslow’s Home will have extended hours, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, to better serve summertime quests on the patio. Additionally, breakfast is served every weekday, and brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday.

I had a wonderful time at Winslow’s Home. The food was made well and the staff was friendly, but my favorite aspect of the visit was the ambiance created by the furniture and multifunctionality of the interior. I could see myself returning with study material and spending an afternoon on the patio drinking coffee. This stylish, old-looking restaurant is exactly the establishment I have been looking for. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a relaxing brunch or a dinner with friends.

Have you ever eaten Beef Stroganoff? Many people who have are under the false impression that it is an American dish, but in reality Beef Stroganoff is a staple of Russian cuisine.

Some people may be surprised to hear that a Russian restaurant exists in the St. Louis Area. Astoria Kabob House, located at 12949 Olive Arcade Plaza off Fee Road near the Happy China, is one of the only Russian restaurants in our area. The owner said that she opened Astoria to maintain Russian culture in St. Louis.

There are dozens of Thai restaurants in the St. Louis County area. It can be impossible to choose which place would be the best to eat at, but I have just made your decision really easy: Manee Thai.

Located at 481 Lafayette Center off Manchester and Baxter near the Dierbergs, Manee Thai looks like any Thai restaurant from the outside. But when you walk in, the artwork and lighting make the environment different, fun, and authentic. All of the servers are extremely friendly and knowledgeable about the food they serve. When I ate at Manee Thai my server’s name was Neon, and her name along with her quality of service, made her instantly likeable.

Few restaurants lure people from the streets by smell alone. That being said, one of the iconic neon signs “Free Smells” displayed in nearly every Jimmy Johns needs to find a new home at Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro. The smell was so powerful that I noticed it even before my mom turned off the car.

Indicative of Mom-and-Pop shops, the inside was scattered with small tables and chairs. The family in front of us must have been regulars; they chatted familiarly with the host/waiter. My mom and I were starving, and the gnawing in our stomachs only grew with the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen.

We ordered shrimp spring rolls, $5, as a starter. Unlike the fo-Asian buffets that serve deep-fried rolls most people imagine, these spring rolls were fresh and crisp. Wrapped in thin rice-paper, the ingredients (shrimp, mint leaves, thai basil, noodles) were clearly visible. The dish included a thick soy-base sauce, great for dipping.

Entree selection was harder. Despite my well-educated palate, there were many things on the menu I had never eaten before. My mom chose a traditionally filled Vietnamese crepe, $12. Per the menu, Vietnamese crepes include a sizzling exterior with, “bean sprouts and onions served with lettuce, mints, and pickled carrot with lime sauce.” The meat filing was whole shrimp and sliced pork. The exterior was not a regular pancake-like dough that I was expecting; instead, the dough was thick, airy, and rich with onions cooked in. When dipped into a sweet garlic sauce, the crepe was phenomenal.

I chose a soup called Pho, a traditional Vietnamese broth, $10. Pho is an experience along with being a dish. A bowl of broth filled with thinly sliced meat (I chose beef), noodles, and green onions was brought to the table along with a plate of bean sprouts, mint, thai basil, cilantro, and jalapenos. A thick soy-base sauce and a chunky hot sauce is also provided. When you get all the components of the dish, you are suppose to add the raw vegetables and herbs into the steamy bowl of broth. Upon my first bite, I immediately knew where the amazing smell of the restaurant originated from, the broth. Simultaneously the flavors of cloves, star anise, and cinnamon stood out against the unmistakable savory bite of the beef. That one bowl of soup was one of the best dishes I have eaten in my entire life.

Without much resistance, my mom and I agreed to order dessert. The dessert of the day was “the most authentic Vietnamese dish on the menu,” according to our waiter. Named Bánh khoai mì, this dish was made with grated cassava (a flavorful root resembling ginger), coconut milk, and sugar. The texture was totally unexpected, thick and chewy and smooth. My mom said it reminded her of solid pudding. The cake was extremely different from American desserts. A lower sugar content allowed the flavors of cassava and coconut to be more prominent. I enjoyed the dish and recommend it to anyone wanting to try something completely different from normal American desserts.

Located across the street from Walmart at 14248 Manchester Rd #A, Ballwin, MO 63011, Monsoon Vietnamese Bistro is a must-visit for any food loving human. The restaurant easily became one of my mom and my favorites. We will definitely be going again.

I love Mexican food. During Spring Break freshman year, I went on a mission trip to El Paso, TX, a city right on the U.S. Mexico border, with my church. While we were there, we built a house for woman and her son’s family. Everyday we were at the worksite, she provided us with authentic Mexican meals. They were some of the best meals I have ever eaten.

My experience in El Paso has made me a picky Mexican food consumer. I rarely go to Mexican restaurants because finding authentic cuisine can be to do in St. Louis, Missouri. However, at my last family outing, we went to Azteca Mexican restaurant, located at 34 Western Plaza off Gravois Road by Swing-A-Round Fun Town and Sky Zone Trampoline Park. The inside is bright and colorful, and we were immediately seated.