A half-hour on the interstate east of St. Louis, this new haven for barbecue in a city with a storied 'cue history brings diners in for preparations that hew close to classic formulas but with alchemical touches.

Website: afineswine.com

Address: 423 West Hanover St., New Baden, Ill.

Phone number: 618-588-5141

Number of seats: 120 inside, 45 outside          

Entrée price range: $6.95-$25.95

Popular dishes: Sampler Platter: competition ribs, championship pork, Texas brisket, chicken quarter; Smoke Monster Sandwich: 1/3 lb. championship pork, 1/3 lb. Prime grade brisket, white cheddar and house made pickled red onion on a freshly made grilled butter bakery roll; The Barnyard: full rack of competition ribs, 1/2 lb. pork, 1/2 lb. brisket, four large sides; "Albert Einswine" Sandwich: smoked sausage, pulled pork, fresh slaw, white cheddar cheese and creamy barbecue sauce on a grilled bakery roll.

What others say: “Tiny New Baden is now a barbecue destination thanks to David Stidham, who retired from a corporate position with the fast-food chain Culver's to pursue his passion for smoked meat.” — Ian Froeb, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

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The Baden Sandwich

A husband and wife relocated from Iowa share duties in the kitchen at this uniquely positioned and poised home for sophisticated Saudi Arabian cuisine.

Website: thepalmtreesstl.com

Address: 2837 Cherokee St.

Phone number: 314-226-9243

Number of seats: 48

Entrée price range: $13-$16

Popular dishes: Mandi: Grilled lamb or chicken with special sauce and accentuated with traditional smoked flavor, basmati long-grain rice, raisins, almonds and fried onions; Kabsa: Lamb or chicken in meat broth with raisins and fried onions; Molokhia: Nalta jute leaves cooked in chicken or lamb broth served with choice of rice or bread.

What others say: “Fedaa Alsadeq and Osama Almoerfi have a competition going in their kitchen at the Palm Trees. At the … restaurant, the husband and wife split executive chef duties, but it's not just a matter of sharing the workload. They each have a handful of dishes that are their particular labors of love — she doesn't touch his, and he doesn't mess with hers. At the end of service, they tally up the night's sales, and the person who has sold the most dishes gets bragging rights for being the better chef.” — Cheryl Baehr, Riverfront Times

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Local chef Michael Gallina, after stints at out-of-town restaurants like Eleven Madison Park and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, came back home to open this celebrated new spot for fine-dining sophistication and abundant creative flair.

Website: viciarestaurant.com

Address: 4260 Forest Park Ave.

Phone number: 314-553-9239

Number of seats: 80

Entrée price range: $12-$14

Popular dishes: Purple top turnip tacos with crispy charcuterie, black beans, salsa verde, charred vegetable mole and pickled onions; beef fat carrots with grilled vegetable sauce; charred cabbage with lardo and sauerkraut cream.

What others say: “There are any number of ways to enjoy Vicia, Michael and Tara Gallina’s greatly anticipated restaurant nestled in the Central West End’s Cortex Innovation Community — any number of dishes shared between a couple or spread among friends that can yield a meal as exciting and, sometimes, as revelatory as you can find in St. Louis in 2017.” — Ian Froeb, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The grill

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This stylish, smartly designed Asian-inclined eatery is more than just a ramen shop: It also offers small plates of sophisticated varieties and a distinguished bar program with spirits from around the globe.

Website: vistaramen.com

Address: 2609 Cherokee St.

Phone number: 314-797-8250

Number of seats: 37

Entrée price range: $9-$16

Popular dishes: Vista ramen with pork, egg, ginger, scallion, sesame and nori; pork ribs with crab caramel, herbs and peanut; Korean fried chicken with Hawaiian roll and fish sauce pickles.

What others say: “As beautiful as the room may be, it's secondary to the splendor that comes from Vista's kitchen.” — Cheryl Baehr, Riverfront Times

Bowl of ramen

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In the suburb of Crestwood, this self-identified “chef-inspired fast casual breakfast and brunch” restaurant has become a destination for those in search of inspired re-imaginings of treats for a daypart that suits both savory and sweet.

Website: yolklore.com

Address: 8958 Watson Rd., Crestwood, Mo.

Phone number: 314-270-8538

Number of seats: 38

Entrée price range: $6-$9

Popular dishes: Nest Egg: biscuit crust, sous vide eggs, cheddar, bacon, preserved lemon and pickled red onion; Johnny Ham Hands: cheesy gougère bun, ham steak, devil sauce, mixed greens and fried egg; Mary B.E.A.R.: ciabatta bun, brie, soft boiled egg, arugula, apple butter and pickled red onion.

What others say: “But while the trio likely could have slung simple bacon-and-egg platters and still generated a robust response, a glance at their menu reveals serious ambition. This is not your average pancake house. The three are redefining the day's most important meal, with a menu as interesting as the town's upscale dinner spots.”  — Cheryl Baehr, Riverfront Times

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The Mary Bear sandwich