The Clayton Dining Scene

Jason Wilson tells the kids he coaches in basketball that “If you work hard, you should get some return on your investment.” A businessman himself, Wilson knows what it feels like to meet success, failure and all that comes between. First opening Chronicle Coffee up in North County St. Louis in 2012, Wilson was a man with a vision. He aspired to not just open a coffee shop, but also create a...

"It’s more than just feeding people.” This is how Zoë Robinson, proprietor of numerous restaurants in the St. Louis area, would describe her business. “I have worked in restaurants since I was 18-years-old. It’s just something that clicked for me,” Robinson said. “You know when you feel it. I’m passionate about this, this is what I love doing.” Robinson started as a server,...

"I’ve worked in the business since I was 13-years-old. It’s all I know. I went to culinary school for it, then I went to business school for it. It’s my passion. I worked for lead chefs in Manhattan for years to learn it.” These unique experiences of Herbie’s Owner Aaron Teitelbaum help him to run one of the most popular restaurants in Clayton. However, it wasn’t always so famous. Originally...

A cozy coffee house sits on the corner across Captain Elementary School. Walking through the two glass doors, an aroma of coffee beans swirls through the air. Students accumulate around the small wooden tables, meticulously studying and debating. Others drink their beverages and eat savory dishes by the open windows. This is a welcoming community. This is Kaldi’s Coffee. In 1994, a Clayton parent,...

As a child, Gerard Craft had practically no interest in fine food or fine dining. “Growing up I was not that into food, to be honest. My entire family was into food except for me. I was the kid eating spaghetti-o’s and fast food hamburgers,” Craft said. Craft’s life trajectory - and his food tastes - would change for good after getting in trouble at school. “I ended up in a boarding...

Ann Gallardos, the owner of the City Coffeehouse and Creperie, has created a hospitable welcoming for all customers. “I really believe in great food and great service. Those are the two main things that go side by side. You can’t have good food with bad service. You need both. No matter how great your food is, if your service is bad, people are not going to come back. That’s what I really try...

Protzel’s Jewish Deli, nestled in the corner of Wydown and Hanley, has remained a staple since the 1950s. Selling the essentials--knishes, matzo ball soup, and of course sandwiches-- to the Clayton and greater St. Louis community. This family owned establishment has been passed down for several generations. Max Protzel and his sister Erica Protzel are the current owners. “My grandfather bought...

Right in the heart of downtown Clayton, overlooking Shaw Park, sits Parigi, a classy convergence of Italian cuisine and Parisian ambiance. The restaurant is the brainchild of St. Louis chef and restaurateur Ben Poremba. Poremba, originally from Israel, has been engulfed in the dining business since an early age. “My mom was a chef and she owned a couple of food-related businesses so I guess...

Located on Pershing Avenue in University City, Taco Buddha is a small but welcoming restaurant with a refreshingly clean and well-lit interior and an outdoor seating area adorned with their logo; a smiling Buddha holding two peppers and seemingly declaring, “Eat with Peace!”. The restaurant has only been open since August 24th, 2017, but it has already managed to attract quite a large clientele...