One of the things we enjoy most about Old Firehouse No. 7 is that we are just a short walk from at least 10 Lafayette Square restaurants and bars where we often run into our neighbors. You should consider visiting one or more in conjunction with one of our Five Alarm Concerts.
Here are some that we particularly enjoy, and all are walkable.
restaurants we love
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Square One Brewery
1727 Park Avenue
Square One is the quintessential neighborhood pub, and it makes its own beer and spirits! Burgers, sandwiches, salads, pot roast, fish and chips—it’s all good. No reservations needed. In good weather there are tables in the courtyard. Best of all: it’s half a block down the street from the Firehouse!
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33 Wine Shop & Bar
1913 Park Avenue
Owners James and Jessica have a great selection of wine (and some damn fine spirits). They serve food as well, including salads, charcuterie boards, and flatbreads. We’ll let you in on a little secret that you wouldn’t expect: James also makes EXCELLENT Tex-Mex ground-beef tacos from his own grandmother’s recipe. You might miss them tucked in near the bottom of the menu, but we go there weekly for the tacos. No reservations required. The back terrace is lovely in good weather.
33wine.com -
Eleven Eleven Mississippi
1111 Mississippi Ave.
Sometime when we lived in the CWE, we simply stopped thinking of Eleven Eleven. But we were blown away when we first ate here after moving to the Firehouse. This is a quietly elegant yet casual rustic Tuscan/Northern Californian restaurant. Their meats are fantastic, but don’t neglect the pistachio pesto pappardelle. It’s delicious. They have a great wine list, too. Reservations recommended.
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Extra Wavy Raw Bar & Cocktails
2017 Chouteau
This is one of the hot new restaurants in the neighborhood. It’s not what I think of as a traditional raw bar, but it has some great items on the menu. The Hamachi Crudo is good and spicy, and the crab pasta is killer bee! A nice cocktail program, too! Definitely have reservations.
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Planter’s House
1000 Mississippi
This place has long had a well-deserved reputation as a fantastic craft cocktail bar. It also has a good burger, steak frites, Creole shrimp and grits, and a duck shepherd’s pie. In good weather the side terrace is a pleasant venue for brunch or dinner. Reservations recommended.
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Polite Society
1923 Park Avenue
Situated just across from Lafayette Park, this American cuisine restaurant with eclectic décor has a good brunch and dinner menu. Pork Osso Bucco, salmon, scallops, and Japanese vegetable curry are just some of their regular menu items. I like that they have spätzle as a small plate. Reservations recommended.
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The Bellwether
1419 Carroll Street
This is an interesting space in what was the power plant for the former City Hospital complex, just east of Truman Parkway. It’s a sister restaurant to Polite Society. They have a terrific terrace on the third floor that offers expansive views of Lafayette Square and downtown. They have great appetizers (prosciutto and burrata, beef tartare, crab salad), salads and cheese boards, pastas (including a great squid ink spaghetti with shrimp), and a variety of entrees. The cocktail program here is on point, too. Reservations recommended.
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SqWires
1415 S. 18th St.
SqWires—which is in the old wire factory complex—is the de facto public meetinghouse of our community. It was founded in 2001, and they have hosted our neighborhood association meetings, Christmas markets, and many other essential events. SqWires has a great brunch, and often has live music on weekends. They serve good salads and appetizers (try the baked brie), and have an extensive array of entrees, from pot pie, steak, salmon, and pasta, to a soy and ginger vegetable stir fry to which you can add tuna, salmon, shrimp, or chicken. There are wood-burning fireplaces for coziness in the winter, and a front terrace that’s great in the spring. Reservations recommended, but not required.
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Bailey’s Chocolate Bar
1915 Park Avenue
Bailey’s is a great date night spot right on the Park Avenue strip (between 33 Wine Bar and Polite Society). Bailey’s has decadent chocolate, coffee, and tequila martinis, as well as rich desserts (tortes, cheesecakes, cakes, brownies, tiramisu and cannoli). They also make some terrific sundaes and coffees.
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Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery
1637 S. 18th Street
If you feel like an ice cream cone after one of our concerts, stroll south on 18th Street past Square One and SqWires. Right before you’d reach Lafayette Avenue, you’ll see Clementine’s on the west side of the street. This local chain has incredibly creative flavors, including a group of “naughty” flavors made with alcohol. (The owner patented a process that keeps the ice cream from immediately melting and becoming runny.) My favorites are Maple Bourbon Pecan and Midnight Pleasures (triple chocolate).