We’re in St. Louis! part V last two restaurants

On the last morning we went to the Creve Coeur library known as Thornhill.
That’s where my old book club met—-where I borrowed lots and lots of
books.  It was very busy.

After that we drove the “long” way —that is, not using the GPS favorite
routes of the big highways and bypasses—-but going down good old Olive
Boulevard and farther east to Washington University/Forest Park area to
Bar Italia for lunch.

This was always an upscale nice restaurant for lunch and we used to eat
outside on huge terrace.  We were looking forward to that, but it was
just too hot.  Inside is nice, too–and modern:

Bar Italia, St. Louis MO

We had tasty bruschetta for an appetizer,

Brushcetta at Bar Italia, St. Louis MO

then I had Torte de Spinaci

Torte de Spinaci at Bar Italia St Louis MO

kind of like a quiche in a pastry—yummy! and O’Half had mussels
linguini

mussels linguini at Bar Italia St. Louis MO

Very nice lunch.  The place was empty essentially, a little early, but
street outside really hopping.  Bar Italia is situated right behind a huge
hotel—–The Chase Park Plaza.

The Chase Park Plaza Hotel in St. Louis MO

Years and years ago, before you were born, O’Half and I took an Easter
weekend trip to St. Louis from Madison, Wisconsin.  (We went by bus!)
And we stayed at the Chase Park Plaza and had a steak dinner in
the Tenderloin Room.
One of the best steaks I’ve ever had in my life.  Waiters hovered over
our every bite.  We were young and I thought it was the best place I’d
ever been.  And maybe it was.

For the afternoon’s entertainment we headed north of St. Louis to the
area of Florissant.  This is an old community settled by the French in
the early days.  We headed for antique shops–and found a couple of
goodies including one houseful, and I do mean houseful:

antique shop in Florissant MO

antique shop in Florissant MO

Tonight we had dinner, our last dinner in St. Louis, at Manee Thai
on Manchester Boulevard.  Among St. Louis’ many Thai restaurants,
this was our favorite.   Nice and cool inside, we were early diners,
soft, interesting Thai music in background.  Very restful.

We shared some Thai stuffed dumplings, and then I had salmon
with mango dressing and O’Half had Tempura shrimp.
The plates were full—-tons of veggies, and a side of rice.
Delicious!   Nice finishing touch to our restaurant memory tour.