The Friday Edit
A weekly rundown of the people, places and things I've been loving recently.
Happy holiday weekend! This week was all about new noodle shops, towering burgers, the wrap you’re missing out on and more. Here are the people, places and food that kept me going this week, plus a few ideas for the weekend and the little family-friendly Kirkwood pit stop you need to check out soon.
My inagural visit to Kishimoto Mendō
The Delmar Loop has been on fire with some stellar restaurant openings as of late, and the most highly anticipated one has joined the ranks at last. Chef-owner Steven Pursley opened Kishimoto Mendō earlier this month, and a very eager dining public pounced on the concept’s appetizers, ramen, mazemen and tsukemen. Kishimoto, like Menya Rui, is built on from-scratch noodles and simple ingredients that transform into richly flavored, sharply honed dishes. Pursley’s deft handling of flavor and texture lives in everything from the garlic soy-glazed wings and Japanese potato salad (a must-order) to the main attractions. On my first visit I met up with bartender Jiana West, and we worked our way through the aforementioned appetizers before bowls of Aburasoba and Black Gyokai Tonkotsu Classic, both brilliant in design and execution. Although the restaurant is designed to move guests in and out, take in the space while you’re eating: its streamlined seating is comfortable and welcoming, and there’s a lovely view of the noodle room if you sit near the windows in the front of the shop.
The other incredible wrap at Pastaria Deli & Wine
Some trends are perplexing in 2026, where we find ourselves making tiramisu in refrigerator drawers (disturbing), losing our minds over sushi push pops (pointless) and pouring chocolate into Pringles containers (there are better ways to achieve what we’re trying to achieve with this one.) Pastaria Deli & Wine got swept into the chicken caesar trend recently with its chicken caesar wrap, and honestly, it deserves the recognition: it’s been my favorite for years now and will be my go-to long after this particular trend has passed. There’s another wrap on the menu that deserves your attention, however; the mortadella wrap, every bit as satisfying as its trendy sister, packed with layers of arugula, mortadella and tomato and just the right amount of red wine vinaigrette. I love it, and you will too. Fight the urge to get what everyone else is getting and you won’t be disappointed: pair it with either jalapeño or spicy pickle chips.
Breakfast at Garden Variety Deli
Garden Variety Deli has become an essential stop for Tower Grove South residents for its farm-fresh sandwiches and salads, focaccia of the day and larger-than-life brown butter chocolate chip cookies. The deli recently added breakfast hours to the lineup, and along with that, a breakfast sandwich you can order from 8 to 11 a.m. It’s a beauty: an over-medium egg gets topped with American cheese and roasted tomato aioli and served on a housemade poppyseed bun. Grab a few sandwiches, add a few grab-and go-items like yogurt parfaits from the deli case, and walk over to Tower Grove Park for a morning picnic.
Damn good burgers at Jovick Brothers Burgers
One thing to remember as we head into summer: don’t let St. Louis road construction keep you from doing what you love. MODOT loves a project this time of year — and those projects are happening in front of many of our restaurants and bars — but it’s never as bad as you think. Jovick Brothers is a good example of this: there’s a little work being done nearby, but there’s plenty of parking and easy access to the restaurant. If you go, you’ll be rewarded with a damn good burger: Jovick’s has a lineup of signatures, or you can build your own. Go for the double (at least) and do what you want: I like it classic, with American (or pepper Jack) cheese, onions, lettuce, tomatoes when they’re ready, pickles and mustard, but there’s really something for everyone here.
An easy dinner at Side Project Brewing
For many of you parents, this may be the last day of school for your kids, and at some point, the summer is going to feel longer than you want it to feel. Break up the time by taking your family (or escaping solo) to Side Project Brewing, a solid choice for all ages thanks to its comfort classics-driven menu. It’s chicken sandwiches, burgers and fries, fried cheese curds, Brussels sprouts, chicken tenders and more, and its Maplewood location is minutes from many of your summer activities. The real reason for coming is Side Project’s internationally acclaimed lineup of brews, of course; if you’re not sure what to order, chat with the bartender about their favorites or the best pairings for your meal.
Holiday Bonus: Perennial on the Trail
I wrote about Perennial on the Trail for Terrain Magazine recently, and I think about it a lot. The Kirkwood bar sits right on Grant’s Trail in Kirkwood, and it’s across from the Oak Bend branch of St. Louis county library, and if you’re looking for something new to do this summer, stop in. Take the kids: the Trail location — much like Perennial Artisan Ales in South City — is a family-friendly place equipped with a bookshelf stocked with board games and plenty of seating inside and out on the patio. The bar stocks Big Mouth sandwiches in the cooler, and the drink menu has a full line of cocktails, brews and wine selections for whatever you’re after.
The biggest draw here is the staff. They are simply phenomenal, an all star team of experts that genuinely want you to know more about what they have on tap and lining the bar shelves. In the short time chatting with co-founder Emily Wymore, bartenders Evan Oliver and Matthew Hickerson and events manager Shelby Seabaugh, I realized how much knowledge they’ve packed into the petite space. And they make it fun, with a constant rotation of events: wine nights, beer school, and tastings line the calendar. The bar has industry nights every Monday, all-day happy hour every Wednesday and Thursday, and look for another edition of Beer School with Evan to pop up on the calendar soon. Follow Perennial on the Trail on Instagram to keep up with the latest.
Read more about about what makes Perennial on the Trail so special in my article for Terrain Magazine here.
Things to do this weekend
Nick Wegman is bringing Sumo Stewart back to ‘ssippi this weekend, and this time, he’s bringing chef Ben Brennan along for the ride. This installment will feature yakitori skewers from Brennan alongside three different rice balls and veggie curry donuts. Will there be cake? Perhaps. See Sumo Stewart’s Instagram for updates on the menu. The pop-up happens Sunday, May 24, from 5 p.m. until sellout on ‘ssippi’s patio.
STL Virtuoso Collective — one of my favorite Cherokee Street shops — is hosting a ceramics market on Friday, May 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. The shop will have inventory you haven’t seen yet from local ceramicists like Quitter Ceramics, Cherokee Street Ceramics, Bedlam Art Mill and more. See STL Virtuoso Collective’s Instagram for more details.
Square One Gallery’s opening reception for artists Jeremy Booth and Catie Cook happens Friday, May 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit marks Booth’s return to Square One with “Tough Luck”, his second solo exhibition with the gallery, continuing his exploration of the American West through his bold, minimal visual language. Cook’s debut solo exhibition with the gallery, “For Sport,” leads the viewer through glimpses of a faux hunt where violence is deliberately obscured. See Square One Gallery’s Instagram for more details and to RSVP.
4 Hands Brewing Co.’s Downtown Taproom is hosting Books & Brews this Sunday, May 24, from noon to 4 p.m. The event features 14 local authors selling, signing and discussing their books, themed cocktails, mystery grab bags and more. See 4 Hands’ Instagram for details.
Sneak Peek | Next Week
It’s a short post-holiday week next week: who knows what could happen over here. Expect another installment of the Edit and a few other things I’ve been working on.
xoxo, S