Image courtesy of Gelateria Del Leone

While St. Louis is certainly famous for Ted Drewes custard, there is another ice cream jewel to try, Gelateria Del Leone, an Italian dessert cafe located just blocks away from the SLU Medical Campus on South Grand Blvd.
The 6-year-old gelateria makes their Italian ice cream in-house, getting their dairy from Chester Dairy Company right across the river in Illinois. If you’ve never had the chance to try it, gelato is actually denser and less fatty than normal ice cream. The lower fat content is achieved because less cream is required in the slow-churned production process. Yet another perk is that the flavors are seasonal and doors are open year-round!
One loyal customer told me, “It’s like having gelato in Milan.” So, that’s good to know. Something else that’s good to know is that if you don’t get enough gelato while you are there, you can also buy in pints and quarts and take it home.
Aside from gelato, they have fabulous house-roasted coffee and a range of espresso drinks from classic cappuccinos to their own interesting house specials, like their Mocha Caramella and Butterscotch Latte.
Another great thing about Gelateria Del Leone is that it’s an awesome place to study. The first floor is filled with seating, both coaches and tables, while the upstairs has three furnished rooms that can be reserved for free. If you prefer to study or chat outside, there is a huge patio in the back as well as a couple of tables out front. And, very importantly, there is a good wifi connection – both inside and out.
Booking the study rooms is very easy. You can call ahead for a party of four or more and there is no charge or minimum spending limit. Each room is very spacious are open everyday from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
In addition to great coffee and gelato, there is a menu filled with delicious Italian food. The menu contains a list of calzones, flatbreads, paninis and, of course, soups and salads. They also have quick pastries like lemon bars and snacks like spinach “parmachoke” dip. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. making Gelateria Del Leone a great place for long hours of exam preparation or even a quick gelato break from exam studying.

Image by John Lamb

Saint Louis University Theatre has taken on the tough task of performing Medea, the “seminal drama of love, betrayal and revenge,” as so described by the fliers around campus. This classic, written by Euripides and adapted by Robinson Jeffers, is set in a post-apocalyptic future. Jeffers, who is widely considered to be one of the great American poets, took the basic elements and themes of the Greek classic but transformed it into something far more fluid by doing away with the time fillers found in Euripides’ version. Gary Wayne Backer has taken on the challenge of directing the production of Medea at SLU.

The stage, designed by Jim Burwink, embraces the cold, post-doomsday themes. The set design crew managed to portray the industrial feel through the use of different materials, such as wire and wood, which created a perfect backdrop to accentuate the setting. Among the cast and crew are two graduating seniors, Taylor Steward and Tyler Linke. Steward is playing the main character, Medea, while Linke is the stage manager. While working on this play has put a lot of pressure on Linke, John Lamb, coordinator of publicity and promotion for the Department of Fine and Performing Arts, is very confident he will rise to the occasion.

Medea is playing April 25 and 26 at 8 p.m. and then again on May 2 and 3 at 8 p.m., as well as May 4 at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the box office on the first floor of Xavier Hall, or reservations can be made by calling 314.977.3327. Student tickets are $7 and faculty tickets are $9.

Image courtesy of Piccione Pastry

Little Italy meets the modern city at Piccione (pa-CHO’-nee), an Italian pastry shop in The Loop with a long family history stretching back to the early 1920s. By 1935, the Picciones became involved in the independent movie theater business with the Apollo on DeBaliviere Avenue and the Varsity on Delmar Boulevard. Many suggest that the Picciones were responsible for beginning the late night culture on The Loop with the success of the Varsity, which became famous for its sold out screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Tapping into the entrepreneurial roots established by his grandmother Grace Viviano Piccione, Richard Nix, Jr., along with his wife Elizabeth, have reconnected the Piccione family to their rich history on Delmar. Nix shared that after going to the famous Mike’s Pastry in the historic North End neighborhood of Boston, he finally decided to open his pastry shop. Piccione, which means pigeon, is a testimony to the American Dream that gave his grandfather a chance at success despite being an immigrant.
At Piccione, the atmosphere is very relaxed and the servers are easygoing while still doing a wonderful job. Their cases are filled with lots of delicious pastries that range from cannolis and tiramisu to the Italian riff on donuts called bomboloni. The pastries are certainly fresh considering you can see the chefs rolling out the dough and making the cannolis to order behind the counter.

They also serve Italian soda, cappuccinos and offer a few savory items for breakfast or lunch. Vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options are also available to accommodate any dietary restrictions. There are lots of tables, which is convenient for both a chat with friends and a late study night.

For the month of February, Piccione is hosting an event called “The Language of Love.” The owners have teamed up with Gusto Gourmet Creamery’s gelato makers Kaetlyn Macauley and Francesco Velocci to create this event. “Language of Love” is an opportunity to learn more about Italian culture while enjoying delicious sweets and sharing stories. There is still one Wednesday left in February, so don’t miss out on the great opportunity. Classes are free of charge and begin at 7:30 p.m.

Piccione is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Image courtesy of Peabody Opera House’s Facebook

“If not you then who, if not now then when,” says actor Jack Curenton as he plays Don Quixote, the lead of “Man of La Mancha.” After 30 very successful years of pursuing his business goals, Curenton has now put on 80 shows and numerous TV show roles and commercials. With his return to Broadway, Curenton now does his best to live by the words of Don Quixote.

“Man of La Mancha” is a musical based on the renowned novel “Don Quixote” by Miguel Cervantes. The Peabody Opera House hosted the Broadway Tour of “Man of La Mancha” Feb. 8 through Feb.10.

The story follows an old man, Don Quixote, who has lost grip on reality and decides to become a knight though he lacks the confidence and family line to actually pursue the dream. The cast did an extraordinary job transitioning back and forth from the dudgeons of the Spanish Inquisition to the story of Don Quixote, the knight. The two actors who played the horse were hilarious, adding a confident comedic aura along with a welcomed juxtaposition in more serious scenes.

Curenton was remarkable and led the show wonderfully. Jessica Norland and Rick Grossman were perfect playing Aldonza and Sancho. Norland was more and more fabulous with every scene portraying the capacity of change and acceptance.

Don Quixote’s madness is precisely what sheds hope on life by inspiring people to be the best version of them self. This rendition of Cervantes’s masterpiece combines both light humor and an honest view on life. A scene that captures both humor and honesty of the show is “I am Only Thinking of Him.” Sung by the niece, this song is filled with insightful moments that help explain the characters. The niece is too worried about her delusional uncle’s affect on her reputation while the housekeeper shares her secret love of the uncle. Also, the future son-in-law has his eyes on the potential inheritance and the priest is trying to keep up his appearances.

Jack had the dream of acting since 1965 after his parents brought back a recording of “Oliver.” He never gave up on his dream and now shares that aspiring actors need to be proactive, searching for auditions and having a professional job profile.

“When auditioning, be the best you can be and change whatever the director wants you to – they just want to see if you can take direction – because you never know what they want,” said Curenton.

Image courtesy of “Mamma Mia!”‘s Facebook

Next weekend, the Tony Award-winning “Mamma Mia!” will be hitting the stage at The Fabulous Fox Theatre for five performances. “Mamma Mia!” follows the funny tale of a mother and daughter whom attempt to figure out which of the possible three dads will walk his daughter down the aisle on a Greek island paradise in what could be considered the ultimate love triangle. Set to the timeless tracks of ABBA, “Mamma Mia!” has become an iconic musical enjoyed by over 54 million people worldwide.

University News staff writer, Melena Abijaoude, had the opportunity to sit down with the leading lady herself, Georgia Kate Haege. Cast as Donna Sheridan, the Australian actress Haege commands the stage as the former-pop, diva mother who is forced to confront her past loves at the urging of her daughter, Sofie (Chelsea Williams). During their conversation, Abijaoude and Haege were able to chat about life on Broadway, her role in “Mamma Mia!” and also a few tips for aspiring actors.

A: How did you get involved in “Mamma Mia!”?

H: I saw the opportunity in Backstage Magazine in December of 2012. I wrote to Gabrielle Mirabella but I was on a tour in Australia so I was asked to send in a video audition. However, I dropped the ball and totally forgot about it. In early April I walked in to an audition for the Broadway production of “Soul Doctor.” To my surprise, Gabrielle was the one doing the auditions. She asked me to audition for “Mamma Mia!” because they still have not found anyone. I sang “The Winner Takes It All,” using my iPhone for lyrics while Gabrielle recorded me using her own iPhone and the pianist used his iPhone to pull up the note sheet. With technology helping out and lots of luck, I got the part!

A: What has been the hardest thing about this show?

H: The hardest thing is the intensity. In my role there is lots of singing so I have days where I literally don’t speak to help my vocal chords. Everybody knows I do no talking on Mondays. There have also been lots of sacrifices, like I do not drink alcohol and try to sleep a lot.

A: How do you deal with the difficulties of the show?

H: In the show there is a lot of dancing and that’s not necessarily my strongest point. However, the choreography is amazing and the director, Carly Wielstein, is awesome so she keeps everything running smoothly.

A: What have you enjoyed most about this show?

H: The show is a lot of fun! The wardrobe is incredible and it impresses everyone along with the wonderful scene work.

General tips from Haege:

• Have good relationships, work hard, and don’t complain because you never know who will end up being your next director or boss.

• Persevere and don’t give up. There will be many auditions and you only need one to work out.

• Take care of yourself and eat well! Good food, lots of water and sleep help the body and mind.

Healthy. Delicious. Local. HotPot Smoothie Shop has it all – from responsibly sourced ingredients, made-to-order meals and the distinct flavors of various Asian cuisines. Just off Manchester Road in Kirkwood, the restaurant is housed in what used to be a pottery studio and café, whose lingering presence is still detected.
The menu caters to all with plenty of salads and sandwiches, but the most interesting option is the hot pot bowl. You design your own bowl from the structured options provided. Choose your base from different types of noodles, rice and even sweet potato. Next, you pick your protein with options including pork, beef, chicken and shrimp. Keeping with their “quirky, conscious eatery” theme, non-animal sources of protein, such as tofu and tempeh are also offered.

Next, the sauce is chosen. Many options are oil-free, vegetarian and even Paleo-friendly. If you ask, they’ll recommend one or even a combination of sauces that go well with your hot pot. Finally come the veggies. Here you get to go wild, picking as many options as you wish!

The meal comes out surprisingly quickly! Your unique hot pot is presented in a beautiful bowl and you choose between using chopsticks, forks or spoons.

While the hot pot bowls are the main draw to this great restaurant, the smoothies are also well worth a trip. Here you are also faced with an array of choices. For the base pick between their “original agave” or “green and sticky,” with the former being a sweet and delicious addition to any smoothie and the latter being a healthy blend of raw kale, spinach, cucumber, celery and green apple. The bases add desirable nutrients to the smoothies and surprisingly do not overpower the flavor of the fresh fruits.

While enjoying the food, you can gaze at a variety of artwork hung around the shop featured for sale. Also, HotPot continues to keep it local by serving Missouri Mud Coffee and a great selection of baked goods from Clayton’s Bakery and Deli.

All in all, HotPot is a great place to grab lunch with friends, or to come alone with a book. It may be a bit of a drive, but it’s definitely worthwhile!

The SLU Theatre’s upcoming musical, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is fabulous and downright hilarious from beginning to end! The long hours and dedication put into the show by the cast are apparent while sitting in the audience. Managing classes and rehearsals must have been quite tasking for the actors, with a whole week of daily rehearsals from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and full day rehearsals this past weekend. Even though they are practicing while trying to balance classwork, the passion is apparent that all those involved are having a great time.
Before watching the preview, I could feel the excitement of the whole cast backstage. All of that energy was translated to their upbeat performances in a musical that was just about as entertaining as it gets. By the time intermission came it felt only as though a few minutes had passed!
Andy O’Brien is brilliant as Pseudolus. He is very dynamic and fills up the room with his humor and charisma. Danny Guttas, who plays Hysterium, works wonderfully with O’Brian, keeping the mood of the play light and fun. Guttas is terrific throughout the whole play, but he was particularly excellent in the scene where he attempts to keep himself calm.
The musical has all kinds of fun scenes, from courtesans to a fake funeral. Vince Grote also did a marvelous job as Senex. He nailed every song and was tremendous with both acting and narrating.
The costume designs  looked amazing. Joe Kercher, as the Captain Miles Gloriosus, is dressed up as a Roman soldier with an armored chest plate and a classic helmet. This is Kercher’s first musical with SLU, but it is clear that he’s been acting for a while. I was really surprised when he started singing and talking because he sounded very different from when I was speaking to him earlier. Kercher personifies his character perfectly. Overall, everyone on stage looked great, especially Katy Keating who was on stage as Marcus Lycus.
Keating did a wonderful job with her character being  one of the most dynamic in the musical. Her role required numerous transitions in personality, which was no easy feat, but Keating pulled it off seamlessly. Luke Siddens and Maddie Spruce were also great as Hero and Philia. Spruce spent a lot of time during the show tucked away on the “roof of the house.” As an audience member, it’s intriguing to know that she is constantly up there, but only pops out on occasion.
Jack Calk, as Erronius, did not have a big part in the production, but his short time on stage left a lasting impression. Jack consistently brought back that humor as he randomly walked through the stage, totally oblivious to all that was happening, while counting the times he rounded the hills of Rome.
After speaking with a few cast members, it was clear that Alec Wild not only did a great job as a skillful director, but also was a source of energy. The dedication of the directing team was evident as well, with the fruits of their labor being fully realized. The props, set and costumes were spot on, with everything having been designed and assembled on campus in the past few weeks. Ellen Isom also did a terrific job coordinating the choreography, which flowed effortlessly throughout the scenes and also added to the humor.
This weekend, make it a point to go see “Forum.” Not only will you be showing support for your fellow students, but you’ll be bound to  get a few laughs out of it  too. As the last song before the cast took their final bow so beautifully pointed out,  “The moral is comedy!”
“Forum” show dates are Nov. 15, 16, 22, 23 at 8 p.m. and again on Nov. 24 at 2 pm. All shows are held in the theater in Xavier Hall. Tickets are available for purchase at the box office and cost $10 for adults and $9 for senior citizens and SLU faculty or staff. Students get in the cheapest with tickets costing only $7.
For more information about the current show or any of the upcoming productions visit the SLU Theatre Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

Images remind us of our history. They force us to reminisce and bring back a rush of emotions. Liz Krinsky’s jewelry incorporates such powerful imagery in an effort to preserve a local history that is very much personal due to the fact that she grew up in St. Louis.

Melena Abijaoude
Liz Krinsky was inspired by Tomboy grocery stores and Vess Soda for her “small sculptures.”

Having recently come back to the area, she is now remembering the entire city from her childhood experiences. It was in her search to see what happened to all the places she used to love that she stumbled upon her inspiration for her jewelry. When she compared the St. Louis she grew up in to what is it like today, she felt like a witness to the decline of the American dream.

Krinsky focuses on the fall of the bigger-than-life advertizing associated with the baby boomers era.

“When they [the iconic neon signs and loud advertisements] were around, the American dream seemed so real and so possible,” said Krinsky.he wants to give people a sense of urgency; in order to understand not only this city, but also to understand that it is through knowledge of our past that we grow.

Krinsky has been fascinated by architecture since she was a young girl. She believes that the style of a building can tell you about its purpose and its history. Today, Krinsky goes around St. Louis on her scooter looking for inspiration from the city.

She first got into metalsmithing and jewelry making in college because she needed to take a 3-D course for her graphic design major.  Krinsky said it was then when she began to see “jewelry like small sculptures.” Once she started she could not stop.

She later worked for 12 years in a Cincinnati gallery. The way she found the job was like a dream, and she recalls the time worked there as some of her best memories. However, after 12 great years of being there, the gallery closed.

She then worked in many other places but by the time she got back to St. Louis, she had lost everything. She came back home as a way to restart.With her new beginning she found a whole lot more. She had not lived in

St. Louis for 20 years, but being back reminded her of so many things. Memories of how she had gotten engaged at The Fox Theatre. Or of how her father used to work at the Southern Bell company on Delmar flooded back.

One void she found from growing up was the chain of neighborhood grocery stores called Tomboy. She remembered it as a place where everyone had friendly relationships with the employees. For Krinsky, Tomboy was a reflection of how much St. Louis companies meant to the people in the area and how proud they were of their city.

What Krinsky seemed to be particularly fond of was how every neighborhood had an identity, whether it was an amusement park, a drive-in theater or just something that caused people to interact and see themselves as a part of that neighborhood, they had something uniting them. This was the history that the everyday person experienced.

She wants her jewelry to be a revival of those old community identities.

Krinsky believes the loss of these local businesses and neighborhood lifestyles has caused us as a population to become impersonal.

Another aspect Krinsky loved about St. Louis was the aviation scene at McDonnell Douglas and Ozark Airlines. She recalled that when the airport expansions happened, people would go to the airport for dinner and the opportunity to watch the planes landing and taking off. She still remembers the theme song of Ozark Airlines when they first got jets, “Ozark is the growing airline – the going, growing airline…there’s jets!”

She also spoke of other memories, such as The Holiday Hills Amusement Park, Midtown’s “Automobile Alley” and North Grand’s theater district. Today we only see little traces of these things. According to Krinsky, it was almost as though everyone was improving with them. It was a time when each neighborhood had a park where there would be picnics, school functions or even  a rollercoaster ride or a Ferris wheel.

Krinsky sees how the city has evolved, noting that some things have improved, while others have decayed or just simply disappeared. For example, the Palladium Ballroom is abandoned now when at one time people such as Ella Fitzgerald performed there. Krinsky often wonders if everything changed overnight and what sparked such a drastic change.

Today, it feels like that entire era in St. Louis history is being tucked away under the old, dilapidated image of the city. Today, when you go to St. Louis’ last drive-in it looks so shabby, but it was once a local favorite. Krinsky thinks that this is what the bigger-than-life era gave to the people; it attached people to surreal images. She hopes that by capturing these images and incorporating them into her jewelry she will bring back the old memories and people together.

Her next project is trying to get photos of all the old places that played a role in everyday life and comparing them to the places today. Krinsky believes that putting these side by side will reveal such a history. “Whole neighborhoods have come and gone over the past 50 years,” said Krinsky.

Not only does she want to revive St. Louis’ rich history, but she also wants to question the future and where are we heading. Krinsky summed it all up by saying, “People were so inviting even on a small scale. It was not just left up to the big businesses to run everything – people were excited!”

Check out Krinsky’s inspirational work through her blog (onstl.com) and on Etsy (look under Liz Krinsky Designs). If you are interested in a truly unique piece of jewelry for a gift (or for yourself), contact information is available.

Schlafly’s Art Outside Fair drew about 15,000 people this year. The three-day long, outdoor art display was accompanied by music, hamburgers and beer.
Going around speaking with the artists, it became apparent that the show was particularly enjoyable because of the variety of talent available, ranging from traditional painting to metal work and mixed media arts.

Melena Abijaoude
Local artists showcased their unique works this weekend at Art Outside, with displays that included funky cigar box guitars (top) and beautiful 3-D window boxes (below).

The first artist that drew my attention was Jimmy Lui, who has been participating in this show for the past five years. He is a potter, however, he has shifted from traditional standards with his take on teapots. A personal favorite of his is the teapot in the shape of a hopping bunny.

Interestingly, Jimmy has not always been a potter. He had previously spent 30 years working in the field of electronics while living in China. After retiring, he enrolled at Maryville University and began pottery classes. He went on to graduate from Fontbonne University. Since then, he has continued to explore his new found passion and unique approach to this time-honored craft.

A few tents down, Jay Thompson’s gallery called Cat Works was on display. It showcases digital graphics that take human poses and add cat faces to them. Thompson began his work in animations, pursuing this after retiring. He too has been a part of this art show for several years now, admitting that he is drawn to this particular event because of the energetic crowd as well as the low cost of the tents at $150 per day (compared to the $700 that the Saint Louis Art Show charges).

Continuing on, I encountered a particularly crowded tent. Once I saw the artist’s display I understood why.

Den Smith uses mixed media to create eye-catching 3-D wall pieces. He has been an artist all of his life but did not turn towards his 3-D work until he started sculpting. The frames he creates are both intricate and unique – incorporating wood, canvas and metal. The centerpiece of the exhibit featured a captivating frame with a silhouette of a head. Behind the silhouette is the phrase “take me seriously” while beneath it there is a cut out of a bowtie which spins.

Unlike the previous artists, this was the first time Mark Hurd has participated in the Art Outside art fair. Mark is a photographer inspired by Edward Hopper and as such, much of his work lends to dark hues of purple, blue and pink. One of his favorite subjects is the city of St. Louis itself, with a focus on an old urban elements.

The last two artists I spoke with were Lon Brauer and his wife Rudy Zapf. Lon Brauer made cigar box guitars which were first seen in the 1800s and consist of three piano strings, a wooden neck and a cigar box. Brauer emanates a strong passion for his art and is quick to share a bit of history with all who view his work with an open mind.

He tells how the cigar box guitar was used when blues first started because the blues artist didn’t have the money for a guitar. These guitars are fretless and thus allow more notes to slide into each other. Rudy Zapf, Brauer’s wife, creates mixed media or 3-D wall pieces. Her pieces are very interactive with various doors and windows that can be opened and closed to change the perspective of the art. The couple spends their free time in search of intriguing decorative pieces of all shapes and sizes that can serve to complement their work. Lon showed me one of his guitars that is made of a Wise Cigar Company box from 1802, which was a popular St. Louis company.

The majority of the artists that partook in this annual event are from the greater St. Louis area and many are active in the city’s rejuvenated art community. The Art Outside show had a little something for everyone, from rain sticks, woodwork, jewelry and much more. There were also three tables for interactive art, jewelry making, painting and crafts. In addition to all of the unique works found throughout Art Outside, the food vendors and Schlafly beer was delicious and very reasonably priced.

Overall,  this was yet another awesome event by the St. Louis art community!

Fresh, simple and deliciously interactive!

These words floated throughout The Docket, the new restaurant at the Scott Law Center downtown. General manager, Jorge Rama, was adamant about creating a space for a welcoming atmosphere for students, businessman and St. Louisans alike.

Being on the first floor of the Saint Louis University law school will definitely attract a lot of SLU law students, but Rama envisioned more.
The Docket is located right around the corner from the courthouse and many of St. Louis’ other federal buildings. Rama hopes that the central location will make The Docket an ideal place for students and professionals to interact, whether it is over a drink at the bar or lunch at one of the large communal style tables.

Pizzas from a wood-burning oven at SLU’s newest restaurant.

As for the kitchen at The Docket, Rama said he “would like to use as much local [produce] as we can,” for the contemporary Mediterranean menu.
He and Executive Chef Treff Baker both agree that supporting local businesses is a key element to welcoming the surrounding community to the new Scott Law Center. Plus, there are so many tremendous products in the area that it would be foolish for the team at The Docket to ignore them.

At The Docket they will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner on Monday through Friday, while Saturday will be open for only a dinner service.
Breakfast is a quick and casual affair at The Docket. In the mornings they offer fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches and other on-the-go items perfect for a busy student or professional rushing off to the classroom or the courthouse.

The head pastry chef is not only whipping up great traditional pastries, but also hopes to incorporate appealing options for diners with dietary restrictions, such as lactose and gluten intolerance.

At lunch there is a chef’s table option, which is similar to a buffet style dining experience featuring a wide selection of dishes.
On the regular menu there are pizzas made in the wood-burning oven (served with scissors for cutting, how brilliant!), delicious panini sandwiches and a great variety of small plates, such as roasted asparagus drizzled with a balsamic reduction.

Grilled lamb kebabs and various pasta dishes round out the menu with wonderful traditional flavor combinations, but there are also exciting specials offered every day.

A personal favorite when sampling the menu was definitely the roast beef panini with caramelized onions, while the lamb kabobs were also delicious and a perfect for sharing with friends.

Chef Baker is also excited about the varied, seasonal menus The Docket will be offering. This reflects his philosophy on cooking: food should be prepared in a simple manner, drawing from the influences of European peasantry.

Being a big fan of the comfort food that comes with fall, Baker is already excited about experimenting with autumn ingredients, such as squash, and hinted at the possibility of pumpkin ravioli.

Molly Rippinger/Arts Editor
Communal tables at SLU’s newest restaurant.

Chef Baker explained that the food is meant to be interactive, where big plates can be placed in the center of the table and the guests serve each other, allowing them to bond and try as many things as they can. While The Docket is described as serving  Mediterranean cuisine, the chef’s take is very interesting in that he applies a comfort food concept to a menu full of  Mediterranean-style dishes.

To complement the great atmosphere, the service at The Docket is as hospitable as it gets. Walking inside the restaurant, you can immediately recognize how the whole staff works together to make each customer feel valued.

From the executive chef to buser, each employee wears the same beige uniform to encourage customers to approach anyone roaming the restaurant for help. The whole staff is a tight-knit team dedicated to providing each guest with an excellent experience at The Docket.

In case fresh, seasonal food and the chance to interact with various St. Louis professionals isn’t enough incentive for undergrads to make the trip downtown, The Docket – which will be accessible by SLU campus shuttles – has decided to accept both Billiken Bucks and Flex Points as payment.

All in all, no one should have any objections to what  The Docket has to offer.