• 4
• Wow wow wow!

Yes, three wows! I'm stopped in St. Louis this evening on my way across the country and a friend took me to dinner here. On the drive over he mentioned how much he loves the food and that he's never had anything here he hasn't loved. He's omni, so I wasn't sure if the same would prove true for me. Oh boy, did it ever! We both started with the lentil soup and it was a flavor explosion in my mouth. So perfectly balanced and complex it made me wish my lentil soups were even half as good. He got a pot of coffee with cardamon and was so excited by the flavor, I had to try, despite the fact that I don't really do caffeine. It was served in a beautiful pot with two dainty cups and it only took a small sip to realize what he was in love with. It was thick, strong, and flavorful. If I was a regular coffee lover, I would have ordered one for myself. I wasn't so sure about my dinner choices. The menu is very clearly marked with vegan selections and I wasn't super-excited by the basic descriptions. With our server's hearty recommendation of the mixed vegetable plate, I ordered that and was more than pleasantly surprised. It was so incredibly delicious and beautifully presented. It was a combination of cauliflower, zucchini, eggplant, and peppers over a wonderfully spiced rice served with some pickled vegetables. My only caution is that it was served with a tahini sauce which appeared too light in color to be vegan. I asked the server and she immediately apologized, saying that there is yogurt in it. The meal was incredibly delicious without it. We also split grape leaves which were perfectly done and had a pot of mint tea after dinner. The service was excellent - attentive and friendly and we felt extremely welcome. If I lived in St. Louis this would definitely be a place I frequented often! Updated from previous review on Wednesday November 20, 2013 Updated from previous review on Wednesday November 20, 2013