Photo by J.B. Forbes, St. Louis Post-Dispatch
BaiKu Sushi Lounge
Soung Lee established his sushi bona fides at Miso on Meramec in Clayton and Central Table Food Hall in the Central West End. In 2014, he reunited with Miso owner Brad Beracha at BaiKu Sushi Lounge on the first floor of midtown’s boutique Hotel Ignacio. He continues to serve excellent sushi, sashimi and maki, but at BaiKu he showcases an approach both more nuanced (striped bass in light, bracing lemon-thyme vinaigrette) and more creative (a gorgeous, delicious tartare of yellowtail with scallions). The non-sushi menu isn’t quite as exciting, but BaiKu as a whole transcends its hotel-lounge environment.