Photo by Roberto Rodriguez
Half & Half
Mike Randolph is no stranger to the STL 100. The inaugural edition in 2015 included his Neapolitan pizzeria, the Good Pie, and the two restaurants he opened that year, Público and Randolfi’s Italian Kitchen, debuted in last year’s Top 25. But so enraptured was I with those restaurants that I took his Clayton cafe Half & Half for granted. My recent visit served as a corrective. Randolph’s team, led by chef de cuisine Dale Beauchamp, nods to current trends (avocado toast, a sandwich featuring Nashville-style hot chicken), but the heart of the menu remains classic breakfast and lunch fare prepared with the same attention to detail you find at Randolph’s buzzier restaurants.
Hours: Breakfast and lunch Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)
Last year's ranking: new
Opened: 2011
Must order: Sausage biscuit ($10)