Photo by Cristina M. Fletes (Post-Dispatch)
Veritas
I’ve included Veritas in each edition of the STL 100 — and four consecutive years in the Top 25 — so calling it a secret would be a stretch. Still, I reach for the word. Dining at Veritas feels like membership in a hidden-in-plain-sight club: an Ellisville shopping-plaza wine shop that is also an upscale restaurant. Chef Mathis Stitt’s dinner menu changes weekly but is certain to feature creative, elegant, modern American fare. Weekday lunch service has ended, but weekend brunch showcases Stitt’s approach through such classic dishes as fried chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits, the latter accented with a sophisticated garlic-chive custard. Not in the mood for higher-end dining? The Mustard Room inside Veritas features a casual happy hour menu with snacks and heartier fare such as a burger and hot dog.
Hours: Dinner Wednesday-Saturday, brunch Saturday-Sunday (Happy hour menu available in the Mustard Room 3:30-9 p.m. Wednesday, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday)
Last year's ranking: No. 18
Opened: 2004