Patch Pick'em: Rizzo's vs. DeLeo's and China Wok vs. Chipotle

Today's matchups also include Meyer's Cafe vs. Smoki's North BBQ and Outback vs. Old St. Louis Chop Suey.

This week, Florissant Patch and Hazelwood Patch launched their first-ever Patch Pick'em tournament to find the best local restaurant in the area! Patch Pick'em runs along the same lines as the much-hyped college basketball tournament, except it uses local restaurants instead of college basketball squads.  How do restaurants advance? It all depends on your vote—on both Florissant and Hazelwood Patch sites, their Facebook pages and Twitter feeds. Click here to learn more about the tournament. Also vote for:    Here's today's first round mathcups! Make sure you vote for all four by simply making a comment on this article. Happy voting! - - -  FIRST ROUND Patch PICK'EM MATCHUPS China Wok vs. Chipotle - - -  Meyer's Cafe and Lounge vs. Smoki's …

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Restaurant Insider Check

Restaurant Report: Arby's Has Issues With Missing Tiles, Improper Documentation

Plus: the health inspector visits Tropik Sun Fruit & Nut, Hollywood-Voo Doo Cafe & Lounge and more.

Each week, Florissant Patch publishes information from the local restaurant inspections of St. Louis County Department of Health as well as their grade. Here are some of the latest restaurant inspections from the past 90 days: Arby’s Roast Beef Address: 1275 Graham Rd., Florissant Date of Inspection: Nov. 6 Type of Inspection: Routine Risk Factor: 2 Grade: 98-A Comments: Hepatitis A documentation not maintained in a clear and concise manner. Observed damaged and missing tiles throughout the kitchen. Inspector advised that all damaged tiles and cove basing shall be repaired as needed. There is a missing ceiling tile in the utility closet that will also be replaced. Tropik Sun Fruit & Nut Address: 5555 St. Louis Mills Blvd., Hazelwood Date …

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Tobacco Free St. Louis Pushes for Complete Smoking Ban

Group will ask the St. Louis County Council to eliminate smoking ban exemptions.

Tobacco-Free St. Louis will push the St. Louis County Council to expand the current smoking ban in the county to eliminate exemptions to the 2011 Clean Air Act. Businesses eligible for smoking bans include casinos, Lambert International Airport and bars where food makes up a small percentage of sales. The airport later went smoke-free despite its exempt status. The group made the announcement during a press conference Thursday morning at Three Kings Public House in University City. The group said there are currently 145 exemptions to the ban with the majority of those (56) coming in the North County area. There are 20 exemptions in mid-County, 41 in South County and 29 in the West County area. "The most vulnerable are the ones who are most…

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RCOverdrive

12:34 pm on Saturday, March 17, 2012

I don't go into them and won't when I have the choice. Thankfully I now have many choices thanks to the bans that have been put in place and the restaurants that choose to abide by the rules. Illinois Bars, Casino Queen, Brewzki's O'Fallon MO, Syberg's Dorsett, Bottleneck Blues Bar, Blueberry Hill... get my business!!!   more ›

Local Business Owner Hopes to Add a Touch of New York Jazz Culture to the Florissant Area

The popular Halls Ferry Inn has been reinvented, remodeled and reopened as the Halls Ferry Inn Jazz Café.

When you think of the Halls Ferry Inn, you probably think of the well-known Florissant establishment that featured great pizza, home-style cooking and a relaxing, casual environment. But thanks to Lozell Stiles, a Florissant business owner who has lived in town for more than 15 years, all of that has changed. Stiles bought the New Halls Ferry Inn and reopened it as the new Halls Ferry Inn Jazz Café, choosing to include the original name in a nod to the restaurant that had been in the space for so many years. These days, the name has changed, along with the atmosphere, the menu and the ambiance, Stiles said. While you’ll still find certain pizza traditions alive and well at the new Halls Ferry Inn Jazz Café, the similarities between the old…

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Nate Birt

2:12 pm on Tuesday, October 25, 2011

This is so cool. I still remember performing music at various restaurants as a high school student. Glad to see that others are preserving the great tradition that is jazz.   more ›

Frugal Family

May Starts With Delicious Deals

Whether you want to go out or stay at home to celebrate the early May holidays, Patch has you covered.

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you eight great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen, just add them to our comment box. This week, Frugal Family scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on a family "knight," Cinco de Mayo ideas, Mother's Day gifts and more. Remember to check with the merchants for additional conditions. 1. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS …

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Where There's Smoke, There's a Business

Florissant bars with exemptions to smoking ban continue to gain more customers.

Since the St. Louis County smoking ban went into effect last month, it's presented a mixed bag of problems for everyone. Smokers resent having to go outside, and nonsmokers say there are too many exemptions. Despite fears about the loss of business leading up to the smoking ban, which took effect on Jan. 2, several Florissant taverns with exemptions have reaped benefits from the ban. Cheryl Williams, who manages Gater's Pub, said the ban has improved business at her bar thanks to its exemption. "We’ve picked up a few people," Williams said. "We’ve got people coming down here that aren’t happy at all about having to switch their bars. They have one favorite bar, and they’ve been going to it for years." Gaining a few extra customers hasn't …

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