If you’re looking for a little taste of fall, The Tavern Kitchen & Bar in the CWE has you covered!
They recently unveiled their new fall menu, and you can expect plenty of hearty flavors and heart-warming cuisine. We caught up with Executive Chef, Ryan Stupka, to learn more about the menu and the inspiration behind these new dishes.
Tell us about The Tavern’s new fall menu?
Ryan Stupka: Our new fall menu kept a few of our staple dishes, and then we looked to add finesse and build around those, to really bring the idea of comfort food to the table and make you feel at home.
Where did the inspiration come from for these new dishes?
Ryan Stupka: The inspiration behind the new menu is mainly a mix of Asian and French flair, rolled into one. The dishes themselves were thought up due to recent travels to San Francisco and Chicago, with the two staple restaurants being The French Laundry, as well as Alinea. We then set out to take our mothers “at home” recipes and twist them in a way to have them make sense, with an emphasis on hearty fall flavors, and heart-warming cuisine from the Pacific.
For those that have never been to the restaurant, what can they expect?
Ryan Stupka: Great service, awesome food and wonderful drinks, all presented in a laid-back nostalgic atmosphere.
What is your favorite dish on the menu?
Ryan Stupka: My new favorite dish on the menu has to be the new filet set- Garlic la ratte smash, a 7 oz filet topped with an onion and bone marrow marmalade, sauce bordelaise, and finished off with some flash fried spinach.
You are also offering lobster specials on Friday and Saturday evenings. Can you tell us about that?
Ryan Stupka: Yes we are running a lobster special every weekend. We try to change it up every week and do something different with it, as a way to push our thought process. However, we only acquire so many live lobsters per weekend, so if it sells out fast, we may run the same one again just to give more of our guests a taste.
I understand you are no longer open for brunch, is that correct?
Ryan Stupka: Yes, we have recently closed for brunch to focus more on our dinner service and private parties.
Do you recommend making a reservation?
Ryan Stupka: Yes! You can make a reservation by going to our website, www.tavernstl.com/central-west-end.