Dinner & a Show

I don’t know about you but whenever I get tickets to a show, my next thought is always, “where am I going to eat?” “what could be a dinner experience that compliments the vibe of the show I’m going to?”

So here it is…my list of favorite performance & dinner experiences!

This is such a sophisticated date idea. Highly recommend going to a St. Louis Symphony Orchestra concert and then order the 3-course Chef’s menu at Vicia…so chic! Treat yourself and enjoy seasonal cuisine and the finer things in life. You only got one life to live, right?!

Looking for something edgier? Indo is my husband’s favorite restaurant. We love sushi and are always surprised by the menu…those palm sugar ribs hit every time. Pairs really well with a show at Old Rockhouse, which isn’t too far. We loved seeing our favorite artist David Ramirez there not too long ago. Personality and music just as spicy as Indo!

One time I went to see the St. Louis Ballet perform at Kirkwood Performing Arts Center and it was a dream. Such a highlight to see one of my fellow Musicbed artist peers, Philip Daniel’s music on the program! Go see the ballet and then order the oysters over at Olive + Oak. You won’t regret it!

I love going to a show at The Sheldon. The beautiful stained glass windows and the wood paneled walls just add to the acoustics of this venue! Seeing a bluegrass or folk band is the perfect vibe paired with wood-fired pizza and pasta in the basement of Basso. The gas-lit lanterns always make me feel like I am stepping into a Harry Potter movie.

The most creative venue in St. Louis is 21c Hotel. Hands down. I’ve never stayed there before but some of my friends have and they loved it. There is beautiful art work displayed everywhere you turn and even shuffleboard to play. Spoiler alert: my husband is way better than me at shuffleboard. But anyways…I loved eating dinner at Idol Wolf on the main level of the hotel and then venturing up the rainbow floral staircase to watch Continuum Vocal Ensemble perform. They sing here every year and it is such a treat!

Some friends and I recently had a meal at Sidney Street Café on a Wednesday. Those lobster turnovers are probably my favorite item on the menu! We then ventured out to a show at Off Broadway. They have recently renovated and their new bar/patio is such a fun, chill vibe for anybody. I loved the venue so much I bought one of their t-shirts! Go and support local.

My favorite place for cocktails is Planter’s House. They have some classic cocktails that are so creative and have so many flavors. I always order their seasonal old fashioned and their dill & gin cocktail named “In a Pickle” that makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Bonus if you can get a table on the patio! When I need a good laugh, The Improv Shop is a great choice for the unexpected happiness I think the world needs more of.

Fun fact about me: I love a matinee show. It’s just a little more chill but still fancy, you know? And sometimes it’s not as packed as an evening show. When I became a mom, the matinee was my form of self-care. I’d go see the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra perform on Sunday afternoon at the Touhill Performing Arts Center during nap time and then be home when the babies woke up. But sometimes it’s fun to go out after, which is why I recommend Louie on DeMun. The same cozy, elevated vibes as a matinee show. The roast chicken is my favorite!

My husband and I are both from the midwest so naturally, we love a classic steak and potato dinner for a date night. Our favorite is Hamilton’s Urban Steakhouse - they have a charcuterie board with a bacon fat candle that you can dip your bread in! How amazing is that? They also have an excellent bourbon selection that we tend to splurge on. This dinner pairs well with a concert experience at Stifel Theater. Go big and go home! Cuz why not?

Now that our kids our getting a little older, we love taking them to see the circus every summer. The awe and wonder and fear that I experience at the circus is unlike any other art form. It’s incredible. We love seeing our local talent perform in Circus Flora. They even have live musicians playing throughout their show! We also love eating dinner at the Fountain on Locust, which is literally down the street. Makes me feel like we have time traveled back into the 1920s. I’m here for it!

Ok friends…I know there were some venues and restaurants I missed so please tell me. What’s your favorite? I’m always wanting to try new things and change it up!

Hope this list has been helpful. As always, I encourage you to get out and support live musicians. It’s just way better than listening on your headphones, in my humble opinion.

Thanks for reading! I’ll catch you soon. Maybe at a performance?? ;)