Stacked STL - Carondelet — Restaurant in St. Louis

Nestled in the heart of St. Louis, Stacked presents itself as a trendy burger joint with a focus on quality ingredients and inventive twists on classic comfort food. With its contemporary atmosphere and promise of premium grass-fed beef, it seems like a great spot for burger enthusiasts. However, despite its well-curated ambiance and a menu that ticks many boxes, my recent experience left much to be desired, especially regarding the core of the burger experience.

To start with the positives, the service at Stacked was attentive, and the restaurant’s modern, casual vibe creates a welcoming environment for patrons. The drink list, featuring craft beers and creative cocktails, paired well with the burger offerings.

Unfortunately, the burger itself didn’t live up to expectations. I ordered the grass-fed beef patty cooked medium, which is typically the sweet spot for achieving that juicy, flavorful balance. However, what arrived was an overcooked patty that lacked any of the tenderness or pinkness one would hope for in a medium burger. The meat was dry and almost chalky, robbing the burger of its potential juiciness and flavor. For a grass-fed patty, which is often leaner, there’s an extra emphasis on cooking it just right — something that, in this case, seemed to be missed entirely.

The burger’s buns also fell short. Rather than the soft, slightly toasted texture that complements a good burger, the buns were stale and dry, almost as if they had been sitting around for longer than they should have. This outdated bread didn’t do the fresh ingredients or the burger any justice, and ultimately, it detracted from the overall experience.

In terms of flavor, Stacked’s potential is evident — the toppings and sauce choices were fresh and well-balanced, and the fries were crispy and satisfying. But when the fundamentals of a burger — the meat and the bun — aren’t up to standard, it’s hard to overlook.

At the end of the day, Stacked shows promise, but consistency and attention to detail are needed to elevate it to the level it aspires to be. With some adjustments to how the burgers are cooked and a more consistent quality of ingredients, this spot could easily make a stronger mark on St. Louis’ competitive burger scene. As it stands, though, it’s a bit of a letdown for those seeking a truly memorable burger experience.

Rating: 2.5/5

— For those in search of a great burger, Stacked might not hit the...

My wife and I recently visited St. Louis (STL) for a weekend getaway. STL has a lot of great food and culinary diversity so its perfect for foodies like us.

We stumbled across Stacked STL while looking for some good French Fries lol.

Let me start by saying we are from Kansas City and we don't have good anywhere but in Kansas City unless its in the more rundown parts of the city. For some reason you get better food there lol. Stacked is not located anywhere you would expect it to be. As we drove through a neighborhood 15 minutes outside of downtown STL we noticed house after house that was boarded up. We figured we had the wrong address, but then as we turned the last corner we found 30 or so car parked on the street lol. There was a center grass area with a fountain and on one side was a massive corner building that housed none other than Stacked STL.

Holly cow what a diverse crowd the reaturant brought in. We parked between a beat up Festiva and a Maserati! As you walk up the ramp from the street and enter your greeted by staff at the door. There is not much of a waiting area so many people gave their names and waited outside. There is seating one both sides of the long building between the hostess counter. On the right side is the bar and small kitchen.

The waitress was helpful in explaining the menu and some of the specials. I had a bloody mary and my wife had the Moscow mule to drink along with the brisket nachos. The brisket was superb. I had the Off The Hill burger and my wife had the Peach-O-Peno. My burger had giardiniera and the burger was cooked to perfection. My wife said hers was a little dry, but in fairness we don't eat cheese so it might have just been that.

The only complaint that I will give is that on the left side of the building where they have overflow seating the waitress don't get by enough because they just can't see you from the main seating area.

Overall I see why STL loves this place. Not the best hamburger I have ever had, but likely the best I have had in STL. We will for sure be back!

Check out our entire trip on Instagram under...

I am not sure how they have this rating. Because of it, and for my birthday, we drove from Ballwin all the way down to that rubble-bound neighborhood to try this "great burger.' Scary, scary location. Why you would place a business here I have no idea. That area will never be "back!" But, okay, they can't afford rent in a nice area, got it. However the food just sucked. The waiter was a bit useless and that was our one and last visit. Now, the manager/owner did apologize and refunded 2 burgers...eventually. I ordered mine medium and my wife medium-well. They were both burned to a literal crisp and dry as a bone having been cooked WAY past well-done. They tasted like wood after a forest fire. You might say, well maybe it was a new cook and they happen to torch your particular burgers, it can happen. And I agree. But the fries sucked- half crispy and half limp and greasy. The "Pretzels" were just grease-soaked bread sticks with a cheese sauce that looked like greasy human skin and had zero flavor of cheese but did make me spit it out for how gross it was. But wait, was the waiter on it. No! Brought us things we did not order, could not handle the simple task of a condiment I asked for in a timely manner and then made multiple mistakes on the ticket before we could finally get out of there. Oh and the place was dead- so no excuse there. I know this is St Louis and the bar for food is nearly on the floor, but this rating???? If you are silly enough to think it might still be good, bring a bulletproof vest! I wish them luck, but as of our visit the place sucks! If you know good food that is.

Update: I appreciate their response and understand that it may have been the ultimate fluke. As for the hood, no. I have lived for more than a decade in a no-water cabin in the middle of Alaska and in 13 other states. I have seen it all including walking the worst areas of Chicago. This area will never recover, but if someone wants to cling to a dream... Again, I...