City Foundry STL — Restaurant in St. Louis

WOW, WOW, WOW. I am new to STL, and I must say that this place was AMAZING! The entire venue is super open and vibey! Being right beside I-64 makes your think it would be loud and crazy but the design of the market blocks all that noise pollution! Once you exit the parking garage into the market square, you have easy access to the City Winery (check my review on that one), and the Food Hall (keep reading for more details), and other shops such as Golden Gems boutique, Armory Dine-In theater, a Custom Candle shop, and more! But I really was there to be a foodie! The Food Hall was the place to be, featuring an international palette of cuisines! Check out the places I dined below!

STL Toasted: This venue is all about toasted ravioli! I had no idea STL was so adamant about toasted ravioli, but they are and I'm for it! This nook offers a tiny menu packed with HUGE flavors! I had the potato ravioli, and my boyfriend had the classic beef! I can't decide which one was better! The potato bites were loaded with sour cream, chives, and candied bacon bits! Paired lovely with creamy, cold ranch! The classic beef was topped with fresh parmesan shreds and paired with a warm marinara sauce! you can get 4 for $10 or 8 for $18. They are pretty huge raviolis so 4 was enough for us to snack on! But if you're feeling sweet rather than savory, look no further because they offer dessert raviolis! I had never heard of these, but they exist here! Lemon blueberry or Oreo are on the menu with all kinds of yummy toppings!

Chez Ali: I didn't stand in the long line (it was wrapped, place was popping), but I got so satiated on the smells alone! It is a fusion venue offering French/Carribean cuisine. It all looked so good!! The portions were enormous, and the price was cheeeappp! I really wanted a samosa, but I was too hungry to stand in the long line, so I moved along. But I will be back for that curry and jerk chicken!

Buenos Aires Cafe: Popped over here to snack on some empanadas that were out of this world. I did the pick 2 option for a beef and a veggies and cheese. The meat was savory and juicy, and the crust was crispy and hot! The veggie and cheese was my personal favorite. It was melty and stringy and packed with peppers and corn! It was so juicy that it dripped all over my tank top and I wasn't even mad about it! Grease stain and all! Will definitely have to go back and eat from the main menu that offers steak, rice, and plantains!

Intergalactic Burgers: This had a pretty massive line as well! The burgers looked stellar! I am a sucker for anything space-themed but again, the long lines deterred my hunger! But I heard endless good things about the loaded fries so I will be back, and I'll do an update soon!

Poptimism: I wanted a sweet corn pop so badly, but I was already full on my other snacks! They did offer a variety of fun and unique flavors!

Overall, I didn't dine at a quarter of what is actually served in the Food Hall! But there is plenty of seating in the center of the hall. It's all community tables that boost socialization and that really offers a lot to the dining experience!

What a great use of industrial...

City Foundry St. Louis – A Recipe for Failure -Bait and Switch Pricing-

The experience began on a sour note with pricing issues. I ordered a turmeric bowl that was advertised at $11, but ended up paying $14.90 due to additional charges for sauces that weren’t disclosed upfront. This bait and switch tactic is both misleading and frustrating. Such deceptive practices erode customer trust and set a negative tone for the overall experience.

Excessive Tipping Expectations

Adding to the disappointment is the excessive tipping culture. The Foundry seems to promote an atmosphere where generous tipping is almost expected, even for minimal service. While tipping is a personal choice, the pressure to leave substantial tips on top of inflated menu prices is off-putting and could deter repeat business.

Political Symbolism and Decor

The Foundry’s decor, prominently featuring political symbols like Palestinian flags, might come off as overly partisan. While businesses have the right to display their values, the overt political stance might alienate a segment of potential patrons who might feel uncomfortable or excluded. A more neutral approach might be beneficial in attracting a broader audience.

Family Unfriendliness and High Costs

Families are unlikely to frequent the City Foundry more than once due to the high prices and uncomfortable communal seating. The lack of privacy and high cost make it difficult for families to enjoy a meal out without feeling squeezed both financially and physically. This unwelcoming environment for families is a major drawback that could stifle repeat visits.

Tax Subsidies and Area Safety

The City Foundry was built with significant tax subsidies from the city, intended to stimulate local growth and development. However, if the Foundry fails, these funds will have been squandered, failing to deliver the promised revitalization. Moreover, the area around the Foundry is known for its crime issues, making it less appealing for evening visits. Safety concerns could further limit the number of patrons willing to venture out after dark.

The Verdict

Considering these issues—deceptive pricing, excessive tipping, political symbolism, unaccommodating seating arrangements, high costs, and safety concerns—I give the City Foundry a year or two before it potentially closes its doors. Liberal policies and handouts, while well-intentioned, often fail to address the practical needs of businesses and communities. In this case, it seems that the Foundry’s approach may not be sustainable, and it might become another example of well-meaning initiatives falling short in...

Caveat: City Foundry officially opened in the midst of the Delta Covid surge so there are, well, problems! But considering the circumstances, I think what they accomplished was quite the feat.

First, we went on a Monday night; parking was a breeze and getting to the Food Hall was relatively simple and with the nice weather was an enjoyable stroll. The interior of the food hall is as incredible as promised, a unique (for St Louis) blend of industrial rawness and elegant modernity. Some of the decor wasn't quite done yet, and that's not a surprise with the pandemic, yet the charm was intact. The food stalls themselves were as diverse and intriguing as expected and it was honestly hard to choose where to start. We thankfully were just ahead of a dinner rush so there was no wait to get a Street Roller from Turmeric. It was very good! Nice and spicy, satisfying, the roll was great and the tandoor mayo paired perfectly. The seasoning on the fries was killer!

The Kitchen Bar, curiously, is I assume temporarily being operated by a catering business(?). The draft system was not available and only two local beers were available, ubiquitous canned flagship beers from UCBC and 4 Hands. Frankly underwhelming. Initially, as The Kitchen Bar was announced very late, I assumed it was not a central feature of the Food Hall and planned to account for this, but the Kitchen Bar itself is very prominent, centrally located in the Food Hall and designed to draw attention. I'm very curious how such an important facet of the Food Hall experience has not been managed better in the run-up to opening, though again, the announcement that Niche would be running it (eventually) was fairly recent. Still, a let down given how positive the rest of the experience was. (There was outdoor seating and with the beautiful weather it really bumped up the overall good vibes).

We also had some soft-serve ice cream from Poptimism that was great as well (thanks for letting me cheat and get the salty topping WITH the cocoa topping).

Overall, I really want to go back and enjoy the excellent outdoor dining area and try some of the many other offerings available but here's hoping there's a decent selection of drinks...