Off Elm — Restaurant in Webster Groves

Unfortunately, this place has a very strange model that they are working with. We went to all film at around 7 o’clock on a Saturday night amd were greeted by the owner at the door who explained that there was a 2.5 hour wait on their wait list that you cam access online. Kept it up about the waitlist when we saw that tables were available there. I asked if we could just wait there at the bar until something opened and again he turned the conversation to the waitlist. We finally just left. Do not go to this place unless you were on their waitlist… Whatever that is. The place looked cute enough but there was no music playing or any festive spirit to be found… No holiday decorations etc. We were told this was a pop-up bar for the holidays and did not get that impression at all. Plus, everyone looked pretty blasé and the owner was not very nice. Will not...

I’ve been to Off Elm on two separate occasions, once after Christmas and once on New Year’s Eve. I tried Tommy the Cat and the One Step for Mango on my first visit (pictured in the two short glasses) and then the Whiskey Sour on NYE—I loved all three. I love classic cocktails and my whiskey sour was exactly what I wanted for an upscale but familiar drink.

Tommy the Cat & One Step for Mango were unfamiliar to me but absolutely blew me away. The kind of science and expertise that goes into these beverages is monumental. Patrick has put together a fantastic team of professionals who really know their stuff. Take a risk and try some of their house cocktails!!! I loved the Mango distillate in the One Step, and Tommy the Cat reminded me of a Negroni—not quite the same but in the same ballpark and it was fantastic

I...

Off Elm is, quite literally, right off Elm. They weren’t kidding with the name. Congrats to the Bar Keep team on this one, seriously, well done.

Pat Gioia and I went full cocktail nerd mode here, geeking out over the history behind several classic drinks. Riveting stuff, guys.

Now, Pat also convinced me to try an amaretto sour. An amaretto sour. I had doubts (because I’m not 80 and it’s not Christmas), but wow, that drink slapped. Tangy, sweet, and dangerously smooth.

Naturally, I couldn’t leave without diving into the seafood dip #StLouisPescatarianApproved.

So yeah, Off Elm nailed it. I am...