Niche Menu

  • Snacks
  • Tasting
  • First Course
  • Second Course
  • Third Course
  • Fourth Course

Healthy Meal suggestions for Niche

  • Snacks
  • Tasting
  • First Course
  • Second Course
  • Third Course
  • Fourth Course

Visit below restaurant in Clayton for healthy meals suggestion.

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Joseph G.

    The food here is great, don't get me wrong, but it's a premium priced place that should knock me out every time I go. The first time I went was when they were in the city, and I loved it. Knocked me out. But the last time I was there (in Clayton), I wasn't wowed. It was good, and did the job, but for $100+ a person, I expect a little more. I am a huge fan of the other Niche restaurants (Pastaria and Taste are favorites), so I'll probably go there for 1/3 the price.

    (3)
  • Jacob L.

    This place is like the critically acclaimed movie but doesn't appeal to the masses. Some of the items are amazing like the meats but other things are just gross like the mashed potatoes with green ice cream on top.

    (4)
  • Scott D.

    Niche is the type of place that makes someone new to St. Louis think, "you know, I could make it work here." Everything we had was wonderful. The decor is perfectly modern. The lighting and atmosphere are perfect - perfect for a romantic meal or a fun group dinner.

    (5)
  • Akilah Y.

    Loved the tasting menu!

    (5)
  • Mike B.

    Amazing expereince, I sat at the "bar" area and could witness all of the chefs preparing meals. I was also treated to some spontaneous tastes just because. Will most certainly return.

    (5)
  • Steven K.

    Went for a special date night with a gift card from my family. Decided with my fiancé to order the chef's tasting menu without the wine pairing (we were having drinks and decided to just enjoy the food) Each course that came out was better than the next. Started off with some pork offerings and then had the egg custard all of which were dynamite. My favorite part of the night was the steak course which was cooked to perfection. The dinner ended with a lemon custard which was delicate, and tasty and tart and a wonderful end to a wonderful meal. Would definitely go back to enjoy another meal if I was not leaving town. . .

    (5)
  • Jen J.

    At last, I've made my way to all three Gerard Craft establishments, with mixed feelings about all three. Niche on a Monday night (Prix Fixe) for me was 3.5-3.7 Star food + 5 Star service. Let me explain. We came to celebrate a special day and had made reservations via phone two weeks in advance. A couple hours before our reservation time, we got a call to confirm the time and we were told that btw it is a prix fixe menu. Upon hearing this, I almost decided to drop the reservation. I will eat just about everything normally but for celebratory meals, I like to have more choices than the chef's "value Monday" combos. But it was 4 PM on a Monday and I didn't want to put up with the hassles of trying to book somewhere else last minute. It may be a commonly known fact that Niche has prix fixe Mondays, but I wish they would have told us two weeks ago as that would have made a difference to my decision. The restaurant was packed and the hostess was warm and lovely. Decor was clean and efficient (like Tim mentioned, I didn't find it romantic, which wasn't a problem at all for us, but just to throw it out there). Our table had a glimpse of the open kitchen bay and we immediately recognized Craft manning the kitchen and handling the plates. Great! Because if we didn't enjoy the meal, then we can say with some certainty that it's not because the star chef was absent. The menu on this evening consisted of a caprese salad, choice of roasted chicken or pork shoulder, and a choice of butterscotch layer cake, a cheese plate, or vanilla ice cream with chocolate for dessert. To be honest, neither entrees excited me. I was disappointed that a seafood dish was not offered as a choice. I ordered the pork while the boy got the chicken. Our salads were large-portioned and quite refreshing, with very fresh mozzarella cheese - great start to the meal. I can't say the same about the pork however. In retrospect, I have gotten pork from Niche, Taste, and Brasserie and I found all three dishes disappointing. My conclusion? I just simply don't care for Craft's interpretation of pork! I like my pork fatty (and I find his dishes too lean); I also like my pork heavily seasoned (but I find his dishes relying heavily on the sauce/puree/goo that's coating the plate under the pork and personally I think there is too much of these extra "goo" to cover up the natural flavors). Moral of the story is I probably should avoid pork in future meals at his restaurants. However, I will say that the pork was well-cooked, as in very tender, and had just the slightest hint of smokiness that was nice. The roasted chicken, on the other hand, was quite delicious! I probably stole more chicken off the boy's plate than I have eaten my own pork dish. It had such perfectly crispy but non-greasy skin and was juicy through and through. It is a small personal quirk/preference that I have never once ordered chicken as an entree at a fine dining establishment (I get my fried chicken from Lee's thank you very much but that's a different story with different expectations). I find "fine dining" chicken....boring, and dry most of the times, but this chicken dish blew the pork dish out of the water. Lastly, the butterscotch layer cake was incredibly moist and creamy. It was however very rich. I was done after half. The cheese plate was decent. I liked the currants the most. I had a Pimm's Iced Tea (aka spiked tea) with my dinner. I wouldn't get it again. It was saccharine at first taste and boring afterwards. At end of the day, for fine-dining, three course at $30 per person is a great deal, but I would have much rather paid more to have more choices and order a la carte. If Yelp has half stars, I would give this meal 3.5. But I'll be nice and round it up to a 4 to make myself look like less of a food snob than I really am.

    (4)
  • Carolyn C.

    This is too funny a story not to share. My husband made a reservation for our first wedding anniversary. He noted, "If there is a table by the window, we would appreciate it." The day before the reservation, we received the confirmation call. We confirmed. The day of, we received a second confirmation call. We again confirmed. The manager said, "By the way, we have the table by the window for you. Happy Anniversary!" Fast forward four hours. We walk in to another couple sitting in the window seat. We asked about our window seat and were told that Niche takes requests for special seating but cannot make guarantees. Odd given that Niche had called us proactively to let us know we had it hours before. But, oh well. What happened next was amazing. The manager brought over champagne to apologize, but instead of simply saying sorry and wishing us a Happy Anniversary, she proceeded to say, "Our most regular customers came in and asked for the table. You understand... you can't really say no to customers who have been here 317 times." As we sat there letting it sink in, we became increasingly incredulous: 1. Niche knew it was our anniversary. 2. They clearly gave away our table on purpose. 3. They then tell us explicitly we aren't valued customers! 4. And by implication, of the two couples, we were clearly the only ones with reservations. Since they didn't care about us being there, we took our anniversary din elsewhere. And it was fab. PS. Interesting to note that I am the Duchess of Brasserie by Niche on Yelp (where we eat at least 3 times a month)...so I guess we actually were very much regulars at one of their establishments.

    (1)
  • Rachel T.

    Honestly, I have not had the pleasure of dining here in a year, but since I've been reviewing more lately I couldn't leave this one out. Since it was one of the BEST meals I've had in St. Louis! The bread and sorghum butter were a wonderful start to the meal. The wine list was pleasing, the service impeccable. I eagerly awaited each course since I opted for the 4 course Chefs tasting. The food was scrumptious and very innovative. The whole experience was So very memorable, I think I need to go back very SOON!

    (5)
  • Kate N.

    Absolutely amazing service and the food is a work of art. Not being from the area, we felt right at home and had so much fun trying all of the unique creative dishes the kitchen had to offer. We left completely satisfied and not weighed down at all! The food came out spread out time wise, so we were able to properly digest the meal. We will def be back next time were in Stl!!!

    (5)
  • Andrew R.

    I have reviewed this restaurant before but we recently went to the new location which I feel deserves it's own review. The new space is absolutely amazing. I love the open kitchen concept at a restaurant of this caliber. Next time I am going to sit at the kitchen counter just to stare. Everything was on point the night we were there as always with a Gerard Craft restaurant. We ordered the Chef's tasting menu which is different than it was before. This is an 8 course pre-fix that you don't have to think about. Just sit back, enjoy a cocktail and prepare to be wowed by Chef and crew. After having this, I really don't think it is possible to order anything but. It was absolutely the perfect amount of food and we left in awe. I have been to Niche no less than 5 times but this particular visit ranks up there with top 3 meals ever. Side note- I really liked the old location for its Benton Park vibe, but the art installations, lighting, open kitchen and extremely high ceilings really seam to go hand and hand with the elevated food here. Its almost like his cuisine has become even more sophisticated yet just as approachable in his new location.

    (5)
  • Jason L.

    Apparently I'm in the minority because Niche to me is over-rated. We had the Chef's tasting menu and it just wasn't that good. Maybe it's me / us, since so many other people write such glowing reviews but both of us had the same thoughts. For a meal that's almost $300 for 2 people it was just ok. I'll be back to try it again and see if they can change my mind.

    (2)
  • Emma M.

    This may have been the best meal of my life - the hostess and all the servers were incredibly polite and caring, the food was creative, beautiful, and delicious, and they adjusted everything on the tasting menu to be gluten-free to accommodate my allergy. It is definitely expensive, but for a special occasion it is well worth the price.

    (5)
  • Reid Y.

    I escaped St. Louis for a better education, job, and food on the West Coast...but I gotta say, niche does it right and gives SF/NYC restaurants a run for the money! Well done! Gerard Craft has done an excellent job putting together an exquisite menu that is great for anyone into haute cuisine. Their menu changes frequently, but when I went I remember having a wonderful scallop appetizer with shiitake mushrooms and cocoa nib on the side. Chocolate and mushrooms and seafood? I wouldn't have excepted to see the pairing but it was fantastic! For the main course, I enjoyed beef with onions, including a delicious candied onion. 5 stars for presentation. 5 stars for taste. 5 stars for having my parents pay! I'll have to convince them to go back next time I'm in town.

    (5)
  • Chris X M.

    One of the best in St. Louis... now in a great new space in Clayton. Awesome new French tasting menu, superb flavors, flawless and friendly service. This is a great choice couples or a business dinner. Not cheap, but they have some reasonable wines and this food compares to fine dining in Chicago or other major cities. They are also connected to a very nice casual pasta/pizza restaurant from the same chef called Pastaria. After dinner, visit the RItz-Carlton lobby bar for a nightcap if you are having a "night out."

    (5)
  • Ryan D.

    Reservations are pretty much required.

    (2)
  • J P.

    Ah, Niche, how you disappointed me on my most recent visit! Here are things you should know up front before reading my review. One, I'm a vegetarian. Two, I ate at the old Niche location half a dozen times. Three, I had the vegetarian tasting menu at the old place at least 4 times and LOVED it. We loved Niche. Needless to say, my husband and I were super excited to finally make it to the new location in Clayton. The restaurant set-up is really nice, more open and airy than the old spot. 5 stars for the decor and layout. Also, the service is impeccable. Always friendly, always available to answer questions (or bring you more focaccia). 5 stars for the service. The reason I'm only giving two stars, though, is that the food this time was mediocre at best. I have to disagree with the last reviewer who raved about the vegetarian tasting menu. Sure, the maple egg is amazing, but that's been on the menu for years at this point. And I'll admit that the nettle tea was interesting. But then I get a slab of cauliflower, sort-of cooked through and underseasoned, for one course. Another course was called "brussels sprouts," which actually just consisted of 6 brussels sprout leaves with some mushroom broth on a caraway crust. The flavors didn't jive, and I was so sad to only have a handful of leaves. Brussels sprouts are usually so delicious. My main course was 2 carrots. Yes, 2 carrots. The yeasty foam on the side still doesn't make that an "entree," even if they are very well cooked carrots. I don't even remember what the desserts were because they didn't make an impression. We did have wine pairings with the meal, all of which were fine, but nothing that made me think "wow!" or wish I had another glass. Perhaps this all sounds petty to you, but I have had such imaginative vegetarian cooking (and wines) from Niche before, so this meal was a huge letdown, especially for the price. I seriously doubt that we'll return with so many other great dining options in St. Louis.

    (2)
  • Carolyn D.

    Love the new space and the food is top notch, as always. The staff always treats us like regulars and the people here are great. Love the new menu and the food and we can't wait to get back!

    (5)
  • David P.

    I have to say this is one of the best restaurants I've ever dined at, and I've lived in Seoul, San Francisco, and New York so I've had my share of "Zagat-rated, Michelin star" restaurants. The way that the chef plays with texture and different flavors is nothing short of amazing (I looked him up and he was nominated for a James Beard award!). The menu is deceptively simple, as it only lists the ingredients and doesn't tell you how it's prepared. We had the Jonah Crab and Peas and Carrots for appetizers, and I couldn't believe that something simply called "Peas and Carrots" could be soo good (due to a smoky, subtle barbeque sauce). I had the Pork Duo for my entree and it was amazing. The shoulder, belly, polenta, and brussel sprout salad each had their own distinctive texture and flavor but somehow they all work perfectly together. There was even a cold mousse (?) on top of the polenta which was yummy. It's literally what you fantasize Top Chef meals tasting like. The space itself is kind of small and narrow and prone to getting loud, but I like how unpretentious it is considering the quality of the food. Well worth the price and if you are ever visiting St. Louis, Niche is a must try.

    (5)
  • Craig Z.

    Raised prices and cut portions. This is the second time they have done this. I do agree it is outstanding for St. Louis, but not as great a deal as it once was.

    (4)
  • Brad G.

    The good: service. Genuinely great service, totally devoid of pretense. Presentation was artfully done and marvelous to look at. Fantastic wine list. The bad: lame menu choices. Decent flavors, small portions, for $55 I'd like something that flows together a little better. I suppose Niche can now get away with a this-or-that nightly menu, but have a reason behind it aside from "I want to, and now I can, and also, it's super profitable." Miniature charred asparagus on the escolar (tuna--I didn't know this, because I'm not sophisticated enough) was sort of inexplicable. I didn't get the Brussels Sprout (note the singular), but it looked...anemic. The white chocolate motif running through each course made little sense and struck me as desperate. Short ribs were small and very ordinary, the accompanying English peas (again, my terribly unsophisticated palette doesn't know the difference between peas from Great Britain or inspired by Great Britain and whatever I find at Schnuck's) didn't do anything for it. It was either that or the braised carrot, which resembled an elongated mandarin-colored prune with foam. Please, enough with the foam, it wasn't that compelling five years ago, either. Toasted oak ice cream was uninspired, the orange cake was entirely too pungent. Lemon custard was quite good however and the little caramel thing that appeared on the table prior to the $500 check was perhaps the best thing of the evening, which is to say, it was on par with those cute candies from Trader Joes that you find by the registers. Also, the acoustics are absurdly bad for conversation if you're at a larger table. Couldn't hear anyone, which led to more shouting than usual for a family dinner. I mean, we're accustomed to yelling, but not in public. Then again, the din of the place was sufficient to blunt whatever it was we were saying/shouting so what does it matter anyway. But was it better than Chipotle: No.

    (2)
  • s w.

    As a San Franciscan, I get a lot of fabulous food. But I would NEVER get an 8-course tasting menu meal from a James Beard-award winning chef for such an affordable price in Northern California. This was a real treat. I came to St Louis by myself on business and loved every bit of my meal at Niche. The service was wonderful and the food was perfect. From the opening tea (oak tea with lemon and bacon fat - who DOES that??!?!) to the dessert courses (meyer lemon SNOW, I shit you not - frozen nitrogen works magic) I enjoyed every bite of my dinner. The wine pairings were also worth the added expense. My favorite courses were the spring onion soup, escarole and rib eye, but everything was delicious. And - oh my god - that egg custard with caviar! Seriously. This was one of the few meals where I wouldn't change a thing. Worth every penny.

    (5)
  • Stephen H.

    I wrote a review for Brasserie already and for those of you who haven't been there and like Niche, you need to go. Think of a bigger, little less mellow version of Niche, and that's what Brasserie is. With that segue, I'll say that Niche is pretty much the perfect date restaurant. It's small, intimate, romantic, got the valet parking and all that (as a note, remember to bring some cash to tip the valet guy with...he can't take a credit card tip, lol). Additionally, you'll find your server is much more inclined to let you have time to do the conversation the venue basically invites/forces you to engage in, and in between you'll find excellent food and bar service.

    (5)
  • Laura K.

    Oh. My. Goodness. Why haven't I dined here sooner? Jesus, I've truly been missing out on super yummy food. I could live without all the snobby yuppies that turned around and stared at us when we walk in the door, but that happens at a lot of places. The woman at the table next to us kept staring at Mike O., I know he has crazy hair and looks like a cave man, but we like to eat good food too. I just wonder isn't their conversation good enough to not notice me and my tattoos? And what about the food? The food is so good I'd probably wouldn't notice if someone was getting the heimlich maneuver right next to me. It's that good! We opted for the 3 courses for $40. I started with the fall salad and Mike O. went with the vitello tonnato. I have four words for you: bone marrow is delicious! I have to admit his was f-ing phenomenal and I wish I would have noticed it on the menu. I was disappointed with mine in comparison. Salty goodness wins over veggies any day, no matter what, ever. Don't get me wrong, mine was good with goat cheese and veggies, but good lord above why didn't I notice it in the menu? For our entree we split the 16 oz rib-eye with the $10 upcharge. So worth it! The sauce was amazing and the meat tender and cooked medium. I'm pretty sure I melted into my seat for a minute. The rib-eye was served with potato puree and an arugula salad. All had amazing texture and went perfect together. For dessert we split a cheese plate (another upcharge) and the liquid chocolate cake. The cheese plate had three cheeses, a cranberry paste, spicy roasted nuts and bread. I enjoyed all of it, a lot. The liquid chocolate cake was pretty amazing and served along side with chocolate ice cream. Chocolate and cheese = satisfied. I ordered the signature drink the "Last Word". It was good, but I wished I had ordered wine instead. For me it just would have went better with the meal. I was offered the drink straight up or on the rocks. Cool. I'm an on the rocks kind of girl and guess what? Another upcharge for ice! I get the upcharge for the other options, but for ice, really? I'll admit the cubes were perfect and square, but for real the drink was $9, you can't put ice in for free? I upcharged everything else I could so I'm not being cheap. I didn't come here thinking I wasn't going to drop $150, but for some reason that frosted my cake. Gerard, for the love of god why are you charging for ice? If there is some complicated process used to make the perfect cubes I might be able to let it go but as of right now I'm still a little peeved. Our server was nice and friendly but not overly friendly. She was attentive but to not too attentive. I liked her a lot. One of the other servers came over and chatted with me about tattoos which I thought was cool. Usually I get silly questions, but he was nice and made me feel comfortable, not like a freak as the patrons may have earlier in the evening. Niche is fantastic. I will dine here again. I wish I could afford to go here more often. I think I might be addicted to the vitello tonnato.

    (5)
  • Carl K.

    Very disappointing food experience. Small portions, few choices and Ho hum flavors. The presentations were nice but it was like going to an art exibition with no food. Felt like I needed to go out for a good meal when we all left. Priefix menus have their challenges so perhaps the chef would be well served by going to New Orleans and learning something from Stella's. Vincent, our server was excellent and the bright spot.

    (2)
  • Wendy K.

    Ok, So I went there Friday night and I thought that the only option we had was a tasting menu but as I read reviews it makes it sound like they have an actual menu. Sorry I missed that one. I think that I might be spoiled in life with all of my travels and the amount of restaurants I have visited. We only had the four course tasting and I did not leave hungry but I also left unimpressed. THe location, decor, bar and ambience are simply adorable but the food was ridiculous overpriced for our little town and not memorable. My server was wonderful, I just wished that he worked at one of my favorite restaurants in town. If you have never been to a restaurant that offers creative tastings this is a must but if you have then don't waste your money here. I hope that the tasting menu is just a trend and a regular menu is brought back to Niche.

    (3)
  • Sam K.

    After stumbling onto an article about chef Craft while in Saint Louis for a work trip I managed to score a last minute Saturday dinner reservation for two. My girlfriend is pretty great about following my culinary whims to some strange places. Sometimes I catch a tinge of reservation when we stroll into a dingy ethnic spot and our reservation at Niche was so last-minute i hadn't had time to tell her anything about it. Walking into the restaurant I could see my girlfriend's face light up. The hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. It was during the Washington University graduation weekend and the tasting menu seems to have been adjusted to better serve the families of new grads over the more adventurous types. Technique was on point! There were a lot of components in the dishes meaning he's got to have a great staff to prep this food at this level. The more I drank the happier I was with our experience. Thanks to the great server who despite having a 6 & 8 top on either side of us kept the food & drinking coming right on time. Lobster, crawfish, whitefish. Awesome. carrot 3 ways? Sure. Desserts? we had 3. Amazing. *Try the White Fish. *Don't skimp on the Desserts. *Definitely worth the Accolades.

    (5)
  • Chelsea H.

    A dinner at Niche is one those type of meals that you always refer back to in memory, wishing that you were eating one of their mouth-watering cuts of meat, savory vegetables, or melt-in-your mouth desserts. The atmosphere is an added bonus, reminiscent of an upscale New York eatery. Niche goes beyond the biological need to eat, and creates a one-of-a-kind dining experience... for which you are sure to never forget!

    (5)
  • Abby S.

    Part Deux of a wonderful Saturday evening. I knew Niche was good and was waiting for the right opportunity to eat at here. When my folks said they were coming into town and wanted to take Mike T and myself to a fancy dinner, Niche was the first restaurant on the list! Mind you, my parents are a tad bit food snobby. No, they don't watch Top Chef or read Zagat guides; rather, they like to cook themselves and are fairly critical of sloppy chefs. They wouldn't be caught dead inside a Red Lobster, either, which makes me glad that they don't read my Yelp reviews often :) As soon as we were sat, my Dad's first comment was, "Wow, this place is nice!" which was a good sign, since he was paying. And since he's been to some 5-star restaurants all over the world. Niche does offer a 5-course tasting menu for $55, but your entire table has to agree to it. That sounded like way too much food for everyone, so instead we went with the 3-course menu for $35. Each of us ordered different menu items so we could share. My favorites were the Pork Pappererdelle - a slow roasted pork on top of a homemade pasta- and the Chilled White Gazpacho. Dessert was heavenly, too! I had the pound cake with blueberry sorbet. The cake itself was dense with some kind of glaze on top (not like the pound cake I've ever seen before) and the blueberry sorbet was perfectly tart. Normally I'd eat the entire thing but was too full! Three courses took our group of four about an hour and a half to finish, which is just about enough time for me. We didn't feel rushed but after sitting still anywhere for 90 minutes, I need to get up and move. I wouldn't recommend eating at Niche if you wanted a quick meal - go to Taste next door. But if you're looking for excellent, fresh food in one of St. Louis' best restaurants, go here. Now!

    (5)
  • Carol L.

    Another meal, another neighborhood in St. Louis. Another good find with outdoor seating. Only this time, the service was fantastic (thanks Kevin) - attentive and friendly! And he seemed to genuinely care about what we thought about our food. The starter bread was a LAVENDAR CORIANDER BREAD with orange zest. It was very good. My friend had the ROASTED MUSHROOMS, with wild mushrooms, sweet onion, sea island red peas, a poached egg and fennel. The presentation was lovely and it was quite good though there were a few bites that were too salty. I took advantage of Niche's 3 courses for $40 deal. I really like that you can order ANY appetizer, main and dessert! I started with the VITELLO TONNATO, a tuna trio on baguette slices with marrow, lemon and parsley. The marrow was very rich and overwhelmed what could be better as a more delicate dish. For my entree I had the PORK DUO, with wild mushrooms, squash polenta, maple sherry and swiss chard. The duo was sliced pork loin and pulled pork (I preferred this part), but the dish overall was super-salty! Even the swiss chard was too salty, yikes! I couldn't eat very much of this dish. For my sweet, I had the LIQUID CHOCOLATE CAKE. This made up for the disappointing meal thus far. The chocolate was rich but not too rich, and the cake was not too gooey. Plus, it came with a scoop of ESPRESSO CARDAMOM ICE CREAM. Yum!!! If I were in the area again, I'd come back to try some more of their interesting offerings.

    (4)
  • Ingrid C.

    Delicious. Definitely one of the most forward-thinking restaurants in St. Louis. I came here somewhat sporadically one night and treated a broke friend for dinner at the bar (where the fabulous Jamie Kilgore was bartending). If you know me, I don't really make reservations until day-of, or I just show up. This is likely my only special power. (Sometimes I'm also blessed with awesome parking situations.) My only complaint? Too many flavored "dirts." I like flavor delivery in many forms, but I really feel that there were just too many "dirts" during my visit. It just started feeling a bit redundant. I like other textures, too. It reminded me a lot of that season of Top Chef with Marcel (and his foams). I'd come back in a heartbeat. Heart. Beat.

    (5)
  • Joy W.

    Just because this is Niche, I feel obliged to give a 5. Everything about Niche screams a 5 (almost even a 6!), except for the price. To be honest, there are restaurants with impeccable service, amazing flavors and wonderful decor for cheaper. But hey, it's St. Louis, so this is the best there is. I would never dish out that much money for food, but I've been dying to try the infamous Niche restaurant. Finally convinced my parents to go there for my graduation dinner. You have to make a reservation WEEKS in advance, and they take down your credit card number so if you don't show up, they will charge $100 for a no show. Legit. We started with a chilled lobster with hollandaise sauce, which was the best freaking lobster I've ever had. Personally, I would've liked it warmer, but I think the coolness brought out the flavors better. I'm a huge fan of pasta, so I ordered the lasagna, which came out and it was yellow and green to my surprise. However, it was the best freaking lasagna I've ever had, but at the same time it wasn't what you would expect a lasgna to taste or look like. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. And you can't go wrong with any dessert. And you WILL have room for dessert here.

    (5)
  • Kyle H.

    So I pretty much realized recently I have pretty expensive taste and friends with high standards. A friend was coming in town from New York and said the last time he was in STL he was "thoroughly underwhelmed" with the fare in STL. I made it my mission to show him the best in STL. We started out with marinated olives, then I had a Bitter greens salad and we split a Lobster dish in brown butter. All amazing! For entrees I had a rare fillet that literally melted in my mouth. My friend had the pork duo and said it was "Love at first bite". We finished wish a cheese plate then coffee. It was a classic meal. Our waitress was amazingly sweet and made sure we always had drinks in front of us! I called ahead and said I was coming with a VIP from work and they gave us a great table by the window!

    (5)
  • Kim T.

    I went here last Friday with my sister for her graduation dinner and it was a wonderful dinner! It's a pretty small restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. It has very modern decor; minimalistic with clean lines. Our server was sweet and recommended the Fleur Delice cocktail, since I like fruity drinks. It was a great fresh, citrus-y drink. I am also a sucker for bread and it was amazing... I filled up on three slices! The bread was fresh and moist and had slight spicy kick to it. Some olive oil would have been nice but that didn't take away from the bread at all (and less calories in the end, too). I ordered the lobster appetizer.. and it was a good-sized portion of lobster. It was in a light cream sauce with thin strips of pickled daikon and lightly toasted chunks of squid ink bread. The daikon was a nice juxtaposition to the cream sauce and the squid ink bread complemented the dish nicely. My sister order the crawfish dish which came with a strawberry sauce; i had a taste and liked it well enough. For my main course, I ordered the pork shoulder dish. It was pretty tasty, but I was blown away by my sister's entree: the filet of beef. Hers was delivered as three pieces of medium-rare beef on mashed potatoes and leeks on the side. The beef was a perfect medium-rare: pink all throughout, with just the outside browned, and not bloody at all. Kudos to the chef! I doubt I'll be back in St. Louis anytime soon, but if I ever were, I would definitely revisit this restaurant!

    (5)
  • Kim K.

    Can't believe we waited this long to make it to Niche! Decided to treat ourselves on our anniversary and it was worth every penny! Right off the bat the service was spot on and super professional. The space is absolutely beautiful and I love that it's nestled in a great city neighborhood (yes, I know it's moving to the county and that bums me out to no end). On to the food! The starters were absolutely lovely and I feel like they set the perfect tone for the rest of the meal. J had the cauliflower soup and I had the day boat scallops. Don't get me wrong, the scallops were good...better than good even. But lordy, that soup was fantastic and I had serious envy issues with my choice! The soup was smooth and velvety with great flavor without being so rich that it weighed you down. So. Good. The entrees were just as superb as the starters. They had a duck special that J couldn't resist. The meat was cooked perfectly inside and the skin was crispy and beautifully browned. They happily switched out the side that was supposed to come with it because it contained gluten and instead served it with goat cheese polenta that was earthy and creamy. Highly recommend! I went with the filet. Not the most creative thing on the menu but as filets go it was worth every penny. Perfect medium rare and so tender it almost fell apart by itself. We decided to skip out on dessert because they didn't have any gluten free options save for sorbet and we were wanting something a bit richer than that. However, their brown derby cocktail with bourbon and honey ended things quite nicely! Overall, a wonderful experience!!

    (5)
  • Mark D.

    We had a near-perfect meal at Niche. We tried quite a few items--expecting smaller portions, we kind of over-ordered, but that proved to be a happy accident. The worst items we had were merely good; most of the plates we had trended towards fantastic. A few items really stood out: The pork duo, the corn soup, and spiced nuts were all amazing. The smoked trout salad was really good as well. The potato puree was the only thing that didn't match the quality of the rest of the meal. It was good, but paled in comparison to the other items that came across our table. The spiced nuts held well as leftovers a number of days after we had dinner. If Niche packaged and shipped them, we'd be regular customers. Everyone we shared them with over the next few days thought they were terrific. (They started off spicy before melting into an unbelievable smokiness. Really, really good.) Our desert took kind of an odd turn. My wife, wanting something sweet, ordered the ice cream with chocolate sauce. Well, the chocolate was towards the bitter side. It was still very, very good, just not what she wanted at that particular moment. She ate only part of it, and the server went ahead and comped it, even though my wife protested that it was fine. I'm not sure the server believed her, which created an odd dynamic for a few minutes (not to mention an unexpected number of visits by the server to our table). I'm pretty sure this was the first time I witnessed an argument over a comp where it was the restaurant arguing for the comp, not the customer. That odd event aside, our server, and the overall service, was great. Dinner for two, including a couple of gasses of wine, came in at about $115 before tip. If we lived in St. Louis, I'm sure we'd be back.

    (5)
  • Michael B.

    You pay for what you get! Not the biggest portions but the food is delicious and beautiful. My wife and I did the four course pre-fix menu and it was even better than the last time we went. 1st Course - My wife got the beets which were bright and had a nice depth of flavor. I got the Potato & Leek soup which was alright. Not as outstanding as the zucchini soup I had last time 2nd Course - My wife got the riccotta tortellin which was delicate and popped with flavor. I had the pork shoulder dish which was the most amazing combination of salty, sweet and smokey. You cannot go wrong on the 2nd course. 3rd Course - My wife got the lamb which was wonderfully spiced. The freshness of the mint really set off the whole dish. I got the filet of beef which was cooked perfect and hit all the flavor notes that you would want. 4th Course - My wife had the concord grape which was just amazing. The freshness and brightness of the grape coupled perfectly with the richness of the chess pie. The madeline cake was ok and to enjoy it you need to be a big fan of ginger.

    (5)
  • Eliza P.

    Fabulous food and service! This is my favorite restaurant in St. Louis by a long-shot. Their menu is on the small side, because it is based on the fresh ingredients they get that week/month/season/whatever. It is a small place, so do not bring a group with you. It is more a "dinner-for-two" kind of place. Very intimate atmosphere. Will definitely be back sooner than later!

    (5)
  • Michael S.

    I wasn't impressed as much as others seem to be. Not that the food wasn't good it was, it was just overpriced. Very small imitate dinning with a creative menu. 400 for dinner though left me wondering was it worth it. Never thought that leaving Annie Guns or citizen Kane's. Lots of choices that offer similar high end plating for less.

    (3)
  • Byanka S.

    The overall experience was outstanding. I took my mom here, and we had the chef's taste with wine pairings. All of the food was excellent. My favorite was the beef, of course (I love beef). It almost melted in my mouth. The service was great too. Our waiter came to check on us at the right time, and we enjoyed a little conversation as well. I feel that if people aren't open to the possibility of very different flavors working well together, they will not enjoy it. I never had caviar before that evening, but the fusion of flavors worked nicely together and made it a nice experience. Also, the presentation of the food was lovely. This is not a place to eat every week (unless you have the money), but I already know I will be back for my anniversary :)

    (5)
  • Laura P.

    I took my mom here for Monday Supper last night. Our food was absolutely delicious. We got wine pairings and they were just right. There were delightful, unexpected touches to each dish that elevated them from good to great. I asked my server about a few ingredients in the dish and he was enthusiastic to tell me about those and share other recommendations of things I should try some time. I'm a big nerd, so that was great fun! The food was everything we expected. The thing we didn't expect, however, was how great the service was. From the moment we walked in, the staff was friendly and welcoming. There was no pretense of snobbishness. I've been to restaurants where I felt uncomfortable because the staff was so formal, but Niche was not at all that way. From the moment we walked in to when we left, everyone was just delightful. The hostess even remembered that I'd mentioned my mother visiting from out of town and asked her how her trip had been as we were getting our coats. Really, it was a wonderful experience on the whole.

    (5)
  • Kathy E.

    I went to Niche a few months ago with my daughter. The food was outstanding, with incredible attention to the best ingredients, delicious recipes, and lovely presentation. The staff was top-notch; they know their business, from the hostesses to the servers to the kitchen. The manager is very personable as well. Really a lovely evening.

    (5)
  • Chris Z.

    I had a few guests in town and decided to take them to Niche. This was the first time I visited on a weekday and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get right in. The 3 items for $35 was new to me since my last Niche visit so I took advantage of it. I let the waitress pick out each of my three dishes. Everything was good. I had the pork shoulder with pasta, then the trout with peas and beans, and lastly the cream puffs for desert. For $35, you're not going to eat better than this. Drinks and appetizers bumped up our bill significantly. Save Niche for those special nights and special company and it will surely not disappoint.

    (5)
  • Gary J.

    five of us had dinner at Niche last night, several of the courses were very good - pea soup, crayfish roll, mushroom entre, ribeye entree. The deserts were weird. I don't think there is a need for pea infused ice cream that was part of my desert (rest of the desert was very good). The other desert offering that was honeycomb based with berries and verbena flavor would be considered an acquired taste that I don't anticipate acquiring any time soon. Service and ambience both very good. Dinner is expensive, Easy to get close to $1000 for 5 with tip if all get the 8 course menu and wine pairings. (everyone in your party has to get either the four course menu or the 8 course menu). Don't expect to go away feeling full We had been to Niche in the former location and I preferred the menu offerings .

    (4)
  • Tina R.

    Niche was an absolutely amazing dining experience!! My husband and I were in St. Louis for a weekend trip earlier this month from Chicago, and this was our splurge item (it was worth it a million times over). We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails while we waited for our table to get cleared away. I love St. Germain so the Saint 75 was a perfect way to start the evening. My husband got the Trinidad Tryst, the cassis was an interesting addition. We opted for the chef's tasting menu without wine pairings and settled in for a long and wonderful meal (2hrs at a leisurely pace). Our first course was a maple custard with mushrooms and caviar served in a very cool open-topped egg shell. The custard was creamy but not too thick and not overly sweet from the maple, and it paired perfectly with the salt from the mushrooms and caviar. The second course was the carrots three ways- pickled, creamed, and something else I can't remember. Not my favorite dish overall, the flavors weren't as distinct as I'd expect but the mix of textures was fun. Next came the lobster campanelle, and omg it was spectacular! The lobster was sweet and succulent while the sauce was creamy with a touch of spice that surprised your palate at the very end. The flavors melded so perfectly that we both would've licked the bowl if we weren't in public! We followed this with the wild steelhead trout with blood orange and fennel. Really fresh fish with a clean, meaty flavor similar to salmon. There was a crunchy pistachio bread thing that was super tasty. Otherwise, it was an ok dish. At this point, I was ready for another drink and tried the Orchard Sidecar. It was a stronger drink with a nice fruity aroma to cut through slight bitterness and tasted of summery apricots. The last main entree was the beef filet with leeks and potatoes. Absolutely delicious- tender, juicy and covered with an amazing salt and pepper crust. The meat just melted in my mouth like butter, pure perfection! The leeks added a lovely salty and oniony flavor to the creamed potatoes. Finally, we ended on the beet sponge cake and chocolate ice cream and orange-sambuca sorbet. What a strange and unique dessert but it was fantastic! The sponge cake wasn't overly sweet, and that allowed the sorbet to really shine. The textures of the cake (moist and spongey), ice cream (creamy), sorbet (light and refreshing), and the crunchy nuts were just awesome. The service at Niche is phenomenal as well! Our waitress was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and very personable. She recommended me a spectacular sparkling rose to go with my dessert that wasn't on the menu. She understood exactly what I was looking for and totally blew me away. Worth every penny and second we were there!

    (5)
  • Bart B.

    Called 4x, left 2 voicemails, received additional solicitation emails, drove to location, verified phone # and that they check voicemail...Got an insincere, "so saworrrry" from bubble blonde hostess; walked out. Better service when they were on 7th street, and still hungry (the 2 stars are for the memories). Success, it can cripple you...Heard carry out is just as disappointing.

    (2)
  • William H.

    I love Niche and all of Gerard Craft's restaurants. The food always amazes me and the service is outstanding. So why am I giving Niche only 2 stars? The noise level in the new space ruins the entire experience. I was at a work function with clients and no one at the table could here anyone else. The food was still outstanding, but really one can't enjoy it due to the noise level. Mr. Craft, please do something with the noise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (2)
  • Amanda Z.

    Definitely the most creative and imaginative meal I've had in St. Louis. I went with my family to celebrate my graduation. Initially, my traditional father was thrown off by the somewhat opaque menu, but even he was won over by the food. There are a lot of great restaurants in St. Louis, but it was fun to be surprised and have a very different interpretation from other places. Highlights included the white anchovies, filet of beef with a potato leek puree and the dessert called "Chocolate", which was a combination of beet sponge cake, orange sorbet, dill and chocolate ice cream. Whimsical and delicious! While the server recommended the strawberry shortcake, no one was impressed. The presentation is gorgeous and service helpful but unobtrusive. Can't wait to go back with my husband.

    (5)
  • amy c.

    I really really REALLY wanted to love Niche. I had been wanting to come for a long time but it had never worked out. Finally I made it in last weekend and I am so sad to say that it wasn't the mind-blowing food orgasm I thought it was going to be. :( My friend and I had the 3 courses for $35: fried pig head, berkshire pork duo, semifreddo, asparagus soup, beef w/ bone marrow, and the liquid chocolate cake thing. Nothing was really exceptional... the fried pig head was cooked better on one side, it tasted noticeably drier on one side than the other. the berk pork belly was the BEST part of the meal. Paper thing and crispy on the outside and melty fat inside. It was truly delicious. Service was EXCELLENT!! Everyone was so friendly and warm, without that fake cloying niceness you find at some places. The staff here seemed genuine when they greeted you and asked how your meal was. Waiter was attentive but not annoyingly so. i hate when waitstaff hover. Best service I've had in stl. I am going to try Niche again. I am hopeful I will have the 5star experience everyone is raving about :)

    (3)
  • Sorrell G.

    Staff was very attentive. Food was great. The price of the food was was very reasonable for the service and quality of food you receive. Top notch.

    (5)
  • Kelly K.

    Absolutely an Amazing Experience. It's exactly as everyone describes and my recommendation is that if you're looking for a "Hearty" meal with steak and "tator's", this is not the place. But if your looking for in what I read in another review as a "flavor explosion", this is the place. Pretty pricy too if you do both the wine parings and chef's tasting menu but well worth it for a "splurge" once in a while. Definitely a place to take the spouse or such or even the big wigs when they come to town with the Corporate Amex and want to impress them with a very unique and one of a kind (for St. Louis) experience. 5 Stars and worth every penny!

    (5)
  • Ethan B.

    This place is fantastic. A real foodie paradise. The tasting menu was awesome!!!

    (5)
  • Sarah M.

    Unbelievable!!! The tasting menu was fantastically paired with beautiful wines. The hardest decision was whether I enjoyed the Maple Custard with roasted mushrooms and caviar or the spicy Lobster Campanelle with dill, caviar, chive and creme fraishe more. The service was attentive and informative and ultra friendly. The valet was soaking wet, but on the ball and ready to serve. All around great experience.

    (5)
  • Aaron K.

    I can't say enough good things about Niche and Gerard Craft! The food here is exceptional... phenomenal...just plain lovely!! Spending a fair amount of time dining around Chicago I had heard about the amazing work Chef Craft was doing down in St. Louis. When I had the opportunity to get my whole family together to celebrate my recent PhD graduation, Niche was at the top of my list. The meal that was put together for us delighted everyone - even my anti-foodie father-in-law. This is no small feat as I have had far less success on all of my previous attempts. I can't wait to visit again when I have a chance. The celebration of seasons and fresh local ingredients really makes Niche stand out from its competition. The relationship they have with their farmers shows in the love they apply to their food. They really care about what they serve from farm-to-table (such an overused term but the ethos of Niche is precisely that.)

    (5)
  • Jamie S.

    It's been a few days since I have been here, so I will try to do it justice by remembering the details of what I have eaten. The only thing I can say that I really did not like about this experience was the smell inside the restaurant. They have a smoker that they use that hit me like a ton of bricks as soon as I walked in, and the smell loomed over me even after I left. My hair smelled strongly of smokiness. Other than that, the experience was top notch! We started with the "snack" of white anchovies with garlic toast. It was delicious and aptly named "snack". Just a little taste for all 4 of us. We proceede with the maple egg custard, which was positively divine. It was the reason that my table requested the tasting menu, and we were very glad that we did. The sweetness mixed with the brininess of the man made caviar was an awesome demonstration of molecular gastronomy, and I, for one, was impressed and delighted with the result. The second course was carrots 3 ways. I really did not enjoy this dish. I don't love carrots or vinegar, and it was just kind of a throwaway. It certainly didn't ruin my meal, in fact, I was glad I got to try it, as it was interesting and if nothing else, palate cleansing. My group almost didn't do the tasting menu because a few of us really wanted the trout gravlax. Thus, we added it to our tasting menu. It was OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD! It was served with salmon roe and crème fraishe, and it was absolutely perfect. We loved it with all elements together, and we loved eating the elements alone for a different flavor. This was amazing, and I would recommend it. We then had the Lobster Campanelle, which I enjoyed. It was kind of like lobster mac and cheese for grownups. It had a tangy sauce that I enjoyed, and it had caviar from a fish I don't recall the name of. I enjoyed this but was really starting to get full at this point! Next was the Filet of Beef. The serving was very small, which was perfect as this ended up being a 7 course tasting menu for us. It was basically a few oz of beef over a leek puree. It tasted exceptional, and it would be a great entrée to have full sized if not doing the tasting menu. It was presented beautifully, and was cooked perfectly. Finally, we ended with some various ice creams and kulfis, I think we had guava, and a rose water meringue. The sweet was nice at the end of the meal, but it wasn't overly decadent. It was a little tart for my tastes, but ended the meal nicely. I had 2 cocktails with dinner, and both were wonderful. They are not listed on their website so I can expand much more on them, but they were both amazing. Light and crisp, not too sweet and very complimentary to the meal. I wish I could recall more, but alas, isn't that the sign of a good cocktail? I highly recommend this joint.

    (5)
  • LN S.

    Absolutely perfect food! We have been here about half a dozen times and the food, presentation and service are always impeccable. I cannot help but order the steak every time I go--it just melts....My husband is more disciplined and has also ordered the pork duo and seafood entrees which he says are equally great. Every time we go to St. Louis we make sure this is one of our destinations.

    (5)
  • Shu Z.

    For St. Louis, this has to be one of the most impressive restaurants to date. The attention to detail and consistency of the execution will rightfully match any well established places in other large cities. Niche is a must if you are looking for something special or just a great start to a night out.

    (5)
  • Stephanie B.

    If you read four words of this review here they are: EAT AT THE BAR! Seriously, very rarely would I ever advise this at a more upscale place. I would tell you to sit at that cute table, stare deep into your date's eyes and have a great time. Not here. I went with my sister and had an amazing time chatting with Brian the bartender and trying small samples of wine to pick what to have with our dinner. He knew his food and his wine and made the night for us. The polenta was amazing. Enough so that I have no shame in admitting that I got one to-go so I could eat it for lunch the next day. That's saying a lot. The rabbit was tender and flavorful. The lava cake desert, another to die for creation. I can't wait to go back!

    (4)
  • Kathy B.

    Was an awesome time, great food, great friends, great atmosphere!

    (4)
  • Bill K.

    Niche has an imposing reputation in St. Louis, and among my circle it is the highest rated. Both of which I take with a grain of salt, as I have been to some of the other highly-touted local places, and haven't always caught them on a good night. But it is a good restaurant, no doubt. On the plus side: the artfully prepared and presented food. How could it not be? The chicken I had was perfectly roasted, tender and flavorful, and the other dishes I tried were quite tasty and beautifully presented. Portions were tiny, just perfect for skinny old me. On the minus side: the elbow-to-elbow Picadilly-Cafeteria-style table arrangement and the noise. Service was OK, not great but not bad. And I think most of the menu is over-priced. Not sure if I would go back again if invited... I should clarify by revealing I am more comfortable in casual restaurants. My wife loved the place. I would like it more on expense account, I am pretty sure, so I am going for four stars rather than three.

    (4)
  • ann l.

    I just don't get it. You wait too long, pay too much and then leave wondering if there's something your missing. As my husband wondered as we pondered the Brussels sprout leaves filled with broth (5). Where do you suppose the rest of the Brussels sprout is?? This is very 90s to me. Ouch

    (1)
  • Sasha K.

    Went back for the tasting menu... It rocked. I highly recommend it. It is a creative and fun way to try new dishes. I have to admit, this restaurant lives up to the hype. I could go back every Monday!

    (5)
  • Sarah S.

    Five stars for service -- from the time we approached the door to the time we dashed out in the rain, we were treated like royalty. Three star for food -- a surprise, to say the least! I was expecting to be knocked off my seat by this culinary experience and it left me wanting. The maple custard was good, as everyone's written. We went all out with the tasting menu AND wine pairing. The pairings were fine but unremarkable in that they didn't especially highlight the taste of the food. The carrots three ways was meager and the pickled carrots were not to my liking. The lobster campanelle wasn't so great. The beef dish was good. The guava kulfi dessert was, once again, only OK. Glad we checked out what all the fuss was about but we'll go back to Sydney St next "fancy night out." P.S.: They're moving to Clayton, but probably not until fall at the earliest.

    (4)
  • Jeff M.

    Niche must be one of the best restaurants in the country. I was in town for a few days and managed to land here for dinner one Monday night. Niche is a perfect name for this place. You think about the name as it describes its physical place and location. Once you eat the food, you realize there are few places like it around the city or the country even. From the moment the car was valeted (though there is free parking in that neck of the woods), service was top-notch, fun, friendly, and relaxed. Dress nicely, but jackets not necessary here. The meal started with a tri-colore salad with endive, radicchio, arugula, shaved radish, parmesan, currants, and caramelized shallot vinaigrette. This was a beautifully presented dish and each bite convinced me this must have been freshly harvested that very morning. Refreshing, crisp, and wonderful. The pork loin dish with braised new potatoes, creamed cabbage, and maple gastrique was one of my favorite things I've eaten all year. The plating was gorgeous and the pork was immaculate. I heard angels sing with each bite. Chef Gerard Craft mentions Thomas Keller as his inspiration. I think Thomas Keller would be inspired by this dish. Dessert was fantastic based on its sheer simplicity alone: vanilla ice cream & chocolate sauce. It was what I needed to follow the pork dish. And it was amazing. My one regret at Niche was not having done the tasting menu due to time constraints. I plan on coming back to St. Louis to do this specifically. If you can lay out the cash or credit for it - though comparatively, this is a STEAL compared to equivalent quality restaurants in NYC or San Francisco - to me, doing the tasting menu is a no-brainer. Either way, just get here. Make no plans other than to eat and enjoy. You won't regret it. And you'll be back!

    (5)
  • Nancy C.

    No, that's the only word that comes to mind. No, no, no, no, and no. We were sat all the way in the back even though the restaurant was half empty and we had a reservation. There was a draft coming from somewhere and second hand smoke was somehow pouring in. We asked to change seats and the server did graciously move us. The food was sub par. Some of it was cold, some over salted, some of the meat had major tendons running through portions of it. Also, the meat had some weird coffee/chocolate dry rub on it and I'm all for that flavor in my meat, but not as a dry rub that had in no way penetrated the actual meat but was merely a dust covering on top. For as many people who rave about this place, I just don't get it. I will never go back.

    (1)
  • Scott T.

    Certainly had tasty and artsy meals...I guess I expected to actually get full from a 32 dollar plate. I enjoyed it but we won't be back

    (3)
  • Ryan S.

    I had high expectations after reading the reviews. They were quickly dashed. The design and ambiance are sharp, the service was better than average, the food was just lame. If the goal is to create art on a plate, then Niche succeeds, but three out of four of our entrees were totally bland and uninspiring. I had heard the desserts were outstanding, but we were too disappointed with our apps and entrees to keep the faith. I can't claim to know St. Louis restaurants too well, but I have to believe there's much better stuff out there than this.

    (2)
  • Timothy G.

    I took the beautiful wife to Niche for Valentine's Day, having booked a reservation via OpenTable about three weeks in advance. Which was a good thing, because it was pretty packed when we arrived (6:15) and when we left. We were seated right away. A tag team of servers/bussers(?) came over an did a synchronized filling of our water glasses. Hopefully that was just a coincidence, though I immediately starting hoping they'd start doing the Funky Charleston, Kid 'n Play-style. God I'm old. Anyway, our server came over with menus and gave a chance to look them over and gave us a quick rundown of the menu options. We both went with the 3 for $40 was our decision. My choices were the crispy octopus as the starter, the filet (boring, I know, but there's a sentimental reason) for the entree, and the PB&J for dessert. I'll allow the wife a chance to write her own review, but I'll say the courses she ordered were all superior, in both creativity and flavor to mine. But that's OK, I got to sample each of her dishes (OK, in some cases, I got to eat a lot). Anyway, the crispy octopus was about an 8" tentacle, looking like Ned Land has freshly hacked it off. It was served over white beans and diced chorizo with chili oil. It was tasty, but it wasn't anything overly amazing. The filet (which carried a $4 "supplement", I love that, more polite that writing "extra") was perfectly cooked (medium rare). It came with carrots, turnips (I think? Some root veggie) and a potato puree. Again, everything was tasty, but nothing made me go "wow." Finally, the PB&J. I'm normally not a dessert guy, but this was really good, but it was also really huge. Essentially a peanut butter brulee with a giant chocolate doughnut (mmmm...doughnut), topped with fig whipped cream and a chocolate brioche on top. Oddly, for my courses, this was the best part. Service was prompt and friendly. Despite having a very busy night, nobody gave any indication of being stressed/etc., so that's a sign of a well run place. So, why four stars? I'm trying not to penalize them for what I ordered, but at the same time, I just wasn't _that_ excited by the menu. There just wasn't anything that made me go "I couldn't get this anywhere else!" (except maybe the dessert) Next, the atmosphere. Frankly, I didn't find Niche to be romantic at all. Sure, the lights were dimmed, but otherwise, it was cramped (I had to whisper to the wife what nefarious after dinner bedroom plans I had in mind) and it was loud (she didn't hear what I said). I don't know if the (I presumed) increased Valentine's Day crowd caused those two factors to be intensified or not. But they were. Don't get me wrong -- we'll be back, but I'm not in a huge rush to do so.

    (4)
  • Angela R.

    Special night out and definitely exceeded our expectations. We did the fixe meal with wine pairings. The palate was spot on and service exceptional. Can't wait to go back. I highly recommend getting reservations and if you can swing it, get the chance to sit at chef's table.

    (5)
  • Daniel H.

    This is as good as it gets, just like the Yelp rating says - especially because it's St. Louis. This is probably the most boring city ever. EVER. If you read any travel magazine go ahead and do the things it recommends, and then realize that everything you did that day sucked. Then go to Niche and experience the one redeeming quality about St. Louis. The people working there are attractive too. Weird comment, right? Well, after spending the day wondering where all the people in St. Louis are, you'll appreciate that the first ones you see (at Niche), are at least attractive.

    (5)
  • Jenna L.

    The reviews are true; Niche is a true gem in STL. Probably the best restaurant I have been to so far. Reminds me a lot of a restaurant that would be in San Francisco. All the dishes were very creative. We ordered the summer vegetable salad (good but I wouldn't order it again), glazed chicken (like nothing I've ever had before), and the pork duo. The chicken had a "glass" top that was very interesting. It kind of tasted like candy but it was a good combo with the tender chicken. The pork duo consists of a pork shoulder and the pork belly. The shoulder is awesome!!! Even if you don't like pork, I recommend you try it. The pork belly wasn't my favorite but it's worth it to order the duo for the pork shoulder. It comes with an ice cream, which was a little odd but I'll give the chef points for creativity. The polenta with cheese and almonds was also a delish side! Butter cheesecake was really decadent and perfect to share. Service was impeccable. Ambiance is trendy and upscale. Prices are...pretty expensive, but worth it.

    (4)
  • Colin F.

    I love Niche. It is rediculously good. Gerard Craft is a food genius. I have been to Niche a couple times now and it always blows me away. One should always do the tasting menu here. It's the best way to get a full view of what the restaurant has to offer. Last time I went I got the tasting menu. There was a tuna crudo first course that was so amazing. It had 3 styles of tuna on it, all were amazing. For my entre I had some sort of braise beef thing that was held together with a fat netting. It sounds weird but the fat melted into the beef and also held it together. It was paired with a marrow bone filled with risotto. Yum! So creative and imaginative. The service is impecable. The servers know almost everything about what their going to bring you. The explain the whole breakdown of the dish. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Rader S.

    This was our first time at the new location, in Clayton. When we arrived we ordered a drink at the bar. Before we even got our drinks our table was ready. (7:15 reservation). Our server was great and immediately told us about the menu. We ordered the 4 course fixed price menu. it started with this potato soup which was amazing:creamy, rich and light all at the same time. I had the foie gras which was awesome and perfectly cooked. I also had the beef tenderloin which was plate licking good. Desert was also superb. At $55 per person I think it was well worth it. Niche is a top 2 restaurant in St. Louis. The new location is wonderful, plenty of room and not too loud. I can't recommend niche strongly enough!

    (5)
  • Iffat B.

    We went here for a New Year's Eve dinner and it definitely was not my type of restaurant. It was very expensive and I left hungry. The food was good, however I wish there was more of it. If you like to leave full, then don't go to this place!

    (3)
  • Michael B.

    Oh, we were so disappointed. We used to love this restaurant! Now, the concept -- tiny portions and very limited choices -- simply doesn't work. For a lot of money, I got a thimbleful of soup, two bites of fish, a large carrot and a small dessert. I left starving (and decidedly poorer), and we will not return unless the old Niche comes back.

    (1)
  • Mark T.

    I try to visit the top reviewed restaurant in each city I visit, so Niche was a natural destination for my stay in STL. I didn't know the city had a neighborhood this adorable! It was really a treat just getting to the restaurant. When we arrived in our taxi, the exceedingly kind valet guy opened our door for us, making us feel welcome before we even entered the restaurant. Before we reached the door of the restaurant, the hostess opened the door for us. I had made reservations on opentable, but one of our party was not going to join us and the staff quickly accommodated us by splitting our 4top table to a 2top without the slightest hint of inconvenience. While they were readying our table, I asked for directions to the washroom, and the most gracious woman with the most amazing hairstyle escorted me in the direction of the facilities. I know that doesn't have anything to do with the food, but it was just jaw-droppingly awesome. We were lucky enough to be waited on by Todd. He was gracious, intelligent, unobtrusive, attentive and funny. I'd indicated on opentable that one of us was a ovo/lacto vegetarian, and he helpfully pointed out that the peas and carrot dish could be made without bacon. We asked for martinis with special request olives: one martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives, the other martini stuffed with sardines (or anchovies). Without so much as a "that will cost extra" or "we've never done that before", the bar accommodated our request. We started with the citrus+oil marinated olives and spiced nuts. They were a nice way to whet our appetite. We continued on to the (vegetarian version) peas and carrots as well as the crab/avocado/cilantro/grapefruit starter. Both were just amazing - appropriate portion sizes, flavors that I'd never experienced and a presentation fitting a restaurant of this caliber. The crab dish had this crazy cocoa "glass" (sugar glass) that gave a nice crunch to the dish. We also ordered the cold beet soup to share, and our server was kind enough to bring it to us in two separate bowls so we could share it without having to push a bowl around the table. I don't know how they do it, but those smoked beet chips satisfy all the texture/flavor points that bacon does. My vegetarian companion was extremely pleased! For our main dishes we ordered the vegetable duo and the pork duo. Each meal was just exquisite. Four words: Hickory Smoked Ice Cream. For real. The pork duo of pork belly and pork shoulder was accompanied with a polenta popcorn cake topped with a little football of hickory smoked ice cream. It was like having the most expertly prepared pork belly with a side of campfire. I was in heaven. The vegetarian dish had this amazing fennel tarragon component and roasted beets, mandarin oranges and caramelized onions with a homemade ricotta cheese. Needless to say, we were both very happy. To accompany my pork dish, I asked the waiter to bring a full bodied, oaky white wine, and he brought a sumptuous white that stood up well to the pork. To finish off our meal we shared the farmhouse cheese plate and had snifters of cognac and armagnac. The cheeses were accompanied by a kumquat preserve, kumquat preserve and the same spiced nuts that we started with. The cheeses were spectacular and it was a perfect finish to our meal. I felt like the prices were appropriate for the food, and coming from Chicago, it actually felt like kind of a bargain for that caliber of a dining experience. As we were leaving, we asked the hostess to call a taxi for us and she did so with a smile. My companion and I were posing for pictures in front of the restaurant (what? we're tourists!) and Todd, gracious as ever, came out to volunteer to take a photo of the both of us in front of the restaurant. We chatted with the friendly (and fast-as-a-Kenyan) valet guy between him sprinting to retrieve cars while waiting for our taxi. I can't wait to dine at Niche again!

    (5)
  • Jaffe J.

    I was in St. Louis for a few days for business meetings and this was the best meal I had while I was there. Started with the anchovies which had a nice light flavor. Four small pieces of anchovy on some nice toast, a rather pleasant way to start the meal. The carrots three way was carrots in three different cooking styles and was a really intriguing dish, lots of different flavors and textures and I was quite surprised at what can be done with a simple carrot dish. For my entree, I had the file of beef which came with some tasty sauces and a puree of squash. The squash puree was just OK but the meat was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. I also got the polenta and potato puree on the side. The polenta was decent, a nice mix of goat cheese and polenta but I generally prefer creamy polenta over the more coarse version I had here. The potato puree was awesome and paired very well with that filet of beef. I rather liked that pairing more so than the squash puree that came with the dish. Overall, a very delightful meal with some tiny weaknesses. The carrots three way and the meat portion of the filet of beef were amazing and I would definitely like to come back to have those again if I ever make my way down to St. Louis again. I highly recommend this place if you're in the area as the highlights of my meal here were very memorable and well worth experiencing. Portion sizes are pretty decent and prices are reasonable but maybe that's because I'm used to northeast prices which are a bit higher than what I saw here.

    (4)
  • Kevin B.

    Best meal I have had in years. Pricey but worth every penny. Their "New Fashion's" are delicious. Creativity and pairings are amazing.

    (5)
  • Sultan M.

    After reading all the great reviews, I was excited to try Niche. Really excited. Allow me to comment in list form: 1. Uber trendy 2. Music was WAY too loud (even if it was great). Everyone was shouting to be heard across the table 3. As many staff members as there were patrons (and the place was full). Very weird - they kept staring. Our waitress was amazing, to be fair. 4. The food was interesting, different, but didn't quite hit the 'amazing' mark I was expecting 5. Pricey - Given how much you got and how good it was, I would have expected dinner for 2 to be under the 150 it ended up costing. Would I recommend? No.

    (2)
  • Chris T.

    Went there with a group of 6. I am allergic to seafood and my friend doesn't like it. The rest of the table wanted the table sampler dinner they have that is mostly seafood and the chef refused to serve it to our table because not everyone was going to be eating it. That alone would knock their rating down to 1 star as far as I am concerned, but it didn't get any better. I got the Amish chicken and it was way undercooked. $60 for a ribeye that I could easily have made myself. Later on that night, 4 of the 6 people ended up getting sick. We are almost positive it was the sardine appetizer. A couple pros: Our server was fantastic. I think her name was Sarah. The puree potatos were awesome. The 6 of us will never go back to this place again.

    (1)
  • Elle S.

    I was going to give them a 4 because my filet was really bland so don't get it BUT I'm giving them 5 stars because they were creative with the ingredients. Everything has a little twist to it so it's interesting and not the typical meal. The lasagna was good so was the scallop appetizer. The atmosphere seems a little uptight so don't come in with ur sweats.

    (5)
  • Sir Dennis B.

    From the higher end of places in St Louis - there is Niche. Chef Gerard Craft has brought excellent in dinning to St Louis. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Great place for the special date or evening.

    (5)
  • Sue J.

    I love Niche! I don't have anything to add that hasn't been said. It's a place to get fine dining but neither the place nor the food is pretentious. Each plate is so masterfully crafted with much thought behind each component on the plate. Service is attentive and the servers take time to tell you about each plate brought to your table. Lastly, we were running late for our reservation and they were very accommodating in pushing our time back. Niche is definitely the place to go for fine dining in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Nathan B.

    Excellent dining experience! Came in on a Tuesday night and there was no wait (made a reservation though). Our party of 4 was seated immediately and the waitress was very attentive and helpful regarding both the wine list and menu. Appetizer: Lobster offering (part of a 'pick 3' option meal, but added extra charge for this particular option). VERY good; very fine pieces of carmel accented the large chunks of fresh, sweet lobster held together by a mildly sweet sauce (not overpowering). Wife reported crispy octopus was amazing as well. Main Course: Pork Duo. Absolutely a must try here. Chef comes highly rated based on his pork entrees and this was no exception. One part pork belly and one part slow cooked shredded pork with a light BBQ-type sauce. Wife reports the Beef Duo was good (Filet was EXCELLENT, meat pastry/pot pie was good not great) Dessert: PB&J Brioche. Obviously not exactly PB&J, but it was addicting even as I was filling up from the rest of the meal! Amazing PB flavor and the 'jelly' take complimented this and the Brioche perfectly. Wife reports the liquid chocolate cake was just that--chocolate & liquid...very good, just tough to manage on the plate. If you go to St. Louis and are looking for something cutting edge in the culinary department this place is for you. Obviously, it was an expensive meal; however, the experience was well worth the price.

    (5)
  • Jen M.

    Best meal I've had in St. Louis. Granted, I don't eat out a ton, but the meal was amazing. I went a few months ago, and the exact starter isn't on their menu anymore, but I know it had pig's head, and I know it was fantastic. I had the pork duo entree and I still dream about it (obviously, I'm on a pork kick). Every component of the dish - the shoulder, the belly, the polenta (oh, the polenta) - was amazing. My husband had a beef dish that's not on the current menu, but his was equally mind-blowing - I don't think it matters what you get, it's going to be great. Oh, and on top of the amazing food, the cocktails are pretty great too. And the intimate environment. And the service. And I love that this top-notch restaurant is in Benton Park. I don't splurge when eating out often, but I'd be willing to scale back the number of times I eat out just to eat at Niche more. Great stuff.

    (5)
  • Jenny J.

    #3 Décor: 4* Foodie feeling and good for nice conversation or a moderately romantic date place. Nice large party room in the back. Host and Waiter Service: 3* Helpful and attentive. On to the food....... Bread Test: 3* Nothing special. They offer a nice 3 course prix fixe for $40. Fantastic deal or there is was also a chef's tasting for $60. Appetizers: 4* Had: Pappardelle - Braised Short Ribs were tasty and a nice start to the meal Shuda Had: Maybe the Crispy Octopus. It was hard to decide between the 2. Entrees: 4* Had: Pork Duo - 2 different porks. Smoked loin was okay and a bit chewy. The pork belly though more than made up for it. I superb melt in your mouth experience. 5 stars on the pork belly. 3 stars for the rest of the plate. Shuda Had: Maybe the lasagna. The ingredients looked interesting. Dessert: 3* Had: PB&J Brioche - chocolate, peanut butter brulee that looked oh so special on the menu but came out just okay... Shuda Had: Drinks: Had a light beer but a good cab or merlot would have been better. Bathroom: Clean and matches the decor of restaurant. After Meal Things To Do: Nothing to do in the hood. Overall: 4* A nice find whilst away on business.

    (4)
  • Jenny K.

    Oh my gosh, one of the best experiences ever! Wonderful food. Had chef's tasting menu, definitely the best choice if you want to experience a little bit of everything. Every dish was better than the previous one.I am salivating just thinking about this place. Can't wait to come back.

    (5)
  • Gladys S.

    They made our honeymoon so special with two glasses of champagne and an extra dessert. Food was delicious and our waiter really knew menu and recommended great wines with the meal. From the delicious sweet-spicy lobster to the perfectly cooked tuna, the surprisingly delicious fennel-lemon sorbet and the incredible horchada dessert. Thank you Niche for a great honeymoon experience! Oh, I almost forgot the free valet parking and that we were seated immediately, even arriving 15 minutes early - wonderful

    (5)
  • Brie R.

    Niche was everything I hoped it would be and more. Plain and simple: The food talked the talk and walked the walk. It tasted so good. While being refined, it was comforting and soulful. So here's the breakdown...beware, this will be a long one. Atmosphere was simple and straightforward. Pretty yellow flowers and a candle on the table that had a brown paper cover. Very cute and I don't happen to mind being close to other dinners (in fact, I was able to gawk at their plates and eavesdrop on their conversation which is always fun and sneaky ;) Our waitress was quick to come to our table after we were sat and asked about drink selection. We both stayed with water, for budgeting and preference reasons. We knew we wanted to do the 3 courses for $40 option. The menu was slightly different from the online version. That was fine, and I was happy to see different dessert choices. It was so nice to be able to order all three courses right off the bat and then let them do the work. Terry chose the crispy octopus and I chose Pappardelle (?) Truthfully, I thought it was going to be a bone marrow dish. It was a home-made pasta with a pulled pork accompaniment. Pulled pork you ask? Yes. Oh yes. The bbq was missing and was replaced with a savory mascarpone cheese and herb sauce. It was just so pleasing to my palette it's hard to describe. There was no fat within this pork shank option, just pure beautiful piggy. The taste of that dish (which could have passed for a small entree by the portion size) will elude me forever. Terry's crispy octopus was very good as well. I didn't care for the beans and chorizo that came with it but I didn't imagine I would because they aren't my favorite things; however, he loved them. So for my entree. I got the lasagna. I know, two pastas?! What can I say, I like carbs. It was like no other lasagna and other lasagnas should be envious and be scared to compete with this one. Truffled bechemal, mushrooms (perfectly seasoned), fontina cheese that I would like be in a relationship with, and topped with a fresh fried farm egg. Who doesn't love a runny yoke. Man it was out of this world. I am getting sad writing about it because I hate that it's over. Terry had the squab and duck confit. Both excellent and he practically ate the bone. That lasagna is just incredible. Get it and what a great option for those who aren't into meat! On to the sweets. PB&J is what it was called. A chocolate donut on top of peanut butter creme brulee with fig cream. Tasted just a like the sandwich. The textures were perfect. It was just what I needed after such a savory meal. Texture was a huge component in the success of all my dishes. Seasoning was important as well. I can just see the care and dedication that was put into the food. It was a true show of having food with soul. I couldn't have been happier with our time at Niche. It was worth every hard-earned dollar and such a treat. On our way home, we didn't talk much. Just smiled.

    (5)
  • Sara A.

    Extremely pricey but epic. I ate custard and caviar out of a washed egg with a tiny spoon. I never thought I would say that...but I can't wait to go back! I would recommend this place to anyone who doesn't mind taking out a small loan for the best dinner they've ever had :)

    (5)
  • Jana A.

    My friend asked me to go here in Niche, and I said yes. The moment I enter the restaurant. I was like, WOW. The ambiance was great, and classy too. The waiters were also friendly and they know what to recommend to first timers like me. The food is breathtaking. They served it with style and very delicious. I am definitely coming back here to try some of my choices from the menu.

    (5)
  • Jonathan K.

    Absolutely amazing food and definitely the best meal I've had in St. Louis. Almost all of the dishes were creative, but the most consistent thing was that everything was at least very good, if not excellent. The cheese plate was really good, the selection of cheeses was excellent and the fig spread tasted so good with the crostini. The cheeses included two types of goat cheese and a blue cheese. The Vitello Tonnato, which was tuna, marrow, lemon, and parsley, was very good. It was served on a slice of some sort of baguette, and the whole thing tasted great together. The Green Bean Salad was probably my least favorite dish we had all night, but I just didn't like the flavors as much as the other dishes. The Dry Aged Ribeye was so good, properly cooked, tender, and full of flavor. The Potato Puree it was served with tasted fantastic, the thyme and olive oil made it so good. The Stone Milled Polenta with thyme, honey, and goat cheese was also delicious, and I usually don't like polenta. The Poached Alaskan Halibut was excellent as well, the vinaigrette it was served with went well with the fish. We also had a Squash side dish, which was excellent, whatever the vegetables were cooked in made them taste great. The Plum Semifreddo was my favorite dessert, just the right amount of sweetness and tasted amazing. The Liquid Chocolate Cake was also amazing, an incredibly rich chocolate and expresso taste that was delicious. The Buttermilk Cheesecake was good, but the grape sauce overwhelmed the taste of the cheesecake if we weren't careful to keep them as separate as possible. The Brown Sugar Cake was my least favorite, as it was a little dry, but the apple terrine it was served with was amazing. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice. I don't like the back room as much as the front, but it was still nice. Prices are reasonable for the amazing quality of the food, the $40 for 3 courses is solid. I look forward to the next occasion when I can return to this awesome restaurant.

    (5)
  • Tony D.

    Great service. Great Food. First this restaurant may be hard to get a reservation but they do a great job confirming their reservations so one may very well open up when you want it. They even called twice to tell me the highway was closed and give me directions. Drinks were excellent - Blond Ambition light and delish, Bourbon and Honey and pink grapefruit - who'd a thunk it -it was perfect. Plates were small bet very satisfying. I walked out full and happy. Had the pork loin and pork bell - wife had the fillet. Both were awesome. Every bit was different as my fork danced around the plate. A must go restaurant.

    (5)
  • Anthony Z.

    This place is special. From the way Chris runs the front of the house, making everyone feel so welcome and special, to how Todd, our server, anticipated and took care of every request, nothing was too much trouble. Visiting from Chicago, there are plenty of options for high end dining, but I readily prefer this to any of them. The wine pairings were perfectly matched with the tasting menu. I tasted new creative dishes unlike anything I have tried before, and yet they were not so experimental as to be over-processed and affected. The room is comfortable and handsome. I LOVE this place! Pellegrino...why have you not listed this place??

    (5)
  • Mark L.

    Thank goodness that Niche shares none of the pretentiousness of its average Yelp review. I won't dwell, but one could write a dissertation on prestige borrowing and upper middle class status paranoia from the gold mine below: "I escaped St. Louis for a better education, job, and food on the West Coast..." Hard to keep any kind of grub down after reading things like that, but Niche is up to the challenge. Just a perfect experience. The staff is absolutely charming, the food is an avalanche of awesome, and the whole place is finely tuned to do its job while staying the hell out of your way. Example: Instead of walking around glad handing and making awkward self-congratulatory small talk with the patrons, the owner/chef spends his time--brace yourself--in the open kitchen cooking your damn food. The menu changes constantly so I won't do a play by play and I recommend not even looking at the menu. Just let the courses come out and surprise/delight you. I was a huge fan of old Niche and went into new Niche prepared to enjoy myself, but figuring I would also quietly mourn the past. Nope. They stepped it up a level. Definitely expensive, but it is worth saving up for a 3 hour expertly guided tour of tastes, textures and colors that is every bit as entertaining as a great concert or box (non-playoff, of course) seats at a Cards game. Dinner is included at Niche.

    (5)
  • Alexandra G.

    This was by far everything I expected for a fantastic dinner! My boyfriend surprised me with a birthday dinner at Niche last night, and I must say I enjoyed every second of it! The service was fantastic, and they were able to efficiently describe the food, and the ingredients without being over-bearing. The wine list was great as well. I look forward to going back for the Chef's taste paring, which you can also do a wine paring or bring your own wine. It's a fine dining experience that has a casual attitude to it, so it is not pretentious nor stuffy. The food was explosive with flavor without being too much. I'd recommend this place for a romantic evening. Since it's a smaller restaurant, the seating is close, but it's not too loud, nor intrusive.

    (5)
  • Marietta M.

    My husband and I had a wonderful dinner here last night! The cauliflower soup was amazing. I also had the pork duo, and would definitely recommend. My husband had the day scallops and then the filet, and both were outstanding. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because, even though we had a reservation, we had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table even though a couple of two tops were available during our wait. Other than that, it was a GREAT dining experience!!

    (4)
  • Caroline P.

    I'm delighted to have visited Niche twice. Truly fine dining in every way. Loved the pork belly, the sherry-braised rabbit, and the octopus, but humble celery root soup was the real darling of the night. Ample portion sizes, friendly service, $130 for dinner and drinks for two. A great place to try something new and different. If you plan on ordering the chicken, don't complain later that your meal was uninteresting. You asked for it.

    (5)
  • Chip K.

    We went to Niche for our anniversary dinner, and it did not disappoint. We had reservations (highly recommended, if not required), and were seated right on time. We started out with the "selection of farm house cheeses," which included a bleu cheese, a goat cheese, and a cheddar. It was served with slices of bruschetta and apples, and accompanied by a fruit compote and some spiced nuts. The cheeses were fabulous, and the apple slices and compote complemented the cheese wonderfully. My wife didn't care for the spiced nuts, which had a smoky flavor, but I liked them fine. We each got the 3-course special, which is really impossible to pass up. You can choose any appetizer, most of the entrees (some carry an upcharge), and a dessert for $35. I opted for the warm carrot salad as my appetizer, which was AMAZING. The carrots were orange-braised, seasoned with vanilla and cumin, and tossed with candied bacon. My wife got the asparagus salad, and liked it a lot too. For the entree, I got the pork belly, which was described to me as "uncured bacon." It came out as a cube-shaped piece of meat and it was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth. It was served over farro (a type of grain) tossed with comte (a type of cheese), which was all right but didn't do much for me. My wife got the chicken, which was moist, but was otherwise just chicken... except for the sweet onion puree it was served over, which she loved and was scraping off her plate when she was finished with the chicken. For dessert, I got the liquid chocolate cake, which was pretty phenomenal and served with a really good scoop of ice cream. My wife got the strawberry semifreddo, and I'm still trying to figure out what it was, exactly, but it was good and came with some mascarpone cream puffs. Our waiter was very friendly and more than willing to explain things (I had no idea what "farro" and "comte" were until he told me) and described our entrees in detail as he placed them in front of us. They were prompt to refill our water, but service in general was pretty slow -- then again, this isn't the kind of place you go to rush. We got in and out in about two hours. Oh yeah, and as an aside, they didn't have any pinot grigio (my wife's favorite wine). What's up with that?

    (5)
  • Alia Z.

    Went here after reading all the glowing recommendations. The meal was delicious! The filet melted in my mouth, they use the sous-vide technique to make it perfect. The pork belly was also worth mentioning - smooth inside, with just the right crunch on top. The dessert didn't disappoint either - the horchata panna cotta was creative and tasty.

    (5)
  • Raya K.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE Niche! I've been here twice since I moved to the area and loved each experience from start to finish. Dia's cheese bread is heavenly. I ordered risotto both times since I was semi vegetarian at the time! We had the donut holes the first time, but they weren't on the menu the second time which was truly dissapointing! Great experience all around. Can't wait to have an excuse to go again!

    (5)
  • arlander y.

    I went for a birthday... it was one extraordinary dining moment. I have no complaints everything was above board... i was made to feel welcome and the head waiter even used my name when i walked in which blow me away. I sat down to eat and it was a perfect dining moment of wonders that delighted... i enjoyed the sampler which allows you to experience a multitude of flavors and culinary delights...

    (5)
  • Marjie T.

    I waited for months and months to try Niche and I finally made it this weekend. So worth the wait. Our reservation was for 6:30 and there weren't that many tables occupied that early. Our waitress was very pleasant and answered all my questions knowledgeably (and I had quite a few). I think this is the most contemporary restaurant I've been to in St. Louis and I loved it, especially the indie music playing in the background. The food was delicious. My husband and I both had the 3-course dinner for $40. I started with the cream of celery root soup and it was poured over some sort of apple sauce at the table. I do wish the trout would have been served with a more substantial side, instead of the salsify (I think) that it came with. It was very good, I just could have used another flavor on the plate. I slightly preferred my husband's yellow eye snapper that came with some sort of pesto and potatoes. I was a little disappointed in the dessert. I ordered the butterscotch semifreddo, which listed the first item as pumpkin cake. Well, it was actually a small disk of cake with a large serving of ice cream on top that was so hard packed it was difficult to eat. But that was minor, overall everything was pretty delicious.

    (5)
  • Kara G.

    Niche, by far, was my favorite dining experience to date. I'm not even sure how to eloquently formulate words about how much I loved my experience there. They way-too-good-to-me and absolutely wonderful guy in my life took me on a surprise date to Niche and it was the perfect aesthetic for such an evening; nice and classy, but inviting and not too pretentious. The tables had brown craft paper on them, loved that. Our waiter was absolutely wonderful, friendly, helpful and just a joy to have as part of our meal. We did the three courses for $35 bucks. You can't go wrong with that! Three cheers to Niche for making great food accessible to the average gal. I got the Pistachio ravioli with lemon brown butter, pea shoots and finished with cocoa nibs. Every little single bite of those raviolis were perfect, and the cocoa nib seriously made this dish. For my entree I had the pork duo (loin & belly) w/ polenta, mushrooms, turnips, granola and maple. wowza was it delicious! I love pork belly. I mean LOVE it. This piece was perfection. They butcher their own pigs there, and boy can you tell. It had the absolute perfect little bit of crispiness on top. I finished off my meal with an Espresso Semifreddo with an orange macaroon. Amen. Top it all off with a great glass of wine and it makes for one fantastic meal! Go to Niche. Just go. I promise you will like it.... and if you don't, can I have those ravioli you aren't going to eat?

    (5)
  • Heather L.

    I was in town for a business trip and yelped this place. I am glad I did because it is now my new favorite place! I wish they had this restaurant in southern California. The server was friendly and made delicious recommendations. I had the lobster, lasagna, and lemon grass dessert pre fixe menu for $45 and everything was superb! It's well worth the price! Loved it

    (5)
  • Bradley M.

    I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our evening. Our server, Laura, was knowledgable, and her descriptions of the menu items made our mouths water. She was more than helpful, and when we were ready to go home, and she had called a cab for us, she even volunteered to call a second time to see where they were after a few moments. She signed us up for the monday night mailers, and generally just looked after us all night. All this AND great food. The Hamachi appetizer I had was hands down the best dish I've ever eaten. I'm still dreaming about it. A most creative and tasty deconstruction of classic sushi which was complemented perfectly by the addition of the fingerling chips. Amazing.We had no idea dining in STL could be so great. A true experience for the senses.

    (5)
  • Larissa P.

    Absolutely amazing! Great service, perfect date night atmosphere and some of the best food you can find in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Amber E.

    Some of the best food in the US; what a find. It's not a surprise that the restaurant is run by a SF ex pat. The food was fresh, inventive, and easy on the pallet. I was only in town for three nights and ate there twice. If I ever return to St. Luis I will make my way back to Niche.

    (5)
  • Alee H.

    Look, short and sweet, GO!!!!!! and prepare to have your mind and taste buds blown!

    (5)
  • Kathi M.

    We had a the 3 course offer and it did not disappoint. We arrived at 5:45pm and I was very happy that it was almost empty the day after Valentine's Day. The "Crispy Octopus," as I love calamari, was good. I had the Fillet of Beef, which was delicious. The portion size was perfect and satisfying. The Liquid Chocolate cake was very good. The service was good but with being the only table the server had us wait a couple times because she was bored talking to other servers near the service window. Not a big deal but still.. I hate waiting. All and all it was a wonderful night and we enjoyed dining here. We will add this to our "will not be disappointed if we eat here" list of places to go out to eat. Go eat here, the food is very good!

    (4)
  • Eric Y.

    Trendy little niche. Maple custard and lobster were excellent. Had the hen of the forest mushroom which i really enjoyed. Drinks were ok, but enjoyed wine more. Good service after initial busy time.

    (5)
  • Austin S.

    I had heard that this restaraunt was the best in STL that's why my rating is a little harsh. The service was great, the presentation was also top notch. The food itself was a mixed bag. Appetizer and desert would get a 5 but the entrees (i had steak, my wife salmon that was undercooked) was average, especially for the money. Overall i would return, but there are other restaraunts that I would go to first for a special night for the money.

    (3)
  • AJ J.

    Limited wine selection by glass. Steak good-not great. Linen so that's worth a half star.

    (4)
  • Pixers W.

    My fiance and I went here for one of our anniversary dinners. We got the $30 or $40 deal: two apps, two entrees, one dessert. Being a person who isn't familiar with fine dining, I had no idea what was on most of the menu. I ordered based on some of the ingredients in the dishes. It was just OK, not as delicious as I would expect such a highly recommended place to be. I ordered the drink that the waitress recommended and it was way too sweet to enjoy. I had to force it down. The restaruant itself was so crammed, I could hear every conversation of all the people around me. It was rather uncomfortable, and difficult to hear my fiance sitting right across from me. Our dessert was great (chocolate cake?). My fiance enjoyed his meal, at least. Overall, if we're going to spend the money, we will definitely be going elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Tim M.

    Tasting was wonderful. The fish course was okay but only because the rest was so fantastic. Very well designed dinner. Complimentary tastes, in unusual combinations, all with awesome presentation. I would highly recommended niche and the tasting.

    (5)
  • Emily H.

    The meal I had at Niche in May was one of the best if not the best meal I have ever had. The food was AMAZING and our server was friendly and helpful. You really can't go wrong no matter what you order - we chose the prix fixe menu but also ordered the egg off of the tasting menu at the recommendation of a friend which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Just don't expect to leave Niche without feeling like you might burst from the amount of deliciousness that will inevitably be put in front of you!

    (5)
  • sarah c.

    Pop Quiz: What one ingredient elevates ravioli from mmm to OMG? Well, it sure as hell isn't marinara sauce And it's not pesto (though big props to Katie's) Give up? It's chocolate. Cocoa nibs to be exact. On the pistachio ravioli with lemon brown butter and pea shoots. The ravioli itself was incredible, but when you get the cocoa nibs involved, it just goes to a whole new level. We did the 3 course for $35 which was a fantastic deal. And we both got the ravioli with the Risotto al Salto. I've never met a risotto I didn't like, but this one is at the very top of my list. Right next to, or maybe even tied with, Tratoria Marcella's lobster risotto. I was a teensy bit wary when the server said that it is more like a risotto cake. I prefer my risotto creamy and subscribe firmly to the silkier the better school of risotto making. Turns out this *is* creamy risotto enclosed in crispy goodness. The texture was perfect and only the very outside was fried. It was like a lovely little package of risotto. I don't know how they do it. I guess that's why Gerard Craft has James Beard Awards and I don't. For dessert, we split the liquid chocolate cake and a chocolate tart. The cake came with peanut butter ice cream, the tart with banana ice cream. We had both agreed that the cake was the winner of the two when the server suggested that he loves the tart with the peanut butter ice cream. Now, that is a winning combination! Both desserts were good, but whooey was that liquid chocolate cake rich! We also had a bottle of Bin 36 Chardonnay. Now, I'm no wine expert so I don't know if this is just what Bin 36 is like, but it was pretty damn sweet. In a blind taste test, I would have guessed it to be a pinot grigio, not a chardonnay. It went fine with everything, but it was not what we were expecting. It's on the more 'reasonable' side of the wine list, so just be prepared.

    (5)
  • Tracy A.

    YUM. My search for good food in St. Louis is finally over. Boyfriend took me here for my birthday and the 3 courses for 35 deal was perfect for our broke college student budget. Had a great Zinfandel (Windsor Sonoma I believe?) that was delicious and I have been searching for it at wine stores since (no success though). The decor is classic and wonderful, not too pretentious or fancy for a restaurant of this caliber. First course: I LOVED the carne cruda. I'm a big sucker for tartare-anything and I loved this. Definitely recommended. The boyfriend had the pork shoulder papparadelle. Not really my thing but he really enjoyed it. Mains: Carolina Gold Risotto and the Beef. Risotto was fun with the crunchy outside and creamy inside, yum! The vegetables that came with it were delicious! The beef was cooked perfectly and the bone marrow it came with was smooth and delicious (and a first for me). Definitely enjoyed both of these. Desserts: I forget exactly what we had but they both were delicious. We were so stuffed by this point that it was a bit of a struggle but SO good! Definitely recommended while in STL. I've tried a variety of the other nicer places in the city and this is definitely tops for me.

    (5)
  • Ce Y.

    The food is fabulous, service was wonderful, the place was a little crowded but the overall atmosphere was great. I down graded them one star for price, limited variety, and the taste of some the dishes where just ok. Lets start with the good: the naturally raised beef was the best of the bunch - clean beef flavor in a super tender, perfectly cooked piece of meat over a lovely sauce that really complemented the dish, this was served with some bone marrow which to some may be a little fatty, but to me it was yummy oily goodness over the crunchy toast they served it with. The potatoes that went with this dish was also wonderful - nicely flavored with the right mix of flavor and richness. the pink snapper was cooked to perfection with a nice crust,but the accompanying sauces were only ok, didn't really add too much to complement the flavors. there was this brown paste thing on the bottom of the plate which was little too salty and the spices in it did not go too well with the fish. the trout was just ok - better than many that I have had but didn't really stand out. for the appetizers- spaghetti ala chitarra, fried pigs foot, and asparagus salad were all great. One note on the fried pigs foot - it sounded gross by the name of it but it is actually these 2 fried meat filled cake like things that was pretty awesome like a super meat stuffed dumpling - I was pleasantly surprised. The pasta dish was a lot bigger than I expected, it was awesome at first but the rich meaty creaminess was a little too much by the end of that dish.

    (4)
  • Jeff F.

    Quick review: Went here for my birthday; everything was excellent. I highly reccommend the Anchovies starter, the Crudo, the pig's head faggotini, and the pappardelle. Entrees: I had the scallops and they were really good! You'll love the desserts. They will remind you of childhood but satisfy a mature palate. Very fun. Service was just as good as the food! Definately check it out and definately get a reservation.

    (5)
  • Isla E.

    I don't have much to add to the other positive reviews. It was a lovely experience, there was attention to detail even though the place was packed (9pm on Saturday). We didn't feel rushed and our waiter was patient and helpful even though every time he came over someone was crying, or talking about how many people they slept with, or confessing about something they had done they regretted. No dirty looks over our lingering, and the wine kept pouring. My ladies got 3 courses for $35, which I also should have done, but they had a enough desert to go around anyway. Instead I opted for asparagus soup with goat cheese and some raw fish (forgot what type) with arugula (I think). I was all very good. I heard it was an older crowd there but that isn't true. Maybe earlier in the evening is when older people come. Not that it matters, but if you are looking for atmosphere, I wouldn't consider this a quiet, stodgy place. Its a little bit energetic and bustling.

    (5)
  • Lover of Dogs H.

    A restaurant that really deserves 5 stars. I know I'm generous in my reviews. I probably give 5 stars more than I really should. This place absolutely deserves a 5 star. 1) Excellent Service 2) AMAZING food 3) Price is super reasonable 4) Free valet parking I wish I lived in stl so I could go here all the time. I don't think I want to go to another restaurant in St. Louis anymore. I wish I could come here for all special occassions. We had reservervations and had to wait 20+ minutes. We didn't even complain and they brought us champagne at the bar to compensate us for the wait. I mean, that is what I call great service. We took our mother here for mother's day weekend and I'm still thinking about the food. If you want to go to a restaurant where you can enjoy the food and converse about the food, this is the place.

    (5)
  • Ryan H.

    So my girlfriend told me this is her favorite restaurant so when we visited her family in St. Louis I made a reservation for us to go there. Niche was a tiny place but i loved the atmosphere. The menu and wine list were small but looked like they had a decent selection We started out with the pistachio ravioli and a bottle of silverado chardonnay. The ravioli was to die for. I would consider getting it next time double the portion. For dinner, the girlfriend had the scallops and i had the trout special. Both were delicious. I'm a sucker for artsy plates so niche definitely appealed to me. Every plate that came out looked pretty sweet. For the dessert round we split the liquid chocolate cake and the blood orange brulee cake. They were both outstanding and up to par with the rest of the meal. The service was excellent and we were given great recommendations on dessert and appetizers. The only downside about niche for me was the small portion sizes but this isn't enough to keep me from going back! Great place!

    (5)
  • cassie r.

    My parents and I decided to hit up this place after hearing rave reviews from some other locals in the area. Now, when you walk in, you're probably not going to be bowled over by the fantastic ambiance of the place...cuz, well, there really isn't much to look at. The furniture is very basic, the walls are pretty blah, and the lighting was a bit on the bright side. It only felt cozy because a lot of tables are crammed into a very tiny room. BUT, I digress, because the food more than made up for the less than impressive space. I started out with the almond and parsnip soup, and I have to say, it was the highlight of the meal. The serving was generous, and the soup was creamy, with a bit of almond paste drizzled on the top - the subtle sweetness was a pleasant surprise. I then moved on to the pan roasted scallops. The scallops were good, but it was the "extras" on my plate that really took it over the top. Candied bacon? Um, hello?!! And the pistachio brown butter was a most excellent addition for a very savory meal. To end the night, my mom and I shared the fromage blanc bavarian. Just the right amount of creamy goodness to leave on a great note. The service was decent, though our waiter seemed very standoffish- I'm hoping he was just having a bad night. While everyone else around us got a full greeting and explanation of the menus, we got a "Well, do you think you want the chef's menu? Because if you do, I'll explain what it is." Well, hmm....how do I know if I'll like it, if I don't know what it is?? The rest of my group agreed that he seemed just a bit unfriendly - but it only seemed directed at us. Not sure what the deal was - so, we chose to ignore it and enjoy great conversation instead. It's worth a visit to check out their eclectic menu, though the look, feel and service need a bit of work.

    (3)
  • Don K.

    We were looking for an ideal anniversary dinner venue, having never stayed in town for the milestone previously. I sought out recommendations on Yelp's Talk boards and ultimately decided on Niche after our first spot was booked for a wedding. I am certainly glad we did. Niche reminds me of everything I miss from New York fine dining. The actual decor and location seem more lower Manhattan than Benton Park. The service was spot on, attentive waitstaff and hostess. The front room seemed awfully loud when we arrived, and when we were seated in the back room my initial feeling of banishment turned out to be a more pleasing fate. The space is very tastefully done, good spot for a nice, romantic meal. Executive Chef Gerard Craft and staff due deserve all that other Yelpers rave about. The menu choices were very diverse, with a good selection of starters and entrees. Our eyes gravitated to the dessert menu first, a dangerous menu for sure. I ordered the Pork dish, and my companion the Cod. The Pork that night was a pork belly. Not the best cut of meat, as the server warned, but very delectable. I wanted something different that I hoped Niche would do up finely, and of course they did. The mix of mushrooms, turnips and a taste of maple really brought out the flavor. The Cod was also well presented and the taste, on a bed of baccala ravioli, was quite devine. We finished the meal with the liquid chocolate cake and milk chocolate custard. The chocolate cake is as good as others say. We had a similar concoction on a cruise once and it has become our most sought-after dinner dessert. Niche knocked it out of the park. In the end we loved the experience. Fine dining in St Louis is possible thanks to Niche!

    (5)
  • Caitlin L.

    I've been in St. Louis for 7 months now, and no restaurant can compare to Niche in terms of the quality of the food, the service, and the experience. My husband and I are sort of foodies (fatties?) and we go out frequently. We also live in Benton Park and have been subjected many times to the great Sidney Street Cafe vs. Niche debate. So we were really excited to try both places and come to our own conclusions. For some reason I expected to like Sidney Street better. But we went there first, and while I liked it, I wasn't blown away. Then we did New Years Eve at Niche. What a treat. One of the best nights in recent history! From the moment we entered the restaurant I was blown away. It was warm, intimate, buzzing with the excitement of NYE but not too loud despite the young crowd that you would expect at such a late dinner (930). What a gorgeous, immaculate little restaurant. The food was to die for. We all got the maple custard to start, because we had heard so much about it. They were nice enough to let us have this starter even though it was technically only supposed to be a part of the tasting menu, which we appreciated. As someone who has never eaten cavier, fake or otherwise, I was kind of confused by that particular texture. However, I thought the little egg shell presentation was ingenious, and I liked the maple flavor. I got the cauliflower soup next. It. Was. Amazing. And I don't even like cauliflower that much! I also tried some of my friends' appetizers, the hamachi crudo and the day bot scallops. They were both excellent, especially the scallops (another thing I usually don't like, but really loved here). I got the Steelhead Salmon for my entree and it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I can't remember what everyone else got, but we were all very, very happy with our dishes. We got dessert too, which I also do not remember. Too much wine consumed by that point. All in all, a perfect experience. We were there at midnight and toasted with our server, who was incredible. I highly recommend this place and it's also a wonderful choice for NYE. I cannot wait to go back.

    (5)
  • Natalie W.

    So -- I really didn't think I'd be going back to Niche but when you get an offer to go on someone else's dime ...... why not give it another shot. My return visit was on a cold winter's Tuesday and the first measure to more stars was the hostess. Completely and totally lovely was this cute gal which was very different than my first visit. So things have started off much better. We all had the tasting menu and I didn't think it could happen but the food was EVEN BETTER than visit #1. And I thought the food was very very very good on that visit. Wow !! Caviar mushroom custard to start -- then cauliflower foam soup (served by Gerard Craft himself) -- then escolar with a couple different versions of squash -- then from the earth (potato puree, mushrooms, freeze dried mushrooms made to look like dirt) -- beef with cocoa and espresso - gooey walnut cake -- and cuz we didn't have enough - a chocolate lava cake. We could not decide what we liked best. I'M SO FULL ..... GOOD THING I'M KINDA LOOPY TOO SO I DON'T NOTICE IT AS MUCH. Clearly, the wine pairings were great !! Our server was attentive and not in any way rushing us (see previous visit). We had multiple people come up and ask us what we thought ( including the chef a second time). Outstanding experience. My only complaint is that on my poor shop keepers salary -- I am going to have to rely on the kindness of strangers or friends in order to make return visits more than once a blue moon. I clearly know that our first experience was an odd fluke and I'm glad I went back. I will definitely be putting Taste and Brasserie on my to do list as well.

    (5)
  • Rick G.

    First of all, Niche has not closed, they moved to Clayton in the Centene Building on Forsyth and Hanley. But unfortunately, they forgot to pack their great food. We found the new space to be ok, not as pretty as we had hoped. It is modern and minimalistic. It is very noisy. Service was good as before. The menu was eclectic like before. But the food was missing the Wow factor, like before. The custard egg was excellent. The foie gras was not foie gras at all, but instead an average pate. The white fish was nothing spectacular and the skin had to be removed in order to eat the fish. Dessert sounded better than it tasted. It is hard to dis what has been one of the top three restaurants in St. Louis for the past few years, but the truth is that we would go back, but not rush back. And the owner, Gerard Craft, was on the premises, so it was not as if the place was being run by a fill-in staff.

    (3)
  • Herman S.

    Niche chef's tasting menu was worth the $95 cost. Good service from the wait staff and good cocktails from bar.

    (4)
  • Andrew S.

    I really wanted to love this place. And I did really enjoy a lot of things about it. For instance, the appetizers (we had most of them) were absolutely awesome. Additionally the "pre-appetizers" (forget what they called them)- nuts and olives are good (olives could have been great but the mix had one very sour variety that was difficult for my palette- which kind of ruined it a bit for me) Main course. Well, it didn't hit for us. I had the trout and my wife had the chicken. While the presentation was remarkable (very pretty), the food was just OK. Nothing noteworthy. Quite honestly- a bit bland. I really want to give this place another try as like I said in the beginning of my review... I really want to love this place. Until then I am giving this place only 3 stars.

    (3)
  • Mac B.

    What can be said about Niche that hasn't already been said? For me it is the best restaurant in St Louis. Unbelievable food, great service and an out of this world value. For any of St Louis Natives who don't venture outside the 314 area code, let me inform you that an entrées like those prepared at Niche for $20-$25 would be $50-$60 at my hometown of Washington DC. I took my wife there on Saturday for our anniversary. I had booked the table through opentable and mentioned in reservations that is was our anniversary. When we arrived the host quickly seated us at our table and wished us both a Happy Anniversary, which was a really nice touch (and scored me a few points with my wife). Usually we order a cheese plate and a few cocktails when we go to Niche, but we had just come from a cocktail party. I can say from past experiences that their cheese plate is very good and reasonably priced. For small plates, my wife got the pistachio ravioli and I got the pork shoulder. Her dish was excellent and mine was very good. For entrees my wife got the trout and I got the beef. Both were excellent. I think mine was the best beef dish I have had in St Louis. It was full of flavor but did not have that beefy aftertaste that you might get from a lower grade of meat. We skipped dessert this time since we were both pretty full. I was amazed when the bill came and it was less than $100 (my wife also had a glass of prosecco). No way this meal is less than $200 in DC. When it comes to a great meal, Niche never disappoints

    (5)
  • Katie H.

    We were visiting St Louis over the weekend and looking for a really nice dinner date... and we found it. In general, I'd rate Niche: Service = 5 star Food = 4.5 star Location = 4 star (but then again, we're out of towners so this is all relative) Ambience = 4 star A few things to point out before the food. Service, from the valet to the hostess to the waitress to the servers was all fantastic. Everyone knows their stuff, is friendly but not prying, and took the time to answer all our questions thoroughly. Location is not downtown so it was a little tougher for us to get there, as we were staying downtown for a wedding. But certainly not a problem and for people who live in St. Louis and drive most everywhere I'm sure it's no issue at all. Ambience was nice, but I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because we came out REALLY smelling like the restaurant. I had to dry-clean my dress when I got home because 3 days later (and after airing out near a window) it still really smelled like food. That is a turnoff for me when dining at a really nice restaurant, but maybe I'm just more sensitive than most. But the food! The food was really good. I especially loved the day boat scallop starter with mushroom sauce and cocoa nib "dirt." Really interesting flavors paired together, and it all just worked. Plus I'm a sucker for scallops. For entrees, I had the "hen of the woods" (a mushroom, in fact - who knew?!) and the real star of the dish was the slow-cooked farm egg. My hubby had the pork duo and said (contrary to other Yelp reviews) that it was quite moist, well seasoned and delicious. I had a little bite and actually didn't love it... but then, it wasn't my dish, was it?! We also had the polenta side to share, and it melted in my mouth. Creamy goat cheese + crunchy walnuts + smoooooth as silk polenta = heaven. For dessert, we went with the beet sponge cake (such a strange concept) paired with dark chocolate ice cream and orange-sambuca sorbet. This was honestly such a bizarrely delicious dessert, unlike any I've had before. The textures and flavors really worked together, and paired nicely with coffee. Oh, one last thing, my husband said his cocktail (one of the bourbon ones, I don't know the name) was the best bourbon cocktail he's had - and it's his go-to whenever we go out for nice meals, so he's pretty well-versed. Overall, if we were back in St Louis, I'd go back to Niche for sure. I hear they have a seasonal menu and I'd love to try it in summer.

    (4)
  • Gage W.

    This is one of the most inventive menu I have ever come across. Try the lobster appetizer. As it is to die for. My wife is vegan and we notified our server. The kitchen created a truly remarkable dish for her and really seemed to enjoy the challenge. They do such a wonderful job playing with presentation, texture, and flavor. What a truly memorable experience.

    (5)
  • Linda T.

    We dined at Niche to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Absolutely perfect in every way. Exquisitely delicious and creative cuisine served beautifully. There is nothing I would improve. We loved the original Niche location, but now love the new one even more. BTW, we have dined at The Blue Stem in KC, but maintain that Niche ever so much better.

    (5)
  • Patrick N.

    made another trip to niche last week, and did the five course tasting menu complete with wine pairings. as usual, pics are in my blog. the first course definitely got things going on the right track. entitled maple custard, this was a wonderful combination of sweet and savory elements. served in an egg shell on a small pedestal, the maple custard was mixed with earthy roasted mushrooms and topped with bonito caviar. although it was explained to us, i cannot exactly recall what the bonito caviar actually was. we were told it was made in house, and was not caviar at all. regardless, it mixed very well with the mushrooms and custard, and helped make our first course a winner after our eggs were cleared away, a nice house made foccacia with kalamata olives was served. like our last visit, no spread was offered with the bread, but that was not a problem at all. served at room temperature, the bread was wonderfully soft, and had a subtle olive flavor throughout. course two was a piece of bread topped with a generous portion of lobster, apples, celery, tarragon, and togarashi. the streak of sauce on the plate was an incredibly rich brown butter hollandaise. what made this dish interesting was the togarashi, which was caramelized in nature and reminded me of the top of a creme brulee from a textural standpoint. flavor wise, the togarashi was sweet at first and then turned quite spicy. this was a fantastic mix with the sweet lobster meat, and made this dish a contestant for the best dish i have had in st. louis. dish three was the course we added to the tasting. this was a nice pappardelle pasta with short rib ragout, mascarpone cheese, apple, orange, and olive oil. overall, this was a great dish that rivaled the pappardelle with duck sugo i recently raved about at sepia in chicago. carrie and i were also both quite taken by the green and red 2007 zinfandel paired with this course. fruity yet still earthy and complex, this was a wonderful wine that i plan to seek out in the future. next up was a palate cleanser, a sorbet of lemon and fennel. delicious and refreshing, we both very much enjoyed the cleanser. apparently the cleanser was served out of order, but with the substitutions and additions we made to the tasting, we felt it had a good impact where it was served. next up was a dish that was only available as part of the tasting. this was a nest of chittara pasta with sea urchin, crab, mint, and chili flake. this dish had a bit of heat to it from the chili flake, but not too much so as to over power the sweet flavors of the crab and urchin. course five was the course we substituted for the fillet of beef. this was both carrie and i's first experience with tilefish, and if it is always this good i can see us ordering it often when available. sitting atop a bed of polenta and topped with salsa verde and walnuts, the wonderful fish was cooked to perfection, and reminded me of the flavor of maybe lobster or scallops. course six was a surprise, as it was sent out compliments of the chef. this dessert was a frozen coconut and passion fruit lime terrine with delcious hazelnut lime finaciers. the terrine was perfcetly tart, and went well with the small french cakes. both carrie and i actually preferred this dessert to the one that was included as part of our tasting. our final course of the evening was a sticky date cake with orange yogurt and coffee parfait. although we preferred the lime terrine with the financiers, this was still a very formidable dessert. the date cake was sweet and delicious, and the coffee parfait was also quite nice. overall, this was by far our best meal at niche, and there are many more meals in our future there.

    (5)
  • Josh S.

    We wandered back into Niche on Friday night and I was really, really excited. I knew i was in for an amazing meal and the folks at Niche did not disappoint. I started off with a tasty cocktail of Bourbon, honey and pineapple. It was called a brown derby, but let's be honest, they had me at Bourbon. We decided to do the 3 for $45 which is an absolute steal in my opinion. I started off a little outside my comfort zone with the crispy octopus with white beans, chorizo, lemon and garlic. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was not it and it was awesome. The name described it exactly, it was two tentacles that were fried I assume as they were crispy. They were not however, rubbery as octopus can tend to be. The white beans and chorizo that accompanied the dish were equally impressive. I was lucky enough to try the pistachio ravioli and the lobster and while both were really good, I was happy with my selection. My main course was the pork duo, which consisted of smoked loin cornbread pudding and pork belly. I'll be honest, last time I dined at Niche I sampled some of Stephanie's pork belly and knew if I ever came back that I would order anything with pork belly in it. As a matter of fact, I've been ordering pork belly every since that night and have yet to find anyone that comes even close to Gerard Craft and his folks at Niche. The smoked loin was amazing, so tender, so moist and smokey. The smoke was not overpowering, more complimentary to the natural taste of the pork loin. The whole dish came drizzled in a sauce of bourbon, honey and hickory. It went well with the smoked loin. The cornbread pudding was good, I'm not generally a big fan of bread pudding but I love cornbread, and was happy with this combination. Now on to the creme de la creme, the pork belly. The top was crispy and the bottom melted in your mouth. It was amazing, and just as good as I had remembered. Wow, at this point the meal could have ended and I would have been one happy man, but they were not done yet. On to dessert, we all had the chocolate three ways. It came out with two squares of pudding like white chocolate, and milk chocolate that both had layer of angle wings in the middle and then a dark chocolate cake with a scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. It was very good, and a chocolate lovers delight. Once again Niche blew my socks off and I wish I could afford to eat here more often. Till next time!

    (5)
  • Elizabeth L.

    AMAZING place! The wait staff is beyond excellent! The food is phenomenal! When I first came here, the place was still new and fairly small so I got to meet the chef, Gerard Craft. The place has grown since then and it has been wonderful to see the growth and progress. I still eat here and would recommend it to anyone with a taste for something different and beyond compare.

    (5)
  • Michelle L.

    I went to Niche last New Years Eve. The decor and ambiance is great. The service is great. And I'm still talking about the non-traditional vegetarian lasagna (truffled bechamel, wild mushrooms, fontina, farm egg, sage brown butter). You must visit Niche just to try this entree!

    (5)
  • Michael R.

    Niche is one of the best restaurants in St. Louis. Do yourself a favor and make a stop to Niche on your next visit to St .Louis.

    (5)
  • Jennifer K.

    I have recently moved to St Louis and was told that Niche was this place to experience fine dining! The whole experience, from making the reservation to leaving the restaurant was wonderful. We had reservations for 6:00 p.m. on a Friday and when we got there the restaurant was pretty much empty. I am guessing St Louis is a city for late dining. The location was right in my neighborhood so I had no trouble finding it. I was really impressed with the complimentary valet. The hostess was very welcoming and gave us the table right by the window. The service was friendly, knowledgeable and always present, without seeming over-the-top. Now for the star of the show...the food! We had the scallops which were outstanding! I had a moment of dorkiness as I totally fangirled the citrus foam. I had the beef and onions for my entrée, which seems tame but was exceptional. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the potatoes, grilled onions and cheese crisps complimented it all nicely. For dessert we tried the beet cake with chocolate. The cake was the best part of the dessert as ice cream/sorbets overwhelmed it when paired with a bite. I definitely recommend this place for a special night out or for just a culinary adventure. Between the staff, the ambience and the food...you will not be disappointed. The only slightly negative thing I have to say is something that was brought to my attention by a previous reviewer. When I got home after dining I could smell food and oils on my clothes and in my hair. Maybe there is a ventilation issue or something but it would never detract me from going back again!

    (4)
  • Julie H.

    Niche is by far the best thing to happen to the St. Louis dining scene in a long time. Slightly higher price point, but worth every penny, as the food is incredibly thoughtful and delicious. The menu is seasonal so its hard to name my favorite things: everything is so good. And save room for dessert: this is one of those rare restaurants where its worth every calorie. Trust. (By the way, I'm so happy that my fellow yelpers agree with me and have reviewed this place positively!)

    (5)
  • Allan C.

    Not too long after a disappointing visit to An American Place, we approached Niche with pretty high expectations. The three of us opted to order our own appetizers and entrees without taking advantage of the 3 course deal. I started out with the roasted eggplant soup, which was nicely velvety reminiscent of the glop I scarfed down at many an Indian friends' place. I really really wanted some bread to go with this (naan, anyone?) but alas, there was none to be had. Even asking the waitress about it she politely mentioned that we could get the cheese plate... to get the bread o_O. When I'm paying that much for a meal, I'd hope a small request for such a thing as a bit of bread would be easily taken cared of. The pork cheeks, however, were a pleasant surprise. Even though I think the foie gras used was from a can, the hong shao style braised pork cheeks with the pear gave a great flavor along with the chili pepper. This was pretty well thought out. The butter poached shrimp was a sort of conundrum, though. What were we supposed to do? Put the avocado stuff on the chip with the shrimp? Shouldn't I have more chip and less avocado, then? 3 shrimp? Proportions, damnit! It was pretty darned tasty though. After the appetizers those high expectations were definitely being met. We had the rotisserie chicken, the scallops, and the rib eye. The scallops were amazing. They were ginormous. The butter foam really worked. The bitterness of the greens kinda worked with the sweet scallops but they were ok. The guy who ordered the rib eye was severely disappointed. - "When I get rib eye I expect fat, damnit!" It was pretty dry, almost like a filet. I honestly don't know why the fiance orders the roasted chicken all the time. She doesn't like white meat and doesn't like it when her chicken is too dry. Mind you, there's a fine line between "good" and "too dry" in her mind. Sauce won't help out either. I forget just how much that entree was, but I think it was in the high 20's. There are plenty of other nice restaurants with far superior roasted chicken than the one that we had for much less. However we were discussing this dish and we came the this conclusion: - Chicken, 13 bucks. - the rest? the freaking watermelon foam. Great. It didn't even make it taste any better. I was expecting it to have some crazy dynamic but it didn't. We were considering getting dessert but the birthday girl was too annoyed with her chicken so we left. I thought the food was very good. However, at this level, I'd expect far superior service and something to differentiate it from the many other bistro-esque places in St. Louis. The ideas were interesting but the execution on the basic stuff (steak / chicken) needs some work. So appetizers: 2 for 3. Entrees: 1 for 3. This place was "pretty good" and worth the visit, if only to appreciate the other places that St. Louis has to offer just a bit more.

    (3)
  • Tor B.

    We've dined at Niche a few times now. I was compelled to write a review after my first visit, and again I now feel equally compelled to write about Niche! Niche continues to hit the mark with fantastic cuisine, a beautiful atmosphere, and qualified service. Gerard Ford Craft continues to carve out a delightful little utopia of food, tucked into a tidy little corner of Soulard. His food is continuously spot-on, combining imagination with skillfully crafted dishes to delight both the palette and soul. The wine list is solid, and the service has evolved to something spectacular. Nice work Niche.

    (5)
  • Liz Z.

    dear NicHe, you would have gotten a perfect 5-star review from me for this past Sat. night, but you did not. but that's okay: because you could always change my mind on a 2nd visit... since all the YeLpers highly recommended this venue for foodies, i booked reservations for this past weekend on the auspicious day of my boyfriend's birthday, who traveled in from the Northeast for a couple of days. i wanted to impress him on the fact that the STL did have delicious palates for food and make sure he had the best birthday dinner. from the previous reviews, i knew we would not be disappointed. this little restaurant was bustling at 8:30 pm and so i was glad we had made reservations (HIGHLY recommended or you could easily wait at the bar). we were seated towards the back in a table that was wasn't very close to any of the other tables, which i was grateful for, since it looked like all the other tables were placed "Georgetown-style." meaning: separate tables were probably a good 12 inches apart from each other, to maximize the relatively narrow space, like in GeoRgetoWn, DC. close quarters require close measures. the ambiance was not what i envisioned: it was a bit loud and i spoke louder than i typically would during dinner. this may have been related to the location of our table (towards the back, where the managers, wait staff, chefs, etc. went in and out of the kitchen). we each had the 3-course meal for $35 (a steal if you ask me) and even ordered the farm cheese platter as an appetizer. the platter showcased 3 different cheeses (2 of which are goat varieties), raisin chutney, slivers of green apple, and lightly toasted bread. we were enjoying our appetizer and each other's company so much i guess it did not dawn on me until later that our 1st course --consisting of salads-- did not come for an hour. our waiter, Todd, was diligent on trying to appease our stomachs while we waited by offering extra servings of their olive bread. he even brought out a tasting of this phenomenal tomato basil sorbet! i had the alaskan halibut (for an extra $6 tacked onto the $35 price) for the main course. it was delicious but not for the additional 40 minutes i waited to get it. my boyfriend had the amish chicken and he was very pleased with his dish. for dessert, i chose the lemon pound cake with berry sorbet and my boyfriend had the semifreddo. to be honest, i liked his choice better than mine. the pound cake was a bit hard for my liking. as an added bonus, they brought this beautiful "happy birthday" dessert bonus of lavender shortbread under lavender custard and fresh berries (see added picture). can i say, "i'm in dessert heaven?!? so, NiChe, you get 4-stars for having an affordable 3-course menu, diligent staff, and some amazing appetizers and desserts. i commend you for being so foodie forward (tomato basil sorbet anyone??). but i would rather not have to wait as long as we did. i promise to come back and pray that the timing of food approaching my table is better. thank you. love, L

    (4)
  • Cameron R.

    As good as it gets. I went last night with my girlfriend for our one year anniversary and Niche exceeded every expectation I came in with. First the atmosphere was perfect for our evening. It is small, intimate and good looking. And from the moment we came in we felt welcomed by the hostess. I was a little leery that there would be a snobish feel going into a pricy restaurant but I found everyone was accommodating and helpful. Next, our waiter, Kevin, performed pretty much perfectly. Very helpful, knowledgeable and generally just a nice guy. He helped us decide on every one of our dishes, which he knew every single detail about. Now onto the best part, the food. Started with a crab dish (Johan's crab, I think) which was simple and unlike any crab dish I have had before. To describe its taste in one word, "summer" is the only thing that comes to mind. Then the main course came a beautifully plated filet on a layer of avocado hollandaise, the best peas and favra beans I have ever eaten and whipped potatoes that were simply to die for. We also got the polenta to share during the meal that was different than anything I've experienced with goat cheese, honey and nuts. Delicious. And finally to dessert. A plate with 3 different chocolates (white, milk and dark) and coffee. So rich, so good. I was almost sad when it was time to go because it was truly one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I will definitely be recommending this fine restaurant to all my friends. One word of warning, nothing is cheap but I feel that every once in a while you have indulge and this is the place to do it.

    (5)
  • Joe F.

    They didn't bother salting the icy sidewalk probably because they used it all on the food. I really had high hopes, the menu looked fantastic and creative, the ambiance was great, and the service was quite good. After eating our appetizer and drinking 2 full glasses of water each we had hoped it was just what we ordered for starters but unfortunatly that was not the case, the entree was infact even saltier. We ordered a side dish of red chard and it was so salty it was inedible. I give it three stars because I really do believe we hit an off night and without the salt the flavor of the food could have been really good. The manager said they salt everything to order so I recommend asking them to go light on the salt, especially for the richer dishes.

    (3)
  • Dave G.

    Wow... enjoyed our birthday celebration here. Ordered (2) 4-course prix fix meals and a bottle of Pinot Noir. Over $200 bill, but worth it. The Celery soup sounds bland, but is very innovative: servers bring a soup bowl with nuts (texture) and a small chunk of celery sorbet (cold, flavorful) and pour the creamy soup into the bowl. The hot/cold, textures, and flavors have a surprising punch. The "Pork Shoulder" 2nd course sounds unappealing (to me), but was composed with seasoned/shredded flavorful pork with buttery/seasoned outer shells of brussel sprouts, and a wonderful sauce. It was awesome - I want more of this dish. The Beef dish was very good, and the dessert was good. Also enjoyed the coxinha appetizer was small, but flavorful... would order again ! Con: wines are very expensive on the wine list. Service was excellent (but we arrived 5:30pm Saturday.... not busy yet). Highly recommended. Food is well prepared and artfully presented... but don't expect large portions (don't arrive overly hungry).

    (5)
  • Mad C.

    This is easily my favorite restaurant in Saint Louis. I make sure to get there at least once every time I'm in town. Sometimes I even make unnecessary trips across the state just to chow. It's that good. The service is undeniably the best I've ever encountered w/out being stiff. All are knowledgeable, attentive, and gracious. Gerard is into using all parts of an animal and I dig it. They gave me a "tour" of the walk-in the other night and I've never seen anything like the mise in this place. Matty is the dessert czar and he ROCKS. When he had Veruca next door, I used to load up on scones, red velvet cake sandwiches, and cookies to take to my peeps at home. A bar-like area is opening in that spot and I can't wait to check it out.

    (5)
  • Team Pfeiste X.

    We have eaten here twice and loved it both times! Make a reservation, though. They don't have a lot of tables and sitting at the bar just isn't as comfortable. Have the liquid chocolate cake for dessert.

    (5)
  • Ted G.

    I was taken there for a special occasion (my birthday). It has great atmosphere, great service, artistically prepared and great tasting food!

    (5)
  • Julia W.

    For the love of all things delicious, get the cauliflower soup!! It's a sensuous, velvety kiss and the addition of walnuts and apples add interesting texture and both sweet and savory notes. It's tremendous. I would've ordered bowl after bowl of it, but a family member treated us to the three course tasting, so it was on to the delightful carrot lime sorbet intermezzo and then the roasted chicken. I was honestly surprised by the entree portion size--it wasn't a Super Size Me portion, but it was bigger than I expected for a restaurant like Niche. Plenty of succulent, flavorful (yes, chicken CAN be flavorful!) meat for leftovers--always nice. I was, unfortunately, disappointed by the accompaniment of Brussels sprouts, bacon and sweet potato hash topped with egg. Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are two of my very favorite foods, but their flavors were completely overpowered by the smoky bacon and the textures were lost once mixed with the runny egg yolk. Less of a hash and more of a bacon-y, gloppy mess. It made me sad. But the chicken was lovely and the kohlrabi foam was a nice, tasty surprise. Our dessert choices were the liquid chocolate cake with Tahitian vanilla ice cream or butterscotch pudding with banana toffee. Four of the six got the cake, but I tried the pudding--WHOA. Lovely texture, but super, super sweet. It was actually too much for this shuga-momma and I didn't even finish half of it. I did, however, finish my mother-in-law's vanilla ice cream which I can safely say is the very best vanilla ice cream I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I would absolutely visit Niche again. I believe this three-course prix fixe was $35, which is a pretty amazing deal, especially considering I had leftovers. The restaurant itself is just lovely--warm, inviting, unpretentious--and our server was kind and knowledgeable. I'm looking forward to many more meals at Niche and enjoying the bounty of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. It's a bit of a splurge, but definitely a worthy one.

    (4)
  • Ericka H.

    Saint Louis dining at it's finest. In my mind, the only other restaurant in the same neighborhood of quality is Atlas. The food is wonderful, creative, tasty and beautiful. Service is very good; when one of my companions upended and shattered the water carafe, the first concern was that we were all ok, and it was quickly cleaned up without fuss. They pace the meal well also; it is so annoying to be hurried through an appetizer, or have an entree delivered to cool beyond optimal temperature of consumption while you eat the appetizer. This is an art many restaurants in the area would be well served to master. Also wonderful desserts and a quite enjoyable wine list. My husband is in love with this restaurant...and also with me. But he may love this restaurant a little more, at least when he is hungry. Not cheap but worth it.

    (5)
  • Jonathan W.

    I really loved this place. The atmosphere was nice and the staff was very, very friendly. A couple left the bartender part of a bottle of wine and I asked her how it was and she shared it with me! Also, everything is enthusiastically prepared and presented by energetic, passionate people. The food was excellent but in terms of fine dining I've had better.

    (5)
  • Kari O.

    Awesome restaurant! It's our favorite place for our birthdays and our anniversary!

    (5)
  • Alex F.

    I've moved away from St. Louis but every time I'm home I make damn sure to make it to Niche as it is hands down my favorite restaurant in St. Louis. Honestly, I can't remember what I've had in the past but I had a fantastic rib eye, the cheese bread to start, and every desert with the exception of some chocolate cake at the end. I guess our waitress felt that our food took too long to come out so she had the chef send out complimentary scoops of celery-vanilla sorbet which was delicious. After our entrees she also brought out three free deserts for four of us (when we had already ordered two) so we were really stuffed! Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Thanks!

    (5)
  • Drew S.

    Best restaurant in St. Louis. Amazing

    (5)
  • Danielle F.

    I am so sad to be writing this revue but I have to say that this place is one of my biggest disappointments ever. I really wanted to like this place but just didn't. My husband and I went here to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary, breaking away from our traditional choice of Sidney Street Cafe. Well, much to my disappointment, even though our reservation was at 8:15, the place was so crowded and noisy I couldn't even hear my husband talking. In my humble opinion, they really should have taken the space next door that they used to create 'Taste by Niche' and used it to expand Niche. Seriously, I don't want to be able to reach out and touch the next table. Our waitress seemed annoyed that she had to be bothered by serving us and was generally unpleasant. The food was probably a 3 star but the staff and ambiance would be a 1 star for a cumulative 2 star rating.

    (2)
  • Richard Z.

    We had an excellent dinner here. The food was well prepared and in sensible proportions.

    (5)
  • Amanda D.

    After living in Lafayette Square for 2 years and hearing so many amazing reviews of Niche, my husband and I finally made it in to celebrate our anniversary. The restaurant was packed, but we were seated quickly for our 8:15p reservation. We dabbled with the idea of doing the tasting menu, but decided against it, and were thrilled by the AMAZING 3-course for $35 deal! We promptly ordered a bottle of wine and decided on our meals. I started off with the Frisee Salad and was sold on the restaurant with the first bite. The bacon vinaigrette paired with the ricotta cheese and pears was a flavor combination that cannot be beat. My husband graciously shared a bite of his pistachio ravioli which was also excellent. I proceeded with the cod which was perfectly prepared with a baccala ravioli underneath. I was pleasantly surprised by how much flavor the dashi broth added. My husband had the beef and was very happy with how well it was prepared. We were completely full after 2-courses, but dessert was part of the deal, so I ordered the Liquid Chocolate Cake (to die for! and I'm not a big dessert person) and my husband had the Milk Chocolate Custard. All in all, our experience with Niche was PHENOMENAL. From the service to the food to the atmosphere, there is nothing to complain about. Plus, what a great deal! We went in expecting to spend at least $200 on dinner and walked out with a bill just over $100. We are so lucky to have this gem here in St. Louis!

    (5)
  • Julya H.

    Love the food, the wait staff and the chef. This upscale restaurant is friendly (II got the name of the chocolate used in the molten chocolate cake recipe from the chef- just went up to the window to talk-he also gave me the name of a restaurant he likes in SLC). It is also friendly to the purse if you go with the fixed price dinner. The pork pappardelle appetizer is indescribably delicious. I come to Niche every time I am in St. Louis. I love it when they bring you additional items "the chef thought you would enjoy".

    (5)
  • Sarah K.

    My husband and I finally made it to one of Gerard Craft's restaurants which is something I had wanted to do for awhile. It was the best meal I have had in quite some time. The staff were wonderful and EXTREMELY attentive. And for foodies like us, we were happy that Gerard was working that night and we were able to watch him expedite the food, and watching such an esteemed chef work all night was almost just as exciting for us as the food. We started with the pig's head appetizer and scallops appetizer and both were wonderful. Both of our main entrees, the pork and beef, were fantastic with flavors that just exploded in our mouths. We ended with a homemade mint ice cream that blew us away. It didn't seem as loud to us as some other reviewers stated. We went at 6:30 on a Saturday. We sometimes worry about walking away from nice restaurants still hungry but we were stuffed after this-probably could have done without the ice cream but we wanted to try it. As far as cost, although not cheap, it was definitely appropriate for the quality of food served. Our tab was $130 before tip and included two appetizers, two entrees, one dessert, one beer, and three glasses of wine. I will DEFINITELY be returning to Niche.

    (5)
  • Mike U.

    this was the one restaurant i'd heard of before moving out here and hearing that it was a pork-centric restaurant, chef is all tatted up, i was psyched. before the food though, had a manhattan. i like manhattans, usually go with bourbon but been switching it up to rye lately. it came out promptly (service was great all night), took a few sips while my gf was deciding on her wine. the manhattan hit hard. took a peek into their drink menu, turned out it had absinthe, no wormwood in it i'm sure, but still very, very badass, niche had my attention. went with the fried pig's head to start, do not pass up on this! i'm sure the menu changes so get this while you can. comes out as two crab cake looking things, think new american carnitas and it's about right, effin' delicious. i went pork duo, gf went scallops. scallops were as good as everyone says, the different sauces: sunchoke, butter, blood orange were nice, but i thought it was with the yogurt and granola with my pork duo that a statement was made for flavor, like what you'd hope from chef with sleeves done. the beets with goat cheese on the side were alright, but the sweet potato puree with cumin was straight money. finished with the killer liquid chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream, lived up to the hype. Gerard Craft, I salute you.

    (5)
  • Michele B.

    I went here for my birthday dinner, and we got the 3-course tasting menu, along with a few cheeses. The cheese selection was great. I love going to a place that can offer me a cheese I've never tried before. In this case, it was Humboldt Green, which the waitress informed me comes packed in nettles. It was quite tasty. The eggplant soup I ordered was, hands down, the best soup I've had in my life, and I'm a huge soup fan. It had complex flavors, with just a tiny kick of fire that dissipated quickly. Get this soup. The steak was tender and flavorful, cooked to perfection. I was disappointed in the mashed potato side, as they were fairly bland, and that is often used as a vehicle for many other flavors. I ordered the Greek Yogurt for dessert, and wasn't disappointed. It was a thick and creamy custardy thing, with a lovely peach compote on top, and lavender shortbread cookies. I do wish the peach compote had been kept separate from the cookies; they each went well with the yogurt, but the peach flavor totally overwhelmed the delicate notes of lavender in the shortbread. I will be going back.

    (4)
  • Colleen D.

    My new favorite restaurant in STL. Great service, good sized portions, creative dishes. How could I not order something called Crispy Pig Head? The 3 for $40 is a great deal. Wine costs are very reasonable.

    (4)
  • P L.

    Amazing food

    (5)
  • Matt T.

    The food is so good, so good, you see. Try it, try it, you will agree! Appetizers that tantalize. Entrees that mesmerize. Desserts to die for. Good food, good service, beautiful space. And, a wine list that wont cost you an arm and a leg.

    (5)
  • erika f.

    Hands down the best restaurant i have ever been to in my life. I am not joking. I want to fly back there just to experience their food again!! OMG!!!!

    (5)
  • Nichole P.

    Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about a darn good foodie spot in the city; and this visit has been a long time a coming. I (Nichole) was lucky enough to be taken to dinner at Niche in the Benton Park neighborhood downtown. This little jewel has been all the rave for years now. Don't believe me? Just read the accolades on the website or Google Gerard Craft. Upon my fashionably late arrival to 1831 Sidney Street, I was graciously greeted by every individual whom was part of the Niche team. This made me quite happy. The restaurant certainly has a warm and inviting ambiance, with many fantastic design touches. Obviously, the product of good taste. My great company and I sat at the bar and sipped on a lovely pinot from David Noyes. Surrounded by many other 20 and 30 something duos, we fell easily into casual conversation. Once our table was ready, we sat and the amazingly, awesome culinary experience commenced. We decided on the 5-course tasting menu! No words accurately describe the food and wine that was, quite frankly, devoured as we progressed with each course to the next. From the delicately, robust scallops to the 2005 Four Vines Port to top it all off--I continually was astounded by the flavor, quality and excellence of the food presented before us. I can not recommend Niche enough. Just go. I know I will be back soon.

    (5)
  • M K.

    Niche was an absolutely disgusting experience. I was super excited to go as I heard rave reviews about it. The ambiance is nice, it is on par with anything in Chicago or SF and for the price, it is what I'd expect. However, the food was SUB- SUBPAR at best. I had the pork belly, which was a fatty piece of pork that was boiled in what looked a creamy barley oatmeal. It was not seared or crispy as the pork belly should have been. It was so disgusting, I could barely choke it down. Even now, I have terrible flashbacks about how bacon boiled in cream would taste like, because that's exactly how it tasted. If I wanted crap, I could have eaten out of a dumpster. It would have been cheaper. As for my date's meal, he had a risotto that was subpar at best. Again, there was very little flavor or texture. Just unbelievably standard. I just don't understand what everyone raves about because honestly, I've had good food and this place simply does not serve it.

    (1)
  • Jennifer H.

    When my husband and I decided to go to Niche for dinner, we figured it would be like some of the other "nicer" restaurants in Soulard. We had no idea what a treat we were in for. Aside from the red brick outside, Niche is completely different (may I say better?) than any of the other places in Soulard, completely in a class of its own. The restaurant is beautiful and simple: mostly earth tones but bright red walls keep the boredom at bay. The food here is amazing as well. The plating is gorgeous and everything is completely tasty. I had the gnocchi and I can't recommend it enough. We also each had the cauliflower soup which was just like eating a hug in a bowl, warm, creamy and smooth. I would definitely come here again (not too often because it can get expensive), and I have been recommending it to everyone I know.

    (4)
  • m l.

    This place still kills me, went there a few weeks ago and had another overwhelmingly amazing experience. One of the best restaurants in the world. No question. Please feel free to PM me with any questions.

    (5)
  • Gina M.

    Thanks to yelp, I was able to find a nice restaurant to celebrate my Fiancé's birthday. I made our reservations through Open Table, where I noted it was a birthday dinner. The hostess called me earlier in the day to confirm. We arrived at 7:45, the time of our reservation, and were seated right away. With all the good reviews I read, I was not surprised that the place was full....The hostess and the waitress both wished him a Happy Birthday. Although the menu is small, the food is delicious. The bread was not my favorite though. The service was good, not fast, but good. We enjoyed our time between courses and were not rushed. If you are looking for a nice dinner for date night this is an excellent choice, but if you are in a rush, you should reschedule for another night. On our way out, the other hostess wished him a Happy Birthday too... and although it was already 9:30, the place was still very busy, which is understandable.

    (4)
  • anna k.

    Loved Loved Loved!!!!!! This place is amazing. For about a hundred bucks u can have a cocktail, salad, entree, split a dessert, and coffee for two! The ambiance is beautiful, the perfect place for a romantic dinner. I definitely do not suggest bringing children here - if u bring your kids out to fine dining establishments like this you're an idiot anyways. From what I've heard, everything is locally grown and purchased. What a fantastic way to support your community as well as feed it! The menu changes every so often which is always a wonderful thing. The only thing is it's a bit crowded on a busy night (which i think is every night haha). The tables need a bit more space.. i felt like i was sitting on the neighbors' laps. Other than that, i have nothing to complain about! Best restaurant in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Charlie J.

    This is the best restaurant in St. Louis...hands down. If you aren't adventurous and don't consider yourself somewhat of a foodie, though, don't waste your time or your money. All you need to do is order the tasting menu (with wine pairing) and sit back and watch the show...unbelievable. We will come back again and again and again and reserve it for all of our special occasions. Don't miss it!

    (5)
  • Audra F.

    My husband and I have been to Niche to celebrate several notable events, birthdays, anniversaries and the like. We have been a party of 2 and part of a party of 12 with no less than great service. Nearly every time we have received impeccable and accommodating service, entrees that are to die for and sinfully good desserts. Suggestion: The tenderloin with soy caramel sauce is our favorite, as well as the the Altoid ice cream. Oh and don't forget the Dia's cheese bread as an app! We found that if you wait to make a reservation you will probably end up in the 930 time slot but if you can stave off your hunger until then, it's a charming time for dinner at Niche.

    (5)
  • Dan G.

    My wife and I went here Memorial day weekend and it was the best meal we had in town. Beautiful restaurant with great décor, layout and helpful service. Walking in to the crowd I thought they would stick us in one of those uncomfortable two tops stacked right on top of each other. I was delighted that they took us to a back room where we had a great table and we could enjoy the meal and company. We started with salads-mixed salad with candied walnuts, apples, blue cheese and vinaigrette for me and the Mrs. had a spring veggie salad with pea shoots, carrot puree, carrots, radishes, goat cheese and white chocolate vinaigrette. These were both very fresh and excellent starts. It took a long time for the entrees to follow which would be about my only gripe. I had the ribeye with a red wine reduction, served on green potato puree with smoked baby carrots. My wife had seared sea scallops with rhubarb, cauliflower, romanesco and gianciale. Both were delicious. We finished our meal with the molten chocolate cake which spilled all over the delectable whatchamacallit ice cream. This was a nice conclusion to the best meal we had in town. This would hold it's own with any of the top places in Chicago. They also featured an extensive wine list.

    (5)
  • Chad E.

    My wife and I go here fairly often. The food is great and the atmosphere is quite nice. The service is excellent too. The menu changes often, so check their website. It is a bit pricey, but I find it worth while.

    (5)
  • Allison C.

    This restaurant provides a wonderfully creative menu, a great atmosphere and excellent service! I took a colleague with Major League Baseball there and she was very impressed! High praise from a foodie from NYC, a vegetarian at that! We had another great meal last weekend! Pistachio ravoli with brown butter sauce, beets, a natural beef with truffle oil mashed potatoes, great taste and presentation!

    (5)
  • Libby D.

    If you are in town from New York or Los Angeles and are used to eating at places like Gramercy Tavern in NYC or Hatfield's in LA, go here. Niche is one of the only places I have been in St. Louis that serves cuisine which is fresh, thoughtful and elegant while still aware of its distinctly Midwestern context.

    (5)
  • Emily T.

    I went to Niche again during the end of January. We went for Comfort Food Monday. All three courses were delicious. Service was great. We went earlier than last time so there were not as many people there, giving us more space at our table. I love Niche and will be taking my foodie boyfriend there for his birthday dinner. :)

    (5)
  • Brian H.

    Great atmosphere, love the decor. service was excellent. Food was average, now must take into consideration that I have eaten at some of the best resturants in the US and recently moved from Dallas which has some of the best chefs around (Stephen Pyles, Fearings, Abacus). Food was local which I like, but average at best. Ordered the berkshire pork and was on the dry side, reason I ordered is its probalby the hardest dish to fix and get it right. Mushroom side dish was just that, mushrooms, nothing exciting. Maybe I got caught up in all the hype, or maybe people of St Louis just don't get to experience great chefs.

    (3)
  • Eric B.

    My fiance and I went to Niche with an optimistic view. We had seen an article where the chef was named a "rising star" and decided this would be a great place to go to celebrate a special event. We arrived on time and immediately got sat. Then we waited... and waited... after 20 minutes, I walked over to the manager to inform her that a waiter/waitress had not been by at all and she apologized and promised to take care of it immediately. And that they did. The friendly waiter apologized as well and took our order which was the 5-course meal with wine parings. Shortly thereafter the manager came over and announced that the pairings were on the house as an apologize for our wait. We appreciated the gesture... Then the courses started coming 1st Course - A delicious Cauliflower soup with apples, walnuts, and bacon. The soup was rich and delicious, and the smoked bacon added a bit of deliciousness throughout. We were quite happy and excited about the 2nd course which the waiter promised to be his personal favorite 2nd Course - Fried Pigs Head - Wow. One of the single best plates of food I've had. The head was served with a spiced pear and an egg cooked at 62 degrees (which from what I can tell seems to be some sort of Zen temperature for egg. The plate was perfect in every way. Around this time the chef came out to apologize, he was very nice and promised to bring out the next course personally. 3rd course - A delicious Lobster tapioca with lemon and blood orange. Again, the lobster was perfect and the tapioca balls just added to the experience At this point, we were informed that they wanted to apologize again, this time by adding a course that otherwise was not served to anyone. Bonus Course - Large Scallop with a sunchoke pure. The scallop was tremendous in size and tasted perfect with the puree. 4th course - Lamb with rhubarb hummus, and white chocolate - I don't remember the white chocolate part, but I do remember the lamb and hummus with a garlic foam that made everything just a little bit better (By now, you may have noticed, I am straining for compliments, this is partially because I waited almost a week before writing the review and because there are only so many times you can say..."Wow! This food is AMAZING." There was an amuse of carrot/orange sorbet served at this point. Not my favorite, but I don't think too highly of the carrot family. What was most noticeable was that the manager gave us a little something to take home with us, because we had mentioned how much we had enjoyed the item. Dessert Course - Coconut Kulfi with passion fruit glazed pineapple - another bout of deliciousness. The kulfi was mild in taste but creamy all around almost like a mix between a cream cheese and sweet frozen pudding. What can I say. Food 5 stars, service 5 stars. It was very nice of the restaurant to give something back when they made a mistake, but they went well beyond what was necessary, and that was quite appreciated by us. Without a doubt the best meal we've had in St. Louis. We will be back and you should go.

    (5)
  • Rob C.

    Would have thought this one was already reviewed, but maybe not? Anyways, great bistro -- excellent food and wonderful desserts, 3 for $30. Small menu, owners from Utah. Great pastry chef. My favorite STL restaurant. Glad to see this place got recognized by Food and Wine magazine!

    (5)
  • Jennifer C.

    OMGsh we had a blast here! On a recent business trip we decided to try Niche after Michelle did a little research on local restaurants. We didn't have a reso because I kept trying to call and no one would answer! We decided to just head over and we spent about an hour at the bar. Not a problem since we had great Champagne and Conversation! If you don't want to wait that long - make a reso! Started out with the Cheese Board. We chose a few cheeses with the help of our server and they were deliciously paired with apples, walnuts, and crostini! I ordered the 3 for $35 prix fix. The plan was for us to split the salad and dessert and then Michelle would order an entree. And oh was the plan successful! The salad was yummy mixed greens with a light vinaigrette. Michelle had the scallops and she said they were delicious! I had the steak and it was also delicious! Well, we both finished a VERY good portion of our meal so that tells you how delicious it was! For dessert we had the greek yogurt with apricots. This was a good choice as it was light and refreshing after our meal. All in all it was a great evening. Atmosphere, service, and the food were all top notch! The only thing that happened during the evening was our server forgot to bring us our drinks - but then she gave them to us on the house, so it all turned out A-okay!!

    (4)
  • Kelly C.

    Amazing! try anything ...totally worth it!

    (4)
  • Koriann B.

    This place was SO good. Everything I had was delicious. While in town for the weekend, my boyfriend noticed that the chef here was one of the top ten new chefs in Food and Wine. We decided to try it based on that, because some of the other top chefs from previous years work/own at some of our favorite restaurants. I'm so glad that we tried it! The desserts were the best part. The liquid chocolate cake is amazing but the star was the lemon semifreddo. After our meal, the chef came out to talk to us, which was a nice touch.

    (5)
  • Jasmine T.

    Disappointed. This is actually my favorite restaurant except my experience there yesterday was dismal at best. It was my birthday and I was very excited that Niche was open. I ordered the tuna vitello and did not like it at all, it was way too salty. My waitress noticed that i didnt really touch my plate and asked if i didnt like it. i told her it was a bit heavy, a few moments later, a gentleman, who i think must be the manager, came over and asked if i wanted to get something else. i was very pleased with the response and told him that theres plently of food coming and i appreciated him checking. I wish i had taken him up on getting a salad as my entree of golden tile was awful!!! it was way too salty and I found the preparation to be very heavy handed, too much butter/olive oil on the plate. i literally had 2 bites of this meal. my waitress failed to notice that. It was bad enough to have ruined my birthday meal, upon giving us the bill, my waitress mentioned that the starter had been taken off; ONE DOLLAR was taken off the bill. i found this to be embarrassingly cheap, considering our bill was over $130. I felt the situation was handled very poorly,especially in light of my birthday and the entree. I must say my husbands meal was excellent and i usually love everything Craft puts on the table, maybe i just ordered the wrong things that night. I just wish the situation was handled differently.

    (2)
  • Cristina C.

    I went to Niche for an early Valentine's Day with my boyfriend, and I was very underwhelmed by the experience. After all the hype I had heard I was expecting to be simply floored by the food, but I was not. What made matters worse was that our server was the absolute worst. She offered no help in navigating their highly unusual menu. At a place that has all unique menu items and nothing standard, it would be nice to have a server who could help guide you, but she offered no suggestions even when I asked. I inquired about the Hamachi Crudo, "What's it like?" Her response was, "Well Crudo means raw. So it's raw." Yeah, thanks I already knew that, but I was hoping she could tell me a little more about it. The Hamachi Crudo was good, but I've had better. FYI the Hamachi Avocado Ceviche at Oceano in Clayton is better. For entrees I ordered the pork shoulder with pulled pork belly and my boyfriend had the chicken. The pork was tender, but the pork belly (which is basically like bacon) overwhelmed the dish. The only thing I could taste was bacon flavor. The chicken was tasty, but nothing out of this world. It came with a green sauce of some sort (pistachio maybe?). We had the polenta, which was also good, but not outstanding. I've heard some people have had better experiences at this place, and perhaps ours would have been with another server. The other servers seemed much friendlier and even came by our table after dinner and asked how our meal had been, after our server had tossed the bill on the table. I'm inclined to compare this place to The Emperor's New Clothes - it's really not very good but everyone is afraid to say so for fear of not being "foodie" enough.

    (2)
  • judi t.

    We were in town for my 20th reunion at Washington University and my husband came with me for the weekend. Out anniversary was the night before but we had reunion events so I asked and searched a wide spread number of sources as to where to go to celebrate out anniversary the next night...from foodies to locals to food critics...etc and I settled on Niche. We were both so very happy. The food was delicious and the chef is clearly in love with what he does. All of the food was delicious. The Escolar Crudo was superb, the Beet Tortelini was so very delicious and delicately actually reminded me of a jewish/russian borsht experience in a wonderful new way... the beets gave the essence of the borsht while the herbed buttermilk gave a hit of the traditional sour cream dollop and the torteilini was like a delicate blintz! The Trout combination was standout,Naturally Raised Beef was tender beyond belief and the Rockfish was divine! Be sure to leave room for the Rhubarb Orange Crisp!!! YUM.

    (5)
  • Julia F.

    I was recommended this place while visiting St Louis, by the Sauce Magazine editor. How thankful I was for the heads up! This is an excellent bistro with French fusion gourmet. I absolutely adored the beet salad. The atmosphere was very comfortable yet upscale and service was wonderful. They really promote their "chees bread", but really I found it unremarkable. The liquid chocolate cake was absolutely to die for!!!! I have to admit the scallop appetizer was quite dry, but the rest of our food was delicious!!!

    (4)
  • Krystal L.

    Try their scallops, absolutely delicious. Great space nestled in Benton Park. It tends to be pricey, so its a great place for a special occasion.

    (5)
  • Ck L.

    Old Review (3/11/09) Not your typical St Louis high-end restaurant. The decor is modern and food is innovative, fresh. Professional service. You will feel like you are in a restaurant in a real city! Easily the best restaurant in St Louis. New Review on (10/2/09) Made reservation for a Friday evening at 8:30 to celebrate my partner's and my birthdays. Got there, and there were a few tables opened. We were seated to a table right at the hallway where people would walk pass all the time. I asked for another table, and the hostess said those empty table special-requested and asked if we saw the backroom. I said I've been to the restaurant a couple of time and I didn't want the backroom. The whole restaurant had one hallway table, so I highly doubted people (even pretentious like STL) would special request not to be seated at the ONE table. When we decided to leave the restaurant, the hostess was stunted. Yes, it's a popular restaurant and I am sure no one turns it down, given people wait whole night to get seated with reservation. It's still the best restaurant in STL. But if it likes to treat return customers that way, I don't need to go there. I've been to Niche 5-6 times since moving to STL two years ago, so I really didn't expect to be treated like that. When we went to the restaurant before, even with reservations, we needed to wait 15-20 mins to get seated. So what if they seated us to those empty "special" table? It's after 8:30 and people started to leave anyway!! Way to alienate customers! (I deducted 1 star from my last review)

    (4)
  • Kate P.

    We love it. One of the best places in the Benton Neighborhood. I have loved everything we have eaten here from the liver, salad, to the fish it's been great! Oh and desert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am still thinking about it. Try as many as you can esp. if you have a group. Pastry chef is equally as talented as the chef! Also try Taste-the little place in front. Tapas style and great drinks--a great combo.

    (5)
  • Ryan K.

    In my opinion this is the best restaurant in St. Louis. The service we had was very good and our waitress was really knowledgeable. This helps in a lot of cases becuase there are so many unique ingredients and dishses on the menu that you sometimes have to ask more details about a few things. The portions are a little small and it is a little pricey but quality of the food more than makes up for it. High ly recommend this place if you are looking for a great dinner in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Aletta M.

    Good food, but a little too fussy for me. I expected more based on all the reviews. Service was very good and location and atmosphere were great. I just wasn't blown away the way I expected to be. Not sure I'll go back.

    (3)
  • Anthony C.

    This *is* the best restaurant in metro Saint Louis, hands down. Inventive kitchen (the chef came out to ask us if we enjoyed our meal), attentive staff and an aesethetic that is modern, yet not cold. Highly recommended, but do take your gold bullion with you as you will need to plunk down some serious coinage for your fodder. But you're worth it.

    (5)
  • Sarah M.

    I'm stuffed. Gerard Craft's name has been in Food and Wine magazine, what seems like, every issue since last July and I don't think I'm exaggerating. In that first issue he was named a New Best Chef of 2008. It took me up until tonight to get there (partially due to being away at school). The wait was worth it, and I can't wait to get back. A few weeks back, my friend and I took on the task of watching a wedding parties children, for a small fee of course. And that small fee sent us to Niche, and boy was it a good way to spend babysitting money. We spent weeks talking about our fancy dinner out and waiting for schedules to open up. We got our chance, and booked a table through opentable.com (and we got the day we wanted!!). Between Kate and I, we spend hours analyzing the menu. At the botton of the online menu says "ask your server about the 3 for $35 menu". We planned ahead of time to do that. The 3 for $35 menu comes with, obviously, and appetizer, entree and a dessert. The dishes to pick form change nightly according to our waiter. Tonight's selection was a soup (chilled beet) or a salad. The salad was a mixed green salad with pecans, apples and a wedge of blue cheese dressed in a vinaigrette. The entree options were the risotto and trout off the menu. I optioned for the trout, as the bigger fish eater. It appeared to have been pan fried. The skin crisped perfectly, to the point I actually ate it. The flesh of the fish had been appropriately seasoned with (what seemed like) lemon, salt and pepper. It was perfectly cooked, remaining moist. A celery root puree was served along side, that was as mind-boggling as it was mind-blowing. There was this flavor that neither Kate nor I could pin point. We'd accidentally asked the water boy if he knew what was in the puree. he claimed "a little bit of milk". I eventually convinced myself it was just celery and milk. I'd never understood the complexity of celery. We usually don't get along, no matter how much peanutbutter was spooned into the convenient crevasse. On the other side of the fish, lay a bed of greens. Mixed greens contain arugula, apples and celery dished in a lite vinaigrette. I didn't find this as pleasing as the first salad of the night. (It also seemed a little much to have a second salad, but I guess not everyone starts with a salad.) Kate's risotto came out a lovely shade of green. Our adorable waiter told us what made it that color, but I've now forgotten. Creatively arranged in three heaping scoops, with roasted radishes, beats and new potatoes in a balsamic vinegar. The risotto was cooked perfectly, nor was it to rich. To end our meal, we had the choice of the liquid chocolate cake or the tapioca pudding. Naturally, with our loves for chocolate, we opted for that option. The cake was rich, moist and as chocolatey as I could ask for. The middle of the cake oozes with the 'liquid' chocolate. It's served with 'whatchamacallit' ice cream. it was amazing. The restaurant itself is awesome. It's a warm atmosphere, with the obviously regulars mixed in amongst their growing crowd. The lights are placed along the walls, sort of inserted, creating a glowing room and ambiance. (Meaning, that whole being in the spotlight thing, isn't there.) The coolest part of the night, was Gerard Craft was walking around the restaurant all night. And! thanked us for coming in.

    (5)
  • Jennifer G.

    how could i forget to make sure that the internet was aware that i loved my niche experience? i definitely recommend that if you're going to go, make your reservations in advance and then you can have something to look forward to. me and my trusty meal companion arrived and were seated in what i like to call the 'hot' seat as it was right next to the window so if there was anyone out on the streets, we could people watch. also, we only had one table to contend w/ next to us and weren't flanked between.... we started with the marinated olives which might not sound like much but holy cow they were freakishly good and i don't know what they did to them cause it seemed super simple and i'm assuming it's cause they had olive oil that was made w/ unicorn tears. also, the bread that they serve - woo! free! - was only made better by that FANTASTIC BUTTER. thank you niche, you done turned me on to sorghum. i'm not kidding, we were kind of freaking out about it.... since we were at a pork house and we both love some pig, we started off with the fried pig's head which sadly, didn't come out in the shape of the head of a swine but oh tasty goodness for sure! we also had to try the pistachio ravioli and um, don't mind if i do. how do you get a pistachio so creamy and delicious? it was amazing. for our mains, my 'date' had the scallop dish that i had a little nibble of and it was really rich and heavenly. i ended up getting the pork duo after MUCH hemming and hawing since the last thing i want to put in my mouth is a mushroom. our server - which, great service by the way! - pointed out that if there's one place that can make a lady love a mushroom, it's there so i took a chance. let's just say that while mushrooms are still nature's enemy, i plowed through. every other thing about my dish made me want to take my shirt off and swing it over my head. and it was *just* scrapple under this cut of ham that was from the pig that possibly is the best pig in the world. not wanting to limit our experience, we loosened our belts a little and forged ahead with dessert. we both ended up getting the raspberry sorbet. it was really good, sharp to the taste and had a kick at the end. i'm pretty sure that had everything to do with the star anise all up in it. i just need an excuse to go back and i'm so there.

    (5)
  • Ebby V.

    .The reason I gave this 5 stars is because the atmosphere, my parties wait staff and the food were perfect that night. What's awesome about this restaurant is that they have a philosophy about sustainability. They purchase local meat and vegetables and they believe in grass fed, free range poultry, beef and pork. Though the trout is farm raised local, the halibut is wild caught. I got the 3 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. The waitress was terrific about picking out some of the wine for us and if we didn't like it, she switched it out. She also wrote down the wines for us at the end of the night so I can get them later. The menu is small which tells me that they believe in what they are serving and the food is fresh and meals are focused. The restaurant venue is small. Reservations need to be made ahead of time and most likely can't be changed to a bigger party because there isn't any room. They have two bar areas. The one in Niche and the one in Taste next door. I can't wait to go back! Great time.

    (5)
  • Anna L.

    I was really excited to go here. I have a group of girl friends who consider themselves foodies, and we'd been salivating over the reviews for weeks before the big night. I got the pig's head faggotini to start, and it was the most interesting and inspired part of my meal. It was aromatic and succulent, if a little over priced. My main course, on the other hand, was a huge disappointment. I ordered the striped bass. When I order striped bass, I expect it to be light and flaky. What I got was chewy and salty. It tasted more like trout than anything else. The figs and arugula were practically non existent, and the clams might as well have not been there for all the flavor they added. The polenta was mushy, grainy, and flavorless all at once. It formed a tough skin, and was the perfect unpleasant complement to my huge disappointment of a meal. I'm giving it two stars for the aforementioned pig's head faggotini and the semi freddo which I had for the dessert. I enjoyed those two elements, but overall came away from the meal unsatisfied and feeling like I just wasted a lot of money on a mediocre experience.

    (2)
  • Leigh T.

    All we can say about Niche is that literally every single bite -- from the first piece of bread to the last bit of dessert we scraped off our plates -- was delicious. There's not one thing we would change about our meal there. The value for the money was outstanding. Wish we lived in St. Louis so that we could come here more often. One of the best meals we've had in recent memory.

    (5)
  • emily c.

    The food was very good...all of it. The problem was portion to price. I'm not someone that likes big American portions but I also don't like to leave a restaurant hungry. There were four of us and my girlfriend started with a salad and my husband and I shared the dumplings. My girlfriend and I had the scallops and our significant others had the pork and the steak. The pork was HUGE which totally dwarfed the rest of our already small portions. My husband had ordered the steak and got a few slivers of a steak and a smear of mashed potatoes for 32$!! The scallops were delicious but for 29$ there were only 2! We also split two desserts which were good but not amazing. We had a blast though....great atmosphere, great service, good wine so we left happy but my husband who not having much of a sweet tooth had to make himself something to eat when we got home. For the price we paid the possibility of the customers going home to eat more should be out of the question.

    (3)
  • Arnold B.

    A great place. My new favorite when in St. Louis--which is quite often for business. Great for a business dinner or for fun. The menu is top notch and you must try the whitefish anchovies---hard to find in this neck of the woods. Also, the chicken liver terrine is delicious and the pan fried pig's head is another not easily found but fabulous dish. Overall, a great restaurant with good service and great food know-how.

    (5)
  • Brian C.

    Dinner at Niche was great as always. I felt the crispy octopus was a bit overcooked and its seasoning a bit overpowering, yet all in all it was still pretty tasty. The short rib papperdelle was everything one would expect; however, it was really the entrees that blew me away. The pork duo: wow, just wow. The squab was something new to me, but similarly impressive. The liquid chocolate cake was impossibly rich, and the PB and J was delicious, creative, and playful.

    (5)
  • Ebby V.

    The reason I gave this 5 stars is because the atmosphere, my parties wait staff and the food were perfect that night. What's awesome about this restaurant is that they have a philosophy about sustainability. They purchase local meat and vegetables and they believe in grass fed, free range poultry, beef and pork. Though the trout is farm raised local, the halibut is wild caught. I got the 3 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. The waitress was terrific about picking out some of the wine for us and if we didn't like it, she switched it out. She also wrote down the wines for us at the end of the night so I can get them later. The menu is small which tells me that they believe in what they are serving and the food is fresh and meals are focused. The restaurant venue is small. Reservations need to be made ahead of time and most likely can't be changed to a bigger party because there isn't any room. They have two bar areas. The one in Niche and the one in Taste next door. I can't wait to go back! Great time.

    (5)
  • Bill M.

    I've been there 8 or 9 times and had great food every time. They use seasonal fresh ingredients so the menu changes a bit. I typically do not like the small close table feel but because there is enough room noise it works. Be sure to make reservations because you may not be able to get a table. One of the best in STL and certainly one of my favorites.

    (5)
  • Bryan P.

    fantastic food and service! chef craft may not have been the one in the kitchen this night, but he's certainly the one responsible for creating such a brilliant menu. the best part is that the kitchen was more than just accommodating for our vegetarian requests. it seemed like they took it as a challenge to create something extraordinary. thank you for that, niche!

    (4)
  • Tierney Y.

    I could go on about the amazing meal I had, but for this review I would like to talk about the amazing service. My boyfriend and I (being new to St. Louis) stumbled upon this restaurant, by using yelp, because we were in the area and wanted something to eat ASAP. We came in on a Sunday night, neither one of us dressed exceptionally well, and the only seating available was the chef's table that has you stare straight into the kitchen. We were actually surprised and assumed someone must have canceled. After speaking to the waitress, we felt comfortable enough go with what ever she thought was good in terms of food and wine pairing. It was fabulous! She was very knowledgable about the wine, the food came out beautifully and I really appreciated that everyone was genuinely nice, especially since we probably looked like we had just gotten off a 36 hour flight from Mumbai. Thank you Niche, we will see you again soon!

    (5)
  • Jennifer W.

    Went to Niche recently as a guest at a birthday dinner party in the upstairs 'mezzanine' level. It was a large group and the 3 servers handled it superbly. I am vegetarian and gluten-free (so a huge pain to feed) and they made multiple adjustments to the prearranged tasting menu to fit my needs. The food was innovative and interesting- best dining experience I have had in ages, and the wine pairings were excellent. I do not particularly enjoy rosé or sparkling wine, but was blown away by the pairing of the 'Timido Brut Rosé' with the eggshell full of maple custard, mushrooms, and (specially made) gluten free mushroom caviar. It was seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten- this would the the first course of my last meal, if I had a choice. The other courses were awesome as well, and I left having eaten just enough to be full (nice to not be overstuffed). I will definitely be back to try the main dining room and see what else they can come up with for me. It absolutely makes my day when a chef treats my dietary restrictions as a challenge rather than a 'problem'. There's a huge difference, and they clearly made the effort. I'll be singing their praises for a long while. Can't wait to return. I'm not rating value or most of the other attributes, only because I did not pay for my meal. I have not seen a menu, but I'm assuming it was pricey. Since we had a private room, much of the ambiance was also lost on me but the big velvet curtains keeping the cold out at the entrance was a nice touch.

    (5)
  • Jessica E.

    We went on a day/night trip to STL to watch a show at The Fox and when we asked our STL friends for a recommendation for a dinner destination, all signs pointed to Niche. It's a small, cozy restaurant near Wash U (not sure on the exact terminology of its location in STL). Reservations were made via Open Table. I was very impressed to get an unexpected phone call from them the day of, confirming our reservation and giving us a heads up on their prix fixe menu options. Upon arrival, our coats were checked and two very friend hostesses made us feel right at home. We were seated immediately and our waitress promptly arrived with drink menus. I enjoyed a Riesling and K ordered one of their house cocktails, both were fantastic. The menu, like the decor and surroundings was clean and simple, yet complex all at the same time. We decided to order the prix fixe menu for $55 pp. It was a four course meal, starting with a soup. The name escapes me but though the serving size was small, the flavor was definitely hearty. The next course I had shrimp cocktail; the presentation was exquisite. For the third course I had cauliflower and other assorted vegetables. I know it doesn't sound like much of an entreé, but the cauliflower was seasoned to perfection and again, I felt fulfilled. In between the courses they had palette cleansers, that's when you know it's a fancy place! We enjoyed dessert and finished the meal in right under two hours. I wish they had more non-meat options. Out of the three or four choices, only one was veggie or seafood. I'm not sure what would happen if you weren't interested in any of the other options as they only had three choices: two of which were prix fixes, the other an appetizer option, so I guess you have that to consider when deciding to try Niche. Overall, we had a lovely experience. Great food, stellar service and amazing ambiance! STL, you have a good thing going here. Also: I forgot to add that the music overhead is great!

    (4)
  • Bret B.

    After trying to get Niche on my schedule for a couple of years, I finally dined here with a friend on Saturday, June 23. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG? My companion and I each ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu with paired wines (great values for $65 and $35, respectively), and we are still talking about the experience a month later. First Course: Maple egg with roasted mushrooms and bonito caviar: a little molecular gastronomy with old fashioned classic French cuisine. Awesome! And nice with the Scarpetta Franconia Pino Nero Brut NV. Second Course: Trout gravlax with rye, watercress, creme fraiche, egg yolk and meyer lemon: probably my fave course, as I love salmon gravlax, and this was my first exposure to trout being prepared with this technique. I found the flavors quite harmonious, though my friend would have preferred a wee less lemon. The trout skin was crisped to create almost a "cracker" for the gravlax. I wasn't crazy about the pairing, featuring a Pichler-Krutzler Gruner Veltliner 2010, but everyone's palate is unique. Third Course: Turnips with mushrooms, ricotta, horseradish and lavender. This was my companion's fave course. Four pieces of turnip, each prepared a different way. Quite clever! I was ambivalent about how well the Chaumette Chambourcin (Missouri) paired with the turnips, but was VERY impressed and pleased to see Niche promoting local wines and wineries. Fourth Course: Sorbet: such a course is usually a throw-away, just a palate cleaner, but both of us thought this lemon-thyme sorbet was one of the most exquisite dishes we had ever enjoyed. We both ranked this course second best of the night. Fifth Course: Filet of beef with potato, leek, rosemary and whey. quality ingredients yield quality flavors, and this course, while deceivingly simple, exemplified that approach. When you have excellent ingredients, they don't need to be mucked up; the flavors of each component shone brightly, and paired well with the M. Chapoutier Syrah, Crozes-Hermitage, 2008. Sixth Course: goat cheese custard with rhubarb, basil, brown butter cake: The cake was a bit blah (dry/crumbly/bland), but all of the other flavors jumped off the plate; they kind/sorta paired with the Schramsberg Chardonnay Napa Valley 2007. Even though I wasn't thrilled with the wine pairings, it was very educational to think about WHY I wasn't thrilled; when a restaurant can make me think that way, I give them credit for coming close with the pairings. And I can't end this review without praising every one of the staff with whom we interacted. What an inspiring team of people! Thanks, everyone, for making our evening so fun! We WILL be back.

    (5)
  • Cameron C.

    Found this spot which was just steps from my hotel! I would highly recommend a visit. I had the opportunity to enjoy the chef's table and a plethora of tasty treats! My favorite of the night had to be the fava bean soup. The combination of temperature, texture, and presentation was superb! Thank you to Nate and the team in the kitchen. I'll definitely be a regular. P.S. The Lavender Bees Knees is a strong addition and meeting the folks behind Mai Lee topped it all off.

    (5)
  • Dennis M.

    Took a friend for 60th birthday. Had the 4 course tasting menu. Do not, I repeat, do not miss Dia's cheese bread! Everything was great with bright flavors. Recommend the four course dinner but get all three entrees. Service is beyond superlative--so friendly and helpful!

    (5)
  • Jessica C.

    Niche is hands down the ultimate fine dining experience in St Louis. If you're looking for food that is not only delicious, but playful and intriguing, look no further. I've eaten here three times in the last year and a half, and each time stands out as one of (if not the) best dining experiences I've had in St Louis. After two visits where we did a three course meal, my last dining companion and I indulged in the tasting menu with wine pairing. What an absolute delight! The first course, the maple lemon custard with shiitake mushrooms and caviar, shouldn't have been as delicious as it was. But it was one of the highlights of the evening. The lobster and scallop courses were also wonderful. The steak dish was the best piece of beef I've had in a long time, and the side of pommes aligot literally took my breath away. I'm not kidding. I took the first bite and gasped, because those potatoes tasted that good. The dessert course (a squash bread pudding) was a nice end to the meal. The wine pairings were close to perfect (the only comment I can make is that the moscato served with dessert was too sweet, even for a dessert wine). Upon leaving Niche after 2.5 hours, my dining companion and I noted that even though we had just consumed five courses and five glasses of wine, we weren't uncomfortably full or anywhere past a tad buzzed. It was a very nice, satisfied feeling. Overall, if you're looking for something new and you enjoy fine dining, I would highly recommend the tasting menu with the wine pairing.

    (5)
  • Mary J.

    not just one of the best restaurants in St Louis, one of the best anywhere: easily competes with any place I have been to in NY or San Fran. In a word, perfection! service, food, nice relaxed upscale tasteful decor. Every since dish was a new taste experience. Was great in Soulard is even better (??) now! So happy we have this great unsnobby place here :)

    (5)
  • Cari N.

    There is no in between with this restaurant - you either get a unique and delicious dish unlike anything you have ever tasted or you get a plate of food that you are sorely disappointed with. Myself and a guest went here a few weeks ago - one of us had the vegetarian tasting menu and the other had the regular tasting menu. The soup was the first course and it was one of the best dishes I have ever had. Unique, tasty, amazing. The next two dishes were pretty boring - as others have commented the vegetarian menu had a braised carrot and it really was a large carrot, nothing else, very weird. The regular menu had fish and steak which were cooked well but nothing special. The lemon dessert was amazing, I'd eat it every day if it were an option but the other dessert had the consistency of Styrofoam and tasted about about the same. All in all it was a unique dining experience and I would recommend it to anyone to try once. While I am glad I went I don't have a reason to go back.

    (3)
  • A B.

    This is the best restaurant in Saint Louis. Every dish is delectable, the texture, the taste, the presentation, all very impressive. The restaurant's intimate and upscale vibe would make it a huge hit even in NYC, and Saint Louis is very lucky to have it. I still can't get over the textures of my dishes. The wine list is very impressive as well. I had a Gramercy Cellars Tempranillo. It is very strange to have a Tempranillo from Wala Wala, Washington, but it was quite excellent. A home run by Chef Gerard Craft.

    (5)
  • Sara P.

    Valet parking (especially helpful when it's raining) It looks (and tastes) like it doesn't belong in St. Louis. It's something I'd expect to find in San Francisco! Superb waitstaff. Smallish menu + tasting menu. I started with the celery root soup. You should order this. Great flavors and the grapefruit cuts the richness of the cream. Wild Steelhead. I've never seen it prepared like this! It came seared like ahi usually does. Served with pistachios and a blood orange sauce. My brother and aunt had the filet which they raved about. I was scoping out the food around us -- it all looked fantastic.

    (5)
  • Justin F.

    I can't think of a negative thing to say about this place. Wife and I had our wedding anniversary dinner here and everything was spectacular. The best food I've had in a very long time, and well worth the price in my opinion.

    (5)
  • Sara L.

    Everything here was great, but I can't give it five stars. Why? Because the food came out warm, not hot. And I like my food hot. No one else at the table complained, so I didn't say anything either, but considering this is probably the best restaurant in St. Louis right now, I expected my food to be hot. Other than that, everything was wonderful. My father in law, who has dined all over the world, loved it. I have never heard him rave so much. He had the pork chop and it was huge and he eat the whole thing (shocking, if you knew him!)

    (4)
  • Eddy S.

    I've now been three times on visits to StL and each time the chef has done a marvelous job. Service is always attentive but unpretentious. Food almost always spot on with flavor. What I most appreciate is the chef taking the time to come many of the tables to talk with them. nice touch.

    (5)
  • Review R.

    Pricey, but hands down the best most inventive place in St. Louis. Any aspiring restaurant should take a cue from this place and its format. The menu and food is insane. Truly is as good as it gets.

    (5)
  • Sarah S.

    Words can't describe the food here. I was recommended by Ted, as well as other diners from Taste. They closed at 10pm and i called at 9:55 hoping we could still get in because I am an out of towner and they were more than happy to sit us as soon as we got there. Great service!! The best strawberry shortcake with sorbet!!! Also had their amazing lobster!! Highly recommended!!

    (5)
  • Craig H.

    I have been hear only once, but I do have to admit it was awesome... until the check came. I knew it would be pricey going in, but somehow two people spent $275.... We did get drinks (wine bottle and scotch on the rocks).. Other than that, thought the food was awesome, you cannot beat the interior decor, and our service was great!

    (5)
  • Morgan H.

    I just wanted to note that the three stars reflects my estimation based on the price and expectations for the restaurant. Lower price or reputation would have bumped it to four stars.

    (3)
  • Sean O.

    Niche is a fabulous restaurant, deserving of its accolades. Perfect, interesting dishes with good wine and service. If you have a chance to go to this restaurant, you should. 'Nuff said.

    (5)
  • Retset Y.

    A delicious tasting menu with wine pairing for less than $100 a person? This place is unbeatable, as far as I'm concerned. The food was delicious. The wine pairings were perfect. The service was outstanding. The ambiance was quaint and romantic. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a lovely dinner here the weekend I was in town and we'll never forget it. I recommend Niche to anyone living or visiting STL. A nightcap cocktail at Taste next door would make a romantic evening absolutely complete.

    (5)
  • Simone L.

    We couldn't stop smiling from appetizers to desserts. Delicious food!!

    (5)
  • Sarah D.

    It has been sometime since I have indulged my taste buds here, but this restaurant never disappoints. I love the location and the intimacy of the dining room...that is the intimacy of the tables next to you. If you're a person needing a lot of personal space, find a different restaurant. If you want an amazing meal and price and closeness to your neighbors does not matter, then this place is for you!!

    (5)
  • Cora K.

    Niche will not disappoint you!! Love the atmosphere. The staff is helpful and friendly. Don't forget DESSERT. Will be bring friends and family back with me.

    (5)
  • Andy M.

    I've returned to Niche twice since writing this review, and both times I've been surprised and impressed by what I've been served. Each dinner has had some dish which made me giggle; each dinner had great service; each dinner taught me something new I can take to my own cooking. There isn't a better restaurant in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • P M.

    Niche is simply wonderful! I love the atmosphere and the food is truly exquisite! Also, I love that the menu rotates so I have different options each visit.

    (5)
  • Katie B.

    Some of the best food I've had in my life! Even beats most of my favorite's in NYC. If you are going to eat at one restaurant in STL, this is it.

    (5)
  • Julie N.

    Went here for my 30th birthday with my husband and decided to splurge on the chef's tasting menu. I'm already starting to become partial to Gerard Craft restaurants as we've loved Pastaria next door but Niche is an incredible restaurant that nails every aspect of what I think makes a good restaurant. Food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. Every item on the tasting menu was well executed and I'm not sure how best to describe this but there is a certain playfulness to the menu that just makes me think the chef is having fun in the kitchen which I just loved (seriously, how can you not love a gin infused ice pop palate cleanser?). My absolute favorite dish of the night was the aurora strip loin. I also really enjoyed the egg and the corn soup but truly everything was excellent. Though if you're debating between entrees just go for the strip loin. It's delicious and you won't regret it. The table next to us was raving over their strip loin as well and I was secretly jealous that ordering it from the regular menu as opposed to the tasting menu meant a bigger portion of one of the best steak dishes I've ever had. Looking forward to returning with our families when they are in town as this is totally the type of restaurant I want to show off to my parents and in-laws.

    (5)
  • Christine C.

    we participated in the sunday supper and it was an experience that was well worth it. $40 per person for a three course meal. it's been four years since our last visit so we were pretty excited to check it out again especially with their new location. I've read a lot of yelp reviewers complain about the noise that came from the adjoining restaurant, pastaria, but i really had no qualms with it and didn't notice it at all. first course was a broccoli soup. it has asparagus, sunflower seeds, parsley, and caper berries. the caper berries were a pleasant surprise because it added some acidity to the bowl. two thumbs up. for the second course we got the steak and chicken. UM, the flank steak was amazing. just really, really amazing. it was cooked to perfection. it came with fingerling potatoes, green beans, and romesco sauce. it was superb. the chicken was also cooked really well. it was very tender and the meat just fell off the bone. it came with a couscous fennel salad but I found it to be pickled too much (if that is even possible) for my taste. dessert. vanilla gelato with chocolate sauce was too rich for my liking but my husband really enjoyed it. we also ordered "local cheese" and it was a party in my mouth. the cheese was called fleur de la vallee and the cheese on its own was pretty good... BUT the cheese paired with the crackers and strawberry jam was a party in my mouth. WOW. other than that, the service was very attentive and collaborative. teamwork was very evident. my husband and I appreciated that the place was pretty well lit. it wasn't super dim like a lot of other restaurants. we were able to see our food and appreciate our food.

    (4)
  • The Food Dude 1.

    Man oh man.... Best restaurant in the Lou competitor here for sure. Not cheap but you can not go wrong with the tasting menu here. I've gotten it 6 or 7 times going all the way back to the Sydney location and it has blown me away every time. The flavors, presentation, textures, creativity and service are all top-notch. There's really nothing else in St. Louis on this level. My only complaint is that they moved out to stupid snobby Clayton in a huge vibe-less corporate feeling space.... It was nice having Niche and Sydney Street Cafe here in the neighborhood and I really liked the old more intimate atmosphere....

    (5)
  • Kayla B.

    I enjoyed dinner here on 6/6/15 and I am still unable to put in words how fantastic the experience was. Not being at a restaurant like it before, I was unsure of what to expect. My boyfriend and I got there a little early for our reservation and started off with a drink at their bar. The bartender really knew her stuff and both of our drinks were tasty and top shelf. Once we were seated we both decided on our four courses for dinner as well as a starter of the cheese bread. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) was prepared with such delicacy, such precision, not being a food critic it is hard for me to explain the quality. All dishes were plated beautifully and most dishes had a component that on paper wouldn't seem to fit but once plated together were spectacular. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgable. The kitchen staff perfected their craft for sure. The only downside is that it was hard to have a private conversation due to the noise in the restaurant from the chatter of other guests as noise travelled very easily in the building. One of the best experiences in my life.

    (5)
  • Lydia L.

    I'm not sure how I haven't written a review for Niche...If you're looking for the best food in St. Louis, make your reservation now. I've come here a number of times for special occasions, normal days, and just 'cause. Niche is exceptional in St. Louis, and I think every reviewer can attest to that. My favorite thing about Niche right now is their 3-course, $35 menu, which is a steal for the food quality. The most recent time we dined here, we had an asparagus based soup, which was lick-your-bowl good. We also had the chicken with panzanella salad- although we never order chicken in restaurants, this was tender, perfectly brown, and had a well-paired accompaniment. Meatballs over polenta- large portion, easy to share, flavorful and well-cooked meat. Raspberry tarte and vanilla gelato- better together than apart I honestly can't remember all of the dishes I have had here, but if you scroll through some of my past photos, you might get an idea. The execution of dishes is always consistent, the presentation is superb, and the service is impeccable. This restaurant is "upscale" without being stuffy or unapproachable.

    (5)
  • Travis S.

    Wow! Foodie overload! I just started working out of St. Louis so I was in the search for the best restaurant there. I decided to splurge so I went to Niche. They have been coming up in all my food searches and they have a really good review history. I went all out. I got the Chef's Tasting Menu, It consisted of about 10 courses that are all the highest quality that Missouri has to offer. All I ca say is that if you are a foodie, you will enjoy this restaurant a lot. Since the menu changes all the time I'm not going to write every single dish that I had out here but in the photo's that I took. If I can't remember everything in the dish I'm sorry, there was SO many ingredients. Can't wait to go back for another round.

    (5)
  • Heidi F.

    I really liked this place. I had to bug them several time, because I am visiting from out of town and had trouble finding it. They were extremely attentive, really talked thru the items on the menu and then even went next door to get gluten free pasta from their sister restaurant - I mean, who does that sort of thing? Food was excellent and the reduced menu on Sun and Mon was pretty hard to tell that it was reduced. I wonder what the regular menu is like. Food was fantastic. I will be back here again if I come visit.

    (5)
  • Jonathan S.

    Finally were able to drop by Niche for a Tuesday evening dinner on date night. We're big fans of Taste - actually its our favorite restaurant in StL - so we had high exceptions for Niche. Overall, we loved it. The waitress and staff were great. We asked for a few one-off cocktails and the bartender (who from what we told works at Taste as well) delivered. We both did different versions of the 4 course meal. 1st course: the soup is better than the beets - both good though 2nd course: both the duck and mushroom plates were great. 3rd course: we both got the ribeye. Awesome flavor, great buttery sauce on the side. 4th course: get the whiskey cake. I picked the short straw and got the cheese. GET THE WHISKEY CAKE.

    (5)
  • Carrie C.

    I wish I could come up with a singular word for "attention to detail" that didn't conjure up mental illness like OCD or obsessive-compulsive. Not that those qualities are always necessarily a bad thing as I resemble those remarks. However. Niche is obsessed with detail in only the very best way. I mean they make their own butter for crying out loud. Everything from the amuse bouche (house made goat Brie ) to the insanely good ice cream at the end of the meal was truly excellent. Miso marshmallows in the soup. Bonita "caviar". I'm sure there are many endless descriptions already posted. The key message here is to just trust the chef, kick back, and relax. Let them tailor the evening for you. ( and perhaps ask not to be seated next to an annoying couple planning their wedding who only know first world issues). I'm just sayin. ANYWAY. the service is outstanding. The food is outstanding. The seating could be a wee bit more comfy. I won't let that stop me. Next stop- little sister Pastaria next door. I'd love to see a few seating spots here that were a bit more special- like for an anniversary or whatever but it's a minor quibble. Come here. Every chance you get. And hopefully on expense account.

    (5)
  • Chris M.

    I came to Niche on a whim...in St. Louis for one night and found this gem while walking around in Clayton. Overall, I'd give 5 stars to the food and 4 stars to the cocktails (which in my mind are just as critical). On Mondays, they do "supper," which is a three course prie fixe with two entree options for $35 but no other menu options. I had the green bean salad (wonderful, with pickled red onion, confit potatoes, green beans, and a basil aioli), the confit chicken (rich, with a green risotto and marinated greens on top), and a cheese plate for dessert (just say yes to homemade sassafras crackers and rhubarb compote). Their attention to deal was on display with every plate. As a budding cocktail enthusiast, I tried two. The snowdrops was refreshing (and very pink) but I thought the absinthe was a little overpowering compared to the gin and elderflower. The berry pimm was solid, with the Pimms #1 really coming through and very subtle berry flavor. My favorite of the two. Service was solid, and my server (Jordan) made me feel welcome as a temporarily displaced Oregonian in Missouri. Also, good to note that I think the other 6-7 tables were all locals, and a couple sitting next to me came every Monday. Good times all around.

    (4)
  • Tom S.

    Best cuisine in Saint Louis! I can't believe no one on yelp has been here more often than me. This place is amazing :-) :-)

    (5)
  • S. W.

    We've been to Niche 2 Mondays in a row for their Monday Night Suppers, that's how seriously hooked I am. And I have to say that the food keeps getting better each time. I love the ambiance and decor. It's fine dining that you can also dress casual. It's great for a romantic dinner, family dinner or casual dinner with whomever. The staff is friendly and service is great!!! Now there are a few waiters whom are better than others but all in all everyone is cool. 3/30/15 Cesar salad Chicken pot pie/some type of steak Tress leches cake 4/6/15 Wedge salad with may tag blue cheese Brick chicken/ red wine braised beef Berry cobbler We always order 1of each of the main entres and share. Grace is one of my favorite hostesses. She's friendly and accommodating. The house manager is also tops. She's friendly and personable and remembers her dinners. Our portion sizes are always perfect because I'm usually stuffed in the middle of the entre. I was absolutely floored by the brick chicken over polenta with brussel sprouts and the mixed berry cobbler........I mean the chef did an outstanding job on that chicken. It was soo moist you could see the juices in the meat with each cut of the knife and seasoned perfectly and the sides were delicious. My oohh my that wonderful pie!!!! That cobbler kicked but. I should have ordered an entre to take home, that's how seriously good it was. The chicken pot pie on our 1st visit was also very delicious. The BF went with the steak that night which he enjoyed. Monday night suppers are our thing and it's a great opportunity to try Niche.

    (4)
  • Donnie ..

    I actually was planning on going to the restaurant next door- the wait was over an hour- we had walked in here, after looking the menu over- I was sold- The set up with the restaurant from watching the chefs cook, the plants, the servers all came together- great experience- not for people who don't want actual taste -

    (5)
  • Aaron R.

    Oh wow. Everything was amazing. I had the four course tasting of (1) Swiss Chard, (2) Sweet Breads, (3) trout, and (4) the Panna Cotta. I loved everything but in particular the trout may be the best trout preparation I have ever had and the panna cotta being pared against the cucumber sorbet and charred cucumber was brilliant. The wait staff were attentive and friendly. The only minor drawback is that the modern high ceilinged design does mean it is a relatively loud environment. Overall an amazing night.

    (5)
  • Fern R.

    The Monday evening dinners at Niche are very accessible and last night was absolutely luscious!! The soup, the fish dinner, and the tiramisu dessert, were all exceptional!! Gerard Craft is consistent in his very fresh locally sourced cuisine with every flavor shining through!! His artful presentations just add to your desire to partake..... Niche is the place to go for exceptional food in a relaxed atmosphere; definitely a top choice for the true foodie!!!

    (5)
  • Ali F.

    My husband and I came here during our honeymoon, and were blown away. Our server Jennifer was exceptional, and she thoroughly knew the menu and was incredibly patient and informative. All of our dishes were absolutely decadent, especially their new carrot plate. With a phenomenal wine selection, and an absolutely superb kitchen staff, this restaurant will woo you.

    (5)
  • Michael K.

    Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Ambiance: 4 Overview: almost everything is great except the layout and the pecan financier. Food: We had the chef's tasting menu in the spring of 2015. Almost everything was fantastic and/or interesting, with only two glaring exceptions: (i) the palette cleanser was nearly un-palatable, tasting mainly of gin, and (ii) the pecan financier was incredibly disappointing and one-dimensional. In contrast, the butternut soup and pork shoulder were favorites. The portions were just right for a moderate sized Midwesterner expecting a regular dinner. The portions could be a touch larger, but are acceptable as is. The pacing of the courses was nearly perfect, except for one dish with a slight delay and another dish, the soup, which was served while we were still working on the cheese bread. But we ordered a substitution or two, so the timing mishap is perhaps understandable. One of the diners felt that all of the desserts lacked sufficient sweetness, but another diner enjoyed the absence of what is otherwise common over-powering sweetness. Just do not expect something incredibly sweet after your meal. And don't get the pecan catastrophe. Also, one of the diners had eaten many times before at the old Benton Park location of Niche with varying experiences in quality, and agreed that the food now was as good as ever, if not at its best. Service: Essentially perfect. Just the right amount of attention and talkativeness. They bend over backwards to accommodate requests and substitutions, notwithstanding their refusal to serve an item that was off the menu (which is in fact totally understandable!). Ambiance: The setting is very nice, but the tables against the wall are too close to one another. This type of close seating is understandable (and normal) in a crowded city, but in St. Louis, even in Clayton, one should receive slightly more privacy at their dinner table, particularly during a romantic evening. Also, the open kitchen set up is a mixed blessing: it's great to see into the kitchen, but some might find it a touch too loud for an intimate dinner.

    (5)
  • Joe N.

    An excellent entry into molecular gastronomy. The "egg" alone is worth the price of admission.

    (5)
  • Palate Princess 1.

    The food is absolutely incredible. The flavor and texture combinations they use aren't like anything else I've ever tried before. I can't wait to try the Monday Supper. Seems like a great way to indulge in this outstanding food at a cheaper price. Service: EXCELLENT! Everyone on the staff was friendly and fast. The only thing I would change is the actual "feel" of the place. The fact that it's located right next to the Pastaria, which was loud and packed, cheapened it a bit. A smaller, more intimate setting would be nice. Everyone should try this place at least one time. It's worth it.

    (5)
  • Curtis H.

    Niche is a St. Louis gem! Two of us dined here for our anniversary and had an absolutely splendid meal. We elected to do the prix fixe selection of 4 so we could sample 8 different dishes. 7 of the 8 were outstanding (who knew that ice cream and pork should could EVER blend into such a brilliant dish???), and even the one we didn't adore was far from ordinary (the Escolar Crudo is certainly unique). $65 per person for such delicious selections seems totally reasonable to this foodie! The service was impeccable, and the cocktails and wine selection also did not disappoint. Overall a great experience and one that I would repeat. Check them out for sure!

    (5)
  • Pamela M.

    I have heard many great things about Niche and the Brazilian and sorbet accents to the menu always piqued my interest, but the location in Clayton made it seem like a stretch to dine at with our visitors who are often more interested in spending time downtown at The Arch and catching a Cardinals game. After I learned Niche received the AAA Four Diamond award in 2013, I put it on my list of places to dine in STL and made it a priority to have a date night at this restaurant. Thankfully, they were able to get us in on Valentine's Day after a last minute cancellation. Despite the snow storm watch, we jumped in our car and made the two hour trek from southeastern Missouri to St. Louis to dine at Niche. The food was meticulously prepared and well-executed. The pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) was phenomenal! It took some discipline for me to resist the urge to grab just one more, but I did and I barely made it through the four course dinner. The cauliflower "lasagna" with lamb jus, egg, Fleur de Vallee cheese, and crème fraîche was the star at Niche and one of the best dishes I have tasted in St. Louis. The cheese coxinha, ricotta ravioli, and lamb were mediocre. I wish I would have tried the chicharrones and red snapper instead. The meringue with sorbet and beet purée dessert was light in sweetness and texture--the perfect dessert to end a filling 'feast'. Just as we thought we were finished, they brought out some delicious ginger pâte de fruit. 'Twas a bitter, freezing cold night, but the warmth of the atmosphere at Niche--the bustling kitchen, lively ambiance, and passionate staff made getting out into the biting winter worth it! The service at Niche is definitely up to par with AAA Four Diamond restaurants. There were many attentive staff members to create an elevated, memorable dining experience. We will be back to Niche again to celebrate a special occasion!

    (5)
  • Ravi D.

    I went to Niche on the occasion of my 30th birthday (sad face), the place had a warm ambience with a hospitable and friendly workforce. The server described in detail all the dishes on the menu and also gave us few very good suggestions. The standout dishes were the pork shoulders and Missouri Wheat Cavatelli. The pork shoulders had candied buckwheat grains and a little herb ice cream on top which paired well with the saltiness of the shredded pork shoulders. The wheat cavatelli was delicious as well and had a hint of vinegar reduction which have it a nice aroma. I felt very much pleased by the innovation at this place and can't wait to come here next time.

    (5)
  • Andrea J.

    Was @ Niche last night. What a wonderful experience, that is what going to Niche is. It's not just going to eat, it's the textures, temperatures and tastes that are not common to the palate that make this place great. Is the price high? Well if you are going out for a burger yes then it would be, but to spend an evening drinking a good bottle of wine and having a culinary experience and just the friendliest service i have encountered in STll, then the answer is NO. Spend the money, take a loved one or celebrate an important occasion. You will not regret it.

    (5)
  • David D.

    Niche is very, very good and immensely creative. Fine, inventive dining without stuffiness right in Clayton. Service is pleasant, and space is nice and bright and clean. Really top notch on all phases of execution. I went with a pescetarian chef's tasting menu, since I'm annoying: 1) Amuse bouche -- Oak tea with olive oil, hearty flavors, strong way to begin the meal 2) Bonito roe with egg custard and shiitake mushroom, and a cream cheese fritter -- wow, the was a perfect savory course, in that it had a complex of wonderful flavors, but was not overwhelming at all portion wise. The plating was fun (served in the egg half shell, a la coq). A light touch of lemon gave the egg custard an interesting tartness/sweetness 3) Bread course -- wonderful puffed cheesy bread (gluten-free!) with fennel, pickled cauliflower, and pickled celery, of course, with some sea-salted butter. I almost devoured this in whole go, but the server politely mentioned it's to accompany the entire meal 4) Parsnip soup with puffed barley and sorbet -- the puffed barley and sorbet made this delicious parsnip soup fine dining. The puffed barley added an interesting texture, crunch!, and the sorbet a smoothness as well as temperature differentiation 5) Mushroom lasagna with goat cheese and egg yolk -- way too rich for my tastes, as the goat cheese and egg yolk were congealed with an olive oil. I didn't feel too good eating through this so passed it up. I think they usually do it with goat, which would be better for the omnivore crowd 6) Escolar with rice crisps and grapefruit -- interesting, light dish. The escolar had a good, almost chewy texture to it and the grapefruit and rice crisps really popped with some zest and crunch respectively. At this point in the meal, I'm wondering if they're overkilling the whole multiple-textures schtick 7) Acorn squash with pumpkin puree and buckwheat -- loved this dish. Immensely popular, I can tell. The squash was perfectly cooked, cubed, the pumpkin puree was infused with a touch of cayenne pepper which brought some heat to the tongue. The buckwheat gave this dish a little more gravitas 8) Palette cleanser -- this was a lemon sorbet with celery. Odd get up here, in that the sorbet was served in one of those plastic sleeves reminiscent of one's childhood, but it was couched in a bowl of lemons and celery to accent its origins 9) Red snapper with farro -- interesting the skin was served on the side. I thought the fish was overcooked, which was disappointing, as this was supposed to be the apex of the savory courses. Farro added an interesting compliment to the dish 10) Dessert course I -- mint sorbet with beet-infused poundcake and creme fraiche, this was a fancy dessert but one that worked very, very well. The poundcake might sound weird with beet, but it was absolutely delicious. The sorbet topped everything off nicely. There was meringue as well 11) Dessert course II -- creme cheese between two wonton crackers (a la fortune cookie) and citrus fruits. Interesting dessert, the crackers were sweet and the citrus was refreshing Overall, I had a great experience. I thought the execution was top notch. Some of the flavors and textures were overboard, and a couple dishes were not 100% top notch, but otherwise, highly recommended

    (4)
  • Picha M.

    I don't know. I'm not an over the top Niche fan. I dined here last week with a group. The last time I had dined at Niche was when it was in South City. The new location in the heart of clayton is very nice and modern. It is connected to their sister restaurant Pastaria which is actually a source of significant noise while dining. We dined on celery root soup, missouri trout, ribeye medallions and the sea salted caramel tart. Celery root soup: This was actually the most intriguing dish we dined on. It came out in a bowl with the dry ingredients strategically placed and separated. When it first came out I thought to my self, wow I'm going to starve! This looks like grape nuts. Then the waitress came out with the soup in a kettle and poured it into the bowl. Mix it up and voila... green soup! I kid. It tasted really good and was probably good enough to lick the bowl if I dared. Missouri Trout: Again a nice quaint dish. More greens than trout The trout appeared grilled but was hidden amongst the green vegetables. There was a nice crunch to the dish which did add a nice dimension. Overall very mild tasting but also good. Ribeye medallions: These were just ehhh. 2 medallions served over vegetables. Not much flavor to the meat and just a little chewy. I was hoping for a little more fatty ribeye flavor. Salted caramel tart: YUMMY! Just way to small! Genuinely this tasted wonderful. Overall a good experience but I was expecting more wow flavor. I was a little turned off by the noise which was mostly attributed to the sister restaurant pastaria. Remember to park in the parking garage and they will Validate your ticket!

    (3)
  • Guy B.

    The service was outstanding, even when not ordering the "tasting menu" it was a dining experience which ranks among the best I've experienced. The food has a local and farm to table preference without the trappings of typical trendy deference to this emergent dining genre. The atmosphere was lively and upbeat, I would definitely bring a small group for business here or a date. The restaurant is simply too small to accommodate to large a group, but 4-8 business associates would be perfect and they will be wow'ed. Outstanding experience, when I'm back in St. Louis I will definitely be back!

    (5)
  • Amy N.

    Favorite restaurant in Saint Louis, period. Menu always changes, so..try everything when you can!

    (5)
  • Simon T.

    Niche was good, incredible good. I would go go back, but probably only during their special deals (during Monday nights I believe). My favorite part of the meal was the delicious dessert. The service was incredible. Waiters are pleasant and willing to just chat with you if you want.

    (4)
  • Lili T.

    Service was really good here. I got the 3 course meal for $40 which was a good deal. I had the vitello appetizer which was yummy. I think it was tuna, foccacia and bone marrow. My husband had ravioli. I had the surf and turf for dinner. The scallops were ok but the pork belly was really good especially if you are a fan of fat. My husband had the pork duo which was pork shoulder and loin. He liked them both. At the end I had the liquid chocolate cake which was very good.

    (4)
  • Amrita R.

    A food experience I will never forget. When I think of this place, I just think... FLAVOR 'SPLOSIONS. This place has been on my list for years but the price is a bit (ok, a LOT) out of my budget, which is why I always stick to going to Brasserie brunches if I want something fancy. I'd been hearing such good things about it and had wanted it for so long that I even began to wonder if I was just hyping it up too much...Because, surely, nothing lives up the hype you create in your head. Except this place, which totally does. We tried one dish at the Saucy Soiree, the egg caviar thing but it really wasn't very good there. It was AMAZING at the actual restaurant. I realize now, that's not a dish that should be doled out by the 100s to people who are eating a ton of other foods. It was too jarring because our tastebuds were assaulted by so many other things. In this quiet and beautiful setting, one course after another, that was definitely one of my favorites. We opted for the chef's tasting menu and decided to just get one beverage pairing to share, but towards the end they ended up just giving us two glasses. And I'm glad they did because that moscato at the end was... wow. The service was also impeccable but every restaurant of Craft's has been so. They put up with us asking tons of questions because we would inevitably get so mesmerized with the food that we would never listen to what the guy was telling us was in it, so then we'd call the waiter back and ask him to repeat it, and we'd try to write down some of the flavor combos to remember them, and take photos of them all (which don't do the dishes justice at all). My bf told me he didn't tell the restaurant it was my bday, so it was totally unexpected to have the last dessert show up with a lit candle! I'm a lucky girl. Every single course blew our minds and we pretty much geeked out over everything. At one point, I turned to Joe and said "if you were to propose to me right now, it couldn't top this meal". I couldn't stop smiling the entire night. I don't think it's for everyone if you don't have an open mind about food. I like that it's not that hoity-toity and you don't have to be a food snob, you just have to be open to new things. There are some really crazy pairings that you couldn't even imagine. Old Bay seasoning sugar GLASS?! Amazing. But if you're open to it, it's most definitely worth the money. Best birthday gift evah.

    (5)
  • Jason B.

    Definitely a five - service, ambiance, and food. We ordered the fried cheese balls to start -- delicious. Then, we had the celery soup and spaghetti squash - excellent. Then we had the pork shoulder and trout - really really tasty. We skipped the entree and then split a dessert: caramel tart - yum!! It is a unique experience. The combination of flavors and textures are wonderful. The waiters are incredibly passionate about the food. Small portions, but you leave satisfied. We look forward to going back.

    (5)
  • Jeremy G.

    Always an incredible experience. Check out their special Monday night dinners for a more affordable, yet equally amazing meal. Sitting up at the kitchen was a great experience as well. Service is always top notch like the food. No Jack Daniels but they do have Angel's Envy.

    (5)
  • Michael U.

    Items sampled include: Thyme Chili Flake Focaccia Maple Custard - Maple and Lemon Flavor Custard with a layer roasted shitake mushrooms and finished with house made Bonito "Caviar" Lobster - Pullman, celery, green apple, togarashi, brown butter hollandaise Stone Milled Polenta - Thyme, Honey, Goat Cheese, Walnuts Hen of the Woods Mushroom - Chorizo Spice, Egg, Salsify, Date, Lemon Double Star Farms Chicken - Breast and Crepinette, Parsley Root, Sassafras, Carrot Caramel Corn - Blueberry, Sorrel, Bourbon Brown Butter Cake Chamomile Panna Cotta - Lemon Verbena, Sassafras Owned and operated by Gerard Craft, Niche is considered by most to be the best restaurant in St. Louis and as such reservations were booked well before the trip west began - a good thing, because even though we arrived as they opened at 5pm the place was packed within 15 minutes. Close seating, a great soundtrack (Floyd, Zeppelin, Stones,) and excellent service would prove to be the rule in the heavily wooden room where brown paper covered white tablecloths and all things being equal the food was quite good - but three courses and out the door by 5:55pm did seem more than a little bit rushed. Don't get me wrong - it certainly is not as though our server, Jennifer was pushing us out the door or that the culinary team was throwing plates onto our table faster than we could enjoy them, it is just that throughout our short stay there was nary a pause and given the small-ish portions and the fact that we did not order wine the meal went very quickly and even my mother, a woman of a small appetite, left the restaurant happy that we had later plans for dessert at Sidney Street Café...at 8:00, having assumed that our evening at Niche would have lasted quite a bit longer. Speaking to the food, there is no doubt that Craft and his team are talented and their flavors dynamic - a fact exemplified in the brilliantly deconstructed Lobster Roll and also in the deft balance of sweet, sour, and spice overlying tender mushrooms and all melded by a crispy poached egg; we loved both of these dishes and the ample side dish of polenta plus a couple rounds of tender focaccia more than made up for the somewhat small portions on the primary plates. Not particularly as adept as the savories, our pair of desserts were well presented and lovely to look at, but not particularly memorable save for the brown butter cake underlying the caramel corn - I would have happily eaten just that as a slice of cake beneath the blueberries and a dollop of whipped cream. All in all Niche was a nice experience, but on a long trip with many memorable meals I largely found it to be a largely underwhelming experience and given the rushed nature, not particularly memorable. If I were in the area I'd gladly return to see more of the menu and I'd recommend it to someone visiting St. Louis, but not before I recommended other places, and I'd certainly not travel to St. Louis just to dine at Niche.

    (3)
  • Helene D.

    This is hands down the best food I've had in Saint Louis. The service was vastly superior to any other St. Louis restaurant, and the ambience was relatively mellow and zen for a restaurant of this caliber. We went for a Monday night supper, so this review does not reflect the regular menu. Supper was a great deal at $35/person for three courses. We had two choices of entree (and I believe there was a vegetarian option also), and there was also a salad and dessert. Everything was delectable and beautifully presented.

    (5)
  • Bernie D.

    Niche is one of the most unique dining experiences I have ever been a part of. I'm definitely giving this place 5 stars because there plenty of places out that advertise themselves as "5 star dining" but from the culinary experience, to expertise and knowledge of the server, to the selection of food to match your palate I've really never been to anything like it. I can honestly say I don't think I've ever had anything like their menu before and most of it was mind blowing. Where I think most restaurants today either try to be super healthy by just loading your plate up with veggies or beans or something, OR restaurant try to make things taste better with sugar, salt, or fat. Niche does neither and truly incorporates the taste of great food into their menu. From the pork fat tea, to the fish egg appetizer, to the pork shoulder served with ice cream of all things. Everything on the menu was a new experience for my taste buds. I recommend highly that you try chef's tasting menu and try everything on the menu that probably terrifies you. I went with my wife, who's commonly afraid to eat a cheese sandwich and she loved just about everything they brought us. You will pay a higher price to dine here, but there's no question you're getting the most well prepared meal you may have ever eaten.

    (5)
  • Margaret L.

    What a perfect dining experience. I went with my parents and my boyfriend. We ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu, which was definitely the way to go. Everything that came out was interesting, creative, and (most importantly) delicious. It was one of those dinners where you keep having to exclaim "THIS IS SO GOOD" between mouthfuls. Unusual food pairings (custard and caviar served in a hollowed-out egg?) kept things interesting through the 8 or so courses. The atmosphere felt very Nor Cal if you will: casual elegance, big homey wood tables, open kitchen, cookbooks on bookshelves. Totally understated, friendly and warm staff, great place overall.

    (5)
  • Anthony N.

    ***Niche is an excellent upscale restaurant with dishes that would be comparable to top fine dining spots in Chicago or the Bay Area*** Niche sits in a residential area just outside of St. Louis. The restaurant has the size and friendly service of a neighborhood restaurant, but the restaurant is actually quite upscale. The room has a nice contemporary and clean decor with elegant touches from white tablecloth to nicely done lighting. The restaurant also features a nice looking bar and an open kitchen. With the menu, you have the option of a reasonably priced 6-course tasting menu or an a la carte approach with a good variety of starters and entrees (and a few desserts). I went a la carte and the meal started with a very good amuse bouche. It was maple and lemon custard with shiitake mushrooms and bonito caviar in a soft boiled egg presentation. The amuse really reminded me of the custard / soft boiled egg presentations at Manresa and Melisse. Like those amuses, the one here was decadent and a great combination of vibrant flavors. There was a lemony but still noticeable egg custard that was smooth and creamy. The shiitake mushrooms were earthy and provided a different texture and I really liked the bonito caviar, which had the flavor of Japanese dried bonito but as a moist and cool experience. I started with the escolar crudo, which was topped with horseradish, green apple, Thai chili, and molasses crumble. Like a lot of the food at Niche, there was a great combination if flavors and textures. The molasses crumble was sweet and crunchy while the Thai chili was hot and the green apple was tart. The fish was good too--moist and fresh. Next came a soup of salsify, Meyer lemon and wheatberries. The soup was a hot soup and it was quite good because it was somehow comforting and hearty as well as vibrant and light at the same time. I liked the sharp tart flavor of the Meyer lemon as well as the pronounced crunch of the wheatberries; I also enjoyed the silky salsify soup, which had a really good flavor. Next came a beets dish and the beets were done two ways. Some of the beets were roasted and they were tender and very juicy. There was also pickled beets, which were quite briny. The beets were finished with light and crispy meringue as well as a cool, fragrant and refreshing herb buttermilk (the kind of final touch where you immediately think farm-to-table). Before my entree, there was a palate cleanser of rosemary citrus sorbet, which had a smooth and even consistency for a sorbet. The citrus flavor was very good and provided the great strong yet refreshing punch of a good sorbet. The rosemary flavor wasn't really there though. For my entree, I had the braised pork belly, which came with a seared scallop, radishes, daikon and cucumber purée, and a tiny bit if some really good maple gastrique. Of all the savory courses, this was the only one that had as many average elements on the plate as great ones. And the flavors here seemed to work against each other instead of with each other like the great small plates. The maple gastrique was very good, but there was too little of it. The scallop was moist and soft, but it just did not have the great softness of an excellent scallop. The daikon cucumber purée was cool and refreshing, but I think it just did not work with the rest of the plate. It did have a prominent daikon flavor, but I've never been a huge fan of daikon. It was mildly bitter (and it did not have that appetizing of a flavor or texture). The radishes were good, but they were nothing special. The pork belly was exceptional though. Lightly crispy on the outside and a great mix of meat and rendered fat--meaty, tender, juicy, and flavorful. For dessert, I had the plum upside down cake, which was very much pineapple upside down cake with plums. It was the right style of cake and it had that soaked pineapple upside down cake texture. The plums were good, but they sat on top of the cake as opposed to being baked in like a pineapple upside down cake. Overall, I thought it was a decent cake, but it paled in comparison to the garnishes--toasted meringue and toasted marshmallow ice cream. They provided a more s'mores like experience and I think a contemporary take on s'mores would have been better (even if it would have been the obvious choice). Service was great--very professional but also very personable and warm. The food came out at a good pace. Prices were comparable to a similar quality restaurant in LA (maybe a tad cheaper). Niche is a very good restaurant and the plates showcase strong technique in the kitchen coupled with fresh and high quality produce to deliver excellent texture and flavor combinations. I'm not that familiar with the St. Louis dining scene, but I would think Niche is a must visit if you are seeking an upscale dining experience in this area. Free parking is available on the street.

    (5)
  • Stephanie B.

    The best restaurant I have ever dined in. The service was spectacular, presentation beautiful and the food divine. My bartender/server Joel was fantastic. What an amazing experience.

    (5)
  • Max M.

    Experienced another tremendous evening at this superb little joint. Our reserved table was waiting when we arrived. The food was sumptuous. The wine pairings were perfect. The service was impeccable. The staff friendly. The Chef is an absolute master. If you love the best you'll get the best at Niche!

    (5)
  • Ushee J.

    This restaurant lives in inbetween land which is my reason for 3 stars. I went to Niche with high hopes after seeing the reviews, expecting it to be about the same caliber as a one Michelin star restaurant especially since the prices are one Michelin star prices. I found the decor to be casual fancy, if that makes sense, I liked that it wasn't stuffy. The food, however, was disappointing considering the price. My boyfriend and I both tried the four course tasting menu and got different things for each course. We also got Coxinha for a snack. The Coxinha was completely tasteless, I have no idea how they took chicken and cheese and deep fried it and got rid of all flavor. The $1 coxinha's I've had on the streets of Brazil were far superior. Out of the 8 courses we collectively tried, I would say 2 were excellent, 2 were good, 3 were ok, and 1 was bad (the quail). For the price, I expected all of them to be atleast good. The service was great though, all the courses were explained, the chef came out a few times, and water was filled regularly. The wine was good. If this restaurant were cheaper, my review would be very different, but if you're going to charge $100+ per person, the food needs to reflect that price. To me there is no niche for Niche and I don't plan on ever going back.

    (3)
  • Steve B.

    I am not a "foodie." I just enjoy good and quality food and Niche definantly did not disappoint. The food was very good, it's a great place if you actually want to converse with your dinner partner and the service was very attentive and accommodating. Worth the try!!

    (4)
  • William H.

    Have you ever had a friend tell you about this AMAZING person that are just going to love? They are funny, smart, beautiful, and totally unique. And then you meet the person and you are like yea..they are cool nothing wrong with them but ehhh the girl/guy next door is equally awesome and take themselves a little less serious. That is how I felt last night after dinner at Niche. As a caveat I will say I am overly impacted by two things when I have dinner. The general attitude of all waitstaff (not just mine) and the environment of the room. I do NOT like this space. It is cold and perhaps that is bleeding into the waitstaff as I once again had a dinner bereft of any smiles at all..sad The creations from the kitchen are a delight and I won't quibble on price point as the combination of flavors was delicious (favorite was Hen of the woods) and wine parings were appropriate but uninspired. So, if you are less sensitive to environment and general attitude of the staff I'd say this is a great spot. But if you want good energy and lots of smiles just walk by the hostess at Niche and put your name in at Pastaria :D.

    (3)
  • Bryan W.

    What a great experience. Presentations are works of art. All courses caused me to pause and just take the sight in with the great aroma. Each made me wonder if my palate would be stimulated to the same degree as my sight of each course. I was not disappointed. The asparagus bisque melted across my taste buds with a balance of creamy and light onion. The pork shoulder was perfectly prepared. So tender. One of the very best dining experiences i have encountered. I will be back again!

    (5)
  • Meg T.

    High points: Wonderfully creative food. Exceptional service, friendly and professional. Sleek interior, but actually kind of cozy as well (due to the warm lighting and plush banquette probably). Nice that you can see into the kitchen and that staff comes to explain your dish to you when it's served. Nicely picked selection of wines by the glass. The food: I got the autumn vegetable salad to start. Great flavors, but I am pretty sure there was a stevia leaf in there... which is fine but just threw me off. Also had a bite of the jonah crab served on a avocado panna cotta which was lovely. I had scallops with a walnut dirt? and some kind of earthy tasting sauce. Delicious. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the play on textures with the walnut stuff was fun. The earthy sauce was a nice foil to the oceany scallops. Had a bite of the chicken too-- WOW. I usually don't order chicken out but damn, this was not your Mom's roast chicken. I can't even describe it but I will say that the chicken skin cracklins were a nice touch (cause we all know the skin is the best part...) Low points: I did not like my cocktail, the blonde ambition (too sweet, I should have known from the description). Most of the cocktail list was a little boring actually... I mean that most of the ingredients being featured were things I have at home, when I get a fancy drink out I want it to be something I cannot duplicate, you know? Kind of slow at times (our drinks sat on the bar for a few minutes before the manager? picked them up and brought them over. Will definitely be going back. I live right around the corner and can totally impress my guests by taking them to Niche!

    (4)
  • Deana W.

    Like a finely crafted cocktail , I prefer my food be interesting as well as delicious . Food has been around forever...so to find something visually appealing, bold, delightful and innovative is quite a treat. Each dish was beautifully presented. The wait staff was pleasant and efficient. Many tables have an interesting view of the chefs at work in the kitchen. The atmosphere in the kitchen seemed very happy. I much prefer to think my meal is being lovingly prepared, as apposed to "Hell's Kitchen"! There is a small patio area out front to allow for alfresco dining, which would be very relaxing in this charming neighborhood. The valet service provided is complimentary, and in this area an enormous plus. All of the fare was memorable...but none quite as spectacular as the dessert. Panna Cotta with cucumber and rhubarb ice. The Panna Cotta was silky and creamy, the cucumber ice was bright, and fresh, while the rhubarb was tart. The ice itself was soft but with the surprising crunch of lemon lime "Pop Rocks," that snap in your mouth...now that was a true taste sensation. A dish that will live in infamy in my mind, and rank a spot on my "Top 100 Best Things I Ever Put in My Mouth"! Join me , and find your own Niche and excite your tastebuds!

    (5)
  • Coco G.

    I tried their course menu. Chefs with such creativity and skills. Locally sourced ingredients. Top-notch service. Beautiful flower arrangement on tables. Foodie's paradise with no pretension or attitude. Need I say more?

    (5)
  • Allison D.

    The food was excellent, but portion sizes were way too small. We chose a la carte items, and each had 3 courses (soup, entree, and dessert). He ordered a cup of coffee, and neither of us had alcohol. Our check was $124.00. The service could not have been better. We're both vegan, and he's gf (celiac). I so appreciate the staff being so kind and accommodating. All items were modified and were absolutely excellent (the Hen of the Woods mushroom dish was the highlight). I just feel like for $124.00 we should have at least felt satiated. Instead, we both had to have a snack afterward. $124.00 (before gratuity) was a splurge for a special occasion. Now I know that I'd much rather go to a good restaurant and have good food and feel satisfied. FYI - we're both slim people. We certainly weren't expecting a buffet or giant portions. It's just that the portion sizes at Niche seemed laughable. And it would have been funny if it hadn't been the same price as a car payment.

    (3)
  • Andy W.

    The food here is not only great tasting, it's creative. I've had meals at many michelin star restaurants and Niche is on par with all of them. I was impressed. Don't think about it, just go for the 8-course tasting menu and you will be in for a treat. Menu changes often. Be sure to make a reservation.

    (5)
  • D H.

    went for our 10th wedding anniversary, ordered the Chef's Menu cause why wouldnt you? No words can tell you what you will experience. It is fantastic and the best we had in the STL yet, and we have been to nearly all of the top 15. Jordan, our server, was a walking chef. He made us salivate before even eating. He is also as jovial and connected to his clients as they come. sorry we didnt get the names of the others that helped us, but Jordan's personality was infectious.. Personable and made our evening.

    (5)
  • Kate B.

    It's been a while since my initial Niche review, and looking back, I feel like I have so much more to say now! I only come to Niche about once or twice a year usually for special occasions like my birthday. It's kind of beyond a college student's budget (although now that I have my paid internship it's almost within reach of going there once a month, haha) so yeah. Special occasion type of place. Which brings me to my last visit....early December for my birthday last year! I booked reservations a few days in advance just to be safe. We came on a weeknight though since Sean usually works weekend nights at the casino and the hours always suck...3rd shift! I wanted to share this special place with him! That ended up being a mistake as he really doesn't care for "fancy" food but the waitress brought him subs for stuff he wasn't cool with (e.g. seafood) so I consider it not a total loss on that front, lol. I still felt a little bad though for dragging him. Next time, I am taking a Yelper for sure! We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu because it's one of those things that always blows my mind away. I've uploaded photos, btw, of all of the items I ate that night along with the menu. I am glad I did because I didn't get around to writing this review until now and my memory is fuzzy! First Course: Maple Custard with roasted mushrooms, and bonito caviar paired with Scarpetta Pinot Nero Brut Rose NV. - Simply incredible. I think this might have been my favorite of all the food they brought out. It really tasted like a breakfast dish to me. The saltiness of the mushrooms reminded me of bacon and it paired nicely with the sweetness of the maple custard. I am terrible with talking about wine pairings so I will just say that everything paired wonderfully! Second Course: Lobster with pullman, celery, tarragon, togarashi hollandaise paired with Schramsberg Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs. - Probably my least favorite. The spicy sauce was too overpowering on the delicate lobster. I really dislike celery too so that was a miss for me. It came with this bizarre black looking ...toast...which apparently was bread dyed with squid ink. Here's where I think Niche was just trying too hard to be trendy or haute or w/e you want to call it. It was impossible to take a bite out of the bread so I had to basically shove it in my mouth which was painful on my jaw and when I crunched down, the squid ink leaked....and oozed out and it tasted kind of oily. It was nasty and I could barely finish it but thankfully this didn't ruin the rest of the meal for me! Third Course: Day Boat Scallops with french horn, shiitake, cocoa nib, walnut, lemon, juniper paired with Chateau Castigno Syrah/Carignan/Grenache 2007. - This was delightful! All of the flavors paired together so wonderfully. I felt like a forest hobbit eating this because of all of the mushrooms. I have never had cocoa nibs before either so that was intriguing. The lemon and juniper was a nice compliment to the dish. Sorbet (intermission, lol) to cleanse the palate. Fourth Course: Beef and Onions with candied onion, onion jam, soubise, and pommes aligot paired with Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - This was in competition for my favorite savory dish because of the AMAZINGLY juicy cuts of beef and the artery-cloggingly-delicious cheese and potato puree it came with. Basically nirvana in each bite but I felt the guilt later, ha. Fifth Course: Squash Bread Pudding with acorn, butternut, maple, ginger, marshmallow paired with Chambers Rutherglen Muscat - The essence of autumn solidified in one amazingly comforting dessert. Probably one of the best desserts I've ever eaten in my short life. I didn't like the marshmallows though as I thought they were too sweet but damn, the bread pudding was good. It's one of my favorite types of desserts so maybe I am a little biased. All in all this meal was one of the best I've ever eaten. I can safely say that Niche is my favorite restaurant in all of St. Louis. The way they blend the flavors together is just so perfect and it seriously makes me wonder how someone came up with all of these innovative flavor combos? Pure genius! Makes me want to quit engineering to become a chef!

    (5)
  • Lyndsey M.

    My husband and I ate at Niche twice during two recent trips to St. Louis. On our first visit, we opted for the 10-course tasting menu, and every course was outstanding. It's not often that I taste something I've not had before, but here it happened many times. From the tea service (tea and pork broth with smoked lemon!) to snacks of trout beignets and gin/celery popsicles, to an incredible parsnip soup with ice cream... everything was perfect. Our server was attentive, friendly and informed. Cocktails were creative and delicious. During our second visit, we went for the four-course dinner, which had some of the same items as our first visit (we both opted for the incredible parsnip soup and a truly remarkable pork shoulder/polenta dish) and different ones, too (a pan seared snapper for him, and smoked and roasted hen-of-the-woods mushrooms for me). Again, everything was perfection - the food, the service, the drinks and the atmosphere. I don't have one complaint about this truly exceptional restaurant, other than I wish it were in Kansas City instead of St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Ruth M.

    This is by far the best place to eat in Saint Louis. The chef is a real artist and creates the most amazing display of tastes and textures with unique ingredients. The service is superb and it is in a convenient location in downtown Clayton. Definitely go for the full tasting menu- you will be totally amazed. I have never experienced such unique textures while eating which makes dining here a very sensual and fun experience!

    (5)
  • Bryce A.

    I visited Niche (pronounced NEEsh) to celebrate a graduation. The ambiance is great - solid oak tables, decent lighting, seating area close to the kitchen, and a noise level that isn't exactly quiet, but is low enough to carry on conversation. I don't know how good of an idea it is to have candles sitting right next to books above the bar, but it looks pretty cool. The chef's tasting menu with wine pairing was the most expensive meal I have ever had, and did not disappoint with 8 courses of deliciousness. The standouts: Egg - my favorite course. It says "egg", but it is an eggshell which was filled with layers of custard, mushroom and bonito caviar. Great presentation, and there was a whole lot going on here flavorwise - you get sweet, savory and salty all in one bite. Cheese bread - served with pickled vegetables. The taste is about what you would expect from cheese bread, but the texture put it a step above. I don't quite know how to explain it, but it was bready...and cheesy. Filet of beef, with peas and onions. This was melt-in-your-mouth tender, with perfect seasoning. From the palate cleanser involving chicken fat to the assortment of 5(!) desserts, every dish was perfectly cooked and oftentimes mixed multiple layers of unique flavors and textures. Service was outstanding. The staff was knowledgeable about the food and right on top of everything. Waters were kept filled, plates were cleared on time, and it was impossible to go to the bathroom without getting your napkin refolded - we tried. Niche doesn't get a full 5 stars from me because the price point keeps it from the must-try-this-whenever-you're-in-the-area level, but for a special occasion or any time price is not a factor, Niche would be an excellent place to go and is easily a 5 based off of food, service, and overall dining experience. Oh, and the parking lot next to/above Niche is free with validation, so there's no need to go hunting for street parking.

    (4)
  • Gina C.

    What a terrific way to top off my first visit to St. Louis! I visited March 22. Beginning with the hostesses, who called me throughout the day to get me a reservation at a time that suited me through to the server and the chefs attending me at the kitchen-side table, I felt very welcome but not pandered to. The kitchen was generous with the amuse bouche and on top of the 4-course prix-fixe I almost had too much food! (like this is a problem?) I was left speechless by the savory mushroom custard served in an empty egg shell on a bed of moss. Fantastic presentation. the least flavorsome was the escolar crudo: the tuna was just not tasty although I give top marks for creativity. I left the wine choices up to the waitstaff. I was given an average red, not equal to the quality of the food. Overall, this was an expensive meal, but I got a lot for what I paid for. I look forward to visiting St. Louis again so I can eat at Niche.

    (4)
  • Robert G.

    Bland, Pretentious, Expensive. A waste of top locally sourced ingredients. Beautiful build-out, and outstanding front of the house staff. Very surprised at the consistent and soon predictable lack of flavor.

    (1)
  • Daniel L.

    All I have to say about Niche is: what a pleasant surprise in St. Louis! The parsnip soup was probably the highlight of the meal. If ever you find yourself at Niche with parsnip soup on the menu, I would strongly advise you to order it and experience the creamy, hearty, and perfectly smooth soup that was the parsnip soup. But the rest of the meal was pretty much amazing. : Coxinha = Though these things may be on the small side, they pack quite the flavor punch. Chicharrones = The ULTIMATE SWEET AND SAVORY CHIP. White chocolate powder on top of fried pork!?!??! BRILLIANT !! 10/10. The fried pork rinds were not even too crunchy : they were perfectly crispy and soft in the center. Dia's Cheese Bread = Very tasty. I didn't find that the picked vegetables went well with the whole ensemble, but the cheese bread definitely perfectly paired with their charcuterie and their homemade pate. Double Star Lamb = I would not say that this was the highlight of the meal by any means. I will give them the fact that I never had lamb that tasted like that before. The flavor composition was VERY interesting (carrot, cumin, yogurt, Thai chili, mint); however, I did not think that the lamb was cooked to perfection. It was a bit tough and dry. Their dessert was OK, but then again I don't really have that big of a sweet tooth. The service was great and the chef came to greet us every once in a while asking if everything was great. Would dine again!

    (5)
  • Lawrence P.

    We came in without a reservation and was seated at the kitchen bar seats. It was a marvelous experience watching our food and getting some extras along the way. Great service, the chefs were more than helpful and so hospitable. The caviar beignets melted in our mouths. The zucchini soup with creme freche ice cream was delightful. The Hen of the woods was spectacular. I am not a fan of mushrooms, but these were like nothing I've had before. So good! Will definitely go again when we are in St. Louis!

    (5)
  • Nicole C.

    1st and 2nd course: 5/5 3rd course: 3/5 4th course: 2/5 but then 4/5 second attempt My husband and I decided to try this place out because of other Yelp reviews. Clearly I did not read more closely about the restaurant because we were overwhelmingly underdressed with T-shirts and jeans. However the staff was still very polite and assured us we were fine. We ordered the 4 course meal, and both started with the amazing potato and leek soup with buttermilk sherbet and crisp potato crisps. This soup was to die for. Everything just worked so well together-incredibly delicious and creative. My next course was tortellini with bacon fat. It was super rich but delicious. My husband's 2nd course was tastier, pork shoulder with Brussels sprouts it was really tender and well seasoned. We ordered the same lamb entree with carrots seasoned with cumin. This course was disappointing. Other tables near us seemed to like the filet was a better choice. The lamb was very fatty and the seasoning style just did not complement it for me Finally for the dessert course, I had to send back the Pear. The presentation was bland as was the flavor. The replacement dessert I received was much better. Overall, for the price and Yelp reviews, I just don't think it lived up to my expectations. Many of the reviews reference items they did not have on the menu.

    (3)
  • Alice M.

    While in St. Louis for a conference, I was treated to a nice dinner at Niche. I'm probably spoiled by good food in San Francisco, but I was still expecting a lot from Niche given its ratings, but unfortunately, the entire meal and experience was only mediocre. I started with the pork shank pappardelle. The pappardelle was cooked well but the sauce was sour and overpowered everything else. For my main course, I tried the pork duo. It was a strange combination of too sweet and too salty, and despite my love of pork, I really didn't even WANT to finish it. Usually, I can be incredibly full but love how it tastes so much that I'll stuff myself silly just so that I can have more of it, but I wanted to be done long before I was. I tried a few other dishes (picking off other people's plates), but none worth mentioning. Overall, nothing was quite right (to me). Service was also a bit off -- friendly, but interrupted at all the wrong times, making the dinner conversation more stilted than it had to be. Next time I'm back in St. Louis, I'll look for something else, and hopefully, fare better next time!

    (3)
  • Rachel M.

    I live in San Francisco where new top notch restaurants open daily. But this restaurant represents the best meal I have had all year. The service, ambiance, and food were excellent, but also well priced. My Mom and I did the tasting menu and it was an experience to remember!

    (5)
  • Liz R.

    Had dinner on a Friday night. Lively atmosphere, great service, creative, locally sourced menu. I loved the fresh warm bread and the sturgeon exceeded my expectations. Perfect portions and a great wine list. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Vik R.

    Awesome place, great food, excellent presentation, fine dining at its best. We got the Prix fixe and it was simply awesome!

    (5)
  • Kristine S.

    After hearing for years how amazing Niche was, how it is the best "special occasion" spot, I finally tried it out. This was my first time, I'd not been to the former spot in Benton Park. I will try to make this concise. Service: lovely. Our server was pleasant, accommodating, helpful. Atmosphere: fine. nothing special. A bit sterile and small for me, nothing noteworthy. Food: Did the prix fixe menu and I had the zucchini soup, pork shoulder, hen-of-the-woods, and melon. Can't recall what my boyfriend had exactly, but I know he had the prime rib for the main. The flavors were lovely, no complaints. Lowdown: I sound like a stereotypical "Midwesterner" but I just didn't love the whole deal. If I am going to pay $200 bones for a meal, I'd like to have a bit more substance and a bit less art. I wouldn't say I walked away hungry, but I still can't say I could justify a meal like this unless someone else was paying...and I like nice dinners. I don't need a team to pour crap into my plate, stop pureeing everything. I am glad STL has a place like Niche, I really am. I'd just go elsewhere for a special occasion dinner (like Sidney Street) bc it's just my preference. I guess I am just that obnoxious STL-diner. It was more nouveau and San Franciscan (i guess?) than I am used to and prefer. While I appreciate what they do, it just isn't my cup-of-tea for regular nice nights out.

    (3)
  • Amy W.

    I don't write reviews often, but I felt compelled after dinner tonight to give a shout-out to Niche. So much of dining is the experience, and the Niche experience is one that is extraordinarily exceptional. From the hostess to the waitress to the chef, everyone is out to give you an enjoyable time. Since I was alone, I was offered a seat by the Chef's Table. This advantageous seating not only offered me a glimpse into the culinary art that is Niche's chefs, but also indulged me in the Head Chef's incredible generosity: although I only ordered two second-courses, he complemented my meal with three complimentary snack courses / first courses from the tasting menu. What a night! Shame that I discovered Niche only when I'm about to leave St. Louis. Yet whenever I come back to the area, I will be sure to pay Niche another visit.

    (5)
  • DJ S.

    Picture it. Monday evenings after the first day of a new work week, a rustic dinner is waiting for you after work. Does it sound too good to be true? Perhaps, but it's not my little doggy imagination working over-time. Niche's Rustic Monday Dinner is back! And this little doggy did a happy dance on my way to the restaurant last night. For those who don't know about Niche's Rustic Monday Dinner, it's a three-course meal for only $35.00 per person. It's the best $35.00 you will ever spend for a meal in St. Louis. Let me break out for you last night's food experience. The first course was a new and exciting twist on a caprese salad as only Niche can do. Chilled, blistered cherry tomatoes, perfectly prepared slices of eggplant, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto all served with a balsamic reduction, oh and I dare not forget the toasted bread crumbs sprinkled over the top. The second course was a choice between brick chicken or braised lamb. I selected the brick chicken. It was perfectly cooked with skin on, lightly seasoned and melted in your mouth. It was served with small toasted pasta and charred squash. I'm not sure what the sauce was but it was silky, complex, and delicious. The third course was a pear tart, but again, a tart that only the talented folks at Niche could create. The crust was thin, flaky without being greasy. The pears were roasted inside the tart, and then it is turned upside down and baked a second time with a bourbon caramel sauce. It was served with house-made vanilla ice cream. Needless to say I cannot wait to find out what the menu will be next Monday, but you can bet that I will be there with my napkin and cocktail in paw. From my, shatas dog bowl to yours...happy eating. shatasdogbowl

    (5)
  • Paul K.

    Wow what an experience. My son The Famous Chip K and his wife Bridget and I came here for Father's Day. Niche was offering a fixed price menu of 6 courses. It was named "Chef's Tasting Menu". For starters we had 1. Maple custard with roasted mushrooms, bonito caviar. It was served in an egg shell the taste was interesting as the mushrooms almost tasted like bacon. The bonito caviar was not fish eggs but shaved fish made into little balls. 2. Carrot Three Ways orange-cumin, yogurt, espelette. This was carrots served sweet, sour and regular. The cumin was an interesting twist to the carrots. 3. Scallops. strawberry, tapioca, and radish. The scallops were best eaten with mixing all the flavors together. A plain scallop can be a bit neutral but these were just an explosion of different tastes and textures. 4. Sorbet I was thinking just ol store bought sorbet. Nope homemade with a slight hint of smoke flavor. It kind of a brain twister as you expecting boring old sorbet but got hit with a smoke flavor. 5. Filet of Beef potato, leek, rosemary, and whey. The tenderloin of beef was served sitting on leek and mashed potato mixed together. Outstanding. I never did taste the whey. 6 Goat Cheese Custard rhubarb, basil, brown butter cake. The goat cheese was toned down my it being mixed with the custard and the rhubarb added a certain bitterness that was very nice with the brown butter cake giving the sweetness you would expect in a dessert. This may sound like a lot of food buy most dishes really were small and as stated in the beginning a taste menu. It was a nice treat for Father's Day and the service was outstanding. Good Job Niche!!

    (5)
  • Kevin M.

    A swing and a miss... My wife and I have been looking forward to trying Niche for a long time. We both ordered the 4 course meal and decided to order all different things and share everything. While the food was good and some combinations you might not have ever seen before were a pleasant surprise, for a 5-start price my expectations are that you really impress me like other 5-star restaurants in the area seem to do every time. Niche fell way short of these expectations. I left confused that I had just spent $175 (with tip, no drinks) but never felt like Niche delivered. With each course I hoped the next would be better, until I was served the bill. Unless you automatically associate quality with the price of the food, save your money for another 5-star.

    (2)
  • Brad T.

    Very good meal with just the right amount of food. Mondays are fixed prix, but the choices were good. A little louder than I would prefer, but nice atmosphere overall and very attentive service. Small mark down for little things here and there, but indefinitely enjoyed the evening there and would go back another day of the week to try the full menu.

    (4)
  • Bob H.

    I was with colleagues who ended up choosing this restaurant, partly because it was within walking distance from our hotel. I was a little nervous, because I feel farm to table has become so morally expected that everywhere you go that's all everyone promotes. We were fortunate to grab a table, but we were there a bit later in the evening. The prices seemed a bit much when first viewing the menu, but everything was a wonderful surprise. The environment was fantastic, as was the waitstaff: everything was taken care of, but I never actually noticed it being done. The mixture of flavors were so refreshing and the portions were very decent. The chefs really back up the message of the restaurant: local and inventive. We did the four courses. For me, each course wasn't better than the last, although nothing was average by any means, and it didn't detract from the meal. It was fun to try to taste each flavor that was incorporated and see how it added up to the dish and entire meal. If and when I'm planning on being back in St. Louis I will have reservations here.

    (5)
  • Jessica L.

    First of all, I would like to say this was one of the best meals I've ever had in Saint Louis in the 4 years I've lived here. I came with my family for a graduation celebration dinner and the service, food and company was absolutely amazing! Décor: Simple, classy and comfortable. Very welcoming and best thing? I can see what I'm eating! I hate dark restaurants where I can barely make out the faces of the people at the table. Service: Absolutely fantastic!!! Todd was our waiter and he was so welcoming, informative and so flexible with the Chef's Tasting Menu with my sister's dietary restrictions. His attentive service along with the other waiters who came by to check on us were all friendly and inviting. It's all thanks to them for making this meal such a great time! Food: So my entire family got the Chef's Tasting Menu and it was quite obviously the best (and easiest) choice. - 1st: Egg w/mushrooms. This was given in the shell of a hard-boiled egg, and inside was a layer of this delicious custard, then a layer of mushrooms and then finally some egg roe. Wow, this was BY FAR the table's favorite, and yes, you definitely have to have all 3 layers to fully enjoy it. Presentation: A+ - Focaccia: I would have preferred some butter with this bread, but ah well, still was moist and lightly seasoned - 2nd: Carrot 3 ways. This was indeed as the name says. Our table was not a fan of this because we didn't really get the concept of it. It was all a little underwhelming since it was some spicy crunchy carrot preparation + pickled baby carrot + long stringy carrot. We didn't think it was anything special. (Side note: My sister got this soup that was served at the PERFECT temperature; it was amazing) - 4th: Lobster Tarragon. This was okay, also not a table favorite since the lobster wasn't too prevalent and since my family has been to the land-of-pasta before (aka Italy), this pasta didn't really faze any of us. But, it was finely prepared dish nonetheless. - Intermezzo: Lemon sorbet. Omg, this was some tart/sour intermezzo. It was too much for me. - 5th: Beef filet. A+ for presentation yet again!! 3 small pieces of beef (though not to say we weren't getting full...) laid ontop of this pea-sort of preparation with mayo and leeks interspersed throughout the dish. Wow, perfectly done beef and that green preparation underneath it with that slightly crispy seaweed garnish? PERFECT. - 6th: Dessert that included guava ice cream balls/lemon mousse and some white crunch things. My biggest fear with desserts is it being too sweet and too decadent. But this was perfect- refreshing, not too heavy, not too sweet and a great balance of flavors. It was an interactive, fun and beautiful dessert (not to mention, the beautiful 'Congratulations' decorated on mine!) The little ice cream balls were a little difficult to tackle, but honestly, I thought that was so much fun. Also, that lemon mousse paired with it was absolutely perfect- melts in your mouth right away. Overall: We were all just a little bit too full but oh-so-very happy. My entire family agreed that this was a fantastic meal at a place well-chosen. Thank you for making my graduation dinner such an amazing one, Niche! The service was beyond top-notch! And Yelpers, you will NOT regret going to this place and get the Chef's Tasting Menu!

    (5)
  • Jeffrey C.

    Recently, we had the opportunity to dine at their new location, in Clayton. We had the eight course tasting menu with wine parings. As I wrote in my earlier post, it's just not my type of restaurant. I appreciate what they do but prefer other styles of dining. Also, dining here is pricy!

    (3)
  • Aimee K.

    For some strange reason I've yet to write a Niche review, so I figure after last night's feast there's no more appropriate time than now. Some lovely ladies and I dined there with 7pm reservations and it was one of the best dinners I've had in a really long time. As far as parking goes, valet is complimentary but I ended up finding a spot close by and snagged it. The place was full at seven, but what I love about Niche is when it's full, it's at the exact right capacity. It feels buzzing and busy, but it's still not too loud that it's distracting. That paired with the whites, neutrals, and woods that make up the decor just make the place gorgeous and you can't help but notice just how special this neighborhood Chef Craft creation is. It's perfect for a girls night out, a fancy schmancy date, or whatever else you have going on. We pretty much ordered half of the menu last night, so I'll just do a quick rundown of my recommendations: -Selection of farm house cheeses: not sure why this is in the dessert section, but it's a pretty standard cheese plate. There were three different choices and thinly sliced crusty bread. Let's face it, cheese plates are ALWAYS a good idea. -Stone milled polenta (thyme, honey, goat cheese, walnuts): very good, perfect for sharing. I found myself searching for more goat cheese, but the honey and thyme were very interesting. -Cauliflower soup (green apple, black garlic, dill): entrees included, this soup was the best thing on the menu. ORDER IT RIGHT NOW. The flavors were explosive and the dill was an awesome surprise, and it was creamy and oh-so-satisfying. -Roasted local chicken (parsnip, picholine, foie, sherry jus): the chicken was amazing and had a flavorful sear on top, but I didn't really love the rest of the plate... just the chicken. And it's a pretty small piece of meat so maybe stay away from this one. -Hen of the Woods (chorizo spice, egg, salsify, date, lemon): Hen of the Woods is a mushroom, and this was my favorite entree. The egg was breaded (I believe) and fried, but when you cut through it the yolk runs out all over the mushrooms. Heaven. Vegetarians, there is no meat anything in there, so don't let the chorizo spice scare you. -Day Boat Scallops (french horn, shitake, cocoa nib, walnut, lemon, juniper): can't vouch for the scallops because they scare the crap out of me, but this comes with a side of potato puree that's worth ordering seven of. See if you can order that side dish with something else if you don't want scallops. -Lobster (pullman, celery, tarragon, togarashi hollandaise): again with this one, I'm not a fan of the texture of lobster but I did try this and the flavors were incredible. It's served with a jet black squid ink bread that looked interesting... but again, I just wasn't brave enough. Wash it all down with a Orchard Sidecar and you've got yourself the best meal you've had all year. I'm still smiling today from dinner last night. I won't be back for a while because their menu doesn't change too much (it more just "evolves") so I'll give it some time (and give my wallet a break) and go in again. Especially for my amazing cocktail!

    (5)
  • Margaret L.

    What a perfect dining experience. I went with my parents and my boyfriend. We ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu, which was definitely the way to go. Everything that came out was interesting, creative, and (most importantly) delicious. It was one of those dinners where you keep having to exclaim "THIS IS SO GOOD" between mouthfuls. Unusual food pairings (custard and caviar served in a hollowed-out egg?) kept things interesting through the 8 or so courses. The atmosphere felt very Nor Cal if you will: casual elegance, big homey wood tables, open kitchen, cookbooks on bookshelves. Totally understated, friendly and warm staff, great place overall.

    (5)
  • Anthony N.

    ***Niche is an excellent upscale restaurant with dishes that would be comparable to top fine dining spots in Chicago or the Bay Area*** Niche sits in a residential area just outside of St. Louis. The restaurant has the size and friendly service of a neighborhood restaurant, but the restaurant is actually quite upscale. The room has a nice contemporary and clean decor with elegant touches from white tablecloth to nicely done lighting. The restaurant also features a nice looking bar and an open kitchen. With the menu, you have the option of a reasonably priced 6-course tasting menu or an a la carte approach with a good variety of starters and entrees (and a few desserts). I went a la carte and the meal started with a very good amuse bouche. It was maple and lemon custard with shiitake mushrooms and bonito caviar in a soft boiled egg presentation. The amuse really reminded me of the custard / soft boiled egg presentations at Manresa and Melisse. Like those amuses, the one here was decadent and a great combination of vibrant flavors. There was a lemony but still noticeable egg custard that was smooth and creamy. The shiitake mushrooms were earthy and provided a different texture and I really liked the bonito caviar, which had the flavor of Japanese dried bonito but as a moist and cool experience. I started with the escolar crudo, which was topped with horseradish, green apple, Thai chili, and molasses crumble. Like a lot of the food at Niche, there was a great combination if flavors and textures. The molasses crumble was sweet and crunchy while the Thai chili was hot and the green apple was tart. The fish was good too--moist and fresh. Next came a soup of salsify, Meyer lemon and wheatberries. The soup was a hot soup and it was quite good because it was somehow comforting and hearty as well as vibrant and light at the same time. I liked the sharp tart flavor of the Meyer lemon as well as the pronounced crunch of the wheatberries; I also enjoyed the silky salsify soup, which had a really good flavor. Next came a beets dish and the beets were done two ways. Some of the beets were roasted and they were tender and very juicy. There was also pickled beets, which were quite briny. The beets were finished with light and crispy meringue as well as a cool, fragrant and refreshing herb buttermilk (the kind of final touch where you immediately think farm-to-table). Before my entree, there was a palate cleanser of rosemary citrus sorbet, which had a smooth and even consistency for a sorbet. The citrus flavor was very good and provided the great strong yet refreshing punch of a good sorbet. The rosemary flavor wasn't really there though. For my entree, I had the braised pork belly, which came with a seared scallop, radishes, daikon and cucumber purée, and a tiny bit if some really good maple gastrique. Of all the savory courses, this was the only one that had as many average elements on the plate as great ones. And the flavors here seemed to work against each other instead of with each other like the great small plates. The maple gastrique was very good, but there was too little of it. The scallop was moist and soft, but it just did not have the great softness of an excellent scallop. The daikon cucumber purée was cool and refreshing, but I think it just did not work with the rest of the plate. It did have a prominent daikon flavor, but I've never been a huge fan of daikon. It was mildly bitter (and it did not have that appetizing of a flavor or texture). The radishes were good, but they were nothing special. The pork belly was exceptional though. Lightly crispy on the outside and a great mix of meat and rendered fat--meaty, tender, juicy, and flavorful. For dessert, I had the plum upside down cake, which was very much pineapple upside down cake with plums. It was the right style of cake and it had that soaked pineapple upside down cake texture. The plums were good, but they sat on top of the cake as opposed to being baked in like a pineapple upside down cake. Overall, I thought it was a decent cake, but it paled in comparison to the garnishes--toasted meringue and toasted marshmallow ice cream. They provided a more s'mores like experience and I think a contemporary take on s'mores would have been better (even if it would have been the obvious choice). Service was great--very professional but also very personable and warm. The food came out at a good pace. Prices were comparable to a similar quality restaurant in LA (maybe a tad cheaper). Niche is a very good restaurant and the plates showcase strong technique in the kitchen coupled with fresh and high quality produce to deliver excellent texture and flavor combinations. I'm not that familiar with the St. Louis dining scene, but I would think Niche is a must visit if you are seeking an upscale dining experience in this area. Free parking is available on the street.

    (5)
  • Stephanie B.

    The best restaurant I have ever dined in. The service was spectacular, presentation beautiful and the food divine. My bartender/server Joel was fantastic. What an amazing experience.

    (5)
  • Max M.

    Experienced another tremendous evening at this superb little joint. Our reserved table was waiting when we arrived. The food was sumptuous. The wine pairings were perfect. The service was impeccable. The staff friendly. The Chef is an absolute master. If you love the best you'll get the best at Niche!

    (5)
  • Ushee J.

    This restaurant lives in inbetween land which is my reason for 3 stars. I went to Niche with high hopes after seeing the reviews, expecting it to be about the same caliber as a one Michelin star restaurant especially since the prices are one Michelin star prices. I found the decor to be casual fancy, if that makes sense, I liked that it wasn't stuffy. The food, however, was disappointing considering the price. My boyfriend and I both tried the four course tasting menu and got different things for each course. We also got Coxinha for a snack. The Coxinha was completely tasteless, I have no idea how they took chicken and cheese and deep fried it and got rid of all flavor. The $1 coxinha's I've had on the streets of Brazil were far superior. Out of the 8 courses we collectively tried, I would say 2 were excellent, 2 were good, 3 were ok, and 1 was bad (the quail). For the price, I expected all of them to be atleast good. The service was great though, all the courses were explained, the chef came out a few times, and water was filled regularly. The wine was good. If this restaurant were cheaper, my review would be very different, but if you're going to charge $100+ per person, the food needs to reflect that price. To me there is no niche for Niche and I don't plan on ever going back.

    (3)
  • Brad T.

    Very good meal with just the right amount of food. Mondays are fixed prix, but the choices were good. A little louder than I would prefer, but nice atmosphere overall and very attentive service. Small mark down for little things here and there, but indefinitely enjoyed the evening there and would go back another day of the week to try the full menu.

    (4)
  • Jacob L.

    This place is like the critically acclaimed movie but doesn't appeal to the masses. Some of the items are amazing like the meats but other things are just gross like the mashed potatoes with green ice cream on top.

    (4)
  • Palate Princess 1.

    The food is absolutely incredible. The flavor and texture combinations they use aren't like anything else I've ever tried before. I can't wait to try the Monday Supper. Seems like a great way to indulge in this outstanding food at a cheaper price. Service: EXCELLENT! Everyone on the staff was friendly and fast. The only thing I would change is the actual "feel" of the place. The fact that it's located right next to the Pastaria, which was loud and packed, cheapened it a bit. A smaller, more intimate setting would be nice. Everyone should try this place at least one time. It's worth it.

    (5)
  • The Food Dude 1.

    Man oh man.... Best restaurant in the Lou competitor here for sure. Not cheap but you can not go wrong with the tasting menu here. I've gotten it 6 or 7 times going all the way back to the Sydney location and it has blown me away every time. The flavors, presentation, textures, creativity and service are all top-notch. There's really nothing else in St. Louis on this level. My only complaint is that they moved out to stupid snobby Clayton in a huge vibe-less corporate feeling space.... It was nice having Niche and Sydney Street Cafe here in the neighborhood and I really liked the old more intimate atmosphere....

    (5)
  • Jonathan S.

    Finally were able to drop by Niche for a Tuesday evening dinner on date night. We're big fans of Taste - actually its our favorite restaurant in StL - so we had high exceptions for Niche. Overall, we loved it. The waitress and staff were great. We asked for a few one-off cocktails and the bartender (who from what we told works at Taste as well) delivered. We both did different versions of the 4 course meal. 1st course: the soup is better than the beets - both good though 2nd course: both the duck and mushroom plates were great. 3rd course: we both got the ribeye. Awesome flavor, great buttery sauce on the side. 4th course: get the whiskey cake. I picked the short straw and got the cheese. GET THE WHISKEY CAKE.

    (5)
  • Carrie C.

    I wish I could come up with a singular word for "attention to detail" that didn't conjure up mental illness like OCD or obsessive-compulsive. Not that those qualities are always necessarily a bad thing as I resemble those remarks. However. Niche is obsessed with detail in only the very best way. I mean they make their own butter for crying out loud. Everything from the amuse bouche (house made goat Brie ) to the insanely good ice cream at the end of the meal was truly excellent. Miso marshmallows in the soup. Bonita "caviar". I'm sure there are many endless descriptions already posted. The key message here is to just trust the chef, kick back, and relax. Let them tailor the evening for you. ( and perhaps ask not to be seated next to an annoying couple planning their wedding who only know first world issues). I'm just sayin. ANYWAY. the service is outstanding. The food is outstanding. The seating could be a wee bit more comfy. I won't let that stop me. Next stop- little sister Pastaria next door. I'd love to see a few seating spots here that were a bit more special- like for an anniversary or whatever but it's a minor quibble. Come here. Every chance you get. And hopefully on expense account.

    (5)
  • Chris M.

    I came to Niche on a whim...in St. Louis for one night and found this gem while walking around in Clayton. Overall, I'd give 5 stars to the food and 4 stars to the cocktails (which in my mind are just as critical). On Mondays, they do "supper," which is a three course prie fixe with two entree options for $35 but no other menu options. I had the green bean salad (wonderful, with pickled red onion, confit potatoes, green beans, and a basil aioli), the confit chicken (rich, with a green risotto and marinated greens on top), and a cheese plate for dessert (just say yes to homemade sassafras crackers and rhubarb compote). Their attention to deal was on display with every plate. As a budding cocktail enthusiast, I tried two. The snowdrops was refreshing (and very pink) but I thought the absinthe was a little overpowering compared to the gin and elderflower. The berry pimm was solid, with the Pimms #1 really coming through and very subtle berry flavor. My favorite of the two. Service was solid, and my server (Jordan) made me feel welcome as a temporarily displaced Oregonian in Missouri. Also, good to note that I think the other 6-7 tables were all locals, and a couple sitting next to me came every Monday. Good times all around.

    (4)
  • Tom S.

    Best cuisine in Saint Louis! I can't believe no one on yelp has been here more often than me. This place is amazing :-) :-)

    (5)
  • S. W.

    We've been to Niche 2 Mondays in a row for their Monday Night Suppers, that's how seriously hooked I am. And I have to say that the food keeps getting better each time. I love the ambiance and decor. It's fine dining that you can also dress casual. It's great for a romantic dinner, family dinner or casual dinner with whomever. The staff is friendly and service is great!!! Now there are a few waiters whom are better than others but all in all everyone is cool. 3/30/15 Cesar salad Chicken pot pie/some type of steak Tress leches cake 4/6/15 Wedge salad with may tag blue cheese Brick chicken/ red wine braised beef Berry cobbler We always order 1of each of the main entres and share. Grace is one of my favorite hostesses. She's friendly and accommodating. The house manager is also tops. She's friendly and personable and remembers her dinners. Our portion sizes are always perfect because I'm usually stuffed in the middle of the entre. I was absolutely floored by the brick chicken over polenta with brussel sprouts and the mixed berry cobbler........I mean the chef did an outstanding job on that chicken. It was soo moist you could see the juices in the meat with each cut of the knife and seasoned perfectly and the sides were delicious. My oohh my that wonderful pie!!!! That cobbler kicked but. I should have ordered an entre to take home, that's how seriously good it was. The chicken pot pie on our 1st visit was also very delicious. The BF went with the steak that night which he enjoyed. Monday night suppers are our thing and it's a great opportunity to try Niche.

    (4)
  • Donnie ..

    I actually was planning on going to the restaurant next door- the wait was over an hour- we had walked in here, after looking the menu over- I was sold- The set up with the restaurant from watching the chefs cook, the plants, the servers all came together- great experience- not for people who don't want actual taste -

    (5)
  • Aaron R.

    Oh wow. Everything was amazing. I had the four course tasting of (1) Swiss Chard, (2) Sweet Breads, (3) trout, and (4) the Panna Cotta. I loved everything but in particular the trout may be the best trout preparation I have ever had and the panna cotta being pared against the cucumber sorbet and charred cucumber was brilliant. The wait staff were attentive and friendly. The only minor drawback is that the modern high ceilinged design does mean it is a relatively loud environment. Overall an amazing night.

    (5)
  • Fern R.

    The Monday evening dinners at Niche are very accessible and last night was absolutely luscious!! The soup, the fish dinner, and the tiramisu dessert, were all exceptional!! Gerard Craft is consistent in his very fresh locally sourced cuisine with every flavor shining through!! His artful presentations just add to your desire to partake..... Niche is the place to go for exceptional food in a relaxed atmosphere; definitely a top choice for the true foodie!!!

    (5)
  • Ali F.

    My husband and I came here during our honeymoon, and were blown away. Our server Jennifer was exceptional, and she thoroughly knew the menu and was incredibly patient and informative. All of our dishes were absolutely decadent, especially their new carrot plate. With a phenomenal wine selection, and an absolutely superb kitchen staff, this restaurant will woo you.

    (5)
  • Michael K.

    Food: 4.5 Service: 5 Ambiance: 4 Overview: almost everything is great except the layout and the pecan financier. Food: We had the chef's tasting menu in the spring of 2015. Almost everything was fantastic and/or interesting, with only two glaring exceptions: (i) the palette cleanser was nearly un-palatable, tasting mainly of gin, and (ii) the pecan financier was incredibly disappointing and one-dimensional. In contrast, the butternut soup and pork shoulder were favorites. The portions were just right for a moderate sized Midwesterner expecting a regular dinner. The portions could be a touch larger, but are acceptable as is. The pacing of the courses was nearly perfect, except for one dish with a slight delay and another dish, the soup, which was served while we were still working on the cheese bread. But we ordered a substitution or two, so the timing mishap is perhaps understandable. One of the diners felt that all of the desserts lacked sufficient sweetness, but another diner enjoyed the absence of what is otherwise common over-powering sweetness. Just do not expect something incredibly sweet after your meal. And don't get the pecan catastrophe. Also, one of the diners had eaten many times before at the old Benton Park location of Niche with varying experiences in quality, and agreed that the food now was as good as ever, if not at its best. Service: Essentially perfect. Just the right amount of attention and talkativeness. They bend over backwards to accommodate requests and substitutions, notwithstanding their refusal to serve an item that was off the menu (which is in fact totally understandable!). Ambiance: The setting is very nice, but the tables against the wall are too close to one another. This type of close seating is understandable (and normal) in a crowded city, but in St. Louis, even in Clayton, one should receive slightly more privacy at their dinner table, particularly during a romantic evening. Also, the open kitchen set up is a mixed blessing: it's great to see into the kitchen, but some might find it a touch too loud for an intimate dinner.

    (5)
  • Joe N.

    An excellent entry into molecular gastronomy. The "egg" alone is worth the price of admission.

    (5)
  • Pamela M.

    I have heard many great things about Niche and the Brazilian and sorbet accents to the menu always piqued my interest, but the location in Clayton made it seem like a stretch to dine at with our visitors who are often more interested in spending time downtown at The Arch and catching a Cardinals game. After I learned Niche received the AAA Four Diamond award in 2013, I put it on my list of places to dine in STL and made it a priority to have a date night at this restaurant. Thankfully, they were able to get us in on Valentine's Day after a last minute cancellation. Despite the snow storm watch, we jumped in our car and made the two hour trek from southeastern Missouri to St. Louis to dine at Niche. The food was meticulously prepared and well-executed. The pão de queijo (Brazilian cheese bread) was phenomenal! It took some discipline for me to resist the urge to grab just one more, but I did and I barely made it through the four course dinner. The cauliflower "lasagna" with lamb jus, egg, Fleur de Vallee cheese, and crème fraîche was the star at Niche and one of the best dishes I have tasted in St. Louis. The cheese coxinha, ricotta ravioli, and lamb were mediocre. I wish I would have tried the chicharrones and red snapper instead. The meringue with sorbet and beet purée dessert was light in sweetness and texture--the perfect dessert to end a filling 'feast'. Just as we thought we were finished, they brought out some delicious ginger pâte de fruit. 'Twas a bitter, freezing cold night, but the warmth of the atmosphere at Niche--the bustling kitchen, lively ambiance, and passionate staff made getting out into the biting winter worth it! The service at Niche is definitely up to par with AAA Four Diamond restaurants. There were many attentive staff members to create an elevated, memorable dining experience. We will be back to Niche again to celebrate a special occasion!

    (5)
  • Ravi D.

    I went to Niche on the occasion of my 30th birthday (sad face), the place had a warm ambience with a hospitable and friendly workforce. The server described in detail all the dishes on the menu and also gave us few very good suggestions. The standout dishes were the pork shoulders and Missouri Wheat Cavatelli. The pork shoulders had candied buckwheat grains and a little herb ice cream on top which paired well with the saltiness of the shredded pork shoulders. The wheat cavatelli was delicious as well and had a hint of vinegar reduction which have it a nice aroma. I felt very much pleased by the innovation at this place and can't wait to come here next time.

    (5)
  • Andrea J.

    Was @ Niche last night. What a wonderful experience, that is what going to Niche is. It's not just going to eat, it's the textures, temperatures and tastes that are not common to the palate that make this place great. Is the price high? Well if you are going out for a burger yes then it would be, but to spend an evening drinking a good bottle of wine and having a culinary experience and just the friendliest service i have encountered in STll, then the answer is NO. Spend the money, take a loved one or celebrate an important occasion. You will not regret it.

    (5)
  • David D.

    Niche is very, very good and immensely creative. Fine, inventive dining without stuffiness right in Clayton. Service is pleasant, and space is nice and bright and clean. Really top notch on all phases of execution. I went with a pescetarian chef's tasting menu, since I'm annoying: 1) Amuse bouche -- Oak tea with olive oil, hearty flavors, strong way to begin the meal 2) Bonito roe with egg custard and shiitake mushroom, and a cream cheese fritter -- wow, the was a perfect savory course, in that it had a complex of wonderful flavors, but was not overwhelming at all portion wise. The plating was fun (served in the egg half shell, a la coq). A light touch of lemon gave the egg custard an interesting tartness/sweetness 3) Bread course -- wonderful puffed cheesy bread (gluten-free!) with fennel, pickled cauliflower, and pickled celery, of course, with some sea-salted butter. I almost devoured this in whole go, but the server politely mentioned it's to accompany the entire meal 4) Parsnip soup with puffed barley and sorbet -- the puffed barley and sorbet made this delicious parsnip soup fine dining. The puffed barley added an interesting texture, crunch!, and the sorbet a smoothness as well as temperature differentiation 5) Mushroom lasagna with goat cheese and egg yolk -- way too rich for my tastes, as the goat cheese and egg yolk were congealed with an olive oil. I didn't feel too good eating through this so passed it up. I think they usually do it with goat, which would be better for the omnivore crowd 6) Escolar with rice crisps and grapefruit -- interesting, light dish. The escolar had a good, almost chewy texture to it and the grapefruit and rice crisps really popped with some zest and crunch respectively. At this point in the meal, I'm wondering if they're overkilling the whole multiple-textures schtick 7) Acorn squash with pumpkin puree and buckwheat -- loved this dish. Immensely popular, I can tell. The squash was perfectly cooked, cubed, the pumpkin puree was infused with a touch of cayenne pepper which brought some heat to the tongue. The buckwheat gave this dish a little more gravitas 8) Palette cleanser -- this was a lemon sorbet with celery. Odd get up here, in that the sorbet was served in one of those plastic sleeves reminiscent of one's childhood, but it was couched in a bowl of lemons and celery to accent its origins 9) Red snapper with farro -- interesting the skin was served on the side. I thought the fish was overcooked, which was disappointing, as this was supposed to be the apex of the savory courses. Farro added an interesting compliment to the dish 10) Dessert course I -- mint sorbet with beet-infused poundcake and creme fraiche, this was a fancy dessert but one that worked very, very well. The poundcake might sound weird with beet, but it was absolutely delicious. The sorbet topped everything off nicely. There was meringue as well 11) Dessert course II -- creme cheese between two wonton crackers (a la fortune cookie) and citrus fruits. Interesting dessert, the crackers were sweet and the citrus was refreshing Overall, I had a great experience. I thought the execution was top notch. Some of the flavors and textures were overboard, and a couple dishes were not 100% top notch, but otherwise, highly recommended

    (4)
  • Picha M.

    I don't know. I'm not an over the top Niche fan. I dined here last week with a group. The last time I had dined at Niche was when it was in South City. The new location in the heart of clayton is very nice and modern. It is connected to their sister restaurant Pastaria which is actually a source of significant noise while dining. We dined on celery root soup, missouri trout, ribeye medallions and the sea salted caramel tart. Celery root soup: This was actually the most intriguing dish we dined on. It came out in a bowl with the dry ingredients strategically placed and separated. When it first came out I thought to my self, wow I'm going to starve! This looks like grape nuts. Then the waitress came out with the soup in a kettle and poured it into the bowl. Mix it up and voila... green soup! I kid. It tasted really good and was probably good enough to lick the bowl if I dared. Missouri Trout: Again a nice quaint dish. More greens than trout The trout appeared grilled but was hidden amongst the green vegetables. There was a nice crunch to the dish which did add a nice dimension. Overall very mild tasting but also good. Ribeye medallions: These were just ehhh. 2 medallions served over vegetables. Not much flavor to the meat and just a little chewy. I was hoping for a little more fatty ribeye flavor. Salted caramel tart: YUMMY! Just way to small! Genuinely this tasted wonderful. Overall a good experience but I was expecting more wow flavor. I was a little turned off by the noise which was mostly attributed to the sister restaurant pastaria. Remember to park in the parking garage and they will Validate your ticket!

    (3)
  • Guy B.

    The service was outstanding, even when not ordering the "tasting menu" it was a dining experience which ranks among the best I've experienced. The food has a local and farm to table preference without the trappings of typical trendy deference to this emergent dining genre. The atmosphere was lively and upbeat, I would definitely bring a small group for business here or a date. The restaurant is simply too small to accommodate to large a group, but 4-8 business associates would be perfect and they will be wow'ed. Outstanding experience, when I'm back in St. Louis I will definitely be back!

    (5)
  • Amy N.

    Favorite restaurant in Saint Louis, period. Menu always changes, so..try everything when you can!

    (5)
  • Simon T.

    Niche was good, incredible good. I would go go back, but probably only during their special deals (during Monday nights I believe). My favorite part of the meal was the delicious dessert. The service was incredible. Waiters are pleasant and willing to just chat with you if you want.

    (4)
  • Curtis H.

    Niche is a St. Louis gem! Two of us dined here for our anniversary and had an absolutely splendid meal. We elected to do the prix fixe selection of 4 so we could sample 8 different dishes. 7 of the 8 were outstanding (who knew that ice cream and pork should could EVER blend into such a brilliant dish???), and even the one we didn't adore was far from ordinary (the Escolar Crudo is certainly unique). $65 per person for such delicious selections seems totally reasonable to this foodie! The service was impeccable, and the cocktails and wine selection also did not disappoint. Overall a great experience and one that I would repeat. Check them out for sure!

    (5)
  • Amrita R.

    A food experience I will never forget. When I think of this place, I just think... FLAVOR 'SPLOSIONS. This place has been on my list for years but the price is a bit (ok, a LOT) out of my budget, which is why I always stick to going to Brasserie brunches if I want something fancy. I'd been hearing such good things about it and had wanted it for so long that I even began to wonder if I was just hyping it up too much...Because, surely, nothing lives up the hype you create in your head. Except this place, which totally does. We tried one dish at the Saucy Soiree, the egg caviar thing but it really wasn't very good there. It was AMAZING at the actual restaurant. I realize now, that's not a dish that should be doled out by the 100s to people who are eating a ton of other foods. It was too jarring because our tastebuds were assaulted by so many other things. In this quiet and beautiful setting, one course after another, that was definitely one of my favorites. We opted for the chef's tasting menu and decided to just get one beverage pairing to share, but towards the end they ended up just giving us two glasses. And I'm glad they did because that moscato at the end was... wow. The service was also impeccable but every restaurant of Craft's has been so. They put up with us asking tons of questions because we would inevitably get so mesmerized with the food that we would never listen to what the guy was telling us was in it, so then we'd call the waiter back and ask him to repeat it, and we'd try to write down some of the flavor combos to remember them, and take photos of them all (which don't do the dishes justice at all). My bf told me he didn't tell the restaurant it was my bday, so it was totally unexpected to have the last dessert show up with a lit candle! I'm a lucky girl. Every single course blew our minds and we pretty much geeked out over everything. At one point, I turned to Joe and said "if you were to propose to me right now, it couldn't top this meal". I couldn't stop smiling the entire night. I don't think it's for everyone if you don't have an open mind about food. I like that it's not that hoity-toity and you don't have to be a food snob, you just have to be open to new things. There are some really crazy pairings that you couldn't even imagine. Old Bay seasoning sugar GLASS?! Amazing. But if you're open to it, it's most definitely worth the money. Best birthday gift evah.

    (5)
  • Jason B.

    Definitely a five - service, ambiance, and food. We ordered the fried cheese balls to start -- delicious. Then, we had the celery soup and spaghetti squash - excellent. Then we had the pork shoulder and trout - really really tasty. We skipped the entree and then split a dessert: caramel tart - yum!! It is a unique experience. The combination of flavors and textures are wonderful. The waiters are incredibly passionate about the food. Small portions, but you leave satisfied. We look forward to going back.

    (5)
  • Jeremy G.

    Always an incredible experience. Check out their special Monday night dinners for a more affordable, yet equally amazing meal. Sitting up at the kitchen was a great experience as well. Service is always top notch like the food. No Jack Daniels but they do have Angel's Envy.

    (5)
  • Michael U.

    Items sampled include: Thyme Chili Flake Focaccia Maple Custard - Maple and Lemon Flavor Custard with a layer roasted shitake mushrooms and finished with house made Bonito "Caviar" Lobster - Pullman, celery, green apple, togarashi, brown butter hollandaise Stone Milled Polenta - Thyme, Honey, Goat Cheese, Walnuts Hen of the Woods Mushroom - Chorizo Spice, Egg, Salsify, Date, Lemon Double Star Farms Chicken - Breast and Crepinette, Parsley Root, Sassafras, Carrot Caramel Corn - Blueberry, Sorrel, Bourbon Brown Butter Cake Chamomile Panna Cotta - Lemon Verbena, Sassafras Owned and operated by Gerard Craft, Niche is considered by most to be the best restaurant in St. Louis and as such reservations were booked well before the trip west began - a good thing, because even though we arrived as they opened at 5pm the place was packed within 15 minutes. Close seating, a great soundtrack (Floyd, Zeppelin, Stones,) and excellent service would prove to be the rule in the heavily wooden room where brown paper covered white tablecloths and all things being equal the food was quite good - but three courses and out the door by 5:55pm did seem more than a little bit rushed. Don't get me wrong - it certainly is not as though our server, Jennifer was pushing us out the door or that the culinary team was throwing plates onto our table faster than we could enjoy them, it is just that throughout our short stay there was nary a pause and given the small-ish portions and the fact that we did not order wine the meal went very quickly and even my mother, a woman of a small appetite, left the restaurant happy that we had later plans for dessert at Sidney Street Café...at 8:00, having assumed that our evening at Niche would have lasted quite a bit longer. Speaking to the food, there is no doubt that Craft and his team are talented and their flavors dynamic - a fact exemplified in the brilliantly deconstructed Lobster Roll and also in the deft balance of sweet, sour, and spice overlying tender mushrooms and all melded by a crispy poached egg; we loved both of these dishes and the ample side dish of polenta plus a couple rounds of tender focaccia more than made up for the somewhat small portions on the primary plates. Not particularly as adept as the savories, our pair of desserts were well presented and lovely to look at, but not particularly memorable save for the brown butter cake underlying the caramel corn - I would have happily eaten just that as a slice of cake beneath the blueberries and a dollop of whipped cream. All in all Niche was a nice experience, but on a long trip with many memorable meals I largely found it to be a largely underwhelming experience and given the rushed nature, not particularly memorable. If I were in the area I'd gladly return to see more of the menu and I'd recommend it to someone visiting St. Louis, but not before I recommended other places, and I'd certainly not travel to St. Louis just to dine at Niche.

    (3)
  • Helene D.

    This is hands down the best food I've had in Saint Louis. The service was vastly superior to any other St. Louis restaurant, and the ambience was relatively mellow and zen for a restaurant of this caliber. We went for a Monday night supper, so this review does not reflect the regular menu. Supper was a great deal at $35/person for three courses. We had two choices of entree (and I believe there was a vegetarian option also), and there was also a salad and dessert. Everything was delectable and beautifully presented.

    (5)
  • Bernie D.

    Niche is one of the most unique dining experiences I have ever been a part of. I'm definitely giving this place 5 stars because there plenty of places out that advertise themselves as "5 star dining" but from the culinary experience, to expertise and knowledge of the server, to the selection of food to match your palate I've really never been to anything like it. I can honestly say I don't think I've ever had anything like their menu before and most of it was mind blowing. Where I think most restaurants today either try to be super healthy by just loading your plate up with veggies or beans or something, OR restaurant try to make things taste better with sugar, salt, or fat. Niche does neither and truly incorporates the taste of great food into their menu. From the pork fat tea, to the fish egg appetizer, to the pork shoulder served with ice cream of all things. Everything on the menu was a new experience for my taste buds. I recommend highly that you try chef's tasting menu and try everything on the menu that probably terrifies you. I went with my wife, who's commonly afraid to eat a cheese sandwich and she loved just about everything they brought us. You will pay a higher price to dine here, but there's no question you're getting the most well prepared meal you may have ever eaten.

    (5)
  • Steve B.

    I am not a "foodie." I just enjoy good and quality food and Niche definantly did not disappoint. The food was very good, it's a great place if you actually want to converse with your dinner partner and the service was very attentive and accommodating. Worth the try!!

    (4)
  • Cameron R.

    As good as it gets. I went last night with my girlfriend for our one year anniversary and Niche exceeded every expectation I came in with. First the atmosphere was perfect for our evening. It is small, intimate and good looking. And from the moment we came in we felt welcomed by the hostess. I was a little leery that there would be a snobish feel going into a pricy restaurant but I found everyone was accommodating and helpful. Next, our waiter, Kevin, performed pretty much perfectly. Very helpful, knowledgeable and generally just a nice guy. He helped us decide on every one of our dishes, which he knew every single detail about. Now onto the best part, the food. Started with a crab dish (Johan's crab, I think) which was simple and unlike any crab dish I have had before. To describe its taste in one word, "summer" is the only thing that comes to mind. Then the main course came a beautifully plated filet on a layer of avocado hollandaise, the best peas and favra beans I have ever eaten and whipped potatoes that were simply to die for. We also got the polenta to share during the meal that was different than anything I've experienced with goat cheese, honey and nuts. Delicious. And finally to dessert. A plate with 3 different chocolates (white, milk and dark) and coffee. So rich, so good. I was almost sad when it was time to go because it was truly one of the best meals I have ever eaten. I will definitely be recommending this fine restaurant to all my friends. One word of warning, nothing is cheap but I feel that every once in a while you have indulge and this is the place to do it.

    (5)
  • William H.

    Have you ever had a friend tell you about this AMAZING person that are just going to love? They are funny, smart, beautiful, and totally unique. And then you meet the person and you are like yea..they are cool nothing wrong with them but ehhh the girl/guy next door is equally awesome and take themselves a little less serious. That is how I felt last night after dinner at Niche. As a caveat I will say I am overly impacted by two things when I have dinner. The general attitude of all waitstaff (not just mine) and the environment of the room. I do NOT like this space. It is cold and perhaps that is bleeding into the waitstaff as I once again had a dinner bereft of any smiles at all..sad The creations from the kitchen are a delight and I won't quibble on price point as the combination of flavors was delicious (favorite was Hen of the woods) and wine parings were appropriate but uninspired. So, if you are less sensitive to environment and general attitude of the staff I'd say this is a great spot. But if you want good energy and lots of smiles just walk by the hostess at Niche and put your name in at Pastaria :D.

    (3)
  • Scott D.

    Niche is the type of place that makes someone new to St. Louis think, "you know, I could make it work here." Everything we had was wonderful. The decor is perfectly modern. The lighting and atmosphere are perfect - perfect for a romantic meal or a fun group dinner.

    (5)
  • Deana W.

    Like a finely crafted cocktail , I prefer my food be interesting as well as delicious . Food has been around forever...so to find something visually appealing, bold, delightful and innovative is quite a treat. Each dish was beautifully presented. The wait staff was pleasant and efficient. Many tables have an interesting view of the chefs at work in the kitchen. The atmosphere in the kitchen seemed very happy. I much prefer to think my meal is being lovingly prepared, as apposed to "Hell's Kitchen"! There is a small patio area out front to allow for alfresco dining, which would be very relaxing in this charming neighborhood. The valet service provided is complimentary, and in this area an enormous plus. All of the fare was memorable...but none quite as spectacular as the dessert. Panna Cotta with cucumber and rhubarb ice. The Panna Cotta was silky and creamy, the cucumber ice was bright, and fresh, while the rhubarb was tart. The ice itself was soft but with the surprising crunch of lemon lime "Pop Rocks," that snap in your mouth...now that was a true taste sensation. A dish that will live in infamy in my mind, and rank a spot on my "Top 100 Best Things I Ever Put in My Mouth"! Join me , and find your own Niche and excite your tastebuds!

    (5)
  • Coco G.

    I tried their course menu. Chefs with such creativity and skills. Locally sourced ingredients. Top-notch service. Beautiful flower arrangement on tables. Foodie's paradise with no pretension or attitude. Need I say more?

    (5)
  • Allison D.

    The food was excellent, but portion sizes were way too small. We chose a la carte items, and each had 3 courses (soup, entree, and dessert). He ordered a cup of coffee, and neither of us had alcohol. Our check was $124.00. The service could not have been better. We're both vegan, and he's gf (celiac). I so appreciate the staff being so kind and accommodating. All items were modified and were absolutely excellent (the Hen of the Woods mushroom dish was the highlight). I just feel like for $124.00 we should have at least felt satiated. Instead, we both had to have a snack afterward. $124.00 (before gratuity) was a splurge for a special occasion. Now I know that I'd much rather go to a good restaurant and have good food and feel satisfied. FYI - we're both slim people. We certainly weren't expecting a buffet or giant portions. It's just that the portion sizes at Niche seemed laughable. And it would have been funny if it hadn't been the same price as a car payment.

    (3)
  • Andy W.

    The food here is not only great tasting, it's creative. I've had meals at many michelin star restaurants and Niche is on par with all of them. I was impressed. Don't think about it, just go for the 8-course tasting menu and you will be in for a treat. Menu changes often. Be sure to make a reservation.

    (5)
  • Lyndsey M.

    My husband and I ate at Niche twice during two recent trips to St. Louis. On our first visit, we opted for the 10-course tasting menu, and every course was outstanding. It's not often that I taste something I've not had before, but here it happened many times. From the tea service (tea and pork broth with smoked lemon!) to snacks of trout beignets and gin/celery popsicles, to an incredible parsnip soup with ice cream... everything was perfect. Our server was attentive, friendly and informed. Cocktails were creative and delicious. During our second visit, we went for the four-course dinner, which had some of the same items as our first visit (we both opted for the incredible parsnip soup and a truly remarkable pork shoulder/polenta dish) and different ones, too (a pan seared snapper for him, and smoked and roasted hen-of-the-woods mushrooms for me). Again, everything was perfection - the food, the service, the drinks and the atmosphere. I don't have one complaint about this truly exceptional restaurant, other than I wish it were in Kansas City instead of St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Ruth M.

    This is by far the best place to eat in Saint Louis. The chef is a real artist and creates the most amazing display of tastes and textures with unique ingredients. The service is superb and it is in a convenient location in downtown Clayton. Definitely go for the full tasting menu- you will be totally amazed. I have never experienced such unique textures while eating which makes dining here a very sensual and fun experience!

    (5)
  • Bryce A.

    I visited Niche (pronounced NEEsh) to celebrate a graduation. The ambiance is great - solid oak tables, decent lighting, seating area close to the kitchen, and a noise level that isn't exactly quiet, but is low enough to carry on conversation. I don't know how good of an idea it is to have candles sitting right next to books above the bar, but it looks pretty cool. The chef's tasting menu with wine pairing was the most expensive meal I have ever had, and did not disappoint with 8 courses of deliciousness. The standouts: Egg - my favorite course. It says "egg", but it is an eggshell which was filled with layers of custard, mushroom and bonito caviar. Great presentation, and there was a whole lot going on here flavorwise - you get sweet, savory and salty all in one bite. Cheese bread - served with pickled vegetables. The taste is about what you would expect from cheese bread, but the texture put it a step above. I don't quite know how to explain it, but it was bready...and cheesy. Filet of beef, with peas and onions. This was melt-in-your-mouth tender, with perfect seasoning. From the palate cleanser involving chicken fat to the assortment of 5(!) desserts, every dish was perfectly cooked and oftentimes mixed multiple layers of unique flavors and textures. Service was outstanding. The staff was knowledgeable about the food and right on top of everything. Waters were kept filled, plates were cleared on time, and it was impossible to go to the bathroom without getting your napkin refolded - we tried. Niche doesn't get a full 5 stars from me because the price point keeps it from the must-try-this-whenever-you're-in-the-area level, but for a special occasion or any time price is not a factor, Niche would be an excellent place to go and is easily a 5 based off of food, service, and overall dining experience. Oh, and the parking lot next to/above Niche is free with validation, so there's no need to go hunting for street parking.

    (4)
  • D H.

    went for our 10th wedding anniversary, ordered the Chef's Menu cause why wouldnt you? No words can tell you what you will experience. It is fantastic and the best we had in the STL yet, and we have been to nearly all of the top 15. Jordan, our server, was a walking chef. He made us salivate before even eating. He is also as jovial and connected to his clients as they come. sorry we didnt get the names of the others that helped us, but Jordan's personality was infectious.. Personable and made our evening.

    (5)
  • Kate B.

    It's been a while since my initial Niche review, and looking back, I feel like I have so much more to say now! I only come to Niche about once or twice a year usually for special occasions like my birthday. It's kind of beyond a college student's budget (although now that I have my paid internship it's almost within reach of going there once a month, haha) so yeah. Special occasion type of place. Which brings me to my last visit....early December for my birthday last year! I booked reservations a few days in advance just to be safe. We came on a weeknight though since Sean usually works weekend nights at the casino and the hours always suck...3rd shift! I wanted to share this special place with him! That ended up being a mistake as he really doesn't care for "fancy" food but the waitress brought him subs for stuff he wasn't cool with (e.g. seafood) so I consider it not a total loss on that front, lol. I still felt a little bad though for dragging him. Next time, I am taking a Yelper for sure! We ended up getting the chef's tasting menu because it's one of those things that always blows my mind away. I've uploaded photos, btw, of all of the items I ate that night along with the menu. I am glad I did because I didn't get around to writing this review until now and my memory is fuzzy! First Course: Maple Custard with roasted mushrooms, and bonito caviar paired with Scarpetta Pinot Nero Brut Rose NV. - Simply incredible. I think this might have been my favorite of all the food they brought out. It really tasted like a breakfast dish to me. The saltiness of the mushrooms reminded me of bacon and it paired nicely with the sweetness of the maple custard. I am terrible with talking about wine pairings so I will just say that everything paired wonderfully! Second Course: Lobster with pullman, celery, tarragon, togarashi hollandaise paired with Schramsberg Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs. - Probably my least favorite. The spicy sauce was too overpowering on the delicate lobster. I really dislike celery too so that was a miss for me. It came with this bizarre black looking ...toast...which apparently was bread dyed with squid ink. Here's where I think Niche was just trying too hard to be trendy or haute or w/e you want to call it. It was impossible to take a bite out of the bread so I had to basically shove it in my mouth which was painful on my jaw and when I crunched down, the squid ink leaked....and oozed out and it tasted kind of oily. It was nasty and I could barely finish it but thankfully this didn't ruin the rest of the meal for me! Third Course: Day Boat Scallops with french horn, shiitake, cocoa nib, walnut, lemon, juniper paired with Chateau Castigno Syrah/Carignan/Grenache 2007. - This was delightful! All of the flavors paired together so wonderfully. I felt like a forest hobbit eating this because of all of the mushrooms. I have never had cocoa nibs before either so that was intriguing. The lemon and juniper was a nice compliment to the dish. Sorbet (intermission, lol) to cleanse the palate. Fourth Course: Beef and Onions with candied onion, onion jam, soubise, and pommes aligot paired with Elizabeth Spencer Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 - This was in competition for my favorite savory dish because of the AMAZINGLY juicy cuts of beef and the artery-cloggingly-delicious cheese and potato puree it came with. Basically nirvana in each bite but I felt the guilt later, ha. Fifth Course: Squash Bread Pudding with acorn, butternut, maple, ginger, marshmallow paired with Chambers Rutherglen Muscat - The essence of autumn solidified in one amazingly comforting dessert. Probably one of the best desserts I've ever eaten in my short life. I didn't like the marshmallows though as I thought they were too sweet but damn, the bread pudding was good. It's one of my favorite types of desserts so maybe I am a little biased. All in all this meal was one of the best I've ever eaten. I can safely say that Niche is my favorite restaurant in all of St. Louis. The way they blend the flavors together is just so perfect and it seriously makes me wonder how someone came up with all of these innovative flavor combos? Pure genius! Makes me want to quit engineering to become a chef!

    (5)
  • Joseph G.

    The food here is great, don't get me wrong, but it's a premium priced place that should knock me out every time I go. The first time I went was when they were in the city, and I loved it. Knocked me out. But the last time I was there (in Clayton), I wasn't wowed. It was good, and did the job, but for $100+ a person, I expect a little more. I am a huge fan of the other Niche restaurants (Pastaria and Taste are favorites), so I'll probably go there for 1/3 the price.

    (3)
  • Gina C.

    What a terrific way to top off my first visit to St. Louis! I visited March 22. Beginning with the hostesses, who called me throughout the day to get me a reservation at a time that suited me through to the server and the chefs attending me at the kitchen-side table, I felt very welcome but not pandered to. The kitchen was generous with the amuse bouche and on top of the 4-course prix-fixe I almost had too much food! (like this is a problem?) I was left speechless by the savory mushroom custard served in an empty egg shell on a bed of moss. Fantastic presentation. the least flavorsome was the escolar crudo: the tuna was just not tasty although I give top marks for creativity. I left the wine choices up to the waitstaff. I was given an average red, not equal to the quality of the food. Overall, this was an expensive meal, but I got a lot for what I paid for. I look forward to visiting St. Louis again so I can eat at Niche.

    (4)
  • Robert G.

    Bland, Pretentious, Expensive. A waste of top locally sourced ingredients. Beautiful build-out, and outstanding front of the house staff. Very surprised at the consistent and soon predictable lack of flavor.

    (1)
  • Daniel L.

    All I have to say about Niche is: what a pleasant surprise in St. Louis! The parsnip soup was probably the highlight of the meal. If ever you find yourself at Niche with parsnip soup on the menu, I would strongly advise you to order it and experience the creamy, hearty, and perfectly smooth soup that was the parsnip soup. But the rest of the meal was pretty much amazing. : Coxinha = Though these things may be on the small side, they pack quite the flavor punch. Chicharrones = The ULTIMATE SWEET AND SAVORY CHIP. White chocolate powder on top of fried pork!?!??! BRILLIANT !! 10/10. The fried pork rinds were not even too crunchy : they were perfectly crispy and soft in the center. Dia's Cheese Bread = Very tasty. I didn't find that the picked vegetables went well with the whole ensemble, but the cheese bread definitely perfectly paired with their charcuterie and their homemade pate. Double Star Lamb = I would not say that this was the highlight of the meal by any means. I will give them the fact that I never had lamb that tasted like that before. The flavor composition was VERY interesting (carrot, cumin, yogurt, Thai chili, mint); however, I did not think that the lamb was cooked to perfection. It was a bit tough and dry. Their dessert was OK, but then again I don't really have that big of a sweet tooth. The service was great and the chef came to greet us every once in a while asking if everything was great. Would dine again!

    (5)
  • Lawrence P.

    We came in without a reservation and was seated at the kitchen bar seats. It was a marvelous experience watching our food and getting some extras along the way. Great service, the chefs were more than helpful and so hospitable. The caviar beignets melted in our mouths. The zucchini soup with creme freche ice cream was delightful. The Hen of the woods was spectacular. I am not a fan of mushrooms, but these were like nothing I've had before. So good! Will definitely go again when we are in St. Louis!

    (5)
  • Nicole C.

    1st and 2nd course: 5/5 3rd course: 3/5 4th course: 2/5 but then 4/5 second attempt My husband and I decided to try this place out because of other Yelp reviews. Clearly I did not read more closely about the restaurant because we were overwhelmingly underdressed with T-shirts and jeans. However the staff was still very polite and assured us we were fine. We ordered the 4 course meal, and both started with the amazing potato and leek soup with buttermilk sherbet and crisp potato crisps. This soup was to die for. Everything just worked so well together-incredibly delicious and creative. My next course was tortellini with bacon fat. It was super rich but delicious. My husband's 2nd course was tastier, pork shoulder with Brussels sprouts it was really tender and well seasoned. We ordered the same lamb entree with carrots seasoned with cumin. This course was disappointing. Other tables near us seemed to like the filet was a better choice. The lamb was very fatty and the seasoning style just did not complement it for me Finally for the dessert course, I had to send back the Pear. The presentation was bland as was the flavor. The replacement dessert I received was much better. Overall, for the price and Yelp reviews, I just don't think it lived up to my expectations. Many of the reviews reference items they did not have on the menu.

    (3)
  • Alice M.

    While in St. Louis for a conference, I was treated to a nice dinner at Niche. I'm probably spoiled by good food in San Francisco, but I was still expecting a lot from Niche given its ratings, but unfortunately, the entire meal and experience was only mediocre. I started with the pork shank pappardelle. The pappardelle was cooked well but the sauce was sour and overpowered everything else. For my main course, I tried the pork duo. It was a strange combination of too sweet and too salty, and despite my love of pork, I really didn't even WANT to finish it. Usually, I can be incredibly full but love how it tastes so much that I'll stuff myself silly just so that I can have more of it, but I wanted to be done long before I was. I tried a few other dishes (picking off other people's plates), but none worth mentioning. Overall, nothing was quite right (to me). Service was also a bit off -- friendly, but interrupted at all the wrong times, making the dinner conversation more stilted than it had to be. Next time I'm back in St. Louis, I'll look for something else, and hopefully, fare better next time!

    (3)
  • Rachel M.

    I live in San Francisco where new top notch restaurants open daily. But this restaurant represents the best meal I have had all year. The service, ambiance, and food were excellent, but also well priced. My Mom and I did the tasting menu and it was an experience to remember!

    (5)
  • Liz R.

    Had dinner on a Friday night. Lively atmosphere, great service, creative, locally sourced menu. I loved the fresh warm bread and the sturgeon exceeded my expectations. Perfect portions and a great wine list. We'll definitely be back.

    (4)
  • Vik R.

    Awesome place, great food, excellent presentation, fine dining at its best. We got the Prix fixe and it was simply awesome!

    (5)
  • Kristine S.

    After hearing for years how amazing Niche was, how it is the best "special occasion" spot, I finally tried it out. This was my first time, I'd not been to the former spot in Benton Park. I will try to make this concise. Service: lovely. Our server was pleasant, accommodating, helpful. Atmosphere: fine. nothing special. A bit sterile and small for me, nothing noteworthy. Food: Did the prix fixe menu and I had the zucchini soup, pork shoulder, hen-of-the-woods, and melon. Can't recall what my boyfriend had exactly, but I know he had the prime rib for the main. The flavors were lovely, no complaints. Lowdown: I sound like a stereotypical "Midwesterner" but I just didn't love the whole deal. If I am going to pay $200 bones for a meal, I'd like to have a bit more substance and a bit less art. I wouldn't say I walked away hungry, but I still can't say I could justify a meal like this unless someone else was paying...and I like nice dinners. I don't need a team to pour crap into my plate, stop pureeing everything. I am glad STL has a place like Niche, I really am. I'd just go elsewhere for a special occasion dinner (like Sidney Street) bc it's just my preference. I guess I am just that obnoxious STL-diner. It was more nouveau and San Franciscan (i guess?) than I am used to and prefer. While I appreciate what they do, it just isn't my cup-of-tea for regular nice nights out.

    (3)
  • Amy W.

    I don't write reviews often, but I felt compelled after dinner tonight to give a shout-out to Niche. So much of dining is the experience, and the Niche experience is one that is extraordinarily exceptional. From the hostess to the waitress to the chef, everyone is out to give you an enjoyable time. Since I was alone, I was offered a seat by the Chef's Table. This advantageous seating not only offered me a glimpse into the culinary art that is Niche's chefs, but also indulged me in the Head Chef's incredible generosity: although I only ordered two second-courses, he complemented my meal with three complimentary snack courses / first courses from the tasting menu. What a night! Shame that I discovered Niche only when I'm about to leave St. Louis. Yet whenever I come back to the area, I will be sure to pay Niche another visit.

    (5)
  • Bryan W.

    What a great experience. Presentations are works of art. All courses caused me to pause and just take the sight in with the great aroma. Each made me wonder if my palate would be stimulated to the same degree as my sight of each course. I was not disappointed. The asparagus bisque melted across my taste buds with a balance of creamy and light onion. The pork shoulder was perfectly prepared. So tender. One of the very best dining experiences i have encountered. I will be back again!

    (5)
  • Kevin M.

    A swing and a miss... My wife and I have been looking forward to trying Niche for a long time. We both ordered the 4 course meal and decided to order all different things and share everything. While the food was good and some combinations you might not have ever seen before were a pleasant surprise, for a 5-start price my expectations are that you really impress me like other 5-star restaurants in the area seem to do every time. Niche fell way short of these expectations. I left confused that I had just spent $175 (with tip, no drinks) but never felt like Niche delivered. With each course I hoped the next would be better, until I was served the bill. Unless you automatically associate quality with the price of the food, save your money for another 5-star.

    (2)
  • DJ S.

    Picture it. Monday evenings after the first day of a new work week, a rustic dinner is waiting for you after work. Does it sound too good to be true? Perhaps, but it's not my little doggy imagination working over-time. Niche's Rustic Monday Dinner is back! And this little doggy did a happy dance on my way to the restaurant last night. For those who don't know about Niche's Rustic Monday Dinner, it's a three-course meal for only $35.00 per person. It's the best $35.00 you will ever spend for a meal in St. Louis. Let me break out for you last night's food experience. The first course was a new and exciting twist on a caprese salad as only Niche can do. Chilled, blistered cherry tomatoes, perfectly prepared slices of eggplant, mozzarella cheese and basil pesto all served with a balsamic reduction, oh and I dare not forget the toasted bread crumbs sprinkled over the top. The second course was a choice between brick chicken or braised lamb. I selected the brick chicken. It was perfectly cooked with skin on, lightly seasoned and melted in your mouth. It was served with small toasted pasta and charred squash. I'm not sure what the sauce was but it was silky, complex, and delicious. The third course was a pear tart, but again, a tart that only the talented folks at Niche could create. The crust was thin, flaky without being greasy. The pears were roasted inside the tart, and then it is turned upside down and baked a second time with a bourbon caramel sauce. It was served with house-made vanilla ice cream. Needless to say I cannot wait to find out what the menu will be next Monday, but you can bet that I will be there with my napkin and cocktail in paw. From my, shatas dog bowl to yours...happy eating. shatasdogbowl

    (5)
  • Paul K.

    Wow what an experience. My son The Famous Chip K and his wife Bridget and I came here for Father's Day. Niche was offering a fixed price menu of 6 courses. It was named "Chef's Tasting Menu". For starters we had 1. Maple custard with roasted mushrooms, bonito caviar. It was served in an egg shell the taste was interesting as the mushrooms almost tasted like bacon. The bonito caviar was not fish eggs but shaved fish made into little balls. 2. Carrot Three Ways orange-cumin, yogurt, espelette. This was carrots served sweet, sour and regular. The cumin was an interesting twist to the carrots. 3. Scallops. strawberry, tapioca, and radish. The scallops were best eaten with mixing all the flavors together. A plain scallop can be a bit neutral but these were just an explosion of different tastes and textures. 4. Sorbet I was thinking just ol store bought sorbet. Nope homemade with a slight hint of smoke flavor. It kind of a brain twister as you expecting boring old sorbet but got hit with a smoke flavor. 5. Filet of Beef potato, leek, rosemary, and whey. The tenderloin of beef was served sitting on leek and mashed potato mixed together. Outstanding. I never did taste the whey. 6 Goat Cheese Custard rhubarb, basil, brown butter cake. The goat cheese was toned down my it being mixed with the custard and the rhubarb added a certain bitterness that was very nice with the brown butter cake giving the sweetness you would expect in a dessert. This may sound like a lot of food buy most dishes really were small and as stated in the beginning a taste menu. It was a nice treat for Father's Day and the service was outstanding. Good Job Niche!!

    (5)
  • Bob H.

    I was with colleagues who ended up choosing this restaurant, partly because it was within walking distance from our hotel. I was a little nervous, because I feel farm to table has become so morally expected that everywhere you go that's all everyone promotes. We were fortunate to grab a table, but we were there a bit later in the evening. The prices seemed a bit much when first viewing the menu, but everything was a wonderful surprise. The environment was fantastic, as was the waitstaff: everything was taken care of, but I never actually noticed it being done. The mixture of flavors were so refreshing and the portions were very decent. The chefs really back up the message of the restaurant: local and inventive. We did the four courses. For me, each course wasn't better than the last, although nothing was average by any means, and it didn't detract from the meal. It was fun to try to taste each flavor that was incorporated and see how it added up to the dish and entire meal. If and when I'm planning on being back in St. Louis I will have reservations here.

    (5)
  • Tierney Y.

    I could go on about the amazing meal I had, but for this review I would like to talk about the amazing service. My boyfriend and I (being new to St. Louis) stumbled upon this restaurant, by using yelp, because we were in the area and wanted something to eat ASAP. We came in on a Sunday night, neither one of us dressed exceptionally well, and the only seating available was the chef's table that has you stare straight into the kitchen. We were actually surprised and assumed someone must have canceled. After speaking to the waitress, we felt comfortable enough go with what ever she thought was good in terms of food and wine pairing. It was fabulous! She was very knowledgable about the wine, the food came out beautifully and I really appreciated that everyone was genuinely nice, especially since we probably looked like we had just gotten off a 36 hour flight from Mumbai. Thank you Niche, we will see you again soon!

    (5)
  • Jennifer W.

    Went to Niche recently as a guest at a birthday dinner party in the upstairs 'mezzanine' level. It was a large group and the 3 servers handled it superbly. I am vegetarian and gluten-free (so a huge pain to feed) and they made multiple adjustments to the prearranged tasting menu to fit my needs. The food was innovative and interesting- best dining experience I have had in ages, and the wine pairings were excellent. I do not particularly enjoy rosé or sparkling wine, but was blown away by the pairing of the 'Timido Brut Rosé' with the eggshell full of maple custard, mushrooms, and (specially made) gluten free mushroom caviar. It was seriously one of the best things I've ever eaten- this would the the first course of my last meal, if I had a choice. The other courses were awesome as well, and I left having eaten just enough to be full (nice to not be overstuffed). I will definitely be back to try the main dining room and see what else they can come up with for me. It absolutely makes my day when a chef treats my dietary restrictions as a challenge rather than a 'problem'. There's a huge difference, and they clearly made the effort. I'll be singing their praises for a long while. Can't wait to return. I'm not rating value or most of the other attributes, only because I did not pay for my meal. I have not seen a menu, but I'm assuming it was pricey. Since we had a private room, much of the ambiance was also lost on me but the big velvet curtains keeping the cold out at the entrance was a nice touch.

    (5)
  • Jessica L.

    First of all, I would like to say this was one of the best meals I've ever had in Saint Louis in the 4 years I've lived here. I came with my family for a graduation celebration dinner and the service, food and company was absolutely amazing! Décor: Simple, classy and comfortable. Very welcoming and best thing? I can see what I'm eating! I hate dark restaurants where I can barely make out the faces of the people at the table. Service: Absolutely fantastic!!! Todd was our waiter and he was so welcoming, informative and so flexible with the Chef's Tasting Menu with my sister's dietary restrictions. His attentive service along with the other waiters who came by to check on us were all friendly and inviting. It's all thanks to them for making this meal such a great time! Food: So my entire family got the Chef's Tasting Menu and it was quite obviously the best (and easiest) choice. - 1st: Egg w/mushrooms. This was given in the shell of a hard-boiled egg, and inside was a layer of this delicious custard, then a layer of mushrooms and then finally some egg roe. Wow, this was BY FAR the table's favorite, and yes, you definitely have to have all 3 layers to fully enjoy it. Presentation: A+ - Focaccia: I would have preferred some butter with this bread, but ah well, still was moist and lightly seasoned - 2nd: Carrot 3 ways. This was indeed as the name says. Our table was not a fan of this because we didn't really get the concept of it. It was all a little underwhelming since it was some spicy crunchy carrot preparation + pickled baby carrot + long stringy carrot. We didn't think it was anything special. (Side note: My sister got this soup that was served at the PERFECT temperature; it was amazing) - 4th: Lobster Tarragon. This was okay, also not a table favorite since the lobster wasn't too prevalent and since my family has been to the land-of-pasta before (aka Italy), this pasta didn't really faze any of us. But, it was finely prepared dish nonetheless. - Intermezzo: Lemon sorbet. Omg, this was some tart/sour intermezzo. It was too much for me. - 5th: Beef filet. A+ for presentation yet again!! 3 small pieces of beef (though not to say we weren't getting full...) laid ontop of this pea-sort of preparation with mayo and leeks interspersed throughout the dish. Wow, perfectly done beef and that green preparation underneath it with that slightly crispy seaweed garnish? PERFECT. - 6th: Dessert that included guava ice cream balls/lemon mousse and some white crunch things. My biggest fear with desserts is it being too sweet and too decadent. But this was perfect- refreshing, not too heavy, not too sweet and a great balance of flavors. It was an interactive, fun and beautiful dessert (not to mention, the beautiful 'Congratulations' decorated on mine!) The little ice cream balls were a little difficult to tackle, but honestly, I thought that was so much fun. Also, that lemon mousse paired with it was absolutely perfect- melts in your mouth right away. Overall: We were all just a little bit too full but oh-so-very happy. My entire family agreed that this was a fantastic meal at a place well-chosen. Thank you for making my graduation dinner such an amazing one, Niche! The service was beyond top-notch! And Yelpers, you will NOT regret going to this place and get the Chef's Tasting Menu!

    (5)
  • Jeffrey C.

    Recently, we had the opportunity to dine at their new location, in Clayton. We had the eight course tasting menu with wine parings. As I wrote in my earlier post, it's just not my type of restaurant. I appreciate what they do but prefer other styles of dining. Also, dining here is pricy!

    (3)
  • Aimee K.

    For some strange reason I've yet to write a Niche review, so I figure after last night's feast there's no more appropriate time than now. Some lovely ladies and I dined there with 7pm reservations and it was one of the best dinners I've had in a really long time. As far as parking goes, valet is complimentary but I ended up finding a spot close by and snagged it. The place was full at seven, but what I love about Niche is when it's full, it's at the exact right capacity. It feels buzzing and busy, but it's still not too loud that it's distracting. That paired with the whites, neutrals, and woods that make up the decor just make the place gorgeous and you can't help but notice just how special this neighborhood Chef Craft creation is. It's perfect for a girls night out, a fancy schmancy date, or whatever else you have going on. We pretty much ordered half of the menu last night, so I'll just do a quick rundown of my recommendations: -Selection of farm house cheeses: not sure why this is in the dessert section, but it's a pretty standard cheese plate. There were three different choices and thinly sliced crusty bread. Let's face it, cheese plates are ALWAYS a good idea. -Stone milled polenta (thyme, honey, goat cheese, walnuts): very good, perfect for sharing. I found myself searching for more goat cheese, but the honey and thyme were very interesting. -Cauliflower soup (green apple, black garlic, dill): entrees included, this soup was the best thing on the menu. ORDER IT RIGHT NOW. The flavors were explosive and the dill was an awesome surprise, and it was creamy and oh-so-satisfying. -Roasted local chicken (parsnip, picholine, foie, sherry jus): the chicken was amazing and had a flavorful sear on top, but I didn't really love the rest of the plate... just the chicken. And it's a pretty small piece of meat so maybe stay away from this one. -Hen of the Woods (chorizo spice, egg, salsify, date, lemon): Hen of the Woods is a mushroom, and this was my favorite entree. The egg was breaded (I believe) and fried, but when you cut through it the yolk runs out all over the mushrooms. Heaven. Vegetarians, there is no meat anything in there, so don't let the chorizo spice scare you. -Day Boat Scallops (french horn, shitake, cocoa nib, walnut, lemon, juniper): can't vouch for the scallops because they scare the crap out of me, but this comes with a side of potato puree that's worth ordering seven of. See if you can order that side dish with something else if you don't want scallops. -Lobster (pullman, celery, tarragon, togarashi hollandaise): again with this one, I'm not a fan of the texture of lobster but I did try this and the flavors were incredible. It's served with a jet black squid ink bread that looked interesting... but again, I just wasn't brave enough. Wash it all down with a Orchard Sidecar and you've got yourself the best meal you've had all year. I'm still smiling today from dinner last night. I won't be back for a while because their menu doesn't change too much (it more just "evolves") so I'll give it some time (and give my wallet a break) and go in again. Especially for my amazing cocktail!

    (5)
  • Jessica E.

    We went on a day/night trip to STL to watch a show at The Fox and when we asked our STL friends for a recommendation for a dinner destination, all signs pointed to Niche. It's a small, cozy restaurant near Wash U (not sure on the exact terminology of its location in STL). Reservations were made via Open Table. I was very impressed to get an unexpected phone call from them the day of, confirming our reservation and giving us a heads up on their prix fixe menu options. Upon arrival, our coats were checked and two very friend hostesses made us feel right at home. We were seated immediately and our waitress promptly arrived with drink menus. I enjoyed a Riesling and K ordered one of their house cocktails, both were fantastic. The menu, like the decor and surroundings was clean and simple, yet complex all at the same time. We decided to order the prix fixe menu for $55 pp. It was a four course meal, starting with a soup. The name escapes me but though the serving size was small, the flavor was definitely hearty. The next course I had shrimp cocktail; the presentation was exquisite. For the third course I had cauliflower and other assorted vegetables. I know it doesn't sound like much of an entreé, but the cauliflower was seasoned to perfection and again, I felt fulfilled. In between the courses they had palette cleansers, that's when you know it's a fancy place! We enjoyed dessert and finished the meal in right under two hours. I wish they had more non-meat options. Out of the three or four choices, only one was veggie or seafood. I'm not sure what would happen if you weren't interested in any of the other options as they only had three choices: two of which were prix fixes, the other an appetizer option, so I guess you have that to consider when deciding to try Niche. Overall, we had a lovely experience. Great food, stellar service and amazing ambiance! STL, you have a good thing going here. Also: I forgot to add that the music overhead is great!

    (4)
  • Kelly K.

    Absolutely an Amazing Experience. It's exactly as everyone describes and my recommendation is that if you're looking for a "Hearty" meal with steak and "tator's", this is not the place. But if your looking for in what I read in another review as a "flavor explosion", this is the place. Pretty pricy too if you do both the wine parings and chef's tasting menu but well worth it for a "splurge" once in a while. Definitely a place to take the spouse or such or even the big wigs when they come to town with the Corporate Amex and want to impress them with a very unique and one of a kind (for St. Louis) experience. 5 Stars and worth every penny!

    (5)
  • Ethan B.

    This place is fantastic. A real foodie paradise. The tasting menu was awesome!!!

    (5)
  • Jenny K.

    Oh my gosh, one of the best experiences ever! Wonderful food. Had chef's tasting menu, definitely the best choice if you want to experience a little bit of everything. Every dish was better than the previous one.I am salivating just thinking about this place. Can't wait to come back.

    (5)
  • Bret B.

    After trying to get Niche on my schedule for a couple of years, I finally dined here with a friend on Saturday, June 23. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG? My companion and I each ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu with paired wines (great values for $65 and $35, respectively), and we are still talking about the experience a month later. First Course: Maple egg with roasted mushrooms and bonito caviar: a little molecular gastronomy with old fashioned classic French cuisine. Awesome! And nice with the Scarpetta Franconia Pino Nero Brut NV. Second Course: Trout gravlax with rye, watercress, creme fraiche, egg yolk and meyer lemon: probably my fave course, as I love salmon gravlax, and this was my first exposure to trout being prepared with this technique. I found the flavors quite harmonious, though my friend would have preferred a wee less lemon. The trout skin was crisped to create almost a "cracker" for the gravlax. I wasn't crazy about the pairing, featuring a Pichler-Krutzler Gruner Veltliner 2010, but everyone's palate is unique. Third Course: Turnips with mushrooms, ricotta, horseradish and lavender. This was my companion's fave course. Four pieces of turnip, each prepared a different way. Quite clever! I was ambivalent about how well the Chaumette Chambourcin (Missouri) paired with the turnips, but was VERY impressed and pleased to see Niche promoting local wines and wineries. Fourth Course: Sorbet: such a course is usually a throw-away, just a palate cleaner, but both of us thought this lemon-thyme sorbet was one of the most exquisite dishes we had ever enjoyed. We both ranked this course second best of the night. Fifth Course: Filet of beef with potato, leek, rosemary and whey. quality ingredients yield quality flavors, and this course, while deceivingly simple, exemplified that approach. When you have excellent ingredients, they don't need to be mucked up; the flavors of each component shone brightly, and paired well with the M. Chapoutier Syrah, Crozes-Hermitage, 2008. Sixth Course: goat cheese custard with rhubarb, basil, brown butter cake: The cake was a bit blah (dry/crumbly/bland), but all of the other flavors jumped off the plate; they kind/sorta paired with the Schramsberg Chardonnay Napa Valley 2007. Even though I wasn't thrilled with the wine pairings, it was very educational to think about WHY I wasn't thrilled; when a restaurant can make me think that way, I give them credit for coming close with the pairings. And I can't end this review without praising every one of the staff with whom we interacted. What an inspiring team of people! Thanks, everyone, for making our evening so fun! We WILL be back.

    (5)
  • Cameron C.

    Found this spot which was just steps from my hotel! I would highly recommend a visit. I had the opportunity to enjoy the chef's table and a plethora of tasty treats! My favorite of the night had to be the fava bean soup. The combination of temperature, texture, and presentation was superb! Thank you to Nate and the team in the kitchen. I'll definitely be a regular. P.S. The Lavender Bees Knees is a strong addition and meeting the folks behind Mai Lee topped it all off.

    (5)
  • Dennis M.

    Took a friend for 60th birthday. Had the 4 course tasting menu. Do not, I repeat, do not miss Dia's cheese bread! Everything was great with bright flavors. Recommend the four course dinner but get all three entrees. Service is beyond superlative--so friendly and helpful!

    (5)
  • Jessica C.

    Niche is hands down the ultimate fine dining experience in St Louis. If you're looking for food that is not only delicious, but playful and intriguing, look no further. I've eaten here three times in the last year and a half, and each time stands out as one of (if not the) best dining experiences I've had in St Louis. After two visits where we did a three course meal, my last dining companion and I indulged in the tasting menu with wine pairing. What an absolute delight! The first course, the maple lemon custard with shiitake mushrooms and caviar, shouldn't have been as delicious as it was. But it was one of the highlights of the evening. The lobster and scallop courses were also wonderful. The steak dish was the best piece of beef I've had in a long time, and the side of pommes aligot literally took my breath away. I'm not kidding. I took the first bite and gasped, because those potatoes tasted that good. The dessert course (a squash bread pudding) was a nice end to the meal. The wine pairings were close to perfect (the only comment I can make is that the moscato served with dessert was too sweet, even for a dessert wine). Upon leaving Niche after 2.5 hours, my dining companion and I noted that even though we had just consumed five courses and five glasses of wine, we weren't uncomfortably full or anywhere past a tad buzzed. It was a very nice, satisfied feeling. Overall, if you're looking for something new and you enjoy fine dining, I would highly recommend the tasting menu with the wine pairing.

    (5)
  • Sultan M.

    After reading all the great reviews, I was excited to try Niche. Really excited. Allow me to comment in list form: 1. Uber trendy 2. Music was WAY too loud (even if it was great). Everyone was shouting to be heard across the table 3. As many staff members as there were patrons (and the place was full). Very weird - they kept staring. Our waitress was amazing, to be fair. 4. The food was interesting, different, but didn't quite hit the 'amazing' mark I was expecting 5. Pricey - Given how much you got and how good it was, I would have expected dinner for 2 to be under the 150 it ended up costing. Would I recommend? No.

    (2)
  • Steven K.

    Went for a special date night with a gift card from my family. Decided with my fiancé to order the chef's tasting menu without the wine pairing (we were having drinks and decided to just enjoy the food) Each course that came out was better than the next. Started off with some pork offerings and then had the egg custard all of which were dynamite. My favorite part of the night was the steak course which was cooked to perfection. The dinner ended with a lemon custard which was delicate, and tasty and tart and a wonderful end to a wonderful meal. Would definitely go back to enjoy another meal if I was not leaving town. . .

    (5)
  • Mike B.

    Amazing expereince, I sat at the "bar" area and could witness all of the chefs preparing meals. I was also treated to some spontaneous tastes just because. Will most certainly return.

    (5)
  • Jen J.

    At last, I've made my way to all three Gerard Craft establishments, with mixed feelings about all three. Niche on a Monday night (Prix Fixe) for me was 3.5-3.7 Star food + 5 Star service. Let me explain. We came to celebrate a special day and had made reservations via phone two weeks in advance. A couple hours before our reservation time, we got a call to confirm the time and we were told that btw it is a prix fixe menu. Upon hearing this, I almost decided to drop the reservation. I will eat just about everything normally but for celebratory meals, I like to have more choices than the chef's "value Monday" combos. But it was 4 PM on a Monday and I didn't want to put up with the hassles of trying to book somewhere else last minute. It may be a commonly known fact that Niche has prix fixe Mondays, but I wish they would have told us two weeks ago as that would have made a difference to my decision. The restaurant was packed and the hostess was warm and lovely. Decor was clean and efficient (like Tim mentioned, I didn't find it romantic, which wasn't a problem at all for us, but just to throw it out there). Our table had a glimpse of the open kitchen bay and we immediately recognized Craft manning the kitchen and handling the plates. Great! Because if we didn't enjoy the meal, then we can say with some certainty that it's not because the star chef was absent. The menu on this evening consisted of a caprese salad, choice of roasted chicken or pork shoulder, and a choice of butterscotch layer cake, a cheese plate, or vanilla ice cream with chocolate for dessert. To be honest, neither entrees excited me. I was disappointed that a seafood dish was not offered as a choice. I ordered the pork while the boy got the chicken. Our salads were large-portioned and quite refreshing, with very fresh mozzarella cheese - great start to the meal. I can't say the same about the pork however. In retrospect, I have gotten pork from Niche, Taste, and Brasserie and I found all three dishes disappointing. My conclusion? I just simply don't care for Craft's interpretation of pork! I like my pork fatty (and I find his dishes too lean); I also like my pork heavily seasoned (but I find his dishes relying heavily on the sauce/puree/goo that's coating the plate under the pork and personally I think there is too much of these extra "goo" to cover up the natural flavors). Moral of the story is I probably should avoid pork in future meals at his restaurants. However, I will say that the pork was well-cooked, as in very tender, and had just the slightest hint of smokiness that was nice. The roasted chicken, on the other hand, was quite delicious! I probably stole more chicken off the boy's plate than I have eaten my own pork dish. It had such perfectly crispy but non-greasy skin and was juicy through and through. It is a small personal quirk/preference that I have never once ordered chicken as an entree at a fine dining establishment (I get my fried chicken from Lee's thank you very much but that's a different story with different expectations). I find "fine dining" chicken....boring, and dry most of the times, but this chicken dish blew the pork dish out of the water. Lastly, the butterscotch layer cake was incredibly moist and creamy. It was however very rich. I was done after half. The cheese plate was decent. I liked the currants the most. I had a Pimm's Iced Tea (aka spiked tea) with my dinner. I wouldn't get it again. It was saccharine at first taste and boring afterwards. At end of the day, for fine-dining, three course at $30 per person is a great deal, but I would have much rather paid more to have more choices and order a la carte. If Yelp has half stars, I would give this meal 3.5. But I'll be nice and round it up to a 4 to make myself look like less of a food snob than I really am.

    (4)
  • Carolyn C.

    This is too funny a story not to share. My husband made a reservation for our first wedding anniversary. He noted, "If there is a table by the window, we would appreciate it." The day before the reservation, we received the confirmation call. We confirmed. The day of, we received a second confirmation call. We again confirmed. The manager said, "By the way, we have the table by the window for you. Happy Anniversary!" Fast forward four hours. We walk in to another couple sitting in the window seat. We asked about our window seat and were told that Niche takes requests for special seating but cannot make guarantees. Odd given that Niche had called us proactively to let us know we had it hours before. But, oh well. What happened next was amazing. The manager brought over champagne to apologize, but instead of simply saying sorry and wishing us a Happy Anniversary, she proceeded to say, "Our most regular customers came in and asked for the table. You understand... you can't really say no to customers who have been here 317 times." As we sat there letting it sink in, we became increasingly incredulous: 1. Niche knew it was our anniversary. 2. They clearly gave away our table on purpose. 3. They then tell us explicitly we aren't valued customers! 4. And by implication, of the two couples, we were clearly the only ones with reservations. Since they didn't care about us being there, we took our anniversary din elsewhere. And it was fab. PS. Interesting to note that I am the Duchess of Brasserie by Niche on Yelp (where we eat at least 3 times a month)...so I guess we actually were very much regulars at one of their establishments.

    (1)
  • Rachel T.

    Honestly, I have not had the pleasure of dining here in a year, but since I've been reviewing more lately I couldn't leave this one out. Since it was one of the BEST meals I've had in St. Louis! The bread and sorghum butter were a wonderful start to the meal. The wine list was pleasing, the service impeccable. I eagerly awaited each course since I opted for the 4 course Chefs tasting. The food was scrumptious and very innovative. The whole experience was So very memorable, I think I need to go back very SOON!

    (5)
  • Kate N.

    Absolutely amazing service and the food is a work of art. Not being from the area, we felt right at home and had so much fun trying all of the unique creative dishes the kitchen had to offer. We left completely satisfied and not weighed down at all! The food came out spread out time wise, so we were able to properly digest the meal. We will def be back next time were in Stl!!!

    (5)
  • Mary J.

    not just one of the best restaurants in St Louis, one of the best anywhere: easily competes with any place I have been to in NY or San Fran. In a word, perfection! service, food, nice relaxed upscale tasteful decor. Every since dish was a new taste experience. Was great in Soulard is even better (??) now! So happy we have this great unsnobby place here :)

    (5)
  • Andrew R.

    I have reviewed this restaurant before but we recently went to the new location which I feel deserves it's own review. The new space is absolutely amazing. I love the open kitchen concept at a restaurant of this caliber. Next time I am going to sit at the kitchen counter just to stare. Everything was on point the night we were there as always with a Gerard Craft restaurant. We ordered the Chef's tasting menu which is different than it was before. This is an 8 course pre-fix that you don't have to think about. Just sit back, enjoy a cocktail and prepare to be wowed by Chef and crew. After having this, I really don't think it is possible to order anything but. It was absolutely the perfect amount of food and we left in awe. I have been to Niche no less than 5 times but this particular visit ranks up there with top 3 meals ever. Side note- I really liked the old location for its Benton Park vibe, but the art installations, lighting, open kitchen and extremely high ceilings really seam to go hand and hand with the elevated food here. Its almost like his cuisine has become even more sophisticated yet just as approachable in his new location.

    (5)
  • Jason L.

    Apparently I'm in the minority because Niche to me is over-rated. We had the Chef's tasting menu and it just wasn't that good. Maybe it's me / us, since so many other people write such glowing reviews but both of us had the same thoughts. For a meal that's almost $300 for 2 people it was just ok. I'll be back to try it again and see if they can change my mind.

    (2)
  • Emma M.

    This may have been the best meal of my life - the hostess and all the servers were incredibly polite and caring, the food was creative, beautiful, and delicious, and they adjusted everything on the tasting menu to be gluten-free to accommodate my allergy. It is definitely expensive, but for a special occasion it is well worth the price.

    (5)
  • Reid Y.

    I escaped St. Louis for a better education, job, and food on the West Coast...but I gotta say, niche does it right and gives SF/NYC restaurants a run for the money! Well done! Gerard Craft has done an excellent job putting together an exquisite menu that is great for anyone into haute cuisine. Their menu changes frequently, but when I went I remember having a wonderful scallop appetizer with shiitake mushrooms and cocoa nib on the side. Chocolate and mushrooms and seafood? I wouldn't have excepted to see the pairing but it was fantastic! For the main course, I enjoyed beef with onions, including a delicious candied onion. 5 stars for presentation. 5 stars for taste. 5 stars for having my parents pay! I'll have to convince them to go back next time I'm in town.

    (5)
  • Chris X M.

    One of the best in St. Louis... now in a great new space in Clayton. Awesome new French tasting menu, superb flavors, flawless and friendly service. This is a great choice couples or a business dinner. Not cheap, but they have some reasonable wines and this food compares to fine dining in Chicago or other major cities. They are also connected to a very nice casual pasta/pizza restaurant from the same chef called Pastaria. After dinner, visit the RItz-Carlton lobby bar for a nightcap if you are having a "night out."

    (5)
  • Ryan D.

    Reservations are pretty much required.

    (2)
  • Cari N.

    There is no in between with this restaurant - you either get a unique and delicious dish unlike anything you have ever tasted or you get a plate of food that you are sorely disappointed with. Myself and a guest went here a few weeks ago - one of us had the vegetarian tasting menu and the other had the regular tasting menu. The soup was the first course and it was one of the best dishes I have ever had. Unique, tasty, amazing. The next two dishes were pretty boring - as others have commented the vegetarian menu had a braised carrot and it really was a large carrot, nothing else, very weird. The regular menu had fish and steak which were cooked well but nothing special. The lemon dessert was amazing, I'd eat it every day if it were an option but the other dessert had the consistency of Styrofoam and tasted about about the same. All in all it was a unique dining experience and I would recommend it to anyone to try once. While I am glad I went I don't have a reason to go back.

    (3)
  • J P.

    Ah, Niche, how you disappointed me on my most recent visit! Here are things you should know up front before reading my review. One, I'm a vegetarian. Two, I ate at the old Niche location half a dozen times. Three, I had the vegetarian tasting menu at the old place at least 4 times and LOVED it. We loved Niche. Needless to say, my husband and I were super excited to finally make it to the new location in Clayton. The restaurant set-up is really nice, more open and airy than the old spot. 5 stars for the decor and layout. Also, the service is impeccable. Always friendly, always available to answer questions (or bring you more focaccia). 5 stars for the service. The reason I'm only giving two stars, though, is that the food this time was mediocre at best. I have to disagree with the last reviewer who raved about the vegetarian tasting menu. Sure, the maple egg is amazing, but that's been on the menu for years at this point. And I'll admit that the nettle tea was interesting. But then I get a slab of cauliflower, sort-of cooked through and underseasoned, for one course. Another course was called "brussels sprouts," which actually just consisted of 6 brussels sprout leaves with some mushroom broth on a caraway crust. The flavors didn't jive, and I was so sad to only have a handful of leaves. Brussels sprouts are usually so delicious. My main course was 2 carrots. Yes, 2 carrots. The yeasty foam on the side still doesn't make that an "entree," even if they are very well cooked carrots. I don't even remember what the desserts were because they didn't make an impression. We did have wine pairings with the meal, all of which were fine, but nothing that made me think "wow!" or wish I had another glass. Perhaps this all sounds petty to you, but I have had such imaginative vegetarian cooking (and wines) from Niche before, so this meal was a huge letdown, especially for the price. I seriously doubt that we'll return with so many other great dining options in St. Louis.

    (2)
  • Brad G.

    The good: service. Genuinely great service, totally devoid of pretense. Presentation was artfully done and marvelous to look at. Fantastic wine list. The bad: lame menu choices. Decent flavors, small portions, for $55 I'd like something that flows together a little better. I suppose Niche can now get away with a this-or-that nightly menu, but have a reason behind it aside from "I want to, and now I can, and also, it's super profitable." Miniature charred asparagus on the escolar (tuna--I didn't know this, because I'm not sophisticated enough) was sort of inexplicable. I didn't get the Brussels Sprout (note the singular), but it looked...anemic. The white chocolate motif running through each course made little sense and struck me as desperate. Short ribs were small and very ordinary, the accompanying English peas (again, my terribly unsophisticated palette doesn't know the difference between peas from Great Britain or inspired by Great Britain and whatever I find at Schnuck's) didn't do anything for it. It was either that or the braised carrot, which resembled an elongated mandarin-colored prune with foam. Please, enough with the foam, it wasn't that compelling five years ago, either. Toasted oak ice cream was uninspired, the orange cake was entirely too pungent. Lemon custard was quite good however and the little caramel thing that appeared on the table prior to the $500 check was perhaps the best thing of the evening, which is to say, it was on par with those cute candies from Trader Joes that you find by the registers. Also, the acoustics are absurdly bad for conversation if you're at a larger table. Couldn't hear anyone, which led to more shouting than usual for a family dinner. I mean, we're accustomed to yelling, but not in public. Then again, the din of the place was sufficient to blunt whatever it was we were saying/shouting so what does it matter anyway. But was it better than Chipotle: No.

    (2)
  • s w.

    As a San Franciscan, I get a lot of fabulous food. But I would NEVER get an 8-course tasting menu meal from a James Beard-award winning chef for such an affordable price in Northern California. This was a real treat. I came to St Louis by myself on business and loved every bit of my meal at Niche. The service was wonderful and the food was perfect. From the opening tea (oak tea with lemon and bacon fat - who DOES that??!?!) to the dessert courses (meyer lemon SNOW, I shit you not - frozen nitrogen works magic) I enjoyed every bite of my dinner. The wine pairings were also worth the added expense. My favorite courses were the spring onion soup, escarole and rib eye, but everything was delicious. And - oh my god - that egg custard with caviar! Seriously. This was one of the few meals where I wouldn't change a thing. Worth every penny.

    (5)
  • Laura K.

    Oh. My. Goodness. Why haven't I dined here sooner? Jesus, I've truly been missing out on super yummy food. I could live without all the snobby yuppies that turned around and stared at us when we walk in the door, but that happens at a lot of places. The woman at the table next to us kept staring at Mike O., I know he has crazy hair and looks like a cave man, but we like to eat good food too. I just wonder isn't their conversation good enough to not notice me and my tattoos? And what about the food? The food is so good I'd probably wouldn't notice if someone was getting the heimlich maneuver right next to me. It's that good! We opted for the 3 courses for $40. I started with the fall salad and Mike O. went with the vitello tonnato. I have four words for you: bone marrow is delicious! I have to admit his was f-ing phenomenal and I wish I would have noticed it on the menu. I was disappointed with mine in comparison. Salty goodness wins over veggies any day, no matter what, ever. Don't get me wrong, mine was good with goat cheese and veggies, but good lord above why didn't I notice it in the menu? For our entree we split the 16 oz rib-eye with the $10 upcharge. So worth it! The sauce was amazing and the meat tender and cooked medium. I'm pretty sure I melted into my seat for a minute. The rib-eye was served with potato puree and an arugula salad. All had amazing texture and went perfect together. For dessert we split a cheese plate (another upcharge) and the liquid chocolate cake. The cheese plate had three cheeses, a cranberry paste, spicy roasted nuts and bread. I enjoyed all of it, a lot. The liquid chocolate cake was pretty amazing and served along side with chocolate ice cream. Chocolate and cheese = satisfied. I ordered the signature drink the "Last Word". It was good, but I wished I had ordered wine instead. For me it just would have went better with the meal. I was offered the drink straight up or on the rocks. Cool. I'm an on the rocks kind of girl and guess what? Another upcharge for ice! I get the upcharge for the other options, but for ice, really? I'll admit the cubes were perfect and square, but for real the drink was $9, you can't put ice in for free? I upcharged everything else I could so I'm not being cheap. I didn't come here thinking I wasn't going to drop $150, but for some reason that frosted my cake. Gerard, for the love of god why are you charging for ice? If there is some complicated process used to make the perfect cubes I might be able to let it go but as of right now I'm still a little peeved. Our server was nice and friendly but not overly friendly. She was attentive but to not too attentive. I liked her a lot. One of the other servers came over and chatted with me about tattoos which I thought was cool. Usually I get silly questions, but he was nice and made me feel comfortable, not like a freak as the patrons may have earlier in the evening. Niche is fantastic. I will dine here again. I wish I could afford to go here more often. I think I might be addicted to the vitello tonnato.

    (5)
  • Carl K.

    Very disappointing food experience. Small portions, few choices and Ho hum flavors. The presentations were nice but it was like going to an art exibition with no food. Felt like I needed to go out for a good meal when we all left. Priefix menus have their challenges so perhaps the chef would be well served by going to New Orleans and learning something from Stella's. Vincent, our server was excellent and the bright spot.

    (2)
  • Wendy K.

    Ok, So I went there Friday night and I thought that the only option we had was a tasting menu but as I read reviews it makes it sound like they have an actual menu. Sorry I missed that one. I think that I might be spoiled in life with all of my travels and the amount of restaurants I have visited. We only had the four course tasting and I did not leave hungry but I also left unimpressed. THe location, decor, bar and ambience are simply adorable but the food was ridiculous overpriced for our little town and not memorable. My server was wonderful, I just wished that he worked at one of my favorite restaurants in town. If you have never been to a restaurant that offers creative tastings this is a must but if you have then don't waste your money here. I hope that the tasting menu is just a trend and a regular menu is brought back to Niche.

    (3)
  • Sam K.

    After stumbling onto an article about chef Craft while in Saint Louis for a work trip I managed to score a last minute Saturday dinner reservation for two. My girlfriend is pretty great about following my culinary whims to some strange places. Sometimes I catch a tinge of reservation when we stroll into a dingy ethnic spot and our reservation at Niche was so last-minute i hadn't had time to tell her anything about it. Walking into the restaurant I could see my girlfriend's face light up. The hostess was friendly and we were seated promptly. It was during the Washington University graduation weekend and the tasting menu seems to have been adjusted to better serve the families of new grads over the more adventurous types. Technique was on point! There were a lot of components in the dishes meaning he's got to have a great staff to prep this food at this level. The more I drank the happier I was with our experience. Thanks to the great server who despite having a 6 & 8 top on either side of us kept the food & drinking coming right on time. Lobster, crawfish, whitefish. Awesome. carrot 3 ways? Sure. Desserts? we had 3. Amazing. *Try the White Fish. *Don't skimp on the Desserts. *Definitely worth the Accolades.

    (5)
  • Stephen H.

    I wrote a review for Brasserie already and for those of you who haven't been there and like Niche, you need to go. Think of a bigger, little less mellow version of Niche, and that's what Brasserie is. With that segue, I'll say that Niche is pretty much the perfect date restaurant. It's small, intimate, romantic, got the valet parking and all that (as a note, remember to bring some cash to tip the valet guy with...he can't take a credit card tip, lol). Additionally, you'll find your server is much more inclined to let you have time to do the conversation the venue basically invites/forces you to engage in, and in between you'll find excellent food and bar service.

    (5)
  • Ingrid C.

    Delicious. Definitely one of the most forward-thinking restaurants in St. Louis. I came here somewhat sporadically one night and treated a broke friend for dinner at the bar (where the fabulous Jamie Kilgore was bartending). If you know me, I don't really make reservations until day-of, or I just show up. This is likely my only special power. (Sometimes I'm also blessed with awesome parking situations.) My only complaint? Too many flavored "dirts." I like flavor delivery in many forms, but I really feel that there were just too many "dirts" during my visit. It just started feeling a bit redundant. I like other textures, too. It reminded me a lot of that season of Top Chef with Marcel (and his foams). I'd come back in a heartbeat. Heart. Beat.

    (5)
  • Abby S.

    Part Deux of a wonderful Saturday evening. I knew Niche was good and was waiting for the right opportunity to eat at here. When my folks said they were coming into town and wanted to take Mike T and myself to a fancy dinner, Niche was the first restaurant on the list! Mind you, my parents are a tad bit food snobby. No, they don't watch Top Chef or read Zagat guides; rather, they like to cook themselves and are fairly critical of sloppy chefs. They wouldn't be caught dead inside a Red Lobster, either, which makes me glad that they don't read my Yelp reviews often :) As soon as we were sat, my Dad's first comment was, "Wow, this place is nice!" which was a good sign, since he was paying. And since he's been to some 5-star restaurants all over the world. Niche does offer a 5-course tasting menu for $55, but your entire table has to agree to it. That sounded like way too much food for everyone, so instead we went with the 3-course menu for $35. Each of us ordered different menu items so we could share. My favorites were the Pork Pappererdelle - a slow roasted pork on top of a homemade pasta- and the Chilled White Gazpacho. Dessert was heavenly, too! I had the pound cake with blueberry sorbet. The cake itself was dense with some kind of glaze on top (not like the pound cake I've ever seen before) and the blueberry sorbet was perfectly tart. Normally I'd eat the entire thing but was too full! Three courses took our group of four about an hour and a half to finish, which is just about enough time for me. We didn't feel rushed but after sitting still anywhere for 90 minutes, I need to get up and move. I wouldn't recommend eating at Niche if you wanted a quick meal - go to Taste next door. But if you're looking for excellent, fresh food in one of St. Louis' best restaurants, go here. Now!

    (5)
  • Carol L.

    Another meal, another neighborhood in St. Louis. Another good find with outdoor seating. Only this time, the service was fantastic (thanks Kevin) - attentive and friendly! And he seemed to genuinely care about what we thought about our food. The starter bread was a LAVENDAR CORIANDER BREAD with orange zest. It was very good. My friend had the ROASTED MUSHROOMS, with wild mushrooms, sweet onion, sea island red peas, a poached egg and fennel. The presentation was lovely and it was quite good though there were a few bites that were too salty. I took advantage of Niche's 3 courses for $40 deal. I really like that you can order ANY appetizer, main and dessert! I started with the VITELLO TONNATO, a tuna trio on baguette slices with marrow, lemon and parsley. The marrow was very rich and overwhelmed what could be better as a more delicate dish. For my entree I had the PORK DUO, with wild mushrooms, squash polenta, maple sherry and swiss chard. The duo was sliced pork loin and pulled pork (I preferred this part), but the dish overall was super-salty! Even the swiss chard was too salty, yikes! I couldn't eat very much of this dish. For my sweet, I had the LIQUID CHOCOLATE CAKE. This made up for the disappointing meal thus far. The chocolate was rich but not too rich, and the cake was not too gooey. Plus, it came with a scoop of ESPRESSO CARDAMOM ICE CREAM. Yum!!! If I were in the area again, I'd come back to try some more of their interesting offerings.

    (4)
  • Joy W.

    Just because this is Niche, I feel obliged to give a 5. Everything about Niche screams a 5 (almost even a 6!), except for the price. To be honest, there are restaurants with impeccable service, amazing flavors and wonderful decor for cheaper. But hey, it's St. Louis, so this is the best there is. I would never dish out that much money for food, but I've been dying to try the infamous Niche restaurant. Finally convinced my parents to go there for my graduation dinner. You have to make a reservation WEEKS in advance, and they take down your credit card number so if you don't show up, they will charge $100 for a no show. Legit. We started with a chilled lobster with hollandaise sauce, which was the best freaking lobster I've ever had. Personally, I would've liked it warmer, but I think the coolness brought out the flavors better. I'm a huge fan of pasta, so I ordered the lasagna, which came out and it was yellow and green to my surprise. However, it was the best freaking lasagna I've ever had, but at the same time it wasn't what you would expect a lasgna to taste or look like. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. And you can't go wrong with any dessert. And you WILL have room for dessert here.

    (5)
  • Kyle H.

    So I pretty much realized recently I have pretty expensive taste and friends with high standards. A friend was coming in town from New York and said the last time he was in STL he was "thoroughly underwhelmed" with the fare in STL. I made it my mission to show him the best in STL. We started out with marinated olives, then I had a Bitter greens salad and we split a Lobster dish in brown butter. All amazing! For entrees I had a rare fillet that literally melted in my mouth. My friend had the pork duo and said it was "Love at first bite". We finished wish a cheese plate then coffee. It was a classic meal. Our waitress was amazingly sweet and made sure we always had drinks in front of us! I called ahead and said I was coming with a VIP from work and they gave us a great table by the window!

    (5)
  • Kim T.

    I went here last Friday with my sister for her graduation dinner and it was a wonderful dinner! It's a pretty small restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating. It has very modern decor; minimalistic with clean lines. Our server was sweet and recommended the Fleur Delice cocktail, since I like fruity drinks. It was a great fresh, citrus-y drink. I am also a sucker for bread and it was amazing... I filled up on three slices! The bread was fresh and moist and had slight spicy kick to it. Some olive oil would have been nice but that didn't take away from the bread at all (and less calories in the end, too). I ordered the lobster appetizer.. and it was a good-sized portion of lobster. It was in a light cream sauce with thin strips of pickled daikon and lightly toasted chunks of squid ink bread. The daikon was a nice juxtaposition to the cream sauce and the squid ink bread complemented the dish nicely. My sister order the crawfish dish which came with a strawberry sauce; i had a taste and liked it well enough. For my main course, I ordered the pork shoulder dish. It was pretty tasty, but I was blown away by my sister's entree: the filet of beef. Hers was delivered as three pieces of medium-rare beef on mashed potatoes and leeks on the side. The beef was a perfect medium-rare: pink all throughout, with just the outside browned, and not bloody at all. Kudos to the chef! I doubt I'll be back in St. Louis anytime soon, but if I ever were, I would definitely revisit this restaurant!

    (5)
  • Kim K.

    Can't believe we waited this long to make it to Niche! Decided to treat ourselves on our anniversary and it was worth every penny! Right off the bat the service was spot on and super professional. The space is absolutely beautiful and I love that it's nestled in a great city neighborhood (yes, I know it's moving to the county and that bums me out to no end). On to the food! The starters were absolutely lovely and I feel like they set the perfect tone for the rest of the meal. J had the cauliflower soup and I had the day boat scallops. Don't get me wrong, the scallops were good...better than good even. But lordy, that soup was fantastic and I had serious envy issues with my choice! The soup was smooth and velvety with great flavor without being so rich that it weighed you down. So. Good. The entrees were just as superb as the starters. They had a duck special that J couldn't resist. The meat was cooked perfectly inside and the skin was crispy and beautifully browned. They happily switched out the side that was supposed to come with it because it contained gluten and instead served it with goat cheese polenta that was earthy and creamy. Highly recommend! I went with the filet. Not the most creative thing on the menu but as filets go it was worth every penny. Perfect medium rare and so tender it almost fell apart by itself. We decided to skip out on dessert because they didn't have any gluten free options save for sorbet and we were wanting something a bit richer than that. However, their brown derby cocktail with bourbon and honey ended things quite nicely! Overall, a wonderful experience!!

    (5)
  • Mark D.

    We had a near-perfect meal at Niche. We tried quite a few items--expecting smaller portions, we kind of over-ordered, but that proved to be a happy accident. The worst items we had were merely good; most of the plates we had trended towards fantastic. A few items really stood out: The pork duo, the corn soup, and spiced nuts were all amazing. The smoked trout salad was really good as well. The potato puree was the only thing that didn't match the quality of the rest of the meal. It was good, but paled in comparison to the other items that came across our table. The spiced nuts held well as leftovers a number of days after we had dinner. If Niche packaged and shipped them, we'd be regular customers. Everyone we shared them with over the next few days thought they were terrific. (They started off spicy before melting into an unbelievable smokiness. Really, really good.) Our desert took kind of an odd turn. My wife, wanting something sweet, ordered the ice cream with chocolate sauce. Well, the chocolate was towards the bitter side. It was still very, very good, just not what she wanted at that particular moment. She ate only part of it, and the server went ahead and comped it, even though my wife protested that it was fine. I'm not sure the server believed her, which created an odd dynamic for a few minutes (not to mention an unexpected number of visits by the server to our table). I'm pretty sure this was the first time I witnessed an argument over a comp where it was the restaurant arguing for the comp, not the customer. That odd event aside, our server, and the overall service, was great. Dinner for two, including a couple of gasses of wine, came in at about $115 before tip. If we lived in St. Louis, I'm sure we'd be back.

    (5)
  • Michael B.

    You pay for what you get! Not the biggest portions but the food is delicious and beautiful. My wife and I did the four course pre-fix menu and it was even better than the last time we went. 1st Course - My wife got the beets which were bright and had a nice depth of flavor. I got the Potato & Leek soup which was alright. Not as outstanding as the zucchini soup I had last time 2nd Course - My wife got the riccotta tortellin which was delicate and popped with flavor. I had the pork shoulder dish which was the most amazing combination of salty, sweet and smokey. You cannot go wrong on the 2nd course. 3rd Course - My wife got the lamb which was wonderfully spiced. The freshness of the mint really set off the whole dish. I got the filet of beef which was cooked perfect and hit all the flavor notes that you would want. 4th Course - My wife had the concord grape which was just amazing. The freshness and brightness of the grape coupled perfectly with the richness of the chess pie. The madeline cake was ok and to enjoy it you need to be a big fan of ginger.

    (5)
  • Eliza P.

    Fabulous food and service! This is my favorite restaurant in St. Louis by a long-shot. Their menu is on the small side, because it is based on the fresh ingredients they get that week/month/season/whatever. It is a small place, so do not bring a group with you. It is more a "dinner-for-two" kind of place. Very intimate atmosphere. Will definitely be back sooner than later!

    (5)
  • Michael S.

    I wasn't impressed as much as others seem to be. Not that the food wasn't good it was, it was just overpriced. Very small imitate dinning with a creative menu. 400 for dinner though left me wondering was it worth it. Never thought that leaving Annie Guns or citizen Kane's. Lots of choices that offer similar high end plating for less.

    (3)
  • Byanka S.

    The overall experience was outstanding. I took my mom here, and we had the chef's taste with wine pairings. All of the food was excellent. My favorite was the beef, of course (I love beef). It almost melted in my mouth. The service was great too. Our waiter came to check on us at the right time, and we enjoyed a little conversation as well. I feel that if people aren't open to the possibility of very different flavors working well together, they will not enjoy it. I never had caviar before that evening, but the fusion of flavors worked nicely together and made it a nice experience. Also, the presentation of the food was lovely. This is not a place to eat every week (unless you have the money), but I already know I will be back for my anniversary :)

    (5)
  • Laura P.

    I took my mom here for Monday Supper last night. Our food was absolutely delicious. We got wine pairings and they were just right. There were delightful, unexpected touches to each dish that elevated them from good to great. I asked my server about a few ingredients in the dish and he was enthusiastic to tell me about those and share other recommendations of things I should try some time. I'm a big nerd, so that was great fun! The food was everything we expected. The thing we didn't expect, however, was how great the service was. From the moment we walked in, the staff was friendly and welcoming. There was no pretense of snobbishness. I've been to restaurants where I felt uncomfortable because the staff was so formal, but Niche was not at all that way. From the moment we walked in to when we left, everyone was just delightful. The hostess even remembered that I'd mentioned my mother visiting from out of town and asked her how her trip had been as we were getting our coats. Really, it was a wonderful experience on the whole.

    (5)
  • Kathy E.

    I went to Niche a few months ago with my daughter. The food was outstanding, with incredible attention to the best ingredients, delicious recipes, and lovely presentation. The staff was top-notch; they know their business, from the hostesses to the servers to the kitchen. The manager is very personable as well. Really a lovely evening.

    (5)
  • Chris Z.

    I had a few guests in town and decided to take them to Niche. This was the first time I visited on a weekday and was pleasantly surprised that I was able to get right in. The 3 items for $35 was new to me since my last Niche visit so I took advantage of it. I let the waitress pick out each of my three dishes. Everything was good. I had the pork shoulder with pasta, then the trout with peas and beans, and lastly the cream puffs for desert. For $35, you're not going to eat better than this. Drinks and appetizers bumped up our bill significantly. Save Niche for those special nights and special company and it will surely not disappoint.

    (5)
  • Gary J.

    five of us had dinner at Niche last night, several of the courses were very good - pea soup, crayfish roll, mushroom entre, ribeye entree. The deserts were weird. I don't think there is a need for pea infused ice cream that was part of my desert (rest of the desert was very good). The other desert offering that was honeycomb based with berries and verbena flavor would be considered an acquired taste that I don't anticipate acquiring any time soon. Service and ambience both very good. Dinner is expensive, Easy to get close to $1000 for 5 with tip if all get the 8 course menu and wine pairings. (everyone in your party has to get either the four course menu or the 8 course menu). Don't expect to go away feeling full We had been to Niche in the former location and I preferred the menu offerings .

    (4)
  • Tina R.

    Niche was an absolutely amazing dining experience!! My husband and I were in St. Louis for a weekend trip earlier this month from Chicago, and this was our splurge item (it was worth it a million times over). We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails while we waited for our table to get cleared away. I love St. Germain so the Saint 75 was a perfect way to start the evening. My husband got the Trinidad Tryst, the cassis was an interesting addition. We opted for the chef's tasting menu without wine pairings and settled in for a long and wonderful meal (2hrs at a leisurely pace). Our first course was a maple custard with mushrooms and caviar served in a very cool open-topped egg shell. The custard was creamy but not too thick and not overly sweet from the maple, and it paired perfectly with the salt from the mushrooms and caviar. The second course was the carrots three ways- pickled, creamed, and something else I can't remember. Not my favorite dish overall, the flavors weren't as distinct as I'd expect but the mix of textures was fun. Next came the lobster campanelle, and omg it was spectacular! The lobster was sweet and succulent while the sauce was creamy with a touch of spice that surprised your palate at the very end. The flavors melded so perfectly that we both would've licked the bowl if we weren't in public! We followed this with the wild steelhead trout with blood orange and fennel. Really fresh fish with a clean, meaty flavor similar to salmon. There was a crunchy pistachio bread thing that was super tasty. Otherwise, it was an ok dish. At this point, I was ready for another drink and tried the Orchard Sidecar. It was a stronger drink with a nice fruity aroma to cut through slight bitterness and tasted of summery apricots. The last main entree was the beef filet with leeks and potatoes. Absolutely delicious- tender, juicy and covered with an amazing salt and pepper crust. The meat just melted in my mouth like butter, pure perfection! The leeks added a lovely salty and oniony flavor to the creamed potatoes. Finally, we ended on the beet sponge cake and chocolate ice cream and orange-sambuca sorbet. What a strange and unique dessert but it was fantastic! The sponge cake wasn't overly sweet, and that allowed the sorbet to really shine. The textures of the cake (moist and spongey), ice cream (creamy), sorbet (light and refreshing), and the crunchy nuts were just awesome. The service at Niche is phenomenal as well! Our waitress was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and very personable. She recommended me a spectacular sparkling rose to go with my dessert that wasn't on the menu. She understood exactly what I was looking for and totally blew me away. Worth every penny and second we were there!

    (5)
  • A B.

    This is the best restaurant in Saint Louis. Every dish is delectable, the texture, the taste, the presentation, all very impressive. The restaurant's intimate and upscale vibe would make it a huge hit even in NYC, and Saint Louis is very lucky to have it. I still can't get over the textures of my dishes. The wine list is very impressive as well. I had a Gramercy Cellars Tempranillo. It is very strange to have a Tempranillo from Wala Wala, Washington, but it was quite excellent. A home run by Chef Gerard Craft.

    (5)
  • Kevin B.

    Best meal I have had in years. Pricey but worth every penny. Their "New Fashion's" are delicious. Creativity and pairings are amazing.

    (5)
  • Bart B.

    Called 4x, left 2 voicemails, received additional solicitation emails, drove to location, verified phone # and that they check voicemail...Got an insincere, "so saworrrry" from bubble blonde hostess; walked out. Better service when they were on 7th street, and still hungry (the 2 stars are for the memories). Success, it can cripple you...Heard carry out is just as disappointing.

    (2)
  • William H.

    I love Niche and all of Gerard Craft's restaurants. The food always amazes me and the service is outstanding. So why am I giving Niche only 2 stars? The noise level in the new space ruins the entire experience. I was at a work function with clients and no one at the table could here anyone else. The food was still outstanding, but really one can't enjoy it due to the noise level. Mr. Craft, please do something with the noise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (2)
  • Amanda Z.

    Definitely the most creative and imaginative meal I've had in St. Louis. I went with my family to celebrate my graduation. Initially, my traditional father was thrown off by the somewhat opaque menu, but even he was won over by the food. There are a lot of great restaurants in St. Louis, but it was fun to be surprised and have a very different interpretation from other places. Highlights included the white anchovies, filet of beef with a potato leek puree and the dessert called "Chocolate", which was a combination of beet sponge cake, orange sorbet, dill and chocolate ice cream. Whimsical and delicious! While the server recommended the strawberry shortcake, no one was impressed. The presentation is gorgeous and service helpful but unobtrusive. Can't wait to go back with my husband.

    (5)
  • amy c.

    I really really REALLY wanted to love Niche. I had been wanting to come for a long time but it had never worked out. Finally I made it in last weekend and I am so sad to say that it wasn't the mind-blowing food orgasm I thought it was going to be. :( My friend and I had the 3 courses for $35: fried pig head, berkshire pork duo, semifreddo, asparagus soup, beef w/ bone marrow, and the liquid chocolate cake thing. Nothing was really exceptional... the fried pig head was cooked better on one side, it tasted noticeably drier on one side than the other. the berk pork belly was the BEST part of the meal. Paper thing and crispy on the outside and melty fat inside. It was truly delicious. Service was EXCELLENT!! Everyone was so friendly and warm, without that fake cloying niceness you find at some places. The staff here seemed genuine when they greeted you and asked how your meal was. Waiter was attentive but not annoyingly so. i hate when waitstaff hover. Best service I've had in stl. I am going to try Niche again. I am hopeful I will have the 5star experience everyone is raving about :)

    (3)
  • Sorrell G.

    Staff was very attentive. Food was great. The price of the food was was very reasonable for the service and quality of food you receive. Top notch.

    (5)
  • Sarah M.

    Unbelievable!!! The tasting menu was fantastically paired with beautiful wines. The hardest decision was whether I enjoyed the Maple Custard with roasted mushrooms and caviar or the spicy Lobster Campanelle with dill, caviar, chive and creme fraishe more. The service was attentive and informative and ultra friendly. The valet was soaking wet, but on the ball and ready to serve. All around great experience.

    (5)
  • Aaron K.

    I can't say enough good things about Niche and Gerard Craft! The food here is exceptional... phenomenal...just plain lovely!! Spending a fair amount of time dining around Chicago I had heard about the amazing work Chef Craft was doing down in St. Louis. When I had the opportunity to get my whole family together to celebrate my recent PhD graduation, Niche was at the top of my list. The meal that was put together for us delighted everyone - even my anti-foodie father-in-law. This is no small feat as I have had far less success on all of my previous attempts. I can't wait to visit again when I have a chance. The celebration of seasons and fresh local ingredients really makes Niche stand out from its competition. The relationship they have with their farmers shows in the love they apply to their food. They really care about what they serve from farm-to-table (such an overused term but the ethos of Niche is precisely that.)

    (5)
  • Sara P.

    Valet parking (especially helpful when it's raining) It looks (and tastes) like it doesn't belong in St. Louis. It's something I'd expect to find in San Francisco! Superb waitstaff. Smallish menu + tasting menu. I started with the celery root soup. You should order this. Great flavors and the grapefruit cuts the richness of the cream. Wild Steelhead. I've never seen it prepared like this! It came seared like ahi usually does. Served with pistachios and a blood orange sauce. My brother and aunt had the filet which they raved about. I was scoping out the food around us -- it all looked fantastic.

    (5)
  • Jamie S.

    It's been a few days since I have been here, so I will try to do it justice by remembering the details of what I have eaten. The only thing I can say that I really did not like about this experience was the smell inside the restaurant. They have a smoker that they use that hit me like a ton of bricks as soon as I walked in, and the smell loomed over me even after I left. My hair smelled strongly of smokiness. Other than that, the experience was top notch! We started with the "snack" of white anchovies with garlic toast. It was delicious and aptly named "snack". Just a little taste for all 4 of us. We proceede with the maple egg custard, which was positively divine. It was the reason that my table requested the tasting menu, and we were very glad that we did. The sweetness mixed with the brininess of the man made caviar was an awesome demonstration of molecular gastronomy, and I, for one, was impressed and delighted with the result. The second course was carrots 3 ways. I really did not enjoy this dish. I don't love carrots or vinegar, and it was just kind of a throwaway. It certainly didn't ruin my meal, in fact, I was glad I got to try it, as it was interesting and if nothing else, palate cleansing. My group almost didn't do the tasting menu because a few of us really wanted the trout gravlax. Thus, we added it to our tasting menu. It was OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD! It was served with salmon roe and crème fraishe, and it was absolutely perfect. We loved it with all elements together, and we loved eating the elements alone for a different flavor. This was amazing, and I would recommend it. We then had the Lobster Campanelle, which I enjoyed. It was kind of like lobster mac and cheese for grownups. It had a tangy sauce that I enjoyed, and it had caviar from a fish I don't recall the name of. I enjoyed this but was really starting to get full at this point! Next was the Filet of Beef. The serving was very small, which was perfect as this ended up being a 7 course tasting menu for us. It was basically a few oz of beef over a leek puree. It tasted exceptional, and it would be a great entrée to have full sized if not doing the tasting menu. It was presented beautifully, and was cooked perfectly. Finally, we ended with some various ice creams and kulfis, I think we had guava, and a rose water meringue. The sweet was nice at the end of the meal, but it wasn't overly decadent. It was a little tart for my tastes, but ended the meal nicely. I had 2 cocktails with dinner, and both were wonderful. They are not listed on their website so I can expand much more on them, but they were both amazing. Light and crisp, not too sweet and very complimentary to the meal. I wish I could recall more, but alas, isn't that the sign of a good cocktail? I highly recommend this joint.

    (5)
  • LN S.

    Absolutely perfect food! We have been here about half a dozen times and the food, presentation and service are always impeccable. I cannot help but order the steak every time I go--it just melts....My husband is more disciplined and has also ordered the pork duo and seafood entrees which he says are equally great. Every time we go to St. Louis we make sure this is one of our destinations.

    (5)
  • Shu Z.

    For St. Louis, this has to be one of the most impressive restaurants to date. The attention to detail and consistency of the execution will rightfully match any well established places in other large cities. Niche is a must if you are looking for something special or just a great start to a night out.

    (5)
  • Stephanie B.

    If you read four words of this review here they are: EAT AT THE BAR! Seriously, very rarely would I ever advise this at a more upscale place. I would tell you to sit at that cute table, stare deep into your date's eyes and have a great time. Not here. I went with my sister and had an amazing time chatting with Brian the bartender and trying small samples of wine to pick what to have with our dinner. He knew his food and his wine and made the night for us. The polenta was amazing. Enough so that I have no shame in admitting that I got one to-go so I could eat it for lunch the next day. That's saying a lot. The rabbit was tender and flavorful. The lava cake desert, another to die for creation. I can't wait to go back!

    (4)
  • Kathy B.

    Was an awesome time, great food, great friends, great atmosphere!

    (4)
  • Bill K.

    Niche has an imposing reputation in St. Louis, and among my circle it is the highest rated. Both of which I take with a grain of salt, as I have been to some of the other highly-touted local places, and haven't always caught them on a good night. But it is a good restaurant, no doubt. On the plus side: the artfully prepared and presented food. How could it not be? The chicken I had was perfectly roasted, tender and flavorful, and the other dishes I tried were quite tasty and beautifully presented. Portions were tiny, just perfect for skinny old me. On the minus side: the elbow-to-elbow Picadilly-Cafeteria-style table arrangement and the noise. Service was OK, not great but not bad. And I think most of the menu is over-priced. Not sure if I would go back again if invited... I should clarify by revealing I am more comfortable in casual restaurants. My wife loved the place. I would like it more on expense account, I am pretty sure, so I am going for four stars rather than three.

    (4)
  • ann l.

    I just don't get it. You wait too long, pay too much and then leave wondering if there's something your missing. As my husband wondered as we pondered the Brussels sprout leaves filled with broth (5). Where do you suppose the rest of the Brussels sprout is?? This is very 90s to me. Ouch

    (1)
  • Sasha K.

    Went back for the tasting menu... It rocked. I highly recommend it. It is a creative and fun way to try new dishes. I have to admit, this restaurant lives up to the hype. I could go back every Monday!

    (5)
  • Sarah S.

    Five stars for service -- from the time we approached the door to the time we dashed out in the rain, we were treated like royalty. Three star for food -- a surprise, to say the least! I was expecting to be knocked off my seat by this culinary experience and it left me wanting. The maple custard was good, as everyone's written. We went all out with the tasting menu AND wine pairing. The pairings were fine but unremarkable in that they didn't especially highlight the taste of the food. The carrots three ways was meager and the pickled carrots were not to my liking. The lobster campanelle wasn't so great. The beef dish was good. The guava kulfi dessert was, once again, only OK. Glad we checked out what all the fuss was about but we'll go back to Sydney St next "fancy night out." P.S.: They're moving to Clayton, but probably not until fall at the earliest.

    (4)
  • David P.

    I have to say this is one of the best restaurants I've ever dined at, and I've lived in Seoul, San Francisco, and New York so I've had my share of "Zagat-rated, Michelin star" restaurants. The way that the chef plays with texture and different flavors is nothing short of amazing (I looked him up and he was nominated for a James Beard award!). The menu is deceptively simple, as it only lists the ingredients and doesn't tell you how it's prepared. We had the Jonah Crab and Peas and Carrots for appetizers, and I couldn't believe that something simply called "Peas and Carrots" could be soo good (due to a smoky, subtle barbeque sauce). I had the Pork Duo for my entree and it was amazing. The shoulder, belly, polenta, and brussel sprout salad each had their own distinctive texture and flavor but somehow they all work perfectly together. There was even a cold mousse (?) on top of the polenta which was yummy. It's literally what you fantasize Top Chef meals tasting like. The space itself is kind of small and narrow and prone to getting loud, but I like how unpretentious it is considering the quality of the food. Well worth the price and if you are ever visiting St. Louis, Niche is a must try.

    (5)
  • Craig Z.

    Raised prices and cut portions. This is the second time they have done this. I do agree it is outstanding for St. Louis, but not as great a deal as it once was.

    (4)
  • Jeff M.

    Niche must be one of the best restaurants in the country. I was in town for a few days and managed to land here for dinner one Monday night. Niche is a perfect name for this place. You think about the name as it describes its physical place and location. Once you eat the food, you realize there are few places like it around the city or the country even. From the moment the car was valeted (though there is free parking in that neck of the woods), service was top-notch, fun, friendly, and relaxed. Dress nicely, but jackets not necessary here. The meal started with a tri-colore salad with endive, radicchio, arugula, shaved radish, parmesan, currants, and caramelized shallot vinaigrette. This was a beautifully presented dish and each bite convinced me this must have been freshly harvested that very morning. Refreshing, crisp, and wonderful. The pork loin dish with braised new potatoes, creamed cabbage, and maple gastrique was one of my favorite things I've eaten all year. The plating was gorgeous and the pork was immaculate. I heard angels sing with each bite. Chef Gerard Craft mentions Thomas Keller as his inspiration. I think Thomas Keller would be inspired by this dish. Dessert was fantastic based on its sheer simplicity alone: vanilla ice cream & chocolate sauce. It was what I needed to follow the pork dish. And it was amazing. My one regret at Niche was not having done the tasting menu due to time constraints. I plan on coming back to St. Louis to do this specifically. If you can lay out the cash or credit for it - though comparatively, this is a STEAL compared to equivalent quality restaurants in NYC or San Francisco - to me, doing the tasting menu is a no-brainer. Either way, just get here. Make no plans other than to eat and enjoy. You won't regret it. And you'll be back!

    (5)
  • Nancy C.

    No, that's the only word that comes to mind. No, no, no, no, and no. We were sat all the way in the back even though the restaurant was half empty and we had a reservation. There was a draft coming from somewhere and second hand smoke was somehow pouring in. We asked to change seats and the server did graciously move us. The food was sub par. Some of it was cold, some over salted, some of the meat had major tendons running through portions of it. Also, the meat had some weird coffee/chocolate dry rub on it and I'm all for that flavor in my meat, but not as a dry rub that had in no way penetrated the actual meat but was merely a dust covering on top. For as many people who rave about this place, I just don't get it. I will never go back.

    (1)
  • Scott T.

    Certainly had tasty and artsy meals...I guess I expected to actually get full from a 32 dollar plate. I enjoyed it but we won't be back

    (3)
  • Ryan S.

    I had high expectations after reading the reviews. They were quickly dashed. The design and ambiance are sharp, the service was better than average, the food was just lame. If the goal is to create art on a plate, then Niche succeeds, but three out of four of our entrees were totally bland and uninspiring. I had heard the desserts were outstanding, but we were too disappointed with our apps and entrees to keep the faith. I can't claim to know St. Louis restaurants too well, but I have to believe there's much better stuff out there than this.

    (2)
  • Jenna L.

    The reviews are true; Niche is a true gem in STL. Probably the best restaurant I have been to so far. Reminds me a lot of a restaurant that would be in San Francisco. All the dishes were very creative. We ordered the summer vegetable salad (good but I wouldn't order it again), glazed chicken (like nothing I've ever had before), and the pork duo. The chicken had a "glass" top that was very interesting. It kind of tasted like candy but it was a good combo with the tender chicken. The pork duo consists of a pork shoulder and the pork belly. The shoulder is awesome!!! Even if you don't like pork, I recommend you try it. The pork belly wasn't my favorite but it's worth it to order the duo for the pork shoulder. It comes with an ice cream, which was a little odd but I'll give the chef points for creativity. The polenta with cheese and almonds was also a delish side! Butter cheesecake was really decadent and perfect to share. Service was impeccable. Ambiance is trendy and upscale. Prices are...pretty expensive, but worth it.

    (4)
  • Colin F.

    I love Niche. It is rediculously good. Gerard Craft is a food genius. I have been to Niche a couple times now and it always blows me away. One should always do the tasting menu here. It's the best way to get a full view of what the restaurant has to offer. Last time I went I got the tasting menu. There was a tuna crudo first course that was so amazing. It had 3 styles of tuna on it, all were amazing. For my entre I had some sort of braise beef thing that was held together with a fat netting. It sounds weird but the fat melted into the beef and also held it together. It was paired with a marrow bone filled with risotto. Yum! So creative and imaginative. The service is impecable. The servers know almost everything about what their going to bring you. The explain the whole breakdown of the dish. Can't wait to go back!

    (5)
  • Timothy G.

    I took the beautiful wife to Niche for Valentine's Day, having booked a reservation via OpenTable about three weeks in advance. Which was a good thing, because it was pretty packed when we arrived (6:15) and when we left. We were seated right away. A tag team of servers/bussers(?) came over an did a synchronized filling of our water glasses. Hopefully that was just a coincidence, though I immediately starting hoping they'd start doing the Funky Charleston, Kid 'n Play-style. God I'm old. Anyway, our server came over with menus and gave a chance to look them over and gave us a quick rundown of the menu options. We both went with the 3 for $40 was our decision. My choices were the crispy octopus as the starter, the filet (boring, I know, but there's a sentimental reason) for the entree, and the PB&J for dessert. I'll allow the wife a chance to write her own review, but I'll say the courses she ordered were all superior, in both creativity and flavor to mine. But that's OK, I got to sample each of her dishes (OK, in some cases, I got to eat a lot). Anyway, the crispy octopus was about an 8" tentacle, looking like Ned Land has freshly hacked it off. It was served over white beans and diced chorizo with chili oil. It was tasty, but it wasn't anything overly amazing. The filet (which carried a $4 "supplement", I love that, more polite that writing "extra") was perfectly cooked (medium rare). It came with carrots, turnips (I think? Some root veggie) and a potato puree. Again, everything was tasty, but nothing made me go "wow." Finally, the PB&J. I'm normally not a dessert guy, but this was really good, but it was also really huge. Essentially a peanut butter brulee with a giant chocolate doughnut (mmmm...doughnut), topped with fig whipped cream and a chocolate brioche on top. Oddly, for my courses, this was the best part. Service was prompt and friendly. Despite having a very busy night, nobody gave any indication of being stressed/etc., so that's a sign of a well run place. So, why four stars? I'm trying not to penalize them for what I ordered, but at the same time, I just wasn't _that_ excited by the menu. There just wasn't anything that made me go "I couldn't get this anywhere else!" (except maybe the dessert) Next, the atmosphere. Frankly, I didn't find Niche to be romantic at all. Sure, the lights were dimmed, but otherwise, it was cramped (I had to whisper to the wife what nefarious after dinner bedroom plans I had in mind) and it was loud (she didn't hear what I said). I don't know if the (I presumed) increased Valentine's Day crowd caused those two factors to be intensified or not. But they were. Don't get me wrong -- we'll be back, but I'm not in a huge rush to do so.

    (4)
  • Angela R.

    Special night out and definitely exceeded our expectations. We did the fixe meal with wine pairings. The palate was spot on and service exceptional. Can't wait to go back. I highly recommend getting reservations and if you can swing it, get the chance to sit at chef's table.

    (5)
  • Daniel H.

    This is as good as it gets, just like the Yelp rating says - especially because it's St. Louis. This is probably the most boring city ever. EVER. If you read any travel magazine go ahead and do the things it recommends, and then realize that everything you did that day sucked. Then go to Niche and experience the one redeeming quality about St. Louis. The people working there are attractive too. Weird comment, right? Well, after spending the day wondering where all the people in St. Louis are, you'll appreciate that the first ones you see (at Niche), are at least attractive.

    (5)
  • Rader S.

    This was our first time at the new location, in Clayton. When we arrived we ordered a drink at the bar. Before we even got our drinks our table was ready. (7:15 reservation). Our server was great and immediately told us about the menu. We ordered the 4 course fixed price menu. it started with this potato soup which was amazing:creamy, rich and light all at the same time. I had the foie gras which was awesome and perfectly cooked. I also had the beef tenderloin which was plate licking good. Desert was also superb. At $55 per person I think it was well worth it. Niche is a top 2 restaurant in St. Louis. The new location is wonderful, plenty of room and not too loud. I can't recommend niche strongly enough!

    (5)
  • Iffat B.

    We went here for a New Year's Eve dinner and it definitely was not my type of restaurant. It was very expensive and I left hungry. The food was good, however I wish there was more of it. If you like to leave full, then don't go to this place!

    (3)
  • Michael B.

    Oh, we were so disappointed. We used to love this restaurant! Now, the concept -- tiny portions and very limited choices -- simply doesn't work. For a lot of money, I got a thimbleful of soup, two bites of fish, a large carrot and a small dessert. I left starving (and decidedly poorer), and we will not return unless the old Niche comes back.

    (1)
  • Mark T.

    I try to visit the top reviewed restaurant in each city I visit, so Niche was a natural destination for my stay in STL. I didn't know the city had a neighborhood this adorable! It was really a treat just getting to the restaurant. When we arrived in our taxi, the exceedingly kind valet guy opened our door for us, making us feel welcome before we even entered the restaurant. Before we reached the door of the restaurant, the hostess opened the door for us. I had made reservations on opentable, but one of our party was not going to join us and the staff quickly accommodated us by splitting our 4top table to a 2top without the slightest hint of inconvenience. While they were readying our table, I asked for directions to the washroom, and the most gracious woman with the most amazing hairstyle escorted me in the direction of the facilities. I know that doesn't have anything to do with the food, but it was just jaw-droppingly awesome. We were lucky enough to be waited on by Todd. He was gracious, intelligent, unobtrusive, attentive and funny. I'd indicated on opentable that one of us was a ovo/lacto vegetarian, and he helpfully pointed out that the peas and carrot dish could be made without bacon. We asked for martinis with special request olives: one martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives, the other martini stuffed with sardines (or anchovies). Without so much as a "that will cost extra" or "we've never done that before", the bar accommodated our request. We started with the citrus+oil marinated olives and spiced nuts. They were a nice way to whet our appetite. We continued on to the (vegetarian version) peas and carrots as well as the crab/avocado/cilantro/grapefruit starter. Both were just amazing - appropriate portion sizes, flavors that I'd never experienced and a presentation fitting a restaurant of this caliber. The crab dish had this crazy cocoa "glass" (sugar glass) that gave a nice crunch to the dish. We also ordered the cold beet soup to share, and our server was kind enough to bring it to us in two separate bowls so we could share it without having to push a bowl around the table. I don't know how they do it, but those smoked beet chips satisfy all the texture/flavor points that bacon does. My vegetarian companion was extremely pleased! For our main dishes we ordered the vegetable duo and the pork duo. Each meal was just exquisite. Four words: Hickory Smoked Ice Cream. For real. The pork duo of pork belly and pork shoulder was accompanied with a polenta popcorn cake topped with a little football of hickory smoked ice cream. It was like having the most expertly prepared pork belly with a side of campfire. I was in heaven. The vegetarian dish had this amazing fennel tarragon component and roasted beets, mandarin oranges and caramelized onions with a homemade ricotta cheese. Needless to say, we were both very happy. To accompany my pork dish, I asked the waiter to bring a full bodied, oaky white wine, and he brought a sumptuous white that stood up well to the pork. To finish off our meal we shared the farmhouse cheese plate and had snifters of cognac and armagnac. The cheeses were accompanied by a kumquat preserve, kumquat preserve and the same spiced nuts that we started with. The cheeses were spectacular and it was a perfect finish to our meal. I felt like the prices were appropriate for the food, and coming from Chicago, it actually felt like kind of a bargain for that caliber of a dining experience. As we were leaving, we asked the hostess to call a taxi for us and she did so with a smile. My companion and I were posing for pictures in front of the restaurant (what? we're tourists!) and Todd, gracious as ever, came out to volunteer to take a photo of the both of us in front of the restaurant. We chatted with the friendly (and fast-as-a-Kenyan) valet guy between him sprinting to retrieve cars while waiting for our taxi. I can't wait to dine at Niche again!

    (5)
  • Chelsea H.

    A dinner at Niche is one those type of meals that you always refer back to in memory, wishing that you were eating one of their mouth-watering cuts of meat, savory vegetables, or melt-in-your mouth desserts. The atmosphere is an added bonus, reminiscent of an upscale New York eatery. Niche goes beyond the biological need to eat, and creates a one-of-a-kind dining experience... for which you are sure to never forget!

    (5)
  • Jaffe J.

    I was in St. Louis for a few days for business meetings and this was the best meal I had while I was there. Started with the anchovies which had a nice light flavor. Four small pieces of anchovy on some nice toast, a rather pleasant way to start the meal. The carrots three way was carrots in three different cooking styles and was a really intriguing dish, lots of different flavors and textures and I was quite surprised at what can be done with a simple carrot dish. For my entree, I had the file of beef which came with some tasty sauces and a puree of squash. The squash puree was just OK but the meat was cooked perfectly and tasted amazing. I also got the polenta and potato puree on the side. The polenta was decent, a nice mix of goat cheese and polenta but I generally prefer creamy polenta over the more coarse version I had here. The potato puree was awesome and paired very well with that filet of beef. I rather liked that pairing more so than the squash puree that came with the dish. Overall, a very delightful meal with some tiny weaknesses. The carrots three way and the meat portion of the filet of beef were amazing and I would definitely like to come back to have those again if I ever make my way down to St. Louis again. I highly recommend this place if you're in the area as the highlights of my meal here were very memorable and well worth experiencing. Portion sizes are pretty decent and prices are reasonable but maybe that's because I'm used to northeast prices which are a bit higher than what I saw here.

    (4)
  • Chris T.

    Went there with a group of 6. I am allergic to seafood and my friend doesn't like it. The rest of the table wanted the table sampler dinner they have that is mostly seafood and the chef refused to serve it to our table because not everyone was going to be eating it. That alone would knock their rating down to 1 star as far as I am concerned, but it didn't get any better. I got the Amish chicken and it was way undercooked. $60 for a ribeye that I could easily have made myself. Later on that night, 4 of the 6 people ended up getting sick. We are almost positive it was the sardine appetizer. A couple pros: Our server was fantastic. I think her name was Sarah. The puree potatos were awesome. The 6 of us will never go back to this place again.

    (1)
  • Nathan B.

    Excellent dining experience! Came in on a Tuesday night and there was no wait (made a reservation though). Our party of 4 was seated immediately and the waitress was very attentive and helpful regarding both the wine list and menu. Appetizer: Lobster offering (part of a 'pick 3' option meal, but added extra charge for this particular option). VERY good; very fine pieces of carmel accented the large chunks of fresh, sweet lobster held together by a mildly sweet sauce (not overpowering). Wife reported crispy octopus was amazing as well. Main Course: Pork Duo. Absolutely a must try here. Chef comes highly rated based on his pork entrees and this was no exception. One part pork belly and one part slow cooked shredded pork with a light BBQ-type sauce. Wife reports the Beef Duo was good (Filet was EXCELLENT, meat pastry/pot pie was good not great) Dessert: PB&J Brioche. Obviously not exactly PB&J, but it was addicting even as I was filling up from the rest of the meal! Amazing PB flavor and the 'jelly' take complimented this and the Brioche perfectly. Wife reports the liquid chocolate cake was just that--chocolate & liquid...very good, just tough to manage on the plate. If you go to St. Louis and are looking for something cutting edge in the culinary department this place is for you. Obviously, it was an expensive meal; however, the experience was well worth the price.

    (5)
  • Jen M.

    Best meal I've had in St. Louis. Granted, I don't eat out a ton, but the meal was amazing. I went a few months ago, and the exact starter isn't on their menu anymore, but I know it had pig's head, and I know it was fantastic. I had the pork duo entree and I still dream about it (obviously, I'm on a pork kick). Every component of the dish - the shoulder, the belly, the polenta (oh, the polenta) - was amazing. My husband had a beef dish that's not on the current menu, but his was equally mind-blowing - I don't think it matters what you get, it's going to be great. Oh, and on top of the amazing food, the cocktails are pretty great too. And the intimate environment. And the service. And I love that this top-notch restaurant is in Benton Park. I don't splurge when eating out often, but I'd be willing to scale back the number of times I eat out just to eat at Niche more. Great stuff.

    (5)
  • Jenny J.

    #3 Décor: 4* Foodie feeling and good for nice conversation or a moderately romantic date place. Nice large party room in the back. Host and Waiter Service: 3* Helpful and attentive. On to the food....... Bread Test: 3* Nothing special. They offer a nice 3 course prix fixe for $40. Fantastic deal or there is was also a chef's tasting for $60. Appetizers: 4* Had: Pappardelle - Braised Short Ribs were tasty and a nice start to the meal Shuda Had: Maybe the Crispy Octopus. It was hard to decide between the 2. Entrees: 4* Had: Pork Duo - 2 different porks. Smoked loin was okay and a bit chewy. The pork belly though more than made up for it. I superb melt in your mouth experience. 5 stars on the pork belly. 3 stars for the rest of the plate. Shuda Had: Maybe the lasagna. The ingredients looked interesting. Dessert: 3* Had: PB&J Brioche - chocolate, peanut butter brulee that looked oh so special on the menu but came out just okay... Shuda Had: Drinks: Had a light beer but a good cab or merlot would have been better. Bathroom: Clean and matches the decor of restaurant. After Meal Things To Do: Nothing to do in the hood. Overall: 4* A nice find whilst away on business.

    (4)
  • Brie R.

    Niche was everything I hoped it would be and more. Plain and simple: The food talked the talk and walked the walk. It tasted so good. While being refined, it was comforting and soulful. So here's the breakdown...beware, this will be a long one. Atmosphere was simple and straightforward. Pretty yellow flowers and a candle on the table that had a brown paper cover. Very cute and I don't happen to mind being close to other dinners (in fact, I was able to gawk at their plates and eavesdrop on their conversation which is always fun and sneaky ;) Our waitress was quick to come to our table after we were sat and asked about drink selection. We both stayed with water, for budgeting and preference reasons. We knew we wanted to do the 3 courses for $40 option. The menu was slightly different from the online version. That was fine, and I was happy to see different dessert choices. It was so nice to be able to order all three courses right off the bat and then let them do the work. Terry chose the crispy octopus and I chose Pappardelle (?) Truthfully, I thought it was going to be a bone marrow dish. It was a home-made pasta with a pulled pork accompaniment. Pulled pork you ask? Yes. Oh yes. The bbq was missing and was replaced with a savory mascarpone cheese and herb sauce. It was just so pleasing to my palette it's hard to describe. There was no fat within this pork shank option, just pure beautiful piggy. The taste of that dish (which could have passed for a small entree by the portion size) will elude me forever. Terry's crispy octopus was very good as well. I didn't care for the beans and chorizo that came with it but I didn't imagine I would because they aren't my favorite things; however, he loved them. So for my entree. I got the lasagna. I know, two pastas?! What can I say, I like carbs. It was like no other lasagna and other lasagnas should be envious and be scared to compete with this one. Truffled bechemal, mushrooms (perfectly seasoned), fontina cheese that I would like be in a relationship with, and topped with a fresh fried farm egg. Who doesn't love a runny yoke. Man it was out of this world. I am getting sad writing about it because I hate that it's over. Terry had the squab and duck confit. Both excellent and he practically ate the bone. That lasagna is just incredible. Get it and what a great option for those who aren't into meat! On to the sweets. PB&J is what it was called. A chocolate donut on top of peanut butter creme brulee with fig cream. Tasted just a like the sandwich. The textures were perfect. It was just what I needed after such a savory meal. Texture was a huge component in the success of all my dishes. Seasoning was important as well. I can just see the care and dedication that was put into the food. It was a true show of having food with soul. I couldn't have been happier with our time at Niche. It was worth every hard-earned dollar and such a treat. On our way home, we didn't talk much. Just smiled.

    (5)
  • Sara A.

    Extremely pricey but epic. I ate custard and caviar out of a washed egg with a tiny spoon. I never thought I would say that...but I can't wait to go back! I would recommend this place to anyone who doesn't mind taking out a small loan for the best dinner they've ever had :)

    (5)
  • Jana A.

    My friend asked me to go here in Niche, and I said yes. The moment I enter the restaurant. I was like, WOW. The ambiance was great, and classy too. The waiters were also friendly and they know what to recommend to first timers like me. The food is breathtaking. They served it with style and very delicious. I am definitely coming back here to try some of my choices from the menu.

    (5)
  • Jonathan K.

    Absolutely amazing food and definitely the best meal I've had in St. Louis. Almost all of the dishes were creative, but the most consistent thing was that everything was at least very good, if not excellent. The cheese plate was really good, the selection of cheeses was excellent and the fig spread tasted so good with the crostini. The cheeses included two types of goat cheese and a blue cheese. The Vitello Tonnato, which was tuna, marrow, lemon, and parsley, was very good. It was served on a slice of some sort of baguette, and the whole thing tasted great together. The Green Bean Salad was probably my least favorite dish we had all night, but I just didn't like the flavors as much as the other dishes. The Dry Aged Ribeye was so good, properly cooked, tender, and full of flavor. The Potato Puree it was served with tasted fantastic, the thyme and olive oil made it so good. The Stone Milled Polenta with thyme, honey, and goat cheese was also delicious, and I usually don't like polenta. The Poached Alaskan Halibut was excellent as well, the vinaigrette it was served with went well with the fish. We also had a Squash side dish, which was excellent, whatever the vegetables were cooked in made them taste great. The Plum Semifreddo was my favorite dessert, just the right amount of sweetness and tasted amazing. The Liquid Chocolate Cake was also amazing, an incredibly rich chocolate and expresso taste that was delicious. The Buttermilk Cheesecake was good, but the grape sauce overwhelmed the taste of the cheesecake if we weren't careful to keep them as separate as possible. The Brown Sugar Cake was my least favorite, as it was a little dry, but the apple terrine it was served with was amazing. The service was excellent, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was very nice. I don't like the back room as much as the front, but it was still nice. Prices are reasonable for the amazing quality of the food, the $40 for 3 courses is solid. I look forward to the next occasion when I can return to this awesome restaurant.

    (5)
  • Tony D.

    Great service. Great Food. First this restaurant may be hard to get a reservation but they do a great job confirming their reservations so one may very well open up when you want it. They even called twice to tell me the highway was closed and give me directions. Drinks were excellent - Blond Ambition light and delish, Bourbon and Honey and pink grapefruit - who'd a thunk it -it was perfect. Plates were small bet very satisfying. I walked out full and happy. Had the pork loin and pork bell - wife had the fillet. Both were awesome. Every bit was different as my fork danced around the plate. A must go restaurant.

    (5)
  • Anthony Z.

    This place is special. From the way Chris runs the front of the house, making everyone feel so welcome and special, to how Todd, our server, anticipated and took care of every request, nothing was too much trouble. Visiting from Chicago, there are plenty of options for high end dining, but I readily prefer this to any of them. The wine pairings were perfectly matched with the tasting menu. I tasted new creative dishes unlike anything I have tried before, and yet they were not so experimental as to be over-processed and affected. The room is comfortable and handsome. I LOVE this place! Pellegrino...why have you not listed this place??

    (5)
  • Mark L.

    Thank goodness that Niche shares none of the pretentiousness of its average Yelp review. I won't dwell, but one could write a dissertation on prestige borrowing and upper middle class status paranoia from the gold mine below: "I escaped St. Louis for a better education, job, and food on the West Coast..." Hard to keep any kind of grub down after reading things like that, but Niche is up to the challenge. Just a perfect experience. The staff is absolutely charming, the food is an avalanche of awesome, and the whole place is finely tuned to do its job while staying the hell out of your way. Example: Instead of walking around glad handing and making awkward self-congratulatory small talk with the patrons, the owner/chef spends his time--brace yourself--in the open kitchen cooking your damn food. The menu changes constantly so I won't do a play by play and I recommend not even looking at the menu. Just let the courses come out and surprise/delight you. I was a huge fan of old Niche and went into new Niche prepared to enjoy myself, but figuring I would also quietly mourn the past. Nope. They stepped it up a level. Definitely expensive, but it is worth saving up for a 3 hour expertly guided tour of tastes, textures and colors that is every bit as entertaining as a great concert or box (non-playoff, of course) seats at a Cards game. Dinner is included at Niche.

    (5)
  • Alexandra G.

    This was by far everything I expected for a fantastic dinner! My boyfriend surprised me with a birthday dinner at Niche last night, and I must say I enjoyed every second of it! The service was fantastic, and they were able to efficiently describe the food, and the ingredients without being over-bearing. The wine list was great as well. I look forward to going back for the Chef's taste paring, which you can also do a wine paring or bring your own wine. It's a fine dining experience that has a casual attitude to it, so it is not pretentious nor stuffy. The food was explosive with flavor without being too much. I'd recommend this place for a romantic evening. Since it's a smaller restaurant, the seating is close, but it's not too loud, nor intrusive.

    (5)
  • Marietta M.

    My husband and I had a wonderful dinner here last night! The cauliflower soup was amazing. I also had the pork duo, and would definitely recommend. My husband had the day scallops and then the filet, and both were outstanding. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because, even though we had a reservation, we had to wait 20-25 minutes for a table even though a couple of two tops were available during our wait. Other than that, it was a GREAT dining experience!!

    (4)
  • Caroline P.

    I'm delighted to have visited Niche twice. Truly fine dining in every way. Loved the pork belly, the sherry-braised rabbit, and the octopus, but humble celery root soup was the real darling of the night. Ample portion sizes, friendly service, $130 for dinner and drinks for two. A great place to try something new and different. If you plan on ordering the chicken, don't complain later that your meal was uninteresting. You asked for it.

    (5)
  • Chip K.

    We went to Niche for our anniversary dinner, and it did not disappoint. We had reservations (highly recommended, if not required), and were seated right on time. We started out with the "selection of farm house cheeses," which included a bleu cheese, a goat cheese, and a cheddar. It was served with slices of bruschetta and apples, and accompanied by a fruit compote and some spiced nuts. The cheeses were fabulous, and the apple slices and compote complemented the cheese wonderfully. My wife didn't care for the spiced nuts, which had a smoky flavor, but I liked them fine. We each got the 3-course special, which is really impossible to pass up. You can choose any appetizer, most of the entrees (some carry an upcharge), and a dessert for $35. I opted for the warm carrot salad as my appetizer, which was AMAZING. The carrots were orange-braised, seasoned with vanilla and cumin, and tossed with candied bacon. My wife got the asparagus salad, and liked it a lot too. For the entree, I got the pork belly, which was described to me as "uncured bacon." It came out as a cube-shaped piece of meat and it was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth. It was served over farro (a type of grain) tossed with comte (a type of cheese), which was all right but didn't do much for me. My wife got the chicken, which was moist, but was otherwise just chicken... except for the sweet onion puree it was served over, which she loved and was scraping off her plate when she was finished with the chicken. For dessert, I got the liquid chocolate cake, which was pretty phenomenal and served with a really good scoop of ice cream. My wife got the strawberry semifreddo, and I'm still trying to figure out what it was, exactly, but it was good and came with some mascarpone cream puffs. Our waiter was very friendly and more than willing to explain things (I had no idea what "farro" and "comte" were until he told me) and described our entrees in detail as he placed them in front of us. They were prompt to refill our water, but service in general was pretty slow -- then again, this isn't the kind of place you go to rush. We got in and out in about two hours. Oh yeah, and as an aside, they didn't have any pinot grigio (my wife's favorite wine). What's up with that?

    (5)
  • Alia Z.

    Went here after reading all the glowing recommendations. The meal was delicious! The filet melted in my mouth, they use the sous-vide technique to make it perfect. The pork belly was also worth mentioning - smooth inside, with just the right crunch on top. The dessert didn't disappoint either - the horchata panna cotta was creative and tasty.

    (5)
  • Jeff F.

    Quick review: Went here for my birthday; everything was excellent. I highly reccommend the Anchovies starter, the Crudo, the pig's head faggotini, and the pappardelle. Entrees: I had the scallops and they were really good! You'll love the desserts. They will remind you of childhood but satisfy a mature palate. Very fun. Service was just as good as the food! Definately check it out and definately get a reservation.

    (5)
  • Sara L.

    Everything here was great, but I can't give it five stars. Why? Because the food came out warm, not hot. And I like my food hot. No one else at the table complained, so I didn't say anything either, but considering this is probably the best restaurant in St. Louis right now, I expected my food to be hot. Other than that, everything was wonderful. My father in law, who has dined all over the world, loved it. I have never heard him rave so much. He had the pork chop and it was huge and he eat the whole thing (shocking, if you knew him!)

    (4)
  • Marjie T.

    I waited for months and months to try Niche and I finally made it this weekend. So worth the wait. Our reservation was for 6:30 and there weren't that many tables occupied that early. Our waitress was very pleasant and answered all my questions knowledgeably (and I had quite a few). I think this is the most contemporary restaurant I've been to in St. Louis and I loved it, especially the indie music playing in the background. The food was delicious. My husband and I both had the 3-course dinner for $40. I started with the cream of celery root soup and it was poured over some sort of apple sauce at the table. I do wish the trout would have been served with a more substantial side, instead of the salsify (I think) that it came with. It was very good, I just could have used another flavor on the plate. I slightly preferred my husband's yellow eye snapper that came with some sort of pesto and potatoes. I was a little disappointed in the dessert. I ordered the butterscotch semifreddo, which listed the first item as pumpkin cake. Well, it was actually a small disk of cake with a large serving of ice cream on top that was so hard packed it was difficult to eat. But that was minor, overall everything was pretty delicious.

    (5)
  • Kara G.

    Niche, by far, was my favorite dining experience to date. I'm not even sure how to eloquently formulate words about how much I loved my experience there. They way-too-good-to-me and absolutely wonderful guy in my life took me on a surprise date to Niche and it was the perfect aesthetic for such an evening; nice and classy, but inviting and not too pretentious. The tables had brown craft paper on them, loved that. Our waiter was absolutely wonderful, friendly, helpful and just a joy to have as part of our meal. We did the three courses for $35 bucks. You can't go wrong with that! Three cheers to Niche for making great food accessible to the average gal. I got the Pistachio ravioli with lemon brown butter, pea shoots and finished with cocoa nibs. Every little single bite of those raviolis were perfect, and the cocoa nib seriously made this dish. For my entree I had the pork duo (loin & belly) w/ polenta, mushrooms, turnips, granola and maple. wowza was it delicious! I love pork belly. I mean LOVE it. This piece was perfection. They butcher their own pigs there, and boy can you tell. It had the absolute perfect little bit of crispiness on top. I finished off my meal with an Espresso Semifreddo with an orange macaroon. Amen. Top it all off with a great glass of wine and it makes for one fantastic meal! Go to Niche. Just go. I promise you will like it.... and if you don't, can I have those ravioli you aren't going to eat?

    (5)
  • Heather L.

    I was in town for a business trip and yelped this place. I am glad I did because it is now my new favorite place! I wish they had this restaurant in southern California. The server was friendly and made delicious recommendations. I had the lobster, lasagna, and lemon grass dessert pre fixe menu for $45 and everything was superb! It's well worth the price! Loved it

    (5)
  • Bradley M.

    I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed our evening. Our server, Laura, was knowledgable, and her descriptions of the menu items made our mouths water. She was more than helpful, and when we were ready to go home, and she had called a cab for us, she even volunteered to call a second time to see where they were after a few moments. She signed us up for the monday night mailers, and generally just looked after us all night. All this AND great food. The Hamachi appetizer I had was hands down the best dish I've ever eaten. I'm still dreaming about it. A most creative and tasty deconstruction of classic sushi which was complemented perfectly by the addition of the fingerling chips. Amazing.We had no idea dining in STL could be so great. A true experience for the senses.

    (5)
  • Larissa P.

    Absolutely amazing! Great service, perfect date night atmosphere and some of the best food you can find in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Amber E.

    Some of the best food in the US; what a find. It's not a surprise that the restaurant is run by a SF ex pat. The food was fresh, inventive, and easy on the pallet. I was only in town for three nights and ate there twice. If I ever return to St. Luis I will make my way back to Niche.

    (5)
  • Alee H.

    Look, short and sweet, GO!!!!!! and prepare to have your mind and taste buds blown!

    (5)
  • Kathi M.

    We had a the 3 course offer and it did not disappoint. We arrived at 5:45pm and I was very happy that it was almost empty the day after Valentine's Day. The "Crispy Octopus," as I love calamari, was good. I had the Fillet of Beef, which was delicious. The portion size was perfect and satisfying. The Liquid Chocolate cake was very good. The service was good but with being the only table the server had us wait a couple times because she was bored talking to other servers near the service window. Not a big deal but still.. I hate waiting. All and all it was a wonderful night and we enjoyed dining here. We will add this to our "will not be disappointed if we eat here" list of places to go out to eat. Go eat here, the food is very good!

    (4)
  • Eric Y.

    Trendy little niche. Maple custard and lobster were excellent. Had the hen of the forest mushroom which i really enjoyed. Drinks were ok, but enjoyed wine more. Good service after initial busy time.

    (5)
  • Austin S.

    I had heard that this restaraunt was the best in STL that's why my rating is a little harsh. The service was great, the presentation was also top notch. The food itself was a mixed bag. Appetizer and desert would get a 5 but the entrees (i had steak, my wife salmon that was undercooked) was average, especially for the money. Overall i would return, but there are other restaraunts that I would go to first for a special night for the money.

    (3)
  • AJ J.

    Limited wine selection by glass. Steak good-not great. Linen so that's worth a half star.

    (4)
  • Pixers W.

    My fiance and I went here for one of our anniversary dinners. We got the $30 or $40 deal: two apps, two entrees, one dessert. Being a person who isn't familiar with fine dining, I had no idea what was on most of the menu. I ordered based on some of the ingredients in the dishes. It was just OK, not as delicious as I would expect such a highly recommended place to be. I ordered the drink that the waitress recommended and it was way too sweet to enjoy. I had to force it down. The restaruant itself was so crammed, I could hear every conversation of all the people around me. It was rather uncomfortable, and difficult to hear my fiance sitting right across from me. Our dessert was great (chocolate cake?). My fiance enjoyed his meal, at least. Overall, if we're going to spend the money, we will definitely be going elsewhere.

    (2)
  • Tim M.

    Tasting was wonderful. The fish course was okay but only because the rest was so fantastic. Very well designed dinner. Complimentary tastes, in unusual combinations, all with awesome presentation. I would highly recommended niche and the tasting.

    (5)
  • Emily H.

    The meal I had at Niche in May was one of the best if not the best meal I have ever had. The food was AMAZING and our server was friendly and helpful. You really can't go wrong no matter what you order - we chose the prix fixe menu but also ordered the egg off of the tasting menu at the recommendation of a friend which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Just don't expect to leave Niche without feeling like you might burst from the amount of deliciousness that will inevitably be put in front of you!

    (5)
  • sarah c.

    Pop Quiz: What one ingredient elevates ravioli from mmm to OMG? Well, it sure as hell isn't marinara sauce And it's not pesto (though big props to Katie's) Give up? It's chocolate. Cocoa nibs to be exact. On the pistachio ravioli with lemon brown butter and pea shoots. The ravioli itself was incredible, but when you get the cocoa nibs involved, it just goes to a whole new level. We did the 3 course for $35 which was a fantastic deal. And we both got the ravioli with the Risotto al Salto. I've never met a risotto I didn't like, but this one is at the very top of my list. Right next to, or maybe even tied with, Tratoria Marcella's lobster risotto. I was a teensy bit wary when the server said that it is more like a risotto cake. I prefer my risotto creamy and subscribe firmly to the silkier the better school of risotto making. Turns out this *is* creamy risotto enclosed in crispy goodness. The texture was perfect and only the very outside was fried. It was like a lovely little package of risotto. I don't know how they do it. I guess that's why Gerard Craft has James Beard Awards and I don't. For dessert, we split the liquid chocolate cake and a chocolate tart. The cake came with peanut butter ice cream, the tart with banana ice cream. We had both agreed that the cake was the winner of the two when the server suggested that he loves the tart with the peanut butter ice cream. Now, that is a winning combination! Both desserts were good, but whooey was that liquid chocolate cake rich! We also had a bottle of Bin 36 Chardonnay. Now, I'm no wine expert so I don't know if this is just what Bin 36 is like, but it was pretty damn sweet. In a blind taste test, I would have guessed it to be a pinot grigio, not a chardonnay. It went fine with everything, but it was not what we were expecting. It's on the more 'reasonable' side of the wine list, so just be prepared.

    (5)
  • Tracy A.

    YUM. My search for good food in St. Louis is finally over. Boyfriend took me here for my birthday and the 3 courses for 35 deal was perfect for our broke college student budget. Had a great Zinfandel (Windsor Sonoma I believe?) that was delicious and I have been searching for it at wine stores since (no success though). The decor is classic and wonderful, not too pretentious or fancy for a restaurant of this caliber. First course: I LOVED the carne cruda. I'm a big sucker for tartare-anything and I loved this. Definitely recommended. The boyfriend had the pork shoulder papparadelle. Not really my thing but he really enjoyed it. Mains: Carolina Gold Risotto and the Beef. Risotto was fun with the crunchy outside and creamy inside, yum! The vegetables that came with it were delicious! The beef was cooked perfectly and the bone marrow it came with was smooth and delicious (and a first for me). Definitely enjoyed both of these. Desserts: I forget exactly what we had but they both were delicious. We were so stuffed by this point that it was a bit of a struggle but SO good! Definitely recommended while in STL. I've tried a variety of the other nicer places in the city and this is definitely tops for me.

    (5)
  • Ce Y.

    The food is fabulous, service was wonderful, the place was a little crowded but the overall atmosphere was great. I down graded them one star for price, limited variety, and the taste of some the dishes where just ok. Lets start with the good: the naturally raised beef was the best of the bunch - clean beef flavor in a super tender, perfectly cooked piece of meat over a lovely sauce that really complemented the dish, this was served with some bone marrow which to some may be a little fatty, but to me it was yummy oily goodness over the crunchy toast they served it with. The potatoes that went with this dish was also wonderful - nicely flavored with the right mix of flavor and richness. the pink snapper was cooked to perfection with a nice crust,but the accompanying sauces were only ok, didn't really add too much to complement the flavors. there was this brown paste thing on the bottom of the plate which was little too salty and the spices in it did not go too well with the fish. the trout was just ok - better than many that I have had but didn't really stand out. for the appetizers- spaghetti ala chitarra, fried pigs foot, and asparagus salad were all great. One note on the fried pigs foot - it sounded gross by the name of it but it is actually these 2 fried meat filled cake like things that was pretty awesome like a super meat stuffed dumpling - I was pleasantly surprised. The pasta dish was a lot bigger than I expected, it was awesome at first but the rich meaty creaminess was a little too much by the end of that dish.

    (4)
  • Gladys S.

    They made our honeymoon so special with two glasses of champagne and an extra dessert. Food was delicious and our waiter really knew menu and recommended great wines with the meal. From the delicious sweet-spicy lobster to the perfectly cooked tuna, the surprisingly delicious fennel-lemon sorbet and the incredible horchada dessert. Thank you Niche for a great honeymoon experience! Oh, I almost forgot the free valet parking and that we were seated immediately, even arriving 15 minutes early - wonderful

    (5)
  • Isla E.

    I don't have much to add to the other positive reviews. It was a lovely experience, there was attention to detail even though the place was packed (9pm on Saturday). We didn't feel rushed and our waiter was patient and helpful even though every time he came over someone was crying, or talking about how many people they slept with, or confessing about something they had done they regretted. No dirty looks over our lingering, and the wine kept pouring. My ladies got 3 courses for $35, which I also should have done, but they had a enough desert to go around anyway. Instead I opted for asparagus soup with goat cheese and some raw fish (forgot what type) with arugula (I think). I was all very good. I heard it was an older crowd there but that isn't true. Maybe earlier in the evening is when older people come. Not that it matters, but if you are looking for atmosphere, I wouldn't consider this a quiet, stodgy place. Its a little bit energetic and bustling.

    (5)
  • Lover of Dogs H.

    A restaurant that really deserves 5 stars. I know I'm generous in my reviews. I probably give 5 stars more than I really should. This place absolutely deserves a 5 star. 1) Excellent Service 2) AMAZING food 3) Price is super reasonable 4) Free valet parking I wish I lived in stl so I could go here all the time. I don't think I want to go to another restaurant in St. Louis anymore. I wish I could come here for all special occassions. We had reservervations and had to wait 20+ minutes. We didn't even complain and they brought us champagne at the bar to compensate us for the wait. I mean, that is what I call great service. We took our mother here for mother's day weekend and I'm still thinking about the food. If you want to go to a restaurant where you can enjoy the food and converse about the food, this is the place.

    (5)
  • Ryan H.

    So my girlfriend told me this is her favorite restaurant so when we visited her family in St. Louis I made a reservation for us to go there. Niche was a tiny place but i loved the atmosphere. The menu and wine list were small but looked like they had a decent selection We started out with the pistachio ravioli and a bottle of silverado chardonnay. The ravioli was to die for. I would consider getting it next time double the portion. For dinner, the girlfriend had the scallops and i had the trout special. Both were delicious. I'm a sucker for artsy plates so niche definitely appealed to me. Every plate that came out looked pretty sweet. For the dessert round we split the liquid chocolate cake and the blood orange brulee cake. They were both outstanding and up to par with the rest of the meal. The service was excellent and we were given great recommendations on dessert and appetizers. The only downside about niche for me was the small portion sizes but this isn't enough to keep me from going back! Great place!

    (5)
  • Justin F.

    I can't think of a negative thing to say about this place. Wife and I had our wedding anniversary dinner here and everything was spectacular. The best food I've had in a very long time, and well worth the price in my opinion.

    (5)
  • Raya K.

    LOVE LOVE LOVE Niche! I've been here twice since I moved to the area and loved each experience from start to finish. Dia's cheese bread is heavenly. I ordered risotto both times since I was semi vegetarian at the time! We had the donut holes the first time, but they weren't on the menu the second time which was truly dissapointing! Great experience all around. Can't wait to have an excuse to go again!

    (5)
  • cassie r.

    My parents and I decided to hit up this place after hearing rave reviews from some other locals in the area. Now, when you walk in, you're probably not going to be bowled over by the fantastic ambiance of the place...cuz, well, there really isn't much to look at. The furniture is very basic, the walls are pretty blah, and the lighting was a bit on the bright side. It only felt cozy because a lot of tables are crammed into a very tiny room. BUT, I digress, because the food more than made up for the less than impressive space. I started out with the almond and parsnip soup, and I have to say, it was the highlight of the meal. The serving was generous, and the soup was creamy, with a bit of almond paste drizzled on the top - the subtle sweetness was a pleasant surprise. I then moved on to the pan roasted scallops. The scallops were good, but it was the "extras" on my plate that really took it over the top. Candied bacon? Um, hello?!! And the pistachio brown butter was a most excellent addition for a very savory meal. To end the night, my mom and I shared the fromage blanc bavarian. Just the right amount of creamy goodness to leave on a great note. The service was decent, though our waiter seemed very standoffish- I'm hoping he was just having a bad night. While everyone else around us got a full greeting and explanation of the menus, we got a "Well, do you think you want the chef's menu? Because if you do, I'll explain what it is." Well, hmm....how do I know if I'll like it, if I don't know what it is?? The rest of my group agreed that he seemed just a bit unfriendly - but it only seemed directed at us. Not sure what the deal was - so, we chose to ignore it and enjoy great conversation instead. It's worth a visit to check out their eclectic menu, though the look, feel and service need a bit of work.

    (3)
  • Rick G.

    First of all, Niche has not closed, they moved to Clayton in the Centene Building on Forsyth and Hanley. But unfortunately, they forgot to pack their great food. We found the new space to be ok, not as pretty as we had hoped. It is modern and minimalistic. It is very noisy. Service was good as before. The menu was eclectic like before. But the food was missing the Wow factor, like before. The custard egg was excellent. The foie gras was not foie gras at all, but instead an average pate. The white fish was nothing spectacular and the skin had to be removed in order to eat the fish. Dessert sounded better than it tasted. It is hard to dis what has been one of the top three restaurants in St. Louis for the past few years, but the truth is that we would go back, but not rush back. And the owner, Gerard Craft, was on the premises, so it was not as if the place was being run by a fill-in staff.

    (3)
  • Herman S.

    Niche chef's tasting menu was worth the $95 cost. Good service from the wait staff and good cocktails from bar.

    (4)
  • arlander y.

    I went for a birthday... it was one extraordinary dining moment. I have no complaints everything was above board... i was made to feel welcome and the head waiter even used my name when i walked in which blow me away. I sat down to eat and it was a perfect dining moment of wonders that delighted... i enjoyed the sampler which allows you to experience a multitude of flavors and culinary delights...

    (5)
  • Caitlin L.

    I've been in St. Louis for 7 months now, and no restaurant can compare to Niche in terms of the quality of the food, the service, and the experience. My husband and I are sort of foodies (fatties?) and we go out frequently. We also live in Benton Park and have been subjected many times to the great Sidney Street Cafe vs. Niche debate. So we were really excited to try both places and come to our own conclusions. For some reason I expected to like Sidney Street better. But we went there first, and while I liked it, I wasn't blown away. Then we did New Years Eve at Niche. What a treat. One of the best nights in recent history! From the moment we entered the restaurant I was blown away. It was warm, intimate, buzzing with the excitement of NYE but not too loud despite the young crowd that you would expect at such a late dinner (930). What a gorgeous, immaculate little restaurant. The food was to die for. We all got the maple custard to start, because we had heard so much about it. They were nice enough to let us have this starter even though it was technically only supposed to be a part of the tasting menu, which we appreciated. As someone who has never eaten cavier, fake or otherwise, I was kind of confused by that particular texture. However, I thought the little egg shell presentation was ingenious, and I liked the maple flavor. I got the cauliflower soup next. It. Was. Amazing. And I don't even like cauliflower that much! I also tried some of my friends' appetizers, the hamachi crudo and the day bot scallops. They were both excellent, especially the scallops (another thing I usually don't like, but really loved here). I got the Steelhead Salmon for my entree and it was perfect. Absolutely perfect. I can't remember what everyone else got, but we were all very, very happy with our dishes. We got dessert too, which I also do not remember. Too much wine consumed by that point. All in all, a perfect experience. We were there at midnight and toasted with our server, who was incredible. I highly recommend this place and it's also a wonderful choice for NYE. I cannot wait to go back.

    (5)
  • Natalie W.

    So -- I really didn't think I'd be going back to Niche but when you get an offer to go on someone else's dime ...... why not give it another shot. My return visit was on a cold winter's Tuesday and the first measure to more stars was the hostess. Completely and totally lovely was this cute gal which was very different than my first visit. So things have started off much better. We all had the tasting menu and I didn't think it could happen but the food was EVEN BETTER than visit #1. And I thought the food was very very very good on that visit. Wow !! Caviar mushroom custard to start -- then cauliflower foam soup (served by Gerard Craft himself) -- then escolar with a couple different versions of squash -- then from the earth (potato puree, mushrooms, freeze dried mushrooms made to look like dirt) -- beef with cocoa and espresso - gooey walnut cake -- and cuz we didn't have enough - a chocolate lava cake. We could not decide what we liked best. I'M SO FULL ..... GOOD THING I'M KINDA LOOPY TOO SO I DON'T NOTICE IT AS MUCH. Clearly, the wine pairings were great !! Our server was attentive and not in any way rushing us (see previous visit). We had multiple people come up and ask us what we thought ( including the chef a second time). Outstanding experience. My only complaint is that on my poor shop keepers salary -- I am going to have to rely on the kindness of strangers or friends in order to make return visits more than once a blue moon. I clearly know that our first experience was an odd fluke and I'm glad I went back. I will definitely be putting Taste and Brasserie on my to do list as well.

    (5)
  • Andrew S.

    I really wanted to love this place. And I did really enjoy a lot of things about it. For instance, the appetizers (we had most of them) were absolutely awesome. Additionally the "pre-appetizers" (forget what they called them)- nuts and olives are good (olives could have been great but the mix had one very sour variety that was difficult for my palette- which kind of ruined it a bit for me) Main course. Well, it didn't hit for us. I had the trout and my wife had the chicken. While the presentation was remarkable (very pretty), the food was just OK. Nothing noteworthy. Quite honestly- a bit bland. I really want to give this place another try as like I said in the beginning of my review... I really want to love this place. Until then I am giving this place only 3 stars.

    (3)
  • Mac B.

    What can be said about Niche that hasn't already been said? For me it is the best restaurant in St Louis. Unbelievable food, great service and an out of this world value. For any of St Louis Natives who don't venture outside the 314 area code, let me inform you that an entrées like those prepared at Niche for $20-$25 would be $50-$60 at my hometown of Washington DC. I took my wife there on Saturday for our anniversary. I had booked the table through opentable and mentioned in reservations that is was our anniversary. When we arrived the host quickly seated us at our table and wished us both a Happy Anniversary, which was a really nice touch (and scored me a few points with my wife). Usually we order a cheese plate and a few cocktails when we go to Niche, but we had just come from a cocktail party. I can say from past experiences that their cheese plate is very good and reasonably priced. For small plates, my wife got the pistachio ravioli and I got the pork shoulder. Her dish was excellent and mine was very good. For entrees my wife got the trout and I got the beef. Both were excellent. I think mine was the best beef dish I have had in St Louis. It was full of flavor but did not have that beefy aftertaste that you might get from a lower grade of meat. We skipped dessert this time since we were both pretty full. I was amazed when the bill came and it was less than $100 (my wife also had a glass of prosecco). No way this meal is less than $200 in DC. When it comes to a great meal, Niche never disappoints

    (5)
  • Sir Dennis B.

    From the higher end of places in St Louis - there is Niche. Chef Gerard Craft has brought excellent in dinning to St Louis. If I could give them 10 stars I would. Great place for the special date or evening.

    (5)
  • Sue J.

    I love Niche! I don't have anything to add that hasn't been said. It's a place to get fine dining but neither the place nor the food is pretentious. Each plate is so masterfully crafted with much thought behind each component on the plate. Service is attentive and the servers take time to tell you about each plate brought to your table. Lastly, we were running late for our reservation and they were very accommodating in pushing our time back. Niche is definitely the place to go for fine dining in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Katie H.

    We were visiting St Louis over the weekend and looking for a really nice dinner date... and we found it. In general, I'd rate Niche: Service = 5 star Food = 4.5 star Location = 4 star (but then again, we're out of towners so this is all relative) Ambience = 4 star A few things to point out before the food. Service, from the valet to the hostess to the waitress to the servers was all fantastic. Everyone knows their stuff, is friendly but not prying, and took the time to answer all our questions thoroughly. Location is not downtown so it was a little tougher for us to get there, as we were staying downtown for a wedding. But certainly not a problem and for people who live in St. Louis and drive most everywhere I'm sure it's no issue at all. Ambience was nice, but I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 because we came out REALLY smelling like the restaurant. I had to dry-clean my dress when I got home because 3 days later (and after airing out near a window) it still really smelled like food. That is a turnoff for me when dining at a really nice restaurant, but maybe I'm just more sensitive than most. But the food! The food was really good. I especially loved the day boat scallop starter with mushroom sauce and cocoa nib "dirt." Really interesting flavors paired together, and it all just worked. Plus I'm a sucker for scallops. For entrees, I had the "hen of the woods" (a mushroom, in fact - who knew?!) and the real star of the dish was the slow-cooked farm egg. My hubby had the pork duo and said (contrary to other Yelp reviews) that it was quite moist, well seasoned and delicious. I had a little bite and actually didn't love it... but then, it wasn't my dish, was it?! We also had the polenta side to share, and it melted in my mouth. Creamy goat cheese + crunchy walnuts + smoooooth as silk polenta = heaven. For dessert, we went with the beet sponge cake (such a strange concept) paired with dark chocolate ice cream and orange-sambuca sorbet. This was honestly such a bizarrely delicious dessert, unlike any I've had before. The textures and flavors really worked together, and paired nicely with coffee. Oh, one last thing, my husband said his cocktail (one of the bourbon ones, I don't know the name) was the best bourbon cocktail he's had - and it's his go-to whenever we go out for nice meals, so he's pretty well-versed. Overall, if we were back in St Louis, I'd go back to Niche for sure. I hear they have a seasonal menu and I'd love to try it in summer.

    (4)
  • Gage W.

    This is one of the most inventive menu I have ever come across. Try the lobster appetizer. As it is to die for. My wife is vegan and we notified our server. The kitchen created a truly remarkable dish for her and really seemed to enjoy the challenge. They do such a wonderful job playing with presentation, texture, and flavor. What a truly memorable experience.

    (5)
  • Linda T.

    We dined at Niche to celebrate our 20th anniversary. Absolutely perfect in every way. Exquisitely delicious and creative cuisine served beautifully. There is nothing I would improve. We loved the original Niche location, but now love the new one even more. BTW, we have dined at The Blue Stem in KC, but maintain that Niche ever so much better.

    (5)
  • Patrick N.

    made another trip to niche last week, and did the five course tasting menu complete with wine pairings. as usual, pics are in my blog. the first course definitely got things going on the right track. entitled maple custard, this was a wonderful combination of sweet and savory elements. served in an egg shell on a small pedestal, the maple custard was mixed with earthy roasted mushrooms and topped with bonito caviar. although it was explained to us, i cannot exactly recall what the bonito caviar actually was. we were told it was made in house, and was not caviar at all. regardless, it mixed very well with the mushrooms and custard, and helped make our first course a winner after our eggs were cleared away, a nice house made foccacia with kalamata olives was served. like our last visit, no spread was offered with the bread, but that was not a problem at all. served at room temperature, the bread was wonderfully soft, and had a subtle olive flavor throughout. course two was a piece of bread topped with a generous portion of lobster, apples, celery, tarragon, and togarashi. the streak of sauce on the plate was an incredibly rich brown butter hollandaise. what made this dish interesting was the togarashi, which was caramelized in nature and reminded me of the top of a creme brulee from a textural standpoint. flavor wise, the togarashi was sweet at first and then turned quite spicy. this was a fantastic mix with the sweet lobster meat, and made this dish a contestant for the best dish i have had in st. louis. dish three was the course we added to the tasting. this was a nice pappardelle pasta with short rib ragout, mascarpone cheese, apple, orange, and olive oil. overall, this was a great dish that rivaled the pappardelle with duck sugo i recently raved about at sepia in chicago. carrie and i were also both quite taken by the green and red 2007 zinfandel paired with this course. fruity yet still earthy and complex, this was a wonderful wine that i plan to seek out in the future. next up was a palate cleanser, a sorbet of lemon and fennel. delicious and refreshing, we both very much enjoyed the cleanser. apparently the cleanser was served out of order, but with the substitutions and additions we made to the tasting, we felt it had a good impact where it was served. next up was a dish that was only available as part of the tasting. this was a nest of chittara pasta with sea urchin, crab, mint, and chili flake. this dish had a bit of heat to it from the chili flake, but not too much so as to over power the sweet flavors of the crab and urchin. course five was the course we substituted for the fillet of beef. this was both carrie and i's first experience with tilefish, and if it is always this good i can see us ordering it often when available. sitting atop a bed of polenta and topped with salsa verde and walnuts, the wonderful fish was cooked to perfection, and reminded me of the flavor of maybe lobster or scallops. course six was a surprise, as it was sent out compliments of the chef. this dessert was a frozen coconut and passion fruit lime terrine with delcious hazelnut lime finaciers. the terrine was perfcetly tart, and went well with the small french cakes. both carrie and i actually preferred this dessert to the one that was included as part of our tasting. our final course of the evening was a sticky date cake with orange yogurt and coffee parfait. although we preferred the lime terrine with the financiers, this was still a very formidable dessert. the date cake was sweet and delicious, and the coffee parfait was also quite nice. overall, this was by far our best meal at niche, and there are many more meals in our future there.

    (5)
  • Meg T.

    High points: Wonderfully creative food. Exceptional service, friendly and professional. Sleek interior, but actually kind of cozy as well (due to the warm lighting and plush banquette probably). Nice that you can see into the kitchen and that staff comes to explain your dish to you when it's served. Nicely picked selection of wines by the glass. The food: I got the autumn vegetable salad to start. Great flavors, but I am pretty sure there was a stevia leaf in there... which is fine but just threw me off. Also had a bite of the jonah crab served on a avocado panna cotta which was lovely. I had scallops with a walnut dirt? and some kind of earthy tasting sauce. Delicious. The scallops were perfectly cooked and the play on textures with the walnut stuff was fun. The earthy sauce was a nice foil to the oceany scallops. Had a bite of the chicken too-- WOW. I usually don't order chicken out but damn, this was not your Mom's roast chicken. I can't even describe it but I will say that the chicken skin cracklins were a nice touch (cause we all know the skin is the best part...) Low points: I did not like my cocktail, the blonde ambition (too sweet, I should have known from the description). Most of the cocktail list was a little boring actually... I mean that most of the ingredients being featured were things I have at home, when I get a fancy drink out I want it to be something I cannot duplicate, you know? Kind of slow at times (our drinks sat on the bar for a few minutes before the manager? picked them up and brought them over. Will definitely be going back. I live right around the corner and can totally impress my guests by taking them to Niche!

    (4)
  • Eddy S.

    I've now been three times on visits to StL and each time the chef has done a marvelous job. Service is always attentive but unpretentious. Food almost always spot on with flavor. What I most appreciate is the chef taking the time to come many of the tables to talk with them. nice touch.

    (5)
  • Review R.

    Pricey, but hands down the best most inventive place in St. Louis. Any aspiring restaurant should take a cue from this place and its format. The menu and food is insane. Truly is as good as it gets.

    (5)
  • Sarah S.

    Words can't describe the food here. I was recommended by Ted, as well as other diners from Taste. They closed at 10pm and i called at 9:55 hoping we could still get in because I am an out of towner and they were more than happy to sit us as soon as we got there. Great service!! The best strawberry shortcake with sorbet!!! Also had their amazing lobster!! Highly recommended!!

    (5)
  • Craig H.

    I have been hear only once, but I do have to admit it was awesome... until the check came. I knew it would be pricey going in, but somehow two people spent $275.... We did get drinks (wine bottle and scotch on the rocks).. Other than that, thought the food was awesome, you cannot beat the interior decor, and our service was great!

    (5)
  • Morgan H.

    I just wanted to note that the three stars reflects my estimation based on the price and expectations for the restaurant. Lower price or reputation would have bumped it to four stars.

    (3)
  • Sean O.

    Niche is a fabulous restaurant, deserving of its accolades. Perfect, interesting dishes with good wine and service. If you have a chance to go to this restaurant, you should. 'Nuff said.

    (5)
  • Josh S.

    We wandered back into Niche on Friday night and I was really, really excited. I knew i was in for an amazing meal and the folks at Niche did not disappoint. I started off with a tasty cocktail of Bourbon, honey and pineapple. It was called a brown derby, but let's be honest, they had me at Bourbon. We decided to do the 3 for $45 which is an absolute steal in my opinion. I started off a little outside my comfort zone with the crispy octopus with white beans, chorizo, lemon and garlic. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it was not it and it was awesome. The name described it exactly, it was two tentacles that were fried I assume as they were crispy. They were not however, rubbery as octopus can tend to be. The white beans and chorizo that accompanied the dish were equally impressive. I was lucky enough to try the pistachio ravioli and the lobster and while both were really good, I was happy with my selection. My main course was the pork duo, which consisted of smoked loin cornbread pudding and pork belly. I'll be honest, last time I dined at Niche I sampled some of Stephanie's pork belly and knew if I ever came back that I would order anything with pork belly in it. As a matter of fact, I've been ordering pork belly every since that night and have yet to find anyone that comes even close to Gerard Craft and his folks at Niche. The smoked loin was amazing, so tender, so moist and smokey. The smoke was not overpowering, more complimentary to the natural taste of the pork loin. The whole dish came drizzled in a sauce of bourbon, honey and hickory. It went well with the smoked loin. The cornbread pudding was good, I'm not generally a big fan of bread pudding but I love cornbread, and was happy with this combination. Now on to the creme de la creme, the pork belly. The top was crispy and the bottom melted in your mouth. It was amazing, and just as good as I had remembered. Wow, at this point the meal could have ended and I would have been one happy man, but they were not done yet. On to dessert, we all had the chocolate three ways. It came out with two squares of pudding like white chocolate, and milk chocolate that both had layer of angle wings in the middle and then a dark chocolate cake with a scoop of dark chocolate ice cream. It was very good, and a chocolate lovers delight. Once again Niche blew my socks off and I wish I could afford to eat here more often. Till next time!

    (5)
  • Allison C.

    This restaurant provides a wonderfully creative menu, a great atmosphere and excellent service! I took a colleague with Major League Baseball there and she was very impressed! High praise from a foodie from NYC, a vegetarian at that! We had another great meal last weekend! Pistachio ravoli with brown butter sauce, beets, a natural beef with truffle oil mashed potatoes, great taste and presentation!

    (5)
  • Libby D.

    If you are in town from New York or Los Angeles and are used to eating at places like Gramercy Tavern in NYC or Hatfield's in LA, go here. Niche is one of the only places I have been in St. Louis that serves cuisine which is fresh, thoughtful and elegant while still aware of its distinctly Midwestern context.

    (5)
  • Emily T.

    I went to Niche again during the end of January. We went for Comfort Food Monday. All three courses were delicious. Service was great. We went earlier than last time so there were not as many people there, giving us more space at our table. I love Niche and will be taking my foodie boyfriend there for his birthday dinner. :)

    (5)
  • Jennifer K.

    I have recently moved to St Louis and was told that Niche was this place to experience fine dining! The whole experience, from making the reservation to leaving the restaurant was wonderful. We had reservations for 6:00 p.m. on a Friday and when we got there the restaurant was pretty much empty. I am guessing St Louis is a city for late dining. The location was right in my neighborhood so I had no trouble finding it. I was really impressed with the complimentary valet. The hostess was very welcoming and gave us the table right by the window. The service was friendly, knowledgeable and always present, without seeming over-the-top. Now for the star of the show...the food! We had the scallops which were outstanding! I had a moment of dorkiness as I totally fangirled the citrus foam. I had the beef and onions for my entrée, which seems tame but was exceptional. The steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly and the potatoes, grilled onions and cheese crisps complimented it all nicely. For dessert we tried the beet cake with chocolate. The cake was the best part of the dessert as ice cream/sorbets overwhelmed it when paired with a bite. I definitely recommend this place for a special night out or for just a culinary adventure. Between the staff, the ambience and the food...you will not be disappointed. The only slightly negative thing I have to say is something that was brought to my attention by a previous reviewer. When I got home after dining I could smell food and oils on my clothes and in my hair. Maybe there is a ventilation issue or something but it would never detract me from going back again!

    (4)
  • Julie H.

    Niche is by far the best thing to happen to the St. Louis dining scene in a long time. Slightly higher price point, but worth every penny, as the food is incredibly thoughtful and delicious. The menu is seasonal so its hard to name my favorite things: everything is so good. And save room for dessert: this is one of those rare restaurants where its worth every calorie. Trust. (By the way, I'm so happy that my fellow yelpers agree with me and have reviewed this place positively!)

    (5)
  • Allan C.

    Not too long after a disappointing visit to An American Place, we approached Niche with pretty high expectations. The three of us opted to order our own appetizers and entrees without taking advantage of the 3 course deal. I started out with the roasted eggplant soup, which was nicely velvety reminiscent of the glop I scarfed down at many an Indian friends' place. I really really wanted some bread to go with this (naan, anyone?) but alas, there was none to be had. Even asking the waitress about it she politely mentioned that we could get the cheese plate... to get the bread o_O. When I'm paying that much for a meal, I'd hope a small request for such a thing as a bit of bread would be easily taken cared of. The pork cheeks, however, were a pleasant surprise. Even though I think the foie gras used was from a can, the hong shao style braised pork cheeks with the pear gave a great flavor along with the chili pepper. This was pretty well thought out. The butter poached shrimp was a sort of conundrum, though. What were we supposed to do? Put the avocado stuff on the chip with the shrimp? Shouldn't I have more chip and less avocado, then? 3 shrimp? Proportions, damnit! It was pretty darned tasty though. After the appetizers those high expectations were definitely being met. We had the rotisserie chicken, the scallops, and the rib eye. The scallops were amazing. They were ginormous. The butter foam really worked. The bitterness of the greens kinda worked with the sweet scallops but they were ok. The guy who ordered the rib eye was severely disappointed. - "When I get rib eye I expect fat, damnit!" It was pretty dry, almost like a filet. I honestly don't know why the fiance orders the roasted chicken all the time. She doesn't like white meat and doesn't like it when her chicken is too dry. Mind you, there's a fine line between "good" and "too dry" in her mind. Sauce won't help out either. I forget just how much that entree was, but I think it was in the high 20's. There are plenty of other nice restaurants with far superior roasted chicken than the one that we had for much less. However we were discussing this dish and we came the this conclusion: - Chicken, 13 bucks. - the rest? the freaking watermelon foam. Great. It didn't even make it taste any better. I was expecting it to have some crazy dynamic but it didn't. We were considering getting dessert but the birthday girl was too annoyed with her chicken so we left. I thought the food was very good. However, at this level, I'd expect far superior service and something to differentiate it from the many other bistro-esque places in St. Louis. The ideas were interesting but the execution on the basic stuff (steak / chicken) needs some work. So appetizers: 2 for 3. Entrees: 1 for 3. This place was "pretty good" and worth the visit, if only to appreciate the other places that St. Louis has to offer just a bit more.

    (3)
  • Tor B.

    We've dined at Niche a few times now. I was compelled to write a review after my first visit, and again I now feel equally compelled to write about Niche! Niche continues to hit the mark with fantastic cuisine, a beautiful atmosphere, and qualified service. Gerard Ford Craft continues to carve out a delightful little utopia of food, tucked into a tidy little corner of Soulard. His food is continuously spot-on, combining imagination with skillfully crafted dishes to delight both the palette and soul. The wine list is solid, and the service has evolved to something spectacular. Nice work Niche.

    (5)
  • Liz Z.

    dear NicHe, you would have gotten a perfect 5-star review from me for this past Sat. night, but you did not. but that's okay: because you could always change my mind on a 2nd visit... since all the YeLpers highly recommended this venue for foodies, i booked reservations for this past weekend on the auspicious day of my boyfriend's birthday, who traveled in from the Northeast for a couple of days. i wanted to impress him on the fact that the STL did have delicious palates for food and make sure he had the best birthday dinner. from the previous reviews, i knew we would not be disappointed. this little restaurant was bustling at 8:30 pm and so i was glad we had made reservations (HIGHLY recommended or you could easily wait at the bar). we were seated towards the back in a table that was wasn't very close to any of the other tables, which i was grateful for, since it looked like all the other tables were placed "Georgetown-style." meaning: separate tables were probably a good 12 inches apart from each other, to maximize the relatively narrow space, like in GeoRgetoWn, DC. close quarters require close measures. the ambiance was not what i envisioned: it was a bit loud and i spoke louder than i typically would during dinner. this may have been related to the location of our table (towards the back, where the managers, wait staff, chefs, etc. went in and out of the kitchen). we each had the 3-course meal for $35 (a steal if you ask me) and even ordered the farm cheese platter as an appetizer. the platter showcased 3 different cheeses (2 of which are goat varieties), raisin chutney, slivers of green apple, and lightly toasted bread. we were enjoying our appetizer and each other's company so much i guess it did not dawn on me until later that our 1st course --consisting of salads-- did not come for an hour. our waiter, Todd, was diligent on trying to appease our stomachs while we waited by offering extra servings of their olive bread. he even brought out a tasting of this phenomenal tomato basil sorbet! i had the alaskan halibut (for an extra $6 tacked onto the $35 price) for the main course. it was delicious but not for the additional 40 minutes i waited to get it. my boyfriend had the amish chicken and he was very pleased with his dish. for dessert, i chose the lemon pound cake with berry sorbet and my boyfriend had the semifreddo. to be honest, i liked his choice better than mine. the pound cake was a bit hard for my liking. as an added bonus, they brought this beautiful "happy birthday" dessert bonus of lavender shortbread under lavender custard and fresh berries (see added picture). can i say, "i'm in dessert heaven?!? so, NiChe, you get 4-stars for having an affordable 3-course menu, diligent staff, and some amazing appetizers and desserts. i commend you for being so foodie forward (tomato basil sorbet anyone??). but i would rather not have to wait as long as we did. i promise to come back and pray that the timing of food approaching my table is better. thank you. love, L

    (4)
  • Retset Y.

    A delicious tasting menu with wine pairing for less than $100 a person? This place is unbeatable, as far as I'm concerned. The food was delicious. The wine pairings were perfect. The service was outstanding. The ambiance was quaint and romantic. My boyfriend and I enjoyed a lovely dinner here the weekend I was in town and we'll never forget it. I recommend Niche to anyone living or visiting STL. A nightcap cocktail at Taste next door would make a romantic evening absolutely complete.

    (5)
  • Joe F.

    They didn't bother salting the icy sidewalk probably because they used it all on the food. I really had high hopes, the menu looked fantastic and creative, the ambiance was great, and the service was quite good. After eating our appetizer and drinking 2 full glasses of water each we had hoped it was just what we ordered for starters but unfortunatly that was not the case, the entree was infact even saltier. We ordered a side dish of red chard and it was so salty it was inedible. I give it three stars because I really do believe we hit an off night and without the salt the flavor of the food could have been really good. The manager said they salt everything to order so I recommend asking them to go light on the salt, especially for the richer dishes.

    (3)
  • Dave G.

    Wow... enjoyed our birthday celebration here. Ordered (2) 4-course prix fix meals and a bottle of Pinot Noir. Over $200 bill, but worth it. The Celery soup sounds bland, but is very innovative: servers bring a soup bowl with nuts (texture) and a small chunk of celery sorbet (cold, flavorful) and pour the creamy soup into the bowl. The hot/cold, textures, and flavors have a surprising punch. The "Pork Shoulder" 2nd course sounds unappealing (to me), but was composed with seasoned/shredded flavorful pork with buttery/seasoned outer shells of brussel sprouts, and a wonderful sauce. It was awesome - I want more of this dish. The Beef dish was very good, and the dessert was good. Also enjoyed the coxinha appetizer was small, but flavorful... would order again ! Con: wines are very expensive on the wine list. Service was excellent (but we arrived 5:30pm Saturday.... not busy yet). Highly recommended. Food is well prepared and artfully presented... but don't expect large portions (don't arrive overly hungry).

    (5)
  • Mad C.

    This is easily my favorite restaurant in Saint Louis. I make sure to get there at least once every time I'm in town. Sometimes I even make unnecessary trips across the state just to chow. It's that good. The service is undeniably the best I've ever encountered w/out being stiff. All are knowledgeable, attentive, and gracious. Gerard is into using all parts of an animal and I dig it. They gave me a "tour" of the walk-in the other night and I've never seen anything like the mise in this place. Matty is the dessert czar and he ROCKS. When he had Veruca next door, I used to load up on scones, red velvet cake sandwiches, and cookies to take to my peeps at home. A bar-like area is opening in that spot and I can't wait to check it out.

    (5)
  • Team Pfeiste X.

    We have eaten here twice and loved it both times! Make a reservation, though. They don't have a lot of tables and sitting at the bar just isn't as comfortable. Have the liquid chocolate cake for dessert.

    (5)
  • Ted G.

    I was taken there for a special occasion (my birthday). It has great atmosphere, great service, artistically prepared and great tasting food!

    (5)
  • Julia W.

    For the love of all things delicious, get the cauliflower soup!! It's a sensuous, velvety kiss and the addition of walnuts and apples add interesting texture and both sweet and savory notes. It's tremendous. I would've ordered bowl after bowl of it, but a family member treated us to the three course tasting, so it was on to the delightful carrot lime sorbet intermezzo and then the roasted chicken. I was honestly surprised by the entree portion size--it wasn't a Super Size Me portion, but it was bigger than I expected for a restaurant like Niche. Plenty of succulent, flavorful (yes, chicken CAN be flavorful!) meat for leftovers--always nice. I was, unfortunately, disappointed by the accompaniment of Brussels sprouts, bacon and sweet potato hash topped with egg. Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes are two of my very favorite foods, but their flavors were completely overpowered by the smoky bacon and the textures were lost once mixed with the runny egg yolk. Less of a hash and more of a bacon-y, gloppy mess. It made me sad. But the chicken was lovely and the kohlrabi foam was a nice, tasty surprise. Our dessert choices were the liquid chocolate cake with Tahitian vanilla ice cream or butterscotch pudding with banana toffee. Four of the six got the cake, but I tried the pudding--WHOA. Lovely texture, but super, super sweet. It was actually too much for this shuga-momma and I didn't even finish half of it. I did, however, finish my mother-in-law's vanilla ice cream which I can safely say is the very best vanilla ice cream I've ever had the pleasure of eating. I would absolutely visit Niche again. I believe this three-course prix fixe was $35, which is a pretty amazing deal, especially considering I had leftovers. The restaurant itself is just lovely--warm, inviting, unpretentious--and our server was kind and knowledgeable. I'm looking forward to many more meals at Niche and enjoying the bounty of fresh, local, seasonal ingredients. It's a bit of a splurge, but definitely a worthy one.

    (4)
  • Elizabeth L.

    AMAZING place! The wait staff is beyond excellent! The food is phenomenal! When I first came here, the place was still new and fairly small so I got to meet the chef, Gerard Craft. The place has grown since then and it has been wonderful to see the growth and progress. I still eat here and would recommend it to anyone with a taste for something different and beyond compare.

    (5)
  • Michelle L.

    I went to Niche last New Years Eve. The decor and ambiance is great. The service is great. And I'm still talking about the non-traditional vegetarian lasagna (truffled bechamel, wild mushrooms, fontina, farm egg, sage brown butter). You must visit Niche just to try this entree!

    (5)
  • Michael R.

    Niche is one of the best restaurants in St. Louis. Do yourself a favor and make a stop to Niche on your next visit to St .Louis.

    (5)
  • Ericka H.

    Saint Louis dining at it's finest. In my mind, the only other restaurant in the same neighborhood of quality is Atlas. The food is wonderful, creative, tasty and beautiful. Service is very good; when one of my companions upended and shattered the water carafe, the first concern was that we were all ok, and it was quickly cleaned up without fuss. They pace the meal well also; it is so annoying to be hurried through an appetizer, or have an entree delivered to cool beyond optimal temperature of consumption while you eat the appetizer. This is an art many restaurants in the area would be well served to master. Also wonderful desserts and a quite enjoyable wine list. My husband is in love with this restaurant...and also with me. But he may love this restaurant a little more, at least when he is hungry. Not cheap but worth it.

    (5)
  • Jonathan W.

    I really loved this place. The atmosphere was nice and the staff was very, very friendly. A couple left the bartender part of a bottle of wine and I asked her how it was and she shared it with me! Also, everything is enthusiastically prepared and presented by energetic, passionate people. The food was excellent but in terms of fine dining I've had better.

    (5)
  • Kari O.

    Awesome restaurant! It's our favorite place for our birthdays and our anniversary!

    (5)
  • Alex F.

    I've moved away from St. Louis but every time I'm home I make damn sure to make it to Niche as it is hands down my favorite restaurant in St. Louis. Honestly, I can't remember what I've had in the past but I had a fantastic rib eye, the cheese bread to start, and every desert with the exception of some chocolate cake at the end. I guess our waitress felt that our food took too long to come out so she had the chef send out complimentary scoops of celery-vanilla sorbet which was delicious. After our entrees she also brought out three free deserts for four of us (when we had already ordered two) so we were really stuffed! Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Thanks!

    (5)
  • Drew S.

    Best restaurant in St. Louis. Amazing

    (5)
  • Danielle F.

    I am so sad to be writing this revue but I have to say that this place is one of my biggest disappointments ever. I really wanted to like this place but just didn't. My husband and I went here to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary, breaking away from our traditional choice of Sidney Street Cafe. Well, much to my disappointment, even though our reservation was at 8:15, the place was so crowded and noisy I couldn't even hear my husband talking. In my humble opinion, they really should have taken the space next door that they used to create 'Taste by Niche' and used it to expand Niche. Seriously, I don't want to be able to reach out and touch the next table. Our waitress seemed annoyed that she had to be bothered by serving us and was generally unpleasant. The food was probably a 3 star but the staff and ambiance would be a 1 star for a cumulative 2 star rating.

    (2)
  • Richard Z.

    We had an excellent dinner here. The food was well prepared and in sensible proportions.

    (5)
  • Don K.

    We were looking for an ideal anniversary dinner venue, having never stayed in town for the milestone previously. I sought out recommendations on Yelp's Talk boards and ultimately decided on Niche after our first spot was booked for a wedding. I am certainly glad we did. Niche reminds me of everything I miss from New York fine dining. The actual decor and location seem more lower Manhattan than Benton Park. The service was spot on, attentive waitstaff and hostess. The front room seemed awfully loud when we arrived, and when we were seated in the back room my initial feeling of banishment turned out to be a more pleasing fate. The space is very tastefully done, good spot for a nice, romantic meal. Executive Chef Gerard Craft and staff due deserve all that other Yelpers rave about. The menu choices were very diverse, with a good selection of starters and entrees. Our eyes gravitated to the dessert menu first, a dangerous menu for sure. I ordered the Pork dish, and my companion the Cod. The Pork that night was a pork belly. Not the best cut of meat, as the server warned, but very delectable. I wanted something different that I hoped Niche would do up finely, and of course they did. The mix of mushrooms, turnips and a taste of maple really brought out the flavor. The Cod was also well presented and the taste, on a bed of baccala ravioli, was quite devine. We finished the meal with the liquid chocolate cake and milk chocolate custard. The chocolate cake is as good as others say. We had a similar concoction on a cruise once and it has become our most sought-after dinner dessert. Niche knocked it out of the park. In the end we loved the experience. Fine dining in St Louis is possible thanks to Niche!

    (5)
  • Lili T.

    Service was really good here. I got the 3 course meal for $40 which was a good deal. I had the vitello appetizer which was yummy. I think it was tuna, foccacia and bone marrow. My husband had ravioli. I had the surf and turf for dinner. The scallops were ok but the pork belly was really good especially if you are a fan of fat. My husband had the pork duo which was pork shoulder and loin. He liked them both. At the end I had the liquid chocolate cake which was very good.

    (4)
  • Sarah D.

    It has been sometime since I have indulged my taste buds here, but this restaurant never disappoints. I love the location and the intimacy of the dining room...that is the intimacy of the tables next to you. If you're a person needing a lot of personal space, find a different restaurant. If you want an amazing meal and price and closeness to your neighbors does not matter, then this place is for you!!

    (5)
  • Cora K.

    Niche will not disappoint you!! Love the atmosphere. The staff is helpful and friendly. Don't forget DESSERT. Will be bring friends and family back with me.

    (5)
  • Simone L.

    We couldn't stop smiling from appetizers to desserts. Delicious food!!

    (5)
  • Akilah Y.

    Loved the tasting menu!

    (5)
  • Amanda D.

    After living in Lafayette Square for 2 years and hearing so many amazing reviews of Niche, my husband and I finally made it in to celebrate our anniversary. The restaurant was packed, but we were seated quickly for our 8:15p reservation. We dabbled with the idea of doing the tasting menu, but decided against it, and were thrilled by the AMAZING 3-course for $35 deal! We promptly ordered a bottle of wine and decided on our meals. I started off with the Frisee Salad and was sold on the restaurant with the first bite. The bacon vinaigrette paired with the ricotta cheese and pears was a flavor combination that cannot be beat. My husband graciously shared a bite of his pistachio ravioli which was also excellent. I proceeded with the cod which was perfectly prepared with a baccala ravioli underneath. I was pleasantly surprised by how much flavor the dashi broth added. My husband had the beef and was very happy with how well it was prepared. We were completely full after 2-courses, but dessert was part of the deal, so I ordered the Liquid Chocolate Cake (to die for! and I'm not a big dessert person) and my husband had the Milk Chocolate Custard. All in all, our experience with Niche was PHENOMENAL. From the service to the food to the atmosphere, there is nothing to complain about. Plus, what a great deal! We went in expecting to spend at least $200 on dinner and walked out with a bill just over $100. We are so lucky to have this gem here in St. Louis!

    (5)
  • Julya H.

    Love the food, the wait staff and the chef. This upscale restaurant is friendly (II got the name of the chocolate used in the molten chocolate cake recipe from the chef- just went up to the window to talk-he also gave me the name of a restaurant he likes in SLC). It is also friendly to the purse if you go with the fixed price dinner. The pork pappardelle appetizer is indescribably delicious. I come to Niche every time I am in St. Louis. I love it when they bring you additional items "the chef thought you would enjoy".

    (5)
  • Sarah K.

    My husband and I finally made it to one of Gerard Craft's restaurants which is something I had wanted to do for awhile. It was the best meal I have had in quite some time. The staff were wonderful and EXTREMELY attentive. And for foodies like us, we were happy that Gerard was working that night and we were able to watch him expedite the food, and watching such an esteemed chef work all night was almost just as exciting for us as the food. We started with the pig's head appetizer and scallops appetizer and both were wonderful. Both of our main entrees, the pork and beef, were fantastic with flavors that just exploded in our mouths. We ended with a homemade mint ice cream that blew us away. It didn't seem as loud to us as some other reviewers stated. We went at 6:30 on a Saturday. We sometimes worry about walking away from nice restaurants still hungry but we were stuffed after this-probably could have done without the ice cream but we wanted to try it. As far as cost, although not cheap, it was definitely appropriate for the quality of food served. Our tab was $130 before tip and included two appetizers, two entrees, one dessert, one beer, and three glasses of wine. I will DEFINITELY be returning to Niche.

    (5)
  • Mike U.

    this was the one restaurant i'd heard of before moving out here and hearing that it was a pork-centric restaurant, chef is all tatted up, i was psyched. before the food though, had a manhattan. i like manhattans, usually go with bourbon but been switching it up to rye lately. it came out promptly (service was great all night), took a few sips while my gf was deciding on her wine. the manhattan hit hard. took a peek into their drink menu, turned out it had absinthe, no wormwood in it i'm sure, but still very, very badass, niche had my attention. went with the fried pig's head to start, do not pass up on this! i'm sure the menu changes so get this while you can. comes out as two crab cake looking things, think new american carnitas and it's about right, effin' delicious. i went pork duo, gf went scallops. scallops were as good as everyone says, the different sauces: sunchoke, butter, blood orange were nice, but i thought it was with the yogurt and granola with my pork duo that a statement was made for flavor, like what you'd hope from chef with sleeves done. the beets with goat cheese on the side were alright, but the sweet potato puree with cumin was straight money. finished with the killer liquid chocolate cake with pistachio ice cream, lived up to the hype. Gerard Craft, I salute you.

    (5)
  • Michele B.

    I went here for my birthday dinner, and we got the 3-course tasting menu, along with a few cheeses. The cheese selection was great. I love going to a place that can offer me a cheese I've never tried before. In this case, it was Humboldt Green, which the waitress informed me comes packed in nettles. It was quite tasty. The eggplant soup I ordered was, hands down, the best soup I've had in my life, and I'm a huge soup fan. It had complex flavors, with just a tiny kick of fire that dissipated quickly. Get this soup. The steak was tender and flavorful, cooked to perfection. I was disappointed in the mashed potato side, as they were fairly bland, and that is often used as a vehicle for many other flavors. I ordered the Greek Yogurt for dessert, and wasn't disappointed. It was a thick and creamy custardy thing, with a lovely peach compote on top, and lavender shortbread cookies. I do wish the peach compote had been kept separate from the cookies; they each went well with the yogurt, but the peach flavor totally overwhelmed the delicate notes of lavender in the shortbread. I will be going back.

    (4)
  • Colleen D.

    My new favorite restaurant in STL. Great service, good sized portions, creative dishes. How could I not order something called Crispy Pig Head? The 3 for $40 is a great deal. Wine costs are very reasonable.

    (4)
  • P L.

    Amazing food

    (5)
  • Matt T.

    The food is so good, so good, you see. Try it, try it, you will agree! Appetizers that tantalize. Entrees that mesmerize. Desserts to die for. Good food, good service, beautiful space. And, a wine list that wont cost you an arm and a leg.

    (5)
  • erika f.

    Hands down the best restaurant i have ever been to in my life. I am not joking. I want to fly back there just to experience their food again!! OMG!!!!

    (5)
  • Nichole P.

    Oh. My. Goodness. Talk about a darn good foodie spot in the city; and this visit has been a long time a coming. I (Nichole) was lucky enough to be taken to dinner at Niche in the Benton Park neighborhood downtown. This little jewel has been all the rave for years now. Don't believe me? Just read the accolades on the website or Google Gerard Craft. Upon my fashionably late arrival to 1831 Sidney Street, I was graciously greeted by every individual whom was part of the Niche team. This made me quite happy. The restaurant certainly has a warm and inviting ambiance, with many fantastic design touches. Obviously, the product of good taste. My great company and I sat at the bar and sipped on a lovely pinot from David Noyes. Surrounded by many other 20 and 30 something duos, we fell easily into casual conversation. Once our table was ready, we sat and the amazingly, awesome culinary experience commenced. We decided on the 5-course tasting menu! No words accurately describe the food and wine that was, quite frankly, devoured as we progressed with each course to the next. From the delicately, robust scallops to the 2005 Four Vines Port to top it all off--I continually was astounded by the flavor, quality and excellence of the food presented before us. I can not recommend Niche enough. Just go. I know I will be back soon.

    (5)
  • M K.

    Niche was an absolutely disgusting experience. I was super excited to go as I heard rave reviews about it. The ambiance is nice, it is on par with anything in Chicago or SF and for the price, it is what I'd expect. However, the food was SUB- SUBPAR at best. I had the pork belly, which was a fatty piece of pork that was boiled in what looked a creamy barley oatmeal. It was not seared or crispy as the pork belly should have been. It was so disgusting, I could barely choke it down. Even now, I have terrible flashbacks about how bacon boiled in cream would taste like, because that's exactly how it tasted. If I wanted crap, I could have eaten out of a dumpster. It would have been cheaper. As for my date's meal, he had a risotto that was subpar at best. Again, there was very little flavor or texture. Just unbelievably standard. I just don't understand what everyone raves about because honestly, I've had good food and this place simply does not serve it.

    (1)
  • Jennifer H.

    When my husband and I decided to go to Niche for dinner, we figured it would be like some of the other "nicer" restaurants in Soulard. We had no idea what a treat we were in for. Aside from the red brick outside, Niche is completely different (may I say better?) than any of the other places in Soulard, completely in a class of its own. The restaurant is beautiful and simple: mostly earth tones but bright red walls keep the boredom at bay. The food here is amazing as well. The plating is gorgeous and everything is completely tasty. I had the gnocchi and I can't recommend it enough. We also each had the cauliflower soup which was just like eating a hug in a bowl, warm, creamy and smooth. I would definitely come here again (not too often because it can get expensive), and I have been recommending it to everyone I know.

    (4)
  • m l.

    This place still kills me, went there a few weeks ago and had another overwhelmingly amazing experience. One of the best restaurants in the world. No question. Please feel free to PM me with any questions.

    (5)
  • Gina M.

    Thanks to yelp, I was able to find a nice restaurant to celebrate my Fiancé's birthday. I made our reservations through Open Table, where I noted it was a birthday dinner. The hostess called me earlier in the day to confirm. We arrived at 7:45, the time of our reservation, and were seated right away. With all the good reviews I read, I was not surprised that the place was full....The hostess and the waitress both wished him a Happy Birthday. Although the menu is small, the food is delicious. The bread was not my favorite though. The service was good, not fast, but good. We enjoyed our time between courses and were not rushed. If you are looking for a nice dinner for date night this is an excellent choice, but if you are in a rush, you should reschedule for another night. On our way out, the other hostess wished him a Happy Birthday too... and although it was already 9:30, the place was still very busy, which is understandable.

    (4)
  • anna k.

    Loved Loved Loved!!!!!! This place is amazing. For about a hundred bucks u can have a cocktail, salad, entree, split a dessert, and coffee for two! The ambiance is beautiful, the perfect place for a romantic dinner. I definitely do not suggest bringing children here - if u bring your kids out to fine dining establishments like this you're an idiot anyways. From what I've heard, everything is locally grown and purchased. What a fantastic way to support your community as well as feed it! The menu changes every so often which is always a wonderful thing. The only thing is it's a bit crowded on a busy night (which i think is every night haha). The tables need a bit more space.. i felt like i was sitting on the neighbors' laps. Other than that, i have nothing to complain about! Best restaurant in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Charlie J.

    This is the best restaurant in St. Louis...hands down. If you aren't adventurous and don't consider yourself somewhat of a foodie, though, don't waste your time or your money. All you need to do is order the tasting menu (with wine pairing) and sit back and watch the show...unbelievable. We will come back again and again and again and reserve it for all of our special occasions. Don't miss it!

    (5)
  • Audra F.

    My husband and I have been to Niche to celebrate several notable events, birthdays, anniversaries and the like. We have been a party of 2 and part of a party of 12 with no less than great service. Nearly every time we have received impeccable and accommodating service, entrees that are to die for and sinfully good desserts. Suggestion: The tenderloin with soy caramel sauce is our favorite, as well as the the Altoid ice cream. Oh and don't forget the Dia's cheese bread as an app! We found that if you wait to make a reservation you will probably end up in the 930 time slot but if you can stave off your hunger until then, it's a charming time for dinner at Niche.

    (5)
  • Dan G.

    My wife and I went here Memorial day weekend and it was the best meal we had in town. Beautiful restaurant with great décor, layout and helpful service. Walking in to the crowd I thought they would stick us in one of those uncomfortable two tops stacked right on top of each other. I was delighted that they took us to a back room where we had a great table and we could enjoy the meal and company. We started with salads-mixed salad with candied walnuts, apples, blue cheese and vinaigrette for me and the Mrs. had a spring veggie salad with pea shoots, carrot puree, carrots, radishes, goat cheese and white chocolate vinaigrette. These were both very fresh and excellent starts. It took a long time for the entrees to follow which would be about my only gripe. I had the ribeye with a red wine reduction, served on green potato puree with smoked baby carrots. My wife had seared sea scallops with rhubarb, cauliflower, romanesco and gianciale. Both were delicious. We finished our meal with the molten chocolate cake which spilled all over the delectable whatchamacallit ice cream. This was a nice conclusion to the best meal we had in town. This would hold it's own with any of the top places in Chicago. They also featured an extensive wine list.

    (5)
  • Chad E.

    My wife and I go here fairly often. The food is great and the atmosphere is quite nice. The service is excellent too. The menu changes often, so check their website. It is a bit pricey, but I find it worth while.

    (5)
  • Jennifer C.

    OMGsh we had a blast here! On a recent business trip we decided to try Niche after Michelle did a little research on local restaurants. We didn't have a reso because I kept trying to call and no one would answer! We decided to just head over and we spent about an hour at the bar. Not a problem since we had great Champagne and Conversation! If you don't want to wait that long - make a reso! Started out with the Cheese Board. We chose a few cheeses with the help of our server and they were deliciously paired with apples, walnuts, and crostini! I ordered the 3 for $35 prix fix. The plan was for us to split the salad and dessert and then Michelle would order an entree. And oh was the plan successful! The salad was yummy mixed greens with a light vinaigrette. Michelle had the scallops and she said they were delicious! I had the steak and it was also delicious! Well, we both finished a VERY good portion of our meal so that tells you how delicious it was! For dessert we had the greek yogurt with apricots. This was a good choice as it was light and refreshing after our meal. All in all it was a great evening. Atmosphere, service, and the food were all top notch! The only thing that happened during the evening was our server forgot to bring us our drinks - but then she gave them to us on the house, so it all turned out A-okay!!

    (4)
  • Kelly C.

    Amazing! try anything ...totally worth it!

    (4)
  • Koriann B.

    This place was SO good. Everything I had was delicious. While in town for the weekend, my boyfriend noticed that the chef here was one of the top ten new chefs in Food and Wine. We decided to try it based on that, because some of the other top chefs from previous years work/own at some of our favorite restaurants. I'm so glad that we tried it! The desserts were the best part. The liquid chocolate cake is amazing but the star was the lemon semifreddo. After our meal, the chef came out to talk to us, which was a nice touch.

    (5)
  • Eric B.

    My fiance and I went to Niche with an optimistic view. We had seen an article where the chef was named a "rising star" and decided this would be a great place to go to celebrate a special event. We arrived on time and immediately got sat. Then we waited... and waited... after 20 minutes, I walked over to the manager to inform her that a waiter/waitress had not been by at all and she apologized and promised to take care of it immediately. And that they did. The friendly waiter apologized as well and took our order which was the 5-course meal with wine parings. Shortly thereafter the manager came over and announced that the pairings were on the house as an apologize for our wait. We appreciated the gesture... Then the courses started coming 1st Course - A delicious Cauliflower soup with apples, walnuts, and bacon. The soup was rich and delicious, and the smoked bacon added a bit of deliciousness throughout. We were quite happy and excited about the 2nd course which the waiter promised to be his personal favorite 2nd Course - Fried Pigs Head - Wow. One of the single best plates of food I've had. The head was served with a spiced pear and an egg cooked at 62 degrees (which from what I can tell seems to be some sort of Zen temperature for egg. The plate was perfect in every way. Around this time the chef came out to apologize, he was very nice and promised to bring out the next course personally. 3rd course - A delicious Lobster tapioca with lemon and blood orange. Again, the lobster was perfect and the tapioca balls just added to the experience At this point, we were informed that they wanted to apologize again, this time by adding a course that otherwise was not served to anyone. Bonus Course - Large Scallop with a sunchoke pure. The scallop was tremendous in size and tasted perfect with the puree. 4th course - Lamb with rhubarb hummus, and white chocolate - I don't remember the white chocolate part, but I do remember the lamb and hummus with a garlic foam that made everything just a little bit better (By now, you may have noticed, I am straining for compliments, this is partially because I waited almost a week before writing the review and because there are only so many times you can say..."Wow! This food is AMAZING." There was an amuse of carrot/orange sorbet served at this point. Not my favorite, but I don't think too highly of the carrot family. What was most noticeable was that the manager gave us a little something to take home with us, because we had mentioned how much we had enjoyed the item. Dessert Course - Coconut Kulfi with passion fruit glazed pineapple - another bout of deliciousness. The kulfi was mild in taste but creamy all around almost like a mix between a cream cheese and sweet frozen pudding. What can I say. Food 5 stars, service 5 stars. It was very nice of the restaurant to give something back when they made a mistake, but they went well beyond what was necessary, and that was quite appreciated by us. Without a doubt the best meal we've had in St. Louis. We will be back and you should go.

    (5)
  • Rob C.

    Would have thought this one was already reviewed, but maybe not? Anyways, great bistro -- excellent food and wonderful desserts, 3 for $30. Small menu, owners from Utah. Great pastry chef. My favorite STL restaurant. Glad to see this place got recognized by Food and Wine magazine!

    (5)
  • Jasmine T.

    Disappointed. This is actually my favorite restaurant except my experience there yesterday was dismal at best. It was my birthday and I was very excited that Niche was open. I ordered the tuna vitello and did not like it at all, it was way too salty. My waitress noticed that i didnt really touch my plate and asked if i didnt like it. i told her it was a bit heavy, a few moments later, a gentleman, who i think must be the manager, came over and asked if i wanted to get something else. i was very pleased with the response and told him that theres plently of food coming and i appreciated him checking. I wish i had taken him up on getting a salad as my entree of golden tile was awful!!! it was way too salty and I found the preparation to be very heavy handed, too much butter/olive oil on the plate. i literally had 2 bites of this meal. my waitress failed to notice that. It was bad enough to have ruined my birthday meal, upon giving us the bill, my waitress mentioned that the starter had been taken off; ONE DOLLAR was taken off the bill. i found this to be embarrassingly cheap, considering our bill was over $130. I felt the situation was handled very poorly,especially in light of my birthday and the entree. I must say my husbands meal was excellent and i usually love everything Craft puts on the table, maybe i just ordered the wrong things that night. I just wish the situation was handled differently.

    (2)
  • Brian H.

    Great atmosphere, love the decor. service was excellent. Food was average, now must take into consideration that I have eaten at some of the best resturants in the US and recently moved from Dallas which has some of the best chefs around (Stephen Pyles, Fearings, Abacus). Food was local which I like, but average at best. Ordered the berkshire pork and was on the dry side, reason I ordered is its probalby the hardest dish to fix and get it right. Mushroom side dish was just that, mushrooms, nothing exciting. Maybe I got caught up in all the hype, or maybe people of St Louis just don't get to experience great chefs.

    (3)
  • Andy M.

    I've returned to Niche twice since writing this review, and both times I've been surprised and impressed by what I've been served. Each dinner has had some dish which made me giggle; each dinner had great service; each dinner taught me something new I can take to my own cooking. There isn't a better restaurant in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • P M.

    Niche is simply wonderful! I love the atmosphere and the food is truly exquisite! Also, I love that the menu rotates so I have different options each visit.

    (5)
  • Katie B.

    Some of the best food I've had in my life! Even beats most of my favorite's in NYC. If you are going to eat at one restaurant in STL, this is it.

    (5)
  • Cristina C.

    I went to Niche for an early Valentine's Day with my boyfriend, and I was very underwhelmed by the experience. After all the hype I had heard I was expecting to be simply floored by the food, but I was not. What made matters worse was that our server was the absolute worst. She offered no help in navigating their highly unusual menu. At a place that has all unique menu items and nothing standard, it would be nice to have a server who could help guide you, but she offered no suggestions even when I asked. I inquired about the Hamachi Crudo, "What's it like?" Her response was, "Well Crudo means raw. So it's raw." Yeah, thanks I already knew that, but I was hoping she could tell me a little more about it. The Hamachi Crudo was good, but I've had better. FYI the Hamachi Avocado Ceviche at Oceano in Clayton is better. For entrees I ordered the pork shoulder with pulled pork belly and my boyfriend had the chicken. The pork was tender, but the pork belly (which is basically like bacon) overwhelmed the dish. The only thing I could taste was bacon flavor. The chicken was tasty, but nothing out of this world. It came with a green sauce of some sort (pistachio maybe?). We had the polenta, which was also good, but not outstanding. I've heard some people have had better experiences at this place, and perhaps ours would have been with another server. The other servers seemed much friendlier and even came by our table after dinner and asked how our meal had been, after our server had tossed the bill on the table. I'm inclined to compare this place to The Emperor's New Clothes - it's really not very good but everyone is afraid to say so for fear of not being "foodie" enough.

    (2)
  • judi t.

    We were in town for my 20th reunion at Washington University and my husband came with me for the weekend. Out anniversary was the night before but we had reunion events so I asked and searched a wide spread number of sources as to where to go to celebrate out anniversary the next night...from foodies to locals to food critics...etc and I settled on Niche. We were both so very happy. The food was delicious and the chef is clearly in love with what he does. All of the food was delicious. The Escolar Crudo was superb, the Beet Tortelini was so very delicious and delicately actually reminded me of a jewish/russian borsht experience in a wonderful new way... the beets gave the essence of the borsht while the herbed buttermilk gave a hit of the traditional sour cream dollop and the torteilini was like a delicate blintz! The Trout combination was standout,Naturally Raised Beef was tender beyond belief and the Rockfish was divine! Be sure to leave room for the Rhubarb Orange Crisp!!! YUM.

    (5)
  • Julia F.

    I was recommended this place while visiting St Louis, by the Sauce Magazine editor. How thankful I was for the heads up! This is an excellent bistro with French fusion gourmet. I absolutely adored the beet salad. The atmosphere was very comfortable yet upscale and service was wonderful. They really promote their "chees bread", but really I found it unremarkable. The liquid chocolate cake was absolutely to die for!!!! I have to admit the scallop appetizer was quite dry, but the rest of our food was delicious!!!

    (4)
  • Krystal L.

    Try their scallops, absolutely delicious. Great space nestled in Benton Park. It tends to be pricey, so its a great place for a special occasion.

    (5)
  • Ck L.

    Old Review (3/11/09) Not your typical St Louis high-end restaurant. The decor is modern and food is innovative, fresh. Professional service. You will feel like you are in a restaurant in a real city! Easily the best restaurant in St Louis. New Review on (10/2/09) Made reservation for a Friday evening at 8:30 to celebrate my partner's and my birthdays. Got there, and there were a few tables opened. We were seated to a table right at the hallway where people would walk pass all the time. I asked for another table, and the hostess said those empty table special-requested and asked if we saw the backroom. I said I've been to the restaurant a couple of time and I didn't want the backroom. The whole restaurant had one hallway table, so I highly doubted people (even pretentious like STL) would special request not to be seated at the ONE table. When we decided to leave the restaurant, the hostess was stunted. Yes, it's a popular restaurant and I am sure no one turns it down, given people wait whole night to get seated with reservation. It's still the best restaurant in STL. But if it likes to treat return customers that way, I don't need to go there. I've been to Niche 5-6 times since moving to STL two years ago, so I really didn't expect to be treated like that. When we went to the restaurant before, even with reservations, we needed to wait 15-20 mins to get seated. So what if they seated us to those empty "special" table? It's after 8:30 and people started to leave anyway!! Way to alienate customers! (I deducted 1 star from my last review)

    (4)
  • Kate P.

    We love it. One of the best places in the Benton Neighborhood. I have loved everything we have eaten here from the liver, salad, to the fish it's been great! Oh and desert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am still thinking about it. Try as many as you can esp. if you have a group. Pastry chef is equally as talented as the chef! Also try Taste-the little place in front. Tapas style and great drinks--a great combo.

    (5)
  • Ryan K.

    In my opinion this is the best restaurant in St. Louis. The service we had was very good and our waitress was really knowledgeable. This helps in a lot of cases becuase there are so many unique ingredients and dishses on the menu that you sometimes have to ask more details about a few things. The portions are a little small and it is a little pricey but quality of the food more than makes up for it. High ly recommend this place if you are looking for a great dinner in St. Louis.

    (5)
  • Aletta M.

    Good food, but a little too fussy for me. I expected more based on all the reviews. Service was very good and location and atmosphere were great. I just wasn't blown away the way I expected to be. Not sure I'll go back.

    (3)
  • Anthony C.

    This *is* the best restaurant in metro Saint Louis, hands down. Inventive kitchen (the chef came out to ask us if we enjoyed our meal), attentive staff and an aesethetic that is modern, yet not cold. Highly recommended, but do take your gold bullion with you as you will need to plunk down some serious coinage for your fodder. But you're worth it.

    (5)
  • Sarah M.

    I'm stuffed. Gerard Craft's name has been in Food and Wine magazine, what seems like, every issue since last July and I don't think I'm exaggerating. In that first issue he was named a New Best Chef of 2008. It took me up until tonight to get there (partially due to being away at school). The wait was worth it, and I can't wait to get back. A few weeks back, my friend and I took on the task of watching a wedding parties children, for a small fee of course. And that small fee sent us to Niche, and boy was it a good way to spend babysitting money. We spent weeks talking about our fancy dinner out and waiting for schedules to open up. We got our chance, and booked a table through opentable.com (and we got the day we wanted!!). Between Kate and I, we spend hours analyzing the menu. At the botton of the online menu says "ask your server about the 3 for $35 menu". We planned ahead of time to do that. The 3 for $35 menu comes with, obviously, and appetizer, entree and a dessert. The dishes to pick form change nightly according to our waiter. Tonight's selection was a soup (chilled beet) or a salad. The salad was a mixed green salad with pecans, apples and a wedge of blue cheese dressed in a vinaigrette. The entree options were the risotto and trout off the menu. I optioned for the trout, as the bigger fish eater. It appeared to have been pan fried. The skin crisped perfectly, to the point I actually ate it. The flesh of the fish had been appropriately seasoned with (what seemed like) lemon, salt and pepper. It was perfectly cooked, remaining moist. A celery root puree was served along side, that was as mind-boggling as it was mind-blowing. There was this flavor that neither Kate nor I could pin point. We'd accidentally asked the water boy if he knew what was in the puree. he claimed "a little bit of milk". I eventually convinced myself it was just celery and milk. I'd never understood the complexity of celery. We usually don't get along, no matter how much peanutbutter was spooned into the convenient crevasse. On the other side of the fish, lay a bed of greens. Mixed greens contain arugula, apples and celery dished in a lite vinaigrette. I didn't find this as pleasing as the first salad of the night. (It also seemed a little much to have a second salad, but I guess not everyone starts with a salad.) Kate's risotto came out a lovely shade of green. Our adorable waiter told us what made it that color, but I've now forgotten. Creatively arranged in three heaping scoops, with roasted radishes, beats and new potatoes in a balsamic vinegar. The risotto was cooked perfectly, nor was it to rich. To end our meal, we had the choice of the liquid chocolate cake or the tapioca pudding. Naturally, with our loves for chocolate, we opted for that option. The cake was rich, moist and as chocolatey as I could ask for. The middle of the cake oozes with the 'liquid' chocolate. It's served with 'whatchamacallit' ice cream. it was amazing. The restaurant itself is awesome. It's a warm atmosphere, with the obviously regulars mixed in amongst their growing crowd. The lights are placed along the walls, sort of inserted, creating a glowing room and ambiance. (Meaning, that whole being in the spotlight thing, isn't there.) The coolest part of the night, was Gerard Craft was walking around the restaurant all night. And! thanked us for coming in.

    (5)
  • Jennifer G.

    how could i forget to make sure that the internet was aware that i loved my niche experience? i definitely recommend that if you're going to go, make your reservations in advance and then you can have something to look forward to. me and my trusty meal companion arrived and were seated in what i like to call the 'hot' seat as it was right next to the window so if there was anyone out on the streets, we could people watch. also, we only had one table to contend w/ next to us and weren't flanked between.... we started with the marinated olives which might not sound like much but holy cow they were freakishly good and i don't know what they did to them cause it seemed super simple and i'm assuming it's cause they had olive oil that was made w/ unicorn tears. also, the bread that they serve - woo! free! - was only made better by that FANTASTIC BUTTER. thank you niche, you done turned me on to sorghum. i'm not kidding, we were kind of freaking out about it.... since we were at a pork house and we both love some pig, we started off with the fried pig's head which sadly, didn't come out in the shape of the head of a swine but oh tasty goodness for sure! we also had to try the pistachio ravioli and um, don't mind if i do. how do you get a pistachio so creamy and delicious? it was amazing. for our mains, my 'date' had the scallop dish that i had a little nibble of and it was really rich and heavenly. i ended up getting the pork duo after MUCH hemming and hawing since the last thing i want to put in my mouth is a mushroom. our server - which, great service by the way! - pointed out that if there's one place that can make a lady love a mushroom, it's there so i took a chance. let's just say that while mushrooms are still nature's enemy, i plowed through. every other thing about my dish made me want to take my shirt off and swing it over my head. and it was *just* scrapple under this cut of ham that was from the pig that possibly is the best pig in the world. not wanting to limit our experience, we loosened our belts a little and forged ahead with dessert. we both ended up getting the raspberry sorbet. it was really good, sharp to the taste and had a kick at the end. i'm pretty sure that had everything to do with the star anise all up in it. i just need an excuse to go back and i'm so there.

    (5)
  • Ebby V.

    .The reason I gave this 5 stars is because the atmosphere, my parties wait staff and the food were perfect that night. What's awesome about this restaurant is that they have a philosophy about sustainability. They purchase local meat and vegetables and they believe in grass fed, free range poultry, beef and pork. Though the trout is farm raised local, the halibut is wild caught. I got the 3 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. The waitress was terrific about picking out some of the wine for us and if we didn't like it, she switched it out. She also wrote down the wines for us at the end of the night so I can get them later. The menu is small which tells me that they believe in what they are serving and the food is fresh and meals are focused. The restaurant venue is small. Reservations need to be made ahead of time and most likely can't be changed to a bigger party because there isn't any room. They have two bar areas. The one in Niche and the one in Taste next door. I can't wait to go back! Great time.

    (5)
  • Anna L.

    I was really excited to go here. I have a group of girl friends who consider themselves foodies, and we'd been salivating over the reviews for weeks before the big night. I got the pig's head faggotini to start, and it was the most interesting and inspired part of my meal. It was aromatic and succulent, if a little over priced. My main course, on the other hand, was a huge disappointment. I ordered the striped bass. When I order striped bass, I expect it to be light and flaky. What I got was chewy and salty. It tasted more like trout than anything else. The figs and arugula were practically non existent, and the clams might as well have not been there for all the flavor they added. The polenta was mushy, grainy, and flavorless all at once. It formed a tough skin, and was the perfect unpleasant complement to my huge disappointment of a meal. I'm giving it two stars for the aforementioned pig's head faggotini and the semi freddo which I had for the dessert. I enjoyed those two elements, but overall came away from the meal unsatisfied and feeling like I just wasted a lot of money on a mediocre experience.

    (2)
  • Leigh T.

    All we can say about Niche is that literally every single bite -- from the first piece of bread to the last bit of dessert we scraped off our plates -- was delicious. There's not one thing we would change about our meal there. The value for the money was outstanding. Wish we lived in St. Louis so that we could come here more often. One of the best meals we've had in recent memory.

    (5)
  • emily c.

    The food was very good...all of it. The problem was portion to price. I'm not someone that likes big American portions but I also don't like to leave a restaurant hungry. There were four of us and my girlfriend started with a salad and my husband and I shared the dumplings. My girlfriend and I had the scallops and our significant others had the pork and the steak. The pork was HUGE which totally dwarfed the rest of our already small portions. My husband had ordered the steak and got a few slivers of a steak and a smear of mashed potatoes for 32$!! The scallops were delicious but for 29$ there were only 2! We also split two desserts which were good but not amazing. We had a blast though....great atmosphere, great service, good wine so we left happy but my husband who not having much of a sweet tooth had to make himself something to eat when we got home. For the price we paid the possibility of the customers going home to eat more should be out of the question.

    (3)
  • Arnold B.

    A great place. My new favorite when in St. Louis--which is quite often for business. Great for a business dinner or for fun. The menu is top notch and you must try the whitefish anchovies---hard to find in this neck of the woods. Also, the chicken liver terrine is delicious and the pan fried pig's head is another not easily found but fabulous dish. Overall, a great restaurant with good service and great food know-how.

    (5)
  • Brian C.

    Dinner at Niche was great as always. I felt the crispy octopus was a bit overcooked and its seasoning a bit overpowering, yet all in all it was still pretty tasty. The short rib papperdelle was everything one would expect; however, it was really the entrees that blew me away. The pork duo: wow, just wow. The squab was something new to me, but similarly impressive. The liquid chocolate cake was impossibly rich, and the PB and J was delicious, creative, and playful.

    (5)
  • Ebby V.

    The reason I gave this 5 stars is because the atmosphere, my parties wait staff and the food were perfect that night. What's awesome about this restaurant is that they have a philosophy about sustainability. They purchase local meat and vegetables and they believe in grass fed, free range poultry, beef and pork. Though the trout is farm raised local, the halibut is wild caught. I got the 3 course tasting menu with the wine pairing. The waitress was terrific about picking out some of the wine for us and if we didn't like it, she switched it out. She also wrote down the wines for us at the end of the night so I can get them later. The menu is small which tells me that they believe in what they are serving and the food is fresh and meals are focused. The restaurant venue is small. Reservations need to be made ahead of time and most likely can't be changed to a bigger party because there isn't any room. They have two bar areas. The one in Niche and the one in Taste next door. I can't wait to go back! Great time.

    (5)
  • Bill M.

    I've been there 8 or 9 times and had great food every time. They use seasonal fresh ingredients so the menu changes a bit. I typically do not like the small close table feel but because there is enough room noise it works. Be sure to make reservations because you may not be able to get a table. One of the best in STL and certainly one of my favorites.

    (5)
  • Bryan P.

    fantastic food and service! chef craft may not have been the one in the kitchen this night, but he's certainly the one responsible for creating such a brilliant menu. the best part is that the kitchen was more than just accommodating for our vegetarian requests. it seemed like they took it as a challenge to create something extraordinary. thank you for that, niche!

    (4)
  • Julie N.

    Went here for my 30th birthday with my husband and decided to splurge on the chef's tasting menu. I'm already starting to become partial to Gerard Craft restaurants as we've loved Pastaria next door but Niche is an incredible restaurant that nails every aspect of what I think makes a good restaurant. Food, service, and atmosphere are all top notch. Every item on the tasting menu was well executed and I'm not sure how best to describe this but there is a certain playfulness to the menu that just makes me think the chef is having fun in the kitchen which I just loved (seriously, how can you not love a gin infused ice pop palate cleanser?). My absolute favorite dish of the night was the aurora strip loin. I also really enjoyed the egg and the corn soup but truly everything was excellent. Though if you're debating between entrees just go for the strip loin. It's delicious and you won't regret it. The table next to us was raving over their strip loin as well and I was secretly jealous that ordering it from the regular menu as opposed to the tasting menu meant a bigger portion of one of the best steak dishes I've ever had. Looking forward to returning with our families when they are in town as this is totally the type of restaurant I want to show off to my parents and in-laws.

    (5)
  • Christine C.

    we participated in the sunday supper and it was an experience that was well worth it. $40 per person for a three course meal. it's been four years since our last visit so we were pretty excited to check it out again especially with their new location. I've read a lot of yelp reviewers complain about the noise that came from the adjoining restaurant, pastaria, but i really had no qualms with it and didn't notice it at all. first course was a broccoli soup. it has asparagus, sunflower seeds, parsley, and caper berries. the caper berries were a pleasant surprise because it added some acidity to the bowl. two thumbs up. for the second course we got the steak and chicken. UM, the flank steak was amazing. just really, really amazing. it was cooked to perfection. it came with fingerling potatoes, green beans, and romesco sauce. it was superb. the chicken was also cooked really well. it was very tender and the meat just fell off the bone. it came with a couscous fennel salad but I found it to be pickled too much (if that is even possible) for my taste. dessert. vanilla gelato with chocolate sauce was too rich for my liking but my husband really enjoyed it. we also ordered "local cheese" and it was a party in my mouth. the cheese was called fleur de la vallee and the cheese on its own was pretty good... BUT the cheese paired with the crackers and strawberry jam was a party in my mouth. WOW. other than that, the service was very attentive and collaborative. teamwork was very evident. my husband and I appreciated that the place was pretty well lit. it wasn't super dim like a lot of other restaurants. we were able to see our food and appreciate our food.

    (4)
  • Kayla B.

    I enjoyed dinner here on 6/6/15 and I am still unable to put in words how fantastic the experience was. Not being at a restaurant like it before, I was unsure of what to expect. My boyfriend and I got there a little early for our reservation and started off with a drink at their bar. The bartender really knew her stuff and both of our drinks were tasty and top shelf. Once we were seated we both decided on our four courses for dinner as well as a starter of the cheese bread. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING) was prepared with such delicacy, such precision, not being a food critic it is hard for me to explain the quality. All dishes were plated beautifully and most dishes had a component that on paper wouldn't seem to fit but once plated together were spectacular. The waitstaff was attentive and knowledgable. The kitchen staff perfected their craft for sure. The only downside is that it was hard to have a private conversation due to the noise in the restaurant from the chatter of other guests as noise travelled very easily in the building. One of the best experiences in my life.

    (5)
  • Lydia L.

    I'm not sure how I haven't written a review for Niche...If you're looking for the best food in St. Louis, make your reservation now. I've come here a number of times for special occasions, normal days, and just 'cause. Niche is exceptional in St. Louis, and I think every reviewer can attest to that. My favorite thing about Niche right now is their 3-course, $35 menu, which is a steal for the food quality. The most recent time we dined here, we had an asparagus based soup, which was lick-your-bowl good. We also had the chicken with panzanella salad- although we never order chicken in restaurants, this was tender, perfectly brown, and had a well-paired accompaniment. Meatballs over polenta- large portion, easy to share, flavorful and well-cooked meat. Raspberry tarte and vanilla gelato- better together than apart I honestly can't remember all of the dishes I have had here, but if you scroll through some of my past photos, you might get an idea. The execution of dishes is always consistent, the presentation is superb, and the service is impeccable. This restaurant is "upscale" without being stuffy or unapproachable.

    (5)
  • Travis S.

    Wow! Foodie overload! I just started working out of St. Louis so I was in the search for the best restaurant there. I decided to splurge so I went to Niche. They have been coming up in all my food searches and they have a really good review history. I went all out. I got the Chef's Tasting Menu, It consisted of about 10 courses that are all the highest quality that Missouri has to offer. All I ca say is that if you are a foodie, you will enjoy this restaurant a lot. Since the menu changes all the time I'm not going to write every single dish that I had out here but in the photo's that I took. If I can't remember everything in the dish I'm sorry, there was SO many ingredients. Can't wait to go back for another round.

    (5)
  • Heidi F.

    I really liked this place. I had to bug them several time, because I am visiting from out of town and had trouble finding it. They were extremely attentive, really talked thru the items on the menu and then even went next door to get gluten free pasta from their sister restaurant - I mean, who does that sort of thing? Food was excellent and the reduced menu on Sun and Mon was pretty hard to tell that it was reduced. I wonder what the regular menu is like. Food was fantastic. I will be back here again if I come visit.

    (5)
  • Carolyn D.

    Love the new space and the food is top notch, as always. The staff always treats us like regulars and the people here are great. Love the new menu and the food and we can't wait to get back!

    (5)
  • Elle S.

    I was going to give them a 4 because my filet was really bland so don't get it BUT I'm giving them 5 stars because they were creative with the ingredients. Everything has a little twist to it so it's interesting and not the typical meal. The lasagna was good so was the scallop appetizer. The atmosphere seems a little uptight so don't come in with ur sweats.

    (5)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :5:00 pm - 9:00pm

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : No
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Validated
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : No
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Dressy
    Ambience : Upscale
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : No

Niche

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