4. Restaurants

The Libertine

7927 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO, 63105
  • (314) 862-2999
  • Store is closed

The Libertine Menu

  • Popular Items

Healthy Meal suggestions for The Libertine

  • Popular Items

Visit below restaurant in Clayton for healthy meals suggestion.

Clayton Diner ( 6 S Central Ave )

Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.

  • Joel F.

    Not sure they even deserve one star. Our waiter must have been in a hurry because he showed no interest in explaining the dishes. I ordered the shrimp and andouille dish, my expectation was high since the chef is from Louisiana. No flavor but spicy. The real disappointment was the portion size and the quality of the dish. Three small nasty tasting shrimp and three small nickel sized pieces of andouille. Also three slices of red bell pepper. The fried grit cake was good. If you are looking for a MEAL, I would avoid this menu item. There were four people in our party and all of us were very disappointed. I would never return to this place or recommend it to anyone.

    (1)

  • Kristy W.

    Went to the Libertine for lunch today and it's still just as good as it was last year! I can't say enough about how this Clayton gem strikes the right balance between fancy food and comfort food. We started with a panzanella salad as a shared appetizer....cornbread and fried cheese curds. Need I say more? My friends ordered the bag lunch which....curiously enough....does not come in, near, or anything around a brown bag. But they were still impressed with their BLTs, wilted greens and financier dessert. I went with the fried chicken salad. So amazing. Just the right balance of salt and crispiness on the chicken with lightly pickled cucumbers and a cooling dressing. Really fabulous. I would SO recommend this place and I will go back. --- 2013 review: This place is even better than I thought it would be......which is ALWAYS a good thing. Went in for lunch last week and found the ramen is unexpected and heavenly....everything I love in a dish. The noodles are homemade, the broth is deep and rich without being too salty. The mushrooms are umami-fabulous, right next to that perfectly poached egg. So good, all good. Could this get better? I nearly forgot to mention...there's bacon. WHAT?! Did she just say bacon? That's right...bacon. And just the right number of perfectly thick, yet bite-sized pieces of perfectly portioned bacon. Mmmmmmm. My sister got the salad with shrimp which she adored but I didn't look over at her plate very often because I was too enamored with my bacon. Please try this dish. You will most certainly like it....or you're insane.

    (5)

  • Liberty B.

    LOVE IT! My big splurge night out was a huge success. Our waiter, Ocean, was polite and gracious but not all up in our bidniz. The wine steward knew his stuff and wrote intelligent yet amusing reviews. The food was fantastic and creative. My favorite thing is that anyone could come to The Libertine and feel comfortable. No snooty "door whore" here! THANK YOU to the owner, chef, and staff for giving me my money's worth and a dining experience to remember!

    (5)

  • Foodie A.

    Quite stumbled on to this place and the food, ambiance and service were out of this world. Signature cocktails, home made hearty bread with Ukranian hand-churned butter (but of course), crispy chickpeas, and those pigtails (who knew) started us off right. The entree just had to keep it going which it did...filet of fish with a heck of a balsamic-fig sauce and squash that was delectable. I'd come back in a heartbeat.

    (5)

  • Patricia D.

    As my hubby is more of an "old fashioned steak house" kind of guy, it took some string pulling, some tears and the additional push of his sister to get us to The Libertine. Even this "old fashioned foodie" was blown away by the new and exciting takes on old favorites! We started as you always should with cocktails. Now, some say it's "over priced" and I must say that those reviewers may never have worked behind a bar. My Elvis Costello was thoughtfully concocted and mixed, and the mint cubes that they had in the cocktail slowly made my drink better and better as I sucked the dregs of the bottom. Perfection! My husband loved his Martini, perfectly dirty! Great Start! My husband got the she-crab soup as an appetizer; while sister, brother-in-law and I enjoyed the community salad with champagne vinaigrette. Hubby was a little confused as the she-crab was wrapped delicately in spring rolls and you had to burst it open to infuse the crab into the soup. He was reluctant at first (as he is to most change) but once he dug in, the bowl was soon finished. The rest of us had to fight each other off with the tongs to stop from digging into more and more of the salad. Fresh and light and the thinnest slices of radish and cucumbers. Devine! Much to my chagrin, my husband ordered the same entrée. This is a pet peeve of mine, because I like to try different things so we can all try them. If I'd known he was doing that, I would have ordered something different. None The Less: We both ordered the Three Birds. So Moist! (and I hate that word too) So delicate and lightly seasoned. You could taste the difference between each bird and the bed of greens and amazing risotto type, I can't remember what it was called, but I wanted to lick the plate. Yes, in this fancy restaurant, I had to fight the urge to lick the plate. My husband is one of those people that has issues with his food "touching" and he wasn't sure how to progress with the pile of awesomeness on his plate. Once I showed him the ropes, he moved forward with gusto and begrudgingly admitted that sometimes a restaurant can be as good as his heralded and loved "Charlie Gitto's on the hill". We ended the evening with espresso and split a Blondie. White Chocolate, coconut amazingness that I want again and again. Perfection! Overall, the night was full of laughter and good food and I FORGOT THE WINE! How dare I!?! The wine list was a delight to read and after picking an Oregon wine (I'm partial to my old homeland wine) the bottle was expired before dessert was served! Thanks to The Libertine, for getting my husband into Clayton, and teaching him the finer points of modern eateries! I may be able to crack his shell of "old fashioned" and bring him into a more modern twist on the old fashioned we love! Looking forward to a Sunday Chicken Dinner in our future!

    (4)

  • Vic F.

    Very pleasantly surprised by the creative twists on each and every dish we tried. Great attention to detail of flavor, texture and presentation. Really enjoyed the pork graton special appetizer, the roasted potatos, lamb special and 'BBQ' shrimp. Definitely worth a visit.

    (5)

  • Nancy B.

    Went for late lunch with a group of ladies and were so well received. Food selection and preparation was terrific and staff were very helpful. Chef welcomed us and took time to chat. He was so nice to us even though we are not his typical customer! Anxious to go back!

    (5)

  • Shah X.

    Food - 4 Price - 4 Environment/Service - 5 I have heard a lot of good things about The Libertine, but only visited during lunch time thus far. Their dinner menu seems interesting, so I will come back soon. The Libertine is located with all the other lunch options in Clayton, while being much less crowded (no wait, not noisy at all) and fairly priced. Nice decoration, interesting and bold menu. Ramen: Having visited many ramen bars in both Japan and China, this is not a typical bowl of ramen... With that said, it's good. The pork belly (bacon) was excellently grilled, and the soup has the right touch of shiitake mushrooms. The noodle is less than authentic but ok. It, however, lacks the hearty and casual feeling the ramen is entitled to offer. Dining with the Clayton crowd also makes you unwilling to take up the bowl and drink the soup, which is what you SHOULD do when you eat ramen. My friend loved his burger. Will come back for lunch, good place for business lunch.

    (4)

  • S R.

    Very hit and miss on food and service; mushrooms were delicious if only because they were redolent of decent Chinese food; octopus was like a saltlick; bone marrow risotto just tasted like a beef briscuit - not the richness you expect from marrow; brussels sprouts undercooked and she-crab soup tasted crabby but not in a good way...pacing of dishes was also problematic...hurry up and wait rules the day here. Pass.

    (2)

  • Will V.

    I've been here now 3 times and it just gets better and better. The chefs never rest on their laurels, but are constantly developing new dishes and expanding their charcuterie, terrine and fermented items. The service is outstanding (I have read in some of the reviews below that the service was bad for them. Perhaps I've been lucky? I don't think so. The staff has always been happy to explain the dishes to me and they show obvious pride in their offerings) as is every dish I've had there, both the lunch and dinner menus. Of note, of course is something you'll see mentioned 100 times here: the Crispy Pig Tails. I've been with fellow eaters who say 'that sounds disgusting' only to find that at the end of the meal, it was their FAVORITE dish! There is also the terrine plate - it always changes and develops, but it shows off the chef's expertise. Last visit I had one dish that had three superstar terrines of duck, liver and pork - but the tiny little heroes of the plate were the lowly fermented gooseberry and the pickled green strawberries! I've never tasted anything like them before and crave them now as I write. In short, the chefs at The Libertine will lovingly expand your palate while the staff provide you an intimate and comfortable milieu.

    (5)

  • E Michael H.

    Friday dinner was superb! I had the Corn Chowda with Tuna, my wife Mary had the Three Birds. We shared the Beet Salad and the Worlds Fair Donut desert... There was not one part of the meal I would have changed. We were treated very well by our valet, the hostess and then the waitress Tiffany. The only first for us was the conversation about the bottles of wine recommended by the chef prior to knowing what we are going to eat.

    (5)

  • Bethany H.

    I had a birthday dinner here and it was excellent! Everyone was nice, and unpretentious, but the food was high quality (trifecta for me in the restaurant scoring). The cocktail menu, although not extensive, was playful and had good options. We even ordered an Aviation off-menu and they didn't bat an eye...comparable to some of the amazing cocktail joints in Chicago. Our server was very knowledgeable, helping us navigate both drinks and food. We were greeted with complimentary fried chickpeas dusted with powdered guanciale. It was addictive, and wish I could take a pack home with me! We started with the crispy pig tails for an app. It was admittedly a smidge outside of our comfort zone, but it may have been one of the tastiest things I've eaten in St. Louis thus far. Crispy and salty, paired with a whipped brown butter gorgonzola polenta. Take a leap! you will not be disappointed. The hubs got the pan roasted fillet of fish, and that night was skate. So flakey and moist and I got the sirloin. We kept switching plates because they were both scrumptious! TIP: order the bread. It's rustic, chewy, yeasty, and comforting! Thank you for an excellent experience.

    (5)

  • Jacklyn M.

    I've been to the Libertine twice now and both experiences were sooooo good. The first time I tried the pork steak and it had some pickled brussels sprouts on it, and that cocktail Fear and Loathing is amazing! The second time I had the diner burger and fries and both were awesome. It's a little pricey but so worth it.

    (5)

  • Kyle K.

    The good: creative, fun food that is accessible; quick, professional service The bad: somewhat pretentious, cocktails seem overpriced The Libertine is one of those really great places with tons of buzz that is well-earned, even if it can all feel a little pretentious sometimes. The staff was professional and maybe just a little stuffy. they make something of a show of how "hip" this place is. The food is inventive and manages to be creative while remaining recognizable. there's no puff of sea air or clarified potatoes or chutney glacee almond crumble, and that is comforting when so many other restaurants seem to seek to make food unrecognizable to human beings. I highly recommend the tureen board and the three little birds (sort of a game bird take on the turducken). The squid rolls were okay. The drinks, though very tasty, seemed overpriced for what they are. There are other outstanding craft cocktail joins in STL where you can pay a couple bucks less for something just as neat. Reservations are strongly recommended. The environment was cohesive and neat, but it felt sparse and a bit wareouse-ish to me. All in all this, place was very good and would be a great night for a date or an intimate dinner. Not recommended for groups, families, or picky eaters.

    (4)

  • Angela O.

    Fabulous cocktails (bartender made me a special concoction and it was FABULOUS), and the menu is very innovative and the food is oh so yummy. We all loved the fried garbonzo beans they start you with, and then we tried the potatoes (so good) and the shared salad was awesome. I had the pork chops and they were great. Besides the great bartender, the rest of the wait staff was very attentive and helpful explaining the various dishes. Can't wait to go back. Only complaint is the menu is a bit small.

    (5)

  • Melissa S.

    I was hesitant to book a reservation here last night after reading some of the reviews. However, I'm so glad we did! The ambiance is very hip and urban with its bare metal accents and wood. Service was spot on without being fussy. Or waiter offered suggestion without Being pushy. My husband ordered a 360 local whiskey and a Tom Waits, both about which he raved. I had 2 glasses of Sauvignon Blanc, which were good. We got fried garbanzo beans from the kitchen as a "courtesy of the kitchen" starter. They were good and kinda popcornish. We ordered crispy pig tails to start. They were very fried and pretty good with the whipped Gorgonzola. For dinner, we ordered a burger (couldn't resist after reading so many good reviews) and the tuna that the waiter recommended. Both were amazing and delish! The burger and fries - there's really no better way to put it than- they just "hit the spot!" The tuna was so good and had some kind of whipped deliciousness that offset the creole rub. So so good! We always always get dessert, and we couldn't decide on just one, so we got the homemade candy bar and the pumpkin pie with maple bacon ice cream. I'm not a pumpkin pie person and typically see it as a skip item on thanksgiving dessert menu. The waiter recommended it and my husband loves it, so I was a good sport. Holy cow-- I was basically slapping his hand away when he got within a foot of the plate! It was sooooo good! The candy bar was basically a suped up frozen snickers, which of course is good. But oh that pumpkin pie! It had a delish pumpkin custard filling with a crispy top, buttery crust and sweet but baconish ice cream. Amazing! After 5 drinks, an app, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts, our bill was $115. Not bad folks! We'll be back for sure!

    (5)

  • Jamie C.

    Upon arriving for our 7:15pm reservation, the 4 of us were seated promptly. It took us a few minutes to look over the drink menu, and once we were ready, it took another 10 for our server to come back and take our order. Then, it took a 1/2 for us to actually get our drinks! I ordered wine and two others ordered cocktails, but still, a 1/2 hour? The restaurant wasn't even packed. Our drinks finally arrived (it was about time) and, while we had a bit of trouble deciding what to order, we came to a decision to share the mofu tofu and the peppers. A few minutes later, the server came back to tell us they were out of the peppers. Doh! So, my friends settled on the beets. We also ordered our "entrees" at this time. The gentlemen ordered the burger while us ladies ordered the salmon. Once our appetizers finally arrived a good half hour later, we collectively liked the tofu, but the beets were just ok. Another 20 or so minutes went by before the main dish came out and much to our surprise, the salmon was not cooked. We do admit it was our fault for not noticing it did say "cured" salmon on the menu, but it was not at all what we were expecting, especially after waiting so long for it in the first place! The manager could tell by our reaction that we were dissatisfied and came back shortly to ask us what we thought, which we explained we were not going to eat it. Thankfully, the server took another order (risotto and another burger), which came out much more promptly than the earlier plates, and they did not charge us for the salmon. Overall, I will not be going back to Libertine. The decor was nice, but not nice enough to want to try it for a second time. Their service needs to pick up, as I can't imagine we were the only ones who thought it was unbearably slow.

    (2)

  • Laura S.

    Our family of five adults had dinner at The Libertine on a Thursday evening with a reservation at 6:00 to celebrate my daughter's 25th birthday. They asked us if we were in a hurry which I thought was very nice. We weren't and said so. That said, my daughter was meeting friends after, on a work night, and had to leave before dessert came or the bill was paid. So, it isn't a place to go if you can't linger. The food we ordered was DELICIOUS!!! Three of five of us are vegetarians (we do eat fish) which limits choices, but there were plenty of options and they were VERY gracious about leaving out or off meat items which were not cooked in but just on the top or side of an item Clearly that was very carefully planned. If we had eaten there before, I would have known to order certain items. That is where the waiter we had was lacking. He could have give us more information and our experience would have been even better. The scorched twisted peppers from the left side of the menu were very much like a true Chinese vegetable dish. (My husband visits China 10 times/year) Amazing natural flavors perfectly cooked. The cauliflower was flavorful and perfectly cooked. We should have ordered 3 of them for the table because everyone wanted some. The diner burger was the best hamburger ever eaten in my entire life and that is saying something. Get it! The fries aren't even worth eating one of. Average. Have a side of cauliflower instead. The pan roasted filet of fish was outstanding in every way and was a huge portion, two pieces of fish in a wonderful sauce. Our table had 5-6 drinks total, two of the fish dish, one hamburger, one pork chop plate, the family salad for 3, the cauliflower and peppers, two crispy octopus. Our total bill was just over $200. I thought it was a value for the quality of the food. They also served us their candy bar dessert on the house which was very nice. They will make improvements over time in service and atmosphere, but they already have the food part nailed!!! Make a reservation, you will not be disappointed. Also, their sign is super cool. It was part of what drew us in!

    (5)

  • Courtney H.

    Free lunches do exist! Today for lunch I order the lunch bag special to go and they ran out shortly after my order was placed. They were unable to reach me by phone (missing my work number extension) so when I arrived to pick up my lunch they had prepared a different but similar lunch special and after apologizing profusely for the mix up they gave me lunch for free! Their amazing customer service and handling of this situation prompted me to finally write this review. I have eaten here three times and will be back many more meals. The food is always delicious and the mixed drinks are fresh and wonderful. For the love or all things unkosher, if you eat pork do yourself a favor and order something with bacon or pork belly off the menu. You will not be disappointed.

    (5)

  • Jennifer B.

    I have decided that the menu came first then the chef tried to cook what was described. Everything sounded great but none of the dishes we had actually lived up to the description.

    (2)

  • MaryPat G.

    Well we went for Valentine's Day and had a unique menu, I had been hoping to try the burger.. and the boyfriend didn't realize that the fried chicken was a special meal.. all that being said there were some highlights. The valet, hostess, waiter, servers and busboys were all very kind and polite, almost too nice if you know what I mean. Everything I ate was wonderful. We ordered the bread and homemade butter and it was wonderful. I had the pork steak which was a special, it was great! Flavor explosion. The BF got the Three Little Birds and wasn't very impressed, he said that mine was so much better. We had the "candybar" for dessert, that was delicious. The cocktails were very good, nice wine and beer selection. The thing that was driving me crazy was the approach of the menu. Call it what it is.. describe the dish on the menu, everything from the butter, booze, dinner and dessert all had to be described in detail...from the Ukrainian Butter Churner in the kitchen to the strawberries flown in from Louisiana.. I'm not that fond of the over the top attitude. I am sure I'll go back since I want to try some other menu items.. it just won't be on the top of my list.

    (4)

  • Lee Ann S.

    This award winning chef should try to have a few dishes that non-foodies would enjoy. The pig collar which they describe as similar to pork steak was fatty and inedible. The cheeseburger with house made Cheese Whiz was overcooked and dry with cold french fries on the side. I have tried this restaurant 4 times because of the great reviews but won't venture past the bar again which did have good blue cheese stuffed olives.

    (1)

  • Kimberly M.

    Excellent knowledgeable server - shared with her that I do not eat meat and she made great suggestions on modifications including bringing a bowl of their garbanzo beans that didn't include the pork salt. Loved the gnocchi dish!

    (4)

  • M H.

    Decided to go on a Saturday night without reservations, so we gladly opted to sit in the bar area. The atmosphere was nice, but seemed little disjointed...like it's unfinished. Service left much to be desired IMO, as we were left to grab our own silverware from the bar and while the server came back many times to ask if we wanted another cocktail (should we have taken the hint?), she didn't bother to check on us as our food was served to ask how our meal was. I ordered the salad (literally $7 for some lettuce and cucumber. Yes, I get that it's local and organic and all..but, come on!) the Crispy Pig Tales, which can best be described as "unbalanced", and the Bone Marrow & Uni, which was described as "Singapore Jerky, Pine Nut Vinaigrette, Bourbon Barrel Aged Fish Sauce" but came out as a bone marrow custard on bread with Uni and Arugula and was SO heavy that we could only eat two bites. The Scorched Twisted Peppers were good, but not good enough to save the meal. Maybe we ordered wrong, or maybe they still have a few kinks to work out? Either way: Meh.

    (3)

  • Sam S.

    Overall this place is outstanding. The food from start to finish was as good of a meal as I've had. The cocktail list seemed simple and delicious. the wine list is great as well. what I tried: "buffalo" pig tails charred octopus chilled shrimp with puffed squid house made terrine & rillette herb cured salmon crispy cajun spiced pork belly roasted cauliflower porchetta and grilled peaches The entire restaurant from the back of the house to the front are excelling.

    (5)

  • Jeff B.

    Atmosphere: The bar area is unique, but in my opinion not in the best way. The bar only has 6 stools and seemed a little cramp, but I didn't really examine too thoroughly because I was distracted by the hostess seating us at the 'outer bar' that has an unfinished bar top with stools facing directly into the wall. There are about 6 stools that look out onto Forsyth, but when I elected to check out the bar and have a cocktail I was turned off with this unique bar setup. Why not use this floor space and pop up 4 bar tables? Service: SLOW! Ordered 2 dirty martinis and took 15 minutes, we were told the specials before receiving our first cocktail. Also, server had disgusting breathe and talked directly into my water, not good. Took the guy 10 minutes to greet us b/c that's how long it took him to tell the table behind (and us) the specials...it's really not that hard. Food: In my opinion, the food was at best ok (crispy pig ears and diner burger) and overall rubbed off an over pretentious attitude. Instead of bread and butter, you are provided a pea sized fried dough and some tasteless white powder; bread and butter is better. Attempting to be playful, but personally not my style. Ordered the Diner Burger because quickly realized this place and I did not mesh. This diner burger was covered in cheese and did not have one piece of bacon...not one piece of bacon. P.S.: I like ice in my water (they server room temperature water), beer was not cold enough, and they stir their martinis instead of shake them (I understand to stir is the classic way to make a martini). If you like a cold martini, you may want to specify "shaken not stirred", request a side of ice for your water, and have them put your beer in the freezer while you sip on your martini. P.S. 2: Oh, I almost forgot; another 'treat' along with the pea sized fried dough is a little made in house chocolate tootsie. My girlfriend is a desert/chocolate lover and we were both almost gagging; I think you should at least experience the tootsie roll. It would have been nice to have some ice cold water to wash it down, but instead I walked out of the The Libertine with even more a bitter taste in my mouth (get it?!!)

    (2)

  • Elizabeth M.

    The food and cocktails are both great. I had the sunflower seed fried rice and the burger to eat and one of the gin drinks. Love the decorations and atmosphere, although it was a little loud. I'm not giving them 5 stars because even with a reservation we sat 20 minutes late (and it was 9pm!), and the food is a bit over priced.

    (4)

  • Anna B.

    Came in again last night for restaurant week after a fabulous experience this winter and was less than impressed. The appetizer was the highlight -- I enjoyed the midwest carpaccio it was well seasoned and beautifuly presented but the warm weather risotto, which boasted market veggies, was disappointingly lacking in veggies. I felt it was a bland, cheesy pile of rice with an unnecessary addition of olive oil rimming the bowl of this already hearty and oily dish. On top of mediocre food was less then ideal service. While I appreciate not being smothered by the server, I felt a little abandoned. I won't be rushing back anytime.

    (3)

  • John H.

    Came here for my birthday dinner a few weeks ago, and I was completely blown away by how much I loved this place. We started off with the meat and cheese board, which was phenomenal; I wish there had been a bit more meat on it, but there was more than enough cheese and pickles to make up for it. As an appetizer, I tried the fois gras poutine; while it was very good poutine, I didn't taste much of the fois gras in the gravy. I got the cheese burger while my dad and brother both got the fillet/crab cake plate; I tried both of theirs and thought both parts of the dish tasted amazing! My burger was absolutely fantastic, the "cheese whiz" they use is delicious and has the texture of a cheese marshmallow fluff. Dessert was also delicious; I got the Madeira soaked financier and it was great. I tried a few of the original cocktails and was very impressed with them. The decor is understated, but very pleasant. Our waitress was a bit on the slow side, especially since they weren't very busy, but all the other staff members we interacted with were very attentive and friendly. I can't wait to come back from school in December so I can come here again!

    (5)

  • Charis R.

    The food was mostly pretty good, but the whole experience was tainted by the incredibly sloooowww service. We sat down at around 6:40, and ordered our food maybe 10 minutes later, and we didn't have our appetizer until around 7:30, and then our entrees at almost 8:00. I don't mind a leisurely meal, but that's just way too slow. Our server was pretty absent for most of the meal, not really checking on us much. He also just didn't seem very "with it," if you know what I mean- when my husband asked to explain the "yard bird" dish he said "uhhh, umm, it's like...sorry I'm blanking..." Uh, what? We had the arancini for an appetizer, and they were good, but I've had much better- the ones at Pastaria, for example, are far superior. The tomato sauce that went with the arancini was particularly disappointing- it tasted like something out of a jar. I had the pork shoulder cacio e pepe for dinner. The pasta itself was quite good, but the combination with the pork was a bit too much. My husband had the steak frites, which was solid, but nothing to write home about. I'd be willing to give this place one more shot to try some other dishes and see if the service is better, but I won't be coming back anytime soon.

    (2)

  • Pierce P.

    Word around town is that with the departure of the former chef, Libertine is in trouble. NOT SO. Stopped in last week with my wife and kid. We over-ordered like we always do, for a clear scope of flavors. I'll go through everything I can remember: first off- the Burger. No giant, but by far the tastiest I've had to date in St Louis. Appeared to be flash fried creating a fantastically crispy exterior to the entire paddy. All seasoned to perfection and topped with a white buttery cheese. the side of fries were of medium thickness , golden brown, crispy yet tender... Unbelievable. I can tell you that I am a ketchup man when it comes to burgers but I did not and will not in the future put ketchup on this burger. First ever for me. Trout! baked with prosciutto and squash. My wife and I devoured it- and she doesn't even like trout. The fish was sealed in a bag and baked, making it extremely tender. I was pulled at just the right time, fish can so quickly get over-done using that method. A+. The side was great to, it was a salad largely consisting of freshly made bread chunks in a great sharp vinaigrette. Gruyere mac and cheese for the tike- YES! Salad topped with grilled squid. The salad was a little light for me, but the squid was top notch. I was far more rich and less rubbery that what I'm used to. I could really taste the grill marks, if that makes any sense, and I love that. cheese and meat plate was good. All quality and fun. My wife thought some of the sauces/spreads conflicted with the meats and cheeses, but I'm not a big sauce/spread eater so I didn't take such notice. Finally, we had a dish I can't remember the name of. Sounds strange but it may have been my favorite simply because of the meat quality. I've not had such delicious pork in the US. I was a chunk of pork fat/meat, braised with sorghum syrup and topped with a sort of basil sorbet, which slowly melted all over the glistening hunk of pork. Go check it out. Can't wait to get back. two thumbs up!

    (5)

  • Julie V.

    I came here for my birthday meal. With the change in chefs and menu I was a little apprehensive but I wanted to try the place and I'm so glad I did. My husband and I started with the mussels and bacon brodo with a broth so delicious I wanted to drink it up with a spoon. My husband had steak & frites while I had the Filet 'Oscar'. Both of us equally loved our dishes and regretted not getting the others. My steak was like butter and the crab cake had barely any fillers and was beyond delicious. I really don't know how I ate it all since it was so rich but the food was just so good I couldn't stop. For dessert we even had some bon bons. My cocktail for the evening was just as fantastic. I can't wait to stop in and enjoy their new happy hour menu.

    (5)

  • Diane G.

    Normally the other 15-20 times that I have been here I would given them 4 maybe even 5 stars. Today was a train wreck. Came in to an empty restaurant noon during the art fair. They were out of 4 different bottles of wine. Supposedly because they had been busy well if true plan for it. Service sucked as well. No offers to make up for any of it. Super disappointing. Done at libertine.

    (1)

  • Sam B.

    We did have to wait a while for our food since they got our table numbers mixed up, but the service from the waiter was incredible. We ended up getting extra drinks and dessert to compensate for the wait. The bread pudding...words can't describe it, but I can recommend that you get it. You can't go wrong with the burger or the steak fritz...delicious.

    (5)

  • Mike N.

    Excellent meat plate. Enjoyed everything. However they never provide nearly enough bread to eat with the meal. They charge quite a bit for the bread as well, which is annoying considering the price of the meat plate. Wines by the glass are pretty expensive as well. Service on this visit was sub-par at best. I understand they've made some changes recently, so will have to try again.

    (4)

  • B W.

    I had been dying to try this place after walking by it almost every day, and the experience was truly even better than I imagined. First of all, the restaurant is bigger than it looks from the outside. It's cozy and beautiful, and you aren't seated on top of anyone else, which is important. I went with a friend and we split a number of dishes, and it seemed as though each was better than the next. Dessert is definitely not their greatest strength, but I will absolute go again for dinner.

    (4)

  • John A.

    The food was good, but what set my experience apart was the service. Hands down the best service I have ever received at a restaurant of this caliber. My wife is vegetarian and it was her birthday. They bought us a complimentary "amuse bouche" of chickpeas between the appetizer and the entree, and without skipping a beat, the waiter let us know that mine had the powdered guanciale on it and my wife's didn't because of her dietary restrictions. The same went with dessert and the well wishes for the birthday along with the candle. It's rare to see this level of communication between the front of the house and the back of the house executed with such precision. The experience was the epitome service and well worth the price. I would highly recommend it.

    (5)

  • chelsea b.

    Dined here for the second time last night. On my first trip, I sat at the bar solo and had an incredible evening. Service was friendly, knowledgable, patient and didn't judge my bottle of wine on my own drinking. Last night, I went with a group of four as a part of Clayton Rest. Week. I normally avoid these events like the plague but I couldn't say no this time. Sat down and were promptly greeted. Ordered 4 cocktails, all were delicious. Mine was something with pineapple...Big Sur Reverie? Or something. It was amazing, not too sweet. Started with the Charcuterie Board. Oh, heaven. The meat, the cheese, the cucumbers. A touch more bread would've been welcomed because there was so much mustard and spready cheese. Also, we would've been happy with ten times more meat. Not because it wasn't enough but because it was so freaking unbelievable. Apps: Carpaccio was solid. Fries were delicious. The standout was the mussels. The broth, the bacon, the plumpness. yes! Entrees. Three Burgers one Yard Bard. The burgers were smaller than I remember, so I didn't get a temperature but the cheese made up for that. I'm assuming smaller for Rest Week which is understandable. Fries were spot on. The friend with the bird said the white meat was perfect but the dark had some very undercooked parts. No biggie, we had tons of food. Sides: BBB Potatoes; oh lord. I'm mad we only got one to share. Mac &Cheese, delicious! Desserts: Choc. Heaven in a Glass Garnished with Baby Churro: TEN MORECHURROSPLEASE! So good. Cookies & Milk. Adorable, delicious. Blackberry Pie: I don't even like blackberries and it was yummy. The ice cream on top was perfect. We had a phenomenal wine, got the last bottle which broke our hearts. Second bottle was good, came recommended. Our server was perfect. Spot on with everything, cleaning, timing, serving, replacing silverware. She was a delight and funny. Only complaint, and from my other half not myself: the beer list didn't have enough IPAs. In their defense, they do have a much broader selection. YAY! Will be back! Super happy. People may say the drinks take a minute. Well, of course they do. They are handcrafted masterpieces. Not just pouring vodka tonics up there! Go. Share. Enjoy!

    (4)

  • Catherine K.

    The Libertine was everything that I was hoping it would be and more! We got sautéed mushrooms and chickpeas in a spinach puree, fish tagine, homemade bread and butter, and a foie gras putine which was so good. Everything was amazing, and the serving sizes were perfect for ordering a few plates to share. Our server was kind and attentive, and the drinks were very well made. We look forward to going back!

    (5)

  • Jessica R.

    Too many good choices so we skipped the regular items and went with the specials. Awesome dinner, excellent, attentive waitstaff - glad we tried it.

    (4)

  • Glo K.

    I was very excited to try this place out for Clayton Restaurant week, and I would say that my dining experience was a bit lackluster. Libertine's atmosphere is beautiful. A great intimate interior with wonderful dimmed lighting that is perfect for a date. The decor and the colors inside is very crisp and clean. I love the giant "Libertine" sign made out of light globes in the far back wall of the restaurant. It's pretty hard to miss. My friend and I were smart enough to call for reservations prior because the space is pretty small and tight. I believe the high ceilings helps make the inside appear more spacious. {MENU} What came down to my experience was the food. The menu seemed very promising, offering interesting flavor combinations and ingredients, but the execution seems a little lost. The plates are small, and I guess there's a lot of ingredients on the dish; there's so much on the dish to the point that each dish seems to lose of the essence of their appeal, making my experience at Libertine a bit lackluster. {FOOD} Restaurant week gives you a great opportunity to try a "pricier" restaurant for $25 for a three course menu. My first choice is the Vietnamese Fried Ribs which was awful. I was looking for a savory, succulent ribs that just melts in your mouth once you bite into a crispy, outer fried shell. The ribs were overly fried and dried out to the point that I thought I was eating jerky, and at one point I forgot what I was eating. This experience reminds me of my experiences at fast food restaurants; the fast food meals often don't look like their pictures in ads, but I guess you get what you paid for. At Libertine, I felt like the price I paid for the plate didn't seem worth it, and I am not compelled to come back for a next time. Slow Braised Lamb wasn't as mind blowing as I thought it would be. The lamb was incredibly tender and the coffee bean roasted carrots were a nice addition mixed into the lamb, but the dish was too salty for my liking. For dessert the Persimmon Sticky Toffee Pudding was recommended by the server. I enjoyed how the pudding wasn't overly sweet. It was my favorite because I am easily pleased by sweets in general. Overall, I am not sure I am willing to come back. Maybe I ordered the wrong dish, but for the price I would be paying outside of Restaurant Week, I don't think it's worth it. Sorry, Libertine. I wanted to love you so much.

    (2)

  • Kelly M.

    My girlfriends and I were in St. Louis this past weekend for a baby shower and had a reservation here Saturday night before we went out. I loved the atmosphere and drink choices but only giving 3 stars as service was less than exceptional and the $26 meat and cheese board definitely left more to be desired. (Minimal meats and cheeses.) The high points were, again, the many (boozy) drink options, the mac and cheese (with ham), and the corn! (5 stars for the corn!) The large salad was...meh/good/okay. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things as the steak frites and the burgers I saw pass by looked amazing. If I could give 3.5 stars I would. :)

    (3)

  • Diana J.

    I'm torn between a 3.5 versus a 4 star rating. I think if this was in NYC or LA, then it would be a standard 3 star rating for sure, but since it is located in STL, it is actually pretty good for the city. My friend and I had a reservation for 6:30pm this past Sat evening- the place was pretty empty and we got seated right away (there is valet out front for $4 which we did take advantage of). We did not partake in the cocktail list that night, but it did seem that everyone was ordering something and they looked very good! We shared 5 dishes between the two of us and were very full- too full for dessert! Service was good and ambiance was fine (very dim lighting). On to the food: Crispy pig tail- this was what everyone was raving about on yelp, and I do agree that this is probably one of the best dishes on their menu and something I would order again. Think crispy fried pig skin stuffed with spiced sausage on a bed of creamy polenta. 4 stars. Sunchoke salad- not that great, there was 4 large pieces and some cheese dusting. The consistency was a bit undercooked and the sauce overwhelming. 2 stars. Grilled octopus- the potato hash was good and complemented the chewy octopus well. The actual dish had just one tentacle, and the octopus was very salty. 3 stars. Diner burger- this was quite tasty and the only other thing I would order again besides the crispy pig tail. The bun was soft and eggy, the sauce was good and the double patty definitely filled you up! There was also caramelized onions and sugar cured bacon on the bottom that amped everything up. The fries served with it was also good. 4 stars. Brussel sprouts- small side dish, cooked ok but too salty and not much other taste. 2.5 stars. Overall- the food was okay and price reasonable, but not sure if good enough for a return visit...

    (3)

  • Suzanne Z.

    We used Yelp to find a place for dinner on our one night stay in Clayton. This place had great reviews, but we were sorely disappointed. It was very busy on a Saturday night at 8pm, but we were able to get a table outside. The waiter expertly sold us on cocktails- I had the serge's __________ (forget the name, but has amparo, sauvignon blanc). My sisters had two different ones as well. They messed up one of the cocktails, leaving my sister waiting. At $10 a pop, I wanted to make mine last. The drink itself was small, tart, and just ok. It was room temperature within 5 minutes too. :( The waiter explained that the portion sizes start small and get larger as they go down the menu. One sis of mine and I got the burger, and my other sister ordered the pan roasted filet of fish- which was second to last on the fish side of the menu. Our burgers arrived and they were a nice size, covered in their homemade cheeze whiz (white cheddar), with carmelized onions and bacon on the bottom. Some bites were better than others, some were too salty. The fish dish was tiny as heck, and came out in this huge plate! It almost looked comical.. it wasnt centered either which made the empty plate more prominent. We each gave my sister a quarter of a burger so she had some more to eat. It wasn't worth the price by any means. I don't know if it was just an off night, or what. We heard a table next to us get served, all women almost finished their meals when one spoke up and asked where her food was. We tried to order bread as an appetizer an they were all out for the day too... Service was a little slow... just totally unimpressed overall.

    (1)

  • Annie S.

    I have been avoiding this place because they are a little out of my price range, but I went there last night as part of Clayton Restaurant Week... now I'm hooked. Restaurant Week is a great way to go to restaurants you normally wouldn't try because you pay a prix-fixe of $25 and get three courses. You can also supplement with sides or extra desserts. Drinks are separate. In addition, you can opt to donate $5 to help feed the needy as an "Extra Meal." Overall, a splendid way to spend your money. While waiting for our party to arrive, I sipped on a tempranillo served at the bar by a very friendly barista. I order this wine whenever I find it because not a lot of places serve it, and it's similar to a merlot or pinot noir in that it has a dark fruit flavor (although don't forget to brush your teeth afterwards as soon as possible! It is dark!) For my first course, I ordered the parsnip veloute, which has hazelnut-bourbon butter, shaved apple and a country ham relish. This blew me away. The main part of the soup was fantastic alone but it really took me to the next level when I mixed in the country ham relish. Absolutely delicious. This was my favorite part of the meal. Second course was the rabbit and potato sausage with fennel and apple slaw, elderflower vinegar, smashed potatoes and salsa verde. The sausage was cooked to perfection and the potatoes were slightly crispy on the outside - excellent preparation. For dessert, I chose the citrus dish made of orange curd, grapefruit chip, Dreamcicle sorbet and blood orange "salsa verde." This was awesome. There was a citrus-y sorbet it the middle as you'd expect but the creamier stuff on the perimeter (I believe the "orange curd" part) was the coolest thing ever. Overall, a fantastic dining experience. The service was great and our waiter did not rush us even when we sat there chatting for quite a while after finishing our meal. The ambiance was restful and just the right amount of noise such that you don't feel like you have to keep your voice down but you don't have to shout or lean in either. I don't dish out 5 stars lightly, but this place deserves it. Will definitely make an effort to come back.

    (5)

  • Thomas W.

    This is a much delayed but needed review. I can't rave enough about The Libertine. We've easily dined here 5x in the last 6 months and each time Chef Galliano continues to amaze us with his creative dishes. Every friend we've either brought or referred to dine here has always had an amazing experience. Josh always makes them feel welcomed and the staff is always professional and courteous. Their menu is always seasonal and Josh likes to work in his southern heritage which I'm a big fan of since I lived in NOLA for several years. I could continue but all I can say is, dine here...you won't be disappointed and there's truly no place in STL like it.

    (5)

  • Chris X M.

    A lively bar, a superb location and an unusual menu make this a fun dinner spot. Some of us gave our entrés an A, others a C+, but all were unique and well prepared. Not for everyone, but worth a try... You may love it. Lively on weekend nights. Nice newer addition to Clayton. Patio.

    (4)

  • Kevin W.

    This is a really neat place. Very good cocktail menu that was a whole lot of fun. Just had a couple cocktails and some light appetizers before our next destination. But, I would recommend this place to anyone that likes a fun bar atmosphere with good mixologists.

    (5)

  • Jonathan S.

    Short: good drinks, great desserts; ok entrees. Will check out again, but theres better options available in the area. Long: Went for date night on a Tuesday. We both grabbed a few drinks, a couple appetizers, two entrees, and split a dessert. Drink selection was decent. Had a list of interesting cocktails. I picked out the one-ff old fashioned and it was tasty. We tried the bread platter and pumpkin toast for appetizers. Both were great. Pumpkin toast was definitely different and interesting to try. Our main complaint for the place was the entrees. Wife got the sirloin. The celery risotto was odd and didn't mesh well with the steak. The steak itself was juicy and cooked appropriately, but didn't have much flavorful. Was just a very basic steak. Nothing to write home about. We joked that Texas Roadhouse would have probably been better sadly. I got the burger which was good. Really heavy white cheddar cheese, but good. Dessert was awesome. Some maple tiramisu ice cream combo. Was worth trying. The donut ice cream on top was a nice touch. Overall, we liked it, but didn't love it. We'll be going back again to try something else from them in the future, but we were slightly disappointed, particularly with the steak. Better options available in the area would be The Block, Juniper, or Farmhaus. Also, it closes at 9pm so it can't be too late a dinner date.

    (4)

  • Amrita R.

    I came here on a double date for Clayton Restaurant Week. I was kinda surprised that even with a reservation, we had to wait 20 minutes past the time (we arrived on time) to be seated. But the cocktails were fabulous--really fun flavors! The spin on rum and coke with the pecan foam is delicious. They had 3 courses for $25 and it was a pretty great deal. My fiance was so looking forward to the bone marrow so he was disappointed they ran out. Instead, we went for the Viet ribs which were great. The rabbit and potato sausage was pretty good and so was my persimmon sticky pudding. Except, I couldn't taste much rabbit or any persimmons, so I was a bit confused. The waiter recommended the cornmeal-crusted catfish for my fiance and he was spot on. It was amazing and fried and yummy. Overall, the cocktails were my favorite and although the food was generally good, I'd definitely come here more for the cocktails.

    (4)

  • Alan L.

    4+. I don't write many reviews but something about this place got me off my arse to write one. The food holds its own against anywhere I have had good American farm to table food. LA, San Diego, even San Francisco. What adds to the experience is how passionate the staff is about what they serve here, from food to cocktails to desserts. Amazing. Don't miss it. It was on special this night but the fried chicken gumbo was redunkulous.

    (4)

  • Leslie S.

    Nice-looking space, outdoor seating, friendly service. My friends loved the lunch bag special of foie gras-stuffed chicken gallantine, and I loved my "cheese whiz" burger and fries. See pictures. Only thing keeping me from moving to 4 stars is the small menu at lunch with offerings that I'm not sure if my standard co-diner will like. I'd be concerned about bringing my standard non-foodie friends, because they may not find much they like. One friend didn't join us on this lunch outing just because he didn't see much on the menu he was attracted to. There are only 8 items.

    (3)

  • Chris Z.

    Five Star. Damn this place is good. We stumbled in during Clayton's restaurant week. They were booked full, but the hostess found a couple of bar seats available for us and let us know we could order from the full menu. In hindsight, I actually am glad we were at the bar. The ambiance in the dining area seemed a little dull. No art, no adornments... other than the gigantic broadway type sign bearing their name. In the bar, we had the luxury of watching the mixoligist keep up with the rush... and they provide fine dinner service at the same time. For restaurant week, they provided 3 courses for $25. The grain salad was awesome... a bed of greens and grains stuck to a buttery puree of califlower. The cornbread encrusted catfish was served over a bed of hominy and grits. It was melt in your mouth yummy. For dessert I had hand made fudge. Everything was freaking awesome. The staff here is professional, well trained, but not stuffy.

    (5)

  • Danni J.

    This place is so good! I looked at the menu beforehand and was quite skeptical. So I went with the General Tso's mushrooms and brussels sprouts. Once I saw my friends food I became very jealous. Everything was so good. I am trying the burger and the octopus when I come back. They have the most perfectly cooked fish, and along with the pork collar comes a quite wonderful parsnip purée,which went quite well with my mushrooms! It's also good to have friends that let you have a sample of their meal at a place like this. The ambiance is intimate without being too romantic. I recommend the Elvis Costello drink if you enjoy a nice pimms cup throwback. The waitstaff is friendly and attentive but not pushy! They also split the checks of our very large group. All in all I'm coming back and would recommend for a nice leisurely dinner experience!

    (4)

  • Michael K.

    Food: 2.5 Service: 3 Ambiance: 4 Overview: nice setting, but only a few interesting dishes. Food: Almost everything we ordered was good, but not great. The only interesting standouts were the crispy pig tails and the pork lion. Everything else lacked complexity or depth of flavor, including the sunchokes. Other diners having the three little birds found the dish to be particularly bland and poorly described on the menu, which was unforunate, given that the server said it was one of the most popular dishes. If you want interesting small dishes at these prices, you're likely better off at Taste. Service: Generally good service, providing the right amount of attention without hovering. But they served two entrees at least a minute or two apart from two other entrees. So two diners awkwardly sat and waited for the other two diners to receive their meals, while the two with empty plates urged the other two to eat. This need not occur at a restaurant that has timed out how long it takes to prepare its entrees. As such, this might be more of knock against the kitchen, rather than the service. Ambiance: We sat outside on a gorgeous day. This part was spot on, excluding the exhaust from the cars pulling up for the valet. No comments on the indoor seating. (We ate here in the spring of 2015.)

    (3)

  • Demi S.

    Fun place for an evening of adventure. New and different foods to try, all put together and presented beautifully. Staff is nice and knowledgable. Ambiance is cool and hip. Loved the drink menu, pig tails and truly loved all three dessert selections that we chose. We will return!

    (4)

  • Steve B.

    So I'm willing to try again at some point but please understand not everyone that comes in is a dainty 100-lb slender woman on a cleanse diet, and the portion size should reflect as such. My lunchtime grain salad was all very nice and good, but for a $10 lunch plate + tip I either expect it to come out in an actual bowl with a little bit of heft, or at least throw me a little piece of bread on the side if an extra ounce of arugula is too cost prohibitive. I thought I ordered the app size because the thing came out on a dish designed for one sushi roll. While I could have wolfed the thing down in 47 seconds flat, I opted to act like a human being in the presence of others and play along as if I was visiting the queen for tea. Quite silly when I have to visit the Chipotle down the road for my main afterwards. For many in the country club community, The Libertine will stand as a favorite for many years to come as it caters to that culinary audience who want the predictable disguised as the unique for the sake of fashion.

    (2)

  • Bryan C.

    Two weeks after a chef transition, The Libertine is still one of the best places to eat in St. Louis. It's a touch more casual than Niche or The Crossing, but right in the next tier. The new menu was a bit less exciting/experimental than it used to be, but the food did not disappoint. A generous bowl of mussels came in a rich bacon infused broth, and I used every bit of the garlicky toast to soak it up. The Nicoise was outstanding, especially the meltingly soft roasted potatoes and the tender smoky octopus. We had the filet, which comes with a huge crab cake. Following an appetizer, there is no way to eat it all, though you will definitely want to try. The prosciutto wrapped steamed trout was the only miss, good but unexciting, served with a panzanella that needed more summery tomato and less bread.

    (5)

  • Benjamin B.

    This joint puts the ass in class and the it in grits. I guess I went here on a date, or something happily approximating it. A better, more grown-up version of a date. A grate. It was too early for lunch and we had the heart of the place to ourselves, which is how I like it sometimes. Clean wood, polished floors, and a giant sign made out of light globes and a font I wanted to take home to meet my mother. Can't remember what I drank but it was the last cocktail on the list and it was sweet and smoky and sippable and I wanted it to meet my mother too. Not my main course though, it I wanted to drive it out to Make-out Point and jump in the back seat with and do things, all kinds of Things. Sous vide fire-roasted pork belly on a sea of kimchi grits studded with sweet garlic. See? Succulent and sexual, eminently palatable and decidedly adult. Libertine in name, nature and deed.

    (5)

  • Elizabeth R.

    The Libertine was what I expected - Ambiance was on-point and walking in, the place certainly felt special. Low lighting with candles, wooden tables, large rustic menus, and staff complete with hipsters as waiters and waitresses (big plastic glasses, beards, and checkered shirts!) about summarize the feeling for me. The food was good, but it did not blow my socks off considering how much it costs. I have to be honest: in my opinion, "New American" food in Saint Louis is getting old, and this place is more of the same. It's really tasty, don't get me wrong, but I didn't eat anything worth writing home about. I will give it another try eventually, but it's not on my to-do list.

    (3)

  • Steve P.

    The Libertine is a terrific eatery in the heart of Clayton that is reasonably priced compared to other fine dining places. The food there is terrific- we ordered off their new years menu crispy pig tails in buffalo sauce (a literal pig tail deboned, then stuffed with pork) and served with a tangy buffalo sauce which was both meaty and crunchy. If you like sous vide you are in for a treat- chef galliano prepares a delectable sous vide pork shoulder that manages to be amazingly tender but also retains the firm character of pork shoulder without falling apart like pulled pork. It is seasoned expertly with fennel that gives it a delightful breakfast sausage note but could've used more even application on the entire piece of pork. Lastly their dessert menu is decadent without being too destructive on the waistline. Their maple budino (think a maple syrup custard) was both outrageously rich but also perfectly proportioned to end the meal strongly. It doesn't hurt that they serve it with vanilla ice cream that has cut up world's fair doughnuts in it. Overall a tremendous showing from a chef that's going places and a front and back of house team that works well to deliver a superior dining experience.

    (4)

  • Matt T.

    I'm just not that impressed by the menu or the items I've tried (twice). I applaud them for thinking outside of the box and getting creative, but the lunch menu reads like a dinner menu. Seriously, who wants to eat biscuits and gravy for a business lunch? What about a plate of sausages? Not me. Two salads, one sandwich, one burger on the menu. the other items, not interesting. With such a small menu, ensure you have things that people want. While new and innovative things are worth a trip for dinner, you have to take the pulse of the diner and anticipate what the general public wants, and is willing to eat.

    (3)

  • Brady M.

    I have to admit that I am embarrassed . . . how have I not written a review of Libertine yet? Libertine, without question, is one of my top 5 favorite spots to grab dinner in St. Louis. The location, atmosphere, staff, drinks (some of the best drinks), and food are some of the best in STL and the way all parts work in harmony is most impressive. To start off, I always go with a Tom Waits For No Man. This is one of the best whiskey cocktails in the city. From there, I try to order a different thing off the menu because everything I have had here has been fantastic, from fish to a burger, everything I had had here is fantastic. Also, and I cannot stress this enough, you absolutely have to go on one of their fried chicken Sundays...the friend chicken is to die for. I could continue to heap praise on Libertine, but instead, just go....you'll love it.

    (5)

  • Susan D.

    The food was good but the service was TERRIBLE! We had to beg for water and service. I chose this as a birthday meal because I had a great experience when they first opened but clearly they have lost "the touch". There was no one in charge and it was server chaos. I do not recommend taking a chance on this place until they get their act together.

    (2)

  • Alex B.

    This is definitely not as expensive as you'd expect considering how fancy it is. Their menu is extremely creative. I got the roasted pork collar, which came with some mushy fancy stuff and some other stuff. I had no idea what I was eating. It was okay. It was pretty good. I kind of wished the portion was bigger, and there were more vegetables instead of ambiguous mush. I would try this place again though.

    (3)

  • Lydia L.

    I wish this restaurant lived up to the hype. Sadly, the food fell short, and I would probably only return for cocktails. The decor is fantastic- warm, simple, and trendy. The drinks are exceptional. We were seated immediately, service was friendly, and the server definitely knew his stuff. He took great pride in his knowledge base, and it was useful information. Meal start to finish: Love and Happiness cocktail: perfectly light, not too sweet. Fried chickpeas: addictive little buggers. Can you go wrong with fried foods? Pumpkin "burrata": burrata in appearance, but very unique in taste. This should be sold as a dessert, because it was wonderfully sweet and the presentation was great. Now, $30 for a 3-course sunday supper is a damn good deal, particularly when you look at the price of their standard entrees. However, I think we came on the wrong Sunday. I'm a big fan of Rick Bayless, and his recipes are quite reliable, but this taste of Mexico was disappointing. Frijoles Enchipotlados: probably the best dish of the three. Heirloom beans were just firm enough, the masa gnocchi was wonderful, and the carnitas were a little dry, but good nonetheless. Mahi Mahi en Escabeche: Our fish was well-cooked and seared, but our table mate couldn't eat 1/3 of his fish because it was still raw. It was also served with what felt like cheap Mexican-style rice. This was the underachieving dish of the meal by far. Buckwheat crepes with cajeta- now the dish was described to us as cajeta (a goat's milk based carmel sauce) drizzled over crepes. Sure, I can go for that. But, what actually arrived was a buckwheat crepe full of goat's cheese and topped with a caramel-type ice cream...so much sour goat cheese that nobody at the table finished their crepe. Crab boil curry: best dish we had. Nice, creamy curry sauce. Well-cooked noodles, and plenty of mussels to make this feel like a meal. As I stated at the top, not somewhere I would feel I could reliably get a good meal, but I think I could count on the bar.

    (3)

  • Aimee K.

    It's time for the FSB (Five Star Bump.) I couldn't be a bigger fan of this place, and I'm so glad the weather's been cool enough at night to enjoy the patio. I haven't tried THAT much food yet, but what I've had has been fantastic. I only had to try their diner burger once to decide that it's my favorite burger in all of St. Louis. Bacon? Caramelized onion? House-made cheese sauce? I was blown away. I wasn't in the mood for fries, so the kitchen so graciously subbed some flavorful, sautéed zucchini. It was all paired with a glass of sparkling rose and I think I'll be smiling through next Thursday. So glad to have this place in my neighborhood. Keep doing your thing, Libertine!

    (5)

  • Emily M.

    Went here during the week with a group of twenty. Service was excellent and the staff were very friendly and accommodating! The menu is organized into columns and divided by appetizers, meat, fish, etc. It's unique because as you go down each column, the menu choice becomes larger/more filling. I had the "She Crab Soup", which was particularly excellent. For dessert, I recommend the chocolate candy bar. It's a frozen dessert, kind of like the frozen snickers candy bars filled with ice cream sold in grocery stores. This one, however, is a bit lighter and filled with hazelnut ice cream. Delicious! The Libertine is definitely a place for a foodie. I'd say the ambiance is well suited for a young professional group or date, but anyone could really enjoy this place! I'm a fan!

    (4)

  • Julie H.

    I joined the very popular CSA this year and began eating lunch here every week for the past 6 months. Every meal was a delight and a treat, especially considering they are all under $15! The rotating sausage and lunch bag options are amazing. I still remember the biscuits and gravy on a rainy afternoon that gave me a warm hug. My mom is in love with the fried chicken salad (a healthy alternative to their decadent fried chicken Sunday supper once a month). Ocean is the best server I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and an absolute delight to see each week. I also went to a special dinner this spring highlighting white asparagus and it was amazing in taste and presentation. I added on the wine pairings and they perfectly complimented each course. The level of service and enlightened hospitality that Tori, Nate, the Josh's and everyone else brings is something every restaurant should strive for. If you've read Danny Meyer's excellent book Setting the Table you will immediately notice that The Libertine is staffed exclusively with 51 percenters and I'm so proud to have this restaurant in our city. Well done!

    (5)

  • A B.

    Amazing food, service, and atmosphere. The new chefs menu has great choices both unique and familiar. We will be back most definitely!

    (5)

  • Christy M.

    For date night, my fiancé and I checked out The Libertine for the first time and it did not disappoint. The menu and cocktail offerings are different and interesting. Prices are moderate to high. Staff is very attentive and amazing. Ambiance is nice, albeit a little fancy and dimly lit. We started off with their free appetizer, which is some type of nuts in cheese? I'm not familiar with it and wasn't a huge fan, but it was nice to be offered some food before the meal. We each got their house burger with the two patties (yep TWO), house-made cheese, bacon bun, and caramelized onions (none for me though) with fries. YUM! This burger rivaled our favorite over at SubZero and lost only by a hare. The bun was unique and delicious, probably my favorite part. Be warned, it's a double stacked burger so lots of meat and very filling. Fries were a little overdone for my taste, but otherwise good. We finished off with their famous candy bar with hazelnuts, salted caramel, and ganache. Divine!! Overall, the food was tasty and it was a good experience and I'm glad we went. It's fun to try all the new restaurants and offerings in STL and this was a great stop on the list!

    (4)

  • Melissa H.

    Loved the Libertine's cozy & cool atmosphere - very moody and great for a date night. Im all about creating a unique setting, but the staff was a bit stuffy and seated us at the worst table when a dozen were open. We enjoyed cocktails (Fear & Loathing was my favorite) and craft beer selection, as well as the bread - which was nothing special and not nearly what the waiter touted. The portion sizes were accurately described, and prices about right. I wasn't very impressed with the grilled octopus - it was tough and lacked unique flavor. My bf got the pan roasted mahi-mahi which was much better. Overall a so-so experience, worth a try if you're in a Clayton.

    (3)

  • Desiree B.

    This was my first visit here and I was pretty impressed for a busy Tuesday night during restaurant week. We were greeted immediately and seated in the bar to grab a drink before the rest of our party arrived. Their cocktail menu is very creative and well thought out. I ordered the Mordecai's Hood and the bf opted for a bourbon drink, similar to a Manhattan. Both delicious, only downside is it took about 15 minutes for us to get them. By that time, our party arrived and we were seated shortly after. Obviously, this was a limited menu and for our 8:45 reservation, they were out of the mussels--huge bummer as half of our party planned that for the 1st course. The other 2 choices were foie gras poutine and beef carpaccio. It seemed those 2 were well-liked by the group. Prior to the first course we started with the cheese and charcuterie board and the mac and cheese--both extremely tasty! The pickled veggies on the board almost stood out more than the meat and cheese. 2nd course had the choice of the burger with fries, hen, or vegetable risotto or for $10 more a poached fish aqua pazza or steak and frites. I was not a fan of the aqua pazza, the fish was cold and the broth had no flavor, but luckily my bf got the burger that we shared and it was fantastic! There is only one other burger I crave in STL and I think this will top that now. the homemade cheese whiz was amazing! Dessert was a choice of a blackberry pie, Mexican chocolate and churro, or cookies and milk. My cookies were good, but one was extremely burnt--of course the chocolate chip one and my bf had the Mexican chocolate and churro. He was disappointed because the churro was maybe an inch long and served in a large bowl that resembled pudding, though it was ok, it was nothing noteworthy. Our service was slow overall, so that takes away from the 5-star rating, and part of me really wanted to give 3 stars for this last note--their wine menu. I am a big wine drinker and we often buy bottles of wine for dinner. I noticed their bottles prices were significantly over-priced in comparison with their glass prices, of the same wine. One of our guests asked our server and she stated that they do not pour standard 6 oz. pours for their glasses. So really, I spent $10-$13 for a less-than-standard pour. That to me is very misleading, but at least now I know. I had a French chardonnay with my app and the barbera with dinner--both tasty and complemented the food well.

    (4)

  • Carmel M.

    The food here is great but it definitely comes with attitude. It's a great place for foodies who love food and love talking about food and can't get enough of novel ingredients/beautiful presentations. I had the burger and fries, shared a side of "Brussels" (not Brussels sprouts, mind), and the chips 'n dip. It was all delicious. Enjoyed every bite. Left the place completely satisfied with the meal and glad I went. But...I probably won't return. Not to blame anything particular but there are plenty of good burgers out there without the pretentiousness that this place exudes. From the hostess who gave us the worst table (at 5:00pm on a weekday when the ENTIRE dining room was empty) to the server who was nice but evidently didn't think we were going to be his highest dividend of the night...egh, I can live without the Clayton-ness of it all. If you're still reading this I'd recommend that you try it. You will most likely love your meal and be glad you went.

    (4)

  • Philip R.

    My first time at Libertine was pretty nice. The decor/atmosphere was very cozy, although the dining room is pretty tight as far as the table spacing. And it seemed like it gradually got darker as we sat. Other than that, it was very intimate. The staff was very efficient and nice - I liked how they all worked together to get food and drinks out quickly. Maybe they were over-staffed? Annywho, I ordered the Tom Waits For No One, which was their take on a Manhattan, and I must say, for someone who doesn't usually orders Manhattans, I will be ordering Manhattans from now on. It was perfect. My friend ordered the Gunslinger in which she enjoyed. If we had more time, I would've ordered a couple more. We ordered the crispy pig tails to snack on per the waiters suggestion and they were very different, yet tasty nonetheless. It's like a combination of pork rinds in buffalo sauce in top of smooth cheese grits. Interesting concept. I was just slightly disappointed in the lack of variety on the menu (reason for the 4 stars), but I understand the niche concept they're going for. I definitely will be returning for more cocktails and hope to muster up the courage to try some things on the menu, like the octopus.

    (4)

  • Deanna B.

    We started with two very good drinks " love and happiness" and "fear and loathing" . Good choices. Our server Robbie was very helpful and knowledgeable in his assistance with our menu choices. The pumpkin toast and pig tails were great starters. We had the pork collar and sirloin as entrees. Our server encouraged us to try the "maple budino" dessert. Wow that was amazing. Layers of flavor. Very pleasant surprise.

    (5)

  • Josh S.

    I've been to The Libertine twice now, and have enjoyed their cocktails and food immensely. The cocktails are all made to order, using fresh ingredients and all sorts of bartender skills I have no idea about! Make a reservation, show up early and treat yourself to an apertif. Having heard whispers on the breeze of some of the best fried chicken in St Louis, I just had to come and check it out for myself. On the second Sunday of each month, Chef Galliano does a three course meal for $30 (drinks not included) of fried chicken and more. You will go home with leftovers, guaranteed. The stuff was indeed very go and is a must try for fans of the breaded breast and thigh. I really enjoyed my second visit to the Libertine too. We went for an STL Craft Beer week event called Sour Supper, all about Sour Beer pairings. It was a four course feast of incredibly rich foods, that you cut with a sour beer. The brewers were there to talk about their beers and the chef and waiters really knew their stuff about the food. I had the biggest chunk of foie gras I've ever seen that they perfectly layered some raspberry jam made from the berries used in the Goose Island sour. It was ridiculously creative, rich and good. They are a talented team of chefs, mixologists and wait staff in a cool setting. I want to try their normal menu for sure!

    (5)

  • Ed E.

    OK at best. The menu needed to be explained... Not a good user experience. No complaints on the service, they were well trained and attentive. To start we ordered the grilled octopus, lamb, and salad for the table. The portion size of the octopus was laughable at best. There was 4 of us and we each got about 1.5 inches from the single tentacle for $13. Salad was tasty. I had the burger, it was good. The cheese sauce all over looked so good, but it barely had any flavor. I tried my friend's sirloin and it was OK, but he didn't like it. My gf ordered the fish... She puked as soon as we got home, need I say more. Overall, the food was fine. Personally I expect more than fine for $50 a person.

    (3)

  • Mark H.

    My wife and I were wandering around the Art Fair and saw an open table here so we grabbed it. Ashley was our server and did a wonderful job. I ordered the pigtails and my wife ordered the diner burger. The pig tails were very good and the burger was out of this world! The burger looked so amazing that 4 people at the table next to us took one look at my wife's plate and all ordered the same thing. A bit pricey but the food was outstanding!

    (4)

  • Mike B.

    We took others'advice on Yelp and loved the results! We ate here with another couple and everyone was VERY impressed. We started in the bar and the bartender was fantastic. One in our group is not a big drinker but wanted a cocktail. She told the bartender what kinds of drinks she liked and he made a totally unique and perfectly mixed drink. Those of us that chose beer were jealous! When we moved on to dinner we enjoyed the seafood bisque (perfectly cooked tuna but not what I was thinking when I saw bisque), sirloin, a pork loin special, pickles, crispy pig tails, bread & butter, more cocktails, dessert, coffee... Everything was fantastic! The service was excellent from the hostess to the busboys. We had the kind of night you want when you are up for trying new things. Tori and Nate have done a wonderful job. We will be back for sure as they change up the menu so we have more new dishes to try.

    (5)

  • Danielle M.

    I went to this place Saturday to see if the food matched the reviews and the pictures. I ordered the bread plate as an appetizer and the Diner Burger for dinner. The bread plate was just ok...and they were really proud of it since it's made fresh. I have had better bread at chain steakhouses. The Diner Burger was more like a slider...it was way smaller than I anticipated. The cheese whiz was good and the flavor of the meat was good...but it was overshadowed by the fact the burger was so small. Just wanted to try it to see what the hype was about. It was ok...on a scale of 1-10, I give it a 6.

    (2)

  • Elio L.

    Finally made it here. Great place and awesome service! Wife had the pork collar which was delicious. I went for the burger which was very good. They have a good cocktail selection too. Had the Fear and loathing- good and that foam was deelish. I recommend and will be back.

    (4)

  • Jimmy B.

    What a breath of fresh air! My wife and I have been anxious to try The Libertine for some time now and wanted to take some friends from out of town to a cool spot and showcase what St.Louis has to offer. We were a little apprehensive choosing a spot we had never been to but a co-worker recommended it and man am I glad I decided to take the dive. We arrived for our reservation to a packed house and made our way to the bar to grab a few cocktails before we were sat. The atmosphere here is probably one of the coolest I've experienced in St.Louis. GREAT music, beautiful bar and everyone around us seemed to be having a great time. Whoever wrote the cocktail, wine and beer list deserves an award. Not only were the names of the cocktails and the descriptions of the wine hilarious and witty but I can say everyone in our party enjoyed what they had. Recommendations: Darth Bocephus, Tom Waits Once we sat we were greeted right away and our server helped steer us in the right direction with food and wine recommendations. We started with several small plates and each one was a hit. I could eat their charcuterie board everyday of my life followed by the Crispy Pig Tails and lead a very happy existence. We then ordered more cocktails and placed our dinner order and once again everyone in our party more than enjoyed what they had. Recommendations: Either of the Fish dishes, Pork Collar I would order every dessert. Seriously. Service was GREAT. Knowledgeable, attentive and genuine. Every staff member we encountered made us feel at home in this hip joint where we expected pretentious service and food but received top notch service and food worth every penny and more.The menu is eclectic and price point fair for what The Libertine offers. This is not a buffet or Applebees. This is classy, quality, well thought out food that any St.Louisan should be proud of. Thank you Libertine for helping us impress our out of town guests. We will be back again and again and again and again.

    (5)

  • Heather H.

    The Libertine is quickly becoming my favorite restaurant in St Louis. Our first visit coincided with my parents' birthday celebrations and resulted in ordering WAY too much food. My favorite items were the community salad, burger and Such and Such Farms Maple Dessert. I ordered the salad with champagne vinaigrette, and it was the perfect dressing for the baby greens, thinly sliced radishes and rustic croutons. The only problem was the size. It was huge and so good I couldn't stop eating it. When the burger and fries arrived I only ate half. The burger was one of the best in the city. It was perfectly cooked. The "cheese whiz" and bacon bun made it feel decadent. My husband and I agreed we could sit at the bar, split this entree and be very happy. The star of the show was the dessert. We overheard the waiter saying it was the best dessert on the menu. It might be the best dessert ever! A light cake is filled with maple flavored custard and topped with a coffee tuile. Then they take World's Fair Donuts, pulverize them and turn them into ice cream, which sits on top. The result is magnificent. Each bite is a creamy, crunchy delight. I could have eaten a bowl of that ice cream. Things that left me wanting: the free amuse-bouche of fried chickpeas with pork dusting and the asparagus four ways. The chickpeas were overdone,but much better on our second visit. The asparagus felt confused. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in St Louis. Overall the food is stellar and the service is top notch. I'm already planning to make reservations at one of their Sunday Fried Chicken Suppers.

    (5)

  • Rader S.

    We went here on a snowy night. It was cozy and the atmosphere was warm. We had the charcuterie platter and the pig tail appetizers. These were fantastic. I had the seafood special. The fish was moist and tasty. All in all I will go again!

    (4)

  • Matthew S.

    The service is great, the drinks are swank, the tomato toast is bad, the diner burger is great. A little overpriced, but fun for once in a while dining.

    (3)

  • S. W.

    Finally went to Sunday Suppers- The Fried Chicken three course dinner for $30. I highly recommend you go and experience this phenomena. The BF and I went yesterday for the 1st time. Sauce magazine is my food guide and so far they haven't disappointed. While waiting for our reservation we sat at the bar and had drinks. We ordered the Fear & Loathing (a very eclectic twist on a rum and coke) and a chocolate cake martini. I love the feel and vibe of this restaurant. 1st course: eggplant, homemade ricotta, cantaloupe arugula salad with a balsamic vinaigrette. 2nd course: The fried chicken (brined in sweet tea, soaked in buttermilk and battered in corn meal) with a side of gravy. Sides: Kentucky grits and creamed spinach Extras: homemade buttermilk biscuits glazed with honey and homemade strawberry preserves, house made pickles and house made jalapeño hot sauce. 3rd course: Peach Buckle Cake with homemade whipped cream. I've been waiting months to try this fried chicken, was holding out until the courses interested me. The salad was good, except for the excessive chili powder, which I didn't really care for, the BF loved it. Aside from that the meal was incredible. And I do mean everything was amazing!!! The fried chicken was excellent!!!! It was 5 pieces of hot, juicy goodness, incredibly flavorful. The sides of grits and creamed spinach were delicious. When you go I highly recommend you pay for the extras- the buttermilk biscuits, strawberry preserves, house made pickles and jalapeño hot sauce. And don't even get me started on the ohhhh soo heavenly peach buckle cake. This dessert was a cross between cake and cobbler. It featured large delectable peach slices and cobbler crumble between this beautifully moist cake topped with a heaping dollop of homemade whipped cream. I can't wait to return. I'm looking forward to their future fried chicken dinners. The staff is extremely attentive and friendly. 2nd

    (4)

  • Amanda R.

    Wow the flavors at this place are AMAZING!! This cajun inspired/American restaurant really delivers. You should get the Crispy Pig Tails (Appetizer) which has crispy pork & superb flavors, the Grilled beef Short Ribs which were so tender and delightful (Entree), and the Pan Roasted Fillet of Fish was great too. For dessert; you MUST get the Libertine Candy Bar - it is like a homemade Snickers bar and DELICIOUS!! Atmosphere is really cool as well, staff are a little intense yet passionate

    (5)

  • Kate B.

    Was really excited to try this place as the menu sounded promising, but unfortunately it wasn't what I'd expected... (Was also one of the people who read the Sauce magazine article about how fantastic this place is. In the article, they mentioned the She Crab Soup which is something I haven't had in a long time. I recalled enjoying it at a restaurant back in my hometown so I decided I had to go to the Libertine to try theirs.) My boyfriend and I walked in and the hostess told us the only available seating was either the bar or outside. We opted for the bar. It was actually quite dead in the restaurant itself but maybe they had tables reserved for later on. The bartender was friendly and answered my questions about the drinks and food. I told him I wanted a rum drink but the only rum drink on the menu had other ingredients that didn't sound appealing to me, so I told him I liked sweet rum drinks with slight tartness and fresh herbs. Using the aforementioned criteria, he whipped me up a custom concoction. It wasn't....bad....per se. But it also reminded me of cough syrup or some kind of medicine. I drank most of it but didn't order anything else. Sadly, that was the best part of the whole Libertine experience. I ordered the She Crab Soup but I couldn't decide on anything else. There were other things on the menu that sounded good but after figuring out the portion size by asking the bartender and comparing that with the price, I decided I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a small amount of food. But I figured if I liked the soup, I'd try something else on the menu. My boyfriend is a very picky eater and his diet typically consists of bacon cheeseburgers from fast food places, pizza, and french fries. That being said, I thoroughly warned him about the Libertine's menu prior to arrival. He knew what he was getting into. We reasoned that they could probably prepare their Diner Burger sans all the weird ingredients listed on the menu... the bartender said they could do it, so we were hopeful. Unfortunately the burger had some kind of weird spicy pickle-smelling sauce on it (he HATES pickles with a passion, and I don't mind them but I can't digest spicy food.) This was NOT listed on the menu at all. We had no way of knowing it would arrive with that weird sauce. He took one bite and immediately felt ill. I am glad I didn't take a bite or I'd have to miss work the next day! The burger went unconsumed. Sadly, the She Crab Soup was a huge let-down too. I don't understand any of the rave reviews for this dish. It was so bland! Part of why I love this kind of soup is due to the sherry adding an extra layer of flavor to the dish, but not true at all with the Libertine's version. The sherry is in the form of little "pearls" similar in appearance to large fish roe (such as salmon roe.) Eating those separately was unappetizing and mixing them into the soup did nothing to rescue it from blandness. The spring rolls incorporated nothing to the dish whatsoever. I ate one and was nonplussed that they were added at all. Overall, a huge disappointment. My boyfriend and I ended up getting into a heated argument about what to do since the food was so unexpectedly terrible. I ended up feeling very guilty for ever suggesting we try their food. Couldn't handle the stress any longer so I walked out and asked him if he could pay for the drink. Found out later they did not charge us for the food we didn't like, which was nice of them. I feel bad giving such a low score because the employees were nice and service was pretty good overall (aside from not telling us about the spicy pickle sauce on the burger) but it was really just a bad experience in general. I may return someday to give them another shot, but not anytime soon. :(

    (2)

  • Michael K.

    Not a great experience. 2/27/15. Sat down promptly. Waiter came over and grabbed the drink orders. 20 minutes later the drinks (2) finally came. Apparently the bar was backed up. It would have been nice to have the waiter be honest. Appetizer of pork belly was very good. However, the $7 charge for 5 slices of bread and butter was appalling. The group then ordered 4 more drinks. Those didn't come until the main dishes were almost done. The main course of pastrami over pasta was weak. The pastrami was very fatty. My wife's vegetarian dish of General Tso's was way too salty. It was like the entire bottle of soy sauce was dumped on the dish. I'd try it again though. The menu is inventive. It has promise .

    (3)

  • Debra K.

    The restaurant has a nice ambiance, however I couldn't get over the draft from the lobby. I used my coat as a blanket to cover my legs. The food General Tao's Mushrooms tasted like a bottle of salt had fallen on the plate. The waiter was subpar.

    (2)

  • Nate M.

    We wanted to love The Libertine. So much. We read that issue of Sauce where they asked the area chefs questions like favorite meal, favorite restaurant, etc. and a ton of them were all kinds of hot for The Libertine. First of all - I am tired of the "Oh it is your first time, We do things a little bit differently here." No. You don't. You source local ingredients? You have small plates? Awesome! I love that. But everyone has that! And Farmhaus does it best. Oh - Rant Over. The Libertine didn't deserve that, but it has been building for a while and irks me. The menu is organized by type (veggie, meat, seafood) and things at the top are smaller portions/more like apps and the bottom of the page is in theory more typical "entrees." I will get to why I said "in theory" later. So - onto the actual review. Valeted our whip which was nice. Had a 6:30pm rezzy and at that point it was crowded out front but inside fairly empty. Service was friendly. They brought out some fried garbanzos beans with something called bacon powder dusted on them. I absolutely love when restaurants do the whole "gift from the kitchen" starter thing. We both enjoyed the fried beans, but couldn't really taste the bacon. Had some some research and read that the buffalo crispy pig tails and she-crab soup was great. Ordered those, the "Roots" which was beets, balsamic, arugula and potatoes and based on the server's rec the "Sunflower Fried Rice" w/ a sunny side up egg on top. Server was great all the way through. So I can give them a 4 or maybe 5 for solid service. Drinks: We had a few different artisan mixologist whatever type drinks. They were decent, but I can't say that they were great. Enjoy the drinks at Taste or Santuria far more (we literally went to Santuria after). We stuck with cocktails but it looked like they had a solid wine and beer list. Buffalo Crispy Pig Tails: Dug em. Hard to describe. Bacony, chewy morsels with buffalo sauce and a sort of blue cheese sauce on polenta. BrunchPrincess did not like these. I thought they were the best thing we had. Roots: BrunchePrincess really enjoyed. To me it was a very basic, forgettable beet/goat cheese salad. She-Crab Soup: This was disappointing. Had read in Sauce and elsewhere that it rocked but it was just ok. Rich, and good, but not great. Had three pieces of spring roll covered in fish roe hanging out in the corner which I actually think detracted from the dish. A bit spicy. Very crabby. BrunchPrincess did not like at all, while I enjoyed it for the most part but there was this odd grittiness to it. Reminded me of sandy steamers or something. Sunflower Fried Rice: This was my least favorite dish, which was a shame, because the server recced this and was all about it. $19 for salty, soy flavored pressure cooked sunflower seeds that soften and taste like rice with some veggies thrown in and a sunny side up egg on top. I mean - it was neat that we were eating sunflower seeds that tasted like fried rice...but it was not neat that it cost $19 for maybe a 1 cup portion with an egg on top and was way too salty. It honestly reminded me of something you would get at a Chinese buffet. Cheesecake Dessert: Server recced this as well. We enjoyed it. Had some grape sorbet on top and was the softer type cheesecake. Almost like that "no bake" consistency. The only bummer about this dish is that the crust was HARD. Like really, really hard. BrunchPrincess had to honestly stab it with a knife and really muscle it to get through it. I will say that this was probably our second favorite thing we had, super hard crust aside. I will add a disclaimer - we were SO CLOSE to trying the burger...but based on the Server's suggestion we went with the Sunflower Fried Rice instead. This was apparently a major, major mistake. Yelp's Aimee K says it is her favorite burger in all of StL, AND the vegetarian bartender at Sancturia told us that she allows her self two burgers a year and the last time she had a burger it was at The Libertine and she loved it. But then again...it seems that if your are a vegetarian and only allow yourself two burgers a year then a McDonald's cheeseburger would probably kick all kinds of ass too. Have had a string of average lately. It rules that new restaurants are opening constantly but for whatever reason we have been a bit disappointed. BrunchPrincess and I decided the next few times we go out...it is going to be to our favs. Halfway through our dinner this very, very Clayton 20 something came in and her very, very Clayton Mom met her after a bit. BrunchPrincess nearly gouged her eyes out because she was so obnoxious. At one point she said "OMG Mom - You don't know if I like sweets? I like...LIVE on skittles." tl;dr? Not bad. Try the crispy pig tails. Try the burger. Don't get the fried rice. Wanted to love it, only kind of liked it. Probably won't be back soon and if we do come back we will get the burge

    (3)

  • Eddie P.

    I like this place, small space but nice. I tried the diner burger, everything home made, and it was very good. Although I thought their home made bun was a tad bit salty, but that's just my preference. I will come back for dinner and update my review. Go check it out!

    (4)

  • Laura M.

    We came in about 8:45pm for a late dinner, no reservation. There was no one at the host stand, and the people behind the bar kept looking at us, but never greeting us, then going about their business. I was about to leave, but I walked up to the bar and asked if they were still serving dinner. The young guy behind said. "Hold on, let me ask." He came back a few minutes later and told us to follow him. At this point, we were not impressed. The atmosphere was nice and everything so crisp and clean, not to mention good yelp reviews, so we decided to stay. Then our whole experience changed. The waiter came out, and had so much enthusiasm that we had no choice but to lighten up. He had great recommendations and knowledge about everything on the menu. He explained how everything was prepared in perfect detail and assured us that everything we ordered was going to be amazing. He also told us not to worry about time and that the kitchen was open until 10pm. HE SAVED THE EXPERIENCE. We had the pig tail starter as well as bread, and both were delicious. All 4 of us had the bistro burger, and it was absolutely delightful. The cocktails were expertly crafted and reasonably priced for the quality. We look forward to coming back for another visit, and hopefully ALL of the service is great.

    (4)

  • James G.

    The Libertine never disappoints. The menu changes too often to recommend a specific dish but it is all good. They usually have something with pork belly, pig tails and homemade pickles and I recommend all of the above. Plus they have Blantons in the bar!

    (5)

  • Adam S.

    Excellent service and excellent food. I would highly recommend the pickles (which include pickled strawberries and ramps), the steak with kimchee, and the such & such farm maple syrup (with donut ice cream and life changing custard) is spectacular. Also the cocktail menu is amazing (try the Elvis Costello lost in Missouri)!

    (5)

  • Kris A.

    We came here for my birthday, which happened to fall on the second Sunday of the month, and were pleasantly surprised to hear it was their fried chicken night. My boyfriend apologized profusely for not knowing that when he had made the reservation, but quickly retracted it after we started eating--it was good, if not better than the hype. $30 for fried chicken might seem insane, but it is well worth the cost--we each got five huge pieces of chicken, which from what I understand went through quite a process to get to our plates, along with greens and mashed potatoes. And that was just the main course! The turtle soup was phenomenal, as soon as I got over the fact that I was eating a turtle, and was also a huge portion. The black-bottom pie was just okay--I didn't really understand what was happening with the crust, as it was really hard to break and I gave up after a bit. But the biscuits--they are magical. We ordered a second order after trying the first because they were that good. I'm always a sucker for delicious carbs, and these biscuits were off the charts amazing. We would definitely come back again!

    (4)

  • Mike D.

    I learned about The Libertine through Mwanzi, the table/bar maker of many new STL restaurants, on Twitter. After seeing the interesting menu, I thought we'd give this a try. When tonight with my wife and parents and had a great time. For starters, we got the twisted peppers and fried candlefish. Neither was especially memorable except the bacon chunks mixed in with the peppers. I got a cocktail, the Monsieur Bocephus, which was good and tasted a but like root beer. They have a great wine list both glasses and bottles. The entrees were great. I got the diner burger which was the Rolls Royce of Steak n Shake burgers. The mashed potato fries were fried mashed potato balls that had a great savory flavor. My wife got the roasted green cauliflower which had tasty panisse with it. My mom got the hanger steak and dad got the porgy, which they both enjoyed. Definitely the best course of the evening. For dessert we shared a Libertine candy bar and the nagroni. Both were good but not great. Satisfied our sweet tooth but would try other desserts next time. And there will be a next time, the menu offered a lot of unique offerings but were not too outrageous. The service staff was inexperienced but worked very hard to serve well and did a great job. Bravo Libertine.

    (4)

  • Tiffany D.

    New to St Louis, but based on my experience thus far this may be one of the best places in town. Right on par with NYC standards. Fresh ingredients and creative dishes. The menu is seasonal, thoughtful, and prices are very reasonable for the high quality that you get. Our server was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and friendly. I have been for lunch and dinner, very pleased both times. Highly recommend the diner burger, the crispy pig tails, the pork, hangar steak, and the dessert with the homemade ice cream with world's fair donuts mixed in.

    (4)

  • Kd D.

    Oh what to say? If you want a Midwestern-style meal with carbs and a volume of food, don't come here. Spouse and I came here for Restaurant Week. The staff is friendly and NOT snooty. I am a real country hick and I had bundled up for the weather, and not for a second did I feel looked down on. Our server, Robbie, was cheerful and seemed genuinely glad to be there. The appetizers (we both had the pig tails) were bursting with flavor and oily POW. Three of them (size of thick quarters) were plenty. I had the beef ragu and husband had the almandine fish. His seemed a bit bland but mine was full flavored and yummy. Our vegetables, the very small amount we were given, were buried under the sauces. That bugged me. I am a carrot fan and was looking forward to the ash-baked carrots. Found all 2 quarter sticks under the strong sauce. The meal came with dessert. Husband's Citrus was really small but tasty. Let me emphasize: 3 marble sized orange cakelets. Tiny. I got the Chocolate Fudge, which was a strip of chocolate pudding-like treat, along with dribbles of satsuma sauce, a bit of fresh basil, and a small scoop of literal frozen yogurt. Meaning it was yogurt. Sour. The space has an odd vibe. It was not comfortable, meaning the chairs were minimal and the area was noisy. But on top of the barn-wood tables, there are candles, lovely glassware, and (loved this) they brought fresh silverware for each course. I wanted to luxuriate in an upholstered booth as I savored the quirky foods. The wine list and the staff is what earned the 4 stars. I got a glass of my favorite white (Austrian) and did not have to buy a whole bottle. I will be back for lunch and I will definitely go back once the outdoor seating is available. I want to nibble interesting foods, have a wine and sit with one of my dogs by my side.

    (4)

  • Manny A.

    Loved the food. Very interesting items on the menu. I had the three little birds and it was delicious. Portions were a little small for me.

    (4)

  • Sarah H.

    You'll need a reservation if you want a table here. Came here with the boyfriend on a date and it was so-so. Salt salt salt. I may check my blood pressure today to see if it's bumped. We ordered an appetizer that came in a greasy brown paper bag. Odd. For a white table-clothed, candlelit-dinner, I was not expecting my app to be nestled in a lunch sack. I ordered the fish, mahi mahi was their selection. It was very salty. Yikes- the sauce was so overpowering. Next to the fish was a huge pile of mushrooms absolutely drenched in sauce as well. Less could be more here. Our dessert was the chocolate fudge. I give an F- for presentation. It looked like a long, spongy log of you-know-what. The sorbet accompanying it was an odd combination, not a good taste together. Let's end on a positive note: our server was attentive, friendly and knowledgable of the menu. The hostesses were friendly and tucked my coat away for my meal-how nice! They have staff that seem to truly care about the customer, which is rare.

    (3)

  • Laine S.

    I really wish I could write a 5 star review of The Libertine. Josh Galliano is an incredibly talented chef and I've been a fan of his since he started out in St. Louis at An American Place. But, I don't know what's going on at his first sole venture. I've been in twice and waited to write a review to see if the kinks were worked out. It's improved (the first time I went the food was so bad we only ate a couple bites of each dish), but we went from one or two stars to three ... which was a disappointment. The Good: Service is great, bartenders are exceptionally friendly. Nice beer selection The beef cheek ragu was very tasty The pig tails were pretty good The Citrus dessert (Orange Curd, Lemon Cake, Dreamcicle Sorbet) was light and airy, enjoyable The Meh: We were in for restaurant week so we ate at the bar, I had to keep my coat on the whole time because every time someone entered the restaurant a gust of polar vortex wind hit me. They should really put some heavy curtains up between the entrance hallway and the entryway to the bar. The Escabeche (Olive Oil Poached Fish, Lavash, Asian Pear, Roasted Beets) didn't have much flavor at all. I thought the sunflower seed fried rice was an interesting concept and tasted ok, but it's a rather small portion and more of a novelty than a solid dish. The Red Velvet Cake (Cream Cheese Ice Cream, Candied Cocoa Nibs, Dried Beets) was just ok. The cake was quite dense and I couldn't taste the slightest bit of cream cheese in the ice cream. The cocktail list appears inventive, but honestly, if I'm going to pay $10 for a cocktail I'll go to Taste. None of the cocktails I've had here are worth $10. I'll probably keep going back to The Libertine every 6 months or so in the hopes that Galliano is making his signature eyes-roll-in-the-back-of-your-head-it's-so-good food. But right now, no high hopes =/.

    (3)

  • Leo E.

    Loved the experience, food was so, so... Small plates are small. Bread & butter good, but pricey. One of the people in my party got sick after the main plate; stay away from the fish. Our server was awesome!

    (3)

  • Heather M.

    I can't believe this place is only carrying 3.5 stars! This is by far one of the best meals I've had in St. Louis hands down. ~Crispy Pig Tails are incredible - all of the sauces and the crispy/chewy pig was out of this world ~Braised Turnips with crispy black rice fritters are a real treat ~Ribeye with gremelli and brussel sprouts was perfectly cooked with a glaze that enhanced the beefy/fatty goodness of the steak Everything we had was great, these three were just the stand outs. And our server, Mark, was fantastic. Very knowledgeable of the menu, took the time to chat with us when we wanted to know more about certain dishes. He wasn't sure on one thing and quickly ran back to the kitchen to find out and report back. He really helped make for a great experience. Also, I loved the enthusiasm that the server assistants had - some young kids that really seem to be interested in the food that they serve and that was awesome! Only one minor complaint (seriously this is so minor) - the beer list is a little ho hum, it just seems that choices were very safe, nothing terribly interesting. However, worst of all, they have Bud Select - I assume that is a nod to their neighborhood clientele, but it really doesn't seem to fit their overall personality. My (unsolicited) advice: be true to who you are and what you are trying to do and reflect that even in your beer list!

    (5)

  • Bob H.

    Gf went with her friend to The Libertine for lunch yesterday...she travels quite a bit and hadn't been in a while...she loved it and hasn't stopped talking about not only the great gumbo etc, but also the value...I'm going next week...such great food and nice people...

    (5)

  • Ari K.

    Visited the place yesterday evening with friends. Very disappointed in food. The "famous" pig tales were literally pumped with salt, the charcuterie board was also so salty it overpowered my beer. The beer by the way was not cold enough. But the service was prompt and the waitress was super friendly and nice. Pretty sure this is our last visit there...

    (2)

  • Lisa D.

    Such a great place! The atmosphere is lovely, as are the food and drinks. A great date night spot! The owners are exceptionally nice. Such a fun place!

    (5)

  • Cherry L.

    So apparently this is my go-to, normal rotation, I frequent multiple times a week restaurant and I am NOT sorry! While I've had a few things that aren't the best, the majority of the items are really great! Their focus on ingredients, particularly veggies, is really great! Their menu changes pretty frequently, but I've really enjoyed: -Merguez spiced broccoli- the broccoli is perfectly cooked (not too raw and not too mushy) and perfect consistency to soak up all the tasty vinaigrette and spice. The onion and garbanzo bean relish is super tasty too. -Sunchokes-also spicy with a touch of crunch -Pumpkin toast- my absolute fave thing here! I swear I can eat like 3 of these. Its sweet, savory, umami, crunch, etc etc....GET IT -grilled octopus- my colleague loves this dish and I will say, the octopus is cooked really really well! I just think the flavor of the potatoes could be brought up a notch Finally, I really want to try the fish preparation with the pho fumet. I'm sooooo curious but can't ever seem to commit bc I'm sooooooo nervous about the "asian" aspects of the dish.......what if it's not like pho broth? what if it is? MIND BLOWN! whats sweet potato hoisin? does it taste more like sweet potato or asian brown sauce? MIND BLOW! Has anyone tried this???

    (4)

  • Minh D.

    Great restaurant. Excellent food and service. My favorite is the Libertine Meat & Cheese Board. Will definitely come back again.

    (4)

  • Mary M.

    What can I say I love, love, love this place. We sat at the bar and ate. My husband started this when we where dating to have dessert first because that is the only thing you can't take home. So I had this apple thing (wish I could remember the name) because it was awesome! Then I had this arugula salad with grains (again, not good with remembering the name for things) so good!! Then last, but not least my entree. I had the sirloin steak and it was the BEST THING I EVER ATE!!!! It was cooked perfectly and was melt in your mouth. Don't walk, run to this restaurant, because it is worth it!

    (5)

  • Jenna L.

    I need to go back because I went on opening night. Service was good. Pig tails were not....

    (3)

  • Bill C.

    This place would have been a 4 star. Cocktails were good, but not the best in town. The burger was good, but not the best in town. But then the chorizo shrimp happened. It was one of the worst dishes I have ever had. Just gross. Cold shrimp terrine or pate (or whatever they did) with chorizo spices, plus some other stuff on the plate. It was awful. Ruined the whole experience. I am all for people experimenting with food, but there needs to be some quality control in the process. A bomb that bad makes me question everything they do.

    (2)

  • G W.

    Go. Start with any of the drinks that strike your fancy. They are original and tasty. Then get the Chips and Dip -- leek chips, bet you don't make those at home, and cauliflower puree -- or the Asparagus Variations or, if you can share, the filling Crispy Pigs Tails, gorgonzola is best whipped, light and strong. Or the terrine board with pickled strawberries! The Three Little Birds is a beautiful dish, a fowl trio that will surprise. They are trying new things here and when it all works, it is yummy and satisfying. Yes, there are some misses. I believe that to succeed you must have a few failures on the way. Skip the confused Creole Cream Cheese (trying to be Pimento?). The L. Candy Bar does was perhaps inspired by the pool cleaning scene in CaddyShack (smile!!) but beyond that the cocoa (??) on top leaves a bitter taste. The service is wonderfully attentive. The restaurant is loud and the chairs hard; still, people linger! My largest complaint is the signature LIBERTINE in lights across the back wall. Fun to look at but really bright and highly annoying when seated facing these lights. I wish these guys luck -- they are doing interesting things on plates.

    (4)

  • David C.

    Amazing food, nice atmosphere, perfect service - a real gem in Clayton! The pork chops were very good, and the burger was kid-friendly. Fresh baked bread, interesting drink menu, etc - this place is definitely worthy of many repeats.

    (5)

  • Leonard V.

    Only been once, but it was when the head chef was in and made some amazing gumbo... I'll be back

    (5)

  • Andrea C.

    I ate here last night. Some thoughts: (1) They are WAY too serious about how they are "fun" and have "fun" dishes and "play" with their food; see (2). (2) The server debunked the ingredients of nearly every dish: "The Sunflower Seed Fried Rice actually doesn't contain any rice." "Burrata is a cheese found in Northern Italy. Our pumpkin burrata actually doesn't contain any cheese." (3) The "Vegetables" column does not mean "vegetarian." (4) I did not miss that the word "agar" was thrown into the list of ingredients that make up the Beer Braised Potatoes. This made me think of all of the medical articles I've edited that describe growing bacterial strains in agar. (5) Because there was so little I could eat on the menu, I asked if they could bring out some bread and butter. They had to use bread they were baking for the next day's lunch sandwiches because "we don't put out bread." (5a) I am a rube. (6) The first food item to arrive was a metal dish full of flash-fried garbanzo beans. I asked the server if this was the bread. It was not. (He was very patient, which was the nicest thing I can say about this "Neighborhood Eatery"; see [10]) (7) The Beer Braised Potatoes were good, including the bacteria-growing agar cubes. (8) The coffee contained coffee and was good. (9) I did not have dessert, because I was suspicious of the actual ingredients. (10) The "Neighborhood Eatery" byline is seriously played out. (11) "Claw...you're welcome!" .

    (2)

  • Ellen C.

    I had a terrible experience there the other night. The waitress presented off menu wine specials. We ordered a bottle, it was so-so and ended up being $78. When we mentioned that she should probably include price if she is presenting such pricey bottles, she was rude and refused to apologize. Needless to say, I will not be returning or recommending it to anyone.

    (1)

  • Rebecca T.

    Had a really good meal, great service too. Crispy pig tails were good and worth trying because when else would you eat that? But the sunflower seed fried rice was outstanding, better than I would have thought. We got an appetizer sized version and shared. The three birds large plate was fantastic and the double patty burger with bacon and caramelized onions was awesome and a great choice for the less adventurous. Plus, they have still 630 rye whiskey, you can do bottle proof or they have cask strength. Great experience, tried food that was both unique and delicious!

    (5)

  • Anna W.

    I'd heard great things about this place so last night myself and 2 girlfriends decided to check it out. We sat at the bar, had a couple glasses of wine, and snacked on the terrine board. The wine list had good variety and the handmade terrine board was absolutely delicious! Our bartender was super friendly(and cute:p) and other we ended up chatting with a server for a few minutes as well. All in all great atmosphere, friendly staff, and delicious food. While we didn't have a full meal, the menu looked delicious and I look forward to going back and truly indulging!

    (5)

  • Sheri I.

    Great disappointment. The she crab soup was excellent but the rest was a no-go. My first rib eye steak was burned so I received my dinner way after everyone else. Mistakes happen but the steak was the toughest steak I have ever had. The vegetable accompaniment was good but the steak was intolerable. I mentioned this to the waiter and thought they might take something off but apparently that is not what they thought. I should have bought the $50 yellow shoes I saw the other day instead. Won't be returning.

    (2)

  • Erin G.

    We've been here several times. Always great food and cocktails. Wines by the glass that are hard to find. Service great also.

    (5)

  • Christopher W.

    Very interesting menu! Food was a bit of a let down, but cocktails were delicious, although maybe not worth the ten dollar price tag. Intended to return and try the Ramen, but lunch was so disappointing and uninspired and it is unlikely that I'll return.

    (2)

  • Dale S.

    I have been looking forward to going to this restaurant for a while. The terrine app was amazing. However the risotto was undercooked and very disappointing.

    (4)

  • Tierney Y.

    I have a problem going to a restaurant that treats you like you don't know anything about wine. We picked a 2010 bottle from Walla Walla, Washington's Milbrandt Vineyards, a Syrah. We waited for the bottle of wine to come to the table for a long time. Pretty much we waited through our appetizer and then instead of bringing out main course with out the wine, they decided to send out a terrible salad with arugula and cold potatoes that had clearly been roasted many days before. Finally the waiter came out with A bottle of wine. It was a 2012 Shiraz from Australia. I immediately looked at it and said, this isn't from Walla Walla, Washington. He took it back and came back with another bottle. This time it was a Walla Walla, Washington wine but from 2012. We finally just asked if we could get two glasses of wine from the bar before our dinner came. They complied and that was that. They were charging $112 dollars for the bottle we originally ordered, so why would you not bring out the correct bottle or just be honest and tell us that you don't have it and bring something comparable. We felt like they were trying to just give us what they had and hoped we would not notice. As for the food. It was not very good. The Fries I had with the Diner Burger had been microwaved before coming out to the table. The were so gross. The "three little birdies" my boyfriend had was obviously a dish that just had too much going on with in it. They tried too hard and failed miserably. If you are on a date, do not order the crispy pig tails. They stick to your teeth for the rest of the evening because of the molasses. The bartender did come out and apologize for the wine situation and service was fine out side of the waiting for the wine for over half the meal. But, the first thing i learned as a waitress/bartender is that when someone orders an alcoholic beverage, the first thing you do is make sure that gets to the table in the first 2 minutes. AFter that, its smooth sailing because they are happy with their drink. So, making someone wait for 45 minutes is not such a good idea.

    (2)

  • asma a.

    Unfortunately I didn't actually get to go to this restaurant because of what follows, so this is a review of their service. I called to make reservations and was kept on hold for literally 9 minutes and six seconds. So I called right back, was told there weren't any tables inside but there may be some outside, so I said "but I think it's going to rain, right?" (In my defense it had rained cats and dogs earlier and was forecast to rain the whole week) to which the voice on the other end said, "unfortunately I'm not a meteorologist." Very professional response. Thank you, I will take my party of six elsewhere.

    (1)

  • Caren S.

    50$ bottle of (trader joe) sauvignon blanc wine. They really are playing with their food too much, so much so that they have lost the essence of it. "pork steak" looks like rare beef- and I get that they probably butcher their own product, but it's just over the top. The two orders at the table looked nothing alike. The three little hens, while stacked pretty, had no distinctive flavor and if there was a quail in there it was like a hide and seek puzzle. 6.50 for a SMALL board of bread, come on?? There's such a thing as trying to imitate James Beard nominees too hard. Try Tripel instead or just go get a steak!

    (1)

  • Dave M.

    My wife and I dined at The Libertine last night and overall our experience was very good. The staff was great, the atmosphere was lovely and for most part the food was delicious. Our orders - Moscow Mule - Served properly in a copper mug. Very refreshing. Do yourself a favor and order this cocktail if you've never tried it before. Blackberry Infused Watermelon - The subtle flavor the blackberry soda worked, but I wasn't in love with the presentation. It's brought out as 4 slices of watermelon. I thought it might be balled or somehow served a little inventive. Still tasty. She-Crab Soup - Great tasting crab bisque. The spring rolls that accompanied it had just the right amount of texture and flavor, without taking away from the soup itself. Three Little Birds - VERY tasty, and the rice grits it was bedded with were perfect. I wish it was portioned a little larger because it was so delicious, but last I checked Quail and Game Hen aren't exactly super sized Skate Fish - The daily special. Sounded good when described, but it was a little odd tasting. My wife only ate a few bites and we let Tiffany know that the fish seemed a bit off. It wasn't a big deal but the staff wouldn't accept anything less than taking it off the check as well as providing desert on the house. Tart - The toasted meringue with the pie crust had just the right amount of sweetness and crunch. Libertine Candy Bar - By far, one of the best deserts I've ever had. I can't tell you the last time I ended a meal with a dish that blew me away like this one. Truly a must have if you dine there. The Libertine has earned a reputation as one of the best new restaurants in St. Louis and with good reason. Their menu is inventive and original, without a hint of pretentiousness. The staff is knowledgeable and attentive. We will be back soon.

    (4)

  • sara m.

    Expensive and pretentious. had the poached walleye and it was just so bland flavorless. , please bring me the chili sauce so at least there is ome flavor! For someone who doesn't eat a lot of meat, choices were limited. It's like they are trying to be "so cutting edge" . The burger was the best thing our group had. The wine was good and not too pricey. We live close by and had hoped for it to be better but probably will chose Pomme or Pastara over Libertine unless they change their "too sophisticated for me" menu. I really wanted to like it , darn.

    (2)

  • Dan H.

    Another great new Clayton restaurant. We had the carrots, pig tails, crispy octopus, and crab boil. Everything was good to excellent, and the pig tails were outstanding (don't worry, not recognizable as such). I think that was my favorite pig food of all time, beating anything I had at Cochon in NOLA (admittedly only one visit there). Candy bar dessert was delicious too. The garbanzo beans munchies were tasty and less filling than bread. Drink/wine list was great, though I thought the Mick Jagger drink was merely ok/good. (I'm usually disappointed by the house cocktails at bars these days, and should probably stop ordering them. But maybe I just ordered wrong.) The servers we dealt with were fun and knowledgeable, and the vibe was friendly and relaxed. I don't think it's pretentious at all--Tony's is my idea of pretentious--but ymmv. It was nice eating outside (can't comment on interior), but the chairs seem to be the same torture devices they use in front of Nico (or was it the previous restaurant there?). At least it encourages you to lean toward each other and get intimate. Like Little Country Gentlemen, Bar Les Freres, and Niche, this is kind of a "foodie" place, so it probably isn't for everyone. Those seeking a familiar/basic meal may not like it.

    (5)

  • Daniel H.

    The Libertine has a good atmosphere, great service, and fun creative dishes that should be savored. We ate here last night and had an amazing time. While there are plenty of great drinks listed on the menu, we asked the bartender to get a little creative and he knocked it out the park. The waiter was amazing. After a bit of awkwardness where he tried to explain the small/big dish concept (we got it, but apparently some people don't -- see reviews below), we started with the Sweet Potato and Rice Fluff dish and told him we would go from there. He got it and from there out the meal was timed PERFECTLY. As we were wrapping up one dish, he would drop by and ask us about it to see if we wanted anything else. We tested him and asked for his recommendation -- he steered us towards the Cauliflower and won our trust with that one. Highly recommended. After that, we ordered the Vietnamese Bacon dish per his recommendation which was savory and perfect to finish on. Three small dishes for two people is more than plenty, if you take an hour to eat it. As for dessert, we decided to each get something--great choice. The strawberry shortcake Valentine's special was great, but the Candy Bar was to die for! It was creative, delicious, and beautiful. We're coming back for just that one day. All in all--a great place. I wouldn't come looking to stuff your face. I think the Libertine has gotten dinged by people who expect huge entrée portions. If that is what you are looking for, then the Libertine probably isn't for you. If you want real food and want to take your time to enjoy it, come here. These portions are just right and deserve appreciation. Take your time, spend an hour or two sharing plates and good conversation and you won't regret it.

    (5)

  • Andy K.

    Well went here last night and had a great meal. First off everything is a little strange and unusual. The menu is unique and interesting. Lots of veggie options and all were well prepared and delicious. We had 3 of them, the mushrooms, cauliflower, and asparagus app/entree. The size was between tapas and full entrée. Definitely order at least two items from the list. We also had the burger, skate fish and the coffee encrusted pork chop. The presentation and flavors are unique to Saint Louis and works of art. I can definitely see where this place will not be everyone's cup of tea. Just know there will not be a familiar dishes here, but for those who like adventure Libertine is your place. The cocktails are fantastic and worth the visit alone. Well thought out wine list both by the glass and the bottle will satisfy those folks and the beer list is among the city's best. I had the Black Seal Rum cocktail...great. The night cap of the meal was every dessert on their offering. The big winners were the homemade chocolate bar and the coffee..coffee cake.

    (5)

  • Jennifer K.

    Really enjoyed our dinner! We had ordered all of the specials so who knows when they will repeat themselves (foie gras, seviche). The pork bellies that are only served on Friday and Saturday nights are a must have! We shared the pork chop entree which was good but not great. Try something else. Pork chops are hard to do. Nice, wide range wine list. Great dessert.

    (4)

  • Lauren B.

    Menu is fantastic. They have so many great dishes to choose from that are all interesting and delicious combinations. I sat outside, which was nice because the inside does seem a bit dark. The service I received was excellent. They even brought water to my dog:). Refreshing, as good service seems like a lost cause these days at restaurants. Will definitely be back!

    (5)

  • J K.

    The mushroom dish can be made vegan, but be warned: it's pretty dang oily! This place is far superior to Chez Leon, the stuffy French restaurant that was there before it. The hipster-y vibe is just what Clayton needs.

    (4)

  • Terry G.

    Been hearing a lot of hype about the place and really wanting a good burger I figured it was time to take my big black ass to The Libertine. My big black ass hasn't had a decent burger in a while and all I could think about was sinking my big black ass into the burger. But of course the Misses was with me. SO salad was the starter. My big black ass hasn't had a green vegetable since the early 70s when my big black ass prescribed a quaalude to a infant. To be fair it stopped crying but I lost my license and I swore off salads. I politely asked the server to microwave the salad (as previously stated watching greens succumb to gamma radiation really gets my potatoes boiling. Its like watching the hulk turn into soup) She politely declined because she claims they don't have a microwave. Right bitch and my big black ass doesn't have a big black ass. Anyways I don't really remember anything else except arguing with the wife about slaves. But things seemed in order my big black ass gives it FIVE STARS

    (5)

  • Larry L.

    I just have to say I was more than a little disappointed with our first experience at The Libertine. We were all in for a fabulous chicken dinner Sunday evening. Warm biscuits for starters were great. The cocktail very good but tiny. The salad was just so so. I couldn't wait for the fried chicken that supposedly takes a week to prep. Well, I don't know how anything brined in tea and marinated in buttermilk could be so dry and lifeless. The best part of it was the crunchy batter. The creamed spinach, delish. I even thought the grits were good having never tried them. Then King Cake for dessert....a dry bread-like crusted cake dough with a microscopic scoop of ice cream (+$2.00) was the last disappointment we would have to endure. Glancing around the room I didn't see too many empty dessert plates either. Needless to say we won't be giving it another try. I'm not trying to be cruel, but in this town there are so many better places for my food dollar.

    (1)

  • Jon M.

    Anniversary dinner here. Great food. Great atmosphere. The waiter was up front about the size of each dish and pricing was fine for the protions. The terrine plate and tuna were fantastic.

    (5)

  • C P.

    This was a front-of-house nightmare from start to finish. Four drinks ordered shortly after being seated at 7:30 arrived in two separated batches, at 8:30 and 8:45. (Our server: "They're really slammed up there". An hour plus, though? On a week night?) The appetizers had arrived a few minutes before that, minus the ash-roasted carrots we had ordered with everything else. (Our server, after all appetizers had been finished and we asked about the carrots: "Oh, those were 86'd I think...I'll check" and this was after taking our order for them without comment and an hour had passed without them showing up.) The "family style" salad which we had ordered for the table arrived with barely enough wilted-looking salad for one person in a normal sized individual salad bowl. They eventually brought us another just like it because we asked (nicely) if we were actually paying $7 a person (=$28) for the portion they had delivered. Ordering dinner was similarly laborious. Our server effused at great length about the menu (and did have a good handle on the ingredients and preparation) but then only when someone ordered the lamb were we told it was unavailable.. and again a lengthy spiel ("What happened was the price of lamb doubled in the last two weeks...") Then when recapping the order, the server had simply made up one person's order and had to be corrected (even after having given a lengthy lecture on the dish the person had decided to order. ) Our server showed up quite often and talked quite a bit...to the point where I felt we had gained an uninvited fifth dinner companion. Personable, intelligent, but a professional disaster. I'm funny about that, I guess, but I'm not there to make friends with the server and there's a line of familiarity that I don't like to see crossed. When you're hearing about four previous jobs (I note: none of them as a server) and a therapist, it's clear that there are no professional standards, instructions, nor training in place in this restaurant. Our server abruptly left our table three times in mid sentence (including when opening wine-- guess what? the cork broke) to speak to or high-five other customers. GIven all of the above, it should be no surprise that dinner arrived at 9:30, two hours after we sat down. A nice comic twist: the supposedly 86'd carrots arrived at 9:35. The cocktails were quite good, the food very good also. Although, why you would serve a burger and fries with no accompanying catsup or dipping sauce, I don't know. Mine were half gone when our server asked if I wouldn't like some. Points for that. Also, the sunflower "risotto" (our server: "It doesn't even have Arborio rice!!!") was left virtually untouched by one of our party. Asked about it, he said, "It tastes... odd." That was being kind. It was revolting, as if you had mixed sunflower seeds with wallpaper paste. This restaurant certainly deserves another chance, after being open only about a week when we visited there. However, contrary to our server's constant excuses ("Sorry, there is just...so.. much to get together....") running a restaurant is not rocket science. Nor does a dining experience need to be a Woody-Allen-like comedic snafu from start to finish. And no amount of self-aggrandizing, excusing, apologizing, or comping can take back an entire evening of ridiculous interface between customer and restaurant. We were not fretful or complaining... luckily the delightful company made up for the long time span and all the mis-steps. But still, even at a young restaurant, the experience should not be like this.

    (1)

  • Jennifer B.

    decent food... not something I'd pay that much for again though. Service was strange, hard to order at first. The secret ingredient in just about everything tasted like it may have been butter. It's good that the tiny cocktails were strong otherwise I wouldn't have wanted to pay the bill.

    (2)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Tue

Specialities

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

The Libertine

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