Robust at The MX
635 Washington Ave, Saint Louis, MO, 63102
Robust at The MX Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Saint Louis for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
635 Washington Ave
Saint Louis, MO, 63102 - Phone (314) 287-6300
- Website https://www.robustwinebar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
- Mon : 11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Mon, Tue, Wed
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Ebony L.
I had dinner here with a friend. This place is really classy with an amazing ambience! The food, drinks, & service were fantastic! This is a great spot for date night, birthday celebration, girls night out..etc. I will definitely come back!
(5)Christina O.
go for the wine list, cheeses and charcuterie. however, considering the small sizes, average flavor and presentation of the dishes, dinner here is not worth the price. i was very disappointed with the lava cake and orange sorbet-the flavors didn't mesh well. -parking in this area is a nightmare.
(3)Justin C.
This review covers the most important thing on the menu, the booze. On the heels of a nail biter at Busch Stadium and an impending case of severe indigestion from the offensive amount of BBQ, stadium food and booze we consumed that day, my buddy and I were looking for something to soothe the soul and the gut. We smugly stumbled into Robust looking for a digestif, we were greeted with a menu that had an entire section to soothe our bourgeoise needs as well as an expansive craft cocktail selection. Our bartender was extremely knowledgeable and helped us find what we were looking for. After luring us in with a few digestifs with a shot of soda and lemon we were soon won over by the fact he designed their Old Fashioned Cocktail recipe. FFWD 3 hrs later and we finally stumbled back to the hotel. Indigestion and baseball emotions be damned!
(4)Mark V.
Friendly people all over here. Having a hard time finding grumpy people here. (Thank god)
(4)Christine Z.
The best place I have been to! I am from Chicago and a coworker suggested to come here because the food was amazing. So I walked from my hotel (will never walk that distance alone again here) and I cannot get enough of it. Not only was my wine flight and food great, but I have never been in such good company ever before. Especially for being alone at a place for the first time. I met two amazing couples that were extremely friendly and were regulars at the bar, and the staff was even better. The woman I met told me it was her favorite place because it felt like home and I could definitely see that, reminded me of the TV show Cheers. Never been somewhere where people are so kind, the food was delicious, and my wine was perfect. Thank you so much Robust, I hope to see you again soon ;)
(5)Mike B.
Robust was recommended by a few people that I ran into during my stay in St. Louis - security guards at the America Center, hotel staff, other conference members - and was probably the best meal I had during my short stay there. I came here right after a good session at the hotel gym. beast mode, then feast mode! soup of the day was an amazing carrot/ginger puree. perfect on a cool, drizzly night. as for entree, I went with something from the smaller-sized menu - pork belly, red cabbage, and home fries. kind of an upscale early Oktoberfest offering; it was fantastic. crispy pork belly, perfectly pickled red cabbage, and hearty home fries. dessert? yes please. Brannon, my waiter, said that his favorite was the toffee pretzel crunch, and he had been especially helpful during dinner so I took his word for it. I think it lasted about ten seconds in front of me, as the crunchy, salty, caramel combination disappeared into my stomach. all of which was washed down with some excellent red wines. flights are available, and the menu indicates which wines pair with which food offerings. fair pricing, friendly service, great quality food in both taste and presentation make Robust a sure choice if you're in downtown STL.
(4)Dana C.
I have been at this restaurant several time but today is my birthday and Brandy has made it and complete wonderful experience.thank you for the great service and suggestions on my meal.
(5)Chris R.
Full disclosure: I've been a big fan of their original location in Webster Groves, and I'm a wine drinker. The owners (Stanley and Arlene) and the people they have working for them take very good care of their patrons, and that continues in their new MX location. This one has a different feel, and I love it. The ceiling over the bar has a very cool art installation (I guess that's what you'd call it - it's cool). Go for the Robust chowder, scallops, flatbread and of course wine. Parking = if you pull up to the Embassy Suites and valet your car, it's $3. Additionally, there are evenings where I have parked on the lot behind the Embassy Suites. It's not official parking, but if there's no attendant, I've parked there for free. It's a downtown, urban location, so parking is never going to be as easy as it is in the suburbs. Just valet, find street parking or garage parking, and you're good. Service = I have been helped by Neiko a few times, and she's awesome. Haris has also taken great care of us. I've been three times, and each time, people have been all smiles and I've had great service. It pains me to see that others have not had the same experience, because I know the owners and staff truly do care. My recommendation is to go back and if you have trouble, ask for Haris or the owners. Each night here is a great experience. I'll be back.
(5)Canny F.
You have to come here with a lot of people so you get to order more! I came here with a group of 8 and I, of course, placed the order. Golden beet carpaccio, Sundried tomato hummus, Baked camembert, Spinach and artichoke dip (they forgot to give me this), Glazed Brussels sprouts, Mushroom ragu over polenta, Roasted mushroom flatbread, Figgy piggy Apple, Spiced Apple crisp, Goat cheese cheesecake, Toffee pretzel crunch, Salted caramel pot de creme, Dreamsicle bread pudding. Everything was amazing; I only remembered what I didn't like. The waiter forgot a lot of what I ordered so I had to reorder it. The spiced apple crisp was lame, you can see from the pictures. Everyone loved their large entree dishes, and wow were they large.
(4)Valerie T.
It was fun, the waiter was nice and awesome. The food was delicious!! Love Robust downtown!!!
(5)Dustin C.
Awesome place with great atmosphere my wife has celiac and allergic to gluten. Robust had lots of choices for her and a staff that knows their menu and drinks to the t! Great service, Keyan did a fantastic job! Thanks to all of them for making our trip to St. Louis better! Oh-beers good too!
(5)Aimee K.
I don't think I have a bad thing to say about any of the Robust locations, but this one might just be my favorite. It's so beautiful inside, and during the week the crowd is more manageable compared to the others. I've never had a wait (unless it was a weekend) and the staff is always so wonderful and knowledgeable. Wine flights. Two pages of them! In the words of Phoebe Buffay, "holy crap." I'm a huge fan of the "take me to bed reds" and the "roll out the red carpet." You truly can't go wrong with any of them, and the servers here always are ready to answer any wine questions you can throw at them. That's one of my favorite parts about this place... it makes choosing a wine so easy because the staff is so great with recommendations. You can't go wrong. The cocktail and nightcap lists are also not to be missed. Always ask what the special is - just take my word. The last time I was in they had a snapper special with a butternut squash puree and brussels sprouts, and it was one of the best meals I've had in a long time. The sirloin steak is also incredible - it's seared sirloin steak with a caramelized onion glace, roasted fingerling potatoes, and frisee with sherry vinaigrette. You simply cannot lose here. Don't let the lack of parking intimidate you... there are paid lots all around. This place is worth the trip, always.
(5)K S.
BF and I were visiting from out of town and they were even kind enough to turn the tv on the the NBA playoff game for us. We enjoyed 2 wine flights. The food was tasty. but I think my favorite was the goat cheese cheese cake Yum! The decor was nice and we were dressed pretty casual but didnt feel uncomfortable. Although it wasnt many people dining there at the time. Our waiter was great and made our experience there enjoyable.
(3)Shannon D.
Beautiful environment, exquisite food, wonderful wines, and the most knowledgeable certified bartenders!!! I lived in Saint Louis for almost 2 years, directly above this restaurant might I add. I've probably eaten here more than 75 times. I've been to Over 100 places in Saint Louis, but Robust was always my favorite. I live in San Diego now and still haven't found a replacement. My favorites were always the Rapido (Pinot Grigio) and the Spinach and Artichoke Dip. But the cheese plates are to die for, also! I've recommended to people who were traveling to Saint Louis over and over again. There have been zero disappointments. If I came back to visit Saint Louis, this is the first place I will go. Love and miss all of you great people!!
(5)Olivia J.
Our first time. Great evening! Well thought through menu, smart pairings. Nice tour from manager Koji. I highly recommend the pretzel dessert!
(5)Anna B.
Went here for a light bite and some drinks this week, and I was pleased. I like the set-up and organizaiton of the menu. We ordered the crab cakes, and they were pretty delicious. I enjoyed my glass of red wine and my date had the iron and vine, a fun take on a Manhattan. The atmosphere is nice, relaxing and romantic. The 4 stars are for the unfortunate location. Not their fault, but Wash Ave can be hit and miss and is often quite dead, plus the parking is non-existent. Take the metro if you go, the stop lets off right across the street! I do want to come back for one of their special events/happy hours! They have something just about every day, and all look like great deals!
(4)Andrew M.
I was in St. Louis last weekend for a 3 day marathon visit (literally and figuratively) and on the final night found myself here. My wife and I had driven all around the sprawling suburbs to visit friends and family and wanted to eat somewhere within walking distance of our hotel. I hadn't run my best marathon ever but still wanted to celebrate so I was able to slowly hobble my way to Robust. It was on Sunday and the neighborhood looked quite sleepy -- the restaurant was no exception. Granted, we arrived retirement home early but hardly anyone else was there! That can be a good or bad thing but fortunately for us it meant that we got very attentive service. We both started off with the Bubble Bath flight, which consisted of small pours of three sparkling wines. We paired that with a cheese and charcuterie plate that our server recommended and it worked very well together! After a week of carb overload I wanted a big piece of meat so I ordered the strip steak. We paired a relatively inexpensive red wine blend with it and I wish I could remember what it was because I've tasted countless wines and this one was GOOD! Unfortunately the steak didn't turn out quite as good. I ordered it medium rare as I always order steaks but medium rare it was not! For me the ideal strip or ribeye is going to have a red center that is nice and warm -- so medium rare! I can also handle a steak that is medium because it will still be pink throughout and somewhat juicy. Well...neither red nor pink was to be found. This steak was cooked thoroughly all the way through...a dry, sad, gray center....WELL DONE! Normally I wouldn't have hesitated to send the steak back, however I was exhausted from the race and just wanted to put meat in my mouth, plus the server had been great so I didn't want to break his poor heart. Everything about this experience was excellent -- especially the service -- but I'm taking off a star because of the steak, even though I didn't send it back. I can understand overcooking a medium rare steak to medium but not to well done. That means someone wasn't paying attention!
(4)Sarah L.
I came here for an early dinner this past Saturday. Since it was pretty early (5pm) it wasn't that crowded, but started to fill up by the time we left. Overall I had a great experience from the wine to food to service. For starters, I would recommend a cheese plate, we had the 4 cheese sampler which was oh so tasty and perfect to share. This is a wine bar so they have quite a few wines to choose from and it might take a while for you to read through all of them on the wine list once you arrive! We asked for recommendations from our server and she was able to guide us easily into a great wine selection (and even dinner selections). For the main course I had the strip steak and frites - the steak was huge and very chewy. I anticipated it not being as thick of a cut since it was a strip steak, but it was still good. My friend had the dinner special, halibut, which was served in a delicious sauce, and if they have it again, I would recommend that! For dessert, we tried the goat milk cheesecake which was nice and tastier than regular cheesecake. I'm not a huge dessert fan, but my friend really loved it! Overall, it was a great meal. I really enjoyed the restaurant and ambiance too. They offer wine flights and other cocktails as well in case you bring someone there who isn't a wine fan (what a crazy thought).
(4)David A.
My wife and I went here last Saturday evening for a dinner date. We had no problem getting a table, perhaps due to the very frigid weather that rolled in to Saint Louis last week. My wife had the California Cabernet flight, which she loved. I had a Civil Life draft (the local brewery from Tower Grove South / Dutchtown that makes excellent session beers). Civil Life brewing is a half step between the world of home-brewing and craft brewing, which I really appreciate, but that's a different post. For a starter, we shared the four cheese sampler tray, which had a delicious bleu, manchego cheese, and brie. For dinner, I ordered the special, which was seared scallops, filet mignon, mashed potatoes and pan fried brussels sprouts. Dinner was excellent and I was satisfied. Steak and scallops for $28 is a great bargain. My wife ordered the "Figgy Piggy Apple" flatbread, which was a generously sized wood-fired pizza that two could easily share, with bacon, fig, and gorgonzola cheese. It is very tasty. We'll definitely go again, but when we're on Washington Avenue, Bridges is still the top choice.
(4)Jay B.
Great wine. Great cheese plate. Great sea bass. Great goat cheesecake. The only thing I have a little complaint is the ceaser salad. Everything else was fantastic. The "stan the man" cabernet wine flight was so good, I kept the page so I could see if I can find a case of one of the three samples. The cheese playe was excellent and plenty (probably too much for one person but perfect for two). The sevice was top notch. The male bartender was being blatantly hit on by two good looking women at the bar and he always made sure I was taken care of through that "distraction". (One of them even called him lovely) I'll definitely be going back.
(5)Alex W.
What a cool place in downtown St Louis! Lots of wine + cool food = Robust. I'm not a wine connoisseur in any way and do not claim to be, so our server was quite helpful. My guy & I were waiting for another pair to show up - Mr Waiter was quite friendly and patient in waiting for them. The menu itself is helpful as well - I picked a style and our waiter picked a really good wine for me... because I ended up enjoying 3 glasses! My guy & I actually returned post-game for a 49ers celebratory glass as well. Once you order a glass, suggested food pairings are noted in the menu so I decided to go that route with a chicken flatbread - absolutely delicioius! The portion was good too. While we waited we dined on a couple of shared appetizers - goat cheese & little bread bites, grapes & nuts hit the spot. I'd love to return if I make another trip to St Louis.
(5)Victoria Belle S.
Delicious & great service. I loved their wine flights (I love the vina Robles), their food including the Parmesan crusted grouper special (so meaty!), and dreamsicle orange bread pudding, and their service is so friendly & charmingly funny! The staff really know their wines. Lastly, Beautiful decoration and large windows that look out on the street. Plus bonus, it's across from the MX movie theatre ;) Definitely recommend!
(5)Daniel K.
Food was phenomenal. The staff was not what you would expect. Most wearing a brown tshirt with the company logo. To be honest you'd probably expect them to be working in a coffee shop rather than an establishment which produces high quality food. They did do their best and succeeded in giving that relaxed atmosphere type vibe. Just different than what you would expect coming in here. The food was just so flavorful. Lamb ragu was soft and tender. Accompanied by parmesian type polenta! It was just yummy in my fat bastard tummy. The pork belly was seared crispy and when you bit into it you just wanted to savor it, but then you realized you wanted another piece in your mouth. Pickeld red cabbage and sliced potatoes au something was a perfect addition. Lamb/Beef meatballs were a little sweet for me, but you could definitely taste the lamb!! Hate when you order lamb and can't taste it. I want to taste what I ordered dammit! They have a prix fix menu... $25 for 3 courses. We got the corn chowder which was spicy and creamy. Dessert the goat cheesecake was more of a home made style cheesecake. Hit the spot even when no spots were left to be hit. TWSS.
(4)Jacy C.
The food is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! The environment is upscale and classy, and the wait staff is knowledgeable about the menu and very enthusiastic. The dishes are a little pricy, but totally worth what you'll pay. I had the Mahi Mahi special, and the fish was so tender and seasoned so well. The plate presentation is beautiful, and they give you the perfect portion size. My dinner mate got one of the pork dishes, and all of the flavors went together so well. The pork was incredibly tender and flavorful. We will be visiting often! This would also be a great place for a first date or a quiet place to get to know someone.
(5)Jackie H.
Robust is a great place if you want very rich food and a "hip", modern atmosphere. Amazing food here at Robust. Started with a cheese plate--Delice de Bourgogne, which was phenomenal. The cheese was excellent with the 2012 Catena wine. Then the BLT salad which sounds simple and boring, but the dressing has an awesome kick to it that gives it a lot of flavor. So very good! And then for dinner I had the Flank Steak which is usually served over potato, but I got it with the mushroom risotto and it was to die for. The steak was tender and juicy, cooked perfectly to order, and the risotto was heavenly. I had the Toffee Pretzel Crunch for dessert which is an amazing toffee dessert with mousse and pretzels. If you like chocolate this dessert is for you! Only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is because our waiter was a little rude. Otherwise it was an awesome experience!
(4)Kathryn C.
Best crab cake sandwich I have ever had and I'm from southern New Jersey so that's saying a lot. Wine flight was basically 3 whole glasses of wine. Niko was the best!! Probably going back for dinner. Two thumbs up!!
(5)Elizabeth M.
I love Robust, any time, any location. Went here for my birthday and had a lovely time. Server was great (from what I remember anyways) and wine was awesome. I will be coming back again and again and again.
(5)Amanda D.
A solid staple to downtown living! Everything on the menu is good! I love the turkey wrap, bblt and Apple Figgy pizza...and that's just the start! A must for all three locations!
(5)Kenny R.
Location: Great Wine list: Great Service: Overpriced, pretentious, no reason to be stuffy or snooty....but if you're into that, this is your place. Wait staff doesn't KNOW about beer/wine selection, but they do a great job pretending. Love the condescending attitudes.
(1)Samantha S.
Sat at the bar, on a Tuesday night. They had a decent crowd. The bartender (guy) was extremely nice, knowledgeable, and helpful. I love that they offer half glasses, but love the wine flights even more. My friend and I had a few different cheese/meet plates. I enjoyed it and will be back.
(5)Mor W.
We had a living social coupon. The ambiance is great and the variety of the menue was good. I especially liked the cheese and charcuterie. The wine selection was great. The only thing that put a damper on our experience was that we waited almost 45 min. For our main courses. The waitress told us there was a problem in the kitchen and then disappeared for over 30 min. No one offered an explanation or compensation for the long wait. We had to rush our eating and couldn't enjoy it as we should have. The waitress then rushed back to offer dessert but unfortunately we just did not have time. I would have loved to try a wine flight and dessert. Since we liked the food we'll give it another shot, hopefully next time the service will be a bit better.
(3)Mary A.
Dined here on two consecutive nights while staying at the Embassy Suites next door. Day one: Lunch off the lunch menu. Cheese platter and assorted charcuterie plate. Cheese platter was presented beautifully, sever was very knowledgeable about which ones were which and recommendation on which soft or hard bread to use with each. The charcuterie plate was more than I could eat! The pate had pickles and it was wonderful. Day two: Dinner and the "perfect manhattan". The Manhattan _was_ perfect. Generous pour and the best I've had. I opted for the Robust salad of greens, salami and dressing. Very nice and generous sized. My entree was the Lamb ragout. Delicious! Lab was tender, spiced wonderfully, not too many veggies (actually only counted two pieces of carrot!) and the polenta paired with it nicely. When I am in St. Louis again, I will stop by!
(4)Marilynn P.
I am no wine connoisseur, but I did enjoy everything Robust had to offer. I loved the space and it's rustic urban vibe. My friend and I sat at the bar; however, next time I visit, I'd love to get a table to really absorb and appreciate the interior design. The service was pretty standard- the bartender wasnt rude, but he wasnt super friendly either. They offer wine flights, which is what my friend ordered and it looked like a really good deal (plus she said she enjoyed all of the wines). I ended up just getting a glass of Blaufränkisch and it was delightful and what I expected. We also tried their Baked Camembert which was definitely the highlight of our visit! Looking forward to visiting again. The only thing I dislike is the location. Parking can be tedious on/near Wash Ave.
(4)Stephanie Y.
Crab cake sandwich was really good but the side salad that came with it was amazing! Had to wait a while for my food. That was the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.
(4)Chirag P.
I love a wine bar that is also showing sports games. I think they change the food menus often or seasonally, so I'll just put a general note that all the food I ate was GREAT. I did order the Soft, Sexy, Sassy wine flight... but as male I made sure I said it as manly as possible... it was a great pinot noir trio. Anyways, it's a fun place, very casual, but easily dressy, I guess just depends on if it's a game day in STL or not. Check it out if you're a wine fan (but they've got great beers too), so don't be afraid.
(5)Cindy H.
Been to two Robust locations and enjoy the staff and the wine everytime, but the food is truly amazing.
(5)Terek N.
Stopped here because its next to my hotel. Definitely not disappointed. Excellent happy hour wine specials. The lamb with apricot is to die for. Nice selection of meats and cheeses. Plus excellent service!
(5)Lucy W.
So delicious...and the wine flights were great. We tried the cheese late sampler, and a couple small plates- meatballs and the bacon/egg/pesto flatbread. The flatbread was amazing...crispy crust, and flavorful pesto...I've had a couple types of flatbread that had egg on it and this was the best executed, since the yolk was fully cooked and not running all over the flatbread, but not overcooked at all. The meatballs and sauce were well seasoned, and came in a cool asymetrical bowl. And of course, the wine...you can order by 3 or 6 oz pours, or order wine flights, which are categorized by types of wine. On the menu, each wine is grouped by numbers- the larger the number, the more robust your wine...and the food on the menu has recommendations of which robust number you should order to compliment your food choice. I ordered a sparkling flight, which was great...really complimented the cheese and tapas. I do wish the table were a bit bigger, since the flights of wine and food take up a bit of space....if they have a little side table or glass holders on the side for my wine glasses (like they do in serving the wine glasses), that would be cool. Chic but comfy decor...the bar had very cool design treatment of many individual hanging glass (I think?) rods, which looked kind of like rain falling...it just makes you want to look up. Convenient location at street level of Embassy Suites, near the convention center, and just a short walk away from the Gateway Arch. I walked to the restaurant, but it looked like parking in a nearby lot, or valet, was pretty easy.
(4)Shawn C.
Very good food. Cheese selection is good. Salads are very good. Scallops are good but very small portion. Wine list is extensive. Must stop for me when in town.
(4)Eddie P.
Not bad, slow night so a lot of talk with the bartender. Ordered the carpaccio and the chowder and both were very good. Had the French flight and was also good. For our meals we had the duck confit and sea bass, which were ok. My problem was the duck was slightly overcooked, being used to duck cooked medium. The sea bad was good but I just couldn't get over the very very fishy taste. The staff was very friendly, ambiance is nice and clean. For the Pièce de résistance, they had chocolate covered bacon by Oh Sheila! At the counter (it was an impulse buy I swear!) and that made my night, but $9 for two pieces of bacon, jeeeeez! Oh well, go try it out!
(3)Victoria V.
We were in a huge hurry. Going to event at the Dome. Server heard us, and got our food out so we could eat and not have to rush and shovel it in. We really thought the burgers sounded good, but they charged us "dinner price" for them which was $16.00 each. Ouch. But they WERE great. The salad option instead of fries is terrific, and the basil dressing was DELISH! Kid's menu wasn't too bad, but my son wished it had healthier options. Would go back to experience with date for a night out.
(4)Skinny J.
Such a great experience. Robrunch was AMAZING. BOGO Bloody Marys are where it's at. My pepperjack and pick omelette was fantastic. Great server, and manager checked on us also. Overall, so many more than 5 stars.
(5)Laura L.
I came here for a networking wine-tasting event with some colleagues back in September, and I enjoyed the event so much that this place went on my list to try. Last night, I was looking for somewhere to try with a coworker for dinner, and we opted to give this a try. We were seated immediately, and waters were brought quickly, before we even had the chance to open the menus. Our server walked through all the details of the menu and gave us a good feel for how big each type of dish was going to be. We decided to share several types of cheese and a flatbread. We ordered Mantoro and Sartori Raspberry cheeses, both of which were strong but very satisfying, and we also got the chicken confit flatbread, which was delicious. The crust had good structure without being too crispy; it was strong enough to support all the delicious goat cheese and barbecue sauce toppings without being overly doughy. We each ordered a wine flight. The Blondes Have More Fun white wine flight was very nice. The flights were served with a helpful cheat sheet detailing the highlights of the wines. Overall, this was a great place for a nice dinner with a colleague, and even better that it was within walking distance from the hotel I stay at AND from my colleague's apartment!
(4)Eric R.
I had dinner and drinks at Robust while visiting St. Louis from out of town. We had a private room in the back and it was nice and relaxing there. The menu is a bit intimidating and complex, particularly for a vegetarian, but the staff was very knowledgeable and helpful. Overall, the food was good and the atmosphere was great. Fun dining experience!
(4)Daniel F.
My wife and coworkers frequent this place for lunch, so we went on a Saturday afternoon, to try this place. It seemed decent, not crowded at all. But the food was not worth the price, I had the bistro burger and it filled the necessity of my hunger, but not something that was memorable. My wife and daughter had the BLT and it was a fancy take on a basic sandwich. My daughter was not a fan of its taste and did not finish her plate. It was clear that there was a shift change because we did not keep our servers attention to get our check and refills on our drinks. I don't think we will be going back anytime soon. $65 for 3 sandwiches is way too much for this type of meal.
(2)Brandi S.
The wine flight was fantastic as was our server's knowledge and descriptions of our choices. The cheese plate and hummus plate was great, but the soup of the day I ordered wasn't near as good. A beautiful place I hope to visit again (and I'll skip the tomato chicken bacon soup).
(4)Ashley P.
This is the first restaurant we ate at during a work trip to St. Louis for a conference. There was no wait, even though 3,000 people were in town and probably staying downtown mostly. Everyone was very friendly, decor was chic and modern, and a nice menu selection of tapas and a limited amount of "big plates." The big plates are by no means a regular oversized dinner portion you're used to, and that's a good thing! I asked how were the shrimp and grits, and were assured they were southern style and excellent. I'm from the south, lets see what you got Midwest! Our server was not lying! The grits were creamy and drenched in butter with juicy jumbo shrimp, crumbled bacon, corn, and topped with a few sprouts. The presentation was very impressive as well. The portion size was just enough to fill me up, and I didn't have anything else to go with it. Other dishes at the table included salmon, trout, beef soup, salad, and everyone raved about it all! Service was a bit slow, and we had to wait way too long for silverware, sugar and cream for coffee, were brought tea bag with no hot water and had to wait an extended amount of time for that as well. Other than that a solid option indeed!
(4)Joshua R.
We went here for a drinks and some food over 4th of july weekend. I can happily report the drinks and food were very good. We had cardinal classic and minimalist cocktails, which were both excellent. In addition, there hummus was amazing. However, the service was painfully slow. We sat at the bar and at a table and in both locations, it took a while to get anything. Make sure you aren't on a tight time schedule if you come here.
(3)Theresa L.
Not only was the service great, the waiter knew exactly what he was talking about, but the food was AMAZING! I have never had a better meal and left a place I spent a ton of money at thinking it was beyond worth it!
(5)Rachel T.
I liked this place. The service was great, and the food was good. I wish it had been a tad more memorable, but the longer I think about it, the more I feel like I really did have some delicious food. We had a cheese plate and a charcuterie plate along with the chicken balsamic flat bread and the fig and goat cheese small plate (which was by far the most awesome thing we ate). Was enough food for three and the price was right. Cool vibe and nice ambiance.
(4)Travis W.
So I once again turned to Yelp while traveling out of town and once again it didn't fail. Washington Ave is a pretty cool section of downtown St. Louis and this place is amongst the coolest I think. Really ecclectic assortment of wines to choose from as well as some fantastic small plates. I had a meat and cheese plate, strip steak and scallops. All were really good and the service, even while seated at the bar, was fantastic. I also love the music and decor in here, very relaxing and fun.
(4)Mandie M.
I am in love with the downtown location of Robust! I arrived on a Saturday night with 2 others. We did not make reservations only because we had no idea where we wanted to go for dinner until about 10 minutes before we arrived downtown. We are bad at planning apparently! Well, when we arrived I noticed the place was busy (not surprising for a Saturday night) but it was not packed! This is a good sign. We stood at the main entrance for about 2 minutes before anyone greeted us and when we told her we did not have reservations she looked at the seating chart and said that she would be able to seat us right away! Whoa! That is kind of a big deal. No wait at all. Once we arrived to our table we were immediately greeted by the warmest and friendliest server, Neiko. She was a true gem and I could tell she was having a great night. I really enjoyed having her as our waitress. She made my night so much better! Neiko took our drink orders and made recommendations when we asked for some idea of what to order. She explained the menus and left us alone to go place the drink orders. When she arrived back to drop off our drinks we were ready to place our food orders. I ordered the Robust salad to go with my glass of blended red wine. I am not sure of what the others ordered since I was too busy enjoying my wine. Neiko was able to provide information on their specials for the night and she gave a ton of recommendations for what would be a good meal. Once our orders were placed we were able to sit and chat. I was checking out the restaurant and I must say that the atmosphere made me feel really relaxed. For some reason there was a calming presence whenever I looked at all the wine bottles! Before we knew it out food was being delivered and Neiko was checking on us to make sure we were okay. We had everything we needed and so she left us alone to check on her other tables. By the time we were done eating we weer all stuffed and ready for our check. Neiko brought it over immediately (but of course she had to offer us dessert)! I resisted and the bill was paid. We were on our way to see a movie across the street so we didn't have much time for lingering. Overall, I give this a 5 star just because we were seated right away on a Saturday night, I think we had exceptional service, the food was delivered quickly and it tasted great! I can't wait to go again soon.
(5)Stewart P.
This is an easy 4 star for me, could possibly be 5, but not on this visit. Robust in Webster Groves is a favorite and while the decor and layout is different here I do really like it. Most of the food ordered was very good and the desserts ordered were unique enough they get 5 stars on their own. Monkfish gumbo (very good), seared strip steak (not too bad), goat cheese and fig tart (very good), Robust salad (just okay, all the good stuff was on the bottom, not ideal), Robust Olives (okay) and the clear winners of the night, the Toffee Pretzel Crunch (excellent) and the Salted Caramel Pot de Crème (unique and very, very good). If you are going to the movies, go here first.
(4)Mary Lynn P.
What an experience!!! Loved the food - the wine "flight" and especially our server, Neiko!!! Can't wait to return!!! Eat/drink here - you will not be disappointed!
(5)Dotty R.
I love this place! Why? Because they are the only ones I know who carries the wine that Ilke without having to drive to "Top Wines" in Columbia, MO to get it, LOL!!! Really, the BF and I was downtown at a function and decided to go in. this place is so "sexy" and relaxing (sorry fellas). Really nice atmosphere. I ventured to the side and saw wines that you can purchase. Lo and behold - my wine was there! No I won't tell you what it is because then YOU will buy it and I'll have to go looking again. But it was nice to see it and I was excited! Now I go in there regularly to purchase it. I am yet to eat here, but one of the chefs was at the Fall Fest downtown yesterday (10/12/13) and he was serving up some crabcakes! I LOVE crabcakes and his were smelling so good. I told him I am going to have to go and have some crabcakes will sipping on my fav. I will definitely be doing that soon!
(4)Pierre F.
Neiko made this experience very worthwhile. I'm thankful that Mango turned down my party of 6 for the second night in a row. I might have overlooked this gem simply due to the proximity of my hotel. Thank you, Neiko, for such a great experience. You are great at your job and an awesome part of the Robust Downtown experience! The assorted cheese plate was amazing and the goat cheese tart was a nice finish as a meal. Everyone else really seemed to enjoy their selections. I recommend this place if for nothing else but to have Neiko as your waitress!
(5)Karen H.
Went in not knowing anything about the place - left being very impressed! Went early on a Saturday night thinking we would try a wine flight or two then go elsewhere for dinner . Ended up ordering the charcuterie and cheese samplers with the wine flights. Food was so good we ordered a full bottle of wine along with the crab cakes and sirloin shares plate - both were outstanding- perfectly cooked, good flavor, really impressive!
(5)Melissa M.
We stopped for lunch based off of a local retailer recommendation and OMG yum! We had the chicken confit flatbread and the artichoke spinach dip.. Both were amazing! Atmosphere seemed business, upscale casual. Was a bit noisy but there were many large groups seated. Overall a great stop for lunch!
(5)Kitchen Sales C.
I was at a conference and searched for a cool wine bar nearby! Robust was just the ticket! Nice food to compliment the wine list. The service was excellent! Diana was informative and attentive. Met the manager Haris and we had a great time just talking about food. I can tell he is a foodie. For downtown visitors, this is a must.
(4)Allison B.
I recently visited Robust's downtown location for a networking event. Like many others, I had visited the Webster Groves location in the past, but I was excited to have a Robust that was just three blocks from my home. Walking into Robust on the snowy, icy evening, I noticed that the atmosphere was cozy and slightly upscale -- very downtown appropriate. I loved the customer-centric touches -- you don't realize how much you need a coat rack until you're mingling with 50 other people in giant parkas. Thank goodness Robust thought to provide this easy amenity. There were tables scattered throughout the small space, but most of us spent our time ordering drinks at the bar or standing and talking. I didn't try any drinks, but our networking group had cultivated a spread of fabulous Robust treats -- a variety of cheeses, crackers/crustini/breads, fruits, vegetables, chilled and warmed meats (Being veg, I didn't eat those), hummus and desserts. If you've been to the other Robust location, you know that the owners truly care about great cheese, and this downtown entry follows that tradition nicely. I had two kinds of bleu, a brie, a cheddar, something tart and others, and they were all fabulous. Honestly, I think that I was responsible for the disappearance of half of the cheese and grapes on the table. Service was attentive and friendly. The owners make a point to do that in their Webster Groves location, and the downtown staff carries through on it, too. Things to note: * Lighting is cozy and a little dim, so bring reading glasses and have a good flashlight app on your phone. * If you're going for dinner, get there early to snag one of the few low tables. I think the space works best for happy hour gatherings, though. * Consider sharing a bunch of small items tapas style. The Robust menu works really well for this. * My friends really enjoyed the wine selections, especially when paired with some of the cheeses. * There are two entrances -- one on Washington and one on the side street (Sixth?). * There's plenty of parking within two blocks of Robust -- metered spots (until 7 p.m.), garages and lots. As another reviewer mentioned, valet also is available. It's the downtown area of a city, people; of *course* you're going to walk to your destination a little.
(4)