Citizen Kane's in Kirkwood 12-19-24

Overall I think I'd give this place a 3/5 

We haven't been to Citizen Kane's in so long, that I completely forgot where it was.  I had no idea that it was in Kirkwood down by the Magic House and very close to several other restaurants we frequent.  I think the fact that it is just off the main road makes me forget it.

We had tickets to the Fox to see Straight, No Chaser.  So, we made early reservations (5 pm).  I was very surprised to see that there were a lot of other diners at this time.  That is unusual for a Thursday night at 5 pm.  

We were seated in the upstairs room and in the entire upstairs they had all the ceiling fans turned on.  It made for a cool breeze.  I saw an older lady across the room put her coat back on.  As we walked out, later, I commented to Mike how the temperature in the downstairs was easily 5+ degrees warmer.

The menu is not much for someone who doesn't want a steak.  There is one piece of salmon or the shrimp scampi pasta.   I decided to do the shrimp dish and should have maybe done the salmon.  

The dish was some linguine with a creamy sauce that had been flavored with garlic.  It very much reminded me of cream of chicken soup.  It was just a big bowl of pasta with four shrimp on top.  It wasn't very warm when it arrived and with the ceiling fans, it cooled off way too quickly.  This made it even less appetizing.  I ate the luke warm shrimp (they had been cooked nicely) and a few bites of the pasta, but it wasn't worth eating.  I was given a "side" with my entree.  I could have ordered a baked potatoe (I always think this is odd with a pasta dish).  I ordered some green geens with almonds.  They were good, but they were too long to eat daintily.  Since I didn't have a plate, I couldn't cut them with a knife.  That was awkward. 

Mike had steak, of course.  This was the reason we came here.  He ordered a filet.  It was done as he wanted.  He said it was good.  He got a baked potatoe with it. 

I know Mike's steak was good, but the fact that they really don't have anything on the menu that I like will probably keep us from coming back here again any time soon.  The wait staff was good, but the room was cold and I didn't like the food. 

 

 

Billy G's in Chesterfield 12-13-24

 Billy G's in Kirkwood is a place we've thought about trying several times.  Last Friday I needed to run an errand in Chesterfield, so I suggested we find a place to eat supper in that area.  

I noticed that a new Billy G's had opened at the corner of Clarkson and Baxter.  When I looked online I was surprised by the menu.  They had breakfast and sandwiches and pizza and pasta.  It was all different kinds of foods.

When we arrived, we were surprised to see they had taken over the entire area that used to be Balaban's and Which Which and Noodle & Co.  It was totally remodeled but it wasn't anything like the Billy G's in Kirkwood.  It was shiny chrome.  It was diner tables and chairs.  It looked like a breakfast place.  

They still had the Italian dishes of their heritage, but they had sooo many other things.  

We each got a drink (Mike got a beer and I got a glass of wine).  It just felt weird to be drinking in a place that felt like a breakfast place.  

I got spaghetti and meatballs and Mike got lasagna.  We both thought they were good but the ambiance was just odd.  

Maybe they decided that this area could use a diner.  Maybe they are open for late night partiers and early morning diners.  

Who knows??  I don't think Mike and I will be back to this location

Kreis' Steakhouse

 Kreis' is a staple.  It is always nice and it is always good.

We got reservations just a week earlier, so we didn't have the "best" seats in the house.  We were in the basement dining room.  That bugged Mike.  Our waiter was good, but he was spread a little thin.  

We had a cocktail, and the vodka collins was just OK.  No one knows to blend it and make it foamy like Cunnetto's does.

We ordered a bottle of Ferrari Carano Siena red wine.  It was pretty good.  

The special appetizer of the evening was crab stuffed shrimps.  They were good.  We ordered 2 each.  They were something like $5-10 a piece!

For dinner I ordered the scallops.  They were OK (they could have used more seare), but the rice pilaf they were served with was not.  It was slightly greasy and not warm.

Mike got a large piece of prime rib.  We both got big baked potatoes.  

It was a nice meal in a nice setting.