With the Sigma Tau Delta 2019 International Convention in St. Louis, MO, fast approaching, it’s time to start planning how you will spend some of your downtime and where you will go to eat with all the great new friends you’re about to meet. During the fall Sigma Tau Delta Board meeting, the Student Representatives had some time to learn a little about some of what St. Louis has to offer. Read on for their reviews of some of the local restaurants and attractions.
$ = $1-10 per person
$$ = $11-20 per person
Restaurants that Won’t Kill Your Budget
Pickle’s Deli
200 N. Broadway, Suite 110
St. Louis, MO 63102
$
Pickle’s Deli is an adorable sandwich and salad stop just down the street from the convention hotel. It will be great for a quick lunch with tasty food between sessions. The sandwiches and salads are delicious at incredibly reasonable prices. They also offer an inexpensive breakfast menu along with coffee and tea. During the lunch rush, it only took thirty minutes for two of us to walk from the convention hotel, order, eat, and walk back. Pickle’s has a great environment and friendly staff. I highly recommend making Pickle’s one of your stops. —Tristan Wilson
This breakfast and lunch hotspot is conveniently located just two blocks from the hotel, and has fast and friendly service. Despite it being a busy Friday afternoon, we found seats and had our food delivered to our table within ten minutes. With reasonable prices, an extra upstairs seating area, and hidden stuffed pickles throughout the restaurant, this is an affordable and delicious restaurant option! —Kaitlynn Sass
Mr. Curry’s Indian Restaurant
612 Olive St.
St. Louis, MO 63101
$
This Indian restaurant is no frills, but college-budget approved. If you’re looking for a nearby Indian buffet, this place is perfect. There aren’t a ton of options available on the buffet so if you’re looking for something specific, call ahead to see what they have that day. —Abigail Shipley
Taze Mediterranean Street Food
626 Washington Ave. Unit 103
Saint Louis, MO 63101
$
The Taze restaurant had great Mediterranean food for a very reasonable price. I had never tried any of the foods that I ate there before, and I was not disappointed. The server was very friendly and helpful with my questions about the different options. Though it was a little way away from the convention hotel, I would recommend making the trip during one of your free meal times if you love Mediterranean food, or if you are interested in trying something new. —Tristan Wilson
The Chipotle of Mediterranean food. The food was delicious with a wide variety of Mediterranean sides to choose from. You choose from salad, pita, or rice bowl and then add a protein, sauce, toppings, one side, and one type of hummus. There are plenty of potential combinations and the total cost is fairly inexpensive for everything you get. —Abigail Shipley
Pi Pizzeria
610 Washington Ave
St. Louis, MO 63101
$$
Pi Pizzeria, while guilty of a silly name, did support a very welcoming atmosphere. The inside had a very spacious design and an artistic sense with their decorations I will leave you to discover for yourself. My order was a 12″ plain cheese pizza on whole wheat crust. I somewhat regret my decision; looking back on my dining experience I realized I was particularly parched throughout my dinner. While I cannot be sure I suspect the crust I choose was somewhat salty, forcing my need for constant refreshment. Despite that my meal was still delicious. Texture, flavor, heat, I enjoyed everything about my food. After finishing I still found myself a little empty so I enjoyed a skillet cake for desert. It was enjoyable, but not my favorite thing in the world. It was made at a very high temperature, which I am not accustomed to, but if you enjoy it, than I am sure you will love it. The staff was very friendly and helpful, as I mentioned earlier I was constantly drinking water to cool myself and my refills were very timely. That said they were a bit oddly dressed, when I first entered the person who helped me find a table was a teenager in a hoodie, it took me a second just to realize they worked there. All in all, though, I had a good time, the food was great, the atmosphere comforting, and the servers extremely friendly. Anyone looking for a pizza in St. Louis, this is the place to go. —Louis Jameson
Sauce on the Side
411 N. 8th St
St. Louis, MO 63101
$$
This is a calzone restaurant. I thought Sauce on the Side was a pizza place when I went in and I do not want you to make the same mistake. Heck when I ordered I was expecting a pizza I was so oblivious (why am I food critic again?). Nevertheless, I decided to go with it and I ate the calzone, and it was the best calzone of my life (the first calzone of my life). Joking aside I really did enjoy it. I had “The Fold” a build-your-own, as it were. It was a calzone with Mozzarella, Ricotta, and Garlic Oil. I chose normal red sauce for a side, and had it filled with mushrooms. When I got my hands on it I could not put the thing down. In no time it was gone. The restaurant’s atmosphere was quaint, it was a casual place to get a mid-day meal. If you are in the market for a good calzone and to have some fun, you might want a little Sauce on the Side. —Louis Jameson
Caleco’s
101 N Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
$$
This place has a great, relaxed atmosphere and a wide variety of foods—though billed as Italian. There are a variety of options including pastas, salads, steaks, and fish. I personally had the salmon with dill butter and mashed potatoes and it was great! You get options for how your food is prepared and the prices are a good value for what you get. The restaurant is just a short walk from the hotel and a nice choice for group dinners with your chapter. —DeAndra Miller
Market Street Bistro and Bar
1 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
$$
Market Street is easily accessible because of its placement in the lobby of the hotel. They offer a variety of foods, including burgers and sandwiches, and they give very large portions. I ordered the Market Burger and it was huge—I almost didn’t have space for my fries. They have a variety of side options—including salad—as well so that it is easy to eat healthy. Definitely worth the visit for large, tasty meals. —DeAndra Miller
360 Rooftop Bar
1 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
$$
This bar is located on the 26th floor of the convention hotel. The food is good, particularly the parmesan garlic fries. The service was slightly below average for meals, though, and the space does not fit larger groups very comfortably. The attire of most guests is on the fancier side, though not required. Items are on the pricier side, but the view is amazing and worth the trip in the elevator to visit. —Tristan Wilson
The restaurant has spectacular views of the city and Arch with average food. There’s not a lot of seating upstairs around dinner time but there is quite a bit of outdoor seating that expands the area if weather permits. —Abigail Shipley
Sweets and Treats
Kaldi’s Coffee
808 Chestnut St
St. Louis, MO 63101
$
Kaldi’s Coffee offers an array of coffee and tea options. Some flavors rotate seasonally. To beat the St. Louis heat, try one of their delicious smoothies. I enjoyed the blueberry almond, but there is never a bad choice when it comes to these frozen treats. They serve other breakfast and lunch options, including a variety of sandwiches and salads. On their menu, they label anything that contains gluten; they also label food as either vegan or vegetarian. It is the perfect location for breakfast, lunch, or a snack. Along with its yummy menu, it sits in a great location within walking distance from the Hilton. If you have time to spare, it houses an inspirational atmosphere. The modern building and deco make you feel like you’ve entered an art museum, rather than a café. Come for the allergy-friendly food, but stay for the inspirational atmosphere. —Brittany Barron
Clementine’s Naughty and Nice Creamery
1637 S. 18th Street
St. Louis, MO 63104
$$
If you’re looking for unique ice cream flavors (with vegan-friendly options!) this is the place to be! This creamery can be found by taking a short taxi ride or by hopping on one of the electric scooters conveniently scattered around the city. With a rotating menu featuring flavors like mocha coconut caramel, pumpkin chai latte, and asparagus agave quinoa, there’s sure to be something for everyone at this quaint ice cream parlor. —Kaitlynn Sass
Sites for Deltans
Old Courthouse
11. North 4th Street
St. Louis, MO 63102
Free
While the grandeur of the Old Courthouse is seemingly dwarfed by the magnificence of the Gateway Arch, do not forget to visit this hidden gem. The building holds so much history and is free to enter. You can walk around the building and see the architecture and the museum aspects. There is also an old courtroom set up on the second floor that you can visit. The ceiling is painted in beautiful detail. Don’t forget to get your junior ranger badge for this location. —Tristan Wilson
Forest Park Zoo
Government Dr
St. Louis, MO 63110
Free + Transportation (Uber or Metro)
The Forest Park Zoo was incredible. Although it was about a ten-minute Uber ride from the convention site, it was free to enter and tour. They have a large selection of animals to visit. You would need several hours to see them all. However, we explored for a little over an hour and got to see all of the animals we wanted to visit. —Tristan Wilson
This is a great FREE activity! While you’re probably going to need to drive or take public transportation here, the St. Louis Zoo was full of every animal imaginable and doesn’t cost a penny to enter. This is a perfect thing to do if you have some down time to explore the area! —Abigail Shipley
The Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch
St. Louis, MO 63102
$
The staple of any trip to St. Louis is the Arch. Though a ticket is not required to go through security and tour the underground museum, one is required to travel in the elevator to the top and see the view from 630 feet up. The museum has many interesting facts and exhibits detailing different aspects of history, and also has a gift shop if you are in need of souvenirs for family and friends. The actual trip to the top is in a pod-like elevator with windows that allow you to see the stairs going up and the interior workings of the Arch. At the top there are rows of small windows where you can lean over and look out at the city. It was very exhilarating to feel the Arch sway slightly while looking out at the top. You can also see it sway by standing at the base of the monument outside and looking straight up to the top of the Arch. Don’t forget to get your junior ranger badge for this location. Beware: people who are claustrophobic may not enjoy the elevator ride as the pods are small and enclosed. —Tristan Wilson
For just $10, you can take a tram ride to the top of the St. Louis Arch and be surrounded by the views of the city. There is also a large museum with the history and building of the Arch as well as a Junior Ranger program offered through the National Park Service. If you’re looking for a free souvenir, go to the information desk as soon as you walk into the visitor center and ask for a Junior Ranger packet. Complete a few activities (it will only take ten minutes at the most) and receive a badge with the name of the park on it! —Abigail Shipley
Reviews are supposed to be honest, so I will be honest. If you can walk up and take a picture from the outside and spend your extra time hanging out at convention—I would definitely recommend doing that. The Arch is an architectural marvel, and one of the coolest things about it is the museum inside; however, the trip to the top was not worth it to me. The viewing windows at the top are very small and restrictive, the ride up is cramped and uninteresting, and it is over within two minutes of getting up there. I would not recommend this for anyone who is claustrophobic or who has an issue with tight spaces. I can say that at the top, if it’s windy you can feel the Arch swaying, but within a few minutes of being up there I was ready to go down and I didn’t feel it was worth the money. —DeAndra Miller
City Museum
750 N 16th St
St. Louis, MO 63103
$$
The City Museum is a must see and worth the mile walk from the convention hotel. With a giant slide, a bus dangling from the roof, a front yard castle, and endless climbing passages, this museum is unlike any other. It is more like a giant playground or the inside of someone’s imagination. There are many paths to climb, a miniature cave area, and new additions being built on. On weekends they are open until midnight for adults 18 and older. Words can’t describe the creativity that went into building this museum of childhood. You will just have to go see it for yourself. —Tristan Wilson
A place unlike any other I have experienced. The City Museum is less museum and more all-ages, interactive playground. There is something to find in every corner of this place. Filled with little nooks and crannies to climb through and slide down, the museum has a ton of interesting things to look at and play with. From fish tanks filled with piranhas to a ten-story slide—that you have to climb the stairs to reach—this place is worth a definite visit. I can almost guarantee that you will never see anything like it again, so why not? —DeAndra Miller
CVB Resources
CVB Website
Downtown St. Louis Map
Transportation In & Around St. Louis
Downtown Trolley
Dining
Important Convention Reminders
- If your paper has been accepted, you must complete the Participant Confirmation Form by January 15. You are only required to complete it once.
- Register for the Convention by January 22 to be included in the program and receive the early registration discount.
- If you are not a presenter, you may volunteer to be a session chair. Sign up by January 15.
- Faculty members, please consider volunteering to be a session moderator. Sign up by January 22.
More from Footnotes: January 22, 2019
Why You Should Join Student Leadership
Outstanding Literary Arts Journal Award
Convention Update
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