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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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Church Street Bar & Grill Is Becoming New 'Gathering' SpotBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
But there's one message the Milans want to get out: You can't judge a book by it's cover. "I'd be naïve to think that the outside of the building is going to draw people to the place," said Mike Milan. "We want people to walk in and be surprised. We want them to say, 'Oh my, I'm glad I came.'" The Milans say their new Church Street Bar & Grill, which opened in August, is a great place awaiting a face-lift. Others might call it a sweet treat with a surprise center. Church Street Bar & Grill, inside St. Peters' Steeplechase Plaza on Church Street, off Mexico Road, is located in a '60s-style strip mall that is less than cool, but one step inside the remodeled bar and grill and memories of its plain-Jane exterior quickly fade. "We rehabbed and spent time and love, and had a lot of right things in the kitchen to make this all work," said Mike Milan, who, with his wife, Jennifer, not only own this friendly neighborhood bar, they own a hospitality staffing company. "We like hospitality and we like staffing, and the bar and grill seemed to fit just right." A comfortable wraparound square bar with plenty of libations greets guests as they open the reflective door. Warm woods and bright checkerboard tile create a welcoming environment. There are four pool tables, dartboards and television sets, and on Jan. 24, Church Street Bar & Grill will host a Texas Hold 'em tournament. A stage area to one side of the place accommodates DJs and live bands and karaoke throughout the week. There are drink specials and lunch specials and a bar menu to beat all others. "We have a cook named Zeus," Milan said. What more does one need? Zeus, the the king of the Greek gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and god of the sky and thunder in Greek mythology, is also ruler of the kitchen at Church Street Bar & Grill. "He's more than a cook; he's a chef," said Jennifer Milan. "The food is entirely his vision with our taste approval." The Milans say Zeus is not only knowledgeable, his entrees provide more than you paid for. There are the typical toasted raviolis and pizzas, but his sandwiches and entrees are home cooked delicacies, Mike Milan said. "We're getting a lot of new faces and a lot of neighbors from the surrounding neighborhoods," Mike Milan said. "We want this to be the corner bar; the neighborhood meeting place; a place… kind of like 'Cheers.'" Appetizers abound on the Church Street menu, with mozzarella sticks, Mickey's Hot Wings and a unique Lemon Pepper Wing choice (all about $4.99). Salads of all kinds can be ordered, including toppings that include of several cheeses of choice. Sandwiches stretch far from burgers with fries. Jennifer's favorite is Zeus' Cuban sandwich, featuring ham, pork, Swiss cheese and grilled on French bread ($7.99). Mike's favorite is the Church Street Sub, a sandwich he says few can finish alone. With ham, turkey, salami, roasted beef, peperocchini, provolone and Swiss ($8.99), it's a foot-long sandwich fit for a king or suitable for two. "It's actually a prime location, and once they get the shopping center remodeled everything will be perfect. It's slightly off the main drag, has plenty of easy parking and it's a comfortable spot," Mike Milan said. "And with our close proximity to the neighborhoods, it's destined to be a meeting place. Maybe it will get people out of their houses to meet their neighbors. That's the kind of place we want it to be." For more information, visit www.myspace.com/churchstreetbar, or better yet, stop in at 435 S. Church St. in St. Peters, about a block west of Midrivers Mall Drive off Mexico Road. Church Street Bar & Grill is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Live bands perform every other Saturday, and free chicken wings are served Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 to 7 p.m.
Church Street Bar & Grill 435 S. Church St. St. Peters Carryout and some local delivery available.
Phone: 636-397-1883 Hours: 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mon. - Sat. Closed Sundays
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With
a cook named after a Greek god and a bar menu on steroids, Mike and Jennifer
Milan seem to have it made in the bar and grill business.
