Mosaic Bistro/Market

My computer's hard drive crashed when we were in Vermont and it's taken me a bit of time to replace it and try to "pick up the pieces" of what I've lost.  Some things will never be found again, alas.

However, I'm happy to have a new computer now, so we can continue to let our friends know about restaurants that I feel deserve your patronage.

Mosaic Bistro/Market
14 North Central Avenue 
314-932-7377
is such a place.  It is a wonderful addition to the neighborhood.

The decor is contemporary and very smart looking.  The walls are grey and orange.  There's a charcoal banquette with cheerful throw pillows in black, white, and orange (for those of us who are not so tall to put behind our backs) plus great looking chairs.  The bar is very attractive and has about a dozen black stools.  The kitchen is open at the back of the restaurant and is a hive of activity; really fun to watch.

There's also a Chef's Table in the front of the restaurant and on the other side of the front door is a seating area with comfortable chairs, a bookcase and a cowhide rug.  Behind the Chef's Table are shelves that had a few items for sale like white truffle oil and demi-tasse cups filled with chocolate espresso, when I was there last.  I understand that more items will be added soon.

The Bistro is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  All three menus look delicious.  We've only had lunch and dinner there so I'll tell you about those.

The lunch menu has two soups and four salads.   Two of the salads are available in two sizes, the Caesar and the Bibb Lettuce Salad (which by the way is made with strawberries, goat cheese, candied walnuts and white balsamic dressing). The other two salads are more entree sized.  Salad Lyonnaise has curly endive, radicchio, bacon lardons, chilled asparagus, and a soft boiled egg with mustard seed vinaigrette and Seared Salmon Nicoise with arugula, fingerling potatoes, haricot vertes, olives, toasted fennel and blood orange vinagrette.

There are five sandwiches that are served with a choice of salad or locally made chips. They run from a special BLT that has avocado, French brie, and a smoked garlic aioli in addition to the normal bacon, lettuce and tomato, to paninis that all sound terrific.

Then there are regular entrees; Dry Aged Strip Steak, a Wild Mushroom Ravioli, a Goat Cheese Tart, and Prince Edward Island Mussels.

I had the Bistro BLT.  It is a huge sandwich.  It could easily be shared. My Honey had the Pressed Croque Monsieur with Black Forest ham, Gruyere cheese, and Dijon Mustard.  He was a happy camper.
We both had the Bibb Lettuce Salad as our side.

Dinner was really special. I started with the Goat Cheese Tart with caramelized onions, goat cheese, olives and arugula salad and then had Chilean Sea Bass with a roasted red pepper puree, beluga lentils, baby spinach and a parsley emulsion. Everything was delicious and attractively served. My husband had the Prince Edward Mussels and then he had Day Boat Scallops with bacon,spring pea and rosemary puree, baby carrots and apple saba.  I'm not sure what apple saba is, but he liked his dinner a lot.

The rest of the menu looked equally delicious, so you must go in and check it out yourselves.

Mosaic Bistro is owned and operated by the Schmitz clan, Ellen, Frank and Claus. They also have Mosaic Restaurant downtown, BARcelona almost next door to Mosaic Bistro/Market in Clayton, and I believe they're opening a steak place also in the downtown area, plus they have plans for a restaurant in the Centenne complex.

My good friend, Gretchen Morfogen, is directing things in the kitchen, which makes me very happy.  She's a special lady.

Be sure to visit Mosaic Bistro/Market soon.

Take a look at their website: www.mosaicrestaurants.com.