Arch Eats

This week on Arch Eats, co-hosts George and Cheryl are taking another trip down memory lane with the second edition of their most missed restaurants series. This time around, they’re touching on places that hold some personal meaning to them—from the first restaurant Cheryl ever dined at to an eatery that George helped adorn in a contemporary paint design. They’ve even included a few recommendations from list...

The kids may be headed back to school, but on Arch Eats, we are squeezing out every last drop of summer with the season’s most nostalgic sweet treat: ice cream sandwiches. In what may be their messiest episode yet, George and Cheryl will walk you through where you can get these novelties, from established local favorites to off-the-radar, secret menu spots. They’ll even give you some pro-tips for which ones travel ...

It’s peak summer produce season, and the St. Louis dining scene is outdoing itself when it comes to celebrating this most delicious time of year. Arch Eats co-hosts George and Cheryl have tasted their way around town to find the most essential summertime dishes, and in this episode, they’ve curated their top picks so that you can experience the season in its most vibrant splendor. From peaches to BLTs, ice cream sa...

For over two decades, Derek Gamlin has been a force in the St. Louis restaurant scene with such beloved spots as Sub Zero Vodka Bar, Gamlin Whiskey House, and 1764 Public House. Now, together with former West End Grill and Pub owner Henry Arciniega, he’s back on the scene with a new concept, Gamlin’s, slated to open next month. In this episode, Gamlin and chef Chris Arnold sit down with host Geoge Mahe to share the...

We are obsessed with where everyone went to high school. We love to mispronounce street names and we refuse to call that concert venue in Maryland Heights anything other than “Riverport.” St. Louisans sure have their quirks, and the way we dine is no exception. In this episode, George and Cheryl explore the particular eccentricities of St. Louis restaurant-goers; from our insistence on easy parking to a penchant for lar...

It’s summer in St. Louis, which means one of the region’s most beloved traditions is underway: Muny season. The Tony Award-winning outdoor theater is an essential part of St. Louis culture and one of our city’s crown jewels. It’s also the perfect jumping off point for enjoying some delicious food. That’s how local food writer Madi Lee sees it. The SLM contributor recently ...

Cooking a steak is simple. Cooking a great steak is an art. In this episode, George and Cheryl break down everything you need to know in order to prepare a truly great piece of meat. From sourcing, grades, and aging to cooking methods, temperatures, and resting, they get into every aspect of the process, beginning at the butcher counter and ending with you tucking into a positively delicious meal. Watch Arch Eats on ...

Who makes the best chicken salad in St. Louis? For decades, there was only one answer, but in this episode, hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr dare to ask the question—and find some excellent options along the way. They’ll taste through 15 different locally-made versions of the dish, revealing tasting notes, stylistic differences and their personal preferences to help you navigate this picnic basket staple, just in time...

Memorial Day is upon us, and we’re celebrating the unofficial start to grilling season in the most St. Louis way possible: An entire episode dedicated to pork steaks. George and Cheryl get into everything you ever wanted to know about this definitively St. Louis barbecue dish—and then some—with the metro area’s undisputed king of the cut, BEAST Craft BBQ’s David Sandusky. From sauces to rubs, thic...

It’s a Cinco de Mayo-inspired fiesta at Arch Eats, and George and Cheryl are celebrating in the best way possible: With tacos and margaritas. In this episode, the co-hosts explore the city’s vibrant taco scene with must-visit destinations that range from the gold standards of Cherokee Street and the ultra-traditional, off-the-beaten path taquerias of North County, to parking lot birria stands in St. Charles and East St....

Before they were SLM dining writers and co-hosts of Arch Eats, George and Cheryl spent years in the restaurant industry where they learned the ins and outs of the business and saw just about every kind of customer you could imagine. In this episode, they draw on their combined decades of experience to share their essential dining “Do’s and Don’ts,” a restaurant etiquette 101 crash course ...

Mexican cuisine is having a moment in St. Louis right now, and chef Alex Henry is a major part of that movement. Since opening his City Foundry food stall, Sureste, in 2021 and following up with his outstanding sit-down restaurant, El Molino del Sureste, two years later, Henry has been setting the bar for regional Mexican cuisine. A native of the Yucatán city Mérida, Henry celebrates the region’s cuisine at El Molino del Sure...

Fritters and crullers and long johns, oh my! On this super-sweet episode of Arch Eats, George and Cheryl taste their way through St. Louis’ legendary doughnut scene, celebrating the independent shops that make our city so delicious, one delightful bite at a time. The co-hosts will share some insights on their favorite doughnut haunts, blind taste to determine their top picks, and give listeners a general idea of the depth and...

Soup’s on at Arch Eats central, and George and Cheryl have a crock full of recommendations for where to get a delicious bowl. From the quintessential French onion to their favorite chili, the co-hosts dish on the best soups St. Louis has to offer, as well as which establishments are guaranteed to always have something delicious simmering in a stockpot. Whether the volatile weather has you craving something warm and ...

If your idea of sake has anything to do with shots of warm, rocket-fuel tasting beverage at a hibachi restaurant or sake bombs at the frat house, Darryl Vennard has news for you. For 25 years, the longtime wine and spirits professional has been setting the scene for a sake boom in St. Louis that has really taken off since 2020. In this episode of Arch Eats, George and Cheryl get the inside scoop on this surprisingly ...

Exposed brick, dim lighting, wooden beams, wood stoves and fireplaces. For George and Cheryl, these are the features that make a restaurant the sort of place that you want to tuck into during the dreary doldrums of late winter. St. Louis has an embarrassment of hygge-inducing spots and in this episode, the co-hosts will not only share their picks for the area’s essential cozy restaurants; they will tell you what to order at e...

What will the St. Louis dining scene look like in 2026? In this episode of Arch Eats, co-hosts George Mahe and Cheryl Baehr dust off their crystal balls to predict what, how, and where people will be dining this year. From multi-concept spaces and affordable tasting experiences to soup flights and Ozempic menus, they’re dishing on the dining scene’s next big things and also share what trends they think are on the w...

This year’s look ahead at the St. Louis restaurant scene is filled with anticipation, optimism—and some really big breaking news. In this episode, George and Cheryl look ahead to 2026’s most anticipated restaurants, including two concepts from the Central West End’s most prominent proprietor that are sure to light up the neighborhood, a high-end hookah lounge and restaurant with elevated hospitality, a sopho...

Move over, Mariah! St. Louis has its own Queen of Christmas. George and Cheryl are thrilled to be joined by Julie “Fa La La” Lally, the city’s resident expert on holiday pop-ups, who shares everything you need to know to enjoy these festive fetes. From the first-ever holiday pop-up, Miracle, in 2016 to the brand-new Cocktails and Claws, Julie has been to them all and shares the inside scoop on what makes each one ...