Dozen Donuts at 2 AM

Last night, I had my own little social crawl through Soulard and Quasi-Soulard.  It ended with me covered in sand, but the proud owner of one dozen dounts from the greatest donut shop known to mankind.  How does that happen on a Monday evening?  Here's how:

First stop: Itap Clearly this is going to be my first stop.  Monday nights they put beads on half the draft handles and those beers are half off, 8pm to close.  Excellent way to try some new beers on the cheap, and if you're crazy like me, get some reading done without the distractions of home.  Some of the coolest staff on the Island doesn't hurt at all.

Stop 2: Redbox  Yesterday being the first Monday of the month meant two things: 1) I got a ticket for parking on the wrong side of the road in front of my house and 2) Redbox texted me a promo code for a free movie. Sign up for their email list to get in on this action. Also, apparently through 6/12 rent two movies and get a 3rd free.  The closest Redbox to the Island is outside the Walgreens on Lafayette.  One added benefit to going to this one is the people watching, trust me.  Ohh and also, check out this picture.  I don't know what it says about us that we need two Redbox machines, but go us.

Stop 3: 1860 Saloon Jen and Erica are both awesome, go see them sometime.  Apparently Mondays they have $2.50 domestic bottles, a definite bonus.  The new Game Room is a really cool thing to have on the Island.

Stop 4: Bar 101 Usually I avoid this place, especially on the weekends, but in reality that is quite stupid of me. I went to meet a friend who was there for karaoke. It's no Carson's Karaoke but it has potential and $2.50 AB Aluminum bottles. One of the coolest perks is clearly the sand volleyball however. I don't know the exact rules on who gets to use the courts outside of the leagues they have, but somehow we were able to get a ball and go play.  After my team won in a epic battle, which means about as much as winning an argument on Twitter, we watched some karaoke, played the basketball shooting game thing, and people watched.  Then came thoughts of food....

Stop 5: John Donut. I read this feature on Metromix.com the other day about the best doughnut shops in St. Louis.  I had to click through it three times because I reckoned I missed John Donut the first two times through.  Sure enough, at the end, there are two comments wondering what world they live in for leaving this treasure off the list.  As I left Bar 101 to walk the two blocks to my house, my thoughts turned to a late night snack while I watched the movie I had rented.  Being that it was a Monday, Billie's Fine Foods was not open at 2am.  Jimmy John's I think was technically still open, but from prior experience I know they don't like you walking through the drive-thru and they close the inside earlier than the drive-thru.  Then, my thoughts turned to John Donut, which they were actually on to begin with. I want to say it opens at 11p or Midnight and stays open until around 10am.  Basically when they start baking the donuts, they are open for business.  I don't carry cash much, so I turned to the trusty debit card.  $7 minimum to use the card, I could handle that.  I pick out six donuts and a can of Diet Pepsi, not enough.  I grab a couple more donuts.  Then the gent says to me "Ya know, if you buy a dozen you only get charged for 10 here."  Done and Done.  I set off towards home with a dozen pieces of baked glory.  I don't see anyone roaming the streets to offer some to so, I offer them to some of the people closing up the bars on 9th.  Apparently I caught them on a night they didn't want a late night snack.  Movie time it is.

Stop 6: The Dilemma with Vince Vaughn and Kevin James was the movie of choice.  It was free so, I was willing to take a chance on a movie.  This one barely beat out "Never Say Never" with Justin Bieber.  Don't judge.  Shoulda listened to RottenTomatoes on this one.  I didn't think it was a very good flick.  Probably woulda been better had they brought in Carrie Heffernan. The movie was of course made better by the donuts.

Good thing the donuts at John Donut are made with such awesomeness that they are still good after a day or two.  Again, don't judge

A Foodie Guide to Soulard

I like food. . . a lot.  Here's a quick list of my favorite foods in Soulard.  


Breakfast

The bag at John Donut

• $2.22 Breakfast at Hammerstone's: 6:30a-10:30a M-F: Choose from either 2 eggs, 2 bacon, 2 toast or 2 eggs, 2 sausage.  I got with 2 eggs scrambled w/ cheese on top, 2 bacon, and wheat toast
• Donuts: John Donut, located over across from Jimmy John's on the other side of 7th, opens somewhere around midnight and stays open until probably 10 am. A fresh blueberry glazed donut around 1 am is a little bit of heaven in your mouth.  Also try the apple fritter or pineapple-upside down cake thing.  Rumor is if you have a special donut requrest, like a vanilla-iced custard filled donut, call a couple nights in advance and they can work something out for you.
• Omelet: Billie's Fine Foods, located next to Bar 101, is the only place that should come to your mind when the bars let out and you want a real breakfast.  Get the regular omelet with bacon and ham.  Packed to the gills with bacon, ham, and cheese.  You will be stuffed until lunch the next day, when you can try some of these other foods.  Also, try the meatloaf omelet.  It's a simple dish: meatloaf, cheese, gravy,egg. I've had it here and at City Diner, and the Billie's version rocks.

Appetizers

Garlic Knots at Feraro's

• Meaty Cheese Bread: Joanie's- bread with cheese, sausage and pepperoni. It's pretty darn good.
• Cheese Garlic Bread: Feraro's has the best and probably least healthy.  Dripping with butter and cheese, it's how this app should be done
• Garlic Knots: Feraro's  wins for coming up with this app.  They take a knot of pizza dough, coat it in in butter, bake it, then coat it again.  Warning: getting the knots and the cheese garlic bread from here is not a healthy option.
• Cheese Bread: Soulard Gyro and Deli has a different take on this classic.Instead of using traditional bread, they melt provolone and feta cheese on garlic pita bread.  It's unique for sure. Remember this establishment is cash-only

Sandwiches

• Smoked Beef Brisket Melt: Market Grill. The brisket on this is sandwich is awesome.  I would ask for the Gargonzola cheese sauce on the side because then you can dictate how much you want. Remember, a little goes a long way.
• Taylor Ham: Feraro's. A thick slice of this ham product on some bread.  Simple, yet awesome.  I suggest getting it with cheese
• Doner Supreme: Soulard Gyro and Deli. Gyro meat is sliced off right in front of you and slapped on a fresh bakery bun.  Add tzatziki sauce and feta cheese and you've got one of the best sandwiches in Soulard. Remember this establishment is cash-only.

Burgers

• Blues Burger: 1860's Burger with swiss and bleu cheese plus bacon
• 9 oz. Tucker Burger: Tucker's Place A great burger, no frills.  Tucker's excels in burgers much like they excel in cooking steaks. 

Pizza

• (Thick) Meatball Pizza: Feraro's



Meatball pizza at Feraro's

• Jersey-style, which means a thick, foldable crust and a slightly sweeter sauce. Try the meatball pizza.  They use an old Feraro family recipe for the meatballs and slice them real thin before layering them on in abundance.
• (Thin) Johnny's Special Meat Pie: Joanie's
• Thin crust pizza with hamburger, pepperoni, bacon, and double cheese.  

Entrees

• Market Grill Mac and Cheese: Market Grill
• Thick, cheesy, and creamy; just like Mac and Cheese should be. Baked and topped with herbed breadcrumbs
• Cardinal Dog: Great Grizzly Bear
• I'm not sure if this is the correct name for this, or if I'm going to get the ingredients right, but I had it once and it was amazing. Take a hot dog, wrap it in cheese and bacon then deep-fry it.  Goes perfect with day-drinking before the Cardinals' game.
• Steak: Tucker's Place
• I'm not much into steaks, but even I know that you can't miss with Tucker's Place.  Best taste, best price.

Chicken Strips

Talk to any Islander who has been here a bit and you could probably argue until you are blue in the face about these two:

• 1860's
• These win easily for being the biggest in Soulard.  A greasy outside breading and juicy chicken inside.  Some will try to be healthy by taking the breading off, but I betcha you will end up dipping it in one of the great dips anyways and cleaning your basket.  Tip:  Go M-F 3p-6p for Happy Hour to get these bad boys at half price.  That's like $3 for what sure looks like  whole chicken cut up and deep-friend. Splurge for the dill dip, it's amazing.
• Hammerstone's
• These are the healthiest tasting of the two.  Handmade just like 1860's, but the breading on these is made with cornflakes.  These are a favorite for a lot of Islanders, just not me.

Dessert

• Cannolis: Feraro's
• Take some tube-shaped fried pastry dough, fill it with some cream filling that tastes delish, then dip in chocolate.  The result will rock your face off
• Ice Cream: 1860's
• Homemade goodness in several different flavors, one of the few places in Soulard for this treat
• Whiskey Bread Pudding: McGurk's
• Hands-down winner for most mouth-watering description
• "Traditional style, served warm in caramel and raspberry sauces, melted whiskey butter"

What are your favorite foods in Soulard? I know y'all have something to add.  Comment below