Sauce Magazine – First Look: Medina City in Webster Groves

godmotherthe Italian-American restaurant owned by Stanley Brown and Arlene Mamienta Brown, homeowners Strong bistro and wine barFrank Romano and Laura Burns, homeowners Parkmore Drive Inn, is scheduled to formally open its doorways on Friday, November 24, at 101 W. Lockwood Ave. In Webster Groves.

The title Madrina, which implies “godmother” in Italian, is a tribute to the title Romano godmother, Sister Helen Negri, who served for 35 years as CEO of Marygrove Youngsters’s House. She helped Romano get his first job at Kemoll’s RestaurantWhich in flip impressed his dream of sooner or later opening his personal Italian restaurant. Since Romano and his companions introduced plans earlier this summer season to open Madrina within the former dwelling of CG Bar and Grill Temporary, there was greater than a little bit curiosity about learn how to flip a sprawling, hole-in-the-wall neighborhood bar into an “upscale informal” eating vacation spot. The tip consequence places any questions apart.

In complete, Madrina Corridor seats 180 however seems like a extra intimate house. Designed by Helen Lee Tao + Lee AssociatesThe inside design evokes a way of mid-century luxurious. Middle stage is the white marble bar, which is formed like a horseshoe and seats 20 folks and serves as the point of interest of the restaurant’s façade. Courtesy deep burgundy cubicles and banquettes One supply for retail and hospitality It stands out amidst the darkish wooden flooring and accents. Dim lighting creates a sublime and romantic ambiance.

“Seeing folks right here at evening, lit up with lights, after (the house) has been a mud bowl for months, is actually cool,” Romano mentioned.

The mid-century eating room sensibility carries over to Madrina’s menu. Government Chef Max Craske, a long-time veteran of many high-quality kitchens across the metropolis, has created a menu heavy on classics like linguine con vongole with contemporary oysters, chitarra carbonara pasta made with genuine guanciale, and bistecca fiorentina, an enormous Tuscan . Dry porterhouse, plus seafood comparable to shrimp and scallops, wood-fired pizza and a scrumptious collection of sauces to pair. There’s even a Mayfair Salad that makes use of the unique recipe from the St. Louis Mayfair Resort, which was handed right down to Romano from his dwelling. Madryna.

Each Romano and Stanley Brown mentioned Madrina’s menu options one of the best substances, the identical means issues had been achieved within the mid-Twentieth century earlier than the appearance of meals service corporations and canned purple sauce (“The whole lot was farm-to-table again then,” Brown famous. ). This conventional method is coupled with fashionable methods and gear that “let’s make what’s good higher,” Romano mentioned.

On the drinks entrance, Brown, an authorized sommelier, and superior sommelier Alesha Blackwell-Calvert, who serves as Madrina’s beverage director, have curated an distinctive wine record stuffed with a variety of native and Italian wines. There’s additionally an inventory of drinks from bar supervisor Brian Clark, with specialties like limoncello and a basic black Manhattan amongst different cocktails.

Madrina shall be open seven days per week, with dinner service Sunday by way of Thursday from 5pm to 10pm and Friday and Saturday from 4pm to 11pm. Apertivo hours Monday to Friday from 4pm to 5pm Reservations might be made through The desk is open.

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