4.5
Superb
843 Reviews
1111 Mississippi Avenue, St. Louis · 6.19 miles
Customers’ favorites
- Assorted Wild Mushrooms & Pecorino Polenta
- Baked Bread with Dipping Olive Oil
- Pan Seared Mediterranean Seabass
- Eleven Eleven Gooey Butter Cake
“Ok, here’s the thing… I love food. And when I say I love food, you might think I’m a huge person or a food critic or a chef or just a dramatic fan. Well, I am actually an artist, and I… I can tell you in no uncertain terms, that the food we received was *high art.* I don’t mean the kind of pretentious high art food that is served in tiny portions and so beautiful that you almost don’t want to eat it. I mean that it was masterfully created—flavorful, textured to perfection, filling, and lamentable *only* in that I wish I’d had room for more. We started with the stuffed mushroom appetizer—which I’ll admit is not usually my favorite, but my wife generally loves—served upon a sprinkle of arugula and a slashed drizzle of balsamic glaze. Imma tell ya… I like stuffed mushrooms now. My wife ordered an entrée of eggplant Parmesan—one that she doesn’t care to make often for herself only because (and I’m quoting), “It’s a pain in the a$$ to cook.” I ordered linguine Pomodoro with added shrimp and had the steamed mussels appetizer served with my entrée, so that I could add them in (as I *do* love a tutto mare). Since my wife’s entrée was one of her favorites, and I don’t generally care for it, I left her to it, concentrating on my own. I shucked all the mussels and strained their accompanying shallots and bacon into my linguine leaving the garlic and cilantro pesto behind for bread dipping. OH [*clap*clap*clap*]—I forgot to mention the bread. They served a fantastic mini loaf of the softest bread topped with caramelized onions alongside fresh grated Parmesan in olive oil. Upon our finishing it off, I asked for a second helping. Back to the entrée… My first actual bite was of the mussels, and that bite was fantastic. Then I had one of the shrimp… and… here’s the thing… I am a poet, and I also write children’s books, so when I tell you that I simply do not have a superlative sufficient to describe the shrimp, you know I’m being serious. It was warm, seasoned, and snappy as shrimp should be, but it gave me pause—as Anton Ego in Ratatouille. * First, doubt—that I had experienced something so specifically wonderful before * Then, a quick scan from childhood to now for confirmation * And lastly, the comfort that can only come from those happiest memories of childhood—Christmas mornings on receiving more than you could ever have hoped for, Halloween nights’ preparations for what giggles and terrors were to come, and burrito-you ensconced in soft blankets straight from the dryer Then of course, the rest of the dish, twirled and slurped—not too quickly… every bite a confirmation and yet still a revelation. Here again, my only lament that I must see a portion of it boxed to leave room for dessert. And… dessert. Oh, boy… Seeing all of the items, my wife and I—in celebration of our 26th anniversary—decided on the sampler. Listen up, folks: flourless chocolate torta, crème custard napoleon, and gooey butter cake. JFC are you serious? Every bite more sumptuous—more scrumptious than the last. Every bit a reassurance that I will return. Our server, Chelsea, was commendable not only for her menu knowledge and sense of humor, but it’s not for nothing that she was absolutely on top of it with regard to my tea refills (which were many, as our dinner took place after a dehydratingly-busy workday for me). We will definitely be returning to Eleven Eleven, whereupon I intend to try a few different items, my palate then flooded with new sensations—new wonders… my only lament that I will not ever have that “first time experience” again.”