Lost Tables

Lia and Benedetto Buzzetta opened restaurants throughout St. Louis, including Benedetto's on Manchester and Benedetto's in Frontenac. Lia told her family's story at her restaurant in July of 2021. Did you enjoy this episode?

Wade and Lois DeWoskin owned Port St. Louis from 1960 to 1992. I visited with their son Tom and his wife Karen at their home in the Central West End, surrounded by relics from their parents’ restaurant. Did you enjoy this episode?

Legend has it that the Mother In Law House, at 500 South Main Street in St. Charles, was built in 1860, with one side for the owner and his wife, and the other side for his mother-in-law. But that was legend. Donna Hafer purchased the Mother In Law House in 1981. I visited with Donna at her home in St. Charles in January of 2019. Along with her son, Bob, she told me the story of how she came to St...

Soulard's Restaurant and Bar was opened at the corner of Seventh and Soulard for almost forty years. Dan Badock told the story of his family’s restaurant over coffee in April of 2023. Did you enjoy this episode?

In 1978, Bob Mepham bought a small outdoor fish stand in the University City Loop. He called his new business Bob's Seafood.  In 2005, Bob bought a building on Olive, just east of I-170, and moved Bob's Seafood to the western outskirts of University City. But University City forced Bob to close his doors in 2022. I interviewed Bob Mepham about 2 weeks later. Did you enjoy this episode?

Giovanni’s on the Hill was the lifeblood of Giovanni Gabriele for almost 44 years. In 2021, Carmelo Gabriele recounted his father’s story, with an assist from his 78-year-old mother, Fina Manno Gabriele. Did you enjoy this episode?

In 1999, Leon Bierbaum opened a French bistro on Laclede in the Central West End. He called his bistro Chez Leon. Leon Bierbaum isn’t around to tell the Chez Leon story – he died in 2016. But Haris Zukanovic started working at Chez Leon on day one, and was there for 10 years. Did you enjoy this episode?

Bryan Young spent almost 20 years at Balaban’s, working his way from assistant waiter to manager. He also ran a successful catering business for many years. I interviewed Bryan at his home in October of 2024. At age 70, he’s still larger than life, with his deep melodic voice and booming laugh Did you enjoy this episode?

Restaurateur Danny Meyer is firmly planted in New York City, with eateries like the Union Square Café, Gramercy Tavern and Shake Shack. But Danny’s roots stretch across the country to St. Louis, where he grew up exploring many of our city’s Lost Tables. Did you enjoy this episode?

Frank and Helen’s became a Lost Table on December 8th of this year. This is the second of a two-part podcast celebrating the restaurant’s long history.  The second half of the Frank and Helen’s story will be told by told by the individuals who owned the restaurant after Frank Seitz sold it in 1991. First, Bob & Betty Oddy, then Scott and Mary DePolito, and finally, Patrick and Rebecca Horvath,...

Frank and Helen’s will become a Lost Table after its dinner service on December 8th of this year. This is the first of a two-part podcast celebrating the restaurant that became famous for its pizza and broasted chicken. Did you enjoy this episode?

We once again return to Duff’s, with another voice and another perspective. Ginger Carlson’s perspective. Ginger was Duff's first chef. This is her story – a story she wanted to tell. Did you enjoy this episode?

Kemoll’s, one of the oldest family-owned restaurants in St. Louis, became a Lost Table this past New Year’s Eve. Owner Mark Cusumano made that decision.  Did you enjoy this episode?

Adalaide Balaban left her restaurant and the Central West End over 30 years ago. But from her home in Silsbee, Texas, the memories came flooding back. Did you enjoy this episode?

John Clark opened a bar near St. Louis University right out of college. This spawned a restaurant career that would lead to Lucius Boomer, Clamorgan, Jake's Steaks and more. Did you enjoy this episode?

Bob and Barbara Suberi opened Bobby's Creole in University City in 1977. Two years later, they moved across the street, and six years after that, they closed their restaurant and went sailing. In 1997, the Suberis resurrected their restaurant as Bobby’s in Maplewood. It thrived until 2003, when they closed up shop and bought a blueberry farm in Alabama. Did you enjoy this episode?

Mary Rose Del Pietro grew up in the restaurant business. Her parents, Roy and Nina Russo, opened Rossino’s in 1954. Mary Rose and her husband, Mike, opened their own restaurant, Del Pietro’s, in 1976. I talked with Mary Rose, the 81-year-old matriarch of the Del Pietro family, this past July. Did you enjoy this episode?

Chris LaRocca opened his Crushed Red concept in 2012. The road to that opening started at his father’s restaurant, when he was 9 years old, with stops at Crazy Fish and a host of other Lost Tables along the way. Did you enjoy this episode?

Paul Manno’s restaurant has been an institution in St. Louis County for almost 30 years. But Paul’s story begins long before he opened his restaurant in 1995. Did you enjoy this episode?

Along with his brother, Vince, he gave us Tony’s. He originated The Fatted Calf. He opened Anthony’s, one of the most elegant restaurants St. Louis has ever seen. For the first time, 91-year-old Tony Bommarito tells his story – uninterrupted.  Did you enjoy this episode?

Ruggeri’s served charbroiled steaks, seafood and Italian cuisine on The Hill for almost 80 years. For much of that time, Henry Ruggeri Sr. was in charge. Henry’s grandchildren, Cathy Ruggeri-Rea , Joseph Ruggeri and Jim Ruggeri, tell the story of their grandfather’s iconic restaurant. Did you enjoy this episode?

The Pasta House Company is a St Louis institution. And while the Pasta House is not a Lost Table, we didn’t want to lose the opportunity to hear its story from the individual best able to tell it – Joe Fresta. Did you enjoy this episode?

Charlie Downs and Mike Johnson have both been in the restaurant business for a long time. In recent years, they’ve worked together on projects like the Sugar Fire Smokehouse and the Hi-Pointe Drive-Inn. Their resumes, apart and together, are a walk through St. Louis restaurant history. We talked about that history over coffee and pastries. Did you enjoy this episode?

Kathy Sellenriek has had a long career as a teacher in the Rockwood School District. But, before that, she had a long career in the restaurant business at The Lettuce Leaf and The Fatted Calf. This is her story. Did you enjoy this episode?

We’ve expanded our format a bit. In this episode, Ed and Margie Imo tell the story of Imo’s Pizza. No, Imo’s is not a Lost Table. But Ed is 88 and Margie is 82, and we wanted to hear their story before they were lost. Did you enjoy this episode?