The Preston

Came here with a friend for dessert last night and I didn’t know what to really expect, mainly because it is in a bougier place than I am used to being in. Anyways, this very classy American themed menu had a lot of things that looked like I shouldn’t have eaten dinner prior. Anyways the desserts!
We got the chocolate melt, tropical delight, and I forget the last one but it was hazelnut flavored. Anyways the hazelnut one is absolutely remarkable the smoke they add to the dish flavors the dish so surprisingly well, not too over powering but reminds me of smoked hazelnuts. The tropical delight is really delicious, however maybe I just have a weak mouth but the mango (?) candy pillow on top kind of hurt my mouth, maybe I needed more saliva to break it down but anyways the sorbet was awesome and I was thoroughly enthused.
The chocolate melt is showy and very fancy, if you’re trying to impress your date with flair get the chocolate melt.

Wow, i keep coming back to The Preston again and again. It has restored the quality of food service that i suspect my grandparents experienced many years ago in the prime of this fine hotel. The Preston delivers again and again…
My favorite starts with the ‘Good Night, Mr. Preston’ from the bar. Its the only drink that i have tried since discovering Preston months ago. Its a silky smooth bourbon elixir artfully created by their talented team of mixologists. If you like a nice Manhattan… give this a try. You’ll love it!
I usually always start with the Chicken Liver Mousse, which is served with grilled toast. Wow. Everyone that tries this loves it. The apple butter atop the mouse provides the perfect sweet balance to the savory goodness of the mousse. I could have this again for dessert!
The meatballs are wonderful, as is the Scallop Chowder, Mussels and the Duck Croquettes. The short rib is simply stunning, and the pork belly is a show stopper! WOW! Everyone raves about the Octopus, but it is the only item on the menu that i just haven’t been able to bring myself to sample. Everything else is simply wonderful, and the heirloom Tomato special this past weekend was spectacular.
The room is inviting and alive with a new sense of excitement. The service is stellar on all counts, but i especially appreciate Jay who really seems to enjoy his work and the new offerings at The Preston. His passion radiates through the room…
The desserts are amazing, but my favorite is the Chocolate Panna Cotta. Upon arrival, the hint of smoke takes me back to campfires of years ago. The rich chocolate goodness is the perfect Panna Cotta. The Chocolate ‘melt’ is wonderfully entertaining as the server pours a warm caramel over the chocolate ‘sphere’ to reveal a house made vanilla ice cream within. Wow! What a showstopper, and delicious too!
Drinks are abundant, and the bartenders certainly know their craft. The wine choices are equally admirable …
The Mayor recommended this to me, and i will be back… again, very soon!
Bravo!

We decided to try the Preston for dinner before The Central West End Cocktail Party! It was a delightful dinner! The menu is a specially curated collection of finely tuned recipes.
We ordered 4 small plates, our server offered to stagger our orders. We first received the Scallop Chowder and the Duck and Spring Onion Croquette. The Scallop Chowder was quite phenomenal! The scallops were perfectly cooked, the chowder had a good chew, not overly creamy with just the right amount of bacon! The croquettes were hit or miss, I couldn’t taste any duck.
We were next served Blue Bay Mussels and the Octopus with Sunchoke Purée and Brown butter gnocchi. The Mussels were very fresh and some of the plumpest I’ve had anywhere! I was initially dissatisfied with the light coconut curry broth was served it, but it grew on me and I appreciate its complement to the juicy mussels! The second highlight of the evening was the Octopus. I’ve had a lot of good octopus but this was as tender as the gnocchi next to it. The Sunchoke purée effused with a umami-​sweetness (so good you can spread it on bread!) and the brown butter gnocchi were perfectly cooked.
The Octopus and the Scallops were easily the top 2 dishes of our evening!
We only got 4 dishes as we wanted to save room for dessert. We ordered 3 of the 4! We got their signature Chocolate Melt, Tropical Delight and Chocolate Panna Cotta. The Chocolate Melt is akin to the dessert started by Grant Achatz at Alinea (you can find youtube videos), a Chocolate Sphere which melts when hot caramel is poured over it, revealing a scoop of salted caramel ice cream inside, all sitting on a peanut brittle. Yes, it is as delicious as it sounds and looks as artistic and fun as can be! Lastly, the Tropical Delight consisted of White Chocolate Mousse, Mango-​Passion Crémeux, Roasted Pineapple Sorbet, and Coconut Nougatine. All the flavors work well, I loved the delicate Mango-​Passion Cremeux! If you look at the picture on the website, there’s a candy floss like topping to it all, that was my only issue to the dessert. It sticks to your gums and teeth.
The cocktail and wine prices were more mid-​expensive range.
Overall, we throughly enjoyed our dinner! Our server was new but certainly friendly. We’ll be back again soon!

Great cocktails… I had the Forest Park Carnival and London calling. Octopus was perfectly done and the cheese plate didn’t disappoint.

I really like this place and want to give them five stars but the only thing holding me back is the limited menu. That being said what they offer is eclectic and has been very good in my experience. It’s a great spot to including having all the Chase amenities there like the theater and the neighboring lounge which is a great spot to sit when it’s warm, gazing over the pool at night. But back to Preston the menu is certainly priced right with I think the most expensive entrée being 15 bucks which is short ribs which are awesome. They have a phenomenal pork belly dish and they also make a mean brussels sprout. Another great thing about the Chase is the complimentary valet or just use the garage but don’t forget to have your waiter validate your ticket!

The Preston keeps delivering great food time and time again. Inside the Chase Park Plaza hotel is this gem of a restaurant. The ambience is wonderful and it’s like an excitement runs through the air. We sat at the bar and were well taken care of by Dustin. We ordered cocktails and checked out the menu. This place is mostly small plates.
We both started with favorites of ours. His, a scallop chowder and mine, a chicken liver mousse. His chowder was delicious and came with bay scallops on the top. My mousse was also delicious. There is an apple butter jelly on top that adds just the right amount of sweetness to the chicken liver.
On to our second course. The short rib for him and the meatballs for me. The short rib was a large size served over gravy. That was outstanding. I’ve had the meatballs before and they were just as good as the last time.
Dessert. Of course. We had the chocolate Panna cotta. A mousse like pudding with ice cream and injected with smoke. It comes in a jar and when the lid is taken off, the smoke comes out. Wow!
Would I come back here? Try and stop me.

This is a dinner review.
Firstly, the restaurant is in the Chase Park Plaza. Enter the front door and it’s right there on the left. Very convenient to get in.
I have wanted to try The Preston since it opened up this past winter. It took me way too long to visit and try their dishes. If you haven’t tried out The Preston yet, get over there and give it a go! Just make sure you have a little bit of a loose wallet and some friends to help order everything.
The food is the main point here. The dishes are basically tapas style since they are rather small and would not fill you up. 2 – 3 plates per person are definitely recommended.
Honestly, if you order anything you’ll do ok. The Pork Belly is amazing! Honestly they could make a dish with just the brussel sprouts in that sauce and I’d still rave about it. Smoked duck is very tender. The Blue Bay Mussels was unique; the mussels were placed in a coconut curry sauce that was very much a Thai flavor (ask for extra bread to eat with it). The Korean Chicken Wings was not as expected, but if you like very fluffy fried chicken wings then you will be amazed (not for crunchy lovers).
Dessert is a must get. Chocolate Panna Cotta: be ready to take a whiff when you receive it. They add smoke to the aroma and it is an awesome chocolate panna cotta. The Chocolate Melt is what you should get if you really like the melting ball dessert. It is very chocolatey but the ice cream makes it a great balance.
The only two things I think they need to work on are the cocktails and the service. For a restaurant in the Chase Park Plaza, the service should be top notch. Many of the busboys did not know which waiter had which tables and were unable to get the waiters for further ordering. As someone else said the training needs to be stepped up.
As for the drinks, right now they are quite basic (especially considering the other cocktail bars in STL). They really need to find someone that knows their cocktails and to create a more solid cocktail menu.
In conclusion this is a 5 star food place for STL. Definitely try the food and maybe the cocktails if you really want.

So we tried the Preston tonight. Really nice ambiance, sat at the bar. Some of the bartenders are still learning how to make a great cocktail. Husband ordered an old fashioned, took about ten minutes, and we received a cloudy drink without bitters. I heard the other bartender tell ours that he missed a few ingredients, he still served it. Tried a Geneva white which was flat. Wine list needs some work and upgrading.
Good was pretty good. We ordered the octopus– super yummy, five stars for it, the beet salad was delectable. Barramundi was good, interesting flavor, duck croquettes were lacking flavor and um duck;) all the food came out at the same time with the salad at the end. They may want to consider coursing thru it a little as we didn’t have space at the bar to put everything. Overall a good experience will def return for the octopus and salad. Reasonably priced.

The Preston is located inside the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, making it a hidden gem in the Central West End area. With a diverse selection of small plates and crafted cocktails it was a surprise the place wasn’t swarming with regulars from the thriving CWE. I chalk it up to the restaurant being relatively new. Not that the scarcity of dining companions mattered to me, I was there for the experience and more importantly, the food.
The experience was a very pleasant one. The Preston has a slightly «proper» feel to it, but not in a negative way. The servers, in their preppy gingham check pattern dress shirts and the restaurant’s traditional décor accented by the predominantly wood furniture (with beautiful booth seating) and dim lighting all contributed to this experience. The service was great and our server was very helpful and knowledgeable about the menu.
The food at the Preston is exceptional. The small plates are just enough food to share and leave you satisfied, but still dreaming of more. The highlights include the smoked duck breast, the charred octopus, and the special of the day which was a pork belly bun dish. The perfectly smoked duck breast had such a rich and flavorful smokey flavor and was complimented well with the delicious purée underneath. The octopus had a delightful texture and the plating alternated the octopus with the brown butter gnocchi which offered another play on texture. The pork belly bun was also very satisfying with my favorite part being the spiciness of the kimchi paired with the pork belly.
If you’re in the mood to pair your food with a few drinks I would highly recommend the «Forest Park Carnival» for a sweeter option or the «Cocchi Cola» for a heavier option. The «Forest Park Carnival» is one the best sweet cocktails I’ve had in a long time and my new favorite.
The Preston is definitely worth checking out for any food and drink lover. I will be back to try the other options on the menu.

Loved it. Sometimes when you hear ‘hotel bar’ you picture sad businessmen in droopy suits, tourists in khaki shorts, and watery, overpriced pours served in dim lighting. Gratefully, The Preston is none of these things. Yes, it happens to be in the lobby of the Chase Park Plaza, but once you set foot through the doors you’d never know you were in a hotel.
I loved the décor — sleek and clean without being cold. The bartenders were serving up intricate craft cocktails (fire was involved) but they were friendly and nothing about the place had any pretension. The menu helped conveyed that they had a sense of humor — the drink I ordered was named Big Trouble in Little China after the delightful mid-​80s John Carpenter flick starring Kurt Russell. Since it’s my boyfriend’s favorite movie (tied with Rocky), I couldn’t not try it. All I have to say is that ginger beer and five spice were meant to be friends. It was supremely drinkable and I wish I hadn’t been so tired so I could have stayed and explored more of their cocktail menu.

I absolutely love this restaurant! I always have a fabulous time when I dine at The Preston. The service is excellent. The food is superb. Every small plate I try is delicious, with unique and rich flavor! The London Calling is my new favorite drink. It is a wonderful atmosphere. I’ve had dinner, drinks and amazing brunch at this restaurant! One of my favorite spots for a trendy, fab dining experience!

The Preston. Wow! Great small plates. Super customer service and innovative mixologist. Perfect combination for phenomenal night out. This is a must try

Their Sunday brunch is absolutely the best. The food was fantastic, quality, and high-​end. Their pastries were all hand crafted beautifully. I highly recommend Sunday brunch.

Dinner = 4, Brunch = 1.5
Overall Avg Score = 2.7
The Preston has a bipolar personality. There is one flow in the evenings & a totally different one on the weekend. Consequently, the weekend personality is the worst yet that’s when the prices are the highest. I will start with my first experience and then merge into the last & worst.
Dinner:
Just getting seating was odd. I was walked by the Hostess to a table only to find it wasn’t ready. I was told to stand there & it would be cleaned shortly, ok. While I stood there, in a very nasty tone a man walked over & said «what is she doing here» so I responded «I’m waiting for the table to be cleared». The man still didn’t address me & told the woman who seated me «take her outside.» As soon as we walked back out, someone came to the Hostess & told her to bring me back. WTF!!! Talk about feeling uncomfortable I was just walked in, out, in & now I’m being gawked at. That experience is what led to 4 stars for dinner.
I will say I’m glad I didn’t let my immediate first bad encounter deter me from having a meal that night. Word to the wise, if there is a room full of people that all look alike & one person that doesn’t look like them walks in the room instead of ostracizing them you should be mindful that they’re even there. I felt like my standing brown presence was a bother. I didn’t come to protest or fill out an application; I came to pay money to eat — like the other people here.
My service after that was so awesome (shout out to Anthony), as well as the food. My appetizer came before my drink that I ordered first but all was well. The Korean Chicken Wings appear in a set of 3. The wings were intertwined like synchronized swimmers; I hate having to handle cooked meat but this rough housing was worth it. They were layered atop the sauce so you get the chance to catch the flavor of all the components.
The kitchen let the beauty & delicacy of the Barramundi show & didn’t mask it with a heavy sauce. The mushrooms just highlighted the favors and were a great accompaniment that added to the texture profile of the dish. A beautiful light vinaigrette was placed underneath it all and I enjoyed it.
Dessert was a true experience. The server Anthony came & pored Godiva salted caramel chocolate over the Chocolates Sphere & it made for a beautiful presentation & a lovely ending for the meal. The crunch of the peanut bridle was also an added kick of excitement.
Sunday Brunch:
When I was here for dinner before I inquired and the server brought me a menu that had the name «The Preston» on top, the word «Brunch» and $ 22. I thought why not give it a try.
How embarrassing! I was scouting out brunch places to hold an Unofficial Unilocal Event & I foolishly invited another Unilocaler to try the place out with me. Imagine my shock & loss for words when we were both given a $ 50+ brunch tab that only included the subpar food (we both left hungry), dismissive service & incoherent Management.
NOTE: there are TWO brunches at the Preston — they wont be clear with you so make sure you let them know if you want the $ 22 brunch of the $ 50 brunch.
Our server, an older gentleman whose name I never really caught didn’t come unless he was prompted to come over. Oddly enough he stood at the door with the Manager for at least an hour. When we tried to show him the Unilocal check-​in offer, he got defensive as if it was coming out of his pocket & actually said, «I just work here.» Before that he was saying the offer was only for dinner but it stated no such thing — just 10% off of any visit. Preston Management, how do you have a public offering that not only your servers don’t know about but not even the Manager that was on duty?!
For there to be such an elaborate spread there is meat discrimination. I saw so much pork, beef & seafood but no turkey or chicken options or even vegan options. The Chefs at the omelet station & one younger server who helped me carry my plates to the table were great. If the food was good then personally $ 50, ok but nothing was delicious. Dry waffles & not even pancakes. Brunch came with a mimosa but it was below basic too! If you don’t like frozen macaroons/​pasties then go elsewhere.
As we gazed around the room we could see others shock when they saw the bill. It almost makes me feel like the server & manager were standing guard at the door to make sure no one ran out after they were presented with that high bill.
I live in walking distance, I go out to eat 3+ times a week & do brunch somewhere EVERY weekend. I would rather get in my car and drive to East Jesus somewhere then return here.
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PS: I love how The Preston solicits 5 star reviews from people that barley use Unilocal to get their score higher, really classy. The Mangers note on my review — saying «we look forward to seeing you again soon» just proves the Management at The Preston is not with it.

My wife and I went on a Saturday night and were lucky enough to secure a 630pm res on relatively short notice. The ambience was nice with a separate and attractive bar area which, had we not been late for our reservation, we would have enjoyed having a cocktail in. Speaking of cocktails, my wife is a bit of a connoisseur and very much enjoyed the London Calling. We had the pork belly (out of this world); wagyu meatballs (outstanding); kale salad (fantastic); and, Korean chicken wings (very good).
The only thing we had all night that didn’t hit it’s mark was the duck confit with croquettes. They’re basically hush puppies is a far too spicy sauce.
Service was snappy, attentive and outstanding. The clientele was also a nice mix of people.
Very enjoyable all-​around experience; would recommend to others and we will be coming back ourselves. A good value for the dollar.

This is a tough review because there were sooo many positives but I am getting tired of new restaurants not properly training their service staff. This is the third ‘new’ restaurant I have visited in a month and all suffered from awkward and/​or poor service. So unfortunately, The Preston gets 3 stars.
Here’s the thing… Was the staff attentive? Yes… overly. Were they friendly? Generally. Were they awkward? Yes. Were they informed? No. Please properly train your staff on menu items with detail. When the patrons at your restaurant know more about the ingredients then you do, it’s a bit of an issue. When you can’t list the three cheeses on your cheeseboard, write it down. Don’t stumble through! Also, when my table is clearly in deep conversation, the appropriate thing to do is the silent service style. Please don’t interrupt us every two minutes wondering if we are done with our plates. We aren’t.
With that being said, The Preston still deserves three stars as the food and drinks were delightful!
The highlights were the braised short rib and butternut squash purée. So flavorful and the purée was incredibly creamy and smooth. Yes, short ribs are everywhere but I am a sucker for good beef and this dish was fantastic. We also enjoyed the octopus with brown butter gnocchi. So much so that we ordered a second plate… The octopus was cooked perfectly with no extra chew and the gnocchi were the right amount of density without without being doughy. I would come back specifically for this dish. I am pretty anti-​fish but the branzino was a real treat. It was served with an ancho romesco that I could have eaten as a soup. Plus the skin was appropriately crispy and the fish had a nice amount of seasoning. I was pleasantly surprised.
I had two Nancy’s Night Out cocktails made with an infused bourbon and ginger. I loved the twist on a bourbon cocktail that did not have all of the newly trending herbaceous liquors. I’m not really into that whole flavor profile of tree bark. It offered a nice booze factor and was not overly sweet. I would certainly visit the bar just for that cocktail again.
Short answer: I would revisit this restaurant if the time was right and just be more aware of potential service mishaps and would ignore said mishaps for delicious libations and eats.

I have never been more eager to do a review update than now. The Preston has made Christy a believer *spirit fingers*. So I still think $ 48 brunch is ridiculously extravagant but I’d gladly fork over twice that amount for the dinner offered here. A brief synopsis before I dive into specifics:
*Food: Magnificent
*Service: Stellar
*Ambiance: Gorgeous
*Cocktails: Impeccable
*Overall dinner experience: Extraordinary ⁵⁄₅
Our server, Glenn (I really hope it’s Glenn with 2 n’s) was a spectacular server. Wanna know what made Glenn (with 2 n’s) so spectacular? Well I’ll tell you… his knowledge of the menu was extremely impressive, he had the ability to not only properly convey the ingredients in each dish but he was very detailed in creating a perfect visual of its presentation. I was a bit indecisive on both cocktails and dessert so I requested Glenn surprise me. He arrived with winners on both occasions. I could actually go on & on about how awesome Glenn was but it wouldn’t be fair to The Preston lol. I just wanted to wrap him up in a doggie bag and take him home.
Here’s what you should order:
1. Octopus with house-​made Gnocchi
2. London Calling cocktail (ladies will love this)
3. Cheese Plate (varies)
4. Pretzel Croissants (you won’t want to share)
5. Bronzino (a deliciously delicate white fish)
6. Chocolate Melt (real crowd pleaser)
7. Mussels (Irresistible)
David, the manager was very hospitable. He came over to give a warm welcome and made several excellent selections for dinner. He described the menu items to perfection. Waiting for my dining partner to arrive I started with a cocktail. The London Calling was just what the doctor ordered; cute, light, citrusy refreshing & chilled. We shared and enjoyed every bite of dinner. The portions are more generous than tapas yet smaller than a course. I suggest picking several items and have a sampling of savory selections over cool cocktails, conversation and company. I did…
~Christy will be baaaacccck!

WoahDANG, STL! The Preston left a lasting impression of a practically perfect bar. So, I’m coming back. Like, you’re going to get so sick of me.
I met a co-​worker here during a recent work trip for a drink (thanks for recommending this place, Aaron B!) The atmosphere is sleek and sexy — but not stuffy. Our bartender, Sasha, was kind and gracious. I was in a pickle and couldn’t figure out what I wanted so I told him I would take any kind of not sweet drink. Then, poof! An Old Fashioned made with sazerac rye appeared. It was well balanced and smooth with a perfect garnish of melted orange peel (so cool to watch!)
I was little hungry… but not like «OMG I want to eat a grocery store.» Lucky for me, a cheese plate exists at The Preston that was the ace-​est pre-​dinner snack. It’s really easy for me to like all cheeses, but this board was special and the grilled kind of bread and marcona almonds accompaniment.

Sexy atmosphere, that is comfortable and chic? Check.
Foodie approved shareable plates that are varied enough to keep coming back for? Definitely.
Craft cocktails that go above and beyond current trends? YES!
Cool vibe back ground music? Indeed.
This restaurant is great addition to the CWE. I like that I can get chef quality food at a decent price. It’s not your traditional appetizer, salad, and entrée spot. You order a few items that look good for yourself or order a lot and share with your table mates. Super refreshing dinner experience. It was good to taste so many flavors in 1 sitting. Loved it. I will be back.

Can’t wait to come back, excited for brunch!
So we came tonight for the soft opening there was 4 of us. Hosts defiantly need some work on open table and less awkwardness when seating tables — but it’s like one of the first night. Cocktails and wine wee good. Menu was small but options are good! Cody was a great server and suggested the octopus which was one of my favorite things. I wouldn’t have ordered it without him!
Food– (I don’t remember all the names for bare with me)
Cheese plate — ⁵⁄₅ so good!
Beet salad– ⁴⁄₅
pork belly — ¹⁰⁄₅ — yes a 10. Maybe the best thing on the menu
Duck croquettes — ⁵⁄₅ almost like a fried gnocchi
NY steak −4÷5
Meatballs ⁴⁄₅ — was good but nothing compared to some of the other items
Smoke duck — ⁵⁄₅
Octopus — ⁵⁄₅ — some of the party was nervous to try it because of the tentacles, but the gnocchi and octopus was delicious top 3 of the night

The Preston is brand new to St. Louis and easily one of the top ten new places I’ve eaten in STL the past year. Located just inside The Chase, this tapas style bar is exactly what you’d expect from an upscale hotel. The space is freshly renovated; they did an amazing job. The massive open kitchen is a great backdrop to the upscale ambiance. Anyways, let’s cut to «the chase»…see what I did there?
The food and drink is boss.
It’s New American cuisine served on small plates to share. My girlfriend and I split the Charred Octopus, Bread Plate and Scallop Chowder. They have the best damn bread plate I have ever had. Don’t think of the bread plate as, «oh it’s just a filling dish» because it isn’t. It came with three different flavor-​packed spreads, two pretzel croissants, one wheat roll and one jalepeno cheddar biscuit. All of the bread was fresh and warm but I basically could have eaten those spreads alone. As for the Charred Octopus and Scallop Chowder, get them. They’re extremely decadent and filling.
Their cocktail list is nothing short of unique. I got the Nancy’s Night Out that comes Bulleit bourbon, Big ‘O’, grapefruit and crystallized ginger. The ginger is basically candy and who doesn’t like candy with their booze? They definitely don’t skimp out on presentation here.
All of their cocktails are pretty enough to take out on a second date… or third.
I can already tell The Preston is easily one of my favorite spots in The CWE.