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Dining Divas: Ice Kitchen Restaurant and Vodka Bar
BY LISA KAMPETER
With the freezing temperatures we’d been having, why would you choose a restaurant with ‘ice’ in its name?” I was asked. Because it’s February in St. Louis, and even if I had chosen Lafayette Fire Company No. 1 or Hotshots, it’s still going to be freezing outside.
On this particular evening, the Dining Divas tried out the IceKitchen Restaurant and Vodka Bar, and yes, it was freezing outside. But to our delight, it wasn’t inside. After spending the previous night at a Disco Ball, the neon blue lighting, lavender and azure-colored walls, and light gray lounge area screamed “do the hustle” to me. Immediately, I looked around for a glow stick. One never can get enough of the seventies.
The Divas gathered at the Vodka Bar where ne’er a drink goes warm. It really is an ice bar, with ice cube lighting. And the kitchen?
Didn’t get a chance to check and see if it really is an ice kitchen.
We were there on an “off” night. Off night for the restaurant and an off night for the Divas. And not because the restaurant or the Divas were “off”. Due to scheduling conflicts, we moved our outing to a Monday night, not a typical Diva night. And obviously, by the lack of patrons, not a typical busy night for the restaurant.
IceKitchen earned four stars from our group immediately when they offered up happy hour pricing – amazingly – at our table! The Dining Divas tend to be denied from other restaurants when we arrive during happy hour but sit at tables outside of the bar. We’ve been told multiple times in the past that we would not be able to take advantage of happy hour prices because we weren’t sitting at the bar. IceKitchen happily accommodated us with both drink and food specials during happy hour at the table where they seated us.
One Diva commented that this place definitely has the “bar” vibe. But don’t be discouraged. The food and service was phenomenal. They’ve made returning customers.
For starters, the Flighty Diva had beef short rib soup that she loved, once she realized what it was. She even said to the chef who delivered it to her, “I’m not sure what this is” as he poured the broth over the beef to make the soup at her seat.
A couple Divas had a trio of soups – corn chowder, elephant roasted garlic and tortilla soup, served in three shot glasses with their own demitasse spoons. The corn chowder was the Italian Diva’s favorite. It was creamy and sweet with good texture and consistency. The elephant garlic soup sounds scarier than it is. It had a very subtle garlic taste and surprised all of us hesitant to give it a try. But we were glad we did. The tortilla soup had a bit of a kick that sneaks up on you.
We all tasted the Spanish meatballs, and we could have skipped them, but at happy hour pricing, why not?
For our entrees, a few of us went with the Wild Mushroom, Asparagus, and Pancetta Risotto. I only wish I had boxed up half to save for the next day. But it was that good. None of us needed a take-home container.
A few others tried the Pancetta and Wild Mushroom Papardelle. This delicious dish had a creamy but not overpowering sauce that was tossed with homemade papardelle. Reason #27 to go back. Even the Picky Diva loved this one.
The newest Diva to the group went for the Cantonese Noodles and was pleased with her first Dining Divas choice. The Diet Diva tried the Grilled California Chicken Sandwich with cheese, an avocado sauce, and sprouts, and we could just see the pounds melting off her.
There was only one real complaint about the place (well two if you count the ridiculous wallpaper in the Ladies Room). Several of the girls wished a bread basket was provided so they could soak up all the delicious juices from their meals or dip into their soups. But as Grandma Diva put it, “Bread just makes a beeline from the table to my hips.” Our hips don’t lie. We definitely didn’t need it.
It was good to see everyone again and to expand our group. Next month, the newest Diva has promised treats in hopes of getting invited back. We’re not too hard to please. Make it something that will keep us warm but not make us hot (Grandma Diva already gets hot flashes). Make it tasty and sweet but not fattening (otherwise Diet Diva will have to politely decline, right after finishing her entire meal and anyone else’s leftovers). More importantly, make it something that confirms to the rest of the Divas her commitment to the group (glow sticks).
