Little Fox

"Craig and Mowgli Rivard worked together in a series of Brooklyn restaurants before the couple returned to Craig’s hometown to open this small neighborhood dinner spot in winter 2019. It has since become a place for outdoor gatherings on the large patio and a go-to for a growing crowd of regulars who stop by for specials like a chopped cheese, which somehow feels nostalgic even for people who have never tasted one. Elsewhere on the menu, French, Spanish, and Italian influences come together in dishes dictated by the seasons, such as crispy blowfish tail with squid ink romesco and Calabrian chile crunch. The bar program, led by Dakota Cortez, serves a perfect martini." - Holly Fann, Joel Crespo

"You know you’re getting close to Little Fox when you see a fire hydrant painted with a cheeky, little orange fox. The restaurant comes from Craig and Mowgli Rivard, two of a growing number of chefs and restaurateurs leaving jobs at esteemed restaurants in cities like New York and LA to open their own places in smaller, mid-sized cities. Early on, Little Fox established itself as a neighborhood restaurant providing easy, gracious service and offering deceptively simple dishes. Delicata squash is gently wrapped in a pale golden batter, reminiscent of traditional South Korean crispy fried sweet potatoes. Tender short ribs, barely clinging to the bone, get a luxurious treatment with Calabrian chili, Italian fish sauce, and grilled leeks and celery root. Little Fox is also the only restaurant in St. Louis currently offering an exclusively natural wine list." - Holly Fann