Eclectic Fare, Room Available for Private Parties

Frazer's
By Dawne Massey, 06/22/2006

The eatery formerly known as Frazer's Traveling Brown Bag has changed its name - it's just Frazer's now - and its new bar area is such a spacious departure from the old Frazer's that many customers look lost when they get inside.

The new bar area takes up the room that once was the entire restaurant, including the kitchen, of the Benton Park eatery. Gone are the tiny "take-out order window" and bar stools that served as the initial bar area.

The expansive new bar area features exposed brick walls and an extension of the restaurant's original "Flintstones" floor of colorful scraps of marble and granite. Behind the three-sided marble bar is a large stone archway fitted with a massive mirror. Square black-and-red cushioned bar stools line each side of the bar, and an elegant chandelier hangs over the center.

Armless sofas with multicolored pillows form an L-shaped lounge area on one side of the room. Along the front of the room, large floor-to-ceiling windows open onto the sidewalk cafe area, and a handful of red-and-black roller chairs gather around tiny black cocktail tables.
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As we pulled up a seat at the bar one Friday evening, we were handed a copy of Frazer's rather extensive wine list and were overwhelmed. So we opted to order one of the bar's signature drinks, called the "Farzertini" ($6), before plowing through the encyclopedia of vino.

The eye-catching drink immediately created a buzz around the bar, and bartender Matt Anderson began serving up a low-key sales job. "It's good - and it's good for you too," Anderson said with a smile. But, back to the task at hand.

Rich Pereira, beverage manager at Frazer's, said the wine list "has about 80 wines on it, but we're about to expand it to about 120 varieties."

The ever-expanding list includes nine reds and nine whites available by the glass ($6-$8), 10 varieties available by the half-bottle ($15-$34), and more than 40 full-bottle options.

Some of the staff's favorites are Two Brothers Big Tattoo red ($22), Santa Margharita Pinot Grigio ($45) and the recently added Fleur Pinot Noir ($8/glass, $32/bottle). Reserve wines range from Franciscan Cuvee Savage Chardonnay ($60) and Domaine St. Siffrein Chateauneuf-du-Pape ($63) to Chateau Musar ($80) and Heitz Martha's Vineyard Cabernet sauvignon ($136).

Beer drinkers have it a little easier, with 18 domestic and imported beer options available via bottle and on tap. In addition to the usual Anheuser-Busch favorites ($3-$4.25), the bar features Woodchuck Amber Cider ($4), Fat Tire's 1554 Black Ale ($4), Schlafly Pale Ale, Hefeweizen and seasonal brew ($3.75).

Happy hour patrons can enjoy $2.50 domestic beers and $1 off wines by the glass, Monday-Thursday evenings from 4-7 p.m.

Frazer's

Address: 1811 Pestalozzi Street
Phone: 314-773-8646
Hours: 5-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 5-11 p.m., Friday-Saturday
Web site: frazergoodeats.com
Smoking: Not inside, but it is allowed at outside tables and on the patio
Handicapped access: Yes
Credit cards: All major
Ambience: Casually upscale
Crowd: Friendly regulars
Signatures: The Frazertini drink, extensive wine list
Frazer's has a brand new bag
- and a new bar area
 

Last updated: Friday, January 16, 2009