Idol Wolf - Idyllic Tapas Downtown

Idol Wolf Experience Summary

My wife and I went to Idol Wolf before catching a James Taylor concert at Stifel Theatre with some friends. One of her other friends had been talking it up, so we figured it was time to see what the fuss was about.

Walking in, you immediately notice two things. First, the space is modern and open. There's a central bar that anchors everything, tons of seating spread around, and you can look up to see the second floor of the hotel above you.

It creates an airy, expansive feeling.

Second, the artwork. There's a whole collection of really unique sculptures and pieces scattered throughout the space. It's not just decoration slapped on the walls. These are conversation-starter pieces that add real character to the atmosphere.

They all contribute to making Idol Wolf feel different from your standard restaurant.

The vibe is definitely date night. Sleek and modern, but not sterile. You walk in through the hotel lobby, which gives it an upscale entrance. The lighting is moody without being too dark, and the whole setup says "special occasion" without requiring a jacket and tie.

Idol Wolf does Spanish tapas, which I have a special place in my heart for. Viva Madrid in Claremont, CA, was my favorite restaurant in college.

The small plates format lets you try a bunch of different things without committing to a massive entrée. When you find something you love, you can just order more of it.

This time, I found something I loved.

The pan con tomate was my jam. I ended up ordering two. A close second was the patatas bravas. All in, those dishes propelled Idol Wolf to a 7.9/10 for me.

The other dishes were restaurant quality, but not up to these two tapas.

The location is perfect if you're doing something else downtown. Theater, concerts, comedy shows, whatever. It's right there, which made our pre Trevor Noah dinner easy.

In my ongoing quest to find the best food in St. Louis, Idol Wolf stands out for nailing both the food and the atmosphere. It's a place I'd recommend you give a shot for a date night downtown.

The Food At Idol Wolf

Let me tell you about the pan con tomate. This was part of the meal that stuck with me.

The bread came out nice and crunchy, perfectly toasted to give you a satisfying crunch. But the real magic was whatever they mixed into the tomato. Spices, garlic, something that created this creamy consistency with chunks of tomato throughout.

It had this incredible Spanish flavor profile that made my taste buds very happy.

I liked it so much I ordered a second round.

That's not something I do often. But when something hits that perfectly, you don't mess around. The bread was really just a vehicle to get more of that tomato mixture into your face, and I was completely fine with that arrangement.

The other great tapa was the patatas bravas. These potatoes were covered in aioli and chives, with maybe a hint of tomato working its way through the flavor profile. Slight crispy exterior, perfectly soft and fluffy in the middle. All the flavors blended together in a way that just worked.

I really, really enjoyed these potatoes. Like, way more than I expected to.

The croquettes were pretty good. Very cheesy in the middle with a nice crunchy breaded exterior.

My wife and friends got the Caesar salad, which had nice, big wedges of lettuce with cheese on top and dressing. It looked solid, and they seemed to enjoy it.

The sobrasada toast had a savory streak with cured sobrasada that paired well with honey and olive oil drizz. But in my opinion, it couldn't quite compare to the more subtle flavors of the pan con tomate and patatas bravas.

For dessert, we got the cotton candy. It was cute and fun, perfect for the Instagram moment. But it's cotton candy. It tastes like flavored sugar because that's exactly what it is.

Prices are a little on the steep side for St. Louis, but what can you do? This is downtown dining, so you're paying for the experience and location.

Idol Wolf Atmosphere And Miscellaneous

The atmosphere at Idol Wolf really sets it apart from other downtown restaurants. That combination of the open, airy space with the art installations creates a unique date night.

It's hip and modern without being in your face about it all the time.

Service was solid. Our server kept the pre-show meal moving at the right pace. Nothing felt rushed, but we also weren't waiting around forever between courses.

The bar creates a visual center for the restaurant, with the rest of the restaurant spreading out around it. Even if you're not sitting at the bar, you can see it from most tables, and it gives the whole restaurant a lively feel.

Being connected to a hotel through the lobby doesn't hurt either. It adds to that upscale vibe without making the restaurant feel like a hotel restaurant, if that makes sense.

Idol Wolf has its own identity.

Parking At Idol Wolf

We ended up parking on the street a couple of blocks away. After 6 PM, you don't have to pay for street parking, which is clutch. We had to pay for the first hour since we got there a bit early, but it wasn't a big deal.

Idol Wolf Receipt