Idol Wolf at 21c
Idol Wolf Takeaway. You'll find ideal pan con tomate at Idol Wolf. 7.9 / 10 on the back of pan con tomate and patatas bravas. The other tapas were fine; those two were great. Spanish small plates inside the 21c hotel downtown.
One of the more fun date night spots I've been to in St. Louis.
The downtown location pairs well with a show or whatever else you're already doing that night. Service was smooth. Street parking is free after 6 PM, though you may walk a couple blocks for it. Prices run a bit high for St. Louis, but the food backs them up.
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 notice two things. First, the space is modern and open. A central bar anchors the room, seating spreads out around it, and you can look up to the second floor of the hotel above.
Second, the artwork. Sculptures and pieces scattered through the space have purpose, not random slop slapped on the walls. Conversation starter stuff that makes Idol Wolf feel different from your standard restaurant.
The vibe is date night. Sleek and modern, but not sterile. You enter through the hotel lobby, which sets an upscale tone, and the lighting is moody without being too dark. It says "special occasion" without requiring a jacket and tie.
Idol Wolf does Spanish tapas, which I have a soft spot for. Viva Madrid in Claremont, CA was my favorite restaurant in college. The small-plates format lets you try a bunch without committing to a massive entrée, and when you find something you love, you order more of it.
This time, I found something I loved.
The pan con tomate was my jam. I ordered two. A close second was the patatas bravas. Those two propelled Idol Wolf to a 7.9 / 10 for me. The other dishes were restaurant quality but didn't reach that bar.
The location is perfect if you're already doing something else downtown. Theater, concert, comedy show, whatever. It made our pre-Trevor Noah dinner decision easy too.
In my ongoing quest for the best meals around the city, Idol Wolf nails both the food and the room. Worth a shot for a date night downtown.
The Food At Idol Wolf
Let me tell you about the pan con tomate. This was the dish that stuck with me.
The bread came out crunchy, perfectly toasted. But the tomato mixture is what made it. Spices, garlic, something that turned it creamy with chunks of tomato through the spread. A flavor profile that put me right back in Madrid.
I liked it so much I ordered a second round.
That's not something I do often. But when something hits like that, you don't mess around. The bread was a vehicle to get more of that tomato into your face, and I was completely fine with that arrangement.
The other standout was the patatas bravas. Potatoes covered in aioli and chives, with maybe a hint of tomato underneath. Slight crispy exterior, soft and fluffy in the middle. The whole thing just worked.
I enjoyed those potatoes way more than I expected to.
The croquettes were pretty good. Cheesy middles, breaded and crunchy outside.
My wife and friends got the Caesar salad -- big lettuce wedges, cheese, dressing. They liked it.
The sobrasada toast had a savory streak from the cured sobrasada and paired well with honey and olive oil. Solid, but it didn't quite reach the subtler flavors of the pan con tomate or patatas bravas.
For dessert, we got the cotton candy. Cute, 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 on the steep side for St. Louis, but what can you do. This is downtown dining, so you're paying for the experience and the location.
Idol Wolf Atmosphere And Miscellaneous
Idol Wolf is really just an open, airy room paired with the art installations throughout. The combination makes for a strong date-night setting.
It's hip and modern without being in your face about it.
Service was solid. Our server kept the pre-show meal moving at the right pace.
The bar is the visual center, with the rest of the room spreading out around it. Even from the back tables, you can see it, and it gives the whole place a lively feel.
Being attached to the 21c hotel through the lobby doesn't hurt. It adds to the upscale tone without making the restaurant feel like a hotel restaurant, if that makes sense. You can see up a couple of floors into other levels of the hotel.
But Idol Wolf has its own identity within the larger hotel setting.
Parking At Idol Wolf
We grabbed a street spot a couple of blocks away. After 6 PM, street parking is free, which is clutch. We had to pay for the first hour because we got there a bit early, but it wasn't a big deal.
Idol Wolf Receipt
