Wright's Tavern - A Sophisticated St. Louis Steakhouse

Wright's Tavern Takeaway. Wright's really writes the book on what a St. Louis steakhouse should be. I'm giving it an 8.2/10 because the steak was perfectly cooked, the atmosphere nailed the upscale vibe, and the whole experience felt worth the price tag.

This is absolutely a place worth seeking out for special occasions. It's not Peter Luger or Wolfgang's level, but for St. Louis, it delivers a legitimately impressive steakhouse experience without the crazy markup you'd find at some places.

Reservations are tough to snag, but showing up right at opening or around the 6-6:30 rollover gets you a bar seat. The bartender was great to chat with. Parking is typical downtown street parking, so plan accordingly.

Wright's Tavern Experience Summary

I rolled up to Wright's Tavern solo on a Saturday night right when they opened at 5 PM. No reservation, which is basically suicide at this place. But I had a strategy.

Here's the deal with Wright's. Getting a reservation is legitimately difficult. This isn't one of those restaurants where you can just call up a few days before and expect a table. So if you don't have a reservation, your best bet is showing up right when they open or catching them around 6 to 6:30 when they turn tables over. The bar is your friend.

The bar has maybe six seats, and I managed to grab one. Honestly, this turned into a feature, not a bug. I got to chat with the bartender the entire meal, which made the solo dining experience actually enjoyable instead of awkward.

Wright's Tavern is definitely the place where you go for an anniversary dinner. Or to meet your future in-laws. Or for some other event where you need to impress someone.

While I was there, I counted three different tables that were quite literally engaged couples having dinner with what appeared to be their in-laws. That's the vibe. This is where life milestones happen over medium-rare steaks.

The whole place only has about 20 tables. It's cozy and inviting, but you're going to be relatively close to the people next to you. That's not a complaint, just setting expectations. This isn't a massive dining room where you can have private conversations. But that intimacy is part of the appeal.

The price point is expensive for St. Louis, but it's not outrageously expensive for a steakhouse. You're paying for quality food and a great atmosphere, not just a name on the door. In my quest to find the best food in St. Louis, Wright's Tavern is a solid contender for the steakhouse category.

Would I come back? Absolutely. Next time I have something worth celebrating or someone to impress, Wright's is on the short list.

The Food At Wright's Tavern

I ordered the steak pommes frites. Let me tell you about this steak.

Perfection.

Cooked to a beautiful medium rare right in the middle. Not too rare, not too done. That perfect pink center that makes your taste buds happy. The outside had a garlic butter sauce that I used for dipping, and it was fantastic.

Here's what impressed me most. You could actually taste the steak. The garlic butter and herbs complemented the meat without overpowering it. Some places drown everything in sauce to hide mediocre beef. Wright's didn't need to do that. The quality of the meat spoke for itself.

The bread deserves its own paragraph. Fantastic sourdough that came from some kind of provisions place. I should have written down the name, but I was too busy demolishing it. That's the sign of good bread. You forget to take notes because you're too focused on eating it.

The pommes frites were nice and crispy on the outside with a great texture. They came with a garlic aioli that complemented them perfectly.

Or you know, you could just do straight ketchup if you don't want to be all fancy all the time. No judgment.

They have a dessert menu that looked tempting, but I was pretty satisfied after the steak and fries.

The menu itself is thoughtfully curated. Not overwhelming with choices, but enough variety that everyone can find something they'd enjoy.

Wright's Tavern Atmosphere And Miscellaneous

The atmosphere is very dark because it's a date night type place. Think romantic and intimate, not sports bar bright. The lighting is intentionally dim to create that special occasion feeling.

They have a nice oyster bar that's fun to look at, although I'm not an oyster guy myself. But it adds to the upscale vibe.

The bar is well stocked with all kinds of different colorful drinks. You can see bottles lining the shelves, and they clearly take their cocktail program seriously.

The waiters wear aprons and are very attentive to your needs. This is proper white tablecloth service without being stuffy or pretentious. They strike that balance well.

Everything about the place screams "special occasion." From the dark wood to the intimate lighting to the professional service, Wright's knows exactly what it's trying to be. And it nails it.

Parking At Wright's Tavern

Parking is typical downtown street parking. There are meters with time limits, so keep an eye on that if you're planning a longer meal.

It's not the most convenient setup, but it's manageable. Just factor in a few extra minutes to find a spot and feed the meter.

Wright's Tavern Receipt