The votes have been cast and we have a winner in our romantic dinner challenge. After all the nominees and the voting,  in O'Fallon has come out on top.  In an extremely close vote, Spiro's St. Charles picked up the most votes to claim the victory.  Here's how the voting broke down.  Bradden's in St. Charles received four votes. Fratelli's Ristorante in St. Charles received six votes. McGurk's Public House in O'Fallon received seven votes. Spiro's St. Charles in St. Charles received 12 votes. Thanks to everyone who voted and who nominated.  Disagree with the votes? Got something to say about …

For this week's St. Charles County Patch Chowdown Showdown, we asked readers their favorite place for a romantic dinner. Thanks to those of you who commented and told us your pick!  This week, four St. Charles County restaurants were nominated: Bradden's in St. Charles Fratelli's Ristorante in St. Charles McGurk's Public House in O'Fallon Spiro's St. Charles in St. Charles You can cast your vote for your favorite among the finalists by submitting your answer in the poll below.  Voting will continue through 5 p.m Thursday. Check back Friday morning to find out who has been chosen as this week'…

Welcome to "Chowdown Showdown"—a column aimed at finding the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. The weekly Chowdown Showdown is meant to be a way for readers to pick and vote on their favorite places to get certain entrees in St. Charles County. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we're wondering: Where is the best place in St. Charles County to get a romantic dinner? You can let us know your favorite spot by commenting below. You will be able to submit your vote through …

Patch readers cast their votes and we now have a winner in our chicken wing challenge.  B. Halls Family Grill in O'Fallon came out on top in this week's poll, with 50 percent of the votes.  Here's how the voting broke down: Big A's in St. Charles: 4 votes (13 percent) B. Hall's Family Grill in O'Fallon: 15 votes (50 percent)  Mattingly's in St. Charles: 8 votes (26 percent) The Brass Rail in O'Fallon: 3 votes (10 percent)  Thanks to everyone who nominated and voted this week.  Disagree with the votes? Got something to say about the winner? Let us know below.  Check back on Monday for next …

For this week's St. Charles County Patch Chowdown Showdown, we asked readers their favorite place to eat chicken wings. Thanks to those of you who commented and told us your pick!  This week, four St. Charles County restaurants were nominated: Big A's in St. Charles B. Hall's Family Grill in O'Fallon Mattingly's in St. Charles The Brass Rail in O'Fallon  You can cast your vote for your favorite among the finalists by submitting your answer in the poll below.  Voting will continue through 5 p.m Thursday. Check back Friday morning to find out who has been chosen as this week's Chowdown Showdown…

Welcome to "Chowdown Showdown"—a column aimed at finding the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. The weekly Chowdown Showdown is meant to be a way for readers to pick and vote on their favorite places to get certain entrees in St. Charles County. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, we're wondering: Where is the best place in St. Charles County to get chicken wings? You can let us know your favorite spot by commenting below. You will be able to submit your vote through 5 …

The votes have been cast and we have a winner in our sushi challenge. After all the nominees and the voting, Kitaro Bistro of Japan in O'Fallon has come out on top.  In an extremely close vote, Kitaro Bistro of Japan in O'Fallon picked up one more vote than second-place Crazy Sushi in St. Peters to claim the victory.  Here's how the voting broke down.  Crazy Sushi in St. Peters 9 votes (23 percent) Sushi Ai in St. Charles 8 votes (20 percent) Sushi Sen in Lake Saint Louis 7 votes (17 percent) Schnucks in Lake Saint Louis 0 votes (0 percent) Thai Jasmine in O'Fallon 2 votes (5 percent) Lucky …

Welcome to "Chowdown Showdown"—a column aimed at finding the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. The weekly Chowdown Showdown is meant to be a way for readers to pick and vote on their favorite places to get certain entrees in St. Charles County. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  Now that Thanksgiving is over, we want to think about anything but turkey and stuffing. We want to know: Where is the best place in St. Charles County to get sushi? You can let us know your favorite spot by commenting below. You will be …

The votes have been cast and we have a winner in our breakfast sandwich challenge.  After all the nominees and the voting, Lady Di's Diner in St. Charles has come out on top.  In an extremely close vote, Lady Di's Diner in St. Charles picked up one more vote than second-place Schnucks to claim the victory.  Here's how the voting broke down.  Crooked Tree Coffee House in St. Charles: 3 votes (5 percent) St. Louis Bread Company: 8 votes (14 percent) Schnucks: 18 votes (32 percent) 2nd Street Bike Stop in St. Charles: 8 votes (14 percent) Lady Di's Diner in St. Charles: 19 votes (33 percent) …

On this weeks edition of the Chowdown Showdown we asked everyone to pick their favorite place to grab a breakfast sandwich. We asked, and you answered. We got a few responses, but you job is not done. We've narrowed down the field and now it's time to vote.   And the nominees are ... Crooked Tree Coffee House in St. Charles St. Louis Bread Company Schnucks 2nd Street Bike Stop in St. Charles  Lady Di's Diner in St. Charles You can cast your vote for your favorite among the finalists by submitting your answer in the poll below.  Voting will continue through 5 p.m Thursday. Check back Friday …

Welcome to another exciting edition of the "Chowdown Showdown"—a column aimed at finding the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. If you don't know the drill by now, allow me to fill you in. The weekly Chowdown Showdown is meant to be a way for readers to pick and vote on their favorite places to get certain entrees in St. Charles County. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  This week we're thinking breakfast and, more importantly, breakfast sandwiches. We want to know: Where is the best place in St. Charles County to …

We have a winner! Magpie's Baked Potato Soup captured the St. Charles County Patch Chowdown Showdown Best Soup title this week.   Our winner got nominated with two other readers seconding the nomination.  Here are a few of the comments: Patch reader Jane nominated the Baked Potato Soup at Magpie's on Main Street in St. Charles with seconds from Sarah ("Magpies on main street! Best potato soup ever!!") and sharon m. litzinger ("i am with jane, no place better than magpie's baked potato soup") Lisa Aydt said, "Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup served with pita chips from the 2nd Street…

For this week's St. Charles County Patch Chowdown Showdown, we asked readers where they go for the best bowl of soup in the county. Thanks to everyone who submitted their votes by commenting in our article. Five St. Charles County establishments were nominated: Mexican gumbo at Qdoba (Wentzville Qdoba, O'Fallon Qdoba, St. Peters Qdoba, St. Charles Qdoba) Baked potato soup at Magpie's on Main Street in St. Charles Organic Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Soup served with pita chips from the 2nd Street Bike Stop Cafe in Frenchtown Denny's vegetable soup (Denny's in Lake Saint Louis) Gingham's …

Welcome to "Chowdown Showdown," a feature to help us locate the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. And we're leaving the decision to you, our readers. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  The weather's been pretty mild the last few days, but you know we'll be seeing our share of snow and ice and bone-chilling temperatures before winter's over. And when it comes to wintertime comfort food, what's better than a steaming bowl of soup? Tomato, potato, chowder, gazpacho, consommé or good ol' chicken noodle—nothing's like …

We have a winner! The best salad in St. Charles County is the steak and avacado salad at Blue Sky Cafe in Winghaven. Patch readers had a lot to say about salads. Here are a few of their comments: Heidi L. said "Blue Sky Cafe in Winghaven Steak tip and Avocado Salad is the best." Denise said that "2nd Street Bike Stop & Cafe's Mojo Salad is hands down THE best organic salad in St. Charles. The North Woods Salad with fresh strawberries and blue berries is sweet change, too." Blue Sky Cafe ended up with 37 percent of the votes when the poll closed Thursday at 5 p.m. Here's how the other Chowdown…

On this week's edition of the Chowdown Showdown we asked everyone to pick their favorite place for salad in St. Charles County. Six St. Charles County establishments were nominated: Spinach and grilled shrimp salad at Applebee's, Spinach, apple, chicken, blue cheese, cranberry and pecan salad at O'Charley's, O'Fallon Combination salad at Madison's Cafe, O'Fallon Chicken Spedini salad or honey mustard chicken salad at Rizzo's, Wentzville Steak tip and avocado salad, Blue Sky Cafe, Winghaven Caesar salad at the Pasta House, St. Peters You can cast your vote for your favorite among the finalists…

Welcome to "Chowdown Showdown"—a column aimed at finding the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. The weekly Chowdown Showdown is meant to be a way for readers to pick and vote on their favorite places to get certain entrees in St. Charles County. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  This week we're trying to stick to our New Year's resolutions and eat sensibly. We want to know: Where is the best place in St. Charles County to get a great salad? You can let us know your favorite spot by commenting below. You will be …

We have a winner! Four St. Charles County establishments were nominated, and it was close between two local restaurants, but Big A's on Main Street in St. Charles coasted to victory with 36 percent of the votes.  Here's what a few readers had to say about their favorites:  Boot said: Llywelyn’s Pub in St. Charles. They have great buffalo (aka Dragon) wings! Jim Frain said: I'd match up the appetizers at McGurk's in O'Fallon with any restaurant in the area...going there to have some tonight! Here's how the voting broke down.  Big A's on Main Street in St. Charles:  9 votes (36 percent) Blue …

On this week's edition of the Chowdown Showdown we asked everyone to pick their favorite place for appetizers in St. Charles County. Four St. Charles County establishments were nominated:  Big A's on Main Street in St. Charles Blue Sky Cafe on Winghaven Boulevard in O'Fallon  Llywelyn’s Pub on Main Street in St. Charles  McGurk's Public House on South Main Street in O'Fallon You can cast your vote for your favorite among the finalists by submitting your answer in the poll below.  Voting will continue through 5 p.m Thursday. Check back Friday morning to find out who has been chosen as this …

Welcome to "Chowdown Showdown"—a column aimed at finding the best foodie finds in St. Charles County. The weekly Chowdown Showdown is meant to be a way for readers to pick and vote on their favorite places to get certain entrees in St. Charles County. Each week, we will ask you to tell us your favorite place to get a cup of coffee or a burger or breakfast.  This week, we have New Year's Eve plans and dinner reservations on the brain and we want to know: Where is the best place in St. Charles County to get appetizers? You can let us know your favorite spot by commenting below. You will be able…