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Central Newsmagazine is Central St. Louis County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Dining Spotlight |
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Eleven Mile House Is “West County’s Cheers”By Tricia Herries
 Visitors to Eleven Mile House in Kirkwood won’t find Sam Malone tending bar or Carla Tortelli waiting tables, but they will find at least one similarity to Cheers of TV sit-com fame: Eleven Mile House is a restaurant and bar where “everyone will know your name,” owner Frank Soltysiak said. “It is West County’s Cheers.”
It is that friendly neighborhood bar feel that sets Eleven Mile House apart from its competitors and turns one-timers into regulars. “Most of our guests are regulars,” Soltysiak said. “You see the same people all the time, which I think speaks for the restaurant.” Maybe it is the cozy atmosphere complete with dim lights, quiet corners and a lodge-like display of hunting memorabilia mounted on the wall that keeps customers coming back for more, or maybe Soltysiak’s promise of “a great hamburger” is the driving force behind Eleven Mile House’s sure and steady lunch and dinner clientele. Whatever the reason or reasons, Soltysiak makes it his duty to keep the tables occupied and the bar busy by making friendly service an integral part of his restaurant’s charm. Almost always, he manages to personally greet and welcome “guests,” as he affectionately refers to his customers, because, after all, “it is like bringing someone into your home.” Eleven Mile House features casual dining off a menu that features soup, salads, sandwiches and entrees that some might call “bar food” but that the owner describes simply as “the best food in town.” “Everything sells,” Soltysiak said, and soon, there will be more menu items in the mix. Soltysiak took over Eleven Mile House in January, and he plans to liven up the menu and offer his guests a greater variety of fare. Specifically, diners can look forward to the introduction of pizza (once the new oven is installed) and a larger selection of pasta dishes. Customers also can expect the addition of weekly bar specials, which are coming in the near future. As for the aesthetics of the place, Soltysiak said he sees no reason to ruin a good thing. Other than making a few minor cosmetic improvements, he plans to keep things pretty much the way they are, so the comfortable and cozy feel of Eleven Mile House will remain exactly the same. Asked about the origin of his restaurant’s name Soltysiak could only speculate. “I understand that we are located 11 miles from the river,” he said. “And it used to be a stage coach stop.” One thing is certain: guests have been stopping at Eleven Mile House for a long, long time, and with Soltysiak as the host, that is not likely to change any time soon. Eleven Mile House
Location: 1033 Manchester Road Phone: (314) 821-6033
Restaurant Hours:
Monday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Sunday: 4 p.m. to midnight
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