The Benevolent King - Saint Louis

I don't know where to begin. Food choices were bad, and the food itself was even worse. Cool little spot though.

Had a fantastic dinner at this restaurant with incredibly unique dishes that were all delicious. Make sure not to skip out on the desserts either! Chef Elliot deserves all the praise for his creations, and Bailey provided excellent service. I highly suggest trying the lamb meatballs with couscous (definitely don't skip the couscous!), as well as the cigars and falafel. Whether you're dining in for dinner, this place comes highly recommended.

The food at Benevolent King is excellent. They are portioned to be small plates, but I felt that they were pretty generous. We loved everything except for the poached apples they were fine, just not to our taste. We tried a couple of the wines by the glass and appreciated the dry and not to sweet selection. Our server was also very hospitable and timed her checks on us, very well, always coming as well finished a plate and ready with what was next. It was a great place to eat on a cool, fall evening.

The Benevolent King offers a Moroccan-inspired menu with a twist, drawing inspiration from contemporary Israeli and French chefs. Jake at The Bar is a favorite bartender, and the dishes are both unique and creative. Must-try items include the Hamachi Crudo, Apple Feta Salad, Braised Octopus, and Citrus Cured Salmon. This restaurant is approved by #stlouispescatarians on Instagram!

The food at the restaurant was excellent, but unfortunately, the service was very inconsistent which detracted from the overall dining experience. Two appetizers never arrived, drinks were served very late, and everything seemed out of sync. This type of service issue seems to be a common problem in many restaurants these days. While I am not surprised by mediocre service at 7 out of 10 places I visit, it is still disappointing that the bar has not been raised since the pandemic. It is crucial for restaurant managers and owners to understand the importance of providing great service. No matter how talented the chef and kitchen team are, if the service team fails to deliver, it ruins the entire dining experience. It is essential to prioritize good service, not just for the customers' sake but also for the hardworking kitchen staff. I would much rather see waiters using paper and pen to take orders than missing dishes and drinks being served at the wrong time. Providing notebooks for the staff to write down orders is a simple and effective solution to ensure a smooth dining experience and show consideration for the chef and their team. It is an easy problem to fix that can greatly improve the overall customer satisfaction.