Soulard welcomes new French restaurant, 808 Maison

Editor's Note: 808 Maison has closed.

Molly’s co-owners Luke Reynolds and John Rogers have embarked on a new venture: 808 Maison, Soulard’s newest French bistro at 808 Geyer Ave., next-door to its sister restaurant. Doors opened this week. 

As reported by St. Louis Magazine, former Franco executive chef John Dreja will helm the kitchen. 808 Maison will offer classic French cuisine, but rendered in a way that is relatable to modern eaters.

“We’re very much sticking with classic French in the preparations. We’re trying to make it familiar enough and friendly enough … that it’s not so overwhelming,” Reynolds said. “We are doing sweetbreads. We’re doing fois gras. It’s a pretty classic French menu.”

Alongside small plates like smoked sweetbread parmentier and foie gras du jour, diners can enjoy dishes like pomme frites with house-made ketchup and beet butternut chevre terrine.

The seafood portion of the menu includes oysters on the half shell, smoked petite octopus, scallop tartare and more, while entrees include dishes like Burgundy-braised lamb shank, cassoulet, grilled rib-eye and a preserved cauliflower and scorched lemon panisse.

As for the drink menu – which has yet to debut – 808 Maison is playing it close to the chest. “We have a pretty well-curated cocktail menu that we haven’t launched yet,” Reynolds said.

The intimate, 48-seat dining room seeks to get in touch with St. Louis’ French roots, boasting exposed brick, dark-colored tables and chairs and a resonant wooden bar. 

Adam Rothbarth is a staff writer at Sauce Magazine.