The Scoop: Café Ventana adds French quarters

Anyone who’s been to weekend jazz brunches at Café Ventana lately knows that finding a seat at this hotspot can be a bit of a challenge. “It’s a madhouse and students aren’t even here right now,” said Amy Cox, marketing director for the Midtown locale. The solution? Add some French quarters. The Café Ventana annex is located on West Pine in the building to the immediate west of the restaurant. The 1,800-square-foot first floor has been renovated and transformed into a multifunctional space that can serve as spillover for 100 diners or for private events. There are two meeting rooms at the front of the building, while the remainder of the space is open, with comfortable sofas, chairs and tables that are sure to entice a fair share of SLU study groups. The décor at the annex retains Café Ventana’s Frenchy NOLA feel. Most notably, huge reclaimed stained glass church windows have been mounted on walls throughout the lounge area and are touched with lighting for full effect. Cool décor, elbow room to enjoy great food – some of it grown in the garden out front – by Katie Case from a menu designed by the talented Chris Lee. Is it any wonder that Café Ventana has already begun lining up reservations for events at this new space? The venue will open the end of this month and will follow Café Ventana’s hours of operation: Sundays through Wednesdays from 6:30 a.m. until 11:00 p.m., and until midnight Thursdays through Saturdays. Enter the annex from the breezeway between Café Ventana and the annex, or through the rear deck that adjoins Ventana’s outdoor dining area. Have scoop on restaurants opening, closing or changing their menu in the St. Louis area? Email us at Scoop@saucemagazine.com..