First Look: Westchester in Chesterfield

According to our Readers’ Choice poll (and, of course, the enduring success of Sugarfire Smoke House), Matthew Glickert is one of the most beloved chefs in St. Louis. But after six years at the lauded barbecue spot, he’s finally forging his own path. For Westchester, his seasonal, upscale concept at 127 Chesterfield Towne Center in Chesterfield, he partnered with Bryan Herr, the former owner of Naked Vine, which closed at the end of 2020. Two weeks ago, the restaurant did a week-long soft opening, and now it’s officially live. 

“So far so good,” Glickert said of the restaurant’s first days. “We have 80 reservations for tomorrow. I don’t know how we’ll do it,” he added, laughing. But judging by his success at Sugarfire – and at Bill Cardwell’s restaurants Cardwell’s and BC’s Kitchen before that – he should be in good shape. “It’s completely night and day,” he said of his move to fine dining. “Sugarfire was awesome for chef-driven barbecue. We used high-quality ingredients. This has been fun – I haven’t cooked food like this in many years.”  

For Herr, it was an easier transition. “It was a pretty natural move for me. I’m familiar with what kind of wine list this part of town enjoys,” he said. On that note, he said he’ll be adding more Italian and Old World wines to Westchester’s list, as well as some Burgundys and white Burgundys.  

Regarding Westchester’s space, it’s one of the more deliberate vibes St. Louis has seen in a minute. Photos from concert venues, from the Village Vanguard in New York City to Red Rocks in Colorado, line the dark, wooden walls; bright chandeliers punctuate the romantic, bistro-style space. “There’s nothing like this in West County,” Herr said. “When you walk in, you really get the feeling like you’re in a city bar in Brooklyn or Philly.” He’s not wrong.  

Open for lunch and dinner, Westchester has a fairly large menu. Lunch features starters like a tomato salad and a beet salad; classic and smash burgers are on the docket, as are sandwiches like a fried bologna sandwich and a veggie Reuben. There’s also a rigatoni pasta with chicken, sausage and a Creole cream sauce, and a fish of the day. For dinner, Glickert is stretching his legs a bit: the starters list expands to include steak tartare, crab toast and pumpkin agnolotti, while entrees include duck breast, filet mignon, pan-roasted Buttonwood Farm chicken and mushroom pappardelle. Local favorite Clementine’s Naughty & Nice Creamery ice cream is available for dessert.   

The bar features a number of signature cocktails, like The Fillmore, which features Banhez mezcal, Ancho Reyes verde, Domaine de Canton, lime and a Tajin-rimmed glass; the Troubadour has Aviation gin, pomegranate lime juice and rosemary spray. In all, there are about five signature drinks, and all of them are named after classic venues. Westchester has about six beers on tap, like Logboat lager, Rogue Dead Guy ale and Bell’s Two Hearted ale. Bottled beer is also available.  

Check out the slideshow below for more information about Westchester’s days and hours of operation, menu, beverage program and more.