Though this year’s STL 100 doesn’t rank the Top 25 restaurants, I can assure you that Tara and Michael Gallina’s Vicia remains among the very best of St. Louis’ very best. Before the pandemic, Michael and then-executive chef Aaron Martinez hit upon a smart replacement for the traditional tasting menu: the Farmer’s Feast, a three-course, family-style meal showcasing the kitchen’s current bounty of ingredients and inspiration. Now, aside from snacks at the bar, the Farmer’s Feast is the only way to dine at Vicia.

Vicia is a restaurant in University City that focuses on vegetable-forward cuisine through a rotating tasting menu. Although they are not a solely vegan/vegetarian restaurant, they offer several options with each rotation that perfectly showcase the seasonal produce they receive. In the picture above you will see the Sweet Potato Soup made with charred vegetable mole, popcorn powder, and curry, as well as the Kale Salad composed of kale, cabbage, Asian pears, gala apples, and a pickled vinaigrette.

The fine-dining restaurant doesn’t have a menu; instead, its three-course Farmers Feast celebrates the bounty of the Midwest with fresh, inventive dishes such as vegetable top pesto, delicata squash tempura and creamy Missouri rice mixed with preserved mushrooms, nutty sunchokes and rich Parmesan. With co-owners Michael and Tara Gallina as your hosts, you’re in good hands. The power couple uses storytelling, along with exceptional hospitality and guest engagement, to craft the Vicia experience.

And when Tara and Michael Gallina welcomed St. Louis diners to their restaurant, Vicia, five years ago, you could feel the cool breath of renewal and growth brush across your neck. The impact they had on changing the way this midwestern city perceived the importance of meat to the promise of vegetables is significant. With the recent addition of executive chef and partner, Aaron Martinez, Vicia will continue to be a guaranteed leader in how locals eat.

With a menu driven by seasonal foods sourced from local farmers, artisans, and fishermen, Vicia is certainly an ethical paleo dining establishment. As the food is seasonal, the menu will often change throughout the year, but paleo eaters are catered for easily. In most cases, customers pick their protein and a side dish out of a variety of options, which means you don’t have to substitute ingredients from an entire meal to be paleo-friendly.

Vicia(4260 Forest Park Avenue, 314-553-9239) feels like a contemporary farmhouse, with whitewashed exposed brick, pale wooden tables and white-framed windows that separate the bar from the dining room. A large wood-fired hearth is where much of the cooking takes place — and it's absolutely transcendent. The "vegetable-forward" dishes on Chef Michael Gallina's tasting menus are stunningly composed and imbued with intention.

At the award-winning Vicia (4260 Forest Park) lunch runs $11 for two items and $14 for three. And instead of dropping serious coin at Annie Gunn’s, consider the daily blue-plate specials at the Smokehouse Market (16806 Chesterfield Airport)—say, Lou Rook’s Old School Meatloaf Sandwich for $7.99—every Wednesday. It’s the same high-quality food served at Annie’s but at a lower cost.

Want to skip the decision-making process and leave your meal in the capable hands of a chef?. Head to the award-winning Vicia, where chef/owner Michael Gallina offers a three-course seasonal menu (with optional wine pairings) that’s designed to be shared with a group. The lovely Forest Park restaurant offers sample menus, but what you eat depends on what’s at its peak that day.

Vicia's new al fresco menu, designed for eating on their patio and expanded sidewalk seating, makes this big event restaurant approachable any day of the week. Take advantage of the fresh, plant-dominant dishes like the creamy poblano hominy or the smoked oyster taco mushroom while you enjoy a warm day in St. Louis. Seating is first come, first served.

Little Fox is a new restaurant that just opened up, and it’s all natural wines,” says Kara Flaherty, certified sommelier and beverage director of Vicia. “They only have organic, biodynamic, little to no intervention wines. It’s fun to see these things popping up alongside really old, classic restaurants like Bar Italia, whose wine list is deep.

Feast on Vicia’s 8-course Chef’s Tasting Menu with the one(s) you love this Valentine’s Week. The menu will feature a creative mix of luxury and local, highlighting winter ingredients with 6 savory courses and 2 desserts. Each guest will receive a glass of sparkling rose (or a non-alcoholic rose) to begin the evening and a few other surprises.

Vicia – a FANTASTIC meal in STL – super local and seasonal ingredients, Midwestern fare – an amazing experience all around and great with GF. Wildly creative with vegetables and perfect for a date night or special occasion. They’ve been nominated for a ton of awards and you’ll see why when you visit.

There's a couple from New York opening it, and the main focus will be vegetables but it won't be vegetarian. I also love Vista Ramen's signature ramen, its kimchi pancakes and its five-spice daiquiri. Plus, the desserts are amazing, too, especially the lemongrass basil ice cream.

This one continues to rake in the National acclaim and James Beard nominations year after year. It’s one of those you just have to make your way to at least once. It’s also a veggie-forward restaurant for those needing vegetarian options you’re not finding on this list.

Celebrated for its innovative approach to vegetable-forward cuisine with an emphasis on seasonal ingredients and creative presentations, Vicia is a top eatery for those looking for plant-based and healthier dishes for their birthday dinner.

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. A post shared by Vicia (@viciarestaurant). Looking for a restaurant where you can enjoy some sustainably raised meats and locally produced vegetables?

For fine dining, consider making reservations at Bait (for seafood), Olive + Oak (for elevated American fare), Brasserie by Niche (for a French menu), Vicia (perfect for vegetarians) or Juniper (for Southern eats).

4260 Forest Park Avenue Entrance On BoylePhone: 314-553-9239 Visit Website. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Vicia (@viciarestaurant)

- Rating: 4.3/5 (318 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 4260 Forest Park Ave. St. Louis, Missouri - Categories: New American- Read more on Yelp

Winslow’s Table - co-owned by Tara and Michael Gallina who rose to St. Louis fame with the opening of Vicia.