The Severed Cortex

Link: http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/illinoisnews/story/456B2E18F98269DA8625745E00131F3B?OpenDocument

At one time I hear this was the spot to go to in the metro east. Some of my co-workers from this side of the river talk about how they went there for prom. I've been there several times to hear local bands, and a couple of times just to sit up there and drink. Nancy and I actually ate there a couple years ago and the driving rainstorm happening outside was almost duplicated inside the dining room. They had bus trays laid out everywhere to catch the leaking water. I also distinctly remember this exchange:

Waiter: May I get you something to drink?
Nancy: I'll have a Zinfandel
Waiter: And for you sir?
Me: Uhhh .... uhhhh .... uhhh ... Bud Light.
(As the waiter walks away)
Nancy: Bud Light?!
Me: I heard you say Zinfandel and all I could think was this guy is going to bring you a white zinfandel. It threw me off my drink ordering game and Bud Light was the first thing that popped in my head.
Nancy: No he won't. You're insane.
(Two minutes later the waiter returns)
Waiter: Your Bud Light sir. And for you ma'am, white zinfandel.
Me: Told you

Despite the waiter not being a sommelier, the food was pretty good and the waiter was just the right amount of attentive, yet not too intrusive. The crowd that night consisted of a lot of late 50's white guys in Members Only jackets and several woman in the same age group who were leathery tan, replete with gold jewelry, and most likely smoking. Nancy says the reason they closed is because their clientele all died off. I suppose there's some truth to that.