New options from casual to fine dining will be opening soon in O’Fallon
A new culinary team has taken over Fish Fry Fridays at the O’Fallon Knights of Columbus Hall and Event Center on Old Collinsville Road, three long anticipated restaurants are opening soon, and two national franchises are expanding into O’Fallon.
Here are the latest updates on new eateries:
KC Hall’s Fish Fry Fridays
After much fanfare last month announcing that nationally renowned chef and pitmaster David Sandusky would take over the kitchen, the KC Hall and Event Center is now offering a Lenten menu from noon to 8 p.m. on Fridays that is available either dine-in or carryout.
The first day was Feb. 9, and KC Bar Manager Brad Cason was thrilled with the response.
“We’re ready! We had a huge crowd, it was unbelievable. We want to thank the community for coming out,” Cason said. “We’re getting good feedback. We’re just so happy with how it worked out.”
Sandusky’s own recipes for catfish, cod and jumbo shrimp are being served as well as Southern-influenced side dishes and homemade sauces. Fish plates are served with two sides, hush puppies, bread, and pickles. Creole fried catfish, beer-battered cod, and smoked catfish are also available a la carte, in either half pound or pound portions.
Sides include Southern slaw, Lenten green beans, pimento hushpuppies, white cheddar macaroni and cheese, onion rings, fried corn on the cob, and chili crisp brussels sprouts. Sauces – tartar, cocktail, remoulade, chipotle, curry, buffalo, hot sauce and hot honey are available. Desserts include pecan pie, chocolate cake and a chocolate chunk cookie.
The Catholic fraternal organization-run KC Hall, which has long served fish on Fridays, had become the new home of the popular Swansea Fish Stand, which relocated there last fall, but owner Tim Lillis decided to retire and shut it down Jan. 3.
Enter Sandusky and his wife Meggan, whose BEAST Craft BBQ has been a fixture in Belleville since 2014. They also operate a food truck and are among the vendors at the St. Louis City soccer stadium and Washington University’s food service. The Sanduskys and their children live in O’Fallon.
Sandusky has appeared on Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games,” “BBQ Brawl” and “Beat Bobby Flay,” and “Project Fire” on PBS.He said the new addition will feature fish and chicken, and some barbecue, and they plan to start small. Sandusky said, and then expand after Lent. Current plans are for offering food on Wednesday and Friday.
Eventually, he will use the conference room as a dining room when the 300-seat banquet hall is unavailable, and he will be able to cater to large groups.
“The way David operates is impressive. He’s a magician, a perfectionist, and a professional in every sense,” Cason said. “Just to watch his team at work has been amazing. We know what he brings to the table. Everything’s handmade in-house.”
Cason said with large crowds, they expect some “bumps,” but “we look forward to the challenge.”
Cason said they have hired two new bartenders, and Sandusky has hired additional staff as well.
The KC Hall and Event Center is located at 5420 Old Collinsville Road. For carryouts, call 618-632-5222. For more information, visit their Facebook page.
Oaxaca Margarita Bar and Grill
Pronounced Wahaka (and that’s the name on the O’Fallon Facebook page), this will be the second location of the family-owned restaurant known for southern Mexican cuisine and hand-crafted margaritas (they have 20 specialty ones and 50 flavors).
Oaxaca is moving into the Blade building where 1818 Chophouse was, at 1405 N. Green Mount Road #100. Hours vary, but they will be open for lunch and dinner.
“The rumors are true. We are super excited to announce that Wahaka Margarita Bar is coming to O’Fallon. We are planning to hopefully be open by the end of the month,” management posted on Facebook.
Alexandra Perez, her husband Rolando Juarez and relative Dagoberto Garcia opened Oaxaca at 6185 Bennett Drive in Edwardsville in January 2022. Featuring recipes from their home state in Mexico, they serve mezcal, which is made from agave and has a higher alcohol content than tequila.
Specialty dishes include Camaron Wahaka, which is jumbo shrimp wrapped in crispy bacon, served on a hot skillet with peppers and onions, and is served with a side of rice, lettuce, pico de gallo, queso fresco and sour cream.
Visit the website for more information: www.oaxacamargaritabar.com.
August the Mansion
The historic Wastfield Mansion has new owners, Justin and Candice Mills, and a new name – August the Mansion, in honor of the original owner. They have spent three years extensively renovating the 1857 building, and plan to open it as a dining destination in March.
“We’re excited,” Justin Mills said.
He said they have been interviewing chefs and working out the details to offer a casual upscale dining experience serving New American cuisine. The property will include a bar, restaurant, and event space.
Last fall, Mills said the bar would not be a sports bar, but a quieter place where people can meet for conversations.
The building has nearly 6,500 square feet, including the original two-story Italianate-style brick home plus an addition in back. The lot is .15 acres. Mills said they purchased the lot next door, are planning a patio and fire pit, and the exterior will be picturesque, providing many photo backdrops. They have spruced up the fountain too.
Located at 1680 Mansion Way, the Mansion received a Landmark Award in 1963 from the St. Clair County Historical Society. In the mid-1990s, it became a fine-dining restaurant, The Mansion at Lakepointe, operated by Mike and Ellie Miller, which closed around 2000 and remained vacant for seven years.
Paulo Pacheco renovated it and operated the restaurant Paulo’s at The Mansion from 2007 to 2015. The last owners were Jerry Conway, also the executive chef, and Kathy Cox, and ran The Grille at The Mansion from 2015 to 2019. That July they stopped the restaurant food service but kept it open for parties, then abruptly closed that September.
Outback Steakhouse
Hankering for a Bloomin’ Onion? Community Development Director Justin Randall said that the new Outback Steakhouse should open in March. It is located at 1102 Central Park Drive, near the Drury Inn.
This Australian-themed American chain is returning to the southwestern Illinois region after the Swansea location, which opened in 1995, did not reopen after a fire on April 24, 2021. Currently, there are three in the St. Louis area — O’Fallon and St. Peters, Mo., and South St. Louis County.For information, visit www.outback.com.
St. Louis Kolache
A popular local franchise is moving into the former Imo’s Pizza location at 521 W. Highway 50. There are multiple locations in St. Louis and Edwardsville has been the only metro-east location until now.
Kolache is yeast dough pastry from a Czechoslovakian recipe that is stuffed with either sweet or savory ingredients, like fruit, breakfast items and popular sandwich fillings.
They are baked fresh daily in the shop and prepared with fresh ingredients, their website states. Local favorites like Pappy’s Smokehouse pulled pork and beef brisket are on the menu, as is St. Louis pizza with Provel cheese.
Efforts to reach a representative about their timeline were unsuccessful. For more information, visit: www.stlkolache.com.
Dunkin’ Donuts
A Dunkin’ will open this year at The Shoppes at Richland Creek that borders Greenmount Road, Frank Scott Parkway and Central Park Drive. It is the final commercial development there.
Popeyes, Five Guys, Wing Stop, Burger King, Taco Bell, Chicken Salad Chick, and Smoothie King are the neighboring places that have opened during the past three-four years.
This Dunkin’ (company is dropping the “Donuts” from the title), will be a two-lane drive-thru and will not have indoor dining.
