Saint Louis, Missouri's Mekong Restaurant on South Grand: A Traveler's Oasis

South Grand Boulevard- Saint Louis, Missouri. Here I sat in this lovely booth staring at a fancy iMac monitor tweeting minute after minute away, enjoying a row of $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons when I realized what a wonderful time I was having, and decided to write this very review which you now read.

Brilliant!

Having lived in Saint Louis for several years, I was aware of the Mekong's place on the South Grand business strip, and that they had built a great name for themselves with their three-pronged attack on boredom:

The Mekong- Proper dining and bar at the Grand entrance.

The Upstairs Lounge- The great dancing/show venue on the second level with, of course, it's own bar.

The Jade Room- On the Hartford St. entrance, the back bar with the iMacs posted nicely on a couple of table tops.

The computers were why I came here initially because I am out on tour with The New Sorrows (ie; myself) with lots of things to do online and no computer with which to do them. I vaguely remembered there being computers here, and darnit, I was right.

Funny enough, when I asked how much it was to rent time on one I was met with some confused looks. After a bit of banter, we established that the computer time would be free if I wanted to buy something. I love cheap beer, so ordering two $2 PBRs was a no-brainer.

The service was pleasant and diligent, if a little presumptuous in that I was presented the cheque just as I was beginning my second beer. It was an understandable mistake, as I am sure most people who look as dirty as do I probably order one item and are done. I never actually felt rushed, as my server paced his returns to my table well and suggested that I relax and take my time. Guess that was what probably made it most clear.

He even refilled my fortune cookies! I have more good fortune coming my way than you could kick in a gutter!

About an hour in, I ordered a garlic beef plate as the Jade Room's bartender, Josh, was arriving to do his sidework.

Talk about service- Josh gave me a cigarette from his own pocket when he saw the sad look fall over my face as he placed a big black ashtray on my table, preparing for the evening's debauchery to come. Like a saint, that guy. Imagine how much better it got when he started his playlist of '80s/'90s hairmetal. Just bliss.

My food was $6.50 and quite tasty. Tender, juicy chunks of garlic beef on a bed of onions and other assorted vegetable goodness, with a fresh bowl of steamed rice on the side. And of course, my rice was refilled too!

Finally, having been to The Upstairs Lounge on numerous occasions, I can tell you that they consistently have great music, most nights for free, and that the croud is usually better looking than am I.

Now though, I am a few beers, a full stomach, eight fortune cookies, three and a half hours into milking this computer, and I just gotta go; but did you catch the point of this piece?

When you're ready to rock, Children of the Night, but hate to travel out of the same city block, Mekong it up. Mekong it hard! And tell 'em Jim McCray sent you- then wait for the laughter.