Fitz's

http://www.fitzsrootbeer.com
Rft Restaurant Description

admittedly, not my image. belongs to Crystal Clyburn

single word summary: Institution.

Let's start out with the first Saint Louis restaurant I ever remember going to.

There was one point in my life where I went to church. In hindsight, I can't believe I let my father talk me into something like that, given my stance on organized religion today.

This is all besides the point, but without that sunday at church, I would have never wound up at Fitz's

For those unfamiliar, Fitz's is a local brand of root beer, brewed and bottled in the Loop, a popular area(Delmar Blvd.) in University City, St. Louis' college neighborhood.

I remember being about 13 or 14 when we first went to the restaurant. This is neither here nor there, but at that point, I was sort of blown away that we were eating at a restaurant in the city. At that point I never even imagined living somewhere besides the Illinois suburbs I had lived in my whole life, let alone a decent apartment in the big city.

Anyways, onward to the food.

Well, maybe not. Seeing as this was so long ago, I don't actually remember what I had. I don't remember if I even liked it, actually. But I can fill in the gaps with more recent experiences with the restaurant.

Fitz's is a place that you take your family and friends who are from out of town. In that way, its sort of a welcome wagon to things i want them to know about St. Louis. I never really broke it down like this, but St. Louis is a city of icons. We have the Arch, we have the Budweiser brewery, Imo's pizza, the list goes on.

What makes Fitz's iconic, of course, is the Root Beer. Cold Root Beer on tap may be one of life's greatest joys, next to cold Beer on tap (a lesson learned only a few years ago). The soda just tastes better that way, creamier, colder, sweeter, but only just enough. The bottomless mug is one thing a person must order as soon as a member of the wait staff approaches your table. There should be no thought to this at all. While Fitz's does brew a number of other flavored sodas, i feel its inappropriate to delve into anything else but the sudsy Root Beer. My experience at Fitz's is only complete once I'm bursting at the seams with delicious, sugary soda.

But that's not to say the food is horrible, because its far from it. Fitz's offers a medley of typical american fare, ranging from burgers to wraps and pizzas. This is the ultimate kids restaurant, but some of the takes on the burgers lend themselves to a more adult palette. My go to is usually the Patty Melt burger, a typical burger, dressed up with sourdough and grilled onions. Cooked medium, this has never not satisfied me. Its nearly become a comfort food, seeing as its just about all I order when i go there. I'm fairly certain one couldn't go wrong with any burger on the menu, depending on their mood.

The desserts, of course, are another main feature of the menu. My experience is still limited, but I'd be an idiot if I didn't get a root beer float. The ice cream is cold, super creamy, and pairs well with the just brewed root beer. Big enough to share amongst 2, even 3 people, its another main event for this restaurant.

All in all, Fitz's isn't anything special, but at the same time, its wonderful. Its comforting, yet typical. Plain, but satisfying. Take your parents here, take a date here, meet up with some old friends here, and you're sure to have something you like, or adventure and try something different.

But don't miss the Root Beer.