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Lester Miller, owner, Lester’s Sports Bar and Grill
LESTER'S
"High Tech" Sports Bar and Grill
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By Sarah B. Smith
What is entrepreneur Lester Miller up to now? Last year, Commerce
Magazine profiled Miller’s stylish resurrection of Busch’s
Grove. Now Miller has ventured one mile down Clayton Road and
opened his latest enterprise—Lester’s Sports Bar and Grill.
Miller spared no expense at Busch’s Grove and has continued
that tradition at Lester’s. He has created a high-tech, sports
themed establishment that features a New York-style deli and
barbeque.
Lester’s includes more than 60 flat screen TVs throughout the
dining room and bar area. The centerpiece of the bar is a huge
four-sided, stadium-style score board—reminiscent of Madison
Square Garden’s—that includes a stock ticker and updated game
scores. Lester spent more than $500,000 on the wireless audio-visual
system and went to great lengths to make the unique technology
fan friendly, including “sound dogs” at each table that allow
the volume on the TV screens to be individually controlled.
The sports bar theme continues throughout the entire restaurant.
The black and white fabric walls are references to referee uniforms,
while the brickwork at Busch Stadium was the concept behind
the façade appearance. Sports memorabilia includes a prominent
case with signed baseballs from the legends—including Ted Williams,
Phil Rizzuto and Joe DiMaggio. For the front entrance, Miller
commissioned noted sculptor Harry Weber to create a 550 lb.
bronze statue of Cardinal great and longtime friend, Stan Musial.
The owner first met Musial when the young Miller was working
the turn styles at Ebbets Field, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Lester recalls the origins of Stan’s nickname. When Musial would
come up to bat, Dodger announcer Red Barber would comment on
the slugger, “Oh doctor, here comes that man.” Stan the Man
stuck.
Miller’s love of New York deli inspired the menu, and he has
gone to great lengths to make it authentic. He sent his culinary
team to learn from the pros at Harold’s Deli in New Jersey and
designed the kitchen at Lester’s to accommodate hand curing
the meats and smoking the BBQ on the premises. Chef Brad Isaak
worked closely with Miller in creating the menu, including Lester’s
Colossal New York Deli Sandwiches. The generously sized corned
beef, pastrami and smoked turkey sandwiches are served on rye
bread with Lester’s signature coleslaw. Fortunately for those
with smaller appetites, they are offered as a half sandwich
($6.95) as well as whole ($10.95). Those interested in sharing
may want to try the double and triple decker versions, which
at $19.95 feature well over a pound of meat!
Lester’s barbeque items also have proven popular. According
to Isaak, the smoked beef brisket at $8.95 has been a hot selling
item. And with summer here, the BBQ platters have become crowd
pleasers. Served with hearty amounts of BBQ baked beans, potato
salad and coleslaw, the platters offer pulled pork, smoked turkey
or beef brisket with a half slab of baby back ribs for $21.95.
On the lighter side, Lester’s offers a mix of salads and soups
that are great luncheon choices. The BBQ salad is offered with
a choice of beef brisket, turkey or grilled chicken. The smoked
turkey Cobb salad is a real treat. We found the brisket chili
and corn chowder to be delicious selections on a rainy spring
evening. Lester’s soups and salads range from $3.95 to $9.95.
The appetizers at Lester’s include, among other items, samplings
of their signature corned beef, pastrami, beef brisket and house
smoked pulled pork. Starting at $8.50, these “slider combo’s”
could be a meal unto themselves.
Lester’s unique atmosphere and affordable pricing have contributed
to its popularity with families. The wraps, pizza and kid’s
menu make it an easy place to bring finicky young eaters. The
high-tech bar area is so inviting, it’s a shame it’s not smoke
free.
Miller lights up when talking about his latest venture. “It
looks to me like the concept is a winner,” says Miller. In fact,
he became so enamored with the high-tech aspect of his new establishment,
that he has become partners with the owner of TSI, the St. Charles
based company that he hired to develop the elaborate custom
audio-visual system. His enthusiasm is so strong that he intends
to open two more restaurants bearing his name later this year.
Why the hurry? As Miller says, “I’m 75. I don’t know how many
more Saturday nights I have left.”
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TalkingPOINTS
Lester's
Sports Bar and Grill
9606
Clayton Road Ladue, Mo. 63124
(314) 994-0055
Hours:
Sunday thru Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday, Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
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