Episode
How a 24-Seat Maplewood Restaurant Made the New York Times List
- Podcast
- The Arch City Report
- Published
- Apr 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1912
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://the-arch-city-report.captivate.fm
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Summary
Robin, the James Beard-nominated restaurant that seemingly came out of nowhere, is the hottest table in St. Louis — and maybe in the country. Jacob Kirn sits down with Alec Schingel, Robin's owner and chef, to dig into the real story behind one of the most talked-about restaurant openings in recent memory. Alec traces his culinary journey from Urbana to the kitchens of Gerard Craft, to Belgium and back, and explains why a small 24-seat counter-service model in Maplewood turned out to be a masterclass in restaurant economics. He breaks down how a surprise visit from a New York Times critic led to Robin landing on the paper's list of America's best restaurants — and how that single moment essentially doubled the restaurant's revenue overnight. Alec also gets candid about the grind before the recognition: the slow Tuesdays with nine covers on the books, the challenge of paying staff when the buzz hadn't caught up to the quality, and the careful use of a publicist even when the ROI wasn't obvious. Plus, he shares his philosophy on James Beard nominations, why he refuses to let accolades wag the dog, and what it actually takes to build lasting demand in a city that's always hungry for the next new thing. Mentioned in this episode: Cass Commercial Bank Cass Commercial Bank...member FDIC. https://www.cassbank.com/