FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I need to have a reservation?
Yes. Because of our style of service, Mainlander is unable to accommodate walk-ins. We offer dining by ticketed appointment. This not only makes your visit with us smoother and more carefree, but it allows us to plan each day accordingly and provide a unique experience tailored to our guests. If you purchase a ticket for dinner and then are unable to attend, you can cancel or reschedule your reservation on Resy for a full refund up to 24 hours before your reservation time. If you have questions about your reservation, contact us at info@mainlanderstl.com and we will work it out with you one on one.
What kind of cuisine do you serve?
Although you can best describe us as Modern American, our food and drink really have no rules. Modern American dining really began to take shape in the mid-20th Century, and we seek to recapture a little of the magic of that time with our food. What was referred to as Continental Cuisine, then branched off into New American Cuisine and California Cuisine. Then, it was called Fusion, and is now what many people refer to as “chaos cooking”. We are all of these things. American Cuisine overall is defined by freedom, and we aim to cook freely.
Our food and drink is also defined by the bounty of our Midwest landscape and our distinct seasons. We rely on the rhythm of the local harvest and the hard work of our purveyors in our little corner of the mainland.
What is your menu?
Our menu changes with the seasons and the availability of ingredients. We will post a sample menu with regular and vegetarian options each month on our website when reservations open. You can click HERE to see our current menu. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate vegans at this time due to the size of our kitchen. Please note, to our guests with severe allergies (gluten, nuts, shellfish, dairy-free, etc.) that while we are happy to accommodate, we cannot guarantee that cross contamination will not occur. Safety first. We hope to be able to offer this in the future! We serve an all-inclusive family style supper in a three-course format: tidbits (a procession of small bites), a large main course, and dessert. We recommend enjoying your supper with one of our pairings. Each pairing includes 3 alcoholic cocktails, 3 unique non-alcoholic cocktails, or 3 glasses of wine. However, if you don’t want to opt into the pairing you’re still in luck because a welcome punch on arrival (with or without booze), sparkling water, a house beer, coffee and tea are all included upon request. At the end of the day, we encourage you to throw caution to the wind and leave everything to us!
What does it cost to dine at Mainlander?
A ticket to your dining experience at Mainlander is $93 (tax not included). We highly recommend a cocktail, non-alcoholic cocktail, or wine pairing to complement your meal as all of our courses are thoughtfully designed with a drink pairing in mind. Each pairing will be an additional $38 (tax not included).
Do I need to tip?
Absolutely not. There will be no service charge included. Don’t worry about it.... But, since you’re asking, we are a tipping and gratuity-free restaurant. We believe that it is our responsibility, not yours to pay our employees a fair wage. If you want to support our team, please make a reservation, and come enjoy supper. We are able to pay our employees appropriately with what you pay for your meal. We choose to not outsource our labor expenses to our guests. We think that you as a guest should not have to negotiate the monetary worth of our staff while you are trying to relax with food and drink.
I received a gift card, now what?
Celebrate! Someone loves you very much. For gift card reservations, email us at info@mainlanderstl.com with your gift card number, party size, and desired reservation time (6:00pm or 8:30pm, Tuesday-Saturday). We recommend checking our live availability on Resy (our reservation platform) before specifying your reservation size and time. To check the balance on your giftcard, click HERE.
How far in advance can I make a reservation?
Reservations will open on the first of the month for the following month at 12:00pm CST. I.E., May reservations open on April 1st, June opens on May 1st and so on…
Can I dine alone?
Yes! Celebrate yourself and be a party of one. Just know that when you arrive at Mainlander, you won’t be alone.
Is there a dress code?
No. come as you are.
Do I have to join a club?
We are a supper club, but you don’t have to join. When you are within these four walls, you’re in the club.
Do you have any rules?
There are only two main rules at Mainlander:
Throw your cares to the wind, relax, and enjoy yourself.
Respect those around you. We do not permit abuse of ANY kind to anyone on the part of our employees OR our guests (that’s you). If you’re having difficulty with this, you will be asked to leave.
What if I have a food allergy?
We have you. When you make your reservation, you will have an opportunity to notify us of any allergies. This is also when you can request that your meal be vegetarian. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate vegans at this time due to the size of our kitchen. Please note, to our guests with severe allergies (gluten, nuts, shellfish, dairy-free, etc.) that while we are happy to accommodate, we cannot guarantee that cross contamination will not occur. Safety first. We hope to be able to offer this in the future! If you don’t get that detail into the reservation, or you find out later that someone in your party has a certain need, don’t worry! Just email us at info@mainlanderstl.com and let us know. We will work with you one on one to make sure you have a carefree meal. However, we do kindly ask that you give us 24 hours of notice before your arrival for special accommodations. We want your visit with us to be fuss-free.
Can I bring a child?
Yes, however we do not have booster seats or highchairs. If you are going to bring any little ones, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make sure your whole party is happy and content.
Where can I park?
We are located in the Central West End which is a fairly dense neighborhood. There is plenty of meter parking on the streets all around. There is also a city parking garage available one block north on Euclid Ave. TIP: We love to go out to eat and drink in the CWE on our off days and often hire a ride so that we don’t have to worry about it.
Can I bring my own wine?
Yes. A corkage fee of $20 will apply for bottles brought to the restaurant. If you are going to bring your own bottle, we do ask that you kindly let us know prior to your visit so we can prepare accordingly.
Can I talk to someone on the phone?
We keep our operation intentionally lean. So, we do not employ a full-time reservationist to answer a land line. However, if you prefer to speak to someone on the phone just let us know via email and we’ll get you on the horn.