“I’ve been waiting more than 20 years to do this,” Timme says. It’s been her lifelong dream to own a restaurant in this precise location: She and her husband of 33 years have lived in St. Charles County their entire lives, and Main Street has been the backdrop of many date nights and weekends.

Over the years, the couple moved around, returning to St. Charles a few years back. The charm of Main Street always drew them in: She originally had plans to open a restaurant with her mother, but before that dream came to fruition, Timme's mother passed away. 

Not long after her death, a 120-year-old building became available on the north end of Main Street. It was the perfect spot: close to home, part of the community and part of Timme’s history. She took it as a sign. “I said, ‘Mama, we’re gonna do this,’” Timme says.

There were challenges along the way; renovating a century-old building is no small feat. But now, Savor is open and giving Main Street a laidback yet elevated place to dine and drink. Whether you’re out for date night, have a few kids in tow or just need a place to stop in while shopping, it’s the ideal place to go.

Inside Savor are televisions for catching the game, if that's what you like, but the glow of plentiful candlelight and lanterns make it cozy, and the wooden backbar and brick walls showcase its historic architecture. It’s a nice place for a sit-down meal, Timme says, something she felt the north end of bustling Main Street needed.

If the atmosphere doesn’t make diners feel at home, then the menu – full of Timme’s family recipes – will. So far, Savor’s most popular dish is the fried Brussels sprouts tossed in maple glaze and topped with bacon and goat cheese, but Timme is especially proud of the burgers made with beef from E3 Ranch in Kansas. “The meat comes to St. Louis, they process it, and it comes straight to me,” she says. “I like to call it the freshest burger on Main Street.”

Timme wanted Savor’s menu to feature unexpected items to give diners variety, so she included unique dishes like the country-fried meatballs, country-fried streak reimagined in meatball form. The meatballs are battered, fried, served atop mashed potatoes with corn and then drizzled in white pepper gravy. It’s a hearty meal, but Savor also offers fresh salads and a sizable kids menu so the whole family can nosh. Each dish on the kids menu is endearingly named after Timme’s grandchildren. Diners may pair their meal with one of the restaurant’s 20-plus wine selections or a specialty cocktail, like the Stonewater Gimlet or the Savor Old Fashioned. Linger at the bar, and you’ll see a photo framed in tribute to Timme’s late mother.

If you save room for dessert, then you’ll get a taste of the recipes Timme makes for her own kids. These thoughtful touches give Savor its soul and let diners know what kind of person is serving them behind the scenes. In this case, it’s someone passionate about community, family and making people feel welcome. “When people come to Savor, I want them to feel comfort,” she says. “I want them to be relaxed. I just want people to come as they are.”

Savors seats 60 people inside, and the outdoor patio, set to open this spring, will seat 60 more. Timme plans to eventually offer live music and brunch on the weekends.

Savor is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

 Savor, 221 N. Main Street, St. Charles, Missouri, 636-800-4820, savorstcharles.com