Botanica – from Ryan Sherring of the Six Mile Bridge brewery in Maryland Heights and acclaimed chef Ben Welch – recently opened in Wildwood, showcasing a blend of new Italian and Southern American cuisine. Using ingredients like fermented garlic honey, pecans and sweet potatoes across a menu of small plates, pastas, entrées and Roman-style pizza, Botanica fills the space previously occupied by Sllyce Republic Pizza.

The 13,000-square-foot restaurant, which features two event spaces, seats 130 guests in its main dining area and another 16 at a 40-foot-long concrete bar wrapped in white oak. A dog-friendly patio and outdoor bar can accommodate another 130. The modern interior sports a clean design embellished with plants throughout.