Though only three weeks old, Maplewood's newest restaurant, Robata(7260 Manchester Road, Maplewood; 314-899-9595), is packing the house with diners eager to sample its traditional Japanese cooking.
Located in a former Church's Chicken on Manchester Road near Southwest Avenue, Robata is Maplewood's first ramen bar — a trend that is slowly creeping its way into the St. Louis market. The restaurant is owned by Thom and Emily Chantharasy, former partners of the now-shuttered Sekisui.…