12 New Restaurants You Should Try in St. Louis Right Now

Cate Zone Chinese Cafe
8148 Olive Boulevard, University City; 314-738-9923

At this stylish University City storefront, co-owners Daniel Ma and Quincy Lin are serving food from the Dongbei region of China, an area famous for its twice-cooked pork. It's much more interesting than the goopy sweet-and-sour version at Panda Express, with a crispy exterior and a subtly sweet, ginger-rich sauce. Also don't miss the clear noodles with special sesame sauce. It's delicious. Pictured: The "hot crisp fish," which is also amazingly tasty. Photo by Sarah Fenske.

The Sliced Pint
1511 Washington Avenue, (314) 696-8787

The co-managers at this new downtown pizza-and-pint spot have concocted a fascinating new invention: a pizza whose crust is stuffed with toasted ravioli. Beneath the toppings and cheese is a thin layer of crust, then that instantly familiar mix of ground pork, sausage and beef, and then, and only then, the real crust. It's like a t-rav layer in the middle of a pizza sandwich. And it's actually good, we swear. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

VietNam Style
6100 Delmar Boulevard, 314-405-8438

Owners Thao Truong and Yun Vu are justly proud of the sizzling steak (pictured) at this new spot in Delmar East. It's a popular dish with young diners in modern Vietnam, and not offered anywhere else in the city. Try it house-style with a sunnyside-up egg, grilled pork patties, sardines in a light tomato sauce and pork liver pate. It also comes with a basket of French bread and a side salad, but you should still try to save room for Truong's signature avocado smoothies. Photo by Sarah Fenske.

Mauhaus Cat Cafe
3101 Sutton Boulevard, Maplewood; 314-384-2287

Sure, you come to Mauhaus Cat Cafe to play with the adorable kitties. But while you're there, why not try kitchen manager Alyssa Bennett's curried squash hummus? Co-owner Dana Huth says its "literally the best hummus I've ever had." Vegans should also note the vegan babka. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

Cibare
777 River City Casino Boulevard, 888-578-7289

Yes, there's an actual Neapolitan-style oven within this new restaurant at the River City Casino, and the pies they're making here are among the most delicious, and authentic, in town. Try the prosciutto e arugula (pictured) for a taste of how they really do it in Naples. You may never go back to St. Louis-style pizza again. Photo by Sarah Fenske.

Eat Sandwiches
3148 Morgan Ford Road, 314-797-8188

At Eat Sandwiches, the new (and incredibly charming) sandwich shop in Tower Grove South, you can try the signature French dip -- or perhaps co-owner Byron Smith's ingenious meatloaf sandwich (pictured). It makes so much more sense than a meatball sammie, does it not? And it's just as delicious. Photo by Cheryl Baehr.

Circa STL
1090 Des Peres Road, Des Peres; 314-394-1196

The Des Peres spot best-known for housing Rick's Cafe Americain now pays tribute to St. Louis culinary history with Circa STL, a brightly lit restaurant and bar serving some of the best toasted ravioli (pictured) we've had in ages. Made with fresh meat and cheese tucked into wonton wrappers and then fried, it's a great take on the original. Meat lovers should also try the pork steak. Photo by Sarah Fenske.

Yapi Mediterranean Subs & Sandwiches
5005 S. Kingshighway, 314-354-8333

Lisa and Armin Grozdanic's new south city spot specializes in Mediterranean food, which includes many dishes from Armin's native Bosnia. Don't miss the cevapi, a traditional Bosnian ground beef sausage dish served with sliced raw onions, sour cream and flatbread. Pictured: the buffalo chicken melt. Photo by Cheryl Baehr.

Wudon
1261 Castillons Arcade Plaza; 314-628-1010

Authentic Korean barbecue is now on offer in west county thanks to owners Victor and Moon Jang. The Korean pancakes are a treat seldom seen elsewhere in town, and the platters of meat are huge and delicious. Your server will grill your meat tableside, unless you'd prefer to do it yourself. Either way, you can't go wrong. Photo by Cheryl Baehr.

The B-Side
2709 Cherokee Street

This Cherokee Street bar specializes in "burgers, beats and brews," but you'd be a fool not to try the "Frito Bandito" (pictured) — a layer of Fritos, a burger, cheddar, vegan chili, onions that have been soaked in a Stag marinade, jalapeños and comeback sauce, a chipotle-based mayo sauce with thirteen different ingredients. Wash it down with a can of Stag. Photo by Kelly Glueck.

Papagayo's
5001 Lindenwood Avenue, 314-351-0027

David Montiel's ten-year-old Honduran restaurant has new digs in Northampton and a newly expanded menu featuring Mexican food as well as the Central American classics that regulars have grown to love. Don't even think about stopping by without getting a pupusa, a Salvadoran mainstay that includes fillings in a griddled corn tortilla. Photo by Sarah Fenske.

Snow Factory
6602 Delmar Boulevard, (314) 669-9300

Owner Van Liu is proudly serving two types of treats you can scarcely find in this country outside LA or New York: Thai-style ice cream rolls and egg waffle ice cream. The former's creation is a joy to watch; the latter is simply ice cream served in a hot-off-the-iron waffle, topped with the sauce of your choice. Flavors are unique enough to expand your palate without being one bit scary; if you haven't tried green tea ice cream yet, get cracking! Photo by Sarah Fenske.