RFT Readers Picked These Restaurants & Bars as the City's Best

Overall Restaurant - Anthonino’s

Tucked into the charmingly old-school Hill neighborhood, Anthonino’s is about as far away from restaurant trends as you could possibly get — which is precisely why people have been flocking to this Italian-Greek hybrid for the last thirteen years. There may be spots in town with fancier cocktails and more exotic ingredients, but Anthonino’s staying power is a result of its insistence on the classics: good food, warm service and an inviting atmosphere. This beloved restaurant is the quintessential neighborhood eatery, equally welcoming to families, first dates and those looking for a quick business lunch. The food is uncomplicated Mediterranean comfort fare — solid pizzas, classic pastas (with freshly made noodles of course) and housemade toasted ravioli that is so good it nearly brought tears to Food Network star Guy Fieri’s eyes. Wear jeans or dress up — just don’t wear a Cubs jersey. Unfussy and understated, this timeless restaurant is as emblematic of St. Louis as it gets. Photo by Eric Frazier.

Outdoor/Patio - McGurk’s

In 1978, McGurk’s planted its Irish flag squarely in the middle of St. Louis’ most Francophile district and started on a path to becoming an institution. There’s no question McGurk’s is the city’s most authentic Irish pub. In fact, if you ask the folks at National Geographic, they’ll argue it’s one of the best Irish pubs in the entire United States. The music, beer and good-time Emerald Isle vibe are reason enough to patronize this fine drinking establishment, but they’re only part of the story. When the weather cooperates, McGurk’s garden is the place to be for outdoor drinking, day or night. Lush foliage creates an oasis in the middle of the city, complete with a gorgeous stone waterfall that looks like it was inspired by a drive around the Ring of Kerry. Park yourself at one of the umbrella-covered wrought-iron tables, savor a Guinness and soak in this Irish charmer. Photo courtesy of Instagram / leannelyse.

Romantic - Vin De Set

You have to wonder: if Paul and Wendy Hamilton changed the name of this restaurant to, say, 2017, would it be nearly as romantic? Sure, the words wouldn’t roll off the tongue nearly as well as Vin de Set, but there’s little you could do short of a full-gut rehab and menu overhaul to erase the amorous vibe at this marvelous Lafayette Square restaurant. The gorgeous historic building exudes warm, French charm with dark, original wood floors, exposed brick, soaring ceilings and vintage artwork. Sink into a sumptuous banquette and nosh on classic French bistro fare — or, even better, head out to the gorgeous patio on a sultry summer evening and share a bottle of Burgundy under the twinkly lights with the Arch in your sights. At that point, you won’t care what they call this charmer. You’ll just be glad to be here with your sweetheart. Photo by Laura Miller.

Fine Dining - Sidney Street Cafe

In 2003, Kevin Nashan had just moved his family back to St. Louis with plans of opening a restaurant from the ground up. Then he was approached by the McKinley family, who wanted to sell Sidney Street Cafe to someone who would be a steward of their beloved restaurant. It was a gamble for Nashan — in some ways, more so than starting a place from scratch. Sidney Street already had an established clientele and a reputation locally as the place to grab a well-cooked steak or a lobster turnover. It wasn’t exactly the type of cuisine Nashan wanted to do, but he couldn’t overhaul the concept too quickly or he’d risk losing customers. Instead, Nashan instituted gradual changes — some specials here, a tasting menu there — and eventually gained the trust of his patrons, challenging them to rethink what it means to eat a great meal. Fast forward to 2016. In just over a decade, Nashan has transformed this former meat-and-potatoes spot into a bastion of contemporary cuisine and earned a few James Beard Award nods along the way. There’s no question that the boom in the town’s restaurant scene coincides with his purchase of Sidney Street. If you ask any chef in town, even the biggest names, they’ll tell you it all leads back to Nashan. His move may have been a gamble, but it’s resulted in a full house. RFT photo.

Fine Atmosphere - Venice Cafe

On a dreary Tuesday at the office, head buried in TPS reports with the glow of your computer screen the only light in an otherwise grey cubicle, close your eyes and drift off to fantasyland. It’s a colorful, whimsical place filled with bright mosaic murals, wacky Alice in Wonderland-like rooms and a maze of outdoor space that looks like interconnected treehouses. This is Venice Café, the jewel of Benton Park. The converted mansion seems more like a dream world than an actual, real-life place. For nearly three decades, it’s been dazzling patrons with a feast for the eyes that makes you feel as if you’re at an artist’s house party. Outside, the jerk shack, reggae music and ice-cold Red Stripes give off the vibe of what Jamaica would be like — in heaven. There’s no place on earth like Venice Café. That’s why it’s the stuff of dreams. Photo by Caillin Murray.

New Restaurant - Retreat Gastropub

Retreat Gastropub ticks just about every box on the “trendy restaurant” checklist. Craft cocktails? Housemade shrubs make them even better. Edison lightbulbs? They hang above a reclaimed wood bar. A burger with an egg on it? Pair it with a kale Caesar salad. It would be comically au current if this Cortex district restaurant failed to deliver, but instead it succeeds at every turn. And instead of chasing trends, Retreat reminds you of why such a style of restaurant came into fashion in the first place. From its top-tier bar program to its impeccably executed seasonal menu of both small and large plates, this shining gem doesn’t merely tick all the boxes, it fills them in and wraps them in a bow of welcoming hospitality. No matter what the day’s trends may be, Retreat will not soon to go out of fashion. Photo by Mabel Suen.

Diner - City Diner

Considering he got his start working as a cook in Alaska, you’d have thought City Diner founder Peter Spoto would have opened a crab shack upon his return to St. Louis. But then you learn that his gig was cooking for pipeline workers, and his classic diner concept makes sense. Since Spoto opened it in 1992, City Diner has been serving hungry St. Louisans quintessential short-order fare — pancakes, burgers, tuna melts and chili — from the heart of South Grand. (Its success even led to a Midtown expansion, although that outpost changed hands and then closed.) But it’s not just the usual diner suspects that make this place such a gem. Southern-style country fried steak, pork chops and meatloaf make this day or night spot better than grandma’s kitchen — even if the fabulously kitschy 1950s décor kind of makes it look like hers. With home cooking this tasty, it’s no wonder the City Diner has been woven into the fabric of St. Louis. Photo by Eric Frazier.

Coffee - Coffee Cartel

What’s better than people watching from a prime Central West End patio? Doing so over a warm cup of coffee, of course. But while Coffee Cartel’s perfect location may draw folks in, the coffee is what keeps them coming back. The hotspot uses local roaster Chauvin, so you’ll be just fine drinking a cup of the simple drip brew. However, the real draw here are the specialty lattes. The list reads like the board of fare at a candy shop: German chocolate, raspberry truffle and turtle confections turn boring morning brews into breakfast-time desserts. Even better, these sweet concoctions can be spiked with booze and turned into adult treats. Then there’s the option to blend them with liquor and ice cream, something so shockingly tasty it’s no wonder this place is packed 24 hours per day. Photo by Eric Frazier.

Brunch - Three Monkeys

When your server delivers the check for brunch at Three Monkeys, you will get sticker shock — not the kind that leaves you scrambling awkwardly to split the bill amongst three credit cards, but its opposite. You’ll be utterly flabbergasted that, for a mere $19 dollars ($16 before 10:30 a.m.), you were able to cram yourself full of made-to-order omelets and pasta, carved roast beef, pancakes, bacon, sausages, biscuits and enough shrimp cocktail to sink a cruise ship. Every Sunday, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., this beloved Morgan Ford bar and grill transforms itself into a multi-room brunch buffet of sweet and savory treats, continuously rotated so the offerings are always fresh. A mimosa is included in the price, but if you want more, don’t fret. Like that low ticket price, the 99-cent Bloody Mary won’t set you back that far either. Photo courtesy of Yelp / Christin Y.

Pancakes - Uncle Bill’s

It’s two in the morning, and the “Half of a Young Spring Chicken” entrée sure sounds funny after a night of imbibing. The comedic value alone might tempt you to order it, but you’ll regret it as soon as it hits the table. It’s not that there is anything wrong with this dish per se — it’s decent enough fried chicken. But as your friends’ plates of fluffy buttermilk hotcakes arrive, you’ll quickly realize there is no reason to order anything at Uncle Bill’s other than the pancakes. Golden brown, malty and capped with a heaping scoop of butter, they are exactly what you crave after a night on the town, or the morning after, or in the middle of the afternoon. Thankfully, you have 24 hours a day to get your fix of these breakfast beauties. So go on and get your laughs. Just make sure you order a side of pancakes for good measure. RFT photo.

Food Truck - Guerrilla Street Food

There are some things that define genres: John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme for jazz, Monet’s Water Lilies for impressionist painting and Guerrilla Street Food for St. Louis food trucks. Credit goes to Guerrilla Street Food not for simply being first — although owners Brian Hardesty and Joel Crespo were undeniably the pioneers in the town’s roving food movement — but also for how it pushed the boundaries for the level of food that can be served out of a humble truck. The longtime friends, who bonded over a mutual obsession with food, talked about the concept for years before taking the leap and buying an old laundry truck off Craigslist. Hardesty, a veteran of some of the city’s top kitchens, used Crespo’s Filipino heritage as a jumping-off point for a unique menu of both traditional and Filipino-inspired dishes that would be equally at home on a white tablecloth. If you have any doubts, order the truck’s signature dish, the “Flying Pig,” and lose yourself in slow-roasted pork, spiked with chilis, kalamansi (a citrus-kumquat hybrid), and sriracha, topped with a one-hour sous vide egg. Guerrilla may no longer be the only truck in town, but the food it serves remains the gold standard. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Tacos - Mission Taco Joint

If you ask around about the best tacos in town, chances are you’ll be directed to Cherokee Street. That’s a safe bet, but if your taco tour guides leave out Mission Taco Joint, you should fire them. For three years, Adam and Jason Tilford have been serving up some of the town’s most authentic Mexican style street food, such as tortas, burritos and street corn. Don’t let their gringo-sounding last name fool you: The Tilford brothers honed their south-of-the-border chops first at Tortillaria in the Central West End and then at Webster Grove’s upscale Milagro Modern Mexican. Mission is a low-key good time, but the impeccably cooked fillings and fresh garnishes here make these simple tacos stand above the rest. Succulent beef brisket birria, spicy housemade chorizo or fish tacos as fresh as a Baja breeze are stuffed into handmade corn tortillas and finished with traditional accouterments. It’s as real-deal as you’ll find at a Cherokee Street storefront — maybe even more so. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Delicatessen - Pickles Deli

The unassuming deli is about as quintessentially New York as pizza and overpriced real estate. It’s no surprise, then, that in St. Louis’ top deli can be found in the city’s most Manhattan-like neighborhood. Located in the heart of the Central West End, Pickles Deli offers the East Coast experience in the form of monstrously large sandwiches built to order from freshly sliced meat, cheeses and a garden of accouterments. Here, you can get anything from medium-rare roast beef to Mediterranean wraps, but your best bet is to stick with the classics. Pickles’ pastrami is unparalleled in its authenticity — marbled meat encrusted with coarse black pepper is piled so high on marble rye it’s a feat of architecture to rival the Empire State Building. What a great slice of the Big Apple, right in the middle of the Midwest. RFT photo.

Sandwiches - Nora’s

Rob Quaison’s mom Nora can hold her head high. Not only is her son a successful business owner, but the business he owns is a mighty fine sandwich shop that bears her name. Located in the heart of Dogtown, Nora’s is the quintessential neighborhood sandwich shop, with a cozy vibe, chalkboard menu and artisan sandwiches. For such a tiny spot, the selection of hot and cold offerings is shockingly large and goes well beyond a standard ham and cheese — though if you want one of those, they will gladly accommodate. Just don’t expect bland deli meat; at Nora’s, they smoke all their meats in-house and dress them with gourmet accouterments. So instead of ham on that sandwich, why not push yourself and order a “Pete’s Sake,” piled high with smoked pork loin, caramelized onions, brie, bacon and apples? With such decadent treats, mama Nora must be proud. Photo by Lauren Milford.

Soups - Grove East Provisions

A drummer by trade, Barry Kinder had zero retail and limited cooking experience before opening Grove East Provisions. However, upon returning to St. Louis, Kinder noticed a dearth of the neighborhood bodegas he’d frequented while on tour in Europe. He acquired the space just north of Gravois on Arsenal and gradually set up shop, turning the small storefront into a grocery store and café. The menu is simple — straightforward sandwiches, a handful of sides, one beer on tap. However, Kinder’s knack for soup-making has turned this little market from a neighborhood spot to a dining destination. The selection changes as inspiration strikes him. Once, he bought a whole cow and made hearty beef vegetable soup for days. Another time, he concocted a summer veggie soup from what he could find in his garden. Forget the drums — Kinder’s soups are music to your mouth. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Business Lunch - Anthonino’s

When House of Cards Frank Underwood wants to grab a bite to eat, he doesn’t go to the obvious spots: a fancy restaurant in Georgetown, a private club near Capitol Hill. That would be too “on the radar.” Instead, he heads to a humble barbecue shack to take a break from all of that power brokering and treachery. Anthonino’s on the Hill has a similar appeal. No, the lunchtime diners at this cozy Mediterranean spot aren’t there to off journalists or plot revenge against rogue congressmen. They’re there to kick back and enjoy some toasted ravioli or a plate of “pasta con ricotta” in a laid-back setting before returning to the hustle and bustle of the daily grind. Anthonino’s has the perfect mix of prompt, old-school service, inviting atmosphere and excellent food. This spot on the Hill may not be your first thought for celebrating the deal, but it’s where you’ll consistently go to close it. Photo by Eric Frazier.

Burgers - D’s Place

If Animal from the Muppets needed to refuel after thrashing on his drum kit, he might head down to D’s Place in Soulard. There, he could chow down on a beast of a burger just as monstrous as his mad music skills. D’s Place’s “Danimal” is a behemoth between two buns: two seven-ounce burgers, four slices of cheddar cheese, four pieces of peppery bacon and a thick-sliced onion ring. Then again, he could also opt for the “Hell Fire,” the half-pound burger that D’s Place crowns with hot sauce, jalapeños and blue cheese, or its massive Reuben sandwich topped with a ground beef patty. No matter their appetites, any monsters in your acquaintance will find something from the selection of ten different specialty burgers here to more than sate their hunger. At this quintessential neighborhood bar, the food is fresh, the juke box is pumping and the Jaegermeister flows freely — just what the monsters ordered. RFT photo.

Fries - Layla

To the uninitiated, Layla seems like an odd concept. A burger, milkshake and … shawarma joint? Fusion is certainly having a moment, but often it’s more bulgogi taco than baba ganoush burger. But while American diner fare may not be the first thing you think of pairing with Middle Eastern food, once you try Layla’s falafel fries, you’ll realize just how much this mix makes sense. In place of the traditional balls, Layla fashions its parsley-flecked chickpea batter into large, rectangular strips, similar in shape to a jumbo French fry. And while you wouldn’t think of dipping these fries into tomato-based ketchup, fortunately, you don’t have to. Layla serves them with a side of rich cucumber and yogurt tzatziki for dipping. Comfort food at its best. Photo by Mabel Suen.

Fried Chicken - Hodak’s

Over the last few years, fried chicken has gotten so trendy you’d think this fair city had never seen the Southern-style bird before. One after another, new chicken joints pop up, each promising to be the next great thing. Then there’s Hodak’s, the south St. Louis family restaurant that has been serving its signature fried chicken since 1962. Hodak’s doesn’t use trendy frying techniques, complicated brines or exotic seasoning blends. Theirs is a straightforward bird — juicy, coated in crispy cornmeal and perfectly cooked. There may be more interesting flavors of chicken in town, but none are better prepared. Golden, light brown, Hodak’s chicken meat is searing hot and succulent. If you doubt its staying power, just check out the lines snaked around the place seven days a week. Fancy fried chicken places may come and go, but the simple pleasure of Hodak’s will always be in fashion. Photo by Micah Usher.

Wings - Culpepper’s

In 1935, Culpepper’s opened its doors as a neighborhood grill and bar in the heart of the Central West End. That same year, the Anchor Bar served its first patrons in Buffalo New York. The latter would go on to invent the world-famous Buffalo-style chicken wing (at least, according to legend). The former would become synonymous with chicken wings in St. Louis. Whether this was coincidence or destiny, there is no question that Culpepper’s is St. Louis’ gold standard for the ubiquitous bar food. Plump, juicy and fried so the skin gets that just-right crispness, these jumbo-sized beauties are tossed in piquant hot sauce just out of the fryer. The fiery concoction coats every inch of the wing and drummy and is spicy enough to make your nose run without sacrificing heat for taste. Anchor Bar may get all the credit for the invention, but Culpepper’s wings have earned equal bragging rights for their impressive execution. Photo courtesy of Instagram / j_wyld via pikore.com.