St. Louis County Restaurants Worth Leaving the City For [PHOTOS]

O+O Pizza
102 West Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 721-5422

O+O Pizza doesn’t focus exclusively on pies, but that doesn’t mean they skimped on them. Described as a hybrid of New Haven- and Roman-style pizza, O+O’s version is thinner and crispier than Neapolitan around the edges, but has a similar wood-fired speckle.

Photo by Mabel Suen

Pastaria Deli & Wine
7734 Forsyth Boulevard
Clayton, MO
(314) 773-7755

Adjacent to Pastaria, the space for Pastaria Deli & Wine was tailor-made to complement the popular pizza and pasta spot with carryout-friendly items like sandwiches and salads that could be enjoyed in a park or in the backyard with friends.

Photo by Mabel Suen

Balkan Treat Box
8103 Big Bend Boulevard
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 733-5700

A food truck that was promoted to brick-and-mortar, Balkan Treat Box cranks out exquisite favorites such as the pide, a wood-fired flat bread with a choice of protein or veggies along with herbs, kajmak, ajvar and more.

Photo by Tom Hellauer

Guerrilla Street Food
43 South Old Orchard Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 274-2528

This Filipino-inspired food was so in-demand in St. Louis that Guerrilla Street Food was practically forced to expand from a food truck to brick-and-mortar. You can grab all of your favorite dishes — including the flying pig — at this location in Webster Groves.

Photo courtesy Guerrilla Street Food

The Clover and the Bee
100 West Lockwood Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 942-1216

Originally, the Clover and the Bee was envisioned as a breakfast-and-lunch, fast-casual concept, but the restaurant was so jam-packed that counter service became a logistical nightmare. Now it's full service, a format that seems more appropriate for the thoughtful fare on offer.

Photo by Mabel Suen

Frisco Barroom
8110 Big Bend Boulevard
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 455-1090

For Americana fare in a unique space, Frisco Barroom has all that you could want including fresh-baked breads, beautiful meats and tons of vegetarian options to suit anyone in the family.

Photo by Lexie Miller

Botanica
2490 Taylor Road.
Wildwood, MO 63040
(636) 821-1233

For Botanica, Chef Ben Welch has created a menu that represents his longtime prowess with Italian cuisine, inflected with nods to the American South, which is a style of food that has both personal and professional connections to him.

Photo by Phuong Bui

Fire Chicken
10200 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63132
(314) 551-2123

The chef’s break with traditional Korean food has delicious results. Reminiscent of a hot braised chicken found at American-style Chinese restaurants, the namesake Fire Chicken gangjung pairs nuggets of breaded chicken that are fried to a glorious golden crisp with a flaming-hot sweet soy sauce glaze spiked with red chiles and jalapeños.

Photo by Mabel Suen

Chef Ma's Chinese Gourmet
2336 Woodson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63114
(314) 395-8797

This former Taco Bell is now home to some of the best Chinese food in town. Your meal is in good hands with Chef Ma, who has been cooking professionally for 40 years. We recommend letting him cook traditional dishes sans menu, but we will say the Americanized options are great, too.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Big Baby Q
11658 Dorsett Rd.
Maryland Heights, MO 63043
(314) 801-8888

Ben Welch knows how to make outstanding barbecue -- so outstanding, in fact, that his restaurant often sells out. Located in a strip mall, Big Baby Q is a small operation, but the food is definitely something you won't forget. And with everything from wings to pork steak to ribs, you have plenty of items to try (and excuses to come back for more).

Photo by Mabel Suen.

The Mad Crab
8080 Olive Boulevard, University City

The Ho family’s spot on Olive replaces Kim Son Vietnamese Bistro and offers something totally refreshing for St. Louis: a boiled seafood spot akin to the ones in Texas. Pick your protein, your seasoning and your spice level, and then get ready for servers to pour out the ocean’s bounty right onto your table. Not into seafood? You can always order sausage.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Rich and Charlie's
Locations in Crestwood, South County and Town & Country

Rich and Charlie's has been an area favorite since 1967. While a lot can change in 50 years, many things at Rich and Charlie's have remained the same -- including the salad dressing and the pasta options (all but one of the original offerings are still on the menu). That consistency keeps customers coming back again ... and again.

Photo by Sarah Fenske.

Taqueria Durango
10238 Page Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63132
(314) 429-1113

North county is home to some killer taquerias, and Taqueria Durango is one of them. This stuff is the real deal, complete with fresh ingredients, homemade salsa and a casual vibe.

Photo courtesy of Instagram / balisongbrown.

The Tavern
2961 Dougherty Ferry Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122
(636) 825-0600

Yes, there is a Central West End location of the Tavern as well -- but the West County one is the original and continues to be a big draw. The culinary nerds out there can get a seat at the chef's counter, or you can take a seat at a table or the bar. You can count on produce sourced locally whenever possible and quality ingredients.

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

Pearl Cafe
8416 N Lindbergh Blvd.
Florissant, MO 63031
(314) 831-3701

Pearl Cafe is a deliciously reliable place for Thai cuisine, whether you're looking for a quick lunch or a casual dinner date. All your Thai favorites are there, including soups, curries, stir fries and noodles, and they're made well to boot. Believe it or not, Pearl Cafe also happens to have one of the largest whiskey selections in town.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Yolklore
8958 Watson Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63119
(314) 270-8538

Yolklore is fast-casual, but it's also chef-driven food. From the "Pancake Rollup" (scrambled eggs, Yolklore turkey chrorizo, cheddar, pickled jalapeno, lime creme and fire roasted salsa) to the "Slinger Sandwich" to the housemade pastries, Yolklore makes breakfast quick, but anything but boring -- with healthy ingredients to boot.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Nudo House STL
11423 Olive Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63141
(314) 274-8046


Nudo House has been packed ever since it opened, and for good reason -- the ramen will blow your mind (or, more specifically, your taste buds). In addition to the ramen varieties, which include the "Shroomed Out" and the "Hebrew Hammer," you'll also enjoy the "Nudo salad," appetizers such as spring rolls and crab Rangoon, and Nudo House STL's own soft-serve ice cream.

Photo by Mabel Suen.

Frida's
622 N. and South Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63130
(314) 727-6500

Frida's focuses on comfort food that is also healthy -- so you can indulge without guilt. Expect salads, sandwiches, wraps, burgers and more, all made with the freshest ingredients and without butter, sugar or frying. Frida's is also friendly for those with food sensitivities.

Photo by Eric Frazier.

Mai Lee
8396 Musick Memorial Dr.
Brentwood, MO 63144
(314) 645-2835

Owner Lee Tran opened Mail Lee shortly after immigrating to the United States, starting with Chinese food and then including food from her native Vietnam. It is now largely credited as the first Vietnamese restaurant in St. Louis and has been a St. Louis favorite for years. The menu is expansive, featuring sandwiches, noodle bowls, beef dinners, rice plates and more.

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg.

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.

Photo by Mabel Suen.