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33 St. Louis Italian Restaurants Better Than That Crap Over at Olive Garden

By on Sat, Nov 10, 2018 at 2:55 am

St. Louis is stuffed like a cannoli with Italian restaurants. And we're spoiled with options: From the elegance of Tony's to the grab-and-go efficiency of Parm, there is an Italian restaurant in St. Louis to fit every taste and lifestyle. So don't waste your time on dull national chain restaurants. Instead, dip deep into the marinara of the St. Louis Italian restaurant scene. From downtown to St. Peters to your favorites on the Hill, here are all of the best spots to stop and smell the ricotta.

St. Louis is stuffed like a cannoli with Italian restaurants. And we're spoiled with options: From the elegance of Tony's to the grab-and-go efficiency of Adriana's, there is an Italian restaurant in St. Louis to fit every taste and lifestyle.

So don't waste your time on dull national chain restaurants. Instead, dip deep into the marinara of the St. Louis Italian restaurant scene. From downtown to St. Peters to your favorites on the Hill, here are all of the best spots to stop and smell the ricotta.

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O+O Pizza (102 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-721-5422) 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. It’s a wonderful canvas for toppings or is stunning when simply adorned, as is the case with the O+O Original, topped with subtly sweet, rustic tomato sauce, Fior di Latte (a type of fresh mozzarella) and pecorino cheeses. The ingredients are simple but powerful, and show why just a few well-prepared and sourced components can make something magical. - Cheryl Baehr Photo by Mabel Suen

O+O Pizza


(102 West Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves; 314-721-5422)
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. It’s a wonderful canvas for toppings or is stunning when simply adorned, as is the case with the O+O Original, topped with subtly sweet, rustic tomato sauce, Fior di Latte (a type of fresh mozzarella) and pecorino cheeses. The ingredients are simple but powerful, and show why just a few well-prepared and sourced components can make something magical. - Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Edera Italian Eatery (48 Maryland Plaza, 314-361-7227) Edera's Margherita pie is, hands down, the best version of the classic in town, thanks to its outstanding crust. Simple crushed tomatoes are spread atop the dough, then topped with fresh mozzarella and basil leaves. It doesn't get better, even in the mother country. The restaurant also succeeds with the ricotta pizza, which pairs the garlic herbed cheese with caramelized onion, mozzarella, Calabrian chili oil and pieces of pulled chicken that magically do not turn into chicken jerky in the 900-degree oven. It's masterful. - Cheryl Baehr Photo by Mabel Suen

Edera Italian Eatery


(48 Maryland Plaza, 314-361-7227)
Edera's Margherita pie is, hands down, the best version of the classic in town, thanks to its outstanding crust. Simple crushed tomatoes are spread atop the dough, then topped with fresh mozzarella and basil leaves. It doesn't get better, even in the mother country. The restaurant also succeeds with the ricotta pizza, which pairs the garlic herbed cheese with caramelized onion, mozzarella, Calabrian chili oil and pieces of pulled chicken that magically do not turn into chicken jerky in the 900-degree oven. It's masterful. - Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Pastaria Deli & Wine (7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-773-7755) Pastaria Deli & Wine's cold sandwiches are just as delightful. Boldly billing itself as the World's Best Tuna Salad, the restaurant's tuna salad sandwich has no delusions of grandeur. Unlike its mayonnaise-bomb American cousins, this Italian-style salad folds confit tuna together with olives, capers, red onions, a tiny bit of aioli and garlic chili vinaigrette. It's like eating puttanesca sauce in sandwich form. - Cheryl Baehr Photo by Mabel Suen

Pastaria Deli & Wine


(7734 Forsyth Boulevard, Clayton; 314-773-7755)
Pastaria Deli & Wine's cold sandwiches are just as delightful. Boldly billing itself as the World's Best Tuna Salad, the restaurant's tuna salad sandwich has no delusions of grandeur. Unlike its mayonnaise-bomb American cousins, this Italian-style salad folds confit tuna together with olives, capers, red onions, a tiny bit of aioli and garlic chili vinaigrette. It's like eating puttanesca sauce in sandwich form. - Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Noto Italian Restaurant (5105 Westwood Drive, St. Peters; 636-317-1143) Some of the new dishes Noto diners can expect include gnocchi with guanciale, white wine, tomato conservation, pesto and pecorino Romano cheese and malfada (a ribbon-shaped, wavy-edged pasta noodle) with smoked salsiccia ragu and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. They're also excited about doing composed salads, including a citrus salad with arugula, radicchio, blood orange, orange, grapefruit, pistachio, ricotta salata and honey vinaigrette, as well as house-made charcuterie, a craft he has honed over his many years in the kitchen. - Cheryl Baehr Photo by Wayne Sieve

Noto Italian Restaurant


(5105 Westwood Drive, St. Peters; 636-317-1143)
Some of the new dishes Noto diners can expect include gnocchi with guanciale, white wine, tomato conservation, pesto and pecorino Romano cheese and malfada (a ribbon-shaped, wavy-edged pasta noodle) with smoked salsiccia ragu and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. They're also excited about doing composed salads, including a citrus salad with arugula, radicchio, blood orange, orange, grapefruit, pistachio, ricotta salata and honey vinaigrette, as well as house-made charcuterie, a craft he has honed over his many years in the kitchen. - Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Wayne Sieve
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Del Pietro's (1050 S. Big Bend Blvd., 314-224-5225) The Del Pietros have been reigning over one of the city's dining mainstays for more than three decades by serving up unapologetically American-style Italian comfort dishes like veal parmigiana, chicken piccata and sweet Italian-dressed salads. - Cheryl Baehr Photo by Mabel Suen

Del Pietro's


(1050 S. Big Bend Blvd., 314-224-5225)
The Del Pietros have been reigning over one of the city's dining mainstays for more than three decades by serving up unapologetically American-style Italian comfort dishes like veal parmigiana, chicken piccata and sweet Italian-dressed salads. - Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Katie's Pizza & Pasta (Two locations, including 9568 Manchester Rd., 314-942-6555) Stylish Katie's serves thoughtful, approachable food with near-flawless execution. Chef Katie Lee-Collier's restaurants don't just hand-make their pasta and pizza; they also prepare it perfectly. Photo by Mabel Suen

Katie's Pizza & Pasta


(Two locations, including 9568 Manchester Rd., 314-942-6555)
Stylish Katie's serves thoughtful, approachable food with near-flawless execution. Chef Katie Lee-Collier's restaurants don't just hand-make their pasta and pizza; they also prepare it perfectly.

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Anthonino's Taverna (2225 Macklind Ave, 314-773-4455) The menu reflects both the Italian and the Greek heritage of owners. The selection tilts toward the former, with numerous pizzas and pastas available, while the Greek board focuses on the cuisine's best-known dishes, like saganaki (flaming cheese), dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and gyros. - Ian Froeb Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Anthonino's Taverna


(2225 Macklind Ave, 314-773-4455)
The menu reflects both the Italian and the Greek heritage of owners. The selection tilts toward the former, with numerous pizzas and pastas available, while the Greek board focuses on the cuisine's best-known dishes, like saganaki (flaming cheese), dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and gyros. - Ian Froeb

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg
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Charlie Gitto's (Three locations, including 5226 Shaw Ave., 314-772-8898) Our food critic once wrote that Charlie Gitto's sticks with the St. Louis Italian basics (like toasted ravioli) and nails them. You won't have any complaints at Charlie Gitto's classic Hill location -- or check out the Charlie Gitto's location downtown (207 N. 6th; 314-436-2828) or in Chesterfield (15524 Olive Blvd., 636-536-2199). Photo courtesy of Eugene Kim

Charlie Gitto's


(Three locations, including 5226 Shaw Ave., 314-772-8898)
Our food critic once wrote that Charlie Gitto's sticks with the St. Louis Italian basics (like toasted ravioli) and nails them. You won't have any complaints at Charlie Gitto's classic Hill location -- or check out the Charlie Gitto's location downtown (207 N. 6th; 314-436-2828) or in Chesterfield (15524 Olive Blvd., 636-536-2199).

Photo courtesy of Eugene Kim
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Peno Soul Food (7600 Wydown Blvd., 314-899-9699) With the exception of a few dishes, Peno's menu is what you'd expect to be served if you were a guest in someone's Calabrian beach house. Mussels fra diavolo pairs the fresh bivalves with delicate, chili-spiked tomato sauce that begs to be soaked up scarpetta-style with a slice of housemade crusty bread. The same sauce accents sautéed calamari. Served without breading in all of its tentacled beauty, the appetizer is a far cry from the deep-fried rings you'll find on most menus. -- Cheryl Baehr Photo by Mabel Suen

Peno Soul Food


(7600 Wydown Blvd., 314-899-9699)
With the exception of a few dishes, Peno's menu is what you'd expect to be served if you were a guest in someone's Calabrian beach house. Mussels fra diavolo pairs the fresh bivalves with delicate, chili-spiked tomato sauce that begs to be soaked up scarpetta-style with a slice of housemade crusty bread. The same sauce accents sautéed calamari. Served without breading in all of its tentacled beauty, the appetizer is a far cry from the deep-fried rings you'll find on most menus. -- Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Cunetto House of Pasta (5453 Magnolia Ave.; 314-781-1135) This old-school Italian joint on the Hill is an RFT favorite year after year thanks to its generous portions and delicious food. Try the signature “Cardinale” sauce, a creamy decadence that always feels right at home in St. Louis. Photo by Eric Frazier

Cunetto House of Pasta


(5453 Magnolia Ave.; 314-781-1135)
This old-school Italian joint on the Hill is an RFT favorite year after year thanks to its generous portions and delicious food. Try the signature “Cardinale” sauce, a creamy decadence that always feels right at home in St. Louis.

Photo by Eric Frazier
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Eovaldi's Deli (2201 Edwards St.; 314-771-5707) When your deli is located inside the Oldani Brothers Salami factory, chances are you make a mean Italian sandwich. Sure enough, Eovaldi's nook-like location on the Hill can pile on the salty cured meats with the best of them. Photo courtesy of Justin Bruegenhemke

Eovaldi's Deli


(2201 Edwards St.; 314-771-5707)
When your deli is located inside the Oldani Brothers Salami factory, chances are you make a mean Italian sandwich. Sure enough, Eovaldi's nook-like location on the Hill can pile on the salty cured meats with the best of them.

Photo courtesy of Justin Bruegenhemke
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J. Devoti Trattoria (5100 Daggett Ave., 314-773-5553) Determined to reclaim what it means to be an Italian restaurant in St. Louis, chef Anthony Devoti decided to close his former restaurant Five in March only to reopen in the same location a month later as the explicitly Italian-influenced J. Devoti Trattoria. Devoti did not dramatically change the menu for the rebrand, nor did he need to: The food here always dazzles. - Cheryl Baehr Photo by Mabel Suen

J. Devoti Trattoria


(5100 Daggett Ave., 314-773-5553)
Determined to reclaim what it means to be an Italian restaurant in St. Louis, chef Anthony Devoti decided to close his former restaurant Five in March only to reopen in the same location a month later as the explicitly Italian-influenced J. Devoti Trattoria. Devoti did not dramatically change the menu for the rebrand, nor did he need to: The food here always dazzles. - Cheryl Baehr

Photo by Mabel Suen
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Café Napoli (Two locations, including 7754 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton; 314-863-5731) The classic location of this family-owned restaurant on Forsyth in Clayton offers classic Italian in a modern dining room. Or check out Napoli 2 (1054 Town and Country Crossing Dr.,636-256-9998) and its famous soft-shell crabs. Photo courtesy of Deborah Hyland

Café Napoli


(Two locations, including 7754 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton; 314-863-5731)
The classic location of this family-owned restaurant on Forsyth in Clayton offers classic Italian in a modern dining room. Or check out Napoli 2 (1054 Town and Country Crossing Dr.,636-256-9998) and its famous soft-shell crabs.

Photo courtesy of Deborah Hyland
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Pastaria (7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton; 314-862-6603) The wait at dinner can stretch to an hour, sometimes two — but it's worth it. And even when Pastaria is at its busiest, the space is so big that it never feels full. In the kitchen cooks plate pastas and twirl pizza dough and slide pizzas into and out the brick oven with admirable efficiency. This is a Gerard Craft joint, so you know anything you order will be top-notch. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Pastaria


(7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton; 314-862-6603)
The wait at dinner can stretch to an hour, sometimes two — but it's worth it. And even when Pastaria is at its busiest, the space is so big that it never feels full. In the kitchen cooks plate pastas and twirl pizza dough and slide pizzas into and out the brick oven with admirable efficiency. This is a Gerard Craft joint, so you know anything you order will be top-notch.

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg
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Gioia's Deli (1934 Macklind Ave., 314-776-9410) Have you even eaten Italian food in St. Louis if you haven't had a Hot Salami sandwich from Gioia's? We think not. Don't forget to check out this fine specimen, too: The Hogfather. Photo by Johnny Fugitt

Gioia's Deli


(1934 Macklind Ave., 314-776-9410)
Have you even eaten Italian food in St. Louis if you haven't had a Hot Salami sandwich from Gioia's? We think not. Don't forget to check out this fine specimen, too: The Hogfather.

Photo by Johnny Fugitt
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Guido's Pizzeria & Tapas (5046 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110) Guido's offers a whole range of Italian fare, but the reason we return again and again — besides the friendly neighborhood-joint vibe — is for the tapas. And while Guido's has no pretensions of being a tapas bar in the Spanish sense, the owner hails from Madrid, and Guido's tapas are as close to the real deal as you can find in this town. Photo by Jennifer Silverberg

Guido's Pizzeria & Tapas


(5046 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110)
Guido's offers a whole range of Italian fare, but the reason we return again and again — besides the friendly neighborhood-joint vibe — is for the tapas. And while Guido's has no pretensions of being a tapas bar in the Spanish sense, the owner hails from Madrid, and Guido's tapas are as close to the real deal as you can find in this town.

Photo by Jennifer Silverberg
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Lorenzo's Trattoria (1931 Edwards Street; 314-773-2223) Lorenzo's Trattoria has established a reputation as a go-to spot for elegant northern Italian cuisine in a friendly, unfussy setting. The arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with ground beef) are a can't-miss appetizer. - Ian Froeb Photo by Ian Froeb

Lorenzo's Trattoria


(1931 Edwards Street; 314-773-2223)
Lorenzo's Trattoria has established a reputation as a go-to spot for elegant northern Italian cuisine in a friendly, unfussy setting. The arancini (fried rice balls stuffed with ground beef) are a can't-miss appetizer. - Ian Froeb

Photo by Ian Froeb
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Gian-Tony's Ristorante (5356 Daggett Ave., 314-772-4893) With steak, seafood, pasta and veal, Gian-Tony’s is everything wonderful that southern Italian cooking has to offer. It’s also a great spot for a romantic date. Photo courtesy of Mark F.

Gian-Tony's Ristorante


(5356 Daggett Ave., 314-772-4893)
With steak, seafood, pasta and veal, Gian-Tony’s is everything wonderful that southern Italian cooking has to offer. It’s also a great spot for a romantic date.

Photo courtesy of Mark F.
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Mama's on the Hill (2131 Edwards St., 314-776-3100) This restaurant claims to the be the true originator of toasted ravioli and is home to a very hefty food feat, Mama's Pasta Challenge. They'll buy your dinner and give you a t-shirt if you can finish "an enormous bowl of spaghetti topped with the largest homemade meatball on the Hill. Served with Mama's own marinara sauce." Good luck! Photo courtesy of Zach Garrison

Mama's on the Hill


(2131 Edwards St., 314-776-3100)
This restaurant claims to the be the true originator of toasted ravioli and is home to a very hefty food feat, Mama's Pasta Challenge. They'll buy your dinner and give you a t-shirt if you can finish "an enormous bowl of spaghetti topped with the largest homemade meatball on the Hill. Served with Mama's own marinara sauce." Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Zach Garrison
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Zia's (5256 Wilson Ave., 314-776-0020) Zia's offers twists on Hill favorites (like these stuffed mushrooms) and doesn't break the bank. For the first course, pick a dinner salad with Provel, toasted ravioli or a Sicilian tomato salad. You can't go wrong. - Nancy Stiles Photo by Ettie Berneking

Zia's


(5256 Wilson Ave., 314-776-0020)
Zia's offers twists on Hill favorites (like these stuffed mushrooms) and doesn't break the bank. For the first course, pick a dinner salad with Provel, toasted ravioli or a Sicilian tomato salad. You can't go wrong. - Nancy Stiles

Photo by Ettie Berneking
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