Ask George: Where would you take Mike Piazza to show off the robust restaurant scene in St. Louis? —Jim T., Clayton
This question comes on the heels of a dismissal of the St. Louis food scene by the former pro baseball catcher and current owner of an Italian soccer team. He has since apologized. Nelly said he’d be happy to take Piazza to dinner on The Hill, which is certainly a good starting point.
I could start by handing the former New York Met a copy of St. Louis' 101 Best Restaurants (as compiled by St. Louis Magazine last October), but it’s better to hone that list. Since I’m not privy to Piazza’s culinary tastes, I’ll keep the recommendations fairly general. (And to further simplify, I’ll stay clear of all chain restaurants, with which I’ll assume the worldly Piazza is already familiar.)
Casual with elevated food:
- Acero
- Brasserie
- Cibare Italian Kitchen
- Cleveland-Heath
- Farmhaus
- Hi-Pointe Drive-In
- Juniper
- Katie’s Pizza & Pasta
- Olive + Oak
- Peno
- Porano
- Randolfi’s
- Reeds American Table
- Retreat Gastropub
- Sardella
- Southern
- Taste
- The Tavern
- Three Flags Tavern
Fancier atmosphere with elevated food:
- Annie Gunn’s
- The Crossing
- Element
- Five Bistro
- I Fratellini
- Napoli 2
- The Preston
- Scape (ideally on the patio)
- Sidney Street Café
- Stone Soup Cottage
- Tenderloin Room
Breakfast:
- Café Osage
- Half & Half
- Southwest Diner
BBQ:
- BEAST Craft
- Pappy’s (plus Adam’s, Bogart’s, Dalie’s)
- Salt + Smoke
- Sugarfire Smoke House
Old school:
- Cardwell’s at the Plaza
- Citizen Kane’s
- Paul Manno’s
- Tony’s
- Truffles
- Twisted Tree Steakhouse
Sandwiches:
- Adriana’s
- Blues City Deli
- Bolyard’s
- Gioia’s Deli
- Salume Beddu
- Union Loafers
- Viviano’s
T-ravs:
- Charlie Gitto’s
- Lombardo’s
- Trattoria Marcella
PIZZA (in a restaurant setting):
St. Louis-style:
- Farotto’s
- Guido’s
- Billy G’s
Neapolitan-ish:
- Basso
- Katie’s Pizza & Pasta
- Melo's Pizzeria
- Pastaria
- Pizzeoli
- Randolfi’s
New York-ish:
- Feraro's Jersey Style Pizza
- Union Loafers
For the scene:
- Bar Napoli
- Boundary
- Herbie’s
- McGurk's
- Vin de Set
Ethnic:
- Mai Lee
- Mango
- Mission Taco
If Piazza is more adventuresome, then I’d add Guerrilla Street Food, Hiro, Kounter Kulture, Mariscos el Gato, Meskerem, Nixta, Publico, Sheesh, and VISTA Ramen.
OK, OK. I know that I missed some worthy contenders. If you can make a good case to add one, please do so below.
If you have a question for George, email him at gmahe@stlmag.com.
Follow him on Twitter @stlmag_dining or send him an email at gmahe@stlmag.com. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
