See all the 101 Best Restaurants featured in the October issue of St. Louis Magazine.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Acero
For some time after opening this all-Italian spot, in 2007, chef/owner Jim Fiala had to explain that yes, a restaurant lacking any sign of cannelloni or anything called tutto mare was, in fact, Italian. Thus St. Louis was exposed to the signature egg ravioli, other house-made pastas, and a rotating menu of entrées driven by seasonal local ingredients.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Avenue
Best time to dine: Almost anytime. The Clayton eatery is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Best dish: Apples for Olivia: honey-roasted apples in a puff pastry with a pine-nut pastry cream and apple sorbet. Insider Tip: The cozy side room can host private events.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Boundary
Vibe: The space at one time housed The Restaurant at the Cheshire. It’s since received a hip overhaul and a new menu from chef Rex Hale. Best Time to Go: Visit during lunch, with a large group to share smaller plates such as tuna poke, poutine, and smoked brisket. Best Dessert: The Meyer lemon cheesecake’s light, creamy texture and delicate citrus flavor will hook even dedicated chocolate lovers.
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Brasserie By Niche
Best Dish: Boy, those house-made terrines are pretty special. People: The always-packed patio is a great place to enjoy the vibrant neighborhood. Insider Tip: It’d be hard to find a burger this good at a Paris bistro.
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Photo by ProPhotoSTL
Eleven Eleven Mississippi
Best Dish: When short ribs are on the menu, don’t look twice. Place your order. Beverage: Half-price bottles of wine are available at the bar on Wednesdays. Insider Tip: The restaurant is a date-night staple, but the bar offers a perfect spot for a last drink on a first date.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
EdgeWild
Insider Tip: Early birds, rejoice! The flagship location, in Chesterfield, offers a $15 three-course menu 4–5:30 p.m. Monday–Saturday.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Farmhaus
Best Dish: It’s impossible to say. Chef Kevin Willmann takes farm-to-table seriously, changing his menu with every new day. Vibe: A tad on the hipster side, the cozy dining room offers great people-watching. Insider Tip: The tasting menu is back by popular demand—and worth a reservation.
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Frazer's Restaurant & Lounge
Best Dish: The bacon-wrapped meatloaf, served with green beans, corn, and mashed potatoes—a comfort classic. Fresh Idea: Frazer’s added a robust kitchen garden with veggies, herbs, and such right across from the kitchen door. Insider Tip: Well-crafted cocktails are organized on the menu by the seasons, but every drink is available year-round.
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Giovanni's Kitchen
Vibe: It’s less formal than its parent on The Hill, with a well-dressed neighborhood crowd. Best Dish: Salad Francesco adds fried eggplant to the classic caprese tomato and mozzarella. Insider Tip: Pastas rise above the clichés of meatballs .
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Grapeseed
Best Dish: Try the Neuner Farm beef burger, served with a special sauce, homemade pickles, onions, American cheese, and a brioche bun. Drink: Named as a nod to its SoHa location, the Macklind Mule (vodka, ginger beer, lime juice, and Angostura bitters) makes an excellent aperitif. Insider Tip: The bread pudding is outstanding.
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Herbie's
New Digs: In November, Herbie’s heads west to the former Cardwell’s in Clayton space. New Menu: Expect Herbie’s classic dishes, plus a refined version of Midwestern comfort food with French influences, some of it involving tableside presentation. Insider Tip: Modern lighting and finishes complement the famous mirrors, posters, and Eames chairs. The intent is for new customers to already feel like regulars.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
I Fratellini
Vibe: This authentic-feeling trattoria is so popular, reservations are mandatory. Insider Tip: The sign above the front door is extremely subtle after dark, but the restaurant’s well worth seeking out. Best Dish: The lasagna is great, but the grilled zucchini appetizer has converted even anti-zucchinists.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
J McArthur's
3500 Watson Rd., St Louis, Missouri 63139Infatuation begins with braised beef cheeks. It ripens into real love somewhere between the skillet-seared scallops and impossibly rich goat cheese–and–barley risotto. The affair between diners and J McArthur’s is one of the happiest culinary stories of the year. With a deluxe atmosphere, a neighborhood feel, a seasonal menu, and small-batch liquors, it’s an absolute must dining destination.
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Juniper
Drinks: All of the craft and classic cocktails are great, but it’s more fun to find a new favorite: Tell the bartender (pictured above) what you like, and be surprised. Best Dish: The fried chicken. Make your reservation for Monday, when the restaurant serves all-you-can-eat and family style. Insider Tip: Eva’s Attic, the private event space at Juniper, is quite possibly its best-kept secret. The crew serves parties in its signature family style.
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Photography by Kevin A. Roberts
LoRusso's Cucina
Vibe: This easygoing spot is ideal for families or date nights. Best Dish: We’re suckers for the ziti con vodka, with a spicy tomato sauce. Insider Tip: Tenderloin Mudega, a nearly unsung St. Louis classic, has been on the menu since the restaurant opened, three decades ago.
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Océano Bistro
Vibe: There’s often a chatty, well-dressed crowd in the main dining room. It’s quieter in the porch-like section along Brentwood Boulevard. Best Dish: Serious crab cakes come with unmangled crab. Insider Tip: At one of the better brunches around, order the seafood frittata.
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Photo by Virginia Harold
Olive + Oak
It’s like the owners went down the List of Restaurant Greatness, checking off all the items. An atmosphere somewhere between exuberantly chic and comfortably simple? Yep. (There are homey dishtowel napkins, high ceilings, très-cool cocktails, and a wall of family photos.) An intriguing menu? Oh yeah. (Blue crab gratin, rabbit, fried duck eggs—and a torched-rosemary cocktail garnish.) Reasons to linger? You bet. (With various seating options and excellent service even at peak hours, it’s a place for long—and repeated—evenings of wonderful dining.)
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Photo by Jennifer Silverberg
Paul Manno's
75 Forum Shopping Center, Chesterfield, Missouri 63017Insider Tip: Don’t be too decisive when you first peruse Manno’s menu. Once the server starts rattling off the evening’s specials, you’ll almost certainly change your mind. Yes, they’re as good as they sound. Owner: Paul Manno Jr. often waits on tables—and having the boss attend to your party is a special treat indeed. When to Go: Reservations are a must at Manno’s. If you get lucky, you can eat at the small bar on weeknights. (Luck runs out on weekends, when the bar is for drinks only.)
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
The Peacemaker Lobster and Crab Co.
Best Side: The Lobster Frito Pie is popular for a reason. Best Seat: Watch the bustle inside from the quiet patio and pretend that the ocean is just over the horizon. Insider Tip: Chef-owner Kevin Nashan has mentored some of our town’s top rising talent.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Prasino
Vibe: Open and airy, with wood (mostly recycled and repurposed) everywhere. Best Dish: Jumbo scallops with seared pork belly, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower purée. Insider Tip: Surface parking is sparse, so park in the garage. You’ll have to walk about 200 yards, but it’s good for burning off those calories later.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Private Kitchen
The concept’s unique: a bespoke Chinese eatery where you must call ahead, not just for reservations, but also to consult on the menu.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
The Preston
Namesake Preston J. Bradshaw, architect of The Chase Park Plaza, would likely appreciate such a bold, masculine space and the civilized distance between tables. Preston’s dinner menu is a mix of mini-entrées (none costing more than $20) and spectacular desserts ($9 apiece), but there’s also breakfast, a lively bar with expert mixologists, and a renowned buffet brunch on Sunday. In the ’80s, a famous ad campaign said, “The Chase is the place”—and so it is again.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Randolfi’s Italian Kitchen
When owner-chef Mike Randolph announced the closure of The Good Pie, it left a giant hole in the hearts of manySt. Louis pizza lovers. Word on the street said he’d be reverting to simple Italian dining, and the checked tablecloths signaled just that. But Randolph surprised us with inventive pasta creations (including large and small sizes) and silenced naysayers by offering the authentic Neapolitan pizzas that they so dearly missed.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Robust
Drinks: The award-winning wine list is accessible to rookies and pros alike. Best Dish: The decadent Surf & Turf at the downtown location. Insider Tip: Both locations have daily food, wine, and cocktail specials.
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Photo by Kevin A. Roberts
Russell's on Macklind
Best Seat: You can’t see the below-grade patio from the street—all the more reason to treat it as your own little secret. What’s New: The second-floor dining room is comfy and well designed. Diners typically averse to climbing stairs will likely return to do it all again. Dessert: If you don’t order a piece of Russell Ping’s signature chocolate or gooey butter cake (the one with the shortbread crust), just take a whole one home.
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Vin de Set
Best Dish: Who says you can’t get good seafood in the Midwest? Order the escargots when you’re feeling adventurous but not up for an international flight. Best Seats: When the weather is nice, head to the rooftop patio. Insider Tip: For a special occasion, gather a group of your dearest foodies and reserve the wine loft and a tailored five-course tasting menu.
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YaYa's Euro Bistro
Vibe: It’s a Euro-stylebistro, with limestone pillars and a mosaic floor. Best Dish: Duck breast. If you’re especially lucky, peaches will be in season for a peach-Riesling reduction. Insider Tip: The Chesterfield eatery is among the most family-friendly spots around.
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