The Pasta House Co. recently opened its 17th metro area location in the Greentree Center, at the corner of Manchester and Woodlawn Avenue in Kirkwood, in the former Pi Pizzeria + ¡Rico! Mexican space, which closed last August. Here’s what to know before you go.
The Menu
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The menu is the same as other locations, with both pickup and curbside delivery available. The Pasta House Co. has long been known for its affordable pasta dishes (more than 20 at last count), its signature house salad, T-ravs, St. Louis–style pizza, and the “hot, cheesy garlic bread,” a customer favorite.
Corporate catering was always a strength, and family meal deals became popular during the pandemic. Seven options are still available and include pasta, T-ravs, house salad, and bread for a family of four. The restaurant also offers gluten-free pasta, entrées, and pizza.
The Atmosphere
The 4,500-square-foot building includes a 160-seat dining room, a 50-person patio (slated to open soon), and a 20-seat U-shaped bar anchored by a quartet of TVs.
Following a three-month buildout, the dining room has carrot-colored walls (replacing Pi + Rico’s runs of rustic barnwood), standard size booths (replacing the former tufted high backs), standard-issue square tables (replacing versatile rectangular tables on casters), black upholstered chairs (replacing shiny red metal), and sections of frosted Pasta House Co.–embossed glass (replacing a large wrought-iron see-through sculpture at the kitchen pass).
The ceiling fans and hoop chandeliers are gone, replaced by contemporary black-and-gold ribbon lights. A large dividing wall faced with subway tile was removed. The elevated booths are now on one level. The overall effect is a pleasant, uncluttered, straightforward dining room, with some Italian poster art and nods to St. Louis.
“Physically, the biggest difference at this location is the large bar,” says operations director Roger Bastar. “It gives guests more seating options and provides opportunities to introduce more beverage options.”
The Background & Hours
The restaurant is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. That’s “two hours later than the other locations,” notes Bastar. “There aren’t many later-night dining options in this area. The bar and patio gives us the opportunity to experiment with a late-night menu, especially since we’ll be broadcasting all of the sporting events, early and late, including CITY SC. With CITY being in the Western Conference, they’ll be a lot of late matches.”
Prior to the Kirkwood location, the most recent Pasta House restaurant opening was at 8831 Ladue Road in Ladue (the former Giovanni’s Kitchen space), in late 2020. The company also recently closed Pronto!, a fast-casual spinoff in Brentwood that had temporarily closed due to staffing issues.
The opening of the Kirkwood location and expanded hours, however, could mark a new chapter. “Especially post-pandemic, it’s a departure from what we’ve been doing,” Bastar continues. “Going into summer with a new place, with a large bar and a nice patio, and with St. Louis having an impressive new sports team, we hope to attract a customer that might not have thought of us in that way before. It’s an exciting time for us.”
