16. Yemanja Brasil Restaurante
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 771-7457
Address: 2900 Missouri Avenue
Description: Cozy, warm, and tropical, Yemanja offers authentic Brazilian food in an inviting, casual atmosphere. In addition to a variety of vegetarian, seafood, and steak specialty dishes, the Benton Park eatery features various salads, homemade sobremesas (desserts), a selection of appetizers (such as acarajé, deep-fried black-eyed pea croquettes served with a side of spicy vatapá sauce), and a menu of Brazilian drinks. Try a caipirinha, the country’s national drink, made from crushed lime, sugar, and Brazilian rum and topped with ice, or a cup of cafézinho, Brazilian espresso. Dinner only, Tuesday through Sunday. Reservations recommended.
17. Al’S Restaurant
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 421-6399
Address: 1200 North First Street
Description: Al’s Restaurant has an elegant decor and an array of international specialties. This out-of-the-way restaurant follows the old-school tradition of a verbal menu, with no prices mentioned unless you ask. There’s a dress code (men must wear a jacket), which usually isn’t a problem for the business clientele that frequent the place. The menu includes voluminous lists of appetizers and first courses, and the wait staff is truly helpful and professional in their duties. Steaks, seafood, salads, and Italian specialties are the favored fare at Al’s, along with a selection of desserts. Closed Sunday and holidays.
18. Sidney Street Cafe
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 771-5777
Address: 2000 Sidney Street
Description: Sidney Street Cafe is the place for contemporary American and continental cuisine in a cozy, romantic atmosphere complete with flickering candlelight, linen tablecloths, and exposed brick. A well-rounded wine list complements the menu of seafood, steaks, and pastas in this romantic restaurant that’s tucked inside a century-old building in the Soulard/Benton Park neighborhood. Sidney Street’s menu is anything but ordinary and features unique delicacies like blue cheese tarts, veal dumplings, Szechwan tuna, and kumquat and BBQ glazed quail. The selection of desserts changes nightly, but it’s safe to assume that the sweets are as good as the entrees. Reservations required. Closed Sunday.
19. Anthony’S Bar
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 231-7007
Address: 10 South Broadway
Description: A popular lunchtime and happy-hour mainstay for downtown workers, Anthony’s now also serves dinner. The cozy bar area offers limited dining tables and bar seating—both fill up quickly during the noontime rush—but the food is worth the wait. Anthony’s shares the same owners/managers as the legendary Tony’s Italian restaurant on the other side of the building, as well as the same kitchen—but that’s where the similarities end. Anthony’s Bar is a casual cocktail bar, circa 1962, while Tony’s is as upscale and classy as you can get. The good news is that the food is excellent in both places, though the menu—and the prices—are smaller at Anthony’s. Lunch is served Monday through Friday only. Closed Sunday.
20. Charlie Gitto’S Pasta House
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 436-2828
Address: 207 North Sixth Street
Description: Gitto’s is a favorite lunch spot and dinner destination for downtown workers and residents, as well as visiting sports celebrities. Since 1974 the restaurant has been serving up authentic Italian fare, incredible salads, and decadent desserts in this family-style neighborhood eatery. One entire wall is filled with photos of international celebrities who have enjoyed their meal with Charlie, and the rest of the restaurant’s decor looks like something out of a movie starring the Rat Pack. Closed Sunday except on Rams football or Cardinals game days.
21. Cielo
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 881-5800
Address: 999 North Second Street
Description: Located inside the Four Seasons Hotel, Cielo features a contemporary Italian menu, and exceptional array of Italian wines and magnificent views of the Mississippi River and Gateway Arch. The upscale-casual restaurant offers indoor and outdoor dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. There’s a children’s menu available, as well as a decadent variety of dessert options.
22. House Of Savoy
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (877) 450-7711
Address: 901 North First Street
Description: Authentic regional Italian cuisine with savory sauces, fresh salads, hearty pastas, and an array of grilled entrées. The upscale eatery features an extensive wine list and house made desserts in an atmosphere of Old World splendor. Specialties include Grilled Wild Salmon, Pork Chop Milanese, Seafood Risotto, and grilled calamari. Open daily for dinner only.
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Address: 107 North Sixth Street
24. Kemoll’S Restaurant
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 421-0555
Description: Located on the 40th floor of the “Met Square” building, Kemoll’s is a landmark restaurant offering superb Italian dishes, steaks, and seafood in an elegant atmosphere. In addition to a long list of authentic Italian dishes, Kemoll’s serves up some of the freshest seafood in town. Try the Manicotte Alla Toscana, Broiled Oysters Alla Gaetana, or Linguini Monte Mare, and save room for dessert. House made specials include tiramisu, Bananas Foster, and creme brûleé. The restaurant is open for dinner only Monday through Saturday. Kemoll’s also offers a specially priced, early-evening dinner nightly from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended—and so are a jacket and tie for men.
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Address: 504 North 10th Street
26. Tony’S Restaurant
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 231-7007
Address: 410 Market Street
Description: Tony’s is considered by many to be St. Louis’s finest restaurant. From appetizers like fresh Beluga caviar and stuffed calamari to entrees such as grilled scampi and lobster tails, Tony’s has mastered the art of combining gourmet Italian dining with first-class service. Tony’s is a AAA four-diamond award winner and a Mobil four-star award winner, and the atmosphere has been voted “Most Romantic” in various readers’ polls. Condé Nast Traveler selected Tony’s as the No. 1 Italian restaurant in the country. Reservations are required, along with a coat and tie for male patrons. Closed Sunday.
27. Arcelia’S
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 231-9200
Address: 2001 Park Avenue
Description: Arcelia’s is a legendary, authentic Mexican restaurant in Lafayette Square. The simple neighborhood eatery is casual and kitschy, with the usual Mexican-style decor, but the food is what makes this place stand out. Excellent margaritas are a good way to start, followed by the chile-spiked salsa and a first course of nopales salad (slices of prickly pear cactus paddles tossed with diced tomatoes, onions, and a drizzle of lemon juice), or one of the traditional Mexican soups, tamales, empanadas, or chalupas. Arcelia’s also serves traditional breakfast foods, including chilaquiles, a hash of fried tortilla strips, as well as eggs and chorizo sausage. Open daily.
28. Chava’S Mexican Restaurant
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 241-5503
Address: 925 Geyer Avenue
Description: Outstanding Mexican food in a casual, comfortable environment with a friendly staff. Chava’s salsa is some of the best in town and you will be tempted to fill up on chips while you wait for your meal. The Soulard eatery serves plentiful portions of fresh and tasty entrees, including a number of vegetarian options. The margaritas are so smooth and refreshing that they’re dangerous. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
29. B & T Pizza
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 621-2400
Address: 1131 Washington Avenue
Description: Good, fresh hand-tossed pizza by the slice or by the pie. B&T’s New York-style pizzas are made with tomatoes from California, mozzarella cheese from Wisconsin, and a variety of vegetable and local meat toppings, including Volpi’s pepperoni and DiGregorio’s Italian sausage from The Hill, St. Louis’s Italian neighborhood. They also serve gourmet salads, beer, and wine in a casual, fast-food atmosphere. Dine-in, take-out, and delivery. Open until 3:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday.
30. Joanie’S Pizzeria
City: St. Louis, MO
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (314) 865-1994
Address: 2101 Menard at Russell
Description: Joanie’s is one of the few St. Louis pizza places that doesn’t assume that everyone wants their pizza in the St. Louis style (topped with Provel—a processed cheese—instead of mozzarella). Instead, Joanie’s staff serves up three types of pizza crusts, including a homemade hand-tossed crust; a baked, double-crust pie; and a thinner-crust version for those St. Louis pizza diehards. The toppings are virtually unlimited, and the specialty pizzas are as creative as they are tasty. The menu also includes various appetizers, salads, sandwiches, and pastas, and an ever-changing choice of daily specials. Great outdoor patio. Open daily.