City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 633-3200

Address: 212 North Kingshighway

Description: To some, a bistro represents an informal dining experience. This isn’t the case at Eau Bistro in the swanky Chase Park Plaza Hotel. The beautiful decor provides a hint as to what kind of dining experience one can expect, and the menu doesn’t disappoint. Eau Bistro specializes in New American cuisine, featuring fresh seafood and meats from select sources around the country, along with a 300-bottle wine list. Open daily. Brunch is served on Sunday.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 361-7771

Address: 236 North Euclid Avenue

Description: Liluma is still one of the Central West End’s hot spots, and this Parisian-style bistro features a menu that stretches from one culinary extreme to the other. On the simpler side, there’s the burger with Nana’s slaw, served with hand-cut french fries. For the more sophisticated palate, the braised Arkansas rabbit with gnocchi, kalamata olives, and capers might be a better choice. There’s also a litany of soups, salads, and pastas that fall somewhere in the middle, and the prices for all are very reasonable. Closed Sunday; reservations are recommended.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 367-9888

Address: 4590 Laclede Avenue

Description: Wildflower offers gourmet food in a casual, contemporary atmosphere. If the weather is nice and tables are available, be sure to dine alfresco at this charming Central West End restaurant. People-watching is half the fun, but the eclectic cuisine is what brings in the crowds. Wildflower’s lunch menu offers an array of contemporary menu options ranging from soups and salads to sandwiches like the grilled eggplant mozzarella, and the house-cured salmon with avocado salsa and pepper bacon on Italian bread with caper-artichoke tartar sauce. Dinner entrees feature beef, chicken, pork, and seafood, as well as a few off-the-menu specials. The list of wines and cocktails is impressive. Open daily.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 361-4848

Address: 4584 Laclede Street

Description: Chef Eric Brenner turned a tiny storefront into one of the most unique restaurants in St. Louis. Moxy’s offerings combine a number of ethnic influences, including Asian, Italian, and French, and even blends them with comfort food. Even the appetizers are good enough to be an entree. The rope-shaped strozzapreti pasta in the Portobello and porcini mushroom sauce is excellent, and the buttermilk-marinated fried chicken (free-range, of course) will make those who fear nouveau cuisine feel right at home. The wine list has a select number of moderately priced options, and the coffee and dessert menu offers a number of exotic treats. Lunch and dinner are served Monday through Friday; dinner only on Saturday. Closed Sunday.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 361-7010

Address: 13 Maryland Plaza

Description: Outstanding authentic Italian food is the draw to this casual yet fashionable Central West End eatery, and its outdoor dining area adds to the European feel of the place. Some of Bar Italia’s signature dishes include tortellini in cream sauce, and chicken with almonds and raisins, in addition to other pasta dishes and Mediterranean fare. The restaurant also features a very good wine list, and a full cocktail menu is available. Open daily.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 361-2828

Address: 300 North Euclid Avenue

Description: Known for world-famous spicy chicken wings, Culpeppers serves up a hearty menu of bar food designed to complement its extensive cocktail menu. Soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers make up most of the menu, along with some hearty entrees and mouthwatering desserts. Specialties include Culpeppers Barbecued Ribs, sweet bourbon salmon, and blackened chicken Alfredo. Open daily.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 361-3003

Address: 4747 McPherson Avenue

Description: The Central West End location of this Celtic pub has plenty of places to hang out, from the main bar to the loft to the patio or the beer garden. Llywelyn’s serves up a menu of traditional Irish food as well as the usual lineup of American pub grub and several lighter-fare items. Traditional specialties include fish and chips, corned beef and cabbage, Finnagan’s Fish Pie, and a rosemary and citrus chicken casserole. Be sure to try the Welsh Potato Chips. There are two other locations in the area, including one in Soulard (1732 Ninth Street; 314-436-3255) and one in Webster Groves (17 Moody Street; 314-962-1515). Open late, seven days a week.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 367-4900

Address: 20 South Euclid Avenue

Description: Tom’s Bar & Grill is a friendly and casual gathering spot located just east of the Chase Park Plaza in the Central West End neighborhood. A large picture window and the liberal use of gorgeous dark wood help give the bar a warm and cozy feel, even on the dreariest of days. The menu offers the usual lineup of bar food, with special praise for its burgers, fries, and steaks. Open daily.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 361-0100

Address: 386 North Euclid Avenue

Description: Kopperman’s has been around since the 1880s, and this old-school deli and specialty food mart continues to please. Whether you want a quick bite for breakfast or plan to spend a leisurely morning enjoying one of Kopperman’s “eggstravaganzas,” the food is excellent. The deli offers a variety of kosher meats, salads, soups, and pastas, and the overstuffed sandwiches definitely live up to their name. Specialty coffee drinks and cocktails are available, along with bottles of wine sold at retail price (corking fee). Open daily.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Address: 5453 Magnolia Avenue

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 772-4893

Address: 5356 Daggett Avenue

Description: Chef/proprietor Tony prepares your meal personally, and what a meal it is. Gian-Tony’s offers gourmet Italian food without the gourmet price. In addition to a tremendous selection of veal, beef, chicken, and seafood dishes, the restaurant has the best cavatelli con broccoli in town. The cream sauce is as light (tasting) as air, and it will spoil you for all other cream sauces. Gian-Tony’s features a full bar and a good wine list—and if you go on the weekend, you will probably spend some time in the bar waiting for a table. Reservations are accepted on weeknights only. The restaurant’s old-world-style ambience lends itself equally well to romantic dinners and family get-togethers. Gian-Tony’s is one of the few Italian restaurants on The Hill that is open daily.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 772-4900

Address: 4945 Daggett Avenue

Description: Open since 1957, Rigazzi’s offers casual Italian dining and a menu of more than 200 dishes in a family-friendly atmosphere. In addition to its award-winning St. Louis–style pizza, Rigazzi’s is renowned for being the “Home of the Frozen Fishbowl,” which is a frozen goblet-style glass that is usually filled with draft beer, soda, or the occasional frozen daiquiri. Reservations accepted. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 772-5958

Address: 5201 Shaw Avenue

Description: Giovanni’s on the Hill is widely regarded as one of the best Italian gourmet restaurants in the St. Louis area and features a wonderful menu of authentic southern Italian dishes. The restaurant’s dining room has played host to a number of celebrities over the years, including former Beatle Paul McCartney and his late wife, Linda, when they were in town for a concert in the early 1990s. Giovanni’s is definitely an upscale dining experience, and its food is as inviting as the ambience. Reservations are required; the restaurant is closed Sunday.

City: St. Louis, MO

Category: Restaurants

Telephone: (314) 776-0020

Address: 5256 Wilson Avenue

Description: Zia’s is an ideal place for a big family gathering or an intimate dinner for two. The atmosphere is casual, and the wait staff is informative and friendly. The food ain’t bad either. Zia’s serves excellent gourmet and St. Louis–style Italian cuisine at reasonable prices, along with an impressive wine list that includes various Italian wines. Open for lunch and dinner, Zia’s offers steak, chicken, fish, and pasta dishes, as well as sandwiches and burgers for the “less mature” taste buds at the table. Be sure to try the tiramisu or New York–style cheesecake. Closed Sunday.