50 Best Italian Restaurants in St. Louis

“We wanted Italian food and we decided to go on the hill to Zia‘s. We ordered pasta dishes, which was extremely nice portion size. The bread was delicious when you dip it in olive oil. I also had the French martini which was delicious. I think if you have a taste for Italian food pasta, you couldn’t find a better place.“

“Bartolinos South is our favorite nice restaurant. Not only is the food consistently wonderful but they always work to please you. We celebrate all special occasions there. Recently we reserved their front room which holds a max of 16, I believe. They went out of their way to make the setting perfect (even bringing in a small table for our use). Our waiter, Karen, was discreet in providing us perfect service without interrupting our shared conversation/memories as we were toasting a dear friend on her birthday. I can’t say enough about how flawless they made our luncheon. Bartolinos will remain our favorite not only for the quality of the food but for their personal attention.“

“We were celebrating our daughter receiving her Ph D. This place was highly recommended. Had a WONDERFUL experience. The food was fabulous. The staff extremely friendly. Nice wide open space. Being in the business. I was watching the other staffs interaction with guests and other co workers. EXCELLENT VIBE in the house. HIGHLY recommend. All in All. Guests Staff. Food. Cleanliness. Home Run. Great Job 👊👊👍👍“

“We reserved the big room for a family party of 24. Our servers, Rachel and Harrison did a fabulous job! They were patient (we're a loud bunch!), checked on us without being a nuisance, and accommodated some late-comers with adding onto the end of one of the big tables. The food was fresh, delicious and brought out hot (not lukewarm)! Some of our party even ordered dessert! Xavier did a great job of bussing the table and grabbing extra drinks, etc. Considering how many people we had, I felt like it was a good deal price-wise as well.
Thank you, Bartolino's for making our family celebration that much more special!!“

“Fantastic food & incredible service made our 24th wedding anniversary celebration memorable.“

“Love! Food and drinks have been great- can’t wait to try the brunch!“

“First time at Failoni’s yesterday. Had pasta and marinara (I know, not very daring). The marinara can stand on its own. Wonderful. Loved the ambiance, neighborhood vibe. We were made to feel welcome right away. Was with two friends and we will be back!!“

“Delish! Great place to eat for the whole family!“

“Delicious food. Friendly atmosphere. Great service. Great happy hour menu! Great little local gem. Everyone is so kind. Shannon was great!“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pictured below is the Gonzo calzone- Salami, dates, spinach, garlic herb cheese, mozzarella, mascarpone-ricotta blend, and garlic oil with garlic butter on the side. My husband looked at me like I was crazy when I read off dates but the slight sweetness against all of that savory is what made it!! We also tried the Fatty B, Meat me in St Louie, Magic Carpet Ride, and the Gyro. They were all amazing but the Gonzo and the Gyro were my favorites. The Magic Carpet Ride is also a must try if you're into mushrooms.“

“My husband and I had visited family at SLU hospital and were in the mood for Italian food. Found this restaurant on Google and am so happy we did! Wonderful food, great service and a great atmosphere. This will certainly be our to go to restaurant from now on!“

“We just left and had an amazing experience!!! From the food, to the server and the young man clearing our plates. Absolutely wonderful!!! Will definitely be back again - very soon!“

“We had dinner last night and William our server was fantastic! delicious food and amazing service! romantic atmosphere 💖“

“THIS POST IS ABOUT THE HOLLYWOOD CASINO LOCATION.... I SAW NO OPTION TO REVIEW ON THAT PAGE. HOLLYWOOD CASINO CHARLIE GITTO's.... MELISSA IS AN AMBASSADOR TO YOUR BRAND!!!! After taking our Grandchildren for pics with Santa, we stopped at Charlie Gitto's and were WOWED by Melissa and her teammates. Our four grandkids; ages 13 to 1, were all treated with respect, acknowledged and included, and able to see for themselves what kind of great service they should both provide in their future careers and expect from the providers they choose. The food was great, (veal, steak, seafood pasta, calamari, mocktails and cocktails, apps to dessert all was wow.) The table was perfect for our needs. The kids weren't trapped in a booth so if they needed they could have gone to restroom... but they were never bored or impatient. Everything was timed perfectly. Our Middle fella could watch the kitchen while he anticipated his dessert. Melissa coordinated the food runners, bussers etc all while making sure we had all we needed for a wow evening. Seriously.. management... listen.. I don't know her but If I thought I could hire Melissa away... I'd try. Do what you need to keep her and people will keep coming back. My wife and our grandchildren were all very happy to have a dinner we won't forget. Bottom line... the kids talked more about dinner than they did about Santa. Thank you Melissa and thank you Charlie Gitto's.“

“great food and hearty portions 👍definitely recommend“

“Our family opted to eat out for Thanksgiving. I’m so glad we chose Pietros. The staff were so friendly and welcoming— like family! Service was timely and the food was incredible!“

“Guido’s is the best! Every meal I have had there is top notch. It’s our “go to” restaurant!“

“Peyton was a wonderful waitress. The food was the best. Lunch could not have been any better.“

“One of the best restaurants on the hill which is known for their Italian cuisine. You won’t be disappointed. White tablecloth, excellent service. The Rolls served hot in a basket with butter is easy to overindulge in. The calamari was cooked perfectly. If you like risotto, try the risotto with lobster. Veal Parmesan is excellent. If you’re lucky, you may hear Dominic sing at one of the tables for a birthday or anniversary! This is the real deal folks.“

“Last night was our second time to Lorenzo’s Trattoria and again it was amazing. Our waiter, Jose, was energetic and friendly, always with a true smile on his face, wait staff kept our drinks full and used dishes cleared, but the best part was the food. Absolutely delicious! We will be back many times!“

“We just stumbled across the restaurant yesterday. Amanda and I had a delightful meal, she, the Baked Rigatoni and I, the Seafood Cannelloni. Service was attentive and quick. We will be back!“

“My partner and I were impressed with the friendliness of service and amazing food. We will definitely go back. 5-star place, for sure.“

“The food is delicious and consistent. I love the calzones and the salad.“

“Thanks for the OVER PRICED BLOODY WINGS! 🤮🤮🤮“

“Pasta con Broccoli sauce was like water, no flavor! Moved the noodles to my wife’s dish and took it home. Service was good. Stuffed Mushrooms were ok. Won’t go back“

“Frank Papas Ristorante is an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you are greeted with warm smiles and an inviting atmosphere that sets the tone for an extraordinary dining experience. The ambiance is cozy yet elegant, perfect for any occasion.

The menu is a masterpiece of authentic flavors and diverse options. Every dish we tried was simply divine—starting with the fresh, crisp salads and flavorful appetizers. The entrées were outstanding; the pasta was cooked to perfection, the sauces were rich and vibrant, and the seafood tasted like it was caught that morning. And don’t even get me started on the desserts—each bite was a heavenly indulgence.

The service was impeccable, with attentive and knowledgeable staff who made sure every detail of our meal was flawless. They truly went above and beyond to ensure we felt cared for throughout the evening.

Frank Papas Ristorante delivers a dining experience that combines top-tier cuisine with exceptional service in a beautiful setting. I cannot recommend this place highly enough—it’s a must-visit for anyone who appreciates quality and flavor! Five stars all the way!“

“We ate lunch here Sunday after church October 16, 2022 and had the most attentive and delightful waiter named Chandler! Our food was great and took enough home for two more meals! Really love Joey B’s thanks n the Hill!“

“Overall amazing experience with our family here. Food was spot on - cooked perfectly - authentic flavors with an amazing wait staff!“

“The food was excellent, the service was excellent, only thing is there is a room where we had our dinner with 10 friends, it has a big step up that isn't lighted very well. My wife tripped and luckily didn't hit her head on the corner of the table. Other than that everything was great!“

“Robin and I ate here Friday night (5/3). We were immediately seated outdoors in the lovely courtyard, flanked by a large, ivy covered wall. Every bite we had from the salad, Brussels Sprouts, Burrata, Wild Mushroom Risotto, and their award winning Amaretto Pie was better than the last. It truly tasted like Italy and has our wholehearted recommendation!“

“Great service. Delicious food.“

“Best food and kindest people!“

“My husband and I both had the Halibut special, and he also had a small salad. We both said we enjoyed the best meals of our lives, for our second time at Dominic's . We were so full that we did not get dessert, so maybe the next time! This is a FABULOUS restaurant, and though it was very full, our service was great. It's wonderful that they take reservations.“

“First impression was excellent. I was told to get a pizza but I had my eye on the chicken parm. It was good but not great. Coworker got a pizza and let me have a slice and definitely should have gotten the pizza. I’ll know next time to get the pizza.“

“We ordered a couple different sandwiches.. including the ORIGINAL… and holy smokes!! The ORIGINAL HOT SALAMI.. STOP! Right there .. unbelievable.. we also had the Meatball, and the Italian Trio.. but I’m trying every thing on the menu! 13 STARS“

“One of the best parts of St. Louis food culture, this restaurant exemplifies Italian Pasta at its finest. Well done!“

“Our first time visiting and it was a very memorable experience that we will highly recommend others to see for themselves. The waitress we had was on top of her duties taking care of us in spite of the extra large table that came in after us. Thank you for such amazing food and excellent customer service.“

“When I walked in, I realized the place was packed, but we were hoping the wait wasn't too long, they quoted 45 minutes, which was a little too long for us. There was 5 of us and we decided to sit at the bar. And I'm sure glad we did. We had a bartender, I forgot her name, but she had purple hair, she was the absolute best. Not only did she make amazing drinks, she made sure our food came out right and hot. She also entertained us the whole time we were there, by engaging in conversations. You don't see that very much these days. If there was a word better than perfect, that's how I would describe it. I'll definitely be sitting at the bar more often.“

“I was at Pasta House today with a group. Our server was excellent and greeter was pleasant! My side House Salad was delicious… the way I remember as I haven’t been in a long time and rolls delish as well. However my Chicken Breast was terrible and honestly should be taken off the Menu. I’m actually shocked that they let it go out of the kitchen as were the ladies sitting near me. The chicken breast had obviously been cut in half, so was very thin and dry with burnt pieces on it and was hard to cut and chew. I tried 2 bites and then asked to get another one which my group was about done so I only took one bite and took the rest home. I just tried eating it for dinner and although it was a tiny bit better than the first one, it was still dry and inedible so I made myself a sandwich instead. The side pasta I brought home also wasn’t good. I really do not like to do bad reviews but I spent $15 on this mostly inedible meal and thought others should know Thank you!“

“Very,very accommodating on a busy Saturday night. (July 13)“

“Food is amazing, atmosphere is very nice, service staff are wonderful! Recommend the asparagus & prosciutto, pistachio goat cheese, bruschetta, their antipasti plates are all good! Also the house mixed greens is fresh and delicious, and they have amazing pastas and entrees. Our favorites are the Ragu alla Bolognese, fettuccine tres amici, tortellini with cream, the salmon is the best ever, and their steaks are fantastic. And you have to have an espresso martini. Definitely recommend. Sit on the patio if it’s nice out, it’s beautiful.“

“Great sandwiches and soups“

“My Son and I like to go on Mondays to the Woods Mill location. Alyssa is our regular server. She’s exceptional!! Great service consistently. Food is always exceptional! I’ve been going to this establishment for decades!!“

“Delicious sandwiches!! Everything I've had has been so yummy! My wife isn't much for sandwiches, but she'll eat Adriana's! Hot and cold sandwiches. Great portion sizes. You won't be disappointed, if you are it's probably because you should have gotten a bigger sandwich! :-)“

“Absolutely DELISH and some pretty darn fantastic people. 10 out of 10, 💯 recommend!!“

“This is our 2nd stop at this restaurant on our way into the city. The calzones are delicious! Fun craft sodas, as well as alcoholic beverages available.

Parking: You may have to travel off Manchester a flew blocks to find a free parking spot on the street.“

“Very nice ppl. Best pizza ?“

“We ordered this pizza through doordash and received the wrong pizza. We went back to the store because doordash was entirely unhelpful and the owner replaced our pizza for the correct one for no charge. He was very kind and helpful as well!“

“Pizza was cooked perfect and the crust was delicious!“

“Private dining experience that did not disappoint! we had a party of 15 that booked the entire venue (honestly that's all that fits). Chef welcomed us with open arms and explained what to expect in our four course meal. Everything was cooked so well and tasted amazing. We would absolutely do this experience again!“