The best restaurants in St Louis

Long-time St Louis restaurateur Matt McGuire’s spot is already the stuff of legends. Everything from the impeccable service to the nearly flawless execution of the Italian menu will leave you with a huge smile (that might also be the wine). When dining here, expect a casual evening that will stick with you long after you leave and inevitably come back.

A contemporary, casual Israeli restaurant and cocktail bar located inside an ultra-modern refurbished gas station: can it get more hip than this? OLIO’s food is perfect for a light lunch (especially on days the garage door is open) or happy hour and small plates. Make sure to try the egg salad with lemon and white anchovies—it is simplicity at its finest.

A burger lover’s dreams come true inside a dive bar in St Louis’ Dogtown neighborhood. Enter Tamm Avenue Grill and make your way to the walk-up window for smashed burgers made with locally sourced ingredients, including dry-aged beef, of the highest quality. In addition to the pork and beef options, Mac’s also serves one of the finest veggie burgers in town, plus a smattering of Cajun specialties (like boudin balls) and weekly specials.

Don’t let the line out front deter you: Every bite of the sandwich waiting for you inside is worth the wait. Owner Vinnie Valenza has done a fine job of making this simple eatery a St Louis staple. A true deli, you’ll order and wait until your number is called. The menu is, as they say, a “tip of the hat” to blues music and culture, and the decor doesn’t stray too far from the theme. The toughest aspect of your visit is deciding what to order: Boasting a solid menu featuring po-boys, muffulettas, New York deli-style sandwiches, Italian favorites, and even vegetarian options, you’ll just have to keep coming back to sample it all.

This unassuming restaurant tucked away on a Delmar Loop side street is one of the best Asian restaurants in St Louis. The simple menu focuses on Northern Thai cuisine, bringing dishes like Nam Khao tod (spicy pork and crispy rice salad) and hung lay curry (pork belly curry) to the midwest. The real show stopper is the khao soi—this egg noodle curry soup is everything you could ask for in a bowl.

When St Louis native Michael Gallina returned from a decade of work at the world-class Blue Hill at Stone Barns outside New York City, St Louis knew he was bringing something special. Vicia’s beautiful simplicity is reflected in its design and its vegetable-forward cuisine. Pop in for a casual lunch or splurge for a dinner you won’t soon forget. Pro tip: make sure to go with the chef’s tasting menu—ordering a la carte will leave you envious of your neighbor’s meal.

Sidney Street Cafe is a James Beard-winning restaurant. Need we say more? Chef/owner Kevin Nashan and his team have been cranking out beautiful, wildly creative—yet familiar—contemporary American dishes for over a decade. Going with their budget-friendly tasting menu is our recommendation, as you’ll get to try at least five different dishes, plus all sorts of little amuse-bouches and intermezzos.

St Louis is a BBQ town, so devouring the world-famous ribs, brisket, and pulled pork served at restaurants around the city is a weekly necessity. To get your fix, head to Salt + Smoke in the Delmar Loop. It doesn’t have all the press and people (read: long lines) as other local spots, but the offerings are just as good—if not better. Alongside amazing meat options, you will find inventive (and healthy!) sides and appetizers. The eatery also serves a thorough drink menu featuring over 100 bourbons, cocktails, and an impressive beer list.

Don’t let the menu of utilitarian food throw you off—the bread, soup, salad, and sandwiches at Union Loafers might be the best thing you eat in this city. How is that possible? Baker Ted Wilson and chef Brian Lagerstrom are just that good. Here’s your order: start with the pizza rossa, follow it up with the little gem salad (add bacon!), then dig into the rare roast beef sandwich. Grab a loaf of light and mild on your way out. Oh, and did we mention that, at night, the bakery turns into one of the city’s best pizzerias?

A neighborhood diner with a Southwestern influence, Southwest Diner serves one of the best breakfasts in town. Boasting vibrant turquoise and burnt red decor, you’ll feel like you’re on a Wes Anderson set, but we promise, the food is the real star here. A New Mexican breakfast burrito loaded with house sausage or chorizo is an obvious choice, but the buttermilk cornmeal pancakes and Jonathan’s Famous Fiery Scramble are local favorites. Order them all?

You can’t come to St Louis and not try St Louis-style pizza or toasted ravioli—both city staples. It would also be a mistake to not visit The Hill, an Italian neighborhood full of mom-and-pop Italian restaurants and corner bars. Guido’s serves some of the best STL-style pizza and T-Ravs in The Hill and in the city as a whole. Sit outside and enjoy the neighborhood while eating two of the city’s staples.