3. Elaia
8.6
1634 Tower Grove (McRee), St Louis, MO
Mediterranean Restaurant · 8 tips and reviews
Adam Hickey: One of the best meals we've ever had. Pay the extra money for the wine pairings. You won't regret it.
Go! Magazine: Elaia is not cheap — $100 for the grand tasting, $200 with sommelier Andrey Ivanov’s wine pairings — but you certainly get what you pay for. (Evan S. Benn) Read more.
ALIVEMagSTL: With sister restaurant Olio, Elaia is the co-winner of Most Innovative Concept in ALIVE's 2013 Hot List.
4. Tony's
8.3
1 S Broadway (Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark), St Louis, MO
Italian Restaurant · Downtown East · 18 tips and reviews
24 Hour Food Geek: Try the Saffron Risotto with Osso Buco - Awesome!!! It was a special. I cannot eat enough osso buco
Go! Magazine: Still a perfect restaurant. This is someplace where you’ll want the meal to last two hours, or even much longer, and a pasta course helps stretch it out. (Joe Bonwich) Read more.
Ashley L.: One of my favorite restaurants!
7. Piccione Pastry
6197 Delmar Blvd (Skinker), St Louis, MO
Dessert Shop · 35 tips and reviews
Charlie Cherella: This place is great if you are looking for a quick desert! The canolis are to die for! I recommend cookie dough or gooey butter cake, but that's just me. The staff is very nice, highly recommended.
Go! Magazine: If you like your desserts boozy, try the rum-dashed cassata cake in flavors like mocha checkerboard, with yellow and mocha cake, or strawberry with white cake and fruit cream filling. (Betha Whitlow) Read more.
Riverfront Times: This Italian bakery in the Delmar Loop specializes in handmade cannolis and this month's special Halloween and fall-inspired flavors include pumpkin cannoli and a pumpkin cassata cake. Read more.
9. Favazza's
8.6
5201 Southwest Ave, St Louis, MO
Italian Restaurant · The Hill · 30 tips and reviews
Patricia Knight: I have been there once for lunch with my aunt. Their pasta was very good so are their rolls and salad. I loved their classic decor design inside the restaurant.
Rebecca (Wales) Kiessling: This is the best garlic bread in the world. Seriously.
Sherry Shular: Our favorite place on the Hill. We drive 3 hours to have dinner here. House salad is delish! And there are several different ones to choose from. Lasagna is wonderful. Every dish we've tried was great
Allison T: Best cannelloni, mix the red and cream sauces... also amazing steak risotto!!! chicken and veal parm is always great. get a house salad but made with their caesar dressing!
Voice Places: "The original crust is the best to start with, and still my favorite. If you order for pickup, they will bring the pizza to your car and everything," says reviewer 'allrawk.' Read more.
Krysta Clark: Food is very rich and heavy but delicious! Service was great except for they did not take our rain coats to be hung up. Service was excellent. Views were great even though it was rainy and foggy.
12. Rooster
1104 Locust St (at 11th St), St Louis, MO
Breakfast Spot · Downtown East · 196 tips and reviews
Althea Stearns: Try the Finnish pancake, a baked custard. It is different and delish. It's like dessert for breakfast.
Weintraub ADV: Rooster is a great place for a downtown brunch scene. Take advantage of the smaller more trendy hot spots in St Louis.
Go! Magazine: If you are going to indulge on game day, go for the good stuff — crepes stuffed with goat cheese and basil, Missouri sausage and spiced apple or sirloin steak and blue cheese. (Diane Toroian Keaggy)