The 22 Best Restaurants In St. Louis For Every Price Point

The secret’s out: St. Louis is one of America’s best food destinations. For years, locals have touted their city’s dining scene, and now the rest of the country is finally taking notice. While it may not have the volume of restaurants or big-name chefs found in other Southern food cities like New Orleans and Atlanta, it offers a diverse mix of cuisines, a high level of quality, and plenty of bang for your buck.

Another one of St. Louis’ charms is that the city is divided into distinctive neighborhoods, and each one has its own culinary personality. Try a hot salami sandwich in The Hill, a historic Italian-American community. Head to Tower Grove for a multicultural smorgasbord of Thai, Afghan, and Creole food. In the Central West End, you can get eat and shop well: enjoy simple, seasonal cooking at Bowood By Niche, then browse Bowood Farms, the adjoining nursery/home goods store, and afterward, pop in to Holliday, a gift shop across the street.           

Create your own itinerary from this list of must-try spots organized by price—whatever you choose, you’re in store for a great meal.

$ (Entrees $10 - $20)

Rooster

Open for breakfast and lunch, Rooster has two locations—one in South Grand and one downtown. Both are bustling, especially on the weekends, with customers eating their fill of breakfast burritos, crepes with sweet and savory fillings, and stuffed French toast. A cocktail menu with bloody Marys and plenty of bubbles adds to the fun vibe.

Rooster, 1025 Washington Ave., St. Louis, MO 63101 and 3150 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63118 

Songbird

Another popular spot for brunch, this restaurant started as a popular pop-up at the Tower Grove Farmers’ Market. Now, it’s a cozy, sit-down space with an expanded menu that relies on seasonal ingredients and breakfast favorites like eggy sandwiches, cheese grits, and frittatas, plus really great coffee.

Songbird, 4476 Chouteau Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Balkan Treat Box

Located in the charming Webster Groves neighborhood, this lunch-only restaurant draws lines around its building, and one whiff of Turkish-style flatbread (pide) baking in a wood-fired oven will instantly explain why. Chef Loryn Nalic, who grew up in Sarajevo, created the menu, which is inspired by Balkan street food, namely flatbread topped or filled with a delicious array of ingredients including creamy cheese (Kajmak), grilled beef sausages, wood-roasted eggplant, and grilled fish. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong.

Balkan Treat Box, 8103 Big Bend Blvd., Webster Groves, MO 63119

City Foundry 

This massive dining, retail, entertainment hub is a smart place to bring a group, because there is a food hall to satisfy every type of eater—17 different dining concepts in total. Try Afro-Caribbean fare at Chez Ali, grab a slice at Fordo’s Killer Pizza, or treat your sweet tooth at Patty’s Cheesecakes.

City Foundry, 3730 Foundry Way, St. Louis, MO 63110

Gioia’s Deli

A neighborhood staple in The Hill since 1818, Gioia’s specializes in overstuffed sandwiches. The Hot Salami, with house-made sausage, is the most popular order, but you can’t go wrong with the Italian Trio (mortadella, salami, Genoa), the Hogfather (coppa, salami, bacon), or any of the deli’s other gut-busting delights. 

Gioia’s Deli, 1934 Macklind Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

The Foundry Bakery

The Foundry’s inventive, Asian-influenced menu is not what you’d find at your typical bakeshop—and that’s a good thing. Loaves include the Umami Burst (Japanese miso with shiitakes, seaweed, and scallions) and Black Walnut Sourdough, made with locally-sourced nuts. Or try a Naisu Milk Bun with a raisin-cream filling inside. You’ll also find teas sourced from Japan and China, as well as espresso drinks, and refreshing Taiwanese Fruit Milk.

The Foundry Bakery, 11424 Dorsett Rd., Maryland Heights, MO 63043

The Annex

Part restaurant, part gourmet store, you could spend hours in this charming place in Webster Groves. Their breakfast and lunch menu is straightforward—sandwiches, quiches, burritos—but everything is well-made. Don’t skip something sweet from the bakery counter (the chocolate macaroons are sublime), as well as a specialty coffee or cocktail.

The Annex, 8122 Big Bend Blvd. Old Orchard, Webster Groves, MO 63119

The Lucky Accomplice

You can dine two ways at this inventive spot in Fox Park. Grab a seat at the bar and order small plates like a Braised Beet Salad with whipped burrata off the a la carte menu, or build your own snack board with your choice of breads, spreads, pickles, and proteins. Or, for a more formal meal, opt for a 7- or 10-course menu with optional drink pairings.

The Lucky Accomplice, 2501 South Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, MO 63104

Creole With A Splash Of Soul

The name of chef Ronda Walker’s restaurant says it all. You’ll find Louisiana favorites like po’boys, shrimp etouffee, fried green tomatoes, and gumbo, to name a few of the mouthwatering items on Walker’s menu. Whatever you choose, don’t miss out on the peach cobbler.

Creole with a Splash Of Soul, 4353 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Imo's

Possibly the city’s most iconic dish, the pizza at Imo’s is nothing like any other pie you’ve tried. The thin, cracker-like crust is topped with a tangy tomato sauce and an only-in-St. Louis ingredient: Provel—a white, melty processed cheese that’s a combination of Cheddar, Swiss, and provolone. Locals tend to order Imo’s with cheese and sauce only, but the Deluxe (bacon, sausage, peppers, olives, mushrooms) makes this simple pizza something special.

Imo’s, multiple locations

$$ (Entrees $20 - $40)

Bowood By Niche

To say that Niche Food Group and chef Gerard Craft have shaped the city’s dining scene is an understatement. There are currently eight restaurants in the Niche family, ranging from upscale to grab-and-go. One of these is Bowood by Niche, a bright and airy spot for breakfast and lunch. Start your day with the Vermont Cheddar Waffles or Cacio e Pepe Eggs, or fuel your afternoon with a grain bowl that’s packed with goodness (wheat berries, arugula, sweet potato, brussel sprout, peppers, pickled raisin, pistachio, goat cheese, honeycomb, and a white wine vinaigrette). In the adjoining building is a lovely home and garden shop, and across the street is its sister shop Holliday, which is filled with delightful gifts.

Bowood By Niche, 4605 Olive St., St. Louis, MO 63108

King And I

Suchin Prapaisilp, who opened St. Louis’ first Thai restaurant in 1980. King and I has moved to Richmond Heights, but you’ll find all the classics here—curries, stir-fried noodle dishes, and the restaurant’s signature dish, Three Kings of Thailand (shrimp, beef, and chicken stir-fried with red bell peppers, white onions, green onion and carrots, and glazed with a roasted chili sauce). 

King and I, 8039 Dale Ave. Richmond Heights, MO 63117

Chao Baan

Suchin’s son, Shayn, has opened his own restaurant in tribute to his parents. The menu at Chao Baan focuses on the Northeast (Esaan) and Aouthern (Pak Tai) regions of Thailand. You’ll also find creative cocktails (and mocktails). 

Chao Baan, 4087 Chouteau Ave.,St. Louis, MO 63110

Sameem Afghan Restaurant

Sameem is the only Afghan restaurant in Missouri. That alone should put it on the map, but the food has been keeping customers coming back since 2005. Try the “Mideast feast for four guests”, which includes falafel, pakowra (vegetable fritters), eggplant boorani, hummus, and pashtoon salad all served with condiments and naan. 

Sameem Afghan Restaurant, 4341 Manchester Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110

Trattoria Marcella

Toasted ravioli is another St. Louis specialty, and you’ll find it on the menu here, along with pizzas, pastas, and other Italian dishes like veal marsala and osso bucco over polenta. The family-run restaurant has been open since 1995, so you know they’re doing something right.

Trattoria Marcella, 3600 Watson Rd, St. Louis, MO 63109

$$$ (Entrees $40+)

Idol Wolf

Idol Wolf is located in the Hotel 21c St. Louis, and is every bit as stylish and eclectic as the hotel itself. The menu pays homage to Spain with bocaditos (snacks), raciones (main dishes), tapas, and the main event—an authentic seafood paella. Whether you want to order a bunch of bites and cocktails for the table or tuck into a rib-eye, there are many ways to enjoy a meal here, and all of them are flavorful and well-prepared. 

Idol Wolf, 1528 Locust St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Sado

You wouldn’t expect to find a Japanese restaurant in The Hill, a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood, but Sado is the kind of restaurant that’s full of surprises. The menu is large, offering something for everyone, while still staying true to its Japanese focus. You could make a meal of appetizers like steamed buns, seafood tartare, and gyoza. Or you could order straight from the sushi bar. Another option is the “robata yaki” section of the menu, which offers dry-aged, grilled seafood served with accompaniments. 

Sado, 5201 Shaw Ave. St. Louis, MO 63110

Vicia

Want to skip the decision making process and leave your meal in the capable hands of a chef? Head to the award-winning Vicia, where chef/owner Michael Gallina offers a three-course seasonal menu (with optional wine pairings) that’s designed to be shared with a group. The lovely Forest Park restaurant offers sample menus, but what you eat depends on what’s at its peak that day.

Vicia, 4260 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108

Bistro la Floraison

If the elegant dining room with its sparkling chandelier and pretty pink banquettes doesn’t win you over, the French-inspired menu certainly will. Bistro la Floraison is fun—you’ll find creative cocktails, the Tour de France (a snack sampler with gougères, financiers, caviar chips, trout toast and oysters), and for dessert, pain perdu with crème fraîche gelato. If you have a hearty appetite, there are hearty bistro mains like pork cassoulet. It’s all good here.

Bistro la Floraison, 7637 Wydown Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105