The best restaurants in St. Louis to book right now

What is it? Sado, the latest restaurant from James Beard Award nominee Nick Bognar, brings top-notch sushi to the Hill, St. Louis’ Italian neighborhood, offering a sleek, sophisticated alternative to its longstanding eateries. Guests are welcomed by a six-seat bar with sea-blue cushions, intimate rooms evoking a Japanese tea garden, and a striking jellyfish mural that sets the tone for the experience. The menu centers on chilled-aged sashimi and nigiri, but also features standout small plates and hot dishes like pork belly buns, crispy Brussels sprouts, and a crisp miso ginger salad. A highlight is the Issan Hamachi, blending Southeast Asian flavors with coconut naam pla, Thai kosho, and candied garlic, making Sado both artful and approachable in design and cuisine.

Why we love it: You won’t find fresher fish or more inventive seafood-based dishes in St. Louis. The restaurant also offers an alternative to other, more traditional options in the city’s Italian neighborhood.  

Time Out tip: Stop by Pavilion, an inventive, multi-course omakase dining experience hosted by Bognar behind the restaurant in a custom pavilion-shaped room.

Address: 5201 Shaw Ave, St. Louis, MO 63110

Opening hours: Tue–Thu 5–9pm; Fri, Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm

Expect to pay: About $50 to $100 per person, if you are ordering hot tastings and select sashimi in addition to nigiri and rolls. 

What is it? Little Fox, the Fox Park bistro from New York restaurant veterans Craig and Mowgli Rivard, blends Brooklyn charm with Midwestern warmth through both its menu and design. The inviting space features a large, covered patio, exposed brick walls, geometric oak paneling, and blond wood furnishings that evoke the feel of a cozy dining room. Inside, the lively energy complements a menu centered on seasonal ingredients, with shareable plates like the stracciatella with housemade bread and short ribs with Calabrian chili and Italian fish sauce earning consistent praise. Paired with creative cocktails and attentive service, Little Fox offers not just dinner but a memorable dining experience that captures some of the region’s best flavors.

Why we love it: A traditional neighborhood joint goes slightly upscale, making it the perfect place to meet friends after work or celebrate special occasions. Shareable dishes make it easy to sample a variety of items, and inventive cocktails round out the menu and add to the restaurant’s charm.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss Sun brunch, where the same inventiveness and culinary charm from the dinner menu appear in elevated breakfast fare and libations.  

Address: 2800 Shenandoah Ave, St. Louis, MO 63104

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–8:30pm; Fri 5–9:30pm; Sat 10am–1pm, 5–9:30pm; Sun 10am–1pm

Expect to pay: About $35 to $65 per person, for a substantial meal and a drink or two.

What is it? Vicia, founded in 2017 by Michael and Tara Gallina—alumni of New York’s acclaimed Blue Hill at Stone Barns—celebrates local agriculture through imaginative, seasonal dishes in a modern farm-to-table setting. The light-filled dining room, with its clean lines, natural wood beams, and rustic-elegant feel, mirrors the restaurant’s streamlined approach to food, where fresh, vegetable-forward plates take center stage. Guests can watch the culinary process unfold in the open kitchen, on-site garden, or wood-burning grill on the patio. The frequently changing menu highlights regional ingredients and inventive takes on classics, such as purple-top turnip tacos with squash hot sauce and rutabaga “carbonara,” while family-style service encourages sharing and guidance from expert servers.

Why we love it: The restaurant puts vegetables center stage, elevating them the way meats or seafood would be at other fine dining establishments.

Time Out tip: Stop by for Happy Hour on Tuesday through Friday from 5-6 PM, when you can try small bites and cocktails crafted from seasonal ingredients. 

Address: 4260 Forest Park Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5–9pm

Expect to pay: Approximately $40-$50 per person à la carte, including drinks, or $85-$95 for the tasting menu excluding beverages.

Why we love it: Louie focuses on quality ingredients and presents dishes in an unpretentious way. Warm, knowledgeable staff add to the impression that you’re not dining out- you’re pulling up a seat at a table at a friend’s house.

Time Out tip: Try one of the seasonal or off-menu specials. Items like sweet potato ravioli or pumpkin pizza offer an alternative to the smaller standing menu and give diners a chance to sample fresh, seasonal ingredients. 

Address: 706 DeMun Ave, Clayton, Missouri 63105

Opening hours: Mon–Thu: 11am–2pm, 5–10pm; Fri 11am–2pm, 5–11pm; Sat 5–11pm

Expect to pay: About $46-$69 per person for an appetizer, entrée, drink, and dessert.

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What is it? Husband-and-wife team Darren and Charlene Young marry Filipino roots and barbecue expertise at The Fattened Caf. Steps away from bustling Cherokee Street, the bright, welcoming restaurant features a mural by Filipino American artist Hope Ainsworth, a vibrant backdrop for standout cuisine. House-smoked meats come with pickled red cabbage, cucumber salad, and choices like garlic or Java rice. The ube banana pudding rounds out the menu, as do coffees crafted with complementary flavors like ube, banana brown sugar, and coconut jam. Buoyed by its brick-and-mortar success, the restaurant has opened an outpost on campus at Washington University in St. Louis, where students, faculty, staff, and visitors can sample dishes during weekdays. 

Why we love it: The restaurant offers something for everyone; in addition to smoked meats like pork steak and chicken, vegan options abound, including jackfruit adobo, collard greens, and BBQ beans. Food is served with a sense of community, making the restaurant a place not just to eat, but linger.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the ube longdong, featuring smoked spicy chicken longgansia served on top of a bright purple ube hotdog bun. 

Address: 3405 S Jefferson Ave, St. Louis, MO 63118

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 11am–8pm; Fri, Sat 11am–9pm

Expect to pay: About $25 to $29 for a full meal, including an entrée, one side, and dessert, which you should not skip.

What is it? Picture an elevated steakhouse made approachable, and you’ll land on Wright’s Tavern. In keeping with other establishments from local restaurateur Matt McGuire, the menu and interiors lean refined, but the atmosphere is warm and approachable. A long row of banquettes lines one side of the dining room, offering cozy seating, and the walls are adorned with personal touches, including photos by McGuire’s father. A concise menu features classic appetizers, like shrimp scampi in garlic sauce, with hearty entrées following suit. Don’t miss the New York strip steak and potato-crusted halibut with lemon beurre blanc. Dishes are extravagant but not overdone, letting the ingredients shine.

Why we love it: Wright’s could easily veer into unapproachable fine-dining territory, but personal touches keep the restaurant lively and inviting. Case in point: Glasses full of pencils are placed on each table, inviting guests to write notes and sketch as they dine. 

Time Out tip: Save room for dessert. The restaurant’s giant ice cream sundae is a major attraction, featuring oversized scoops, hot fudge, and small dishes filled with candies for topping. 

Address: 7624 Wydown Boulevard, Clayton, MO 63105

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5–10pm; Fri, Sat 5–11pm

Expect to pay: About $124 per person for a full meal, not including sides or extras. 

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What is it? St. Louis’s Delmar Maker District has grown significantly over the past couple of years, and Esca is part of this evolution. The restaurant, the latest establishment from local restaurateur Ben Poremba, transports guests from the Midwest to the Mediterranean, with cozy, upscale interiors and fresh, simply prepared dishes that infuse rustic ingredients and charcoal-driven cooking. Offerings change seasonally, but standout dishes include stracciatella with fire-roasted strawberries, almonds, and saba, as well as grilled meat, seafood, and vegetables that reflect Poremba’s “Cuisine of the Sun” ethos, which focuses on vibrant, full-flavored cooking. A cocktail menu offers elevated takes on classics crafted with top-shelf spirits and house-made accompaniments.

Why we love it: Few establishments have as much attention to detail as Esca. Table-side service and presentation make guests feel like they’re well looked after, and an exposed kitchen invites diners into the making process, consistent with the atmosphere of the Delmar Maker District corridor.

Time Out tip: Don’t skip the small plates. Start your meal with standout appetizers, including the mortadella, which is imported from Italy, or the brandade, a salt cod mash served with charred bread.

Address: 5095 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5–10pm; Sun 5–9pm

Expect to pay: About $85 per person for a full dinner or $100 to $120 per person for a more elaborate meal. 

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What is it? A St. Louis mainstay, Nobu’s moved from its long-running location on Olive Boulevard to its new home in the Delmar Loop several years ago. Since then, the family-owned restaurant has reinvented itself, scaling back its seating and focusing on a more intimate dining experience, all centered around elevated sushi made with high-quality Japanese imports. A bright dining room with white oak tables features 12 seats and a sushi counter offering front-row views of the chefs in action. Classic sushi, nigiri, sashimi, and makimono/temaki rolls dominate the menu. Guests can choose from a three-course menu or a four-course menu, with selections curated by Chef Nobu and menus changing seasonally to reflect the best ingredients. A la carte options are also available with tempura platters, grilled or simmered fish courses, and vegetable or vinegar-based sides, rounding out the menu.

Why we love it: Nobu’s elevates sushi to an art form. Staff are exceptionally attentive, answering questions about the intricately crafted dishes and cooking approach. The dining experience is approachable enough so even sushi novices will feel comfortable participating.

Time Out tip: A reservation is required at Nobu’s, so make sure to book your experience well in advance.

Address: 6253 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63130

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5–pm

Expect to pay: The 3-course omakase menu, featuring a tasting-style meal, costs approximately $80 per person, while the 4-course omakase menu, with expanded courses, is about $120 per person.

What is it? Once a wildly popular food truck in St. Louis, Balkan Treat Box has since settled into a Webster Groves brick-and-mortar that continues to draw crowds. Husband-and-wife team Loryn and Edo Nalic helm this Bosnian-inspired eatery, where dishes reflect the food memories from Edo’s childhood and homeland. Dishes are rich but focused, highlighting quality and tradition over breadth. A wood-fired oven produces homemade somun, or flatbread, that makes an appearance in many dishes. The Ćevapi, for example, featured grilled beef sausages served in somun and topped with a creamy cheese spread, onions, and a side of cabbage salad. The pide, another fan favorite, is a Turkish-style flatbread baked in the wood-fired oven, topped with cheese, pepper spread, and your choice of beef, halal chicken, or vegetable/vegan options. 

Why we love it: The vibrant, welcoming restaurant draws diners of all ages and backgrounds, and the family-run atmosphere makes Balkan Treat Box feel like home. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that you can smell the wood-fired cooking from the parking lot before you even walk in. 

Time Out tip: Go early, if possible. Lines are inevitable at Balkan Treat Box due to its popularity, but they move quickly. 

Address: 8103 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves, MO 63119

Opening hours: Tue through Thu, 11 AM to 8 PM; Fri and Sat, 11 AM to 8 PM

Expect to pay: About $20 to $25 for a main dish and a drink, or $30 to $50 per person for a multi-course meal and a drink.

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What is it? After two years of pop-ups and private diners, chef Alec Schingel opened Robin in spring 2025. Schingel, whose culinary training includes time at Blue Hill at Stone Barnes and Niche in St. Louis, focuses on indulgent yet approachable dining at his new establishment. Dishes are inspired by the Midwest's culinary history, culture, and seasonality, with an emphasis on sustainable, local ingredients. An intimate interior plus an open kitchen creates an atmosphere of warmth and simplicity. The restaurant’s four-course prix fixe menu offers three choices per course, which include Midwestern specialties executed creatively but with serious technique. Don’t miss the pork schnitzel served with braised cabbage, soft-roasted apple, and tangy mustard. The “Gooey Butter Cake,” an homage to a St. Louis classic, features a dense and buttery cake that’s served to every guest as a parting gift. 

Why we love it: While it’s no surprise that Schingel’s dishes are thoughtful and refined, given his extensive training, they are also playful and surprising in presentation. The restaurant makes the most of local ingredients, combining them in inventive ways to delight guests and keep them coming back for more. 

Time Out tip: Even though Robin focuses on its prix fixe menu, you can still have a more casual experience by grabbing a seat at the bar or lounge area. The latter offers a few a la carte snack plates and the restaurant’s full beverage program.

Address: 7268 Manchester Road, Maplewood, MO 63143

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5–10pm

Expect to pay: The four-course prix fixe menu is $75 per person, with three choices per course. There are additional costs for snacks, beverages, or extras like bread service.