Aw.....WendyLynn,

I take it I missed the Taste of the Central West End!

That's one of my favorites (Collinsville Italianfest and Strassenfest are the others).

I guess with returning from my vacation and going back to work I must have missed the articles in the paper. I've been going to the Taste of the CWE for a few years now. Love to hang out around the stage they set up at Maryland and Euclid and then wander through the art exhibits and food stands.

Rats! - But thanks,

Zig

WendyLynn,

I'll have to admit it's been awhile since I came into the city and had pizza, so my mind is going. Living out of town now, so when I make it back and I get , I tend towards a couple of favorite dishes. So Saullos has been it for awhile.

Used to have a real favorite at a place called Franco's. But, Franco had a sideline that got him shut down. Shame. He used to come out singing love songs in Italian after a few too many and always made it an interesting night out. Man, could he make a pizza though.

If you are interested in the Hill, I eat there quite often and my favorites are Favazza's and Zia's. Both have great Italian food, wonderful pizzas, and decently priced. I also agree with Pueblo Salis for good Mexican food. Another good Mexican restaurant is Arcelia's in Lafayette Square. If you like chocolate, Lafayette Square is also home to The Chocolate Bar, which has wonderful chocolate desserts in a really neat setting. There are several other good restaurants around Lafayette Square (which is in the city, not far from downtown) like Squires, if you like more modern food and restaurants.

There are some great neighborhoods in St. Louis that have a lot of really good restaurants. As I mentioned above, Lafayette Square is good, as is Soulard, the Loop, Central West End, etc.

Have a good trip!
Tracy

Yikes, I just re-read my post above and I have 'pizza' on my mind! I meant to say that both have great Italian food, wonderful SALADS (not pizzas...I don't think they serve pizza!), and decently priced. Sorry about that!

I love St. Louis Pizza, but then I hate all other pizza - which means, my husband claims, that I hate pizza.

Anyway, as far as other restaurants in St. Louis go I suggest: Geno's and LaRusso's for Italian (just off the Hill on Hampton and Watson respectively), Pho Grand & Pho Saigon for Vietnamese, King and I for Thai, Blue Water Grill in Kirkwood, and the Tap Room downtown for great beer (micro brew) and sandwiches. I can't recommend Rigazi's at all for the food, but the atmosphere is fun.

And of course O'Connells (kingshigway and 44) for a great bar, burgers, and roast beef. Dressels (in the Central West End) is a favorite as well.

I remember Saulo's from my childhood - but ours was in North County, not St. Charles. It was the best pizza, and I've yet to find any st. louis style that compares. But i still love it anyway.

Bluewater Grill and Remy's are my favorite St. Louis restaurants from recent years, but I'm always happy to try new ones. I haven't been back since 2000, but I'm going to a high school reunion this fall.

picapica, my cousin did quite a lot of cooking at Dressel's and managed it for years. I've spent many hours sipping single malts in the upstairs bar.

Marilyn,
I live there, so if you need some names of some great NEW restaurants when you return for your reunion, let me know.
For now I can give you 2 names that are terrrific and kind of trendy, you will probably run into people you know....

1. 1111 Mississippi - near Lafayette square

2. Moxy - in Cental west end.

Ok.... for the typical st. Louis question,...where did you go to High School?(chucle chuckle) that is a favorite question in STL.

I'll be there in early October, and restaurant recommendations are always welcome. They are holding the reunion at Harrah's (do not get me started) so I guess there's absolutely nothing around there, right? But I doubt if I'll make it all the way downtown.

UCITY!! :-D

My favorite is Chez Leon in the Central West End.

It was featured at the beginning of the year on the Food Network's "The Best of..." The topic was a prix fixe menu.

I've eaten there 4 or 5 times in the last couple of years and foie gras has always been on the menu.

I don't know of anything around Harrahs. Who knows, maybe you will hit the Jackpot and win loads of money!!

What a small world Marilyn... I live in UC.
I hope you have fun at the reunion!!

Having lived in St. Louis, you've probably been all around for site seeing, so I won't try to go into all that.

Harrahs is in Riverport (Maryland Heights/Earth City) on the Missouri river flood plain. You'll be up in the banquet rooms on the 2nd floor, behind the buffet. The complex is just across the river from St. Charles. You could visit old main street there if you haven't before. Old buildings and street from the 1700's. Tea rooms, little restaurants and craft shops. Historical sites (see Lewis and Clark thread).

Thanks, Clifton! I'm only there a few days and I expect most of my time will be spent reconnecting with my classmates, but it's good to have a back up plan that's not too far away.

Hi Marilyn,

I understand and would feel the same way. The Harrahs complex is pretty isolated, back behind a summer ampitheater and a large office park. So, it's not walking distance to <i>anything</i>. But there are a couple of restaurants (steak house and Italian) plus the buffet in the building.

I can't go into the food quality, pro or con (a conflict of interest!) but hope you have a great time. We'll just miss you, as we'll drive into town and fly out from there on Oct 22.

Awwww, that's too bad, Clifton! It would be fun to meet and toast fodors in person. If we have to wait til my NEXT high school reunion, I may be too decrepit to attend. :-D

It sure would have been, Marilyn. Ah well, in the meantime, I'll raise my glass anyway. It's a great site (most of the time :) ) Perhaps we'll cross paths in some other part of the world.

Hope you have a wonderful trip and I'll try to give enjoylife back his or her thread. ;)

OH My Gosh, I grew up in STL and ST Charles and I have lived in KC for last 12 years, I LOVE IMO's, CECIL WHITAKER's
and STEPHANINA's and Always love coming home to all the GREAT ITALIAN and other foods, You don't appreciate it until you can't have, GEE I MISS BELLY BOMBERS and JACK IN THE BOX TACOS!
You wouldn't think the cuisine in KC would be sooooo Different than STL.
By the way, the only descent BBQ in KC is at SMOKEHOUSE BBQ !!!!
There is one in INDEPENDENCE that is the BEST, and the ONLY REAL Italian Restuarant is CAFE ITALIA on North of Barry Rd and N OAK. Stroud's for Fried Chicken off of I-35 and Vivion Rd.
This is served Family Style at the table. Manny's Mexican Food is about the best in KC in the Westport area.
The Corner Cafe in Liberty and Riverside is about the best down home family place with great breakfast, lunch, &amp; Dinner. In A Tub for Fast food
Mexican, Deep fried Burrito's etc.

There ARE NO Greasy Cheesy Cracker Pizza Place's here, Imo's tried but did not get the KCMO area to inhale the Provel Stick to your teeth stuff.

Personally, I miss it!

Actually, St. Louis pizza is an acquired taste. I was born and raised in St. Louis and I've never been a big fan of the pizza - but, then again, pizza is not what people come to St. Louis for. &quot;The Hill&quot; has great restaurants for Italian food. A great restaurant is Bartolino's (the one on Hampton, don't go to any other one!).

I personally like Chicago style pizza - so, if you would like some great Chicago style pizza while in St. Louis, go to Uno's. Your best bet for food in St. Louis is to walk into a little &quot;hole in the wall&quot; that you would normally be scared to walk into - they usually have the best food in St. Louis

I've been here 15 years now, and IMO, the only really delicious St. Louis-style pizza is Fortel's. The style is thin crust and square-cut, but the cheese is fresh good-quality mozzarella, and the sauce is slow-simmered and full of herbs. It's a pizza that is generous in terms of sauce and toppings, but sparing with the cheese, so it's never gloppy. The crust is not quite cracker-thin, but flexible enough to fold, and it does have the occasional air bubble.

I agree w/ Ryn. Fortel's is tasty. For a little more &quot;upscale&quot; pizza there is Il Vicino's located in Clayton.
By the way, you missed the St.Louis Fodors Get together!!

Another great place is Sieberg's if you like pizza and wings - both very good. There is one downtown and there is one in South St. Louis - great atmosphere too.