Haley is back with her take on this year’s STL Top 100 local restaurants!
I am so excited to be writing this list for the fifth year! It’s been so fun sharing my passion for the local St. Louis food scene which continues to grow and evolve each year. I love connecting with people over food. It tells a story and showcases the diversity we have all over the city.
For those of you who are new to the Lou, Ian Froeb’s STL Top 100 is the food bible of St. Louis. My friends and I wait in anticipation every April for the new list to arrive, and we always play a game to see who has the highest starting and ending numbers. As in, the number of restaurants from the list we have had the pleasure of experiencing. Last year my starting number was 56 and my ending number was 71. Like last year, there are a lot of newcomers to the list so I’m starting with a low 58. While a lot of my favorites are still my favorites, I am going to highlight some restaurants I haven’t featured before and I can’t wait to start experiencing new places in 2026!
Nobu’s
The Loop
6253 Delmar Blvd, University City, MO 63130
Last year, I started with Ian Froeb’s #1 restaurant (which remains the same this year for good reason). This year, I want to start with my favorite taste of 2025, and that was Nobu. I celebrated my birthday with an incredible omakase experience in an intimate setting that really has a family feel. I loved watching each dish expertly prepared at the sushi counter with the freshest fish available. I paired my meal with the sake tasting which I highly recommend. If you are looking for an exceptional date night experience, this is it!
Bar Moro
Clayton
7610 Wydown Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105
Another new-to-me restaurant I wanted to highlight this year is Bar Moro. I am a huge fan of Ben Poremba restaurants and this is one I had never made it to. It’s a dark intimate setting on the popular restaurant block of Wydown and Hanley. The bites are meant to be shared so we ordered several dishes. I always get some kind of spread, do it, trust me, they’re ALWAYS amazing.
Nicky Slices Pizza Club
The Hill
2240 Edwards St, St. Louis, MO
I’m going to abruptly change to more casual restaurants with the first one being Nicky Slices Pizza Club. This felt like the best kept secret when it was a small ghost kitchen operation with take and bake deep dish pizzas delivered to your door. Now you can enjoy it at their brick and mortar with creative flavor options and those crispy edge crusts!
Damn Fine Hand Pies
Tower Grove
4000 Shaw Blvd St. Louis, MO 63110
My former neighbor told me about the cutest little breakfast spot nestled in Tower Grove that I just had to try and she was right! Damn Fine Hand Pies is fresh and delicious serving up breakfast and lunch options. I came around brunch time and couldn’t decide between sweet and savory so I grabbed an everything hand pie and a seasonal donut with an iced latte on the side. The outdoor seating is great to enjoy the beauty of Tower Grove neighborhood.
DD Mau
Webster Groves/Maryland Heights
8169 Big Bend Blvd, Webster Groves, MO 63119
11982 Dorsett Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63043
DD Mau is a wonderful Vietnamese restaurant with a couple of locations in the metro area. This is an easy stop for lunch with fresh food delivered fast to fit in your lunch hour. My favorite dish is the vermicelli bowl with a side of rangoons and an ube boba tea. They also have a nice patio area to enjoy your meal in the summer sunshine.
Beast Craft BBQ
Belleville
20 S. Belt Ave W, Belleville, IL 62220
I have been a fan of Beast Craft BBQ since they were located in the Grove. They use big smokers to produce high quality BBQ without the fuss. Stop by for lunch and try one of their incredible sandwiches, my favorite is the turkey melt! Keep an eye out for special events and classes. I sent my husband to their BBQ class as a Christmas present and he loved it!
Nathaniel Reid Bakery
Kirkwood
11243 Manchester Rd, Kirkwood, MO 63122
Nathaniel Reid Bakery is an intimate spot along busy Manchester with a large fan following. Lines are common but they move quickly, and the pastries are well worth the wait. Expertly crafted treats that look too gorgeous to eat. A lot of people come for breakfast but don’t sleep on the sandwiches topped with flaky croissants. And if you’re looking for a birthday cake made to impress this is your place!
Brasserie by Niche
Central West End
4580 Laclede Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
Brasserie is a wonderful restaurant from Gerard Craft’s Niche Food Group that is truly something for every occasion. It’s my husband’s favorite for date night (because he feels strongly that they have the best French onion soup in town) and also popular for a girls brunch on the weekend. Don’t forget happy hour during the week with small bites and sips to end your work day!
Tiny Chef
Bevo Mill
4701 Morganford Rd, St. Louis, MO 63116
Tiny Chef is the best kept secret as a walk up counter within the Silver Ballroom. Delicious Korean food with creative rotating specials each weekend like bibimbap, musubi burritos, or street tacos. The Silver Ballroom is a pinball bar so great for date night or just to play around while you wait for your takeout!
Clementine’s
Lafayette Square / DeMun / CWE / Clayton / Edwardsville / Kirkwood / Lake St. Louis / South City / Town and Country / St. Charles
As I’ve done with previous food lists, I saved the dessert for last! The cherry on top, really. This one may not be new to a lot of you, but Clementine’s is really the queen of the ice cream game in St. Louis! My favorite location is DeMun nestled on a quiet street lined with local restaurants. The flavors are inventive and include wonderful vegan options for my non-dairy friends (lemon poppyseed is my favorite). My kids’ favorite time to visit Clementine’s is for Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Throwing on jammies and standing in the snow for ice cream is always worth it when it’s Clementine’s.
*****
These are some of my favorites from the 58 on this year’s list that I have already tried. There are a lot that I am looking forward to trying throughout the year. Some of the ones that are highest on my list are:
Robin — Maplewood
Root Food + Wine — Augusta
Esca — The Loop
Scout’s — Midtown
No Ordinary Rabbit — Botanical Heights
Achi — Clayton
Extra Wavy — Lafayette Square
