These restaurants have been on the STL 100 for all 10 years
Fourteen restaurants have made the STL 100, a list of the best restaurants in the ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ area curated by Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb, since its creation 10 years ago.Ìý
"Jim Fiala’s the Crossing has ranked in every Top 25 of the STL 100, one of only two restaurants to do so. With Acero in Maplewood, Fiala joins Gerard Craft as the only two restaurateurs to land multiple establishments on all 10 editions of this list."
WhereÌý•Ìý7266 Manchester Road, Maplewood ±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday)Ìý±Ê°ù¾±³¦¾±²Ô²µÌý• $$$-$$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-644-1790;
"Annie Gunn’s and its adjacent gourmet grocery and sandwich shop the Smokehouse Market have undergone the most obvious physical transformation of the 14 restaurants honored in every year of the STL 100."
WhereÌý•Ìý16806 Chesterfield Airport Road, ChesterfieldÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýLunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)ÌýPricingÌý•Ìý$$$-$$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý636-532-7684;
"In the inaugural STL 100 a decade ago, I described that cassoulet as 'peerless,' and I stand by this judgment after my latest visit. Each component is prepared to exacting standards, and the pork belly, Toulouse sausage, duck confit and navy beans harmonize deliciously."
WhereÌý•Ìý4580 Laclede AvenueÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner daily, brunch SundayÌýPricingÌý•Ìý$$$-$$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-454-0600;
"Cleveland-Heath is singular among the 14 restaurants that have been honored in every edition of the STL 100."
WhereÌý•Ìý106 North Main Street, EdwardsvilleÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner and lunch Monday-Saturday, brunch Saturday (closed Sunday)ÌýPricingÌý•Ìý$$-$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý618-307-4830;
"The inaugural STL 100 only hinted at the future growth of Gioia’s Deli...For all the region’s sandwich shops, Italian or otherwise, none can compete with that tender, subtly spiced sausage, a shoo-in for the Mount Rushmore of iconic ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ foods."
WhereÌý•ÌýMultiple area locations, including 1934 Macklind AvenueÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýLunch Monday-Saturday (closed Sunday; Maryland Heights closed Saturday-Sunday)ÌýPricingÌý• $ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-776-9410;
"La Patisserie Choquette, the only bakery to be honored in every edition of the STL 100, has always been unique."
WhereÌý•Ìý1626 Tower Grove AvenueÌýÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•Ìý9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday)ÌýPricingÌý• $ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-932-7935;
"... Lona’s Lil Eats is ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½’ preeminent example of how dining has transformed in this first quarter of the century."
Where • 2199 California Avenue Hours • Lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday) Pricing • $ More info • 314-925-8938;
"Mai Lee is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. Given what the Tran family has accomplished over the past four decades ...it feels incidental to note that Mai Lee is also one of the 14 restaurants honored in every edition of STL 100."
WhereÌý•Ìý8396 Musick Memorial Drive, BrentwoodÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýLunch and dinner Tuesday-Sunday (closed Monday)ÌýPricingÌý• $$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-645-2835; Ìý
"When the STL 100 debuted in 2015, three barbecue joints placed in the Top 25. Of that trio, only one has maintained its presence on this list through today: Pappy’s Smokehouse, the Midtown restaurant that launched the great ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ barbecue boom..."
Where • 3106 Olive Street Hours • 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday and Wednesday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (closed Tuesday) Pricing • $-$$ More info • 314-535-4340;
"When the STL 100 debuted in 2015, Gerard Craft’s Niche was No. 1. I didn’t need to think hard about this decision. Niche closed in 2016, but Craft’s Pastaria and Brasserie by Niche have stood tall on this list throughout its 10 years. I don’t need to think hard about either restaurant’s inclusion. Pastaria nailed its menu of pasta and wood-fired pizza from day one in Clayton..."
WhereÌý•Ìý7734 Forsyth Boulevard, ClaytonÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner daily, brunch SundayÌýPricingÌý•Ìý$$-$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-862-6603;
"... Salt + Smoke has been one of only two barbecue joints honored in every edition of the STL 100, an especially remarkable feat given how a few other prominent local restaurants have lessened their appeal as their numbers have grown."
WhereÌý•ÌýMultiple area locations, including 6525 Delmar Boulevard, University CityÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýLunch and dinner daily (all locations)Ìý±Ê°ù¾±³¦¾±²Ô²µÌý• $-$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-727-0200;
"...Sidney Street has settled into a groove that smartly mixes classics (veal dumplings, lobster turnovers) with fresh ideas, seasonal ingredients and occasional old friends like that swanky lamb Wellington, amped up with prosciutto inside its pastry shell and an earthy sauce chasseur on the plate."
Rank: No. 13
WhereÌý•Ìý2000 Sidney StreetÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner Tuesday-Saturday (closed Sunday-Monday)ÌýÌý±Ê°ù¾±³¦¾±²Ô²µÌý• $$$$ More infoÌý•Ìý314-771-5777;
"The Crossing is one of only two restaurants to remain in the Top 25 of the STL 100 from its inaugural edition through today. Jim Fiala can add this distinction to the stack his Clayton flagship has earned over the past 27 years."
Rank: No. 12
WhereÌý•Ìý7823 Forsyth Boulevard, ClaytonÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner Monday-Saturday, lunch Monday-Friday (closed Sunday)ÌýÌý±Ê°ù¾±³¦¾±²Ô²µÌý•Ìý$$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý314-721-7375;
"When we launched the STL 100 in 2015, I could learn how to wrangle a list this long only by making it from scratch. In retrospect, I would have done many things differently, but I’m proud to have included the Stitt family’s Ellisville restaurant and wine shop Veritas from the beginning — even if my write-up in that inaugural edition hardly did right by Mathis Stitt’s cooking."
WhereÌý•Ìý15860 Fountain Plaza, EllisvilleÌý±á´Ç³Ü°ù²õÌý•ÌýÌýDinner and happy hour Wednesday-Saturday, lunch Wednesday-Friday, brunch Saturday-SundayÌýÌý±Ê°ù¾±³¦¾±²Ô²µÌý•Ìý$$-$$$ÌýMore infoÌý•Ìý636-227-6800;
Ian Froeb | Post-Dispatch
Restaurant critic
Looking for a ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ area restaurant? Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb picks 100 essential spots for 2025.
Where are the best restaurants in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½? Here are the restaurants onÌýIan Froeb's STL 100 list, mapped out.
Exclusive insight, news, tips and more on ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½' thriving dining scene from ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Post-Dispatch restaurant critic Ian Froeb.
Check out where to get the best ItalianÌýfood in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, according to Ian Froeb's STL 100, a list of the best restaurants in ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½.
