What is love? Well, that's easy. It's fresh pasta! If you adore Italian good...if you're a budding…read morechef or just want to up your pasta game on date night, this local business is your wingman. Midwest Pasta provides fresh pasta and flour to local restaurants. So they make their products in batches -- but anyone can walk in and purchase. There is always a supply of fresh pasta in the refrigerated section, as well as some frozen. I've had their mushroom ravioli, fettucini, gnocchi, pappardelle, and meat tortellini. Everything is DELICIOSO!! Their customer service is awesome. I stopped in to buy some fresh pasta, and was advised on what might pair best for my meal plan; and because I was traveling got an ice pack to help the pasta stay cooled. There is also a very small display of imported olives, olive oil, pesto, etc. However, the options are limited and display is limited to just a couple shelves. This is not a huge grocery, but it will accommodate small foodies out exploring the Cherokee Street Benton Park neighborhood. Double check store hours. They DO close early. So be sure to check hours and plan your visit accordingly. You'll miss out if you think you're stopping by after work or on the weekend.

This place has the most amazing anchovies on earth. They are packed in the most beautiful olive…read moreoil I have ever tasted. I would love to get into the store and get my hands on a package of those, but alas, unless I shop between Monday and Friday, 11-4, I am out of luck. Imagine my horror as we pulled up at 2pm on a Saturday (after coming here on Saturdays before) after going to the store and buying everything my hubby needed to make me his amazing Lobster Ravioli, which is actually Midwest Pastas ravioli, but he makes a killer sauce for it, and its closed. So basically if you have a 9-5 job, you will never, ever be able to discover the wonderful things they offer here, which is a shame, and odd. Please for the love of God, open back up on Saturdays, thanks.

What a cute spot! I searched for Cacio e Pepe online and this place was recommended. I loved the…read moresmall communal space and small menu for ordering. We sat inside but I think there are tables outside to take food. A fun afternoon! Plenty of Italian wines and things to purchase!

So delicious and fresh. The best olives , make sure you order them. I ordered the small tasting for…read more$3.00 and they were delicious. It's very small and quaint inside and they have a lovely wine tasting room in the back that maybe seats 5 people, I want to try the tasting next time. Our pasta was incredible! The bread was delicious. The Bellini's were great! The outside seating was good, if you don't have a reservation you have to sit outside unless they are not booked. The restaurant probably can seat 25 people. The area is nice and walkable. We had a nice relaxing time and want to come back again soon.

Pastaria is ALWAYS one of my recommendations when people are in town. The service is good, their…read morefood is always consistent, and they have fun drinks. I love their Caesar salad, arancini, any of their pasta, and the house made gelato is a must!

I loveeee pastaria!! It's dangerous how close I live because I do frequent this place often and I…read morecan't believe I hadn't left a review yet! I pop in for gelato frequently, but I also enjoy the pistachio raviolis a lot. You really can't go wrong with any pasta choice, and I haven't tried their pizza but it looks and smells amazing. I usually enjoy my dinner with a glass of wine -- they have a great selection. If it's nice out, we try to sit outside. I do recommend getting a reservation because they get really busy during peak dinner hours! The staff is always friendly, from the hostess to the waiters to the bartenders, I've never had a bad experience. Highly recommend this place!

Anthonino's was the culinary highlight of our trip to St Louis. Located well-outside of Downtown,…read moreit is located in a largely residential neighborhood. We had 6pm reservations and were seated on time but people without reservations faced a 2 hour wait. Make reservations! Upon entering, there is a hostess stand and small bar with seating extending to the back of the building. We had the first table so I can't comment on the full size. My son ordered a Bloody Mary and I had a Pinot Noir while we looked at menu. Bloody Mary was very good and the wine was pleasant. We started with Garlic Bread with Cheese. It was the only menu item I would not order again. Flavors did not come together. I ate my fair share so it was good. Just not great. We then shared a cheese pizza with provel. Elite crust and sauce! The crust had an amazing char and the sauce was deliciously nuanced. The cheese was very good, but most definitely not the star of the pie. Pasta Pomodoro was wonderful. House made pasta was excellent and the sauce was a perfect accompaniment. (Anthonino's really does sauces well!) I finished with tiramisu and I am so glad I did! Did I need it? No. Did I want it? Heck yeah! I think I will be wanting it every day for a long time to come! All of the staff were welcoming and friendly, while remaining efficient. Nice group of people. I would love to be a regular here.

​Took some out-of-town coworkers here for Italian based on all the glowing recommendations, and it…read moredid not disappoint! ​Online reservations were a breeze, and we were seated right away. The atmosphere is lovely, and the smell of fresh food as you walk in instantly sets the mood (just give yourself a few extra minutes for street parking). Our server, Cherish, was outstanding--warm, fast, and attentive. ​Everyone loved their meal, the food arrived quickly, and the toasted raviolis are an absolute must-try. Wonderful experience from start to finish. I'll definitely be returning!

Got here on a Thursday before 5. There were people waiting. Happy hour is from 5-7. I can't say…read moreenough about this waitstaff. There is a reason they have been around for as long as they have been. I can't remember the last time I have had this great of a waitstaff. The hh menu is great, but you should just come to eat. The food is great! The restaurant was packed. I am so glad this S. City staple is thriving! I will be back

Food was pretty great overall! Service was on point and ambiance was nice. But boy was it busy…read morefor a Wednesday evening! Make reservations for sure. The BEST toasted ravioli's we've ever had in St. Louis and we've tried a lot! They are homemade and perfect. The mista salad missed the mark / provel cheese was tiny pieces so didn't add much flavor. The lettuce could have been more fresh. Artichoke crust hearts lacked flavor. Feel like fresh would have been better. Beef tenderloin was good. The spaghetti and meatballs were good - the meatballs fall apart and didn't hit the spot for me, but the sauce made up for it. Wow - lots of flavor in the sauce! Would order again and just not get the meatballs. We had the coconut cake for dessert and that was the perfect ending to our meal / really enjoyed it! Will definitely go back!

Five Stars! This is my new favorite place to go on The Hill. It reinvented itself into a FIVE STAR…read moreItalian fun place. While reservations are recommended, I was lucky to get us a spot for two on a Saturday night for dinner. Walking in, it reminded me of a small family place in Palermo but with class. Hostess and server were very friendly and pleasant and attentive. The Ravioli appetizer was excellent!!! For St Louis, having an outstanding Ravs is a high bar and Collins's easily earned a top spot. The ravioli is a must try. The Beef Rigatoni Bolognese was also outstanding and an interesting fact is the pasta is made in-house. The Cavitelli was also fantastic and another must-try is the Sicilian Old Fashioned which was delicious. I could easily do two or three. Collina is a must return soon column. Five Stars!

I was trying to decide btwn 3& 4 stars but best to go high and give places a chance. We met a…read morefriend here for her birthday and they did provide her with a free birthday dessert. It was a carrot cake that I'm pretty sure had cheesecake btwn the layers. I only had 1 small bite of that part. Entrees ordered were seafood risotto, sweet chili glazed salmon and the special of the night which was a pork chop over risotto. Per my friend her salmon was delicious. My risotto was overcooked so the clams were rubbery-yuk. The shrimp looked overcooked but they actually tasted fine. The pork chop was good but not great per report. We did get bruschetta as an appetizer- again good but not great as there was too much balsamic glaze such that it was overly sweet. Jonathan was our server and I had the impression he was new to the job. He did fine but it was small things. A definite detractor was the location of our table- we were right next to the kitchen. If I backed my chair up I would have been in their pathway. Anyway they left the door to kitchen open and it was sooooo noisy. Yes I could have asked them to close door but the heat would have probably too much for them then.

I visit here weekly. I love taking a long walk on the weekend as the weather allows and making this…read moremy destination. I always come through the shoppe side, see what new food stuffs and nibbles they have here; they even have gluten free pastas and sauces available; in addition to their wide assortment of meats, cheeses, sauces, wines, liquors, drinks, cigars and the list goes on. Being an iced coffee fan I can drink theirs without any added sugar, it's that smooth! I picked up a hunk of the carrot cake they had there for my mom and dad as a treat and they almost fought over the last bite! The entire neighborhood around this place is coming up-- you have to stop by here at least once. You won't regret it.

There is a lot of road construction right now in that area so it may be a bit challenging to get…read morethere and park, but it's worth it. There is street parking and a private lot behind the building. There are 2 entrances, one is directly into the cafe and the other is into the market. There is very limited seating inside. Most seating is outside on their flower-laden patio. Service was friendly, warm and helpful. I felt like a valued customer. Unfortunately the drink I wanted to try was the tahini date steamer but it wasn't available today as they were out of dates. I chose the herbal hibiscus elixir iced. It tastes like you are drinking a flower because you are, and it's full of antioxidants. The market has a lot of "foodie" finds like wine, special sauces, specialty cheese, smoked fish and house-made Mediterranean spreads. I'm interested in trying the canned cocktails. They are 24% ABV and cost $7. I will be back!

This was the best establishment we have been to. The way our day played out our party of 4 got to…read morethe restaurant 2 hrs early. We asked if there was anyway they could get us in early. The hostess asked if the patio would be ok and we were delighted to say yes. My wife is using a walker due to upcoming hip replacement surgery and the hostess suggested we use the outside patio gate instead of trying to pass through the restaurant. We sat in the patio and water and fresh hot 2 kinds of bread were placed on the table. Our server, Connor, is so knowledgeable and pleasant. He was patient with us and his wine suggestion was spot on. Great sense of humor and he worked all the patio tables. The food choices were amazing and exceeded expectations. Pricing was comparable with what we expected. The lobster bisque was thick, hot and very filling. There was ample pieces of lobster as well. My wife shared that her pasta was not hard or dry or rubbery but tasted freshly made. Connor shared that the prep starts every morning with homemade pasta. The traditional toasted ravioli were just that, toasted and tasty and the CG shrimp seemed so much more than an appetizer. Meals could be had with just those. I was very satisfied it ordered lasagna anyway. I just had them pack it to go as I was comfortably full. I know there are a lot of choices on the Hill but I assure you this one stands out. Please treat yourself to Charlie Gitto's. Don't wait for a special reason. Any time you eat here will be special

Overall Impressions: Visiting a historic St. Louis institution for the first time is always…read moreexciting, but our inaugural dinner at Charlie Gitto's on The Hill yielded a surprisingly mixed bag. While the drinks, bread, appetizers, and desserts shone, the main courses and service fell short of the restaurant's legendary reputation. Ambiance & Setting Stepping in from a mild, low-80s afternoon, the indoor dining room felt starkly dark--almost like a cave when walking straight in from the street. Thankfully, we opted to sit on the patio, which was a delightful choice and provided a very nice, relaxed environment for dinner. While the restaurant recommends smart or business casual attire, the vibe on the ground was much more relaxed; there were plenty of people wearing shorts, and a diner nearby on the patio was sporting jeans and a t-shirt. For parking, the Hill location does have a lot attached, but it was full when we arrived. Fortunately, there is plenty of on-street parking nearby, plus another parking lot just one block down. Drinks & Starters * Drinks: Both the house Pinot Grigio and my husband's Super Tuscan were excellent. We chose a single glass rather than a full bottle. * Bread: The bread was outstanding, served in generous portions. * CG Signature Shrimp ($22): Extra-large, roasted in garlic butter and seasoned breadcrumbs. We received three nice-sized shrimp with plenty of flavorful garlic butter left over, which was fantastic for dipping the bread. Entrees * Fiore Borghese ($24): Small, flower-shaped hollow noodles tossed in a pink Cognac sauce with prosciutto, onions, and parsley. The portion was good and shareable, but the pasta was slightly short of al dente and could have used another minute in the pot. While the first few bites were nice, the dish quickly proved to be very one-note; it would make a great side option, but it felt heavy and repetitive as a main entree. Additionally, no extra Parmesan cheese was offered tableside--even though we noticed another diner nearby being offered it--and this dish could have really used it, or perhaps it just wasn't designed for it. * Veal Parmigiano ($55): Bone-in, breaded, and baked with pomodoro sauce and CG cheeses. We had looked forward to this signature dish, and the size was very good and definitely shareable. The pomodoro sauce was the undisputed star of the dish--vibrant and delicious. Unfortunately, everything else missed the mark. The cheese was not melted through and was coolish at best. More importantly, the meat was very difficult to cut even with the heavy steak knives provided, snagging on silver skin, turning out quite chewy, and lacking proper seasoning. At $55, this was a major letdown. Dessert & Coffee * Tiramisu ($12): Ladyfingers, espresso, and mascarpone cheese--very nice. * Chocolate Cake ($12): Triple-chocolate--excellent. * Espresso: A great way to cap off the meal. Service Our server, Noah, provided a mixed-at-best experience alongside his helper. While they were initially attentive with clearing plates and refilling glasses, the pacing went completely off the rails toward the end of the meal. Noah wasn't very chatty (no real personal warmth,) and we had to prompt him to ask if there were any daily specials. Worse still, he cleared my husband's entree plate before I was even halfway finished with mine--making the table feel awkwardly unbalanced--and then dropped the bill right along with our desserts. He even came back to see if we were ready to pay while we were still eating dessert. With the patio only half-full (we arrived at 4:30 PM on a quiet Sunday) and us having been there just a little over an hour, rushing us out like that was completely unnecessary and frustrating. The Verdict With a total of $190 including tax, we expected a seamless, high-end meal. While the patio, wine, starters, and desserts were highlights of the night, the execution errors on the heavily hyped veal and the one-note pasta mean we likely won't rush back for dinner anytime soon.

Visiting the arch & the riverboats so we walked to the restaurant along the river. We had made…read morereservations online which I highly recommend. We were seated promptly although the two hosts coukd have been friendlier & a little more professional as they were a little chatty amongst themselves. Having frequented an Old Spaghetti Warehouse in Ft. Worth TX (different corporation) which was very similar we were excited to eat here! Our server Bronyx, was professional, friendly & efficient! He promptly served bread & took our drink order. While disappointed that we couldn't sit in the trolley, as the host confusingly & in a slightly demeaning tone explained the tables weren't set up and there weren't enough servers. Bronyx explained & suggested the housemade dressing. I was skeptical but it was unique & flavorful. The romaine salad was chilled & refreshing. My lasagna was the best I've had anywhere in years. It was layered with ricotta & meat, no fillers. Then he suggested and described the spumoni. He packed it to go & we ate it in the car on the way to our movie. I took a few pics of the beautiful stained glass windows & architecture in this old building. Well done! Perhaps keep hiring & training friendly people like Bronyx so we can experience the unique aspects like the trolley dining room.

Sat right away, oddly at a table that sat 6 when there were just the 2 of us and the place was…read moreempty but that's ok. Server was not the best, loudly chewing gum, blowing bubbles, didn't know the menu, no refills offered on drinks, didn't check back on the apps or meals. Manager was inattentive too, walked by several times noticing our glasses empty and table full of empty plates, he just avoided eye contact and kept walking by. Food itself was delicious, freshly made marinara sauce, crusty bread and delicious pasta. Not sure if the air conditioning was on as it was stuffy and people around seemed to be fanning themselves.

My husband & I were in the area & decided on Zia's . We've been there many times but not in the…read morelast few years. The place doesn't look any different. Very welcoming, comfortable as always. There are 2 rooms one in front & one in back . We were in the back where they have bigger groups . Server was excellent friendly & on top of everything so was the bus boy. Food was better than expected ! So good that I ate leftovers... I never eat leftovers. I had chicken piccata, which came with bread , salad , side a pasta. Loved it all fresh tasty & only 21.00$ can't beat that

I can't believe I never reviewed this place! I loved Zia's 10 years ago and I love it still! I just…read morewent on 07/03 and had Katie the best server at the restaurant! You need to book a reservation for Friday and Saturday nights. We had ours for 7 pm and were seated promptly. Food we got Toasted Ravs's these are a STL staple and a must get. The sauce is on the sweeter side so be prepared. I got the Lasagna which came with a salad. The dressing is also on the sweeter side. I love that so it's a great salad and it's topped with provel cheese. The lasagna has provel, beef, sausage and ricotta. It's light on the ricotta which I love. They use the same sweet sauce for the toasted rav's. It's a huge portion! My friend got a chicken dish which came with bacon, broccoli, peppers, and had toasted bread crumbs. He loved it, however he said it did not have much chicken. We were so full we skipped dessert. Great meal. For two people it was about $100 so pretty reasonable. We also got alcohol so it would have been cheaper without wine and a mixed drink. Best Italian on the Hill in my opinion!