Wow! We had a friend visiting from New York and we were headed out to eat when we made a wrong turn and saw Peno. We were hungry, it looked like a decent establishment, so we decided to check it out. We walked in and realized it was very small, and they were very full, but the small bar that seats about 4-5 people was wide open. We grabbed these spots and had one of the best meals I've had in St. Louis! Being at the bar was perhaps a stroke of luck because we were near the kitchen where the owner hangs out and he made us feel like old friends rather than first time guests without a reservation. He walked us through everything on the menu and helped us choose a bottle of wine based on our preferences. The three of us split the beet salad with goat cheese, a Shrimp Pesto Pasta they had that night, and tiramisu to conclude the meal. They serve complimentary bread with the meal which was fresh braked and lightly brushed with olive oil. Soft, warm, and absolutely delicious--Perfect for soaking up that delicious pasta sauce! The pasta was great and the sea food was fresh. The beet salad was hearty and delicious as well. The tiramisu? I would put it up as the best you can find in St. Louis! All the staff were warm and inviting. The restaurant and restrooms were elegant and clean. The entire place has a warm, intimate, very romantic ambiance. They just recently went through renovations during the holiday and added space so I am excited to go back and check it out. The menu is on a giant chalkboard and dishes come and go depending on what's in season but I have a good feeling you won't be disappointed no matter what you try. I live next door to "The Hill" but Peno offers the best "Southern Italian" food around. Check this out and make time to meet the owner-- you won't regret it. I would recommend making a reservation. read more

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Fantastic choice Spaghetti with clams in white sauce. The waiter Jain was the best we will go back again I would like try everything on the menu. read more

I have been here four times and each time the service is mixed and it is too noisy. The food is so good that I am willing to overlook those attributes. Tonight I had the seafood stew and it did not disappoint. The bread is off the charts. read more

The food was delicious. We ordered the octopus, which I was kind of intimidated by, but I was pleasantly surprised. It was amazing. Risotto and Pizza were also on point. Can't remember the names of them. I wish I had taken pictures to share. Our server was so knowledgeable and welcoming. He went above and beyond excellent customer service standards. We will definitely return. read more

I was in Clayton for only two evenings and heard there were some really good restaurants around. So, after taking to yelp for thirty minutes, I decided to give Peno a try. I initially didn't realize when I left my hotel how early it was and arrived around 4:45. They don't open until 5, but we're kind enough to let me wait in their indoor patio area, while they finished up their pre-shift meeting. I'm happy they did as it was cold(36 degrees)and rainy. They even offered me a beverage while I was waiting. Upon opening, I was asked to come in and take a seat at a certain table. I was obviously the first customer of the day. The owner came over and struck up a conversation and we proceeded to discuss his menu. I opted for the oxtail Ragu. It was very heavy, but that was expected and the flavors coming out were delicious. I also had an appetizer. It was a pork dish with spinach and arugula. It was beyond fantastic. For desert, I opted for the Tiramisu, because I am a sucker for that or Creme Brûlée. This was in fact the best dessert I have ever had in my life. Not joking. It was fantastic. The only reason I did not give it 5stars was due to the ambience. It was a little too dark and quiet. All in all, this place is definitely worth the trip just to have those flavors. read more

Peno - Ox Tail Ragu - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Always amazing food and atmosphere! The white lasagna with truffles incredible, tomato cucumber salad and every dessert just fabulous!!!

Had the seafood stew, Giuseppe pizza and the tagliatelle. All three were fantastic. Honestly, there is more depth of flavor and soul in this food than any other Italian restaurant I've been to in Stl. Reminded me of meals in Florence. It was even that good as carry out on a cold New Years Eve. read more

Where do I begin....went for dinner last night on the patio. Previously, we have only had take out and food was great. Last night was a horrendous experience. Service was slow, food was cold and not flavorful. They were out of 4 items on the menu. No Cabernet! On the way to the restroom, I asked to speak to the owner. He proceeded to yell and demean me. He was sweating, eyeballs protruding and cursing. I've never experienced anything like it. What business owner would act this way? I simply approached him to explain our experience at his restaurant. Will never return!!!!!!!!!! read more

Delightful atmosphere and great food. What more can you ask for. Peno is a wonderful neighborhood spot with a great menu and good service. Will definitely dine here again. read more

Had a great time here last night! Delicious food, atmosphere was nice and great service! Must try octopus appetizer, definite favorite! read more

Peno - Godfather chocolate dessert! Yummy! - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Food is usually delicious - he recently raised his prices and made portions smaller - pastas are now sizes of side dishes and priced higher than almost anywhere, read more

DO NOT. Worst experience EVER. We were traveling through town staying in a nearby hotel... and were craving pizza. Checked out the locals online.... papa johns, dominos... and came accross Penos, which looked upscale and edgy. We went for it... When I called... the ordering process took about 15 minutes. Long pauses... I swear... I thought the person was on valium. Finally.. when the order was placed... he said... "OK.. 15 mins.... but probably much longer" Um... what does that mean? Anyhow... the food came rather fast to the hotel. The delivery guy was a bit clumsy, but super sweet. And then it all comes tumbling down. We ordered 3 things.... House Italian salad (7.00) .. "crispy chicken wings Vesuvius" (9.00) and a "make your own" 12 inch , thin crust pizza.(18.50) DO NOT. In a nutshell... The "house" salad was a handful of chopped romaine, with ONE olive, and grated, processed mozzarella ... and a plastic container of olive oil. The "crispy chicken wings" were 4 pieces of what looked like boiled chicken quarters (see photo) with an empty plastic container of "dipping sauce" And then there was the "12" pizza" which was actually about 8 inches accross.. STONE cold.. and the most bland sauce... but what was really awful was the shoe leather crust. My son couldn't even bite through it. Awful.... So... OK.... we have to be open to "a bad night... Or.. an off night" with any establishment. But this is were is gets really good.... We called the restaurant to give our feed back on the "Crispy" chicken which was delivered without dipping sauce... and the house salad, which consisted of a handful of lettuce and ONE olive... and the horrible, tiny pizza.... and when we called... we were immediately passed to the owner. Before we could even finish a sentence , this guy JUMPED down our throats.... Saying... "DUDE... I have a restaurant full of people right now... Go ahead and write a review on YELP like all the other losers" wait. what? Did I just hear that correctly?? DO NOT support this pompous, arrogant restaurant owner who delivers bad, overpriced food. The curious thing... is we were not asking for anything in return, but just wanted to give our feedback... and the owners violent reaction just proves that he must get many of these calls many times a night. AWFUL food... Super awful experience, and 40.00 down the drain. We ended up ordering 2 Dominos pizzas which arrived promptly, and were piping hot. What a joke. Trust me on this one.... DO NOT. (Just a simple guy writing a review on Yelp with all the other "losers") read more

Peno - 12 inch pizza?   We measured 8 inches. The box was 8 inches accross!! - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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The food was outstanding. We had the beet salad to share for starters. I had the trout that was the featured fish that evening. My friend had the seafood stew. The owner brought us out another special salad complimentary. For dessert we had the chocolate cake. When I tell you this place is a awesome. I wish I had pictures to share & show how beautiful the presentation was. They also have a great patio but this particular evening was a little to hot for us to sit out and enjoy . I HIGHLY RECOMMEND PENO! Cheers read more

Great first visit! We went for lunch and placed our order at the counter. The order-taker (who I believe is the owner and chef as well) was friendly and helpful and seemed really passionate about the food and its history. A couple of us got the Lunch Special 1/2 pasta w/ salad and garlic bread (see pics). That pasta was a spaghetti w/ meatball and a house salad. Of my choices for salad dressing, they had lemon, and it was sooo fresh-tasting and good. We both enjoyed our entrees. Our other friend had the meatball sandwich (see pic). It was a long hoagie type bread with pieces of the giant meatballs we had on our spaghetti, olives, with marinara on the side. He also loved the rice w/ livers and lentils! I was also fortunate enough to try a biscotti, and it was sooooo good. One of the better ones I've ever had! OK, next trip: they had these huge Sicilian rolls, I saw some olive oil and bread, maybe it's served with the rolls and other breads...I want this! And a lady at the next table had this pizza that was making our mouths water! That's what I'm getting next time! read more

Peno - Lunch special: Half pasta, salad, garlic bread - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Ab.So.Lut.Ley PHENOMENAL!!!! Went there for an afterwork celebratory dinner and this place was fantastic!! Great food, great quaint atmosphere and attentive staff!! Highly recommend it if your looking for a casual night out or a more intimate "date night". read more

My girlfriend and I returned January 11. We were offered to take any table, so we did. She got a salad and the Roberto pizza: brown butter, EVOO, roasted Sicilian potato, wild mushroom, pecorino, fontina, goat cheese and toasted pistachio breadcrumbs. She ordered to take home: seafood pasta -- mussels, clams, whitefish in a tomato broth. I got a salad and the Papperdelle pasta. To take home: Gemelli pasta. The house salad is just plain-old good, like ridiculously good: mixed greens, Italian peppers, mozz, olives (with pits). We both took home half of our salads. It wasn't because we didn't like them. It was because we had to stop eating to have room for the entrees. Her pizza came out first, and she offered me a piece. Glory, crazy . . . pizza like I've never had before. Crusty-crunchy-flavorful ultra-thin crust. Toppings were such a fabulous blend of the three cheeses with the wild mushrooms and potato, and crazy-ass pistachio breadcrumbs. I'd get that on a carryout in a New York second. The Papperdelle was perfect -- categorized as a ribbon pasta, it was so thin and wide, it held sauce perfectly. The sauce was a light tomato sauce with roasted red peppers, pistachios and itty-bitty meatballs that tasted so well of fennel. So tasty. The Gemelli pasta is a wonderful stretched-out corkscrew that holds and retains sauce, which was a meat-thick tomato sauce. It was a wonderfully balanced dish. We left with lovely to-go vessels. For $51 (without tax or tip), I got 8 glorious meals. read more

First time here on Friday. I was meeting 2 friends for lunch. It is located on Wydown just east of Hanley. I had the meatball sandwich. When you order the meatball, you have your choice of beef or wild turkey & chicken meatball. I had the beef. Also, you get your choice of sides. The list of sides is plentiful! I had the rice with chicken livers and lentils!! It was awesome!! The meatball sandwich was delicious! The marinara sauce comes on the side. So you can decide to either eat the sandwich with sauce or naked. Also, there is a nice italian relish and mozzarella on the sandwich. Definitely recommend this sandwich!! The place is small, but very homey!! You place your order at the counter and they will bring your food out to you. They also do take out and delivery. So if you are lucky, you can give them a call and have a great meal at home!! I can't wait to come back when it is warmer, because they have a small patio out front! Also, I can't wait to come back for dinner! One of the owners came out and told us what he was making as a special for the dinner crowd and it sounded so mouth watering!! read more

Peno - Rice with chicken liver & lentils!! - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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We loved this place. Didn't have a reservation (which I recommend) so we sat at the small bar. Rather than feeling unwelcome, the owner and the bar tender couldn't have been nicer and welcoming us to the place. The owner took the time to explain the dishes and made us feel at home. We both ordered pasta dishes. I had the Meat Ragu and my daughter had the Pasta Norma. Delish. Fresh, light and full of flavor. Would definitely recommend you try it. Make a reservation since it gets very busy, but go. read more

We just ordered take out from Peno. As usual, it was delicious and plentiful. The chicken cannelloni was delicious and my husband loved the veal meatloaf. It was so good and was ready when we arrived for pick up. We can't wait to visit in person. read more

So...first time eating here. We live a few blocks away and I have always wanted to try this place. Recommended by a friend saying it was pricey buy delicious and the service was amazing. So I Made a reservation, added that it was a birthday celebration on the reservation. The day of I had received a call confirming my reservation and then a call back asking if I wanted outside or inside. I asked if outside was nice, meaning comfortable and the person said everything is nice. Okay strange response but I went with it. We arrived at dinner on time, maybe early but there was only three tables in the restaurant. It was 20 minutes before our server greeted us and took drink orders. We received our drinks about 5-7 minutes later and tried to place a food order. Only the server asked to check on the nearby table to take their order and the come back to us. Food came out, it was okay. Not amazing but Good enough to come back if the service wasn't so neglectful. My family had to leave and I paid for the check after sitting for 10 minutes alone. Surely they know who I am, but I won't be back. Never have ever written a nasty review and only acknowledge positive experiences but this was that bad. Oh and no acknowledgement of the birthday. I will never go back. And I don't recommend. Maybe have been an off night for them but it was expensive enough for me not to give a second chance. I have worked in the service field for over 20 years, I am not picky by any means. read more

Had the Sicilian salad with a goat cheese truffle covered in pistachios and it was so yummy! The owner is also a chef there and is so friendly! He walks around to the tables and makes sure his guests are enjoying his food and if they need anything. The ambiance is so nice and location is impeccable. It is a small establishment so make sure you get in when you can because it will fill up fast! read more

Peno - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Pretty poor for how much you pay. The ambiance was nice but the food was such a let down. Food can be delicious for cheap and can be delicious for an expensive price, neither is wrong. However, you will leave disappointed with the quality, and they will make sure you leave feeling like your palette isn't refined enough to enjoy this food. read more

This is my third time back - and due to a glitch on Open Table it looked like no reservation. However the owner called me and said that if we came in he would make sure they got us a table as near to the reservation time as possible - so that's what we did. Glad, too. We showed up at our prior reservation time, and there was a table ready. I had the octopus appetizer - apparently their signature dish (first time I tried it) and it was wonderful. The sauce was perfect and the texture was firm without any hint of chewiness. My wife had the gnocchi - which again was worth the wait, while I had the trout - which was served with a lemon risotto. Perfectly cooked. Our waiter was Maz - who was attentive and knowledgeable. The owner even came to the table, just to make sure everything worked with the reservation - a nice touch. This place just keeps getting better. read more

Thank you Peno! You helped make my quarantine birthday celebration truly special. Every dish we ordered was amazing. We had the salami, cheese and roasted nut snacks- wonderful portion and taste. We had the warm beet and goat cheese salads. Thank you for serving the beets warm and with pickled red onion, truly incredible. We had a halibut special in a light livornese sauce with angel hair pasta. The rage fusilli is always incredible and very hard to resist, so we did not. The veal meatloaf was fabulous and served with amazing potatoes and roasted veggies. I am not sure I could pick a favorite. We sampled the cake and tiramisu for dessert as well. Part of what made the experience so wonderful was Pepe not only delivered the food but sang happy birthday to me. Best quarantine take out ever! The experience at the restaurant is also wonderful. Looking forward to more take out and a return to dining in too. read more

Peno definitely lived up to its description, "Southern Italian comfort food". They bring you a loaf of yummy garlic bread while you wait for your food. We also got the eggplant Sicilian to start and it was delicious! The eggplant was cooked just right, stacked with a helping of melty cheese. I had the mushroom ravioli for dinner and my partner had the gnocchi. Both were absolutely delicious! The only bummer was the insane wait time for our food; we came on a Friday night and waited over an hour after ordering to get our dishes. Hopefully next time the wait is a little shorter! read more

Are people getting paid to write these 5 star reviews? Because I truly don't get it. The food is decent but not the "omg this is the best thing I've ever had" good. It's a very weird concept of a restaurant. There was no menu. Everything was written on a chalkboard against the wall with no pricing or description. The waitress kind of assumed we knew what everything is and when we would ask it was like it was an inconvenience for her like it's not her job. We ended up getting gnocchi Ragu and the seafood pasta. There was really no distinguishing flavors to make these dishes stand out from any other pasta dish from any Italian joint. Trust me, I can name about five other Italian restaurants that are better. What surprised me the most was how expensive it was. I'm the type of person that will drop a hefty amount of money on food that is good! But this was so mediocre. My gnocchi alone was $23 with an added 3$ for the ragu? Like am I missing something here or is gnocchi not just potatoes?! I added meatballs to it which was $12 (understandable considering the size). I don't know what is up with this place or maybe my taste palette just isn't bougie enough. read more

Peno - Seafood pasta - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Terrific food, best I've had in St. Louis actually. A very well curated Italian wine list also. Service was attentive and knowledgeable. Plenty of vegetarian options for me. This will be a regular spot for me when I travel to St. Louis. read more

We tried this place out because it was in the Passport program. We started out with a couple glasses of wine and a sautéed calamari. The calamari was nicely cooked and had a pretty good broth, but could have used a little salt. Our entrees were great, though. I had a lamb special, which was incredible, and my wife's pasta was also very good. A couple weird things: 1) the space is a little small, to the point where the servers are tripping over each other; 2) the music choice was strange for an Italian place (mid-90s country) - I wasn't looking for Dean Martin or anything, but it was an odd choice. read more

This restaurant is definitely worth a review and certainly earns 5 stars. My mother, fiancée, and I came here for dinner and we were all impressed with the food, atmosphere, and service. First off, the place was busy with reservations and they wouldn't be able to seat us for another hour. However, they offered seating at the bar and I'm glad we took it. Our bartender for the night was Pepe, the owner. He explained the menu thoroughly, including the dishes' origins relative to Italian geography. He is clearly knowledgeable of his offerings. We started off with a beet and goat cheese salad. *Full disclaimer: I'm not a fan of beets. However, I really enjoyed this one, as did the other two. For my main meal, I had homemade gnocchi. It was fantastic. Some gnocchi is too soft and mushy while others are too heavy with the potatoes. This was balanced well. Side note: the sauce is great for dipping with the homemade bread. Finishing off, I didn't want dessert but my mom did so we ended up with tiramisu. I am extremely grateful that we only had one to share because I could have eaten three orders of those. I will go back again just to have some more. That's not hyperbole. It was that good. My only regret is that I did not plan ahead to try their martini that is called something like Manhattan to Messina. I will do that next time. I'm not much of a Yelper but this place deserved it. I'll happily go back. read more

Excellent experience every time I go! Great ambiance, service and food. My new favorite.

Work got food from here catered. The food was delicious but found some bones in the ziti we ordered. It was unexpected and we wondered why there were bones when it was beef but everything else was delicious! It was easy to order and pick up! The tiramisu was to die for! Must get if it's a dessert you desire! read more

Small quaint restaurant in downtown Clayton with menu on chalkboard wall. One of the best beet and goat cheese salads! Great service and very kind. Must try pasta Palermo, delicious. read more

Great atmosphere with some cute outdoor seating. The waiter was busy but personable. The salad was tasty and the meatballs flavorful. The best part was the thick crust pizza. Very similar to my Italian grandmothers. read more

Peno - Thick crust. Sausage and onions. - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Very impressed. Small place, but early in week ,it is easy to get a table. Most tables are in a covered area outside. The pizza is excellent. Spaghetti and clams outstanding read more

LOVED everything about it The owner/ chef was warm and wonderful. The staff was SO nice and The FOOD was incredIble. The octopus appetizer!! The seafood pAsta. Even the chicken was elevated! Everything is made from scrath in house and the portions are huge. We felt like we were in Manhattan or Naples. Can't wait to go again and again. read more

I'm glad I finally tried Peno! The gnocchi was incredible, as was the zucchini involtini. Wish I would've known that I could have made reservations for the main covered patio, but the side patio was quiet and fairly enjoyable. Our waitress was extremely personable and we enjoyed our experience overall. It seemed like a few tables around us were receiving a 'vip' type treatment and we did not, which I thought was interesting. read more

Had an incredible first experiece here! The staff was personable and attentive. Pepe, owner and su chef, greeted our table and gave insight regarding his authentic specialty dishes. This only served to highlight the delicious food, (strong) drinks, and eclectic atmosphere. read more

Really great southern Italian food. Small place, but the outdoor dining area makes up for lack of indoor seating. The staff is excellent, taking time to go through the menu and specials. A very 'homey' atmosphere that makes you feel like you dining with friends or neighbors. Red sauce pastas are all different, and the homemade bread is great. read more

Fantastic Italian restaurant just off Wydown, a block east of Hanley. Small and quaint, the restaurant can probably only seat 30 or so people. But it's definitely worth your time. I enjoyed the Palermo pasta, which is a papardelle with some red sauce and both sausage and ham. DELICIOUS! The wifey had squash ravioli, and she devoured it. We were stuffed, so didn't have dessert, but I would assume it's great, based off everything else. read more

i love this place!! it's a tiny place that packs a big punch! Food is amazing and so authentic. This place is a MUST!