I have never tried southern Italian food before so I was kind of excited to come here. The vibes are really nice especially at the outdoor seating and the waiters were very nice and friendly. However, I would definitely say that this place is not a 4.5 star at all, maybe more like 2 for the food and 3 for the vibes. - Complimentary Bread - I've got to say that this was the reason why this place gets a 3 star. The bread is honestly one of the better complimentary breads I've eaten as they already butter it for you and give you the whole round loaf. Also they are super generous with it too, they literally gave us two whole breads for 5 people. - Seafood Stew - Before I talk about the stew, I've got to say that their menu is pretty problematic because there are no prices at all and you don't know what you're paying for essentially. They need to add some $$ to this place. Anyways, the stew was very okay. I did appreciate the half-cooked mussels though because it added kind of like a thick creamy texture to the dish which I appreciate very much. Overall this was a very okay meal. I do not think I will be coming back because of the non-transparent price points and the okay-tasting entrees. I also got to try some of the other entrees and would say that the lasagna was the best one I tried. The other ones were very okay. Would go to downtown Clayton's restaurants instead. read more

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

For Saint Louis authentic Italian Peno's is a must . They serve fresh top notch ingredients put together with attention to detail. From beginning to end this is the only place I want to dine for a memorable occasion. Thank you for making us feel so special read more

This restaurant is excellent. The food is so great with all the right flavors. Some of the dishes you could ask them to make it spicy and it has the right amount of heat. The drinks are also great and they have a good selection of wine. We ordered their chickpea pasta, and it was absolutely delicious. We could not stop eating. The ravioli and risotto were also excellent. I will definitely be visiting again. The setting is very intimate and perfect for date night or an evening with your colleagues read more

Exceptional service with pretty good food is how I would describe my dinner here. Their crispy smelt appetizer was delicious! Their octopus was melt in mouth tender but would've expected it to be charred for its final cook for better texture - instead it was mush. All the pastas were fresh, tasty and well made but nothing was truly memorable. For dessert, their tiramisu was a standout. There is no pricing on their QR linked menu or on their blackboard - i felt awkward for looking up their online order menu on my phone. Just trying to be a responsible adult. So here's their general pricing based on what our group ordered - apps are $12-18, pizzas are $16+, pastas are $26-30, entrees are $30-40ish, desserts are $10. It's not cheap but it's not unreasonable if you know in advance. To finish what I started, our server was exceptional. He was so quietly observant and knew exactly what to bring over or advise us before we even open our lips. Talk about amazing customer service that was so subtly seamless. Overall I'm indifferent but I'm giving it a generous 4 stars due to great staff/service. read more

Peno - My cloud/pillow-like gnocchi. Simple but delicious - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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First time here. It came highly recommended, Not my favorite spot! Food was over priced for what we got. Not super impressed overall and service was just average. read more

Peno - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Peno is one of my favorite restaurants in STL! The service is excellent!! They go above and beyond to make you feel completely welcome and answered my millions of questions about what to order.. they also gave great recommendations (I am indecisive and always ask the expert)! Their food is incredible! You can taste the freshness and that each dish is carefully prepared and crafted with love! My favorite menu staples: - Octopus - this is amazing! Perfect balance of flavors and textures! - Giant Meatballs - whether you order this as an app or get the spaghetti & meatballs, these balls are not to be missed - Gnocchi - do yourself a favor and order this.. they're so good! Between the pillowy soft gnocchi to the house tomato basil sauce, this is a MUST! - Pizza - any of them! I love all the flavors of the Guiseppe but they're all to die for! Peno is great. Stop reading reviews and just go already. read more

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We came to Peno after a recommendation from a family member that they offered authentic yet upscale Italian cuisine. It was the winter time, so I was especially pleased to see that their outdoor deck was open. They inclosed it and had very well-placed gas heaters as well. Their wine and beer list is well curated and not overwhelmingly large. They also serve wonderful table bread. For dinner, I got the Tagliatelle with sausage, prosciutto, roasted red pepper, pistachio, and tomato broth. This dish is almost more like soup than a pasta dish but it tasted great. The sausage was cooked and spiced to perfection. We got Italian Wedding Cake for dessert, that was not stellar but it was definitely cool to see it on the menu. They also have a really cool space inside. One thing I will note is that the Parkin situation at this restaurant is not great. We had to park on the street and it was a decent walk to our car after we were done eating. All in all, this place was really good and I will be back! read more

Peno - Tagliatelle with Sausage and Prosciutto - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

This restaurant offers a very nice Italian foods with great service. Restaurant's atmosphere was lively and cozy. Gnocchi was very delicious with a perfect texture. My husband ordered scallops ($50) on special menu and it was flavorful and fresh. The Braised Octopus was too salty to our taste and wish breads were warm on serving. It is a great place for both dinner with friends & family and dinner date if you are willing to pay more for their great foods. read more

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Lovely little neighborhood restaurant. Food and service and drinks are always good. Outside seating is quite peaceful

My partner and I are doing the pizza alphabet (a pizza place from each letter) and chose Peno for P. Absolutely no regrets - the pizza was so good! Chewy, flavorful crust and outstanding toppings. Thinner crust but very filling. Lots of unique topping options - mine had potatoes on it! The pecorino and goat cheeses were delicious. The 12" was perfect for 2 people. It was done exactly when they said it would be done, too. read more

We were sadly disappointed in our experience here. It took a long time For our waiter to greet us or bring menus and the food was bland and under seasoned but the salad was extremely salty. The cocktails were good but 90%ice cubes. The bread was pretty good. This place is quite pricey and not worth it. Go to O+O Pizza instead. read more

I know I've written a review, but this place is just so good and so consistent, that I just want to write another one. Tucci salad-fire Eggplant appetizer- fire, huge portion, basically licked the plate with the bread. I mean what is in this dish?! My friend who I brought here, couldn't stop eating it and also said this was the best eggplant she's eaten. Ruby Trout-perfectly cooked, flaky perfection with a side of lemon risotto. I mean, I could eat it every night. Every time I have gone, it's been so good. Staff friendly, easy to walk in without a reservation, food comes out relatively fast. It's just a great place!!! Wish I took pictures! read more

This place is the REAL DEAL! It is clear how much the owner cares about food quality and staying true to his authentic Italian family recipes. I tried the Sicilian Eggplant, which is a beautiful and deliciously cheesy appetizer the size of an entrée, followed by the gnocchi. The sauces on both were dynamite! My husband was more adventurous, starting with the octopus and enjoying the rolled fusilli with goat ragu. He was not disappointed. I never pass up a tiramisu for dessert because everybody does it a little different, so it's always fun to see what you're going to get. This was one of the top tiramisu(s) I've had, and was big enough to share. What a perfect evening! I highly recommend a visit. On our way out, we spotted some of the pizzas, which I absolutely have to try next time. They did tell us they have the best pizza oven that money can buy, so I'm sure they are fantastic. read more

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Rare is the five (5) star review from me but after two (2) visits now, I can't deny that this bar none the preeminent restaurant in Clayton; absolutely love this place. Please don't beat me up over the aforementioned statement, it's only an unqualified opinion. Try the Octopus as start, it's hearty, surprisingly filling, and the sauce you'll be wanting to soak up and enjoy with the complimentary bread. Truthfully you could enjoy the bread by its lonesome with a little bit of olive oil but the red sauce is so savory you dare not let any go to waste. In looking around the restaurant I noticed it appears to be quite a favorite dish amongst other diners. Look, I know it lacks depth and insight to say everything is good but based on my two experiences; I would say you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. With an ample wine list to compliment each dish, you are in store for a most excellent experience. Weather permitting, the outdoor dining aside the enclosed patio is surprisingly serene and relatively quiet. Though the indoor dining is cozy, it's intimate, remodeled, and makes for wonderful dining experience. My better half had Trout the second time and I had seafood pasta (I think), it was so good we took leftovers home at the risk of a fishy smelling car; it was that good. read more

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

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An EXPERIENCE! This place has the whole package. The moment we stepped through the door, into cozy elegance, the friendly and engaged staff had us! They suggested some exciting drinks and starters we had never heard of, and just saying "yes" opened up flavors and excitement we both talked about all evening! The rest of the night followed suit! read more

Peno - Beef medallions and mushrooms were suggested when I told the waiter about my strict dietary restrictions. Superb! - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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All of the restaurants on Wydown are held to a very high standard but Peno was by far one of my favorite experiences. The food was DELICIOUS! The service was great, the outdoor dining had a chill ambiance, and they even brought me a dessert for my birthday with a sparkler which was the best surprise. The bathroom was lowkey my favorite part with their hand towels & women's sanitary products. I appreciated the extra touch of care. Thanks Peno for the kick off of my birthday. I can't wait to come back! read more

The food was incredible! The fresh bread served before the meal is hot and wonderful. The Italian salad is similar to a Pasta House salad. The beet salad is served with a wonderful pistachio crusted goat cheese. The seared scallops (5!!) was served with roasted veggies. I wanted to eat all of my husband's white bean cassoulet. The godfather cake was a wonderful chocolate cake large enough for 3 of us to share. The menu is written on a chalkboard (bring you glasses is you get seated far away). There are no descriptions, so get comfortable asking the waitress for a description of each on. There are no prices listed, so expect a surprise at the end. read more

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Small intimate with nice indoor and outdoor spaces. Started with the Meatball appetizer with marinara that was very good. Next had the Tucci salad and that was good but they used provel not mozzarella cheese. Next had the tagliatelle and the sauce was fabulous too bad the noodles were overcooked and had a sloppy weird tasting texture, overall food was good but some minor details needs fixing ! read more

Everything was spectacular and delicious Friendly environment The owner boss was extremely awesome Food was soooooo tasty and delicious ordered everything in the menu Had to put it on my food blog on IG @sahhtein Everything 10/10. Check out the attached photos. I'll be back for sure read more

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Enjoyed midweek birthday celebration Server guided us through the specials and shared his favorites to help us make our decisions Service was fantastic Flow of courses didn't feel rushed Food was excellent Large portions we all had leftovers Enjoyed sitting on the patio Great neighborhood gem read more

The food was expensive...but really good. BUT, the ambiance and service was awful. There's an outdoor tent-structure that is crammed with tables and poorly lit. Unless you enjoy the sound from staff coming in and out of doors, emptying trash, or the smell of smoking near the dumpster, you should get the food to go. The waitstaff wasn't rude...but they would be better employed working at McDonald's. They didn't know the menu, the specials, and literally took plates from us when we were still chewing. Maybe they were trying to be helpful...but it was still early and there was no wait/need to turn tables. There are a lot more examples (slamming down plates, never filling beverages, literally blurting out the check total when dropping the check, etc.) Again, not rude...just thoughtless and poorly trained. For $100/person...there are WAY better options out there. It's too bad...again the food was good, but the experience and ambiance were comically bad. SEE BELOW FOR MESSAGE FROM THE OWNER. CLASSY! read more

Peno - Comment from the owner - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Small spot for homemade pasta and other Italian food, including extensive pizza and sandwich offerings. Menu is written on a board without any descriptions, so the waiter/waitress has to explain each dish. The prices are not displayed either, so you know that means it is going to be expensive. Nice covered patio Owner was one of the original partners at Felix's in Dogtown, and came around to check on every table. I got the braised octopus appetizer and the shrimp pesto pasta, and I was not that impressed. Everything was cooked well, but I didn't really like any of the sauces anything was in. Complimentary bread that has an inside that is covered in olive oil. It was pretty tasty. read more

Peno - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

13/10 Spot! If you want a romantic evening with impeccable food, this is your place. The service is outmatched here, the owner almost always comes by and asks how our evening is which I just love! You HAVE to order the meatballs to start, you will not be disappointed. read more

Peno - Fusili with Meat Ragu & Veal Cannelloni - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Excellent dining experience and amazing food. Everything on the menu we had was delicious. We started with the homemade bread and Sardinian olive oil, followed by an escarole Caesar, the fusilli pasta and the trout. Dessert was the Sicilian car bomb and it is a MUST GET! The meal was perfect from start to finish with really kind servers. I highly recommend! read more

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Leno seems to get better every time I go The originality of the menu and quality of the food is only outshined by the taste and smell of the dishes. Best. Octopus. Ever. All past hand made . And the recipes.... A gem in St. Louis . read more

Peno - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

While the food was very good the service left something to be desired. After ordering an appetizer a loaf of delicious bread was delivered to the table, without an accompaniment of butter or preferably olive oil and Parmesan cheese. I chose to order a salad and an entree while my dining companion ordered only an entree. To my surprise they brought both entrees and the salad at the same time. So I was faced with eating the salad and having my entree get cold or eating my entree before having my salad. I chose to send back the entree which did not hold well while I ate my salad. The entree, a pasta dish, when served was hot but the pasta was very over cooked and probably not the way the restaurant intended. read more

Best pizza and salad! Harry~thanks for the pizza recommendation! Great atmosphere and food! Love! Leanne read more

Peno - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

I honestly don't know how to articulate how much I loved Peno! The intimacy of the smaller restaurant and the family-owned atmosphere made me feel like I was in southern Italy. This is the perfect date night spot with shareable plates made from scratch and friendly & knowledgeable staff. The menu changes by the seasons, giving me many reasons to return! Because Peno is focused on creating a personalized experience, they have limited seating making reservations very helpful! What we ordered: Giuseppe pizza Sicilian Eggplant Mushroom Tagliatelle Tucci Salad Tiramisu read more

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Uber tasty southern Italian. Make sure you understand the difference but it's hearty and flavorful! Beet salad is delicious and all the entrees are fantastic. We had mushroom ravioli and tagliatelle. A bit on the saucy side but very tasty. read more

Wonderful restaurant with exceptional staff and service. Cherry on top is that the food was amazing!!! Homemade pasta...fresh ingredients... too many wonderful and reasonably priced dishes on the menu. My husband had the gnocchi and it was so fresh and soft...literally melted in his mouth. I had the fresh tagliatelle with clams and it was the best thing I've ever had. read more

Peno - Homemade Gnocchi. Best ever! - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

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Amazing food and service! Greeted by the owner. He made us feel so very welcome . Octopus and spaghetti with huge meatballs was superb!!! Plus our waitress was top notch !!! read more

Wow, that was disappointing! The servers COULD NOT BE BOTHERED and the food was average at best. We ordered three salads, the bruschetta (which was basically a piece of toast), the OILIEST risotto I've ever eaten in my life, and two substandard pizzas. Also, all of our glassware was filthy--the wine glasses, cocktail glasses, and water glasses were all dirty. We tried Peno because of the other positive reviews but our table of 5 wouldn't be back if we were paid. read more

Disappointed to say the least. At first glance the excitement was real but turned out to be overhyped. We started out with the fried smoke mozzarella..the very middle was not fully melted through. Had them take it back. We also ordered the spaghetti with clams and the trout dish, both were not up to par. Our table service was not the greatest either. The manager had came by beforehand and was teaching us about the history of the restaurant and "southern Italian food" which we thought was pretty cool. Maybe we ordered the wrong dishes, but by the looks of the pizza ordered by others, it looked very good. read more

My husband and I as well as the couple that we took who had just moved to St. Louis, loved it. I had been to Peno before with my son and DIL; a great restaurant on the street that we used to live on! It's so much better than a dry cleaner, which was there before; it makes me miss Wydown now! The restaurant is beautiful, great vibe, and the food is delicious. However, we sat on the patio, and the waiter station's light was so bright. Could you put a lower-wattage bulb in the light fixture? Otherwise, everything was perfect! read more

Recentemente ho visitato Peno e sono rimasto molto deluso. Nonostante le sue affermazioni di servire autentica cucina del sud Italia, ho trovato l'esperienza complessiva molto lontana da quello che mi aspettavo. Dal pessimo servizio al proprietario scortese, la mia visita è stata tutto tranne che piacevole. Innanzitutto, ho notato che il ristorante mancava di un'atmosfera accogliente. Sembrava più una discoteca che un autentico ristorante italiano. Il servizio è stato altrettanto deludente. Il personale sembrava disinteressato e poco attento durante tutta la serata. Ci è voluto molto tempo per prendere le nostre ordinazioni e una volta arrivato il cibo, mancava di qualsiasi sapore. Per peggiorare le cose, il proprietario ha mostrato un atteggiamento incredibilmente scortese e sprezzante verso i clienti. Quando ho sollevato le mie preoccupazioni sulla qualità del cibo e del servizio, la risposta del proprietario è stata difensiva e non si è scusato. Era chiaro che la soddisfazione del cliente non era una priorità per loro. Nel complesso, la mia esperienza in questo ristorante "italiano" è stata estremamente deludente. La mancanza di autenticità sia nel cibo che nell'ambiente, combinata con il pessimo servizio e il proprietario scortese, ha lasciato un'impressione negativa duratura. Non consiglierei questo ristorante a chiunque cerchi un'esperienza autentica di cucina italiana con un buon servizio. read more

Delicious dinner my first time at Peno. Had to get the pasta for my first time! You can tell the food is made with love and that it's a very family oriented place. We sat on the covered patio and enjoyed our meal a lot. They have tons of specials and seems like menu changes often! read more

Thank you so much. Grew up in St. Louis, had no idea what Italian food could be as a kid, eating on the hill, visited Italy, lived in Chicago, came home and swore I'd never find Italian food worth the money. Finally got a last minute reservation here and was blown away!!! Tasty, not covered in cream and cheese, and cooked to perfection. We had three adults and three kids. Had the cheese truffles, veal meatballs, octopus, shrimp scampi, spaghetti and meatballs, braised beef and two bottles of wine. No complaints, all food was spot on and service was great. I freaking love that someone at the restaurant is taking on crappy reviews from idiot yelp reviewers that don't know anything about food! Go for it!!! Great place. Great good. Great service. Good wine. My only complaint is that we've tried multiple times to get a reservation, someone said they'd call me back, and didn't. But that's ok and you made up for it tonight! read more

Amazing food and cozy atmosphere. Service was great. Our waiter made great recommendations.

Those who say the best Italian in STL is on, "The Hill" is totally wrong. This place in Clayton is amazingly delicious. It is tucked away at the back-end of a small strip center just off Wydown. The small boutique size makes it intimate and almost romantic. I meet up with fellow Yelper, Christal for lunch on the Tuesday after Labor Day. Our luncheon was 12:30pm, towards the end of their lunch rush. I arrived first and selected a table on their small patio. Being a dog dad, it was nice to see they had water bowls making the patio pet friendly. We started out with some Cauliflower Hummus. In addition to the crostini, they offered a basket of soft Italian bread dabbed with garlic butter. This worked out great, because I preferred the crostini and Christal wanted the softer bread. I enjoyed the uniqueness of the cauliflower hummus. In addition to the hummus, the plate had a small spinach salad with pine nuts and balsamic dressing. It was a nice touch. For my entree, I channeled my inner child and ordered a half order of spaghetti and meatball. I choose the chicken.The ground chicken was blended with breadcrumbs. It was moist and tender. Noodles were prepared to a perfect al dente. I don't think Italian food can really be classified as a comfort food, but this Southern Italian Southern food, brought me comfort this afternoon. No booze for me, I enjoyed a tall refreshing glass of ice tea. Christal was having a rough day at work and enjoyed a glass of red wine. I found it odd that it was not served in a traditional wine glass. It was served in a small juice/water glass. I thought it was perhaps because we were on the patio. Then the table next to us ordered a bottle and did have a traditional steamed glass. Just weird. Our server was professional and very knowledgeable. He described their food and recommended wines for Christal like a true pro. Will I return? - Most definitely. When: September 5, 2017 Why: Italian lunch with a friend read more

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The service and food at Peno is consistently excellent. The owner provides a very diverse menu and excellent desserts. The wait staff is very friendly and very accommodating. read more