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    Trattoria Marcella

    4.4 (591 reviews)
    PriceyItalian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Trattoria Marcella Photos

    Business Info

    TRATTORIA MARCELLA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Romantic
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Trattoria Marcella

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    Lasagna Napoletana
    Lauren W.

    Incredible expertise from start to finish. Our server Maggie steered us in all the right directions, although I'm not sure any wrong ones exist here. Highlights: the beef carpaccio, salads, and lasagna. All of us agreed best lasagna we have ever had! Extensive wine list, which was an added bonus!

    Lauren H.

    Honestly a bit disappointed.. I saw how good the reviews were and decided to come here because of how much people raved about this place. Unfortunately, it took awhile for us to be given waters with only 5-6 people at the bar, not including us. We finally got drink orders in and I ordered a Negroni and my friend ordered a cosmo. The cups are so tiny that I felt like I barely got an ounce pour of gin and when it came to the vermouth I literally saw her put a sliver in. Also my friend's cosmo was not the right color. For appetizers, the toasted raviolis and the caramelized cauliflower were dropped off to us. The woman said these were the best items on the menu and this set the bar very low. So low that I actually closed the tab after because I was scared to order anything else. The toasted ravs weren't terrible but they weren't anything I'd go crazy for. The cauliflower had a very greasy and grilled taste. Everything was salty as well. I hate leaving reviews like this but I'm just being honest with my experience. I am now at a different restaurant ordering food I know is good.

    Sean A.

    Met a group of friends here for a Christmas dinner. I must say it was great. We were seated in the second room. Our server was attentive and prompt to greet us. We had appetizers and enjoyed a wonderful Dinner. The apps - carpaccio, toasted ravs and carmelized cauliflower were super. My lobster and shrimp risotto was tasty. Our dessert selection for the group was chocolate cream brûlée, regular cream brûlée, spumoni ice cream, and a hazelnut cannoli. All of them were delicious. My preference was the cannoli. I would absolutely return. Reservations highly recommended

    Town and Country
    Melanie B.

    I had only been here one other time and it was probably four years ago. I remember it being really good - and really loud! Four of us went the day after Thanksgiving this year. It was packed and I was glad we had a reservation. We were greeted and seated right away. Our server came over almost right away and asked if we were ready to order drinks. We needed a few minutes and she gave it to us. I didn't catch her name, but she was a really good server. Her timing and pacing were perfect and she was very pleasant. The menu is great and it took us a few minutes to make our decisions! We all ended up really enjoying our food. I would say I was the only one with a complaint. I had the cheese tortellini and it had pancetta in it that was extremely salty. The pasta was good, but I had to pick around the pancetta. Another note - we weren't even half way finished with our entrees and a busser came by and asked if we needed boxes. It seemed strange time to ask. We were seated in the back of one of the rooms and it wasn't so loud back there. Overall, it was a really good meal and we all enjoyed it! We'll definitely be back!

    Chicken Milanese (special)
    Fionna L.

    Look no further than Trattoria Marcella for a perfect evening meal. The atmosphere was comfortable and welcoming while the white tablecloths and extremely courteous server made it feel like a special occasion. Everything was delicious, starting with their fluffy bread with light lemony hummus. The drinks were some of the best we've ever had, especially the espresso martini. The town & country (stoli blueberry, house made basil lemonade) was sweet, sparkly and strong. The homemade toasted ravioli was hearty and perfectly crispy with great cheese on top. For entrees, we ordered the chicken milanese special and grilled beef tenderloin: cooked to perfection and more than the sum of its parts. To finish the meal, we had a large cannoli for $10 and a tangy raspberry lemon gelato that tasted homemade in the best way. If I had one complaint, it would be that they were a bit too attentive in clearing away items that I hadn't quite finished with - my fault for not speaking up. I agree with another reviewer that other restaurants have higher prices for the same quality of food and ambiance as Trattoria Marcella. This is my favorite spot in the hill so far and it might become yours too!

    Lobster risotto
    Devon B.

    Holy Mary, mother Marcella, this place rocks. The lobster risotto is in my dreams and has been for years. They have a decent drink menu and lots of options, including gluten free foods. Our service was superb and I enjoyed being able to sit on the nice patio.

    Pancetta and Spinach pizza, parmesan fries, Arancini
    Marianne N.

    If I could rate this place 10 out of 5 stars... I would. I found this restaurant while browsing Yelp for "italian restaurants" in a certain map area and do not regret the find one bit. My friend and I came for happy hour on Tuesday right at 5pm (which is when doors opened). Happy hour is only offered at the bar or patio so we sat at a high top table at the bar. Seating at the bar filled up QUICK so they were busy but our bartender/server still worked as quickly/efficiently as he could. Other waitstaff were very pleasant as well. We ordered the arancini, parmesan fries, a pancetta and spinach pizza, and the rigatoni. All that we ordered was absolutely DELISH. But want to highlight that I understand why there are so many photos of the rigatoni posted on Yelp because it was SO worth it. It was creamy yet not too heavy, perfectly seasoned, everything just was incorporated perfectly and was honestly one of the BEST pasta dish I've probably ever had. My friend and I enjoyed ordered the variety of dishes and sharing and our server was kind enough to offer that the rigatoni be split in half so it came out on two separate plates. I have already talked about how great this place was on my social media and word of mouth at work haha so highly recommend and will definitely come again.

    Drea H.

    Went to happy hour here not too long ago, it was great! Love that it goes until 7pm, seriously can't beat it. The food was pretty good, obviously Italian! The glass of wine was $7 on happy hour. The only down side was that it was soooooo so busy. And we were sitting right at the entrance so it was a little loud and unsettled with everyone shuffling around.

    Fontaine C.

    My third time trying Trattoria Marcella. It's still wonderful. This time we tried different dishes. Service and ambience are still really good, though the glasses and utensils are found to be dirty. Reservations are highly recommended. Regarding the dishes, the eggplant parmasan and the beef tenderloin are our favorites. It is noted that the lamb chop is not good. We do not enjoy the flavors. Will stay away from it next time.

    Caesar Salad
    Kezia J.

    AHHHH-MAAAAA-ZZZZZ-ING!!!! After reading the reviews, I had to stop here while in town. It was well worth it! Get there right at 5 pm when they open for Happy Hour! The staff were so kind, vibe of the whole place was great, and the food was spectacular!!!! The chicken spiedini and Arancini were both perfect and you MUST get the tiramisu! Literally the best I've ever had. Pricier, but well worth it!

    Bread and hummus
    Gracie L.

    When people ask me about my favorite St. Louis restaurants, Trattoria Marcella is always at the top of my list. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends later in the evening, so I recommend having a reservation or getting there early! After you're seated, you'll receive complimentary fresh bread and hummus. The bread is incredibly soft, but don't even get me started on the hummus. I could literally eat a tub of this hummus with a spoon. To drink, a glass of wine always hits the spot, but I also love their Town & Country, which is made with blueberry vodka and house made basil lemonade. As a t-rav finatic, their homemade toasted ravioli is some of my fav in St. Louis. The lasagna is huge and delicious. I also love the rigatoni, which includes gulf shrimp, roasted cauliflower, sun dried tomato, toasted pine nuts, and roasted garlic tomato cream. I'm personally not a big shrimp fan, so I sub it out for chicken. Perfect spot for date night or for catching up with friends!

    Toasted Ravioli
    Nicole H.

    Wow! After a day of travel, we were looking forward to our reservations at Marcella's. We were quickly seated and greeted by our server. We were already torn on the menu choices, and then we were given the daily specials which made our choices more difficult. We started with the toasted raviolis, and the caramelized cauliflower. Both of these dishes were fantastic. The raviolis were perfectly crisp and stuffed to the max with meat. These were super flavorful, we just kept eating them. The caramelized cauliflower was also good. The cauliflower was drenched with a rich Cacio e Pepe sauce, very filling. I ended up picking the fish special that the server recommended. Sadly, I cannot remember the type of fish but it was flaky and delicious, almost sea bass-like. My husband went with the grilled beef tenderloin, also recommended by our server. He raved about his steak and the wine sauce. We really enjoyed our meal here, highly recommend Trattoria Marcella.

    tiramisu

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    4 months ago

    Delicious italian food in a wonderful atmostphere and the service is also really good, the pizzas are delicious.

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    Page 1 of 15

    Ask the Community - Trattoria Marcella

    How are the prices here compared to the portions they serve you? I am planning on bringing my wife here for a date night after reading these reviews.

    Portions are generous, not huge but just right for me!

    Can you accommodate a private party of 35 for a 75th Birthday celebration on Saturday Aug. 6, 2022?

    I would call them on an exact date being available. They do have the ability to host private events of that size. I had my wedding rehearsal dinner there and it was incredible. Definitely recommend!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Charlie Gitto's On the Hill

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    Wow. It is easy to see why Charlie Gitto's has garnered 4 1/2 stars overall on this site. It was…read morethat good. I was taught by brother that you should book your first dinner reservation as after flying all day, one is tired, and not able to make good decisions...hence eating at a TGI Fridays in New Orleans on our first night. I have heard about that since. Charlie's had the perfect vibe going as it has a great reputation. Wendy was also simply amazing and shared may stories of St Louis and was just a tremendous server. The only thing that tricked us was the Toasted Ravioli. It has meat in it, and my wife is vegetarian. The Arancini was terrific and the table bread was also quite tasty. My wife had the Manicotti and I had the Chicken Lemonata. So great. The bottle of the house Gitto's Red was the perfect wine as well. A great experience at a restaurant that is a legend in St. Louis and I am glad it was our first meal in the city.

    Any St Louis trip I make, Gitto's will always be a stop for me and my guests. An absolute top…read morenotch / great experience for Italian. We've had so many of the dishes and special items....every one of them delivers great flavor. The atmosphere is perfect. The service is on point always. An old school approach to a tremendous dining experience. Special Note: Suzanne - an owner along with her brother: she always makes the place for me. She somehow always remembers me, even though I don't live in Stl. She always sends an antipasti to my table....and makes the night start off great! Suzanne and that little laugh and smile she has - she's a gem!

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    Mama's On the Hill - Toasted Ravioli

    Mama's On the Hill

    3.9(1.1k reviews)
    1.8 miThe Hill
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    Respectable Americanized-Italian restaurant on The Hill…read more.. I was in town for work with the ole ball and chain, and we met some friends at MOTH for dinner on a Friday... Quint lil restaurant nestled in the middle of the STL Italian district. The restaurant looks like a big Italian family room and smelled like my G-Ma's kitchen. The staff super super friendly and accommodating. As for the food, it was solid Italian but I wouldn't call it "authentic", but more Americanized Italian fare (albeit the toasted raviolis were as good as advertised). We really like that the staff didn't rush you... Good pacing with dinner and no pushiness to turn tables. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was the price... $250 for 4 people is expensive regardless of it being STL. While I still contend Gian-Tony's is the best Italian restaurant OTH, MOTH was good and offers an enjoyable dinner experience with friends and family... It's easy to see why they've been a successful family run business for so many years.

    I've been craving a true vodka sauce pasta for months, and this absolutely delivered. After dealing…read morewith a house flood and being without a kitchen for nearly three months, this meal honestly felt therapeutic. The sauce had the perfect consistency... creamy, rich, and with just the right amount of kick. I skipped the peas, added a meatball and paired it with the recommended Koha Sauvignon Blanc. Easily the best vodka sauce I've had in St. Louis! Already dreaming of the day we meet again. We sat on the patio and had wonderful service with Connor. Music was great, bread and oil was fantastic and they were able to seat us and get our food out to us so quickly even at 7 pm on a Wednesday.

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    Zia's on The Hill

    Zia's on The Hill

    4.0(1.1k reviews)
    1.9 miThe Hill
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    Family-owned & operated
    Women-owned & operated

    My mom and I used to come here a lot when I was little, so she decided she wanted to run it back…read moreand go here for her birthday lunch. It really is consistently good and we've never had a bad experience here. We started with cocktails and I had the espresso martini. It was very good! She had more of a fruity martini and also enjoyed it. They give you bread which is always a plus, and we started with an appetizer of mozzarella fritti which was fresh mozzarella and fried. Delicious. We also obviously had to get the salad and it was so good with the house dressing. We had the chicken piccata and the pollo Soto. My piccata came with a side of pasta and was very tasty. I loved the lemon and the capers. Our server was kind and helpful. I definitely recommend making a reservation because we went at noon on a Saturday and it was poppin! I'll be back :)

    Like I mentioned in my other review, don't make the same mistake we did in thinking you could get a…read moretable on a Saturday night on the hill with no reservation! Thankfully, we weren't waiting too long until our table was ready. We were seated outside and were quickly given water and menus. We both started with the house salad and were given complimentary bread. The salads and bread were ok, but nothing to write home about. I'd say all the restaurants on the hill have the same bread except for a couple, so don't expect anything fancy. I got the Italian Lemon drip and thought it was refreshing. Up until that point, our server was relatively attentive and seemed to have no problem communicating with us. When it came time to take our order, I got the chicken spiedini special but asked if a few things could be removed (which she said wasn't a problem). Evidently it was because my boyfriend's food came before mine only to be met by the manager who claimed our server was misinformed and that modifications couldn't be made after all. He then asked if I was ok getting it how it looks in the picture, which I was happy to take (I prefer it this way). What struck us as odd is why our server couldn't tell us that. We didn't think it was a big deal but it clearly showed the lack of confidence she had and her inability to properly communicate. Unfortunately, service was just ok after that but then when it came for the bill, she read the price aloud! Again, it definitely wasn't necessary and instantly made me not want to come back. It was incredibly tacky and I was over it and that point. Overall, it was ok but I'm not sure this warrants a return visit.

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    Pastaria

    Pastaria

    4.1(1.3k reviews)
    4.1 mi
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    What a great find in Clayton. Was in town visiting my daughter and was looking for a causal spot…read morewith good food. I stumbled across Pastaria and was immediately drawn to the place. I sat at the bar and was immediately greeted and given a menu. I ordered the Citrus Salad and Fried Risotto Balls. OMG the risotto balls are something that cannot be passed up. Simply amazing. The salad was so good, could have used a touch of acid but was superb. The service was top notch and will not only be coming back but recommending Pastaria to anyone that I like. The restaurant vibe is fantastic. Welcoming and hopping but not too loud that you couldn't hear yourself think.

    Who doesn't like Pasta!!!…read more So it was a girls night, i will say the restaurant is open and noisy. Not off putting type of noisy, but you are not having any romantic private conversations here. We are in Clayton so you know the ambiance is right, nothing to complain about there. My waiter was attentive, almost to attentive, until it came to the check then I couldn't find him lol. Not complaining though because way to often you have to be ultra patient. WE had a large chopped salad which was delicious. I had Pomodoro pasta which was good. BUT THE STAR OF THE SHOW WAS THE BRUSSEL SPROUTS. we ate two orders and I ordered one to go. Now i am not a pasta snob but I do enjoy the hill, and my favorite Italian restaurant is EAtely in Chicago. Now this, aint that. But i would definitely come back and try other things on the menu. ITs affordable enough that i can bring my whole family, its nice enough that this could be classified as a special night out. If you have teenagers or young adults that are currently dating within a budget, your date will feel special if you bring her here.

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    3.7(606 reviews)
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    Maggianos, you hold such a special place in my heart. We had Maggianos catered at my wedding in…read more2014 and my sisters rehearsal dinner was at Maggianos in 2023. My family would do yearly holiday dinners here with extended family. Such a classic, inviting ambiance with delicious, comforting food. But unfortunately the last few visits were not the Maggianos I remember. They've surely been impacted by the economy and many of the changes are due to that, such as smaller portions for higher prices - RIP free pasta to take home. But there are some things that are perhaps creative choices that left me wanting more. A biggie is the change in bread - made just a few months ago according to our server. I adored the crisp on the outside, soft on the inside pillowy loaf you would get along with olive oil, Parmesan and fresh cracked pepper in the past. I was surprised to see rolls and butter brought to our table as the bread service. I gave this new roll a chance but it was overly salty and not very good. The bread was what I look forward to most when I go to Maggianos. Please bring the OG bread back! That said, one of my fave entrees - the spaghetti and meatballs - still was delicious (and I was slightly nervous with a name change in the menu - wagyu meatballs). Service has not been as good either. The Maggianos of yesterday reigns supreme - hopefully Maggianos can make some changes to bring back the original charm and taste they had established for years.

    Went to Maggiano's Little Italy with a party of 10. We had reservations and showed up on time but…read moredidn't get seated until about 15 to 20 minutes later. It was really crowded so we understood, and they do have a bar area to wait which was nice. Service was pretty slow, but our server was helpful when we had questions. The food was good overall. My favorite was the Our Famous Rigatoni "D" with chicken and mushrooms. It had really good flavor, I just wish it came out hot instead of lukewarm. Overall, decent food but the experience itself wasn't the best.

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    Trattoria Marcella - italian - Updated May 2026

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