Cielo Restaurant & Bar

We're skipping dinner this coming week and instead going to Downtown Restaurant Week the following week. For those who are unfamiliar with this special event, you can read all about it on their web site, http://www.downtownrestaurantweek.net/. Essentially, it's a chance to go to a nice restaurant, have several courses, and support a good cause for $25. We've done it for many years now. We'll be going to Cielo, located at the Four Seasons, on Monday, August 23, at 6:00 pm. We've already made a reservation and unfortunately we have a limited number of seats, so please let us know ASAP if you'll be able to join. If we are unable to accomodate you, we'll be sure to let you know.

Cielo Restaurant & Bar
located within The Four Seasons Hotel
999 N. 2nd St.
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314)881.5800
http://www.fourseasons.com/stlouis/dining/

Omar's Italian & Mediterranean Cuisine

Omar's serves up a curious blend of Mediterranean and Italian cuisine - pizza with Greek lamb is a prime example of this fusion. For the purists out there, Omar's has unfused items, too.

Omar's Italian & Mediterranean Cuisine
10111 St. Charles Rock Rd.
St. Ann, MO 63074
(314)429-6881
http://www.omarsstl.com

Sugo's Spaghetteria

My mom really likes Sugo's (in fact, she's raved about it many times), and  we've never been there. Now is the time!

Sugo's Spaghetteria
10419 Clayton Rd.
Frontenac, MO 63131
(314)569-0400
http://www.sugosspaghetteria.com/

Two Nice Guys Restaurant

Two Nice Guys is an Italian restaurant and has two levels. The upstairs is nicer, and they recommend button-down shirts. We're eating downstairs, where they don't care and offer the same menu - grinders, pizzas, pastas, and higher-priced entrees.

Two Nice Guys Restaurant
10935 Manchester Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63122
(314)821-1800
http://www.saucemagazine.com/drill.php?EstID=3063

Onesto Pizza and Trattoria

I don't have much to say about this place other than the food is amazing. The chef/owner, Vito Racanelli (of Racanelli's fame), makes some unique and wonderful dishes using local and organic ingredients as much as possible. Bring your appetites.

Onesto Pizza and Trattoria
5401 Finkman
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314)802-8883
http://www.onestopizza.com/

Rich & Charlie's

Rich & Charlie's is a classic St. Louis Italian restaurant (they're actually a local chain and have a number of locations), and Stef likes it so they must not use a lot of provel. Come join us on Monday as we check out their Crestwood location. We could even order cheese garlic bread and see what cheese they prefer!

Rich & Charlie's
9942 Watson Road
Crestwood, MO 63126
(314)822-4909
http://www.richandcharlies.com/4randc.zkb

Anthony's Bar

Downtown Restaurant Week is Aug. 13 through Aug. 18. Twenty-five restaurants are participating, each with a prix fixe $25 menu. This exciting event only happens once a year, and we went to Top of the Riverfront last year. This year, we're going to Anthony's Bar.

Anthony's Bar
10 S. Broadway
St. Louis, MO 63102
(314)231-7007
Special DRW Menu

Anthony's serves food from the Tony's kitchen! A bit about Tony's, if I may:

• It is one of 34 restaurants in North America to get the "coveted AAA five-diamond award" and is known as the best restaurant in St. Louis.
  
• In Tony's old space, servers walked up stairs backwards so as not to turn their backs on patrons.
  
• Sauces are prepared tableside by one of your many servers.
• Coat and tie are still required there - are there any other places where that's enforced?

We're not going to Tony's though, so what does this mean for diners at Anthony's? It means that this meal should be outstanding, a great value at $25 for three courses, and casual by comparison to the restaurant from whence the food comes. You'll need to dress to impress, but not so much that you could walk into a wedding or funeral; coat and tie are not required here. Also, I hear that you can use the Tony's complementary valet parking for Anthony's but you may want to check that out.

We have already made a reservation for 20 at 7:30pm. Two of those spots are claimed, leaving 18 seats free. To claim your spot, reply to this message ASAP and let us know how many people will be in your microparty. We have no ability to squeeze people in, so when the remaining 18 spots fill up, sorry, you're out of luck.

Zia's Restaurant

This is a special edition not only because it's on a bonus Monday but also because it's time to bid an annual farewell to Bryan Puskar as he heads off to the wilderness for three months of intensive survival skills instruction. He wanted Italian and even suggested Zia's. Bryan, this dinner's for you!

Zia's Restaurant
5256 Wilson Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314)776-0020
http://www.zias.com/

Tumo's Ristorante

You've all heard the expression, "Spring forward, Fall back." We're living the dream! We're now back on summer time and meeting at 7:30 rather than 7:00.

To celebrate this amazing change in our schedules and disruption to our lives, let's get some Italian food. Located a mere 4.9 miles from our house, Tumo's promises to make you happy with their selection of pastas and other Italian dishes. Will they use Provel? Will they have St. Louis style pizza? Will they have really sweet tomato sauces? Will they read the entire menu over the phone when you ask about the price range? Let's all find out the answers to these compelling questions together on Monday!

Tumo's Ristorante
6417 Hampton
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314)351-4400

Anthonino's Taverna

This place has gotten some nice reviews and looks to be a Greek/Italian bar and grill with a family-run atmosphere.

Anthonino's Taverna on the Hill
2225 Macklind
St. Louis, MO 63110
(314)773-4455
http://www.anthoninostaverna.com/

Cusanelli's

This is a member pick - thanks for the suggestion, Karen! So far it looks like it's scored a perfect 10, though admittedly there's only one vote. Let's try it out together and see what we think of it, shall we?

Cusanelli's
705 Lemay Ferry Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63125
(314)631-7686

Mangia Italiano

Mangia's a funky Italian eatery on South Grand with homemade pastas and breads and a lot of good flavor. Come join us and let's have a good time! Because they're not set up to accomodate a large party, please RSVP early.

Mangia Italiano
3145 S Grand Blvd
Saint Louis, MO 63118
314-664-8585
http://www.dineatmangia.com/

Grassi's West Italian Deli

Grassi's West is set back from the road just a bit at essentially Lindbergh and Conway. It serves up Italian fare and has (at least from my memories of going there 8 years ago) pretty good sandwiches and pizza.

Grassi's West Italian Deli
10450 German Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63131
314-994-1111

A'mis

This place was written about recently, it's an Italian restaurant staffed by people from the Middle East - all amazingly working together harmoniously. Perhaps capitalism has conquered hostility once and for all! So come and join us as we support freedom and tolerance and, most importantly, food.

A'mis
9824 Manchester Road
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314)963-1822

Nino's Ristorante

"Go west," announced Brian, and so we shall. I have never been to this place, but Brian says it's good, and who am I to doubt such things? It would seem from reviews I've read that many people agree.

Nino's Ristorante
736 Westport Plaza
St. Louis, MO 63146
314-878-4445

Da Baldo

Now, I'm aware that their website says they're closed on Mondays. The St.Louis Dinner Club went undercover to verify that this is not the case. Two calls confirmed that they are in fact going to be open on Monday. The food looks tasty, and who could resist a place called "Da Baldo"? Not I - and neither will you!

Da Baldo
3518 Hampton
St. Louis, MO 63109
(314)832-6660
http://www.italystl.com/baldo/index.htm

Balducci's Winefest Restaurant

It seems we have run into a slight snag for our planned visit to Ms Piggie's BBQ - they are CLOSED on Mondays! (despite what I was told the other day when I called there!) SO, never fear - a change of Venue is here!!!! We will be heading a little further up Page (like to the western end!) to Balducci's Winefest Restaurant. It's located in the little strip by a 7-11.

Balducci's Winefest Restaurant
12527 Bennington Place
Saint Louis, MO 63146-2710

Charlie Gitto's Downtown

Charlie Gitto's Downtown
207 N. 6th St.
St. Louis, MO 63102
314-436-1560

Cunetto's House Of Pasta

Cunetto's House Of Pasta
5453 Magnolia Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63139
314-781-1135

Cannoli's Restaurant

Cannoli's Restaurant
462 N. US Highway 67
Florissant, MO 63031
314-839-5988