Told that the writer hasn't yet seen the new location of Bar Italia, which opened in August 1999, owner Mengesha Yohannes asks gently but incredulously, "What planet you been on, girl?" It seems the rest of St. Louis feels the same way. The new outside patio, only a half-block from where Bar Italia used to be located in the Central West End, seats more than 200 people, and Mengesha describes it and the new lounge inside, Luna, as "so hip you'll think you're in New York or Paris."
1. Bar Italia
2. Busch's Grove
3. Norton's Café
4. Harry's Restaurant & Bar
5. Hacienda Mexican Restaurant
5. John D. McGurk's Irish Pub
7. Brandt's
8. Duff's
9. Big Sky Café
10. Wild Flower
