A Food Lover’s Guide to the Hill, St. Louis' Premier Italian Destination

Joe Fassi Sausage & Sandwich Factory

Details: 2323 Sublette Avenue, open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
History: This vintage sandwich shop is the latest iteration of a business operated by the same family in the same location for 98 years and counting.
Menu: Hot sandwiches are a specialty, with customer favorites including sandwiches utilizing the housemade salsiccia, meatballs and Italian sausage. However, Fassi’s offers combinations of layered meat and veg to suit all tastes, with condiments including the house special dressing. Pair your sandwich with soup, salad or the pasta of the day.
Vibe: Hole-in-the-wall neighborhood sandwich shop that transports you to an earlier era of the Hill: green-and-white tiles, red neon and the “Wall of Fame” featuring old newspaper cuttings highlighting the accomplishments of local heroes like Yogi Berra.

Marconi Bakery

Details: 1913 Marconi Avenue, open 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday.

History: Marconi Bakery was established in 1968 by the DiGregorio family. The bakery has been using the same traditions and recipes for the last 58 years.

Menu: Locals love Marconi’s fresh artisan breads (Italian, French, rolls, focaccia, pizza crusts and buns), baked seven days a week. They also offer Sicilian-style pizza (Italian sausage, pepperoni, veggie deluxe or cheese) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Though Marconi is known for its bread, make sure to keep an eye out for the crispy cannolis and made-to-order sandwiches.

Vibe: The small bakery offers a wholesome mom-and-pop atmosphere with some seating available, racks of fresh bread and the Italian flag proudly on display.

Adriana’s on the Hill

Details: 5101 Shaw Avenue, open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. through 3 p.m.

History: Adriana Favazzo and her daughters first opened this cheerful lunch spot in 1992 and still run it today. 

Menu: Adriana’s is known for its hearty sandwiches, but it also offers a limited selection of pastas, salads and pizzas. The sandwiches are big enough you could easily partake in the half & half (half-sandwich and half-salad or side dish) and still have leftovers. The beef sandwiches are famous for a reason, but we’re partial to the cold Mambo Siciliano (ham, cappicola, pepper jack cheese, pepperoncini, lettuce, tomato, onion, gardiniera, and oil & vinegar Dressing). It’s a mouthful!

Vibe: Sunny and friendly counter-service lunch spot, with efficient staffers trying their best to process a line that begins around 11 a.m. every day and doesn’t stop ‘til long after the noon hour. There are plenty of tables both outside and in.

Missouri Baking Co.

Details: 2027 Edwards Street, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and closed Monday and Sunday. 

History: They’ve been going strong for 100 years.

Menu: Cookies, cakes, pie, cannolis, muffins, tarts, cheesecake, strawberry stollen, danish, hot cross buns, gooey butter cake, Irish soda bread and more. 

Vibe: Though there is no seating, the sweet, family-owned bakery is inviting with its beautiful, sweet treats on display, making it hard to choose just one. But when you do, remember, they’re cash only.

Volpi’s

Details: 5256 Daggett Avenue, open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and closed Sunday and Monday.

History: Volpi Foods got its start on the Hill all the way back in 1902.

Menu: This shop/cafe offers cheese, mixed nuts, pasta, peppers, olives, spreads, breadsticks, vinaigrettes, salads, sandwiches and premade party trays.

Vibe: The quaint, clean, deli-style eatery offers a quiet spot for lunch with indoor and outdoor seating.

Gioia’s Deli

Details: 1934 Macklind Avenue, open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

History: The original location of what’s now a chain of four in the metro area, Gioia’s Deli was honored with the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classic Award for good reason. It’s been on the Hill since 1918 and is still going strong.

Menu: Gioia’s is famous for its hot salami, which regulars know means warm, not spicy. There’s a variety of classic sandwiches, two distinctly unhealthy (and totally delicious) salads and all sorts of tasty choices to make (white, wheat or garlic cheese bread? Jalapenos on top or giardiniera, or both?). You can’t go wrong here.

Vibe: Old-school counter-service sandwich shop, with some indoor dining and picnic tables outside for the overflow. An order window and online ordering makes to-go orders a snap.

Pit Stop-STL

Details: 2130 Macklind Avenue, open 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and closed Monday and Tuesday.

History: Owner Joe Smugala opened Pit Spot in 2020 in an old auto garage. 

Menu: If you’re on the Hill but want something other than Italian food, Pit Stop is a great choice. They have salads, chicken sandwiches, burgers, grilled ribeye, beef medallions, a spicy honey shrimp bowl, fried chicken, several desserts and more. They also offer a kid’s menu, as well as plenty of vegan and gluten-free options.

Vibe: Though it's limited on space, Pit Stop has ample outdoor seating, with charming details and quick service for a classy, yet casual dinner.

John Viviano & Sons Grocers

Details: 5139 Shaw Avenue, open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday. 

History: John Viviano Sr. opened John Viviano & Sons Grocers in 1950, but moved to its current and larger location in 1979. The store is now run by his grandsons, John Jr. and Tony.

Offers: Cheeses, coffee, tea, cookies, candies, sweets, crackers, toasts, frozen foods, gifts, Italian beverages, meats, seafood, olive oils, olives, pasta, soup, rice, salad dressing, spices, spreads, condiments, vegetables, sauces, vinegars, wine and other spirits.

Vibe: The relatively small mom-and-pop — or is that sons-and-pop — shop is the perfect neighborhood market to swing by on your way home to grab some authentic Italian groceries.

Milo's Tavern

Details: 5201 Wilson Avenue, open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday.

History: Milo’s Tavern was built by Anheuser-Busch and has seen several names since opening in 1902, including Merlo’s and Wil-Mar Lounge. The current name came to be in 1975 when Tom Savio and Joe Calcaterra took over ownership and has stuck since. In 1989, Savio sold half the business to Joseph Vollmer, now a St. Louis alderman, which is when the bocce courts and full kitchen were added. 

Menu: Milo’s has a wide variety of appetizers from fried green beans to toasted ravs to quesadillas, as well as several sandwich options — hot roast beef, turkey with bacon, breaded cod with cheese. You get the idea. They also have salads, pasta, burgers and pizza.

Vibe: Chill dining space with plenty of seating and TVs for sporting events complete with a bar and a big outdoor patio with a bocce court for Italian-style bowling.

Urzi’s Italian Market

Details: 5430 Southwest Avenue, open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sunday.

History: The market originally started out across the street from its present location in 1926, but moved in 1970 its current address.

Offers: wines, cheeses, pastas, olive oils, pasta sauces, candy, chocolate, nuts, spices and more. They make lemon ice, olive salads, chicken spedini, sandwiches while bread is available and fresh Salsiccia on Thursdays. 

Vibe: Literally your one-stop Italian shop with great customer service.

Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate

Details: 5025 Pattison Avenue, open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.

History: Dan Abel opened the chocolate store in February of 1981 with his wife Rosalie. 

Menu: Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.

Vibe: If you love chocolate, this is the place for you — it smells like pure chocolate here. The inviting chocolate-filled store has a wide selection to choose from as well as factory tours to see how the chocolate is made.

Guido's Pizzeria & Tapas

5046 Shaw Avenue, open Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

History: Since 1988, the Carretero family’s sit-down restaurant has been many Hill regulars’ go-to spot for hearty portions and friendly service. 

Menu: While Guido’s has a classic Italian vibe, the Spanish side of the menu is equally celebrated. Choose from among the best St. Louis-style pizzas in town (chosen by no less than the RFT), hearty pastas and, yes, tapas. Anchovy lovers, don’t miss out on the Caesar salad here; it’s got more wonderfully fishy-salty umami than many puttanescas.

Vibe: Old-school St. Louis, with a dark bar in the room you first walk into and a sunnier, Spanish-inspired dining room with big windows facing the street.

Pizzeria da Gloria

Details: 2024 Marconi Avenue, open 5-9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday.

History: Pizzaiolo Joe Kurowski studied in New York City and Italy before opening in the Hill in the midst of the pandemic — and immediately drew terrific word of mouth for breaking the mold of what an Italian restaurant on the Hill could be.

Menu: Truly terrific wood-fired pizza just like they make it in Naples — there’s no Provel on this menu — along with a smattering of well-executed appetizers and salads.

Vibe: Stylishly casual modern Italian. This is one of the few spots on the Hill you could confidently recommend to food lovers accustomed to Italian cuisine, not the St. Louis-derived Americanized iterations popular with people who grew up here.

Eovaldi’s Deli

Details: 2201 Edwards Street, open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed on Sunday.
History: Eovaldi’s has been a staple on the Hill since 2002, but the interior is largely unchanged since the days when it was Rumbolo’s Italian Market.

Menu: Lunchtime customers come for specialty sandwiches like the Sicilian Bomber (hot roast beef, cold Genoa salami, pepper cheese and Eovaldi’s “Bomber” gravy), the classic New Orleans-style muffaletta and Eovaldi’s Special, a feast of roast beef, ham, mortadella, Genoa salami and more. Sandwiches can range from four-and-a-half inches up to a foot in length, and can be ordered with a variety of pastas, chili and salads.

Vibe: A thoroughly old-school, no-frills lunch spot. Eovaldi’s wears its Italian heritage all over its walls, from the Italian Tricolore above the counter to the landscapes lovingly depicted on a mural on the back wall.

Joey B's on the Hill
Details: 2524 Hampton Avenue, open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

History: A new kid on the block by the Hill standards, Joey B’s was opened in 2008 by lifelong friends and business partners Joey Barczewski and Tony Gianino (son of prolific St. Louis restaurateur Bill Gianino). They previously owned nightclubs and bars together, including the first Joey B's on the Landing, but this was their first full-scale restaurant concept.
Menu: The menu is classic American bar-restaurant fare with a slight Italian touch. Favorites include chicken wings, toasted ravioli, pasta entrees, pizza and burgers. The breaded and fried pork tenderloin sandwich is a head-turner, spanning the entire circumference of the plate.

Vibe: Joey B’s has a laid-back, casual vibe with a big, booth-lined dining room perfect for families, a chill patio, and a bar with plenty of TVs showing whichever game your heart desires.

DiGregorio's Italian Market

Details: 5200 Daggett Avenue, open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed on Sunday. 

History: DiGregorio’s Italian Market has been supplying authentic Italian gourmet food items since 1971.

Offers: Cheeses, specialty Italian meats, stuffed olives and peppers, stuffed pastas, imported Italian foods, olive oils, balsamic vinegars, wine, kitchenware, cookware and more.

Vibe: The quaint corner market is truly a hidden gem in the Hill neighborhood with a kind and helpful staff. They also sell house-made frozen dinners, making dinner easy.

Charlie Gitto's On the Hill

Details: 5226 Shaw Avenue, open 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

History: Charlie Gitto’s opened in 1981 by Charlie Gitto Jr. and has since become a must-visit for not only the locals, but visitors to the Hill as well. Before the restaurant was Charlie Gitto’s, it was called Angelo’s, where Charlie’s father served as a maître d'hôtel. 

Menu: The Sicilian-inspired menu features the house’s signature toasted ravioli, soups, salads, brick-oven pizza, pasta — including the Penne Borghese or the Chicken Nunzio — beef, chicken and seafood entrees, desserts, including their legendary carrot cake, and an extensive wine list.

Vibe: Charlie’s has an inviting atmosphere of warm wood, soft lighting and classic Italian décor, with the checkered tablecloths of yesteryear and a classy feel. The restaurant is known to be busy any night of the week, so be sure to make a reservation.

Zia’s on The Hill

Details: 5256 Wilson Avenue, open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday

History: Zia’s was opened in 1985 by Louis Angelo “Inch” Chiodini, who grew up on the Hill. They’re known for their Italian salad dressing, which they bottle and sell in grocery stores, and their cameo on Netflix’s Fresh, Fried and Crispy.

Menu: The garlic cheese bread, toasted ravioli, house salad with the signature dressing and arancini — fried, crispy risotto balls stuffed with cheese and Italian sausage — are the perfect starters. For an entree don’t miss the chicken parmigiana, which is breaded and baked in marinara sauce, or their chicken piccata, which is charbroiled and topped with white wine lemon butter sauce. You can buy a bottle of that sauce, too!

Vibe: This bustling spot has a dining room with an old-school atmosphere; think dark wood and white tablecloths. Outside is a sunny sidewalk patio.

Lou Boccardi’s Italian Restaurant

Details: 5424 Magnolia Avenue, open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and closed Sunday and Monday.
History: More than five decades after the late Lou Boccardi opened this restaurant, it’s still going strong with generations of regulars still returning.
Menu: It’s straight-down-the-line greatest hits of the Hill here, from chicken Parmesan to mostaccioli and tortellini. Order one of Lou Boccardi’s St. Louis thin-crust pizzas and try the Tuscan spinach salad, which includes strawberries, goat cheese, toasted almonds and balsamic dressing.
Vibe: Whether you’re sitting at the bar or in the upstairs dining room, Lou Boccardi’s is a cozy and intimate neighborhood restaurant where conversation between strangers comes easy.

Sado

Details: 5201 Shaw Avenue, open Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.

History: Opened in March 2023, Sado’s announcement initially drew gasps from armchair quarterbacks who assumed the Italian neighborhood could never play home to a sushi restaurant. Neighbors, however, welcomed the place with open arms.

Menu: Inventive and flawlessly executed, acclaimed chef Nick Bognar’s sushi may be the best in St. Louis, and he’s serving it with riffs of whimsy that evoke his childhood in a classic Midwestern sushi parlor.

Vibe: All the beautiful people go to Sado these days, and with its harsh surfaces, the main dining room can get loud. Try a more intimate seat at the sushi bar if you prefer quiet conversation.