Diners' Choice: Neighborhood gem restaurants in Midtown

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are the best neighborhood gems in Midtown? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Acero

4.9

4.9 (2735)

$31 to $50

Italian

Maplewood

About the restaurant

Rustic Italian cuisine in the heart of Maplewood that features fresh ingredients from local farmers as well as an all Italian wine list.

Top review

Travis

Dined 3 days ago

Acero made for a perfect anniversary dinner for a couple from out of town. They offered us complimentary sparkling wine and even had our menus printed with a congratulations. Everything was fantastic but the egg raviolo is not to be missed. Our waiter Simon made it a wonderful experience.

The Crossing

4.9

4.9 (2547)

$50 and over

French

Clayton

About the restaurant

Featuring local "farm to table" cuisine using a breadth of farmers in the Missouri and Illinois communities. When asked to define of The Crossing, Owner/Executive Chef Jim Fiala often says that he is a chef that buys locally whenever possible and cooks as any French and/or Italian chef would given the ingredients sourced. Joining Jim is Chef Thu Rein Oo who brings passion and years of experience to the kitchen. Our food is fresh, organic (whenever possible), seasonal and by design very simple. The Crossing stays true to classic techniques and the chefs love showing off their skills and passion for elegant food.

Top review

James

Dined 3 days ago

Amazing food, wine list and service. Highly recommend.

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Popular dish

Tagliolini

Del Pietro's

4.9

4.9 (1069)

$30 and under

Italian

Richmond Heights

About the restaurant

Del Pietro's is a casual affordable Italian restaurant serving fresh pastas, pizza, salads, antipasti, entrees, local beers, and a diverse wine list.

Top review

TK719

Dined 3 days ago

Lovely dinner at Del Pietro’s. Delicious Caesar salad, seafood pasta and tiramisu at very reasonable prices. My server Jack was just outstanding. So sad that they will be closing at the end of the year.

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Popular dish

Lasagna

Frida’s

4.9

4.9 (188)

$31 to $50

Vegetarian / Vegan

University City

About the restaurant

Frida’s and Bonito Bar serve bold, scratch-made dishes like braised short ribs, award-winning burgers, and fresh juice margaritas. Our sleek, intimate space features carrara marble tables, flattering low lighting and a gold-ceiling bar—the perfect setting to dine in style.

Recently voted Best Chef 2024 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chef Natasha Kwan crafts every dish with precision and passion. Located just north of Clayton, Frida’s blends sophistication, exceptional flavors and a setting made for those who appreciate the finer things.

Top review

Christine

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

We had a lovely evening. The food & service were excellent. However, the music was a little loud. As more diners arrived, they needed to raise their voices in order to have conversation. That was annoying but something easy to rectify.

Russell's on Macklind

4.9

4.9 (1207)

$30 and under

American

St. Louis Hills

About the restaurant

Russells on Macklind is a neighborhood restaurant that serves seasonal farm to table dinner and weekend brunch. We are well known for our extensive bakery offerings as well as a bar that features seasonal cocktails, local craft beers, and wine. Russells is located in a renovated 100 year old building at the corner of Murdoch and Macklind in the Southampton neighborhood of St. Louis. We pride ourselves on serving exceptional food in a warm and inviting neighborhood atmosphere.

Top review

JoeVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We love Russell’s on Macklind. The best salad was very good. Sea bass and pork chop were excellent. The pork chop is enough for two! Love this place.

Truffles - St. Louis

4.8

4.8 (1384)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Clayton

About the restaurant

"Truffles has always managed that elusive balance of refinement and relaxed casualness...” Sauce, 8/2011

“This is a top-tier eatery. The kitchen is reinvigorated and inventive…” STL Magazine, 5/2011.

Truffles strives to produce a menu that easily fuses rustic and contemporary American cooking. With simplicity and seasonality as our guide, house-made specialties such as pasta and salumi are prepared fresh every day and are complemented by choice selections of locally sourced and raised meats, seafood and inventive sides. The Truffles menu begins in the fields, rivers and farms of the Midwest and our award-winning wine list features wines from every corner of the earth. We bring the best flavors of the season direct to your plate.

Top review

Steve

Dined 1 day ago

Everything was outstanding. Top notch. New favorite place.

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IL Bel Lago - From the Hill

4.8

4.8 (1622)

$30 and under

Italian

Creve Coeur

About the restaurant

Il Bel Lago From The Hill. A fixture in St. Louis for 15 years now! Food is what makes an authentic restaurant great, and with its 50 years of experience from their Hill location Il Bel Lago has all the ingredients for excellence. You enter via the fountain plaza to find an open, airy lounge. Il Bel Lago is both elegant and comfortable with floor to ceiling wine racks and private dining spaces.
The Food here is as stunning as the décor. The Italian Cuisine is equal to the very best anywhere in St. Louis. Il Bel Lago's menu rates among the top Italian restaurants in St. Louis, as does the service. Come visit us and see for yourself.
Buon Appetito!

Top review

Denise

Dined 5 days ago

I took my group of 10 coworkers out for our annual Christmas lunch and we had a wonderful time. The Waterfall Room was a perfect setting that allowed us to have conversation and some privacy. Everyone's food was amazing and the service was excellent. We will definitely be back!

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4.7

4.7 (472)

$30 and under

Mexican

University City

About the restaurant

Owned and operated by Natasha Kwan, St. Louis Post Dispatch's Best Chef in St. Louis, our elevated Mexican restaurant blends vibrant flavors with a tropical atmosphere that feels like a vacation, taking you far from St. Louis. We’re located in a charming University City neighborhood, just steps from Clayton.

Our menu features plates like queso flameado, costra and crunch tacos, enchiladas, nachos and a few Tex-Mex options. Cocktails and margaritas are crafted with fresh-squeezed juices and premium ingredients. 

We offer all-day happy hour Tuesday through Thursday. We also accommodate parties of 10 or more for special celebrations.

Other accolades:
Best New Restaurant, A-List Restaurant (St. Louis Magazine)
Best Queso (Ian Froeb of St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

To Note:
Gluten free friendly - our fryer is dedicated gluten free so eat all the chips you want!
Many vegan options
Dog friendly patio and sidewalk

Top review

Charles HoffmanVIP

Dined 1 day ago

More authentic Mexican than most. Service was outstanding as usual. Comfortable, friendly place.

Louie's Wine Dive - Saint Louis

4.5

4.5 (463)

$31 to $50

Wine Bar

Clayton

About the restaurant

Louie's Wine Dive is an unpretentious wine bar where guests can try an assortment of wine and some delicious food to go with them. Come check out our wine board with rotating specialty wines and cocktails. Monday is all day happy hour and we do brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Thank you to all of our wonderful guests who make this place amazing. Please call to make a reservation for a party of 5 or more and limited reservations are available on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Walk ins are always welcome!

Top review

Scott

Dined on Dec 12, 2024

Food was very good. Deserts were wonderful. Watching the food prepared and plated was fun. If you're looking for a place to have a quiet dinner and be able to hear and talk, this is not the place for you.

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Popular dish

Beignets

Ivy Cafe

4.3

4.3 (109)

$30 and under

Café

Clayton

About the restaurant

A wonderful and creative mix between healthy and indulgent. The cafe boasts wonderful small plates, homemade sourdough and desserts, creative cocktails, seasonal items, and a beautiful setting full of plants and local artwork. This posh cafe can meet nearly any dining needs.

Top review

RayeVIP

Dined 6 days ago

We absolutely loved our evening there. The food and service were outstanding. We will definitely be back. We are also spreading the word!

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