The Italian sub in this metro rarely stands alone. It shows up on menus built around the red-sauce dinner, the toasted ravioli plate, and the corner counter that also does lasagna by the pan. This guide tracks the twelve rooms, from The Hill to south county, where the sub or the sandwich case pulls its weight against the rest of the kitchen.
№ 01
Liliana's Italian Kitchen
$$
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The lasagna and baked rigatoni get top billing at this family-style room in St. Louis, and portions run generous enough that a to-go bag is standard by the end of lunch. Garlic bread rounds out the table. Service can be uneven at the door, with guests occasionally having to flag down a host, but once seated, the pace holds steady through a full meal.
What to orderlasagna, baked rigatoni, garlic bread
Downtown St. Louis & Washington Avenue $$
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Inside Ballpark Village, the meatball sub shares menu space with pizza and pasta built for a pregame crowd. The room is set up for groups and walk-ins before or after a game at Busch Stadium, casual enough for a quick plate but with a kitchen that treats the sandwich as more than an afterthought to the pizza program.
What to orderpizza, pasta, meatball sub
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On The Hill, toasted ravioli and a house salad open most tables before the pasta arrives. The dining room runs on neighborhood loyalty as much as visitor traffic, and service tends to move quickly with drinks kept filled. The ravioli draws the most consistent praise; the rest of the menu holds steady but plays a supporting role.
What to ordertoasted ravioli, house salad, pasta
№ 04
Dominic's
$$$
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White tablecloths and old-guard formality frame a menu built around risotto, osso buco, and tiramisu at this Hill institution meant for a slower dinner. The room can be quiet enough for a table to have the place to itself early in the evening. Food and atmosphere draw the strongest marks; service consistency varies by server.
What to orderRisotto, Osso Buco, Tiramisu
№ 05
Bar Italia Ristorante
$$
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The goat cheese and pistachio starter is the calling card at this Central West End room, paired with risotto and pasta built for a patio crowd. The patio itself is a draw on its own, comfortable enough to anchor a visit. Service tends to move fast even without a wait, and the room reads as consistently welcoming.
What to ordergoat cheese and pistachio appetizer, pasta, risotto
№ 06
Bartolino's The Hill
$$
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Bartolino's sends out Italian bread with butter or oil before the meal starts, a fixture of the room's Hill tradition. The John Paul pizza, loaded with meatballs and pepperoncini, has built its own following alongside the pasta list. Set inside a hotel, the space handles groups well, and Sunday reservations fill the lot.
What to orderJohn Paul pizza, pasta, Italian bread
№ 07
P'Sghetti's Pasta & Sandwiches
$
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This counter-service spot builds its reputation on the sub and the meatball sub, with bread that draws repeat mention and a menu deep enough to support large-format orders. It is order-at-the-counter, quick, and geared toward a neighborhood lunch crowd rather than a sit-down dinner, with consistency that holds up over repeat visits.
What to ordersub sandwich, meatball sub, Italian sandwich
№ 08
STL Toasted
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Toasted ravioli and oversized mozzarella sticks anchor the menu at this quick-service room, built on ingredients described as sourced locally. The kitchen keeps the flavor simple and direct rather than fussy. Front-of-house warmth can be inconsistent at opening, but the food itself is what brings people back for a fast Italian lunch.
What to ordertoasted ravioli, mozzarella sticks, pasta
Saint Louis $$
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Lasagna, eggplant parmesan, and chicken marsala have kept regulars coming back to this Hill dining room for well over a decade. It is a destination within the neighborhood itself, busy enough on Saturday nights that walk-in seating is not a safe bet. Service earns specific praise, and the kitchen's classics have not slipped.
What to orderlasagna, eggplant parmesan, chicken marsala
The Hill $$
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Ravioli, lasagna, and osso buco come out family style at Favazza's, in portions built for sharing. The patio and the house-like dining room give the space a lived-in feel that suits repeat work parties and group dinners. Service is attentive without hovering, and the kitchen holds its footing across a full table order.
What to orderRavioli, Lasagna, Osso Buco
№ 11
Katie's Pizza & Pasta – Rock Hill
$$
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In Rock Hill, this Katie's location runs a patio built for lingering, with a menu that rotates seasonal dishes alongside the standing pizza and pasta lineup. The kitchen accommodates larger groups without slowing service, and the outdoor tent seating extends the dining room through most of the year. It reads as a full sit-down experience, not just a to-go stop.
What to orderpizza, pasta, seasonal offerings
№ 12
Bill Gianino's Restaurant
$$
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Calamari with a notably crisp exterior and a generous ribeye are the two dishes south county regulars name first, alongside a pasta carbonara that rounds out the menu. Set in a strip mall, the room surprises with its warmth and polish. It has become a default choice for family celebrations and large group dinners in the area.
What to orderCalamari, Ribeye, Pasta Carbonara
Frequently asked
What is the best Italian sub near me in the St. Louis area?
It depends on which side of the metro is closest. P'Sghetti's and STL Toasted are quick counter-service picks in the city, while Katie's Pizza & Pasta has locations near Ballpark Village and in Rock Hill for a sit-down option. Each restaurant here carries an Insider Score based on the public review record, and no restaurant pays to be listed.
Are these all located in the city of St. Louis?
No. Most are in the city, including the Hill restaurants and the Central West End room, but Katie's Pizza & Pasta - Rock Hill is in Rock Hill, a separate St. Louis County municipality, and Bill Gianino's is in south county. The guide names the actual municipality for each entry rather than defaulting to St. Louis.
Which restaurants on this list are known for toasted ravioli specifically?
Gian Tony's on the Hill and STL Toasted both build part of their reputation on toasted ravioli, and Zia's and Favazza's serve strong ravioli dishes alongside their other Hill staples. Each entry's Insider Score reflects the full public review record, not a single dish.
How is the Insider Score for each restaurant determined?
The Insider Score is built from the volume and content of public customer reviews for each restaurant, tracking what diners actually say about the food and the room. It is not influenced by advertising, and no restaurant on this list or any other Top of St. Louis guide pays for placement or a higher score.
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The data first, then the verdict
We start with the review record, not a press release. Every room here is a real kitchen with a strong rating across a meaningful number of reviews, ranked on our 10-point Insider Score. We weight consistency over time and the rooms locals return to, not the ones tourists pass through once. The list updates as the data does. How we work →
Nico Marchetti
Staff Writer · Top of St. Louis
The Hill and Heritage Editor. Third-generation Hill family who grew up bagging hot salami on Saturday shifts. Covers the red-sauce canon, St. Louis-style pizza, and the kitchens of Cherokee Street, South Grand, and the Olive Boulevard corridor. His standard: the regulars would notice.
