Classic Italian food. Do the 4 course tasting. We did 3 of them and turned our dinner into a 12 course tasting menu by sharing everything. We had the crudo, Gnoccho fritto, smoked burrata, egg ravioli (GET THIS) , tagliolini, Cacio e Pepe, Barramundi, steak, lamb, chocolate lava tort, cheesecake, and Panna cotta. Corkage was a fair $30. Service was friendly. I liked that our server offered us an aerator or decanter for the wine that we brought; that was a nice touch. Ambiance was nice. I really liked the art on the walls, and they were quite affordable. Parking was a biiiiiiish to find. We risked it and used the Schlafly lot. read more

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Top restaurant in STL!! Every single detail is dialed in, from the warm, attentive staff to the cozy, European style ambiance to the FOOD and beautiful plating. It is one of those places you walk into, settle in, and truly take your time, wine, dine, and enjoy the full experience. Executive Chef Nick P clearly knows what he is doing. His talent and experience come through in every dish. The menu feels thoughtful and intentional, simple in execution but elevated by incredibly fresh, seasonal ingredients, with flavors that build perfectly from one bite to the next. You can taste the care in everything, from the house made pasta to the sauces, proteins, and vegetables, all perfectly cooked and balanced. What also sets this place apart, though, is the people. The staff and servers are genuinely excited about the food, knowledgeable about the ingredients and wine, and add to the overall experience. It is the kind of place you leave already thinking about when you can come back. read more

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Got this restaurant as a recommendation as one of the best restaurants in St. Louis and have to say I was a little bit disappointed! We did the tasting menu and looking at the menu prices, I think a lot of the items they had listed were overpriced with the quality. The wine I had was nice. Started with the beet salad and the beets had a bit of a metallic taste to them. For my pasta, had the Cacio e Pepe, the noodles tasted fresh and were the perfect texture but the actual sauce was extremely bland. Next were the scallops, the base and sauce were nice and the scallops were well cooked but extremely fishy. Finished dessert with the goat cheese panna cotta and hands down was the best dish I had all night. Also this is the first time where I felt the service was overbearing. In between every bite it felt like our server was there and it was a bit suffocating. I couldn't have a conversation without him showing up. Additionally he was circling the seating area like a shark and it felt like a little bit much. Overall, was a meh experience. Wasn't terrible but I wouldn't go back read more

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I can't speak highly of this place enough! I've been here several times and will keep coming back! An al a cart menu is offered but just go for the tasting menu to try all the great options they have. Pairing it with the wine will just elevate the experience! Sizes are the perfect portion and served quickly and timely for a coursed dinner. Service has always been exceptional. Each time our waiters have been very knowledgeable and tailored some tasting to meet our personal likes with the food. This quaint little place is small and intimate but not too loud! Perfect place for girls night or date night! Can't wait to go back! read more

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The food and service continue to be exceptional, truly. And I personally really enjoyed my latest visit here! My parents who were here for the first time found the crudo, the black ink pasta, and all the entrees to be truly exceptional! I had the pork chop this time and it was scrumptious. The prix fixe is now $65 which is just slightly higher than a few years ago, but the biggest takeaway from my most recent visit was that the portion sizes of the pastas and entrees have been downsized. For the most obvious visual comparison, check out my latest egg raviolo photo vs the one from my 2022 photo. And hey that's ok I'm not knocking it, the restaurant has to do what it has to do. I do have to note that my husband was not completely full after the 4 course meal and he's not a big dude. He ended up eating at least half my full bone-in pork chop. Another lovely meal, but this time, def did not have to box anything up to bring home! read more

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The 4 course tasting was a wonderful way to experience more of the menu. Although the portions were "smaller", I still was not able to finish every dish! Standouts were the warm chocolate torte. I may come back just for this dessert! Same for the tomato soup. Incredibly simple and flavorful. So smooth and soothing. The lamb chops were beautiful and the parsnip whip was a nice surprise. The linguini Nero also delicious. Overall, Acero is a stand out. read more

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The tasting is $75 now :( Weird experience. I honestly quite liked the opening crudo bite. The fish quality was questionable but the dish was light and tasty. Gnocco fritto has gotta be one of the blandest things I've ever eaten. Nothing remotely interesting about this dish. Things picked up during the entree course. The lamb chops weren't gamey at all, and had a smokey flavor with a decent amount of meat. Chicken milanese had a great crust. Dessert was average. I have to comment on the service because that was the first time I've ever felt a server be overbearing. He was checking in, no joke, in between every other bite and making me super anxious. I've read others having mixed reviews about this place. I dunno. The food wasn't extraordinary, especially for the price, and the restaurant felt pretty dated. Favorite dishes: Crudo, lamb chops read more

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Everything was wonderful. Perfect The food, the atmosphere. It was wonderful. Perfect place to go on a date, go with friends or even alone. They s place will not disappoint you. read more

Our first visit for an anniversary dinner -- can't believe we missed this gem before now. Excellent choice for a special night out. Food: 5 out 5 Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 Service: 5 out of 5 read more

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Went to Acero for my birthday dinner and it was incredible!! A little pricey but worth every penny. I love the option of a tasting menu - the best part is it isn't a "set" tasting menu so you can pick whatever looks best from each category. Every single thing we tried was excellent (and my husband and I eat did the tasting menu so we tried a lot of food). My favorites were the Gnocco Fritto (starter) and the lamb chops (entree). Our waiter was incredible. Jake had amazing suggestions, was attentive while still letting us enjoy our meal, and knew both the food and wine menus inside and out. My husband got the wine pairing with his meal and loved all of Jake's picks! This is the perfect spot for date night, celebration, or just a night to treat yourself. We will definitely be back! read more

Hats off to Acero, one of the best meals I have had in a long time! This will serve as a TL;DR definitely try this place. It is on the pricier side, but a fantastic option if you want a special dinner place. Try a little of every course with the tasting and enjoy! Now, on to me gushing about our experience and meals. We celebrated my wife's birthday here and we cannot wait to come back. A cute little spot in Maplewood, and they make the most out of the space they have. Our server Jake was amazing and really took the experience to the highest level. He recommended the 4 course tasting, where you get to pick a dish from each of their 4 categories (Starter, Pasta, Entree, and dessert). I added on the wine pairing with the tasting. As someone that has no real experience with wines, I was a little nervous, but I was so glad to have tried it. Each wine was tasty and it was fun to get a little description about the pairing with each dish that came out. A no brainer if you love wine and a highly recommend if it is something you always want to try but are usually overwhelmed with all the wine selections places usually have. Antipasto (Starter): Gnocco Fritto - a MUST GET in our opinion. I told my wife I would dream about these little fried dough balls topped with prosciutto. Just fantastic, not much to say here besides do your taste buds, and soul, a favor and just get them. The soup of the day (Clam chowder)- Our waiter said they do not do the clam chowder very often and it was recommended. It was delicious! It was not fishy tasting at all. Sometimes chowders can be overly heavy and creamy but this was just right. If it wasn't for the gnocco fritto being the star of my dreams this chowder may have been may favorite surprise of the meal Pasta Spaghetti alla Amatriciana - very tasty homemade spaghetti with little chunks of guanciale (which is pork jowls and was very similar to like pork belly/big chunks of bacon). It had the slightest heat to it from some chili flake but not too spicy at all. Even if you are spice averse I think this dish would still be enjoyable. Tagliolini with wild mushrooms - yummy pasta dish with brown butter sauce and wild mushrooms. My wife was very pleased. Entrees Lamb Chops - am I a lamb fan??? On a whim I tried lamb for the first time here. Couldn't have been more surprised and happy I did, it was delicious and I think it might by my choice whenever I see it on a menu now. Just delicious. The sauce that comes on this dish was phenomenal. Pollo alla Milanese - a chicken dish that my wife thoroughly enjoyed. I think my wife was just a little jealous of my lamb chops though. Dessert Warm Dark Chocolate Torte - oh this was sooo good. I got this and my wife ended up wanting to switch. It was her birthday, so I gave it to her but not without taking an extra little bite. Delightful! White sponge cake with orange - my wife ordered the cannoli but they were all out and brought more options which had this. It was good but did not stand up to the chocolate torte at all. read more

I love Acero! We were just there last night when I realized I haven't reviewed it yet. How dare I? Anyway, this place is amazing. Everything we've had here have been so delicious. They have an option to order ala carte or try their 4-course for $65 per person and an additional wine pairing for $50/p. We started with some cocktails which were excellent and refreshing. I had the paloma, something with grapefruit which was quite enjoyable. My husband had a gin and tonic. Last night, we opted to order ala carte and started with the crudo with yellow fin tuna. So delicious. My husband and I absolutely enjoyed them as starters. I had their special, branzino, a mild white fish and my husband had the seabass. My branzino was prepared with crisp skin and was perfectly seasoned. My husband loved the lemon caper on his seabass. They do such a great job with the preparation of the food, whether you order their pasta or any of the entrée. The attention to detail with regards to the presentation is also fantastic. We ended our evening with an affogato for me and a mead for my husband. We both enjoyed the little sweet treat after such a filling, wonderful meal. We've always had great service during our numerous visits here. The place is charming; an old building or might have even been an old home back in the days with random, interesting books for decorations. Overall, I love coming here. We've tried the 4-course meal previously and loved the fact that you can try more of their offerings in one setting without overfilling yourself. Everyone has always been friendly and accommodating. I can't wait for our next visit! read more

Went here for my birthday dinner and I'm so glad I chose it! What a great spot for a nice dinner out! The staff was very accommodating. I had a reservation for six people, but we ended up having seven. They were very kind and let us squish seven into our table. Service was great and our server was very knowledgeable about the menu and had excellent suggestions. This place isn't the biggest, and I'm not sure how they accommodate large parties. But for small groups or a cozy dinner, it's a great place! I do recommend making a reservation. We went on a Saturday night and it was fully booked with reservations. It shows just how good it is! read more

Acero - Italian Near Me - Maplewood, Missouri

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We recently ate at their sister restaurant so we're surprised when we walked in that they had the same owners! We thought their other restaurant was the best food in STL so we were excited. We did the four course which we did not realize we got to pick what we wanted! It was a nice surprise. I got the beet salad, Raviolo, steak, and chocolate torte. My husband got the crudo, bolognese, lamb chops, and tiramisu. Everything was fantastic. They know how to do sauces and flavors, it's amazing. The raviolo specifically was so rich and filling, it was SO good. I did the wine pairing which was awesome and my husband had an espresso martini which was great. Definitely one of the best we've had. One note - the service at both their restaurants is AMAZING. I'm talking the best we've ever had. They are attentive, helpful, and an experience everyone should see. They have top notch servers at these restaurants, truly. Our server was Keith and he and his team killed it. It's a beautiful space, easy to get to on the main Maplewood strip. We will absolutely be back to try their grand tasting menu. read more

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The service was impeccable from the time we walked in the door to until we left. Jake our server was so attentive and very descriptive in answering our questions and our dishes came out pretty quick as soon as we finished the previous course. We each ordered the 4 course tasting menu and started with the crudo of Yellowfin Tuna, Sturgeon Roe and mixed green salad. Both were tasty but nothing too special. We then moved to the pasta course and had the raviolo and Bolognese del Giorno. This was my favorite course. The raviolo was rich, yet somehow not heavy. We enjoyed the sauce with the dipping bread. The bolognese was made with fresh Tagliatelle that was so delicate and light. The rich meat sauce was flavorful and we could have eaten double portions of both pastas. For our secondi entree, we had the trout, which was a different type of trout that was more like salmon. It was served with delicious tiny cut potatoes, fennel and radish with a lemon brown butter. We also had the lamb, which was served with mashed potatoes and peas. The lamb was cooked perfect but there was a fair bit of fat and not a lot of meat. For our last course, we had the chocolate torte served with vanilla ice cream and it was served very warm and the cheesecake was served with a delicious tart cherry compote. Both desserts were very decadent. The reason I gave this review 4 stars vs 5 is while it was great to have 4 courses, they were extremely small plates. I was comfortable and not overly full but my husband could have easily eaten 2 more entrees. There are also only 2 entrees without the tasting menu up charge, which is very limiting. The place is super quaint and comfortable and every bite we had was very good. read more

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Such a standout spot in Maplewood. The menu and presentation were great, fine dining but not overdoing it. The bartender gave amazing recommendations, and the 4-course special was unreal (hamachi, lamb chops, scallops, beef tallow beignets, and chocolate torte). Everything was incredible, including the drinks. Still thinking about the torte read more

.We recently spent an evening catching up with old friends, and it turned into one of those nights where the food, wine, and conversation flowed seamlessly. The evening began with a round of bubbles while we browsed the menu, which is rooted in traditional Italian cuisine with some modern flair. Acero's wine list has a blend of approachable old-world selections and notable heavy-hitters. To start, we selected a beautiful rosé, Villa Corniol Salisa, elegant and refreshing, a perfect opener. Each of us opted for the tasting menu, which allowed us to select one item from each section: appetizer, pasta, entrée, and dessert. At just the right price point, it's was an excellent way to explore all the offerings. I selected the Gnocco Fritto - delicate, airy pillows paired with prosciutto that balanced salty and savory against the soft, almost donut-like texture of the fritto. Pollo alla Milanese - moist and tender, cooked chicken complemented by a lemon-caper sauce and broccolini. Raviolo all'Uovo - rich and velvety, elevated by a perfect seasoning and fresh house-made pasta. Crème Brûlée - a classic no frills traditional Brûlée. Others shared samples of the salmon, ribeye, and crudo; each dish met with praise and clean plates. We paired the rest of the evening with a 2018 Gaja Brunello di Montalcino. It was a perfect match for the rest of the evening. The service was attentive but unintrusive, and the ambiance struck a balance between intimate and lively. read more

For years Acero has been a favorite of mine. On my recent visit, the food was, as always, excellent. I opted for a wine that was featured on the menu as the less expensive option; I guess I got what I paid for; it was mediocre. read more

Top-notch service in an intimate dining establishment - what's not to love? Our waiter was attentive, thorough and very knowledgeable - issues with a dish were promptly resolved. He pitched the four-course menu, and we were sold! I'm torn on the apps - the mixed green salad was an herby, nutty delight, but the burrata was divine! The tomatoes were bursting with flavor, well-paired with the crusty, seared grain bread. My 2nd course, the tagliatelle al funghi was rich in buttery, nutty notes, and the 3rd dish, the lamb chops? Amazing! If you dine here, try the Lemon Semifreddo - as found in savory dishes, basil and lemon play very well together in desserts too. read more

Acero - Mixed Green Salad - Italian Near Me - Maplewood, Missouri

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The restaurant was freezing. Our waiter tried to cover the vents to no avail. If you go don't sit in the front of the restaurant unless you're wearing a sweater. The atmosphere was nice the ladies restroom could use updating. Service was good and never waited for a water glass to be filled. Food wise I was somewhat disappointed. Party of 5 and 4 of us did the 4 course. I chose trout, it was very salty. Bistro steak and scallops were the big winner. There's lots of great Italian restaurants in the metro area that I would rate higher. read more

Acero is one of our favorite go to places for entertaining people. We are always impressed with the food, the service, the wines and the atmosphere in general. We always suggest the wine pairing with the tasting menu. I don't normally like to be as generic with my reviews, but I have never had, nor have any of our guests, anything but wonderful food! When I tell you that if it sounds good, you will enjoy it! The waiters have always done a great job with the wine pairings and listen to your preferences. My husband is very knowledgable on his wines and always appreciates the wines they pair with the foods. The servers always make you feel welcome and appreciated. read more

Dinner at Acero -- Absolutely Exceptional The entire evening was flawless--from the food to the service. Jake, our waiter, was an experience all his own. We did the four-course meal and let him take the reins--each dish perfectly paired with a stunning wine. Coming from Boston, I was shocked at how reasonable the prices were. A dinner this good back home (or in D.C.) would've easily cost double. I'd come back to Missouri just for this place. Acero stands shoulder to shoulder with some of the best restaurants I've ever been to. read more

We went in the other day for dinner and had an amazing time. We did the chefs tasting menu which was great! It was actually too much food (they put their egg yolk raviolo in and it's a huge dish) our server was great and had some nice wine recommendations. We enjoyed getting to try a little bit (or a lot) of everything. read more

Acero - Alaskan halibut - Italian Near Me - Maplewood, Missouri

Just an outstanding experience. I had the 4 course meal with wine pairings that blew me away. But what really stood out was the timing of each course and wine pairing that arrived not a second before or after it should. A true symphony of communication between my server and the chef without me even noticing. Bravo. read more

5 stars. Kick a$$ service (thank you Jake) & amazing food (thank you chef) Three of us shared wine with each course and is one of my top dinners hands down. What's perfect about this place is that it's not stuffy or pretentious; they're just great at everything. We shared: crudo, gnocco & buratta *raviolo (yes please) & spaghetti (guanciale ~ oh my) *duck, barramundi & salmon *dark chocolate torte We sampled: pecorino, rose brut, a super Tuscan, brunello di montalcino, a port & sparkling wine. What a night read more

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Acero is consistently one of our favorite restaurants of St. Louis. The tasting menu never disappoints and service is always friendly without being overbearing. I've brought family from out of town and they've claimed it to be one of the most memorable meals they've had. The tagliolini with wild mushrooms is one of my favorites and the braised beef short ribs are outstanding. read more

I absolutely loved this place and would recommend it to anyone and everyone! I typically don't choose Italian for a fancy dinner, but Acero changed my mind. We did the 4 course tasting menu and it was more than enough (but I finished everything anyway hehe). They did Italian food in a way I have never experienced before. There wasn't the classics on the menu, which I appreciated, it made me branch out and try new things. The egg raviolo was spectacular, it was so fresh and the sauce around it had such deep flavor and really elevated the dish. Our server was friendly and told us all about the menu and even some recommendations which were perfect. Acero is perfect for a date night, or any celebration. For the quality, taste, and experience, this is definitely one of my new favs in St. Louis read more

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My husband and I used to love coming here when we lived nearby but hadn't been since we had kids. We decided to take a leap and book an early dinner reservation and take the kids with us. They were so accommodating and patient with our 4 and 6 year olds. The kids loved their butter noodles. My husband and I got the tasting menu and loved every course (gnocchi, beet salad, pici pasta, bolognese, barramundi, trout). The kids stole our chocolate cakes and literally licked the plates cleaned. I also had the sparkling limoncello and Paloma and both were excellent. Thanks to our waiter Keith for an enjoyable experience! read more

Our waiter was excellent as was all of the staff. The food was superior and the portions were the right size to leave you satisfied but not stuffed. We chose the 4 course option. read more

We had a party of three for a very last minute get together on a Tuesday night. From the outside it is a very unassuming building on the corner of Manchester and Southwest in Maplewood. However, once you enter, it is a culinary adventure. Fine dining at its best. Our server was Keith, and he was kind, funny, and made really good suggestions on the menu. The service all around was impeccable, and the food was outstanding. The mushroom pasta was the best! First time here, so menu a little confusing= Keith guided us through the 4 course tasting menu. It was excellent for the price. We were all "stuffed" and the food was excellent. Open, airy, friendly atmosphere that can accommodate a romantic night or a full family (of which we saw both). The pasta is homemade, and the premise is farm to table. I highly recommend this and will definitely be going back. read more

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This was our third time eating here. The service is always good. We order the tasting menu which is a nice choice. However the steak on the tasting menu was super fatty this time. Not to mention I had to send it back for the cooking. I ordered medium and it was closer to rare with fat. Disappointed. read more

An incredible meal, surpassing my expectations. If you can make it out to Acero, please do. My boyfriend took me here for a dinner date and the 4 course tasting menu was honestly perfection. The inside of the restaurant is pretty nice, and feels upscale but not pretentious. Our server started us off with bread and oil and this already was a great beginning. The bread was warm and soft, with a very open crumb. The oil was also very high quality, super flavorful and perfect for dipping. Here's what I tried: -Gnocco Frito: 10/10 - I didn't really know what to expect but this blew us away. The gnocco are like these sweet, buttery, flakyish fried pieces of dough and their richness is perfectly cut through by the salty, tangy proscuitto and sea salt on top. The proscuitto was ridiculously good, and the waiter mentioned it was the most expensive one they could get imported. -Egg Raviolo: 9/10 - Wow! When I cut into this huge raviolo it just started oozing with rich egg yolk. It was also chock full of delicious cheese and was swimming in a buttery, garlicky sauce. Absolutely delicious. My only notes are the richness could have been cut with some sort of citrusy or fresh herby addition. -Duck confit: 8/10 - The duck itself was so well cooked and the skin was intensely crispy yet not too fatty at all. I didn't love the squash puree but the sauce made up for it, as it was sweet, tangy, and delicious. -Chocolate Torte: 9.5/10 - A top tier dessert. The gelato was smooth and creamy, and the torte itself was so rich and fudgy. The chocolate flavor was beyond perfect and the contrast of temperatures was perfection. I also tried my boyfriend's mussel pasta and chicken Milanese. The pasta was average but the chicken Milanese was out of this world. So thin, crispy, citrusy, on a bed of beautiful broccolini and topped with capers. I did not expect such well executed and delicious plates, but Acero is a new favorite here. read more

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OMG!!!! The fact we were lucky enough to get in here after visiting the Maplewood Art Fair; so lucky! Great ambiance...sat on the comfy patio and was impressed with the exceptional service. Very attentive and great recommendations! Did the 4 course meal and highly recommend. The Gnocci, as an app, is a must have! Had the chef special and pasta bolognese...perfect portion size and extremely flavorful. Wrapped it up with dessert, the chocolate torte is another must have!! Great place...will be back and recommend you do the same! read more

The food was very good! I had the Tagliolini- very good. The service was prompt and attentive. The ambiance was great. Although we went in the winter, they have outdoor dinning. We will be back back for the outdoor patio. read more

One of the best restaurants in the city!!! Great food, great service, & the ambiance is outstanding

Sit at the bar! Such great atmosphere and service, excellent food. Truffle pasta was to die. A favorite spot for special occasions. read more

Acero - Black truffle risotto - Italian Near Me - Maplewood, Missouri

What a delight! Everything we ordered was fantastic! Our waiter, Keith, was extremely knowledgeable and personable! There was a vent directly under my husband's feet, so he had cold air blowing up his pant legs which he wasn't fond of, but it was still a great experience! We will be back! read more

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Acero is our go to Italian restaurant in St. Louis! The food and service is always top notch and the ambiance feels like you're in Italy! We usually order the 4 course tasting menu, but if you want to go all in they offer a 7 course menu as well. Also, their wine selection is amazing! They have many DOCG wines to choose from and if you can't choose they offer wine pairings or will suggest a bottle based off your preferences! I would highly recommend Acero to everyone and anyone!! read more

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Lamb lollipops were delish. Waiter was so friendly and gave great wine and food recommendations. Excellent service. Will be back soon.

Wonderful anniversary dinner! The four course tasting menu was a dining delight! Pan seared halibut and ribeye steak were delicious. Started with a Ceasar salad and a mixed greens salad with wonderful dressings. Our waiter was impeccable. A personalized menu to mark our anniversary was a special touch for a special dinner! read more