Fantastic Italian restaurant just off Wydown, a block east of Hanley. Small and quaint, the restaurant can probably only seat 30 or so people. But it's definitely worth your time. I enjoyed the Palermo pasta, which is a papardelle with some red sauce and both sausage and ham. DELICIOUS! The wifey had squash ravioli, and she devoured it. We were stuffed, so didn't have dessert, but I would assume it's great, based off everything else. read more

Omg! The food and service was amazing tonight! Sat out on the patio, beautiful patio. The handmade mushroom ravioli was so awesome! It's s must order! You have to soak the bread in the broth,it's the only way!!! Great experience! Highly recommended! read more

Amazing food and staff - Every detail of our dinner was perfect. Definitely will come back!! You will not regret it read more

We really had a great time dining at Peno, it has the feel of a real Italian trattoria. The food and service was very good to excellent and diners around us were raving about their food. The wine list is weak which is why I did not give 5 stars. The owner says they are working on it. He is very friendly and works from behind the small bar. Worth going out of your way for a visit. read more

Just picked up our to-go order and it was delicious! Highly recommend getting any of the mains and pasta dishes. They have a very cute outdoor seating area that we will be dining at next week. If you want to order a pasta dish and a main you'll be able to feed 2 adults and 2 small children. -Blissful-food-coma read more

i love this place!! it's a tiny place that packs a big punch! Food is amazing and so authentic. This place is a MUST!

My friend and I were driving around Clayton looking for somewhere to eat dinner on a random Tuesday night. After either he or I vetoed each and every suggestion we ended up at Peno. When we first got there we were the only table but by the time we left it was almost full. It's a tiny place. The waiter presented us with a pizza menu on a clipboard and the rest of the daily choices are written on a chalkboard. We shared the Antipasto salad and I ordered Ragu pasta while my friend ordered one of the Sicilian pizzas. They brought out a round loaf of crusty bread before the meal. The bread already had butter and olive oil on it. It was to die for. So was my pasta. It was a small "O" shaped noodle with a meat sauce made with pork and beef and a bit of their house made ricotta cheese on top. Where to begin? This was well cooked and very flavorful. All of the meat was tender, the noodles still had a bit of chew, and the ricotta was creamy and slightly sweet. I think my friend enjoyed his pizza but I honestly didn't care. I loved my dinner and I can't wait to go back. This was a breath of fresh air in a city with way too many Italian restaurants that don't do it right. read more

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Absolutely amazing!!! We went for a girls night- our waiter and owner explained the whole menu! It's a very well planned out menu and restaurant specializes in the coast of Italy! The pizza was to die for!!! We all loved every and the wine and desserts! We will definitely be back! read more

Great spot for lunch, and a cute little patio to sit on if it's nice out! Both the Italian and Arugula salads were delicious and pretty large portions. For entrees we both had pasta, I did the full size Cannelloni and had one noodle leftover which I brought home, and my hubby had the pappardelle half portion, which was huge! The only negative, and it wasn't that big of a deal, they only had one server working so service was a little slow and it was tough to get refills of iced tea. But, I would definitely come back! read more

I've lived in the area for years and walked by on Sunday and decided to stop in (with a dog). They were so welcoming and their COVID-restrictions tent was adorable decorated. Fabulous drinks, highly recommend the chocolate/orange dessert martini. I wish there were prices on the menu as we spent a little more than anticipated on this Sunday stroll, but no regrets as it was a lovely place. read more

Discovered Peno on Yelp! The service was awesome and everyone was really friendly. We arrived about 8:45 on a Friday night and were seated immediately on the patio. The bread and our Pizza was amazing. I'd go as far as to say it was the best pizza that I had in a long time. We'll definitely visit again in the future. read more

Ordered the Ragu, gnocchi, and chicken for pick up. Was thoroughly pleased with each dish, even the bread that came with! It was my first time eating Peno and I can't wait to return for an in restaurant experience post covid! For those comfortable dining out right now, Peno has several spaced out areas, including a heated tent in their drive way. It's clear that they are going above and beyond when it comes to health measures as well. I got a little lost trying to find the pick up rack for my order, but staff was friendly and accommodating in assisting me. Thanks for the great meal peno! read more

Gnocchi & tiramisu that are unparalleled outside of Italy itself. I went based off Yelp reviews and was so happy with both my meal and the service, I'm here to say...YOU MUST GO! Flavors are on point. It's cute & cozy. Summertime means outdoor seating. The owner is the kindest and so proud of his creations. The waitstaff- extra sweet and thoughtful. So many smiles and I cannot say how much I appreciate it all. Moving out of town, but this is definitely my favorite spot in STL now! read more

Peno - Tiramisu, because it was one of the most spectacular preps I've had in years. - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

The pasta was the same quality as that of The Pasta House...overcooked and stuffed with highly questionable ingredients. For a restaurant that prides itself on its local sourcing--where exactly are calamari and mussels found in the Midwest? 2 stars simply because the staff was very attentive. read more

Amazing everything, even down to the freshly baked bread and olive oil. Intimate restaurant. Fantastic staff and owner.

I came here in a group and they were very nice about accommodating all of us. I loved their basil ginger lemonade, which had just the right amount of sugar. We shared a bunch of appetizers and two pizzas and everything was rather tasty. I enjoyed the meatballs too! Nothing was particularly memorable but it was a pleasant time and the patio looks like a lovely place to chill on a spring/summer night. read more

Delicious! The octopus starter was mind boggling, cheesy bread scrimp, pastas amazing. The owner came out to greet us and to explain the menu. His passion for food really came through. We will be back! read more

Fantastic. Excellent food accompanied by excellent service. Pepe's staff was great. The beat salad to start was amazing. We had an Sicilian pizza and beef pasta and it was incredible. read more

What an experience. Chicken meatballs awesome! Pizza awesome! Dessert, salads, entrees, owner...Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Great local experience. If you want great Italian away from The Hill, go see Chef at Peno!! read more

One of the best meals I've ever had. Fresh, delicious, real Italian food. Great cocktails. I am now a huge fan of braised octopus. Salad, homemade bread, lobster pasta, tiramisu...I'm pretty sure I heard angels singing. My family and I were made to feel completely at home by the entire staff from the moment we walked in. I can't wait to stop in soon after work to grab a pizza to take home, if I don't inhale it on the spot with an Aperol Spritz. Pepe and company, you have something incredible and special here, and your commitment to excellence shows in every detail. Grazie mille! read more

This place is an intimate, homestyle Italian restaurant with (what I would imagine as) authentic Southern Italian food. The staff explained to us that this region of Italian food is focused on sauces and soups and seafood. We ordered the seafood linguine, shrimp pesto pasta, Palermo Sicilian pizza, house salad, and Godfather's chocolate cake. The quantities were huge - we had a party of four and took two boxes to go. I'd rate the pastas as 5/5 - both the pasta and the seafood tasted fresh (though I hate working to take off the shrimp tails) and be sure to dip your breads in the pasta sauces (there's lots of it!). The pizza was less impressive - the Sicilian pizza was solid, but almost had too much of a thick bready crust for me. The house salad was pretty standard - had a lot of different cheeses, including provel. And the Godfather's chocolate cake was a sight to see - enormous with three different sauces; the cake itself was delectable but the frosting was a bit too heavy and sweet for me. The service was friendly and great. I just thought it was a little strange that most of the food menu was up on the wall with no pricing? read more

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I am visiting Saint Louis from New York and was recommended to try Peno. I was told before my visit that the chef/owner was one of the best Italian chefs in the world so I had high expectations. The food is fantastic and all my expectations were exceeded. The staff is excellent and Pepe the owner/chef is attentive to every detail. The pizza is delicious and made to order. We had pasta Norma, trout w lemon risotto and eggplant everything was superb. This restaurant is as good if not better than any Italian restaurant in New York. Bravo!!!! read more

Locally sourced, amazing southern Italian cuisine. We had the Palermo pizza and added the handmade sausage, local salami, pepperoni and spicy chicken. Unbelievably delicious and a tender crust with a lovely crisp to it! Get the Mussels, phenomenal! A perfect tomato based sauce with a nice kick, bits of sausage and herbs. Daily baked fresh Italian bread to soak it up! The bread salad got rave reviews from my table mates although I was too full to try it. The wine list and beverages are fairly priced and well suited but I would like to see a few more choices. Dessert: Two Words "Lemon cupcake". It will make you giddy. Light, moist, filled with cool cream and sprinkled with crushed pistachios. Gelato: Strawberry Fig. So perfectly light and yet so rich, sandwiched between two pizelle cookies and delicately surrounded with a lightly drizzled accompaniment of chocolate. An extraordinary experience! An Italian gem in the heart of Clayton, my new favorite! read more

Peno - Couldn't get a photo before they were devoured by the gang! Managed to get one prior to the plate being swiped clean! - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

My husband and I have been here three times in the past month. Everything we've had in those three visits has been amazing! The food tastes like it has come out of your own family kitchen, if your family is made up of excellent cooks! The owner himself comes to the table to explain the dishes. It is clear these are his family recipes. The service is great, the atmosphere is casual, the prices are affordable. The bonus for us is that it's located just at the end of our block! Even though the address is Wydown, the restaurant actually faces Westgate, making it a little bit off the main drag. But I hope that doesn't stop future patrons from turning the corner for some great home cooked Italian food! read more

Cute little neighborhood restaurant with modern decor with personal touches. Great for lunch or dinner. Food is outstanding have the chef just whip something up for you! Outstanding we will be coming again. read more

Peno - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Two words. Braised octopus. Oh my word was that the most delicious appetizer ever. It was so good I almost got it as my entree. But instead I felt daring and tried the mushroom ravioli and it did not disappoint. It's a little small but I got a salad as well and felt full enough to take half of the entree home. And even then, it tasted delicious. It's a little pricey and the place is rather small so you'll feel like you could chat with the people at the next table but my reason for the 4 stars was because the place is fancy enough to warrant actual wine glasses. I just had a baby and all I wanted was to get out on a date night and have a glass of wine. It just doesn't feel as enjoyable drinking it out of a water glass. I can do that at home. read more

We love this place! We have become regulars here! The inside dining area is small but it feels nice. Service is amazing. Love the pizza with pureed cauliflower and the chef's choice Risotto! Everything we have had is fresh delicious and filling too! Parking is tight, we often call our order in for pick up! Sitting outside is nice when weather permits, outside seating is limited as well as the inside seating. It's a small intimate place just the way we like it!! My boyfriend is from Northern Italy and he loves it too, he couldn't wait to bite into the Risotto as he said this will be the true test.. and he loved it!! read more

Peno - Our take out order - Italian Near Me - Clayton, Missouri

Do not get the seafood pasta. It was extremely fishy (even for Midwest seafood) and unappetizing. Service was very rushed, in a way that felt somewhat rude. read more

I've had hundreds of pizzas from all over the world (including Italy) but can say without an iota of doubt that I just had the absolute best pizza I've ever had in my 46 on earth. It's called Pizza Pepe from Peno. I wish I've taken a picture to share but trust me, if you try this pizza I know you'll agree. Unbelievable delicious. read more

Best pizza in town. Hands down. No clown. Charlie Brown. James is the man! Our first time here he gave us a free Italian Soda! Let me tell you about the Italian Sodas! They are Henry's Hard Soda on steroids. Come here. You will not be disappointed. read more

There is American Italian food, and there is Italian food. If you are on the prowl for real Italian food, Peno is for you. The eggplant appetizer is better than anything in St. Louis. The menu changes almost daily because the menu is entirely based on what vegetables and foods looked fresh that day. If you want Italian food, I highly recommend this restaurant over anything on the Hill. Your heart and soul will appreciate it. read more

We've eaten here at least a half dozen times and ordered a lot of take out throughout Covid. Normally, we love it, but last time wasn't on point. They were out of five things we tried into order (including cocktails where they completely ran out of rum and alcohol). The service wasn't the same as the past. The food we didn't get was still pretty good. I'm hoping it was just a one time thing because we've always loved this spot. read more

This place hands down has been the most enjoyable food experience in STL. The food is absolutely delicious. Local, fresh and made with care! The staff connect with you on a personal level and make you feel so welcome. Pepe the owner (and chef) is incredible. He wants you to feel good when you eat there and he will absolutely take care of you. John, the other chef is wonderful. Together their creations are on-point. I will most certainly be coming back. Thank you for making this experience so wonderful team. We loved it! read more

If this review was based solely on food, it would hands down be a 5 star review. I had the Pasta Norma, which is served with tomato sauce, smoked mozzarella and eggplant, on top of house made noddles. The dish was absolutely delicious. Another bonus is that all of Peno's food is as locally sourced as possible. Since the food is locally sourced, the menu is posted on a board on the wall and is ever changing. Unfortunately, there are no prices posted next to any of the dishes and this is I why I could only award 2 stars. I am on a tight budget due to life circumstances and can't afford to accidentally spend too much money. I carefully budgeted for a nice dinner, but still had to ask the server for the prices on almost everything. I felt extremely uncomfortable and ostracized at being forced to ask for the pricing on each dish I was interested in. The server seemed shock and troubled to have someone ask, and I could actually hear other guests talking about me. I understand that their menu is ever changing and they use high quality ingredients, however, I will never be coming back to Peno because of the incredible embarrassment that I felt. read more

Small facility, a little noisy, pretty good off menu espresso martini, excellent spaghetti and meatballs. The gentleman I was with said they were "the best he's ever had". Friendly staff. Five stars based on spaghetti alone read more

Service is vey slow and inattentive. Food was fine but having to call waiter for everything instead of having him stop by is a distraction. Price for side salad, price not posted, is $9.00. read more

First time hubby and I tried this place, it has just opened. Food was okay, not really outstanding. The place hasn't been remodeled yet and had only a few tables with not much ambiance. We came back months later to order take out for dinner for a special occasion. Place was crowded and busy. We spent more than $150 for appetizer and two entrees. Boy were we astounded by what we saw when we opened our to go boxes. The calamari consisted of tiny overlooked squids swimming in tasteless broth. It was inedible! The lamb was so so. The pasta was bland. I was compelled to write this review because I'm flabbergasted at all the five star reviews. I saw Jeff B's feedback and that I believe without a doubt. Never again! Up to this day, I still regret spending that amount of money on this establishment. read more

Pepe and his staff Will serve you the best Italian food in St. Louis. We are repeat customers that try to go there as often as possible to try something new, the service is excellent! You will never regret having a meal with Pepe and the crew. read more

Walked in to grab some pizzas tonight. $60 later I left with two very thin 16" pizzas. The mozzarella had a tasty red sauce and the other had mushrooms and tomatoes with some white beans and capers sprinkled on. Although it was tasty, I'm not not sure I'll be back (for pizzas at least) for I could have housed them both myself! They have a pretty full menu with lots of specials it looks like. The employees were easygoing and kind. Perhaps I just ordered the wrong thing? read more

Very expensive for what you get. The menu is on a chalk board WITH NO PRICES SHOWN. Our waiter was very short with us and when we asked him about prices he would only give us ranges (e.g. items under starters range from $x to $y). We should have asked about actual prices and also about the prices of things not on the board. We were charge $5 for a glass of Coke. THE REFILL WAS ANOTHER $5. WANT ICE CUBES IN YOU GLASS OF GIN, THE ICE CUBES ADD $2. The price the rest of the meal seemed likewise to be too high. Between the prices and our waiter, we won't be back. read more