Have made a few trips to Trattoria Marcella now and it has been a great experience every time! First off, highly recommend making a reservation if you want a sure thing for dinner but they do have a pretty amazing happy hour in the bar that I believe is first come, first serve...and people do wait ahead of time to snag a spot at opening. Didn't snag a picture of the toasted ravs but so far, these have been my favorite one that I've tried in STL. There hasn't been anything I've ordered that I haven't liked. Be sure to listen to the specials as I have had some amazing fish dishes here! The lasagna is also amazing and a generous serving. To cap things off, you must try their tiramisu! So delicious! read more

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I am sad to need to update my review, but our last visit was very disappointing. Last time, we arrived at 5pm and were sat in a corner table in the back room which was peaceful. This time, we arrived at 6:30pm on a Friday night and were sat at a table in the main thoroughfare. The ambiance was poor and it was so loud that we needed to shout to be heard. We ordered the caramelized cauliflower appetizer which was drowning in cream sauce and so smothered in cheese that it no longer looked like a vegetable. It was too rich for us. They were considerate to give us plates to split the scampi style shrimp, which was well cooked. However, the grilled beef tenderloin and potatoes were very lackluster. We'd asked for medium rare and the kitchen must have been rushing as it was still raw in the middle. We tried to get the server's attention, but they were very busy and we gave up. A particularly strange and rude interaction from our server when collecting the check left a bad taste in our mouths. I was glad to see their popularity but disappointed at how it decreased the quality of our experience. Unfortunately, we had an unpleasant time overall. If you are planning to go, I recommend choosing a less busy time for a better experience. read more

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This was a little hidden gym for me to try out recently for dinner. You have to utilize street parking so that can be a little difficult to find depending on how busy it is. On the outside it looks smaller, but there's a lot of dining space inside the staff is very friendly and helpful with menu suggestions. They also have a small patio area for outside dining as it gets warmer outside. They have a wide variety on their drink menu and a large wine selection. They start your meal off with bread and hummus, which was pretty tasty. I got the rigatoni with shrimp and it was a pretty good dish. I think it could've used a little more seasoning, but overall it was a solid meal. read more

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Best Lasagna in St. Louis. The portions are huge (at least the lasagna was). The lasagna was served with a sauce and I was unsure I would enjoy this but it was AMAZING! I had left overs for 2 days. This was our first visit and it was a Friday night and very busy. We sat at the bar for dinner as we were going to the theater and could not afford to waste time. Service was very kind and attentive, offered several recommendations for dinner. I should have made reservations so Make the reservations, it will be worth it. I also do not typically like toasted ravioli but these were also excellent. The service was great! I would highly recommend and will absolutely return. read more

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I was excited to try this place, but sadly it didn't live up to the hype. The polenta and mushroom appetizer was meh. Salad had way too much dressing and the waitress had her hand in my face to take away my plate while I was taking my last bite of cannelloni (which I only ate one of three in the entree). I would only recommend if you want to be rushed through an overpriced meal. read more

Honestly a bit disappointed.. I saw how good the reviews were and decided to come here because of how much people raved about this place. Unfortunately, it took awhile for us to be given waters with only 5-6 people at the bar, not including us. We finally got drink orders in and I ordered a Negroni and my friend ordered a cosmo. The cups are so tiny that I felt like I barely got an ounce pour of gin and when it came to the vermouth I literally saw her put a sliver in. Also my friend's cosmo was not the right color. For appetizers, the toasted raviolis and the caramelized cauliflower were dropped off to us. The woman said these were the best items on the menu and this set the bar very low. So low that I actually closed the tab after because I was scared to order anything else. The toasted ravs weren't terrible but they weren't anything I'd go crazy for. The cauliflower had a very greasy and grilled taste. Everything was salty as well. I hate leaving reviews like this but I'm just being honest with my experience. I am now at a different restaurant ordering food I know is good. read more

Trattoria Marcella - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Incredible expertise from start to finish. Our server Maggie steered us in all the right directions, although I'm not sure any wrong ones exist here. Highlights: the beef carpaccio, salads, and lasagna. All of us agreed best lasagna we have ever had! Extensive wine list, which was an added bonus! read more

Trattoria Marcella - Lasagna Napoletana - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Met a group of friends here for a Christmas dinner. I must say it was great. We were seated in the second room. Our server was attentive and prompt to greet us. We had appetizers and enjoyed a wonderful Dinner. The apps - carpaccio, toasted ravs and carmelized cauliflower were super. My lobster and shrimp risotto was tasty. Our dessert selection for the group was chocolate cream brûlée, regular cream brûlée, spumoni ice cream, and a hazelnut cannoli. All of them were delicious. My preference was the cannoli. I would absolutely return. Reservations highly recommended read more

Trattoria Marcella - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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I had only been here one other time and it was probably four years ago. I remember it being really good - and really loud! Four of us went the day after Thanksgiving this year. It was packed and I was glad we had a reservation. We were greeted and seated right away. Our server came over almost right away and asked if we were ready to order drinks. We needed a few minutes and she gave it to us. I didn't catch her name, but she was a really good server. Her timing and pacing were perfect and she was very pleasant. The menu is great and it took us a few minutes to make our decisions! We all ended up really enjoying our food. I would say I was the only one with a complaint. I had the cheese tortellini and it had pancetta in it that was extremely salty. The pasta was good, but I had to pick around the pancetta. Another note - we weren't even half way finished with our entrees and a busser came by and asked if we needed boxes. It seemed strange time to ask. We were seated in the back of one of the rooms and it wasn't so loud back there. Overall, it was a really good meal and we all enjoyed it! We'll definitely be back! read more

Trattoria Marcella - Town and Country - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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One of the best restaurants in the city. The owner Stevie is very personable, friendly and goes out of his way to make sure you're happy. The food is divine. I had the very best chicken mushroom marsala. Others had lasagna, toasted ravioli and the steak. The atmosphere is very cozy so perfect for date night. Full bar and the wine list is extensive., A true gem - you must go!! read more

Came here to celebrate a special occasion and it delivered. Made a reservation in advance but still got a later time slot because they're so popular. Definitely recommend booking ahead. When you walk in there's a bar area up front and then the dining room opens up toward the back. It was packed (dinner time). Looked around and saw elderly couples, families, friend groups, date nights. The dimly lit interior sets a nice vibe like in other Italian restaurants, very warm and intimate. The menu surprised us in a good way. It's Italian but elevated and with a twist, like they took the classics and made them more interesting. The mushroom appetizer was so unique, comes with these big chunky potatoes that worked perfectly. The brussel sprout salad was a 10/10, super savory and filling for a salad. The margherita pizza 10/10. The pasta 10/10. Tiramisu to finish also 10/10. Everything felt like traditional Italian but just better. Our waitress was so friendly and attentive throughout the whole night. Would absolutely come back and highly recommend for any special occasion or even just a really good dinner out. read more

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Holy Mary, mother Marcella, this place rocks. The lobster risotto is in my dreams and has been for years. They have a decent drink menu and lots of options, including gluten free foods. Our service was superb and I enjoyed being able to sit on the nice patio. read more

Trattoria Marcella - Lobster risotto - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

I went here tonight. The food and service were great, friendly and efficient for our group of seven people. The staff first brought us freshly made bread with hummus. I had the ravioli appetizer, field green salad, grilled beef tenderloin, and chocolate creme brûlée. I did not take any pictures of the food except my take home box of the grilled beef tenderloin that i could not finish. The food was delicious. It was a lot of food. We were all satisfied. Parking is side street for all of us.The restaurant were pretty big with a lots of seating inside. read more

If I could rate this place 10 out of 5 stars... I would. I found this restaurant while browsing Yelp for "italian restaurants" in a certain map area and do not regret the find one bit. My friend and I came for happy hour on Tuesday right at 5pm (which is when doors opened). Happy hour is only offered at the bar or patio so we sat at a high top table at the bar. Seating at the bar filled up QUICK so they were busy but our bartender/server still worked as quickly/efficiently as he could. Other waitstaff were very pleasant as well. We ordered the arancini, parmesan fries, a pancetta and spinach pizza, and the rigatoni. All that we ordered was absolutely DELISH. But want to highlight that I understand why there are so many photos of the rigatoni posted on Yelp because it was SO worth it. It was creamy yet not too heavy, perfectly seasoned, everything just was incorporated perfectly and was honestly one of the BEST pasta dish I've probably ever had. My friend and I enjoyed ordered the variety of dishes and sharing and our server was kind enough to offer that the rigatoni be split in half so it came out on two separate plates. I have already talked about how great this place was on my social media and word of mouth at work haha so highly recommend and will definitely come again. read more

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Went to happy hour here not too long ago, it was great! Love that it goes until 7pm, seriously can't beat it. The food was pretty good, obviously Italian! The glass of wine was $7 on happy hour. The only down side was that it was soooooo so busy. And we were sitting right at the entrance so it was a little loud and unsettled with everyone shuffling around. read more

Trattoria Marcella - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Heard great things about this place, so had to try for myself. Food was quick and people were very nice. Chill vibes, good date night place. Ended up getting a the fritto misto, salsiccia, lobster risotto, and the rigatoni. Fritto misto was a good starter. Standard calamari dish, I wished it was slightly more crisp, but I'd bet it'd be killer as leftovers after you throw it in the airfryer for a few minutes. The salt levels were good, and the cook was perfect; calamari was tender and not rubber. The salsiccia was like a flatbread; I think while it looked good, I don't think it was the most balanced in flavor. I think it was slightly too acidic, but salt levels were good. Also something that I feel would be great for leftovers in the airfryer. Rigatoni and lobster risotto were both amazing. The rigatoni was extremely bold in flavors; the sauce was very good, with a nice balance of tart, sweet, and salty. There were some bits of textural contrast with the nuts, which I really enjoyed. Not sure the cauliflower added anything though, if I were to be honest. The risotto was very good; it was a nice deep rich creaminess without feeling heavy. The lobster added a subtle sense of sweetness, while the mushrooms added a real nice earthiness. Overall, these were both very refined dishes, and the restaurant itself, I would give 4/5 stars. read more

My third time trying Trattoria Marcella. It's still wonderful. This time we tried different dishes. Service and ambience are still really good, though the glasses and utensils are found to be dirty. Reservations are highly recommended. Regarding the dishes, the eggplant parmasan and the beef tenderloin are our favorites. It is noted that the lamb chop is not good. We do not enjoy the flavors. Will stay away from it next time. read more

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Great food & service. The Happy Hour, 5 to 7 is outstanding good selection & tastes great. read more

It took us a while to try Trattoria Marcella but after we came here the first time, I've been itching to come back. Service is always excellent here. The wait staff are friendly but not in an overbearing way. They come and check in on you at regular frequency, otherwise, they leave you be to your conversations and to enjoy your meal. With so many options for Italian food, I can understand how this place could be overlooked but if you haven't been here, you need to give them a try. They have a good selection of cocktails to start your meal with and a good selection of wine by the glass. During our most recent visit, we tried their wild mushrooms served with polenta fries. I was honestly not sure how I expected the polenta fries to turn out but I was intrigued so we ordered it. It was good plus I love wild mushrooms and theirs was well seasoned. I had the veal marsala for my entrée. It was really good and the portion was huge. I was able to take my leftover home and had 2 more meals out of it! My husband had their ossobuco which came with a humongous pork shank. He was also able to eat his leftovers for another meal. Nice ambiance. A bit more on the quieter end even on a Friday evening which we absolutely appreciate. Tables have proper table cloths which may initially look intimidating like it might be too fancy but once you get it, it's honestly more welcoming and warm. read more

AHHHH-MAAAAA-ZZZZZ-ING!!!! After reading the reviews, I had to stop here while in town. It was well worth it! Get there right at 5 pm when they open for Happy Hour! The staff were so kind, vibe of the whole place was great, and the food was spectacular!!!! The chicken spiedini and Arancini were both perfect and you MUST get the tiramisu! Literally the best I've ever had. Pricier, but well worth it! read more

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When people ask me about my favorite St. Louis restaurants, Trattoria Marcella is always at the top of my list. It can get pretty crowded on the weekends later in the evening, so I recommend having a reservation or getting there early! After you're seated, you'll receive complimentary fresh bread and hummus. The bread is incredibly soft, but don't even get me started on the hummus. I could literally eat a tub of this hummus with a spoon. To drink, a glass of wine always hits the spot, but I also love their Town & Country, which is made with blueberry vodka and house made basil lemonade. As a t-rav finatic, their homemade toasted ravioli is some of my fav in St. Louis. The lasagna is huge and delicious. I also love the rigatoni, which includes gulf shrimp, roasted cauliflower, sun dried tomato, toasted pine nuts, and roasted garlic tomato cream. I'm personally not a big shrimp fan, so I sub it out for chicken. Perfect spot for date night or for catching up with friends! read more

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Wow! After a day of travel, we were looking forward to our reservations at Marcella's. We were quickly seated and greeted by our server. We were already torn on the menu choices, and then we were given the daily specials which made our choices more difficult. We started with the toasted raviolis, and the caramelized cauliflower. Both of these dishes were fantastic. The raviolis were perfectly crisp and stuffed to the max with meat. These were super flavorful, we just kept eating them. The caramelized cauliflower was also good. The cauliflower was drenched with a rich Cacio e Pepe sauce, very filling. I ended up picking the fish special that the server recommended. Sadly, I cannot remember the type of fish but it was flaky and delicious, almost sea bass-like. My husband went with the grilled beef tenderloin, also recommended by our server. He raved about his steak and the wine sauce. We really enjoyed our meal here, highly recommend Trattoria Marcella. read more

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OH. MY. GOODNESS! I was here for a first date and boy was it the perfect spot! It wasn't too busy, but it also wasn't dead. The ambiance was total chef's kiss! Our server was very friendly and vibrant and made our time oh-so-great! He laughed along with us and seemed genuinely happy to be serving us! I had looked at some reviews ahead of time and had saw there was a (not on the menu) lobster risotto and I was EAGER to get a taste! This girl LOVES risotto and ESPECIALLY the lobster ones! I cannot even begin to tell you how good it was!! Melt in your mouth perfection! With the spinach and the mushrooms and I swear every bite had a nice lump of lobster in it! I SWEAR! All the flavors mixed so so well and I think I tasted a bit of heaven in every bite. Really. We also shared some toasted raviolis and the chocolate cream brûlée. Everything was absolutely so very yummy. I can't wait to take more people with me on my next visit! read more

Been here numerous times tonight was a 5 star evening, from the perfectly flash fried spinach with reggiano and calamari apps, next the morel pasta with rigatoni in a very lite Marsala wine butter crème sauce and then the fabulous Patagonian toothfish (sea bass) with risotto and asparagus in very delicate but amazing lemon sauce! Wow, then twin petite beef tenderloins over perfectly creamy mash potatoes. Then, like we needed more a perfectly platter of cheese, grapes, and a dollop of honey and finally crème brûlée! Bravo K brothers and excellent staff! Rolled out happy!!! read more

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Absolutely delicious italian food! I enjoyed the town & country drink which was pretty sweet. The caramelized cauliflower appetizer is a must try, the sauce is to die for (save some bread for dipping). The rigatoni has shrimp and cauliflower in it and was a huge portion I'm excited to have it as leftovers. My one note would be the seasoning could have been amped up on the pasta dishes. The tiramisu was great, very espresso forward which I loved after a heavy meal. Our server Melissa was great, and the place was packed but our meal only took an hour and a half. read more

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Sarah made this a five-star experience. She's an outstanding server--ask for her if you can. We came early with our 18-month-old, and the whole team was welcoming, which isn't always the case. We asked to have pasta brought out first for our little one, and Sarah immediately talked through options and possible modifications. Our baby has a sophisticated palate, so the brown-butter sauce worked perfectly. She got the pasta out quickly, checked in about wine (yes, please), and took our order. Normally you'd pace the apps, salad, pizza, and entrée, but with a baby, timing matters. Sarah asked exactly how we wanted everything to come out, and the kitchen followed it perfectly--bonus points for communication between front and back of house. We made it through the meal, the baby was happy, and even though the restaurant was full and they could've used the table, Sarah still encouraged us to stay for dessert. She was warm, engaging, and never made us feel rushed. After-dinner drinks, tiramisu, and exceptional service--Sarah has earned us as fans for life. read more

This was our first visit to Trattoria Marcella, and it certainly will not be our last. The cuisine was exceptional--truly a 10/10--and each dish was crafted with remarkable care. The service was impeccable, with a warm and welcoming staff, and the ambiance exuded a soft, romantic charm. An unforgettable dining experience. read more

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The rigatoni is some of the best I've ever had, the sauce was super flavorful and the pasta was cooked perfectly! We also got the pork osso bucco, which was very tender. They have homemade hummus & bread as an appetizer too. Very generous portion sizes so we took some back to enjoy later. read more

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We LOVE Trattoria Marcella! We have been dining here for years. Every entree I have ever tired has been amazing. The calamari is one of the best in town. The staff are always great. read more

Still one of the best spots in St. Louis. Came back recently and it was just as good as ever -- toasted ravioli is unbeatable, lobster ravioli always a favorite, and the spinach ziti was huge and delicious. Cocktails are solid too. This place keeps delivering every time. read more

A+ CHICKEN SPIEDINI Love the free hummus and bread as a starter too. Not pictured, but love their shaved Brussel sprout salad. read more

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I haven't been back to this restaurant in 20 years and they haven't lost their touch. I ordered the Mahi Mahi special and it was served over spinach and risotto. The Mahi Mahi was blackened and it was cooked perfectly. The fish was moist and tender. The spinach gets lost a little with the beautiful piece of fish. The risotto is creamy and tastes delicious. We couldn't leave without getting something sweet so we shared a creme brûlée. The custard was warm which I prefer and it had a nice sugar glaze on top. Excellent meal! The only small issue is the noise level crept up a bit at times which made it hard for us to hear each other. read more

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I would rate this dinner as exceptional! I had the chicken Soto. I would rate this dish at 10 out of 10. The sauce was the best Soto sauce I've ever had. My favorite side dish is always sautéed spinach. As simple, a side dishes as it is, it was perfection. Not too soggy, overcooked or too much garlic. And the risotto cake was moist with just a little edge of crispness. read more

Trattoria Marcella - Chicken Soto - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

After Trattoria Marcella has been on my list for years, I finally had dinner here. I arrived at 5:45 for a 6pm reservation on a Tuesday night and it was packed! I've rarely seen such a packed house in STL on a weeknight. I then heard they have an amazing happy hour (I'll make a note to try that soon). Service was fantastic. I was greeted by several people as I waited for my party. They bring you bread and hummus. The hummus was so creamy and delicious. I started with the caprese salad, and it was one of the best that I have ever had. I ordered the straw and hay pasta dish. I had been eyeing that for a while, and I wanted leftovers for lunch. This was too heavy and rich for me. It's very creamy. I had a small amount and then had to stop. The next day at lunch it was very oily and I could not eat more after 2-3 bites. I would order something else next time, but this had been recommended by other friends who have been so I gave it a try. We had the chocolate creme brulee for dessert. This was unique, creamy and fantastic! read more

Trattoria Marcella - Hummus and bread - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

Awesome staff, nice ambiance and everything on the menu is amazing. My favorite is the Lobster risotto. It is a favorite among chefs and servers when they can get away from their own restaurants, which is saying a lot!!! read more

The food exceeded my expectations. They have bread service with lemon hummus that was amazing. I got the veal marsala and I can't stop thinking about it: so tender and savory. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich which was also good. Cocktails and wine were good too. The waitress was great and the restaurant felt warm and cozy. read more

Trattoria Marcella - Toasted Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Saint Louis, Missouri

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Fantastic spot!! Stopped in for dinner on a weeknight with a reservation and was seated at a booth. Restaurant is much bigger than I had imagined with a patio, front of the house table and even more seating in the back of the restaurant. They immediately bring out complimentary bread and hummus. We asked for butter because we are basic (lol) and they happily obliged. For apps we got the toasted ravioli and I will say, I'm not huge on t-ravs (my husband is obsessed with them), and these were the best I have ever had. Filled to the brim with meat and crispy and fresh. They knock these out of park- get them! We also got the Mista salad- I was expecting this to be like pasta house salad and it was not- artichokes are fried on this which was a nice switch up. For entrees, we had the lasagna and chicken spiedini. I swapped the potatoes with the spiedini for pink rigatoni (killer). The spiedini is stuffed- it was amazing. The lasagna is more pink sauce based- it was incredible too. Lasagna was an enormous portion. Spiedini was a good portion but I was able to clean my plate. My husband was only able to get through about half of the lasagna- it's that big. Ambiance is very romantic, white table cloths and dimly lit. Prices are more than fair. As for the service- tremendous- I believe our servers name was Mike and I wasn't sure if he was the owner or not, that's how knowledgable he was. He was fantastic!! We will definitely be back. Mike told us about their happy hour and it looks killer. Highly recommend! read more

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Loved this little Italian place on the Hill!!! Our service was great and the food was even better!!! The inside is pretty big and wasn't very crowded when I was there. Highly recommend getting the brussel sprouts salad and rigatoni pasta. They were both so good that I don't think I would even want to try anything else the next time I go. Their portions were HUGE, so you can definitely share if you don't care about having leftovers. Can't wait to go back! read more

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I went here for a bday dinner so that probably positively biased me. The food is so good. They make their own t ravs...wasn't sure about an up scales t rav and wow I was wrong. The caramelized Califlower sauce is what I would want to drown in. The shaved Brussels salad was flavor fully and the texture was so fun. The straw and hay pasta was house made noodle perfection. For my bday they gifted me tiramisu and THEY DID NOT SING (does anyone know what to do with their hands while being sung happy bday? Message me immediately if you do). I would have ordered this anyway. It was perfection. Strong (but pleasant) espresso taste that had soaked but not made the lady fingers soggy, fluffy yet rich marscapone layer and the perfect dusting of cocoa. I'll be back for that. Cocktails were common favs with an Italian twist. Street parking was fine on a Saturday night at 7:30pm. read more

I know this place has a reputation for being one of the best in St. Louis. We had a group of 6 and everyone else enjoyed their food, but no one raved to the point of wanting to quickly return. It was hard for me - I don't eat meat or dairy - I will eat fish if options are limited. Usually at Italian restaurants there are nice options for pasta with vegetables, but when I asked the waiter for recommendations he acted like no one has ever asked before. He even had to go back to the kitchen to ask. They ended up bringing me pasta with overcooked vegetables smothered in sauce. read more