Shopping...and St. Louis Italian Cuisine

Continuing with our road trip visiting family in St. Louis Missouri and Omaha Nebraska....

Shopping...not my favorite thing to do.  After a career in retail, I just don't like being in retail establishments unless they're really different with the quality of the goods offered or the type and variety of items for sale.  Antique malls are OK for example.  Even a classy home decor store is OK.  However when your better half likes to shop and browse and both her sister and brother-in-law like to do the same, one must suck it up and go along for the ride.  Who knows, one might see something that is new or different... 

In this instance, a new shopping mall had opened not far from where Bonnie and Bill live in the St. Louis area.  Later I discovered that Painted Tree Boutiques is a chain of outlets that rents space to small entrepreneurs so they can sell their goods...be it clothing, decor, collectables or whatever.  I've learned that there are at least 46 Painted Tree locations in operation, with another 6 opening soon.

After checking out the first couple 'boutique' booths...both of which were nicely merchandised and presented, my concerns about our acquisition of more 'stuff' greatly increased!

However, much to my delight I quickly discovered that not only was this Painted Tree location new, but much of it was also unoccupied!  Hooray for my side!  So much less to consider buying...

Despite the dearth of boutique 'shops', there were a few that really made me sweat.  Decor items are always dangerous and linens are true heart stoppers.  Laurie loves quality linens.  My only hope was that although the product looked great, any quality issues that might come up would be hard to resolve long distance.

When we arrived at the check out area of Painted Tree, I didn't escape totally but Laurie's purchases were relatively small and not very costly.  Dodged another bullet!

Well, I almost dodged another bullet.  After researching The Painted Tree I discovered that they have a location here in Knoxville Tennessee.  I had to confess to Laurie...or pay the price when she found it on her own.  Website: https://paintedtree.com/all-locations/. 

A bit later, it was time for dinner so off we went...

When in St. Louis we do like to go Italian, not just pizza, at least once per visit.  In  this case Bonnie and Bill chose Rigazzi's on the Hill.  This restaurant has been serving customers since 1957...over 67 years!

Here's a little background.  St. Louis is a preeminent city for anyone looking for quality Italian food and "The Hill" is the center of Italian cuisine in the metropolitan area.  This 52-block area in the near south side of the City welcomed its first Italian immigrants in the 1880s.  They worked in the clay mines in the area that provided the material for fire brick used in coal powered plants as well brick for homes and businesses.  

As demand for labor increased, Italians sent for friends and relatives and the community grew exponentially.  As a result, the need for grocers, bakers, barbers, merchants and construction workers became obvious.  Initially, taverns dotted most corners of the neighborhood.  After all before TV and radio, they were a place to relax, network and exchange news.  

The dominance of restaurants began growing slowly after WWII.  The Hill became a self-contained neighborhood with many residents only leaving this self-sufficient area on rare occasions.  The neighborhood is mostly intact today although new housing is being built in sections further away from the core area.  The Hill is dominated by a plethora of quality Italian restaurants, delis and Italian grocery stores.

The interior of Rigazzi's is definitely appropriate for a neighborhood Italian restaurant on The Hill.  A large wooden bar with chandeliers, checkered tablecloths...and crowded even on a Tuesday night. 

Rigazzi's is located in an historic building that was constructed in 1901.  Rigazzi's holds the title of the oldest restaurant on The Hill.

Wait!  Who in the blazes is this character?!  It turns out that this is likeness of gangster Al Capone.  The plaque on the wall proclaims that Capone was captured in St. Louis at Rigazzi's.  It isn't true as Capone was in prison and was deceased by the time Rigazzi's opened for business.  Nevertheless, this is a popular table for dinner as patrons can have their photo taken with "Big Al", aka "Scarface".

So how about some food!

Of course we needed a couple of appetizers!  We'd had 'so little' to eat over the previous 3 days... So, we ordered Fried Calamari ($13.99) and Garlic Cheese Bread. ($7.99) The calamari was nicely breaded...not overwhelmed...and it was tender.  The garlic cheese bread actually contained garlic, something we rarely encounter in East Tennessee.

Other appetizer options included Flash Fried Spinach, Burrata e Crostini, Bruschetta, Arancini, and toast ravioli.  Toast ravioli is ubiquitous in St. Louis Italian restaurants as it was invented here.

All of the meals came with a side salad so between a salad and the appetizers, the sisters decided to split an order of Rigazzi's Signature Fettuccine Alfredo. ($18.99) The fresh fettuccine noodles were tossed in a house made roast garlic Alfredo and then topped with Parmesan cheese and cracked black pepper.  It was quite enjoyable and very rich indeed.

I think that if Laurie hadn't eaten any appetizers, she would have favored the Classic Fettuccine Carbonara. ($20.99) In this fettuccine dish, salt-cured pork belly is included in the Alfredo sauce and the dish is topped with raw egg yolk and Parmesan cheese.

As I've reported many times, if there is seafood on a menu, that's what Bill will order.  In this instance he went for the Linguine and Clams. ($23.99) This consisted of littleneck clams, chopped clams, chardonnay, shallot, garlic and herbs, tossed in linguine and finished with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.  Bill thought that it a was pretty decent entree.

The only other seafood and pasta entree on the menu was the Scampi...tiger shrimp, seared and seasoned with tomato, shallot, garlic and herbs in a white wine lemon butter sauce served over linguine. ($23.99) I would have ordered it myself except for the fact that white wine lemon butter sauce tends to seek out whatever shirt that I'm wearing.

So when it came time for me to order dinner, I went for the Chicken Parmesan. ($19.99) The chicken breast was pounded thin, then breaded and pan fried.  Then it was 'dressed' in house made marinara sauce and a blend of cheese and then served over an oil, butter and garlic capellini.  

Yes...with the oil, butter and garlic sauce as listed, there was a risk to my wardrobe.  Actually I was disappointed in that the capellini was really quite dry.  The chicken Parmesan was good but not great.  I might have been better off ordering the Chicken Spiedini...marinated chicken breast breaded, skewered and broiled...then served over an herb cheese risotto that is 'dressed' in garlic butter and parmesan cheese. ($22.99)

The menu at Rigazzi's is quite broad, including soups, salads, sandwiches and pizza in addition to the entrees and pasta offerings.  There were at least 2 sandwiches with descriptions appealed to me.  One was The Famous Parmiciano...a breaded beef patty deep-fried, layered with St. Louis style cheese and then baked in house made meat sauce and topped with parmesan cheese. ($13.99)

Rigazzi's is a better Italian restaurant than anything that we've found in East Tennessee but it doesn't measure up to other top restaurants on the hill.  Our food at Rigazzi's was competent for the most part but it wasn't outstanding.  The Linguini and Clams was OK but not great...not to mention that Bill's order was lost in the kitchen...and arrived well after we'd started eating.  My meal was just passable.   

If you're on The Hill in St. Louis and looking for the best, check out Adriana's, Charlie Gitto's, Anthonino's, Zia's on The Hill or one of our longstanding favorites, Cunetto's House of Pasta.  There are literally dozens of Italian dining venues on The Hill. 

Rigazzi's is located on The Hill at 4945 Daggett Avenue in St. Louis Missouri.  Phone: 314-772-4900.  Website: https://www.rigazzis.com/.

Just click on any of the photos to enlarge them...

Thanks for shopping and dining with us!

Take Care, Big Daddy Dave