🔥Food

A great place to study and relax with friends. Fantastic ambiance with unique, artsy, liberal decors. Great coffee and food.

If you’re semi-addicted to Sunday brunches, check out Rooster. Try the seasonal Apple Pie French Toast, which features caramelized cinnamon apples, crème fraiche, and a toasty pie crumble. While some of their menu items do feature nuts, they are very accommodating of allergies, and you should have no problem eliminating or substituting any allergens in your meal.

Delicious, affordable Afghani food with reliably good kabobs.

If you’re not typically a calzone fan, Sauce On the Side will make you a convert. Tons of filling options, plus a rotating special (e.g., a turkey dinner-filled calzone called “The Mayflower” each November).

Schnucks is the flagship grocery store of St. Louis; very cost effective and convenient place to get most major groceries.

Affordable, fast-casual, Korean-Mexican fusion, popular with WashU undergrads.

Burgers, fries, and shakes from a company started by a St. Louis native.

Incredible Nashville-style hot chicken from the owners of Pappy’s (which is right next door).

Where to Try It: Imo’s!!!

A thin, cracker crust pizza with provel cheese. A St. Louis tradition … you’ll be missing out if you don’t give it a try. Read the Serious Eats article, “In Defense of St. Louis Style Pizza” for pointers — they suggest thinking of it as a pizza-flavored nacho. The article is a great introduction to St. Louis style pizza. Imo’s is most St. Louisans’ go-to but there are lots of other options, including Cecil Whittaker’s and places on The Hill.

Where to Try It: Beast Butcher & Block, Sugarfire BBQ, Grace Meat + Three.

St. Louis-style ribs are barbecue spare ribs, which are flatter than baby back ribs, making them easier to brown; they’re ultimately grilled (rather than smoked).

Famous for steakburgers, this Midwestern chain is a go-to late night food option for many St. Louisans. The Frisco melt, chocolate shakes, chili (best with with oyster crackers and vinegar hot sauce), steak burgers, and cheese fries all hit the spot; drive thru or dine-in.

Straub’s Fine Grocers is a local grocery store just a few minutes away from campus and most nearby apartments; great stop for quick purchases and some local tastes.

Great barbecue and incredible burgers. Tons of sauce options and rotating sides, so you’ll never be bored.

Where to Try It: Mama Toscana’s Ravioli (or many other places on The Hill); for a more upscale option, the t-rav at Trattoria Marcella are the BEST (handmade, though larger than what is traditional).

Everyone likes toasted ravioli, or “t-rav” as the locals call it. A breaded and fried ravioli (typically filled with meat or ricotta) that you dip in marinara sauce, it’s ubiquitous here (often from frozen), but head to The Hill's Italian restaurants for the best fresh t-rav.

The new kid on the block taking over the STL taco scene. The patio is the place to sit, and it’s even covered and heated in winter months! Their frozen margs are just insane good, even if you typically don’t order your margs frozen. Tacos are huge (you might need a fork) and include unique, slow roasted fillings such as green chile pork, chicken tinga, and Thai street beef.

While The Hill is known for its Italian eats, Taco Circus is a great find for those with food allergies who love Tex-Mex. They offer extremely filling tacos including al Pastor, carnitas, and grilled skirt steak which all can come on corn tortillas if you have a wheat allergy/are gluten free.

Craving Taiwanese? Tai Ke, St. Louis’ first 100% Taiwanese restaurant is incredible. Try the Gua Bao (pork belly bun).

Target is a short 15-minute drive from campus and is a convenient one-stop shop for groceries, household products, clothing, etc.

Summer isn’t summer without a concrete from Ted Drewes. Concretes so thick they stay in the cup when it’s turned upside down. Buy one and then sit in your car with the windows open, enjoying the lively scene while you savor your treat. Try brownie with butterscotch, Tedads with salted caramel, or one of their many listed combinations of concrete toppings. Dog friendly (but if your pup has a sensitive tummy, know their “dog cups” are made with human custard).

Where to Try It: You’re probably too old to trick or treat, but offer to help one of your classmates who owns a house hand out candy this Halloween!

Here in St. Louis, kids must earn their candy when they trick or treat. When handing out candy, they’re asked for their joke, and upon telling it, receive the candy as a reward. We St. Louisans grew up with this tradition but it really seems to blow people’s minds when they learn about it.

Craving Thai? Don’t want to leave CWE? The lunch talk was pizza? As your closest solution, Thai 202 will be your hero.

Delicious sweet and savory crepes. Coffee is so-so.

The unofficial favorite lunch talk caterer here at WUSM, The Vine serves up beef and chicken shawarma, hummus, pita, baked eggplant, fattoush salad, taboul, and other cravable items.

Trader Joe’s is only a 15-minute drive from campus and contains tons of favorites. It's a great place for buying quick meals and snacks for those busy nights.

Geared toward the college student set, you’ll find Asian and South Asian provisions, plus tons of Asian convenience foods like frozen bao, frozen dumplings, noodle packets, chips, cookies, hot sauces, and drinks.

Vegetable-forward, upscale farm-to-table restaurant. The chef is James Beard semifinalist Michael Gallina. Beautiful dishes and atmosphere.

Made from scratch, artisanal donuts with flavors like maple bacon, dulce de leche, and lemon lavender. Gluten-free donuts available on Fridays and vegan donuts baked weekly.

There’s a Whole Foods really close to campus; it’s convenient but slightly more expensive for groceries. It also has great prepared foods and a hot bar for when you’re feeling lazy.

Brunch and good happy hour specials a few blocks away. Roll out of bed with your hair a mess and enjoy a patio brunch here on a nice day.

Farm-to-table, recently taken over by Vicia (previously called Winslow’s Home). Beautiful space, and a shaded patio. A must-do on a nice day.

The true St. Louis-style Italian experience. Baked mostaccioli (mostaccioli al forno on the Zia’s menu) is a St. Louis classic, and get t-rav as an app.