Best Greek Restaurant

Olympia Kebob House & Taverna
1543 McCausland Avenue, olympiakebobandtavern.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
When you settle into your seat at Olympia Kebob House & Taverna, you are literally resting on a piece of St. Louis Greek history. The wooden booths are not just any old benches, but old church pews that Olympia founder George Nicholas acquired from area Greek Orthodox churches by having a priest friend trade relics for them. You’d expect nothing less from this bastion of Greek cuisine, which has brought St. Louis a true taste of the old country since 1980. Modeled after the taverns Nicholas would frequent when visiting family in Rhodes, Olympia began as a small, cafeteria-style operation featuring a menu-less selection of traditional specialties, but has expanded over the years in both size and scope to become the area’s quintessential Greek restaurant. Its pastitsio is legendary, as are its dolmades and moussaka, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a better gyro — those little meat crispies and shockingly thick tzatziki are the stuff gyro dreams are made of. But perhaps the restaurant’s most beloved dish is the saganaki, a platter of Kasseri cheese, lit on fire tableside with brandy and served with a loud “Opa!” – a celebratory exclamation you’ll want to yell out after every bite.

Best Seafood

Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co.
1831 Sidney Street, peacemakerlobstercrab.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
To say that Peacemaker Lobster & Crab Co. brings good seafood to St. Louis is a huge understatement. It's more like the doorway to the Benton Park eatery is some sort of wormhole, transporting diners to a dockside table in Bar Harbor. You’d expect nothing less from James Beard Award-winning chef Kevin Nashan, who opened Peacemaker just across the way from his revered fine-dining restaurant Sidney Street Cafe in 2014 as a way to capture his experiences in both New Orleans and Maine. In that spirit, Peacemaker has elements of both NOLA and the Northeast, allowing diners to tuck into a masterful po boy, slurp down some freshly shucked oysters or bask in the glory of a lobster roll (either buttery Connecticut or mayonnaise-based Maine style) that rivals anything you’d be able to get on the coast. Have a few frozen adult slushies and squint your eyes, and you just might convince yourself you hear the Atlantic lapping the shore in the distance.

Best Mexican

La Catrina
5220 Hampton Avenue, lacatrinastl.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
After working in restaurants around town for years, Jerry Reyes struck out on his own with La Catrina, an outstanding Southampton spot that takes the best of what he learned at other Tex-Mex joints and amps it all up to its best version. Here, you find the delicious, approachable comfort you expect from the genre, but it’s all done so well: fajitas made with tender, high-quality meat, rich enchiladas that taste like they came from someone’s home kitchen, succulent slow-cooked carnitas, and the hot lava stone cauldron, known as molcajete, overflowing with steak, chicken, shrimp, carnitas and Mexican sausage. It’s a vibrant spectacle, but it’s equally matched by La Catrina’s Technicolor, Day of the Dead-themed decor, which colors the interior in a festive motif. On a nice day, though, the sprawling patio is the place to be. One of the city’s best outdoor dining setups, La Catrina’s al fresco space features 10-seater covered booths, high-top tables with colorful umbrellas, a covered bar and a stunning turquoise-and-white outdoor fireplace that creates a gorgeous scene when the sun goes down. The only thing that could make the ambiance better is soaking it all in with one of La Catrina’s outstanding margaritas in hand.

Best Indian

Himalayan Yeti
3515 South Kingshighway Boulevard, himalayanyetimo.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Driving past its storefront — a former Long John Silver’s — you’d be forgiven for assuming that Himalayan Yeti is just a run-of-the-mill spot rather than a bastion of outstanding Indian and Nepalese cuisine. Owner Dipak Prasai’s cooking is the foundation of the restaurant — a talent that he honed at a prestigious culinary school in India, at five-star hotels and while working for Carnival Cruise Lines. You taste this fine-dining touch when you tuck into his flawless rendition of the classic chana masala, a masterpiece of the form made with impeccably cooked chickpeas, tomato and cinnamon-scented masala with notes of garlic, ginger, clove and onion, and his lamb rogan josh — a hard-to-find dish in St. Louis — is a glorious, peanut-forward revelation. Dining at Himalayan Yeti, you understand why Prasai felt no need for high-end digs; his world-class food speaks for itself.

Best Cajun/Creole

Broadway Oyster Bar
736 South Broadway, broadwayoysterbar.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Originally built in the 1840s, the Broadway Oyster Bar building has been everything from a boarding house and record store to a laundry facility and house of prostitution. However, in 1978, it became what it feels like it was always meant to be — St. Louis’ essential music venue, Cajun restaurant and gathering spot for a motley crew of colorful characters. BOB, as it’s affectionately called, is an immersive experience. Like the Big Easy itself, the place has a distinct feel, sound, smell and look. However, it’s the taste of this Cajun culinary gem that has kept the crowds coming back for decades. Broadway Oyster Bar’s kitchen has grown a lot since its initial menu of oysters, sardines and hard-boiled eggs; under the stewardship of prior owners John and Vicky Johnson, alongside then-chef Brad Hagen, the spot became a culinary destination. The restaurant’s gumbo and jambalaya are legendary, its oysters are always among the freshest in town and its alligator sausage and shrimp cheesecake just might be the city’s most unique — and delicious — food offering. Throwing back half-shells and washing them down with a pint of Blackened Voodoo while listening to live zydeco, you understand why the place is an institution.

Best Frozen Pizza (Local)

Dogtown Pizza
dogtownpizza.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Once upon a time, Rick and Meredith Schaper were just two folks living in Dogtown who loved to throw pizza parties for their friends. Though they had no intention of turning that passion into St. Louis’ most iconic frozen pizza brand, the pair happened into the business when a friend who couldn’t attend one of their parties asked them to put one in the freezer for him so he could eat it the next day. That lightbulb moment morphed into Dogtown Pizza, which has grown from a small outfit in the Schapers’ kitchen into a beloved household name that produces roughly one million frozen pizzas a year. Dogtown Pizza has seen a meteoric rise in its nearly two decades in business — its pizzas are available at Schnucks, Dierbergs, small grocers around town and even select Target, Walgreens and Walmart stores. However, what gives the brand its staying power is that it has never lost sight of its commitment to quality, handcrafted pies. Each pizza is made by people, guaranteeing that, even though the company has scaled up quite a bit, it still offers a thoughtfully crafted experience that brings the Schapers’ pizza party into your own home.

Best Steaks

Tucker’s Place
multiple locations including 2117 South 12th Street, tuckersplace.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
When you walk into Tucker’s Place’s Soulard flagship, you know you’re in the presence of steak greatness. The smell of thick-cut meat sizzling on the well-seasoned grill scents the room with its intoxicating aroma, filling you with an almost unbearable anticipation that nearly reaches its breaking point when you see the bone-in ribeye listed on the chalkboard menu with the day’s specials. That ribeye is extraordinary — gorgeously marbled meat, the perfect grill char crust and a generous slather of the restaurant’s signature steak sauce that tastes like the nectar of the gods. Though the steaks are serious, Tucker’s bucks the pretentious steakhouse vibe in favor of such low-key offerings as foil-wrapped baked potatoes, jalapeno poppers and dinner rolls. Lean back, bask in the historic setting and surrender to the pure meaty joy.

Best Chinese Restaurant

Wonton King
8116 Olive Boulevard, University City; asianfoodstl.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
The stretch of Olive Boulevard in University City that hosts St. Louis’ unofficial Chinatown may boast an embarrassment of Asian restaurant riches, but mainstay Wonton King is a bright standout thanks to its thrilling take on Hong Kong-inflected cuisine. Run by husband and wife William Huynh and Ling Dai, the restaurant beautifully blends traditional recipes, such as whole duck and salt-and-pepper fish, with excellent takes on more American-style dishes like hot braised chicken and General Tso’s prawns. While the food is excellent, what makes Wonton King so special is the mom-and-pop feel; Huynh holds court over the restaurant, dividing his time between the kitchen and the dining room and touching every table so that his customers feel like invited guests in his own home. It’s a warm, welcoming touch that makes the Wonton King experience even more delicious.

Best Doughnuts

Donut Drive-In
6525 Chippewa Street, donutdrivein.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Like many folks who grew up on St. Louis’ south side, Donut Drive-In owner Kevin McKernan’s fondest childhood memories revolve around the little white shop on Chippewa. For seven decades, this institution has been a bastion of fried dough excellence, its vintage neon sign serving as a beacon for doughnut lovers and a reminder that, no matter how much the world changes, there are some things you can always count on. That’s why, in taking over the shop a couple of years ago, McKernan vowed to be a steward of its legacy, keeping everything exactly the same as it’s always been. He believes this consistency is the key to its success; the shop still hand-cuts its doughnuts and uses the same recipes that people have come to love over the years. But it’s the intangibles — those little touches that the shop has always done and still continues to do — that really give it its staying power. From putting smiley faces on long johns for the kids or knowing their regular’s orders before they can utter the words “apple fritter,” this beloved piece of St. Louis history will surely be responsible for making memories for decades to come.

Best Fast-Casual Restaurant

Hi-Pointe Drive-In
multiple locations including 1033 McCausland Avenue, hipointedrivein.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
When Mike Johnson opened Hi-Pointe Drive-In in 2017, the chef and restaurateur already had a loyal following for his outrageously delicious burgers at his wildly successful barbecue restaurant Sugarfire Smokehouse, where people would line up as much for what he was serving between two buns as what came out of the smoker. By opening Hi-Pointe Drive-In, Johnson was able to build an entire brand around his burgers. Hi-Pointe’s version is perfection of the form: a mouthwatering smashbugrer topped with gooey cheese and all of the creative trimmings he’s come to be known for over the years. However, burgers are only part of the story at this wonderful restaurant. The hand-cut, Belgian-style fries are some of the best you’ll find; the impossibly creamy milkshakes, filled with everything from Oreos to s’more ingredients, are the stuff of sweet dreams; and even the kids menu is positively craveable (weenie mac and cheese, anyone?). Hi-Pointe proves that Johnson is not just a top barbecue talent; he’s a world-class restaurateur who knows how to give people exactly what they need.

Best Fried Chicken

Hodak’s Restaurant & Bar
2100 Gravois Avenue, hodaks.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Originally a tavern that catered to area factory workers, Hodak’s became a dining destination after owner Tony Hodak’s wife, Helen, would bring in her soon-to-be-famous fried bird for everyone to enjoy. It was so popular that when the Hodak family decided to move the tavern from its original location to its current spot on Gravois, they made Helen’s fried chicken the focus. Six decades later, Hodak’s is more than just St. Louis’ definitive fried chicken spot; it’s a phenomenon thanks to its commitment to serving up its homestyle favorites just like Helen did. This doesn’t mean things are stagnant, however. In 1989, under new ownership after Tony and Helen retired, the restaurant saw an expansion of both its menu and its real estate footprint — but even in its larger space, it’s still common to see lines wrapped around the building on Saturdays and Sundays. It may seem like a lot of hoopla for fried bird, but, in the words of one of the restaurant’s longtime servers, it’s not just chicken; it’s tradition.

Best Italian

Mama’s on the Hill
2132 Edwards Street, mamasonthehill.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
St. Louis folklore says there’s a good possibility that toasted ravioli was invented at Mama’s on the Hill when it was called by its original name, Oldani’s. Whether or not this tale is true, one thing is certain: Mama’s is the quintessential St. Louis Italian restaurant. Previously known as Mama Campisi’s, this Hill mainstay embodies the spirit of the city’s Italian neighborhood, offering up outstanding pastas — that impossibly cheesy, sausage-and-ground-beef-filled lasagna is legendary — chicken, steaks, veal, pizzas and, of course, that delicious homemade toasted ravioli. If you’re brave (or hungry) enough, Mama’s is also home to the Mama’s Pasta Challenge, which consists of a heaping bowl of the restaurant’s marinara-topped spaghetti and the largest meatball in the neighborhood, if not in all of St. Louis. Winners get their pasta for free, a t-shirt, bragging rights and the satisfaction of basking in the pure Italian comfort that this jewel of the Hill provides.

Best Margarita

Rosalita’s Cantina
multiple locations including 1235 Washington Avenue, rosalitascantina.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Rosalita’s Cantina is the embodiment of all the Tex-Mex experience should be — tableside guacamole, sizzling fajitas, a festive atmosphere and, of course, wonderfully refreshing margaritas. While this lively restaurant offers a variety of different versions of the classic drink, one thing they all have in common is quality. Rosalita’s uses good tequila, even in its house version, and incorporates fresh lime juice, which is what separates a good marg from a truly great one. From there, the sky's the limit with such specialty flavors as mango, black cherry, pomegranate or blueberry, as well as the Vegas Margarita, which features peach schnapps, peach puree and Red Bull, and the delightfully high-brow Sparkling Margarita, which features a small bottle of sparkling wine for a garnish. It’s a whimsical — and delicious — touch, though with drinks this wonderfully made, we’d be happy with a simple lime wedge.

Best Martini

The Famous Bar
5213 Chippewa Street, facebook.com/thefamousbarstl

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
The Famous Bar may be best known for its bloody marys, but regulars swear that you will not get a better martini in town than at this southside mainstay. This Goldilocks-style bar — not too divey, not too hipster — hits that always-in-fashion sweet spot of cool and welcoming with just a hint of swank, which comes not from attitude but from how the pros behind the bar approach making a classic drink. Here, you won’t get a riff on a martini, or a reimagined take on the drink; you’ll get a quintessential vodka or gin libation, accented with just a whisper of dry vermouth, shaken or stirred until glorious little ice crystals form, and a simple olive (and maybe a teeny splash of its brine), just as the good lord intended. Bar trends, like cocktails, have come and gone in the decades since the Famous Bar served its first guests, but its timeless, steady vibe and classic approach to the art of bartending never go out of style.

Best New Bar

New Society
3194 South Grand Boulevard, newsocietystl.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
An experimental cocktail lab more than a simple bar, New Society is what happens when you put together two of St. Louis' most talented food and beverage minds and let them freely run wherever their creativity takes them. Run by chef/bartender Michael Fricker and bartender Meredith Barry, this South Grand speakeasy invites guests to leave their preconceived notions of what a cocktail is at the door and let experienced drink professionals take you on a journey into all that is possible. The intimate setting is perfect for such an exploration. Guests enter down a hidden staircase and are greeted by a small, dimly lit lounge and eight-seat bar where Fricker and Barry personally hold court, shepherding guests through a menu that is less bill of fare than poetry book, meant to exude feelings rather than mere flavors. It’s a cerebral experience, but it’s also soulful, with some of the best-made drinks you will ever have. From savory concoctions to a flawlessly executed daiquiri, New Society has everything you could ever want in a bar — and even more of what you never knew was out there.

Best New Restaurant

El Milagro Azteca
4940 Southwest Avenue, elmilagroazteca.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Joe Smugala and chef Carlos Hernandez may have made names for themselves with the barbecue spot J. Smugs GastroPit, but their new Mexican eatery, El Milagro Azteca, may give their ‘cue a run for its money. Located in the Southwest Garden spot previously home to Three Flags Tavern and, most recently, Taco Circus, Smugala and Hernandez’s outstanding restaurant builds upon the smokehouse sensibility by infusing meats with deep, wood-fired flavor. Its costillitas aguachile, for instance, blends the two genres by pairing perfectly cooked baby-back ribs with citrus glaze, escabeche and fresh corn tortillas, and makes you wonder if you are at a barbecue restaurant or Mexican one. The answer, at least in flavor, is both. Here, meats are king, with smoked pork, salmon and chicken showing what happens to tacos, burritos or enchiladas when woodsmoke adds its depth of flavor. Dishes are elevated from delicious and familiar to extraordinary, though it’s not just this cooking detail where the restaurant shines. El Milagro Azteca shows that Hernandez is equally adept at making rich enchiladas, mole and that outrageously fun Pina Rellena, which serves scallops, shrimp, crabmeat, cheese, peppers and onions in a whole, hollowed-out pineapple. One bite and you won’t be asking yourself how much influence their smokehouse background has on the food; you’ll be too busy enjoying the results to care.

Best Place for Day Drinking

Broadway Oyster Bar
736 South Broadway, broadwayoysterbar.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Broadway Oyster Bar is the sort of place where you’re going to get into trouble. Not the bad kind that ends with two years probation, but the sort that magically turns a quick lunch into happy hour. How could you not want to linger at this legendary watering hole? The South Broadway mainstay is such an all-encompassing experience, you lose track of space and time the moment you step through its weathered front door. On cool rainy days, BOB’s dining room and bar are the perfect place to cozy up with a pint of beer (or four or five) and a bowl of gumbo while you pretend you’re on vacation in New Orleans. However, when the weather is nice, the restaurant’s sprawling covered patio is the place to be. There’s often a live band that leaves you no choice but to throw one too many back, sway to the music and let the rest of the world melt away. That little bit of respite this icon provides is a public service.

Best Restaurant for Vegetarians

Terror Tacos
3191 South Grand Boulevard, terrortacos.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Brothers Bradley Roach and Brian Roash have been vegans since the mid-'90s, getting into the plant-based lifestyle as more of a political statement than dietary choice through the hardcore music scene of the era. Over the years, they’ve been thrilled to see the rise of vegan culture and restaurants, though they found this crop of crunchy, hippie-style plant-based eateries to be at odds with their sensibilities. Their South Grand restaurant Terror Tacos is their response to this, pairing outstanding vegan cuisine with a loud, irreverent and in-your-face vibe meant to evoke the hardcore clubs they used to frequent in their younger days. This style translates into the substance of the food. Terror Tacos serves up the sort of eats you'd get from a greasy burrito joint you'd frequent after attending a Fugazi show rather than a crunchy, post-yoga smoothie spot. Dishes like the double-decker Double Diablo Taco, vegan birria-filled quesadilla and loaded nachos are gooey, deeply satisfying delights, and the Terror Burrito, a mix of veggie grounds, cilantro rice, beans, cheese, green chile sauce, lettuce and sour cream that oozes decadence when you bite into it, just might be the best burrito in town.

Best Gay Bar

Rehab Bar and Grill
4054 Chouteau Avenue, rehabstl.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Once upon a time there was a neighborhood in St. Louis that served as a welcoming gathering place for the area’s LGBTQIA+ community. While over the years, the Grove’s identity as St. Louis’ essential gayborhood has been replaced with its reputation as a more generic party spot, Rehab St. Louis serves as an important reminder of the area’s foundation of inclusivity. Founded in 2012, this come-as-you-are spot is in the business of making everyone feel welcome thanks to its friendly bartenders who make everyone who walks through the door feel like a regular. The vibe is laidback at this self-described Cheers, though Rehab is serious about its philanthropic efforts and often supports local charities with special events and fundraisers. It’s the place to be, be seen and, most importantly, be yourself.

Best St. Louis-Style Pizza

Imo’s Pizza
multiple locations including 1000 Hampton Avenue, imospizza.com

READERS' CHOICE SPOTLIGHT
Many local pizzerias claim to be the birthplace of St. Louis-style pizza, but there’s no question Imo’s Pizza is the one that put it on the map. For six decades, Imo’s has been synonymous with that quintessential cracker-crust, Provel-topped, stick-to-the-roof-of-your-mouth masterpiece beloved throughout the Gateway City — so much that the unsubstantiated story of its owner getting the idea for cutting pizzas into the squares from his career as a tile setter has become such a part of local lore any self-respecting St. Louisan can tell the tale. That the Imo’s name has become so ingrained in our city’s culture is a testament to how delicious this regional specialty is. And what’s not to love? That flaky crust, the molten cheese that mixes in with the tangy sauce so you don’t quite know where one ends and the other begins — it’s pure pizza perfection.