Peno is one of my favorite restaurants in STL!The service is excellent!! They go above and beyond to make you feel completely welcome and answered my millions of questions about what to order.. they also gave great recommendations (I am indecisive and always ask the expert)!Their food is incredible! You can taste the freshness and that each dish is carefully prepared and crafted with love!My favorite menu staples:- Octopus - this is amazing! Perfect balance of flavors and textures!- Giant Meatballs - whether you order this as an app or get the spaghetti & meatballs, these balls are not to be missed- Gnocchi - do yourself a favor and order this.. they're so good! Between the pillowy soft gnocchi to the house tomato basil sauce, this is a MUST!- Pizza - any of them! I love all the flavors of the Guiseppe but they're all to die for!Peno is great. Stop reading reviews and just go already.
Located in the heart of Clayton, Peno Soul Food offers Southern Italian traditions. Stepping into this cozy spot feels like entering a rustic home kitchen with dishes prepared with lots of soul.The octopus was juicy and prepared in a red sauce, a unique take on the dish. The gnocchi was so simple and perfect. I absolutely love the fusion of the olive and grape salad.The Chef Owner Pepe is a trip. We love him! You can taste the love and passion that goes into every plate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Braised Octopus, Octopus
Sara G.
Located in the heart of Clayton, Peno Soul Food offers Southern Italian traditions. Stepping into this cozy spot feels like entering a rustic home kitchen with dishes prepared with lots of soul. The octopus was juicy and prepared in a red sauce, a unique take on the dish. The gnocchi was so simple and perfect. I absolutely love the fusion of the olive and grape salad. The Chef Owner Pepe is a trip. We love him! You can taste the love and passion that goes into every plate.
John H.
I went to Peno with a large group (reservation made ahead) on a recent Saturday night. We were promptly seated when we arrived. Our server was great the entire evening. The atmosphere at Peno is modern and cozy at the same time. I started with the Tucci House Salad. It was fresh, delicious, and generously proportioned. Our server brought fresh, warm bread out with the salads that was very tasty. My entree was the Risotto Milanese. It was well prepared and presented. The only miss was a bit of cartilage in a couple of the chicken pieces. I also ordered a Limoncello. I didn't read the menu carefully and was surprised when it was a Limoncello crema . No matter it was tasty. I also ordered the Tiramisu. It was also fine, but lacked flavor. Overall, the experience at Peno was very enjoyable. Our server was attentive, kept the drinks full the entire evening, and had a terrific memory because she didn't write anything down and didn't make a single mistake. I will definitely go back to Peno. They have a wide range of items on the menu.
Emily K.
My husband and I came here for date night on a Friday. We had a reservation but the place was not packed. There also is a parking lot but it's not very big so just be aware you'll most likely have to drive around to find parking. The place is small and cute with a nice patio. The patio was covered when we went and it was a chilly night but it was warm on the covered patio. To start we got the braised octopus. This was very good!! The octopus was not super chewy and was cooked perfectly. Next we got a house salad to split and I really enjoyed it. I got the chicken ravioli special as my main dish. This was not to my liking. It didn't really have a lot of flavor and tasted watery. My husband got the Rigatoni Norma. This was very good and had a lot of flavor! Overall, this was a good experience and we will come back for another nice little date night!
Clare B.
My husband and I as well as the couple that we took who had just moved to St. Louis, loved it. I had been to Peno before with my son and DIL; a great restaurant on the street that we used to live on! It's so much better than a dry cleaner, which was there before; it makes me miss Wydown now! The restaurant is beautiful, great vibe, and the food is delicious. However, we sat on the patio, and the waiter station's light was so bright. Could you put a lower-wattage bulb in the light fixture? Otherwise, everything was perfect!
Paul R.
An EXPERIENCE! This place has the whole package. The moment we stepped through the door, into cozy elegance, the friendly and engaged staff had us! They suggested some exciting drinks and starters we had never heard of, and just saying "yes" opened up flavors and excitement we both talked about all evening! The rest of the night followed suit!
Ty F.
We had a great evening. Our server was fantastic with his recommendations and made his rounds often for drinks and to clear out dishes. We got the Olive and Grape salad first to share and it was good. Didn't blow us away, but the dressing was solid. Then we ordered the Vedore Miste pizza and the Tagliatelle. Both were amazing. We were a little full from the bread/salad by this time. The crust was perfectly done and the goat cheese on this added a nice flavor to it. The Tagliatelle was just as good if not better. Our server recommended adding in some extra Parmesan cheese to thicken up the sauce and I would suggest that to others as well! The noodles were probably the best part of this dish.
Stephanie D.
Great atmosphere, service and food - highlighted by the melanzane appetizer and the absolute best pizza in St. Louis!
Agnes Mannarelli
Very nice staff. However, I must’ve ordered the wrong thing! They had a sea bass special for $44 and I was expecting a properly cooked piece of fish, instead I got something topped with a tomato slop which rendered the fish unrecognizable. After pushing aside the tomatoes what was revealed was an overcooked piece of sea bass. Very disappointing, especially at that price point. The meal came with a medley of vegetable that were gray/green in color and mostly potatoes and whole pieces of garlic, and the pasta was bland and also overcooked and just sad. My friend ordered the Rucola pizza which was served with spinach not Rucola or even Arugula. I know southern Italian food very well and this was not it! I’m very sorry to be so blunt but this meal really left an impression on me unfortunately not in a good way.
We got pizza and salad recommended by friends. We got it to go, so we weren't able to enjoy the restaurant. Pizza was good, salad also good. I look forward to our next dining in visit! Staff was very nice and accommodating.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alessio V.
Recentemente ho visitato Peno e sono rimasto molto deluso. Nonostante le sue affermazioni di servire autentica cucina del sud Italia, ho trovato l'esperienza complessiva molto lontana da quello che mi aspettavo. Dal pessimo servizio al proprietario scortese, la mia visita è stata tutto tranne che piacevole. Innanzitutto, ho notato che il ristorante mancava di un'atmosfera accogliente. Sembrava più una discoteca che un autentico ristorante italiano. Il servizio è stato altrettanto deludente. Il personale sembrava disinteressato e poco attento durante tutta la serata. Ci è voluto molto tempo per prendere le nostre ordinazioni e una volta arrivato il cibo, mancava di qualsiasi sapore. Per peggiorare le cose, il proprietario ha mostrato un atteggiamento incredibilmente scortese e sprezzante verso i clienti. Quando ho sollevato le mie preoccupazioni sulla qualità del cibo e del servizio, la risposta del proprietario è stata difensiva e non si è scusato. Era chiaro che la soddisfazione del cliente non era una priorità per loro. Nel complesso, la mia esperienza in questo ristorante "italiano" è stata estremamente deludente. La mancanza di autenticità sia nel cibo che nell'ambiente, combinata con il pessimo servizio e il proprietario scortese, ha lasciato un'impressione negativa duratura. Non consiglierei questo ristorante a chiunque cerchi un'esperienza autentica di cucina italiana con un buon servizio.
Grace A.
We were sadly disappointed in our experience here. It took a long time For our waiter to greet us or bring menus and the food was bland and under seasoned but the salad was extremely salty. The cocktails were good but 90%ice cubes. The bread was pretty good. This place is quite pricey and not worth it. Go to O+O Pizza instead.
Melanie Jordan
We had dinner here in early December. The food was so good, as was the service and ambiance. Definitely check this restaurant out! I had spaghetti and clams and my friend had the lamb. The owner and chef, Pep outdoes any other restaurant in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marcy Blair
I love having this restaurant in my neighborhood! I get the pizza, it’s always perfectly cooked. Staff is super nice and helpful! I totally recommend this place!
Peno is one of my favorite restaurants in STL!The service is excellent!! They go above and beyond to make you feel completely welcome and answered my millions of questions about what to order.. they also gave great recommendations (I am indecisive and always ask the expert)!Their food is incredible! You can taste the freshness and that each dish is carefully prepared and crafted with love!My favorite menu staples:- Octopus - this is amazing! Perfect balance of flavors and textures!- Giant Meatballs - whether you order this as an app or get the spaghetti & meatballs, these balls are not to be missed- Gnocchi - do yourself a favor and order this.. they're so good! Between the pillowy soft gnocchi to the house tomato basil sauce, this is a MUST!- Pizza - any of them! I love all the flavors of the Guiseppe but they're all to die for!Peno is great. Stop reading reviews and just go already.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Giant Beef Meatballs, Bruschetta, Meatballs, Braised Octopus, Octopus
Located in the heart of Clayton, Peno Soul Food offers Southern Italian traditions. Stepping into this cozy spot feels like entering a rustic home kitchen with dishes prepared with lots of soul.The octopus was juicy and prepared in a red sauce, a unique take on the dish. The gnocchi was so simple and perfect. I absolutely love the fusion of the olive and grape salad.The Chef Owner Pepe is a trip. We love him! You can taste the love and passion that goes into every plate.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Braised Octopus, Octopus
Located in the heart of Clayton, Peno Soul Food offers Southern Italian traditions. Stepping into this cozy spot feels like entering a rustic home kitchen with dishes prepared with lots of soul. The octopus was juicy and prepared in a red sauce, a unique take on the dish. The gnocchi was so simple and perfect. I absolutely love the fusion of the olive and grape salad. The Chef Owner Pepe is a trip. We love him! You can taste the love and passion that goes into every plate.
I went to Peno with a large group (reservation made ahead) on a recent Saturday night. We were promptly seated when we arrived. Our server was great the entire evening. The atmosphere at Peno is modern and cozy at the same time. I started with the Tucci House Salad. It was fresh, delicious, and generously proportioned. Our server brought fresh, warm bread out with the salads that was very tasty. My entree was the Risotto Milanese. It was well prepared and presented. The only miss was a bit of cartilage in a couple of the chicken pieces. I also ordered a Limoncello. I didn't read the menu carefully and was surprised when it was a Limoncello crema . No matter it was tasty. I also ordered the Tiramisu. It was also fine, but lacked flavor. Overall, the experience at Peno was very enjoyable. Our server was attentive, kept the drinks full the entire evening, and had a terrific memory because she didn't write anything down and didn't make a single mistake. I will definitely go back to Peno. They have a wide range of items on the menu.
My husband and I came here for date night on a Friday. We had a reservation but the place was not packed. There also is a parking lot but it's not very big so just be aware you'll most likely have to drive around to find parking. The place is small and cute with a nice patio. The patio was covered when we went and it was a chilly night but it was warm on the covered patio. To start we got the braised octopus. This was very good!! The octopus was not super chewy and was cooked perfectly. Next we got a house salad to split and I really enjoyed it. I got the chicken ravioli special as my main dish. This was not to my liking. It didn't really have a lot of flavor and tasted watery. My husband got the Rigatoni Norma. This was very good and had a lot of flavor! Overall, this was a good experience and we will come back for another nice little date night!
My husband and I as well as the couple that we took who had just moved to St. Louis, loved it. I had been to Peno before with my son and DIL; a great restaurant on the street that we used to live on! It's so much better than a dry cleaner, which was there before; it makes me miss Wydown now! The restaurant is beautiful, great vibe, and the food is delicious. However, we sat on the patio, and the waiter station's light was so bright. Could you put a lower-wattage bulb in the light fixture? Otherwise, everything was perfect!
An EXPERIENCE! This place has the whole package. The moment we stepped through the door, into cozy elegance, the friendly and engaged staff had us! They suggested some exciting drinks and starters we had never heard of, and just saying "yes" opened up flavors and excitement we both talked about all evening! The rest of the night followed suit!
We had a great evening. Our server was fantastic with his recommendations and made his rounds often for drinks and to clear out dishes. We got the Olive and Grape salad first to share and it was good. Didn't blow us away, but the dressing was solid. Then we ordered the Vedore Miste pizza and the Tagliatelle. Both were amazing. We were a little full from the bread/salad by this time. The crust was perfectly done and the goat cheese on this added a nice flavor to it. The Tagliatelle was just as good if not better. Our server recommended adding in some extra Parmesan cheese to thicken up the sauce and I would suggest that to others as well! The noodles were probably the best part of this dish.
Great atmosphere, service and food - highlighted by the melanzane appetizer and the absolute best pizza in St. Louis!
Very nice staff. However, I must’ve ordered the wrong thing! They had a sea bass special for $44 and I was expecting a properly cooked piece of fish, instead I got something topped with a tomato slop which rendered the fish unrecognizable. After pushing aside the tomatoes what was revealed was an overcooked piece of sea bass. Very disappointing, especially at that price point. The meal came with a medley of vegetable that were gray/green in color and mostly potatoes and whole pieces of garlic, and the pasta was bland and also overcooked and just sad. My friend ordered the Rucola pizza which was served with spinach not Rucola or even Arugula. I know southern Italian food very well and this was not it! I’m very sorry to be so blunt but this meal really left an impression on me unfortunately not in a good way.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
We got pizza and salad recommended by friends. We got it to go, so we weren't able to enjoy the restaurant. Pizza was good, salad also good. I look forward to our next dining in visit! Staff was very nice and accommodating.
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recentemente ho visitato Peno e sono rimasto molto deluso. Nonostante le sue affermazioni di servire autentica cucina del sud Italia, ho trovato l'esperienza complessiva molto lontana da quello che mi aspettavo. Dal pessimo servizio al proprietario scortese, la mia visita è stata tutto tranne che piacevole. Innanzitutto, ho notato che il ristorante mancava di un'atmosfera accogliente. Sembrava più una discoteca che un autentico ristorante italiano. Il servizio è stato altrettanto deludente. Il personale sembrava disinteressato e poco attento durante tutta la serata. Ci è voluto molto tempo per prendere le nostre ordinazioni e una volta arrivato il cibo, mancava di qualsiasi sapore. Per peggiorare le cose, il proprietario ha mostrato un atteggiamento incredibilmente scortese e sprezzante verso i clienti. Quando ho sollevato le mie preoccupazioni sulla qualità del cibo e del servizio, la risposta del proprietario è stata difensiva e non si è scusato. Era chiaro che la soddisfazione del cliente non era una priorità per loro. Nel complesso, la mia esperienza in questo ristorante "italiano" è stata estremamente deludente. La mancanza di autenticità sia nel cibo che nell'ambiente, combinata con il pessimo servizio e il proprietario scortese, ha lasciato un'impressione negativa duratura. Non consiglierei questo ristorante a chiunque cerchi un'esperienza autentica di cucina italiana con un buon servizio.
We were sadly disappointed in our experience here. It took a long time For our waiter to greet us or bring menus and the food was bland and under seasoned but the salad was extremely salty. The cocktails were good but 90%ice cubes. The bread was pretty good. This place is quite pricey and not worth it. Go to O+O Pizza instead.
We had dinner here in early December. The food was so good, as was the service and ambiance. Definitely check this restaurant out! I had spaghetti and clams and my friend had the lamb. The owner and chef, Pep outdoes any other restaurant in the city.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I love having this restaurant in my neighborhood! I get the pizza, it’s always perfectly cooked. Staff is super nice and helpful! I totally recommend this place!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5