As a St. Louis Native, I grew up on frozen custard, thin crust pizza, and toasted ravioli. Now that I live in Chicago, any time I go home I have to stop to eat some if not all of these Classic STL Foods. I even have such a love for toasted ravioli that I bring a cooler to safely transport frozen ravioli back to Chicago. If only I could transport frozen custard easily, but maybe it’s better that I can’t. It’d be too dangerous.
Ted Drewes Frozen Custard
The first stop on our food tour is none other than the home of frozen custard, Ted Drewes. Ted Drewes Frozen Custard first opened in 1929 and has been serving frozen custard for over 90 years. This little custard stand is a summer staple in St. Louis. The most popular treat, the concrete, is custard so thick it can be served upside down. You can mix in any toppings you want. My personal favorite is a Mint Oreo concrete. In the words of Ted himself, “It really is good, guys… and gals!”
Fitz’s Bottling Co.
Stop number two is Fitz’s. Since opening in 1993, Fitz’s Bottling Co. has been providing root beer for St. Louis. On top of an authentic bottling line, Fitz’s also has a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal while watching root beer get made. Fitz’s original root beer recipe was created in 1947 and has been bottled ever since. When you go to Fitz’s, you have to get a root beer float. In a chilled Fitz’s mug, piled high with ice cream, it’s a treat you can’t resist.
The Hill
Now let’s make our way to The Hill, St. Louis’s Italian neighborhood. Any spot in this neighborhood is the place for authentic Italian food and is extremely delicious. One spot on The Hill that I would like to point out is Charlie Gitto’s. Originally known as Angelo’s, this is the place credited for the creation of the fried ravioli in 1947, otherwise known as toasted ravioli. Meat-filled raviolis fried to golden perfection are one of the best foods ever. It is not a true toasted ravioli unless it is meat-filled. They are my ultimate weakness.
Gooey Louie
Gooey Louie is our next stop. This is the location for everything gooey butter cake. I’m not sure how to describe gooey butter cake other than a buttery, sugary treat. Opened in 2006, Gooey Louie is known for classic gooey butter cake as well as many gooey butter creations.
Imo’s Pizza
Stop five is Imo’s Pizza, home of St. Louis style pizza. Imo’s was established in 1964, and it was the first pizza place in St. Louis to offer delivery. A thin cracker crust topped with Provel cheese makes this a unique staple in St. Louis. Now you may be asking, what the heck is Provel cheese? Provel cheese is a mix of Cheddar, Provolone, and Swiss cheese and is creamy and amazing. Provel is another thing I stash in my cooler to bring back to Chicago. Pizza is just way better with it.
Gus’ Pretzel Shop
The final stop on our food tour is Gus’ Pretzel Shop. Gus’ opened in 1920 and has been a tradition in St. Louis since. From selling pretzels in their corner shop to selling pretzel sticks on corners, Gus’ is a classic that you can’t skip.
Well, I don’t know about you all, but writing this made me extremely hungry. I’m sorry if I made you hungry reading this. If you make a trip to St. Louis, make sure to stop and try any of these classic STL foods.
I have lived all over the USA and never encountered Toasted Ravioli until I moved to MO in 2015. It is delicious and everyone needs to try it once! In 2019 I went to Fitz’s for lunch and shared a MASSIVE Root Beer Float with my boyfriend. I finally had Ted Drewes custard this summer- it was fabulous! I got the concrete called “Cardinal Sin” with chocolate fudge and sour cherries. Amazing.