Restaurants in Edwardsville

With its precisely trimmed hedges, red-brick façade, and quartet of shuttered windows, Grace Manor Restaurant looks less like an eatery than a private home. Inside, chef and owner Debra Grace keeps up the pretense, serving hearty helpings of upscale comfort fare such as gravy-soaked buttermilk biscuits and rosemary-sprinkled mac 'n' cheese. Entrees such as porterhouse steaks, asparagus-and-mushroom ravioli, and peppers stuffed with quinoa round out the dinner selection. Not only the menus, but the interior paint and local artwork on the walls change with the seasons as Debra concocts new dishes from locally grown produce, meats, and dairy.

The culinary gurus at Thip’s Thai Cuisine blend pineapple, chili paste, and basil while churning out 50+ authentic curries, noodle entrees, and rice specialties. Patrons choose among chicken, pork, and tofu for nearly every dish, and upgrade to beef or shrimp to infuse their plates with a classic surf-and-turf vibe. Knives chop fresh veggies such as bell peppers, carrots, and green onions, which pile atop rice noodles and play water polo in steaming coconut milk.

When Brian Toska and his daughter Susannah opened Buca Pizza Pub, they had family in mind. In a feature for the Telegraph, Brian explains his theory: "Kids love pizza, and we thought that would be a great way to bring them here.” He concocts an eclectic selection of pied-piper tunes and specialty pizzas to do just that, including the Chicago-style pie with italian beef, onion, and hot and sweet peppers, as well as the pizza greco with spinach, feta, and olive oil. In addition to pizza, servers also transport plates loaded with spaghetti, lasagna, and Italian sandwiches to famished families.

Twin City's Restaurant epitomizes a classic Midwestern restaurant, with local owners, a menu of home-cooked American favorites, and country-style breakfasts served from dawn until dusk. After the morning breakfast crowd dines on pancakes, biscuits, and gravy, a lunch buffet of freshly made specials snakes across the dining room. At dinner, classic American steaks and chops meet with eclectic, internationally inspired entrees that range from Mediterranean–style chicken to burgers.

Inside the St. Louis Downtown Airport, travelers excitedly bustle about on their way to distant destinations or emerge from vacations rested and ready to return home. The constant stream of action is all part of the experience for diners at Crusoe’s on the Runway, which combines the spectacle of air travel with hearty American meals. Whether they’re traveling or just stopping by for a bite, diners fill their bellies as they overlook two of the three runways from the airport’s east ramp. St. Louis–style pizza, steaks, and pastas satiate hunger pangs, along with comfort food such as Mom’s meatloaf and country-fried steak. As they watch Airbus A320 jetliners and lightweight Boeing 757 aircrafts launch into the sky and gently touch down on the runway from their tables, guests can hold up score cards to judge the pilots’ form.

Named purveyor of Best Nostalgic Treats and the most photographed restaurant in St. Louis by Alive magazine in 2010, The Fountain on Locust showcases a menu of from-scratch savory and sweet treats topped with handmade sauces and dressings. Amidst the eatery’s hand-painted art deco interior, patrons enjoy signature ice-cream martinis such as the Strawberry Blonde, which overflows with vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, and strawberry ice cream ($8), or the Standing Banana Split, featuring brûléed bananas, three scoops of handmade ice cream, and hot fudge as sweet as a love letter from a honey pot ($6.99). For a heartier treat, spoons dip into cups ($3.79) of 1 of 47 rotating soups, including Cajun corn chowder and polish dill pickle, made from scratch every morning. Tongues can also feast on the roasted Angus beef, white cheddar, rosemary-grilled onions, and house-made horseradish sauce of the hot roast beef melt ($9.79). Vegetarian, vegan, egg-free, and gluten-free choices are also available on request.