Cafe Napoli
7754 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO, 63105
Cafe Napoli Menu
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Appetizers
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Insalata Dell'orto
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La Carne
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Il Pollo
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Il Pesce
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Il Vitello
Healthy Meal suggestions for Cafe Napoli
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Appetizers
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Insalata Dell'orto
-
La Carne
-
Il Pollo
-
Il Pesce
-
Il Vitello
Visit below restaurant in Clayton for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
7754 Forsyth Blvd
Clayton, MO, 63105 - Phone (314) 863-5731
- Website https://www.cafenapoli.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Upscale
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Daniel B.
I have been coming here at least once a week for the past 2 years. Always an amazing experience. Food is outstanding, service is out of this world, Tony the owner always comes and says Hello. Simply amazing, no other words to describe it.
(5)Jonathan R.
In town for business, went here for lunch. 3 stars on the food. Had the tortellini with prosciutto and mushrooms. Cream sauce was just right and not to heavy. Need to add a little more prosciutto. Reminded me a lot of Patrizio's in Dallas. Great patio, great location, and the service was on point.
(3)Matt T.
I took three colleagues here for lunch this week. The bill with tip (no booze mind you) was $130. It's not that it was too expensive, its just that for the price, you'd expect it to be memorable. It was, unfortunately, forgettable. Tiny salads come with the lunch entrees, which is good because even with that, I left hungry. The chicken picatta was good, but came with three small bites of cauliflower and a small piece of chicken, bummer. The seabass looked great. The food all tasted fine, but I just can't see myself returning given the other great options in the area. It did not leave a lasting impression. 3 stars is not bad, but its not great either.
(3)Kate B.
This place is so overrated. A friend of mine told me Cafe Napoli was excellent and that she goes there almost daily for lunch. She raved about how great the pasta is and suggested we go there since she was going to be in town. She made reservations for 3 people for 7:30pm. It was a Thursday night. Not even a prime day. We got there early around 7:25pm and the place was a mobscene. We informed the hostess of our 7:30 reservation and she told us we'd have to wait a while and that they quote "had way too many reservations tonight." Uh okay. Well we waited. And waited. And damn, it was about 8:00pm and the manager/host/whoever kept giving us excuses. We were ABOUT to leave when they finally seated us. It was really obnoxious. Finally, we sat down and it took them another 10 minutes just to bring the menus, bread, and water. They brought us out two free appetizers as consolation for making us wait so long. Hey, not bad. Well, I tried the toasted ravioli and it was...okay. Not too bad for toasted rav but I am not super crazy about it either, so eh... we also got to try the eggplant parm. It was drowning in cheese and red sauce. The eggplant itself was sliced uber thin and I could barely taste it. It was like just eating straight up melted mozzarella with red sauce. Not really my cup of tea but it was free so I can't complain. The bread was some of the worst bread I have ever had at a restaurant, and that's saying something. I think the worst bread ever was Duff's because it was stale. Well this was 2nd to that, it was really dry and did not taste fresh at all. Also, my friend found a bug floating in her glass of water. Obviously, they replaced it in a hurry....but uh, ewwww! I asked the server if the pasta there was homemade. Nope. It's not homemade. So why did my friend rave about it so much? I guess I had to find out. We ordered our dinners; I decided to get the rigatoni cardinale. It sounded like something I'd really enjoy...pasta, scallops, shrimp, and a creamy wine sauce. Mmm. Well, when our food arrived, it was barely edible. The pasta, first of all, took "al dente" to a whole 'nother level. It was HARD and difficult to chew, at least for me. Maybe it was the type of pasta I ordered, I don't know. My friend's pasta was angel hair and easier to chew. Secondly, it was SO spicy that my tongue and entire mouth was on fire. I couldn't taste a single lick of flavor because my tongue was being assaulted with spice. There was NOTHING, I repeat NOTHING on the description for that item on the menu about spicy. My friend, however, ordered the diavolo or something like that, and it was even spicier than mine. She eats spicy food all of the time and even SHE thought it was too hot to handle. She didn't send hers back but I had to. I just couldn't do it. The server was apologetic and he brought the menu back to me so I could try again. Well, I told him I was terrified to order anything else because that clearly was not marked "spicy" and it came out insanely spicy. He promised me the replacement dish would not be spicy at all. I asked if I could get an alfredo sauce with seafood pasta. He seemed hesitant but then he said that yes, they could do a white creamy sauce with clams. OK sounds good. Welllll, about 8 minutes later I got my food but it was the exact dish I had ordered before. Not white sauce. I asked him what was up with that and he said they just wanted to "give it a second try" without the spices. Err, okay then. (Later on, I realized there wasn't a single white sauce dish on the menu yet my friend insisted she had had several white garlic sauces for lunch.) Odd. Anyway, I tried my dish the 2nd time around and it was SO SO SO much better. The pasta was still hard though, and the seafood seemed a little too overcooked, but the sauce had a great flavor, now that I could actually taste it. But really, the best part of the entire meal was the glass of pinot noir I ordered, which they gave to me for free, by the way, which was really nice of them. I really did appreciate how kind they were and how they tried very hard to fix all of the mistakes and bad stuff that was happening, but this is not going to bring me back. Too many things went wrong all at once and just getting into the restaurant was a huge pain. I doubt I will ever come back to this place, even if it didn't cost me anything, and I mean that. My suggestions: - Better management/training needed, especially for reservations. I'd hate to see what a Friday or Saturday is like at this place. - More attention to detail. Like how our server tried to bring the check out while I was STILL eating. And no insects in drinking water, old bread, etc... - Better quality ingredients and chefs that don't taint every dish with a pound of red pepper flakes. Pasta that isn't super hard either would be a plus, even homemade pasta would make a world of difference. When you charge upwards of 20 bucks for an entree, it needs to be matching quality. My 2 cents.
(2)Tim R.
Meh. I had heard so many great things about Cafe Napoli, but we were a little underwhelmed by the food. It's not that it wasn't good; it was just not much better than a Pasta House type meal (which obviously isn't saying much) for 3 times as much. The service was very good, and the wine was reasonable but the calamari was so so at best and the pasta was average. I will say the reputation alone will probably push me to give it another try; maybe it was just an off night.
(3)Marci E.
The only negative is that this is such a popular place that it can be crowded and noisy with lots of drinking going on - not the ambiance I prefer. However, it is a clear 5 star for the food and service, whether it's lunch or dinner. Their fish is always perfect and their wait staff, even the newer ones, are exceptionally trained. Their pasta is also amazing. There are less expensive places nearby, but for consistently high quality upscale food, Napoli never disappoints.
(5)Cherry L.
I AM SUCH A FAN! YOUR FOOD IS SO TASTY! but beware, this place is def $$$! 1. Food -I know that this is an italian restaurant, but holy moly, their fish options are soooo goooood. i've gotten their sea bass twice in two diff preparations both times it was superb. my colleagues have tried the salmon and trigger fish and both raved how great they were! -bone in filet was also super tasty, cooked really well! -a tasty house salad with creamy italian dressing, i reallllly enjoy it -I would actually pass on the apps--the bruschetta and calamari were both pretty standard, nothing fantabulous about them 2. Service -I hate to be this girl, but a SERIOUSLY, its a slowwwwwwwwww service, please allot for at least 2 hrs for this meal -the first time i came, it was probably the fastest--20 people in the wine room at the bar section; our server was fast and so was the kitchen -the 2nd and 3rd time (parties of 2 and 6 respectively), it was sooooo slow; i get, they have a process, but it really just takes too long 1. drink/wine orders (20min) 2. THEN they bring you a menu (10min) 3. bring the tray of today's meat/fish selection (15min) 4. allow you to think it over (10min) 5. take your order (10min) 6. wait wait wait wait wait wait for food 7. salads come out, then entrees are pretty fast 3. Space -I don't particularly care for the space, so no rave reviews there -BUT, they have some great team dinner spaces -- couple of private rooms that can accommodate huge groups! definitely take this into consideration! I'll be backkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
(4)Jan K.
Try Cafe Napoli's Stacked Salad and a glass of Pinot Grigio - a perfect late night meal on the outdoor patio. I would like to return to see what else I can love.
(5)Camille L.
Was not a big fan... We called ahead and were told that we would have no trouble getting patio seating but when we arrived 15 minutes later they said itd be a 45 minute wait. The restaurant has nice atmosphere, but the service and food are extremely slow. When it finally arrived everything seemed to have an excess of pepper... Not to mention that it's already pretty pricey. Will not be returning.
(1)Kevin P.
Cafe Napoli is typical Clayton Image without qualified backing. I don't mine at all paying for expensive meals if they're worth the price. I got the veal and was slightly disappointed. The flavors were nothing to really brag about. They covered the whole veal sambucca with cheese to the point that the flavors were hidden. Seems more like an overpriced venue than an exceptional Italian restaurant.
(3)Jenna L.
When I want to feel like I'm back in Hollywood, I go to Bar Napoli. All the best cars are parked right in front of the restaurant and everyone is dressed "to be seen." This is a great place for people watching and probably an awesome spot for singles. I love sitting on the outdoor patio when it's nice out. After 10pm, the inside bar turns into a club. When you feel like going somewhere with loud Top 20 music and dancing, this is perfect for that.
(4)Jeff C.
Always great service. The Tiramisu was great and they sell Brunello by the glass?! Nice
(4)Annie S.
Disclaimer: This review pertains to the bar side (Bar Napoli) - not the food side (Cafe Napoli). Bar Napoli is in a great location in Clayton - safe, clean, slightly upscale. I've gone here on multiple locations to start the night off since it's close to my apartment and centrally located in St. Louis. They have two main bars, so if the front one is packed, the one in back is usually quieter and more accessible. The front bar oftentimes has a wedding party dancing after the reception to a mixture of sounds from a DJ. I've heard everything from rap/hip hop to techno to stereotypical wedding songs played. Just depends. It's an open space with room for dancing, and there are typically two or three bartenders taking orders. The back bar is a little more lounge-y, the music is quieter, and there's seating for small groups, nice art, and the bartenders have more time for chit chat. Overall, Napoli is a great spot to mingle, get some reasonably priced drinks, and dance a little.
(3)Rob J.
Been here numerous times after business meetings with customers. It's pretty good given the context. Great atmosphere in the heart of Clayton. Food and service is on par with what you'd expect for the $$$.
(4)j c.
My favorite place to eat when I visit St. Louis. Bustling place full of beautiful people. Not a very big place, so it gets filled up pretty quickly. This place has both quality and the quantity. The menu isn't very adventurous but it's filled with reliable standards. Portions are generous. Among the appetizers, calamari & toasted ravioli and when available fried soft shell crabs stand out. Standard salads; caprese is filling and tasty, caesar comes with real anchovies. Their pasta dishes have been pared down. Linguine with seafood is a favorite; slightly salty and buttery, it's addicting. Specials every day that they bring to the table to show. Nice variety of steaks and fish. Nice but pricy wine list. Attentive service. Not a cheap place but very satisfying. Never had a bad meal here.
(5)Cat H.
Service is great! Bone in veal with shiitake mushroom reduction was delicious. Linguini fra Diavoli with seafood could be better. Nice decor but overall bit pricey.
(3)Dave M.
In short - a small and boring bar, but a really good restaurant. Went there for a business dinner and sat in the wine room. Very nice and intimate; great for conversation vs. the loud main dining room. The menu offered a little bit of everything, but I had the sea bass accompanied by broccoli and mashed potatoes with a side salad. The food was very good and the wine was excellent. I would say that Cafe Napoli is a decent restaurant and I would certainly not mind eating there again. It's just not a "memorable" place; aside from the room we ate in, nothing really stands out or leaves you with an impression you will not soon forget, which considering the prices, is a little disappointing. But again, I would not discourage you from trying it.
(3)Robin A.
We had our first meal at Cafe Napoli while we were considering them for our rehearsal dinner. We should have known things were suspect when our initial cocktails arrived - mine a dirty martini sans olives, hers Disaronno sour with nothing but rocks. But we thought hey maybe their bartender is a purist. Our appetizer was beef capriccio and it was good, but covered with so much paprika aoili as to obscure the taste of the beef. Whether or not this was on purpose is up for debate. We both ordered the specials, when the complimentary salads arrived, they were nothing more than red leaf lettuce tossed in their house dressing, which was very good, and we thought hey they were complimentary. When we received our entrees, they were frozen scallops on a bed of risotto apparently cooked with water from the Dead Sea. - for her. I ordered bone-in veal chop medium rare, which although it came medium well, was still relatively tender. When the chef stopped by and offered a redo on both of our entrees, we accepted. Her scallops came quickly but without much improvement. They were really "fishy" tasting and the risotto was too salty to eat. After an additional 20 minutes, I was brought a seared and raw inside veal chop. When the manager stopped by, he had commented that he looked at the dish and said it was a little rear. I may not be a professional chef, but I do know the difference between raw and rare. I will say that the service was impeccable and they did comp both of the entrees that we send back twice and gave us a free glass of wine. However in the end, we ended up spending sixty dollars for a few drinks and a mediocre appetizer. Apparently someone at Cafe Napoli is reading Yelp. And do to our negative honest review went into OpenTable, where we made our reservation, and retroactively cancelled our reservation. Stay classy Cafe Napoli.
(1)James G.
Very disappointed in this place. I was visiting home (St. Louis) and decided to take a date here for dinner. Our appetizer came out cold (it was supposed to be hot) and was some of the worst calamari I've ever eaten. The waiter was flat out rude, had a terrible personality, and literally took the receipt book out of my hand after I signed on the tip. I understand that he was probably trying to go home, but I just tipped the guy $40 (a healthy tip considering the bill), so the least he could've done was show some courtesy. The patio environment was nice, good wine, and the entrees were decent, but I was expecting a lot more and will never be going back to this establishment solely because of our waiter.
(2)Paul W.
Have been there twice now. Both with work ordered the same thing both times. The Sea Bass. I talked it up to the group when we went back the second time because it was great the first time I had it. Four people including myself ordered it and we all had to return it because they were undercooked. By undercooked I mean raw. They took out plates back and cooked what we had left on our plates and re-plated it and brought it back to us. I have not tried anything else on the menu. Might if I go back.
(2)David N.
Cafe Napoli, you have given me a new taste of fine dinning. I came for their restaurant week and I was blown out of the park with their impeccable detail on service. They were so attentive such that my cup was never half full, crumbs were never on the table, bread was always refilled, and etc. Now let's talk about the food now. I got their pasta dish and one word to describe my first bite: savory. The pasta was cooked perfect and their meat seasoned to perfection. There was nothing wrong with it other I wish I had a second stomach. My girlfriend got the sea bass and that was phenomenal! It was cook to perfection, very flavorful, and juicy. I have so much to rave about this place but you got to try it for yourself. Let's the food do the talking and let the service keeps you coming back for more.
(5)Amie S.
I would give this place a 3.5 stars. The service was great but food was okay. Nothing that I left with that was memorable. The bruschetta and eggplant parm were good. Their desserts were above average, especially the chocolate bread pudding was really good.
(3)Wendy T.
When we entered for lunch on Friday, we awkwardly stood there for maybe 3 minutes, unsure of what to do. There was no one standing behind the podium, and there was a waiter talking on the phone. After he finished talking, he wiped up and attended to something behind the bar instead of attending to patrons. The waiter who came to us after we were seated, however, was very warm, friendly, and enthusiastic. We asked a few questions, and he answered them with zeal :D We ordered the Bruschetta di pomodori appetizer, which had anchovies... those thingies I hear about being gross when put on pizza, but when cut up and placed on bread, the result is quite delish. Nice balance of salty and savory, crunchy and creamy. Why does everyone hate on the poor critters? If you don't order an appetizer, that's okay too, because Napoli also serves bread with packaged salted Land O'Lakes butter. My Veal Piccata was thin, but soft and tender. The white wine and lemon butter sauce made my meal taste strangely like Chinese takeout XD The red peppers and green herbs (can't remember if it was parsley or cilantro) really made it look like it too! BF got the special of the day: Rainbow trout with pepper sauce. It came as a huge pan-fried filet smothered with a bright creamy pepper sauce with several pieces of nicely salted cauliflower. He said the pepper flavor was too strong near the end, but I didn't think it was that bad~ :) Cafe Napoli is a nice place to drop in for lunch. It wasn't busy at all (3 tables, including us), but guess it made sense since it was... 3pm. :P Their dinner prices soar upwards by quite a lot, so lunch is a good time to sample their menu. The presentation of each dish is well done, and our waiter was so nice ^^ They're on the fancier side, but they don't try to make their food too complicated. :)
(4)Jennifer M.
The service was great and the waiters were very nice and accommodating when it began to rain and we needed to move inside. Although, the food was just alright since it was just plain Italian food you can get anywhere.
(3)Govind R.
We had an unfortunate experience at Napoli tonight (9/26). I and my friend arrived and the hostess put our name on the list to be seated, with about 2 parties ahead of us. We were told to wait 15-25 minutes, which we did patiently. I checked with the hostess multiple times afterwards about seating and she shrugged her shoulders each time. After about 1 hour and 10 minutes we got up from the bar (where we had informed her multiple times we were sitting) and let her know that we were leaving. At this point she dishonestly told us, in front of someone I presume was a manager, that she had tried to look for us multiple times (we were in plain sight at the bar facing her and we would have easily spotted each other had she actually tried to find us). During this entire time, I saw several parties who showed up after us without reservations be seated. I went up to her a total of four times while we were there and we got no semblance of an apology as we were leaving. We were actually scouting out the place as a potential place to hold our residency interview dinners this season and it's unfortunate that our first time to Cafe Napoli was one that left me and my friend a little disrespected and crestfallen that we were treated this way. On the upside, the crowd seemed lively, well-dressed, the cocktails were decent, and the drink selection is quite varied. Seems like a place I would bring a girl on a date, with advance reservations and with the guarantee I wouldn't be given the run around. That being said, I would be reluctant to return anytime soon.
(1)Alex B.
We had to wait a little bit at the bar before we got seated, but not long, and it was a Saturday night without a reservation. So that was good. I expected a lot more from the bread they put on the table. Wouldn't even eat it. We ordered an antipasto dish, an 18 dollar number that was supposed to come with a variety of cheeses, nuts, and salami. There were 3 types of cheese, and enough of that for 2, but the nuts were mostly peanuts and the salami was just one circle of salami cut into 4 pieces. This was disappointing enough to cause me to create a yelp account and write this review. The stack salad, which consisted of buffalo mozzarella, tomato, balsamic, basil, and a teensy piece of eggplant, was 10$--way too much for the two little stacks. The bolognese pasta was flavorful, but I think the ratio of meat sauce in the pasta was a little stingy. We called a cab when we got the check, but the waiter made us wait forever to pick it up because he was sorting out a problem with a previous customer. That's not our problem. Overall, it was an okay experience. Customer service was pretty good, and so was the food, but I just cant get over paying almost 20 dollars for cheese, a ton of peanuts, and a single slice of salami.
(2)Tanisha M.
I love the Chianti! The complimentary Happy Hour snack was a nice touch. I like to start off on a high note.... the service overall tonight was unsatisfactory, exception for my server and the support staff outside. Upon walking into the restaurant, it was completely shut down for a private event. The gentleman told me and my friend it was a private (not sure if he was the host or some form of management) and that we could sit outside on the patio (in 58º) by the heaters. He never even walked us to our designated outdoor seating. It was a bit rude. Perhaps, I'll consider giving them a second chance...it was just a really bad decision to not have a better plan in place for other patrons...outside of the one-man server that did his best to improve my experience.
(2)Betty C.
We were here for a family event and they placed our party in an adjacent room that was only accessible through the street so I can only report on that room and the food we were served. The appetizers of mini meatballs, sauteed peppers bruschetta and prosciutto wrapped asparagus were all very fresh and well seasoned. For dinner the spinach salad with Gorgonzola and nuts was sweet and tart -a perfect balance in the dressing. The vegetarian pasta San Remo had good flavor but was nowhere near spicy enough so we had to ask for crushed red pepper. The grilled filet mignon with mushroom sauce was a tiny bit mealy as if they had used a meat tenderizer that broke down the beef a little too much. The grill flavor on themeat and the mushrooms was great. The bread pudding other reviewers had raved about would have been fantastic if they had heated it. It was cold with some pools of butter that had broken and congealed and some of the bread edges were hard. A shame because it had good flavor. The tiramisu was very good as was the spumoni. The party room had a nice quiet feeling to it with dark walls and soft lighting and a big window looking out to the street.
(3)Greg G.
Had dinner here 1/25/2013 This review is for the "bar" of cafe Napoli If you can't dine on the restaurant side, don't bother. For dining, the experience is a waste of money. Go someplace else. If you are coming here to meet friends and have cocktails, this is great. The wait staff busted their butts to make our vist enjoyable. Dinner on concrete floors in a cold corner of the room did not work. The wait staff did.
(2)Kevin G.
OK I've been coming to St . Louis for years and finally stumbled across this spot. I was here on a Wednesday night and this place was jumping. We had a big group of about 15. We didn't have reservations and they seated us in 5 minutes. The place was packed. They gave us our own private room and two waitiers. The service was good and the food was great. I had the calamari for an appetizer and Steak for my entree. They had a DJ spinning while we were eating and at some point the place turned into a nightclub. It was off the hook. The restaurant also has an outdoor eating area that was packed and seemed like a good spot for people watching. If you're in St . Louis I would definitely put this place on your short list of places to go. (If you want to have a good meal, music, and atmosphere)
(4)Mia S.
Not impressed at all! Wine selection: even though they use an iPad to show their wine list, it doesn't mean they have great selections. I asked for three, all of them were out and the waiter randomly picked one and brought it to me in the end.. At that point, I'm already tired of it so I just had to take what I was given. Food: we had a group of 6 people so we each ordered different things and I tasted a couple different ones among those. The appetizers:the calamari we had was good, the roasted ravioli was so mediocre. The seafood was rather blend and not as fresh as I thought it would be. The steak and veal were okay, nothing spectacular. We order a few desserts and they are just regular restaurant level, nothing to write home about. I would recommend anyone to avoid the creme brûlée at all cost! The only reason I still gave it 3 stars were that we had a good table and I had a good time with my friends that night!
(3)david m.
Absolutely Amazing! Great food, ambiance, nice wine selection. You cannot go wrong here! One of the best restaurants in St. Louis!
(5)Joey W.
This was my first time inside the bar portion of this restaurant, and I can say that I am definitely a fan. We came in and ordered wine and mixed drinks and in my work party, nobody had any complaints. We had appetizers of different types and flavors. We had a beef appetizer that was rather cold, but was very delicious, and their cheese platter was to die for: bleu cheese, swiss and other delicious flavors all accompanied on a wooden platter with a variety of different sausages and nuts. The food was presented in a very beautiful manner. The service was also very impressive: very attentive to drinks and food, and the food did come out rather quickly. This is a place that I will definitely recommend to my friends indeed!
(4)Leslie S.
Service was EXCELLENT. I had the Vitello Piccata (veal cutlet in a white wine, lemon and butter sauce) (see picture). Absolutely out of this world good! This came with broccoli with unlimited bread and butter. I cannot wait to go back! The food and service were so good on this visit, I'm upgrading from 3 to 4 stars!
(4)Jeremy G.
Been here several times for business and pleasure and must say it has been going downhill for quite awhile now. Overpriced and overrated. If you're gonna spend this kind of money and want a much better experience, walk over to The Crossing or Remy's for better service, menus, and wine lists.
(3)B W.
This is a great restaurant with consistent, quality service. It's nothing spectacular, but it's reliable. The steak is good and the pastas are great (especially the salmon pasta), and the wine menu has good variety. My only complaint is that the bread is truly terrible.
(4)Eileen B.
Wonderful meal! The food was well cooked, good portion size and interesting. I've eaten here a few times and have been pleased each time. Be sure to ask for seating in dining room - bar is cramped and noisy.
(4)Andy K.
Great experience here this past weekend. We came here with a party of 6 on a rare cool evening in July. We asked to be seated outside and we were accommodated promptly. The service and food was top notch. They have a fantastic wine list on an ipad that was easy to use. Their wine service was first rate as well, nice job. Highlights were the calamari and salmon app, the veal entries were great we had two different ones. The pastas were very good too. I would differently come here again.
(5)Robert M.
food is great at the cafe but the owner needs to coach his staff more on providing reasonable customer service or at least coach one male waiter during the daytime; I not expecting imperial service with a groom and cup bearer at my disposal here, there are some members-only places in St Louis that provide that; the issue is I don't see how on one day one waiter serves me and the occasional friend hand and foot at like I'm a king while the cafe is full of people and the next day another waiter has an attitude problem from the start telling me that lunch is not being served anymore at the same time and that all of the tables are taken when I'm the only patron outside. yes, I a little bit more well known than most people in St Louis, so the problem seems some personal favoritism is involved since I get exceptional service from half of the staff and piss-poor service from the other half apparently; its sort of like why can't your staff service me like everyone else instead of the two extremes, because sometimes I do like to treat a friend or date to lunch or dinner and don't need them seeing myself either getting better service than other patrons I like to be fair towards others or on the other side of the coin being insulted towards my face because some of your employees think they're running their own racket; so I'm giving you a 3 to be fair towards the staff that don't have this smartass attitude problem in life, thank you RCM II
(3)Margaret E.
Went last night with a group from work to enjoy dinner with some out of town colleagues. Service on the patio was somewhat inattentive and my water glass was dirty. However, once inside, we enjoyed excellent service and food that was, as one of my companions put it, "stupid good." I had the dover sole with bacon and little neck clams, which was impeccably cooked. My companions particularly praised the caprese salad (where did they get decent tomatoes at this time of year, I wonder?), the sea bass and the toasted ravs (she was a first-timer from Texas). The wine list by the glass was brief and delivered on an iPad, but offered a very nice cab and sauv blanc, and a very nice pour for the $. 'Twas a bit noisy where we were (it got pretty crowded for a Tuesday night), but not so much so that we could not enjoy the conversation. I will definitely return, especially since the restaurant is within walking distance of my office.
(4)Stas T.
I had my 35th birthday party here with a bunch of friends. We had a semi-private room. A week before the party, both chef and event organizer met with us to go over everything and they did a great job explaning details and offering suggestions. It was an amazing experience and great food! Service was very good as well. After the dinner we went to the bar area with a DJ, which was fun as well. I would definitely come back.
(5)Christina O.
cafe napoli review- i took my friend from out of town here for dinner. our waiter was a little too clingy for our taste. he was very polite and accommodating, but it was annoying to have our conversation interrupted. the wine list is not impressive and the bread needs some help, but our meal was delicious and the portions are generous. if you're going for dinner ask to be seated in the dinning room- the ambiance is much better than the seating on the bar side of the restaurant. my friend left her credit card- that's where the negative stars figure in. we called that night and agreed we'd come by the next day to pick it up. come saturday afternoon standing outside the restaurant, the staff were being difficult about returning my friend's credit card when they were inside the restaurant all along and we had agreed to pick it up that afternoon. there are better restaurants for the price.
(2)Frank W.
For a few years now, we have been doing the family post-Christmas dinner here. We usually get a private room: the best one is in the main area, but there is another in the expansion area. It's excellent food: meat, fish, pasta. All middle-of-the-road in a good sense. Highly competent, generally traditional, what you would expect though exceeding expectations. I've had steak, lamb, and liver, and all have been prepared perfectly. The quality of the ingredients is, truth be told, probably not as high as would be the case in a bigger city such as New York. The service is good. They get crowded.
(5)Donald M.
Excellent service and meal. I always visit this restaurant when in STL. Great menu with excellent Italian food
(5)Chris B.
The food was good but nothing spectacular. We went for dinner and I had the chicken parm. It was a pretty good sized portion and it came with a very small plate of bow tie pasta with just a little bit of red sauce. The bread was disappointing. But the worst part of it all was the price. It was way too expensive for what you get. I will not be going back.
(2)Melisa L.
Perfect place for a holiday party or night out with friends. Gets a bit crowded on the weekends, but if you know the bartender you are golden! Get there a little early if you need to sit down or scope out a corner 'spot'. All in all it's a nice vibe for downtown Clayton, but if you're wanting to sit down and converse with friends...this isn't it!
(4)Kevin J.
Love this place!!! Friendly service and good food. Although the crowd is a little pompous.
(4)Ted C.
We went on a firm dinner and pretty much everything was great. The wine list is HUGE and there are some very nice bottles on there. As always they were over priced but I enjoyed every one our waiter helped us pick out. I got the Veal chop and was very happy. The starter with a large shrimp, a couple of ravs and some portobello mushroom was good apart from the mushroom. I'm not sure the chef has ever cooked with them before because they were awful. Steer clear of them. Dessert was great too. I'm only giving it four stars because for my money you can get better food elsewhere and the mushrooms were truly disgusting.
(4)Stephen H.
At least one of my yelp friends had a bad review of this place so I'm going to preface by saying this review is solely for the late night drink scene... I haven't really made it out to Clayton in my too-short one year stay in the Lou (alas, I'm moving back to KC in August) but I was glad I made it out to Cafe Napoli for late night drinks. Large patio/al fresco area, decent drinks and food, and the people-watching...great. Oh, and if you want to see the phenomenon of hot Wash U girls (or those masquerading as such) throwing themselves at older men, you can get that here. It's worth a drink or two itself. And for us men, it makes us look forward to getting older :-)
(4)Tamara M.
Good place for a couple of drinks...never ate here so can't comment about the food, but I wouldn't be opposed to trying food here. We just happen to go in for drinks later in the evening after we have already eaten. The drinks are $8 and $10 each so it's a little pricey, but it is Clayton.
(3)Chris X M.
We had an outstanding and impressive meal here for a group of 8 on a Friday night. This classic Italian restaurant has been in Clayton a long time and has a lively bar scene both in the restaurant and at neighboring Bar Napoli. Our group had a great waiter and very flavorful entrees. I had a spicy red pasta that was fantastic and each member of our group loved their meal. The decor is a bit dated and Napoli is not St. Louis's top Italian spot per se (Paul Manno's is tops), but all things considered--great food, nice wine list, superb location and comfortable atmosphere make Napoli a gem in Downtown Clayton. Napoli 2 is out in West County and also good (but oddly seems much more expensive than Clayton location.) I recommend this location.
(5)Ahmed A.
I love the service. I ordered filet steak and it's as you expect a steak juicy and tender. I loved the place and definitely will come back more often
(5)Hyung K.
No longer a fave! Solid food, staff and surrounding, but a bit pricey, inflexible and salty. Staff so often seem disappointed when you don't order pricey wine.
(3)Mari Y.
We were looking for a spot in Clayton to grab a quick drink and my cousin recommended Napoli. So, I'll only be reviewing the bar and not the dinner. The bar is tiny. It is not a bar where you grab a quick drink. It's a place where you have a drink before dinner. The bartender seemed like an asshole, like, over his job. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he probably wasn't happy working Thanksgiving weekend or woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I asked for a wine list and the single glass selections are mediocre. I think there was maybe one wine from France and some not exciting ones from California. I settled on a white wine from New Zealand which was fine. I suggest a re-review of the selected wines! The bruschetta that we had for appetizers was good. We only stayed a short while. The hostesses were nice and friendly. The patrons were dressed up and a bit older. But, I was there at 5:45 on Thanksgiving weekend so that could explain the clientele at that hour. I'd be interested in returning over the summer as the tables and lights look like a nice place to hang out in the evenings.
(3)Derek H.
A few of us ate here a few weeks ago for dinner. This place has a fairly nice ambiance for an Italian place in Clayton. They offer valet parking for 4 or 5 bucks, which is nice when you don't feel like searching for a spot to park on the street in Clayton. The menu has a nice selection of various Italian staples, and they also bring around a tray (think a super scaled down version of Morton's) which has the "specials" for the night. These included items such a halibut, salmon, veal, etc. They don't tell you the price, and I should've asked, because my wife ordered the halibut. I tried it, and it was good, but I'm not sure it was $36 worth of good. I ordered the chicken parm, which was much more reasonably priced at about $16. It comes with a side of pasta. The chicken parm was excellent and I would highly recommend it to anyone. We also ordered a caesar salad, which was pretty good. Overall, I give this place 4 stars as the food was very good. They also have a bar next door which is kind of the "in" place to be. It was partially under construction when we were there. Overall, we had a nice night out at Cafe Napoli
(4)Mary Kate M.
I have not been here for dinner but for a late night outing with a small group of friends on a Friday night. They had a DJ, and possibly the most diverse crowd I've ever seen between the ages of early 20s to my parents age. It was an upscale kind of place which was nice to see everyone was dressed to impress, but it was definitely an experience watching mid 40 somethings getting down to old hits like the Thong Song, which surprisingly they did indeed play. The wine was good, a tad overpriced, but other than that I think they had some good drinks. I do want to try the food sometime, but that may be awhile as I am still recovering from the thought of the image of my mom dancing like those people did. lol
(3)Irbad C.
Thank god this place expanded. It was getting difficult to contain all the big egos and pretentiousness. I kid, kinda. I still love you Nap.
(5)Osito S.
Bad reviews aside, I judge an italian place based on one simple thing: Food. I don't know about bartenders, coat check people or ambiance. Here's what I do know: 1) Excellent linguini and clams 2) Chicken Parmesan that could feed two people (as long as one of those people wasn't me) 3) attractive waitress who didn't quite know how to pour a beer. Now, had it been a guy with some mutton chops, all hell would have broken loose. 4) Chef came out to our table to put a face to the crazy food order. He was incredibly nice and thanked me because based on the amount of food I ordered, I helped put his kids through college, paid off his mortgage and enabled him to get new snow tires. I went here a little when I was in law school, but only on special occasions. Like the 3rd time I finally passed contracts. Or when I finally started to grow a mustache. Man, the good ol days!
(4)Brian M.
I would never have guessed it, but St Louis has a slew of very good to excellent Italian restaurants. A good portion of them are on The Hill, which is apparently St Louis' Little Italy. Cafe Napoli is a little further out, in Clayton. But absolutely worth the ride! As was the case on my first visit, the owner greeted us when we were seated, and since one of the guys in our party knew him, he sent an order of spaghetti with bolognese sauce. Unbelievable Bolognese...only mine is better! :) We all got a special Caprese salad as a second course, made with burrata and heirloom tomatoes, grown on our waiter's organic farm. Could've used a bit more of that fabulous cheese...but the tomatoes...oh my god, the tomatoes! The waiter said he had just picked them this morning. Absolutely amazing. My other guests got seared scallops in a pineapple sage cream sauce, which looked fabulous. I went with a simple piece of grilled yellowfin, with some more of those heirloom tomatoes. Solid, if not spectacular. The fish was cooked perfectly, medium rare...possibly too big of a portion (which i realize is not really a legitimate complaint) and have I mentioned how amazing the tomatoes are?!? Like my first trip to Cafe Napoli, we were all waaaay too stuffed to even consider dessert. I imagine that's a common problem here. I'd give them 4 1/2 if I could. But it won't let me give them 1/2, and I don't want to give them a 5...so 4 stars it is. I'll be back...again and again.
(4)Robert K.
I really like this restaurant, for simple reasons. Pasta is very good as are the meatballs. Classy place with good atmosphere makes for an excellent dining experience. Try it out!
(4)Kelly C.
Went for dinner with work colleagues and the atmosphere was a good fit. I had the special beef tenderloin with blue cheese which was very nicely done and tender. Work mates ordered chicken parmagiana which was just OK and absolutely drenched in cheese. For dessert, I ordered the tiramisu which is one of my measures of italian restaurants and it ranked in the middle. It is made in house which is a plus, but I found it to be a bit dry (not enough espresso for the lady fingers). Service was friendly and attentive, and also very formal. A bit of an odd comment, but the chairs in the restaurant were a bit uncomfortable. They sank down in the middle leaving your legs resting on the frame of the chair.
(3)Patrick K.
I've waited six years to write this review. That's how long I had to wait for my table despite making a reservation. I literally just got home from a dinner I started in 2006. The food is decent but not worth what they charge. The expensive cars out front are meant to make you insecure about your income so you'll think the food is better than it really is. Trust me though...as your intrepid restaurant detective, I can see through those cheap tricks--the food is not that good. If you like to pretend you're in an episode of Sex and the City, you'll love this place...and Lucas Park. If you are 60 and wear tat tees, strange boots and jeans, and like to hit on uncomfortable 23-year old women, you'll love this place. You might even be lucky enough to get an amuse bouche of roofie from a $50,000 millionaire. Good luck!
(1)Pamela R.
I'm not a fan of Clayton but have found some very interesting and enjoyable places to grab a drink or dinner. Bar Napoli is not one of them. Note: this is in regards to the bar since there is no separate check in on Yelp for the bar area. The drinks are decent and the decor is a notch above most Clayton places especially the back area which is actually kind of cool but the crowd it attracts is too much to tolerate. Watching fumbled come ons and mini mean girl fights is not my idea of a good time out no matter how great the drinks are or how big the beer selection. Unfortunate however I do give Bar Napoli kudos for knowing ther customer and making the most of it. The place is always packed. Maybe I will check back in a few months when the patio is open and see if my mind can be swayed. Not ruling it out yet.
(2)Paul K.
Don't let the strip mall location fool you......this restaurant is very good. We had a work party with 8 people here- everyone enjoyed their food, and the service was impeccable. It is not the swankiest inside, but comfortable and clean. Would definitely go back.......
(4)Will G.
Clayton Hot Spot!! You think this place is busy now; just wait till spring and summer. Outdoor patio opens up and it's on like Donkey Kong! Some of the best food and spirits in the Midwest combined with the best customer service a customer could ask for. Over 20 years The Pietoso Family has been doing it well. And doin it well with Style! Hope to see you there soon. . .
(5)Steve C.
Good Italian food, but the owner *completely* ruined the dinner for me. That's right - the owner of the restaurant! Here's what happened: the drunk owner and three of his drunk friends started to play a card game at the next table. They were loud, vulgar, and oblivious to the fact that there were other customers in the restaurant. I complained to my waitress and she made me wait about five minutes while she and the manager decided how to handle the situation. They gave me a discount to apologize for the inconvenience, but honestly, it didn't make up for the disappointing night in this restaurant. I expected a lot classier environment, especially after the nearby Ritz-Carlton concierge had recommended it so highly.
(1)Mina I.
Wow, the food and service was horrendous here. I refuse to ever step in here again. Please note that this was my 4th time here and I have never had a great experience here. What I thought would be a great dinner with my plus one ended in a nightmare. We waited almost 15 minutes after we were sat down by the hostess to get our drink orders and menu. Then, we waited another 10 minutes to put in our order then once our dinner came 30 minutes later, our waiter "accidentally" spilled my pasta dinner on my lap. I get things happen but I was done being nice and sweet. To top the night off, the manager of the place did not even apologize once. What a crappy place. I highly, highly, highly advise to go spend your money elsewhere fellow yelpers!
(1)Max M.
This review pertains to the Clayton location only. I have not tried the West County location. I love this place. The food is great! And, they're flexible. So any kind of Italian dish you can dream up can be prepared for you. The owner and his sons are good people. Every patron is treated like Mr. Big. The servers are kind and friendly. They are responsive, thankful and appreciative. They are well trained and quite knowledgeable as to the menu, the preparation and the expansive wine list. I have been there on a date with my bride, with my family and with business associates. The place never fails to impress. The pastas are tremendous, the fish is always fresh and the meats are impeccable. They've been in business for about 25 years and with the owner's sons taking over they'll be around for a long time coming. Thanks goodness!
(5)Stephanie S.
I came here on a Friday night with a friend for a fancy schmancy dinner. He made reservations, so we had no problem getting in at 7pm on a busy night. It was my first time at Cafe Napoli, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I tend to feel a little uncomfortable at nicer restaurants (give me a dirty dive bar any day!), and this was no exception. As the host took our coats and walked us to our table, I felt really uncomfortable, and I don't know why! The crowd definitely skewed older, which was interesting. And people can talk about post-racial society bullshit all they want, but that doesn't make me feel any less uncomfortable being the only black girl in a room full of rich white people. Oh, unless the servers count. Moving on. Our server was kind of cold -- he had a sort of holier-than-thou thing going on that was a huge turnoff. But he did his job; he told us the specials of the night, and answered questions about the wine. It would have been nice if he cracked a smile, but whatever. We started with an order of calamari, which came out really quickly. Almost TOO quickly. I wasn't impressed with the calamari at all. It was rubbery, room temperature (was it sitting around for a while before it got to our table or what?), and it wasn't seasoned well, if at all. The marinara sauce that was served with it did little to help. Luckily, my entree was much better. I went with the scallop special of the night, which came with HUGE scallops served over capellini pasta. Oh. My. Goodness. This dish was fantastic! The scallops were flavorful, tender, and delicious. And huge. Did I already mention huge? The pasta was some of the BEST I've had. So amazing. And the portion size was huge! As much as I wanted to gobble down every last morsel, my stomach begged for mercy about halfway through. I don't know what the prices were like (oh how I love dating), but whatever. I would totally come back here no matter what the price was, the food was that good.
(4)Kat M.
(This review pertains to the bar) I've never been a fan of this place, for innumerable reasons, but this one really takes the cake. Went in over the weekend for a friend's birthday, and ended up running my card thru 3 times oer the course of the evening. Each time, the total was $6, so I tipped $1 and wrote in $7 in the total, all 3 times. Funny, that there are now charges on my credit card for $8, $8 and $9 from Bar Napoli, 3 totals that I did NOT agree to paying for. In addition, the last waitress who closed out my card, hovered RIGHT next to our table when I didn't sign the receipt immediately, and then basically demanded that I do so at that moment (I had been in the middle of a conversation). Rude.
(1)Walker H.
I wouldn't be able to find a phrase that describes this place than the "Meh. I've experienced better." that goes with a two star rating. The food was decent enough, but not the best Italian I've had by a stretch. The wine was excellent, but they just had to pick out the bottles and purchase them, yeah? Also, the service on my last visit was so attentive as to be overbearing. I'd like to have a conversation with the person I'm there with, not with the wait-staff. Especially when they drop off a $150 check for a light dinner on a two top.
(2)Mandi S.
This is a great bar for people watching. They have great drinks, music and space to dance. We sat out on the patio under the heater in early November and were comfortably warm. Will definitely be going back. Dress to impress.
(5)Jill I.
I hosted a surprise party for my husband at Bar Napoli last week. I wanted a portion of the proceeds to benefit Pedal the Cause - an organization near and dear to our heart. The entire staff and management was more than accommodating, the food was delicious, the space was perfect. If you need a spot to host a gathering - big or small this was fantastic. Thank you Cafe/Bar Napoli.
(5)Megan S.
I received a generous pour of Jameson during my recent visit to Cafe Napoli, so I decided to write a review. I LOVE heavy pours. I love whisky. I love steak too, and devoured the perfectly prepared filet special of the evening. The toasted ravioli melted in my mouth and were the perfect "welcome back to St. Louis!" celebration for my taste buds. Add delicious wine and good company to the mix and what do you get? The beginning to an epic night in St. Louis.
(5)Devon F.
Food was pretty good. Drinks were good. Staff was arguing in front of us constantly. Restaurant was way over packed (seemingly above capacity), hot as hell and the chairs/seats were so worn down that our tailbones were resting against the wood of the chair frame (and we are not heavy people)
(3)Maria M.
We brought a good sized group here on a Saturday night for drinks. We sat outside and had a waitress. It was either her first week as a waitress or she was an idiot. She tried to convince my friend that the rum and pineapple brought out was the rum and coke my friend ordered. Then said "oh sorry, this must be pineapple and rum, this one's your drink!" And handed her a Jamison that another friend ordered. This happened all night and she brought over drinks no one at our table ordered. In the end when our party left, a few of us were handed a $50 bill that wasn't anything we know we ordered. And having no proof since our friends left, had to pay it. Also the douche "bouncers"... Ugh. Threw away a full drink because of them. The atmosphere and patio was nice and I'm sure they have great food, but the bar service that night was so terrible, I doubt I'll go back.
(1)Danielle W.
My dad and I just went to Napoli for a quick bite to eat during our lunch break. Napoli is always crowded- but has a quick and easy dining experience. I had the tilapia and it was great. The fish was atop a bed of spinach- I wanted to be the "healthy" one at the table. My dad had the Napoli salad- which is always a safe but great choice and the house soup. The soup was delish! Good service, good bread, good food. Lunch is much more reasonably priced then dinner though!
(4)Sean M.
Had an amazing meal at Cafe Napoli this evening. Had the Alamos Malbec wine, which they poured into a decanter (nice touch!). My glass never hit empty; service was exceptional. Dinner was the steak modiga, which was cooked medium rare and served with broccoli and new potato wedges. The steak was HUGE and was cooked to perfection; the sauce was delicious and complemented the steak nicely. Dessert was about as good as they come; we ordered this amazing vanilla custard-like dish that was prepared tableside over ice cream that was garnished with sliced strawberries. Exceptional experience!
(5)Allie W.
The best bolognese I've ever had. And I've had a lot of bolognese. Get it and thank me later.
(5)Will F.
I had a client lunch here and couldn't have been happier. The food was good, the service excellent and speedy without being intrusive or rushed. Really a great option in Clayton for a business lunch.
(4)Stephen S.
First, we are from NY and used to very good Italian food. This restaurant exceeded our expectations by a mile. We ate here two separate times. The servers were extremely nice and helpful. Attentive without being intrusive. My wife ordered something not on the menu -- a simple grilled chicken -- no problem and no fuss. We will be back.
(5)Skylar W.
Good food, and great service. From the restaurant to the bartenders at Bar Naploi at night, this place is good. Ask Hahn to make you a Hahn Bomb. It's a girly drink, but it's also his signature drink, and is pretty good.
(4)Sarah F.
Just to be clear: I'm writing this about the LOUNGE experience only. (I've been for their food and it's very good) But don't let their good food trick you into hanging at the bar. It's probably just me, but being hit on by drunk law students just isn't my idea of a good time.
(2)Brian D.
Let me start by saying that I don't feel like I am a cheap skate, I like great food/wine and I am willing to pay for it. When I go to a restaurant like Cafe Napoli I expect to drop a little dough, but like to feel like the dinner lived up to the splurge. I left Napoli on my most recent trip feeling taken advantage of. It started bad as we were jammed into a two top in the corner by the bar, practically on top of the couple next to us. As the bar filled up with people waiting for a table my wife constantly had people standing behind and bumping into her. The waiter started with the Specials which included a Veal Chop, I asked how it compared to Veal Modinese (my favorite) he said it was not even close the menu veal (my favorite remember) was a little appetizer compared to the veal chop...plus he joked you get a free salad with the special. I went with the Special and asked for a wine suggestion, he was quick to point to a Pinot Noir that was a great value...$145. when I asked what he thought about a $55 Duck Horn he said he wasn't sure because he doesn't know every wine on the list (I took it as he didn't approve of my lesser selection. When he brought the wine he said I have "Your Migration" to which I replied, I think I ordered the Duck Horn he proceeded to give me a condescending lecture that "DuckHorn is a BIG winery that produces under many different labels, migration being one of them". So now I am feeling like an awkward kid taking his prom date to a fancy restaurant. My "free" salad was great, I will give them that. Dressing on that thing is perfect! Meal Arrives and the chop is big and fatty, taste is good, but is on the rare side of medium. two florets of bland broccoli and a couple of slices potatoes as a side. Big surprise is when the bill arrives and the special was $45 vs. my favorite (the little appetizer dinner ) $20. Maybe I come off as a scrooge or Naive, but when you leave a place feeling belittled and overcharged it does not create a fond memory or the desire to return
(2)Angela J.
I like this place for the out door patio and the food is amazing. Justin Hates it he hates yuppies and thats why he had to move the fuck outta clayton So with that said I doubt I'll be back here again on another date with Justin he's more the Liberal from L.A. Not his scene at all. But it is worth every dime despite the stuffy anal retintive uppity white people. The Service was excellent as well this may be the place to go with a few girlfriends or my Gay BFF Royal would totally work this place. If anyone would ask if I would recommend this place I would say yes. I think it's more 50+ kinda scene. Your parents date night....Yeah. Thats it.
(4)Liz S.
Went here for lunch recently and I was very impressed with the atmosphere and the food for a restaurant that from the outside looks like just a corner cafe. Then I remember I'm in Clayton. I ordered the Tortellini Romano (panchetta with peas and spinach I believe) and it was delicious. They also religiously refilled my drink which I think is always a clear sign of good service. Only fault was that one of my co-workers ordered the eggplant parm and it was undercooked, but it was sent back and came out perfect!
(4)Patrick N.
i have been to cafe napoli three times now, and had good experiences each time. the first time was just a night out with my wife, the second time was dinner with my wife and parents, and the third was with about 20 family members for my grandfathers 90th birthday. each occasion was very enjoyable, with both the food and service being very good. i am not going to do a blow by blow report for cafe napoli, as too much time has passed since my last visit, but all the entrees i have had there have been great. the one thing i would avoid is the toasted ravioli. it is not the good authentic style like you can find at zia's or a few other places on the hill. it looks and tastes like it came out of box from the freezer section of the grocery store. otherwise, the food has always been great at cafe napoli. on another note, look out if you go late on a saturday night, as the ajoining bar napoli turns into a semi guido club scene. so unless you like hair gel, ed hardy, and orange skin, avoid the bar area on saturday nights lol.
(4)S M.
The Best meal I have had in a long time! We had no reservations and were not dressed as the rest of the beautiful people, but the uber hip hostess and everyone else was gracious and seated us at a prime table with nary a snobbish glance-only polite hospitality. The food was so tasty I seriously considered if it was dark enough to pick up the plate and lick it clean.
(5)Stephanie I.
Came here a few months ago for dinner with a friend, and it was just alright. I ordered the Pollo Parmigiana and while the portion was pretty decent-sized, the food itself wasn't very memorable. Maybe I just didn't order the right thing, but it wasn't special at all. My friend's dish was also similar - good, but not worth the price.
(2)Jennifer B.
Cafe Napoli has been fantastic on both of my visits. My first visit was very significant, as it was the site of my rehearsal dinner this past April for my wedding. We had a private room and a selected menu for the guests to choose from. The service was very attentive and nice. The food was delicious. I believe that I had the vodka pasta for my entree, but am sure that I had a dessert titled something along the lines of decadent chocolate. This dessert was fantastic, and everyone was quite jealous as they had all opted for a strange chocolate ice cream dessert. Mine was the best, two others helped me judge. The great thing was that it was so rich and there was so much of it, the two people sitting on either side of me were able to get a few fork fulls of my dessert and I still had plenty. On my most recent visit I went for lunch. I had the linguine Sorrento, and I enjoyed it immensely. Even though they were busy I still got wonderful service. The people here are very professional and happy, and yet still have an upbeat and fun attitude. Even if the ambiance of the place was taken away this would still be a great place to eat. The menu here is not extremely inventive, but it is fresh and traditional and simply does not need snazzy new ideas. The preparation of the food is just that good. Don't fix it if it isn't broken. If you are looking for quality Italian, look no further.
(5)Michael F.
I hosted an executive business dinner at Cafe Napoli this week and it couldn't have been better. We were actually seated in the Bar Napoli side in a private room which provides plenty of space. They have a huge wine list and the food is great. When I go back, I hope to sit on the cafe side, so that I can experience the entire restaurant.
(4)Ellen B.
My boyfriend and I read about restaurant week in Clayton. So we decided to jump on the opportunity and have a date night at Cafe Napoli. I called and made a reservation, they had plenty of openings. We get there around eight, the place is PACKED! We were seated very quickly, which was a shocker. ( I advise to make reservations, i heard them tell others it was a two hour wait) Our waiter was wonderful. He was funny, timely, and courteous. The wine by the bottle list was a little pricey. We got the cheapest on the menu, and it was thirty five dollars. The average price for a bottle was around one hundred and fifty........a little much. But they do have half bottles. The food was wonderful. I got the tilapia. It was served on a bed of spinach. My boyfriend had the medallion tips. The presentation was beautiful. For desert we had the creme brule, and some chocolate pie thing. It was very tasty! All in all, i really enjoyed myself. Its a great place for a romantic dinner, though it can get loud. I will surely be back!
(3)Linda C.
We had a great lunch here. We were seated immediately. We had: toasted ravioli--nice and hot fried calamari--nice and hot Our 2 entrees were:veal parmigiana fruitti de mare pasta(clam&shrimp) Service was excellent. Tip: go for lunch,instead of dinner. There is a big price difference between lunch and dinner.
(5)Craig C.
We will not be back...we had a bad service experience. After telling Tony (the owner) about it, he really did not care.
(1)Hugh T.
First off, I'm not reviewing this place based on food, which is good but over-priced. I'm reviewing the nightlife. This place is nuts after 10pm on Thurs, Fri, and Sat. Over-priced drinks, horrible parking, but decent DJ and hottest girls in STL.
(4)Chris O.
The food is well cooked and presented. Portions are large, so come hungry. The veal is my favorite. Staff is very friendly. It could even be called a restaurant "where everybody knows your name".
(4)Kelly K.
I have been to Cafe Napoli for lunch and evening cocktails/dessert. The ambiance is elegant and professional. The tables have white linen and there is a great round window to watch people walking by outside. The prices are very reasonable for lunch, especially for the quality of the food. The prices for dinner are a little high. I had the Penne Con Broccoli which has an excellent tomato cream sauce. My friend had a cup of the Ciappino soup, which was also excellent. They claim their tiramisu is the best in the city, I felt it was average.
(5)R P.
We're from New Jersey so have eaten plenty of Italian food. This place has excellent Italian. The waitness tried very hard, could have been a little better trained but it was fine. Go for the food.
(4)Amanda D.
DISCLAIMER: This review is actually for the BAR ONLY. I had not been to Bar Napoli in awhile, so when a friend suggested their patio for enjoying the "cold front" we were experiencing, I was all in. However, the excellent company of friends was the highlight of the night. Nothing in particular was horrible; but nothing was great, or even good. Service was only "ehh" and the obnoxious, loud, inappropriately drunk group of guys sitting near us made it almost impossible to hold a real conversation. And don't even think about going to the ladies room...not only could you not get through the heap of douchey guys hitting on girls, but the bar facilities were locked and the front bathroom was literally covered in what appeared to be vomit. I do feel bad for the staff member who was enlisted to clean it up. Needless to say, I think we'll be heading to another outside venue on the next night that gets below 90 degrees.
(2)Ed A.
Great Italian cuisine. Good pasta dishes. Good location.
(4)candy c.
I was in town for a conference down the street and had to escape my scary hotel room. My colleague and I enjoyed the surroundings and the service. I had the Eggplant Parmesan and it was very good. They have a nice wine selection and were happy to make a special cocktail off the menu for my friend. A lovely place to dine.
(4)Gary F.
Excellent food, service, ambiance. Owners there all the time. Employees obviously have a lot of pride in their work. Come in hungry, leave happy.
(5)Alexander Z.
One of my favorite Italian restaurants in STL. A classy place in Clayton with excellent service and even better food. check it out.
(5)David G.
I'd give it three stars if it were priced better. Have eaten here several times thinking it would be better than last time each time. Each time though has been the same... just okay food at a high price. I often use this place as an example that you don't have to have good food here to succeed. Sadly. My suggestion is to pass this up and head over to any of the others around it that are much better in both cost and taste.
(2)Monika M.
This is the first fine dining restaurant I ever went to, so I'm biased, but it's still seriously good. I love the mix of people in cas jeans and total formal outfits. Service is superb!
(5)Michael H.
I was working at a location in Clayton for almost a year and went here a few times. I found the service good, but the pasta was always overcooked, sauces bland, and price is way too high for my pocketbook. This suppose this is a good choice for those whom money is not an object, but there are many, many better places you can go to in downtown Clayton that are better priced for better food.
(3)Heather N.
Cafe Napoli and Bar Napoli are separate. The restaurant, Cafe Napoli, does not allow smoking. It's a real "big-city" restaurant - food tray, fabulous wine list, professional wait staff. It's really a special occasion restaurant but doesn't need to be price wise. Everything I've eaten (though I'm very partial to the chicken parmigiana) is tasty, and the wines are exquisite. Good lunch spot. Make reservations for dinner. hln
(5)